I love my Tarheel stitching group! They made me this fabulous quilt. They all stitched up the different squares and the one among us who quilts very well put them all together. I gave them the theme (backyard critters) and they ran with it. They presented me with the quilt this past saturday. There are 20 squares all told, to see more detail and who stitched each one just click on the photo...that will take you to all the pictures (there are 4 closeups) Note that the Squirrel...a Prairie Schooler, was stitched by a recent tarheel ex-pat, Margaret...and one of my online blogging friends Megan.
So I have the border done, and what you see is some progress on the multitude of greens for leaves (you can kinda identify one complete one in the upper left). TW is really not fun, especially when you are pregnant. I really wanted to finish this before the arrival of offspring, but her foot in my ribs maks it very difficult to sit normally for very long, I feel better standing or lying down. I am hoping she drops soon. I have till June 24th to finish this square. anyone want to take out some bets, which will come first? Baby or Robin?
In Baby land. I went to my doctor on tues, found out I am 1 cm dialated, and I got to talk with her a bit, she made me feel much better about the way I want things done. But then I visited my coworker yesterday who had the c-section 2 weeks ago (remember i was totally bummed for her?) And while her little girl is wonderful/cute/ healthy/all that good stuff you say about babies, her full labor story was very worrisome. I can't share it here but I'll just say it reinforced my conviction to avoid most medicaltion/interventions. But I didn't have time to mull it over too long because I met with my doula and got to meet my backup doula yesterday evening. I am so happy I will have someone who know what I want and will be with me the whole time.
Ouch... there is her foot poking me, I have to get up. I'll post more later.
So here it is the finished project I was talking about. OK so like I was saying this freebie was a heart but I stopped after I did the alphabet because I thought it would make a cute ort box. But then I went to AC Moore and didn't see a box that would work. as I wandered the aisles (you know like one does in any craft store). I saw this cute bowl like thing, in the plain unfinished wood section. I painted it, used a stencil for the little swirly things and polyed it. I attached the stitching to a padded piece of cardboard and put it in the bottom with some double stick tape (in case I ever want to switch it out) . I was worried about the square on a hexagon, but I think I am pretty happy with the results. It now holds my scissors, random threads, and you can stick a needle or two in the padding. Side view:
Side view of bowl
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
Week 3 5/12-5/18:
I know you all missed week 4, but trust me I did lots of stuff, including finishing everything on week 5 and cleaning the craft room.
So I guess it is lucky that a late baby may be my destiny. Not that I am letting that keep me from eating fresh pineapple to start nudging things along.
We have the crib in pieces in the closet and the dresser/changing table is in the front room. But like I have told everyone, I refuse to stress out about this, she can sleep in a laundry basket for a week if she decided to arrive early. Here is his first animal on the wall, a crab. Don't ask me what he is plugging in, I am not sure.
I saw I was tagged by Xsquared for 7 random facts about me, but I cannot think of a single interesting thing. Maybe Ian can come up with some ideas.
Yeah you all deserve it after my rant last week. Thank you for your encouraging comments. I seem to dip into these 2-3 day depression every couple of weeks. Bear with me we only have a month to go. (that means only 1 or 2 more meltdowns right?) Anyway first up is my first round of the round robin from the America's Best Round Robins Yahoo group I am in (remember I sent out the Monthly mini kats?) Well the first is from Peggy in Tx. I actually know her, she moved there from NC last year. She chose Teresa Wentzler's Flower Bell Pull. I am not sure to hate her for this or just be thankful I am working on it before baby arrival. She did the first block (minus the backstitching, she ran out of time). I get to do the second block which is roses. I recieved this on Friday and am trying to get a jump on it. Even the border is blended threads. Ugh TW kills me.
Quaker freebie
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
Ian and I were married on the beach of Tybee Island, GA 5 years and 1 month after our first kiss on that same island.
I have not been stitching at all, but I saved these little guys for just such an occasion. I finished them about a month ago. They are pulled from Bent Creek's Animal Arches for a project that I am still not sure I want to announce yet ( It will only happen if I have time).
The goal list is working out well, I have about half knocked off. But get this, I headed off to get the whole passport thing going, had pictures, waited a half hour at the processing place, and when I get to the front of the line I find out my Birth Certificate is no good. I had my Hospital certificate (which is apparently just for show) and my Certificate of Birth (given by the health dept) but since it did not have a seal/watermark it was not acceptable. I have been using this same documentation for my entire life! Anyway thay tell me I will have to order another one, which I can do online (thank you technology), and I find out that this is DISTURBINGLY easy. all you need is a Date, Place, Name, and Parent names. THAT'S IT! I'll have it in 5-7 days. I am glad this is easy for me to do (saved me ALOT of hassle) but also a bit upset...anyone with a bit of personal info could totally get a Birth/Marriage/Death Certificate and steal an ID. If the original one I have from 1974 is not acceptable, how is one that was ordered online (by anyone) and printed yesterday more acceptable by the powers that be??
In BABY news I just came back from another doctor visit. I am so tired of these boring doctor visits... I almost wish I could just call up and say everything is fine, I'll see you when labor starts. Instead it is the usual pee test/weight check/BP then a 15 min-half hour wait for the doctor to measure my stomach and listen to the heartbeat (which I know is there...she was just kicking me a second ago). And since I have no questions, and no problems they are out the door. I guess I just want something to get excited about. My childbirth classes are over. The infant car seat is installed. Her room is nowhere NEAR ready, but I have no control over that. And I have a feeling it will be a long slow wait from here. Time sped up in the middle there... now it feels like the first 2 months when we were just WAITING to see and hear her...
Hello all,
I know you are just dying to know how the shower went. Well, better than I anticipated. It was short and fun for both me and the guests...I think. There are more photos on my flickr accout if yu want to check it out. My sister (to my right in the next photo) planned the games which kept everyone involved while I was opening gifts. I got a lot of things off my registry and quite a few things that were not. ( I didn't use the code phrase Anna, but it did pop in to my head a couple of times, of course those were the things that did not have a receipt.)
Opening gifts
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
I did discover that I registered for WAY to many towels/washcloths and blankets (I am having a baby in JUNE , I must of lost my mind registering.) and then got more blankets/bath stuff that i did not ask for! They say not to register for toys or clothes because those things are always a popular gifts. That came true for the toys I won't need to buy any more, but not so for the clothes. I got a couple of cute dresses, but only a few packs of onesies and that was it.
I know more gifts will be coming, Ihave another shower or wo, an Ians buddies are throwing him a pamper party (perfect for guys they bring a package if diapers and beer and hangout to razz the future father about how much his life is going to go down the drain)
Did anyone catch Notes from the Underbelly on ABC last week? A complete riot, and the absolute truth. I actually made me feel abit better about the lack of reason behind wanting to have a baby...I think it will be on wed at 8:30...If you have ever been pregnant or are even considering it, I think you will enjoy it.
May I rant for a moment ? Thanks, and no flames please, I just need to vent this out.
So my least favorite (and most oft asked) question now is "Are you getting excited? " Depending on my mood, I may lie and say yes but usually I am honest and say no, I am scared out of my mind. Why is this so shocking to people? Both those who have had and haven't had kids?
I was talking with Ian this morning and he feels as scared and helpless as I do. Excitement? no. I mean this is not like a countdown to vacation, or buying a house, or even to a big event like our wedding. I feel like I have entered a dark tunnel and on the other side I am told there is light, but I also know it is a giant rollercoaster that, now that I have paid for the ticket, I will never be allowed off.
Would I change my mind? No, I know in my heart that I would make this decision again, for I would ever regret not going through this most basic of human experiences. But for the love, stop asking if I am excited about my world turning upside down.
My shower is saturday and while it is exciting (who doesn't love gifts) I am also very fearful of it. I don't fake emotions well, and am scared I will seem cold if I can't manage a big Ohh and Ahh over every little cute thing. ugh.
Here is another pic so Bellastitch doesn't feel so bad about being big. Looks like a beer gut, eh? oh and those stretch marks, those are from puberty, nothing new yet.
Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it, and belated Passover greetings from last week.
But on to the important things, cross stitch. I joined a round robin a couple of months ago, my first ever,...not thinking as a transformed parent yet...and instead of bailing on the group, I am going to use it as the perfect excuse to keep cross stitch in my life during this time of transition, Sleep or no sleep. It consists of 6 folks and will go until next Feb. I chose to do a design I have been meaning to do for a while...the 12 monthly mini-kats by Calico Crossroads. It is on 28 count Laguna instead of the 14 ct aida called for. Each person only has to do one, but I did 2 to get us rolling...May and June. May took a couple of days, June only 1 day to do. I will be sending this off as soon as I can (although the robin does not officially start till May).
after this picture, my cat Sam asked if he could be a mini-kat, I told him he did not fit.....not happy.
I bought this pattern 2 years ago at CATS. It is by JBW designs. and I think it is OOP since it is no longer on their website. But anyway, I bought it for a friend who at the time, was talking about selling her house and buying a bigger one. I finially got to start it when she bought one this past month. Originally I had decided to make it into a wall hanging (my first attempt at such). and when it was all done (see picture below) I decided I would never hang such a piece of crap on my wall, so I couldn't possibly give it to somone else to hang on theirs. The perfectionist in me decided to tear it apart and I finished it instead No -sew cube style. I can't sew in a straight line on a machine to save my life. No wonder I have such trouble trying to quilt (maintaining a 1/4 inch straight seam is the toughest part) Maybe if I could figure out how to drop the feed dogs on my sewing machine, but I think it is too old to do that.
Yeah I found my camera! It was hanging up right by the door. In a place I never put it. Well I was really tired on Sat after I got home, so that might explain it.
First up Is the Kreinik freebie "Baby is sleeping". I decided not to use the kreinik it calls for cause well...I didn't have any it called for and had trouble finding them and it would of cost me about $40 to $50 to buy them all. So this is a DMC conversion. I matched it to the great fabric I found to finish it off. I also used fusible web for the first time to give the finished product a bit of structure. After a bit of swearing, may use it in the future for ornaments. Both of these were given as gifts for friends having babies at the end of April.
I apologize for the cruddy photo, I took one more close up,but it came out fuzzy, cause my digital camera can't focus if I I turn the flash off. If the flash is on and the light isn't bright enough then it washes it out. Sigh. I do NOT recommend the NIkon Coolpix P2 for cross stitch photos. I wish I had a scanner, those pictures always come out so well on blogs.
Let me ask you, do you see a big difference between this and
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this???? There is 4 weeks between the 2 photos (and almost 8 pounds), and even though the perspective is off Iwould think I would look a bit different. I even still have a belly button...It is not even flat yet. I do feel different. Its a bit tougher to get up from sitting and she is moving ALOT more now. Part of it I think is that she is (I think) transverse. there is no kicking on my ribs or my bladder. just to the sides...so I don't protrude very far. Second is my breasts are expanding faster, I have gone up one whole cup size in 4 weeks. (a total of 3 cup sizes from normal) THIS is not something to be happy about. It means I have to part with another $80-90 for special order bras yeah. They don't have my size in stores. I joked at the beginning I would be halfway thru the alphabet before the baby came. Now I am beginning to wonder if that isn't premonatory. I mean really how much milk can one baby need...it does refill right?? One of my pregnant friends commented on how I shouldn't invest in a breast pump yet because I don't know if I will be able to produce enough milk to breastfeed. I almost laughed in her face, If my freakishly large breasts can't produce enough milk then there is no hope for anyone else!!
What?? Well it is not to far outside the realm for those of you still dealing with winter, But here in good old NC I am now able to walk the dog without a coat on. we might have a cold patch still to come, but by the end of the month it is pretty much a garanteed spring. The early daffodils are all blooming now. So for me it is a bit late (or early) for christmas ornaments, but he was halfway done, So when I finally got my hands on some more GAST I was able to finish him up. He was in one of the JCS mags (05?) by Bent Creek.
Currently I am working on a couple of baby shower gifts for friends, one in NJ, one here, both in 2 weeks so I'll post those when I am all done.
To answer your question Anna, the floor was in excellent shape, it just had som black marks from the carpet glue? All we had to do was sand the whole floor (using a hand sander 220 grit) and Polyurethaned (Minwax) with 4 coats. (sanding between each coat with 400 grit) I highly recommend using a lambswool applicator (it screws on to any broom handle) . The process was very easy with the room being empty.
Ain't he CUTE!
I used some of the new? varigated floss from DMC. I can't recall the # right now. But it felt the same as regular DMC, good coverage and it consistantly changed every inch or two. What I think I might like about this stuff is that it is colorfast (or so they claim, I haven't checked) but it would be nice to use overdyed on things I plan on washing.
the pattern can be found here
Ian painted the ceiling yesterday, but I haven't taken a photo of that yet. I thought I would entertain you with his version of a forest that was done last week. It is a bit dark, but he promises it will get lighter as he moves forward and down. To answer some of your comments, no Ian is not a painter, just a self taught sketcher. Normally he does pencil sketches, and accents them with color or a bit of paint. He has never to my knowledge painted anything larger than a sheet of 8x11 paper. His "real" job is an aircraft mechanic, but like me has NUMEROUS hobbies (currently I can count 7 for him and 7 for me, see below) and this doesn't include the dozens we have both tried and stopped over the years. We have so many hobbies that our 3rd bedroom is technically called the Craft Room and is where we throw guests to stay overnight (there is a futon, so no, they don't have to sleep on the big piles of fabric). In fact both of us go far out of our way to avoid aquiring new hobbies because what we have takes up so much time/ money already...It is one of those things that made us wait so long to have a child, we really don't want to give these things up but know that time/money spend on a child will force us do ditch at least most of them for about 18 years.
Hobby List for Me:
Cross stitch
Jewelry making
Candle making
Quilting
Knitting
Reading
Scrapbooking
Hobby List for Ian:
Drawing
RC helicopter
Legos
Auto Mechanics
Woodworking
Reading
Flying (real airplanes)
Is Xbox a hobby?
Let's just say if we won the lottery neither of us would ever get bored.
Portrait of a dog
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
So in preparation of the mural painting, Ian recalled that he had seen a muralist ( is that what you call them?) once working using a photograph as a guide. He thought at the time that was kind of "cheating". But now faced with a blank wall and the wish to make a mural look "real" he had decided that using the colors from photographs may be the best way to go. The result is this, a very real looking background of trees reflected in the water. Is it a lake? a river? I am not sure yet. It will be interesting to see how the animals fit in to this. We still have a ways to go
Yeah....Here is my work on Brightneedle's Nine Patch Village that I worked on over at the Tarheel get together on Sat. This is over one on 28 evenweave. I had to break down and buy a magnifier for this one just so I can stitch as fast as I do over two.
I have to say I am a bit dissapointed with the colors..they are just too light. I picked a fabric which I thought matched the model photo pretty closely (and I still think it does.) However as I started stitching I noticed that a couple of my fibers, ones that are called for, not substituted, blend in too well with the fabric. Like in the top block with the house, there is a fence. Can you see it? I can't. and even squinting at the model photo, you can barely tell there is a fence, so I know my fabric isn't that far off. I think I might leave the fence out of some of the other squares since I don't think it really enhanced the piece. The colors are so muted overall that if I darken up one fiber, I would have to bump up the whole lot of them. If I could start all over...which I am NOT I would pick a darker fabric.
I have also been working on another piece but I can't show it to you for a bit as it is a gift I am working on.
as I edge into my 6th month I am noticing more and more that the blogs I read (majority of them about cross stitching) are almost all authored by folks with no children. I am guessing this is because stitchers with children probably barely have time to stitch much less blog. So in deference to my childless readers, so as not to bore you out of your mind with isn't she cute posts, I will try to only post about my baby once every 3 stitching posts Deal?
On the upside of that is that all our baby room prep is about crafting/painting. As you can see from the picture the main part of the sky is done. Ian took 3 original shades of paint and about 4 hours to do the whole room. He used a big brush in a technique I guess is best described as stippling. I think it came out much better than I had hoped for, there is shading and depth and it already looks like a real sky, and clouds are still to come. The ceiling will be done as well in the darker blue tones. Ian is already shopping about for the shades of green we need for the grass.
I recieved my valentines exchange on Mon from a fellow Tarheel, Linda. This was nice because I had someone in mind when I was stitching and shopping.. but I did not realize that she would be sending me stuff too! I thought it was one of those exchanges like we had on the bloggers exchange board where you sent off something but what you recieved was from someone different. Anyway, I got a lovely little scissor fob, a tuck in wall hanging frame, 2 patterns, floss, a candle, a homemade card, and chocolate. Above and beyond what was expected. I did not take a picure of what I sent her but it also had a fob and a candle involved ;) great minds think alike.
A freebie by Passion Broderie. I know it is February, But technically this has been "done" for over a year. Here is the full story: I first saw this as a finished picture on the now defunct Xstitch freebie website , it's still up just no longer added to or maintained. I loved this website to see how you could finish freebies (which is usually just a photocopy without a color picture). and cruised it often. Well since I could no longer find this freebie online, I contacted the original stitcher who kindly sent me the pattern. I decided it would look great on some green fabric with this hand dyed fiber that Aniza sent me long ago. Unfortunately I ran out of the thread on the bottom row. I tried to contact Aniza (who is in Malaysia) with no luck, then just put it away while I tried to figure out what to do. At the Pidgen Forge retreat, I took it with me to see if Brenda (our local dyer) could recreate the thread. But before that happened, my brilliant tarheels said "why don't you just do your initials and/or date in a solid color that matches" DUH. why didn't I think of that? See this is why we need stitching groups. So others help solve problems what you are too close to a project to see.
Well yesterday I pulled out some graph paper, thread, and an hour later....DONE.
Here it is my second finish of 2007. Well it has to be FINISHED into a fob in the next couple of days. ( if I can dodge the snow/sleet that is due tomorrow)..It is a freebie, the Heart Fob by Jeannette Douglas Designs. I am very happy with it. I was working with a black and white photocopy and did not have any of the fibers called for so I just picked a couple of GAST and Dye is Cast threads that looked good. I found the actual model on line here, and am surprised that is it so similar, (maybe just a bit more pink).
the main focus of my creative mind these days is the decor for the room of my baby....GIRL. Yep we found out on Monday the ultrasound went great and everything looks good. Part of me was pulling for a boy just because I wanted to get this crib set. Now it seems to boyish for a girl. and I have yet to see any "theme" for a girl that appeals to me. but regardless we have started to prepare the room.
before1
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
Check it out. Shoot if I had known I was only 4 nights (and a morning) away from finishing this thing I would of done so long ago. It ended up that the bottom bands were not as totally random as the top (see close up of the bottom of the sampler below). This ends up pretty big, and would love to have this professionally framed. now to see how long it will take for me to save up that money.
Figures, after all my whining yesterday, I got home pulled out View to a Spring Garden and started stitching on it. I would say I am 90% done with the center panel, which is 50% of the whole thing. The only fiber I am missing is 015HL Krenick for the gazing ball and the pond. I could of sworn I had bought it, but can't find it anywhere, so I may have to order that and move on down while I await its arrival. For a picture of what it will look like done...look here, anout half way down the page.
Hi everyone, I would like to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukah/Winter Solstice. But I am right on time for Happy New Year! Ian and I got back from Disney last wed, and he had to return to work the next day ...so that left me with laundry and refilling the fridge, and doing some (minor) prep for christmas, like cooking and baking a bit for the two of us.
But now the updates
Disney: I shall not bore you with the long winded version of 10 days worth of park hopping and hanging out, so let me summarize. The weather was great, it only rained one day and while it was overcast most of the time, the temp was about 75-80 during the day. We had 7 full days to visit all 4 parks and went to all of the at least twice and saw almost everything. Ian, having never been, absolutely loved it (except not being able to ride the coasters with me, and the fact that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is gone). I had been to all (but Animal Kingdom) before but it was a great as I remember, if not better because we had the time to browse Disney instead of rushing through it, and being on their dining plan (a bargain for $30 a day per person...we would of spent twice to three times as much if we had paid the list prices) I got to eat at all the places that I had ever wanted to...and some I learned I won't go back to. We never had to worry about transport, the busses, boats, and monorail took us everywhere. We saw all the christmas extras, the fireworks at Epcot, the fireworks at Magic Kingdom (twice), and the candlelight processional at Epcot where we heard beautiful carols, and the readings were done by Neil Patrick Harris.
If you want further insights or review, you can email me at the address in my profile
Christmas: As I had mentioned before I did not decorate this year, so Ian and I just opened our gifts from our families in front of the fire, even though it has beenin the 60s outside. Ian and I did not exchange gifts this year, Disney was it. But I did get a couple of things off my cross stitch wishlist from my mom, Pine Mountain Designs, Stitching and Easter Pillows and Homespun Elegance Winter motif and Fall motif samplers (I have links to pictures of these here on my wishlist). Speaking of cross stitch
Cross stitch: I have done nothing. Sigh. This stiching slump started right after I found out I was pregnant and finished Santa of the forest. It is frustrating because now is the time to stitch...before my life gets kicked in the head by a baby. I want to stitch but it has been boring me after a row or two (even on small projects). Everyone blames weird stuff during pregnancy on hormones. and even though I have not seen my share of any of that yet (no cravings or big mood swings) maybe I can blame my loss of cross stitch desire on the hormones. Sigh. Maybe a new project?
Baby: I went in for a doctor visit yesterday and Ian and I were hoping for an Ultrasound because we were visiting 6 weeks instead of 4 after our last visit. But the doctor said they don't do it till 18-20 weeks. So then I whined a bit about it being 18 weeks for me in 2 days, she obliged by bringing in the portable ultrasound, an older model with a tiny screen and scratchy picture, But we saw a head, a nose, a mouth, 2 eyes, an arm, a spine, 2 legs, and 2 knees. I have to wait 3 weeks for more than that. But I can do that now, because I am finally feeling him/her. Like someone is flicking me with a finger from the inside, I have been feeling kicks since friday, and everyday I feel more of them (in strength and number). I am still not showing very much, my jeans still fit, and I haven't gained but a couple of pounds. But Ian and I have now begun heavy discussion about cleaning out the room that is to be the baby's room..and where all that crap is going to go now. You know...I think I might actually be having a baby.
Just a quick post cause it costs us $10 for 24 hours of internet time. So no more posts till we return, You can see some highlighted photos of our journey so far if you click on the photo it should take you to a couple of other photos.
Ian wanted to meet Tigger and Stitch, we were very lucky and got to both yesterday (quite by accident) at the Magic Kngdom. Ian was upset that Mr Toads Wild Ride is no more. We have been to Epcot 2ce and are going back today to finish up the World part. MGM was done on Tues. Yet to go to Animal Kingdom...maybe Sunday.
I finally got all the christmas gifts off in the mail to the Parents and Inlaws. Doing the last load of laundry and beginning to pack. Tomorrow I am dropping Max off at the kennel (we call it puppy camp) cutely named The Bed and Biscuit. Then off to a Tarheel stitcher meeting to do a christmas exchange. Then packing and off on Sunday morning.
The cross stitch is a ornament I made for the exchange ..Peace by Heart in Hand. I adjusted some of the colors to fit what I had on hand, but I think it came out ok.
I am bringing my laptop and will try to post while I am in FL. But if I don't get to, then I shall see you all in the 20th.
Here is Frosty Nights by Whisky Creek Ink from 2003 JCS ornament magazine. It is done in all DMC on perforated paper, there are 2 sides, see the back in the below post, and then it is folded into a open sided triangle I haven't had any time to stitch much else, been cleaning, finishing up grading and finals (I get to give them not take them!) and trying to get random things done like christmas shopping before we leave in exactly one week. 10 Days vacation!! I can't wait.
