WIP Progress and Retro Photo Hunt

Its the middle of the week, I know, I know and I'm finally sharing my weekend stitching progress.  I managed to have a fairly quiet and low key weekend (I know rare for this girl).  I took advantage of having some time to stitch and time to just rest!  So let's get down to business!

I worked on several projects this weekend.

I spent the majority of my waking time working on Art Deco Spirits, I've finally gotten through those huge blocks of white, black and grey.  Of course I've moved onto more grey.

I gave Enchantment of Winter a little bit of attention as well.  I got a little tired of counting around and putting in gold confetti here and there so I pulled out the lovely purple silk and worked with that instead.

I also had a travel project, it really wasn't moving very quickly and didn't look like much until after a little needle time this weekend.  This is a class piece from the Creativ Festival given by Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams when I last went a few years ago.  I'll give you more details on my next post, right now I'm too lazy to get up and go get it!  I have way too many class pieces waiting to be stitched up. But then who doesn't have a lot of projects waiting to be started?

Now how about a retro photo hunt?  This is from the end of August 2009, "Surprise"

In March of this year my friend Ann turned 60 and with my help and that of a few others her husband was able to throw her a fantastic surprise party!  Ann was shocked and overjoyed when she saw that her family had made the 3 hour drive to be there too!  Ann's reaction was the BEST surprise party reaction I have ever witnessed!  Here she is with one of her brothers.

My run is coming up father than I thought it ever would now, its this Sunday!  I am very proud to say I have surpassed my fundraising goal this year!  My total is over $1100.00 all going to Breast Cancer research!  Thank you to many of you fantastic readers who have made online donations!  There is still plenty of time to make a donation if you wish!  Click HERE to go to my personal donation page.

This Week's Progress & PhotoHunt

I've been plugging away at my stitching an hour or two here or there all week long.  I finally finished up all the white on the fire block on Art Deco Spirits but now I've moved onto all the black!  As much as its nice to stitch big blocks of colours there's only so much this girl can take.

I have a quite day planned for tomorrow and hopefully I'll get much further, and finish up all the black.

This week's PhotoHunt theme is "Natural"

There is nothing more natural than what Mother Nature produces herself!

A caterpillar which will turn into a moth.

Retro PhotoHunt

I've been stitching a little in the evenings (I'm tired again), I'm still working away on white on white on Art Deco Spirits.  So not really worth showing any stitching.

So instead I'll share an older PhotoHunt theme with you.  The theme from August 22nd 2009 was "Ripples"

This photo was taken last fall (I think) when Rebbecca's husband took me on a boat ride showing me the area around her grandparent's cottage -- gorgeous!

7th Blogiversary Winner, Stitching, Stash and PhotoHunt

Lots to cover in this post, so let's get to it!

First of all the announcement you've all been waiting for... who won my blogiversary draw?  First I went to the trusty website : random.org and asked it to give me a number!

The winner is comment #55 and that one belongs to :

Congratulations Lindsay!  I was very happy when I saw the winner was Lindsay I've known her online for probably about 10 years now since when I started coming online to look for cross stitch and stitching communities.  We first met on the Teresa Wentzler Bulletin Board.  I think I have a good idea of what sort of thing to stitch up for Lindsay!

This week, the stash I ordered at the end of August finally showed up!  Yes, I bought STASH!  Something I don't do very often these days.  It was a wonderful envelope full of threads, fabric, and a few other odds and ends.

I bought these supplies with two particular projects in mind!  Both I've been wanting to start for some time now.

Yes, I was very bad, I even started one of these two projects : Enchantment of Winter by Terrance Nolan of Dimples Designs.  It will be a fantastic purple and gold Imperial Russian Egg with St. Basil's Cathedral depicted in the center... the Cathedral will be over one (on 32ct eek!).   I've even had quite a bit of frogging to do because I assumed there was a 2 stitch overlap between the chart pages, and you know what... there isn't.  So I fixed it... then I stitched one stitch over three... I fixed it again... then I stitched a row of 17 stitches instead of 16 and I fixed it again!  That's when I gave up and went to bed!

Just because I've started a new project, which isn't very like me since I'm usually a one project gal doesn't mean I've forgotten my other WIPs.  Art Deco Spirits got quite a bit of my attention this weekend, unfortunately I'm still working white on white so all of my progress isn't so obvious.  I'll be glad to get all that white out of the way.

Since I had worked on two WIPs this weekend, my third was feeling a little lonely and I pulled out my over one BAP, The Accolade and gave it a few hours attention.

Now for this week's PhotoHunt the theme is : School

I took this picture while on a field trip to Gatineau Park in the fall of 2008.  I just love this shot of the school bus in one of its mirrors!

Now time for an update on how my Breast Cancer Research fundraising efforts are going.  I've passed the half way mark and I've currently managed to raise $570.00 out of my goal of $1000.  There are only 13 days until the Run For the Cure 5K!  So if you're planning on making an online donation please do so soon by clicking HERE to my personal fundraising page.  I've been running a couple of times a week to work on increasing my speed as I've been challenged to do the 5K in 25 minutes!

September Ornament, PhotoHunt, and Stuff

Yet again, I'm falling short on keeping up with my promise to you, to blog more frequently.  I feel like I spend more time doing "other things' then being home and stitching!  I've been spending more time exercising, focusing on my weight a bit more (proud to report a 2.5lb loss this week!).  I've also been busy with "Dominican Stuff".

If you keep up with me on Facebook from time to time a number of times I've mentioned that I like to think I'm a pretty smart girl.  However, every once and while I do things that are well -- not so smart.  Monday was another one of those instances, and its taken me a good couple of days to recover!  Once again, I'm teaching at Taekwon-Do!  I get the joy of working with the 4-6 year olds who are a riot!  Anyhow back to being not so smart... I taught my class, I stayed and assisted with the family class (there was over 20 students, a big class!), then I took the class afterwards.  After class my buddies Jason and Marc mentioned they were getting ready for the Army Run this weekend, doing the 1/2 marathon and that they were doing a 10K.  I've complained to them before that I wasn't invited in the past... so they invited me, and what did I say?  Well, yes.  So there I am running a 10K at 9pm.  It was a good run, and an eye opener since I haven't done a 10 in almost a year.  But I've been paying for it ever since, pretty pooped the last two days and a little sore!

Now for the "Dominican Stuff", if you've been reading this blog since the spring, you know that back in March I went with a group of students on a Dominican Experience (see blog entries from March 2010 if you're interested, lots of great piccys too!).  I knew before we even left, that I wanted to go back!  So this year I'm the lead organizer!  Since the school  year has started (and boy its only been two weeks!) I've been working on drumming up students to go, also working on the application/proposal that goes to the school board.  Boy that is just hours and hours of work!  Also I had a meeting with some interested parents tonight after work.  I'm very excited to be going back this year with a new group of students!

So my stitching has been falling by the wayside!  I have been working on this month's ornament since the weekend and finally wrapped it up tonight!  Its the final, in the series of three I've been doing.

Joy

cR&P

Stitched on : 40ct linen

Stitched with: DMC 115

 
How about a "retro" PhotoHunt since I won't get this week's theme until Friday.  This one is from August of 2009, and the theme is "artificial"

This photo was taken in the "Zona Colonial" in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic this past March.  While walking around the tourist area I spotted this plastic "sculpture" through the gates of what appeared to be an art gallery.  This sculpture or piece of art is totally made from artificial materials.  In a strange way, I just love it!

Don't forget to enter my blogiversary draw on the previous blog entry by leaving a comment.

Happy Blogiversary BBSW!!!

Today is my 7th Blogiversary!  If I could I would have cake and share it with all of you, I love cake!  Doesn't everyone love cake?  A nice big piece of vanilla for me please!

Its hard to believe that it all started on this day back in 2003, inspired by one of my favourite designers, Jennifer Aikman-Smith who started a blog I decided to follow suit.  Here I am 7 years and over 1,400 posts later!  Over the years I've shared with you my stitching, shown you how I see this world through my camera's lens, gone through a breast cancer scare, lost 60lbs with you (now have another blog for weight loss), and gotten my 3rd degree Black Belt in Taekwon-Do.  I'm sure there are numerous other events that I've not mentioned that you've gone through with me on this blog.  I have met some absolutely amazing people and made some friends that I will have for life.

What does the future hold for this blog and its author?  Who knows, the sky is the limit!  I'll continue to share my passion for needle and thread with you, show you my world and adventures through my camera lens, and whatever else catches my fancy!

Like past years I'm holding a blogiversary draw.  Now I will warn you I am a HUGE procrastinator.  I actually still haven't mailed last year's gift yet and I'm starting to feel VERY guilty about that.  I keep meaning to throw a few more odds ands ends together to go with it... then I get busy, make excuses, etc.  So if last year's winner is reading this I hang my head in shame but I will get it to you!  What is this year's gift?  I don't know yet, something hopefully to suit the winner.  It will be stitched.

So to enter, just leave a comment.  Yup, that's it, that's all!  No rules, no having to be a follower, no hoop jumping, and you don't have to cut down tall trees wear high heels, suspenders and a bra.  I'll make the draw a week from today, Saturday September 18th.

This post also compliments this week's PhotoHunt theme beautifully its : anniversary.  I know why this theme was chosen for today, because it is a very significant anniversary in modern history. However, I don't have any pictures that suit a memorial for this day.  So I'm putting a different, lighter twist on anniversary.

Flowers : a girl always likes to get beautiful flowers from her man on their anniversary.  I was hoping to find a photo of my friend Rebbecca and her hubby, it is their wedding anniversary today but I guess I've never gotten one of the two of them together.

September Stitching Goals & PhotoHunt Is Back!

I was saying just this past weekend to my stitchy friends (featured in last blog entry) I wanted to start blogging more frequently again, like I used to!  My number of blog entries per year has steadily dropped over the last 2ish years.  Of course I've stopped sitting at home on my behind and just stitching and blogging and got active and lost weight instead.  Which is a huge bonus... but when you get active in one area, some other area always has to suffer.

We are definitely well into September now, its about time we had a chat about what I wanted to do last month and what I'd like to get done this month... stitching wise that is!

August Goal Review

Stitch 2 Ornaments
Stitch Beatrice's RR
Work on Art Deco Spirits

September Goals
Stitch 1 ornament
Work on Art Deco Spirits
Work on The Accolade

Tonight/this weekend I plan on starting my September ornament.  This month's ornament is the last in a series of 3 I've been working on.  This month, its "Joy".

PhotoHunt is back!  Well I'm hoping to start doing this weekly again.  It actually never went away I just kinda stopped doing it, life got busy, I wasn't taking too many pictures, you know all the usual excuses.  Did I mention I'm a procrastinator?

This week's theme is hot, put your hand over a candle... and its hot!

Prayer candles at St. Anne de Beaupre Cathedral, Quebec City, Quebec

Fantastic Long Stitchy Weekend!

I want to shout out a HUGE thank you to Kathy and Beatrice for hosting a fantastic, relaxing, stitchy long weekend!  I took all of my running/walking gear with me and didn't pull it out once!  I think I really needed that, I have been pushing myself pretty hard lately!

Sunset on Lake Ontario

Friday evening we all met up at Kathy's place on the GORGEOUS shores of lake Ontario.  Sadly this is the last time we'll meet up there, as at the end of this month Kathy moves into her new home!  The main participants for the weekend were myself, Christin, Bonnie, Rebbecca and our hosts Kathy and Beatrice.

Lunch for 6... more like an army!

Beatrice, Barb, Ann & Judie

Kathy's Happy Dance on Saturday

Saturday we were all over at Beatrice's for the day!  After lunch we were joined by Angie, Judie, Barb, and Ann.  That afternoon I finished off the Earth block on Art Deco Spirits, and started on the Fire block.  I got almost all the black done on one side that night when I realized that it didn't meet up with the bottom of the Earth block!  I had missed one row of stitches... NEAR the top!  I spent a little time before bed trying to fix it up.

Gorgeous double rainbow!

More beautiful vistas!

Sunday it was Kathy's turn to host the core group.  We went out for breakfast first before tucking into our stitching!  I did manage to get Art Deco Spirits all sorted out!  After lunch we were joined by Beatrice and her Mom (Adriana, my favourite 94-year-old stitcher!).  Adriana's sharp eyes spotted a gorgeous double rainbow, we all ran outside with our cameras!  It was too funny!

Earth block all stitched up

Progress on fire block

Monday was more stitching!  Then it was sadly, time to come home.

I forgot to mention this on my last blog post but I had won a giveaway on Regina's Blog Oubliette!  Thank you Regina I really love it!

Run For The Cure Update : I'm almost 1/2 way to my $1000 fundraising goal!  I've raised $415.00 so far!  Click HERE if you would like to donate!  The run is in 27 days!

A Stitchy Update

Greetings one and all, sorry its been so long since my last update (well long for me at least).  Last week turned out to be a busy and exhausting week (I've gone into more detail on it here)!  This week as also been busy thus I've not stitched as much as I would like!  Sometimes when I barely get to stitch I wonder if that's why I'm not feeling rested and happy?

This past weekend was the Annual Takewon-Do Outdoor Training/Camping weekend.  Todd and I both went, and camped for the weekend.  As usual we had a great time with all of our TKD friends.  I had hoped to actually train with the group on Saturday but I ended up spending more time helping out the Little Tigers (4-6yrs old), and a little bit of time leading the group (they had each of us 3rd degrees up teaching... of course not planned so I had to come up with something really quickly!).  Here's a few shots from the weekend!

Me in uniform

Almonte TKD Group Shot

Performing the pattern Chon-Ji

What do you do after training on a hot summer day?  Water gun fights of course!

This weekend I'm going into Road Warrior mode again (third weekend in a row, not sleeping in my own bed)!  This time, its for a stitchy weekend!  Yay!  Christin and I will be heading out to Kathy's after work tomorrow and staying until Monday where we're going to stitch, stitch, stitch!  I just hope my body doesn't betray me and I end up sleep, sleep, sleeping!  Bonnie and Rebbecca are also heading out to stay with Beatrice and during the day we're going to all meet up and stitch.  I've been so looking forward to this for quite awhile!  Stitching with some of my favourite people!

When I've had the energy/time to stitch I've been working on Art Deco Spirits.

I've got a start on the backstitching of the Earth block

I'm still plugging away at my fundraising (and training) for this year's CIBC Run For The Cure (for breast cancer research).  I've currently raised $315, thank you to all for your generous donations, each donation really warms my heart!  Click HERE if you'd like to make an online donation.