Witchie Poo comes out of the Closet

Goodness it has been so long that I have taken my cross stitching out, Witchie Poo and her sisters that they have really turned haggard and green...lol
I decided that I just had to finish her and maybe just maybe she will be ready for Halloween 2010...I feel so guilty since my friend Cindy from Texas sent me my missing "glow in the dark" thread and I have used so little of it...shameful
I have been doing lots of crafts lately since that is what my "Altered Divas" Club buddies always work on...but I really do miss cross stitching and my stitching friends...especially Cindy F...
I am not sure if I will go back to the "Let's stitch" site since it is on Fridays and that is when we craft but I will post my progress anyway here and hope you like...Here's crossing my fingers that I stick to it...

Well off to take a picture of Witchie and gather all and get my chair ready...it maybe old but so comfy...lol

One note I did do a major rehauling of my craft room with my daughter's extensive help...she designed it with a little input from me as to what I have that is fixed (shelves and tables my dh build in) and with existing materials as much as possible can't afford those lovely white stackables that Michael's is famous for or the Ikea expediate that seems to be everywhere...we did it with lots of bins donated from my daughter (she redid hers too)... just the basics of clearing out the junk that seemed to accumulate with time.. it was turning into a storage area and I couldn't even sit in it anymore... One thing I love is that I finally got my huge wired paper racks up the way they should have been (they came from a scrap book store that went out of business a few years ago)...awesome...now to fill them up...lol no no just kidding they just need organizing..color scheme and maker...like humm I love Basic Gray, K&C, Bazzill etc... well I just love paper.
Organizing is still in early stages but there seems to be a place for everything... especially the MACHINES!! I just hated having to take each one out or down whatever the case was and now I have one spot for all of them.. yep..cricut, sizzix, embosser, the cinch binder (this one I just got for my birthday on Aug 16th), sewing machine etc...lots of machines courtesy of mostly daughter at xmas, birthday, mother's day etc... she just knows what I want...lol
when I take pics u will see what I mean...I just need to finish or just getting better organized...doing a few bins at a time... then having dh buiid 2 more small shelves...I want to be able to display some of the things I have done and put up the cork and blackboards...

opps sorry did not realize I just went on and on...see what happens when you are alone all day and have a place to write...though no one may read I feel maybe some one will...

ok now I will go have lunch, finish washing clothes and get out Witchie Poo
Here's to a creative evening...

Thanks for stopping by and please leave your comments..remember they are the footprints of where you have been and ..I really love them..

The Tree Progress

Wow I actually stitched 6 hours straight last night during the SAT with only the one necessary pitstop...even did without food! I am very pleased with my progress.
This design is so whimsical that I just love it and am looking forward to doing another of Michael Powell's cute designs.
I quit at 12:30am and crashed into bed, got up early for a work meeting.. then came home and after finally eating something did a little decorating around the house.. I am now going to quit since it is almost time to take everything down again...lol.. truthfully though I tend to leave everything up til the start of New Year so will really see lots of glowing lights for a while (will keep me inspired for any Xmas project I don't get to finish, good head start for next year...:)
Here is my tree..what do you think?



Will be a little sad to see it go but since it's for the kids I know I will see it again and again.. I know too that I will eventually make one for my self..

My daughter stopped by this afternoon and I had to scramble to hide my Rudolph and Tree and take out another project quickly... close call.

After they left the house was quieter and I gotta tell you I had a little bit of a fright. I was hearing a little bit of a noise but I couldn't distinguish what it was exactly and asked my husband but he couldn't tell.. I thought maybe it was from outside so I didn't give it much thought anymore..kids I figured. My husband was watching TV-sports (what else) and then fell asleep so I turned the sound down and decided to go back to my stitching for a while... no sooner had I taken my project out that I started to hear the sound again..eerie...this time it was like a voice I thought then maybe two voices.. I strained my ears to listen but still couldn't make out the words or where they were coming from.. I was getting curious and just a tad freaked out.. I searched the house going room to room.. nothing there but as I got closer to my favorite chair (cross stitch spot)I could again hear it..now I could tell they were voices..I felt a chill, I knew those voices..I got closer and leaned down to hear.. "Well, she really did turned out to be a fickle friend" one said..I was indignant.. they could not be talking about me, could they?.. "And after all we have been together, she treats us like this!" said the other voice, I knew it was the older of the two..... "And remember how she was besides her self when she was stuck and that wonderful new friend came to her rescue?" ... said the youngest..my cheeks burned..they WERE talking about me.. I was so embarrassed but confused what had I done to them..surely they understood what had happened? they were my friends and I felt that would know that I would never forget them and just because we had not been able to spend some time together it was due to time... I thought about my new friend..she had been there for me .. did she too think I had abandoned the others? Surely not..we talked all the time and she knew what I was doing, my schedule and she was always caring and constantly encouraging...
Wow, I started to laugh for it was my conscience talking...in the form of "Witchie Poo and her Sister"..so I uncovered them and apologized, made all the right ohhs and ahhs of how well they were holding up and promised that as soon as the holidays were over I would be with them again..pinkie swear.... My goodness they may be green in the face but I swear I saw some pleased as punch pink cheeks... It may not be New Year's yet but I have made one resolution and that is to return to dear friends (new and old, real and stitched ones) and share the new year...together. The sister's and I have toasted to it!!

As always, thank you for stopping by and please leave your comments since they are the only way I will know you have stopped and shared with me...after all they are the footprints of where you have been and ...I really love them..

M.I.A..

Yep that's me... I have been so outta my skin that I think I am two people...the one that wants to stitch and spend time on the blogs and the realistic one who has to deal with life. Guess which one was M.I.A.?..
Ok, let's start...This past Friday aka as "Black Friday" I got up real early (for me) 5:30 am to get ready for my training/motivating meeting approx 45 mins away..take my husband to work by 8:30am and be at the meeting at 9:30.. It was really good but lasted too long.. til 1:45pm and then a recap with my manager that lasted 20 mins and me with only 1/2 glass of OJ in my system..headache time! I left there went to make a bank deposit and post office.. I was thinking of stopping by one of the craft stores to pick up a few floss colors I needed but the parking lots were logged jammed wherever I looked.. not for me.. got home at 3:30.. I was hungry and exhausted.. I chose to lay down rather than eat! I zonked out for 2 hours, had to get a quick dinner ready (leftovers from turkey day) since dh was coming home early and kids were coming at 7:30pm just made it to pick him up at 6:30pm..traffic was awful on the way back so we got home late and barely had time to relax for a few mins when kids came... good thing they are so good and do not need serving or much attention.. they gave it to me! So lucky I am..
By the time they left and I could get to stitching it was almost 10pm and I was surprised that I was actually itching to get to it..
I didn't have much time for my usual Friday night SAT but I wanted to join so I jumped right in. (forgot to even post that I was stitching with them).
An off chance remark from my dh had made me stopping to think, he commented that I was beginning new projects and forgetting the old ones", so I pulled out "Earthdancer" and though it wasn't much I stitched a little on that.. a little on "Witchie Poo" and on the gifts for my kids... I kinda looked wired or crazy, maybe both!
Mr Frog was with me but no serious damaged I was able to catch him quickly..

Saturday I had to go to my local training class (they are every Mon, Thurs and Sat..the big meetings are on Fridays 45mins away... oh well it's part of this new job opportunity that I am starting.
Then came home and had no umph to get to stitching but I did tackle one of the gifts.. I realize that at this pace I will not get to finish it for Xmas so guess what? it is going to be put away for a little bit.. instead I got a couple of small ones that I can finish... maybe into ornaments, frames or pillow? will see how it goes.. unfortunately I never got to take pictures.. I left my camera with my daughter to print some Turkey Day pictures.
Sunday it rained and rained and rained...and was kinda of cool.. my dh and I stayed all bundled up and in bed watching/catching up with our favorite shows on TIVO.. it was fun and relaxing.. I want more days like these...*sigh*
I finally got camera back and took pictures Monday night..

Earthdancer

Witchie Poo

My son's gift that now is on hold

Due to financial situation (my daughter and her dh have really helped) we decided that for Xmas, handmade and recycled gifts are just the thing this year.. My daughter's idea and it fits right into my wallet... I know she did this for us since she knows I would have been stressing this year. What a lovely soul she is. :)
We always go to her house for Xmas and she is always so overly generous with everyone that this will help her too.. to finally follow the rules we always set up and she never follows.. 2 gifts and not expensive ones.. she never does listen!
The gift that I always ask for every year is that we can all be together and if there are no other gift that is soooo right with me! I guess it is the mother in me.

I cheated this year.. I hinted that besides the family together which is number one, her cross stitching stash is more than enough for me lol.. after all she no longer is stitching and she has a bigger stash than me... just 1/2 of her patterns, magazines and cloth would be more than satisfactory.. :).

Gosh I did not realize how I rambled on and on.. dangerous to be M.I.A. on a long weekend...lol.
As always, thank you for stopping by and please leave your comments since they are the only way I will know you have stopped and shared with me...after all they are the footprints of where you have been and ...I really love them..

I'm a Glowing!!

Actually Witchy Poo and Sister's are.. Thanks to a very lovely friend who located my much needed Kreinik Blending Filament (they glow in the dark) and had them shipped to me, I was able to start glowing last night.. :)
I didn't do as much progress as I thought I would because I was itching to glow.
Oh my, that filament is so hard..you guys know how careful you have to be to get it not to tangle...well, I did so well on the half moon on the left top corner and then I worked on the big moon with bat in the middle and it has two 2 different colores ...oppsy.. I had two bad tangles that after frogging I just said that's it.. it was late and the eyes were not working... I have been sick and this was just to much strain on them..
But, all in all, not bad..right? I figure as long as I do some progress it's better than no progress.
Oh, ugh, humph, I forgot to mention that I kept shutting off the light so I could see the glow...hehehe.. :) (wonder if that's what invited the frog..? sheesh ..
Before
After
Well, I am off to start my new piece for this week.. it is a gift for my kids..
I still have a month so hopefully I can finish it in time.. it's not difficult but hopefully it comes out good.. more details later..

Thanks for stopping by and please leave your comments..remember they are the footprints of where you have been and ..I really love them..

Witchy Poo My After Pix for Friday's SAT

Well, wasn't much progress.. I was so exhausted after the 3 day intensive training I had that I fell asleep counting stitches!
As you can see the cute spiders are in, the web, I have a sister witch coming along and I worked on the upper right hand corner on the border.
I just received the floss I needed to work on that particular area..courtesy of a great friend... It is Kreinik glow in the dark and I just know that it's gonna look really cute when I add it in... Never worked with the Kreinik so hope it's not too difficult..

Coaster #4

I did make good progress on my last coaster and almost finished it but had a big family personal meeting that took time and so no stitching on Saturday.. but anytime I can spend with them fills by heart.. they are the loves of my life.
Once they are finished I am starting a project for my son who is a fireman and his S.O. who also is a firewoman/person. It is really just three colores so it might be easy but still not sure..
Will keep everyone up to date as soon as I decide..
Thank you for stopping by and please leave your comment remember they are footprints of where you have been and.. I love them..

Tonight's Stitching

Well, I will be stitching tonight over on Lets Stitch and I tell you I am so looking forward to it... I have been looking for a job and Tues went for an Interview.. Wednesday I was invited back for a three day training.. intensive. Should everything go well, I will be really looking forward to these Friday nights since they will probably be the only time I will be able to relax.. lol..

I am making better progress on Witchy Poo I have started on one of her sisters and she has "spiders".. the web was easy and the spiders simple and cute... I changed the stitch for the spiders from plain x to french knots..gave them a more fluffy round body.. Also started on the last coaster..
Will post pictures after tonight's stitching and my progress..

Thank you for stopping by and please leave a comment remember they are the footprints of where you have been... and I love them... :)

MR Frog came to visit and stayed!

I did however manage to finish the alphabet for Witchy Poo and Sisters (really called "Gather for a Spell" ) soI feel that I did something but I just know I could have done much more *sigh*.
After a few false steps I finally got into the swing and was feeling good when I got the " Y & Z" I realized that the space was 1-2 stitches over...I boo-boo...but I am not gonna take them out, somehow I will adjust the pattern accordingly..(crossing all fingers and toes)...

On the good news front I did finish another coaster the ornament..yippie... just one more to go.. Of course my dh now decides that he would love to see them in a pillow!..
And I thought I was thru with this project...oh well.



Thank you for stopping by. Leave your comments remember they are like footprints of where you have been..
plus I love it and could use the encouragement :)
Signing out for the moment...

Witchy Poo has beads and letters

Back with an update on Witchy Poo's progress...
Its been slow but worth while so far...
This weeks challenge was to work on Alphabet...so I finished with her beads in the cauldron and began her letters..
Mid way through the second letter I decided that I needed to stitch a grid,something I have never done...never!.. so instead of asking questions or look up instructions I just plowed along thinking I could do this...(It was really late Monday night and I didn't feel like research)
Well, first line was a disaster...well not that bad but after I looked at it I knew I did not do it right. I mean what was the purpose of the grid if not to help you know where to start, stop or end a design...duhhh!

So I made a plan...lol.. and started my second (horizontally) and then the third was vertically...wow I got it...(if it's not the correct way don't tell yet please this is working for me) lol ... I could see that I was on my way... I was able to see the start of another letter and it cut my counting in half!
I will never stitch a big pattern without those grid lines it's so much easier and faster..
Tuesday was a life day...you know when life takes over and intrudes on your stitching fun.. Looking for a job, setting up interviews, faxes, emails etc.. then of course the dreaded "housework"!.. I wasn't able to get to cross stitching till late again and I made a little more progress...
Wednesday is catchup with laundry, grocery shopping, etc.. but since I didn't have any interviews lined up :( .. I will be stitching a little today but earlier..
Grid lines here I come.. you can see the few I did already in the picture..

I was going to work on the other 3 coasters but I didn't so far and my poor "Earthdancer" just got a few stitches in...gotta stick with the schedule!

Well, hope you are all are stitching away with your own projects..let me know what you are doing and how it's coming along I would love to know...like always thanks for stopping by

Late I know, but I had a long night, several interruptions, the beginnings of a migraine and the dreaded frog who just would not leave.
I finished the back stitching and now I am adding the beads..
For those who remember I have not really stitched in a very long time..technically stopped learning in the late 90's... no internet to go to for information, no stitching buddies, so I am like really new at this ( at least that is how I felt last night!)..I have always felt bothered with beading due to them sometimes being loose or downright crooked...So now...I decided to research it and I learned that I had a choice...yeah you probably knew that but eye opener for me...I always just did a half stitch (left to right) and went on the next..well I learned that I can just finish that x but when coming over split the 2 ply and have one on each side of the bead and that will anchor that bead..wow.. how lame of me not to have known that already!
I am so much happier with my bead work...Look at how she has all the bead work nice and straight and it's tight! yipee.. lol
I was too tired last night to finish but I will this weekend...gotta wait for the migraine to go away..(and did I mention Mr. Frog)