Owl Box for rent and my update!

My latest project has been a Pine Mountain Design. I have altered it to say "Home" instead of March so that I can keep it on my bed for more than a month! The design has been fun to stitch but I hate not being able to use a loop or a scroll frame. One never realizes how much you depend on it for tension till the instructions specifically ask you not to use it! This may keep me from stitching another design.....it just depends how the final results look.

I have decided to put a rush on this work so that I can participate in the 2010 SAL from Helga Mandl. You can find this on the wXSwYahoo Group or by going to her website:

http://crossstitch.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=crossstitch&cdn=hobbies&tm=7&f=10&su=p504.3.336.ip_&tt=11&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//free-pu.t-com.hr/hmdesigns/index.html

On another fun note, one of my Mothers Day gifts was put into action today. I had asked for an owl box. We have both Screech Owls and Great Horned Owls that frequent my neighborhood. I have been wanting a box and my husband finally finished it!! We picked out a quiet corner of the backyard. This tree was picked after seeing 2 Screech Owls sitting on it at dusk a few nights ago! It is ready for move in, completely furnished with a soft leaf interior!

Pine Mountain Pull-out

So in the last week I have purchased materials to begin my stretching of my last finish. I plan to begin the process tomorrow. Hence no pictures of Babys World yet.

As a new project I have began a Pine Mountain Designs Pre-Sewn Pillow Kit. Has anyone done one of these? They are so very pretty and most of these are a month to month design. I purchased March because the colors match my comforter. I plan to change the words to state "Home" instead of March. Here is the picture the kit came with. Why you ask am I not showing you my work? Well....the pull out that is in progress. The instructions indicate please stitch with 3 ply floss....and I was not paying attention and stitched with 6 ply floss. Has anyone done this? It really looks very messy and way too thick. That's what I get for trying to stitch in the car again! :(

Maybe I'll have a new picture for you with my next TUSAL post. Until next time!       

Books, The Office and a finish!

Well, I guess all stitchers take a hiatus. I just needed to take a break from my stitching for a few weeks. During that time I finished Voyager and Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon and have caught up through season four of The Office.

Let me start by saying I love the books by Diana Gabaldon. Voyager has been my favorite in the Highlander Saga. I have started on the 5th book, but am taking a short break from her books as well! (maybe there is a pattern to my madness?) Jamie and Claire, the main characters, will be there when I'm ready to pick them up again!

Now for The Office, this show is so very funny! The characters seem to be extreme but I would bet that everyone has known an incompitant boss in their time! The fun in watching the show is that you feel like a fly on the wall watching their interactions. I love how it is filmed as a mockumentary. The interviews with the employees and the facial expressions make the show! Yeah for reruns on TBS....anyone heard the rumor that Blockbuster has filed for bankrupsy?

Finally my finish....Baby's World by Brody Broda of France. Baby Tristan was born to my cousin a few weeks ago in Seattle. His middle name his her maiden, I think McCoy sounds great as middle name! I have envisioned a pretty purple wood stained frame and some thick batting for a finish. As I have posted before I am looking for a new framer. I tried a new shop who gave me a price estimate of $176 for framing this, no glass included. They did not get my business. I have decided to try to frame it myself. I have found a few sites on line to help with my new project and have planned a trip to my local craft store for Tuesday, my next day off. Wish me luck, I hope not to screw it up! Any advice would be appreciated!

Texas Bluebonnets!

They say pictures are like a thousand words! This Spring, Texas has been blessed with the most beautiful wildflowers and above you see my favorite, the Bluebonnet. These pictures were taken in the Texas Hill Country at my in-laws. The home was my husbands Opa and Oma's farm built in the 1800s. It is no longer inhabited but still on family land.  The season lasts approximately 6 short weeks.

No stitching to show you as I have spending a lot of time out doors. This is the only time to get planting done as our summers here come fast. The next post should possess the finished birth sampler! (Minus a name!)

The one who didn't get away! (until we threw her back)

Girl Scout Camp on Lake LBJ in Marble Falls, Texas! Romi caught two fish this morning. This was her big one, per the guide it was a 9 inch Bass. I have no idea but know it did look different than her perch. She was sure proud, talked about it all day, but wouldn't touch the fish! And wouldn't bait her hook either. Mom had to put on a brave face and do it for her. I inwardly was very squeamish but trying to act like it was not a big deal! The things we do for our kids! Camp was a lot of fun, sleep deprived but fed well and the weather was great! The day was wrapped up with campfire, smores, song, stars and a large Diet Coke for the drive home!

 

As for my stitching I have been moving along. Almost done with the birth sampler. It is cute but has not been very satisfying to stitch. I think I prefer more color changes. Maybe I should have tried it with hand over-dyed  floss? The more I stitch the more picky I become? I suppose this is normal! Have a wonderful week! Next post I'll have some pictures of the Texas Bluebonnets for you. We are in for a fabulous wildflower season this year!

Remember the Alamo and more!

Well Spring Break has come and gone. We were blessed to have beautiful weather here in Central Texas. We spent Friday and Saturday in San Antonio with what felt like the rest of the Texas Tourists! I have never seen San Antonio so busy. We actually waited 50 minutes in line to get into the Alamo...and no they were not checking bags! But daughter #1 had just had a Texas History lesson and she just had to see the Alamo, 1st hand! Once inside the walls (built in 1744) we were happy we waited! There is so much to see, lots of artifacts and "History Buffs" recreating the story.  You just don't see such old architecture in the southern states!

As for my stitching, it suffered. Not much time to stitch when one is entertaining 2 kiddos with a week off from school. I did get a little done at night but not as much as I would have liked. I need to light a fire under myself as the baby is just weeks away! Enjoy your week. Here's wishing you blue skies, rain at night and sprouts in your garden! And of course and extra hour here and there to stitch!  

The Maddness of March

Well it has been too long since my last post, where should I begin? March started of with a bang in regards to kid activities. There have been soccer games, the celebration of my oldest's 7th birthday, a meet and greet with a childrens' author (Mary Pope Osbourne of the Majic Treehouse Books), Sports Day (see the beautiful Spring Day pic to the right), playdates and now Spring Break. The girls have been keeping me busy. Did I mention I started a new job 6 weeks ago? The new job is beginning to jive. I am working at an outpatient surgery center getting both kids and adults ready for surgery. Lots of IV starts and cocktails of ....the GOOD stuff. So this adds early mornings to my routine. 0600 am work arrivals to be specific, the alarm goes off at 0440 which about killed me on the Monday after Daylight Savings. Well, thats my March so far! Up next this week.....the San Antonio Zoo, The Alamo and the Texas Memorial Museum. I mentioned Spring Break, right?

As far as stitching I have 2 pics for ya'll today. The 1st one is my latest project from Brodi Broda. It is a birth sampler for my cousin's little one in the oven. The little peanut is to be born late April in Seattle, Washington. We know he's a boy but name is to be determined. #2 is my TUSAL which was do on the  Ides of March. The container is beginning to fill but still slow in comparison to most! Enjoy and Happy Saint Patricks Day, hope you have your green on!