More Stiches....

Here's an update on my Stitchalong sampler!
(click for a close up)

I added a fun crab on a sandy beach (I love his little pinchers), a hootie owl on a branch with big yellow eyes, a pretty pink star (my lease favorite inchie so far), some purple lattice and a spider-webbed rose from silk ribbon. I'm kind of thinking I should have picked a theme like most of the other stylin' stichers in the stitchalong, but I'm having fun just doing my own thing! I'm curious what will pop up tomorrow!

2-fer Tuesday!

So the Ireland post office must hate me because it took forever to get my Christmas and ultimately my Valentine's swap from Claire. The Christmas package was sent back to Claire for some absurd reason and by the time she got it, it was time for my Valentine swap to be sent.

So in early February, on a Tuesday, I come home from work to find a stack of boxes in front of my door! I was so excited I hustled them into my room:

The top white box was a shipment of handmade soap from an amazing online site (future blog post on that), the middle box was my "Christmas" swap and the bottom box was my "Valentine" swap!

getting 2 swaps at once is pretty damn awesome! Since there are so many goodies packed into each swap, I'll have to break them down. I hate to be a tease, but I promise details to come soon!

The apple doesn't fall far...

I was wandering through my photos today trying to organize things a bit when I found this....


....A picture of my mom and I around my Nana's kitchen table. This photo wasn't retouched in any way, just scanned as is. I've had it in the depths of my computer photo files, but I guess it got lost in the shuffle.

Above the sink, where the light is pouring in through a giant window,There is a vast, New Mexico prairie. There's probably a cow or two in the pasture wandering around and a fence beyond it somewhere in the distance.

I love this picture. It's hard to believe I had hair that blond or that long now that it's cropped close in a bob. The iced tea spoons on the table. Reaching for a watercolor pencil to "color" while my mother sketched out a beautiful flower to later be enhanced by water. How young she looks....

What a great moment captured.

Art Pad

I've always loved this site It's been on my favorites for a long time. If you haven't seen it, check it out and play around! It's great for stress relief or for creating a masterpiece! Just remember to click "replay painting" when you're done!

More stitches from the Stitchalong to come soon!!! I can't wait to share them with you!!!!

Claire's V-Day swap revealed!

Do you remember that wonderful red & white box from the Valentine's "love & red" swap I sent to Claire? It's okay if you don't, you can pop over here to read about it.

You've been waiting and here it is!



Claire loves to bake and likes a wide variety of supplies so I sent a bunch of fun things she may not be able to get over in Ireland. A few highlights: multi-colored Valentine sprinkles, festive cupcake liners, 2 mini bunt pans, "Ireland" embellishments, a mini scrapbook kit (that includes paper/stickers/chipboard base) ....


Some more things I've included are candies, craft supplies (like Thickers, ribbon, stamps, deco tape etc.) broach, pendant, frame, and other Valentine-ish and red things that I thought were fun all crammed...er....tucked into that pretty red & white box!



Yes, I have pictures of the Christmas and Valentine swaps from Claire! They're coming soon!

I'm joining a stich along!

Through my amazing friend Bryanna, I stumbled upon this uber fun stitchalong!
*click on the button for further details*

I thought to myself that I had tons of suppies stock piled away in some crappy box in the back of my closet, why not put it to use? So I hemmed (no pun intended) and hawed about it and wondered, would I actually sew a square a day? One way to find out.

So I hauled out my supplies and tried to organize things a bit: loose thread tangle? Check. Tons of floss? Check. Silk ribbon. Check. Needles, scissors, cloth, rainbow weave, hoops, sewing books? Check.

So I made a big grid of 1x1 inch squares on some wonderful fabric my buddy Bryanna sent me and saddled up the ol' hoop. Then it sat....on my desk...all afternoon....looking at me......

It was just as bad a a blank sheet of paper, a blank page in a novel, a blank canvas. It was darn right intimidating! So I turned over to Bryanna's blog for some inspiration and saw the most darling Alice ever stitched! It was so stinking delightful that I found a jumping off point! Wouldn't you know it? Out popped a lovely Cinderella!


Yes, she isn't in the first square, her stitches are random and she isn't a 1x1 inch either, but how fun is this? I used floss for her hair, skin and dress and silk ribbon for her shoulder and hip poofs! *click on the pic for a close up. Being ever cautious I waited a day to see what would happen. Would I have the desire for another day?

Presto! Day number two! what is it? I have no idea; a green amoeba, tangled ivy, splatter? Does it matter? The point was that I had fun and I enjoyed the colors!



So after square number two, I clicked over to Amy's blog and signed up! I know my stylings aren't perfect, but then again what art is? I'm not sure what direction this project will turn, but I know that I'm having fun already seeing what jumps out of my needles! Stay tuned.....