Christmas Rules

I finished framing Christmas Rules this morning.  It turned out all right.  I miscalculated when I started stitching and only wound up with a half inch of fabric at the bottom after finishing the last rule.  I would have liked to have had a bit more fabric showing around the edge.  Lesson learned.  I made some notes about measuring for future framing, especially Halloween Rules, like to add an extra 1/4 inch around each side, as the inside lip of the frame where the foam core rests is 1/4 inch.  I had not realized that before.

And here is my progress on Where's The Party?  Just a bit more to go now.

I discovered a new app for the iPad last night.  It's called Words With Friends.  It is just like Scrabble, and you can play a game with whoever is registered to the app.  All you have to do is search for your friend and start a game.  As each move is played, a notification is sent to the other person, so you can play the game at your leisure.  I started one last night with a friend and it's been a lot of fun!  If you would like to play, my username is ladybugfae.  

I hope you have a terrific Tuesday!  For those expecting snow (and that is us) I hope you stay safe and warm.

In peace, love, and stitches,
Danielle

ABC's of Me & Progress

When I received my iPad I bought two cases, one that costs $1.00 (yes!!!) and one that costs $40.00.  I have been using the $40 one and that's the picture I posted a while ago.  I am finding, though, that it is slipping in the case and I am not able to get to the bottom of the iPad to press on the space bar when I'm typing something or access my letter tiles when playing Scrabble (I love that game!).  BF had the idea to use Velcro to attach the flap that holds the iPad in place and it was a brilliant idea.

But I thought I would also try the $1.00 case and see how I like it.  I am loving it so far!  The cover is made of a cotton canvas material, so it's soft.  And the iPad is held in the corners, so the whole thing is exposed.  And it is lighter than my other case.  And, yes, this one is pink as well.

I framed LK's Last Minute December Kit this morning.  I think it turned out well.  Framing Christmas Rules is next.

Here is my progress on Where's The Party?  

I have seen this everywhere, so I thought I would participate.  The ABC's of Me.

A - Age: 36
B - Bed size: King
C - Chore you hate: ALL of them, but food shopping is my most HATED chore. 
D - Dog's name:  Mojo (yellow lab) and Layla (mini daschund)
E - Essential start of the day item:  Extra Bold coffee from my Keurig
F - Favorite color: Purple
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Height: 5'4"
I - Instruments you play:  I played the clarinet for 8 years
J - Job:  self-employed as a scopist (I edit transcripts for a court reporter)
K - Kids:  none, but BF has an 11-year-old daughter who we get part-time
L - Living arrangements: a 3-bedroom split-level single family home w/BF
M - Music you love:  dance music (Kesha, Pink) but also relaxing music (Enya)
N - Nicknames:  my family calls me Dan - BF calls me Pumpkin
O - Overnight hospital stay at hospital:  never
P - Pet Peeve: Wasting my time, lying 
Q - Quote from a movie:  Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'
R - Right handed or left: right
S - Siblings: one brother (2 years younger) and a five-year-old sister
T - Time you wake up:  varies (I was up on Sat at 4:30 a.m.) but mostly 7:00
U - Underwear:  comfortable briefs
V - Vegetable you dislike: almost all.  I love salad vegetables and string beans.
W - Workout Style: Just Dance on Nintendo Wii 
X - X-rays you've had: teeth, foot two different times when I thought I had broken it
Y - Yummy food you make:  crabcakes
Z - The best place to visit: a stitching store, any campsite (I love camping!)

I will leave you with a pic of our largest dog, Mojo.  He's a big love bug.  He likes to lay in my office during the day until BF gets home.

I hope you have a marvelous Monday!

In peace, love, and stitches,
Danielle

Lots to tell...

First off, my TUSAL jar.  Not much at all in it.  But still an update.  And it is hard to tell, but if you look really close, there is thread in the very bottom of this jar.  I am thinking I should change jars to a clear one.  It's going to be hard to see the threads in this. 

I do have a question about the TUSAL that maybe someone out there can answer.  I did not do the TUSAL last year, so my orts start from January 1, 2011.  But if you did do the TUSAL last year, do you count your orts from the new moon in December 2010 until today, the first new moon of 2011?  That would make sense.

And an update on Where's The Party?  I stitched a tiny bit this morning, finishing the W and the H.  Progress slowly but surely.

Since receiving my iPad and my Nikon Coolpix I have sold both my Kindle and my Kodak EasyShare digital camera on Ebay.  The Kindle sold for $100 and the Kodak camera for $32.  Not bad at all considering I've had my Kindle for a year and a half and the camera is five years old.

I received an e-mail yesterday that my frames for LK Christmas Rules and LK Last Minute December Kit will be here tomorrow!!!  So, maybe I will be able to frame those pieces this weekend.

And I don't know how I neglected to tell all of you this, since I've known for quite a while now, but I was asked to be Stitcher of the Month at The Stitching Post in Catonsville!!!!  I happened to come in the store in early December and they all know me by name there now, and they said, oh, we're so glad you came in, we were just going to give you a call.  And they said that for 2011 they were having a Stitcher of the Month where each month a different person is featured and they bring their framed/finished pieces in and they all go up on this wall with the stitcher's name.  They said my name was at the top of the list!!!  I couldn't believe it.

So, I am Stitcher of the Month for March.  So, at the end of February I need to gather all of the pieces I would like to take in.  My office walls are going to look so bare!!!  So, if you are able to stop by The Stitching Post that month, you'll see my stuff!!!  I will be sure, though, to pop in that month and take a picture of the display to put on my blog.  And for doing it I think each stitcher gets a little gift, like a gift certificate or something.  I would have done it for free, but a gift certificate will be nice!  I try to shop there for most of my stuff, especially fabric and threads.

Well, I am trying my hand, again, at making meatloaf for dinner tonight.  The first time I tried, DISASTER!!  LOL.  Luckily, BF is not picky and is quite the good sport.  But I am sure I will succeed tonight as I have a foolproof recipe.  When I think of meatloaf I always think of the movie A Christmas Story, and the youngest son singing "Meatloaf, meatloaf, double beet loaf."  It makes me crack up every time. 

I hope you all have a fantastic Tuesday!

In peace, love, and stitches,
Danielle

Framing

I have had Lizzie Kate's Christmas Rules finished for a while.  I have decided to frame it myself.  I just cannot justify any longer paying the professional framing prices, and I know if I take my time, I can do it myself.  I found a great site online, Franken Frames, that will cut your frame to any size.  I ordered a frame for Christmas Rules and the Last Minute Christmas Kit and the total came to $60 with adding foamcore and a hanging kit.  All I have to get further are sequin pins, batting, and double sided sticky tape.  I also ordered acid free dust cover sheets and a dust cover trimmer.  I mean serious business!!!  So, stay tuned and wish me luck!

Just a tiny bit more done on Where's The Party? This picture looks nothing like what the actual stitching does in real life. 

As one of my Christmas gifts from BF I asked for a Nikon Coolpix S80 digital camera.  My current camera is about five years old, so I am hoping that a newer camera will take better pics.

My routine is off for the next few days as we have The Daughter staying with us until Christmas morning and BF is also off work.

I received The Silver Needle's newsletter today about their New Year Eve's sale and they mentioned a new Lizzie Kate coming out, but no pics. If anyone has heard anything or has a pic, please let me know!  You all know Lizzie Kate is my favorite designer.

Have a great Thursday!  Now just TWO days until Christmas!!

In peace, love and stitches,
Danielle