Duke and Stitching

First off, I'd like to mention that I adore my cat. He's the sweetest little guy (when he feels like it.) The other day I was dying of the heat, so I cranked up the A/C to deep freeze. However, it seemed to me that Duke was probably cold. (His fur was cold, which isn't a good thing, I think.) Anyway, so I covered him up while he cuddled up on my chair. 

As far as stitching goes, right now I'm focusing on a project for a lady in New York state. It's a birth record for her son, and I'm really having a good time with it. It's the first pattern I've stitch from With My Needle, but I'm pleased. Plus, the colors really suit my personal preferences, so it looks good to my eye. Since it's not my project, I won't post photos until it's completed, and I have permission from the woman it's for. 

I did take a few moments to stitch up a little piece from The Heart's Content. I wanted to try stitching over one on 40 count. I did enjoy it, but my brain hurt afterwards, I felt a little cross-eyed for a few days afterwards. However, the end result was just SO charming, I can see myself doing this again in the near future. (Once I have a VERY bright light, and one of those magnifiers.)

Look! A little bunny came to smell the flowers.

This is the fabric I intend to back the piece with. It was included in the kit, but I really do like them together.

Please don't eat my flower little bunny!

Nope, that's not a godzilla thumb, the piece is just so tiny, I thought I needed to show some scale.

My attempt at an "art" shot. I have some practice ahead of me! This was SO much fun to stitch. When I get back from my trip, I'll be bringing a sewing machine with me, and once I get a little practice, I plan on turning this into my first scissor fob!

Unfortunately, Claudia

So, a friend suggested that I type in "unfortunately, Claudia" into Google, and see what came up. For the slightly twisted part of my brain, it was really quite amusing, my favorites are:

"...have some potential nasty side effects, unfortunately Claudia experienced this."

"Unfortunately, Claudia refused to grown and learn, so her potential could not be fully reached."

"Unfortunately, Claudia has suffered from Peru's current bad economy and had to take a loss in the selling of the chilies."

"Unfortunately, Claudia's travels never took her there."

"Unfortunately, Claudia cannot answer all emails personally."

"Unfortunately Claudia could only find one lake in Germany."

"Unfortunately, Claudia and Alex get into a bad fight. To make matters worse, someone locks Alex and Claudia up in the toilet by mistake."

And the strangest "Unfortunately, Claudia died at her post in the final battle against Khyron (although in the original Macross, she does not die)."

Unfortunately, my life hasn't been nearly this entertaining... lol

PIF - Pay It Forward

So, I've been thinking about a good way to improve my karma. I feel like it's something that needs tending to... Several of the stitching blogs that I follow have what are known as PIFs, or Pay It Forwards, based on the movie of the same name. I've signed up for one at Moon Child's blog (http://moonchild776.blogspot.com/), and of course I want to pass it on. Now, the way that I'm going to work this is the first 5 people who comment on this post will get something from me. (Be warned, I'm going to use this as an excuse to practice my finishing skills, which are currently nil.) I promise that whatever you receive will be something that I am proud to give, and you'll get it within the next year. The rules are that you have to pass the warm fuzzy feeling on. Either put up a similar post with a similar promise on your blog, or if you're not a blogger, pass it on in your own way, and then let me know about it! Sending little crafts is the easiest way for me to PIF, so that's why I'm choosing this method. I don't know about other people, but for me, getting something in the mail can make my whole week better. (Hold over from living at boarding school, when packages meant goodies from home or Mrs. Biddle!) Just leave a comment, and if I don't know you personally, your email, and I'll get working on a little goodie just for you!

Claudia

First Etsy Sale

So, I completed my very first custom work for a woman through Etsy. I've made and completed a bookmark for her, and I'm popping it in the mail tomorrow. I'm working with another woman on Etsy to create a custom banner for my shop, and I'll be taking better pictures of the items I have to sell so that my shop will be more inviting. 

Also, I have an order from a woman on Etsy to make a birth announcement for her grandchild. I'm just waiting on the materials to arrive so that I can get it started. I'm glad to feel productive again. :)

Cross Stitch Nook

It may not be a fancy sewing room, or some designer inspired nook, but it's all mine!!! The chair is incredibly comfortable, the lamp sheds light right onto my work, and my stash is within easy reach! Really, what else could you ask for? I've covered the chair with a blanket to keep all that cat fur (and claws) off of it, but I think that it just ends up looking homey. 

The Rings!

My ring!

Daniel's Ring!

We've decided on these rings from James Avery. After a LONG discussion we've decided to go with silver rings. We both like the brightness of silver better than white gold, and platinum is out of sight these days. Also, we're not fans of yellow gold. We know that silver means that we'll have to polish them, but these rings are going to be a BREEZE to polish, so we're okay with that. They look much more similar in real life. Daniel's is just 1/32 inch wider than mine, and the difference is just REALLY subtle. I had thought that I would want something more dramatic. There's a James Avery ring with Hebrew on it saying "My Beloved is Mine and I am His" that I really thought that I wanted. However, I realized that traditional was really the way to go for us. 

Anyway, I'm thrilled with the rings that we chose, and I can't wait to have him put mine on, and me put his on at the wedding! :) I realized that I have been choosing most of the vendors/locations/everything by what I can visualize at the wedding, and when I saw these rings I could just see us standing in front of everyone exchanging them. I guess that since a wedding is an emotional thing, it's ok to make all my decisions based on emotions. (Well, mainly, I'm getting contracts to back everything up as well! lol) 

Stitching Goals

So, I'm always trying to remember what my stitching goal for the month are (as everything else gets in the way) so I thought that this month I would try and write them down. We'll see if I get enough of them done this month, for me to want to make it so public next month!!

1. Finish "Peace on Earth"

2. Start, and get to at least part 2 of the Grand Abecedaire

3. Make something for Lisa

4. Do both baby bibs, one boy and one neutral. Get both mailed!

5. Make one of the items from my Heart's Content kit, and then finish it myself.

I think 5 is ambitious enough. I have my nieces at least for two days while they're on Spring Break, which means I won't be able to get anything done those days! :) Plus I do have school to still focus on.