ouchy + reminder

I have done no stitching since the weekend.  Even when I have a break from studying, I haven't even felt like it.  The reason?  A big time toothache!  It decided to show up Sunday and totally has destroyed my study plan.

I had a root canal on Wednesday, and am feeling a bit better.  Hopefully I get get lots of studying done this weekend so I'm not as stressed about it all

Also, I wanted to send out a reminder that I am having a giveaway on my 400th post.  It is only open until Saturday night (Nov 30th) and have only had 12 comments.

Well this is a small post, but it is what it is!

TGIF! and have a great weekend!!

November 2013 Ornament SAL

Stitching Lotus has been doing a monthly Ornament SAL all year.
I have been really good and have actually participated every month!

This month I actually stitched up the last two dragon dreams ornaments so I can work on getting them on my tree this year

400

I can't believe it!  Today is my 400th post.

source (http://www.sub4minds.com)

It is insane to believe I started this little blog back in March 2009

To celebrate, I thought I would do a little giveaway.

Source: www.eatmydessertfirst.com

I haven't decided what it will be yet...
could be a scissor fob, could be a stitched small

I also don't know if I'm giving one away or 2 or even 3

If you would like to get in on this surprise giveaway, leave me a comment below, or this time I'm even accepting comments done on my Facebook post from the BlogLovin post.

This isn't mandatory, but I would also like to know either your favorite stitching blog, website, or online store.

I will pick the winner(s) on November 30th.

The only other stipulation is that I can't guarantee when you will get your gift, but it will be before the end of 2014.

Thanks for taking the time to Visit my blog today... I may not comment back on your comments, but I definitely read each and every one of them!

EDIT: If you post as anonymous, please include your email address, or email me directly after you have commented.  I would hate for you to miss out by me not being able to find you!

I stitch therefore I stash...

I have been a bad bad girl lately

I have placed a few too many orders lately, and picked up a few things from my LNS as well.

You see I have been collecting the Santa's Village Charts from Country Cottage Needleworks, and to make the crazy USPS shipping better I have been adding to my cart.  Christin, Dani, and Tracey have helped me with us getting the new Just Nan ornaments together, but still other patterns sneak into the cart.

Here is just some of the recent additions to my stash:

The last culprit!

The 2nd and 3rd parts.  I already had picked up the 1st with the threads

2 Just Nan and a new Ink circles

Some stitching related patterns.
Someday I would like to have a bunch of these
done up in my stash room :)

New DMC and new Mirabilia

Yes... those are the new Ginghers sitting beside Red.  Here is a closer shot.

Again a big thanks to Tracey, Dani, and Christin for making the trip to Watertown for the special scissors.  I knew I wouldn't get down until after my exam, and by then it would be too late.

And since I'm posting my new ones, here is all my special Ginghers :)

Stitchers Questions - Part 2

And here is Part 2 of the Stitchers questions

11) Who is your favorite designer?
At the moment I would say Ink Circles

12) Least Favorite Designer
Don't really like this question either... How about any who only do kits... some times I really just like the pattern

13) Will you/would you sop port a designer who's personal beliefs offended / angered you?
This is a loaded question in my opinion. I think to me it would depend on the issue

14) Do you have a lamp especially made for needleworkers/crafters?
YES!!

15) What brand of stitching lamp do you have/prefer ?
I have 4 ott lights. 2 floor lamps (one for traveling) and 2 folding desk ones (one battery)

16) What kind of environment best suits you when you are stitching?
When at home I stitch in my recliner in front of the TV. When traveling, I'm just happy to be with friends... But comfort and an outlet(power) always help

17) Have you stitched any design more then once?
I have recently done Wedding row twice. I have also done a wedding pattern out of a magazine at least twice

18) Favorite design you have stitched and finished?
At the moment this would be a toss up between Ink Circles Growth rings (at work) and AAN's Maple Leaf (still needs to find a home)

19) Least favorite design you've stitched and finished?
This would be the one I did for my cousin's ex-mother in law... For many reasons

20) Last, but not least, what's your longest running WIP?
My longest running WIP (not UFO) would be Fish City


That concludes the questions.
Please leave a comment with your blog if you have done these questions too... I would love to read your answers!


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Stitchers questions - Part 1

This is part 1 of 20 Stitchers Questions I found on Facebook

1) Which fabric do you most prefer?
I prefer eveanweave fabric, lugana.

2) What is your favorite fabric count?
I usually use 32ct, but am really liking 40ct these days ( just wish it was in evenweave lol)

3) What colour fabric do you most enjoy stitching on?
This is a hard question for me. I don't have a particular colour, and usually pick something that will work with the pattern i'm doing. After Smaug though, I won't be picking black for a while ;)

4) What is your favorite fibre?
I really like using overdyes. I have a bunch of Carrie's, and some GAST, weeks, and a few threadworks.

5) How many of the 450 DMC Colours do you own?
I have owned every one of the DMC colours over the years. One of my projects to get done in Decemer is to go through my DMC and replace what is missing.

6) Of your last 5 projects -- how many used DMC/Anchor as the main floss?
I took this as last 5 started:
Life is a stitch (Lizzie Kate) - non dmc
Christmas Quaker (AuryTM) - non dmc
Wedding Row - Bent creek (camo version) - non dmc + dmc
Fortunate Traveller (TW) - all DMC
Celtic Banner (TIAG) - both other and DMC * so i guess the answer is 1/5 (TW)

7) Of the last 5 projects, if you didn't use DMC/ANCHOR -- what did you use?
Life is a stitch (Lizzie Kate) - Sulky blenables
Christmas Quaker (AuryTM) - called for GAST
Wedding Row - (camo version) - overdyes (can't remeber) + dmc
Celtic Banner (TIAG) - Caron wildflowers and DMC

8) What needles do you prefer?
Piecemakers Size 28

9) What is the UGLIEST design you've encountered?
I have a problem with this question because in my opinion cross stitch is art and art is subjective. What might be ugly to one isn't to others. I think the word ugly is what I have a problem with. I dislike most primitive patterns.. does that sound better?

10) What is the most BEAUTIFUL design you've encountered?
:( tough one! I am going to answer in regards to my WIP's. At the moment this would have to be Autumn Leaves.

That is it for today... the next 10 come tomorrow

What are your answers to the above questions?

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Just Cross Stitch ornaments

Shebafudge recently posted her top 5 designs from the years edition of the Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue.

I haven't stitched any yet, but mine in no particular order are:

1) Just one bite - Dragon Dreams



2) Bright Flake - Ink Circles



3) HOPE for the holidays - Primrose Needleworks



4) Christmas Joy - Designs by Lisa



5) Have YoursELF a Merry Little Christmas - Val's Stuff



What are your favorites?
Which ones have you stitched?

My evening

In 17 days I will write my advanced tax exam.
This means my stitching time has decreased.

I am planning in working on my dragon dreams ornaments when I have time but also wanted to get a few other ornaments done for gifts.

I showed you a green one I worked on during the weekend.
Now I'm working on a blue one




Just in case you are wondering these small designs are from the Red Threads book by Rosewood Manor

And a random cat pic to finish off the post



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ISHW post November 2013

When I had time to stitch on the weekend, I worked on my dragon Dreams ornaments and on another ornament










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2014 Blogging SAL

I thought I would do an update with blogging SAL's that have/are going on in 2013 and if they are continuing into 2014

First up is the Ornament SAL

Stitching Lotus posted this on October 30th

As for next year, I’ve had a lot of you contact me to say you are interested in another Ornament SAL. I’m wondering if, perhaps, a smalls SAL would work for everyone. I’d really, really love to stitch some TW smalls next year, very few of which are ornaments. Let me know what you think in the comments below, send me an email, or contact me on Twitter at @silverlotus152.


By the sounds of it this will continue but as a smalls SAL instead of just ornaments.  I think this is a great idea and will be joining in!


Next up is the Totally Useless Stitch-a-long (TUSAL)

In the past few years I have absolutely loved this SAL.  I confirmed with daffy-cat that she will be doing this again next year!   If you don't know, in this SAL you save your ORTS and post on your blog :)


Third up is the International Hermit and Stitching Weekend (IHSW)

Details from the post :

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend takes place every 3rd full weekend of each month, from Friday till Sunday. In our very busy and hectic lives, IHSW is a chance for us to squirrel some time away for ourselves and "Hermit and Stitch." It is a time set aside to take care of us and our love for stitching.

I emailed Joyszeroo and got confirmation that this will continue next year!



Another SAL is WIPocalypse.

This was started in 2012 with the end of the world looming over us.  How could we just leave our WIPs sitting unfinished?
Measi continued this in 2013 adding some monthly themes as well

I got confirmation from Melissa that this one will continue as well into 2014


Last on my list is Theme-a-licious

This one is theme based, with a different theme for each month.  We post on the 15th with progress pics and then again on the last day of the month.

Still waiting to see if this one is a go for next year.

What other blogging SAL's are out there?  which ones do you participate in?

Weekly update - week 45

Last was mini projects week
I did work on my ornament, but you will have to wait to see that until the end of the month

In Friday, while at retreat, I pulled out my Gameboard
Here is where I left off:




Next I pulled out Aury's Snowy Christmas
I really enjoyed working on this one




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Retreat ornament Pics

Warning... this will be a photo intensive post.  I just had to share the wonderful ornaments that were exchanged!
Sorry if I messed up anyone's!!

Barb's

Brenda's

Ann's

Joyce's

Christin's

Sheila's

Sylvia's I think

Clare's 

Debbie's

Judie's

Bernie's

Dani's

Rebecca's

Kathy's

Anne's I think

Post Timberhouse Retreat report

I went, had a great time, and am home.

We stitched, ate, stitched some more, and even did an ornament exchange

For my new readers, we go to a country inn south of Brighton, Ontario called the Timber House.
It is a wonderful place to go and stitch and the owner David and his staff are great!

This was part of my contribution... A vanilla cake




This was our yummy meal for Saturday lunch. We will miss Dan's cooking!!







While there, I worked on my Sampler Gameboard and my Snowy Christmas.
I will be giving an update of those on Tuesday

We also did an ornament exchange
This is the ornament I received done by Sharon. Isn't it great!!!



Dani got my ornament



I will post all the other ornaments later this week when I get the pics off my camera :)

That is it for tonight... Back to working on my assignment and then an early night to bed!


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HOCKEY

Since dating, living with, and marrying Blair, I have become a bigger and bigger hockey fan.

Years ago, before I had a head on my shoulders (aka brain), I cheered for the yard waste.  Since being with Blair, I have turned to the Ottawa Senators and happy I did.

Over the past few years, Blair and I have attended some games in Ottawa.  Nothing like seeing an NHL game live..... oh ya... a Playoff game Live!!

Here are some pics from the past few games we attended

GO SENS GO

Warm-ups during the home opener

I often wonder what these guys talk about during warm-up
I know.. I'm strange

Playing with camera - showing red only

WOOT we won!

The mascot, Sparty, celebrating the win

Warm ups during the 2nd home game.
I have my own Heritage Jersey now

2nd home game was against Edmonton.  We lost :(

Are you a hockey fan?  What team do you cheer?  If not a hockey fan, any other pro sport team you cheer for?