Remembrance Rose needleroll finishing

And here it is! This one isn't as stuffed as the others. Not sure why. I used the same amount of batting as the others. Oh well, it'll do.

Dee asked if I had any suggestions on sites with instructions on how to make a needleroll. I do! The Sweetheart Tree charts have their own instructions, but when I did the Little Lambs needleroll, I wanted to use a hem stitch. I used this Focus on Finishing class. I think for next time I need to make the margin for the hem a little bigger. It was hard to fold it over because it was so narrow. I also referred to the tutorial links given by Focus on Finishing.

Maggie the Messmaker update

Since I need to work on my piece for the Magic/Fantasy Exchange, I figured I should put Maggie the Messmaker away for now. The next time I pull it out, I'll finish the bottom right corner, which will make it 1/4 complete. This is such a slow piece for me, but I think it's going to be cute...someday.

I'll work on finishing up my needleroll today. I'm still off work sick, but I have a few lucid moments. I've started in on the coughing phase of my cold. I took Robitussin last night so Matt could sleep. I really hate the taste of the stuff.

Remembrance Rose needleroll HD

I finished this one today since I'm off work sick with a cold or something. I feel rotten, but I put in a few stitches here and there.

I think I need a few supplies to do any more of the Sweetheart Tree needlerolls, but I'll have to get those later. I'm trying not to spend anything on cross stitching right now. I'm sure I have enough in my stash to hold me for a good long while. Just working on my WIPs should keep me occupied.

Nice trip

We got back from our trip to San Antonio Sunday morning. We had a great time. The jacuzzi tub was relaxing, and Sea World was so much fun. The weather was just perfect--not hot enough to make you really sweat. The only reason I pooped out was because it felt like my feet were blistering (no exercise can do that). I got a tiny bit of a sunburn, not enough to even hurt. We thought of Logan a lot, of course--how he would like Sea World so much when he's older. We'll definitely have to take him next year.

I came home with what I thought was bad allergies, but now I think it's a cold. Just great. More work I have to miss, and I need to try to stay away from Logan.

Matt has a few job prospects, even one that said they'd hire him if the price was right. We're waiting for a call. The downside is that the job would require travel, like to China. We're not sure how much yet. That could be a deal breaker.

I'm still stitching on Remembrance Rose needleroll. I should finish it soon, if I can stay awake long enough. I did manage to get some stitching done in the hotel room. I'm also trying to figure out what to stitch for the magic/fantasy exchange. I swear I've spent so much time looking for a pattern that I could have stitched it by now. I thought of doing a section of a Teresa Wentzler, but I just can't find anything that makes sense to me. Ugh. You'd think I'd have tons of stuff that would apply, but most of my charts are large pieces and not really right for an exchange.

Bad news all around

Matt got laid off today. Apparently his former company is laying off about 800 people today. We're pretty depressed about it. At least we have my job, but Logan's college fund may take a temporary hit.

Our nanny also had a miscarriage today. It wasn't completely unexpected, but it's never easy. Poor girl. I want to just cry for her.

I had to tell her we would have to cut back on her hours some, but we'll still need her when Matt goes looking for a job.

And we're still going to San Antonio, darn it!

Little Lambs Needleroll

Here's the finished product of Little Lambs by Shepherd's Bush. I used some ribbon I scavenged from Logan's baby shower to finish it up, which I think appropriate. I just love this little piece. It's the first thing I've stitched with his name on it. Thanks so much, Carol, for sending me the chart ASAP!

I need a bigger basket for my needlerolls!

There's a discussion on the Wagon BB about the discontinuation of the DMC color cards with the actual threads on them. I've wanted one for a long time now, so I went ahead and ordered one from the DMC website. I can't imagine that a printed card would be as helpful.

Mini vacation: Matt and I took off tomorrow to get ready for our weekend getaway to San Antonio. It'll be the first time I'm away from Logan. Eek! I'm sure I'll manage, but I'll miss him.

Little Lambs HD

I finished the stitching and finishing today. I'll take a picture of the needleroll tomorrow. This is my first Shepherd's Bush piece and my first needleroll using a hem stitch. I made a few small changes and replaced the words with my son's name and birthdate. I like the way it came out, though I think I'm going to make the hem wider next time. With it so narrow, it tends to buckle a bit.

Kid stuff: We found out today that our nanny is pregnant. She may wind up moving in with her boyfriend, who lives four hours away. That means we'd need to look for a new nanny again. Bleh.

Finishing complete for Feathered Friends Exchange

This weekend I finished up the main piece for my exchange. I like the way it came out, though I did have to redo it once. Not bad since this was the first time I did a finishing of this kind. No pictures yet, of course.

I looked all over the web and found a needleroll I wanted to stitch! Where else but in Carol's stitching photos. She was so kind as to send me the freebie chart for Little Lambs, a Shepherd's Bush piece. I started working on it today. I've had the idea of putting Logan's name and birth date on it as a mini birth announcement, but I don't know yet if the pinks will make it too girly. I'll have to get Matt's opinion.

I also put a few stitches into Remembrance Rose by Sweetheart Tree and did a few sections of Maggie the Messmaker. I think I'll keep Maggie as my big focus piece for a while. It hasn't gotten any attention in a while.

Bad neighbors: This past Friday, our favorite neighbors were blaring their music in their cars after 10. The cul-de-sac was filled with cars and kids. We could hear their music over our movie, inside our own house. Matt opened the door and hollered for them to turn it down, and of course they just cursed him out. We called the sheriff's department, but no one showed up. At least the neighbors got the hint eventually and went away. I really, really want to move out of this trashy neighborhood. The ideal would be to get some land that has a large main house and a little house for Mom. Eventually...

Mini vacation: Matt and I are going to San Antonio this weekend. We're taking Friday off to prepare and relax. I can't wait!

Kiddo: Logan's current favorite thing is growling and squealing at the top of his lungs. Working was challenging today, even with him on the bottom floor with the nanny and me on the upper floor in the office. He's getting better at sitting unsupported (a few minutes here and there). He's chewing on everything in sight, though he doesn't have any teeth yet. He's very smiley too. He even smiles at the cats and dog.

Damier Part 4

I put in the last stitches of this row last night while we watched Silverado. It was so weird seeing these famous actors, most of whom we like, so young. Matt was in the mood for a western after we watched 3:10 to Yuma the other night.

I like working on this piece. It's simple, cute, and quick. It's a nice change of pace. I pulled out Maggie the Messmaker, one of my large pieces for the year. I put this one on my goals to finish for the year...but I'm thinking that's going to be difficult.

I have an idea for a needleroll, but I'm not sure it will work out. We shall see....

Shamrock needleroll finishing

I finished off the needleroll today. I found some green ribbon yesterday at Hobby Lobby that matches pretty well. I'm so glad I don't have to order any off eBay. I also picked up some more ribbon, trim, and two more ribbon spool cases. DMC was also on sale (I yearn for the days when that meant 5 for $1, not 4 for $1). I bought a bunch of stuff because who knows when I'll get into the city again.

So this makes three of the Sweetheart Tree needlerolls I've done so far. I think the next one will be Remembrance Rose (a little later) because I have all the materials needed.

Rita and Kim won the pattern for the needleroll. I wound up with two. Ladies, please email me at charmingtails@hotmail.com.

I have three blocks left on Damier, and then I'll able to show pics of that one too.

I've been trying to come up with a needleroll I want to stitch for the Monthly Finishing Challenge, but I just can't find anything I'm in the mood to stitch. I'll keep looking. Then I should really pull out one of my large projects to stitch on.

Shamrock needleroll HD

I finished the stitching on this Sweetheart Tree needleroll last night. I thought it was convenient that the Monthly Finishing Challenge for the month was needlerolls, but it has to have a hem stitch. I don't think the normal finishes for the Sweetheart Tree needlerolls qualify as a hem stitch, so I'm out of luck. I want to keep my finishing of all these needlerolls uniform so they make a nice set. I may be able to find something else I can stitch and turn into a needleroll.

I thought I had a good green ribbon, but it's not quite blue enough and doesn't match the green used on the needleroll. That means I'm stalking eBay for just the right ribbon. Web photos aren't terribly reliable for color matching.

Many thanks to Carol for the chart and BeckySC for the strand of Needle Necessities!

If you'd like the chart, leave me a comments and I'll draw a name.

I played with my polymer clay yesterday and made some pins. My mom thinks the pins she gave me have glass heads, but if they were plastic, at least they didn't melt! The flowers should be sturdy enough to use as marking pins, but the birds are purely decorative. I could also use these on pinkeeps, I think.

Rose Quilt, square 6 HD

Here's another installment. I'm not sure I'll finish this piece this year. It's so massive, and my progress is rather slow. I have so many things I want to stitch right now. I may need to put aside HAED's Eternal Promise this year so I can concentrate on this piece. I still like to work on smaller pieces a bit to keep my interest up.

Speaking of, I started Sweetheart Tree's Shamrock needleroll. It's so cute. The needlerolls all have a similar pattern, so it's a good thing I'm not bored with them! I'm thinking I might buy a Longaberger basket eventually to display them all. I think they're worthy of the expense.

New nanny: I work at home but need a nanny to take care of Logan during the day. Matt and I are both leery of daycare. We hired someone new since our last nanny's boyfriend moved out of state and she had to quit to take care of her kids. I like the new person. I hope she's more reliable than the last one!

Vacation: Matt and I are planning a weekend getaway in two weeks. We haven't gone anywhere in a long time. Now that Mom's moved in, she can take care of Logan while we go off to San Antonio. Matt's booked a jacuzzi suite, and I want to go to Sea World. I think we'll have fun, but I'm sure I'll miss Logan terribly. He gets cranky when he's tired (which is often), but he's otherwise such a smiley, happy baby.