Let's have some REAL fun!

First, I have to say thank you to all of you that responded to my last post. I was, at first, a little apprehensive about blogging about a colonoscopy but figured hey, if I can help maybe one person get over the trepidation they feel for having to do it, it'll be worth it. And, it was! In addition to all the blog comments, I got quite a few emails from folks that said they were going to make their appointment, that they appreciated the reminder and the humor behind (no pun intended) my experience and that I helped to make it easier for them. I'm glad of that. Now, moving on....

I picked up Elizabeth Savilles from Hobby Lobby yesterday. I had picked what I thought was a perfect frame (which was not the one I thought it was going to be) at the "new" framer I had found. When the owner was writing up the order I said to him, "Now remember, I want you to give me the "We want Terri to come back to our store for all her framing needs price." I guess he didn't realize how much I get framed (although I tried to tell him) because the price he quoted me was $318.00 (before tax). What? Uh, no. Not gonna do it. So, I left and went to Joann's where Cathy does great work for me. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a single frame that I liked. Not one. So... off to HL I went. Their frame selection is minimal but I found something I thought would work and when the gal wrote it up, the total was $83 (pre tax) so I'm learning to love the frame. What do you think (you can click on the pic to enlarge the picture):

The frame is more silver but has a faint hint of green and with the leaf shape in the frame I thought it mimicked the border of the sampler pretty well.

Sandra, your last comment was that you'd changed your mind and thought it might need a greenish frame. When I read your note I laughed 'cause that's exactly what I had already picked. This doesn't show the green cast too well but it's there and I think, quite pretty. Also, I had mentioned when I finished this that I had stitched it on 32 count fabric but it was in fact, stitched on 36 count magnolia which I tried to stain with raspberry tea that looked really pretty initially but the color didn't hold.

Now for the FUN! My very first blog post was on February 10th, 2009 which you can read here:I can't get the link to work for some reason... Anyway, at that time, I never imagined that I'd get to know so many wonderful people and that many of them would become friends. The most amazing thing to me has been that anyone would actually read what I wrote about and then take the time to comment - how GREAT is that? I've always been the kind of gal that looks confident on the outside but inside I'm really not. I'm always afraid that if I throw a party, nobody will come so imagine my trepidation with starting a blog and putting it out there for the world - yikes! Anyway, it's been a year of wonderful! Wonderful friendships made, wonderful stories shared, I've gotten wonderful inspiration from all of you and I've had one heck of a wonderful time. Now, it's my turn to give something to you. The first finish that I blogged about was a The Goode Huswife A&E chart that I just loved. It is still one of my favorite finishes. I thought some of you might like to do it as well. So, that, along with a few other charts that I have stitched (plus one I haven't) and a pretty Longaberger basket that will be filled with stitching goodies is up for grabs.

The rules are simple. You do not have to be a follower - just a reader. You do not have to have a blog. You do not have to do a single thing except tell me that you'd like to win and what you're all time favorite finish is as a cross stitcher (I'm hoping to discover something new and wonderful). If you are not a cross stitcher, I would love it if you would tell me about something you've created that you loved. Everyone will get only one chance. I can't try to keep track of multiple entries so I'm not going there. I will draw a winner next Friday (March 5th) and will try (TRY being the operative word) to get it mailed that Saturday, March 6th. This is open to anyone - it's an international party! I will have a second draw for a smaller prize which will remain a secret.
I will mail, and will insure your package but if it never arrives, it won't be replaced. I don't have two of any of the things being given away. If you are not a stitcher and don't want the charts, let me know and I'll draw again for those so they go to someone who would like them. Make it easy for me to find you - I will not work at tracking you down. If you don't leave me an email address or respond to my "You're the Winner" post, after a couple of days, you'll be out of luck and I'll redraw. Sorry to sound harsh but just being real! You can share this if you want to but if you really want to win, why would you? ~LOL~ I swear, I crack myself up (granted, it doesn't take much).

Thanks so much for all the comments you all leave me. They really make my day! I think there are readers out there that never leave a comment (that is okay) so this will be fun to see if you really are out there. Remember, if you don't have a blog, or a google account, you can enter using the "anonymous" feature. If you do that, be sure to leave me your name and your email addy. You may only enter by leaving a comment on this post - no email entries accepted. Good luck and thanks so much for one FUN year!

Peace,
Terri

If You're not having FUN, it's nobody's fault but your Own!

My dad started bantering this phrase about several years ago and I have sort of made it my mantra. I try to find a way to make my life, and the lives of those around me at least pleasant, if not always fun. Of course, there are many things in life that aren't fun, can't be made fun and no amount of effort will make them fun. I'm not talking about those situations. I'm talking about everyday life, everyday situations and those normal, kind of mundane things, that happen. We need to make those fun! Make the best of whatever situation you're in. Try your best to make life fun. I'm not just about talking the talk, I'm about walking the walk. Warning - this post may be a bit more graphic than you're used to reading on a stitching blog..... You've been warned.

I'm 50. It sucks. I hate the fact that I'm growing older and my body, right along with it. I hate that I have to work so hard to keep my weight where I want it when I used to be able to eat anything and everything I wanted. I hate that at 50 years of age, the magic age, you have to begin having certain tests so that you don't die prematurely. Not going to an early grave is a good thing, a colonoscopy, not so much. But, in my effort to make as much of my life as fun as I can, I decided to approach this event in my life the same way. Today, I got the two for one special. Scoped on both ends - one scope for my ulcers and acid reflux and another for my colon.

Prior to my appointment today, I saw my doctor at his office and we were kind if yucking it up about the whole thing - cause lets face it, what else are you going to do when your doctor is your age (maybe younger) and you're embarrassed about the whole thing? Yeah, make crude jokes. But, like he said, colon cancer is so preventable, it's silly not to have the test. We continued to tell some rather crude jokes (and he told me some funny stories about things people said while they were under)
and when I left the office, the nurse out front said, "I have never heard him laugh so much or so loud." I told her that with a colonoscopy, you have to either laugh or cry. I'll laugh. Make the appointment, sweetie. Besides, I told her, "My ass is not going to look any better than it does right now." Every day, every year I put it off is an increase in my risk for cancer and a much greater risk for a saggy, wrinkly butt!!!

Last night, the prep work for this thing wasn't fun. The clean out, if you will, is probably the worst part. I tried to make that fun but there was no fun to be had. So, this morning, before we left for the hospital, I had Rob write a couple of messages on my butt for the doctor. The first one, in permanent, purple, sharpie said "Back door guests.... not the best!" And, on the other cheek, he wrote ".... having fun?" I told the nurse that was prepping me that I'd left them all a message and she said she'd never seen anyone do that before. Really? Nobody? Nope, not one single patient. I must be deranged. If the sharpie faded or blurred, I'd look like I had a giant bruise on my ass. Butt, LOL, after the procedure was over, the nurses and the doc were all laughing and having a good time. I was the first of the day. I hope I made their day a little more fun, I certainly helped make mine fun. Thanks, Dad.

And, btw, it's not that bad, the colonoscopy, I mean. The benefit, besides not having colon cancer, is that I dropped about 5 pounds. I know, it'll all come back, but today, it's FUN. I think I'll go weigh in at Weight Watchers... shhh.... don't tell! If you're 50 or over and haven't had this important test; do it. It's not that bad. And, while you're at it, leave your doc a written message on your butt - he or she will have some fun and so will you.

Remember.... "If you're not having fun, it's nobody's fault but your own!"

Peace,
Terri

Finishing is for the Birds!

Thank you all so much for your sweet, funny, and supportive comments on my last post! Deb could not have been sweeter about the whole thing herself and I guess, because it didn't turn out badly, we both have a story! Someone in their comment asked why the caloric concern with tea - it was because it was the super large, SWEET tea. Lots of calories in that - you have to not think about it and make it a once in a while treat. of course, it likely won't be a guild meeting treat anymore! Sigh.....

On Valentine's Day, Brenda at With thy Needle & Thread, had a sale. I ordered a couple of things and have already finished one of them. I have wanted to do her Home Tweet Home punchneedle pinkeep since it first came out. The sale was the perfect time to order! (you can click on the pictures to enlarge)



I think it turned out pretty well. The finishing was far easier than I thought it would be and I love how it turned out! I had the little oil can from an antique sewing machine cabinet I had picked up a few years ago at a garage sale. It's a little taller than the one Brenda used but I think it looks okay. This was a fun piece to do and it was pretty quick. I like the little button I found for the eye but I didn't have any rusty or old looking pins for the head feathers so I just used some I had on hand.
I'm going to work on my little angel today. I'm looking forward to testing my finishing skills on this one as well. I wish I had some sheet music with French lyrics to use as the wings but I don't think I'll easily find that although I am on the hunt! I also think I'm going to change the stitched "joy" to "Peace" as that is one of my favorite words, for so many reasons.

Yesterday, I was out and about and I stopped in the Salvation Army store in Royal Oak. Look what I found!


The best part, it was only:


Can you see that? It was marked $29.99 which I was very willing to pay but when I got up to the register, the gal said it was on sale - only $23.84 including tax. YaHoo! I just love it - love the small size and how colonial it looks. Not sure what I'll do with it, or how I'll refinish or paint it (any suggestions?), but I love it and for less than $24 - how could I go wrong?

On my way to Royal Oak, I saw this car that was completely covered in computer chippy kinds of things. There was a sign in the window that said, "It's a computer". I couldn't get my camera out fast enough to capture that, and he went speeding past me. However, I am not a gal easily deterred so I did some pedal to the metal work to catch him and got a couple of pics to share with you. I know, zooming down the freeway (I passed a lot of cars to catch this guy) and taking pics at the same time; not the smartest thing. But sometimes, when the opportunity presents itself, you just gotta go for it. What I won't do for my faithful blogger friends! Unfortunately, the pictures don't really show this off as much as I'd hoped. It was crazy looking.


Why someone would do this to a car is beyond me - but it was COVERED!

I hope you have a great week and that something unexpected and fun comes your way!

Peace,
Terri

Have you ever had this nightmare....

We used to call my son Tyler, the Master of Disaster. I am the Master of Disaster's Mother....

Here's the dream: you're at a meeting, a monthly gathering if you will, of like minded people. You are gathered with women whose talents you admire and friends with whom you love spending time. You're with two of your very dear friends and because the three of you all love McDonald's iced tea, you take turns stopping and buying for everyone. It's a once a month treat, well worth the caloric intake! Women come to this gathering to share, to be inspired and to show off (but not in a braggy way), their beautiful works of art. Art in the form of counted thread embroidery - oh, let's just say it, cross stitch! Samplers, beautiful samplers! In this dream (it hasn't turned into a nightmare yet), one of your friends, DEB lays her beautiful Yellow House Sampler on the table for all to admire. She's not at home, there's no fear of children wreaking havoc with her beautiful sampler; after all, only a child would dare spill something on a beautiful piece of needlework, right? You see where this is going, don't you? Yep, it was me.... I knocked over a glass full of ice and tea. Can you hear the gasps from ours AND all the other tables? Oh my God!!! It's a living nightmare! Oh my God! Hours and hours of work and I spill something on it. Can you imagine my horror? This is FAR WORSE than someone touching your needlework - to SPILL something on it. Are you KIDDING me??? Well, let me tell you - that Deb could not have been sweeter, or calmer. As we're all starting to scramble, she says, very calmly (through what should have been gritted teeth), "It's only tea." Only tea? She says, "If it stains, It'll just look old." My first thought was, "Oh Crap! Please don't tell me you used overdyed threads." "Nope, this one is stitched with DMC." Still, cool as can be, Deb is sitting there. I'm sure it's really because she was so stunned, she couldn't move :-) but we eventually got up (Julie, Deb and me), after totally disrupting the entire meeting, we ran into the kitchen area and washed it out. I was mortified; as you can all imagine. The KSSG (Kindred Spirits Sampler Guild) will never be the same. I am probably going to have to sit by myself, in a corner from now on. I deserve that - plus a dunce cap - I deserve to sit in a corner with a dunce cap on my head. A big one.... After a bit of washing, here's Deb's sampler, not too much worse for wear. All you can see of Deb is her skinny, little body - isn't her sampler gorgeous!!!



I won't go into the actual nightmare I had the next night about this except to say, when the women saw what I had done - which is blasphemy to a stitcher - they started shouting, "Stone her, Stone her!" I had to call Deb that morning to make sure she really was still speaking to me. She took my call, and she's very forgiving but, I'll understand if at the next meeting she sits somewhere else.....

This alone, would be enough to absolutely mortify most people. But not me. Nope, the day wasn't over yet. During our guild meetings we always have a raffle of some item or items that are donated. The raffle is just one way to raise money for our guild. Well this time, the drawing was for a Vera Bradley bag (a really pretty one), with three mesh accessory bags and a beautiful bird thread pallet to go with it made by Pat's DH. Of course I bought tickets. We all did. Finally, the time had come for the drawing. "The winning number is 6679." Drat, so close, my last ticket number was 6678. Shucks. Everyone checks their tickets, nobody has the winning ticket. "Is there anyone in the bathroom?" Sure enough, here come two of our guild members. "Do either of you have ticket number 6679? "Nope." "Hmmmmm.... has anyone left the meeting?" Everyone is buzzing, nobody can figure it out, and of course, I say, "Oh well.... better re-draw." Still nobody claims the prize and after some mumbling about, Julie says "Let me see your tickets." "You Won, you big dummy!" she says to me (maybe not those words exactly). What? Oh my gosh. If I hadn't embarrassed myself enough with the tea incident I certainly am by now. Who heard of numbers going down in sequence? My last ticket was 6678, and I just glanced at the last ticket and ASSUMED (you know what they say about that ~ and I just proved it as fact) they went UP in sequence, not DOWN. I know what you're thinking, "How in the world does she EVER get through a day? How does she get ANYTHING done? " Believe me, I ask myself the same things several times a day. I am here for the worlds amusement. That's why I'm here. Are you amused?

Here's what I won:






Isn't it great!? Well worth my embarrassment. Pat made the mesh bags to go with the bag and she used a pair of Vera Bradley boxer shorts for the fabric trim. She also covered a little pencil in fabric that is clipped to the bag but I'm not sure you can see that in the picture. Yep, as embarrassed as I was, I wasn't too ashamed to claim my prize.

So.... how's your week going?

Thank you all so very much for all the comments on Elizabeth Savilles. It is so exciting to see comments on a post - and I can't believe that so many of you took the time. THANK YOU so much!!! I can't wait to get her back from the framer (that's another story)- I hope I picked something that will do her justice. We'll see.

I've passed my one year anniversary for blogging and am so happy to have gotten to know so many wonderful people. I will be having a giveaway to celebrate, but I still have to get it together. You'll be the first to know!

Peace,
Terri

Introducing.....

the lovely:

the pink:

the ultra feminine,

Elizabeth Savilles:


This is officially, the Elizabeth Savilles, 1841 Sampler by Finger Work. She is worked on 32 count linen with one thread over two. I used mostly crescent colors floss and the thread substitutions are listed in the previous post. The only called for thread I did use was the Taupe for the flower vase on the left side (which was a last minute decision). In the picture of the sampler, that vase looked a lot lighter in color than the one on the right, although the pattern called for the same color. I thought the taupe gave the perfect contrast. When I started this sampler, I dyed the fabric in raspberry tea and splotched a bag of it all over the fabric to give it some interest. As you can see from the pics, that has all but faded away, I'm sorry to say. I don't dare do that now as I'm afraid it will run. Oh well, I still love it.

I "fixed" some of the sampler but left a great deal the way it was charted and of course, included a few mistakes of my own. The major changes were to add feet to the bird (in the middle tree on the right), and to connect some of the branches on the tree. I also made all the small little rosebuds, or carnation buds, complete but left the bigger flowers and corners as charted.

I've been working on this a LONG time. I started blogging in February of 2009 (it's almost my 1 year mark) and I think she was in my third post that month. At that time, I'd been working on her for a while - I think I started her in the summer of 2008. I loved this sampler the first time I saw it but I got bored with the colors - even though I absolutely love them. I must give thanks to DEB who said "Why don't you just try putting in one length of thread a night? At least that way, you'll make progress and eventually get her done." Great advice. I took it, for a while but wasn't truly motivated until I saw CARI'S post. She started and had gotten so much beautiful work done that I was re-inspired. I decided to put everything else aside and get this long overdue WIP done. Thank you girls! Now Deb, take your own advice and get to work on AAWFAA (And All Was For An Apple)!!!

I am off in a little while to take Elizabeth to the framer. I have to thank you all so much for all the lovely comments on my Jenny Bean and PS framing in my last post. You are all so kind and I so appreciate your enthusiastic support of my choices. Of course, most of you are terrible enablers; KIM said "eat beans" to pay for it. Uh, no. MARNIE said her mom used to say "I should have been born rich rather than beautiful", I wish I'd been born both! SANDRA was the only one that voiced a differing opinion to the gold frame and for that, I am thankful - she thought a brown/red toned frame might look better so I will definitely have a look at some of those, too. ANDREA, I think we are indeed "soul sisters!". We like so many of the same things, don't we? LORAINE, you asked about the mouldings for the frames: they are both by Larson Juhl. The number for the Prairie Schooler frame is 357593 and the one for the Jenny Bean piece is 457593.

Again, thank you all so much for stopping by, for leaving a comment - boy, they are special, and for being so supportive. Until the 1 year anniversary....

Peace!
Terri

Yep, I sure can pick 'em!

I picked up my framed pieces this evening. I really love how they turned out. I hope you'll like them, too. Here's Jenny Bean:


I loved the detail on the side of the frame and think that if anyone actually notices it, they'll think it's pretty.


I also picked up my Prairie Schooler Year which I had framed in a more simple style but I love it.



Now.... you might think that the title of my post has something to do with these frames I picked. But, you'd be wrong. What it has to do with is the frame I saw tonight and thought would be perfect for my sweet Elizabeth. I had already decided that I was going to go in a different direction with Elizabeth than I normally do. I was going to go less prim and more elegant. She is French, after all! So, when I saw this moulding - I thought this is IT. It's perfect.



Sadly, it didn't photograph as pretty as it really is. Trust me. It's a beauty! Anyway, I flipped the little piece of moulding over and what should I discover? A hefty,$34 a linear foot price on this sucker. Are you KIDDING me? I stitched Elizabeth on 32 count fabric, she's not exactly petite which means this would be a VERY costly frame job. Yikes. I have to find something else. Oh, it is gold leaf; not that that matters. Yep, I sure can pick 'em!

I hope to have Elizabeth done in the next week or so. Anne asked me about my thread colors; I did change them. Instead of the called for Taupe, I used Crescent Colors (CC) Weeping Willow, instead of Prov. Brown, I used CC Cocoa Brown, instead of Phil. Red, I used CC Apple Fritter, instead of Bucks County Red, I used CC Cherry Tomato and instead of Innocence Rose, I used CC Blushing Beauty and finally, instead of Quaker Swan, I used CC Green Onion.

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the world. I so appreciate your sweet comments!!!

Have a great rest of the week, my friends!

Peace,
Terri