Author Archives: Terri

That pot of gold

Posted on March 9, 2010 | Comments Off

I was reading a “reading” blog the other day and several authors posted 3 things they would do if they found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Mine are:

1. Quit working – duh!

2. Travel to Scotland with Kahuna so he can visit his roots.

3. I don’t know.

How’s that third answer! 😆 When I got down to it there were so many other things I wanted to list, that I couldn’t decide!! I want to invest some of it, I want to buy a house with some of it, I want to set my parents up so they could both quit working (although they continue to work because they each love their jobs), I want to rescue more puppies, see….it’s hard to choose!

Can you?

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Posted in Life

I am very tired of Summer!

Posted on March 8, 2010 | Comments Off

The design, not the season! 😆

Stitching

I’m down to stitching exclusively on Summer Queen so I can get her finished by the end of the month. I know it can be done, however, I am very tired of blue, blue, BLUE! I took a photo of her last night when I moved my Qsnaps and I’ll share that later.

One thing I have learned though is that the little *rotation* I had going was great for me. I miss the other designs I was stitching on.

I found a new framer practically across the street from where I work. I had to come in a different route one day last week and there it was! The little man who owns the place told me he does needlework framing so I’m going to take a smallish piece in and see what he does with it.

Puppies

Jasper’s paperwork came in a week or so ago. Both his parents were Champions. His mother’s name is “Man Magnet” his father’s name is “Songs of Angels,” and Mr. Prissy Pants’ name????? Hunka Burnin’ Fudge! Kahuna has taken to calling him Vanilla Ice Fudge Baby. 😉

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Posted in Mirabilia, Puppies, Stitching

Stitchy Saturday of a Sorts

Posted on February 27, 2010 | Comments Off

Man is it ever raining here! And lightening. And thundering! In fact, I’m wondering just how smart it is for me to be even on the computer right now. The puppies, especially Jasper, are not happy right now.

The postman brought me my one and only, so far, Market purchase today. The Goode Huswife’s Book of Designs Vol IV. I’m ready to whip out some fabric and get stitching on more than half of the designs! 😆 I don’t recall seeing what was going to be in the book so I thought I would share the design names here: Priscilla Sharp 1821, Quaker Friendship Sampler, Quaker Marriage Sampler, 1809 Quaker Sampler, Quaker Four Corners, 1798 Quaker Sampler, Julia Iden 1804, Companion Quaker Christmas Tree Two, Anonymous Quaker Sampler, and The Little Red R Sampler.

This makes 3 of her compilations that I own now.

I’m totally in love with the picture of the girl on the front and would love to get my hands on a little larger version to frame for my house.

I called my LNS yesterday to see if she went to Market, and alas, she did not. She is willing to order for me what I want to see, with no obligation to purchase it if I don’t like it and I’m going to take her up on that offer if it doesn’t take too long for the order to be placed and received. I want to purchase local before I order online – and I told her this.

I just finished reading my current book and as soon as I hit ‘publish’ I’m off to stitch on Summer Queen.

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Posted in Stash, Stitching

Stashing Enhancement

Posted on February 24, 2010 | Comments Off

Thank you for your quilting recommendations. Annette also sent me an email directing me to AllPeopleQuilt.com and that sight was a lot of fun to look through as well. I have downloaded a couple of patterns and looked at my quilt stash last night and will use what I have with a couple of added fabrics for sashing and backing.

Thank you also for your comments on your Market *needs.* Vonna, I love your “panties” comment! 😆 As to where you can see what’s out there, I have been looking at Stitching Bits and Bobs, Elegant Stitch, and Needlecraft Corner. I have been drooling over:

Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow, especially after seeing the picture of it done 3×4.
Blackbird Designs – Honeysuckle Manor
Dames of the Needle – Adam and Eve Sampler
Goode Huswife – #IV (which I’ve already ordered)
Little House Needleworks – Needle and Thread
Plum Street Samplers – The Queen’s Crowns and Thirteen Owls
Samplers Remembered – Village Square Sampler ~ Mary Allen 1818
Shepherd’s Bush – Liberty Pincushion and Scissor Fob and My Land
With My Needle – Mrs. Waddelow’s Huswif and Quaker Sampling III
I’m intrigued by La~D~Da’s Miss Mary Mack Limited Edition Box. I have the pattern and am wondering what that box is about. I love boxes! 😀
I love several of the Giulia Punti Antichi but don’t know if I’d honestly stitch them because I’m afraid of the finishing! 😆

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Posted in Life

What are you itching to buy?

Posted on February 22, 2010 | Comments Off

So Market is over and the pictures are popping up here and there. I have only seen one or two designs I think I would actually get around to stitching in this lifetime. Keeping in mind my wanting to thin out my stash (of what I know I’ll never get around to stitching) I’m in no big hurry to buy everything, but would like to know what you’re interested in, just in case you’ve seen something I haven’t.

Will you share?

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Posted in Stash

Quilt pattern advice

Posted on February 22, 2010 | Comments Off

I know there are a couple of quilters out there who read my blog and I’m using this post to throw myself on their mercy. It’s for the puppies, so please be generous! 😆

This past weekend was blanket washing day. I have them all through the house so the puppies can snuggle where ever they want.

The blankets we have were specifically purchased for Bandit and Harley. Jasper didn’t come with a blanket, so I set out to purchase one for him. I know this might seem silly to non-doggie people considering I just told you I have blankets all over my house, but every puppy deserves his/her own blanket! Anyway, this was unbelievably difficult because they were either too large, or way too expensive.

Here’s where your help is needed. I have made 2 small quilts. One’s a wall hanging size, and one’s a lap blanket size (which I have given over to the puppies). Neither has a difficult pattern (the wall hanging is ‘around the world?’). I can sew a straight line. I can stitch in a ditch. I can tie a quilt. I have tons of fat quarters.

Keeping in mind I’m sewing for the puppies, can any of you suggest “reeeeeeally easy to follow directions” quilt patterns to me? I don’t care if they’re free or if I need to order them from somewhere.

Thankyouverymuch!

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Posted in Quilting

Happy Birthday, Handsome!

Posted on February 21, 2010 | Comments Off

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Posted in Life

The postman has been kind

Posted on February 18, 2010 | Comments Off

Yesterday I came home to a wonderful box from Vonna! It was late when I got home (side trip to the grocery store) and I was too tired to open it. I sent Flying Monkeys to her for finishing and she did a bang up job. I was tickled pink by the photos she sent me but they were nothing to the actual piece. Kahuna was there when I opened the box tonight and he likes it too!

These are the pictures she took (her photography efforts are better than mine!):

I highly suggest you think of Vonna if you need some finishing. I have been reluctant to stitch so many ornaments because of my poor finishing skills, but now Vonna better watch out, she may have let loose a monster! 😆

The next package I got arrived tonight. I mentioned on February 14th that I had ordered some more stash. It was originally requested in January but was never ordered. I fell in love with Rosewood Manor’s Quaker Diamonds when Becky featured it on her blog as a giveaway. I wasn’t crazy about the fibers though until I found out from Melissa and Margaret Bendig that they also came in 6 strand floss. I did a little internet research and found both the pattern and the fibers on sale at Anita’s Little Stitches. I’ve been reading this lady’s blog for awhile and took a chance placing my first order with her. I did this over the long weekend and couldn’t be happier with the customer service. The only reason I didn’t have it earlier was because Monday was a mail holiday. Let me tell you the Valdani fibers are scrumptious! This will be high up on my to-do list. I also ordered LIttle House Needleworks’ Battle Hymn of the Republic to add to my American flag designs.

Work is crazy. A new person started this past Monday and between helping her learn the ropes and trying to learn new ways to do things myself I feel like I’m running in circles. Throw in the fact that I’m still sick (8 days now!) and I’m exhausted in the evenings when I get home.

I got an email from the Fair yesterday telling me when entries were going to start being accepted and they’ve moved it up from May to March! Eeeeek! Looks like I’ll be doing a bit of exclusive stitching on Summer Queen to get her ready.

Jasper is 100% officially mine! We went over to his foster mom’s Tuesday evening and retrieved all of his clothes (yes, he has clothes) and toys. Poor baby had 2 toys. You should have seen him when he unearthed his hedgehog. He was a crazy man and didn’t want to share! Harley is in love with one of his fleece ‘jammies’ and we’re going to be getting her one or two to wear. My change in attitude toward him has made a huge difference in how I’m feeling about him. He really is a sweetheart (I know I keep saying that). He just came in for an ear scritch 🙂

Guess I’d better get off the computer and settle in for some Olympic stitching. Ciao!

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Posted in Puppies, Stash, Stitching, Work

Insight

Posted on February 15, 2010 | Comments Off

Defined:

penetration: clear or deep perception of a situation

a feeling of understanding

grasping the inner nature of things intuitively

This morning when I opened my email I had notice of a lovely comment from Margie. It contained the following quote:

Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love.
They depart to teach us about loss.
A new dog never replaces an old dog;
it merely expands the heart.
If you have loved many dogs, your heart is very big.
-Erica Jong

Jasper is such a sweetheart. It’s very obvious that he was not raised in a home that spoiled him. He cringes when he jumps onto our bed – or any furniture that’s not the ‘puppy throne;’ won’t sleep in our bed at night; rarely jumps up to sit with me in my chair; doesn’t seem all that crazy about being picked up and held; sometimes runs from me when I bend over to pet him; etc. I have found this offputting, and now I know why! Now that I think back over the past couple of months I can’t tell you how many echos I have in my head of either myself or Kahuna saying how different he is from how Bandit behaved. When I read Margie’s comment it became so crystal clear that I have been trying to make him replace Bandit. I don’t know why I’ve felt this way because Bandit certainly wasn’t the first dog we’ve every had. It’s so obvious Jasper is starved for attention because if you’re sitting and not paying attention to him when he enters the room he will whine for your attention. Now I need to figure out how to make him less afraid of the things he now has that he was denied in his past life.

Thank you so much Margie for thinking of me and sharing.

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Posted in Puppies

Happy Daytona Day!

Posted on February 14, 2010 | Comments Off

Okay, I know it’s Valentines Day but Daytona Day is much much better 🙂 Besides, Kahuna already gave me my Valentines on Friday. He brought me beautiful pink roses (with one red one). They are extra special because he bought them locally. I have been trying very hard to buy from small businesses out in town whenever I have a need to shop in town. I know it costs more, but I figure the cost to me will be higher if I have to drive past a bunch of empty store fronts. It’s a good thing for me the “local” needlework shop is a couple of cities over.

Thank you gals for your hugs on “Bandit” day. I was completely unprepared for how I felt. I thought I was dealing with it very well. I think part of how hard it hit me was because I’m not feeling very well. I have Kahuna’s illness. I’ve tried to give it back. This morning I woke with no voice and having trouble breathing. Right now the breathing part is better and I have a sexy voice.

Yesterday was my monthly stitch together. We had a nice time. It was a little more subdued than normal. Many of us were up late the night before watching the Olympics Opening Ceremony, or killing people in Mafia Wars 🙂

I never switched stitchy projects and continued to stitch on Home of a Needleworker Too yesterday. Here’s my really bad progress photo:

I also purchased stash. Margaret Bendig is our ‘teacher’ and she brought in a lovely spot sampler a couple of classes back. Yesterday she brought in her pattern and it was snapped up fast at our end of the table. In fact we bought her out. The photo isn’t the best (her fault, she’s getting a better one) but it’s cross stitch with just a teensy bit of of over one (Joy can be changed to Peace). It is really quite lovely. This photo is courtesy of Darla’s cell phone 🙂

I also wanted to share photos of the stash I purchased earlier this month (listed to the right), but just don’t have the energy. It came in the mail this last week and my fingers are itching to start Thankful Wheeler.

I also purchased again yesterday. Last month I had asked the shop owner to order a couple of charts for me, but unbeknownst to me it was not time for her to order so when I showed up yesterday they still had not been ordered. I was looking for fibers for one and Margaret brought some of hers in to show me what they were like. When I got home I found a source that not only had the chart and fibers, but they were on sale as well! So, more delving into my stash budget. I think I’m tapped out 😉 I’ll share what it is when it arrives.