A house and the Olympics

My progress since Sunday's photo! Almost finished. I need to finish the stitching in the house and then on to the top border ;) Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it tomorrow while watching the Olympics.

Thanks to Christine and Sagami for their comments on my Olympics stitching post. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only person who is complaining about the coverage of the Games. I completely forgot, but Sagami is right. Those of you on the other side of world are seeing coverage of the Games after everything has already happened! We are getting that too, but I'm sure it's worse for other parts of the world!

I stayed up last night long enough to see the young ladies from South Korea and Japan compete in the women's short program for ice skating. I thought their performances were lovely! Unfortunately, I didn't stay up for the other competitors as it was already 10:30 pm here. I'm not a night person so I went to bed after seeing those few performances.

I can't wait to see the women's final! It should be good ;) I will try my hardest to stay awake for all the performance! Won't make any promises, but I will try!

Until next time ^___^

A Surprise Revealed

I sent a box full of Valentine's goodies to a dear friend of mine in CA. I promised her that I wouldn't go crazy with candy this year. One half of the package is candy, the other half is handmade crafts: the Amour pinkeep, Heart biscornu, and two cell phone charms that I made.

I couldn't post a picture of the package until now since my friend didn't receive it until Monday. Late, I know, but at least it got there, right?!

Until next time ^___^

Olympics stitching

Hi! I'm working on my LHN design. I've got half of the roof stitched on the house. I am hoping I can stay awake a bit longer so I can see the ice dance finals.

As much as I love watching the Olympics, I hate having to stay up so late to watch the ice skating! Why is it so late?!?! (sigh)

Hopefully, I'll have pics of my progress later this week!

Until next time ^___^

Home of a Needleworker progress

Design: Home of a Needleworker by LHN
Fabric: 28ct cashel cream Zweigart
Threads: Crescent Colours
Start: 2/6/2010

This is my progress so far after working on it this weekend while watching BBC dramas and Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1.

You'll notice that I've made some changes to the design. I didn't really care much for the initial "H" and the little house that was composed inside it so I stitched the H without it and in the same color as the other letters. I also didn't care for the blackbird that was suppose to be over the "m" so I left it out. I'm trying to decide what to put in its place. I had stitched a heart in its place, but pulled the threads out as it didn't look right. Maybe a smaller heart or a silver charm of some sort. Hmm....

Anywho, I hope to finish this design later this week or at least by next weekend.

Until next time ^____^

Antiques

Yesterday, I spent some time wandering an antique show at our local Shriners' temple. I purchased two pins that were calling my name!


A Victorian/turn of the century bar pin decorated with white rhinestones and featuring a C-clasp on the back.



An oblong-shaped brooch with an agate stone surrounded by coral and faux pearls. This brooch features a modern clasp in the back so it probably dates to the early 20th century.

There were several other brooches that I would have loved to purchase, but I'll have to save my pennies and keep my fingers crossed that I'll see them again when the antique show comes again in July.

Until next time ^____^

A busy Saturday

Hi! It's gorgeous weather outside today. Puts you in a good mood to clean and organize or at least it does to my mind....since I'm crazy like that ;) I helped my mother take some things to storage this morning before going to an antique show at our local Shriner's Temple in Mobile.

I was good! No, really I was!! I only came away with two Victorian brooches....when I could have came away with quite a few and a depleted bank account O_o"

I'll have pictures of them tomorrow along with some new photos of my progress on Home of a Needleworker. Yes, I know, it's taking me quite a while to finish that design when it really shouldn't, but I've been busy reading, updating my iPod, etc. that I haven't gotten around to it until today.

I plan on stitching on it this evening while watching the Olympics. Did you guys enjoy the men's figure skating? I'm glad that Evan Lysacek won, but I felt sorry for Evgeni Plushenko. Both men were amazing on the ice. I wonder if they will continue and skate in the 2014 Olympics. Or is late 20s/early 30s too 'old' to compete in that sport? Hmm....I certainly don't think so, but if you've been in that sport for that long I'm sure it takes a toll on your body.

Pics tomorrow! Until next time ^____^

Sherlock Holmes

Watson, what have you done?

This movie was brilliant! If you've seen it already, you'll recognize the line I've quoted. Only Watson *cough Holmes cough* can take out a ship while fighting crime!

Until next time ^___^

Half way through the month? Already?! *Updated*

Hi! I hope you're having a great V-day with your family/friends/loved ones! It's amazing how time flies!

Reading:
1. His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle
2. The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
3. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 1 manga by Clamp
4. Alice in the Country of the Hearts Vol. 1 manga by Hoshino Soumei and Quinrose
5. La Corda d'Oro Vol. 1 manga by Yuki Kure
6. Day of Revolution Vol. 1-2 manga by Mikito Tsuda
7. Three other manga volumes - single titles that I borrowed from a friend ;)
8. Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle
9. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
10. All My Darling Daughters by Fumi Yoshinaga
11. Undead and Unworthy by Maryjanice Davidson

Started Stitching:
1. Home of a Needleworker Too by Little House Needleworks

Finishes:
1. Heart Biscornu
2. JBW Belle Fleurs box
3. JBW Amour pinkeep

It seems as though I've read more than I've stitched this month! LOL Not that I'm fearfully broke up about it though.

Today I spent the afternoon reading the last of Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle. What a delightful story! I received the book as a blog giveaway gift from Ms. Doyle's blog in September. With all my stitching I didn't have a chance to get around to reading it until now, which is embarrassing to say the least. But I finally got around to it and loved every minute of it!!

I will have to see if I can find Betraying Season at one of my local bookstores. Hopefully I will have some luck in finding it as I couldn't find Bewitching Season when I was looking for it (lucky I won it from Marissa's blog later on!).

Tomorrow I hope to work on my LHN design if I'm not doing some sort of housework O_o"

Until next time ^____^

Saturday finishing

This morning I went shopping at Hobby Lobby for polymer clay for a future project along with some to braid to finish my Amour design. In spite of new colors of braid, I still went with the burgundy-colored braid and pink pins.


Front of design


Backing fabric

What do you think? I wish I knew of some good online stores that sell different colors of braid. I see alot of crafters who have gorgeous types of braid for their finishing. Does anyone know of an online shop for Dritz pins? I love the pearlized pins, but I only see a few colors at my local craft stores.

Our weather is back to normal for winter. Right now, it is 50 degrees outside. LOL You would have never thought it snowed yesterday. Go figure!

I hope our neighbors to the East are staying safe and warm! Be careful on the roads this weekend! I think the snow would be a great excuse to stay inside and stitch ;)

Did anyone get a chance to watch the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics last night? I thought it was beautiful. I loved watching the director's vision for Canada. I was especially blown away by the 2-D/3-D whales on the arena's floor. It's amazing what you can do with projectors!

Did you see the lovely clothing that the U.S. athletes were sporting? I loved the knitted caps, but my sister said they sold out and were taken off Ralph Lauren's website?!?! Wow! Maybe they will get more in stock!

Well, I'm off to either read more of Bewitching Season or stitch on my LHN design. LOL I can't decide which one to do ;)

Until next time ^____^

Goodbye snow....see you in another 10 years!

Hi, everyone! The snow has passed us. It lasted for about two hours or so and then it moved on its way to GA. We most likely won't see snow for another 10+ years, which is fine with me ;) I love snow, but our city has enough trouble with people driving in the rain....give us snow and it's chaos on the streets!

I've been stitching and watching the end of Emma and start of P&P since noon. Here's my progress:



I hope to finish this design during the weekend or Mardi Gras holiday on Mon/Tues. I hope to go to Hobby Lobby tomorrow and get some braid so I can finish making my JBW Amour design into a pinkeep. Hopefully, all the rain has passed us and it will nice tomorrow.

On another note, tonight is the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver! It starts at 6:30 CST. I can't wait to see what their city showcases to the world. Beijing was amazing and I'm sure that Vancouver will be too!

Until next time ^___^