Happy Hallowe'en!

I've eaten wayy too much chocolate :) Things have been super busy around here with work. whew! Nice to be busy. I haven't gotten in as much stitching as I'd have liked, that's for sure!

So you know that pattern I was drooling over last post? I ordered it, and the Belle Soie silk thread to go with it. I'm guessing I only need one skein, but if I need more? It'll give me an excuse for another order hah! AND in typical fashion, my order ended up being more expensive. I bought a pair of Ginghers. It'll be my first pair. I justified that by telling myself that it'll be my Christmas present. I don't exactly have anyone who would buy me something like that, and also it had to be ordered online and my family don't do the whole online thing like I do.

Emma is freaking out over the fireworks currently being set off. The other house dog, Lady (who belongs to my mother) is also scared of the sounds so she's fretting about in her "bedroom". Poor gals :( Technically there shouldn't BE fireworks going off as they are illegal, but people smuggle them up from the States or buy them from dodgey vendors here.

Since we've already had our thanksgiving, my Christmas shopping officially starts on November 8th (payday woo!) I take the easy route and buy 90% of the stuff from Amazon.ca. Free shipping and I don't have to get out of my pajamas. That's a serious bonus right there. DOWN WITH CLOTHES. UP WITH PAJAMAS (or is that supposed to be miniskirts?) Thankfully I only have a couple people in my family to buy for, and they like books and DVDs! :D

That's about it for now. I hope to have pictures of my WIPs soon! I hope everyone had a safe and happy Hallowe'en. Take care! :)

I fell in love

For some reason, lately I've had this urge to stitch something a little morbid. Maybe it's the season getting to me. Then I saw this pattern at 123Stitch! Follow Me by Primitive Needle. I'm waffling right now about it. At first I was thinking I'd get the pattern and all the materials it calls for. I added that up and it would be over 30~ odd US dollars. For one pattern, one piece of fabric, and one silk skein.

I really don't know about you guys, but that seems rather excessive. I'm no stranger to paying an arm and a leg for supplies, but that seems a bit much. Now I'm thinking I'll just get the pattern and the silk, taking it down to about 17 US.

I know I can't ask you guys what I should do. Enablers. All of you! I'll think about it some more, but that pattern is calling to me!

My Blizzcon weekend came and went and I didn't get much done as I was having too much fun watching the Costume/Dance competitions, and keeping up with the WoW and Starcraft Tournaments. I did pull out Sunflower Fairy and as I was stitching, I kept getting more and more frustrated with the fabric. I've complained before about it being 32 count and hard to see, but this is just.. really discouraging. I'm using what it called for - Copper Penny 32 count Linen by Wichelt Imports. The Valdani threads like to twist a lot, too, and no amount of untwisting is making my stitches look any better. Everything just looks uneven and sloppy.

There. I said it. Maybe I'm being too hard on myself, but I shall soldier on. And never work on that sort of fabric again. 28 count Jobelan ALL THE WAY. This happened once before when I bought a small piece of jazlyn opal. It looked so cute and sparkly and bluish. Working on it was a nightmare. I ended up tossing what I WAS working on because of how frustrating it was!

I kitted up Wine a Bit by Lizzie*Kate and it's currently in my project bag ready to go. I'll be taking it with me tomorrow as I'm going with Mom to the doctors and I'll need something to do while I wait. I have a guildmate in the wine making business so I was thinking of sending it to him, or failing that, I know other people who do like their wine. :D

Still no update on my order :(. The money sure got taken out right away though. lol.

Oh and I'd like to welcome new followers! Thank you for the comments, I really appreciate them. I'll try to do the same but I can tell you now I'm a complete scatterbrain. I read all your posts, and then have this really cool reply ready to go and completely forget to actually REPLY!

Confession!

So yeah, I have a confession to make.

I hate waiting for out of stock items.

Really hate it. When I buy from Amazon, I make sure I see that the item is in stock, otherwise I don't want it. With my OLN, I can't see that, and so here I am 12 days later waiting for an out of stock fabric. It's totally irrational too, since these things are for next year so it's not like I need them right now.

Oh well, I'll get over it!

I haven't done much stitching. I can't even remember what I did on my days off? I don't know what happened with work but I'm getting full days of it. Being casual it can be pretty hit or miss. Some days I only have one client, others I'm swamped. Lately it's been the swamp. Not that I'm complaining, no. The extra money will come in quite handy for more stash.

You didn't see that. Here is my little bit of an update on Paladin.

I should have a couple good stitch days in coming up. Friday and Saturday I have off, so I can watch Blizzcon online. Really geeky, I know. I stream it on my computer, load up on munchies, and stitch while I watch/listen to what's going on. Can't wait! I hope to have a nice chunk of either Paladin or Sunflower done to show you guys. :)

Take care!

I love my Saturdays

I also love this sort of weather. It's cold out but sunny, and the leaves are starting to change. Ahh fall. They're predicting a really cold winter this year on the Wet Coast. The coldest in 20 years but we shall see!

Despite loving the current weather, you know what I did all morning? Sat my butt in the La-Z-Boy and stitched on Paladin while watching crappy TV. :D I'm also on Ventrilo with some gaming buddies. It's like Skype but no video, and you push a key to talk. I guess I could set it up so I don't need to push a key to transmit, but I don't think they need to hear the occasional mouth breathing from me, or yelling at the pets when they decide to jump in the middle of my stitching. I also tend to swear at the TV when something dumb happens. :)

Anyway here is my progress on Paladin!

I also managed to get Emma to sit still for 2 seconds for a picture. I was about to show said picture but then I noticed all the open Nestle Liquid tea boxes in the background, and an empty glove box on the floor. So I guess I'll have to tidy up a bit and THEN try to get her to sit still again! :D I love year long projects like that, don't you?

I have 4 hours of work tonight, and then it's straight to bed with me. I have to be up at 5am-ish for 7-12 shift, and then again from 6-9pm. Long day ahead, but I have time in between for a nap!

Take care! :)

New start

Happy Wednesday everyone! After my big finish I decided on a quick and easy Signet dragon by Fire Wing designs. I've already done Warrior this year, and 3 of the 4 little ones. This one is called Paladin. Earlier this year an online friend of mine whom I've known for ages moved into his very own apartment, and while he was taking pictures, I noticed that something I made ages ago was on his kitchen wall.

I sorta laughed at how simple and small it looks now, and earmarked Paladin for him, but first I had to finish what I was already working on!

I chose a fabric from my stash called Storm Gray, and I'm using Threadworx in Lava Rocks. Any picture you might see of this fabric does not do it justice. It really looks like a stormy sky. Absolutely love looking at it! Here is a start to it:

And I wonder why I get so much cat hair in my stitching that I have to pick out.. :)

That's about it for now. Less chat, more stitch!

Happy Dance.

She loved it! And it fit perfectly in her Baby Signs classroom. That makes me a happy panda. :) So here are a couple pics!

I'm very happy with how well it stitched up. There are a couple goofs in there, but I leave them in because I don't believe anyone or anything should be perfect. :) Since it was a kit, I used the Crescent Colours threads that came with it. I used a 28 count jobelan fabric in uhm. I think it was Chai Tea. very subtle colour changes in the fabric.

So there you have it, mystery project unveiled! :D

A note

Just a quick update since I should be in bed, as 5am rolls around really fast! I finished the Lizzie*Kate earlier today and framed it. I'm working out the details to visit friend on Monday so I'll hopefully update then when she has it. I am so happy it's done and I can't wait to give it to her.

To the Canadians out there, Happy Thankgiving! I'll be having the turkey dinner on Monday as it's my day off. Just need to get through my split shift tomorrow! I have my eye on the pie :)

whoo whoo

I'm very close to finishing the Lizzie*Kate, and I'm getting excited about framing it and taking it over to my friend's house. I don't know if she reads my blog, but I'm sorta hoping she doesn't so that this is actually a surprise! (if you're reading this, act surprised!!!!) It's such a perfect project for her. I haven't seen her in ages, either. Mostly because she's busy with babies, and I'm well, a total recluse. Once I have it over to her I'll be able to post a proper picture. :)

I have my shopping cart filled over at Stitching Bits and Bobs with my order which should be put in around Friday. I've been modifying it all week, lol. I may have another pair of scissors in there, and another kelmscott needle minder..Yeah. can't help myself. There needs to be a support group for that. All I can find are enablers. :D

My search for a flower frog is proving fruitless. Of course I have a certain one in mind, which I can't seem to find around here. I can online, but I don't buy off eBay or etsy or well, anywhere else for that matter. my online shopping consists only of SBaB, 123 stitch!, Amazon.ca, and Blizzard Entertainment lol. When I did my Fort Langley antique store crawl a few weeks ago, all I found were the lids, no bottoms. Not even one that stands on it's own. Actually that's not true, I did find a really pretty green one that could stand on it's own, but there was a huge crack in it and I wasn't willing to live with that. There was also a jasperware one, which is like wedgewood, but I have my sights set on one with a pink glass bowl, lace edge, and white frog on top.

I'm really the most annoying person like that. Once I get the idea in my head, nothing else will do. Like that stupid fish bowl. (which btw, I still love looking at. my fish are so cute!) and those little ceramic birds..

ahem. That's it for now! Going to get a bit more stitching in before I head off to work for the evening. :) Happy stitching!