More Murphy

Such a hard life! Poor Murphy is so tired, playing with Tony and Kristin takes so much energy!

A Stitchy Gift

Last weekend I received a late birthday gift from my sister, Trudi (no blog). What a wonderful surprise it was!

I love both the cupcake pincushion and the scissors fob!

Thank you, Sis!

Meet Murphy

Murphy is my new grandpuppy. He is a real sweety!

He is still a little peanut, and we aren't quite sure what he will look like when he grows up or how big he will get. Meanwhile, Tony is kept busy entertaining him.

My life in a nut shell

Well, not exactly a nut shell, but not much bigger!

Can you imagine all your documents, recipies, stitching statistics, etc. on one little memory stick? Can you imagine your life if you misplace said memory stick?

The good news is that I found it! It was only missing for three weeks......three very long nervewracking stressful weeks.

Oh, and it is now backed up incase I misplace it again!

Happy Easter!

This is a finish from a few years ago. It is Happy Easter by Sue Hillis, stitched on a white evenweave with DMC and Whisper floss.

3rd Day of Texas Christmas

On the 3rd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me........
3 armadilloes.....

R.I.P.

The monitor is dead. Not worth fixing a monitor on a laptop.

Upcoming Concert

If you are in the Chicago or Rockford, Illinois area, you may be interested in this lovely concert by the Chicago Chamber Choir.

This shameless plug is for my daughter, Viki, who is a member of the choir.


Friday, April 3rd, 7:30 pmLincoln Park Presbyterian Church 600 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Chicago

Sunday, April 5th, 3:00 pmRockford College 5050 E. State St., Rockford

Tickets are available at the door for both concerts.

I will be attending the concert in Rockford, so look for me if you attend that one!

Scissors fob from Irene

I received this lovely pansie scissors fob from Irene recently, as she was my partner in the Crafty Natter Scissorskeep exchange.

I just love pansies! She did a great job with the stitching and finishing!

March Progress, April Goals

March Goals
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas didn't get to it
February Teacup - JABC finished
April Teacup – Just Another Button Company finished
1 block on Northwoods afghan (7) didn't get to it
finish part 6 on mystery sampler didn't get to it
Mystery sampler part 7 didn't get to it
10 hours on M&K’s Wedding sampler didn't get to it
10 hours on Guardian Angel didn't get to it
10 hours on a baby sampler got it all kitted up, though!
3rd Texas ornament started!
Love Quilts Square didn't get to it
March floss ring tag finished
Cloister Garden by Drawn Thread - work on it almost half finished!
Biscornu finished

April Goals
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas
March Teacup – Just Another Button Company
1 block on Northwoods afghan (7)
Mystery sampler part 7
10 hours on M&K’s Wedding sampler
10 hours on Guardian Angel
10 hours on a baby sampler
finish 3rd Texas ornament
Love Quilt Square special quilt square
work on Cloister Garden

Kreativ Blogger

Thanks to Katica who shared this award with me! It was a very pleasant and sweet surprise. The rules are to nominate 8 bloggers, link them in your post and to let them know they were chosen. I would like to share this with the following:
1. Sarah
2. Coral

3. Ranae
4. DaffyCat
5. Robin
6. Jenn
7. Holly
8. Lit and Laundry

I will admit, picking only 8 was difficult! There are so many very beautiful and creative and inpspiring (not to mention enabling) blogs out there. Thank you for your inspiration, and thanks to everyone who does read and visit me...

TA DA!

I have always wanted to make a biscornu, but have never gotten around to it. There always seems to be so much to stitch and so little time! As part of our planned projects for the year, My EGA chapter distributed one side of a biscornu chart in January, and the distributed the second side on February. I decided to join the group doing this project. We were to have it stitched by the March meeting, which was last evening so that we could begin construction of the biscornu.

The chart was designed by one of our members, Annie Belcher. I stitched it on 36 count cream Edinborough linen with with one strand of Royal Jewels Waterlilies over two threads with some Mill Hill petite glass beads and two tiny buttons.

I started the construction at the meeting, and finished it later on at home. I am quite pleased with the results.

Scissor Fobs

Or Scissorskeeps, depending on which side of the Atlantic you live on.

I stitched two of these for two different exchanges, and mailed them off. One of my partners has already received hers, and the other will be opening hers any day now.

This is a free chart on the Lizzie Kate site, but I stitched it on 25 count over 1 with DMC Floss.

Shopping and lunch

Saturday was a day off of German School, so my sister and I were able to join some other stitchers for shopping at Welcome Stitchery, in Crystal Lake, Illinois, our very favorite LNS. After shopping we walked around the corner to Finn McCools Irish Pub for lunch. Ranae took this photo after lunch, before Tracy headed back to the shop for round two of shopping, and the rest of us headed home.

Mail Art for Kim!

In a recent Mail Art Exchange on the Threads of Life board, I was given Kim's name to send my piece to. Now that Kim has received it, I can show you some pictures!

This is the front of the envelope. I used some stitchband to stitch on.

The front of the envelope had a design by Just Nan, and back had just the lady bugs from that design marching across the envelope.

The inside was lined with lady bug fabric.

It was a fun exchange and made it through the mail in pristine condition.

Fess Up! Who sent it?

Yesterday I received a package in the mail containing this lovely Ort bag. Robin in WA made the bag and enclosed a card saying it was a birthday gift from an anonymous friend.

Thank you, thank you! I wish I knew who it was so I could thank you properly in person. It was not necessary but so appreciated!

Robin does lovely work!

April Tea Cup

I finished the April Tea Cup the other day. It is stitched on 30 count Skuppernong Weeds Dye Works linen with WDW and GAST fibres.

Since I grabbed the worng one to stitch this month, I will be stitching the March Tea Cup in April.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This is not a day I usually celebrate, but this year I participated in a St. Patrick's Day exchange on the Threads of Life message board.

As part of the package I sent to Sue in Reno, I stitched this floss ring tag. The design is from a recent issue of the Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine.

North! To Alaska!

The Sue Hillis Stitch Ahoy cruise, departing August 7th, for Alaska has great news to share. Please forgive this shameless plug for our cruise, but I just had to share with you that prices have been reduced, in some categories quite drastically!

More information is available on the Stitch Ahoy webiste. But hurry, deadline for booking is April 5th

What month is this?

I had a very long general membership meeting scheduled for Sunday afternoon, and knew I could get a lot of stitching done.


I just had a little bit of finishing left to do on a floss ring tag, which I will show you once the recipient has received it, so I needed to bring another project.

I grabbed my Tea Cup bag, and pulled out what I thought was the March chart, pulled all the floss needed, and went merrily on my way.

The meeting was long, and I stitched for a good two hours on the tea cup.......until all of a sudden I noticed I was stitching the April chart.

Oh well, I guess I will just stitch the March chart in April, and then be back on track.

February Cup 'O Tea finish

I finished the February Tea Cup chart by Just Another Button Company yesterday. It is stitched on 30 count WDW Angel Hair linen with WDW and GAST threads.

2 down, 10 to go.......

Northwoods Afghan progress

I finished block 6 of Jonathan's afghan this past weekend, another pine tree. I am now half way done.

Now I have to decide which animal to stitch this month....a goose, a deer, and I forget the third choice...or I could stitch another tree....

Mystery SAL part 6

I know that most stitchers have already finished this piece, but I started late, so I am still stitching! I finished part 6 the other day, so it is time to post another update.

I am enjoying the specialty stitches. It is a nice break from plain old Xs, but does require quite a bit of concentration.

I have learned to do quite a few new specialty stitches, and have also learned that I hate queen stitches......

How to give Tony a heart attack

I took a sick day today, as I am still fighting this upper respiratory infection. Mark, who was working for a private ambulance company today, stopped by to get a can of soda and left the ambulance parked in the driveway.

Tony was out working but needed to stop by the house between assignments for something, and saw an ambulance parked in the driveway. He didn't know that Mark worked for a private company in addition to the fire department, and thought I was being taken to the hospital.

I am fine, we picked Tony up off the floor, and everyone went on with their day. And now back to stitching.....

Cloister Garden

Tonight is my first class at Welcome Stitchery on Cloister Garden by Drawn Thread. I have had this chart for awhile, and eventually want to do all of the Drawn Thread gardens especially Alpine Garden. I hope that after this class I will have the courage to do Alpine Garden on my own as that is the one I REALY want to stitch.

The class is for three Monday evenings, starting tonight, and then every two weeks for the rest of the month.

February Progress and March Goals

February Progress
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas didn't get to it
finish January Teacup done
TOL mail art piece done
February Teacup - Just Another Button Company didn't get to it
1 block on Northwoods afghan (6) done
Mystery sampler part 6 1/2 finished
10 hours on M&K's Wedding sampler didn't get to it
10 hours on Guardian Angel didn't get to it
10 hours on a baby sampler actually did 19 hours and finished Eddie's sampler
1st Texas Ornament done
2nd Texas ornament done
Divas' smalls exchange piece done
Scissors fob for a PIF done
Quilt square for Love Quilts didn't get to it

March Goals
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas
February Teacup - JABC
March Teacup - Just Another Button Company
1 block on Northwoods afghan (7)
finish part 6 on mystery sampler
Mystery sampler part 7
10 hours on M&K's Wedding sampler
10 hours on Guardian Angel
10 hours on a baby sampler
3rd Texas ornament
Love Quilts Square

Another Texas Ornament stitched

I finished the 1st day of Texas Christmas this evening. I will do one or two more next month.

Mail Art Arrived

I opened my mail box today, and found this lovely stitched envelope from Cynthia. This is part of the Mail Art exchange on the TOL board. Cynthia stitched a lovely, cheerful spring piece for me and finished it expertly!

Inside, she have included some postcards from where she lives, and lovely greeting card, a pocket calendar and some really cute frog buttons!

I still need to finish my piece to send off to my partner. I will post a picture once it has been received.

Thank you Cynthia, I really love it!

2009 Texas Stitching

The 2009 Texas stitching has begun!

I will be stitching one or two of the 12 Days of Texas Christmas ornaments each month until they are all finished. I started with the second day, and will do the first day next. After that I will proceed in the proper order.

The charts are by Red Bird Designs, and I am stitching on 32 count Lambswool, with DMC, Dinky Dyes and Splendor fibres.

Eddie's Sampler

Eddie was born six months ago, and I just now had a chance to stitch his birth sampler. His mom picked it out, and I stitched it for him. I still need to frame it, but at least the stitching is done.

This is Baby's Sampler by Sue Hillis, stitched on 28 count white Jubilee with DMC Floss.

Happy Birthday, Viki!

Happy Birthday to my first born. Here she is with the kids who sang to her on Sunday, along with the cupcake with three candles, one for each decade.

Kinderfasching, take 2

Saturday was the 2nd of two Kinderfaschings (Children's Mardi Gras) that was held at our German club. This one is more like a fun fair, with games and prizes.

This was the popular egg basket game.









We also had Bozo buckets and a number of other games. When a child won, he or she received a "winner" ticket.













Winner tickets could be cashed in for various prizes, and the kids loved going "shopping".





And Fasching wouldn't be complete without Krapfen, made by our Omas.

A good time was had by all. I went for a pedicure and foot massage when it was all over.

Valentine Mail

My Valentine Exchange package arrived, and surprise (!) I received from Suzie, to whom I had also sent. Lots of goodies including some socks. I had included valentine socks in the package to her. Great minds think alike!

Thank you Suzie! I love everything you sent!

Valentine Stitching

Now that my exchange partner has received her package, I can show you what I have been stitching. Suzie was my partner in the TOL Valentine Exchange. I stitched her a floss ring tag that was added to the other things I sent.

It is stitched on 25 count light rose lugana, with one strand of WDW Strawberry Fields floss over one thread of fabric. The chart is a freebie that I found somewhere on the internet.

Bundesverdienstkreutz

This evening, my father was presented with the Bundesverdienstkreutz,

Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik, Deutschland (Federal Cross of Merit, Order of Merit of the Federal Repbublic of German) for over 50 years of service to promote the German language, culture and customs abroad. It is the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation.

The award was presented at a small reception in his honor by The Consul General, Wolfgang Drautz, this evening.

We are all very proud of Dad!

To all my Australian friends

I pray that all of you are safe, and ask everyone to keep you in their thoughts and prayer.

For those of you who are not aware of the situation in Victoria, the bushfires have claimed so many lives and destroyed entire towns and villages. Coral has the article that goes with this picture on her blog.

Kristeen wrote the other day:

Southern Australia has been in severe drought for the last 10 years or so. We are on the harshest water restrictions ever.The temps over the last two weeks have been severe here, up to 50oC or 120o F. What little greenery that was left was totally dryed out. Our farm is usually green but there is nothing left here but baked earth and we are not in the firepath.The bushland here is full of native Eucalypts, which are full of oils. Once the trees and bush dry out the oils literally explode.The bush is incredibly thick, most of these areas are inaccesable. These small communties are mostly farming and milling areas. Kinglake, Whittlesea, Kilmore are mostly small hobby farms less than an hour from the CBD. Marysville, Buxton, are tourist towns in magnicifent dense bush. Alexandra, Yea are farmlands. Bendigo is a large country town,off hand with a population of 500,000 +. Druin and Gippsland are well populated farm areas. Coldstream, Yarra Glen, Healsville are semi suburban areas. (approx 20 mins from me)The high dry winds blew the fires at alarming speeds. Combined with dry grass, dry Eucalypts and oil, and no water, inaccesable terrain, not enough manpower, loss of communciations, this was just a fireball. The heat was so intense it has totally sucked out the oxygen. Flames were up to 30 meters high. Houses have literally just exploded. The speed of this fire was terrifying.Friends in Toolangi were told the fires were at least 2 hours away and they were evacuating, but the firestorm raged through in less than 10 minutes. From when Edwina and Brendan 'saw' flames to the time they reached the farm, Ed estimated less than 4 minutes.So much of the bush was burning so fast there was nowhere to go.Brian Naylor was Melbournes best known news presenter for 30 years. He and his wife lived at Kinglake for almost 40 years."Both he and his wife have been found dead.

And then last evening wrote:

Ok, east Beenak road has been upgraded to urgent threat. It is the other side of the launch-gembrook road, (the far end of our road). We don’t think we are in any real danger,but the neighbours have been on the phone wanting to know if we plan to leave or stay. They are staying, we are putting our fire plan into action now, been out filling water containers, etc, got the cats all inside, will keep the dogs to normal routine til or if we have to do anything drastic. It is a slow moving fire, approx 20 ks away and a lot of open pasture between us and it. Russell is cleaning and filling the gutters as I type. Will keep watch again overnight, will let you know as early as I can tomorrow how things are going. Russell has cancelled his trip tomorrow to Sydney!!!! Just preparing! CFA is concerned that Healsville and Bunyip fires will merge. The wind has picked up but things still look and feel ok, still no smoke or ‘that gut’ feeling yet. Dont panic, we plan to fight this one out, its not a firestorm, like Saturday. Yes, we will keep safe. Plan is to get the animals into the bathroom, its the safest room in the house. Talk tomorrow.


Then another update ...
Ok, they have just downgraded us to Alert instead of Urgent threat! Phew!! Still we will be vigilent tonight...See you tomorrow ....Love Kristeen

Happy 5th Anniversary!

Today I would like to wish daughter, Viki, and my son-in-law, Trey (aka: the Texan) a very happy 5th Wedding Anniversary!

(Trey isn't really that much taller than Viki, he is just standing on a step.)

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

February 6th is a memorable day. Not only is it Ronald Reagan's birthday, and my boss' birthday, but it is also the anniversary of the day I gave birth to my youngest child Kristin. It seems like it was just yesterday that she made her appearance, and all of a sudden it is 25 years later! Where has the time gone?

Happy Birthday, Kristin!

A Surprise in the Mail!

Last week, I was browsing on e-bay, when I came across a seller that looked to be selling illegal copies of cross stitch charts. They all had different names, and were advertised as being available on CD or as an e-mail attachment. Sounded very fishy to me. I contacted a few of the design companies via e-mail addresses on their web sites, but knew full well that not much would be done about the illegal activity.

I was very surprised, when just a few moments later I received a reply from Marc Saastad, the talent behind The Silver Lining. He was most gracious and thanked me for letting him know. Ironically, the chart of his that I had noticed was Humboldt Coast, one of the next large projects that I plan to start once I get few other things out of the way. We e-mailed back and forth for a bit about his charts, etc.

Imagine my surprise when I received an envelope from him this week. Enclosed was the chart pack for African Violets #4. It is autographed and there was a lovely note from Marc enclosed. I hope to be able to stitch it soon!

Cup of Tea?

I finished the first of 12 whimsical tea cups that I plan to stitch this year. This is the January Tea Cup, and it coordinates with last year's January Teapot.

It was stitched on 30 count Weeks Dye Works linen in gunmetal, with WDW and GAST floss.

This is the first of the 2009 Stitch Every Day Series by Just Another Button Company.

Happy 80th Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mother's 80th birthday! So please join me in wishing many happy returns of the day.

Weather forcasting

According to the Daily Herald:

First, the bad news: Woodstock Willie, the Chicago area's best-known four-legged weather prognosticator, saw his shadow this morning, dooming us to six more weeks of winter.

The good news? Groundhogs may be adorable furry creatures, but when it comes to meteorological prophecies their record falls short of their reputation.

Janyary Progress - February Goals

January Progress
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas done
January Teacup – Just Another Button Company started
1 block on Northwoods afghan (5) done
Mystery sampler part 5 done
10 hours on Guardian Angel didn't get to it
M&K’s Wedding sampler, start didn't get to it
10 hours on a baby sampler didn't get to it
TOL Mail Art Exchange piece didn't get to it
2 Texas ornaments didn't get to it
scissors fob done
Model Valentine Tree #1 done
Model Valentine Tree #2 done
Model Valentine Tree #3 done
Model Loves Me done
Model Envelope done
Model Bluebird done
Model heart done
Valentine floss ring tag done

February Goals
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas
finish January Teacup
February Teacup – Just Another Button Company
1 block on Northwoods afghan (6)
Mystery sampler part 6
10 hours on Guardian Angel
10 hours on a baby sampler
Quilt Square for Love Quilts
small for Diva exchange
2 Texas ornaments