S*N*O*W

Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow

click above link for the Weather view of our area today

Will I be able to build a snowman tomorrow morning? Or a snow lady? I think I will dig out some old clothes to put on her. Stay-tuned in the morning. She will be a fashionable snow chick.

Cabin Fever Giveaway!

Time for a give-a-way to a stitching friend. It's been cold for way too long and in alot of the U.S, quite frigid temps, even below 0 at night, snow, snow and more snow. I hear the U.S. will be getting another artic blast to add more snow to the upper regions. So, because you are my friends and I love you AND if you are like me and love to see the mailman deliver goodies, especially stitching goodies, then, you'll like this one. I call it the Cabin Fever Give-A-Way because it' a mixture of friends and Spring all wrapped in one. AHHHHH, Spring will come one day.

This will include the frame for the project, which is a dark navy wood with small stenciling in darker red and a cute little birdie perched on the left. This is a high quality Kay's frames. I've had it for a while in my stash and I would love for you to house it after stitching the piece. The frame is 9 x 7 with the interior open part of 4.5 x 5.5 inches. Just cute sitting on a window sill near the front door or a kitchen windowsill.
There are 2 cute charms that come with it as well as the cream linen perfect for the piece.

Here's the birdie tweeting to you for a new home. He promises an early Spring this year.

I have always been pleased with Kay's Frames products. I'm not sure if she even still makes frames but I can tell you the quality is good.

The pattern is easy to read, fold-out, with a list of the Weeks Dye Works threads needed. I do not have the threads included. There is a conversion to DMC if you would like. The fabric called for is Jobelan but this fabric is not Jobelan but a 28 count cream belfast linen.

Here's the design.

And I certainly hope that whoever wins this piece loves it or shares it as a gift to a friend. Because as this says, A true friend is a treasure of the heart.

So all you frozen hearts who want to wish for an early Spring and have Cabin Fever.....you know the rules on give aways but I'll post again for newbies:

1) for one name in the pot, just be a follower of the blog and post in this posting only.


2) for 2 names in the pot, post this give-away (may use the side bar picture) on your own blog to share the news with other snow-ed in friends! Then do a second post to let me know in this posting only.


3) for 3 names in the pot, put a different posting with the most inches of snow you have received in your area this Winter! Again.....in this posting only. This is simply so I can compile all those names in one area at the end to write and cut in little strips for the winner.

Good luck

Oh, yeah, international blog readers always welcome too!
This starts today and goes through January 20th at which time on midnight of January 20th, I will draw a name and announce sometime there after. Stay-tuned! This will be fun!

Coming up at Valentines is the next give-away I'm putting together for a sweet treat.
Hint: There is pink involved.

Hope you stay warm and cozy and have a great day. It's clouding here a little and I'm hoping for some white snow on the ground by tonight even if it's just a dusting.
So, all those with 20 or more inches I'm hearing about on the Weather Channel, funnel it all down this way so we can build a snowman.

Tootalooo,
Jennifer

Have too much time to think

Today I:

stitched about 6 hours

cleaned up poo 10 times

fed picky doggies 3 times today

washed a load of clothes, got distracted. There are 8 more to go.

Ironed the creases out of my linen to stitch. It was folded for way too long.......waaaay too long.

Listened to the same CD on "Repeat random" from 12 noon till 5pm. Same CD. The music is still playing in my mind even now.

Watched CNN until I couldn't take it anymore.

Made coffee.

Drank a glass of Beringer White Zin after a hot bath.

Read every blog on my reader list at least once.

Counted all my spare buttons in the button jar.

Wondered what it was like to talk to someone on the phone besides automated advertisers.

Took a 5 minute nap with a camera, needle book, stitching supplies and computer on the sofa.

Realized it's only Wednesday of the week. Well, now almost technically Thursday if I stretch it 10 more minutes........LOL

Nite

Camp Sew Red and recharging

Just finished this freebie by The Sampler Girl. Pop over to her blog and check it out.

I started it this morning as I was watching the news. Stitching away the frustrations of the world mess we have now. I haven't quite figured out what to do with it yet. Frame it? Pinkeep? Needlebook? (I've never made one, so that is low on the list), a pillowkeep? a pillow? Don't know yet. But when I finish it-finish it......I will show you a pic. I have now about 5 more things to finish-finish/ you know that feeling, right?

I just know that after I reached the M, I ran out of the particular red I pulled from my UFO jar and I thought I had more.......oh, I did, in about 10 other shades of red. I think I about pulled out my hair stressing over if I could find a decent match. My back-up plan B was to take out the E in Be and just stitch the first letters in this color, then an overdye that matched for the lower-cased letters.

Well, after eating a double-cheeseburger and fries that BG brought home for lunch I got the energy to find one (thank you Jesus^) that matched enough.

My plan C was to coffee dye it with my little bit of leftover coffee this morning. That would blend the colors together and it is DMC I'm sure of that which is colorfast. Although I did get a quick, visual flash of what it could look like if I wet it, like blood dripping from each letter and then I reminded my self that this is Valentines not Halloween......... ;)

Now, can you tell why I'm a Virgo personality? Yes, it's bad at times, but we make good workers that's for sure! And analytical to say the least LOL




I also got all my supplies ready for the Emma Project and it's in another pile. I'm accumulating too many piles again. (Something about that doesn't sound right.)

Now, in looking at it on the computer, I'm glad that Plan A worked because I really like it white instead of coffee-dyed if use this material for contrast. And I hope to use it on this one and the one from Primitive Betty's freebie last night. See previous post.

So, my area of red here. Why am I stuck on the color red for 2 days? I mean, honestly, I just thought about it and right now at this very minute, I'm washing a load of "reds" in the washer.
Strange. And craving some Strawberry ice cream right now too!

My stitching partner at my personal stitching camp, Camp Sew Red yesterday and today was a bit roused once when the cheeseburger went past. Then,

Back to a long Winter's nap.

Thanks, Abbie for sleeping so I could feed my introverted soul today and recharge this week before returning to the mad rush on Monday.

My work last night by the cozy fireplace

I got side tracked last night with this fat quarter and gleaning through some of my favorite blogs I found the freebie from Primitive Betty's blog. You can zip over to her blog and download to stitch under "freebies" or do like me and set up you lap top on the sofa and just stitch by the screen of the computer.

Her site is here: http://www.primitivebettys.blogspot.com/


It's stitched on white Jobalen of a count I'm not sure of......the only white I could find in my stash last night. The colors are also unknown as they came out of my Unknown Floss Origin jar, also known as UFO jar.

I'm looking for finishing it with a 8 x 10 or maybe a 5 x7 black frame with the fabric in the background and the design fringed. I have to go out today (BRRRR) and do some grocery shopping so I am going to swing by one of my favorite thrift stores to see what I can come up with.

I'm enjoying my decaf coffee this morning with fresh- made blueberry muffins, catching up on the news and blog reading. Then I plan to finish this little corner and get some chores, errands done before the big 1-2 inch snow tomorrow!

I have my Emma Project supplies ready to go. Do you have yours? If you want to join in on this stitch just pop over to The Sampler Girl's Blog at http://atthehoneysuckletree.blogspot.com/
where she lists the supplies needed. She also has a new Valentine freebie too.

Have a great day!

Jennifer

Color and textures

Inspired by this fat quarter in my stash today found at the bottom of one (I did say one) of my baskets~~~~~~

I really forgot about from a quilt shop trip long ago but oh, so pretty right now.

I began to appreciate the color of red and the textures, the different shades~~~all so beautiful.

Red buttons I have collected, many red buttons. The texture of Jobelan remnant underneath the different red buttons for contrast.

one of my favorite old buttons

There are no two the same, hence they stay in my button jar for awhile.

My mind begins to wonder where ,oh where, these buttons have been? Who wore them? What were they like? Oh, if buttons could talk.

Shiny and a bit varigated

My second favorite I have. I love the flower design.

A jelly-like, translucent red button.

A remnant of Jobalen against another fat quarter which is more vintage in contrast to the bright one.

Each have their place in creating a pretty design, I'm sure of that. I think I will use a nice antique white linen with the brighter red one.

The texture of Creek Bed Brown linen is different, but I like it too.
I also enjoy my Love scissors.

I'm really playing with some controls on my camera here. Boy, the micro -closeup really works well. I love this fat quarter too. A more cinnamonny red color and a bit paisley. A bit flowerery but not too large.

Soft and sweet. White. Mostly.

Ren with a new blanket in his blues and red, soft and sweet.

White and soft.

Do you have one of these jars? I collect all my leftover unlabeled flosses here. It's not quite an ORT jar because the threads are a good length. But any threads which end up not getting labeled or leftover in a kit, are housed here. Remember, I'm a pac-rat. I save everything!

Because how could I throw away good threads?

Wow, at the colors and threads I have accumulated! And who knows what the names of the threads are, that's the thing. But they make for a good quick small project.

So, what is your favorite color? Your favorite linen? Or, are you like me and just about love every color and fabric?

Enjoy your day!

Jennifer

Around the house, hoping for snow, thinking of Valentines already

It's almost time to get out some Valentines thingies. I have a few. It's kinda easy for me because I already have alot of heart things around the house. Last year, I got these fabric made roses and I love them! They are made in different red patterned fabrics. What a cute idea!


Thomas has the right idea for this cold weather. We are hoping for good snow coverage by Thursday so I'm going to run some errands today while I can get out of the driveway.
Bodyguard says he likes the snow too. You know the biggest snow we had while we moved up here was in January 2002. BG was finishing up his year in the Reserves and unfortunately got called up 7 days after our marriage after the 9-11. So, I spent the first year of our marriage alone. But, my daughter should remember that first snow only 2 months after we moved here. She was so excited as she had never seen snow of 8inch depth. She made snow angels in the walkway at about 9pm that night and I have pictures of her tasting the snow and laughing.

Ren has his coat ready, but I think his little joints won't allow him to wonder out in the snow.

He is doing better with his new medicine. I'm still in shock with the price of 3 ml of an antiinflammatory for canines, 78.00. Almost stroked when BG told me what he had to pay when picking it up. But I can't complain about the vet here. They are very prompt with phone calls, emergencies, and exams. They all know Ren. I call and say, "Hey, this is Ren's mama, and he is really shaky in the knees and think he needs some arthritis medicine". And they know him right off. They said, "yes, it's probably the weather right now worsening his arthritis and of course he is almost 17 years old"........oh, please don't remind me, please! I can't bear the thought of Ren not being in our house.

So, he has a vitamin/glucosamine med which I have to break up and sprinkle in a good bit of food for prevention and then the antiinflammatory med, a tiny bit of liquid for acute flares.

Abbie still doesn't understand why he won't play with her and she barks at him when he is awake. Such is the circus at our house............

I"m catching up on some world news and I tell you that the US is heading in some bad directions.
Every day there's something else that happens that is unbelievable. It makes one afraid to go anywhere in the public anymore. Flying is almost like being victimized all over again. I don't usually go through the airport experience but once or twice a year. Once for sure for business related conference and I"m dreading going through the airport this year. Years past I would fly alone but this will be no more. Just too much going on out there that is crazy.

Off to finish some stuff. I need to finish Northanger Abbey, because I already know that A Tulip for My Love from Examplars from the Heart is next up. Lovely, lovely sampler and so perfect for our Valentines this year!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..............

Jennifer

A little more done

The color of her dress is CC Peacock Blue which I LOVE! I do have to go through my stash tomorrow and come up with an alternative to one of the DMC colors for the bonnet tie. I'm thinking of changing the tips of the blue bells to a Shamrock CC blue as it's a bit more muted.

Abbie Renee Dalmation

Hi, don't I look cute after a bath? My mommie thought I had some dark, dirty spots on my fur from our trip. She didn't bath me since then because it was too cold and I don't want to get sick. Today, she gave me a bath and guess what?


Those large brown spots...........they aren't dirt, they are my underfir that's growing in, dark and spotty like a Dalmation! This is me wet after a bath and before my blow dry that I absolutely do not like! I have lots of undercoat growing in and I will have two big ole' brown spots on my back!

Aren't I even cuter now? My daddy is laughing very hard when mommie called him to tell him because he used to raise Dalmations years ago. He raised Dalmation puppies too. He likes my spots because he thinks now I'm really one of his Dalmations reincarnated! hehehehehehehehe

Don't you like surprises? So, you can call me Abbie or Dallie.........

Love Always,
Abbie

A Poem for Today

Listening

I like the quiet on a winter's day;
it has so much to say.
It brings with it new ideas that
ordinarily wouldn't come my way.
Stillness - broken only by the whistle of a
far-off train or the ticking of the clock;
Stillness is when my mind and I never
feel the need to talk.
Eyes see more; thoughts are new;
wonder plays a part;
For in the stillness I hear those things
that are deep within my heart.


by Joan Adams Burchell

Baby, It's Cold Outside..........

Today was quite a lazy day for me again. I'm getting used to this. I napped for about 2 hours this afternoon and in between napping and cooking, I was stitching. Here's my progress on Northanger Abbey by The Sampler Girl. I absolutely love the colors in this sampler. My fave colors are the blue ones here, of course. I did end up substituted one color so far from my stash. I subbed the lighter blue for Crescent Colors Deep Sea Blue and it really looked good. I just simply didn't have the DMC color called for.

I wrote a Dear John letter to John James. I'm now loving Piecemaker needles better than any I've ever tried. I'm not sure why but I love them and now I'm sold on Piecemaker needles. I formerly used John James. Sorry John, I"m leaving you for Peace. LOL


I've already picked a spot to put this little pillow. It's going to reside in my Windsor rocker.

My hubbie is outside splitting wood as the wood pile was getting low. Around our house there are plenty of trees in all sizes. He cut 2 down, small ones while I held my breath inside that they would not fall on him or the house.
I know you want to know what the heck is that safety cone doing out there. I would like to know too. He loves stuff like this and I guess even in the middle of the woods, you have to set up a safety zone. Do you know we have lighted cones in the truck of my car in case of an accident so we can zone it off? Strange, but we all have our oddities.

It was pretty doggone cold outside. Reached a high of 31 today. While he was chopping wood, I got the notion to cook these and they turned out awesome.

Ren even said so himself as he smelled them from the oven, he moseyed over........took him about 20 minutes though. The poor fellow has shaky legs now alot and I hold him alot to soothe him. I think he has some bad arthritis and even though he is never out in the cold, it makes a difference. A call to the vet is in store tomorrow to see if there are doggie meds for arthritis for him.

I found a small red paper doily and put the hot muffins on this for my hubbie to have fresh when he came in from all that hard work.

These were easy to make. I had my afternoon coffee by the fire in lieu of going out in the cold. I think I'm hibernating now.
This is the box to check out at the grocery store. I got them at Walmart, my favorite place. The really do taste moist and have a cinnabon crumbly topping. It made 6 big muffins.

I still have yet to find out how to adjust the color on my new camera. A certain for sure tomorrow because I want to really show you how brilliant and beautiful those sampler colors are.

Thomas the cat has set up housekeeping in our basement which is partially finished and warm. He is lounging on the old sofa downstairs and literally whines for room service of milk and food quite regularly. He is the prince of the basement this week as the temps are too cold for him to stay outside.

I think between 5-6p we were all quite literally napping at our house.
I tried to find something good to watch on TV besides CNN and FOX news but didn't particularly find anything entertaining.

Well, it's midnight and I'm ready to stitch some more. I've gotten on a late night kick since I've been off, even worse than usual. I think 2am-10am would be a natural sleeping pattern for me; unfortunately, when I'm working I can't do that!

Stay safe and warm,'
Jennifer