1st WIPocalypse of 2013

For the past month I've had all sorts of time for stitching. As expected though, as soon as I got the go ahead to drive, I've had much less time at home for myself. I was really hoping not to resume the running quite as bad as before, but so many things got neglected during my recovery that I've had lots to catch up with. I think I'm about done with the majority of it now and so I'm really going to make an effort not to leave the house unless I really have to:)

I do have some stitching to show off...

 

You've seen this one several times, but it's just almost done. This is 'Fishing' by Bobbie G Designs. I just have a bit of the decking, railing and water to do and a bunch of outlining. Hoping to get this one done and mailed out by next week.

 

 

This is Live Laugh Love by La D Da. I'm doing this with 4 other stitching ladies as a round robin. This is my part of my project, ready to send it off to the next stitcher!!!

 

 

And since I put stitching Christmas Ornies as part of my 52 in 52 goals, I decided to join another group!! Stitching Lotus is running an Ornament SAL this year, so I'm going to try and keep up with that. This will be my first ornie of the year - Joy of the Snowflake by Little by Little Design Co. It can be found in the 2011 ornie issue of Just Cross Stitch. 

 

 



Ankle Update

I have finally been freed from the bonds of the huge black boot and may now leave the house on my own free will!!! (How was that for dramatic? :)

Okay, well I did get the big black boot off and I am now able to drive. I went to the Dr yesterday and the fracture/brake hardly shows on the x-rays now - actually I couldn't see it this time, but the Dr. says it's healing really well. He almost had me stay in the boot for another couple weeks, but thankfully changed his mind. I am in a smaller brace though. The smaller brace gives me more mobility, but I'm not feeling as secure with it yet, so I'm going a bit slowly again. Thankfully the foot/ankle has limbered up a lot since switching braces yesterday, so it is all feeling much better.

So back to doing the shopping and errands and such. Our dd says it's past time to get her signed up for gymnastics and swim and anything else we can find to sign her up for!!! LOL I have really enjoyed life being nice and quiet, but I guess that isn't to be anymore:) Well, it was nice and quiet for me. Dh has been running non-stop with over-time at work and shuffling dd around and doing the shopping/errands as well. He doesn't really like to be near that busy either, so I guess it's time for me to resume doing my part.

I've been getting lots of stitching and crocheting done here lately, and am hoping to keep up with all that. I've even been asked to write up a couple recommendations for 2 members of our 4-H club trying for a scholarship. These two really deserve a good chance at this and I'm a bit nervous since I've never done anything like this before. Hoping to do a good job for them!!

That is all for now. I need to go an actually do a couple of those things I talked about:) I will be back in a day or two with my WIPocalypse report. I have quite a bit of progress to show off!!

Thank You So Much!!!

I just wanted to take a minute and thank everyone who stopped by this weekend for the Grow Your Blog Party. It was so much fun to go and visit so many other blogs and to read what so many had to say about mine!!! I still haven't gotten through nearly all of the blogs that were posted on Vicki's blog. I'm still working through them.

I had several people interested in our living in the country so I'm hoping to post a few more things in the future having to do with life out here. It just seems normal to me now, but I remember living in town several years back and dreaming of having a quiet place all to our own.

Also lots who commented on the stitching and other crafts. Of course I will continue to post on these things, but I would like to try and have a bit more on the 'other' crafts that I usually put off in order to stitch more:) Hopefully I'll be able to make time to do a bit more quilting and sewing as well as learning to knit.

You are still welcome to leave a comment on my Grow Your Blog Post and be entered into my giveaway. I will be drawing a name for this on Feb 1st. I'm so excited about the giveaway (my first!!!), and I'm having lots of fun putting things together for it:)

Again, I want to thank everyone who visited and for all those who left such sweet comments on my blog!!

January IHSW

I'm running a bit late getting this posted today. It's been kind of a busy weekend, but I did manage to get quite a bit done on this piece. I'm pretty excited about it too. Hoping to finish this one by the end of the month and then get started on the next LoveQuilt block which will be a tractor for a little boy who loves all things farm related:)



 

 

This is where I was last Friday. I didn't get any stitching time on Friday as my mother-in-law came up to take my dd and I into town for some errands and activities. We left here at 8:00 in the morning and didn't get back until after 4:00. My leg was just worn out by then!!!

 

 

And this is where I am as of this evening. I counted today as part of the 'weekend' since my hubby had the day off and we took school off today as well. Tomorrow is back to our regular schedule for all of us, still hopeful to get a bit of stitching time in:)

 

 

Grow Your Blog Party ~~~ And a GIVEAWAY!!!

 

So excited about this blog party!! First and foremost I will explain a bit about how this works. Vicky at 2 Bags Full is hosting this party and it is kind of like an 'open house', but on the web. She has (will have as of midnight 1/19/13) a list on her blog of all the bloggers involved. And I am sure she is as surprised as I am that over 400 bloggers replied to this party!!! Then you can go to as many blogs as you like and get to know some really great people. Some of them will even have giveaways to enter in for as well (and so do I, so keep reading!!). Follow the ones you like, if you want, and have lots of fun in the process, what's better than that?

 

So for this post we are to tell a bit about our self and our blog. Since I haven't done that for a while, and I know I have readers who haven't been reading here for long, I think this is a great idea.

 

Here is some random info on me and my blog...

 

~ I married my high school sweety. I was 14 when we met and we dated for 5 years before we got married (gave me time to finish high school and for him to finished college). We've been married now for almost 16 years. That is 21 years with the same guy!!! :0)

 

~We have one daughter who is homeschooled. We always wanted more children, but it didn't work out that way. We love her to pieces, even when her teenager-ways drive us nuts!!

 

~We live in the country and our 'homestead' consists of 10 acres, a barn/shop, lots of cats, 2 dogs, a rabbit, a guinea pig and some fish. We've had cows, chickens and goats in the past and our daughter begs for a horse almost every single day!! Thankfully her friend has horses and she gets her horse fix over there!!

 

~I love to cross stitch. Mostly this is what my blog consists of. I also love to crochet and am hoping to learn more so I can do more than just square blocks!!! I would also like to learn to knit this year. I do dabble a bit in other sewing and crafts like quilting, card making and sewing clothes (though not much) and will share those things on my blog as well.

 

~For the last year or so, my heart has really been pulled towards stitching and crafting for charity causes. The one I'm most involved with at this time is Love Quilts. I do post quite often about this since that is what takes up most of my stitching time.

 

~I am motivated by challenges, SALs (stitch-a-longs), and deadlines. I love making lists and checking things off. I really only get things done if others know that I should be working on something:) So I have a couple pages at the top of my blog for goals, links to SALs, and challenges that I'm involved in. If you decide to read my blog in the future, please feel free to ask how things are going and give me a little kick in the pants to make sure I'm staying on track!!! :0) And if you know of any other groups I should be involved in, let me know!!

 

Okay, so this is a little about me. I do blog about family things and just random things at times too, but this gives you an idea of how things roll here in my little corner.

 

 

GIVEAWAY!!!

 

This is the fun part!!! I have given lots of thought to what I wanted to do as a giveaway and I've decided that it will have a Valentine's theme. I'm not going to show you all of what it is, but I will say that there is lots of pink and red and hearts involved!!! And, of course, a bit of it will be stitched, because what is a stitchy blog without some stitched up goodies?!?!? So, do you want to see a preview?
 

Preview of giveaway

 

 

Some pretty fun Valentine things always makes me smile!! :)

 

Some rules for this giveaway...

 

~You need to leave a comment on this post. You need to make sure I have some way of contacting you if you should win. You can be an anonymous user so long as I can get back with you.

 

~Anyone, anywhere can enter. You don't need to become a follower of my blog (though I would love it if you did, of course:), and you don't have to be a blogger.

 

~I will announce the winner on Feb 1st and send out a couple of reminders between now and then.

 

I think that does it. This is my first giveaway as well, so I'm super excited to be able to do it!!!

 

Good luck to everyone who enters. Maybe I'll be seeing you on your blog tomorrow too:) 

Upcoming IHSW

 

Just a heads up that the first IHSW of the year is this weekend!!! It's really needed here as I've kind of been lax in my stitching time here lately. Been spending my extra time playing on the internet instead of getting the stitching done;0) Oops!! Well, this should help get me back on track.

 

If you want to join in as well, use the link above and read the 'rules' and sign up to join in!!

Making new friends - Blog Party

 

Vicki over at 2 Bags Full is having a Grow Your Blog party (isn't the button above the cutest ever!?!?). It will be a time to learn about new blogs that you might like to start following and to have others learn about and start reading your blog. Kind of like an open house right here on the web. Several bloggers plan to have giveaways as well, so even if you like how your blog is and you don't want to follow anyone else, you can still have fun and enter to win prizes!!! Lots of fun to be had by all:)

 

If you are interested, go to 2 Bags Full, this will send you to the sign up page (you need to sign up by tomorrow - sorry I got in on this late), and tell you all the details of what to do. I can't wait, this is exactly what I wanted to do with my blog this year, so it's just perfect for me!!!

 

I will be posting a bit about myself and my blog as an introduction on Jan 18/19 (as will all the other bloggers joining in on this) and will announce at that time the giveaway I will be having. Anyone will be able to win, whether or not you have a blog, you don't have to follow my blog to be entered, so come back on Saturday and at least enter to win. I'm still thinking on what it'll be. Something for Valentine's Day, maybe? :)