Needle Caboodle

The End of a Love Affair!

2009-03-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

And I couldn't be any happier!!! 1 year and 10 months of love-hate relationship and it all resulted to todays sweet goodbye... sweet goodbye to all the frustrations it had caused me to be exact!!! But I am happy, no tears here. oh no no no!!! It's so beautiful and I love it to bits. I thought at one point i was so tired of it that I wanted to just give it away once it's finished, but i changed my mind when i saw it done, and the two lucky people who's names are stitched onto this piece are the lucky recepient of this beautiful finish **ahem**

Are you ready???

Once Upon A Time by Passione Ricamo

on SMF Impressionism belfast

This has got to be one of my favorite finishes. Because I love my conversion LOL (see original here). I also went with my previous plans, like her necklace, thank God it doesn't look like an inverted cross like in the original LOL, I gave her a choker with a single bead dangling (sorta). That scarf-like whatevs that was hanging from her shoulders had been chopped off. And the darker shades in her dress are in greys because I didn't want her to look like she is wearing a scrap of the same material as the prince's cape. I also added some words, to make it more wedding sampler-ish like. Just dropping the names and date in there would'a been boring as hell, wouldn't you agree?

Now I don't know when this will be framed, but I gotta find something nice and perfect for it, but ho hum, I am not even sure I can do it soon because the apartment we live in right now wouldn't allow nails bigger than a pin, i mean really! It pisses me off to no end! That i haven't even bothered fixing my other one that their damn wall dropped and broke!

So yeah, I think I am set for another crap hahaha! I am not sure what to do next yet, but I have yet to finish my last square for Cole's quilt and then i will have to decide, perhaps a smallish one, just for a quick kiss on thyself by myself.

Thanks for viewing and I hope you liked what you see, as you had been so very patient with me all this years listening to me crap and crap and crap about this piece.

I need to go review for my drivers written exam this afternoon. Wish me luck! After almost 5 years of living in the US i finally decided to go sit me arse and take the exam. wOOt!? wOOt!?

Have a nice weekend everybody!

Sometimes...

2009-03-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

A love affair just has to end...

--details soon--

Thank you sis Joei

2009-01-05T14:10:00.001-08:00

I recieved a very thoughtful christmas gift, on christmas eve while we were heading for santa maria, I went and decided to grab the mail before leaving. My lovely postman had a box sitting in there for me from my super loving sis Joei.

cute stuff from sis joei, love the handbag!

close up of the needleroll, so adorable!

The opportunist using her lovely handbag! LOL (santa maria, shopping trip with SIL)

Abusing the handbag (it was a cold cold day) while going to the mall last weekend.

Thank you sis Joei, your needleroll was truly a piece of art! And this handbag is remarkable, i love it to bits. Who told you i love bags? LOL It's going to parties with me from now on. Very abusive me, really! LOL

Love ya! and thanks again from the bottom of my heart!

Last Finishes for the year

2008-12-23T23:09:00.000-08:00

I have 2 finishes to show off before the year 2008 says goodbye. I haven't set any stitching goals for next year, but "going to try" and finish OUAT is probably on top of the list. I haven't been feeling up to the top with my stitching mojo lately, but I am happy I made it to atleast 2 happy dances.

First off, my semi-HD a while back (last post), which tonight became a real full-blown HD. The Noah's Ark for baby by LA, all completed with the baby's information and also framed it with hubby's help tonight.

LA Noah's Ark for baby, on self dyed fabric

my ever so cute frame holder. lol

My next HD is a very very cute one, and I am so proud of it. Although I would humbly say that I have stalked for this OOP kit on ebay and won it for far too much money, $30 bucks, I am such a cheap ass person I wouldn't have bought it and pay for that much unless it's something I can't live without, in all honesty, turns out this one, I can't let go. I have seen some finishes over at 123stitch bb and I know I have fallen inlove. I kept telling myself "i have to have that for Connor's ornament this year" I showed it to my hubby and when i won it on ebay, he told me he will pay for it (aww, sweet), now I only get so much allowance every month and it doesn't even pay well enough for all the make up and clothes I shop for. Woman thing...You understand right? lol.

So without further yada...Cute ornie alert goes to a design by...

Bucilla ~ Santa and baby on 18 count metallic aida.

The original design had a blonde baby in it, so i modified it to fit Connor. =^-^=

Last post for the year, we will be heading down to Santa Maria for Christmas to spend with family.

I hope ya'll have a very Merry Christmas and will always be blessed with family, love and happiness all through the coming years.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to all my friends!!!

Hectic...but we're sailing...

2008-11-25T13:18:00.000-08:00

I had a dissapearing act for a while. It got so busy, and with the holidays fast approching, it's going to be even busier around here. A couple of weekends ago we went to visit hubby's uncle and his family up in Redding, I spent some time shopping with hubby's auntie who is also a filipina and from the same town I grew up in, she is a nurse and has been living here for 18 years. My family is also going to head down to Santa Maria for Thanksgiving. By then, plans for Christmas will be discussed. So yeah, It's so nice to know that the gas prices are getting better since long trips always require alot of gas. =^-^=

On better news, i did finish up my WIP, i was trying to finish it before we go down to Santa Maria, it isn't really officially done yet because I am still missing the birth information of the baby. I had called my friend but they won't be home for the long weekend so there is not point in bringing the cross stitch with me since I don't want to leave it outside of their house to sit for days.

This is Noah's Ark for baby by Leisure Arts. I had ommitted some things. I also dyed the piece of fabric myself. Stitched on 32 count jobelan. Thanks for looking.

Happy Thanksgiving To All. May you and your family be blessed all year.

Way too cute!!

2008-10-28T14:20:00.001-07:00

She's all finished yay! I got to put in my last stitch on her last night. My goal for the EF and L&L bb contests are now fulfilled.

She's just way way wayyyyyyyy too cute for just a happy dance!!!

Design: Gathering of Roses by Told in a garden
Stitched on: Evergreen monaco by Enchanted Fabrics

So let's grab a microphone and sing as well.

"happy, happy. joy joy!"

I'm off to have a new start. TFL!

The plague began...

2008-10-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

It's not raining men...and no halleluja's for me...

It's raining frogs..frogs..frogs...I know, it's the perfect time for them to visit...cauldrons, witches, brews...warts...but i would love to call them 'coco puffs'. LOL

Can i say...ewww?? I had to frog so much, you'd think I was still sane enough to decide to stitch Rose Girl with all the flowers around her...you remember my OUAT right? Worst flowers I have ever stitched!

See that? and how much I have finished? I was just about to have a happy dance that night, but unfortunately, i was not lucky enough to have one. I just realized both sides didn't match and somehow nothing adds up, I actually had hubby go over it for me, and he was the one who pointed out that the left side was off 3 blocks atleast. ickkk!!! Is it time for me to need glasses? I swear I can still see fine! So that night, like two nights ago, i decided to just frog the whole mistake. And i worked on the bottom part instead. It was faster, since very little colors are involved.

This is what she looks like right now...

She is going to be done soon. I can't wait to HD for her.

I have a new project waiting in line. I'm going to stitch Noah's Ark for baby by Leisure Arts for my friend's who had a baby last month. They are the people who I stitched this for. i think they have an animal themed room for the baby, and when i received their "thank you card" from the baby shower, it was noah's ark card. So i thought this one will be perfect. I ordered the chart off ebay and it hadn't arrive yet, however, here is a picture of the cover.

I'm going to stitch the main design but I will be eliminating the rainbow (it might be offensive) with giraffe part, and the wheels too, I am going to make an arch then continue the bottom of the boat so it will look like it's floating on water on my dyed fabric.

The other day, I dyed the piece I am going to use for this, and this is why I am so excited. It's a 32 count jobelan.

I can't wait to start, so i need to stitch faster...Connor got sick though so I will have to take it slowly this time...just a tad faster will do. hehe

I hope you all have a good weekend!

Some phat lewtz & my lil fashionista

2008-10-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

Once upon a long time ago. I saw this finish of A Prince Is Born by Marie's garden/ Just Cross Stitch on a bulletin board. It was stitched on an opalescent fabric and I just fell off the moon and decided it was one of the cutest birth announcement chart I had ever seen. The day i saw it, i decided to look it up on ebay and I found one for $4, I told myself, I will get it soon, unfortunately I didn't catch it until the item ended. Of course it slipped off my mind, it was then all over online stores so i wasn't that worried that I won't ever get it. One day, it just became OOP :~( Then this was the time where i decided that I really need to add this to my collection, In August, i ordered it from Stitches N Things. A few days later I got my money back because they no longer have this in stock. And after that I saw that Stitching Bits and Bobs had a sale, and it was one of the items that was included, I felt super lucky! And i went ahead and ordered it. I even waited patiently although I know that i vowed I won't order from them again after my first and second try. But for the chart I wanted, hell! I'd wait for months!!! I kept tracking it, and it did not change status for a long time, says "on back order". So i finally dropped them an email and they refunded me my money the next day, which is good although It's so sad that they did not have the chart. When I thought I finally will get to keep it. =(

But to make this long vent story short, I finally got it! wooohoo! lucky lucky!!! I saw that Casa Cenina which is based in Italy has it listed on their online shop. I decided to write them an email and with wings on my feet, they informed me that they have this in stock!!! OMG! You don't know how exciting that news was! It made my day, week, months, years, lifetime of frustration LOL! i received this beauty last week. I did not mind paying much, I wanted it so bad! I even added a clearance chart that they had. What a lucky girl I am! yay! I am inlove with my mailbox already! LOL

Last weekend, I also found a gold mine! A supermarket with all kinds of filipino food. Sooo yummy! They even sell porks blood (for stew, unfortunately I don't know how to make it), liver, chicken feet ahhh so yummy, and some other stuff you don't wanna know LOL! and they have tons of different cuts of meat, like the one I bought which is pork belly that still has skin on it. It's going to be sooo delicious on the grill! Also next to the supermarket is 2 of the Philippines well-known resto. Red Ribbon Bakeshop to the right, that makes super cakes and snacks, and Chow King to the left, which is siopao heaven! OhhHHhh!!! Yum yum!

My now favorite store, only 18 mins away from our house!

Of course, I am not going to forget on Rose Girl's update. I got to stitch on her some, she is a cute little fashionista. I can't wait to stitch on her some more today. She is growing so fast...awww..Soon she will be every guy's fantasy. I just hope she won't be flapping her lashes at every guy that passes her by LOL.

crap nuts photo, my camera was dying.

Hope you all had a great weekend. I sure did! <(=O_O=)>

A new PR freebie

2008-09-30T12:59:00.001-07:00

Laura of Passione Ricamo is offering a new freebie. This is what it looks like.

Now this one looks very very beautiful and heartwarming, I am so touched by this design. The title is Devoted to Laurie (i don't know who she is but she must be one very special person).

You better go get it, she sometimes do freebies within time limits. It's soooo pretty!

Thank you Laura!!

Flowers for Mommy

2008-09-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

Hehe. yeah right! Flowers for Mommy (me) from my 'imaginary' baby girl, who is currently and probably still swimming around hubby's scrotum. Bwahahahha.

I have stitched tons more. And she is looking gorgeous. Don't you agree?

Design: Gathering of Roses by Told in a Garden

Stitched on: Evergreen monaco by EF

I am planning to stitch more on her later, her dress is growing quickly and i love how dainty it is on her. She looks very pretty in it.

Thanks for looking and visiting everyone.

My baby turned 3!

2008-09-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

Oh noesssss!!! hehe. Yesterday my baby turned 3! We went and drove down to Santa Maria saturday afternoon and spent the weekend over at MIL's. We all missed them, and they as well, it was so wonderful to be home with family again.

On our way to Santa Maria.

A home made cake for the birthday boy, by grandma.

goofing around with my auntie Kate.

me and SIL.

daddy is helping me open the gifts.

What's in there??

some more of my phat lewtz.

then we ate the cake.

and ice cream taste sweeter when grandma feeds 'em to me.

then Auntie Kate and Uncle Tyler wanted to see if i can keep them all in there. LOL

Then they wanted to play this domino game, but i am comfy here.

On our way home, we dropped by our friend's house who just had their first baby. Can you tell hubby is ready to have another one...? LOL

I got a balloon hat. LOL

What do you think? lolol

The friend's we visited who just had their first baby were the ones who I made this wedding piece by stoney creek. I finally got a photo of it framed, i did it myself but i forgot to snap it before i gave it away. So when we were at their house yesterday I asked if i could, and it was so surprising to see it hanged and having it's own wall in their bedroom right infront of their bed. =) So without further adieu here it is... (clickable for your viewing pleasure).

It was an odd-sized piece but i ordered a custom cut size of the frame from the local frame shop down in santa maria when we were still living there, and if i remember correctly, everything was around $22.50 which is a good bargain, wouldn't you agree? The frame is in silver tone. It really looks professional and i really love the way it came out.

Please allow me to greet my one and only sweet sweet babe.

Happy Birthday!!! I love you always and forever!!!

Because its still summertime...

2008-09-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

The sun which i love is still here to stay for a couple more weeks atleast until Autumn kicks in, my Rose girl is now saved from the heat because of her hat...And what a cute hat, isn't she just darling??

Hubby went and watched a movie with guys at work. The ones he plays D&D here on thursdays. They decided they wanted to do something different this week and went to the movies 15 miles away LOL. I worked on her a bit last night and lots tonight so here she is, all starting to come alive! I just love love love her, she is so adorable, and I'm not even going to do any color conversion or changes because I think she is perfect the way she already is originally. I don't see her stitched up often, i wonder why? The very first time I saw her I knew i had to have her. I am glad I started her. What a lovely WIP she is. Ack!! Stop it myself, there you go again and your uncontrollable urges to have a baby girl!!! It's not time yet...Atleast until Connor goes to college. LOL

Well, that is all my for this week...Hope you all have a good weekend!

I'm staring at you...

2008-09-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

Don't be creeped out, for the picture I am going to show you is indeed a little creepy. There is a face and a head that to my knowledge is cut off- half way. And it seemed to me like her neck is but floating...Viewer discretion is advised. LOL.

She is Gathering of Roses from Told in a Garden. I call her Rose girl, she is my entry to Enchanted Fabrics and Lavender and Lace contests. What a joy to stitch she is, completely refreshing compared to my still ongoing, and seemed like neverending WIP of Once Upon A Time. The symbols are so in-order, and there isn't very many color changes. She is such a sweet face. I am stitching her on EF evergreen monaco. And to be working on monaco again, i'm happy. I haven't got very much done, although the contest started Sept. 1, I haven't been very deligent as to working on it everyday. For a couple of days now, I am trying to rehash a vintage clothing I bought on ebay, a prairie dress, and I'm so inlove with it.

On sad news, it's our apartment's fault. My custom-family name finish broke. It fell off from where we hanged it. We really did not want to drive nails to the wall, so hubby and i bought one of those sticky things that was suppose to hold something for 5 lbs. I doubt the frame was that heavy, it really isn't, and the fact that i framed it myself, the only heavy thing in it is the glass. But the crappy sticky thing did not adhere very well i would say, the wall is textured, and it's probably just going to work very well on plain walls, air pockets? Who knows.

It's really making me sad. This happened like a few nights ago, and it's right now being placed in the storage so it won't break anymore, i know there is more broken glasses stuck inside, because I can hear it clanging when i try to shake it. It was so heartbreaking seeing it slid off the wall and then breaking onto the floor. I really need to fix it again soon. I'd have to find somewhere to be able to buy glass. I have missed it...Wouldn't you?

Thanks for visiting all.

Totally Big Surprise!!!

2008-08-25T16:28:00.000-07:00

Today in my mailbox, a package came up. I did not order anything from Lori. So i was wondering what it was. I did remember Lori asked me to correct my address the other day through email as she was getting an error from my address, so i gave it to her and asked if i had ordered anything that i had forgotten, she did not reply back so I though it was just a glitch as i was a member of her EF delights from a long time ago. I haven't renewed...just yet...until atleast we are back on our toes from the moving expenses.

So anyways, I opened it up, there was a mini-card, It was so thoughtful to wish me another belated happy birthday and I am totally surprised to see it was from the lovely Mel. I never expected it and wow what a thoughtful gift!!!

I received Hocus Pocus from Enchanted Fabric

Thank you soooo much Mel, I really don't know what i did to deserve such a wonderful treat. =^-^=

My son stole the card as it has hearts and is colorful, he kept saying "harchs? (hearts)? harchs?" LOL

Thanks for stopping by. I am so lucky. I hope you are too!!!

Another award

2008-08-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

I got another award from my Sis Joei a few days back, i forgot about it! She mentioned on her blog that it's called "Arte y pico". In Spanish it literally means ART and TIP but from Nina's translation, it means "The Best Art". Yay! She dedicated the award to every blog she reads, without naming people. But i love it so much and because I am so shameless I asked her to nominate me, as in put my name on her blog as a nominee!! hahaha.

I said to her that i would love to have it posted on my sidebar as well. She granted my wish, and tada! I got the arte y pico award.

Thank you sis Joei, I am so happy and proud of this award. =^-^=

Okay now, i get my turn to nominate. And the rules say:

1) Choose 5 blogs deserving to receive the award (conception, creativity, interesting equipment and contributing to the community of bloggers whatever the language)
2) Every award must contain the link towards the blog of his author so that it can be visited.
3) Every winner must show the award-logo and put back the name and the link towards the blog that attributed it for her.
4) The winner must show the blog link the Arte y Pico.
5) To Post the rules.

The peeps who i would love to have this award is:
1. My dear Andie
2. Veronica
3. Jessie
4. Jenjen
5. Romantic Fool

Please forgive this shameless innocent for wanting to have this award. There are things I want and things i must have...after all I'm only human... *cries rainbows* LOL

Added: Also my beautiful friend Andie awarded this back to me. How sweet!!! (I didn't even have to beg to her, promise! LOL) Thank you Andie. You're a sweetheart. =^_^=

Current progress

2008-08-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

Here for your viewing pleasure is my PR- Once Upon A Time. The pita'est of all projects I have ever tackled! The other night I decided to frog the parts where blending filament K#032 was involved, it was just not to my liking, very little sparkle as i was only using one strand. I did however finish last night re-stitching up the parts i had frogged and used 1 strand of the dmc and 2, yes 2 BF to make it more blingy. And i think it's working well, you can't really see them in the picture, but they are there. =)

Over here you can see my last update.

Sadly, they are still amputee's LOLOL but I am working on getting them the other halves of their body. But i wanted to finish those pesky flowers and branch first, and i think I have them under control, there is more to come a somewhat grassy area where the bench was situated, but doesn't look as time consuming as the arch. I am getting tired of them, honestly, and i want to stitch on something different, they are really testing my patience but I think i have enough of it to atleast try work as much. I am so tempted to start like maybe another Mira, one of the couture fay's perhaps? or the Nimue fairy dust...The question is, What is a girl supposed to do? (i'll leave it unanswered for now...) hehe.

Thanks for visiting!!

Some lucky girl!!!

2008-08-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

Been trying all day to post, my lap had been Connor's favorite place to spend all day, and everytime i touch the keyboard he'd pull my hand away. Thank God for toys & children's tv shows. I would have been stuck here not able to show off my new lovely stash to you. =^-^=

Yes, i am one lucky girl. Another giftie came from New Zealand yesterday. It was from my lovely friend Andie. She sent me a late birthday present of fabbies. I was so overwhelmed, I have missed receiving fabrics in the mail, and surely this one made my day! She sent me 2 pieces and they are both absolutely beautiful!

right: mithril by Country Stitch kiwi sparkles

left: Lilly Pond by Crossed Wing (my very first from CW)

Along with the beauties is a birthday card she handwritten for me. Awww, I felt so special. Thank you Andie, you are so sweet. You made me so happy!!! This should tide me over with my fabby addiction for a while, since we are still too poor to go subscribing or buying for stash. LOL. Wish come true!!!

Also, last week, another lucky girl haha. A friend who i met during that SF trip lived only an hour away from me, her hubby dropped her off to our house last sunday to spend time with me and i had promised her I will teach her to cross stitch. She is so inlove with the craft that she is actually stitching for days straight since I taught her, i know this because she hasn't came online to chat with me on the yahoo messenger, but made phone calls to ask and on the 3rd night came on to show me her progress. I am so happy to have taught her, she is also from the Philippines and she really could use the hobby as she also did not have so many friends that she can spend time with where she lives.

my lovely friend Juvelyn and her stash haul from mine LOL

She chose Panda baby by EMS for her first project, I had explained to her that backstitching comes after all the x's but said she forgot that i had told her, so anyways, i forgave her LOL, she is doing good for her first time. The panda's face is also crooked as she still gets a little hard time getting acquainted with the pattern, but no big deal, i had corrected her the other day and said she will frog it off and I made a drawing for her as to where she made the mistake. And I'm hoping that by next time she send me a picture of her wip that the panda baby won't look like he's suffering from mumps anymore.

I guess i lied about not buying stash LOL. A week or so ago, I fell inlove *starry starry eyed* I found the chart/charm kit on ebay for $3 shipping and all. Yay! My lucky star had been really shining on me. The seller even sent me extra 2 reels of kreinik BF that the design needs, which she mentioned in her auction that it was only for the chart/charm, but I guess she was pleased that i paid as soon as i bought and gave me the extra BF's. So another list to go on my "things to do before i die" list LOLOL.

I made a little progress on OUAT, but there is not so much yet worth taking a picture. I will try on my next post. So please keep checking (if you are still interested =] )

Thanks for coming by!!!

Birthday Extension

2008-08-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

Yep, my birthday had been extended! So that means I am not one day older since June 25, LOL. I received the most thoughtful birthday gift the mail yesterday. It was from my no other Sis Joei who in so many ways makes alot of people around the world so happy with her creativity and generous heart.

I did not expect to receive her gift so soon, since I knew she has not been feeling well weeks ago. But yesterday after we came home from a birthday party, i really sensed something like i really should check the mailbox"curiosity". We haven't had anything in there except bills and some mails for hubby from the new job. So we usually just take a peek like 2x a week, if it ever happens!!! We are so new here that my fanmails hadn't been arriving yet hahaha j/k!!! Of course, i haven't been subscribing or ordering anything due to the fact that we are still trying to cope from moving expenses.

So long story short, i went to the mailbox and opened it, it looked cramped in there "what a miracle!" I thought to myself LOL. I grabbed the couple grocery ads and the renters insurance policy envelope and behind them all, like sunshine on a rainy day was a big brown envelope from sis Joei. I ran home, yes i did, and skipped like an eager child. I was just so happy, like a little girl from the candy store.
And now...pictures for you to drool upon. hek hek hek..

Here is my bday gift, a chart from WbtW that i like and a nicely packed something.

I took this one, beautiful isnt it?

Sis Joei, Thanks so much. I so love this, I don't know when i will use it yet, but I think it will come in handy for those trips we will make in Santa Maria, and I am sure there will be plenty. I feel so loved by you, maybe Eric will get jealous na. LOLOL.

Birthday ko uli sis, bukas hahaha. j/k

Thanks all for taking a peek.

Awful!! Awful!!

2008-07-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gents, please welcome my most awful finish of the year...Ugh! I'm totally complaining to myself and shamelessly posting this here... Seeing this is like adding salt to my breaking heart. But anyways, I have the thickest calloused face ever!!! LOL

Isn't it ever so disgusting!? I don't know what kind of holy spirit came over me and told me that I should stitch this piece out of the center!!! It does have about an inch and a half allowance to the top. Grrr!! I hate myself!!! I should have asked hubby to do the counting for me because God knows math isn't my forte. But it came out so bad like this, I feel soooooo mad. I showed it to hubby and he readily said "Just rip it out and stitch it again!?" w00t?! Nuh uh, not in a million years!!! I'll probably just even it out a bit, so that means cutting part of the excess at the bottom. The people I am giving this to is going to have it custom framed, so they can surround it with the baby pictures, and i doubt it will make a difference since most of the framers will probably glue it down to the mount board anyway.

Thanks for looking!!! =)

Not once..but twice!!!

2008-07-23T23:27:00.001-07:00

I am so honored, two beautiful stitching blogger friends had awarded me. Thank you so much. What an honor. I appreciate it very much that you guys awarded me.

First "Kreative Blogger Award" from sis Joie

Now it's time for me to pick 5 based on the rules.

1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.

2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.

3. Nominate 5 blogs.

4. Put links to the blogs.

5. Leave a message for your nominees.

Now i get to pick my 5 nominees:

My second award was from ver0nic@. It's A "Brilliante Weblog" award.

Ok, first off, the rules for this award,

1 Put the logo on your blog;

2 Add a link to the person who awarded you;

3 Nominate at least 7 other blogs;

4 Add links to those blogs on yours;

5 Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

And here are my nominees for this award.

Thank you again for the award sis and ver0nic@. I truly appreciate it.

Have a good night everyone.

To hell and back...

2008-07-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

Can i say...looking for an apartment is hell? Going back and forth to the old town is hell. The gas prices have been hell. No internet or cable tv was hell. And sleeping on the floor is a complete "my back is killing me" hell! LOL. But the good news is, we finally found an apartment, been living in it for a week, it's pretty fine, and I love that we have our own washer/dryer so I did not have to brawl/badmouth/catfight with other tenants trying to wash clothes at some "laundry on site" service. Yay! It also has a/c. Pretty sweet. It's only a one bedroom place, but it's big enough for the 3 of us. And it was about $400 cheaper than the last one we looked at. I am also feeling very confident because we are living in the ground floor, so no stairs for Connor to deal with. And, they also accept dogs, so I didn't have to give up my beloved P-chan. By the way, after a night of sleeping on the floor since we didn't really have like a couch or anything big when we came up here cuz it wouldn't fit in our Montero/van/ SUV/ cart..whatever you call it... We went parading down at Costco and grabbed an air bed, one hubby swears is more comfy than a regular bed. Not so much for the action though LOLOL.

This place is pretty damn sweet. I love the varieties of just about everything. I still have to make plans of visiting any LNS's or two, someday!

Now, before i go on and update on stitching, let me just say that I haven't been very deligent lately. Honestly, there is more to see on my current wip, but I have worked on some parts before we moved up and just didn't have time to capture a photo, while prepping our stuffs for the big move. I am still working on the EMS oval birth announcement, but one day while moving hubby broke my ott-lite bulb, and to tell you honestly I cannot work without it, not that my eyes are bad. I still have 20/20 vision thanks God! But I aint working on aida anymore which has holes more visible than a window made of lattice bamboos LOL. So I have been slacking really bad, atleast until I get a new bulb replacement. I talked to the couple who I'm giving this to, and they totally understand that I have been going through alot lately and are not in a hurry for the sampler. They are really nice, I'm glad! So here she is, and this is my current progress. I finished the oval thingy, but i didn't want to re place the whole fabric back. But anyways, you get the idea. =)

As I said before, my interest in reading perked up again. I had mentioned that I started on Michael Crichton "A Case of Need". I got about a little before half point, but when we went to Costco I saw "Angels & Demons" by Dan Brown. He happens to be one my favorite conspiracy authors, after I read the "Da Vinci Code" of his, I decided on a whim that I needed to hunt this prequel down. Nontheless, we came home and i couldn't wait to start it, it has only been a couple of days and I am way past the halfway mark. It's very interesting read. Not that I let it influence my beliefs and perceptions about my own religion. But i really love the plots and puzzles and secret organizations type stuff that is on his book. Pretty absorbing and unputdownable!

Looks like someone else is interested in reading conspiracy stories in this house other than me. =]

Now, I am on the hunt for "Das Perfume or Perfume: The story of a murderer" by Patrick Suskind. I wonder if i can handle that right now. But i hear it's really bizaare and twisted (he makes perfumes out of virgins) (O_0)

I haven't worked on my PR wedding piece lately. But soon...I hope.

Sorry this is long, I am also hoping to catch up on you guys blogs today. Finally, let me say...Having the internet is a bliss, I can live normally again. LOL (",)

Have a great day everyone!

We're Up North

2008-06-26T15:05:00.001-07:00

Just dropping by to announce to the world that I am still alive and kicking =)

We started our journey towards the new town where hubby got his new job last Sunday night. We were staying at the motel 6, spending the most boring days of my life, with what seemed to me like they only have 5 freaking channels on the tv, it also seems like they have been doing Family Guy Marathon all day, everyday LOL (I have watched every episode a long time ago but don't mind reruns...but everyday reruns...ack!!). I didn't even get a single stitch in, I have been reading books, and just recently finished one I purchased at the grocery store called "The Last Mermaid" by Shana Abe. I love it. It was so romantic, mythical and timeless. I have currently started " A case of Need" by Michael Crichton. Last night we found out that the motel overbooked and we couldn't extend our stay which we planned was until saturday, but they had told us that we had to leave this afternoon. Bummer! So we did left early, I am right now at hubby's friend's house spending half the day until hubby gets out of work, thus i got to use the internet, wee! and then we will have to go to another motel Super 8, i think is what it was called. Hope this one is going to be so much better, with atleast 6 channels on tv LOL!

I love this town, it looks rather interesting, so many options especially food! So many asian resto's and grocery outlets. Lots and lots of shopping center and a tiny little shopping district with a plethora of boutiques, resto's, bookstores and who knows what else...?

We haven't found an apartment yet, it's so hard, since you can only view by appointment and usually their offices close at the same time hubby leaves for work =( We looked at a 1 bedroom/1 bath yesterday, but it was $1700 (no utilities included) worth of stash!!! So we are still searching...searching...I may even have to go back to Santa Maria by the weekend and spend the whole week down there so hubby can stay at his friends house without having to pay anymore for motel stays because it is truly expensive and it is draining our savings from his resignation which was suppose to go towards a deposit for an apartment rent. And then he can also look while staying at his friends without having to burn anymore $$$.

I have nothing to show today...so sad.

Vent over. =)

Hope you all have a great stitching weekend.

Latest HD, A new start for a baby...sweeeeet!!

2008-06-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

After what seemed like forever of back-stitching. Stoney Creek's are notorious for those. I had finished finally my wedding piece, the one i was making for a friend as my gift to her for being just...well, my friend. =)

This piece was...something...not only was the backstitching totally all over the place, the blending with kreinik's all over was challenging as well. I mean, Mirabilia's have blends, but its usually a mix of different ones like #4 braids or #8's. This one was mostly of blending filaments, so i cheated and used a bit of the RG PB01 on the borders, just cuz i didn't have enough to go around, was using the same thing for my PR OUAT, so I had to order more, but did not want to wait for my order to arrive. I used the BF's on both the birds though, and then a bit of ewww, yuck! DMC 282 (light gold metallic) for the rings back stitching. Whaaaat?! I totally dissed that, as i hate the dmc metallics, so i used something else that i have around. A #4 braid from kreinik that i thought is quite similar, as i was not ready to lose my mind, thank you very much! tee hee

Wedding Treasure by Stoney Creek

Once again, I made another new start. A family friend, who works with hubby had a baby girl last month. Yey!! I'm so jealous... But i have to restrain myself from that, I am not ready to have another bout of more sleepless nights yet...hehehe. They are the ones who were basically handing over their little boy's clothes to us. Their oldest son is only couple months older from Connor, so in the past 2.5 years, we only had to buy him 4-5 times new clothing, and that was if it was really necessary (like Darth Vader costume haha). I talked to them and asked if they would like a cross stitch piece for their new daughter as i had made one for their son before and the answer was "We would be honored." Don't you love it when people truly appreciates your hand-made gifts that's smothered with love before you even started it? Amazing!!!

Again, this is my own hand-dyed piece, I made it yesterday and totally colored our white sink red...So I quickly rinsed the sink out with bleach before hubby got home LOL. The fabby came out a little wilder than i anticipated, it's a monaco fabric after all, so I wasn't that shocked. I'm hoping the design would work itself out around it. I am trying to finish it quickly so I can give it to them before we move.

Animal Baby Oval Birth Announcement

Ellen Maurer Stroh

As to hubby news, yes he got the new job, wooohooo!!! Can't believe they offered him 60% more raise than what he is making now. Finally, he is getting what he deserves to be paid. He is to start on the 23rd, so we are anticipating to move out of town by the 21'st. We are still looking for a temporary place to move over there, since it's so far, it's impossible to just drive down and sign contracts, so far we can only find studio's that allow pets, and God knows I can't live without my P-chan. I have no problem with living in a studio or in the car LOL. But a studio probably won't let you stay if there is like 3 of you. So we will have to see how things will go. My birthday is also coming up and I don't have any plans on what i want or to do yet. Usually I go like "baby, I want a year's supply of FOTM." heheh

I know i have been bad with not updating my blog often. But as soon as we get settled in at where we are moving, I will try as much as i can to update.

Finally, I leave you with pictures of my son who like all of us, loves the wii fit. LOL

The sun salutation

Sporting in Wii Fit Yoga.

Thanks for taking a peek. May you all be blessed with stash, stash and more stash then more stitching time.

I got me a new toy!

2008-05-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Awesomeness, hubby bought me Wii Fit last night!!! I told him when he got home that I want a Wii fit, actually eversince it was announced at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) I had been saying to him that when it is released in the US I would like one. It became so popular that people were lining up outside the game stores for it. We drove to Gamestop, Target, Best Buy and finally at Wal-mart, they had one left, and some1 else wanted it but I was lucky that hubby got it first! Woohoo!!

I gave it a try as soon as we got home and it was so much fun. =^-^= I love it!

Hmm, wonder if it will help me maintain my figure LOL. Although it screamed at my face that i was underweight. LOLOL

You gotta get one! It is a fun way to exercise! I hate to exercise but hell yeah this is more like playing than exercise being a task!

A Wedding Gift

2008-05-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

First of all, thank you to those who greeted my mom a Happy Birthday. I believe that our Mom's are angels sent from heaven to watch us no matter where we go, no matter how old we get, and no matter the circumstance. They are amazing! *^-^*

So, how's everybody's stitching going on??? I need to catch up on some of you guy's blogs. I have been stitching a little bit, here and there. Two weeks ago I met this wonderful lady, her name is Tiffany. Both our hubbies work at the same place and when hubby was called in for that job interview which was literally an 8 hour trip back and forth, she spent the whole day with me and my son. She was so nice and sweet, we went out to lunch and then spent the day talking about babies because she is 6 months pregnant!

So as a thank you I decided to make them a wedding announcement since they don't have one. I asked her of course if she would like a cross stitched piece and she was excited about it, so i started one a couple of days ago. I really love the saying on this design. And the fabric is fab as well, it's a silkweaver opalescent, called Coral. I think it may have been discontinued. It has whites and soft peachy pinks. It's really pretty, too bad I looked at SW site and they don't seem to have it anymore.

Design from: Stoney Creek Collection Two Hearts Together
Title of the Design: Wedding Treasure

TFL!

Happy Birthday!!!

2008-05-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my most beloved Mom.

You're my inspiration. I love you so much!!!

Been a while...

2008-05-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last update. Alot of things had been going on in my side of the world. First, we had to move to a new house, we are now moved, but we still have a few things left to pick up at the old house we were living before. It's only a few blocks away but having a small child while doing the move can really take forever. And we also found out last week that the old house has been infested with fleas. There were alot of stray cats in that old neighborhood, and remember that doggy door? I wonder if they were going inside the house through that since i used to leave some cat food out the front door while we were still living there, which meant i was basically feeding the homeless cats. So hubby decided to bug bomb the place last weekend before we bring in more stuff to the new house so that it doesn't get infested here as well.

Secondly, hubby received a job offer in San Jose, and went for a job interview last friday. If he gets this job, looks like we will be doing another move, San Jose is close to a 4 hour drive. He really wants to get this job as it pays alot more than what he is paid now and I'm hoping and praying that he will get the job as well, cuz I am planning to go back to school and study nursing. The earlier notice the better, as registrations end by June.

Anyhoo, I do have some stitching updates.

I have been slowly making some progress on OUAT. Not very much as of late due to the move. But this is my only accessible project so I did get some stitching done, I didn't even bother unpacking our stuffs incase hubby gets the job and we will have to move again. So here is what it looks recently.

I also ordered some SMF fabric during Mindy's spring sale. Took 2 months to receive but well worth the wait.

I ordered Cursus in linen and Angel Kisses in jazzlyn both in FQ. Love them!

Thanks for stopping by everyone.

Lover's progress

2008-04-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

I have quite a bit done on my WIP. They are really coming along nicely, I am just loving every minute of this. Our internet was down all day yesterday and i worked on the bouquet she is holding. I can't believe how much we can get done while there is no access to the internet LOL.

I only took a picture of the lover's as I am too lazy to unroll and re-roll the piece. You know what the arbour looks like anyway. =)

Mel asked "can I ask, what are the clips on your stitching for?"

Hi Mel, they are my take on stitch clips which you use to tighten the side of your fabric. One day I was stitching Ivy and i couldn't get the fabric right (the way I'm comfortable with). I took clips and rubber bands and used it to pull the fabric sideways.
Also I find that the bigger the fabric, no matter how much pulling you do to tighten it, it will eventually start to sag esp. in the middle. So I thought the paper clips and rubber bands will do the job and sure enough, they did, they've helped me alot in my stitching, I have been using them for quite a while, I also use them to hold my pattern LOL. Hope this answers your question.

Thank you guys for visiting and for all the lovely comments. It sure keeps a stitcher happy enough to pursue her stitching career. hehehe

Proud Mommy & some updates

2008-03-31T11:40:00.001-07:00

Very long post...So get your oxygen tank ready..

I am just so proud *big grin*. My son Connor never ceased to amaze us. When he turned 2, his grandma (my MIL) gave him one of those $5 magnetized writing board for his 2nd birthday, couple of weeks later he started writing ABC's and the numbers 1-10 on it. I thought it seemed pretty normal, until I noticed that even my nephew who was past 3 can't even write yet. While we were in the Philippines for our vacation, Connor started saying all the colors in the rainbow, simply from identifying them out of fruit loops. LOL. I was so impressed! And then we got home and a couple weeks later he started to count and write from 1-20. He also learned a few sign languages like please, thank you, help, sleep, eat, drink, mommy, daddy, hat, baby, shoes (he thought me how to sign shoes LOL), socks, potty and a couple others. Anyways, he used that board, and for being $5 it broke after a while, he got a new one and the other day he did this...

Big tada!!! How awesome, he wrote his own name! and then he would run his index finger over and pretend (?) to read and said "Coyer" (with silent 'r' hehe) he can't pronounce his name very well yet. Okay, he kept missing an 'O' but still, he's only 2 years and 6 months. Not bad!!! Maybe in a couple of months, he will start reading to me LOL and do a better job at reading than his mom! LOLOL. Just so proud I am!!! =^0^=

Now onto stitchy updates...

I owed a close friend in college a stitched piece, she asked me a long time ago when she moved to New Zealand to make her a pooh cross stitch, now that had been like 2 years ago, I'm so bad, that she stopped talking to me LOL. Recently, i talked to her again, and i told her that I have been trying to find a pooh design for her (I wanted to stitch one where I don't have to spend my whole life stitching it LOL). I went to my stash and i remembered I had 2 booklets one was of pooh baby designs and then this other one that I picked up from a yard sale. I decided to rechart that and I ended up with what is now a wedding announcement for my dear friend (who got upset LOL). The fabric was a RAK from my friend Ericille, it was a one of a kind lavender fields from stab & stash. Thanks Ericille.

I also have a picture update of OUAT, can you see how i modified her again to suit my taste? Now, what the hell is this? (encircled in red) I know it's part of her dress but i think it makes it look so busy on the right side, with her wings and all...I can't help but think...tentacles!!! So i continued her arms, and hair and will be eliminating that part of her dress because i don't see why it should be there. There will prolly be a change or two coming soon, her necklace just looks wrong to me, an inverted cross??? I'll have to fix that one as well...creeping me out!!! LOL

Here is not much of an update piccy:

Whew! That was a long one, literally took me a long time to write, so sorry for the novel, but I haven't updated in a while and had so much to blah about. hehehe. I hope you are still breathing!!! j/k!

Thanks for coming down and visiting. Hope you have a nice day!

Funny story

2008-03-25T12:22:00.001-07:00

I had a really funny experience yesterday, being hubby's 28th birthday, I asked if we could all parade to Cold Stone ice cream shoppe, it's my fave, it's quite expensive though and it's erected over at the other side of town, so it's really special for me. So anyways, we all started hitting the car, but realized we locked the keys inside the house!!! I didn't even carry with me my ever so reliable diaper bag that contains the spare key argh!!! I left the keys on top of the dresser after we got home from spending easter at MIL's. So we were stumped. I said, let's go to the backyard and maybe i could fit through the doggy door, LOL! we have a cat, and a miniature poodle by the way, so you can imagine how big a door that would be. I tried to squeeze in there while hubby was getting frustrated about how to get in. My shoulder wouldn't fit, i said "i don't think i can fit!" and hubby said "one shoulder at a time baby." I said, "i can't..." but then he said "get out and let's just walk to the mall." haha fat chance, like i would walk all the way to the mall. So i squeezed myself in harder, and yes! I got half my body through, now my hips are stuck! I said, "my hips, I can't get out!!!" (Thank's to pregnancy!) LOLOL Hubby said "haha, do you need me to push you?" So he put Connor down as he was holding him the whole time as our backyard, i think is a land mine LOL, i catch all types of allergies there. So hubby put Connor down and started pushing at my legs, and thank God, Jesus, flying spaghetti monster I fell in, and crawled my way in and up and opened the front door. Then we grabbed the keys, and went happily following the yellow brick road LOL. Hubby said "now, we know a 5th grader can come in and steal our stuff" and i said "we know now what to do everytime we lock our keys in haha." and he said "well, that was really funny, but it would have been funnier if you were stuck there, i would have to call 911." Hahaha. I was wearing pencil skirt too!!! By the way the opening of the doggy door measured 7x12 inches. LOL. I probably would have just slipped through the doggy door before I had a baby, i was the size of a skewer LOL But anything i can do, just for a bowl of ice cream!!! (i know you can relate. hehehe)

The doggy door to salvation! LOL

Oh, I am also happy to report that I placed an order for a silkweaver grab bag when i had the chance. They sell like hot cakes, anyways, i received them last saturday and boy, I couldn't be happier, they are all gorgeous, although the biggest size was 13x18, and most are odds but what better way to add to my small collection.

Ain't they all gorgeous? Love 'em!!!

Thanks to everyone who commented on my framed Nimue design, I totally adore it. And I'm happy to know that others think it's wonderful as well.

Framed & Hanged

2008-03-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

I finally decided to frame my Nimue's La Balancoire. Hubby and i visited for the first time a local framer shop last weekend, they have a nice selection of ready to use frames and the prices aren't going to break the bank either. I got this 9x12 frame for $21.95 (awesome! even cheaper than Michael's!) and the glass was like 85 cents!!! I think I found a new shop worth driving for. It is not that far either. It's at the end of town, so it's not that bad.

I present to you...(drum roll)

I just love the frame and it fits the design perfectly, It has a rustic look to it, well sort of. I just love love love the way it came out. I am so happy!!! *jump jump* Hubby and i finished framing this last night just for that "instant gratification" feeling LOL. Here is a close up photo of the frame.

Have a happy Easter everyone. and TFL!

WIP progress and changes...

2008-03-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

I have been happily stitching away on OUAT. I have already stitched a little bit of her blue dress as you can see here. There are symbols that are confusing (e.g. an area surrounding with "m" symbol and some "m" doesn't look like it at all, it looks retarded, or symbols that are printed only half way, and i can't tell exactly whether they are the same as the surrounding area or a different one that i can't find on the guide) so I asked hubby to look for a big finished picture for me so I can see what color etc. and he did find a big finished picture for me on webshots and said, "Are you sure about the color of her dress?" I was like "..." and he said "I'm not so sure i like that color, but she looked like a bride holding a bouquet, why not change it to white?" And in an instant i went pulling out my DMC color card and matched up whites with the older color, i really love it when hubby says something about my projects, It makes me feel like he is involved LOL. And so I went ahead and frogged the old blues and started with the whites, I love how it's looking so far, and I haven't been feeling "burned out" yet... LOL

The prince's shirt was as i had originally planned, hubby's fave color is green, I also converted the prince's hair. If something has to hang in my house, it should look like the people living in it, yeah? hehehe..

And now...Picture...

TFL!

Cute mini HD!

2008-03-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

I finished the birthday gift for my friend's daughter. This is the blue ballerina from DMC, but the little girl said she likes purple and pink, so i converted her tutu (correct?) to purple, i used beads in place of french knots, which i know will come out horribly!!. Also converted her hair to match hers, she is a Fil-Am (Filipino-American). Fabric is dyed by me, and the frame is glorious! I went to Michael's with hubby and my son last night and found this frame for $6.99! I came home with 2!!! Not only was it cheap, it was also deep enough to accomodate the mounted piece, since most ready-made frames are only capable of fitting a picture, this one was just perfect! I did not even have to go through the whole 'discard backing and replace it with kraft paper, and then dragging out hubby's hammer and nail a hanger for it'. It was a piece of cake!

I have been stitching again on OUAT, will post updates later since there isn't very much to see, I have decided to convert the fairy's dress this time to white, so I have been frogging what was already there, and i had to order the materials needed for my conversion. I'm hoping it will look awesome once done.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting! Have a lovely day!

A little more progress and a new WIP

2008-02-26T16:40:00.000-08:00

I stitched Once Upon A Time for few more days, I worked deligently on those flowers, and I am so happy to announce that I have passed the biggest part on them and only has a little more to go. Wooohooo!!! I'm glad to know I haven't been defeated! I am now working on the fairy's wings, and then more on the fairy and the prince later, just want to make sure I can catch up on where I am on the pattern. It is getting exciting!!!

However, I have to stop with OUAT for a while, my friend's daughter is going to be celebrating her birthday soon. She's the older sister of the little girl I have made butterfly baby from before. I haven't made her any as of yet, so now is the right time. Her birthday this year is the same day as Easter. I am planning on stitching for her Blue Ballerina by DMC she is taking ballet classes, I called her mom yesterday and asked what her favorite color is, and she said pink and purple. I went through my fabby stash, and since i don't have very many smalls, i can't find any pink i like. I went ahead and dyed her a piece.

And here is my start.

I also had S.E.X. (Stash Enchancement eXperience). I received my order from PTP. The mermaid I have been eye'ing since I got back from my trip. It was one of hubby's valentines gift to me, and Wow! I just love the design!

Thanks for stopping by & leaving comments. I appreciate it. =^-^=

Tagged I've been...

2008-02-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by Yuko, First thing first...The Rules:

1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

Okay, weird facts...Ack! I don't think they're weird. But you might...So here goes!

1. I love to dip my french fries in softswirl vanilla ice cream

2. I love to eat dried fish, dried squid, salted fish and shrimp paste (no this is normal when you are a filipino, but my hubby and their family always think fish jerky is weird LOL) I also love fish head stew (the eyes are my favorite YUM!) and squid cooked in it's own ink, and seaweeds.

3. When hubby first came to the Phils. to see me, I was 20, and I took this doll with me when we hopped to another island, strapped it around my luggage, in full view. That once we got to the resort all of the attendants gave hubby a slashing look, they must'a thought i was underaged. hehe

4. One time my sister and i met up at a friends house to go to the beach, her mom was a nurse and had stashed this doll used for first aid training, I asked if i could keep it because I really like it LOL. I took it with me to the beach and bathed with it, cuz it was a little dirty, so i washed the doll, and some guy made a gesture that I was a loony! LOLOL

5. I get a crush/fall inlove/idolize anime characters.

6. When i was in high school, my favorite movie was 3 ninjas kickback, because I just think Colt was sooooo delicious. I've watched the movie countless of times and I memorized the whole script LOL.

7. I sound like a little girl. eww!

Now i get my turn of tagging 7 others, so i choose

1. Andie
2. Chiloe
3. Itching to stitch
4. Joyce
5. Jules
6. Romantic Fool
7. Sandye

Flowers, flowers... everywhere!!!

2008-02-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd take a picture and see if I have made any (if at all!) progress on this never ending flowers. I worked on this for a couple of days. And you guessed it I am still on those flowers!!! Argh!!!

I just really want this over with, so i try ever so patiently to atleast work on those flowers day after day after day after day... Although it looks like once I am passed the (rose?) arbour everything should go smoothly as the fairy and prince itself have big blocks of colors, so it should be more like mirabilia-ish (which i love love love!)

Here is an old photo of my previous WIP blog entry

And here it is as of today (or since the last time i worked in it)

I have even thought about it over and over, that once I am done with this design I'm tossing it to my sister as her wedding anniversary gift this July, can you tell I am starting to get very tired of this design? LOL. But i showed a finish piece to hubby and he really loves this (no matter how many times I've yelled at him because of how pissed off i was at those flowers!!!) He even like this design better than Mediterraneo which i also adore. But maybe when it's all done, finish, over with...I will start to love this piece again. Crossing my fingers, eyes and toes!!! Kitting this wasn't a cheap one either. So please be still my heart!!

Is this new...?

2008-02-17T12:18:00.001-08:00

Wow! I have never seen this pattern before. I wonder if it's new from ?!Who Knew!? I love Ocean treasure and I have it in my stash. But I have to have this one as well! It's beautiful!

Not so crazy about ocean daughter, but this one is an absolute must have! Gorgeous!!!

Feel free to feel enabled.

5 years ago from today...

2008-02-16T14:56:00.000-08:00

I married my bestfriend, my soulmate, my other half, the one who completes me... *^_^*

We are two different people, yet common in every way, from two very different worlds. Fate has brought us together to love each other. (an excerpt from our love story) A love that has bounded us together into eternity, a love that bites, a love that seeps to every fiber of our being, a love that is a gift...It is not perfect, but it's in its very flaws and imperfections that has made our love stronger, deeper and more realistic in every way... Time has tested how strong our love is for each other, not even the distance could change the reality of how two people are meant to be together. All our dreams had came true, our lives were woven to be shared together since birth, life has been good to us, because it lead us to each other's path, and walked through everyday holding each other's love in our hearts. Because we were bound to be one in love...A reality that only a few has found, that includes us, a once in a lifetime love...never deceiving. ..never ending...A love that's true, a love that's real, a love that sends the God's and Goddesses down to praise it, one love, one reality... our love, our reality... that's Justin...and me...

Today, we are so blessed, we are gifted with our son, he's one proof, our proof that love is so mysterious, wonderfully surprising, and no matter what life throws at you, as long as you have each other life is worth living.

Some old finishes!!!

2008-02-15T20:29:00.001-08:00

How exciting, this post will be about cross stitch and pictures!! =^-^=

I have finally taken pics of some old finishes I left behind in the Phils.

A wall clock i did a long long time ago, I can't even remember what it's called.

Rose of Sharon, my very first Mira. I hate pink, and i don't know why I stitched her in pinks. (0_0)

I did this not too long ago, I took it with me and actually framed it myself while there.

I did this for my mom about 2 yrs ago, she had it framed there, nicely done, and only cost a little over $10.00 ^_~

Can't resist this one, my mom's very first cross stitch project, It's so sweet and serene.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Back from my trip!!! (picture heavy)

2008-02-14T21:25:00.001-08:00

I got back from visiting my home country last tuesday. The past week had been hectic, my mom and nephew stayed for a couple days over in CA. I had chores waiting for me over the 3 weeks i was gone, laundry was about the size of Mt. Everest, thank God to the invention of washing machines and dryer, or i would have lost both my hands now!!!

Onto some pics:

arrival at the airport, we were greeted by sinulog dancers, that is our patron saint of cebu "Sr. Sto. Nino"

during the Sinulog Festival.

with my grandma (mother side) grandma, my mom, my cousin and my dog Midnight

this is my dad, with Connor and my nephew Trey. My mom with my nephew Trey.

karaoke is a way of life. I love pancake!

of course, my mom and i went to the salon LOL.

playtime.

during Connor's christening.

i gave him a haircut.

He got so sick during the trip. The weather was very different in the Phils. and we had to keep seeing the doctor after we arrived, we even ended up in a hospital lab one night so he can have a blood test done, we got scared as there has been dengue fever outbreaks in the Philippines. Thank God it was nothing serious but a case of heat allergy called "miliaria". I was not able to spend time out as much with my friends, or shop, didn't even get a chance to go to the beach. But i was happy to see everybody I have missed.

The rashes cleared out a week after, and we made sure we wrap him up everytime we go out, so he doesn't get direct exposure from the sunlight.

On stitching talk, I haven't been able to do any stitching lately, I have missed it, so are my FOTM's and those surprises in the mail. I can't resume yet however, we are so broke. LOL

I did get a stitchy gift from hubby for valentines, he drove me down to Solvang and bought me Isabella's Garden last saturday and PR Mediterraneo I ordered on ebay for our anniversary, it should arrive in the mail soon.

Wishing everybody a happy valentines!!!

Cutest thing ever...HD!!

2008-01-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

Need I say more...???

A little background: La Balancoire (The Swing) by Nimue. Stitched on opalescent 36 count SW Dew Drop. Finished as a birth announcement.

I love the piece, so so cute and adorable! Only the pattern was very very frustrating, especially the back stitches, lots of quarters, 1/8's and whatever are in between those numbers. Backstitches are mostly done in long stitches, by 3 blocks and sometimes by 5 blocks. The metallic thread that was stated in the pattern, I have no idea what it is or where to get that so i subbed the metallic with PB52. The jingle bells are the smallest ones i could find at Michaels, since it's on 36 count, i can't use the standard size. I also omitted the pearls at the edge of the baby's wings, let's face it, pearls are gay. LOL Struggled a bit with the 2 strands of threads due the fabric count, but wasn't bad enough to tear this project to pieces. hehehe. TFL!

Lovely surprise!!

2007-12-19T15:54:00.000-08:00

Today the mailman brought me a lovely surprise from none other than my sweet sis Joei. She never mentioned to me that there is something on the way, and so i was wondering what the package in the mailbox was. I took it inside, and I opened it, I saw a pattern!!! *blush* I have been wanting this design for a while. It's Becky's Garden by Whispered by the Wind. How thoughtful!! There was also a card and something wrapped nicely in red. =^-^=

Sure enough there is one of her very artsy creations. A beautiful pinkeep, with such bright lovely colors. I love it. Please forgive the photo capturing abilities of mine today, It had been cloudy/raining for the past week.

And a very heartwarming christmas card.

I too, sis, am glad...that I got to know you... Thank you... *^_^*

Just a quick post...

2007-12-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

Gosh, I haven't updated in eons. I have been soooo busy during thanksgiving and now preparing for my visit to the Philippines next month. Things went topsy turvy for me...Long story short, I was so pissed off to know that our Hong Kong lay-over is only really good for those who are planning to shop 'till you drop... which is not what i wanted, I just want to get my ass at home and maybe hit the beach...ahh the tropics!!

I've already started cancelling FOTM's except for SMF which will commence by the month of my departure...

However, on stitchy news. I did manage to finish UTFT girls for my mom, she will be coming to see me in California 3 days before we leave for the Philippines, and this is my gift for her.

Also, I started a new wip for my son, It's called La Balacoire by Nimue, so cute and adorable. Will post a wip later when i have time. I know i got boring but thanks for stopping by. =^_^=

Have a Happy Holidays!!!

Time for an Update!!

2007-11-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

Hello all!! Hope you are all doing well. I haven't blogged for a while, and i admit I haven't really been stitching that much lately. However, I do have some updates and 2 framing HD's!!! Atleast I accomplished something while AWOL, aight?? hehe

First is the Spring Baby Butterfly by EMS, I picked up a ready to use frame at Michaels and surprisingly it fits although I used monaco fabric which is slightly thicker than most, even used the frame backing it came with, It's ready to go, for my god-daughter's birthday. It was very obvious that the baby was not centered, but I don't think it was that bad, I had to keep the child's name in the center after all...

This next one had been a framing HD for a while, I kept forgetting about it since i had to buy hooks to hang it. I purchased this super beautiful asian bamboo themed frame for $27 and it wasn't a standard size, it was 17x22 which was perfect for the piece, I bought it at this framing place in San Luis Obispo, they have ready made frames, hanging, you only need to purchase glass along with it, I saw this and i had to get it for the piece because it just fits, perfectly! I backed it with kraft paper (framing paper) and just added hooks for hanging it. Sorry this picture is washed out, today is very cloudy (probably from the wild fires) and the crap called "Vista" is not very user-friendly.

I'll need to catch up on reading your blogs, so please bear with me, I have been so busy lately, I had lost my 'wonder woman' touch LOL.

I'll end with trick or treat pictures...

Lord Vader getting ready to go..

Mommy all dressed up, finally got the chance to wear the yukata. woohoo!!

Trick or Treat!!

Here we are, going door to door (i got offered candy too LOL)

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!!!

Finally! Finally! Finally!!

2007-10-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

Finally! After 48 years LOL I finished the spring butterfly baby.

I am so thrilled because i started to hate her. It's just one of those designs that you think will finish up quick, but not in my case esp. since i was in a slump too. It really took a while to get it done. By the way, she was originally standing in a circle/oval of green (grass supposedly) but I wasn't so crazy about it, I think it looks awful, so i omitted that part and only stitched the flowers around her. Much much better!!

I also had S.E.X. (stash enhancement experience) today. Woohoo! It's very pretty. I ordered this from when Lori had her spring sale. It's Enchanted Fabrics summer glade on opal lugana. It just make me so happy because I was able to order it at the last minute due to the fact that at the beggining of each month is rent week and hubby told me to write him a note of reminder to make sure he could order it for me on the last day of sale which was on October 12th, and not not not to miss it!! It arrived today! Yey!!

So here is what I have been busy with lately. I have been trying to twink my toon out. She's mostly wearing blue and purple gear now. I have also gotten couple of 1337 (elite) enchants & stuff for her like major spellpower, and runic spellthread etc.

I'm so proud of her. =^-^=

This is me next to the pumpkin with my minion Shaathun.

And here is another one of me riding a magic broom. It's for Happy Hallows End celebration.

Hope everybody is well and are having a grand time stitching!! Thanks for visiting!!

Spring Butterfly Baby

2007-10-08T10:31:00.001-07:00

I have not abandoned my passion! No! no! no! Amids't the really bad slump, I tried to atleast keep myself afloat by doing this small design. As you can see, there is something wrong with this project!!! One should never force themselves to stitch when on a really bad bout of slump! LOL

The design did not stay in the center, can you see?? There is more space towards the right side. I started in the middle, crawling towards her head, but, God knows what happened, when i finished her head i realized that the stitches i did at the center (they were suppose to connect) had been an inch or two further than where they were supposed to be. I hope you know what i mean!!! So since her head was already finished, i went on and frogged those and moved the stitches that were supposed to be in the center (they aren't in the center anymore) Ugh!! malfunction! malfunction!!! O_o

I am hoping there will be enough space to the left for mounting and framing. That's my only wish..I will continue with her until she's done, and hope I did not succumbed myself into something where i would wish to rip it all apart. LOL

As to the fabbie, i dyed it myself, I am not so crazy about it. LOL (i'm not a pink or yellow/in the case yellow green person)And i had no hopes of dyeing another one. Hehe

Thank you for visiting. Have a lovely day!!

A not so cross-stitch entry!

2007-09-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Another birthday approaching. A friend's daughter is turning 2 in November, and i had thoughtof stitching for her Spring Butterfly Baby by EMS. My friend told me her daughter's bedroom decors are butterflies, so I think I would stitch her that and put her b-day and stuff, like a birth announcement. Thought of doing the first version which is Butterfly Baby, but not so fond of how she look like. I think I like the spring one better. Will need to gather the materials first! *^_^*

I haven't stitched anything lately. I may have been in a slump because of those flowers, been playing World of Warcraft however, so I will just let my mood rule over for now, until i get my stitching mojo back...

I want to put pictures here LOL And what better pics to show you, i have...Pictures of my son, Connor a week or so back, went with his daddy to mcdonalds and wore his daddy's shirt! hahaha

Little'st Jedi

America's Next Top Male Model

Contemplating...

Roman Times...Roman God

Pray without Ceasing...

Last, but not the least Who's your idol???

...Like Godmother...Like Goddaughter!!! hahahaha

Hope you had some good laugh!!

Me gotta package! Me gotta package..hey hey!!

2007-09-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

I received a package from a very nice lady who is from the U.K. Honestly i don't know where to get this Uk Cross Stitcher magazines in this side of our mountain. Yep, that's my home address, big heart (no cholesterol attached) USA haha. Nah, i can't really reveal it, I am not very fond of paparazzi's!! LOLOL

I have been searching for this even on ebay. I saw a page auctioned of the "Snow Princess" a long time ago and I just thought she was soo beautiful, a must have! I posted on one of the bb's i visit and the nice lady, her name is Eileen-responded to me by saying she would give me the magazine, I just received it today and Boy! was I ecstatic!!! I am running around with joy. This is the January 2005 issue, so you can really tell that it's quite old. One you can hardly find on ebay!

This is a picture of a finished piece, I don't know who owns this, but I hope they don't mind. She's so lovely and dainty...She is designed by Joan Elliott.

Wooohooo...Happy dance!! Happy dance!! By the way, I'd like to thank everyone who doesn't tire of visiting my blog and leaving me comments. I love 'em so please keep visiting!!! *^_^*

Proud Mommy moment & Pictures galore!!

2007-09-24T16:55:00.000-07:00

Finally got Connor's b-day party pictures from MIL's camera yesterday. Like i always say...probably every year since he turned 1, "i can't believe I survived my 2nd year of motherhood." LOL

Birthday boy, trying to lick his cake, before we even started...

Mommy and Connor, picture perfect!!!

The creators and the creation. wehehehehe

Also had S.E.X. today, God! I love this new fabby, it's from Enchanted Fabrics called "Fall Foliage" isn't it just lovely?? I saw it before on the newsletter and never really paid close attention, about couple of weeks ago, I showed it to hubby and he said, you should order it because he thinks it's also pretty...So he ordered it for me. He's such a sweetheart... =^_^=

And more flowers to show you, I have been feeling this is more work/obligation, so I am trying my best to work as much on the flowers as i can, so I can get over them soon enough! It's really pretty though...Did i mention that somewhere in those pinks, i stitched the wrong color, but I am so glad they were so close instead of 761 i stitched 3716 by mistake, so i did not bother frogging it because i don't even remember how far it had gone before i realized it..bummer! I'll leave it the way it is... I did stitch on the fairy wings the other night, just to save my sanity =)

Thank you for visiting and taking a peek. Hope everyone is well...

Love in the mail!!!!

2007-09-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

I received a lovely gift from sis Joei late yesterday afternoon, It came so beautifully wrapped, i didn't want to open it!!!

And when i did, I saw two of the most beautifully done stitcher's stuffs.

A close up of the needlebook (is it what you call this?) You open the flap and you can stick needles inside...Now, I have been cross stitching for a long time, but I have never made anything like this...It's so beautiful!!! I am so inlove with it!!

And my very first look/feel of what a biscornu is... Amazing!!! It almost seemed to me like those pillows you put princess/queen tiara's/crown's at, except in a smaller version...

And the back view of the biscornu...Super lovely!!!!

Sis Joy, Thank you so much!!! You really made my cloudy day yesterday, as i was sick and did not want to even bother getting out of the couch. I haven't been able to send you an email even, but I will be doing that now!!! My butt feels so heavy, I needed a forklift to even come to the computer. LOL But of course, i couldn't resist showing off what you have made for me...Thank you so so very much from the bottom my heart!!! They are very special, I even put them back in the box and wrapped them again, placed it on top of the printer, away from the good hands of Connor. (even then you can see in the last pic that he wanted it--hand alert!) LOL. Maraming salamat po!!! *^_^*

Updates...A WIP and a finish.

2007-09-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

After a little wait, I finally finished my "Connor" name tree. I used VC dragon hoard overdyed thread and stab and stash summer reflections on 40 count. A few days ago my hair braider from IGIA arrived and I was sooo having fun doing the braiding on this one. I used a yarn that i bought from Michaels that says "clouds" and I really love how it came out...It's cute, although not christmas'y but cute...and I think it will stay this way..Hubby likes it as well..

Here is also my progress on Once Upon A Time by Passione Ricamo. Stitched on SMF Impressionism. This has been my focused wip for a few days/weeks now...I am working on those flowers and I just realized I hate stitching flowers LOL. But i think it is getting there, so I am going to try work on the flowers some more next time, the faster I stitch, the better, too many color changes and there is so many isolated stitches on them (i really hate those.) =)

Have a lovely day everyone!!

My bestfriend...Framed!!!

2007-09-13T16:54:00.000-07:00

Naw, not that kind of 'framed'...You have such a dirty mind. You need to wash it with holy water!! LOL

I finally got to framing this, I chose classic black, yes black..my favorite color!!! I think it came out very beautifully! You can't go wrong with black and all that gold, I really think it gave the piece more of that Oomph!

She already saw the finished design, because she wouldn't stop asking me for a picture LOL. And she made me post it under the comment section of her friendster (kinda like myspace) page! Talk about overly excited haha. I am very happy by her response though, It really paid off all that hardwork. =) I just love her to death, she is my adopted sister and it's like our intestines are connected to each other LOL.

Unfortunately, most of my pictures are left behind in the Phils. and I only have those that have been saved on the computer. We've known each other since high school.

Here is us when we were still snotty little bitches (16 y.o. college freshmen note: the bobble heads LOLOL and me needing to get to know the tweezers for my eyebrows!! =D)

And then the last picture we have together 2 mos. before I left for the U.S. (my 23rd b-day)

On other report, i hate the clover wonder knitter! It did not do exactly as i wanted, and yeah ignorant me thought you actually just keep spinning and it would weave by itself (omg! don't think i have no IQ!) LOL. I actually always think that half my brain got washed away by the time i gave birth to my son. hahaha. If you want something that will do cordings for ornaments, definately not that! Now, i don't know what to do with the one I have, but maybe...just maybe I will be crazy enough to touch that thing again! I bought a hair braider that afternoon i tried to work with that! Hubby's suggestion!

And on one other note...I can't believe my baby Connor is turning 2 tomorrow, yes 2!!! Where have all the days gone??? One day he was just helpless..laying there in his crib or cradle waiting only to be held and fed...and now...he's going to be officialy 'terrible two!?' Does this qualify me for a senior citizen discount already? >.>

Have a lovely day everyone!!!

September 11...in memory of...

2007-09-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

Today the weather is really gloomy, i wonder if it's the same for wherever you are as well??

This is a piece that i honestly did for a 'freedom contest" over at the stab & stash. The fabric is called freedom. very nice..

I think it will be a perfect dedication piece for what we are remembering today. It's not only the americans, but to everybody in other parts of the world as well, who felt the great pain and suffering, the dark event that occured on Sept. 11, 2001...

Eventually this will be framed, and I would love for my brother in law to have this in his possession. He is in the U.S. Army and I am sure he will be happy to keep this piece.

I wish and pray for all the souls that are still lost, that they may find their peace and reach home into the loving arms of God... *^_^*

More S.E.X. (Stash Enhancement eXperience)

2007-09-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

I ordered from Mindy during her Anniversary sale and after so much anticipation I finally received my fabby. It's called Mindy's Medley Pixie Sunset. I just love it!!! It appears so red on my picture because my son had apparently taken over the coffee table writing all over mounds of post-it's and himself as well..So i had it on top if a red pillow so now it's bloody red! LOL Anyways, I love it! I had though of stitching PR's Meditarreneo on it but..hmm i don't know if its suited...So will have to find something else...

I also got a new toy =), hubby purchased this for me on ebay last week, after contemplating on if i should get one of those machines for hair braiding, for cording purposes, i finally decided to settle in on this one called the wonder knitter by clover..I don't know how to use it yet, so it looks like I will be playing with it today, since i finished my son's name tree, so looks like it will not have to stay in that package for long...

Hubby also came home with the new PSP lite/slim. It so sleek and it's a ton lighter than the old one, since Connor had already taken over the old one, he looooooves the loco roco game, and always says "baba..baba" everytime he sees the PSP, so now everybody happy LOL. It's so exciting!! \0/ I just love video games, maybe one day I'll show you the stack of video games i brought from the Philippines all the way to the U.S. it's almost as much as my stash I guess..ehehe I can't wait to play Silent Hill The Beggining on it!! woohoo!!

We are a gaming household, so gaming gadgets keeps us afloat...The family that plays together..stays together..What can i say?? LOL

Please excuse the music, I just love it so much and I can't help myself but add it to my menu. If you prefer no music, You can always go down to my right side menu and stop it from playing...I hope you don't mind it though. It's a song that I dedicate to hubby.. *^_^*

Have a lovely day y'all... \m/

Freebies And WIP updates

2007-09-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

I love freebies!! A couple of days ago, i received some Sunsweet freebies...I love dried fruits...everything dried probably I will eat..dried mangoes (MMmmMmm, the Philippines grows and have the best mangoes in the world, also goes for its dried version) I love dried fruits, dried fish, dried squid (i have these in my ref) LOL. You grossed out?! W00T?!

The hands weren't included in the package LOL.

On stitchy update, i was able to pick up the needles. Hurray!! I stitched UTFT saturday night until late, Connor stayed up all day (did not nap) so he went to bed early, around 8 p.m. and I was able to stitch until my back hurt LOL. I focused on the one on the left since she has more color changes, and by the time i go to the one on the right side, should be quick and easy as her dress is mostly white. Here is what my girlies look like now...

Also, last night I decided to stitch on Once Upon A Time Again, not much progress as I had to sort my threads again because i move them around as i work on other projects and that cost me time, so i was only able to do the backstitching and a little bit on the prince's sleeve and a teenie bit on the fairy's dress...

Anyways, this is all i could say about Tide..LOL joke!!! I am still working on my wedding freebie, to post here. I don't know for sure if anyone wants that, but just incase...I'm trying to find a place that hosts zip files and so far I haven't been able to find one...May just stick them down here as pictures..

I leave you with a picture of my son in his two-piece LOL.

Hope everyone had a great labor day weekend *^_^*

Happy Stasher & funny pictures..

2007-08-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

So hubby has yet again spoiled moi. =D I got new hand dyeds to show off, bought them from a lady who decided to thin her stash =)they are HLC Dragonmyst (right side) and SW winter breeze on the left. Today I also received a package that hubby also bought me online, i have been asking for this for quite sometime and he finally bought it for me late last week, it's a fitting tool for doing your own framing. It drives different types of point inserts including brad nails, rigid inserts, multipoint inserts and flexible inserts. Woo hoo!! Last friday however was a super mail day, I received Love, Peace and Harmony kit which was originally MIL's b-day gift for me last June, however she ordered it from a different ONS and they have it on back order for a long time already, and it seemed like when all my hopes had gone, hubby went ahead and called his mom to tell her to cancel the one on backorder and went right ahead and placed one over at ABCstitch, it cost a whooping close to a $100 bucks for the kit, one reason why i had waited all this time to actually want one to be ordered for me. I was so overwhelmed...I have been lusting over this design in like forever!!! Weeee!!

Here is the funny part of this post...Last weekend, we went over the DH grandparent's house because his uncle came over from another town and had asked us to look if there was anything that we wanted/need that we can keep, of course i rummaged through and found a hand vacuum, very useful for scooping Connor's cereal that when he decided the floor is hungry too, and a steam iron, i have been wanting one forever, It will be great at just going ahead and steaming the drapes, too bad grandma don't cross stitch or i would have had come home with a great loot, she does collect dolls (expensive ones) and had a sewing machine that looks like it has a serger on it too, and yes I'm keeping it! And some other knick knacks...So anyways, while we were there, Hubby's uncle decided to ring hubby's bro and went down altogether to grandma at the nursing home to tell her about the death of grandpa (she couldn't remember him though)...

Then Connor and i was left alone, Connor started to smell funky, yes...you guessed it, he just did a deposit, and worse i left the diaper bag in the car and hubby's got the key. So i ended up putting one of grandpa's left over diapers on him LOL. He did not mind so much, until we got home and i needed to change him, he made such a fuss and started crying because the diaper wouldn't stay on, he tried to held it up and got so frustrated. LOL

Poor baby..Still cute though...This is going to be one of the best memories I'll have of him at this age, it's really funny too...=D

A WIP & My very first sucker...

2007-08-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

First of all I would like to thank everyone who sent positive thoughts and gave condolences to the passing of great grandpa Hank. Thank you with all my heart. *^_^*

Here is my latest WIP. I have been itching to start this since i bought it. It's Connor's name tree, designed by Nouveau Encore Designs. Stephanie was so lovely to work with and her name trees are very very affordable, not only that, I ordered it one night and the next day it arrived in my e-mail. You should check out her site, she has some lovely freebies as well. Go...now!!! LOL

And here is the little muffin I made this name tree for. This was his very first sucker and he really loved it!

And that contented look of having tasted something so yummy... =) (with drools attached lol)

Have a nice day everyone!

In Memory of...

2007-08-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Great Grandpa Hank...

He died yesterday morning due to aneurism in the brain. Hubby is very sad. I don't know him that well but during the short time we've known each other, he's a very nice person and a super grandfather to his grandchildren. Connor lost both great grandfathers (from my inlaws side, one even before he was born). It's really sad to know that he will not know anymore from here on since my grandfathers had all gone home too...

Here is a picture of great grandpa and Connor

May his soul find its peace in the arms of the Lord...He will be missed.

A Framing HD!

2007-08-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Before i begin, please let me say a big hearty thank you to my friend Andie for sending me a late b-day pressie of Kiwi Illusion fabric and a $20 gc from ABC stitch. At a time when i had a huge crush on Nimue design The Swing. It's soooo adorable..aww...Thank you Andie so very much. You are the best! *^_^*

I finished framing my Sue Hillis piece yesterday, didn't take very long since it was small...I use the lacing method to frame my pieces. I love how it looks, although I had originally thought of framing it with mats, in a standard 9x12 size frame and an 8x10 opening on the mats, I omitted the mats because I think the fabric pays for itself. It's really pretty and sparkly in real life.

I also need it small enough to fit in a priority flat rate envelope so it will get there soon, I will need to mail this tomorrow so it will arrive on their wedding anniversary which is in 3 days!
By the way, there are no folds on the fabric, it's drum tight and super tight LOL, so have no fear !!The what looks like folds are shadows, cuz i actually opened the backyard door and took the picture on the floor.

On stitchy update, I haven't put a single x on any of my fabric/wips all weekend. Really busy and it's hard to stitch when my son decides he doesn't want to take a nap because he always messes up with my stuff, this project alone, he decided to write on the fabric with an orange crayon, thankfully it was washable and it happened on the backside, so no mishaps there, our walls however...had no escape. LOL

Anyhoo, thanks all for looking and have a nice day everyone!!

Can you say...Stash??

2007-08-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

I got bored so I thought i would take pictures of my stash LOL...yah! show off!!

I did not think I have this much until i took a closer look. (O_o) wOOt?!

Hubby spoils me... *^_^*

First is all my L&L/TIAG/BR & PR

Then Mirabilia's (they all won't fit on the table so took 2 pics )

And the last two are of the miscellaneous charts i have with kits, magazines, misc. designers...(please love my feet!) bwahaha..

Ohhh fun part! My hand-dyed fabbies!!

First 2 pictures are all my SMF, SW, Stab&stash, EF, Countrystitch & PTP (one from HLC) fabbies all in fat 1/4 and some larger.

Then my smaller cuts of 13x18 & 9x12 from same hand-dyers. =)

I really had fun sorting through them, they are so colorful and what fabulous eye candy!

Oh this last pic is not a mound of fabbies by the way, It's my son who refused to take a nap! LOLOL.

Please enjoy...and don't hesitate to feel enabled!! (^o^)

Warning: Bling Alert!!

2007-08-13T15:54:00.001-07:00

Weee! I just finished my own wedding design. Again, I made this for my bestfriend who lives in Japan and is married to a japanese guy. I think it looks rather lavish with all that gold LOL.

You all can see now the color and contrast I had wanted, i think it works perfectly with the design, I chose light purples and greens (except for the vines) so that they don't steal away from the whole design. I hope my bestfriend and her hubby will love it. It's really bling in real life.
I am planning to add a bride and groom charm in between their names, but I have to find one that is gold, and I unfortunately have none on hand, so will have to order one later.

This is a very small design, I stitched this in a piece of 9x12, and the design is about 6x8, will fit nicely on an 8x10 frame. Will fit perfectly in an international priority mail flat rate box from the USPS tee hee...

I will be sharing this design to anyone who wants it. I am also going to add an optional verse once can stitch in place of the kanji and verse on this one, which says "You and me together never apart, remember my love, you are my heart." So watch out for it! Thank you for looking!

My Other WIP

2007-08-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd take a picture of my current/focus WIP. It is the wedding sampler for my bestfriend who lives in Japan. I thought I could redo the Sue Hillis piece I had just recently finished, but twice or more in a row *sigh*... proves I don't know my taste that well. LOL

Anyways, I designed this piece myself, I went around looking for a piece that would suit the couple, since they live in japan, and my bestfriend's husband is japanese, I had wanted to find one that had atleast some kanji wording in it. Couldn't find one so I made one. The kanji on this says "Love"...eventually when it's done it will say Love is you and me together, forever... But i haven't got much time to stitch alot lately. Life happens! (",)

Since they have a gold motiff during their wedding, most of this will be in mono-gold. But i will be adding a little bit of color and contrast since it really needs to have it! By the way, my fabric is a gorgeous piece from Mindy, SMF shimmering jelly bean cashel. Gorgeous fabby!

Hope everyone have a great weekend. (o^-^o)

Hot off the scroll..

2007-08-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

I just finished my Sue Hillis piece Wedding Day. I will be framing this myself, but I don't have the right stuff to mount and go ahead and frame it right now, so maybe I'll be dragging DH and my son to Michaels this weekend.

To those who wanted to see the finished product, here it is.

Although i bought the chart without charms, I ordered a pair of bride & groom charms on ebay, and the heart charm was one I picked up at Michaels. I decided to put the heart charm in an angle because the key that dangles is just so cute and I couldn't resist my placement.

The chart comes with charms which are actually 2 bells that goes in between those flowers, and an entertwined heart that goes between "our lives... our love" which obviously I replaced with the bride and groom charm *^_^*

That's all for now, I probably am going to start on the next one which will be the gold motiff one. I don't know when yet...But i will be sure to update. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great evening!

Just Updates...

2007-07-25T12:36:00.001-07:00

I haven't been stitching much lately, so I haven't been able to update. Initially, i started again a new wip that I have not touched for a week atleast, I don't have an update for the UTFT girls, but I did finish my square for baby Matthew from Lovequilts. Here it is with all the color changes I had done. It's sent off and they had already posted it in their website when i checked today. I am excited to see what his quilt will look like. =)

And here is my new WIP, honestly, not very long ago...well ages ago...LOL before I had my son, i promised my sister and 2 of my friends (who don't stitch) that I will make them a wedding sampler. I did not forget, and although I tried my very best to find a wedding sampler that would be quick and easy, but still pretty and delicate, it took me all this time to find the perfect one. It's called Wedding Day by Sue Hillis. Here is a picture of what I had done so far...

It's been sitting in the scroll for a little over 2 weeks. Like, i said I haven't bothered touching my needles lately. I been lazy, and have been spending my time laying on the couch watching t.v. with my son...(Little Einstein 50 times a day!!) (O_o) ...

I am going to probably stitch this design 4 times, including mine and hubby...But depends on my mood, until I decide I need a new design...again...LOL

I am also going to match their fabric as to their wedding motiff, the first one is for my friend Hasel who has berry (almost maroon) wedding motiff, my sister had a lavender motiff and my bestfriend Christine who had gold motiff. The red fabric is one i ordered from Debbie on ebay, since I needed multiples and she has very affordable prices. Although, I knew she did not cure her pieces, I went down to the local fabric store here and bought a bottle of synthrapol for a couple of dollars and rinsed it in. =^-^=

Have a great day everybody!!

And then...I created faces...

2007-07-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

First of all, I would like to thank Miss Tammy of Stab & Stash for sending me a belated birthday gift. It is a design called Merbaby by Lacy Clagg. It's so cute! Thank you Miss Tammy. The card was lovely as well *^_^*.

Okay, now to updates...

I finally created faces for this 'sisters'.

The flow of the design is amazing, as with other Mirabilia's it's so hard to put down!!

This 2 girls are absolutely dainty and very pretty, don't you think they have such sweet faces? They do! They do!! I just love them and the colors are amazing!

I have set them aside for a couple of nights to start on my other wip, I finally got approved for my sign up on Lovequilts. I signed up for a little boy, his name is Matthew and he is just so adorable! I have only done random squares for them before, but when i saw this kid, he literally stole my heart and I knew i just have to stitch a square for his quilt. I started the square saturday, I haven't been able to work on it so much yet, but it's not a very big design so I should be able to finish it soonish. It's a free design I got from Cyberstitchers.com It is called Boy Bear Sleeping by Cheryl aka Cinnamin. Thanks to her, she created such a cute design! I am tweaking colors a bit but it shouldn't take too long...

That's all for now...Someone in this house is whimpering themselves for attention LOL. Thank you for reading and for stopping by! Have a great day always!

A little progress...

2007-06-26T16:14:00.001-07:00

On Mirabilia's Under the Friendship Tree. I am making this for my mom, so it will be like me and my sister. I am planning to finish this before I go to the Philippines for a visit so I can give it to my mommy. She hardly cross stitches anymore as she is starting her little 'crochet business' and has no time. I am converting the skin and hair to match ours. =)

It's stitched on Enchanted Fabrics Margarita Flair opalescent lugana, one of the prizes that Lori sent me from when she had her anniversary contest. It was also hubby who picked the fabric in my stash, since I am eliminating the tree and extra whatnots that made the design a little busy for my taste, that way the focus is on the little girls itself. Hubby also thinks that the fabby will look like they are playing in the grass and vowed it's perfect!

I haven't gone very far, but I had some progress done from when i took a picture of my floor stand. I love how brilliant the colors on the girl's dresses are. They are really beautiful. ;)

And before everything else is forgotten. Thank you to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday. I really appreciate them and it truly made my day yesterday. Thank you! thank you! =^_^=

My new toy...

2007-06-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday hubby bought me a stitcher's wonder floor stand from Michael's, with our 50% off coupon it wasn't that bad of a deal. So yeah, he came home with it and i was super excited, and then i went and started to stitch on it and...dissapointed!!! It was frustrating! Honestly, i thought it meant to rotate 360 degrees as in the whole scroll, but it gets caught with that U shape thing and no it doesn't rotate, it stops halfway which makes it very hard to access the back, and then hubby explained that the 360 degree rotation must mean the base of it's neck..Oh duh!! Now i need to keep pushing it upwards to do just that!!!

Today, hubby dragged the whole family to home depot, he went and picked up some wood, sandpaper, a saw and a new drill, then when we came home he made me just what i wanted, a new scroll holder!!! Or better yet...i would call it an upgrade! I am so happy, it is so much better, and he made sure it is big enough so i can fit even a bigger size fabric without a struggle. I love what he made, it's so comfy and it cost us very little! He also did an excellent job, it almost looked like one you can buy from the store.

Here is my new stand..

I love it! What you see here is also my progress on Under the Frienship Tree. There isn't really much to see yet as i had very little time to stitch recently. But I am super excited about my new stand I just had to tell you all...It was a lovely surprise from hubby, especially that there is a part in there that he made by himself. I just love him to pieces!!! *^-^*

More gifties...

2007-06-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

Today I received another early birthday presents, they are from Ericille and Debbie (ladyofstitches). They are such nice people. My birthday is not until June 25th but these things I get in the mail that are totally enexpected is just overly heartwarming, it makes me feel so good that i have friends eventhough I haven't met them face to face, because I honestly don't have friends around here where we live, no family either, except for hubby's family and relatives. Mine are on the other side of the world and I haven't seem them in almost 3 long years. Sad, but life must go on... =)

Anyways, here are the goodies I got from these 2 beautiful ladies.

The pic says it all...I just love Lilly as soon as i saw a picture of her. Lilly is the gift that Ericille gave me. The beads and the fabric are from Debbie, its an opalescent lugana the color is called "Huntress". I phoned hubby at work as soon as i saw them, and he was excited for me as well, he understand very well how lonely I sometimes get, everyday is a you know "adjustment"stage for an immigrant LOL. What a great day it is...I am so pleased to know that there are still uber nice people out there. It makes me feel very special...

Thank you everybody for the love. When my birthday arrives and you will greet me, I would feel uber-uber special then too... =)

Awww, i'll be a year over quarter of a century... :D

Wow!!

2007-06-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

My bestfriend who lives in Japan gave me the biggest surprise of my life! She sent me an early birthday present and I was just psyched outta my mind!!! When i opened the door to pick up my mail, there was this box sitting there and I was just very ecstatic when i opened it, it contained 2 sets of Yukata (Japanese Kimono) one for me and one for my son. OMG!! I was so shocked, it brought back memories of when i was young, we would have United Nations Day in school and I am always Miss Japan LOL. My son loves his yukata he tried it on as soon as he saw it, I will have to take pics of him later, he looked like a little samurai. =D

Here is our pair of yukata's, aren't they just beautiful?? Now this halloween, I will surely wear it and imagine that I am a geisha. LOL.

I just love that butterfly obi belt...It's so pretty!!
*^_^*

This is my beautiful japanese god-daughter Maiko chan. She is so precious and adorable..

Thank you Christine for my gifts, I am so thrilled! You are the bestest best friend ever!! =)

Fairy Celebration..Yaaaa hoooo!!

2007-06-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

Have not been able to blog for a while, but I'm here now...I just have to write about my recent finish..She is just lovely! Okay, I admit, I saw Juls finish yesterday and i frantically started to try and finish her yesterday too. I felt guilty that I had neglected her for sometime, and to think I stitched her way before Juls started hers LOL. I hope she won't turn me into a frog.. =(

Anyways, here she is...I left out the wordings "Fairy dwell here" because I have no room for them, I used a 9x13 piece of SMF fabric Gnome cashel, and i used WDW spring bouquet, obviously i got different dye lots =.

Right now, I will be stitching more on my competition piece for the stab & stash "freedom" contest. I am almost done with it....hmm, i just really want to tell myself that LOL. I won't be starting or working on anymore WIPS until i finish it because there is a deadline, and you know what happens when there is a deadline...I go crazy and starts cramming!

Thank you for looking, and if you ever drop by and leave me comments, I thank you with all my heart for taking the time. Have a great evening ya'll.

Finally...

2007-06-02T09:08:00.001-07:00

A happy dance! Poison Ivy is done WoooHooo!!

I finished Ivy last night, man, she took forever...I've never met anyone with such little body clad in so much dress!!

She is my poison ivy version (yada, yada like a broken record LOL). I did change a few things about her...(off to copy & paste the explanation harharhar)
So here goes..."I feel she did not have form/curve so i eliminated her back, pulled up her skirt and continued her wings. I also changed her skin, hair and dress colors (which now i think she looks more like a walking flower ). I also gave her what i would like to call 'glass slippers', it's actually just a blend of RB-PB10 and of her skin color." *bow*

I love how she turned out. She did not exactly have what i originally planned colors for her 'the hot pinks' It just didn't seem right to me at all...frogging horror!!

P.S. The Love of my life. =^-^=

Happy Mother's Day.

2007-05-12T18:29:00.000-07:00

To anyone who is a mom...I wish you a very Happy Mother's Day!!!

This is for you... The Woman. I hope you will take a moment to read it.

p.s.
Thanks to my sister for sending me this beautiful story. Now i got the chance to share it with you guys. =)

7 Things about me..

2007-05-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged...For the first time! By Megan, I don't know how to play this. But I hope I do this right. =)

It is about 7 things about me. Rules first!

Here are the rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they have been tagged and to read your blog!

Megan dear here you go.

1. I don't know how to cook.
2. I grew up under the care of a gay cousin (while mom and dad goes to work). Until i was 8, I called him 'mama'.
3. I was very evil while i was little, i was the pickiest eater in all the universe, I'd throw food at my gay cousin if I did not like what he cooked for me.
4. OCD about house cleaning.
5. I have 3 piercings on my left ear and 5 on the right. My mom did most of them, except for the 5th on the right, i pierced it myself. Ahh..High school days...
6. I am addicted to World of Warcraft & anime's
7. My sister and i never got along well until lately, when we realized we aren't little girls anymore.

Now my turn to tag...Andie, Carolyn, Carol, Rachel, Juls, Dana, Cheryl

New WIPS

2007-05-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

After I finished my custom family name design, I started Once Upon A Time by PR. I wasn't really sold on this design at first, but once i saw some1's finish, I knew i had to have it! I started this some nights ago, I can't remember when...All i remembered was how much I had frogged her hair because I am converting her into a brunette. I'm no red head, and never will be! This was very hard to convert as the colors were very scattered, from reds to browns...I guess that's how red hair is when the sunlight hits it. (?) I had frogged her hair for like the 5oo'th time!! Just kidding...About 5, really! First conversion I did the hair came out too light...Nope, doesn't look like mine at all...The second time...It was too brown!! And then there's not enough black...and so on and so forth...I finally decided after all that frogging that her hair color looks so much better than 'all the' before's, It only took me a week and a half to finish that same amount of stitching on her hair alone! She is also going to be tanned...She's going to be me. LOL

I am also converting the prince's shirt to green, hubby's request. He said it can't be him unless it's wearing green. I guess he can't relate unless it wearing his favorite color...Your wish is my command! The fabric is SMF Impressionism. It was also hubby's choice amongs't the stash of fabby's i have. Converting the PR's are a little tricky, it isn't like the Mirabilia's where it follows a certain color combination on the color card. But there is always first time for everthing. I had fun!

Then, on friday my order from SMF arrived, specifically it contained my fabric for Mirabilia's Pixie-Ivy. It's Gitta on belfast. It's yummy!!! I couldn't resist so i set Once Upon A Time aside and started her on Friday night. I'm going to convert her dress colors, I played with her on photoshop and got the colors, I liked. I'm going to then call her "Poison Ivy". As you can see, I also converted her hair... She's a real cutie. This is going to be my second time working on belfast, i had noticed that the belfast always stays kinda soggy in the middle, no matter how much pulling or rolling i do, so I thought of something to keep it drum tight, I got a couple of those binder clips and pulled the sides with it using rubber bands. Gotta be resourceful, there is no LNS or perhaps none in all of california that could sell me those stitching clips on a whim! Yay!

Here is also my last WIP. I swore to myself I will never have more than two. But i guess 2 1/2 WIP is ok, this is quite small, plus it did not need a scroll (because it won't fit on any size). It is my fairy celebration from PR. It was also a frogging horror, because once you miscount you can't tell where without going through it row by row, due to the color, I had frogged her wand about three times, and not only that, I hate the hoops, it's ever so hard to do anything two handed, I usually put it in between my legs so i can stitch 2 handed, but after a while my legs fall asleep. This is the reason why I'm not very enthusiastic about stitching this one, due to the hoop issue. Sorry, but hoops are yuck! But no choice...no choice...

p.s. Please let me brighten your day. =)

A Happy Happy Dance!

2007-04-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yay! I finished my Custom Family Name Yesterday. After over a week of it sitting there gathering dust, the threads finally arrived and I made it to the finish line. This is again, stitched on SMF 28 count lugana Putty. I love how that sun turned out. I used DMC varigated tropical sunset on that one, it's really lovely.

Can't say much, my son is freaking out. Hope everyone will have a good weekend.

WIP Updates

2007-04-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

I decided to take pictures of my WIPS. I had not taken any since i started, and this will give me an idea of how much I had...and of how much more I need to do. I am loving the look of those bamboo's. I decided not to use my own hand dyed flosses because I encountered weeks dye works website and they have so much color selection it's foolproof! They also have a really nice catalog-like thing of their whole collection. It took me days to finally decide which ones are closest to the dmc's the design called for...I had so much fun choosing, i thought i was in a candy shop. =D

The calligraphy is yet to be frogged, I am trying to work my way down as I am loving the tension the SMF fabric is giving me. It is by the way stitched on SMF's Putty lugana. I love how it gives the design this old look.

My second WIP is PR's Fairy Celebration, this one is being stitched using WDW thread as well, it's called spring bouquet, and i love how the color variation is giving the fairy sort of an enchanting aura. This one is stitched on SMF Gnome cashel. I knew when i received the fabby from one of Mindy's "random" choice sale on ebay, it was going to be perfect for the fairy, and I just love how it looks. I haven't gone very far yet as I am struggling with the hoop, not even my smallest scrolls will hold the fabric horizontally, so i ended up using a hoop.

I am happy with the results I am getting. It's my first time using SMF fabbies & stitching with variagated threads and I am so loving the experience. =D

Just an update!

2007-04-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Haven't been doing much, we got real busy around easter. Visits here and there...coloring eggs and w00T?! Easter bunnies..?? In the Philippines, where i come from it is so different. It's to commemorate the day Jesus died. The churches for sure are swarmed since the ash Wednesday. Beggining Thursday it's day off, so there is a really long weekend. If you get ashed you aren't allowed to eat meat, except fish. On Good Friday my grandma fixes us up some kind of stew with coconut milk and crops in it, basically what you are allowed to eat all day. We also have strange beliefs...like if you were to eat anything broiled on good friday you will develop freckles, or you should keep away from anything sharp to avoid cutting yourself, because jesus is dead thus your cut will heal only when Jesus lives again, and my fave, you should shower before 3 p.m. (jesus was crucified) because without his presence the entities are all around and you wouldn't be wanting to shower with them now, would you?? Okay, it sounds kind of funny...I'm sure you think we are crazies LOL. Also, there is some kind of a parade, and of people getting crucified, for real! With nails hammered through their hands, or those that are beating themselves with some kind of thorny ropes, like they did to jesus while they were taking him to Calvary. It is one of our traditions, some people make a promise to be crucified for some 10 years every holy week. It is their pact with God. It sounds horrible, but these people are very brave.

Anyways, in stitching talk, I have made a bit of progress on my Custom Family Name. I have also started on PR Fairy Celebration, I have finished the top of her head to her waist. Last night I thought again of stitching PR's Under the Arbour of Love for my son, and I recharted the mom to have long hair (like i do =D ). I can't seem to get blogger to post my picture, it's just not cooperating right now, I think the uploader is having a hiccup. Will try again later.

That is it for now...I hope everybody had a wonderful easter, although late, but better than never. =D

Hip hip Hurray!

2007-03-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

I had just finished stitching SSM today, I was lucky that it was also immunization day, so my little family went to Walgreens to get some fresh batteries for our camera. I was then able to take a picture of her as soon as she left the scroll. She is being stitched on 28 count evenweave opalescent SOLO from Silkweaver. I just love love love her! She is one of my favorites for this year. I feel very happy that I have finally finished her. I thought those beads would never end!!

Here she is in all her glory...

I could have stitched the begining of her tail with metallics, but I thought the beads gave her a sort of 'retro' look, like a belt. And we all know how it is the fashion statement these days. hehe

I need to fix my rechart, and transfer my scribbles onto it before I could share it to anyone who wants it, I made a couple of color changes on her so that her skin doesn't looked like it was mixed up with her tail.

Thanks for lookin' =)

I dyed me flossy

2007-03-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

I can't find the right hand-dyed floss color to use for my other current WIP. So I made my own...

This are just the standard white dmc floss. The red one is going to be used for the setting sun on the design. while the 2 green ones are going to be used for the bamboo. I am not sure yet if i want to convert the whole chart, but i am also planning to sub the calligraphy from standard floss to kreinik. I think a little bling-bling on that won't be too bad.

I started the WIP last night, and filled in a leaf of the bamboo's but it seemed like i need to frog the whole thing and start over. Here is a picture of the design. This is by the way just the sample picture. And does not exactly look like it calligraphy-wise. This is a custom-made design of our family name "Pritchard Family." is what it says.

But before stitching, laundry first...I hear them banging from inside the washing machine, and complaining about how they need to go to the drier now. LOL

My SSM WIP

2007-03-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

Sweet Caroline...I meant Carolyn (that song is stuck in my head) LOL asked me to show my WIP of SSM. I thought I'd update my blog as she is an entry worth wasting my time for. hehe

She's stitched on 28 count solo opal lugana from SW. I have mentioned this before..I think? I really love this fabby because the top is light colored and it suddenly went darker downwards like you know...under the sea! Anyways, I still have way more to go. I actually frogged her body once because the first time she came out with abnormally long torso, that hubby commented, if she did not have a tail...you'll see something else that's not suppose to be there LOL so i went ahead and frogged her body and moved her tail upwards a little bit. She is very skinny, but i think once she's filled in with those beads she won't be looking strange anymore...I hope! She likes to eat sea-weeds LOL.

I got to stitch more on her last night so I got more of her tail done..I also eliminated her 'tendrils..or tentacles' whatever they were cuz then she would end up looking like an octupos, not very pretty.

I am hoping to work on her more, time and my baby permits me. I actually am excited to get her finished. By then, I would be very sure to share my conversion, I can't gamble as of now yet, I wasn't born to ruin ones project. hehehe

Have a good 'un.

Happy Dances!!

2007-03-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

I have Happy Dances currently going on...I'm still shaking my booty from all that i have accomplished.

First off, I would like to Thank my beautiful friend Sara (saranne, saranne6) for sending me this lovely fairy bag. It's very handy for going to the park whenever my son decides he wants to go feed the ducks.

I finally finished this birth sampler for my japanese goddaughter Maiko-chan. This must be the worst Mirabilia pattern I have ever stitched. There was absolutely no way to get away from those confetti stitches on both sides, i was so close to trashing it and make another one of different design. Oh, for the love of God!!! I was about to lose my mind!!! *runs around screaming* lol but thankfully i have regained my sanity, now that i see it all finished. ;) I forgot to mention that the fabby was 28 count Blue Ice from country stitch, it was a RAK gift from beautiful Andrea aka stitchitandie. Thanks Andrea, the fabby was one of the reason why I pursued on this design..=)

Now she is ready for lacing/framing and off to Japan she will go!

Did i mention that this must be one of my most horrible backs?? I could not help it, i just had to drag all that thread and pull them, i just did not care anymore, I probably would have done it still, no matter how many miles away it needs to go to complete another single stitch... *sigh face*

Que horror!

By the way, here is a picture of cutie pie Maiko. The birth sampler is for her. =)

Oh oh, and then I will never forget to mention my World of Warcraft toon, I finally reached max level 70 woooo hooo!!! I
played her everyday spending my rested periods, and did gain
level fast.
Now I am happily mounting the newest released flying mounts. I got the snowy griffon, it's just the basic, I can't afford the epic mounts as of the moment...But hey who am i to complain? It flies...No more getting ganked by a whole buttloads of mobs trying to complete a certain quest, after all i rode my felsteed up until I was level 69.

I also cannot believe i found this gear, it had this thing in the back that looked like a playboy bunny tattoo, just like i do IRL, plus it's so hot and sexy and a rare item at that!

Weeeee...I'm so proud of her!!!

A job well done...

2007-02-23T19:26:00.002-08:00

Cheering on for Amanda aka MiLighthouse. She has done this gorgeous "cameo" of my recharted version of the Lady of the Mist.

You can also see this LOTM at Amanda's Webshots Album .

I was finally able to see how it would look all stitched up... I think my rechart worked out quite nicely...whad'dya think?

She converted the hair to black, and added the necklace herself, which enhanced the beautiful miss even more...

I am just thrilled to see the outcome, it was hard work doing a conversion...But seeing it stitched by some1 so beautifully just made my heart swell and all the hard work has paid off...

There were quite a number of people who asked for my conversion, but i haven't seen any of the other ones yet...Can't wait ti'll they actually get to stitch her...

Thank you Amanda, for giving this a shot...And for such a beautiful finish you deserve an applause!!!

My new start...

2007-02-11T16:57:00.000-08:00

I am going to start South Seas Mermaid tonight, I finished recharting her last night and it went really quick, I really want her to look less of an 'egg roll' I want her bare, in my head it will make her look less eel-y. She needs a curve...

This will be the fabby I will be stitching her on...

It's a silkweaver solo and i think it will fit her perfectly. It is actually alot more green-ish/bluish combo than it looks, and all the other colors mixed in quite nicely.

I envisioned her naked-ness LOL to look like this...

I can't wait to put her into magical stitches...But Life always gets in the way and I can't get away from it...But she will be started tonight and I can't wait...my itchy hands...can't wait...=)

A Happy dance for mwa!

2007-02-09T12:40:00.001-08:00

I happy danced today. After i washed and pressed my finished piece, i started strutting around the house LOL. Actually i finished it last night, hubby was a little worried after i started dancing, he must think i had gone cuckoo!

I love love this piece, it is soooooooo fab, in my opinion. Who doesn't believe in destiny? Let me know and i will wipe some on to you..j/k!

Here it is (ala grand entrance)...

I personalized by adding our names. You won't believe how many times i had frogged the names off of this piece. I needed something that won't overpower all the other letters, it had to fit of course!

This is stitched using 32 count opalescent lugana "SUNRISE" from stab and stash. Very pretty!

I also did a rechart on Lady of the Mist (by Mirabilia) last night, I finished it this morning, and i think she will look more pleasing now without the roses in her chest. I really did think that those roses were out of place and I cannot stop thinking how she looks like she has very

hairy chest! It's just wrong! I up'ped her bodice a little bit and charted them with skin instead of those roses. I can't really imagine someone shoving roses in there! Besides of them having thorns, I'd probably bleed to death. tee hee... Plus I wouldn't want to be swarmed with critters, unless it's a dragon of course!

I don't have time to stitch her yet, but I would like to stitch her this way, skin is way better than those flowers! =)

Oh Happy Day!!!

2007-02-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

A couple week's back I won the stitch-a-thon that the PR board does as a contest. The first time I did not win, but this time I won! I was so happy when Laura Lattuada of www.passionericamo.eu announced that she will be the one who will be gifting the winners with a prize from their wishlist, I never thought the prize would be this many, but she overwhelms me with her generosity. I received my package today and it made my heart leaped with joy!! Of course, her newest release which is My Lady of the Snow is in my wishlist and she granted me that wish...Aside from being a designer, I think she is a secret wishing fairy...

I took a picture of everything she sent me...

I am so overwhelmed, and I'm just so happy! I felt like i have wings in my feet!

I have never ordered or tried Venus thread before, though I have always wanted to but they are a bit pricey and the shipping from Europe is such a killer on the pocket, but now...I can try them and I feel so lucky! lucky! lucky!

Thank you Dawn, for creating the PR board and holding contests that make stitchers like me so happy!

And Thank you Laura! You even signed my chart, which makes it even more special! I will cherish your gifts and your generosity for the rest of my life! =)

Our Trophy and his silly moments...

2007-01-30T13:15:00.000-08:00

Our little one, Connor never runs out of silly moments...He is such a fun little toddler and such a happy baby, sometimes grumpy too, but that happens merely when the weather gets him down.

One day he decided to rummage through my drawer, of course with all 'kikay' girly things I have in my drawer he thought he found a great treasure-toy chest. And was going back and forth taking this specifically what you would 'stuff' your 'worn-to-be braless' blouses, handing them to me, he must have wanted me to explain what it was, or ask if it was okay to play with them. By the way I got tons of those, helps enhance my mosquito bites Hahaha.

Here I made sure i capture his silly moments, one day, he will be all grown up. I can only hope he won't hate me for this pictures. LOL

So there, now he knows...Fast learner! LOL

Hand over...hand dyed..

2007-01-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

I dyed some fabrics, I have a friend from NM who is also a filipina and she is into cross stitching, she's never had or tried any hand dyed fabric before, and was afraid to invest into buying one without having any idea what it is like, so i volunteered to give her some of my own...I mean, ones that i dyed myself. She is an aida user and since i had made my switch to evenweave and linen, my collection of aida's were gathering dusts. So i told her I will dye them for her and she can keep them, after all, it was a good way to rid of something I am never likely to use...In short 'clutter'. LOL. It makes me happy that some1 will get to use them, other than me having to toss them into the trash. Aida's are really cheap too, and she liked the outcome.

This one is by far my favorite, it reminds me of a field of flowers....It is on opalescent aida that i have laying around waiting for a miracle, now it will be put to good use and *pats the fabby* good for you...

My friend usually stitch scenery designs, so I think this would work for most of her faves. It looks like a sunset...I think??

This one is just generic green and blue, I think it looks nice...

She also told me that she has fairy flora, she dreamed to do one day, She saw one of the SW models done on a hand-dye, so far, that was the only fairy flora i have seen stitched on hand dyed, I told her that there are rules when it comes to hand dyes, they never look the same, so it was impossible to mimic it exactly, and I can't tell what color the fabby was exactly, so I made her this one for fairy flora. I thought the splashes of purple would compliment that of what is lavender/light purples on the fairy's dress. She's not really in my stash as she's one fairy I don't like, but I think my lay-over worked pretty well and It gave her an idea what it would look like finished on the fabby, and she thought it was beautiful!

Here she is on her lay-over, I think it worked pretty well, color wise...But one can't know much until they are actually floss-tossed or stitched on...I did however made sure the colors were soft and subtle, so that the fabric won't steal the design away...

I had fun, and I am glad I am spreading the love...The love for cross stitch...

WIP it!!!

2007-01-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

It's been a longgggg time!!! I haven't updated for a while, the new year was way too new, with new adventures & experiences especially with my now 1 year old! Geez, the teething days are a mommy's nightmare! It was worse than having to wake up and busting out your tits for midnight feeding, and they are just sprouting and sprouting 2 at a time sometimes!!!

Anyways, I have only finished one design for the new year, it's my nephew's birthday present, he is now 2. It's Mirabilia Free 2001 Angel Cherub that i converted into a birth sampler...My sister is a lavender freak so I also converted the angel's clothing into lavender, my sis will be so all over it, she'd think she's an angel...Although, i beg to differ! haha

However, I am overwhelming with WIPS...I am keeping up with myself, really! And new designs coming out that needs to find their way to my stash are beckoning me, even in my dreams, they are like tiny voices, haunting me...taunting me...killing me...ehehe. So about a week ago, hubby decided to surprise me and bought "Lady of the Mist", I say constant yapping, makes a man give up!!! Eversince LOTM was announced for a release, I had never stopped asking for her to find her way home to me, it only took a moment for hubby to get the hint *wink*. Now to start babbling about "My lady of the Snow" muahahaha.

Here are the WIPS I am currently very busy with...New baby by Mirabilia, for my japanese goddaughter Maiko, The fabric is called ice blue by country stitch. It was given to me by my beautiful friend Andrea from NZ, she is such a darling! Thank you for the fabbie Andrea dear. Ugh! the flowers on this design is very disheartening, lots of color changes, so I am only working on this whenever I feel like, and i hadn't gone very far, thankfully though, the design is small, so I am hoping to finish this before the next new year! *grin*

The second WIP I am currently working on is called "Red Thread" by cross stitch art. I so love working on this, and it's such a joy, I remembered way back when i was but a big bookworm, I have read about "the man on the moon binds babies together and later they marry..." And i think it is true in a sense, I so believe in destiny... The calligraphy on this design reads "Destined to Meet" and the poem reads "An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread maystretch or tangle but it will never break." So true!!! I love this design and can't wait to finish it. It is stitched on Miss Tammy's opalescent Sunrise, www.stabandstash.com, really pretty for the design as the contrast on fabbie vs thread is super!!!

And then, my 2 very very latest ones, my World of Warcraft characters, I am still working my way to lvl 61 for my warlock, but who knows when that is going to happen, probably in a few months or perhaps next year LOL. They raise the level to 70 since expansion release, and with what little time I get to play, I could only imagine how i will be stuck to the 60's for quite a while. *sigh* I do however, love my minion as he is so much stronger than the previous ones, and has helped me alot while i solo'ed and while grinding, which basically is mostly what i do, can't group while i have a screaming toddler under my desk. =.

I did however create a new character that was part of the expansion, the blood elves which are in my opinion really sexy and i really like the way they look, even that 60's hairstyle that hubby kept commenting about "looked awful!" but I am a girl and girl's only want more hair if they can have it. Right? Thankfully, hubby and a couple of friends are playing again, so we group at night, they all did play Warriors, and I play the healer, I'm telling you, a woman can only handle so much, so i had taken the part of herbalism & alchemy, so i could concoct and specialize my own 'love potions'. LOL

Well, I have said enough for now...Don't want to take anymore of your time reading and my time typing..hehehe. I will update again, as time permits.

ahhhh..it feels good to be back!!!

Recent HD's!!!

2006-11-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

Haven't been around lately, I let my brain hibernate for the past month or so...? After all, idling is not a sin! =D

I finished two wips that i had going for a while, I don't keep track, really, eventually I just realized it's gone past a whole month...sometimes two...three...four? Have never had one going for a year yet, thank you Lord!

Here is the Lanarte piece I won on ebay, It's not framed yet, as you can tell, but i felt like it needs a little bit of drama around the piece, so I Picture It! it.

Then this TIAG baby basket one, i finished today, actually I finished it last week, but the beads came today so it had to sit for a while collecting dust. I had to sub beads into it because of my beautiful mind not being able to decipher the tedious job of learning how to do a french knot...or knots for that matter...I do think the beads paid off much better than if there were knots there. It gives it better coverage. I also converted it into soft pinks. This is for a friend at hubby's work, a very nice lady who had just had her first grand daughter. I mounted it tonight, Surprisingly It went fairly easy, hmm..I maybe becoming an expert at this mounting stuff, great! Then I can be my cheap self again, not having anything custom framed! LOL

That is all, hibernation here i come!!! =D

WIPS Galore!!!

2006-11-06T15:35:00.000-08:00

I decided to take pictures of my WIP's. I don't usually, I feel it takes away precious stitching time. =D. But a friend at hubby's work wanted to see a wip of the birth announcement i am stitching for her DGD, so why not take 'em all?? *wink* *wink*.

First off, is the TIAG-baby in a basket stitched on 32 ct. belfast linen (my first linen project)...I converted the baby's blanket to pale pinks, I feel the white was too neat, and pale pink should match no matter what their baby furnishing colors are, I'm almost there, I have been working on this on and off for weeks now, i don't know exactly how many..but weeks...

Second one is a kit I have won on ebay. It's by Lanarte, there was no title but it says
'lifestyle collection'. It's stitched on 28 ct. EF prairie skies. I work on this while my son is up and about, because it's small it's very easy for me to put it aside before he smudges it with his hand prints!! =)

This is the Lanarte piece i was mounting for 2 days straight. As i mentioned before it was so damn difficult, LOL, but i got it done, woo hoo!! Did i do a good job Andie?? I hope so, I get a star stamped, yah?? Thank you for your encouragements by the way, you are such a lovely person, and despite the fact that this was hard, and actually hurt my hands, I think i passed! A+? pretty please? (with cherry on top!)...I used denim thread on this lacing job, I sure hope its durable enough...

Here it is infront...It will remain a wip until i pick up a frame and stick it in there...Splat! This is for my ob gynecologist, who after my son had started to walk still hadn't received their picture together...So I am sticking that picture in that square! That's more than a year of excuse, and i hope this cross stitch will makeup for it! He's probably ran out of bulletin board space for their picture anyway, so why not make one where it will have its own space in his office...*grin*

That is all the galore's for now...I hope the next time it will say "shopping galore!" bweheheh

Painstakingly awful task...

2006-11-05T11:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday hubby and i worked on mounting my finished Lanarte piece, I never thought how painstakingly difficult it would be to lace a piece. It was horrible, it kept pissing me off!!! I can't believe I was having a hard time, and i thought it was going to be easy easy! Think again Noreen, you are losing your mind. Stop thinking about being super woman! :\

It only took me all afternoon and all night to lace one side LOL. Plus my son wouldn't take a single shut eye in the afternoon so i had to keep working with it on and off...I am hoping i will finish lacing it before next year comes, its very disheartening. Honest!

Anyways, I will try to finish it...Just can't let that hang around to get dirty now, can i?

My son stayed up all night too, and when he finally snoozed, i couldn't resist taking this cute picture of a sleeping angel...Yes, yes i know...I love my own... :-D

So I'll sing to you his favorite nighty night song from the backyardigans..of course...

'hush my little darling, you had a busy day, the sun is afalling, and its time for mommy to say...
hush, hush, hush little Connor goodnight...hush little Connor sleep tight. Close your eyes and lay down your head, on your peaceful ocean bed, have a snooze please, like i said, and hush..hush...hush little Connor goodnight...hush little Connor sleep tight...'

It's not exactly how the song goes, but we like to modify things...heheh, it's for a mermaid song, but anyways, I won't sing that far mentioning its fins and whatnots...

Shhh...Do not disturb...angel at rest! ():-)

Halloween Adventure!

2006-11-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

MY little muffin had a blast last night, it was his first halloween trick or treat adventure. He had a costume his grandma bought for him when he turned one and he wore it for the first time last night. I had never tried this dress-up thingy ever, we don't celebrate halloween where i came from. Instead, we call it All soul's day & All saint's day, one can't be without the other. We don't dress up, we do offerings, say prayers and some sleep in the cemetery to be with the departed loved ones...

My little super baby did enjoy his night out, we were knocking on doors and he was always surprised to see someone opening it and handing him candy, and then he gives it back, and we all end up laughing!!

I thought of putting on a costume, i have a schoolgirl outfit with net stockings, actually I just happened to have them around LOL (I got a little skirt that is plaid, the blouse and tie was one from when i was in college during my practicum, and i have those schoolgirl shoes with heels because we always wear uniform where i went to school at, but not the skimpy kind.) I put all of them together and i ended up with an adult costume. I tried it on and it seemed too chilly outside for me to tolerate with wearing so little. Maybe next year I will dress up, I need to find something that will keep me warm...I should have brought my wedding gown LOL!

Here is a picture of my SIL & her friend with my son, SIL was the pirate one, and her friend is a witch, with superbaby of course, really weird combo heheh. Halloween is soo much fun, I wish we had it where i came from when i was still young, it would be soo much fun to spend with your friends...

I think i should say an update of my wip, it is coming along well, I have a bit more done, I will update later on with a picture when it looks more than fabric. =)

Peter Griffin...Family Guy

2006-10-31T10:52:00.000-08:00

One of my college buddies left me a message, wouldn't you know it, I have a vulture behind my back, a fan club, a stalker? bwehehe...Anyways, she's let it pass on friendster (like myspace) as my profile here is identical to the one i have there, basically I just copy and pasted, I'm lazy sometimes...but i always clean me house..hey!!

So she was asking, who the hell is peter griffin?? under "favorite songs - milkshake by peter griffin" I had no idea it had bugged her so bad, she had to finally ask me and to show her...Well, alrighty, now i have to figure out how to embed a video, wish granted so you can rest in peace! j/k!

=video expired!=

So there you go...that's like my fave song, but only by peter griffin, he's the coolest guy ever!!...How'd ya like that..huh!? huh!?

Veezee Weekend...

2006-10-30T07:56:00.000-08:00

I did not touch a needle for a couple of days...Couple of days!! It was driving me nuts!! The weekend was sooooooooo busy, I just could not find the time to fit it in, it was a terrible weekend *smirk*. Sister in law spent all saturday and half day of sunday since mother in law went to..who knows where??...It's really hard to be able to do something that requires me to sit on the whole couch LOL when there are other people around...I just hate that on the days where i get to some serious stitching because I will have some1 to help me watch this sweet baby angel of mine aka 'fish out of water' bwahaha, then some1 takes that chance away from me. It get's in my nerves...Weally! =So last night, Sunday night, I spent an hour or two of stitching ( I don't really count time or stitches) so who knows...=) And spent the rest of the night playing video games with my hubby, we picked up Ultimate Alliance when we went out friday, I thought I did not like this game, I play a different genre, but it was so much fun, we stayed up until midnight last night, and it did help me unwind. Since there are only two things on earth that kicks the kinks outta my brain...stitching and video games...

On lighter news, I won the Name the fabric of the month contest from stabandstash.com. Weeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

My entry name was bloody mary, the first time i saw the picture, I thought bloody mary!! But then again, i think people like when it is associated with alcohol, infact my 2 other entries were 'sangria and red wine' LOL. I think the name of the fabric is a celebration in itself!! heheh

This contest was run by Miss Tammy, she's one great lady, very generous and super talented. Her skills and fabrics are top of the line! Of course she is helped with her ever so supportive hubby Mike in running their store, awesome customer service and A++ on ebay lingo!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them personally. They are very special to customers who have dealt with them, including me. Thank you!!!

Today seems like it is going to be another busy day in my paradise, sister in law poured chocolate milk on her blanket, and i have a pile of laundry, I wonder why this happens everytime someone comes over for the night LOL. I am not complaining but I'd rather be stitching than do my chores since I haven't in a while...Ugh! I need maids...or clones...or grow more eyes & arms...to keep up with myself!! Help?! LOL

Stash...not!!!

2006-10-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

So, i made hubby take a day off...I had to throw a bit of "I'm upset..now" thing when we woke up this morning, i had asked him to take the day off so he could drive me down to the local LNS an hour away. He refused to take the day off, said he had some stuff to finish at work...But when i got upset he called work and reported he may not be able to make it to work today *evil grin*.

We drove down to Solvang, i was expecting they will have what i wanted, the PR enchanted fairy...And..and..and...they did not!!!!! I was broken hearted, how dare life be unfair! LOL

There was nothing i could do, even if i turn the shopkeeper upside down and shake him, no enchanted fairy would come out off of him, maybe a jingle...but no fairy!! grrr!! We went home and all i got was a couple packs of needles, since i had LoRan needle threader, i can't seem to have enough needles, this nifty thing..this...All cross stitcher should have 1, i have been cross stitching for years and i can't quite fathom how i had survived all this time not having this awesome equipment. I love it! If you don't already have it, you have got to get it...

Bottomline is...we still drove down an hour away, wasted gas..and no enchanted fairy in my stash! =(

What a night...

2006-10-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

Okay last night was kinda scary...My baby had bloody stools...I called hubby and he had ran home quick, called the pediatrician and we went to the ER, it did not seem quite a big deal for my little muffin though, he was his normal self giggling, screaming at other kids while we waited at the ER reception. Eww, they poke his bottom too, my poor son was screaming like a girl, wouldn't you??

And so i was bugged thinking, maybe he ate a needle? Perhaps he found one i lost and decided it must be yum yum, lemme taste it, kinda thing... or he has ulcers? or or..worse alien abduction?! You know how they all say they get probed in the behind!!!

So anyways, he's okay, he had a bit of diarrhea from the change of diet, we switch from formula to whole milk...and the doctor said he did have a bit of constipation before the other texture of the entity came out, so it could have just been a fissure in the tissue due to the constipation, as we took his diaper to the ER with us, I warned the doctor, mind you..I said you need to put a mask on or you will faint...He was like "nah, its ok, i got kids at home..." and then a little after he was like " wooo you weren't kidding about the smell"...I warned you...

My baby had gotten a bit tired by the time we got home, so i got to work on my wip longer this time...I finished the whole arch thingy, and working on the flowers surrounding it...Will have to take pics later when i have more to show...hell yeah! peace out \m/

A start...

2006-10-25T17:06:00.000-07:00

A start, yes, very much so...I have started working on TIAG - baby in a basket. I had thought I would start now, a friend had had her grandbaby in July and it has taken me all this long time to stitch her the piece. I should atleast finish before christmas, otherwise her grandbaby will already be walking before she get her birth sampler..shame on me! Here is what it looks like after...a night and half a day of stitching..

I would have had already worked on this a little more, if hubby didn't have to keep changing his mind over the project he wanted me to do for his office, geez, worse than me when i was prego, he just couldn't make up his mind...But that's ok...We'll get there in the end..I hope!

Let me just tell you something I have been dying to show off. hee hee.. Here are my new "pointy shoes of death" as hubby calls em...

Got 'em last weekend, aren't they the prettiest thing? Who needs karate & gas spray when you have this shoes on!? I think if some1 tries to beat me up, they'd already know its deadly to deal with those shoes! And yes, those are my feet! =D

red hat area

2006-10-24T13:37:00.002-07:00

Under Construction!! Very busy child-rearing!!

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2006-10-24T13:37:00.001-07:00

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