Pigtails!

Yes, I know it has been a while, and no, I have not been stitching.

Ok maybe a little bit in the past few days...I will post some of those WIPS soon.
But for a change of pace here are a few hotos of A for your enjoyment. Hmm really....does anyone want to see these? Oh well tough, I am posting them anyway.

Pigtails!
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

First up we have our first attempt at pigtails. this takes some yelling and squirming (she does not seem to understand that she is the one pulling her hair when she struggles) and it does not last very long, but it is very cute.

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Easter 2009
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

a second photo of her on Easter inspecting a jellybean filled egg. ( which we like!). As you may of gleaned when you noticed she is not wearing pants, we don't do anything big for Easter...Ian works and we have no family close by. (no fancy easter dresses or posed portraits here!) So we did a mini egg hunt after daddy got home from work. Next year if she is walking it will be a bit more fun.

Yes I said IF she is walking. I think Ian and I have given up on having a normal walking child any time soon. We have 1 1/2 months till the neurologists predicted date for walking. and while there is progress it is torturously slow. She will walk well if you hold both her hands. But she seems to have an aversion to using the walls or furniture to hold on to (in parentese: she does not cruise alot) and of course she would rather walk than crawl so that means you have to be at her beck and call if you want her to go anywhere.
It is particularly challenging cause the weather is so nice now...now is when you want to take her to a park and let her run around. I am predicting she will take her first independant steps on the first day it is over 95 degrees and the mosquitos come out

(Thank you to all who suggested a 2nd opinion on this issue, but she is progressing and doing as predicted...it is just so tiring I have to vent)

I think her version of the terrible 2s has begun this month let me know what you think:

1. acute aversion to anything new...swimming, photos taken, extremely shy around strangers. etc. all of which brings on screaming, crying jags that last until the next meal.

2. screeching at crystal shattering levels when you do not read her mind.
ie walking in the right direction, not bringing her food quickly enough.

All of it makes me want to smack the next person who asks me " So when are you having another?"

Go, Dog,Go

Home of a Needleworker
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I know ...boring photo...this is Home of a Needleworker by LHN, I actually ripped out the brown roof you see here and restitched it with 3 threads cause all the white showing thru was just irritating.

So yesterday I took Annabeth to go see her first play. My school was puting on an hour production/adaptation of P.D.Eastman's Go, Dog, Go (appropriate for ages 3 to 12). I know she is only 22 months old but I did it for 1 main reason...SHE LOVES Go, Dog, Go. and I mean we read it 2-3 times a day every page.... and She can sit thru an hour of engaging TV (Elmo, Baby einstein, Signing Time, Buscuit Brothers) with out moving, so I figured I'll give it a try.

I took my husband ( the book we read was his. It is so cute on the front page where it says This Book Belongs To: after his name it says " I LIKE THIS" in the big caps of a first grader) We got there right at 2 when the play was to start. they were still selling tickets so we waited a bit and sat down right before they began. Now our seats were right in the middle of a row (giant rows of 50 folks or so)and right in the middle of the theater front to back). She was good right untill the lights go off --not fade to black mind you--and bam she begins screaming at the top of her lungs...like you stabbed her, I knew I could not calm her there in the theater, so I stepped on a few toes running out of there and into the lobby where I got her calmed down in under a minute or so. At this point I am thinking they are going to kick me out for bringing a not quite 2 year old to a play....but I decided to try it once, I was able to get just inside the doors with her quiet so she could see the 1 "dog" on the stage. she jumped a couple of times when the audience laughed...but did not make a peep. There was NO way I was heading back to my seat but standing for 50 minutes was not my ideal. I snuck a look around the corner, and right there back row the last seat was open. She sat in complete rapture for the entiire show UNTIL the lights went out at the end..then the screaming started again...I think A. is afraid of the dark.
Poor Ian was stuck in the middle of the theater wondering what we were doing.

QT: 1 of 8

Quaker Turtles
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Thank you all for your comments on Miss Mack, the button border took FOREVER to finish, so yess I have been stitching, but that one has been worked on maybe twice a week while I did other stuff .....LIKE.....Quaker Turtles by WIth my Needle. I got this as a full kit and have started it, but it is going take me forever cause 1) over one is not my favorite technique (unlike Sara who LOVES it) and 2) all one color is going to be a bit boring. This is one of the smallest circles to do of the 8 for the set.

Miss mary final cut!

Miss mary final cut!
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Completed 3/24/09 on rose linen with black DMC
Thinking of finishing as a pillow

Can you blog in 15 minutes with 1 fuzzy photo?....Go-

DSCN2238[1]
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

So I have been stitching, I swear. I had Spring Break last week but didn't get alot done cause, well lots of reasons but truly they are all boring. My mom came to visit, and Ian and I went to a B and B for a day and a night to enjoy ourselves for maybe the last time for a long time cause his job is not looking up, but mine is now and I think i will be renewed for at least another year...but there are changes coming in my department (read- bigger classes and less lecturers needed). What I really want is like 2 days to just shop for clothes and things for me, but i never have 1)time and when I have time i am out of 2)money.

Annabeth is walking with more confidence but not without holding on for dear life to mom or dad, Her day care is starting to ask if we need physical therapy and making me question if the doctor is right about PT, that it will not help speed things up. His prediction of 21-24 months for walking is here and we wait with bated breath (usually from luging around her 25? pound body)

Oh the stitching..it is something not on my list but a quicky...Lizzie Kate "Cross stitcher in residence", on 28 count Navy Bean by Lakeside linens, with most of the threads called for WW and GAST and some scavenged.

gotta go teach cat anatomy...

Pirate's Creed

Pirate's Creed
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Finished yesterday. Although Sue Hillis' Designs aren't my usual style, i could not pass this one up. Should I hang it up in my office at school? or at home? An easy stitch (4 days or so) using 28 count khaki evenweave and DMC floss.

Riding the Snooze Train

Riding the Snooze Train, originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

This morning was a rare morning in that Annabeth was not awake by the time i came into her room, in fact she was so asleep I was able to take a few photos with a flash!...How often does that opportunity come along?

Pirates creed

Pirates creed, originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Hey folks, sorry for the messed up photo but i took it in a hurry the other day to post for you my progress...I am actually down to the word morale as of yesterday evening.

In other totally random news. I heard that a classmate of Annabeth's was potty trained already...and she is one month younger (19 months) than my baby. My gut reponse...after i stopped sputtering (cause I know the realistic average age for girls is like 30 months)...Let's get the walking down first. UPDATE: we started walking holding on to one hand this week...but not with confidence

Potty training is so far from priority for us it is closer to graduate high school on the lifetime goal list. I guess it just took me by surprise.

Punkin Patches

Pumpkin Patches
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

All DONE! So this is my 2nd finish of 2009. and I really like it. I would love to frame it in the same frame as the cover model. (Hmm I never noticed it was spelled punkin not pumpkin on the pattern!) I have started a quick Sue Hillis item, but Annabeths birth sampler is calling me from a drawer (I started it and messed up on the placement...so I need to wake it up from its nap and rippit.)

The Black Hole..... no not my stitching closet, the actual "The Black Hole"

Tie that binds
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Hello everyone. I am so close to finishing Pumpkin Patches I can smell it ...and then I run out of Maple Syrup (the Gast color not the pankake topping).Oh well...soon maybe.

Here is my finished secret project for my sisters wedding that i had done in the final months of 08 that I could not tell you about. It is the Tie that Binds By La Di Da. I did it in the called for DMC in evenweave. I did it by Christmas so my mom could get it framed for my sister ...but due to unforseen issues it didnot make it back from the framers till a couple of weeks ago. So there you go. the colors look more intense in the photo then they are in real life. it is much more muted.

I stitched last night to an old movie "The Black Hole" Yeah... see...I was like 5 when that came out and remember the posters but never saw it. I am trying to catch up on all the old movies you were supposed to see but never did (like Tron...saw that a couple of months ago for the first time). Hmmm is 1979 considered old? It is in special effects certianly an antique. I had higher hopes for this movie. But the music...the music was horrible. I HATE it when the music doesn't go with the emotional tone of the scene. If you notice the music it is the wrong music for the scene...and the acting was a bit on the lazy side too. and Ernest Borgnine...what is it with him? why is he always the guy who screws it all up...in every movie he is in!

Oh well it was cool to see Arthur Petrelli (from Heroes) in his young self

Ornament finish and economy update/opinion

DSCN2195[1]
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Hey there loyal followers. (I say loyal cause well at least you are checking on me once in a while). I finished up a 2 sided ornament last week and wanted to show it off. Here is Jeanette Douglas' purple Christmas ball ornament for the 2008 JCS ornament issue, on the back is the one from the preview issue that was put out in november. I kinda like the blue one better it seems better defined.

DSCN2194[1]
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Currently I am working on Pumpkin Patches and Miss Mary Mack... On patches I have the Border almost done and have the 2nd pumpkin and backstitching yet to do. On Miss I have finished the wording and have to do the border...no need to check the pattern type of border that goes on forever!

In other news...I don't usually get very personal on this blog and I do not speak about politics... But the economy has finally hit us. Back in October when all the fiancial institutions were crashing, I listened but noted that we were not involved in any of them so we were ok. We have some retirement funds but they were not affected....until the stock market started to plumet..then we listened to the stock market experts and did not pull our money..we kept our contributions the same and are still contributing today even into our daughters high risk/high yield (supposedly) 529 account. We have just stopped opening the statements that arrive by mail or email...we would just get depressed at the negative numbers. But I still trust that what Money magazine has to say...that it will turn around, and that our money is currently purchasing cheap stocks that will someday rise.

Ian and I are young and we have no debt other than our house, which we bought well within our means and refinanced a year ago for a fixed rate. And we know we have some time to make up for those neg numbers that arrive in our mailbox. But I think we continued on as usual spending as we would until About 1 month ago. Ian started to come home from work early...or told not to come in at all...some week he gets in a full 40 hours, others barely 10. So we slowed our spending, we cut back our grocery budget, and stopped talking about new furniture for the living room. Yesterday he comes home saying they are officially fuloughing the entire hanger half time..What? It works like this: Ian works 1 week then is off 1 week....they are trying this for 1 month...but i think it will be for much longer. So he is unemployed every other week. We think he can file for unemployment...but it seems kinda wierd to do so.

And since it took us 5 months to feel the effect of the recession I think it will take at least 10 months for us to feel the recovery (whenever that might be) .

I listen to the debates over what caused all of this and how to fix it and I have no idea ...BUT I do know how to keep it from happening agian: Fiscal responsibility is not taught and it needs to be. Seriously. My generation (X) was not engaged about how to save, or spend wisely, or not to use credit cards, and encouraged to purchase houses beyond our means (mainly cause we don't understand credit) Ian and I qualified for a home loan that was out of our reach...and we only bought a home that we could afford. People are yelling we shouldn't help those who bought houses that were too big...but I find more fault with the educational system that did not teach them to say no to the offer and fault with the offers in the first place. THIS will fix the system. NJ is on the right track...this is the stimulus the country needs. is it immediate, no, but seriously I do not think anything in the actual stimulus package now is or could be anyway. So until my generation trains the younger about how to properly use and respect money ....this will happen again.

Hangin out

{For some reason Flickr is not wanting to post my picture, click on the link to see it}


So here is my progress on Pumpkin Patches by Full Circle Designs. I loved this design because it was so colorful. I am still liking it cause of that. I am able to get a couple of blocks done a night, so it is going quickly.
Tomorrow I get to have another stitching day with my Tarheel stitchers. It costs me a small fortune in babysitter fees, but well I would really miss it if i didn't go.
Annabeth is starting to communicate better, we now say "Bye bye" well, and are signing "more","ball", "help" and "dog". aong with saying the first couple of letters mo, ba, he, do etc they all sound the same...it's all in the context. She is walking if you hold both hands, her balance just needs to catch up. (I HOPE!) I am getting tired of the not walking thing, I don't think anyone is meant to carry 25 pounds of almost 2 year old very far . If she isn't walking by her second birthday I may sell her to the highest bidder (before you get to excited I think her grandparents are first in that line.)

Valentine exchange

DSCN2188[1]
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

April said she got it but hasn't posted a photo yet,so I think it is ok if I do. I stitched this Valentine Heart by Dragonfly Stitches on some nice white linen with overdyed DMC, and finished it as a pinkeep. First time I tried that...I am pretty happy with it.

I have more stitching for you this week...I might post tomorrow!

My Valentine's Exchange

DSCN2190
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Sorry about the late post this week, my mom amd stepdad had come in thursday evening on their way to a vacation (from the PA snow) in Tampa. They left this morning, I mailed out my Hooked on Exchanging valentine's exchange and when I got home...voila, my exchange from Edgar was in my mailbox. Don't you love it! It is a Goode Huswife piece called The Valentine Sampler on 32 ct. He also filled the box with fabric, candy and some yummy Vicki Clayton silks in bayberry. I am trying to figure out what I want to stitch with them. So thanks to Edgar I had something to show you today , yay.

Almost an oops

mystery project
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

mmmmyeah So looks like i signed up for the valentine exchange on the Hooked on Exchanging blog a while ago and forgot about it till yesterday...due on the 24th...whew, I still have time. I pulled a pattern and floss yesterday evening and started it , and am actually progressing pretty quickly on it (can't show it to you of course hence the cool macro shot) but I am not sure how i will finish it yet.

I have been back at work all week getting ready for classes to start next tuesday....Yep the first day of classes is on inauguration day...and guess when my 200 person lecture class is? Yeah 11-12:15. anyone wanna take bets on how many will be in class?? I'm thinking I'll be lucky to see 50.

Just a quick update

Pumpkin Patches WIP
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

I am totally uninspired by my current WIPs, SO Istarted something new of course. I know it is not the season, but i was feeling something colorful...Pumpkin Patches by Full Circle Designs.

In truth I haven't been stitching as much because we got a Wii after christmas, and I have been playing Animal Crossing: City Folk way too much. It is a bit obsessing, for those who have one understand. those who don't ...be very careful, if you have things to do (cooking cleaning, sleeping), they will not get done while you play this game. (if you do have it and want to visit my town... email me!)

Nothing else is new around here...

Hellllllllooooooo 2009

We had a very quiet New Years. We visited some friends New Years Eve, but got home and were pooped out by 10. I think it is the first time in at least 10 years I did not see midnight, but I don't feel like I missed anything. We visited even more friends for New Years Day dinner, A western PA friend so it was pork and sauerkraut--a german thing I think. I think it is funny how different areas of the country have different things you should eat for luck. Here in the south it is black eyed peas.

Any way my resolution this year is to blog at least once a week all year.
In stitching resolutions lets take a look at my list for 2008:


If ithe project is done it is in Red. "resting" in a drawer is in green, and active WIP in Blue.


1. Simple Gifts, Homespun elegance
2. Mitten Games, Crossed Wings
3. Little Angel in the Clouds, Heart in Hand
4. A is for acorn and B is for Butterfly, Erica Michaels
5. Nine Patch Village, Brightneedle
6. Four Trees, Bent Creek
7. Dragonflies, ladybugs, and bees, oh my!, M designs
8. Blackbird Sampler, Blackbird designs
9. Rune Sampler, Enchanted Needle (May)
10. For the Birds, Drawn Thread (May)
11. Blessings, JBW designs (Oct)
12. Grand Old Duke, Arelate Studio
13. Birth Sampler
14. Miss Mary Mack, La Di Da
15. Four seasons ornament series, Prarie Schooler JCS Mags (2007)
16. Quaker Diamond, Hillside Samplings
17. Puppy Dog Row, Bent Creek
18. Pumpkin Patches, Full Circle Designs
19. Halloween House Sampler, Drawn Thread
20. Ringlet Tree, Marilynn and Jackie’s Collectibles (Changed my mind...I got rid of it)
21. Snowman Needleroll, M Designs
22. Just a Little Snowman ornament from Twisted Threads JCS Mag
23. Angel of Joy ornament from Bent Creek JCS Mag
24. Mimi's desk weight Olde Colonial Designs
25. Jeannette Douglas christmas ornament 08
Santa's cottage Mary Englebright
I Believe ornament(2) Amy Brueker designs JCS mag
Floss tag and scissor fob for exchanges

14 out of my original 25. not too bad for my first year of listing them this way. .So without further Ado: here is my list of 20 for 2009:

First 5 are WIPs

1. A is for Acorn, B is for butterfly, Erica Michaels
2. Nine Patch village, Brightneedle
3. Blackbird Sampler, Blackbird designs
4. Miss Mary Mack, La Di Da
5. Just a Little Snowman ornament, Twisted threads
6. Quaker Turtles, With My Needle
7. Home of a Needleworker, Little House Needleworks
8. The Beatings...., Sue Hillis
9. Grand Old Duke, Arelate Studio
10. Pumpkin Patches, Full circle designs
11. Dragonfles, Ladybugs and Bees oh my, M designs
12. Snowmen Needleroll, M designs
13. Polly Wolly Doodle, La di da
14. Christmas Forest Ornament, Historic Stitches
15. Birth Sampler
16. Christmas Ornament, Jeannette Douglas (other one in ornament mag...back for the one from Dec Mag...You'll see)
17. Kitty Cat Row, Bent Creek
18. Baby Blocks, JCS Sept 08 mag
19. OPEN
20. OPEN
21. Various exchanges and additional smalls/ornaments

Another one done.

I believe ornament by Amy Bruecken Designs
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

I Believe ornament by Amy Brueken Designs, this was in 2008 JCS ornament mag. I stitched it in DMC conversions (except the yellow , it was an overdyed Dye is Cast thread I had on hand.). I stitched it on an overdyed yellow faby I had (not sure of the count it is an evenweave.)
I finished 2 of these. One was made for my Tarheel exchange gift, and I finished this one for me a couple days a go.

Puppydog row by Bent Creek

Puppydog row by Bent Creek
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Here is Puppy dog Row by Bent creek. I did it on the 28 count linen called for by the pattern. using DMC. I am sorry about the distance in the photo, but it is long! I did this one mostly because I found a custom frame for it by Poppy Kreations very cheap. and frames for these rows are not your standard size.(it is on their website in frame gallery # 29). I hope to have it framed and hung next week. I did not like the original pink poodle that was second from the left so I made it a off-black (3799) poodle...i am still unsure about it, mostly cause of the eyes...but they just do not appear if I use black. what do you think?

Keep it or change it?

Closeup of changed dog
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

More stitching tomorrow!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

From my family to yours.

P.S. See the dress came out pretty good. I'll be back friday with ......Stitching!