Update on Liz

I've been spending my evenings with Liz and enjoying every stitch. I am still missing one skein - which I ordered and was told that it was in the mail ELEVEN days ago. Now, I know the mail is slow but really 11 days? I have emailed asking for confirmation that it was mailed and 3 emails later, no reply from the store owner - very frustrating! Back to Liz, she is a beautiful sampler and I do understand why some people have been frustrated with her. The chart is very interesting and I would love to understand why there are so many missing pieces. Nonetheless, I prefer symmetry and am fixing the errors as I find them. I am on Page 6 of 12 - it's a fast stitch (especially when you are missing a fiber, but I digress). Forgive the wrinkles - I just didn't want to climb the stairs to the iron.

Smokie and Liz

Elizabeth Savilles
Fingerworks
Vintage Light Examplar
OWS Thread

Speaking of stairs, I had a great report from the doc. My knee is healing wonderfully. The x-rays show just a small space between the bones so I'm not 100%. I begin physical therapy on Monday - 2-3 days a week for SIX weeks. I have started exercising my knee and when I'm at home, I take the brace off. The thought of not having my brace to protect my knee in case it gives out is a bit scary - a thought I shared with my friends. One of which showed up that night with a 'gift' - a cane. Not a cool looking cane but an ugly, old lady industrial silver cane w/a black rubber handle - gotta love of my friends.

It's going to be a quiet weekend - I took 3 tests today and completed a discussion board assignment. I have three additional classes that begin on Monday. So my schedule will really be busy beginning next week. I'm going to spend some more time with Liz and begin my 1st ornament for 2010 and doing some cooking.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend full of stitching time.

Cari

Listened to this week: Second Chapter by Neil Simon and Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund
Currently Listening to: Vision in White by Nora Roberts
Currently Reading: Second Sight by Amanda Quick

A Finish and Introducing Ms. Savilles

Be Ye To Others is complete! I just love this piece and all the specialty stitches really made this a joy to stitch. If you decided to stitch this, take note that there are a couple of discrepancies between the colors in the picture and the colors charted.

Be Ye To Others
Hillside Samplings
Norway Cream & mixture of DMC & Silk

I struggled with what to start next and made a few false starts before choosing Elizabeth Savilles – this is another lovely sampler. It calls for OWS threads and they are wonderful to stitch with. I am missing one color which Theresa graciously mailed to me this week (thanks T) – I am hoping it will arrive Monday.

Elizabeth Savilles
Finger Work
Vintage Light Examplar
Recommended Threads

The leg brace and I are still one – I return to the doc on Wednesday and am praying that the x-rays will show that my knee has healed and I can begin physical therapy and become more mobile. Let me tell you, five weeks of sitting on my tush is a long time, which can clearly be seen by it’s expansion!

Three of my classes begin on Monday and then additional classes will begin the following Monday – it is going to be a busy semester for me. But, it will all be worth it when I receive my diploma in May.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your weekend is full of stitching.

Cari

Listened to this year: Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn; Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd;
Currently listening to: Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund
Currently reading: Second Sight by Amanda Quick
Movies I have seen this year: Blind Side; Sherlock Homes

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

God bless you,

Cari

I'm Free!

(no, not from jail!) No more work or homework! I am on vacation for 10 whole days AND I completed my 5^th and final class of the semester yesterday, hooray!

My last assignment was a 5,000 word paper, due at midnight on Friday (I turned it in at 11:23 p.m.). So I sat at in front of my computer all Thursday evening and all yesterday, except for a quick break to meet friends for lunch. Around 4:30 I looked up from my computer screen to see the sky and the ground awash in white – what a beautiful sight it was. This morning this is what my neighborhood looks like…

It is a rare thing for us to get this much snow in Virginia and even rarer that it sticks for any length of time. It’s perfect for sledding and we have some awesome hills nearby. I got so excited at the thought that I called a friend and tried to make a sledding date until she quickly reminded me that – DUH, I have a fractured knee – in my frenzy over all the snow, I completely forgot (it’s ok, you can laugh at me – she did).

Here is my progress on my current A&E

Be Ye To Others

Hillside Samplings

40ct Norden Cream

Mixture of DMC & Silks

Awhile ago, someone had asked me to share some more photos of my old house. My living room ‘looked’ so clean this morning that I thought I would snap a few pics.

The two dog pictures are actually paint-by-number that my mother painted as a child. And the little arm peaking up from behind the couch is my stitching lamp.

I can't thank each of you enough for all the wonderful well wishes ~ only 4 more weeks in this brace but, it affords me lots of stitching time.

Enjoy your weekend!

Cari

Good News: I didn't break anything

Bad News: I fractured my knee cap

Good News: It is my left leg, so I can still drive

Bad News: I have to wear this blasted contraption for FIVE WEEKS

It was a rainy Saturday and I had a full day of fun events. I came home from the cookie exchange at church rushed in the house to change and head back out to a luncheon. So, all dressed up in my heels and sparkly Christmas sweater I headed into the garage - failing to see the nice rain puddle that had slid off my car on to the tile floor - lost my footing and came down on my left knee. Below is the scene of the crime. Half the garage is for my car the other half is a workspace. The wrapped post? Funny you should ask - I took a foam egg crate and wrapped it around the beam and then covered it in plastic so that "WHEN" I hit the post it would keep the car safe. For the record, it has been 10 yrs and I have not hit the post!

While my injury has put a crimp in my Christmas spirit, my stitching is coming right along. The first 2 days I hurt to bad to even stitch - ever felt that way? Below is my progress on on "Be Ye To Others" See the lovely, very time consuming over one lettering - I'm off a whole square and have to finish ripping it out - boohiss! Ripping it out is even more time consuming than stitching it! The empty space under the border is for 5 sets of initials. I thought about this for awhile and decided to use the initials of my mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great, and great x3. I called my aunt and she pulled out the genealogy she is working on and read thru names for me. I learned a couple of things about my ancestors a.) they were not creative and/or b.) they were patriotic - here are some of my relatives names - Christopher Columbus Johnson, Daniel Boone Johnson, George Washington White, America Johnson, Atlanta Georgia Johnson. I can just imagine the teasing these poor people received when they were kids.

Be Ye To Others
Hillside Samplings
40 ct Norden Cream
Mix of DMC & Silk

Every morning Smokie keeps me company as I curl my hair and put on my makeup but as soon as she hears the pop and hiss of the radiator, she races down the stairs and this is where I find her as I am leaving each morning.

She was not to happy to be disturbed from her morning nap

.My house was built in 1895 hence the radiators. They get so hot that you can't touch them and I was concerned that her laying on them might harm her. So on my next visit to our vet, I asked him just that - oddly he had a coughing fit (I swear it sounded like laughter) before answering "No, the radiator will not cook your cat"

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by, I really enjoy hearing from each of you!

Cari

Only 14 days 'til Christmas...

Giving Thanks

for a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family. My nieces ~ Abby & Ana

 

As I type this, I have been asking myself why I have no pictures of my very handsome nephew or of my brother - but they were there as well. We ate lots of good food and played lots of games - Sequence, Canasta, and I leaned how to play Nertz, which is a great game!
Below is my progress on "Be Ye To Others". Ignore the strings to the side. When I work with a pattern that is done in pages, I tend to finish a page before moving to the next and instead of ending the thread, I just pull it to the side - what do you guys do?

Be Ye To Others
Hillside Samplings
40ct Norden Cream
Mix of Silk & DMC

The best for last...
Melissa of Words and Blooms graciously honored me with this award ~ my very first and it couldn't have come from a more delightful lady ~ thank you Melissa!

Don't forget to check out my updated Trade Blog and Mary Kay Sale.
Happy Stitching.

Cari

Stash Reduction Sale

I have updated my Trade Blog.

I am also offering my Annual Mary Kay Inventory Reduction Sale

on my blog - this will only be up for 10 days and only while supplies last - have fun shopping!

Cari