Winter Faerie Week 1

Here's an update on Winter Faerie. Just some border done, nothing too exciting.

My little cold turned into bronchitis, so I haven't gotten much stitching done. I went to the doctor and then missed more work recovering. We had to take Logan to the hospital because he had a 104-degree fever; they gave him antibiotics, which have given him diarrhea and a rash. Poor little guy. He's feeling better, but he's still on the antibiotics. I'm back at work and feeling much better, though not 100 percent.

This weekend was also the double-experience event on City of Heroes, so we wound up playing that most of the time while Mom babysat. I would have preferred being in bed to playing, but I know Matt wanted to play. He's been taking care of us, and he needed some fun.

Valentine's Exchange received

Just look at this gorgeous exchange Margaret sent me! I was flabbergasted. Matt and my mom were amazed too. This heart opens up, as you can see. The stitching is just beautiful, and the construction is so neat. It love it. Margaret says the chart is by Ilse Altherr. Matt and I munched on the strawberry/white chocolate wafers as soon as I opened the package.

I need to get my Valentine's Exchange package mailed. After I recovered from the stomach virus, Logan got it. Poor little kid. We kept him out of daycare for two days. Then this week, naturally, Logan, Mom, and I came down with colds/sinus infections (Matt had his two weeks ago). I was so happy that I hadn't gotten sick in such a long time. I usually catch everything. I guess the bugs all waited to gang up on me. I usually take a long time to recover, so I'm just going to have to wait this one out. My sick leave is down to almost nothing -- again -- so I'm working. It could be worse.

Back to school: Matt started school yesterday. I know he was a little nervous about going back to college. He said walking through the buildings was surreal. He's sitting in the same classrooms he sat in over 10 years ago. I know he can do it, and at least this time he won't have to worry about working while he's in college. (He'll just have to worry about the debt when he gets out of college.)

Autumn Faerie HD

Yes, I finished it! I didn't get to post an update Monday because I've had a bad stomach flu for the past four days, and I didn't feel like doing much of anything, not even stitching. I'm finally feeling better today. I am so grateful I have a husband that takes care of me when I'm sick--plus the kid and the housework. I don't like to be messed with when I'm sick, but I do like having someone to fetch me food and Gatorade. Fortunately Matt knows exactly what I need.

I've been so close to being finished with this piece. I put the last beads on today. That beading sure took a while, but they're very pretty, though you can't see it in the photo. I decided to leave the leaf, so to speak. I hope it doesn't bug me too much that it's one stitch off.

I need to work on my Valentine exchange piece next. It's rather crept up on me. After that, more Skeleton Crew and Winter Faerie.

Books: During my sick time, I did manage to finish Mercedes Lackey's Arrows of the Queen series. I last read this when I was a senior in high school and I loved it so much. Since I'm reading the books in chronological order, not the order the books were written in, I'm reading some of her later works mixed in with earlier works. I can definitely tell that she's improved. Her later books have more depth of character, which is what I like so much about her books. I tend to be more character oriented than action oriented, though I have no interest in anything but fantastical worlds. I am really enjoying the Valdemar series. I think I only have three Valdemar trilogies left, sadly.

Autumn Faerie Week 4

I got a fair bit done on my faerie, but I did goof. See the leaf at the top left? It's one stitch too high. Argh! It looks fine as is, but knowing me, it's all I'll look at every time I see the piece. I'm still debating about frogging and restitching.

I also finished this little pocket from a kit BeckySC gave me a while back. The cord is supposed to be a necklace, but I shortened it since I'm not much for necklaces. I learned some neat beading techniques from it; maybe I'll get to use them again someday on my finishing.

Birthday present from Carol

I've been tardy in posting a picture of the beautiful scissor fob Carol sent me on my birthday--Christmas Alphabet "M" Fob by Prairie Schooler. And it came in the mail that day, New Year's eve! It was the only present I actually received that day. I had bought some floss as my birthday present from Matt earlier, and my mom had bought me a steam cleaner earlier in the year, which I was all perfectly content with. But getting an actual present on your birthday--it's rather nice.

I've been stitching away on my days off (which came to an end today), and I did manage to get several chores scratched off my list. I really like that feeling of accomplishment, though Matt thinks I'm crazy for my tendency to do chores on my days off. I never seem to get to things otherwise.

I'll have a progress pic of Autumn Faerie soon, and I did finally start Skeleton Crew. I like the color of fabric I picked up at Ginger's. I think it's Wichelt Thyme (marbled). The threads are rather far apart and stiff, which is why I'm not a big fan of Wichelt. Zwiegart is much nicer to me, and I need to try some Jazlynn Cheryl suggested to me. It's a nice tight weave.

Sad to say, Becky won't be doing the Monthly Finishing Challenge this year. It was good motivation for me to actually try out some new finishing methods and actually get them done. I'm still doing exchanges, so that will give me a venue to try out some techniques. Oh, and I didn't win the drawing for the gift certificate. There were only five or six of us that finished all of the challenges, so that's an accomplishment in itself. And let me say I totally understand Becky's need to spend more time with her family. I just don't understand the people who send her nasty emails.