Happy New Year

Hope everyone has had a wonderful 2009 and here's to 2010. I did have one more finish for 09 ... I finished the first ornament "Fa La La" for the LHN SAL. I received "Pear Tree" this week so that will probably be my next start. I've put a few more stitches in my stocking as well. I've had a fairly productive year ... but I do believe that I still have quite a few projects to finish finish. I don't have that many WIPs at the moment (I think two) and have some projects that I do want to start next year for birthdays and such. We'll see how it goes with the little one around.

Here's was my second to last finish for the year ... an ornament for an exchange. I hope you enjoy.

"Snow Cottage"

Designer: Cross Wise Designs

Fabric: Unknown linen from ornament pack

Thread: DMC White and Krienik pearl

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Go Navy!

We interrupt our regular scheduled programing to say

Go Navy! Beat Army!

Today I will be watching the game with friends from work. Nothing like one of the best rivalries in college football :). I know they are a long way from being national contenders (there have been years where the Army-Navy game was between the #1 and #2 teams in the nation ... but that was way before the BCS and all that jazz) but it is full of great pageantry and often a really great game. I'll go back to regularly scheduled stitching soon ... I have some ornaments and progress to share. Have a great day!

Christmas stitching

Well, I have been able to get some good stitching time in, so I've been focusing mostly on some Christmas stitching (since it's that time of year). First up is a piece that I wanted to finish for the Advent season ... I've picked up some coordinating fabric and just need to complete it in a finished form (maybe I'll work on that today).

Design: "Lights of Advent"

Designer: Erica Michaels (from JCS Ornaments 06)

Fabric: Unknown ornament cut from DSL

Threads: Recommended DMC

I've also been working on LHN's "Fa-La-La", the first ornament in their monthly ornament series. I don't have a progress picture but will post once I finish it. I decided to stitch it over 1 ... which has been an interesting experience. On Tuesday I finally pulled out the fabric and pattern to start my Christmas stocking. Here's what I had at the end of Friday night:

And this is all the work that I did on Saturday, while watching football and a Christmas movie (and doing other chores around the house):
I am really enjoying this piece. This one is Joan Elliot's Christmas Angel Stocking from the Aug 06 issue of the Cross Stitcher. Hopefully she won't take me as long as the first one (she shouldn't if I don't put her aside for months on end).

I'm enjoying the weather today much more than the rain we had yesterday (it was a little too warm for it to turn to snow here). Today is blue sky with white clouds, a bit chilly but not too bad. I think I might wrap presents today and maybe do some baking to send to family and friends that are deployed for the holiday season. I'm going to do a bit more stitching as well. Have a wonderful day!

Thanksgiving

As I sit here in the quiet, up before others are moving around or have arrived, I am taking some time to reflect on today. I love this quiet time in the morning before everything starts to get hectic. Especially today, a day set aside to give thanks for the blessings that we have. However, giving thanks shouldn't be restrained to one day or just remembered for one day. We should continually give thanks in all that we do.

For the past week or so, I have been putting something I'm thankful up daily as my status on Facebook. I have tried to expound on those things. Today I give thanks to God that both my husband and I are home for Thanksgiving rather than half way around the world like last year. I am thankful that both sets of parents live close enough to come down for the weekend. I rejoice that we are able to share the cooking responsibilities with parents and other relatives. I am thankful that my parents are coming for Thanksgiving since I haven't spent a Thanksgiving with them in 5 years. I give thanks that we are able to open our home to my husband's sailors that don't have a place to go for the holiday. I'm grateful for the weather that we've had ... even though it's been rainy and cloudy it hasn't been too cold. I give thanks that our preparations for our new arrival continue to go on pace. I can't believe how close it is getting to her arriving.

We give thanks in all situations. No matter what trials are going on in your life, there are always some small blessings to be thankful for. Sometimes it's hard to find those blessings, but if you search hard enough, they'll be there. I pray that you all have a wonderful day and Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate :) God Bless.

Happy Dance!!!!

This has been a great weekend for finishing :). I finally finished DH's Christmas stocking ... it only took me 2 years and 2 months. Hopefully the next ones will go faster (since there were long stretches of time without stitching on the stocking. I had a lot of fun stitching it and am looking forward to the next one. I am going to wait to finish finish it until I at least get mine done as well so that I am doing more than one at a time (and there isn't a huge time in between finishes).

Design: "Gingerbread Stocking"

Designer: Joan Elliot (The Cross Stitcher - Aug 05)

Fabric: 14 ct White Aida

Thread: Recommended DMC, Kreinik and beads

I also finished my "whet your appetite" ornament for the Little House Ornament SAL. I plan on finishing this as a pillow ornament. It was a fun stitch and now I'm just waiting for the first ornament of LHN's new series to arrive since I believe it has been shipped.

Design: "Glory to God"

Designer: Little House Needleworks (JCS Ornament 08)

Fabric: Stash Linen (count and color unknown)

Threads: Recommended and DMC alternatives

I also finished my SWO pin to go with hubby's dolphins. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture before I took it into my LNS to get framed. So I will share a picture when I get it back. I haven't quite finished the next project, but am to the point where I'm working on the backstitch. This one won't be finished until I can personalize it with little one's information so it will probably be one of my first 2010 finishes. I plan on getting everything but the personalization done in the next few weeks. So here's my current progress on the Classic Winnie the Pooh sampler.

Since I finished up my other ornament, I was inspired to start another. I decided to start stitching Erica Michael's "Lights of Advent" from the 2006 JCS Ornament issue. This was as far as I got since I need to pick up the other DMC colors needed to stitch the ornament.

Since I didn't have the threads needed to finish, I spent the rest of this evening working on a wedding present (which I don't have any pictures to share of). I decided to put it on my scroll frame since I've taken the stocking off. So that's it for my stitching ... it feels good to get some of those long UFO finally finished. Hope you had a great Sunday!

Birthday Present for My Sister

I hadn't had a chance to post this before since I wanted to wait until my sister received it before I put it up. I finished the cross stitch a few weeks ago and finished it as a no-sew cube about a week and a half ago. I saw the kit at my LNS back in the spring and just knew that I need to stitch it for my sister. This is my first attempt at this kind of finish. I think it turned out fairly well and my sister loved it.

"N" Is For Nurse

Designer: The Sweetheart Tree

Fabric: 28 ct Summer Khaki Cashel Linen

Thread: DMC

Veterans Day

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 91 years ago, the Armistice was signed ending WWI. That day became known as Armistice Day and in 1954, the US changed it to honor all Veterans and it was henceforth known as Veterans Day in the US (I believe it's still celebrated as Armistice Day in many other countries). This Veterans Day, I would like to take the opportunity to honor three Veterans that have had an impact in my life. I would like to honor my grandfathers for their service to this country.

The first is Grandpa Ray (my paternal grandfather). He served in WWII in the US Navy. He enlisted towards the end of the war and continued to serve for another few years after the war. Once he got out of the Navy he used the GI Bill to go to college and then went to work for an electric company. Unfortunately, I never knew him that well since he passed away when I was about four.

Grandpa Ray

The second is Grandpa Mac (my maternal grandfather). He was a little to young to enlist during WWII, but joined the army afterwards. I didn't realize this until I had called him to get his service dates, but he had gotten out for a year or so and then reenlisted. He served for over 20 years and retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. They were stationed in places such as Greece, Iran, Taiwan and Germany.

Grandpa Mac Sampler I stitched for him

The final person I want to honor is Grandpa Fred (my paternal step-grandfather). He retired as a LtCol from the Army. He served with Gen Patton in WWII. I always loved hearing his stories from that time and from his time teaching at West Point. Fred would always greet you with a smile. I want to honor him today because this past Sunday we lost him, as we continue to lose the WWII veterans almost daily. RIP Fred ... you will be greatly missed.

Remember the fallen, those who have served and those who are serving today and every day. God Bless!

PIF and WIP updates

Well, I heard from Belinda and Pike that they received their PIF a few weeks ago. I haven't heard from Gaby yet, but hopefully she's received it. So without further ado, here are the ornaments that I stitched for my PIF:


The Angels are from Leisure Arts' Holidays Remembered (Christmas Remembered Book 5). They are stitched on random pieces of fabric that I had in my stash (I think one was probably a 28 ct and the other two were either 30 or 32 ct) with the recommended DMC threads.

I've also made some great progress on DH's stocking. I've just got a bit more backstitch in the bottom, then it's coming off the scroll frame in order to add the beads. That aspect doesn't seem as daunting anymore since I completed a small project with beads as a present for my sister. That was the one thing I was slightly worried about. So right now I'm going to make my goal to finish his stocking by the end of November and start on mine. I think I will wait to do the finishing until I complete at least my stocking. I will also have to pick out a stocking for the little one as well. I'm planning on sticking with the Joan Elliot stockings from the Cross Stitcher magazine.


I've been working on two other projects as well. The first is the birth sampler for the little one. She's gotten nicknames such as Peanut, Pooh Bear, Dinosaur and others. We decided to decorate the nursery with a Winnie the Pooh theme (the classic style). I was lucky to be able to find this birth sampler kit from Anchor. Here is my progress so far:


The other project I'm working on is going to be a wedding present for a good friend. Unfortunately it's a wedding we won't be able to attend since it's two days prior to my due date in another state. At this point, I don't think it will be finished prior to the wedding, but we'll see how it goes.

I was able to finish a project for my sister this past weekend but since it's going to be a present, no photos at this time. I'll post a picture after I give it to her (I don't think she reads this but just in case). I still have to finish it into it's final form, but should be able to complete that this week. Other than that, I've decided to join Vonna's LHN ornament of the month SAL. I am also planning to actually start my work on my Bride's Tree ornaments for the Bride's Tree SAL this month so I will start with the Nov ornament and have them complete by next Christmas.

I've been enjoying the fall weather around here. The rain has finally gone away and hopefully it will stay away through out this weekend. Hopefully it won't be as long until my next update (I just need to remember to take pictures so I can post them). Next time, I'll share some pieces that have been framed with you. God Bless and have a wonderful day!

Long Needed Update

First of all, I want to begin with an apology to the three ladies that I owe PIF to. I have been terrible about getting them done, but not to worry, they are in progress and hopefully will be winging your way soon. Unfortunately I had about a two-three month period that I was not stitching at all (and of course the deadline for my PIF fell right in the middle of that period). Due to a few different events in my life, stitching was not high on the priority list.

The first major event was changing this:

into this:

DH and I decided that our kitchen was in serious need of a makeover, so for most of the summer most of our kitchen stuff had been moved to the living room and there was dust every where from the demolition and the construction. This was not the most cross-stitch friendly environment. So that is one reason my stitching got pushed to the side. The other reason was that for most of that time period I was just plain exhausted due to this:



DH and I are expecting our first little one at the beginning of next year. Thankfully the worst that I got was the exhaustion and not really the morning sickness. The pending arrival also resulted in a change in jobs which caused about a month or so of upheaval around the house as well.

Thankfully, I finally found my stitching mojo again towards the end of August. I succeeded in finishing the cross stitch for DH's stocking (now to finish the backstitch and the beading). It's taken a back seat so I can finish up these PIFs. The stitching is complete for the first and started on the second. Hopefully all three will be finished and ready to head out the door at the end of the month.

Oh, and I finally get to show you a piece I finished during my deployment. Thank you Vonna again for finishing it. It has been sitting around my house for months waiting to get sent to the intended recipient. I finally got my butt in gear and sent it to Miss Hope this week and she received it yesterday.

Design: "Hospitality"

Designer: Erica Michaels

Fabric: I think it was a 32 ct R&R that was suggested in the pattern

Threads: Suggested WDW

Finished by: The Twisted Stitcher

Hopefully there will not be such a long delay before my next posting. Have a great night! God Bless!

Fair Square Update

I received my squares from Karen T. about three weeks ago.  I'm a little behind in posting pictures ... she also received the squares I sent her about two weeks ago.  It's been a little busy around here because I am in the process of changing jobs.  I hope you enjoy :)

Design: "Spring Time"

Designer: Homespun Elegance

Fabric: 32 ct Linen

Threads: WDW and DMC

Stitched by: Karen R.

"April Showers"

Designer: Cookie Cutter Charmers (Charland Designs)

Fabric: 32 ct. Ivory Jobelan

Threads: DMC, Caron Collection, Needle Necessities

As for current stitching ... I've been working on DH's stocking and my pin.  I'm about half done with my pin (unfortunately don't have an updated photo).  I think I might begin a new start this weekend.  Enjoy your long weekends in the US ... don't forget to remember our fallen service men and women on Monday.

My Favorite Things

Since Shari tagged me ... here you go.

These are the rules:

1. Mentioned who tagged you.
2. List six unimportant things that make you happy.
3. Tag six more blogs, then go and comment on their blogs. Let them know that have been challenged, and invite them to play along.

Six Favorite Things

1. Watching TV series with my husband ... we started with the first season of NCIS and have also worked through How I Met Your Mother, Lie to Me and started Scrubs.

2. Reading ... mostly fiction but I'll read a lot of different things. I love to go to the library and check out a stack of books to read.

3. Cross stitch ... I love seeing the designs come together as you put more stitches in the project. Amazing what you can do with some fabric and floss.

4. Sunsets/sunrises ... the sunrise is the best part about having an early morning watch. I love the late watches when the weather is clear and you can see all of the stars.

5. Hot chocolate

6. Pictures ... I love to take pictures of people, places and things.

I think I'm going to pass on the tagging of others this time ... if you want to play along, feel free. If you do ... please leave me a comment so I can see your responses.

On this Day in 2006

I married my best friend.


Happy Anniversary!

New Start and a Ball

I started a new piece on Sunday after I finished up the Spring Round of Fair and Square (which should be in the mail later this week). I finally started to stitch my SWO pin to go with DH's dolphins. I changed the colors so that they match what I already did. So hopefully I will finish this quickly and maybe Becca can update my banner ;). Here's my progress so far:

The other part of my post title refers to the Sub Ball that I mentioned last week. DH and I had a wonderful time with the other sailors from his boat. Here's a quick pic from the night.


Thanks for visiting!

Finish!

I was hoping to have this finished earlier in the week but didn't quite make it.  After a marathon of Heroes (both today and Thursday) I finally finished the piece.  I was planning on trying to finish it last night while on duty at the ship, but ended up playing Monopoly with my sailors for most of the evening (a very enjoyable evening, I must say).  So with out further ado, here is "Liberty Lights".

"Liberty Lights"

Designer: Erica Michaels

Fabric: 32 ct. Dark Expresso

Threads: Recommended WDW

This was a fun stitch.  I used the recommended thread and fabric (though a 32 ct rather than a 30 ct).  The funny thing is, I don't think I picked out the fabric because it was the recommended one ... I think I realized that after I bought it for the project.  The pattern is one that I received from Heather

last year as part of our 4th of July Fair Square exchange. I just remembered that the red isn't the recommended garnet but Turkish Red instead (Heather sent me half of the threads to get started).

Though I do have a question for all of you stitchers out there ... what is the best way to iron a piece? Since I travel with mine a lot, they will get folded or rolled or just develop creases from where I hold it. I have discovered that I really like to stitch in hand when I'm stitching on linen. I don't want to cause any damage to the piece but would also like to get it ready for finishing so I can try some different techniques myself. Any suggestions or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Next up ... finishing my spring F&S round. I think I will continue to work on DH's stocking and may start something else this weekend as well. Have a great weekend!

Deployment Finishes

I didn't have a lot of time to stitch while I was gone but I did manage to finish a few pieces other than my exchange squares. I also finished almost all of the cross stitch on DH's stocking. Stitching was a great way to relax but typically I really only had a chance to do some serious stitching on Sundays. The first piece I finished was one I had started right before I left on deployment called Music Harmony. It was a Dimensions kit.

Music is Harmony (Dimensions)

Fabric: 14 ct Ivory Aida

Threads: Cotton floss (kit)

The next piece that I finished was one that only took me about a week and a half to do. I started it while watching the Army Navy game (which I am glad is an early game since it wasn't in the middle of the night due to the time difference) and finished it on the 12 of Dec. I have decided to gift it to a friend so no pictures until it is finished and received ... I don't want to ruin the surprise.

My last finish of 08 was an ornament kit that I received in a care package from Melissa M. who sent me a couple of books that had been on my wishlist. It's called Hearts come Home and I finished it on New Year's Eve. Now it just needs to be finished into an ornament before this upcoming Christmas.

Hearts Come Home

Designer: Leisure Arts' Designs for the Needle Kit

Fabric: 18 ct White Aida

Thread: Cotton floss (kit)

While on deployment I did make a lot of progress on DH's stocking. I finished the bottom half and moved to the top half. All I have left is some of the snow on the roof, the name and the top border (for the cross stitch). Then I have all of the detail work ... backstitching and beads. I should have no trouble finishing it this year ... I just need to actually work on it.

The last two pictures are of pieces that I finished before deployment and had framed at my LNS.  They turned out wonderfully again ... as always.  The first is the dolphins I stitched for my DH and the second is "Thank You for Serving" which I stitched for my grandfather. They both saw the finish products in December. My husband received his when he returned from deployment and my parents took the piece down to FL to give to my grandfather during our annual Christmas gathering.

So I think that pretty much catches you up on what I got done while I was gone.  I also worked on a wedding sampler and started another project (Erica Michael's Liberty Light).  I finished the wedding sampler last week and need to take it in to be framed.  I should finish the other shortly.  I am also working on my squares for the Spring round of the Fair and Square exchange.  The other fun I've had is designing another wedding piece for friends of mine that are getting married in June.  So now I just have to get started stitching.  I'm off duty for the weekend and DH and I are heading to the sub ball tonight.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend with plenty of time to stitch.  I will see you next week!

PIF received

Here is the PIF I received from Paula C.. I absolutely love the floss tag. Now I just need to get cracking on mine since I only have a few months left to get them done. This was a great thing to have waiting for me when I got home a few weeks ago.

I still have more to update (I finally got all of the pictures on my computer). I will post more soon. A few of my finishes I'm going to wait to post until after they have been received since they are gifts. I know at least one of the recipients checks my blog on occasion so I don't want to ruin the surprise. Thank you for all of the welcome homes. I really appreciate it. Now if I could just get rid of the cold/illness that has been plaguing me, I might get some more stitching done. God Bless!

Fair Square Exchanges

Here are all of the squares that I have sent and received in the Fair Square exchange in the last four months. I had a great time participating while I was deployed. Most of my stitching during deployment was for the exchange. I hope you enjoy! I loved all of the squares that I received from everyone. Thanks to Karen R., Melissa P, Nancy and Cyndi H!

"Italian Ice" - Just Nan
Stitched by Karen R (Australia)

"April Blocks" - Lizzie Kate
Stitched by Melissa P (MA)

"Egg Ornaments"
Designer: Linda Culp Calhoun (Leisure Arts: Holidays Remembered)
Fabric: 32 count Ivory Jobelan
Threads: DMC

"Snowy Night"
Designer: The Prairie Schooler, Inc. (2008 JCS Ornament Issue)
Fabric: 32 count Ivory Jobelan
Thread: DMC

"The Many Faces of Santa"
Designer: Leisure Arts Christmas Portraits
Fabric: 32 count Ivory Jobelan
Threads: DMC

Christmas Squares (I don't remember the name of the design right now)
Stitched by Cyndi H (CA)

Thanksgiving Squares (I think the main square was a Lizzie Kate design)
Stitched by Nancy

"Give Thanks"
Designer: Joan Elliot (Cross-Stitch & Needlework Nov 08)
Fabric: 32 count Ivory Jobelan
Threads: DMC

Home Again!

I'm home again! We pulled in two weeks ago in the midst of a lot of fog and rain. My sister was able to come out for our tiger cruise and spend the last day on board with me to see what we did. My husband and mom were waiting for us on the pier. It's great to be back stateside. I have a lot of stitching to update you all on, but that will have to wait for a massive picture post. I just wanted to do a quick post to say that I'm home and should be getting back into regular posting again soon. Happy Stitching!

DC Olympics and other updates

Well, first I need to share what's been going on for the last month. Around the time of my last posts I was at home (yes ... in the middle of deployment) waiting for my dear husband to return home from his deployment. My command allowed me to take leave to fly back home for a short period of time to see Justin. On the other side of the coin, he was allowed to get off the boat two days early since their homecoming date got pushed back four days (leaving us with about a day and a half together). So between the two commands we got to have four days together :). I had to fly out again on Christmas Day but we got to do our presents and hang out and even go to church together on Christmas Eve (you can probably count the number of times we went to church together in 2008 on two hands). Justin is enjoying his stand down and only having to be at the boat on duty days (for the most part). I'm enjoying the fact that communications are not hampered by XX ft of water.

Since I've been back to the ship, the major event that we have had is a change of command. (For you non-military types ... it's exactly what it sounds like ... a new Captain has assumed command of the ship and our old Captain headed back home). Of course this is somewhat unusual to do in the middle of deployment, but if that's when they rotate, that's when they rotate. It was definitely a laid back change of command. The uniform was coveralls or flight suits (typically it's at least a dress uniform such as summer whites or service dress blues). One benefit of being underway for the change of command. In addition, we will be getting a new executive officer (the second in command) shortly. So the command environment will be different when we return from when we left.

We have been keeping busy with various exercises. For the most part, it's somewhat boring and really turns into Groundhog's Day. So to break things up we do things like the "Arabian Gulf Games" which is a chance for the departments to compete against each other in various physical activities such as volleyball, soccer, dodgeball, tug-o-war, kickball and basketball. Yes, there is enough room to do some version of these activities on my ship. Most of the events were held in the well deck (where the LCACs (landing craft air cushion) and other amphibious vehicles are kept when embarked).

Today we had a DC (Damage Control) Olympics. It was a competition between the repair lockers (and a team from the staff) at various DC events. Repair lockers are a GQ (general quarters) station. When there is a fire, flooding, or other emergency, the equipment to fight the casualty can be found in the repair lockers. General quarters is a condition we go to in case of emergency (whether a main space (propulsion spaces) fire or an imminent attack). The repair lockers allow for damage control efforts to be organized. There are ten lockers on board my ship (due to its size). We competed in races to done FFE (fire fighting ensemble) and SCBA (the breathing apparatus), pipe patching, finding a fallen shipmate in an area that was dark and smoky and various other events. Each of the lockers was well represented. I believe my locker ended up right in the middle of the pack, which made me happy since during most of our drills, we aren't really involved. My locker provides the 5th or 6th relief team in case of a main space. Hopefully I have explained everything well, I know a lot of the terms will not be familiar to those not in the Navy.

We are past the halfway point and on the downward slope. I am looking forward to being home again. I hope the new year is treating everyone well. God Bless!