Craft Corner: Ornament SAL

I am attemping my first SAL as part of my new year's goals to try something new. I have decided to start small however and am using the Leisure Arts LEaflet No. 2829, Cute for Christmas patterns, by Karen Woods. It was the first Christmas pattern I had both myself, but never got around to making it. I wanted to put them on an afghan, but will try ornaments first and then the blanket later.

I am very excited, if I had it my way we'd have Christmas year-round. I am doing the SAL along with others in the Yahoo! group StitchNSwap2. There are other projects throughout the year that I hope to be able to join too.

Here's my goal:
January- Candy Cane
February- Gingerbread House
March- Santa
April- Mrs. Clause
May- Reindeer
June- Wreath
July-Soldier
August-Gingerbread Men
September- Dog with Present
October- Stocking
November- Snowmen Trio
December- Christmas Tree

I'll keep posting updates and photos of the projects, so until next time, happy stitching!

Craft Corner: Clean your room!

BEFORE

Well, I finished a couple of my goals for January, crafting-wise that is. This was a big one. This was the craft closet (my little haven) when we moved here 20 months ago, but soon became a catch-all. As you can see the door wouldn't even open at the way! But while George was gone, I cleaned it out, got rid of "junk" and organized my crafts. Now I can breathe easier and find stuff faster!

AFTER

Reasons to love a bulldog

1. They don't need long walks on the beach to be in the mood, just a comfortable lap.
2. They don't judge you for sneaking a second piece of dessert, they just want you to share.
3. "Thick" is the new thin.
4. They don't judge you if you miss a workout.
5. They don't love for looks, but look for love.
6. They are great listeners.
7. They are helpful around the house, especially cleaning dishes.
9. They are just as excited when you come home after 10 minutes as when its 10 hours.
10. They are always "smiling".
11. They make yoga look easy as sleeping.

Just sitting here with my bully ...

I'm just sitting here with Sgt. Major in the office trying to get caught up on some work. He keeps walking back and forth between here and the livingroom and as you can see the whole "catching up on work" thing is not going so well with all these distractions.
As much as I love holidays, it is sheer craziness trying to catch up. Most of us came in on friday, but for half day so we got some work done, but we had to get our competition entries put together today for the annual Army competition for the Keith L. Ware awards, so that took nearly the whole day.
I was only allowed to enter one photo and one story this year instead of one in each of the seven categories, so that upset me quite a lot. I've been looking for a new job of late because as much as I love what I do there is no upward mobility for a contract worker and the chance of pay worth my education is even lower.
School starts up for me again soon, although I am trying to finish some class work from my last class, too.
I am excited, I felt a little out of place in the first class because it talked about early war such as Caesar and such, but the World War II class is something I know a little more about.
Getting ready for the deployment is also a little scary just because I am worries that I may overlook something, but we still have time.
Tax season is here ... Yuk! We have to get that stuff done too.
I managed to get to organize the craft closet this week, so I feel like I accomplished some stuff. I also took about 10 garbage bags of stuff to the Thrift Store on post. I just got tired of putting off a garage sale and I'm sure there are some families out there who could use the stuff. With that done the garage looks GREAT! George did some organizing too, hanging the bikes and stuff so yes, after 20 months we are finally getting the house in order. And in about 20 months it'll be time to leave again ... go figure, that's the Army life.
O.k. I am really going to do some work now,
Later!

Craft Corner: Mail call!

I got this stuff in the mail yesterday. I ordered it from Stitching Bits and Bobs. There is a Lizzie*Kate July Flip it pattern, Lizzie*Kate "Spring has Sprung" and a yard of 25 count Antique Rose fabric. I am in heaven.

Craft Corner: Productive!

I've had a bit of productivity this week which is unusual becasue I had some extra classes to take as a point-of-contact for my husband's unit. He's been working some late nights so I attribute it to that.

This candy cane is for an ornament SAL that I am doing in one of the Yahoo! cross stitch groups I am in. This was my Januaray project. I really like it although some of the colors are substitutes for colors I didn't have. We only have a Wal-Mart near the installation, so often times I have learned to improvise, depending on the necessity of the need.

I decided to start small since it was my first SAL and I have 22 other projects that need to be finished, so I chose the Leisure Arts LEaflet No. 2829, Cute for Christmas patterns, by Karen Woods. It was the first Christmas pattern I had both myself, but never got around to making it. I wanted to put them on an afghan, but will try ornaments first and then the blanket later.

The gingerbread house is for February, but I did two at a time. I actually had the colors for the gingerbread house so I completed it first, then the candy cane.

As small as they are I had to fore myself to finish because I HATE backstitching. Both are done on my usual 28-count Charles Craft Monaco evenweave fabric, so by the time the backstitching comes, the stitching is so tight and I have the "search" for the holes. I actually have five projects on one piece of fabric. I know ... I should probably just cut the size I need but as orderly as my life is, I'm a bit of a "impulsive" stitcher. If I decided I want to do a project, I start immediately, even if I am working on a project. I just flip the fabric and start a new one. I'm like Monica on friends. Everything had to be in its place but she had that one closet that no one was allowed to go in for the mess ...

In other good news, I bought some old XS Christmas mags from another stitcher clearing her stash. They came in the mail earlier this week but it wasn't until last night that I was able to pry myself away from them long enough to take a photo. As you can see Sgt. major was also intriqued by what there was.I still need to go through and catalog them, mark the ones that I want and let my nieces pick some projects.

The projects range from small to large and cross stitch to embroidery and hardanger. I can't wait to get started on something but I promised George I would compled some of the projects already started and organize the closet. (Sigh!)

Well gotta get back to the magazines for another look!

Craft Corner: Back in the groove...

It has been hectic at the newspaper, trying to get back in the groove of things. I got a new handbag for Christmas that is just big enough to tote around a XS project in (as long as it fits into a gallon size ziploc). So I am never w/o a project. This weekend I had left my current project's book at the office, so until I went to get it Saturday, I had some time to do a little work on organizing my closet.
My husband had been on leave (vacation for military) through last Sunday so he got a lot done around the house. Cleaning for him meant clearing the garage of his Army stuff from latest training mission, building a bookcase for livingroom, installing a storm door with doggy door, cutting the grass and washing his truck ... funny when he told me he was cleaning I thought there would be dishes and laundry involve... that's what I get for assuming!
Happy stitchin all.

Another day in paradise ...

Hey all!

Been a while since I was able to sit down and give an update on how things are going.

The holiday season was great, a little more aware of the time we spent with family since George's unit was notified that they will deploy. We don't have a date yet, but they say soon.

The hustle and bustle have been "kicked up a notch" as they prepare. The Brigade comes off of block leave (holiday vacation time) tomorrow, so hopefully things will get back to normal, or what qualifies for normal around here.

I went back to work last week, so things there have slowly gone back to normal. Busy, but normal. I feel like I'm going 90 miles an hour lately there is so much to do.

Work: the usual. Busy, busy, busy. (I'd rather busy that a slow news week though!)

Home: We just got a new puppy door, so hopefully that will take some of the pressure off of making sure not to be gone to long from home or face the consequences. We also got a new bookshelf and goodness... I didn't know we owned that many books. I could compete with a small town library.

School: trying to catch up on the last class, finish the readings and stuff. I also have to take the GRE, so I have to study for that too.

Crafting: I have had time to do some crafts. Not as much time as I'd like, but enough to keep me sane. Somedays all I get to do is carry around a magazine hoping to get a chance to glance at it.

Volunteering: Well AWANAs is back in the swing after the holiday break and I have to admit nothing is all that back through the eyes of three-year-olds. Stress for them is running out of cookies. Battalion-wise the Steering committee should be meeting again soon as well as the company Family Readiness Group. I took over as POC (point-of-contact) for the S-3 shop so I am trying to get that organized. The old roster was a bit of a mess. Meeting the spouses has been fun though and there are a few that I know I'll look too for guidance and laughter while the guys are gone. Once I get a system going, it'll be much easier.

I guess all-in-all it's not too much on my plate, but the fact that there is no "schedule". George is here one day, gone the next kind of thing, and it makes it a little harder (sometimes I have to take out the trash!). I'm really just ready for this to be over; a get "one under the belt" kind of thing. I think I was prepared for the deployment, but not so much for the "pre-deployment" separation. I think we only spend 6-7 months together last year.

It really seems like my days are short, like somewhere I am missing a few hours. By the time I get ready for work, go to work, come home, fix dinner, clean up, talk to George, and finally sit down to read or stitch, it's already 10 p.m. and time for bed so I can do it all again.

Really where is the time going ... is there a gremlin out there hoarding my hours and laughing at me franticly living life?

Fun game!

If you have time, check out this fun egg game.

Craft Corner: Current Projects

This WIP is a project that I started in college ( fall semester 2002) for my then boyfriend/now husband. First it was to be a commisioning gift in May 2003, then 2003 Christmas present, then May 2004 wedding present ... well you get the idea.

The problem is that it is so intricate and I am doing it on 22-ct fabric. I am not having a hard time so much as I can only work on it for small amounts of time before my eyes hurt.

Its really the count that I'm scared to mess up because it it a circle and one miss count could throw the whole thing off. My final goal is to have it completed and framed for my husband's return from Afghanistan which will give be about a year. I am very excited about it.

I got the pattern at this little needlework shop the summer we were seperated for internships in college. I was doing an internship in Cary, N.C., and he was in Germany doing an Army "internship" (called CTLT for cadet training and leadership something) with the 1st Infantry Division. I'll keep posting my progress on it.


This is a Christmas ornament that I finished over Christmas (see posting below). I decided to use beads instead of the metallic thread because it was so hard. Not bad for my first beading project. I'll have to post pics once I sew it together. I'd like to make a set of eight but haven't quite figured out how I want to finish it yet.


This is another ornament I made using the pattern from above and repeating it. I really had fun with it and once I get most of my WIPs finished I may try to do some other designs with it.

New SF unit

I got this is an email today and thought I'd share the laugh!
The Pentagon announced today the formation of a new 500-man elite fighting unit called the U. S. REDNECK SPECIAL FORCES (USRSF). These 500 Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and North & South Carolina boys will be dropped into Iraq and have been given only the following five facts about terrorists:
     1. The season opened today.
    2. There is no limit.
     3. They taste just like chicken.
     4. They don't like beer, pickups, country music, or Jesus.
     5. They are responsible for the death of Dale Earnhardt.
The mess in Iraq is expected to be over in about a week.

Texas Christmas!

I took this picture of George Christmas Day at Ma Joyce's house. It was nice and clear, even a little warm so we walked out to see the horses and a donkey named Eeyore (no joke!). Gotta love a Texas Christmas!

Heavenly Holidays

Well I hope everyone had a good holiday. Ours was great! We got to see most of our families and I hide out at my father-in-law's as much as possible working on craft projects and just relaxing.
There's also something about know that your husband will be deployed next Christmas that makes it a little bittersweet as well.
George's unit got the call after Thanksgiving that the unit should start preparing to deploy but we don't know the date yet. Getting most of the holiday shopping done ahead of time also made it a little easier.
I got a new camera for Christmas from George and I got him a MP3 player that he can take with him. His other one only held 15 songs and that will get old real quick!
As for the new camera, I was taking photos like I was a freshman in photo school. Everything that moved got it's picture taken and let me tell you Sgt. Major didn't like it after a while.
Coming home was kind of sad because the reality of George leaving is setting in. As much as we prepared for this (and I can't say I didn't know what I was getting into when we married) it's still hard to comprehend that we could be separated for a year. That's not to say the deployment couldn't be shorter though.
I guess I'll just have to take it "one day at a time." I plan to go back and forth between here and Houston a lot so George's dad can play with Sgt. Major. I also think it'll be good for all of us to spend more time together.


Sgt. Major really didn't like the Santa hat but I managed to get a picture.

Craft Corner: Happy 2006!

Happy new year to my fellow stitchers and crafters! Well I must say the holidays were very refreshing. We were able to go into Houston to visit out families and I got two small projects done while I was there. We stayed at my father-in-law's so I was able to hide out there and do some stitching and completed my first "bead" project. I'll have to post them tomorrow as I forgot my camera today when I came into work.

I got to spend some time with my nieces which I always love and my husband, yes husband, suggested I take them to the craft store to get some XS projects since the night before I spent to whole time huddled in the corner at my mom's answering questions. Steph (16) is learning fast since I taught her summer '04 and Tami (10) is asking to be taught. I discovered Vicki's (12) interests lean towards painting so we got a ton of wooden cut-outs and picture frames and I'm excited to see what she designs.

Regarding resolutions, I decided that along with completed a number of my WIPs, i also wanted to try my hand at Hardanger Embroidery and picked up at book while the girls and I were shopping. Since my husband's unit has just been activated to deploy, I should have a little time between work and school (that's why Lean Cuisine makes microwave dinners!)
I guess that's it, I think I'll take some time to post my craft goals for 2006 on my web page, so please feel free to question me frequently about my progress, I tend to put off doing things for myself and it'll be a hard year as we face out first deployment.

I did get a very cool gift this year ... my husband bouth me a new digital camera with lots of lenses. he said that he thought it was about time since some of my photos had won first place in the Army photo contest. So aside from creative photography, I'll be using it to catalog my craft project progress. I can't wait ...

As far as resolutions and goals go, this year I have found a sure way to at least get SOME of my goals accomplished ... make a list of cross stitch goals. So here it goes ...
1. Organize my craft closet and the WIP projects.
2. Finish some of the WIPs, especially ...
~ the centerpieces created for my wedding that did happen (thank you Army!)
~ the Easter project for my mom, BEFORE EASTER.
~ the Army Seal for George.
3. Learn something new ... Hardanger Embroidery.
4. Join in on swaps and trades, make new friends!
5. Learn to take a little time for "me"!

I'd live to hear what some of your goals are ... crafting and otherwise!