A start, A finish and A sweater

So had a great week of stitching.  Lots going on on the home front too.  Bought new bedroom furniture, so that means that cleaning out the old furniture, cleaning the nooks and crannies and places that you don't normally clean until the room is empty or furniture is moved.  So there was dusting and vacuuming and carpet cleaning going on.  EEK!  Lot's of decluttering too.  Deciding what to keep out and what to put away and get rid off.  But it will all be good...soon...I hope! 

But in the mean time I did get an ornie finished. One of my favorites from the JCS ornie issue this year.  You can't tell from the scan but the red and the silver dots are shiny with Kreinek thread, and it's soooo pretty in person.

Christmas Tree Cat by Brittercup Designs from JCS 2011 Ornie Issue

I also started a new project...thanks to Dani for letting me borrow this, as I searched high and low for this chart and it turns out it was OOP...Dani has it beautifully pictured in her banner on her blog.  It's MacDonald's Maple Leaf and the colours are amazing on this project!!!  I love how it's coming along, and can't wait to get at it again.

Then on Sunday is our SAL with Kati!  Very excited about Mary Margaret!  And I finished her sweater so on to other things next Sunday.  (Oh Ick!  I didn't see that streak from the scan!!! too lazy to rescan)

Tomorrow is the start of the Christmas Ornament Challenge that Becky has started.  So all the ornaments that I stitch from now until December 31st are going to be posted there as well.  I'm happy about that :)  I love my ornies!!!!

Drive by orting!

I have a busy night so this will be quick, I just wanted to post my ort jar for this month.

I wore this mask as part of my halloween costume last year and I still love it....however this year....Egyptian Queen!  LOL

Have a great weekend!

Welcome Mary Margaret...

Or at least what little there is of her!  I had planned a full day of stitching from morning until night yesterday.  But alas, it was not to be.  Saturday we were out in the yard, raking and pulling out everything out of the flower beds, cleaning out the pots and containers.  Which is all well and good, and it all looks wonderful! (I love the fall clean up!) Unfortunately, regardless of the allergy pill that I had taken on Saturday.  I woke up on Sunday morning with a huge headache from sinus pressure, with my face and eyes all swollen. booo hooo!  So after a couple of hours of struggling to get rid of the headache.  I just ended up taking another allergy pill and laid back down and slept until 4 in the afternoon.  I NEVER do that!  But I did wake up feeling better.  So it helped.  Still a little swollen around the eyes today, but at least I don't look like I got attacked by a swarm of bees anymore.  So this is what I managed on Mary Margaret last night for a couple of hours.  She is going to be so much fun to stitch! YEAH!

I also had a little ornie finish from last week. I thought this turned out pretty.  I don't know what fabric this is, or what shade it is.  I know that's it's 28ct but I don't know anything else, it was in the scrap drawer, but it was perfect for this piece :)

Fresh Fallen Snow by Little House Needleworks - from 2011 JCS Ornie issue

I am going to be starting a new project this week as well.  First I am part way through another ornie and then I'm starting.  I have everything ready to go, so it's just a matter of starting it.  I'm excited about that piece too :)

Another smile from Lulu!

Loving my smalls

It's been so long since I've stitched little ones in a row that I forgot how much I love it!  I think I should just do ornies all year long and nothing in between (accept for my Sunday SAL)  but that's not practical, and I would get sick of the smalls at that point. Right now though I am enjoying...and have to look to see when I'll find time to get them all finished for the tree!  Sometime in November, I'll take a weekend during hunting season and just sit with the sew machine and the baubles and get them done.  It'll be fun!

Kati and I have decided that we are going to start Mary Margaret this coming Sunday so I got a chance to do a little extra Sunday stitching on my ornies, and this is my progress for last week. Three little happy dances! YEAH

Joy of the Snowflake - Little by Little Design Co. 2011 JCS ornie issue

Partridge 2011 - janie Hubble Designs - 2011 JCS ornie issue

Deer in the Forest - Niky's Creations - 2011 JCS ornie issue

So Sunday I got up a little earlier than usual...not sure why, was just up...and turned on the tv.  Nothing on so I settle on the Food Network.  Low and behold my old friend, whom I haven't watched in a long time was on...The Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten.  Watched two episodes, back to back and was literally craving every single one of her pasta dishes!  As the day goes by I think to myself I need to go to the bookstore to pick up one of her cookbooks, just to take a peek.  She doesn't use too many weird spices and seasonings....most of her food I would probably eat, if given the chance.  So off I went...me and my little plum rewards card.  Well I came home with not one, not two, but three of her cookbooks.  And even that took me an hour to decide which ones I wanted...because I really did just want one...but everything looked so good!  Magazine section...picked up a couple of stitching magazines as well.  NICE!  And I can't remember whether it was US or People but it had Amanda Cox on the cover.  YEP  But ladies...be proud...when then offered my the furry blankie for $30 because I spent more than $50...I refused!  LOL  Now that's will-power!  Don't you agree?  So now I'm looking thru these books and yes, I can cook almost all of these recipes...and yes I will probably eat them...and yes perhaps my Hungarian husband will appreciate them as well...but WHEN WILL I HAVE TIME???  Moral of the story...never watch the food network followed up by the bookstore, when HUNGRY!  Geesh! 

Seriously though, I would love to do the Julie/Julia thing and cook and bake everything in them.  Plus her other books as well.  Aaawwwww if only life would allow suck indulgences.

oops  I almost forgot!  I also bought a brie baker!  I don't even know why!!

It's a two steppin' kind a day!

Yep, that's right.  I am dancing...not just for one finish..but two! 

Elizabeth is done in all of her mouthless glory!  I love her!  The picture doesn't do her any justice...as well all know...known of our stitched offerings look as fabulous as the do in person..try as we might.  But the colours are a gorgeous compliment to each other.  The dress took almost three whole days of stitching to do.  It was very misleading...but it's done and it's great and I love her hair and everything about her.  Next up will be the next girl in the CHS series.  We have decided on Mary Margaret, whom you can see in my side bar.  Not sure if we're starting her next Sunday or the Sunday after, but progress will be posted as we move along.

Elizabeth by Carriage House Samplings - stitched on 32 ct Goldspinner lugana by Silkweavers

On Saturday I stitched up Jaxon's first ornie!  YEAH!!!  I think it turned out so cute.  My SIL - Judy - aka Gramma is stitching Jaxon's stocking, and I plucked this out of the design, so that he would have a matching ornament for his first Christmas. :)  I love how he turned out.  I shall post the stocking when Judy is finished with it. :)

Dancing penguin by Linda Gillum stitched on 28 ct white lugana

We had a houseful of people yesterday.  Family gathered for our Canadian Thanksgiving.  The food was wonderful, everyone was in good spirits, and Jaxon learned how to slap the table to order himself a drink at the bar, should he ever be in need of a refreshment.  VERY CUTE!  Lulu was also on her best behaviour and in all her glory as there were many hands to pet and cuddle her. 

Did I mention that Lulu actually smiles??  LOL