My finish list for 2012

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Year's!!!!! Happy Holidays for everyone!!!!!!!!

And now I'm presenting my 2012 finish list........

1.Holly by Mirabilia
2.Miss Valentine by Mirabilia
3.Quaker Faith Hope and Love
4.Angels Dwell Here
5.Quaker Gone Tropic
6.Hope by Praiseworthy Stitches
7.Thriller
8.Salem Remembered
9.Nora's Alphabet
10.Dog Lessons by Lizzie Kate
11.Pumpkin Crow
12.Thanksgiving Fairy by Mirabilia
13.Christmas Elf

Tada there it is......A bit ambitious but definitely doable.... Some are near finished and some have lots to go. Just making the list made me feel better!!! And this is before I heard about Measi's Musings WIPocalypse from The Maiden.....I must go check her blog out and join in the fun!!!!! The list was longer but I must be realistic even though 13 sounds like a lot!!!!!
Off to stitch a bit before the festivities begin later !!!!!

A little late

I am just back from a quick visit with my niece in LA and the best part was that my brother and my younger niece were there from NY!!!! I so adore them!!!!! I did the drive there and back by myself about 5 hrs from Vegas!!! And I must say at first it was nerve racking but guess what I did it!!!!!! There is something else I did ...what you ask!!!!! I completed Quaker Christmas © Bygone Stitches!!!! Yes and I am in love with it!!!! I started it on Nov.1st and finished it at 12:34am on Dec.27th!!!!! Here is my masterpiece

I changed the thread colors to Blue Spruce and Buckeye Scarlet by Sampler Threads. I kept the gold color the same and stitched it on 32ct Lt. Exemplar which I do believe is by Lakeside Linens.

More later most especially the 4-5 pieces I have my New Years start narrowed down to!!!! Now to make a decision.... 

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas !!!! I am feeling rather blessed this year myself and am looking forward to starting the new decade off on a positive note!!!! DH was very good to me and totally shocked me with my gift...which is rather hard to accomplish but he did and left me speechless!!!!! He went all out and got me a new computer monitor......which is just amazing!!!!!! Thank you sweetie!!!!

I am grateful for my dear hubby and the love we share.....

May your needle fly through your fabric.........

End of the year already..........

My oh my!!!! I can't believe it's the end of the year already and Sleeping Beauty and Mother's Arms are still waiting to get off the WIP's list in my sidebar....

Happy New Year all and thanks for visiting and commenting as much as you did! I so appreciate it! I have a few pictures to share this post. So here goes...

The first is of our Christmas tree which we managed to finish decorating on Christmas morning. I am so pleased with it and find myself just staring at it especially at night with the lights on! and I am glad we did up the tree! It makes Christmas extra special. I made a special dinner including pecan pie and we celebrated by ourselves which was so sweet since it was our first time being home and celebrating together. Dh did confess that it felt weird not being around a lot of people but it made it special. We opened presents Christmas night along with Storm. She liked her biscuits but was slightly put off by the size of this rawhide....it's peanut butter flavored and she has yet to touch it.... She usually loves peanut butter flavored treats.....Behind her you can see my craft bag and basket of cross-stitch.......

I have made significant progress on Cinderella sampler having completed the border all around and I looked at it again and really love this piece!!! I was given the great idea of personalizing it for my DH and me as a wedding piece and that's what will happen. I am going to put our initials in the box at the top with the year we started dating and on the bottom the date of our wedding!!!! It'll make more sense when you see it all done! Here are some updated pictures without the completed border. I just finished that tonight after working today. I find that even if I put a few stitches in it relaxes me after working 12 hrs..... and I am halfway done already!!!! The fabric is a Silkweaver solo 36ct and is just perfect! The border was off by one but unless you look closely or know where to look you wouldn't be able to tell. But I am sure some of you will be able to tell.........Amazingly I am okay with it and since it's for me and DH it'll work!

I hope everyone has their New Years starts all kitted up!!!! I have mine almost all together...I will do that later today. My start is still Holly by Nora Corbett . My fabric is Boo opalescent 32ct by Silkweaver. Well I'm off to bed now I have Pilates at 8am and then it's off to SP for stitching and then another quiet night with DH. I am working New Years Day so our celebrating will be low key.

I am grateful for family and friends and the joy they bring to my life........

With a week to spare

Amazing as this is...my third post in 2 days or so. But I have good reasons!!!!! First I must say thanks to all who commented and wished the Christmas spirit to visit! It seems that I was not alone in my lack of Christmas spirit!!!! It is getting hold of me slowly but surely! Dh and I went and got our tree last night and I am starting the decorating tonight!!! First the white lights tonight and then tomorrow the ornaments which we will put on together! We are stitching tomorrow at SP but only for a few hours or so. I am liking the idea of decorating on Christmas Eve!!! I may have stumbled on a new tradition for hubby and me! I am planning Christmas dinner as well along with another pecan pie.....might have to get some vanilla ice cream too!!!! I want to have a quiet day with DH since in years past we were either rushing to NY for a few days or going to a friends house. We never had just a quiet celebration so I am looking forward to that!!!! Then it's off to the movies to see Marley and me!!!! I have always always wanted to go to the movies on Christmas day it just seemed so decadent!!!!!! Maybe another tradition. Thank you all again for the well wishes and friendship!!!!

Now I have my final finish of 2008!!!! Yes CdC is done as of 2am this morning!!!!! Here are the pictures I took last night under my Ott light!!!! and and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you say love!!! I am totally in love with this finish!! It is such an accomplishment! It is done on 32ct Silvery Moon linen using The Thread Gatherer Silk 'n Colors in Desert Sunset!!!!! I llove the color variation that it acheived!!!! I have already submitted it to Tracy at Ink Circles to be added to her Cercles page!!!!! And since I always sign my pieces but didn't want to ruin the line at the bottom I found the perfect spot within the design to sign it!!!! Can you find it??? I've already added it to my sidebar 2008 finishes!!!!!

Now I'm off to decorate the tree and have a cup of tea.

PS dear Storm is now confused as to why a tree is in the house but is being good about it!!!!

I am grateful for friends near and far online and off.......

Mery Merry Happy Happy

I truly can't remember not feeling the Christmas spirit this badly in a very long while......I love Christmas but this year just seems to be leaving me blah. I spent a very lazy day yesterday not moving from the house and today I must get things done! We are planning on getting our tree this evening but even that doesn't excite me. I must shake this mood. I think my mother's visit just exhausted me plus the unusual snow we had...it was my first time driving in it! I never had a car in NY ..I took mass transit everywhere so it was unnerving to actually drive in it. But on to better things....

I received a most lovely gift from Sally for her recent blogaversary and here it is.....

I absolutely love it!!!!! The chocolate was so delicious and is gone though I did share with DH! More pictures......
and The finishing is perfect and everyone at my wednesday stitching group was in love with it also!!!!!

Now some pictures of our snow here in Las Vegas....and yes my dear Storm is confused and eventually refused to go out at all. I always wondered how she'd react and now I know!!!
"What is this white stuff and why is it in my yard!!!" I believe that what she must have been thinking....




This is of the front of our house...the flakes were huge!!!


The last picture is of my patio and pool including the firepit...just completely covered in the white stuff!!!! Let's remember I moved to sunny Las Vegas to get away from the snow and cold!!!!!





Now if you are still with me ...I have an annoucement!!! I thank all who voted in my poll to decide my Jan 1st start but I changed my mind once again. It is going to be Holly by Nora Corbett I received the perfect fabric for her from my Silkweavers FOTM . It is an opalescent lugana called Boo..... The reason for this change of heart was simply that I have too many BAP's already going and was afraid of feeling overwhelmed...which may explain a lot these days......So Holly will be my new start...going to get the threads today!!!!

In case I don't get to post again before the big day...Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!! Stay safe and warm and may your needle fly through your fabric!!!!!




I am grateful for our fireplace ......

A Finish

It seems like Christmas rolls around faster and faster every year! In addition I'm working what seems like nonstop through Christmas and New Years......there is a reason but I know I didn't schedule myself that way but I must remind myself that it's just a "wishlist". I keep saying to myself that I will get through it and then my niece is visiting from New York for 4 days!!!!! She is bringing 2 friends along and I am off the whole time !!!!!!! I am thrilled about her visit since this year we aren't going to New York for Christmas. Our tree is up and I just have a few stocking stuffers to get and then the wrapping and I am done! Here's a picture of our tree...

And I am thrilled to report that I have finished Daisy in just a month!!!!! Which is really good since I got her to the framer's in time to have her framed for my niece when she visits!!!!! Here she is and another The fabric is lighter and brighter IRL. It's a Silkweaver Solo and I added 2 crystal beads to her hands!!!! I really loved working on her. I picked a silvertone frame and no matting. I'll be sure to take a picture when I pick her up from the shop!

I will post again before Christmas and until then everyone be safe and get some well needed rest!!!!

I am grateful for the goodness in my life.........

First post for 2007

Well I have a fresh cup of coffee with me and I realized that I wasn't very positive in my last post... I have rested over the last 2 days I basically slept all day yesterday! I have been in a "mean red." For those of you who can recall Breakfast at Tiffany's it was what Audrey Hepburn's character Holly Golightly used to describe her bad moods and it fits so well! That it was best for me to be under the covers and out of harms way was an understatement.....but that seems to have lifted, thankfully. It's not fun trying to figure out whats in my head and when it decides to come tumbling out.....that's time to head for the covers.

The trip to NY was wonderful except for the glitch as previously mentioned.... It was so great to see my nieces Caitlin and Megan! And my brother Brian on not one but two occasions. We were able to fit breakfast in on the last day, just him and I. We have grown so close in the last 8-9 years and I cherish it. My nieces are my heart! I don't have children of my own and they are simply gold in my eyes, there is nothing I wouldn't do for them and they know it!!! They have grown into such strong independent self assured women! Something my sister and I never were at their age and something I took years to figure out and learn that it was okay. I actually think that they helped me along the way in subtle ways. Their parents deserve so much credit for their strength and wisdom!

And that surprise my hubby had for me was so very good. His cousin Lisa gave it away on Christmas day.....she felt so bad! But I kind of had it figured out! He had tickets to see Mary Poppins on Broadway!!!! I loved the movie as a child and have it on DVD. It's where I got my love of the "big bag" you just have to love it...I've never carried a small, petite bag...LOL. It was date night! We had a night out. The play was outstanding and he loved it too!!!! I also got so many souvenirs from the play!!! I really did feel like a princess that night. Then we went to Rockefeller Center to see "The Tree"!!!! It was so beautiful! The lights and people and angels leading up to the tree! I always say a little prayer at the tree...my tradition as well as talk to my sister. I just feel her there. I have pictures but haven't uploaded them to the computer yet so I'll make that a separate post. While there at the ice rink a couple got engaged the whole deal...down on one knee, she cryed, said yes, was surprised....well it was 2 days after Christmas. I just thought it was brave of him it being 2 days after .... well it's time for more coffee. Have a great day everyone!
edited to add.....we opened our presents last night and dh got me the OTT light that I so wanted!!! It helped that I took him to Jo-ann's during the sale but still he listened! And a U2 DVD!!!!
I am grateful for my better mood....

I'm home

Well I'm home from NY!!!! It was a whirlwind and I loved seeing my family..... I truly believe my expectations were grand and as my sister used to say...."you're Cinderella you believe in the good of everyone" We only had 4 days and tried our best to fit quality time with everyone in and were doing well. But not everyone was to be happy.....let's just say my mom was not pleased and acted out at every turn. Nothing I did was right and I really should know better. I hate the word "should" since it implies regret.....why did I even try....because I'm Cinderella! It was great to see my brother and nieces and my DH's family! My nieces are my joy in life and really mean the entire world to me!!!!! Everyone but my mom was so happy to see us and spend whatever time they could with us. I could have spent the whole trip with her and it wouldn't of been enough....... I will not let her ruin the trip and the memories of it!!!!!! The flight back was so turbulent that my stomach hasn't settled yet and I had less than 4 hours sleep and straight to work for 12 hours....I'm exhausted. Oh and hubby and I haven't even opened our presents yet....I do know what one of mine is though. We did little presents in NY. More after the New Year when I've had time to unpack and sleep a bit..

I am grateful for my brother and his strength and sense of calm and humor!

Some Christmas pictures

I know I said the last in the last post it would be my last but I couldn't resist. These were taken at The Wynn Hotel. And I just absolutely love the pink poinsettias!!!! Well this really is it so Merry Christmas!!!!!

I am grateful for my family!

Merry Christmas

I just want to start by saying thanks to Jymisgurl ,Jamie ,Karen ,Duncan and Vonna for all of their kind words of support about my last post about my friendship troubles. I'm tired and past it and it seems she won't see any side but her own . I've decided to do nothing till after the holidays when I've had some rest and perspective. Even then I'm not sure it can be mended or that I want to mend it...too much hurt has happened already and the trust is gone and I'm just plain angry. It's sad really when you think about it. But enough of that!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!!! The good news is that DH is completely well!!! It was a reaction to the new medicine which happens in like 1-2% of the population....I always knew he was special... So we are going to NY. It'll be a whirlwind but I am so looking forward to it. I miss my family and am so looking forward to seeing them! I am packing and wrapping a few presents that stay here today. Then work tomorrow and I've already put in to get out early if at all possible. And to the airport....I'm still hoping to see Santa from the plane window....yes I do believe!!! So this may be the last post till I get home on friday night unless I can sneak one in but that's doubtful....and DH still won't say what wednesday night in the city surprise is.....I'm not great at surprises never was...must be a childhood thing. Again everyone have a wonderfully Merry Christmas and may Santa fulfill all of your dreams!!!!

I am grateful that hubby feels so much better!

A few thoughts...

Just a quick post before I really do go downstairs to stitch....I'm pretty sure a friendship of mine has ended and it makes me sad but not really. That may not make any sense but it does in my head.......this "friend" said a really rude thing to my husband and never really apologized for it, kind of just said "I didn't mean it that way". This was a few months ago and its been weighing on me and she just doesn't get it or want to get it. And as of late has been acting more like my mother (I already have a mother thank you) than a friend and I really don't need that either.....Is that as clear as mud now....Not a fun thing to write about at Christmas time but I guess I needed to vent.

This week has been a bit busy with trying to get ready for the NY trip. DH is sick, we have been to 2 doctors....it is either a really bad stomach flu or a reaction to a new stomach medicine. He feels better today but the 2nd doc did bloodwork just to be sure and switched the meds around. They both feel he'll be able to fly!!! Just lots of rest and fluids and TLC! Can I say I'm tired.....while he rested this afternoon before the doctors I managed a visit to my LNS......yes I know nobody is really surprised. I picked up two charts and a bit of hand dyed fabric. I'll post pictures after I return from NY. Tonight it's laundry and stitching! And oh we never did get a tree not even a table top one. I went to Target but didn't like their selection. If I'm ahead of schedule on saturday I may go to the plant store and see what they have to offer. If I get anything I'll post a picture. I plan on wrapping presents and packing on saturday so I can just pop home on sunday after work and change and such and we can head to the airport!!!! I am so homesick right now that it'll be good to be home and see everyone!

I am grateful to be able to fly home for Christmas with my husband and be with our families!

Christmas in NY

I've been meaning to sit down and write for days and I just haven't got the energy it seems! I've been working the last 5 out of 7 days and that's 12 hour days...they switched my schedule around because I would never do that to myself.....I've been in and out of the Christmas spirit...does that make any sense?? And I was really thrilled a few days ago! And still am underneath all the tired.... Here goes we made last minute plans to fly to NY to spend Christmas with our families !!!!! I am actually really thrilled about it! We got a great airfare for booking it a week ago. It's only monday-friday...we take the red-eye out on Christmas eve (I work on Christmas eve) and land at 6:30am on Christmas morning. I'm planning on looking for Santa while inflight!! I have so much to do....I have to address the Christmas cards tonight (I was supposed to have done them already). And we still haven't decided where we will exchange gifts....since you can't wrap gifts and pack them wrapped any longer. I totally understand the security on planes but it's just one more thing to think about.....And there's the tree question...we have a dog sitter but I'm leaning towards not getting a tree this year since we'll be away and I don't want to worry about Storm and the tree....It won't seem like Christmas without one but we won't be here anyway. What does everyone think?? I seem to be rambling. Let me go and get a cup of tea and start addressing cards....then work tomorrow and finish Christmas shopping on tuesday/wednesday or so. And pack for our NY Christmas!!!!!!!!

I am grateful for being able to celebrate Christmas with our families!!

Sundays thoughts......

Well lets see.....where did sunday go...I was up early watched a little TV (the LV marathon) and napped. The day just seemed to slip away. I'm not sure what's going on but between not being in the Christmas spirit and not having picked up a needle....in what seems like weeks....I know I say I'm going off to stitch and have a cup of tea but something always gets in the way or I just get lazy. Maybe I should just sit down and stitch!!! End of story... end of moppiness (is that even a word??). Tomorrow is Christmas shopping and wednesday is Christmas tree shopping!!!! I told him if we don't go on wednesday then on thursday I'm going to Target to get an artificial white one!! I know I shouldn't have done that but a tiny part of me really wants a white christmas tree...is that tacky??? That always helps to put me in the spirit -the whole tree trimming/decorating process! And the Christmas cards I ordered should be in soon. I did do another trip to my LNS so I'll post that soon.....I really should take pictures off all my stash.....maybe next time DH is in NY! I wouldn't want to shock him to much!!! And it would be a good way to catalog it! I'm hoping he asks what I want so I can send him to my LNS to pick up a gift card.....always a good idea!!!! I will stitch! I will stitch! I will stitch!

I am grateful for my stash collection..........