Pics of my Freecycle Stash find!

Floss bags storage system that she hated so gave to me!

Some patterns and hoops

A few kits

This photo doesn't do the material justice. The big white roll to the far right is actually that; a roll of 14 count Aida. I believe that it's about two yards worth of material!!

Some time to stitch finally

I did get some stitching done the other night. Not a lot but a line or two which is better than nothing. It seems when I finally sit down to do it, Ryan is tired and wanting to snuggle or Logan is tired and wanting to snuggle. I'm hoping to get more time today or tomorrow to sit and stitch and once I do I think I might get another finish as I'm very close to being done with one of the projects.

I still haven't made it by Michael's or Joann's for the floss I need to finish up Marie's remote control holder. I have been to town at least three times but by the time I'm done with all the other errands the kids are so tired and cranky I just can't drag them through another store. One of these days I will get there. Poor Marie may lose her remotes another five or six times by then but it will get done.

I did get time to fiddle with the new PCStitch some the other day. I had to wait for my CD and my pattern pieces so I could download/upload them. I had some issues with them that I'm still not sure it wasn't operator error. I e-mailed the company on Friday and hadn't heard back from them on the following Wednesday so I e-mailed the sales rep who had contacted me after my original purchase. I told her all about the issues and asked someone to get back with me. I decided to try one more time to get through the issues and of course, because I contacted her everything worked this time. She was very prompt and got back with me so I had to tell her I had figured it all out and what I had done to get it to work. In other words, I had no idea what I did but here are the steps I took. Oy!

I did design name plaques that I will be making for the kids so they will know which toy boxes belong to them. They can keep their own toys in their own box and never fight over toys again. Yeah, right, I know but in theory it works. I can't wait to start them with the new stash I received about a month ago. I forgot to post about that didn't I??

On a whim, I advertised on the local freecycle that I would take any cross stitch material, floss or patterns that anyone didn't want anymore. I figured it was worth a shot not really thinking I would hear back from someone but I did. I got three bags full of great stash. This woman had just about one of every color DMC floss put in the little floss bags on rings and decided she didn't like them so she gave them to me. She also gave me quite a bit of Aida cloth and a few other pieces as well as some patterns and some kits. What a stash!! I now don't have to worry about purchasing any more material unless I need something special!

ARGGGGHHHH!!!!

Okay, so I haven't been able to do any stitching in the past couple of weeks and it's driving me up the wall!! First, Marie gets the stomach bug then Logan gets sick, then I get sick and then I share it with Ryan and Katie. I thought everyone was getting better but I started with a sneezing attack again last night and am all stuffed up again today with a headache. Ryan will not sleep because he's still a little congested so it's been either sleep on the floor next to him (with him propped up on pillows) or sleep in the recliner with him in my arms. Believe it or not, if you are exhausted enough you can sleep anywhere!! The other night I gave up and brought him in the bed with Curtis and me. He was able to finally fall asleep propped up on my pillow, next thing I know it's morning and I haven't moved all night. My back is screaming from being in the same position for four hours but I did get some sleep!!

I finally broke down and made a big purchase; I was going back and forth between the PC Stitch and the PatternMaker by Hobbyware. I finally downloaded PC Stitch to try and I love it!! I am just waiting on the actual CD and the pattern pieces that I ordered so I can jump in and really see what's what. I believe this is the best software for me as I don't have a lot of time to try to sit down and figure out a new software. If it's not easy then it takes up too much time which I don't have a lot of anyway. I plan on sitting down once I receive everything and getting a picture of Curtis' favorite teams on there and make a nice "sampler" for his birthday or Christmas. Either way, I have at least 6 months to complete whatever I come up with.

I still need to get some fabric and finish up the curtains in the playroom. I hate the way the smaller windows look because of my boo boo. I think I can get some tomorrow on my shopping run to town. Once that's done I can get some pictures up like I promised to do a couple of weeks ago. I hope to get to some stitching today, but first, it's off to do dishes, vacuum and get ready for Ryan's therapy. Great news in that area, they finally have him scheduled with Early Intervention where they come to the house now!! So I only have two days a week where I have to drag everyone to the hospital for Logan's therapy. I think I'm going to like this new schedule a whole lot better. Once Ryan gets used to the therapist and can work with her by himself, I can grab Ms. Katie and play with her for some much needed Katie and Mommy time.

Hope all is well with everyone and that you get lots of time to sit and stitch! I like that name; maybe I will change my blog to that!! Happy Wednesday and Happy Valentines Day. May your significant other shower you with love throughout that day and all the rest too!

Tag - borrowed from a friend who borrowed from another

The ABC's of ME

A- Attached or single: Attached to my soul mate Curtis.

B- Best Friend: I have several some I have had since elementary school and some I collected along the way

C-Cake or Pie: Curtis' Chocolate Dream Pie!!!!!!!

D-Day: Since I'm now a stay-at-home mom I have to say all days are my favorite. My all time favorite days are when Curtis is home with us!

E- Essential Item: I used to say it was makeup but now that I have four wonderful kids it has changed to diapers and wipes; can't be without them. Yes I've become one who walks out the door without makeup on. If I remember to put some on it's a miracle; too much to do and too little time to do it.

F- Favorite Color: I love purple and always have but strangely enough I very rarely wear it.

G-Gum: I used to chew gum all the time when I was a smoker but now I could care less.

H-Home town: I choose East Hampton, CT as I lived there from the age of 2 until I turned 15. All my great childhood memories are from there. Snow days, ice skating on the lake, swimming in the summer.

I- Indulgences: coffee and cross stitch stash; can't be without either!

J- January or July?: I have to say January; the weather is so much nicer here then. It's cool but not usually cold. July it's too hot to do anything that doesn't involve your body being immersed in water.

K-Kids: Four; two boys and two girls

L-Life is incomplete without: family, friends, coffee and some cross stitch project not quite finished.

M- Marriage Date: November 10, 2001

N- Number of Siblings: Keith, Ricky, Sherrie, Don, Dave, Tammi and others that we have no idea about. Keith and Ricky have yet to be found and oh what a story that will be when it's finished.

O- Oranges or Apples: Naval Oranges

P- Phobias or Fears: I hate bees of any kind and snakes!

Q- Quote(s): "Why don't you go play in traffic" my Dad's favorite saying. He and I would just crack up because Mom would freak out because I would get up and "head for the door" and she thought I was really going to do it. She'd fall for it everytime! I have several sayings from my Dad that crack me up to this day.

R- Reason To Smile: kids, whether they be babies or older. They always make me smile.

S- Season: Spring; which we never have in Florida. Goes from winter to summer in no time.

T- Title, Favorite Book: I can't pick out a favorite but I love Nicholas Sparks, Michael Connelly, Tess Geritsen among others.

U- Unknown Fact About Me: I am more comfortable barefoot then with shoes on. I've been this way all my life. Mom tells a story that goes even further. I used to (at the age of 2) take my clothes and shoes off and run outside to play. Thankfully the play naked habit went away pretty quickly!!

V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: A little bit of both anymore.

W- Worst Habit: Putting off today what I can do tomorrow. I always thought that it would go away when I grew up but it hasn't and it drives me nuts!!

X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds with 4 kids I've had more than my share. I loved the 3D that we had with Katie and Ryan. Katie wouldn't cooperate so we didn't get good shots of her but Ryan was just too cute!

Y-Your favorite food: I love the buffalo chicken salad from Chili's and a good burger from High Jackers.

Z: Zodiac Sign: Leo and yes I'm as stubborn as they come. Poor kids got that from me!

Quick update

My camera battery is charging but once it's back to full I will take a picture of the piece I'm doing for Marie and the other one I started. I still haven't made it to Michael's for the floss so I can finish Marie's piece but I'm hoping to get there sometime this coming week. I did take time out to take care of Marie while she had the stomach virus and then to recoup myself as I had been running like a chicken with it's head cut off.

Although I haven't done much cross stitching lately I did make some curtains for the playroom on Sunday/Monday of this week. I need to get some more material as I misjudged the amount of material I needed for the smaller windows but I know how to fix it and will be doing so in the next week or two. Once I do, I will post a picture of them so you can see that I do attempt other things other than just cross stitching. (Although from the looks of the one set of curtains, perhaps I should practice regular sewing more!! LOL) I used some flannel sheets that we bought and couldn't stand as it's too hot in Florida for flannel sheets 95% of the time.

I finally pulled my sewing machine out that Curtis bought me last year and used it to make the curtains and a scissor bag for myself. I need lots more practice before I do much else but I was looking at another blog and would so love to try to make one of those pin booklets. I found out while making the curtains that I need something other than the little "box" that the straight pins come in while attempting to sew stuff. If I ever get around to making one of those I will be sure to post a picture.

Hopefully this week I can get back to stitching and finish another project or two. Wish me luck!!

Decisions.....

Okay, I didn't start back up on TK yet. I did start a new project for Marie. I was going to make her a bookmark but decided on something a tad bigger. Of course, I ran out of the color I need to complete it and have to wait until Curtis or I go to "town" so we can pick up a couple skeins. I just hate the fact that Wal-mart no longer carries floss. With gas prices today, I just can justify driving over 30 miles for one or two skeins of floss. It would be tolerable if we had an LNS here but of course, there isn't one in town. There is one in St. Augustine and one in Ormond but nothing here. (either way I'd have at least a 30 minute drive to get the floss I need)

I have picked another project that I wanted to work on from a free chart one of the girls on ILCS posted the other day. I love the colors, and it doesn't hurt that there are only four colors in the entire project. I did locate my fabric; it was stuck down in the bottom of my supply bin. I don't have a lot but I do have enough to do some little projects. I think I feel the need to work on little projects for a couple of reasons. 1) I need to relax and destress somehow and this is a great way of doing it. 2) I can have some finishes to enjoy. 3) The more I stitch the easier it gets; sometimes I feel like I'm all thumbs and I so don't want to mess up TK!

I really want to start on Dave's present for next year but I need to make that trip to Michael's or Joanns for some fabric. It will need a nice piece and a specific color too. I think once I get it started it will be a fast moving project so I'm not worried about putting it off. Curtis' present is another story. I still haven't found anything I want to do yet. We are hoping to head to Houston for vacation sometime this next summer so I know I can find something to scan but I'd really like to find something before that so I can get to working on it during the days. If I work on it at night he will know what I'm doing and I can't have that. If I wait too long I won't be able to get it done and the kids stuff. I know, pretty pathetic isn't it; it's January and I'm worrying about NEXT Christmas!

First finish of 2008

This should have been completed in 2007 but I had a lot of distractions during the Chrismas Holiday. I'm just glad it's done so I can take my TK project back up and start on another smaller project. I also need to make a trip to get some more fabric but first I must decide what I want to start next. I have a couple of ideas for Christmas presents for next year so I'd like to narrow that down and start on those. I will work on those on Fridays like the rest in one of the groups. I think I will make Tuesday and Wednesday a Thomas Kinkade stitch day and the rest of the week can be whatever else I have going. Now if I can only stick to that...

Goals for 2008:

1) Finish Thomas Kinkade

2) Finish Chrismas presents for hubby and brother

3) Make Marie a nice bookmark so she'll have one like Daddy

4) Make Christmas ornaments - one for each child for 2008 tree

5) Finish the Santa project from 10 years ago.

6) Work on the other UFO's that I have.

I think this is all for now but I'm sure there is more but I just can't remember it all; should have written them down when I originally thought of this list.