Can you tell I am avoiding work?

Which Sci-fi /fantasy character are you? I am Galadriel.
Possessing a rare combination of wisdom and humility, while serenely dominating your environment you selflessly use your powers to care for others.
Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

Sounds good to me;)
I got this work avoiding activity from (who else) Wil in exile and no he didn't come out a Wesley Crusher...

Here is question I asked myself yesterday after hearing a Supreme court justice on Fresh Aire on NPR yesterdaytalk about his new book. How many Justices can you name of the top of your head? (hint: there are 9). I came up with 6 which did not include the guy on the radio (I had never heard of him before). I asked Ian the same question and was surprised that he could only name one (after me prodding him about it for 5 min) . How did you score? Answers here.

Flip It Oct

Flip It Oct
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Here it is. the slip stitching on the bottom is a bit loose, I have to go back and fix that. I just started tha November one last night. I know I am falling behind...but with only 2 left in the series I am looking forward to finishing them by the end of the year.

I need to get my lottery entry started and finished (due by Nov 15)for the SBBB. I started something but now I think I want to keep it for myself. that is the one issue I have with exchanges, once I put in the time and I really like it I don't want to give it away. But I guess it helps that I get one that was probably just as hard for that stitcher to give up.

I feel like I haven't seen my husband all week..sucks big time. He had friends over on Mon night to play xbox, went to play hockey on tues night(i went with to watch), yesterday he went canoeing up in the mountains. he left before I got up and didn't arrive home till I was asleep, and tonight he is going straight to another hockey game (a double header) so I won't see him till 10pm. I told him if he makes any plans for fri evening I will kill him.

sendlove
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

After hearing about Beckys horrible email I decided i will fix up this little cross stitch that I did in Jan into a little ornament to send her. I hope I never get a comment or email that nasty directed to me or my blog.

And to end on a positive note......

What Reject Sith Are You?

This weeks Question and update

Do you mark or hi-lite your patterns or can you follow them without any markings? Do you make copies to mark up, or do you mark originals?

I have only photocopies and highlighted 2 patterns so far. These are the ones with alot of confetti stitching or are big and complicated. I try not to mark on the original pattern But I do have a bad habit of checking off the list of floss colors in pencil, but I don't intend on selling the patterns later so I guess it does not matter.

Other wise in the stitching world I was going to post a pic of my oct flip it and 2 completed tie one on kits....but my husband stole the camera this morning so you will have to wait. I also finished Starlight Starbright (xmas present for sister).
Ian and I have been able to unpack and get all the furniture from grandpa's house settled in. the only thing left is a table that needs to be sold. We ended up with an extra dresser that we put into my closet and filled with my craft and crossstitch stuff. (there were piles of rubbermaid there before. I am glad we were able to use it.

Fall exchange

Fall exchange
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Fall exchange (inside)
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Here is my Fall exchange piece recieved from Aniza in Malaysia. The pic is a bit dark (I need a better camera). But the pattern is a La Broderie freebie designed for Needle Necessities. The fabric is a Malasian batik print. She also included a skein of floss that she overdyed herself. I think I might have the perfect pattern for it...but it will be a while befor i can use it with chistmas arriving soon.

The fall exchange peice I did is in the mail and I will post that picture as soon as Nicki recieves it *waving to New Zealand*

Comment crisis

Thank you to Jo for letting me know I miss set my comments to members only. I didn't mean to do that and I think it is ok again. You can now comment on any post.

I have a bunch of pics to take and post so check back often during the next week.

Back from NJ/PA

Relatives
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Hello all, I have just returned from a weeks worth of funeral, cleaning out a house, and driving over 1000 miles to get everything where it needed to be.

Everyone was able to come for at least a day. The viewing and funeral went well. The dividing and sorting of house treasures/antiques/memories went without any blood. (we had a plan worked out for a long time). Ian and I had to rent a Uhaul trailer to get my/my mom/and my sisters stuff out of there cause the house was going on sale by Saturday. So we towed the stuff to PGH to unload my sisters and moms stuff . Then we left and arrived home yesterday.

I ended up with a Dining room table and 4 chairs, a dresser, a coffee table, 3 end tables, a sewing table (with a sewing machine it it!) a gun rack, a bookcase, a hutch and a dressing table. (the last 2 are currently in storage at moms till i get a bigger house. I also got several wedgewood pieces (in storage till the hutch has a place), and a bunch of kitchen supplies.

Lots to clean up and move around. It was good to see all my cousins...it may be along time (or never) before we all get together again.

Lastly...I noticed no one wants to comment anymore. I had to initiate to word id program cause I was starting to get mega spam. Please don't let it scare you, I love your comments. 9lets me know you are still listening.

Peace needleroll ornament

Peace needleroll ornament
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

This is the last ornament in my exchange group Peace by Jeanette Douglas Designs...I havent even finished the last ornament yet (Peace Tree over one in silk!...I am pulling my hair out over that one).
But I got all the stuff for this needleroll the other day and finished it in 1 night (minus the hemstitching and rolling) I have never done a needle roll before and I LOVED this one. I am thinking of doing another just for fun. I looked in the new JCS ornament issue and lo and behold there is another needleroll, Love ...so I ran out and got all the stuff (except one speciality fiber which I ordered) and stitched most of it up yesterday. I must say that I did not like it as much as the Peace one, it is not as clean looking and the twill stitch did not endup with the same diagonal pattern that you can see in the model. Some times I think the designer forgets how they did something and your left trying to figure out what went wrong.

Halloween exchange

Halloween exchange
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Well I can finally post this pic, Lizzie got it. This is Pumpkin Pagent by Cross Country (a freebie) it is over one on 22 count grey linen. I attempted to do a whipped stitch finish with a beaded edge. It isn't my best work but I am sure I will only get better.
My Autumn exchange is done and will go out soon, and I just signed up for the garden exchange...can you tell i like these.

John Belcher Sayre 1908-2005

Pic of grandma and grandpa
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

My Grandfather died wed. He was my last grand parent and was the oldest at a whopping 97 years and 7 months. He was a colon cancer surviver of over 20 years. but he had deteriorating over the past year or so. Here is the official obituary (my mom wrote it up...pretty good eh).

John Belcher Sayre, 97, was Summit police chief
Sunday, October 02, 2005
A service for John Belcher Sayre, 97, a lifelong Summit resident, and former police chief there, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the United Methodist Church, Summit. Arrangements are by the Bradley-Brough Funeral Home, Summit.
Mr. Sayre, who died Wednesday at home, started his career with H.O. Wilson, a woolen goods firm in New York City.
He joined the Summit Police Department in 1941 and then the Navy during World War II, where he served in the Short Patrol in Mississippi and Louisiana.
After his tour of duty, he rejoined the police department and was named chief of police in 1957 and retired in 1973.
Mr. Sayre was the executive director of the Summit/New Providence Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Policemens Benevolent Association Local 55, the New Jersey Police Chiefs Association and the International Police Chiefs Association and past president of the Union County Police Chiefs Association.
Mr. Sayre started the Police Athletic League, the Cub Scouts Pack and the Boys Scouts at Washington School in Summit.
He was past president and a Paul Harris Fellow in the Rotary Club in Summit, a volunteer with the American Red Cross in Summit, the first recipient of the YMCA Stuart Reed Award and a recipient of the Bnai Brith Americanism Award.
Surviving are sons, John B. Jr. and Brant T.; a daughter, Nancy Sayre Bergman; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

I am glad I had 31 years of knowing him, and
I am very happy to have just seen him in July and that he knew me and Ian.

THis week question

Have you ever just quit a project while in the midst of it? (We’re not referring to UFOs here, rather projects that you know that you’ll never work on again.) Why? What did you do with it - throw it out, give it away, put it away?

The only one I can think of is one of the first big (larger than 10 stitches square) Counted cross stitch kits I tried. I was about 13 or so, and It was a picture of a rocking chair and a cat on a rug...you know the type. Well I messed up somewhere and could not find the mistake, then I found it and tryed to work around it/fix it then more mistakes kept rearing their ugly head. I finally threw it out and stopped stitching for about a year or more When I finally stitched again I did an even more complicated one...but it turned out very well thank you. I think I just needed that year of maturity.

Last weeks Question

What is the most challenging specialty stitch you have ever stitched?

Off the top of my head I would have to say a bullion stitch. I tryed it on one of those Victoria Sampler Learning samplers with it to make roses...I was not happy with my results. Usually though I love to try new stitches, and can master them after a few trys.

Hershey (Saturday and Sunday)

Mom and Liz
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

So Saturday We get out to Chocolate World early (9:30 or so) and ride the same ride they have had there for 25 years (they need disney to update that thing..seriously) We scoped out all the new chocolate products and found out that they no longer make regular size Krackle bars.

We then went to the Hershey Gardens...we also scoped out the posh Hotel Hershey. The gardens were huge and full of roses (my mom is the big gardener in the family...here photoed sharing her knowledge with 2 daughters sworn never to try to grow roses LOL). After the Gardens and lunch we went to the outlets, Hershey has just a tiny outlet mall but we stopped by the important stores (scrapbook, Pfaltzgraff, and the one cross stitch store in the area...the Cross stitch Corner). We were tired after all that so we headed to Friendly's for Ice cream then back to the hotel to stitch. We got deli dinner late at night and stitched too long into the night.

Sunday we took our time leaving, and stopped by the cross stitch store again to get a few more things (never enough) I left around noon and was home by 630.

Mom at Gardens
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

The Stash Haul:

Stash Haul
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Ok lettsee if I can remember

Fabric: Snow Squall from Crossed Wings, distressed 32 ct Belfast Linen, and a pretty rose colored 32 ct linen.

Patterns: Quaker Diamond by Hillside samplings, Nine patch by Bright Needle, Seaology by Trilogy, Five Pumpkins and House welcome by JBW designs, Cat sampler by HIH, and Hug a tree by Bent Creek.

Kits: I totally broke down and bought 3 tie one on kits from Pine Mountian Designs: Ho ho ho, Making Friends and Trick or Treat (which I finished there!)

Other: JCS ornament 2005 issue, a bell pull for my autumn exchange, GAST in Wood smoke and Cinammon, and WDW in Brick.

Over all a pretty good trip. Next year I hope to stay in the lodge and actually meet Cathy (who I hear was found by Jo after all....see Jo I told you she wasn't imaginary) and spend some time meeting new people.

Hershey Report (Thursday and Friday)

Andrea and Trevor
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

So I drove up on thursday and arrived In Lancaster around 3:30...since I had about 2 hours before my friend got home, I stopped by Millersville U (My alma mater) bought a new tshirt, and toured the new science building, I was also able to talk to one of my old profs (who remembered me!, its been 9 years!). I then went to meet my friend at her house. Here is a fabulous pic of her and her son (he is about 16 months) sorry for the bad color...we were in a mall elevator!
The next day (Friday) We drove in to Hershey, my friend went to work (she teaches there) and I scoped out the town. I found the hotel and the conference center...but had to wait till 10 when they let the plebs in (members got in at 9) I wandered and shopped about till 1 when my mom and sister arrived. We went and had lunch then went back in to the mart to finish shopping. Around 3 I gave up looking for my fellow bloggers and tried to call Cathy (phone # no good) then Jo ..she was there and we met up I met Pete, Patti, and Nancy but eventually had to meet up with mom again. Jo gave me the Halloween exchange there. Isn't it great!

My Halloween exchange from Jo
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

I found Jo and told her to give me a call of she found Cathy or did anything that evening...and maybe we could join up. Unfortunatly we were staying in the Holiday inn Express down the street while all of my fellow bloggers were hanging out in the Lodge (where the festival was), So I guess I was out of sight out of mind. After we left, Liz (my sister) and my mom and I ended up heading out to dinner, back to the hotel, soaking in the hot tub and stitching till bed time. I shall post about Sat and sun tomorrow...it is getting late

Off to chocolate land

Off to the land of the crazy cross stitchers! Unlike my fellow bloggers who will also be attending (Cathy, Jo, and Patti) I do not have a shopping list. I have most of the fabric I need for the immediate projects I am going to do. My goal is to get as much as I like for a little $$ as possible (wish me luck in my grab bag grabbing). I am leaving in tomorrow morning and shall return on Sunday......Ill take plenty of incriminating photos hehe.

Shot Glass rack

Shot Glass rack
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Back in my younger years when I was in college, I started to collect shotglasses from where ever I had been. I can't remember the oldest one...maybe the one from Stone Harbor NJ where I worked during the summer of 94. But ever since my souvenir of choice where ever I go is a shotglass. It must be a place where I have stayed overnight at least and have a unique quality to it (not just say "Spring Break Rules" or whatever). Some time in 2000 I started to run out of room on a tiny 2 shelf rack i bought, and when we moved into our new house My father in law said he would make us a rack for them all. This was 2 years ago...almost to the month. The rack is made of cherry wood.

The glasses have been waiting patiently in the attic for a long time. We have 48 from places we have been (my original rule of collection) and 63 altogether (the rack can hold 120 if crowded) the other 15 are gifts from friends and family that are either random or from places they have been.

This rule also lead itself to the unique toast Ian and I had at our wedding...a shotglass was our favor for all the guests and we all did Jagermeister, I think Ian's grandma did 2. (I don't like champane, and this liquor is significant in our dating story). Which reminds me I have to dig out an extra glass for the rack from the attic. Total Glasses= 64

Any questions?

I can't believe people read my blog.

This must mean I am on someones favorites list! Ha. I got 5 comments in 16 hours (okok one was spam but still, I think its cool.) And Patti, We actually didn't find a USB or buy one, the camera came with a mouse that can read the memory card...and Ian hooked it up so I could post the pics. Ill see you in Hershey too!!

I am excited to head up to Hershey in less than 3 days! I get to see my roomate from college and spend the weekend withe my mom and sister...surrounded by cross stitch... woo hoo, I need a break.

In the thesis department I am trying to finish up the lab work portion of my stuff, that has meant identifing chironomids (midges). For those of you who are not aquatic ecologists, in order to id these guys you have to mount them on a slide and squash their heads to get them down to genus and species. see pictures similar to what I have been looking at for the past 2 weeks here . In the mean time I am debating on if I can really finish by Dec. I am trying to cover my butt and get a TA lined up for next semester if I don't finish. And it is looking like if I do finish, I wont have time to find a job by Jan.
I am hoping to start my Results section by the beginning of Oct , and to give you an idea of how behind i am ,the other 2 grad students in my lab who plan on graduating in Dec have already turned in their results.

Nametags

Nametags
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Here are the nametags I did for the CATS festival (4 days to go). The blue one I did some drawn thread work...Rhodes stitches then herringbone, below my name is algerian eyelets, them a wave stitch from the seashore sampler I did earlier this year. I tryed to add a backing but it pulled out...so I ended up just mounting it to some mat board.

The cream one was a design pulled from a needle roll design I haven't done yet but the lettering came out great and this one is my fav of the 2.

September Flip it

September Flip it
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Truth or Dare.....Truth

I got this from Cathys blog.....who got it from Vash.....I thought it was neat:

My truths are in bold
I am bisexual. I am homosexual. I've run away from home. I listen to political music. I collect comic books. I shut others out when I'm sad. I open up to others easily. I am keeping a secret from the world. I watch the news. SometimesI own over 5 rap CDs. I own an ipod. I own something from Hot Topic. I love Disney movies. I am a sucker for hair/eyes. I don't kill bugs. (exception for mosquitos). I curse regularly. I have "x"s in my screen name. I've slipped out a "lol" in a real conversation. I love Spam. I bake well. I would wear pajamas to school. I own something from Abercrombie. I have a job. I love Martha Stewart. I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS. I am self conscious. I like to laugh. I smoke a pack a day. I loved Go Ask Alice. I have cough drops when I'm not sick. I can't swallow pills. I have many scars. I've been out of this country. (only if Canada counts) I believe in ghosts. I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room. I am really ticklish. I love chocolate.I bite my nails.I am comfortable with being me.I play computer games/video games when I'm bored.Gotten lost in the city.Saw a shooting star.I have had two serious surgical procedures.Gone out in public in my pajamas.I have kissed a stranger.Hugged a stranger.Been in a fist fight with the same sex. Been arrested.Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose.Pushed all the buttons on an elevator. Made out in an elevator. Sworn at my parents.Kicked a guy where it hurts.Been skydiving. Been bungee jumping. Broken a bone. Played spin the bottle. Gotten stitches. Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour. Bitten someone. Been to Niagara Falls. Gotten the chicken pox. Crashed into a car.Been to Asia. Ridden in a taxi. Shoplifted. Been fired. Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back. Stole something from my job. Gone on a blind date. Had a crush on a teacher/coach. Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.Been to Europe. Slept with a co-worker.Been married. ( to same coworker) Gotten divorced. Saw someone dying. Driven over 400 miles in one day. Been to Canada. Been on a plane.Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Thrown up in a bar. Eaten Sushi. Been snowboarding. Been skiing. Been ice skating.Met someone in person from the internet. Been to a car show. Going to or have gone to college.Done hard drugs. Taken painkillers. Met a celebrity. I like playing practical jokes. Been in a hot air balloon. Ridden a camel in the Sahara desert. Performed in front of an audience.

Questions

Last week:
Which way do you stitch (/// and then \\\ or \\\ and then ///)? Can you (or if you haven’t done it before, do you think you could) change the way that you stitch temporarily if it is asked of you?

I stitch both ways....I know it seems confusing, but I remember my mom teaching me that it didn't matter if it was right over left or vice versa as long as you are consistant in the entire piece. You can see in my earlier work both types would appear. Now Ill start a piece (usually it is /// then\\\ ) and just continue the way I started through out. But even now (Yesterday!) I'll catch myself sometimes reversing it for a few stitches then I rip it and redo.

This week:
Do you stitch for events like weddings, engagements, or other things that might not last? If you have been unlucky and the two people broke up, what happened toyour stitched gift?

So far I have only stitched one wedding piece and it wasn't very big....And if they break up Ill steal it back cause the framing was so damn expensive ;) LOL . No I mostly do baby samplers now (3 so far), there is no undoing a birth.

Tuesday Rocks the Casbah

So with the official complaint of my mother that I haven't posted lately :

So Ian and I have lost the usb cable for our camera so even though I framed Pumpkin in the patch and finished September's Flip it...alas I cannot post it till we either find said cable or break down and puchase a new one. In addition I also finished the Halloween exchange piece for the blogger exchange but cannot post it (secret stuff and all) til the end of this month. I am fairly proud of myself because I finished it in a flat ornament using a whipped backstitch beaded edging. It is not the best but it is my first and I have learned a lesson or two on how to do it better next time. I am currently working on an autumn exchange piece that will be done soon and to my great chagrin....a nametag, sigh.....

See I was going to use this old nametag I had done years ago for a retreat but it is kind of hmmmm dated? yeah dated. So I wasn't going to worry about it till JO did her FABULOUS nametag, now she is making us all look bad. Now I know nothing I can do can even compare to that grace, I am not good at putting together my own designs. But I decided this weekend I would have to try or regret it all the way to Hershey, so I put together not one but 2 designs...If the first one comes out bad I can quick stitch a second.

A good weekend

Yes yes I know it is Wed...but this is the first opportunity I have had to blog this week.
So this past Sat Ian and I went dancing...see I was feeling a bit depressed lately and I determined that one reason was that Ian and I don't go out anymore...several reasons but the biggest is that there is no where to go for couples in greensboro besides a resturant (and we have tonnnnns of those). all the bars/clubs are smoky, expensive, loud, and crowded, and if you want a live band you can't find one where there is room to dance (and I mean dance with a breathable airpocket around you) See in Savannah (where we met) there was lots of places with bands and dance floors with minimum $$ exchanging hands. Sooo long story short (too late) I did a search on the internet and found this. It ends up that they were having a dance this past Sat at the Shrine Club. Which I took to be all a good omen cause 1) we live within walking distance of the club 2) we had our wedding reception in a shrine club and 3) I found out about it a week before time not a week later as is usually my luck. Well I knew that this was either going to be great or suck big time (the former prevailed). We got beginning lesson on Jitterbug before the dance, and the music was all swing and bigband, and there was lots of space! Ian and I are now talking about taking lessons on Mon night but $$ is tight now so we shall see.

Jump to Mon (nothing happened Sun trust me) Ian and I had planned on taking the day off and going to Raleigh to see The CSI exibit at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences We headed out and enjoyed a day at a museum that was pretty much empty (no school groups since school has just started). After wards eat at the Mellow Mushroom (I had heard great things about it) and then went and watched some of Ians friends play a game of rollerhockey (they are the Crimson tide) and when I say friends there are 4 (four) of these guys that Ian went to school with up in NY and now they all live and work in Raleigh and all play on the same roller hocky team...any who they won 9 to 4 and We had a few drinks afterwards and went home arriving just at midnight.

Well today Ian is off to the beach with a few guys from work...they got some time in a timeshare that another co worker couldn't use. So maybe I can get something done around here (haha).

Little Pumpkin in a patch HIH

Little Pumpkin in a patch HIH
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

All done. I used all the dmc conversions except on the pumpkin it called for a wierd burgandy color or WDW cinnamon. I instead went to my overdyed floss stash and pulled out WDW carrot. that seemed more orange and natural to me. the photo is a bit washed out but you get the idea.

Didn't stitch at all last night Ian and I went to the gym....I hate the gym, ok not hate, dislike very very much. And its not just the gym I dislike exercize too...I think I was born without these endorphins every one talks about.

Oh and I trashed my photo over there cause I was bugging me ....Maybe Ill put another up someday.

Mary Kay open house

Color Line
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Hello all, Sorry I haven't been blogging lately I ahve been in funk lately. But my MK open house is over here is a pic of just one of the 4 tables I had set up to display my inventory...This is just the color cosmetics (then I had a skin care table, a spa table, one of perfumes, and one of gift ideas). I had good results and am happy to have reconnected with my customers.

As for stitching, I finished pumkin in the patch...I will post tomorrow. I am working on my halloween exchange and autumn exchange (which I can't post till the exchange happens).

And by tomorrow I mean Monday :0

Ian's Drawing of his plane
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Here is Ian's pencil sketch of the plane, and he thinks he isn't very good...heh, well at least he signed this one...usually he has to be forced to sign any of his work. Ian's dad was and artist and a woodworker, and his grand father liked to tinker with cars....Ian got all these interests so I end up with a very talented (yet frustrated) husband with too many hobbies he wants to do and not enough time or $$ to do it.

Meanwhile I realize the count down has started. I have 3.5 months to whip up a thesis. I have told EVERYONE that I graduate in Dec but now I am nervous it might not get done. Aggh.

In crosstitch land I have too many projects going on at once. I started 3 this weekend! one for my fall exchange (its a badly kept secret), Little Pumkin in the Patch by HIH, and the Sept Flip it. none of them should take long to do...But you would think I had enough to do already.

and My Mary Kay open house is this thursday....I have to start calling those who have not RSVPed, to see who intends to come (that is 24 phone calls....and I hate being on the phone!)

Finally to top of this Monday...I just recieved a phone call from my sister telling me my stepfather is in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer (which they think he had for days and told no one). Send your energy to PA....my stepfather and my mom will need it.

The Cabinet...........Is done.

The Cabinet...........Is done.
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

If you are a regular reader you will remember that I mentioned about 2 months ago that Ian and I were redoing an old garage cabinet... We sanded it and Ian bead blasted the drawers a few at a time...and we used rustoleum's Hanmmered brown and silver metalic for the handles. My only regret...No before picture! It now resides in the craft room where it holds all kinds of crafty stuff...the drawers are a roomy 9x15 and about 2 inches deep...so in the drawers went model paints, fabric, paint brushes, pencils, floss, oragami paper, stamps, and other random stuff that was taking up lots of space. we then bought the tv dvd player (see on top) to spend more time in the room. It is paying off too. Ill post a picture of what Ian has been working on tomorrow.
Meanwhile....my Hershey plans are solidifing, my mom and sister are joining me for the weekend at CATS in Sept. My mom is a xstitcher...but my sister is not, but assures me she will attend if just to pick out stuff for me to stitch for her. I plan on heading up on thursday and spending the night at a college friends house (Attn Cathy:, My friend and her husband are both Pi Nu's, I was not, I was a Pixie PKX !). What I am really looking forward to is meeting these bloggers who I have read so much about.

August Flip it

August Flip it
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Just to keep you all happy, here is my August flip it...I made it into a hanging and it is already up. September is not going to be as good with the timing since I haven't even started it yet.
This weekend was pretty relaxing...I didn't do much, Sunday I felt caged again...like something wasn't quite right.
But yesterday I finished up the last of my field work for my thesis...and celebrated Ians birthday by going out to dinner.

Ornament exchange #4

Ornament exchange #4
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Here is the fourth finished ornament exchange....Joy by Erica Michaels. Well I now have 4 (in the end 6 ) stitched ornaments....but how to finish them...and when Ha!

Last night Ian worked on financial issues and paid bills while I cleaned out my Mary Kay closet and organized it to a point where it is cleaner than when we moved in. I got out all the open house stuff and figured out what I have to order before the big day.

Little house in the Woods

Little house in the Woods
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Well I finished and framed Little House in the Woods by HIH (I told you I found the perfect frame) I did use DMC instead of GAST (I'm cheap) . Next in this series will be Little Pumkin in the Patch. I started to rip out and redo Starlight Starbright last night while we watched Castaway (I didn't like it as much as all the hype built it up to be...What WAS in the box???). Ian and I bought a little 14 inch Tv/dvd combo for the craft room...so now I can stitch, sew, play with my beading or scrapbooking stuff, while Ian can sit at his drawing table and work on larger sketches while we watch DVDs at night. Before I was running back and forth between the front room and my stitch stuff...and was limited to what was portable too.

I went to my neighbors Open House (she is a Creative Memories consultant) this past Sunday and bought a powersort box...then pulled ALL my photos out from the attic and organized them! I have about 20 years worth of photos organized by time and place/event. It is a bit overwhelming, but the progress I have made so far has made me feel very good. Next I want to get all the little souviners/invitations/cards together and sorted ...(there are about 3 boxes of that stuff in the attic too.)

As for my Mary Kay Open house....it is turning out pretty well... I got the flyers ready and sent out tuesday. I have already had a call from one person who RSVPed. Woo Hoo!

In other news I have been out in the field this week collecting the last of the aquatic insects needed for my thesis...I will be all done with that next monday! Then the analysis must start. School starts on the 15th but I am not taking any classes...Just teaching and finishing my thesis....

Im Baaaacccccckkkkk

Well....Lettsee I last wrote to you all on thursday the 14th. Since then I have been to court, seen all my immediate family, and have traveled 1200 miles.

Let me break it down for you without boring you to death. Thursday night we go out to meet our friends for dinner and get a call from another friend who says she is leaving her husband and called the police and needs a place to stay. (We have been expecting this call for a while). So the next day she calls me frantic saying she has to be in court to get the restraining order but they will not let the baby in...so I head downtown (only 2 miles away from school) to look after her daughter while she is in court...I was holding this baby for so long (4 hours) that my arms were sore the next day. That evening we all had a Pow -wow with all the people in the know about the situation and we discussed how we were going to proceed (this abuse situation is stitckier than most cause all our husbands work together!).
My mom and my stepdad arrived the next day Sat and stayed till tuesday morning....the whole time we are dealing with the aformentioned problem, but managed a good visit with the rents and mom got to go flying with Ian.
Tuesday morning my mom and stepdad head off to the coast and Ian and I head up north with doggie...glad to leave troubles behind. We arrive in New Paltz, NY to stay with his parents 11 hours later (traffic in DC and more stops than usual for the dog). During our stay, 5 days 5 nights, we visited 2 grand parents, a great aunt, a great uncle, and 11 friends (in 5 different locations) . Max was a trooper, he ajusted well to traveling in the truck, meeting new people, and to visiting different places. On the way home yesterday we visited my grandpa and a friend in NJ so our trip was longer (with hitting the DC to Richmond traffic at 5 pm ) 14 hours in total.

In cross stitching I finished my August Flip it, and Little house in the Woods by HIH. I also go t to have great S.E.X. (Stash Enhancing eXperience) at the Deer Farm Cross stitch Shop in Hyde Park NY...I highly recommend it...she has everything! I got the Mothers tree by L&L , Jig of the Lady bug , Signs of Spring, Signs of Winter, Signs of Summer, Animal Arches all by Bent Creek, Britty Kitties III by Brittercup Designs, and The Country Seasons by Prarie Schooler.

ARRRRGGGHHHH and makeup

Part I Arrrrgggghhhhhh. I was working on Starlight starbright last night and I was noticing that the snowman did not seem to have as much coverage as the pic on the front. I checked the directions and lo and behold it says to use 3 strands...I was using 2! ugh. Now armed with the knowledge that it could look better, I debated just finishing it as is. But I know that i will not be happy and every with every stitch I will question whether I made the right decision. So based on past experience I will be frogging the whole thing (well not the whole thing the scarf looks ok). Man I hate that.

Part II Makeup. For those who may not know... I have been a Mary Kay consultant for about 4 years. Most recently it is a spare time job. Last night my Sales Director came in from Ohio and Ian and I had dinner with her. I was lamenting the fact that although I have a full inventory on my shelves and a few regular customers, I am slowly accumulating more and more discontinued product. So she came up with a great open house idea for me...and my head was spinning with plans all night for it. I love to plan stuff like this, make everything pretty, send out flyers, call folks. But then the big let down comes when no one shows up....as has happened with a few christmas open houses I have had in the past. So I am trying to strike a balance between excitement and reality. I think I will hold it in August....hmmmm

Baby Sampler for Tessa

Baby Sampler for Tessa
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

This is a sampler from JBW designs.
I did not get the embellishment pack (white buttons, 2 rabbit buttons) so I substituted two stitched rabbits up top and left out the extra buttons. but i did add the beads for their tails...cute huh.
I had most of this done 2 months ago...just needed a birth to fill in the rest.

Starlight Starbright

Starlight Starbright
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Here is my work so far on Waxing Moon's Starlight starbright. The Waiting for Santa below (see previous post) was originally for my sister but that was done in 2000! Now that I found the frame I really want to keep it, soooo she may get this one instead. Whatcha think Liz?

Anywho nothing exciting going on today...need to head over to the library and photocopy some papers....my advisor is coming back from Alaska tomorrow and I have to have something to tell her. She doesn't know that I am heading off to NY next week for a short trip to my inlaws house ...it was kinda a last minute decision.

I finished a baby sampler for my friends new baby and I plan on framing and posting a picture tomorrow.

Framing.....

Framed Waiting for santa

Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Framed Thinking of you sampler

Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Framed Gud Huswife sampler

Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

One year older...

Yesterday was my 31st birthday.....but lets recap the entire weekend
Saturday I went out shopping for frames, since I havent been stitching much lately I have felt the urge to at least finish a few of my 20+ finished Xstiches. I didn't want to spend too much $$ so I hit the thrift and Goodwill stores first. ($4 for 4 frames!) I found the perfect frames for Bent Creek's Waiting for Santa, the Gud Huswife freebie sampler, a frame to remount a sampler I had on sticky board, and a PERFECT frame for HIH Little House in the Woods. To go with Little house in the woods there is also similar themed Angel in the Clouds, Pumpkin in the patch and Snowman in the drifts...I am thinking of hanging the frame in my kitchen and rotating all 4 them thru out the year. Now I am inspired to stitch them all.

So What to do when you don't feel like stitching your WIP's......Start more projects Yeah! I started a Leo Cattitudes (Margaret Sherry) for a friend whose birthday is coming up soon and Waxing Moon's Starlight Starbright. It was kitted and ready to go....

Saturday night we went out to Fire and Sticks, a hibachi place to celebrate a friend's son's birthday (and mine too). Then Ian and I went home and watched Somethings Gotta Give. It was funnier than we thought it was going to be.

Sunday I went out to lunch with them and helped my friends drop their kids off at the Y camp down the street. I got a David Yurman bracelet from Ian, and some earrings from my MIL, and I got some stash from my friend ....the aformentioned Little snowman in the drifts, Trilogy's Dog Treats, Crossed Wings Mitten Games, and Bent Creek Dancing Bumblebee.

Overall an Ok weekend

Cage Rattler

When I walk Max around the neighborhood there is a black dog that does not bark at us but instead rises it self up onto its back legs and shakes the chain link fence gate with his front paws...I have taken to calling him the Cage Rattler (sounds like a good WWF name eh?).

I have been restless all week...feel like i am in a cage too, I haven't stitched a single cross, maybe because I am more upset than i thought at losing my birds. I have read 2 books in the past 3 days (and I haven't read any novels in months) both by Orson Scott Card. He is my favorite author (and lives here in Greensboro too) and for some reason every once in a while his stories get stuck in my head, like a favorite scene in a movie....I reread Treason (for the third or fouth time) and Songmaster (second time) . And I am fighting the urge to re read Enchantment and Lovelock....I love his stand alone stories...although the series books are fabulous, it is satisfying to finish a book and not have to worry about reading the next before your memory forgets the first one. Everytime a new Ender or Alvin book comes out I have to reread the first 4-8 books...True with Harry Potter too...I will at least have to re read the fifth book by the time i get my hands on the sixth.. I am rambling but are you getting the feel of my nervous twitch....I feel like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop...not that the first one ever did. The sky is falling.

We saw War of the Worlds a few days ago and it was better than I had feared but not a classic ...I won't be running out to buy it. I have mixed feelings about Tom (Wil thinks he sucks) and Dakota is getting soooooooo many movies lately you would think she is the only girl in hollywood. but at least she plays it real....I forget she is an actor .

Oh I hired Design-a-Blog to redo this bad boy so keep your eyes on this space.

4th BBQ Pics

Matt and Lisa
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

All the 4th photos are now in flickr.com....go check 'em out (just click on pic)

In other news.....bad bad news, this past friday I took several cross stitch pieces to Joann Fabrics to match them for pillow backs and I discovered that when I came back home my Waxing Moon birds were missing. I called the store but to no avail...they claimed no one had seen it. I was then going to go there in person....but the weekend and the party took over. Then yesterday my car won't start...we have it towed to the shop...and of course they have no problem starting it.....they think it is a faulty air flow sensor. But I basically have to wait for it to not start again before we can be sure. ugh. Anyway Ill be heading to Joanns today and hope a miracle will have occured and that my birds will be there. I was planning on stitching the birds again.....but there was alot of time and $$ (overdyed threads) involved in that one...sigh.

Holiday weekend---Pretty good:)

The BBQ was a sucess. I had cleaned for most of the weekend and bought all of the food. Monday Ian and I straightened up and got the last few things for a rocking party haha.
We had 16 people show altogether...over the course of the evening...It poured around 6 when we were just finishing up the grilling...but then cleared up after about 45 min. I even had enough dry wood to have a fire and we did smores. I ended up with a ton of food left over. Pasta salad,potato salad, banana bread, 2 cheesecakes, 14 burgers, several packs of hot dogs, 18-20 hot italian sausages..assorted buns, and enough smores makings for the next 2 summers. The only conclusion I have is that we need more friends


I was able to perfect my mint julep recipe. I had my first in New Orleans a month ago and I have been working on it for about two weeks trying in vain to replicate it. I went all over the internet and through all my bartending books. I finally settled on this one. I made the syrup a few days ago. But modified the mix to a 4 count pour of kentucky bourbon (thats about 2 ounces) and a 6 count pour of the syrup (way more than a tablespoon). Sweet but smooth and screw any one who trys the muddling technique. Everyone loved it. I have plenty of syrup left to dring mint juleps for the rest of the summer. Strange thing is...the mint juleps in New Orleans were clear...now where do you find clear bourbon?

Stitching Bloggers Question of the Week

When starting a new project, do you start in the middle? If you do, once you’ve worked down to the bottom, do you turn your chart and fabric around so that you are stitching the top section downwards again or do you just stitch upwards from the middle?

I was taught to start in the middle and have never seen any problems with it. Only recently have I read about that you should only stitch from top to bottom and if you start in the middle should turn around the fabric for uniformity of stitches. But as I have mentioned before I do not stitch for perfection, only for my own enjoyment and pleasure. I have made an effort recently to start at the top when it seems feasible...a band sampler or something that I don't have to worry about the amount of fabric and spacing but old habits die hard.

Sydney's Cross Stitch

Sydney's Cross Stitch
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

A friend of mine's stepdaughter comes to stay with them every summer (I think she is 11 or 12) and a few weeks ago asked if she could try what I was doing. Well at the time I was working on my June Flip it and so I gave her an 11 ct piece of aida and she picked the colors and I enlarged the draonfly square of the pattern...and tryed to teach her what to do. So she heads home with it (I tell her I'll teach her backstitching next week) and then I see her 1 week later and this is what she has done. She taught herself how to do the backstitch (using a example that i had done in her house) And did the hearts and lettering freehand...she even added her initials and date (like I do )! I gave her another small piece (a flower on 14 ct aida) and a more complicated kitted piece by Janlynn (confetti stitches). I had sent for the DMC mentor kit but I think she will be way beyond that stage by the time it arrives. She will be reading this blog so I am sure she would love to see what you think of this cross stitch whiz kid.

As for me I started my August Flip it yesterday and am still working on Santa. Ian and I played hooky yesterday and spent the day cleaning up an old metal cabinet (with about 30 drawers) that used to be a garage piece. the drawers he is taking to work and bead blasting 2 at a time. but the cabinet itself had to be cleaned, sanded, and washed. We were able to prime and paint it....after MUCH deliberation I finally settled on the hammered brown metal from Rustoleum...although the cabinet doesn't look very "hammered" the color is good and makes the cabinet look useable in ( drum roll) the craft room! The drawers will be so clean and lined that Ill be able to store cross stitch and beading supplies in them all. I will post pics of it when it is done (the drawers will take a while there are 30 of them).

Santa beard finished

Santa beard finished
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Whoo hoo!

A Good Weekend

Are you officially old and boring if a good weekend is one in which you spend it at home and clean? I mean sure I have no $$ to go out shopping or to the movies or a bar, but even if I did I would probably just spend it on something for the house.
We are having a 4th of July party and my mom and stepdad are coming for a visit on their way to the beach on the 18th so I thought now would be a good time to start cleaning (I mean really cleaning) the house.
Sat I raked the whole backyard of twigs and burned them. Mowed the high parts, watered the garden well, and weeded and deadheaded alot of stuff...so the yard won't look like total crap next week. Then Sunday I cleaned up and dusted the Master bedroom, the Drunken Library (see below), and the Craft /Guest bedroom. These rooms are not as often used as the others so those get next weekend. Ian and I discussed the scrapbooking/photo sorting plan for July...and are putting it off til August, since July is rapidly filling up and Santa is coming along fast...I mean cruzin, I got the rabbit done and the beard will be completely done this week.

What is the Drunken Library? well it is this dark panelled room that seemed to have no purpose when we moved in. Besides a fireplace and a built in cupboard...it is not a dining room (maybe if it was opened to the kitchen more...but that requires removing walls and redoing the kitchen $$$). and it is not a "family room" (fireplace and very dark). It's just sort of an extension off of the hall from the kitchen to the bed rooms...So we put in bookshelves and a bar in that builtin cupboard complete with fridge and maybe someday a sink. and called it ...the Drunken Library...I can see I will have to post pictures now...edit:added photos.

PS. Does any one out there watch the Dead Zone on USA? last nights episode was great I loved the character of Alex! Give her a permanent spot!

As advertised

Santa as of 6/24
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Here he is...you can see the rabbit outline where he goes next (to the right of the dove) then it is back to the top to work down the right side. It doesn't look that bad from here but the green on the bottom (934) is taking forever. I feel like I have been stitching green for the past 4 days.

June Flip it
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

What was your first 45?

We were talking firsts the other day and here are some Questions for you....if you are old enough!

Your first 45: She-Bop by Cindi Lauper, I didn't realize till much later (like last week) that this song is about masturbation...you didn't either mom?
Your first 33: Break out by The Pointer Sisters I did a solo dance to Neutron Dance at my 5th grade talent show...don't ask me where I got the guts to do that.
First Cassette: Dr. Hook. I can't remeber which album but it did have my favorite song on it... "You make my Pants want to get up and Dance". What can I say it -was in the 99c bin at the local kmart or somewhere.
First CD....god help me I can't remember?..maybe the Robin Hood soundtrack.


As for stitching I finished th June Flip it but don't have appropriate fabric for the back, and sinc we are still broke I can't go shopping till July...Well at least Julys Flip it was done last year maybe I can get August done before the month starts. I am currently working on Santa...I took him with me to the Tarheel get together last Sat and have been on him ever since....I just have the rabbit to do and I'll be close to 50% done. (I'll post the pic tomorrow). I am getting ready to pull all my photos and scrapbook memoriabilia out of the attic to organize them. I'll be putting most of my stitching aside for July (we shall se how long that lasts).

Curly Girls!!

Hair 2
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

So I was at the library the other day looking for some books and I just happen to glance down and pick up a book called Curly Girls by Lorraine Massey. This book is like an epiphany...she talks about growing up hating curly hair (me) trying every method of straightening it (me again) and walking around with a shirt halfway on your head hanging down your back pretending it was long straight hair (this woman was spying on me when I was 7!). The only thing she doesn't talk about is how everyone tell you how fabulous your hair is (grown-ups what do they know) but of course you don't believe them cause all the popular girls in school and all the pretty girls on tv have stick straight blonde hair. I wish the book was written in 1985...but better late than never. I have come to terms with my hair (as has my sister) but I know and knew alot of people who don't and spend hours straightening it out. Lorraine's book on how to care for curly hair includes 2 TWO products that you already have, a conditioner and a gel....thats it! no moouse, frizz ease, special shampoos and conditioners, no combs, brushes, or hair dryers, no chenicals and no pills. she even has a whole chapter on how to care for childrens curly hair. It's like finding a weight loss diet that worked in 10 minutes. The picture is me after 2 days of starting her method (and at the end of a day of high humidity!). (I am trying find a before pic....)

I highly recommend her book to anyone with curly or wavy hair. This is the type of book you want to buy for all your curly haired friends....or just find it in your library!

Tuesdays Labor

Walkway-1
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

This past tuesday Ian and I finished the walkway from the driveway to the back patio. We had dug it out and installed the rain barrel about 3 weeks ago, then it started to rain...and didn't stop for 2 weeks (ok maybe for a day or 2), point is that the rain barrel is full and we had to re dig the walk.
We also poured a concrete slab for under the garden hose, and put the parking stops to good use (we found 5 in our yard under the leaf pile when we moved in, one borders the new herb bed, one borders azaleas in the back and now 2 run by the walkway- just one left!)

I am planning on putting stepping stones in the gravel eventually. I will be looking into kits and how to make my own as well as perhaps purchasing some.

concrete slab
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

walkway-3
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

WIP- View to a Spring Garden

WIP- View to a Spring Garden
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

here it is so far... but I think I will be taking a break before returning to this since the directions from here on out are confusing and the picture of the finished sampler is not very clear so that is no assistance.
Any one out there seen a finished picture of this sampler?

As for the QOTW: Do you feel the need to stitch a design from a specific designer just to say that you've experienced stitching one of their designs?

Heck no...I only do what I like, regardless of designer. I do not collect all the designs from 1 designer, nor do the ones that are a challenge to show how "good" I am. I only do the designs I can see up on a wall (someday haha).

Next!

Goldies Ornament
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

this next ornament in the round robin is done...only took 2 days.

View to a Spring Garden WIP

View to a Spring Garden WIP
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Yep I started this last night and got the first band (all backstitching) done.

So the plan is to work on this till I get bored or its done....then I am contimplating taking a break (Gasp) don't panic, I would still continue the ornaments and Flip its...But my photos are calling me. Ian and I have one of those big 3o something gallon rubbermaid full of loose photos, and I dont want to just album them...its too big of a job. My neighbor is a Creative Memories consultant and I have enough stuff to start. I have just been putting it off for so long, saying I do it when I graduate, that our photos are extremely disorganized.

Part of my frustration is based on a scrapbook album that I started after college...which Iwas very proud of.....that has disappeared, and I keep hoping it will show up and I will be able to continue from there. But I think I amready to let go of that grief and organize Both mine (AND IANS!!) photos...he has also indicated intrest in helping me.

But I'll detail out plans if and when that project begins.

In other news...yesterday was a depressing day due to the fact that we had a fence estimator tell us that the only way we could have a fence put in to finish fencing off the back yard (2 sides are done but the third borders a road) would be to lose about 15 feet of our back yard. Our property line is much further in than either of us had suspected. So we either have to re think the entire back yard or install a big hedge and invisible fence for the dog. So our plans for a fence went from when to if ...I hate that.

Seaside Garden Done

Seaside Garden Done
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Woo Hoo I love this...I think Ill finish it as a bell pull instead of framing.
It was so easy (too bad it was so expensive or I would do more).This was my first time working with silk floss and it has nice coverage but I don't feel that it is worth the expense.

I again apologize for the crappy photo...lately all the photos are too light or too dark...but can you see? It is the first overdyed fabric I have ever tried blue and white...it looks like a sky.

Cross stitch Crazy

Seaside Garden Wip
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Here is what I have been doing the last 5 days

I looked at Santa when I got home and figured I had made so much progress he could wait since I have an itch to start something new....Started on the Victorias Sampler's Seaside Garden friday and almost done too...it was easy, I am sorry for the dark pic. I will post a lighter finished one...(should be done this week) Then I will start the Black swan sampler (since I am not samplered out yet) but it is not as easy and I will probably switch it and santa out in a mini rotation with the round robin and flip it filling in the gaps ( see progress below)
And here are some other small finishes I never posted, I am in a christmas round robin group...here is mine (all from the JCS 04 ornament issue)

Round robin ornament #1
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

And here is Eva's.... this one was over 1 with over dyed threads and a pain in the ass. I am now just waiting on the third to arrive in the mail (there are 6 total)

Round Robin Ornament #2
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

And of course here is the May Flip it, done just in time for june (figures) I did finish it as a pillow ornament yesterday. Since I've already did the july flip it last year, I have a month to catch up and get a head start on august.

I am looking forward to tonight, We are going out to eat to celebrate a friends 30th birthday (I am glad I am not the only one getting old)

May Flip it
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Welcome Back!

More Jellys
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Why thank you, I know you all missed me. So here is the New Orleans synopsis:
The conference had over 2000 people (NABS- North American Benthological Society togehter in a joint conference with AGU- American Geophysical Union) and the conference hall in NO was HUGE...they handled 2 other conferences/meetings at the same time.

My talk on tuesday went just fine, not too many others in the room...there were at least 10 other talks at the same time. There were presentations every 15 min from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Mon thru Friday and as many as 20 at once in different rooms. Needless to say you got burned out pretty quick. They announced next years meeting in Alaska, and we had our final banquet at the Aquarium of the Americas (see jellyfish- click on him to see all 27 pics in Flickr).

The city itself was unique, keep in mind that I only saw a small part of it, But from the Conference center to Bourbon St. and back it was filthy and smelly and beautiful. If you look up the city has cool architecture, beautiful gardens, and wonderful resturants. But look down and every form of nasty liquid you can think of is running down the sidewalks and into the gutters. No recycling, and no street cleaning in sight. Music every where, and panhandlers and hustlers everywhere too. Everyhthing is expensive (food, drink, art, souvoniers) but the deals are there if you care to search them out.

I wish I had time to go do some more exploring, I didn't get to the Garden district nor see the plantations or swamps or cemetaries. but with no car and so many others who have diferent ideas of a good time...I was limited. I may go back someday.

Stitching updates tomorrow