Hurtling toward Christmas and other news

Wow. I'm so behind on everything and Christmas is just 4 days away. We're looking for a live tree and there is nothing! We might have to get another artificial (sounds better than fake) tree!

Barb and Catherine, I just sent off your winnings today, by Priority mail. I got those in the slot 5 minutes before closing at the post office. I'm hoping you'll get your packages Tuesday! Wah!

The other person I picked, Justine, emailed me and said with the cost of sending things to the UK, it's quite alright to pick another name to win my other sachet. Thanks Justine! So the person I picked is none other than-Gracie!, from Needles, Pins, and Dragonflies. She lives just an hour or so from me, so it was pretty neat that her package doesn't have far to go. Gracie, I have your address and I'll get the sachet into the PO on Monday. It should get there by Tuesday.

Whew! I woke up late this morning, 9:00 to be exact, after being woke at 3 by Charley Horse. Do you know Charley, that wonderful guy who strikes at the worst times?! It took awhile to subside even after doing my usual grabbing my toes and pulling back to flex my foot. I couldn't go back to sleep afterward so I grabbed my book and read for an hour before falling asleep again.

I have joined Stitching from Stash 2014. It's gonna be great. I have all my New 10 Starts 2014 kitted up. I had to put in an order for some GAST and WDW but that's it. So these starts are going to be my stitching from my stash. I'll have pictures up of what I'm starting next year soon. SFS14 (stitching from stash2014) requires you to use a budget of $25 a month to spend in stitching. You can't go over. But you can bank the 25 to spend up to $50 the next month. I needed this bad! I have a button up at the top left side of this blog. Check it out!

Up to this date, I've joined or re-joined 3 SALs-TUSAL, SFS14, and Turtle Trot 2014. Pretty easy to do, these ones.

So I picked more WIPs for the Turtle Trot. Here they are



This is Home-A Diminutive Sampler by Pineberry Lane. It calls for 1 over but I did it 2 over and am about to run out of the Roasted Marshmallow so that'll be one of my budget purchases in the new year.




In The Meadow by CCN. I mistakenly called the fabric Guacamole but its really Scuppernong by WDW. I love the snowflakes on this, it makes me feel like I've walked into a room with hanging paper snowflakes! I can tell you that those trees are going to be time-consuming!




Vintage Stars by Jeannette Douglas. I picked this up a couple days ago and stitched in the blue part.




Fancey Blackett.




Baseball Boys by Helen Nicholson. Found in a 1996 Keepsake Calendar. I don't like baseball, but I like the guys standing around with their cheeks full of gum, hopefully it's not chew! Yuck!




I will finish this in 2014! Lol. My long suffering WIP. That's some intense stitching that I'll be doing.




Yes, I just came to a shrieking halt on this. I hope to have this one done before Halloween.

I'm in the enviable position of starting a new start now because I need to have 10 WIPs! Woohoo!

I like to read so I have all my 2014 reading lined up.



This author is coming out with a brand new book next June, so I'm doing a re-read. I am missing Fiery Cross. It probably fell apart last time and I tossed it. I'm reading the top book, Voyager, right now. I've already read the first two, the Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber. Voyager is 3rd in the series.



Here's more. The bottom book is a thriller set in Victorian London. Sounds like a good read. The Dark Monk is the 2nd of a series, written by a descendant of a long line of hangmen! They're mysteries and the main character is a hangman. Good reading, too. the Cuckoo's Calling is by the pseudonym of J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books. I've read excerpts and it sounds great. The top book is about a woman who changes herself and becomes a force to be reckoned with, my description anyway! Just what I need is a book of a woman who changes herself to inspire me to do something with myself!

Here's my total orts for the entire year!



It's not a whole lot but I feel like I stitched a lot and had finishes too.

Well, another long-winded post! Oh but there will be more next time! I still have an ornament to stitch for the last Ornament SAL and pictures of my new starts for next year. So I'll be back on the 30th or sooner.

Take care and stay warm out there!



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TUSAL November, a finish

Morning!

Here's my orts (seems like it was just yesterday I was doing this same thing!)




I finished No Quitter by The Scarlett House






I was worried the GAST Oatmeal at the borders wouldn't show up well but it did. I'll make this into a pillow. Yes, a pillow! I've been on a pinkeep/flat-ornament kick because I had admired everyone's pinkeeps but I was too scared to try my own. Vonna of Twisted Stitcher has a very good tutorial for that. My next try will be a flat fold!

Mary's Sampler



The shepherd was added. I'm beginning to see the basic shape of this. I think Joseph and Mary and the shepherd are going to be the left and right borders. There are 3 weeks left, so it'll be interesting to see what other motifs Paulette is going to add.

Home ~ A Diminutive Sampler by Pineberry Lane. My progress...



I'm holding my breath with the yellowish thread, GAST Roasted Marshmallow. I'm doing 2 over 2 and the directions said 1 over 2, and I may run out. But this is 30ct fabric and I thought 1 over would be pretty sparse.

All the Giveaway winners received their winnings and are happy with them. Yay! My 3rd blogiversary is coming up in December, so I'm going to plan for that. Maybe a handmade item and goodies or a gift certificate to 123stitch...we'll see!

So I'm trying to decide on what to stitch next, besides Home and Mary. I really should work on some Turtle T WIPs, since the posting time is coming up. I'll do the eenie meenie minie mo thing and pick something!

Have a super day everyone! As always, thanks for stopping in, leaving comments, or just stalking. I appreciate y'all!



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TUSAL October, Yoo Hoo Diana! and Lighting a fire underneath my...hmm

It's that time again, which means we're snowballing through this part of the year! I invite you to the right of my blog, at the sidebar where it says TUSAL dates, and there will be just two, TWO, more dates! Things are going too fast, I have no Christmas gifts bought yet, and no Christmas-y things stitched. Aaahhh!

Here's my orts



Lots of black, white, and orange there. I've moved on to Christmas stitching though, starting with PSS's Mystery Sampler. Here's the little bit that I have



If the rest of the pattern goes this way with the small amount to stitch, I can keep up. I'm doing mine on 36ct Vintage Lentil from Lakeside with most of the right flosses. The sun hadn't gotten to my side of the house yet with this bad picture.

There's a little 'something' going on right now with a blogger who has an open letter to a designer on her blog stating her displeasure with the difference of floss color on the model on the chart and the actual stitching. Here's my take on all that..while getting my thread together to stitch the PSS sampler, this is what I came upon with GAST Shaker White



Even with my dreary picture, you can see a big difference in color. The lighter color I bought earlier this year or last. Wow. I have to eyeball a pattern to see if I have enough thread from the one lot to stitch what I need to because no telling if you'll get that same color when you order.

The second part of my title means I've got to hunker down and stitch more. This past week was stressful so I picked up a needle and finished one of my Turtle WIP's, which I'll show on the 13th. Just the act of stitching got my head back on straight and now I'm motivated to start a whole bunch of stuff!

I'm putting out an ALL POINTS BULLETIN (police-speak!) on Diana, the other winner of one of my giveaways. Yoo Hoo, Diana!! She has yet to email me with her mailing address, and she has no blog but follows several. Lesson learned, next time I have a giveaway, I'll ask everyone to put an email with their comment. Myra and Ann, I haven't forgotten you! I'm still waiting on a shipment from an ONS, which is taking awhile.

Well, Autumn has certainly arrived here in the high desert of AZ. Its downright chilly! Love it!

Hope the weather is great where you're at! Welcome follower 104!



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TUSAL September '13 (pssst-scroll down!)

Good Evening! Here's my ORTS!



I'm not sure I stitched that much to end up with this many orts! But I'll take it!

I finish finished my black cat ornament, take a look









It turned out great! Click on the pics to see them better.

So I see that I've reached 103 followers-Yay! So it's giveaway time! Since I didn't put up a giveaway when I reached my 100th post, I decided to have 2, yes that's 2 giveaways. My 100th post came around the 4th of July and I have giveaway stuff in red, white and blue. The second giveaway is all about Halloween/Autumn and I'll be stitching up a few little things for Halloween and Autumn. You just have to pick which you'd like, Halloween or Autumn, because I know that not everyone is as Halloween crazy as I am!

This weekend I'll nail down the particulars on a post where you can leave your comment saying you'd like to be included. Oh, you have to tell me what's your favorite color, and your first name or an initial you like, like B or T, etc., and Halloween or Autumn. Anyone and everyone, follower or not, are welcome to sign up. So be sure to check my blog this weekend!

Gotta go! I appreciate you all stopping in and leaving comments! Welcome to my new followers. Thanks for making it 103!



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TUSAL For August

Here's my Orts



Black threads from my Scary ornament, and the browns from my two newer starts.

I have to tell you all that I found the Season of The Heart kit Saturday morning on eBay for almost $7, $8 total with shipping. I snatched it right up! I'm really excited to get it.

I'll be back on the 13th with pics of my two starts, one of them nearly done. I need to work on a WIP to post for Turtle Trot, so I'm doing that as soon as I get off here. Have a great evening y'all!


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TUSAL on a hot summer day

Helloooo!

First lets take care of Tusal

Lots of pinks/yellows from Poppies. Yes, I did finish it! And is since I can't wait 'til the 13th, here it is

Shhsjsjsjjsjjsjsjsjsjsjsjsjsjjsjsjsjsjsjsjsjjs

At first I wasn't too sure of using this color linen. The model in the magazine uses a lighter color. The big flower on the right was a doozy to stitch. Different colors and its big but it's my favorite and looks more like a poppy. I'm working on another WIP and smelling a finish coming on! Stay tuned!

Next, I want to say Thank You all for your words of Congratulations on my daughter's graduation. We've come down from the clouds now. I also enjoyed your comments on the Whatever ornament. Linda said Whatever is her fave word, EvalinaMaria hates that word, and Silverlotus says Whatever way too much! And her little man is starting to say it too! I tend to mutter that word too when I'm driving down the road and someone pulls a dumb motorist trick, and its better to say Whatever than cussing, right?! Silverlotus, wait until said little man says it to you when he's a teenager! They're able to add a little sneer onto it. It's cute said as a little kid but not when they reach teenage-hood!

All I'm

TUSAL and A Little Contest

Here's my Orts, a day late!

I've been stitching on all sorts of things lately. Here's Baby, It's Cold Outside from April

And here it is one month later in May

The house is almost done. Such a difference in the color of the fabric. The bottom pic is more true to color.

More stashing done, too, but just this chart and threads

I wish you could see it better. I often read of bloggers' talking about how a pattern has spoken to them and I don't know if they're just joking but this chart certainly did. I first saw a picture of this chart over at the blog Maude and Mozart (she takes great pictures, BTW). She was just showing the inside of a shop that her and several others ladies went to. This design she hadn't said who the designer was. But it caught my eye! Her next post showed pics of her stash and it was close enough to see who the designer was-Willow Hill Samplings. I thought it was from Pineberry Lane Designs! So here it is-called Land of the Brave.

Now we're up to the Little Contest! I've made great strides in stitching on my WIPs. I have one that is very close to being finished by the 13th which is the posting date for the Turtle Trot. I know I said I'd have a giveaway on my 100th post which this one is that, but I'll do that after this contest. Here's what you do to win this booklet by Sue Hillis Designs

Now if there's just one commenter between now and the 13th, say about 7 p.m. Arizona time, she or he will win this booklet. BUT....if there are several, here's where the contest comes in. Go to the sidebar on this blog where it says Turtle Trot SAL 2013 and PICK a WIP that you think is the one about to be done and pick another that you think is the second one about to be finished. The reason for the 2nd pick is in case no one picks the correct WIP at the first pick. If that should happen, whoever picks the correct 2nd pick will win the Chocolate chart. Are you still with me?! Good! When you go to leave a comment there needs to be

1. The name of the WIP from my Turtle Trot list that is about to be finished.
2. The name of the WIP    "      "       "       "     " that you think will be my second finish coming soon.

Anyone is invited to play, follower or not, living near or far! The more the merrier! This is gonna be fun!

Hope everyone is enjoying some Spring weather! I'll leave you with some pics of two of our cats. Enjoy and Take Care!

E.T. in top photo and Flashy above, enjoying life!

TUSAL Time

Here's my jar

I'm seeing Easter-y and Spring-y colors in the jar. I'm stitching LHN's Love Sheep. Yes, I'm a month behind on the Flock! I'm on automatic with the Sheep so I've already received Peace, which I think is more cute than the previous two.

I've been putting in some stitches on Baby It's Cold Outside

I've added the snowflakes on the left, the beginnings of the house, the snowflake to the right of the house, and Fire for fireplace. Love that Pomegranate from Simply Shaker/GAST; it's my new favorite color. When I first began stitching this, I had reservations about how everything was going to fit inside the border but it's working out!

I did a little stashing too!

L to R: Flowers kit by LizzieKate, Three Tulips by Country Stitches/WTN&T, and Black Cats Trick or Treat by The Sweetheart Tree. I also picked up some fabric

The first one is Lilac which is for one of the extra designs that came with the Mystery Sampler from LK. The other two are for whatever.
And now for your entertainment, may I introduce my Easter Hat! Over at the Stitched with Love exchange, Lainey had an Easter Bonnet/Hat contest. The prize was a small design with backing fabric, trim, floss. There were only 4 of us crazies who made a bonnet/hat and Lainey's hubby picked me!

That's me underneath. I took a straw hat I found for $1.00 at a second-hand store, covered it in green check, hot-glued the house and everything else to it! Took me 20 minutes! Wish I had a better pic. So anyway, I'm patiently waiting for my prize to arrive all the way from Scotland which, btw, is on my bucket list to visit! Speaking of exchange, I received my partners' package and love it all! I'm just waiting for the OK to show what I have.

I'm seeing a few bloggers who have already signed up with Bloglovin. I've set up an account but just to follow. I'm confused at whether we can keep our blogs here or do we set up a blog with Bloglovin? Or is it needed to read other blogs? Those of you in the know-let me know! Myself, I like having everything right on one page like it is now!

Well the washing machine is calling me so I'd better attend to it. I just want to say to everyone Thanks for leaving comments. I enjoy reading them! And it's exciting that I'm up to 91 followers-Yay! Welcome! Take Care

TUSAL Time-Feb '13

First off, I'd like to say Thank You for your comments and the Happy Birthdays on the last post! I really appreciate it!

I redeemed myself from last months' TUSAL with much more orts

Yesss! I've been busy the last month and received and finished my Hope sheep from LHN as part of Vonna's SAL

                                                         



I stashed again!

I got these off eBay. The Drawn Thread design came with the silks and beads. And this Rosewood Manor design spoke to me because of Arizona being one of the Four Corner states. I've never been there but intend to some day!

I forgot to mention that I signed up for a Stitched with Love Exchange. I have my recipients' name and info and am awaiting a shipment from 123 Stitch. If I was busy now, I'll be even busier once the pattern I chose arrives. I have exactly 1(one), yes 1 month, to stitch the pattern and get it and all the goodies into the mail. Nothing like a little pressure. Wish me Luck!

Right now I'm stitching on a WIP for the Turtle Trot. I'll be back to post on the 13th with pics of my WIPs. They're looking great and I think you'll see a big difference between now and the last time I posted pics of them. BTW, my Belated Birthday Giveaway items are on their way! Finally! I'll put up a post for everyone to comment on for an entry into it. It'll be the same as my other giveaways-just leave a comment!

Take Care everyone, especially those affected by Nemo!

TUSAL!

Okay, it took me a while to figure out how to get pictures on this thing. I was 'cleaning' up my computer the last couple of days and I must've deleted something or uninstalled whatever it was. So I uploaded pictures to Picasa Web Albums and tada! Without further ado, here's my TUSAL jar

Yeah, not much. Pretty sure there will be more ORTs the next time. I'm going to put this into another container each month and save it. I'm mostly working on my ornament for the Ornament SAL, it's small and a perfect project for this time of the year. Both ornament and the two WIPs I've been working on, I'll have a post about them near the end of this month.

I finally found my MIA pictures of the 4 WIPs that I was missing. Here they are

I'm out of DMC for this one right above, Thee I Love. So after I post this, I'm headed to Hobby Lobby.

Here's the wonderful Fancey Blackett. I'll have to frog the 'hanging' trunk, lol. It doesn't line up in the middle of the bottom trunk. So a-froggin' I will go!

A short post for sure. My birthday is at the end of this month so I just might have another Giveaway! Yay! I think I like giving away more than winning stuff as I don't enter many giveaways.

Take care everyone!

What the SAL??!! Happy New Years!

Oh boy! This is what can happen when under the influence of several pecan pie bars loaded with chocolate! I've joined 3 other SAL's besides the Turtle Trot!

Stitching The Little House Flock

I figured that these cute sheep are small enough for me to stitch and finish. After all, Vonna does ask for just the stitching completed. Finishing the sheep are optional. If you haven't heard of this yet here's the link Little Sheep Virtues. Stitching Bits and Bobs have the pattern and button for sale at their site and may offer both as an auto program. I've already pre-ordered; I now need to order the fabric for these sheep. I'm looking forward to this!

Ornament SAL 2013

Reflections in the Pond is starting an ornament SAL for 2013. You can stitch any kind of ornament be it Halloween, Christmas, Easter, or etcetera etcetera. Here's the link Ornament SAL 2013. Check it out.

TUSAL

I already have the dates up for posting on my sidebar. Just another way to get me to post more often! Here's the link TUSAL.

And of course, the Turtle Trot 2013

I'm supposed to post pictures of my WIPs. There are dates to follow for posting progress and I think it's the 13th of every month, yikes! So here we go

I have not touched this since stitching this little bit almost a year ago!!

My poor, poor neglected Winter at Beacon House. I'll try to stitch this more often and finish it because I have another Praiseworthy Stitches design I want to stitch later on in the year.

This is Christmas Magic from the 2010 ornament magazine from JCS. This is part of the ladies' dress. The designer and the magazine escapes me! I guess I better find the magazine.

Called Klagetoh IV, a Navajo rug. This'll be a perfect Christmas gift for a friend of mine who is Navajo. This is on 14ct Aida. Lots of stitching left!

From an old BH&G Christmas magazine. This is the year of the Mitten!

(Hanging head)

(Can't wait to see what Blogger will do with these two pics!) It's supposed to be a castle.lol.

This one is a contender for early finishing as I just have the flower heads to stitch.

It's pretty overcast today, we may get some rain/snow tonight. I need to stitch this; it's too nice to leave it lying around! So far so good. I'm waiting for Blogger and/or my computer to act up with all these pics I'm putting up!

I must admit that I've been stitching on this for the last 3 days. Filling in that boot is some work! Do you see my mistake here? I'm a center starter and that's what I did. But I must've turned it around and started stitching. I may have just enough fabric for framing! It's supposed to be lengthwise..lol! I took it off the Q-snap and thought-oh crap! But my mistake turned out to be good as I'll have 2 pieces of fabric to use for ornaments for the SAL I mentioned above! I think you may know that La D Da has an ornament of witches feet in one of the JCS Halloween magazines. Not bad huh!

So I tried to load another picture and no go so I'll post the last 3 WIPs tomorrow. I have leftover Christmas ornaments kitted up, a few Halloween and I'm looking through all my charts and freebie charts to get ready for the Ornament SAL. I'm looking forward to all the stitching I'll be doing in 2013! I'm certifiably committed!

I need to put an ALL POINTS BULLETIN out for the MIA Deb from Threadgatherers! Where are you Deb? If you see this, you won the big prize! Send me an email azcampis@yahoo.com to let me know your address.

I'm going to get back to stitching cheating on Something Wicked. It's back to work tomorrow, then off for the 1st. I'm still in Christmas mode because I feel like it just snuck up on me. We had a great time eating too much and opening gifts. Hope you all did too! Thanks everyone; I appreciate your comments and even those who lurk, coming from a former lurker!