PhotoHunt - Bird

This week's PhotoHunt theme is "Bird"

This is just another great shot I got while out in Cape Breton, N.S. last summer!

Late PhotoHunt - March 15 "Deluxe"

I missed getting last week's PhotoHunt ready ahead of time as I was away. The theme for March 15th was "Deluxe"

I had think a little bit, and decided to go through some fairly old pictures.  This photo is from 2007 its a peacock in full display at the San Diego Zoo.  Nothing screams "deluxe" or luxury to me more than a peacock.  I think of mansions with peacocks wandering beautifully designed and immaculately kept gardens.

PhotoHunt - Focus

This weeks PhotoHunt theme is "focus"

This photo was taken during July of 2013 at Cypress Gardens outside of Charleston, S.C.  This photo is just perfect!  I love how the flower and butterfly are in perfect focus and the rest of the shot is out of focus!

Belated WIPocalypse and IHSW

I did a lot of great stitching over the March Break, and then the tail end was one of my Timberhouse Retreats (pictures coming soon) and of course when you've been off of work for a week, it takes a bit to get back into the swing of things! (and its quite tiring)

This weekend is IHSW, and I have no plans but to stay home and stitch!  Well and do a little baking on Sunday, its my favorite custodian's birthday on Monday (we share a Birthday month, mine is this upcoming Thursday, the 27th!) he loves apple crisp so I'll be making one to take into work for him on Monday.

Here's my WIPocalypse progress which was due this past Sunday!  Since my last report I have focused most of my stitching time on The Accolade... until my little road trip to Stitcher's Garden two weeks ago.

I probably should work on my fair lady this weekend as one of my goals for March is to finish page 8 and as you can see, the end of this page is not far off!

I initially put down the Accolade to stitch up this beauty, Flowers in Black, White and Red.  I picked up this piece at Stitcher's Garden, and started it the next day.  This piece stitched up in just a few days.

Next up it was time to wrap up those Prarie Schooler ornaments I had started back in January, and I did just that while at the Timberhouse Retreat last weekend.  Here's all the ornaments all stitched up together, outlined in backstitch and backing pieces stitched and ready to go.  This is all ready to be pressed, and cut up to be whip stitched together.

Since the last WIPocalypse I finished....  The Poisonous Poinsettia (to cats)

The Pyromaniac Angel

Candy Cane Smoking Santa

The Cozy Cottage

Chubby Snowman

Finally The Scrawny Reindeer

Since I wrapped the Prarie Schooler ornaments fairly early on during the Retreat weekend, I pulled out another January start to work on, Three Little Maids which I ALSO managed to finish up on Sunday evening after I got home.

The rest of this week I've been working on yet another ornament, this guy has been calling my name since I picked up the chart in January.  I picked up all of the threads for Snow Woes by Heart in Hand at Stitcher's Garden and decided he was next, I haven't been in any rush to get back to my over one stitching.

So there you have it, this is where all of my recently touched projects stand!

Happy Dance!

Do you recall in my previous post how I might of mentioned I wanted to start one of my new projects right away?  Well I gave into that temptation Saturday night.

Here it is!  All finished, with only two beads to spare!  Whew close call!!!

Flowers in Black & White & Red

c2005 Handblessings

Stitched on 28ct white lugana

Stitched with NPI Silks and Mill Hill beads

A Little Cross Border Stashing aka A Day With My Man

This past Friday one of those rare opportunities arises where Todd and I could actually be off of work on the SAME DAY!  Friday was a PD Day at work for me and things are a little slow at Todd's place of work and the owner is giving his employees the next couple of Fridays off.  Todd didn't have to be off nor did I.  As Todd is office staff he had the choice to go in if he had work to do, or take a day off if he was doing well with his work load.  For me, the teachers had a day off without pay (a contract thingie) I had the choice of either going into work or taking a day of annual leave.  Todd and I both opted to be off... Todd's one condition was that we did something that day, not just sit at home as is our habit.

Todd's first ever trip to Bass Pro Shop, he looks very grumpy because he was hungry

and he honestly does not like having his picture taken!

At first I came up with mundane ideas like... going to the movies or a museum.  Then I thought nah, they're going to be busy because all of the kids are off!  I didn't want to be out with kids!  So I developed a plot that Todd could not say no to!  A trip to Bass Pro Shop in Auburn, NY... which on the way I would get to go to Stitcher's Garden in Fayetteville, NY!  A win-win-win situation!  I got to go to the LNS, Todd got to go to Bass Pro for the first time, and we got to spend the day together!

I did pretty well at Stitcher's Garden...  Here's the results of my little shopping trip:

 I wanted to start this the moment I saw it!!!

 From Jo-Anns

My favorite highlighters from Wal-Mart

Belated TUSAL and March Goals

Both of these reports were due back on March 1st which was my first day back home from my annual DR Experience Trip.  It always takes time to get back to real like, get caught up on laundry, groceries, and so on.  So here are my reports over a week late!

First up is this past month's TUSAL (Totally Useless Stitch A Long), really its just an excuse to show off all of our pretty orts.

My orts really aren't that pretty so far this year, they're quite dull and not so substantial.  Not so pretty because there are no bright, lovely colours in my jar.  The Accolade is full of earth tones, and so are my Prarie Schooler ornaments the two main things I've been working on.  Also over one stitching just doesn't produce lots of orts!

Now its time to talk about my goals!

February Stitching Goals - Review
Work on the Accolade - yes
Stitch one ornament - did three!

March Stitching Goals
Finish Page 8 on The Accolade
Start Page 9 on The Accolade
Finish PS Ornaments
Have a new start
Do a little finishing

PhotoHunt - Colours

This week's PhotoHunt theme is "Colours"

This week's picture was again taken during my Charleston, S.C. trip in July of 2013.  Charleston has some of the most colourful homes/buildings I have ever seen!

PhotoHunt - Boogie

This week's PhotoHunt theme is "Boogie"

I took this photo at the Madonna concert in 2012.  Madonna and her dances sure knew how to "boogie".