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Today started like any other day. DH woke me up and said he'd treat me to breakfast. In other words, he was taking me to the greasy spoon motel restaurant right up the road ;o) Don't get me wrong, it's a great place if you want to get things flowing. LOL!
We were just about finished when we overheard the owner of the hotel and the waitress talking about this injured bird. At first I thought she was talking about a pet but as we listened a bit more, we realized it was a Herring Gull (also known as a Seagull or Shit Hawk) out in the parking lot. Apparently it had a broken foot/leg and couldn't move :o(
The owner was anxiously trying to contact someone by phone to come and get the poor thing but wasn't having any luck. After a bit of pushing, I got DH to introduce himself and tell her who he was. We talked a bit of strategy and finally decided to capture the bird and remove him from harm's way. DH raced home and grabbed our small portable kennel and a towel.
Lickidy split, the bird was in the kennel! We decided it was best to drop him at an estuary where he would be away from predators and also be able to find food. I joked about the bird getting car sick but the joke was on me! The bread he had just eaten before we captured him came back up :oP What a mess...
We arrived at our destination and DH grabbed the bird and threw him up into the air. He immediately took flight so his wings were okay, which was a good sign. He flew across the water and landed in the middle of the estuary. As we watched him, he floated along, cleaning himself and playing in the water. Whether he will make it or not remains to be seen but it was a good feeling seeing him much happier :o)
Believe it or not, Gull rescuing is second nature to me ;o) When I was a kid, I brought one back to our cottage one day, all wrapped up in my sweatshirt. Just imagine the looks on my parents' faces. LOL! I had been along the shore playing with friends of mine when I spotted the bird. He was all caught up in fishing line and couldn't fly. Dad ended up having to cut a fishing hook right out of the bird's foot. Once he was free and untangled, away he went. Again, a great feeling.
Pumpkin...Rescuer of Shit Hawks! How's that for a title? ;o) 
I'm sorry I have not posted before this but I was trying to get enough done on Sabrina so I could post a proper progress picture. It's hard to believe it's been a little over a week since I started her and this is what she looks like so far -
All that is missing is the backstitching around her face and eye, plus the beads. I was going to add them before the picture but I'm going to stay true to my usual method and leave them until the end ;o) Even though I despise blending threads, I bit the bullet and got them done. On 32 count, it seems they aren't as noticeable.
Here is another picture with a better idea of the fabric colour -
Sabrina is pictured along with one of the gorgeous pairs of scissors that I received from Yuko :o)
My next plan of attack? I'll continue down and stitch her shoulders and then it's onto the dress! It's all about the dress isn't it? LOL!
Things have been pretty quiet here. Still no word from the job I applied for and it closed on the 18th :o( I'm really pulling my hair out so I'm going to get some help and see if my resume needs a revamp. I'm told it's not easy to find a job around here but this is ridiculous! I told DH that I might have to dumb down my qualifications ;o)
Yesterday I was surfing the Net trying to find something and I ended up at this neat website called Pop Deluxe. As I was checking out their site, I came across this Dachshund Salt & Pepper Set -
ROFL! This lead to another -
They also carry an Oil & Vinegar Set -
By this time I was chuckling to myself and wondered what other weird wiener things were out there. Okay, so I had nothing better to do ;o) How about some Dachshund Earbuds from Doxieholic -
Can you imagine seeing someone with those sticking out of their ears! LOL!
I really liked this Doxie Lamp at Urban Outfitters -
But BY FAR, the top spot goes to the Halloweiner Pumpkin T-Shirt from Dachshund Gifts!!!!
Okay, does this have my name all over it or what? I have two beer bottles with pumpkins on them but I've never seen one with a Dachshund AND a pumpkin combined! There is an actual III Dachshunds Beer Co.! How cool is that? :o)
It seems kind of ironic that I chose to stitch this piece right now because it's the last thing I, and I'm sure quite a few of you out there too, want to do ;o) This is Winter Welcome by Hob Nobb Designs -
I just adore these little kits and have already stitched up three others in the past. This was my final one and I had just been waiting for the fabric to come along -
Unfortunately, the camera is refusing to capture the gorgeous blue. I used what was recommended - 28 count Mystic by Picture This Plus - but I had to go with Jubilee since they didn't give an option for Jazlyn (which I would have preferred).
I haven't attached the buttons yet and I won't until I get it framed. That way I know they are safe and sound in their padded container :o)
So if you were to check out my 2010 Goals in the Pumpkin Patch Graveyard, you'll see that I have one small and seven ornament pieces completed. Even though Winter Welcome will be framed, I still consider it an ornament size based on the stitch count and there's really nothing to it. What does this mean now? Yes, I'm going to finally start Sabrina and you'll see the number of completed projects come to a standstill ;o) I'm anxious to start her and hopefully she'll progress as nicely as Stargazer did.
Speaking of Mirabilia, did you see her new pattern, Lady Hera that just came out? Thankfully it's not for me and my wallet is off the hook ;o) Not entirely though...I am absolutely in love with Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow!!!! WOW! What a gorgeous piece. With the price of silks...that one just might have to wait :o(
I'm sorry to disappoint but this is basically a rerun of my sixth finish ;o) As I stated before, I had wanted to stitch Dogs Leave Paw Prints by Lizzie Kate for myself and here it is -
This time I have added a bone charm just because I know that no child or animal will tear it off and choke on it.
I have the fabric all cut out and ready to make the pillow but I'm waiting to see just how cooperative my sewing machine is going to be >:o( I've gone through their list of points to look over and I cannot for the life of me figure out why the bottom thread keeps bunching and the top thread keeps breaking off. I've fiddled, cleaned and tried different things but just as I think its working better...snap! &*@^%$!!!!
I've been bad.... I started a new project but it's not Sabrina :o( It's another small piece and one I've been wanting to get done for a long time now. It won't take long to complete. I would have started Sabrina this week but Aunt Flo came for a visit and she's become more of a pita over the last few months. It's times like this that I push important stuff to the side and wait until I'm more in a better frame of mind.
Yesterday I applied for another job. This one is in the next town over but it would pay more than my last job so well worth the half hour drive. I really hope that I at least get a call this time. This will be the fourth job I've applied for since moving here and my resumes weren't even acknowledged in the first three. Sigh! If this one doesn't go anywhere, I guess I'll really have to do some serious legwork with my photography. Tourist season will be upon us soon!
ROFL! That's what it was 'supposed' to be but it seems that the sewing machine had other ideas >:o( It never fails...I have a project I want to finish, I know how I'm going to finish it and it's going to be straightforward...but it never is. Argh! Something that should have taken an evening to put together took Saturday AND Sunday morning.
So, after a lot of screaming, swearing and pulling more thread than I ever thought possible, here is the result of my work -
Truthfully, I am VERY happy with my results, even with all the frustrations ;o) Don't you just love the fabric?
I made Dogs Leave Paw Prints by Lizzie Kate into a pillow cover and this will be my thank you gift for our neighbours :o) It measures 14 x 14 and is a nice size. I love stitching pillow covers because there's no hole to sew together when you're done. All you do it slip it over your pillow and voila! This is what I plan on doing with mine when I get it stitched up but I may put off sewing for a little bit...
Last night, DH and I went out to dinner and a movie with friends of ours and had a great time :o) I 'finally' have a friend here! Yay! LOL! T is in the same line of work as DH so they have a lot in common. I finally got to know T's wife, K, in December after she changed jobs and got a more regular working schedule. They're great people and we have a lot of fun together.
We decided on Chinese food at a restaurant that DH and I hadn't been to yet. It was pretty good! I had the orange beef. Yum! Afterwards, we went to see From Paris With Love. I got my orange slushy and somehow two ECEs made their way into my jacket pocket ;o) Thanks K! LOL! It was a pretty good movie. Definitely action packed but it does have its comedic moments. John Travolta has been coming out with some funky looks lately and this one tops the list. He's got some great one liners too.
I want to thank those that have offered to donate to the breast cancer auction that is hosted by the Attic Needlework shop. I'm very touched that you want to help and we now have eleven people (including myself) that are officially signed up. If you are interested and have not heard back from me or received an invitation to the Blog I set up, please email me and I'll get you hooked up :o) More information will be posted soon so stayed tuned!
It's finally official, today marks my tenth year anniversary for being breast cancer free :o) Did I think I would make it this far? If you had asked me ten years ago, even five years ago, I would have said "No".
In actuality, it took me eight years to come to terms with my breast cancer. That was when I threw my Pink Party :o) Don't get me wrong, I can picture the whole experience like it was yesterday. That will never fade but the fears have become manageable. I doubt there are many cancer survivors out there that can honestly say that fear has completely gone.
As I write this post, I can picture walking into the waiting room full of people and being ushered right into the doctor's office. I was initially going to get my dressings taken off (I had had a breast reduction) but as soon as I sat down, Dr. H dropped the bomb. It's literally like being shell shocked. Luckily my mother had driven me and was out in the waiting room. Somehow I found my voice and asked Dr. H to bring her in. The rest, as we say, is history but February 4, 2000 will always be the day that changed my life forever.
Awhile ago I posted about doing something special for this milestone in my life. I have yet to figure out what I want to do for myself but I 'do' know what I want to do for others :o) If you're not familiar with Attic Needlework, I highly suggest that you sign up for their newsletter. Each year they hold an auction to raise money for breast cancer research. This past year, they raised just over $20,000!
How did they do that, you ask? Jean, the owner of Attic Needlework, takes in donated ornaments and items from stitchers across the globe. Check out one of their auction newsletters and this will give you an idea of the talent and generosity out there. This year the auction will take place on Saturday, November 20.
So to celebrate, my plan is to donate an ornament but there's a catch...I would like to recruit at least nine more stitchers who will commit to do the same :o) It's a small commitment but the rewards will be great. If there are more than ten people who sign up, then all the better! Jean says that they cannot have too many donations. I would like this to be like real ornament exchanges (although you don't get an ornament back) so please contact me if you want to participate. I will keep track of our progress and perhaps work with Jean to confirm that donations have been received.
Maybe this will give you some inspiration -
I've created a needle felted snowman who sports the breast cancer ribbon and this will be my ornament that I will be donating :o) I'm not sure if he will be the exact one because this was my first attempt and he might need some fine-tuning. Not to mention that he has no arms!
Here's another (bad) picture to give you an idea of how small this wee man is -
I hope you will join me to celebrate the big 1-0 and give a little bit of yourself. There are a few things that I have learned over the years. One, as much as you think it will never happen to you, it could :o( Breast cancer does not discriminate. It might be you, your mother, sister, cousin, daughter or friend. Breast cancer not only affects you, it affects everyone that loves you. Two, breast cancer is not the death sentence that it once was. New treatments and technology are advancing every day. Most importantly though, early detection is the key! I truly believe that if it weren't for my Gram and my DH, I would not be here today. I consider them my Guardian Angels and I want to dedicate this celebratory day to them both :o)
Oh boy, I seriously think I'm going to have to hide when I post this because I'm sure there are a few of you out there who will want to whip rotten fruit at me ;o) LOL! You wouldn't really do that would you?
Here is Dogs Leave Paw Prints by Lizzie Kate -
I stitched it with all the recommended threads but I changed the fabric to 28 count Natural Light linen since I didn't have the 30 count Cappuccino by WDW. I mean come on! A stitcher can only have so many different fabrics in their stash. It would be SO nice to have a LNS someday but I doubt that will ever happen :o(
This is the piece that I was stitching for my neighbours as a thank you for inviting us over to supper last month :o) I know how I'm going to finish it but haven't gotten that far yet. It shouldn't take too long. I just need to dig the sewing machine out AND warm up the basement so my hands don't freeze off.
I plan on stitching this design for myself as well and I think I'll finish it the exact same way. I might take a short break from stitching and do up another project that I've been thinking about. We'll see how the rest of the week goes. I haven't started Sabrina yet because I want to get these other things out of the way first. Don't worry, she'll be started soon enough :o)
Right now I am SO behind in my Blog reading and answering my emails :oS I hope that by the end of the week I'll be caught up again. If you haven't heard from me, I'll be around visiting soon :o)
Fabric #3! Seems like hands down, it was the favourite choice :o)
Now are you ready to know what the different fabrics were? You might be surprised (or maybe not).
Fabric #1 - 32 count Dark Taupe Lugana.
Fabric #2 - 32 count Natural Light Linen (the fabric Sabrina is actually stitched on in the picture).
Fabric #3 - 32 count Mushroom Lugana
Fabric #4 - actually, none of the above ;o)
So really, the colors of the fabrics were pretty close and as much as I would LOVE to stitch her on a hand-dyed piece, I think I will stick with a neutral. She's just so elegant that I don't want anything to take away from her beauty. I am contemplating changing the colors of her skirt hem but I'm not 100% sure yet.
Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my finishes so far. It always brightens my day when I see comments waiting for me to read them :o) Right now I've started another small project but there's not enough done to show a picture. It's a thank you gift for my neighbour and it will be finished with a special touch. I wanted to stitch the pattern for myself too so I might do both at the same time. Now does that count as one or two completed projects? My rules, my decision? LOL!
My goodness, where has this week gone???? I meant to post sooner than this but time just keeps getting away from me. It's not that I'm super busy either. I've just been SO tired lately! It's seriously started to annoy me.
You didn't think that I would let January go without another finish did you? ;o) Oh, what do we have here? Could it be 'another' snowman? I think they have invaded my house! This is the 2006 Snowman Ornament by Mount Forest FrameWorks -
Isn't he adorable? I didn't want to order the fabric suggested, 28 count Evening Song Linen by R&R, since I required so little. I ended up substituting with 28 count Wedgewood Lugana and I have to say that it's a pretty close match color wise.
These patterns include a hanger so it was fairly quick to complete -
I used the same finishing method as the last MFFW Snowman, seen here, and now I have another ornament ready for my Christmas tree next year :o) Speaking of ornaments and trees, I have a question for you all. We always get a live tree each year but I'm so afraid to put my cross stitch ornaments on it for fear they will get pitch on them :o( Are there any of you who worry about that?
Before I go, I also wanted to spread the word that I would like to get my hot little hands on some of more these MFFW Snowmen Ornaments! If you know where I can find them, please let me know. I'm not sure how many years they did them for but I have 2004 and 2006 so I 'assume' there's at least a 2005 floating around there somewhere :o) Thanks!
And don't forget...there's only one day left to vote for your favourite fabric!
FINALLY! My Sabrina stash arrived in the mail on Friday and since then I have been doing a floss toss to see who the lucky fabric will be ;o)
When you first look at Sabrina's picture, you automatically get ideas in your head of what you would like to see but when you actually pull the colours, that's when your eyebrows raise two inches and you wonder what the heck Nora was thinking! You may think, like I did, that the bottom of her dress is black and grey. Nope. It's dark brown (DMC 3371) with different shades of blue (DMC 926,927,928). Surprised? I know I was.
To top it off, the fabric that she calls for is not even close to the color of the fabric in the picture. When will they ever get good photography of stitched pieces???? I've seen this happen all the time. Maybe they should hire a good photographer ;o) LOL!
So...I'm faced with another dilemma...what fabric to use. I've narrowed it down to three different fabrics and I've taken pictures of all three with the floss and beads. Here is your chance to have another say but...I'm not going to tell you what color fabric you are voting for until the poll is closed! I figure that way you'll be less swayed in one direction or the other :o)
Let the judging begin!
Fabric #1 -
Fabric #2 -
Fabric #3 -
Oh, we've had a last minute entry! It seems there is another possibility...
Fabric #4 -
Once you've made your selection, go to the voting station on the right sidebar of my Blog and enter your choice. I'll leave the poll up until Friday, January 29 and at that point I will announce the names of the fabric and who the winner is.
Good luck and may the best fabric win!
Any woman knows that when it really comes down to it, men are all about the tits and ass. The bigger, the better. Now, DH and I have come to the conclusion that I have no butt whatsoever! I'm not joking! If you look at my behind, it's just not there. Nothing! I'm seriously thinking about buying a weeks' worth of GOGA Pants from Old Navy. Apparently, they are supposed to give you some bou-te. It would definitely be cheaper and less painful than butt implants ;o)
As most of you know, I had breast cancer almost ten years ago. I went with a radical mastectomy on my right side and got a saline implant put in. The girls aren't 'twins' anymore but they're pretty close. One's more firm than the other and missing a nipple. No matter how hard my plastic surgeon tried, one was not going to be put on ;o) LOL!
So almost ten years ago when I had this done, my plastic surgeon told me that I would probably get about ten years out of the implant. At the time, I didn't relish the idea of having to have it replaced someday down the road but eventually that thought left my mind. That was until just lately...
To ease my worry, I brought the subject up with my new doctor, Dr. G. He's awesome and must think I'm a total nut. I tend to come in and ask weird questions. Apparently he's used to this so maybe my ability to shock him will never work. Anyway, I explained my situation and asked him what he thought. I guess implants don't have an expiry date! Huh. As long as things are feeling good and it doesn't all of a sudden become deflated, I'm fine :o) Whew!
When I told him I was not looking forward to another operation, he said that he sat in on a few of these and they are one of the more painful operations to have. Uh-huh! I completely agreed with him there. I said I have no idea WHY women want to purposely insert these sacs into themselves just to make their boobs bigger. He agreed. But that's what some women (and men) want.
I still shake my head at young girls who want to have this done. You're putting a foreign object into your body and behind skin that was not meant to stretch overnight to accommodate its new neighbour ;o) After ten years, mine still hurts. You try having one of these squished in a mammogram machine! Love what you have. Your girls are your girls.
I really am worried that I will spring a leak someday. LOL! I guess I had better start paying attention where I put my embroidery needles...
Sniff, sniff. Can you smell the smoke? ;o) I know, it's almost been a week since I last posted but I haven't been stitching this whole time. Honest!
This is Frosty Friends by Mosey N' Me from the 2008 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue -
I always thought he was so cute :o) I didn't have the recommended fabric but I had something 'very' close by Sassy's Fabrics and I think it worked out well. I was in a dollar store one day and saw 'the' perfect trim for this ornament so.... You probably guessed right! I completed another finish and here is the result -
He's a little bigger than I had hoped but I still like him. The cording was a pita but so worth it! For the backing material, I used just a plain white fabric with silver snowflakes -
I think this snowman obsession is getting out of control! LOL!
I still haven't started Sabrina and I'm getting very frustrated with the whole thing :o( I have yet to receive my stash with the fabric, beads and fibers. I thought it was mailed out at the end of December but I was just informed that it didn't leave until January 12. At least I know it didn't get lost. I did pick up some material while in Moncton but I can't really do a floss toss until I get the other fabric to compare with. If this frustration continues much longer, I may give up on her completely :o(
Are you a little down? Are you having one of those days where your clothes just don't fit right and you're not feeling beautiful? A bad hair day perhaps? Do you just need that extra boost of confidence? Well, have I got the product for you! Meet Alvin -
Yup, Alvin is only four inches tall and can be placed in your purse, on your desk or in the bathroom. Tap him on his head and instantly get that feeling of gratification that someone is noticing you :o)
Where can you get one you ask? Just drive to your local McDonald's and ask for a Happy Meal! For only $5.19 CDN (less in the US), you can be the proud owner of an Alvin.
Now tell me, what woman wouldn't want to hear this being said to them every day ;o)
