Category Archives: FAS

Organizing, Mystery Sampler, and Destashing

Posted on August 22, 2010 by Terri | Comments Off

I spent the better part of 3 hours in my stash room yesterday. I completely emptied 2 copy paper sized boxes of school stuff and threw away (gasp!) almost every single one of my almost complete collection of BH&G CS&CC magazines. It was liberating. To me and the space in my room. I went from this:

To this:

I also found my very first cross stitch project. I’m going to frame it between 2 pieces of glass so you can see the front and the back (boy have I come a looooong way in 32 years of cross stitch!). I still have not found the elusive Peace rose project. I have the pattern and the fibers, just can’t find the darn stitching! I cannot for the life of me imagine where it is, but I refuse to give up hope that it’s forever lost…just yet. That stack on the floor to the left of the two roller bins is all my finished projects that have never been framed or finished out.

As I said, I didn’t throw away all of my magazines. I kept some that had early releases from some of my favorite designers. I’m thinking of gutting those issues and putting the designs I want into a binder. There are a couple of issues that I have more than one of. One of them contains a Shepherd’s Bush design and I’ll put it on my 4Sale page later.

The other one contains a sampler I’ve always admired and back when I first got the magazine was intimited by. I’ve seen it stitched but cannot remember where. I cannot find anywhere in the magazine who the designer is and am hoping someone who reads my blog will know. I do see it was ‘signed’ by Ruth Lowe, but I don’t recognize that name:

I updated my 4Sale page (see tab up top). I’ve added a few new things and reduced the prices on everything that was already listed. I will be adding more bits at a time.

It’s almost lunch time, so I’m off to prepare something for Kahuna and I and then I plan on spending the rest of the afternoon watching Heros and stitching on FAS.

Ciao!

Comments Off on Organizing, Mystery Sampler, and Destashing

Posted in 4Sale, FAS, Stitching

Little bit of everything.

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Terri | Comments Off

I have a happy dance! I finished Home of a Needleworker, Too this past Saturday during my monthly stitch-together. I also started pulling fibers for my new needlepoint project, but I’m not starting it until the current needlepoint piece is finished. I think I have 4 more squares to do.

Instead of working said needlepoint piece I pulled out FAS and started stitching on it again. It’s a little sad since I’m stitching where I can see Bandit’s name, but I’m looking for a place to add Jasper in. Harley already has her spot. I’m almost half way finished with it! I’m thinking of continuing on with it until I’m at that point — with a break to stitch up my class piece.

I’m avoiding The Queen!

Thanks for laughing with me over my stitching stand. I actually have it sitting in my way in my room and put my needlepoint piece in it to see how it would feel using it. I also have been given (to try out) the Needlework System 4 stand. The person who has lent it to me is wanting to sell it to me and I’m thinking of going ahead and buying it. I have looked everywhere for other components to the Grip-It with no luck. I know it’s no longer being made, but I was hoping to find it on eBay. If I do buy the NS4 I can buy other components for it. Thinking, thinking, thinking.

I’ve pulled fabric for the needlepin cushion for the October class. I’ll probably cut and serge it this weekend and start stitching on it so I can get back to FAS. I purchased this particular Loose Feathers design from Drema as a fully kitted piece and the fabric is really dark! I remember in the instruction something about fading the fabric out, but I’ve decided to stitching my design on a piece of Lambswool. The instructions also call for filling it with ground walnut shells and if anyone out there knows….is there a chance they can stain the piece? This thought it is the back of my head since I know walnuts were/are used for dying fabrics.

HarleyQuinn came to work with me this morning and charmed everyone. She had a follow up appointment for her teeth extraction and it was easier to bring her with me so I could get a little work done, than staying at home all morning and driving her back and forth. Jasper was not pleased at staying behind.

Comments Off on Little bit of everything.

Posted in FAS, Loose Feathers, Puppies

Oops, where did it go?

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Terri | Comments Off

I swear I wrote up a post a week ago! I even agonized over what author to share. Of course other than that I can’t remember a single thing I wrote about since my life has been so boring lately. However, that has changed a teensy bit.

I have stitched! and played in my stash! and cleaned up my dungeon some! and bought stash!

This past Thursday and Friday were vacation days for me. I had a week of use it or lose it vacation and am taking a day here and there for some long weekends. (I am keeping a week saved for Christmas) I thought I was going to be spending them with Kahuna but he got called into work and while I was fairly lazy those two days I did get all my laundry done and I played in the dungeon for a bit.

Friday night I did some major damage in the dungeon. I had thought to start a new project on Saturday but the one I wanted to stitch, believe it or not, I didn’t have fibers for! 😆 I didn’t feel like fondling my fabric either.

Saturday I drove up to the all day stitch in at Melissa and Darla‘s LNS — Needlepoints, Ltd. Darla had no clue I was coming and it was wonderful to see her bright face when I rounded the corner. I brought FAS, Justine, and Hannah Beeby with me but ended up just stitching on Hannah. I started her in Hawaii and haven’t touched her since. I was stitching on FAS when Bandit died and I haven’t stitched at all since then. I can honestly swear that stitching on Saturday, after playing in the dungeon on Friday, my stitching mojo is back! I had a very good time and stitched until my butt went numb – 3 times 😉 Anyway, I’m planning on attending all the other stitch ins through the rest of the year. I’m also going to be taking my Mary Wigham chart up (and the pillow from my stitching chair) and pull fibers on the 29th.

Sunday, I watched baseball, and I stitched! Didn’t even feel guilty about it either. Nope, no guilt.

As soon as I hit “post” I’m off to sit and stitch some before heading to bed…after I sort out the dungeon some more. Believe me this dungeon sorting is going to take some time….I’m hunting for my thingy that goes to my camera so I can upload some pictures. I don’t want to have to climb the mountain in the dungeon that’s between me and the cord whatsit to connect my camera to the computer since that will take me in the opposite direction I’m already sorting. How’s that for logic?

My author for this post is Leah Brooke.

Comments Off on Oops, where did it go?

Posted in FAS, Friends, Hannah Beeby, Justine, Mary Wigham, Reading, Stitching

So, where was I? Oh, yeah!

Posted on September 20, 2008 by Terri | Comments Off

Thank you for your emails this past week. I’m sorry I turned off comments, but I just didn’t want to have a bunch of comments that made me feel like everyone felt sorry for me. I don’t feel sorry for myself that I’ve made this decision – in fact, I’ve had a great stressfree week, knowing what I had waiting for me the upcoming weekend.

This is the first Saturday in a long time that I have absolutely no obligations. The ONLY thing I have to do this weekend is go grocery shopping. That leaves lot a ton of room for catching up on my DVR’d stuff, stitching 😉 and maybe a load of laundry or two. I do plan to ride this weekend though.

Kahuna has been fighting off ‘pneumonia’ since the weekend before last. He finally went to the doctor and had his lungs xrayed this past Thursday. Thankfully they are clear. He got pneumonia (for the first time) in bootcamp 100 years ago and didn’t have it again until about 1999, when he got it twice in a 3 month span and has had it (what feels like) every other year since then. It scares me and I get all hovery and naggy about going to the doctor. So he’s hanging out in the garage doing some tweaking to his tri-bike instead of surfing like he really would rather be doing trying not to cough up a lung.

I watched the first episode of Fringe bright and early this morning and thought it good enough to keep watching it. In the past I seemed to miss out on a lot of early showings because we go to bed so early and everything is on at 10:00 p.m. here. That’s changed a bit since we finally broke down and got a DVR. I have a couple of West Wing DVDs waiting for me to stitch to today, and this afternoon will find me in front of the TV watching the LSU/Auburn game. Need I say . . . Geaux Tigers?

So, where was I?

Training – I finally bit the dust and rode on heavy traffic roads this week. The first attempt I swear there were a couple of times I actually closed my eyes and prayed that I wouldn’t get run over. There are a LOT of road-ragers living here that hate cyclists. I survived and will do it again this week – at a further distance. Kahuna goes with me and that helps me feel safe. At least if I get run over, I’ll have a witness 😉

Work – going okay. The paralegal who went out on extended sick leave 2 weeks after I started returned about 4 weeks ago to work 4 hours a day. It’s definitely taken a lot of work load off me and I’m starting to get a tiny bit into what I was hired for…personal injury litigation. I’ll miss the criminal work, though.

Reading – I’ll be updating my Books tab (up top) some time this afternoon. I have several things to add. I even read the Twighlight saga twice over the past month. I’m looking forward to the movie release in December. Have I said lately how much I love my Kindle? Right now I have some books by James Grippando waiting. I like his books that feature the character criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck. The first book in the series is The Pardon.

Stitching – working on French Alphabet Sampler this weekend. Before and after photos will be posted soon-ish. I’m pondering what to take with me to Hawaii next month. Probably Hannah Beebe since I’m embarrassingly behind (read = not even started) in the stitch-a-long I started and am thinking of also taking Mimi’s Tape Measure kit. I’ve also pulled out 3 things to have Jill Rensel frame and will make a final decision on that by the end of the weekend.

Stash – I added to my collection this week too. I’ve just now started collecting the Drawn Thread Chartpacks for Sampler of Stitches and received ABC and DEF. I also got Homespun Elegance Delivering Needlewares and Home is Where You Hang Your Needleswork; and Katidid Designs Come Gather (the colors match my dining room).

Puppies – they *trapped* a gopher this morning. It was on the other side of the fence and was a very brave critter. Every time it popped its head out of the ground Harley would spaz and bark like there was a grizzly bear over there. Bandit supervised the whole time. Kahuna said it even kept poking its head out of the ground at him when he was getting the trap ready to push into the tunnel. It was rather a large one as our gophers go and it’s now in the trash bin waiting on the Monday morning garbage truck. It was hard work and the puppies are now recouperating in the sunbeams coming through the windows.

Comments Off on So, where was I? Oh, yeah!

Posted in FAS, LSU, Puppies, Reading, Stash, Stitching, Training, Work

Decorating dreams

Posted on July 27, 2008 by Terri | Comments Off

I love reading decorating magazines. I have such varying tastes and find myself falling in love with an elegant dining room on one page, and a country eat-in kitchen on the next. I have a stack of magazines that I need to go through to tear out the inspiration pages for a folder I have.

Recently I’ve found myself reading more and more decorating blogs and saving certain pictures from them. That’s so much easier and takes up less space than the magazines and saves the trees 🙂 The last few pictures I saved were from desire to inspire. The entries on this blog are usually very long so I only look at them when I have time to sit a spell, like on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

I absolutely l.o.v.e. this kitchen.

And would have no problems whatsoever eating off this table.

And could easily entertain people in this dining area.

And imagine the sweet dreams sleeping under this chandelier!

But enough of that.

I stitched on French Alphabet Sampler last night while watching some of my DVR’s stuff. I’ve got my stitching groove back!!!

Kahuna didn’t get into today’s race. Long story….the Marine Corps dropped the ball, yadda, yadda, yadda. I think I’m more disappointed than he is 😆

I’m headed out dress shopping with a friend today. I haven’t worn a dress in almost 10 years and I have an opera and wedding coming up. I’m also looking for some work clothes (denim trousers, etc.). She has a great eye for design and has been ‘shopping’ for me all week. I can’t wait to see what she picked out…and I’m going shoe shopping too! Woohoo! If it works out I may just ‘hire’ her to shop for me for the rest of my life! 😆

Comments Off on Decorating dreams

Posted in FAS, Life, Stitching

Brain dump

Posted on February 25, 2008 by Terri | Comments Off

Didn’t really know what to title this. It’s more of a “get it out of my brain” kind of post.

Friday’s car disaster is over. The rain didn’t let up much so I went out in the rain to cover it. Looked like a wet rat when I got back in the house and kept hot water going all day for Japanese milk tea. I didn’t watch the DVDs I have, but I did just about clear out the DVR and I got quite a bit of stitching done.

Saturday the sun came out enough that I could uncover the car, roll down the windows and remind myself over and over not to let it happen again. Of course, I also spent a lot of time looking out the window wondering if it was raining again. Kahuna had a 56 mile bike ride and we ended up going swimming later that afternoon, after he recouperated some.

Sunday it was raining, again. I was heading out the door to WW and discovered I hadn’t received my monthly pass, so I didn’t go. I found out after I called them that I could print one off. I could probably have figured that out earlier, but honestly I didn’t want to go out in the rain. When it slacked up I headed to the grocery store, but it was raining again when I got there and all the carts were soaked. It was an interesting experience seeing all the wet people and water on the floor everywhere while we shopped.

Kahuna had a 2 hour run and wanted to re-carb so we went out to pizza. We wanted to watch the NASCAR race, but it was raining north of us as well and the race was stopped. I turned the Oscars on and sort of listened while stitching and finishing laundry. I’ve seen so few of the movies, though, so it wasn’t all that great to me.

I finished up a RR I was working on plus I finished the 1st 3 bands of Ann Holewll.

I’m back on FAS and enjoying every stitch. I reworked one of the parts to include Bandit’s name and will do the same elsewhere for Harley. I’m working kind of weird on this page because of the rework and am keeping my fingers figuratively crossed that it works out.

I have errands to take care of after work today so am skipping the gym. Tomorrow I start back running, but since it’s for such a short period (15 minutes) while I get used to my new orthotics, I’m swimming too.

Making Filipino Adobo Chicken for dinner tonight. Haven’t had it in forever and I can practically smell it now. I made brownies yesterday. I’m getting back into my “homemaker” mode where I’m wanting to cook all the time again. One more reason I need to be a kept woman….can cook more!

Comments Off on Brain dump

Posted in Ann Holewll, FAS, NASCAR, Stitching

Woohoo it's Monday!

Posted on February 18, 2008 by Terri | Comments Off

and I don’t have to be to work today 😆

I managed to make a dent in the “to-do” list I posted on Friday.

The swim went great for me. I managed to push myself 100 yards further than the last trip, plus for the 1st time I managed to swim 100 yards twice without stopping. The second time I had to roll over and backstroke a couple of times, but I did NOT stop. This is a great breakthrough for me as it shows me that I have not been pushing myself hard enough. Kahuna is convinced I need to be swimming everyday, and I’m going to ramp it up a little this week. I don’t know if that means going more yards per trip, or more trips. I’ll be playing it by ear.

Saturday I got my hair cut….short. She even shaved my neck, which I’ve never had done in my life!! I’m not sure I like the cut. It’s really the same as I’ve had, just shorter in the back. My hair grows in a circle around my head and with it being this short, it kind of wants to do the fuzzy chicken thing unless I mess with it a lot. I’m not the sort of person who wants to mess with her hair much. I got it cut short for less messing with. I’ll see if it “grows” on me. I love the way it looks, it’s just a little more work than what I’m wanting. I also went to a new stylist, who was 50% cheaper, fast, great – and pregnant. Why is it I feel like I find someone I like, they’re never around for long? I didn’t ask her if she was going to return after having the baby (her first). I’ll go to her again in about 6 weeks and I’ll talk to her then. I’ve also found myself a new manicurist, who’s also 50% cheaper than my last one. I wasn’t going to continue having my nails done but the swimming just destroys them, and while I don’t keep them very long, I would like for them to look nice. Both ladies work at the salon on the base which is 5 minutes from where I live. Amazing the great resources you can find when you take the time to look. But you realize that I’m moving right? 😆

During all this beautifying Kahuna was surfing, and then he had a cycle/run brick which left me at the house working in my office. I think it was 3 before we left the house to do our errands. I went to Joann’s and got the fibers picked out for Hannah Beeby. I am really happy with my choice and am looking forward to the stitchalong starting the end of March. I’ve decided on DMC 839, 3863, and 224 on Lambswool Linen.

I haven’t decided on 28 or 32 count, but am leaning toward the 28. I just need to see if what I have is large enough. I also picked up a pair of embroidery scissors, a thread holder for my sewing machine and a couple of other little things bringing my total to less than what I would have paid for the scissors full price. Yay for sales and coupons. I neglected to get a new bulb for my OTT though and I have a 40% coupon for that, that I really need to take advantage of, since the lighting by my sewing machine is next to none.

I went through my pantry Saturday and made a menu and grocery list around what was in there. I’m determined to get us back to eating better and not break the bank doing it. I spent less than my budgeted $75 on groceries Sunday, and only forgot 1 thing. Woohoo!

The rest of the day was spent doing a whole lot of not much. We really enjoyed Daytona 500. I would have been happier if Dale Earnhart or Casey Kahne won, but it was great that Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordan did not! 🙂 The rest of my time on Sunday was spent on and off in my office. I made great headway with my desk and got my keyboard and printer moved and almost everything put where I want it OFF the desk. I have some photos to be framed and moved around and I’ll be tickled with my desk setup.

Stitching? Well except for playing floss toss for Hannah, I didn’t have anything to do with stitching on Saturday or Sunday. That will be different today though. I am running out to town to see about the above mentioned picture frames, and to hit up Costco for some bread (but will still be way under budget). The rest of my day will be spent doing laundry, stitching, and catching up with the stuff I have recorded on the DVR. I only have 1 small thing to stitch on the RR that I want to mail out tomorrow and then I’ll be working on Ann Holewll. I’m going to have to piece together some qsnap components for it, but am planning on using some of the money I get from selling my stash to buy another set of rods for my Handi Clamps.

I would like to get the fabric cut for Houses of Hawk Run Hollow today, but if it doesn’t happen I’m not going to worry about it and just put it on next week’s “to-do” list. My poor French Alphabet Sampler is probably going to be ignored today as well since I really need to get caught up with Ann Holewll.

I wanted to stay off the computer over the weekend and except for cleaning out some old emails and emptying my camera chip, I did pretty good! I managed to sell several of the Shepherd’s Bush items I posted so was on the computer getting that squared away. I didn’t do any posting of The Silver Lining stuff, but that’s because the box they’re in is sort of out of reach right now as I work my way across my office cleaning and sorting and selling. I do need to get them up though.

I didn’t get anything done on ebookdrop.com either. I could probably do that from work, since I’ll have to haul them in for mailing anyway. I know the prices won’t be much, but they’ll be more than just sitting in my office taking up space and collecting dust. I’m almost to the point of throwing things away so I don’t have to move it or clean around it so if I can get some money for it, that’s better. I also want to look into cashduck.com for a bit more income. I think I’d rather go this route for now and not increase my hours at work until we decide where we’re going to live. I may increase them by 15 minutes a day though in a week or so. We’ll see.

I’ve decided to split whatever extra I have coming in equally 3 ways:

Training – Kahuna is building me a bike from components he’s selling on one of his bikes, and I want to contribute. This money will stay in paypal, since he buys a lot of components from places that accept paypal.

Stitching – I love my hobby. I have tons of money invested in it. I have lots of beautiful things to work with without buying more so I’m trying to buy only what I need to stitch from my stash. The first item will be the 14” bars for the Handi Clamps I mentioned above. I’ll probably also use this $ for finishing. I have a savings account I don’t use that I’ll keep these funds in.

Debt – While it won’t be much, the last 1/3 of my extra income will go toward getting my debt paid off.

I thought I would feel deprived while I worked on getting myself out of my debt fix; however, I have taken the advice of several blogs I read and made sure to have some “wants” budgeted for (like my manicures). It’s working and I almost feel like I’m playing a game seeing what I can accomplish with what I have. I’m also trying to get out of the impulse spending that I practiced in the past. I’m doing pretty good! I also have my wonderful hobby that entertains me which helps a lot.

I didn’t mean for this to get so long, but I guess I had a lot to get down after all my thinking this weekend. I guess I’d better say “The End” to this novel and get on with my day.

Comments Off on Woohoo it's Monday!

Posted in 4Sale, Ann Holewll, FAS, Finances, Hannah Beeby, HOHRH, NASCAR, Training

And it's February!

Posted on February 1, 2008 by Terri | Comments Off

We had a great time at our tri-club meeting last night. Kahuna picked me up from work and when we got there ~~100~~ a lot of boxes of pizza were arriving. It was staged outside, brrrr cold, but the pizza was nice and warm and the people were very welcoming. We have been to 2 networking meetings, but this was our first monthly meeting (which was held inside). They had several announcements, one of which was a list of who the sponsors are for the club, and let me tell you, the club is WELL sponsored. They also held raffles for ~~several~~ many great prizes (several gift certificates and a wetsuit come to mind). After the announcements we had a guest speaker – Sam McGlone. She is cute as a bug, and I had a wonderful time listening to how she got to Kona.

On the way home I received a call from Melissa that her sister’s husband had been killed in a weather related car accident. My heart is just breaking for her because she’s so worried for her sister and the children. Please pray for them all.

This morning, I’ve spent a nice quiet hour at work getting caught up. Now, it’s noisy and I’m feeling cranky and I’m so glad that it’s Friday. In addition to being payday, I’m looking forward to getting home and reading the stash I received in the mail last night. We got home too late for me to do anything except rip the envelope/box open and get excited about starting a new project!

In addition to this quarter’s SANQ, I received Drawn Thread’s Random Thoughts and Souvenir Sampler. Both have been wants for a long time and I was able to get them both fully kitted at a great discount from someone who was selling her mother’s “estate” stash.

I also received my Ann Holewll kit for the stitch-along that’s happening through the With My Needle newsletter. The silks are just scrumptious looking and I can’t wait to get home to start reading the directions and baste my fabric. The first lesson is up and I need to do the first three bands this month. Between this, and FAS, and that little something I’ve been up to I’m hoping I haven’t tried to stretch myself too far for the month.

February’s Goals:

Stitching: Finish the 5th page of French Alphabet Sampler. Finish the 1st 3 bands of Ann Holewll; reveal what I’ve been up to.

Fitness: Doctor appointment Feb. 4. Do whatever doc thinks is necessary to get myself back on track for my triathlon training. Maintain weight.

Professional: Continue working on personnel and accounting records.

Other: Continue to work 15 minutes reorganizing my home office.

Comments Off on And it's February!

Posted in Ann Holewll, FAS, Goals, Stash

January is over?

Posted on January 31, 2008 by Terri | Comments Off

How the heck did we get to the last day of January already? At the rate this month passed me by, I’ll be setting down my 2009 goals in a heartbeat.

I’m thrilled by all the interest in Hannah Beeby. And it’s been so nice to hear from so many of you. I think since there’s interest in a weekly and weekend only stitchalong, I’ll set it out for a week, and those who can only stitch on Fri, Sat, and Sun., can join in at the end of the week. How does starting March 24th sound? Would you like for me to set up a separate blog for progress photos? If so, I can do that early so we can start sharing fabric and fiber choosing woes! Please post a comment and let me know your preferences.

Am I the only person (besides Darla) that will stress over deciding on fabric and fibers?? I’m determined to stitch from my stash so I think I’ll do some sample stitching with the fibers I pick out to see what they’ll look like together. I would hate to get really far in and discover I don’t like the way my fibers look.

The puppies had their shots and heartworm checks yesterday and with the exception of me being fussed at for not keeping their nails short enough (this was a stab to my heart that I wasn’t taking proper care of them!) they are in excellent very spoiled puppy health. They were very glad to get back home.

Since I have a meeting tonight after work, I know I won’t have anything more to contribute toward my goals for January, so I think I’ll do my recap today and set down February’s goals tomorrow.

For January I said:

Fitness goal 1: this month I’m in a cycling challenge. My goal is to cycle 78 miles. My first ride is tomorrow. Most of this month’s riding will probably be on a trainer. Well this didn’t happen. My heel ended up sending me to the doctor who said she preferred I not do any activity until I see a podiatrist, told me to wear inserts and gave me naproxen to take twice a day.

Fitness goal 2: do not miss a WW meeting and lose 6 pounds. I did miss 2 meetings. I forgot when I set this goal that I had plans for 2 Sunday mornings this month. I also didn’t lose 6 pounds because of the naproxen. For some reason when I take it I retain water. Add that to no activity, and well, I’m just glad I didn’t GAIN 6 pounds instead.

Stitching: complete page 4 of French Alphabet Sampler. Post picture when page 3 finished. Woohoo, I actually accomplished some goals! I did post a picture and I did finish page 4. In fact, I finished page 4 so fast, that I was able to start and finish 1 design and start and almost finish a 2nd design. But since I’m up to something secret I got a bit sidetracked and didn’t finish the 2nd design. I’ll get it finished after my February FAS goal of page 5. 😉

Professional: this is the new addition to my goals for 2008. Revamp personnel and accounting records. Scan in client billing records. NOTE: This will take more than a month to accomplish. I actually got all of the billing records scanned in (shocker!) and have started on the accounting and personnel records. I still have much to do in that department though, so this will be added to next month’s goals.

Comments Off on January is over?

Posted in FAS, Fitness, Goals, Hannah Beeby, Puppies