Two more old movies later and the first stitches are in. Yeah, last night it was "From Dusk till Dawn" and "Aliens". I am so excited, proud, pumped . . . I just can't explain it. This is definitely a good hobby to have. :) Even without finishing anything, I have a real feeling of accomplishment.
Unfortunately my few stitches (I have discovered that I am a slow stitcher) doesn't show up nicely on a photo, so I am including the pattern in the picture so that you can see by the pink highlighter how far I came. In defense of the few stitches, I have to admit that I had two false starts and had to do a bit of "frogging".
- Quote: "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
- - Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
It arrived. Can you believe it? My internet purchase arrived and only a week after I bought it - thank you Brenda! After that nasty first experience, it was wonderful to find someone so friendly and helpful to restore my faith in the world wide web. And isn't she beautiful? I am starting tonight . . . wish me luck.
I have a terrible cold, and was home yesterday. I had the whole day to sort out my threads and I decided to grid the fabric as I am still a newbie and need all the help I can get. It was wonderful to sit in front of the fire and just stitch and browse blogs all day long.Quote: "In two days tomorrow will be yesterday." (author unknown to me)
It was the new moon again (oops I am a little late - sorry!), and it is time for those of us that belong to the "Totally Useless SAL" to post pictures of our little bits and pieces. If you want to know more, you can visit the following blog http://dragonmyneedle.blogspot.com/
I love SAL's - so I just had to join! The thread in my little pot is not just of my stitching, it is a lot of frogging that went on this past month. But not to worry, we are just looking forward. :)
. . . he is not a friend of mine. Yes, yes, I know it is only a fly-catcher and that he is totally harmless (well at least to anything but flies :)) but still, he is bigger than my hand! When I looked up last night he was just sitting there, staring at me . . .
I don't know who got the bigger fright, me or him but I was in the living room before I even realized it. I didn't know I could move that fast. Jumped on the couch and started yelling at hubby to come save me (hie-hie).
Hubby was just getting into the bath at that stage, so it was a sight to see him come running with a fishing net to try and save the poor little thingie from me. I was ready to go ahead and zoom him with something very toxic! And usually they don't die from the fumes, they are drowned by the amount of spray as I don't stop spraying before they stop moving.
The scary part is that hubby confessed that he knew about mister for a week and didn't tell me. . . Luckily I didn't accidently touch him while opening a cupboard . . .
Started a little picture tonight while hubby and I watched "30 Days of Night" (beginning to think I do my best stitching in front of old movies!). The description said that it is suitable for beginners - so let's hope.
Only finished some of the ball that this little guy is holding but it was a lot of fun. It is really relaxing for me seeing all the little even stitches starting to make a shape (even if it is not a recognizable shape yet). The color in this photo is also a bit misleading, I think - it is actually a brilliant deep red (think it is this dead color because of the artificial light when I took the photo).
Today was a wonderful, lazy day. The whole of this past week, I was dreaming of having a day just lazing around in my PJ's all day long. I didn't want to answer the door or even hear the phone ring. I was looking forward to just playing around on the internet (reading and posting to my favourite forums) and trying to get my "freebie files" sorted out (I will never be able to find anything in there if I don't sort it out). And off course - doing some cross stitching.
It was a perfect day - I got to do a little bit of all of the above! Hubby went out fly fishing (its the last day of the season today) and I had the house to myself. My biggest indulgence of the day was my latte's . . .
I had three of these! (two with cream too!). Oh, you can bribe me with a goooood cup of coffee. Is there anything more delicious? No, no, no, I don't think so - it even beats chocolate in my book! We got this little espresso coffee maker a few Xmases ago and I can tell you that it is really one of my favourite appliances! :) An no, you won't gain any weight - coffee is magic, didn't you know? Silly, silly you . . . 
I am not happy with the little cross stitching that I did today. I don't know what it is that really rubs me the wrong way about it . . . I just haven't been able to work it out yet.
Maybe it is just because I am a bit of a perfectionist . . . it was supposed to be part of a scissor's fob but I think I am going to just file it under "practice".
Funny quote: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.
At last, I finished my painting (no name yet) and this is the one I am most proud of so far. It has taken quite a while but I think it was worth the effort. I started it way back in October 2008 and finished it in my painting class last week.
Just look at that! And it is huge . . . 50cm x 60 cm.
Isn't it pretty? My sister-in-law says that she cannot see the little holes in the fabric anymore and that I could take it home. I would much prefer if it was a counted cross stitch piece but since it is printed already, I will have a go at it anyway.
So I have been "frogging" since Saturday! I am planning on starting it all tonight . . . I can't wait for this workday to pass. Now if only she could remember where she bought it . . . she says it is so old, that she just cannot think of the place.Funny quote: Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.
My husband read my blog this weekend and he is upset. He says I make it sound like we live in the Middle Ages in our house and that I have to ask permission to do anything. (LOL)
I apologize . . . that was not the impression I wanted to give. I have a big mouth and I say a LOT!! :) I just think that he knows a little more about certain things (especially about internet stuff) and I ask his opinion.
Okay, now onto . . . stash!! I went out looking again and found this little store that has much too much stuff in there (don't you just love that kind of store, you never know what you will find). I got some really cheap thread and the cutie st little embroidery scissors. I am now very keen to try to make a scissors fob and scissors holder (I am searching the internet - any ideas will be welcome). I also bought some beads (what on earth am I going to do with that!). All in all, I know I will visit them again.
Funny quotes: How Many Roads Must A Man Walk Down Before He Admits he's lost?
I went onto eBay last night to go and drool a bit over my kit purchases and am devastated as I can't find anything. I got a message that said "user is no longer registered". I am hoping that it is only coincidence but the devil is just whispering in my ear all the time.
Did she take my money and run? I can't believe that she would . . . in the scheme of things, I think that even though 45 pounds are a LOT of money to me, to someone from England it is not that much. It must be just coincidence. I feel that I was so careful - I even went so far as to read the comments from people that bought stuff from her in the past.
I wonder if eBay will give out an email address in a case like this - if only I can contact her and find out what is going on. I am so disappointed - I was so looking forward to the kits as I am having trouble finding anything locally . . . I am off to work now. I hope by tonight when I get home, I will have a plan forward.
Well, maybe just a little . . .
I bought some books too today - well I need some pointers right? Come on, everyone needs help now and again . . . :) I am planning on taking a long, hot, steamy bath in the next few minutes so that I can start paging through these treasures :) And I NEED to make a decision regarding something to stitch . . . I think that ugly procrastination might be peeking up its ugly head again :(
Happy Mother's Day to everyone . . . even if you are just mother to a four legged baby, like I am.
I got the nicest SMS this morning (think it is calling texting in other parts of the world?). One of the girls that work under me, send me a message to wish me a Happy Mother's Day as she feels that I am a mother to her in the work environment. :) Isn't that sweet?
We had a wonderful lunch with family this afternoon and I think I need a nap - definately ate way too much.
Funny quote: I am still hot . . . it just comes in flashes now.
We went to see a tribute to Elvis on Friday night. We enjoy going to the Barnyard teatre and see almost every show they put on (every two months or so). I don't know if this concept is also used outside of South Africa but it is LOTS of fun. Groups of people sit at big wooden chunky tables (10 seats) and bring picnic food. This time we sat on the balcony and there we sat at a kind of little bar counter. It is very informal and people are encourage to make lots of noise as applause (stamping of feet, and hitting on the tables).
I am not a big Elvis fan but hubby wanted to go, so we thought we would make a night of it. We invited his sister and her family. Friday morning, DH informed me that he actually would prefer finger food and not take aways (my idea as it would have been sooooo much easier). Eight o' clock Friday morning I started phoning around and begging to be put on the platters lists. No luck. At last, I phoned a little catering place that we use at work and begged and pleaded "I'll take anything, just give me some of the left overs pleeeeaaase!". At last success and here is a photo of the platter. 
It was beautiful and tasted wonderful! Definately worth the huge price tag! We ate and ate - in the end we had to raise the white flag, and just left the rest for the cleaning crew. :)
The next show will be THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW and I am definately a fan of that! Can't wait for June!
Funny quote: Ideas don't stay in some minds very long because they don't like solitary confinement.
I have done it! Yes that is right, I have completed my first cross stitch project. I am so proud :) It was so much fun. I have now been looking at a few new pictures and patterns. Wow, there is so many to choose from but when I read about back stitching, and half stitches and confetti - what on earth are they talking about? I will have to ask my yahoo chat groups for help I think :)
Funny quote: All generalizations are false, including this one.
Please meet Spud, the destroyer. A toy hasn't been invented that he cannot destroy. Bought him a little toy-bone tonight that was so hard that I couldn't make a dent in it with my fingers. Must have lasted 10 minutes, maybe 5 . . . But I still love him. He is my little baby boy and he thinks he is a little boy too. That is all my fault off course - I have spoiled him rotten! He even sleeps in bed with us. :) My husband and I love to go camping out into nature - just somewhere where no-one else is. We often go away for a weekend. When Spuddie joins us, he sleeps with me in my sleeping bag. My husband is not too impressed when he has to get up at two in the morning when my baby wants to go potty. Hey I am not able to go down the stairs (we have a rooftop tent on our 4x4) with him in my hands.
That is my reason and I am sticking to it!! :)
Funny quote: Girls are like phones. We love to be held, talked too but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!
Well there it is . . . what I have been doing the last few evenings. And what fun! You can't beat Bruce Willis and cross stitching together! Mmmmm, he can be in an ad and I would take the time to watch it! One of our movie channels have been showing one of the "Die Hard"-movies very night and it has been fun stitching while things are blowing up all around the poor guy.
Today is the last day of my holidays and the first day of my brand new blog. Tomorrow it will be back to the grindstone but hopefully it will also be the first day of a lot of changes for the better for me. During this past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to look at a few blogs and read a little of other's ideas. It has definitely been an eye opener for me. I am just letting life pass me by - it is time to get past my procrastination and just do it (whatever "it" may be). My husband thinks that I have too many "interests" to be able to spend enough time with all. He may have a point but I don't think so. And off course I won't know if I don't try. I will only be concentrating on two major loves anyway - painting and needlework. I just love my oil painting and definitely do not want to give it up. I have just started looking at watercolor painting too but am still a bit lost on that front. And now during my holiday, I have re-discovered needlework (and more specially cross stitch work). I have joined three online groups (you will find the links on the side of this blog). I am hoping that I will find the motivation, especially with the SAL's (Sew along) of the groups to keep going. So far I am having a lot of fun reading and being part of the groups' emails.
I am leaving you with a quote from one of the girls on the forum “Be the kind of woman that each morning when your feet hit the floor the devil says “Oh crap, she’s up!” Isn't it just wonderful!
