Just because I've made such good progress, I'm posting my Dec. Goals early and how I did:
December Goals:
1) Work on Herb blocks - adding borders - [Not Done]
2) Finish Block 5 Applique and Quilt [Finished]
3) Piece Row 3 together (block 5 and 6) [Finished]
4) Piece all 3 rows together with Lattice [Finished]
5) Put on outside Lattice and Border [Finished]
6) Start quilting Lattice and Border of Quilt [Finished]

7) Work on Winnie the Pooh pattern - [Complete - 14 hours]
8) Work on Bunny Gingham 2 hours - [Completed Bunny Gingham]
9) Start Shepherd's Bush RR piece April [Completed RR piece]

Yea - I made a decision to take tomorrow off from work! I'm not sure how many vacation days I have saved up but it's something around 8 or so. So thanks to my uncle bringing up the idea about going out to dinner and a movie tonight i decided to take tomorrow off to get my cleaning done and a trip to joann's done.

Now however they can't get a babysitter, but we may still go to the movies after going to the gym and having dinner. Then sleep in tomorrow, clean and go to Joann's to enjoy the sales and spend gift money. Maybe a trip to acmoore too since i have a card to that too, but i may save that one a bit longer.

So along comes another 4 day weekend --- HEHEHEH :) I'm psyched totally. Only one hour of work left too.... And i got a lot of work done today too so i dont' feel like i'm behind or anything. Plus i waded through old emails and got rid of a bunch of old ones so my inbox is visible again :) Be back Monday!
Speaking of which.. i will post my goals for January early - and goals for 2005 too... off to figure those out...

Feels like friday - but it's only my third day at work this week. Luckily tomorrow IS friday!

Last night was productive at least, after work I went home, my boyfriend and I went to the gym, then to target, then to the grocery store, then each made up something for dinner and watched Profiler episodes until bedtime. I also stitched while watching so I got another hours work on Pooh done.

On the list for tonight... go home, go to the gym with my boyfriend, enjoy dinner that he's cooking (pork chops with spanish rice). Then clean the apartment, vacuum, dust etc, the whole works. Then go through fabric and figure out what i have for my SAL starting saturday, i won't actually start it until sunday since I'm doing christmas saturday but i want to get the fabric out, in case I need to buy some in which case I will be starting late. I'm guessing I will not have stitching time tonight but hopefully I can stitch at lunch today, more on Pooh so maybe this weekend I can scan in some progress pictures.

How it's looking. Herbal sampler will remain at work in case I work on it here, Pooh will be my focus piece, and the SAL sampler will be started and worked on sporatically, including at work and at my stitch nights. That reminds me, it's stitched in silk, so i need to start taking care of my hands so they aren't so rough.

Once Pooh is finished I will switch over to the Precious Moments piece that's due in april... of course that means picking one out and digging through my aida for a piece the right size, i very rarely use aida but i'm sure i have some charle's craft or something from a sale. I think I will stick with 14ct so the PM will be large enough for the "restrictions". This will be my first charity stitched pieced so I want it to be nice and correct. I'd like to do at least one a year.

I can't believe tomorrow night is New Year's Eve. I wonder what we're doing. I think my sister and her boyfriend are coming out to our place, but not sure if we're just staying in, playing cards and drinking like last year or if they want to go out, i think they want the first, but my boyfriend thinks they want to go out, we'll just have to see, i'd prefer to stay in and off the roads especially since there's a chance the road conditions will not be good and 100% chance there will be drunk drivers on them. Saturday we're going up to my uncle's for christmas celebrations with the whole family... i need to call my aunt and find out what time and tell her that we're definately coming. So much to do... you know the rest.

A long day ... I'm tired.

I just finished my lunch break, which consisted of another frozen pizza and then stitching on the Pooh piece. I have no outlined Pooh's butt so i can just fill it in. I'm looking forward to the backstitching on this piece because it will really take shape, for now it looks like blobs of color. I also worked on Pooh last night, but I worked on the Hunny jar a bit, I finished outlining it and started filling it in while watching tv.

Last night: I got home and my boyfriend had put up the surround sound speakers I got him for christmas .. how nice :) So we ordered subs (which were horrible!!) but i didn't want to go grocery shopping and there was no food around the house, and we watched "Love Actually" and then some Profiler episodes while I stitched and then cuddled with him. It was definately a relaxing evening.

Tonight we're going to do the grocery shopping together and then make a trip to walmart together, i need to get stuff for new year's eve, check out any sales and maybe buy some cheap winter boots because I couldn't find mine back home.. maybe i should check my closet first just in case I brought them with me but i'm pretty sure i didn't. Maybe tomorrow night he'll cook dinner for me when I get home, and then I'll clean. Not sure if getting to the gym will fit in this week even though it's on the list, there's a lot of stuff "on the list".

I read a lot of blogs - daily, and when I find one I'm interested in I go back and read it from the beginning. I did this last thursday with a new one, i found it and started it from the beginning, i finished it today. This takes a lot of time, and work gets pushed aside, of course there isn't much work to be done but this afternoon I will focus on just doing work now that i'm done with the blog, i'll just add it to my daily list. Most of those are listed on my sidebar, however the new ones I've found will be added the next time i change my template.

I really am tired, I don't know why, I got plenty of sleep if you dont' count the stupid heaters waking me up spitting steam for an hour straight this morning! I would love to take a nap right now, instead I'll walk to the mailbox and mail my rent check, then come back and work. Oh and there was something I needed to fix on the website I need to do that before I leave tonight too... pain in the butt!

I had a great Christmas! Where to begin.. first the stitching and quilting progress.

Yesterday I came home and spent the day stitching and watching Profiler season 3 episodes (a gift from my mom), I started the shepherd's bush April month for my next RR which may start in January. It's almost complete, I was missing one color so the beaks and feet are not done, but I got the color from my stash and will finish it at lunch today. The beads will not be added until the RR is completely finished and it's washed. This is 4.5 hours of progress:


So that was monday (the day i took off). Going backwards, Sunday I relaxed at my parent's house, while my boyfriend played his new video game (half life 2 which is really cool --i played a bit too). I quilted, got the border added to my quilt. Some pics:

And the back of it:


Now the corners on the border are mitered... however I did the back first to practice, and i ran out of fabric lengthwise and had to piece one of the strips for the front - boy was i kicking myself. If i didn't I would have had to buy a 2 yrd length more and wait until i could use the machine again, on top of the fact that i don't think there was 2 yrds left on the bolt when i bought more last week! So I pieced a tiny bit in one bottom corner and it's a lap quilt, no big deal!

Let's see before that was Christmas and Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve we went to my boyfriend's family's house for dinner, they got me matching pieces for my dishes. Dinner was great, prime rib and shrimp cocktail. Saturday morning my family did a big breakfast after stockings. Then my boyfriend came up and we did gifts which included a new coat - which I love!!! It's leather (suede). And it fits perfect. He got me a TON of great gifts, quilting stuff (tote bag, templates, stencil), books on cd, a warm cozy shirt (which i'm wearing now) and some other smaller stuff. It was a great christmas. My parents also went all out, I got the iron I needed desperately, the food processor I also wanted, some quilting stuff, including one of those cutter/iron board things that you can carry around, perfect for me!

I didn't get much stitching stuff, my grandmother got me a kit and my new aunt also got me a kit. My grandmother also got me a dragon thimble to match my dragon pincushion from graduation. All great stuff. I really had a great time.

So since I made lightning progress on that RR piece, my goals are being met left and right. I will start on my goal list for 2005 in which I'd like to do a few pieces as christmas gifts, even if they're ornaments, I was wishing i could give stitched gifts this year but I was too busy. And with the RR piece finished my focus can change again :) I can continue herbal sampler at work and Pooh at home.

Well that's my update. Enjoy the pics, I must get some work done so I can stitch at lunch :)

New PICS!!

Herbal Sampler after 21 hours of progress:

Click for larger image.

Winnie the Pooh at 13 hours progress:

Click for larger image.

DD Virtue Series, Wisdom Dragon, after 5 hours progress:

Click for larger image.

That's the last herbal sampler update for a while. I will be starting my Shepherd's Bush RR piece next so only that, Pooh and my quilt will be updated until that's done!

Wow missed a week day... yesterday morning passed kinda quickly, I found a new blog to read, i'll have to update my sidebar because i read a few more blogs now.

So it's Thursday but it feels like Friday but that's okay because I have Friday off! I came in by 7 so I can leave at 3 today, head home, pack up the car, take out the garbage (fun stuff) and head to my parents, a normal 2 hour drive, may turn into 3 or more depending on traffic.

No stitching last night (or the night before). Tuesday night was my last quilt class, it was a show n tell and we saw a ton of beautiful quilts. My teacher had made a Baltimore Album quilt -- it was amazing. Not my style of quilt but the amount of appliquet is quite impressive. Then I went home and worked on the website...

Yesterday work, then went to my Aunt's to celebrate my cousin's 12th birthday. We had a good time, lots of food, Mexican Quiche for dinner and a cake after presents. Of course I fell asleep on the couch shortly after the cake and then went up to bed. I woke up not feeling well, my throat is kinda itchy and I feel congested.. I'm wondering if I have a cold now. Bah HumBUG if i do! So right now I'm drinking some warm tea, waiting for bagels to arrive and counting the hours till 3 when I can head home to start the holidays!
Guess I'll get some work done, not much got done yesterday with a 1.5 hour lunch full of good food and talking and a constantly interrupted afternoon.

Just when I thought I was going to be deadline free for stitching...

My next RR piece is due some time in January (i'm aiming for the end of january as a mail out date).
I'm joining an online SAL for a sampler that's all in one color .. starting January 1st. Basically I'm hoping my RR piece doesn't take long and I can focus on this one as my lunch time/daily piece.
The Pooh is due around Valentine's day - or whenever the baby comes.
I signed up to stitch a Cole's Quilt square for Grace... due 4/15. I chose Grace because that is my great grandmother's name and she had the farthest due date for the square. I will focus on this after the Pooh is done.

What does this mean stitching wise...
After this week Herbal Sampler will be put away again.
It's Winter will NOT get done this winter.. put away again.
DD Wisdom dragon will be pushed to the far background.

So my organization/focus is as follows...

1) Start and Finish SB RR piece
2) Start SAL sampler
3) Finish Winnie the Pooh
4) Start and Finish piece for Grace
5) Finish SAL sampler

All the while continuing to work on my quilt and finish that up. I do want to start a quilt for my boyfriend's sister... hmm.. Off to look up quilt patterns she may like and gather information to email to her if my boyfriend sends me her email address.

Quilt class tonight - the last class!

I know I should have stitch update pics by now but I don't... I haven't brought home my herbal sampler to get a new scan yet. My goal is to stitch the herbal sampler today and tomorrow at lunch and thursday i'll work on the wisdom dragon at lunch. Then they are getting put away temporarily while I start my next RR piece and work on the Pooh piece at home exclusively.

Well I'm all done christmas shopping now, i do plan on getting my mom a few things at the quilt shop tonight for her stocking, just some needles and thread heaven, but other than that I'm done, stocking gifts for everyone ran me about 70 some odd dollars, but they're done and wrapped! I even organized all the christmas gifts so under the tree are the ones for new year's day and by the door are the ones to be packed and brought home!

After shopping and wrapping last night (and baking the corn bread), i worked on the website for a few hours, got one part done, hopefully tonight after my class i can get that more tested and the customer side started. Other than tonight I don't have much time - wed and thur night are packed, and i'll be home after that. Ho HUm!

Lunch today is Chili!!! I can't wait :) After work today I will head home quick then to the bank before my class. At class today we have show and tell which is our teacher bringing in a bunch of quilts to show us. I have my class quilt to show since it's together mostly, but i have to buy more border fabric tonight. I also have to use my coupon tonight so I will have to buy a bit more.

Well work is calling my name :)

I feel refreshed. That was a nice long weekend.

Friday was babysitting with my boyfriend, went pretty well. I actually went to bed pretty early too. Then Saturday up early (by 8) to go to my 5yr old cousin's soccer game. After that we went to breakfast and spent the rest of the day with my aunt and uncle (and the little ones). We left around 7:30 and I was wiped out when we got home so I went to sleep. Sunday we slept in -- oh how nice that was. Then we just relaxed until my boyfriend left to head to his parent's for the week.

So the rest of sunday I watched 2 movies while quilting, cooked lots of food to bring to work (meatballs, bread, rolls and made a cheese ball). Then I stitched for an hour before bed (a little progress on Piglet).

Quilting wise I"m halfway done quilting the inside lattice - 3 inner strips done and the 2 flowers, just have 3 other strips to do. Once the border's on I will have the outer lattice, 4 more flowers and 4 LONG strips, then whatever I'm going to do in the border.

Stitching wise there's notable progress on the Pooh piece, Pooh himself is most of the work left besides backstitching so I may have to start on his butt soon :) Besides him - I have my herbal sampler which I will continue on at lunch time this week. But starting next week I will start work on my RR piece - Shepherd's Bush Month series, i'm stitching January I believe. So that will be brought to work starting Tuesday (monday is my day off when I will probably start it).

One thing from my To Do list for december that won't get touched is my herb block quilt. It's on hold a bit, but will get done after my stitching is more under control (as in Pooh is done). Now is the time to start figuring out my stitching for 2005 - quilting too, so I need to get in touch with my boyfriend's sister and find out what kind of quilt i'm making for her... my boyfriend is going to talk to her hopefully this week??!
Alright-- must work - meatballs are in the crockpot and i have 2 1/2 hours till the lunch is getting served :)

Friday has arrived!

And none too soon. I got up early this morning (5:30) so that I can leave work at 3, go and pick up my boyfriend at 4 and then head up to my uncles to babysit. Having my boyfriend there will make babysitting MUCH easier and it will be nice to hang out with him some more with him almost stress free (law school wise anyway).

Last night was relaxing, I went to the gym (day 3 of 4 this week!), and walked/jogged/lifted again. Then got my boyfriend and we went to dinner. After that I thought I had to work on the website but it was being taken care of so I read, watched my show at 9 then read some more and went to bed at 10:30.

So today is work work work, no stitching at lunch, but I got extra stitching in yesterday. I checked out my goals for this month, I finished bunny gingham so that's great, but I should be working on my RR in case we start that in January, not sure if we will or not. Maybe Sunday i will get that together and start it, i'm anticipating that it will go quickly. Once that's done I can focus on the herbal sampler and finish that along with Pooh for february.

Tonight I babysit, i'm looking forward to it, after my uncle gets home from his party we may play some computer games to, so also looking forward to that. This leaves all my quilting to sunday which is fine because i think the website will do fine with out me this weekend.. if i update the database some time today.
Alright - it's getting close to food time (pizza at lunch today) and a few deserts people brought in. I best get some work done...

Easy babysitting done - hard babysitting still to come...

Last night was easy and fun. After a not so bad day at work (with some great food!), and some stitching on Herbal Sampler (Parsley done, word Oregano started).. I headed to my aunt and uncle's. My cousin was there and we went and got a pizza and ice cream. While eating we watched some movies (after eating I moved to working on the website [ on my day OFF!!] and then cross stitching on Pooh for 2 hours.)

So Pooh is coming along nicely, or should I say piglet because that's the part I worked on last night. All piglet has left is his ears and his legs are not finished. Then outlining but I will start the bottom half of Pooh first in case they touch more.

While I did this my boyfriend was out with his law school friends celebrating the end of semester 1 with a few drinks. I talked to him at 11 last night and then called this morning to be sure he got home all right since everytime I woke up last night I worried (that's 2am, 3 am, 5 am and 5:30)... then i got up at 6:20.

So Day 4 of 8 days of pigging out - the halfway mark is today. It starts with bagels like every thursday so I'm going to go make some tea to go with them, then it's MiddleEastern day foodwise I think, not sure what that means but it's probably good!

Tomorrow night I'm babysitting the 3 cousins again. I haven't talked my boyfriend into helping me yet but I will try tonight. It would be SO much easier with someone there to help hold the baby who doesn't like to be put down and he's good at getting her to sleep. Whether he comes or not I'm looking forward to tomorrow night, I had a real good time last time and I have a small gift for the 2 older girls to work on for their parents, hopefully while the youngest is in a playing mood.
Well it's time for tea.. bagels are calling me :)

It's rather cold today! Wearing a sweater and I'm still cold, even after hot chocolate!

Well problems with the website last night but now it's back up and running, and hopefully we can switch it over to the new server soon. It's all set and ready just needs an ssl cert installed to work.

Yesterday was day 2 of 8 days of pigging out.. and boy did i feel it big time! I ate way too many cookies, but i dragged myself to the gym again after work :) Then I had to drive to Fedex to pick up 2 packages which completes my wait for gifts.. all gifts arrived in time for christmas. I have one person left to get a gift for unfortunately i don't know what to get! Other than that i have some stocking gifts i should get.

Well christmas will total between 1100 and 1200 this year. Unfortunately my family (extended) is talking about changing the way we do christmas next year - and i was all for it until i realized it doesn't save me more than 30 dollars! It saves everyone else a lot but not me and my family because we're the kids that are grown, we still have to buy for the young kids. I'm not complaining, i'm just disappointed that it won't save me much, i still like the idea of really focusing on one person through the year and buying for them rather than a last minute buy for everyone thing. The problem is i spend the most money on my immediate family so unless we do the same thing internally (which maybe we will), it doesn't save me anything and christmas will always be about a 1000/year. (i spend a lot on my boyfriend).

Besides that - today is my boyfriend's last final for the semester! He gets a whole 2 1/2 weeks off after today! I wish i could celebrate with him but i'm watching my cousin tonight and he already had plans to go out drinking with his friends from school. If i wasn't watching my cousin i would just be picking him up at 9 - so i wouldn't actually get to see him anyway. Now i think he's going to take a cab and tomorrow night i'll drive him over to go get his car and we'll get some dinner. I'm not sure what his plan is for the next two weeks, he's probably going to go home to his parent's and work a bit so i won't see him much. It kinda sucks that the time he's not stressed out and busy he won't even be around to enjoy spending time with. The past month and a half have been hard, i never get time to just sit and talk with him, if i have something i need his input on i feel like i have to interrupt him from studying, and yet he finds time for entertainment when i'm busy, we just don't coordinate our free time well.

I just can't wait for law school to be over, even just the first year which i think is the hardest. However there's no saying him working will be any better but maybe it will. I'd just like to be able to talk a bit in the evening, about my day, about his day, just talk - i miss talking. The only talking i do is at work and i feel like i should be working or whoever i'm talking to is being interrupted from working. So instead i write here.

Well enough pity party!

On the stitching front, i stitched a bit on Herbal Sampler at lunch yesterday, got 3 of 4 colors done on the Parsley leaf, just have one color to do and the backstitching today then it's up a level! No other stitching done but i did bring my quilt to work to show off a bit. This way i can maybe work on it tonight at my aunt's too. Alright - i have work to do and i have to check if any food has been put out yet :)

I love this 8 days of pigging out :) Yesterday was a blast and I'm still full! Today will be even better I think with sausage rolls for lunch. Yesterday was Samosas and Tartines. (And chocolate) :)

And I made it to the gym last night! Then we made pizza for dinner which I love! And I was not feeling well after that. Probably not the food or anything, just feeling off and went to bed early which is bad because there was work on the website to do. But today I'm going to finish uploading the site to the new server and try to get it running tonight so we can make the "switch" again! This is a real pain because I'd rather be finishing the tasks I had to do and be done with the site instead of doing this moving crud when it's almost christmas! I want a break :(

Anyhow - at lunch I stitched a bit on the Dragon Dreams Virtue Series Wisdom dragon. He will be my monday at lunch project, maybe more often if i need. But today i brought floss in to work on herbal sampler so that's what i'll do at lunch... I'm up to parsley, maybe at lunch I can finish the herb parsley so tomorrow i can start on the next row up. As for pic updates, i'll probably do those weekly, maybe on the weekends i'll scan all my updates (DD Wisdom, Pooh and Herbal Sampler) and monday post the pics. The quilt is easier to update because i use the camera but there won't be a new pic until the border is on after christmas probably.

Well today is definately not moving as quickly as yesterday was but i have some work to do until lunch, i just need to stop munching or i won't even be hungry for all the great lunch food we have :)

I broke down and did another test:
Results:
Caron ushers you across the river Acheron, and you find yourself upon the brink of grief's abysmal valley. You are in Limbo, a place of sorrow without torment. You encounter a seven-walled castle, and within those walls you find rolling fresh meadows illuminated by the light of reason, whereabout many shades dwell. These are the virtuous pagans, the great philosophers and authors, unbaptised children, and others unfit to enter the kingdom of heaven. You share company with Caesar, Homer, Virgil, Socrates, and Aristotle. There is no punishment here, and the atmosphere is peaceful, yet sad.
The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to the First Level of Hell - Limbo!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Low
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	High
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Some major happy dances!

First -- BUNNY GINGHAM - finished! 13 hours total:


Then an update on Pooh and Piglet:(10 hours):


And - Saturday's progress on the quilt!
Here is the progress I actually made:


And here is what it will look like when the border is on:


And my weekend update. Well Friday night I went to Target and pretty much finished my christmas shopping, only my brother is left and any stocking gifts I find for my mom, sister, brother or dad. Then I just got stuff done around the apartment so I could leave Saturday early.
Saturday I spent the day at my mom's (9 hours), in this time I had to take apart the two rows I had previously put together because they were sewn with more than a quarter inch seam (i didn't know this at the time), so starting over i managed to finally get all the lattice on by 8. Then I went to put the border on and oops... the stripes are going the opposite way than i thought, and i don't have enough fabric to do 6 inch borders like I want. So i cut as many 6 1/2 inch strips as I could and left it at that.. my next class is in a week and I can have my teacher help me figure out what to do and I can buy more border fabric.
So sunday I worked on the website, started quilting in the lattice and then my old car finally got towed off so I could get my errands done. After my boyfriend got home I stitched, cooked dinner and stitched some more :) I worked on Pooh then organized what project I was going to bring to work on at lunch today.

So the game plan is - work on Herbal Sampler except Mondays.. work on DD wisdom. So I have Wisdom to work on today and I brought the sampler so i can figure out what colors I still need so I can bring those in tomorrow.
Oh and today starts the 8 days of pigging out at work - where everyone at work brings food in 1 of 8 days (i'm bringing in a bit more because i like to), so i brought in gingerbread, next monday i'm going to bring in meatballs i think and maybe cupcakes too or those another day. Then maybe a day with cookies or brownies (or both). So I'm going to work now and then go hunt for food :)

Helping others...

I love to help. If you can tell by my posts, I tend to talk a lot about myself generally, I don't take over conversations or anything but I do love to talk. When someone else has a problem and comes to me however I really love to listen and help any way I can, even if by really listening I am helping, that alone gives me pleasure. I like to know a friendship is going both ways and when someone comes to me then I know they value me as a friend as much as I value them and that is very meaningful to me. I'm not one to have a lot of friends, I am not a large group person, I have a hard time in conversations in a group and mostly sit quietly and listen but one on one is more my thing. Really talking to a person and learning about them and sharing something of myself.

Anyhow - the message is - go listen to someone today :)

Back to normal : I survived! I babysat my 3 cousins and survived, not just survived but it went very well. I got them all to sleep and at one point I was sitting in their bed with the baby sleeping in my arms, the oldest next to me and the middle one intertwined in my legs, all kind of snoring. It was adorable. I held the baby the rest of the night as she's used to that and fusses if you put her down, especially since she had a bottle and this was the first time she took a bottle with no problems but it definately wasn't her mom if you know what I mean.
So now i'm pretty confident next Friday night will go well. I've learned a bit, it might be easier to try to get the baby to sleep first, even if she just takes a quick doze, then try the other 2 who could technically stay up till 7:30 and I had the baby almost asleep by then... if i start out feeding the baby she may sleep around 7 even. Even better if I can get her in the crib, my aunt and uncle said they're going to try putting her in the crib more this week to see if she can start to get used to it. By the way the kids are 5, 3 and 10months.

So that was my night. And yesterday at lunch - 7 letters done! That leaves only 5 letters left on bunny gingham and he'll be finished! I'm hoping to finish today and get a picture this weekend. He won't get washed since he has hand dyed threads but I haven't gotten a frame for him yet either. For now he'll wait. Alright - now I have work to do :)

Thursday is always Bagel Day!

I'm just waiting for the bagels to show up :)

Well I'd say I got some good stitching done yesterday. I got an hour in on Bunny Gingham at lunch - probably about 3 hours left before he's completely done. All i have left is 12 letters, the bunny itself is done. Then I want to sign it and add cocoa's name to it too.

Then 2 hours last night on the Winnie the Pooh piece. I outlined and started filling in his shirt after finishing his chin. I like this outlining technique for this piece, I think I will do this for the rest too, I outline looking at the pattern and then I can put the pattern away and fill in whenever I want.

I don't think I'll get stitching done tonight - maybe some reading, I'll be babysitting, I'm hoping to two oldest kids will be in bed after 7 and then I'll just have the baby who I'm hoping will sleep a bit after a feeding. I'm not counting on anything though. I would like to catch my show at 8 but it should be taping back home so if I miss it I can watch it this weekend.

Alright - stitching at work at lunch is working out real well. I have almost finished Bunny Gingham and possibly after tomorrow he will be done. So the question is what to do next at work. I will have quilting my quilt after this weekend available, but maybe I'll save that at home so I dont' have to lug the quilt here and risk it getting dirty. So it's time to pick a WIP to work on. I'm thinking one like my Herbal Sampler because there are lots of little things to do on it, small accomplishments, an herb here, a spoon here, a word there etc. That might be ideal.

Options I have:
Herbal Sampler - definate possibility
It's Winter - just the top banner left - boring!
Mystic Retreat Sampler - maybe later but no rush to finish this right now
Piece for boyfriend - too large for a work project
Pooh - for coworker so best worked on at home
Wisdom Dragon - maybe a good piece to also work on - alternate maybe?
Noah's Arc - maybe if I run out of other things (finish the herb sampler) - but there's no deadline anymore so i'm in no rush
I have a few others but I won't even consider them right now. So the decision is Herbal Sampler - and then DD Widsom dragon - I'll keep herbal sampler here, dragon will travel with me as my small piece and Pooh will be my focus piece when i'm not at work...
With all that then I have my quilt :)

I love not having the website full time anymore. I do have more work to do but 2 days/nights a week is enough and the rest of the time I can enjoy. YEA!
Bagels are here!

A nice busy day...

Well it should be, I have a lot of work I can do and I'm looking forward to finishing a few things for work, like a trade study.

Quilt class last night was great. We went over putting our quilt together (I've started but I was still timid about continuing and now I feel confident). Then we talked about machines - I would love to get a good machine with a walking foot, unfortunately they're expensive, maybe something I can start to save up towards, who knows.

I also found all the fabrics I may need for the amish quilt I want to do - I didn't buy them but they keep the colors in stock so when I decide which colors and how much I'll need I can get them. That's my next major quilt project, it's a gift and it will be machine pieced because there isn't much piecing, then it will be a lot of hand quilting which I'm looking forward to big time.

I also found some beautiful dragon fabric which I just had to buy so i got a yard and folded it up and put it on my bookcase like a runner. I'm not sure what to do with it exactly but I'll think of something some time. I also bought the last fabric I need for my quilt, the binding fabric which is just one of the fabrics I used already but needed more of for the binding. This maybe I can get cut and attached this weekend if I baste my borders down (otherwise I have to wait until after I get the quilting done which I should do - in case i have to square it up... but who needs squaring - it's a lap quilt :)

So I won't be home until Friday night now - Tonight I have my regular night at my aunt's, I will cross stitch most likely, then tomorrow night I'm babysitting for my other aunt and uncle. So Friday after work, I will be home, then maybe out to Target to finish up (yes FINISH) my christmas shopping. That's all that's left -one store. Then Saturday bright and early i'm heading to my mom's - then saturday night late it's back home so sunday i can be home for when they come pick up my car i'm donating.

So I'm packed - no gym time :( And I really need to start that up again next week big time! But I should have some cross stitch time -plus I always have lunch time to stitch :) Alright - work time :)

A picture of my last block. The next picture will be after most of the quilt is put together I hope - maybe monday.

Grandmother's Bouquet

Click for a larger picture

Well last night was productive again, feeling pretty good about that. I cooked up a few meals, tacos for dinner and leftovers, then some zesty herb chicken and white rice for lunches. After that I worked on the website for a good 2 hours, made some good progress and then when my boyfriend got home I just read the rest of the night while he watched some tv to unwind.

I'm reading "Crewel World" by Monica Ferris. I really want to read her series mostly because it takes place in a needlework shop, by a needlework shop owner. They are mysteries. And they keep your interest pretty well. From a more literary perspective however they are not great. If it was a movie I'd say the actors were acting too "forced" and not natural, that's the best way to describe it, it's not "subtle" when trying to get points across. But it's not horrible - and the plot is good enough to keep my interest plus they're SHORT - always a bonus since I have very little time to read these days.

Tonight is my quilt class which I'm very much looking forward to. I need to call my teacher and let her know i'm coming for sure due to the weather it was a bit iffy for everyone but I have a new Audi so I can handle a little snow :)

I'm getting so excited to put my quilt together this saturday, i really can't wait! I don't even know what to do in the meantime! What will I work on tomorrow night at my aunt's - I guess cross stitch, of course when I was quilting I wanted to be stitching, now that I can't quilt I want to ... that's the way life goes :)

Stitching Update:


9 hours progress


6 hours progress

That's right - I worked a bit on Bunny Gingham and Pooh I picked up again last night to get more of his face done. I really want to get Pooh himself done because I know how boring he gets!

Weekend update:
Well - this weekend was pretty productive. Not really friday night so much, but Saturday I went to the dealership and got extra keys, then went to Joann's and bought some more christmas stuff. Then home to clean before my sister and her boyfriend showed up. We chatted when they arrived and then went out to dinner in boston when my boyfriend got home. We walked around boston a bit and were home around 10.
Sunday i made breakfast and after my sister and her boyfriend left I spent a while finishing my quilt block and then cutting all the 3 1/2" strips for the lattice that I can't attach until I have a machine -- hopefully this weekend I can go to my mom's and use hers. I'd like to get the lattice and border on so that I can start quilting inside it. My mom also has some stencils i might use - i haven't totally decided. Probably this Tuesday at class i'll talk to my teacher about it and decide.

So after finishing what I could with my quilt, I worked on the website and watched movies. My boyfriend didn't get home till late so we just watched the end of a movie together while I did some stitching (hence the Pooh update above). Tonight will be more of the same (website and stitching hopefully), but i want to squeeze in the gym as well. Tuesday is my class, then wednesday and thursday are nights at my uncles' houses (thursday babysitting). Busy week for sure :)

I haven't taken quilt pictures yet, maybe tonight I'll do that and update tomorrow with the last block. Now I have some work to get done before my eye doctor appt today.

Stitch Night!

Last night was great - no gym because I got home a bit too late and still had to take out the garbage and fold laundry before leaving. But I made it on time to stitch night and worked on the Winnie the Pooh piece for about 2 hours. I'll update a pic maybe on monday after I scan it in. I also bought some goodies to send to my RR group.

When I got home my BF wanted to just hang out and watch tv together, so while he finished some reading, I read for a bit before watching tv. Mostly I just went to bed. But it's nice to hang out since we rarely have time together and now exams are coming up so it will be even less.

I'm looking forward to this weekend, I have some work on the website to do, but nothing major so I don't have to stress. I have presents to wrap, a trip to the Audi dealer to get some new keys for my new car, a trip to Joann's maybe on Saturday with their one day sale, i have a 50% off coupon and a 20 dollar gift certificate from using my credit card a lot. Probably have more gift certs coming soon too.

My sister is coming saturday night with her boyfriend, I'm hoping we can go out to dinner and something else after that in Boston. Then sunday I hope to have time to relax, work on my quilt (need to quilt block 5 big time) and cross stitch :)
So for now - i'll go get my hot chocolate and work a bit :)

Well no quilting last night :) But I did stitch a bit. I got the stitching on the flower in front of Pooh done, but the backstitching really needs to be done before it looks like much so I must do the bee first, then backstitch the bee and flower and then I'll do a scan... Maybe this weekend if I have time.

Last night was fun, we watched the tribute to George Harrison which was great, except for the PBS interruptions asking for donations. No problem except the interruption lasted about 30 minutes each time.

Stitch night tonight!! I am going to bring bunny gingham, but I may work on Pooh instead. Most likely I'll work on bunny gingham for an hour (to make up last month's missed hour), then work on Pooh. I also have some things in mind I want to buy so I will need some browsing time.

I may even make it to the gym before stitch night - that would be neat. I will bring clothes to change into and head to stitch night right from the gym. I just need to make sure there's some food avaible for my boyfriend, I tend to leave the fridge quite empty when I'm gone.
Well it's hot chocolate time, the tummy is a growlin!

Ah Christmas Shopping...

That's right - online is a wonderful thing! I have gotten a ton of presents online, now I only have:
My dad
my brother (know what i'm getting him just have to get it)
My sister's boyfriend
One Aunt left
One Uncle left
My boyfriend (have a few things for him
My boyfriend's family -- waiting for his input on these gifts.

That's not bad since it's only Dec. 1st Most importantly i got my grandparents done, all the children in the family, my mom and sister.
Plus - i haven't paid a dime of shipping at all! After today i will have paid $1 shipping - that's it!

So - last night I actually made it to the gym! 2 miles on the treadmill before coming home to watch my show and work on the website for 2 hours. Not an unproductive night that's for sure. And I finished quilting block number 6 - in time for my november goals even ;) I do have a pic of that too...

Click for a larger image
So only one block left to go and I have until Tuesday to finish the Applique and Quilting. I'm hoping tonight to finish the applique actually. Then i have this weekend to work on the quilting which isn't much. I'm not exactly sure what i'm going to do yet, but whatever it is I may need my quarter inch quilting tape which i LOST - i needed it last night too but i made do. I don't know where I left it the bugger!
Well almost lunch time - I will enjoy a nice lunch hour with some quilting (applique) and some leftover rigatoni and meatballs... then back to shopping, err, umm , work.

Stitching and Learning
Do you know it all or is there something out in the stitching world you still want to know how to do?

No I don't know it all - and I'm sure there's more out there I want to know how to do - but I'm content for now because I'm too busy! I would love some day to be able to knit sweaters (or knit at all), and also sewing in general I'd love, sewing clothes and stuff. That may come when I actually have a sewing machine that sews :)

I couldn't resist - i'm doing my monthly to do list early but changing the date...

December Goals:

1) Work on Herb blocks - adding borders
2) Finish Block 5 Applique and Quilt
3) Piece Row 3 together (block 5 and 6)
4) Piece all 3 rows together with Lattice
5) Put on outside Lattice and Border
6) Start quilting Lattice and Border of Quilt

7) Work on Winnie the Pooh pattern
8) Work on Bunny Gingham 2 hours
9) Start Shepherd's Bush RR piece April

I guess that's it, hopefully I can do more but I don't want to set my hopes too high with the holidays and the website still needing updates.

November Goals:Quilting:
1) Finish Quilt block 3 DONE
2) Start and finish quilt block 4 DONE
3) Start and finish quilt block 6 DONE
4) Start quilt block 5 MET GOAL
5) Appliquet basket quilt (at retreat) DONE
6) Put border on basket quilt DONE
7) Start piecing herb blocks for fall quilt MET GOAL

Stitching:
1) Start and Finish April SB for RR NOPE - not due now till Jan. 1st
2) Start Winnie the Pooh for friend's baby MET GOAL
3) Stitcher's Hideaway piece MET GOAL - worked during retreat
4) Bunny Gingham 2 hours (one stitch night) 1 hour (no stitch night)
5) DD SAL sunday work on NOPE

Non Stitching:
1) pick out a car i want (online) DONE
2) visit dealership about car DONE - got car!!!
3) FINISH WEBSITE DONE- site is live at least
4) start next website for other job Haven't heard back

Not bad at all - I did very well this month - stitching goals, not so great, but great on quilting and non-stitching goals :)

I have a new car!!!
Only problem is I forgot to put my e-zpass in it, and I didn't know I forgot until I went through :) But I paid the whole amount and I'll save the receipt in case I get something in the mail.

Last night was awesome - after getting my car I cooked dinner then settled in to watch a movie and cross stitch! It really was great, I worked more on the Pooh design and got the stem of the flower done and the flower started. No actual Pooh stitching done yet - but will do soon. I also basted all the leaf petals for block 5 of my quilt so they are ready to applique when I have time.

Without further ado - pictures!


Progress of block 5 - click for larger image. The flowers are pieced together then the whole thing is appliquetted (?sp) on.


Click for larger image. This is a row complete with the lattice fabric. When I get more done I'll take pics of the back fabrics as well... I'm not sure when I can work on this again since I have no machine with a walking foot but hopefully a weekend home soon.


The other row I put together. So the last row will be block 5 and 6 which aren't finished yet.

Well - i'm going to go over my month goals quick, i can always edit them if i get something more finished tonight.

Ah - a great long weekend - and it really was!

Wednesday night was not fun - we went to the dealership and I test drove the Audi - and put a deposit down because it's perfect for me. Then we started the LONG drive home in traffic. Finally HOURS later we got home, my boyfriend went to his parent's for dinner and then out with friends. I visited my parents and then cross stitched on Bunny Gingham a bit before going to bed.

Thursday we relaxed, ate food (lots of food :) and then at night we played Battlefield Vietnam of course :) Friday we hung out with family, played with the cousins most of the day, I taught my 5 and 3 yr old cousins how to "sew" a little quilt together, really it was four pieces of fabric each, sewn together into a small 5x5 square that they called a quilt. It was fun though. Then we went to my boyfriend's parent's house for dinner, then back to my parent's where I worked on my quilt while most everyone watched a movie.

So the Quilt as you go quilt is starting to go together, i can't work on it again until I visit home again because I need a machine with a walking foot and I don't have one :) But I have two rows put together so I see how the process works now. I will update with pictures real soon I promise.

We headed back home saturday morning and stopped by walmart to pick out a fake christmas tree. Then I cleaned the apartment top to bottom, then I decorated for christmas and we put up the tree (which is a process in itself!). I miss having a real tree but the mess it makes and the watering of the tree isn't practical right now. Then I worked on the website for the rest of the night.

Sunday - I went and paid for my car, worked on the website, cooked dinner (pork tenderloin) and quilted! I go the flowers appliquetted onto block 5 - the only thing left is the leaves, then it can be quilted. Then I started the Winnie the Pooh piece for my coworker having a baby in February. I only worked on that for a half hour because I had to work on the website more but now it's started at least.

So -- coming are pictures: - bunny gingham updated, - quilt blocks put together, - block 5 progress, - block 5 finished whenever i do finish it.

Today at some point soon I need to go to the insurance company and pay for my new car. Then tonight - i get home around 6, hopefully soon after we can go get my new car! Then I will probably take the night off from the website and just work on my quilt and cross stitch. The website I can do tomorrow after I go to the gym. (No gym tonight because i'm getting the car and cooking dinner).

So now it's time to work and figure out when the insurance company is open around lunch!

6 more days of November to go and my ToDo list isn't complete... quilting wise i think i'll make it, but cross stitch wise I've done almost nothing except the retreat piece from Mystic!

So after getting back on Sunday while working on the website, depending on how far along my quilt blocks are I want to start the winnie the pooh piece. And maybe fit in my 2 hours on bunny gingham, poor neglected bunny gingham.

My RR isn't starting Dec. 1st so that one doesn't need to be done - it actually starts january 1st most likely - so that will be moved to a december goal.

So car update ***

There is an Audi possibility in my price ranged - used obviously, but i'm going to go test drive it tonight and see if there's anything wrong with it. I won't make a decision probably until next Sunday when i'm back, but who knows - something to look at for sure, of course buying used is always riskier but I need to get what i can afford and subaru is throwing me for a loop trying to get a color i like (and i like 3 of the colors, not just 1).

So wish me luck with that - now just one work day to get through and i'm going home for thanksgiving!

Hand-dyed fabrics - love 'em or hate 'em? If you love them, what kind/colours do you have?

I love em! I am in the Silkweavers fabric of the month club and get one large 28 or 32ct piece a month and so far have not been disappointed! I may switch it up in a few months to get small pieces but this is great. The large pieces i've gotten i even have planned out mostly for projects.

Now due to how busy i am and lack of stitching i haven't actually used much but what i have used i've loved and I've used my own hand dyed fabric too!

-- Update on today - a bit of stitching at lunch - i took out my It's Winter by Sue Hillis WIP and did a row of blue, all that's left is the top banner and it's going to take a long time but maybe by april i can have this finished ;)

Alright back to having no car - I got my deposit back too. I have another dealership to call and see if they can get me the same car with no extra fees... ho hum! This is a long annoying process.

BUT _ it's almost thanksgiving!!! Only 2 days of work to get through and then a nice long 4 day weekend with great food.

Last night was boring - i worked pretty late, then cooked dinner and worked on the website until bedtime. I'm guessing today will be about the same but today i hope to at least get a lot of work done, yesterday was full of distractions.

I'm really looking forward to thanksgiving - thursday we'll spend the day cooking and quilting, and then dinner, then thursday night late we're going to play computer games (battlefield vietnam)... then friday hopefully more quilting and playing with the kids, then saturday quilt more? and head home to clean so sunday can be spent working on the website and quilting. I haven't stressed about the amount of quilting because i knew this weekend was coming and i will have more time than usual.

So my goal for this 4 day weekend:

- Finish quilting block 6 (just have to do something in the 4 corners i believe)
- Finish piecing the flower to appliquet
- Start adding sashing to a few blocks
- Wash and cut fabric for block 5
- Appliquet flower onto fabric (block 5)
I won't set more goals than that - who knows how long the sashing part is going to take but i will have the machine and i can leave the back of the sashing open until the next week.

So that would leave me a full week (including a weekend) to quilt block 5 and finish as much sashing as possible before the next class where I hopefully will then learn how to do the border and outside sashing. Then i will have to visit home before the last class to finish that part and put on a binding = or save that until after the class ends. Either way i really want to FINISH this quilt this year! And with cross stitch so on hold maybe i can.

Speaking of cross stitch - i must start the winnie the pooh soon - it's my only time challenge piece and i'm not sure if january alone is enough time... oh yea and my RR to be mailed Jan 1st - i wonder if that's still on??

Well I kinda bought a car :) I didn't get the demo car - the sales person and the sales manager were extremely rude and we ended up leaving with an offer for 16,000 on the table but the rudeness was too much.

So Saturday after I worked on the website and the site went live, we drove up to Danvers to another dealer. A much nicer saleman, he didn't have a car on the lot but could get me one and gave me a price. At the same time my uncle went to a dealer near him and got the exact same price, also no car on the lot. Then we went up to my uncle's for the night.

So saturday night we played with the kids then played some Battlefield Vietnam until midnight - awesome game! Then Sunday got up early and headed home. On the way we did some much needed grocery shopping and then I cleaned up a bit before my bf's study group came over. While they were there I quilted mostly, and cleaned some more - no vacuuming got done but the bathroom/kitchen got cleaned and the livingroom picked up. Dusting and vacuuming still needs to happen at some point, maybe we'll come home kinda early next saturday and i'll do it then.

So then last night i dealt with the dealer some more and got the price down to 16800 for a new one, in the color i want (it's grey), and i put down a deposit. They are now going to get the car, and Tuesday night i'll go up and sign the paperwork. It is possible the car my be ready by wednesday night but i'm not counting on it and i think i will wait until next sunday to go get it when i can look it over in daylight before taking it.

So i do have a car - unfortunately they won't take my car as a trade in due to the high miles (150,000). So i'm either going to donate it or sell it real cheap (like 500 or something). Trade in value is around 800 but obviously they won't take it :) And it runs great - so i don't feel bad about selling it, however a tax break would be helpful and might be more worth it.

The website - it's live - and working, i spent a bunch of time last night working on some small things and things are running well, orders coming in etc. There's a list of things that i need to do tonight and the list of things that need to get done eventually still. I'm just glad it's still running :)

That's my update from the long weekend - that felt short :)

I'm gonna buy a car!!!! :)

Maybe even tonight - we'll see. I'm so excited - last night I test drove the 2005 Impreza, it was a demo car and had 4000 miles on it - and I might even buy that exact one if i can get a real deal on it. If i go for an automatic i'm going to spend a bit more (at least 800 more) but i should consider it because standards are horrible to have in traffic jams which i hit every friday during the summer.

So i'm ready to haggle and i'm excited to do it. My uncle gave me a list of things to make sure i have done before picking up the car, so i won't exactly be driving home my new car when i buy it but hopefully before next week. It's kind of like a game to me - i'm in it because it's fun to haggle and win the game :)

Other news::: the website is going live this weekend - hopefully without incident! Then maybe i can get paid and start my christmas shopping and finish my shopping early! Unfortunately i'm not getting paid in time to use it for a downpayment on a car but i have some money to make a payment and if it almost wipes me out it's not a big deal because i won't have other bills due until after i get a check. I didn't want to ask to get paid until after we went live alright so i really need it to work out this weekend :)

So this weekend looks busy :
Tonight - maybe buying a car :) Then home to either relax or work on the website
Tomorrow - work on the website - go live and update the website - keeping open a possible trip to the dealership if needed
- Clean the apartment big time! Not going to do this until after the website is set up, then i will clean while the transition happens and check on things.
Tomorrow night - maybe quilt??
Sunday - work on website if needed - quilt - stitch - organize, the things I love - enjoy my weekend home :)

My goal is to pick up new car monday or tuesday night - not before, that way i can try to get them to do any detailing and stuff needed. OOooohhh so exciting :)
Well - back to work...

Thursday - Bowling!

Work ends at 3 today and we're all heading over to go bowling and eat pizza until 5. Should be fun - this is not real bowling, this is candlepin? bowling - not my normal thing - and i have no idea what it really is but we'll see, should be fun.

Last night was relaxing - after a day of eating - dealing with a bit of a stomach ache and giving up eating, i had a nice meal at my aunt's and then worked on my quilt. I got my templates cut out of freezer paper and my fabric washed then i worked on quilting my Churndash. This is coming along nicely. Then I went to bed.

Tonight after bowling I'm going to the Subaru dealership to look at cars- Impreza to be exact. I'm actually looking to get a new car because the price doesn't drop that much when driven off the lot on this type of car. Basically it's cheaper for me to get a new one than a used one.

After that - I will go home and work on the website - i MUST! This weekend we have to go live and that's that! So Thur, Fri and Sat are devoted to website work. Saturday will also be time to clean the apartment big time, and thur and fri i will go to the dealership after work hopefully to be buying a car. Speaking of which I can NOT forget to call my bank today or head over in person at lunch.

It sure feels like friday - which is wierd because it's technically only my third day here this week. Next week I will only be here three days.. this month is surely spoiling, how on earth will i get by in December working whole weeks until Christmas!!!
Alright - i'm off to call the bank and email my sister :)

Quilt class...

Well I made it through the work day yesterday - some oatmeal at lunch gave me a bit more energy and I only got a stomach ache at the end of the day. Then I went to my class and learned how to do the applique block (my last block) - and we have 3 weeks before our next class. In that time I want to finish all 6 blocks and square them up. To piece them with lattice our teacher advises to use a sewing machine with a walking foot (of course i don't have one but my mom does) -- so maybe over thanksgiving i can get started on this process and then maybe over christmas or before go home for a weekend and finish the lattice so i can learn how to put on the outside lattice and border.

The teacher also squared up 2 of my blocks and let me borrow her 12x12 inch ruler to square the rest when i finish.
Tonight I must:
-wash new fabrics (2 lattice fabrics and striped fabric for border!)
-cut templates for last block
-cut freezer paper for last block (21 hexagons and 6 leaves)

Then I may start quilting my Churndash and leave the applique to this weekend. I'd like to get the other 5 finished and squared so that the last block if it's finished just in time for class can be squared there when returning the ruler. I also want to start the lattice piecing over thanksgiving next week - since i'll have a machine available to do it - and that way i can bring that in and make sure i'm doing it right.

Well - tomorrow night i'm going to a car dealership to maybe test drive the car i like - if i like any :) I'm looking at 2003/2004 Subaru Impreza models. Not real interested in the WRX just the regular Impreza. So tomorrow I go look - see if i like the dealership etc. Then I can go back on saturday to negotiate a price if i like anything. If not i'll go somewhere else on saturday. I'm pretty sure i want a subaru but if i don't like dealing with them i'll leave and pick something else for sure. Plus there are dealerships real close to me that i could always go to, i'm just not going there first because of the inflated prices being close to the city.

So hopefully i will have a car in early december! I also need to go to my bank and find out my interest rate for my loan and deposit some more money.
So that's my update - now the headache is coming back !! Time for tylenol my new friend :)

I'm back - not as chipper as I was when i left but managing!

Well the Retreat was AWESOME! I got a lot done - not as much as I wanted because the drunkard's path block took me 12 hours JUST TO PIECE! Not including quilting which didn't take that long! So about 24 hours of quilting time later I will go over my checklist and see how I did :)

But to note - now i'm sick! Sunday night I came home and was sick - stomach bug type thing - all night, all day monday (took the day off of work), and today i'm dehydrated but not so sick so i came to work. I have my quilt class tonight that i'm hoping i can save energy for so i'm trying to eat a bit here and there but the thought of food does bad things to my tummy! So - POUT! I hate being sick. But back to the good stuff:

Checklist for quilt retreat remembered
- Finish the what will be already started block 4 [4 small spots left to quilt but almost there :)]
- Start block 6 which i need to pick out and "design" (dimension wise) [PIECED!!]
- Appliquet basket quilt [DONE]
- Put border on basket quilt [DONE]
Maybe's:
- start quilting basket quilt [NOPE]
- start quilting scenic quilt (wip) [NOPE]
- cut and piece blocks for herb fall quilt [STARTED]
- cut and sew border on embroidery castle [NOPE]

So like i said, not as much as i was hoping but that's block 4's fault big time. So now I have some piccies :)

Block 4 almost finished (will update pic when fully finished and basting taken out):

Click for larger image.

Block 6 pieced:

Click for larger image.

Basket Quilt Top finished:

Click for larger image.

Maple Leaf Block for Retreat quilt that was raffled off:

Click for larger image.

Herb Block - started putting mitered border on - hand pieced.

Click for larger image.

So that's it - that's my progress. I did bring my block 4 to work so at lunch (which is soon) i can finish the quilting in the corners for class tonight. I will also baste block 6 so it's ready to quilt.

Uck - my tummy is churning - must go pout and maybe i be going home early today...

Hour and half left of work -- and 19 hours to go till I leave!!!

Sorry i couldnt' resist - i'm bored... reading documents is not fun and i can't get my mind off the retreat. Of course I'm also going to joanns in less than 2 hours so i have that to look forward to now that i know there's a SALE today!!

Yikes - what can i do right now????????

Oh yea - new idea -
next week i'm going to bring my cross stitch to work and stitch for an hour at lunch time! That means i will work till 5 every day but that's not too bad - with a break to stitch, and i may make some progress - except after Tuesday it will be quilting progress but STILL!! Hehehehehe that's something more to look forward to! Alright my jumpy excitement is showing in '!' marks. I best go find something to do!

1 more day!! One Day More... (hehe - from musical Les Mis)

Anyway ! Last night was very relaxing, we went out to dinner at Picadilly Pub because my cousin had a birthday party. Then I just worked on my quilt a bit... got 3 more curved seams done and another straight seam. Let's see that makes:
- 11 curved seams
- 22 straight (3") seams
Left to do (2 straight finished and 5 curved finished)
Let me just add that I HATE curved seams and will never do another Drunkard's Path again. This is brutal! Luckily after this weekend it should be done, maybe block 6 done too and that leaves one last block which is appliquet and i like appliquet :) Then begins the putting together of the quilt.

So today - a new task has been added to the normally boring schedule. I need to go to Joanns and buy thread (sewing and quilting thread). Plus a silent auction item for the retreat. So after work i'll go to Joanns then a CVS if i can, then home, prepare dinner, go to the gym, come home cook dinner then work on the website. I'll leave packing to the morning - maybe CVS to the morning as well since it's down the road.

Oh yea and OC is on tonight - can't miss it :) I missed the first 20 min last week! I had it taping but the vcr got knocked and turned off the timer so it didn't tape at all. And that was the night i got home real late from work. So - since i don't have it ready to tape i'll have to get back from the gym before 8 :)
Alright i must go review a document - that's what my day is full of but i'm leaving at 3:30!!!

Yesterday was boring! And unfortunately today may be the same.

Plus it's getting harder to get up early in the mornings, partly because the heat was kicking on at 5 and waking me up so by 6 i wanted to sleep more.

I followed my plan yesterday and that makes day 2 at the gym. No gym today since i'll be at my aunt's but tomorrow i'll go again. Tonight is quilt night - work on piecing my block together some more! I really do not like the curved seams and won't be making a quilt out of blocks like this again!

Yea yea yea - 2 work days left to go and then retreat time again! Even better is that next week is my only full week of work this month due to thanksgiving the week after! Yippeee!
Alright - I need some hot chocolate!

SNOW??!!?!?!

I got to work - and there's a bit of snow on the ground here... or is it really really heavy frost?? I come from upstate NY so i know what frost generally looks like so i'm thinking this is snow - none out by me but here at work - yes a tad bit of snow - say it ain't so! hehe

Anyway - well i'm in a routine that i hope i can follow again today. Home from work - prepare dinner (actually put it in oven and bf got home from gym and watched it while i went to gym). Then grocery shopping real quick after gym, then dinner, then clean up then work on website, then read - fell asleep reading, woke up - went to bed :)

So subtract the grocery store and i think today will be the same.

work yesterday wasn't bad. WE went out to lunch as an office - then had a meeting in the afternoon so pretty much the day went okay. Today i won't be so lucky i'm afraid but maybe i'll stitch at lunch time or something. If i take an hour break i can still leave at 4:30 so that's my schedule--- get to the gym by 6 - home by 7 and website by 8 (8-10) then read till i sleep. Okay enough boring stuff - off to read the message board.

I'm BACK!!! And I do have a picture :)

Stupid me - forgot to bring my camera!!! I can't believe it! BUT i had a blast and I really mean it. Jeanette Douglas taught the class and she was a blast, a great teacher, very relaxed and so much fun. We worked on the sampler in class for about 11 hours over 2 days, plus i worked on breaks and in the evening. So my progress pic is about 16 hours of work (rough estimate):


Click image for larger version.

So - LONG STORY:
Thursday night i worked until 8pm! I missed my stitch night :( but had work obligations and got them done. Then home to pack and relax, but before i got home someone from work called with another problem! Took care of it and then relaxed. Friday I drove down to the retreat met up with my roommate who I got along with wonderfully and had a great time with. I'm looking forward to doing the Sturbridge retreat with her in July of next year! Then we had class, then lunch, then class, then fun time. We got TONS of free stuff, patterns, kits, floss, lots of neat stuff. Plus I bought some stuff at the shop that set up.
Saturday it was more of the same, class, lunch, class, dinner, show and tell then relax stitching. Sunday my roommate and i went out to breakfast before leaving.

Then I went to my sister's and gave her her birthday presents, then showed her all my stitching stuff and stayed till after dinner. Then home to see BF and show more stitching stuff. Then i just layed in bed for 3 hours doing nothing, not sleeping or anything, just unraveling i guess you could say. Then I read before bed, came to work and the day begins ;)

So this week is packed - i haven't heard from my uncle about babysitting this week so i know for sure that wednesday i'm visiting my other uncle, mon and tue and thur i'm working on the website, then friday it's off to the quilting retreat and i won't be home until late sunday unlike this past weekend. But i will hopefully get a ton done on my quilts including the block for my class that i've put off. I did however do 2 curved seams and then one straight to put them together.

Well i'm losing steam - told my weekend story a lot and still have to email my mom about it. I should wait till after lunch for that i think. I really am still excited but i'm also tired and worn out from a long weekend of concentrating. I will remember my camera this coming weekend for sure!

HEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHEHE -- It's FRIDAY!!!

Well not really - but it kinda is for me -- since I have tomorrow off to go to Stitcher's Hideaway!!!!

Seriously today is a GREAT day. I've been at work 2 hours, gotten my document FINISHED, waiting to merge it and discuss it. Then I have some database stuff to do mostly today and then I leave at 5 - and go to my stitch night! I need to fit in a trip to Best Buy if i can.

Yipee! I can't contain my excitement. Tonight will be great, stitching for a few hours, buying some new specialty threads I need, then going home to pack pack pack! I won't be blogging until Monday probably - but i will have a nice long blog then :)

Last night was nice and relaxing - i didn't get out of work until REAL late - the latest for me 6 i think (which is 11 hours of straight working with no breaks). Then helped my aunt finish up dinner, ate, and then I quilted a bit - just doing some extra quilting on block 3 that my instructor suggested. I didn't start block 4 yet - maybe tonight i'll cut a few pieces so i have them with me this weekend in case I get free time :)

By 9:30 i was wiped and went to bed. Hopefully that won't happen tonight :) - alright back to work - must contain this bubbling excitement for a few more hours - 7 to be exact!

Alright - a not so good picture, i went out to my car and took a pic of my block 3 the Lemoyne Star:



Oh boy - hours still to go in the day - A horrible day in my mind - i need more candy...

Well things are not looking good from my vantage point. I can't believe 11 states (or something like that) voted to ban gay marriage. I really can't even say more than that - I'm just aghast - this is the 21st century... I will stop, i'm just getting mad!

Anyway--

So quilt class last night - due to the Democratic whatever last night the traffic was HORRIBLE and i was a half hour late. I didn't miss much though and we learned how to do the curved seams that we need for the Drunkard's Path - block 4, which is 16 curved seams, then 14 straight seams to finish. It's going to be a time consuming one and i have no time right now - luckily next weekend will be the quilting retreat and that will hopefully be plenty of time to finish it! Plus i can start it tonight at my aunt's!

When i got home i watched Coyote Ugly on USA, flipping to the results during commercials. Then i watched Gilmore Girls which i had taped - oh boy - that show is going for the glory this season! Then i went to bed - at midnight - this is the latest i've stayed up on a work night in a long time. I still managed to get up at 6 though while BF checked the "results", i showered, the results are not in - but neither of us are optimistic and things look bad.

UGGG - okay - keeping mind on other things - tomorrow will be tough to get through at work because after work i need to stop at best buy and get my sister's birthday gift, then go home, eat something quick, then go to stitch night and work on Bunny Gingham. Then pack for the retreat and leave in the morning!!! Man i can't wait! Oh yea i wanted to bake something too - that's okay i can stay up late tomorrow night since i can sleep in until 7:30. Which reminds me i still need to print directions for the weekend.

Well i best start getting work done - i've been having fun playing with the database but i need to get back to the document now!

I don't know how!

Somehow I managed to finish quilt block 3 last night! The spirals only took me an hour and a half. YEA!!! I was going to bring my laptop to work and take a pic and post it today - and also get work done on the laptop - but no i forgot it! It's packed up and sitting by the door even!

The website however is giving me all sorts of problems. All of a sudden it's not working at all - not showing up, the files are there, there's no errors, but it's blank. I have tried numerous things to fix it and i'm at a loss. Today along with the many things i have to do i will start searching the net for help with this problem.

Today is so packed - i haven't been to the gym in a week and i'm feeling it but i won't have time to go until thursday. Today after work i have to get gas, go vote, try to eat something real quick for dinner, then go to my quilt class. Possibly after that stop and pick up some milk because DBF left the fridge door open a smudge and everything was warm this morning - i'm not mad though because i did the same thing soon after i moved in when i was living by myself, the fridge doesn't close easily. So the milk/eggs/turkey are definately bad. The leftovers i put in last night are probably fine because they were probably warm to begin with. water, pudding snacks, potatoes probably fine. Lettuce and tomatoe i might as well get rid of - since there's not turkey he doesn't need that anyway so when i buy one i'll buy all three again. condiments are probably mostly fine.

The real loss would have been the freezer (which i have also done before) but luckily not repeated. That's a lot to lose. Well i'm off to get some work done.

There isn't enough awareness out there for Independent Candidates:

I support Harry Braun for President 2004!

November Goals:

Quilting:
1) Finish Quilt block 3
2) Start and finish quilt block 4
3) Start and finish quilt block 6
4) Start quilt block 5
5) Appliquet basket quilt (at retreat)
6) Put border on basket quilt
7) Start piecing herb blocks for fall quilt

Stitching:
1) Start and Finish April SB for RR
2) Start Winnie the Pooh for friend's baby
3) Stitcher's Hideaway piece
4) Bunny Gingham 2 hours (one stitch night)
5) DD SAL sunday work on Wisdom

That's it for my to do list which is huge due to the quilting retreat. Unfortunately due to the website in order to make these goals i need to really stay on task and get things done.

Non Stitching:
1) pick out a car i want (online)
2) visit dealership about car
3) FINISH WEBSITE
4) start next website for other job

How did i do???

October Goals (stitching and other)

Stitching:

1) Finish Weasel RR piece and mail out by Oct. 11 [ YES ]
2) Wash and add beads to True Blue Friends [ YES ]
3) Stitch 4 hours on Bunny Gingham (stitch nights) [ YES ]
4) Stitch DD Wisdom on Sunday SAL (third sunday) [ YES ]
5) Start new RR piece - Shepherd's Bush April [ NO ]
6) Finish Quilt block 2 by first class (almost done) [ YES ]
7) Quilt bock 3 start and finish by second class [ YES and almost ]

Non-Stitching:
1) FINISH THE WEBSITE - seriously need to get this done! [ NO ]
2) Open account at credit union - need to do this in order to buy a car! [ YES ]
3) Look at cars at a dealership! [ YES ]
Not bad at all if i do say so myself. the website is of course a no, the RR piece is a no -but it's on the verge of starting, i just need some time to get the fabric and threads together.

Pictures and more!!

First as promised, here are some updated pictures.

True Blue Friends finished:


And Bunny Gingham progress 6 hours:


As for the weekend - here it is Samhain and I'm on the computer for work basically. I had no choice really. Let's see how things went:
Friday:
- Walmart yes - got what i needed
- Grocery store - NO
- Work on website/quilt - website a tiny bit - no quilt
Saturday:
- Clean the apartment (this will be saturday's treat) - YES took forever
- Work on website - finish sales part - NONE
- Finish quilt block (maybe into the late hours of the night sunday) - See later
- Go to car dealership to look at cars - Yes, also had to pick up a "halloween costume" and do some other shopping with bf
- go to library to see about books on tape - NO forgot
Add to this list - went to halloween party at bf's friend's house (law school friend) - met law school friends, was cold (outdoor party) - went home and then quilted while watching a movie until 2 am which changed to 1 am :)
Sunday:
- go to brother's football game sunday - YES
- dinner with family after football game - they came to my apartment and we ordered pizza
- quiet sunday night reflecting the year past and welcome the new year - not yet
- spend some quiet time sunday night under the stars (whatever i can see) and moon, more reflecting, praying and giving thanks - not yet
- No Website work since it's a holiday (Samhain) - darn it too bad -

So I've gotten some work on the site done tonight, and i still have another hour until law and order criminal intent is one, i may work on the site more i may just go outside for a bit - by the way the WEATHER IS BEAUTIFUL TODAY! going to the football game was great, the sun was shining, it was warm, perfect day. So i'd like to sit out under the stars for a bit.

My quilt block is NOT done yet. All that is left is to quilt the spirals in the corners but that takes a while, i'm not sure i'll finish in time for my class tuesday, maybe get 2 spirals done. The website is not as far along as i wanted it to be, especially since tomorrow is the last night i ahve time to work on it until next sunday! I'll figure something out of course.

Well - i'm going to go through my october checklist now since it's the 31st and this is more fun than working :)

Alas no pictures -

but monday hopefully i'll have a few - if i can finish my quilt block this weekend - that will be a tough one!

Last night after work i made it to the gym finally, lifted weights then did a cool down on the treadmill. Then home to eat ramon noodles (again) and work on the website. I got a decent amount done and we went to bed early (10).

So I've picked out a Pooh design i want to do i think - it's Pooh sniffing a flower with piglet behind him, it's meant to go in the corner of a towel but i want to make a wall hanging so i'll have to orchestrate where the name/date goes to make it work out right. (not a triangle) Plus if i have time maybe i'll stitch something small like a bib too, or something on a blanket like i saw at JoAnns.

To Do for this weekend:
Friday:
- Walmart
- Grocery store
- Work on website/quilt
Saturday:
- Clean the apartment (this will be saturday's treat)
- Work on website - finish sales part
- Finish quilt block (maybe into the late hours of the night sunday)
- Go to car dealership to look at cars
- go to library to see about books on tape
Sunday:
- go to brother's football game sunday
- dinner with family after football game
- show apartment to family after dinner
- quiet sunday night reflecting the year past and welcome the new year
- spend some quiet time sunday night under the stars (whatever i can see) and moon, more reflecting, praying and giving thanks
- No Website work since it's a holiday (Samhain)

Next week: (sometimes i like to think ahead and make sure i don't leave anything out)
Monday - work on website, check out new website and email old boss time estimate for new website
Tuesday - Quilt class then work on website more, hopefully cut pieces for block 4
Wednesday - aunt's house - work on quilt block 4 - drunkard's path
Thursday - Stitch night!!! - work on bunny gingham then PACK!!!
Friday - Stitcher's Hideaway!!!! leave in morning!!!

That's why i did that - just to show that stitcher's hideaway is closer than it feels - only 7 days to go! Unfortunately the website won't get as much work as it needs and we want to go live like yesterday so hopefully the week after (monday) we can go live and i can monitor it from work!)

What are you working on right now?

Well now that True Blue Friends is finished - my only active stitch project is really Bunny Gingham, however I have a new RR I need to start so that will be a Shepherd Bush piece. Plus I'm working on the sampler quilt for my class.

There are only 2 other women here at work, not sure if i've mentioned that before, but one of them is a few years older than me, married and having a baby in february. Well they're decorating in Pooh, and she cross stitches as well but doesn't have much time and definately isn't AS addicted as me :) So I think I may stitch up something for the little one for her - since I did a baby sampler for a friend's cousin i think i can do one for someone who's baby i may actually SEE. So that's a new project, but Pooh is easy - and I will do it on Aida because I think the simple aida look matches the simple pattern - it's not meant to look realistic or rustic which is what i use linen/evenweave for.

So i have a new goal, cross stitch that is, and i'm looking forward to it, Pooh can be fun to stitch and I already have a book with a lot of patterns, plus she cross stitches so she'll really appreciate the work that goes into it :)

True Blue Friends is finished.

oh and the red sox won the world series... but i did sleep most of it, however i caught the eclipse before going to bed.

So last night - after work i went with my aunt to pick up my cousin from soccer, then we went to dinner at a pizza place, then back to their house. I worked on my quilt block a bit, started the second row of the star quilting which is quilting in the ditch around the outside diamonds. Then i switched gears and took out True Blue Friends to put the beads on. I finished that and went to bed. Maybe tomorrow i can get a pic of it on here.

So I woke up this morning to writing on the bathroom mirror that the sox were champs - and another note on in the kitchen. I guess they were up partying :)

Tonight is back to work - but i may leave earlier than yesterday since i was in here at 7, then home, cook dinner, then work on the website. If i accomplish anything good maybe i'll finish off with some quilting for the night since I really do have a lot to get done before Tuesday and this weekend is filling up fast. Alright off to read blogs before it gets loud in here and I get to work :)

Hehehehe, tonight is a quilting night :)

The bad news is that it's the 4th game of the World series and the sox are up 3-0 and my aunt and uncle are DIE HARD fans of the sox, so this is a HUGE game for them, but i should be able to quilt through it.

Well yesterday was not a headache day at least - I worked for the full 10 hour day again with no real break but then went home to find bf starting dinner (what a sweetie) and then i cooked while I washed a few cross stitch pieces that have been waiting for me to break out the clean tub and dish soap :) I washed the True Blue Friends so now i can put the beads on, and the herb blocks from my first RR so that they can be used for the quilt at the retreat.

After dinner I ironed the pieces I washed and then went to work on the website, 4 hours on the site while also watching tv. Gilmore Girls was good, and then I watched scrubs after a tv break, and then Law and Order SVU which bf came in and watched with me, after which we went to bed, and I woke up not too tired for a change, it was great.

So today was some quick work in the morning then a 3 hour review, then more work and now a quick break to read blogs before switching gears and working on design documentation.

Not only did I bring my quilt block for tonight, i also brought True Blue Friends to possibly start the beading, not sure if i packed my beading needles but i dont' know where i would have put them if not in my carry case so i'm keeping my fingers crossed that i can start that tonight to see how long it will take - there are a LOT of beads in this piece.
Well - break is over - back to work :)

A VERY BUSY WEEK!!!

Yesterday was SO long -- I worked 10 hours straight with no break, went to the grocery store, home, then worked on the website for a few hours. Finally my pounding head did me in and I went to bed only to wake up with a headache and have to go to work. But I'm going to take some tylenol and ignore it and get some work done.

So no stitching update, and there won't be one until after Wednesday night when i can get some quilting done.

OH - and my old boss wants me to do some freelance work for him - this on top of my full time job, and the part time website work that's still ongoing! HOpefully i can get the website into a decent spot by this weekend and next week have some extra time for the freelance work, i certainly could use the money seeing as i need a new car and christmas is coming!
Well - back to work - !

A nice long weekend, less than two weeks until Stitcher's Hideaway :)

We really did have a good weekend, Friday night ( I worked pretty late ), then went to JoAnns before home and we ordered subs for delivery which made dinner easy. At JoAnn's I spent WAY more than i wanted, but everything was half off so I couldn't resist, i bought scissors, rotary blads, batting, pillow forms, fabric, plastic containers, quilting pens etc.. all 50% off. I spent 80 dollars but 30 of that was using up my gift certificates.

The rest of friday night I relaxed and worked on my quilt block. Made super progress on it before 9 when bf wanted to relax and watch a movie before bed. Saturday we had all day - I finished the quilt block and basted it, and then cross stitched after finishing up something quick on the website. So I worked more on Bunny Gingham while watching movies. Then we headed up to my uncle's house around 8.

Saturday night we watched tv with my aunt and uncle with the baby crawling around in the dark having a blast in the flickering tv light. Then Sunday I played with all 3 of the kids while bf and my uncle worked on their brakes for their cars. Around 1 my aunt took the 3 yr old to a birthday party and I watched the baby and the 5 yr old who mostly played outside while the guys worked on the car. It was a long day but I had a great time.

We couldn't leave without getting some Battlefield Vietnam in so we played 2 hours of that before heading home just in time to shower and watch Law and Order Criminal Intent while I started quilting block 3. However the quilting thread kept knotting - and I'm using wax, twice it knotted SO bad I had to cut it and tie it off then start over, it was a real pain.

So this week is going to be a lot of work late nights, then work on the website. But Wed and next weekend I have to quilt that block and get it done. I also want to start my next RR which means picking fabric out and possibly dyeing fabric. My october stitching to do list is lacking - i need to get a move on some things (like beading the almost finished true blue friends) and I only have a week to go!