Too Gone For Too Long

Country music fans will recognize that title from this Randy Travis classic.  Oh gosh, the next line of that song is "it's too late to come back now" ... ??? ... geez, I hope not!!!

I really didn't think I'd be down for 2+ weeks.  But I am.  Now I'm waiting for my new Photoshop software to come in so I can start showing you what I've been up to.

In desperation, I dug around my old photo files and found this ... you may recognize it as my blog banner on steroids.

In fact, I made it as part of an exercise for a blogging course I took from Holly Becker of Decor8 last year.  My banner is the edited version of this collage.

Ooooh, wait ... I just had an idea. 

Back story required.

When I first discovered blogs, one of my very favorite things was when bloggers changed their banners.  And when I started my blog I SWORE I was going to change MINE every.single.month.

Yeah, right!  Sometimes I can't even stand my own delusions of grandeur.

When I came up with my current ... oh, let's be honest here ... ONLY banner, I really fell in love with it.  I mean really.  I'd never done anything like that before - made up a collage of my favorite things - and now I'm afraid it was a creative fluke and I'll never be able to make a new one that is just as pretty ... kinda like a one hit wonder.

That said, I wonder if you're getting bored of it.

But on the other hand (another Randy Travis hit ... I'm not really a Country music fan, I just happen to know a few of his tunes),  I wonder if you guys still like it and would prefer I just keep it forever and ever ... amen?  LOL, ok now I'm just messin' with ya!

So how 'bout YOU tell ME if I should keep my current banner or try to come up with something new. 

(See how I'm trying to trick you into talking to me?)

I'm Fancy Free

Wanna hear what I've been listening to - on my new computer - while I wallow here in self-pity?

The Hubster found this really cool song last weekend and I'm NOT exaggerating when I say I've hit replay like a bazillion times already.

It's helping to take the edge off things ...

I especially like the drum roll at 1:16.  And 2:38.  And 4:06.

Love a good drum roll. 

And yes, I air drum. 

Sometimes. 

When I'm out of chocolate.

And no one's looking.

Because it's possible I pucker my lips like Mick Jagger when I do.

But I will neither confirm nor deny that rumor.

Just Call Me Schleprock

You have GOT to be kidding me.

Turns out I'm one of those "very rare cases" who has an allergic reaction to the drops I was prescribed for my lovely eye infection.  So now I have the yummy steroid kind. 

In other news, I finally resorted to signing up for a class to learn more MAC stuff ... 'cause apparently wishing for someone to wave a magic wand over my head and granting me omnipotent MAC powers isn't working.

And I won't even bother mentioning that my little one is sick and staying home from school today ... again.

But on a more positive note ...

...   ...   ...

Uuuuh ...  I know it's here somewhere ... just have to keep looking for it ... ;)

Still Alive ...

... but not entirely happy. 

I haven't actually burst into tears.  Yet.  But this ride ain't over.  And I have PMS.  Just sayin'.

(Chocolate can only help so much, ya know?)

But I really miss you guys so I'm just popping in to say "Hey, miss you" and to fill you in on the week's happenings.

The computer switcheroo started out ok, until the final data transfer part when the Mac was saying hello to the PC but the PC was just flat out dissing the Mac.  It was being totally rude and obnoxious.  

Now my better half is smarter than the average person - especially when it comes to techie stuff - and SHOULD have been able to do it all himself.  BUT, because my PC was so (insert expletive here) up he couldn't save it.

So I had to pay some dude the equivalent of waaay too many fat quarters to rescue my email.  That took a few days.  

Now I'm super crabby because I HATE reading instructions.  Oh sweet irony that I'm awesome at writing them ... you'd think I'd appreciate all the work that goes into them.  But no.  I'm just totally stubborn & immature when it comes to learning new things.  What I WANT is to try to do something and have it just magically happen.  But if I CAN'T get it right the first time, I want someone right beside me to TELL me or SHOW me what I need to do and that would be it.  Yeah, that isn't happening.  But never mind that.  

I can't remember the last time I didn't have a computer on in my sewing room and felt really ... lost.  So I just got to playing with fabric, cutting & sewing.  That is until I sliced a good chunk out of my finger.  Yes, I will spill blood for the sport of quilting.  But it's left me a little handicapped.

And yesterday I woke up with an eye infection.  Totally gross.  My eye is swollen, it hurts and I have to take drops.  AND it's contagious so I'm washing my hands like Lady Macbeth.

Oh.  And did I mention it's so cold here in our ridiculously underinsulated 60 year old house that my husband actually slept with a toque (that's pronounced "tooook" and means winter hat, usually knit and made with wool) on account of all the cold air pouring down on his head from the window above the bed.

Gee, nothing like vomiting a barrage of complaints to make you happy to hear from me, eh?  Sorry.  I guess I just need a sympathetic shoulder.

And sorry also for no pictures.  I haven't figured out that bit yet.  But hubby promised to help me this weekend so fingers crossed for Monday, kay?

In the meantime, I promise I've not been idle.  I've been sewing and stitching away (as best I can with only 9 working fingers and one and a half eyes) and even got a little makeover done in my sewing room.  My girlfriend helped me part with about 100 lbs of fabric and I got a new desk ... a really pretty "shabby" one, to go with my pretty new computer. :)

Thanks for listening.  Fingers crossed for a productive weekend.

PS:  I reeeeeally really do miss you ...

Proud Mama

I almost didn't have anything to brag blog about today.  But then I thought you might like to see what the other needlewomen in my house are up to these days.

Big Sister (10) got this book from Santa. 

Santa rocks, just sayin'... ;)

And she wanted to try out this design on a t-shirt,

so I suggested she practice on muslin first.

I must say she has a most impressive stem stitch.

So of course whatever Big Sister is doing, Little Sister (8, but almost 9) also wants to do, right?  I was a little sister so I know ALL about that.

She decided to stitch her initial, which she drew freehand with no hesitation.  (She did NOT get that confidence from ME!)  Haha!

(Love her little curli-q's!) And check OUT that backstitch! 

So when she realized it was our Anniversary last week, she wanted to "secretly" make something for us.

She's watched me make letter templates many times before with the computer so she just went ahead and made up her own pattern.

And I hadn't put away the muslin yardage so she helped herself to a nice big chunk.  Unfortunately, she was a little upset that the piece she'd cut was still too small, (thank goodness she used the 'el cheapo' muslin and not my prized fabric from the "forbidden" pile) but I have an idea for that.  I'll show you when it's done.

The most surprising thing to me is that this kid usually loses interest in things quickly ... but she hasn't given up on this yet!

(Please notice how she flourished the Y.)

I really am a super proud mama. :)

Daisychain Sampler "M"

As in James Bond's boss. 

Or half of the candy that melts in your mouth, not in your hands. 

Or my daugher's middle initial. 

Or just plain old "Mmmmmmmmmmmm", which is exactly how I feel about this color (again!).

You know, I really like the chain stitch ... once I figured out how to not pull too tightly so my links would stay nice and round!

It's another one of those cool texture stitches.  I've used it as a purse handle, a skipping rope, a chain for a pocket watch, octopus tentacles ... it's super versatile.

Daisychain Sampler "L"

This is such a cute little letter.

And I love making flowers with this ...

a pinwheel blanket stitch.

But the whole time I was stitching up these flowers, all that was going through my head was, "The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round, 'round and 'round, 'round and 'round ..."

Clearly I've been on one too many field trips with 5 year olds!

For the first time in this Sampler, I'm using a single ply - here for the Colonial knots. 

I want the little knots in the flower centers to be delicate and I think 2 plies would be too chunky. 

Remember, I reduced the size of my pattern by 30%.  If you're stitching with embroidery floss too but on the pattern full size, you may not want to copy me here.

See?

Uber super dee duper cute. ;)

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along Week 33

Pink & Gray

I think all my FW blocks this month will have gray because, well, I liked last week's blocks so much and I really need to catch up with this color for my quilt.

#40 - Friendship Block

Yeah, this block and I are DEFINITELY friends! :)

 

#80 - Single Wedding Star

Yep.  I totally love pink.

Sorry guys, no funny in me today ... I looked EVERYWHERE for it.

But I got nothin'.  Nada.  Zip.  Zero.  Zilch.

Maybe if I had a glass of wine or something.  Naw, it'll just make me sleepy and then I won't be able to feel the end of my nose.

And then I'll have to pee.

Never mind ... I'll keep lookin'.  Maybe it'll show up tomorrow.

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along Week 32

Blue, Gray & White

Today is our 16th wedding anniversary.  Wow.  I wonder what that is in Hollywood years?  ;)

Yes, "we" (meaning me) decided to get married in the winter ... 'cause I really wanted to wear a velvet jacket as part of my wedding dress  ... so I could hide my chubby arms ... not kidding ... 

The color theme was silver & white and my sister-matron-of-honor wore a navy velvet dress.  So in honor of this special day, I made blue, "silver" & white blocks. 

I also chose these blocks specifically for their names.

#89 - Steps to the Altar

This block ended up looking more like a tree to me but ... whatever ... let's go with it.

The church still had a nativity scene set up on the altar and I remember spending the entire ceremony looking at astro-turf bedding in the manger and cotton ball snow on the trees. 

I am SO not even joking about that!  Actual fluorescent green indoor/ outdoor carpeting and cotton balls, carefully placed one by one on the tree branches.  It would have been a great place to be if you wanted to play soccer or suddenly found yourself with a nail-polish removal emergency.  Haha!

Can you imagine?  Trying to be all serious about getting married but mostly concentrating on not bursting out laughing everytime you see a plaster cast baby Jesus with a broken-off finger and an anorexic plastic cow with bony ribs sticking out ...

Dude, it was hilarious.

But my point - and yes I have one - is that I resisted the urge to make these altar steps green in homage to that astro-turf.

#101 Wedding Ring

I love how these blocks look all calm, & soft & wintery & elegant.  Perfect.  Exactly what I was going for. :)

Happy Anniversary, Honey. 

Daisychain Sampler "K"

K is my favorite letter.  I mean of all time.  Before I was married my initials were K.K.  Now I'm K.C. ... with my very own imaginary "Sunshine Band" all you 80s people ;).

I know it would have been expected for me to stitch it up in pink, but since E & J - the adjoining letters - are already pink, I just went with what color was needed here.

Light moss green. :) 

I L.O.V.E. doing this stitch - long & short stitch.  It takes a little bit to start seeing the texture.

But once you get going, it is the COOLEST thing.

Just to give you a scale reference ... told ya I like little!

I love using stitches to create texture.

Progress Report ...

I am one happy stitcher. :)

Daisychain Sampler "J"

Geez, I've neglected this poor Sampler for a month now!  Shame on me.  Let's blame it on Christmas. :)

Now you may (or may not) know I have a thing with quilting where I don't like the same color or the same print to "touch" when I'm piecing fabrics together.  Well, I kinda have the same thing here.

I'm loosely following Alicia's color placement and she has dark pink in both "I" and "J". 

I ALMOST changed the color.  But I admire Alicia's talent so I figured if it's good enough for her, it's CERTAINLY good enough for me!

So I did it.  I let the dark pink be beside itself here.

The sky hasn't fallen.

Think I'll be ok. ;)

Felt Christmas Ornaments - The Finale

FINALLY, you're probably thinking!  But you should be used to me beating a good idea to death. ;) 

In all seriousness though, I want to share with you the REAL story behind me and these ornaments ... the reason why I fell in love with them in the first place ... and why I wanted to make them THIS year ... which you may have already clued into if you read last week's holiday post.

... sparkles with ice crystals

... watches from the trees

(what are the chances of me getting a picture of TWO deer in the woods while on a walk with my sister-in-law?!)

... with the wood fires burning

(and the front door is even on the same side!)

Right down to the gentle smoke from the chimney ...

I mean come ON!  It's like this ornament set was designed especially for my family's 2011 White Grizzly Christmas.

I gave the cottage to my brother & sister-in-law - the owners of the Lodge, the deer to my mom and the tree went to my sister & brother-in-law.

And now I'm going to make another set for me ... and probably one for each of my daughters too.  'Cause I'm pretty sure this is a Christmas they will never forget. ;)

Thank you Alicia Paulson of Posie Gets Cozy for designing THE.BEST.HOMEMADE.SOURVENIERS.EVER!

Felt Christmas Cottage II

Farmer's Wife blocks will be on Friday this week because ... well ... you'll see. ;)

But I CAN show you the finished cottage.  Yay!

Here's how it turned out.

The mistletoe under the eaves is such a simple detail but it adds SO MUCH to the design.  I was going to stitch it in the green that matches the shrubbery (tee hee), but the pattern says to combine the other 2 greens and I gotta tell ya, very nice touch.

I'm so annoyed with myself for forgetting to do the blanket stitch along the bottom edge of the roof here.  I know, not a big deal ... but still ...

And I added a gold bead as a brass doorknob.

I think I overstuffed it just a little bit.  But I love how all 3 ornaments turned out.

Dude, you really should give these a try. ;)