Sorry I haven’t posted in several days.  I was off having an awesome weekend in Vegas with friends.  We had an a.maz.ing time and even all came away winners on the gambling front to boot!  We all won at least $100 or more.   I was up $222 at one point, but ended up gambling a bit more and came home “only” $180 to the good.  Given I usually break even or lose a bit, I’ll take it.

We all arrived in Vegas pretty late on Wednesday night, so we pretty much just crashed at the hotel.  Thursday marked the day the fun stuff began!  To kick things off, Terri surprised me while we were still in our hotel room with an early birthday present since we won’t see each other next month for my real birthday.  It’s the Chocolate Sampler design by Jean Lea who owns the Attic Needlework shop in Mesa, AZ.

We then headed downstairs to meet up with Annette and her mom, Pat.  We grabbed some breakfast at one of the hotel restaurants (remind me sometime to tell y’all about the vegan shrimp cocktail! ) and then headed out to Stitcher’s Paradise for some stash shopping!

Since I’m on a stash diet, I limited myself to only what I needed for the Chocolate Sampler.  Ok, ok, I know I shouldn’t have even bought that, but it doesn’t really count since it’s for something I got as a birthday present, right?   Annette also added to the birthday stash list by gifting me with the couple of charts on the left as well!

While we were at the shop, I saw an adorable finishing idea for a piece I have stitched!  It’s the Lizzie Kate 2007 Special Edition Christmas piece.  I’ve had it stitched for around four years, but I’ve never finished into anything.  Well, they had that same piece on display at Stitcher’s Paradise finished as a chimney stand-up made using brick fabric.  So, now my quest is on for some brick fabric so I can duplicate this idea.   I wish I could’ve gotten a better photo, but the piece was on a shelf almost at the ceiling.  Anyway, isn’t it just awesome?!

After the stash shopping fun, it was back to the hotel for some stitching time.  Unfortunately for me, I realized I made a HORRIBLE error on my Celtic Christmas piece and had to do some massive frogging.  In fact, frogging was about the only stitching time I had while we were in Vegas.  At least I’m ready to start making some forward progress again.  By the time it was all said and done, I had to frog about 580 stitches to get myself back on the right track.

Ok, that’s about it for part one of my Vegas trip recap.  I’ll post part two about the trip in the new few days.  I’ll leave you all with this photo which I’m also using as my entry for this week’s PhotoHunt theme which is circular.  Given I was in Vegas, it seemed only appropriate.   This is the Wheel of Fortune slot machine which was definitely a favorite of our group this weekend!  I think we all played on a WoF slot at least once over the course of our stay.

I know I’m several days behind in my 30 Day Blog Challenge.  I’ll try to get caught up on those over the next couple of days, too.

Until next time …

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Here we are with 2012 quickly approaching.  In fact, in many parts of the world, it’s already arrived.  I still have just a little over three hours to go until it arrives for me here in California.  That gives me just enough time to outline my plans for the 2012 WIPocalypse and my own Great Stash Diet™!

Part of the WIPocalypse SAL is to post a list of the WIPs you want to work on during the year.  I sorted through all of my WIPs (*gulp*) and then decided which pieces I want to focus on as part of the WIPocalypse SAL.  With that, here’s my plan with links to my current progress photos on the existing WIPs:

• Finish at least 12 pieces in 2012

1. Celtic Christmas – Lavendar & Lace (started 25-Sep-05)
2. Hannah Beeby 1816 – Timeless Designs [started 24-Mar-08]
3. Sophie’s Stocking – Shepherd’s Bush (started 16-Feb-09)
4. Lady Alexandra – Mirabilia (started 13-Aug-11)
5. My Mirabilia Round Robin piece – RR starting late February/early March
6. Debbie’s Mira RR
7. Jocelyn’s Mira RR
8. Julie’s Mira RR
9. Sophia’s Mira RR
10. Stephanie’s Mira RR
11. Tanya’s Mira RR
12. Tracy‘s Mira RR

• As time allows, work the additional pieces below (in no particular order but listed by start date) as well as any other new pieces I start (must already be kitted and will be added to this list once started).  I don’t have current current progress pics of most of these pieces.  I’ll link the ones that are available and I’ll post the others if and when the time comes that I work on the piece.

1. Taj Mahal Garden Mandala – Chatelaine (started 1-Jan-07)
2. Le Quaker a 6 Mains – Broder Ensemble/Le 498/AMAP (started 5-Jan-07)
3. Moonlit Garden – Blackbird Designs (started 19-Jan-07)
4. Halloween Fairy – Nora Corbett [started 12-Aug-08]
5. Plum Blossom Kimono (canvas) – Margaret Bendig (started 20-Jun-09)
6. The Southwest (Sea to Shining Sea series) – Little House Needleworks (started 10-Oct-09)
7. Book of Spells – The Good Huswife (started 13-Feb-10)
8. Needle (Dictionary Series) – CherryWood Design Studios (started 01-Jan-11)
9. Snowed In (6 Fat Men series) – Lizzie Kate (started 22-Dec-11)
10. Royal Holiday – Mirabilia (planned Jan. 1 2012 start)

If you want more information, check out the FAQs here.  If you’re interested in joining us, you can sign up here. Who’s taking part you ask?  Check out the huge list of participants!

In addition to taking on the WIPocalypse, I’ve also decided to undertake my own Great Stash Diet™ for 2012.  Since my stitching goals for the year are pretty clearly defined, there’s really no need for me to be spending lots of money on stash as I normally do.  So, my goal for 2012 is NO stash buying, with the following exceptions:

• Any fibers needed for the RR or existing works in progress.
• Stash purchased with gift certificates.
• Kit for a class I’m tentatively planning to take in June.
• One birthday stash order in February from Drema using my birthday discount.
• My auto-ship ornament of the month series from Little House Needleworks.

So, that’s it.  That pretty much encompasses my stitching plans for 2012.  What about you?  Do you have any stitching, craft, or hobby plans for 2012?

Until next time …

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Wow, today was a GREAT stashy mail day! Two orders I placed last week both arrived today. The first was an order from Drema at Needlecraft Corner (my favorite ONS):

The first part of the order was my auto-ship of the latest Ornament of the Month collection from Little House Needleworks.  This is an on-going series that I’ve been collecting since it began last year.  We won’t talk about the fact that I’ve only stitched one of them so far.

Next up, I was very excited to get my hands on the new Halloween Collection book hot off the presses from Just Cross Stitch!  It has over 50 Halloween designs, everything from ornaments to full-size designs.  There are 36 brand new designs, 15 “favorite” designs from previous Just Cross Stitch magazine Halloween issues, plus a Tombstone Angel (Susanna Goose) from Carriage House Samplings.  I’ve already spied a couple of designs I definitely want to stitch!  Looks like I’ll need to invest in some Prank or Voodoo from Picture This Plus the next time I’m at my LNS.

“A Spirited Mandala” by Ink Circles

“Knock Knock” by Blackberry Lane Designs

The last thing you might notice in the pic above is actually some freebie designs.  Drema is awesome and always includes a nice little bundle of freebies with every order.  I was thrilledwhen I saw this latest bundle included the oldie but goodie “Sew & Sew” freebie from Mary Garry’s Sewing Cabin!  I love Mary Garry designs.

The second package I got today was from Inspired Needle. I recently saw a pic Valerie posted on her blog of her finished Boo Club bell pull from Lizzie Kate. As soon as I saw the hardware she bought at Inspired Needle to use for it, I immediately went online to their website and bought it because it. is. perfect. for Boo Club! Be sure to click and biggify the pics to really check out the tombstones. They’re so fun!!

Tombstone Bell Pull Hardware

Close-Up of the Tombstones

My Planned Bell Pull (when I finish the stitching)

Lastly, I stumbled across a design today when looking at some stitching stuff that may end up finding its way into my stash. Even though we don’t really have winter here in SoCal, I still love this design!

It’s called “6 Fat Men” which is a new Flip-It series from Lizzie Kate. It comes as 6 separate charts which can either be stitched individually or put together as shown in the photo above. The chart for putting it all together in a single piece can be downloaded for free from the Lizzie Kate site.  I may have to contact Drema again to buy her fabric/fiber kit and get on the auto-ship for the charts on this one!

Well, that’s it from me for now. Until next time …

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In keeping with my no stash spending goal this year, I’ve actually been doing pretty well. There has one been one occasion so far that I have broken my rule.  Following Lisa Roswell’s untimely death, I did pick up a few of her Primitive Needle charts that I’ve been wanting for a long time. I figured it would be an acceptable exception to the rule given the circumstances. Here are the charts I got (as always, click to biggify):

I also received some cash and gift certificates for my birthday. I’ve picked up a few things already, but still have another $25 gift certificate for my LNS to go (thanks, Darla!). Here is what I’ve picked up so far:

You may have noticed that lovely little bundle in the upper right corner.  Well, those are none other some some gorgeous fibers from Nina in Hungary.  If you aren’t familiar with Nina’s threads, you really owe it to yourself to check them out. Her colors are just GORGEOUS!  She’s the same person who dyed the Blue Bunny color I’m using for my Mary Wigham sampler. Here’s what the cute little bundle contained:

Colors from top to bottom:
Fairy Garden
Amber
Nutmeg
Cherry Cola (actually ordered 5 of this color)
Old Lace (also ordered 5 of this color)

Lastly, I have to confess that I have made one extravagant purchase this year. I bought myself a brand spanking new iPad 2 and I LOVE it! In fact, I’m writing this post using it.   Being a Tennessee girl, I naturally had to get the orange cover.   (Go Vols!)

About the only other news I have to report is that I’ve been sick for a total of five weeks as of tomorrow. It started as the flu which developed into bronchitis when then went into full blown pneumonia. This has been, by FAR, the sickest I’ve ever been in my adult life as far as a germ-based illness goes. This is one of the illnesses that I truly wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

Sadly, as a result of having to take so much time off work, I now have to miss out on a stitching event I was hoping to attend this summer.   What remaining time off I do have left on the books has already been slated for a couple of other trips that were previously planned. Hopefully there will be another occasion in the future for me to go.

I’m finally starting to feel well enough to start stitching again. That’s actually a really good thing since I have 3 ornaments I need to get stitched up in the new few weeks.

Well, I guess it’s from me for now. Until next time …

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Meh … I haven’t felt like blogging lately mostly because I haven’t felt like stitching either. I think I’ve only stitched three times this month, so I’m definitely in a stitching slump. However, I’m apparently not in a stash acquisition slump. Here are my latest purchases:

Most of these items were purchased Saturday when I headed over to my LNS for our 5th Saturday open stitch class. Yes, this is in addition to our regularly scheduled monthly Saturday stitch, so we got to stitch twice this month! So, for those of you who are quick studies, you may have quickly deduced that this was two of my three times stitching this month.

On the left is the latest in the anniversary series called “A Wish for You” from Blackbird Designs. Given it’s 1) designed by BBD, 2) has a house, and 3) has a bunny, how could I not get it?

I also picked up the Lila “Needle Tweets” needle case from Just Nan. As an added bonus, the owner of my LNS had them kitted which was really nice. One of the other woman at our all-day Saturday Stitch had hers finished and it was absolutely adorable! I also picked up the matching stitch marker “tail” to complete my little birdie.

At the bottom of the photo are a couple of accessories purchases. The blue rectangle is actually a magnet mounted to a metal bracket. It’s for use as a needle park with the mini stretcher bars used for canvas work. The magnet is actually strong enough that it will hold a pair of scissors as well. The other accessory is a button pack from Just Another Button Company. It’s the set needed for the Miracles Happen chart I picked up during my trip to San Francisco back in December.

The last item didn’t come from my LNS. It’s the next installment in the Little House Needleworks ornament of the month series that I get on automatic from Drema at Needlecraft Corner. The design is called “Red House in Winter” and it so cute! I just love Diane’s houses.

I also learned about another canvas class coming up at my LNS beginning in August & September (two Saturday classes with a month between) that I would love to take. I’m just not sure if I can swing it though which I will explain in the next paragraph. The piece is called “Summertime” and is from my dear friend and local designer, Margaret Bendig. The photo simply does not do this piece justice. It is absolutely GORGEOUS in person. It’s worked entirely in silks and is just so delicately beautiful. If you’re in the southern California area and are interested in the class, just contact Diana at the shop for more information. I wish I had a larger photo so you could see it a bit better, but this is all I have:

Now, as to the reason why I don’t think I can swing two Saturdays for the class, I’m going back to school. When I was younger, I dropped out of college at the start of my senior year to get married. I intended to go back and finish my degree after taking a little time off, but I just never did . I’ve been putting off going back for years, but finally decided it’s time to just suck it up and get it done. I’ve already been accepted into the program. All I’m waiting for now is for the school to receive my transcripts and to get the approval from my employee for the tuition reimbursement program. If everything goes well, I’m hoping to start classes on July 1. If I can’t get everything finished in time for that date, then it will get pushed back to August 1 instead. Either way, I’ll likely need those two Saturdays when the “Summertime” class is taking place to study, write papers, etc. Time for stitching may definitely become a real luxury for me now which makes it all the more sad that I’ve been in a slump of late.

I guess that’s it for now. Until next time …

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