Happy Birthday to ME!

Saturday, I will hit the big 3-0! Hubby and I are going to dinner tomorrow night (I have no idea where) and have plans for the big day on Saturday (I have no idea what). DH is very good with the surprises so I have no worries. My.only request was that we not be out and about on Saturday night when all the stupid drunks will be out trying to ruin everyone elses good time.

Today is my Friday at work as my office is closed tomorrow and Monday. I also took an extra day off on Tuesday so I am very much looking forward to this weekend!!

Earlier in the week I was able to make some more progress on "Growing". Almost done the first page of the pattern!

Also, as a birthday treat for myself, I ordered my first Chatelaine Design. Hawaiian Garden Mandala. Love love love! It won't be something I will be able to start anytime soon as I will need some time to gather threads, treasures and such, but its a start! Can't wait to get my hands on that chart and see what I've gotten myself into, lol.

Hope you all have a wonderful new years weekend!

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Last TUSAL of the year

Here is my last TUSAL picture for the year. Not any different than last month. Didn't get a chance for much stitching this month until yesterday and I've stopped trying to shove more into the jar. Lol!

I am also showing a picture of a Christmas gift from my sweet hubby. Its a qsnap lap frame, I am in looove!! Danielle and I saw a lady using one of these at the retreat we went to in November and thought it was the neatest thing. It is made by a vendor in the UK so it was quite a hunt to find a shop that carried here in the US. I found a shop in Florida and texted the link to DH hoping he got the hint!

It is a wonderful lap frame and offers not one but TWO qsnap sizes for you to use! You just flip it over to use the smaller/larger size. It is extremely light weight and sits on my lap comfortably while I recline on the couch.

I am hoping to soon be able to get better at stitching with both hands, but for now am enjoying having my right hand cramp free since I no longer have to hold my frame!

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Well Then

I had typed up a nice post and then had to delete it. Now, I just can't be bothered to retype all that stuff.

More progress on "growing", package in the mail from abcstitch.

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Growing

While the hubby was out doing some Christmas shopping I got to enjoy some time at home. After cleaning a bit, I got to sit for the rest of the evening and indulge myself with stitching and trashy tv.

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McSlackerson

Yea, I havent made any christmas effort this year. No tree, no decorations. I'm tired. Maybe it will get done this weekend.

I'll make my husband do it.

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Loot

Today, I visited my lns The Stitching Post. I needed threads and fabric for the new Country Cottage SAL I joined and treated myself to a few other treats.

Shepherds Bush Holy Night chart, a few cuts of fabrics, and some threads. While I was there, I saw a gorgeous and sparkly model of The Victoria Samplers White Christmas. The white on white stitching is so pretty in person with just the right sparkle of pearl beads and silver stitching.

Guess I am a bit late to be picking up Christmas charts, but seeing them definitely put me in the spirit!

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Almost Done!

This has been a wip for quite awhile, but I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! I love the fun design and bright colors. I will probably be able to finish the border tonight! yay!!

Lizzei Kates snowman '10......i wonder what happened to snowman '11?

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A Me Day

So I was only back to work two days after the holiday and needed to call out today. I was basically told on Tuesday that today I would put in the position of pretty much doing someones elses job and be made to look like a fool because they didn't want to deal with it. I wasnt much interested in "taking one for the team" so I did something I rarely do, and called out for no good reason.

I spent the day straightening up my house and sitting on my couch watching Breaking Bad on Netflix. I did some stitching, but nothing close to a marathon and that's okay with me. It was a good day.

Jobs are stupid.

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Catch Up Time and TUSAL

Sigh, well that was fun.

Well, not as much as I thought it would be. How could I have five days off work and feel completely exhausted and unaccomplished at the end of it?!?! Oh well, stuff happens!

I got alittle bit of stitching done and here is thia months TUSAL jar!

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Sweet Progress

Some progress on "A Sweeter Love"

Today is my Friday at work!! Yay!! Bring on the turkey! I'm so thankful for all the blessings in my life!

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Weekend Geeking Out

Super busy weekend. Hopefully, this weekend, my couch and butt will become familiar with each other once again.

Friday night, my friend and I enjoyed going to the movies to see Breaking Dawn. Lots of fun, and I just HAD to have a souvenir bucket and cup!! Yes, I totally geeked out when I saw them.

I also finally got to see the new releases from Plum Street Samplers! Looove! Definitely going on the wish list!

Its a short work week for me this week, I'm so excited to spend some time at home!

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Crack Me Up

Saw this picture today. Had a food laugh!

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Waiting...Not My Thing

Waiting is so not my thing lately.

Waiting for the weekend, waiting for packages to come in the mail. Waiting for Breaking Dawn. Waiting for that sneaky Paulette to show us the rest of those sneak peeks of her new designs!

And for some reason I haven't yet gotten it together enough to post pics of all my goodies from the retreat. They are coming though!

Not much else is going on this week. Just chugging along, as always. Tomorrow night is girls night! Going with my best gf to see the movie and then I'm ready to relax this weekend. Only two work days next week!

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A Great Time!

I got home from the retreat in Laurel, Md on Sunday. It was nice that it only took an hour to get home!

Danielle and I had a great time!! We got to meet some nice ladies, do some shopping, and see the amazing work at the Montpelier Mansion.

We arrived Friday afternoon and got to get straight to stitching! The hard working organizers of the retreat gifted us with some great goodie bags and door prizes. There was also a yummy dinner provided Friday and Saturday night, along with drinks and snacks available throughout the day.

The stitching lounge closed at 11 pm so we got a nice ten hours of stitching Friday night and enjoyed some tv in our room later. Saturday, we had all day to stitch from 8am to 11 pm so except for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a trip to the mansion....we stitched. It was great!!

I worked mainly on two big projects. Growing like a tree sampler by moira blackburn and a sweeter love by plum street samplers. I got a very good start on growing and after I had burned out on sweeter love a few months ago, Saturday I was able to get back into it and made a lot of progress.

Danielle and I were so excited about our progress on Saturday that after the lounge closed at 11 that night, we went back to our room to continue stitching while watching Saturday Night Live!

I took off work yesterday, so after a busy weekend stitching, I got to enjoy a day at home. Since I had the bug, I did more work on sweeter love! I decided to change the hair color on the lady. It is charted for a brownish red, but since its for Matt and myself, I decided to change the color to closer match my own hair.

Now its back to real life, counting down to the next long weekend!

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Fun Time

Today is the day I am off to the Montpelier Retreat!! I am so excited!!

I am hoping to get lots and lots of stitching done on some wip's.

In the meantime, have you seen this sneaky peeky from Pauletter over at Plum Street Samplers?! Think those two will be going on my list!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Two Days

Only two more days of work until freedom!! Lol!

Last night, I started working on lhns bringing home the tree ornament. When I was at my lns last weekend they had the small cuts of fabric called for on the chart. Weeks dye works cocoa in 30 count.

Honestly, I do not like it. Maybe its because its small and I have to stitch in hand (I prefer my qsnaps) or maybe its because, to me, the fabric feels loose and wonky.

Its just not my bag.

I also wanted to share what I am making for dinner in my crockpot tonight! Pepperjack chicken!

1 can cheddar cheese OR nacho cheese soup (I can only find cheddar in my store and its fine)

1 jar of salsa

1 lb chicken breast, cut up

1 of each - green, red, yellow peppers, roughly chopped.

We have a wegmans that just opened up near is and I loooove wegmans!! In the produce section, they have a section where employees chop up fresh veggies and package them for sale. So I got a nice package of red, green, orange and yellow peppers already chopped up and ready to go! Saves me time and I love the smell of fresh peppers!

Anywho, throw everything in the crockpot and set your timer. The first time I made this a couple weeks ago, I set it for fours hours and it was good. Today, since I threw it in this morning before I left for work, I set it for ten. Can't wait to get home and experience that delicious smell!

When you're ready to eat, serve over rice. A yummy meal!

P.s.com does anyone else have an irrational fear of leaving home with the crockpot going. I'm always scared I will come home to a burned down shell of a house or a completely crusted out inedible meal.

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Weekend Fun

Yesterday I got to meet up with Danielle and Denise at a local Panera. It was a lot of fun to lunch and stitch!

The Panera was only a few minutes from our lns The Stitching Post so I decided to make a quick trip. I picked up two lhn ornament charts and fabric cuts, plus the Quaker Hearts kit by Shepherds Bush. I had been eyeing the kit for some time so I just bit the bullet and got it.

Hubby worked last night at his parttime job at our local liqour store. I stopped by for a visit and he showed me they had gotten this Skinny Girl white cranberry cosmo drink. Lucky me, he brought some home with him for me to try later that night! Its delish!

While Matt was at work, I enjoyed a movie and started my new sampler. I watched Water for Elephants. I thought it was good.

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Weekend Ready

I am definitely ready for the weekend! What a long week. Made even longer for the fact that so many other people said it went by really fast. I beg to differ.

I finished a custom order from my shop. This cute bird hat. I'm currently working on a penguin hat which I designed myself. Its coming out nicely!

I really appreciate all of your compliments on my fob finish! Its a great little stitch and a quick finish. Shepherds Bush really puts out some great kits! Sweet stitches came with everything I needed to make the fob, including the ribbon and beads for the ruched trim, right down to the needles for the stitching and beading. Their smaller kits are definitely travel friendly since everything comes together.

Only one more week until retreat time! I am definitely excited to have alittle get away time.

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Yay Mail!!

My new Kindle cover came in the mail today. I love it!!

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Ta Da!

Just finished my scissors fob! Yay!!

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Ruching

Last night after work I got alittle bit of a start to finishing my scissor fob.

Dang, trying to attach ribbon and beading to this tiny square is some fiddly stuff.

It is my first time using this finishing technique and I'm a bit of a perfectionist so it is slow going. It has to look just so, know what I mean?

My first attempt, I thought I would do the ruching first and then sew it onto the the fob. Well, that didn't quite work out so I took it apart.

Currently, I am ruching and sewing as I go. So, I have two threads and two needles going at the same time. Imagine the ridiculousness of trying to bead and ruche while also keeping the sewing thread from getting tangled in the ruching thread.

I don't know if I like it or not. I got about one and a half sides done and asked my husband what he thought. He said oh, it looks nice. Figures. Lol. So I've decided to just go with it and see how it looks when its all done. If I don't like it, ill just cut it off and do twisted cord for the finishing.

I only got to work on it for about 45 minutes last night before we went to a friends house to hang out and have dinner with her family while her kids were trick or treating. It was a great night!

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Happy Halloween!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe pre - Halloween weekend!!

Back to the ole' grind tomorrow, boooo!!


Our neighbors had a bit of a get together Saturday night for the holiday. We had a good bit of snow here in Maryland all day Saturday so, sadly, she did not have many people show up, but those of us that lived just a few houses away had a good time!!

My husband decided to be a pirate for the party, so I threw together this hat last week. I was his parrot!

It was fun to make this hat for myself and it will come in handy for work tomorrow. I am not much of a costume person, so this hat was a good go to choice. Plus, its fun and creative!!

I have a Kindle with special offers and I just HAPPENED to check the offers Friday night and with a shriek of joy, got an offer to get 50% off a kindle cover from amazon.com!! I have been patiently waiting as I have been eying the hot pink lighted kindle cover on their site. At a whopping $49.99, I knew I could save some money if I just waited for a special offer to pop onto my Kindle. Saturday, I was able to order my new cover and along with my special offer, I had some money left on a gift card. Got my new cover for $20 and free shipping!! Totally worth the wait! I love my Kindle so much and read it almost every night, so I know this is a worthwhile purchase.

The rest of the weekend I spent working on the super cute Shepherd's Bush scissor fob 'Sweet Stitches' that I got when I was at In Stitches. I just completed the stitching and stitched it together. I have a little mini pillow at this point. I love the flower motif and the colors in the threads, bright and cheery. There was a mother of pearl heart bead that came with it, but it came loose while I was putting it together and manhandling it to put the stuffing in so I just cut it off. Better now than later I guess, haha. Next, I have to add the ruched ribbon to complete the fob. It will my first attempt, so lets hope it goes well!

I also ordered and received my piece of fabric to stitch "Growing Like a Tree"! It is 40 count vintage examplar by Ladeside Linens. I am so excited to get started on this sampler! I think it will pack it up and have it ready to go to retreat in a couple weeks!

Facebook

So is anyone else kind of over facebook lately?

Yes, the recent changes have been a bit of an adjustment, but I am talking more about the people on facebook than anything else.

I don't know about your friends, but mine?! Omg. What a bunch of whiners. Its a constant barrage of, "oh I have this illness, I'm soo sick. Feel sorry for me", and "oh, my life is so terrible and I sit around and do nothing to improve it. Feel sorry for me." Followed by a cascade of comments from people who are practically strangers to the person who posted it.

I'm annoyed. I mean, what are really you trying to accomplish when you post things like "noone cares about me" or when people post idiotic and demeaning things about their significant other who doesn't even have a facebook. Seriously, why would you do that?!

Facebook is a sad way to attempt to validate your very existence. Its one thing to post every once in awhile that you had a crap day. Everyone does. But a constant public demonstration of your poor decision making just tells me you need some serious help and facebook is not the place to find it.

I like facebook because it has given me a way to reconnect with old friends and distant family members. I have been able to find new friends and discover new resources by connecting with businesses through social networking. I won't stop using it but I am just so over all the drivel.

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TUSAL

Here is a picture of this months tusal jar. I really don't think it looks any different than last month. How sad.

Last night I paid a visit to Hobby Lobby to get some yarn and also picked up floss for growing like a tree. Loving the colors!

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Some Good Stuff

This past Sunday, Danielle and I met up and made our way to In Stitches for the lock in. It was a good time with yummy food and quality stitching (and shopping)!

As I had been on a bit of a stash diet lately, I went alittle crazy. I have the three charts for the birds of a feather mystery sampler so at the lockin I got all the threads needed. Now, to find the perfect fabric.

I also picked up a pack of needles and quilted garden from blue ribbon designs.

That was my first trip to the register.

See, In Stitches has all their lovely models displayed ALL over the shop. And, I mean all over. There are so many, you see something new everytime you go in.

On a previous trip to the shop to the shop I had admired a lovely sampler that is displayed, in all places, the restroom. But, alas, I was on a stash diet so I didn't ask about it. This time though I just kept telling Danielle how much I liked it, so she had to go in and see for herself. She saw a model she also liked so she went to the counter and the nice lady was able to look up the model numbers and wrote down the names and designers of the pieces we were looking for.

My second trip to the register I purchased growing like a tree by moira blackburn. A beautiful sampler, the cover picture does not do it justice. In Stitches restroom display is way better! Lol!

Well, I finally settled down to some stitching and then I see a nice lady a few chairs down with the cutest scissor fob.

My third and final trip to the register I got shepherds bush sweet stitches fob kit.

Lest you think I got nothing done but shop, I did stitch. I worked on lizzie kates snowman from last year. Almost done!

Next up, in a couple weeks, Danielle and I team back up for the retreat. Yay!!

*Please excuse my crappy pictures taken very late Monday night with my cell phone.

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Secure?

Be prepared, this is a non stitchy paranoia filled post.

Hubby and I currently rent the house we live in. We are hoping to change that situation in the next year or two. I lived there when we met and he moved in. I've lived there eight years. Good neighbors and not so good neighbors. Its a quiet street in a small town so we've never had much worry when it came to security.

I even lived alone for a time before my husband moved in while we were dating. I didn't worry because I had good neighbors and everyone was in everyones business when there were strangers around making sure there was no trouble.

Well, last week an older ladys family had come over and moved her stuff out. Apparently, within an hour of her stuff being moved out, the apartment she lived in was broken into. It was empty, obviously, so nothing was stolen. Another neighbor said around that time she saw someone looking in her back window. I find my neighbor questionable because she posted on facebook that someone was looking in her window four hours BEFORE the breakin occurred. She then posted Monday that someone was looking in her front window, which would have been difficult for them to do since her front window isn't ground level and they would have had to climb her garden wall to look in it. And why in heck would you post that on facebook and not call the police?! And noone saw this person climbing your garden wall?! Come on now.

Well last night after hubby went to bed, I heard some voices outside late. I looked out and there were two policemen up at our neighbor friends house. I messaged her to make sure she was ok since her bf works at night and she was home alone with her ds. She told me that she came home to her front door open and her next door neighbor had seen someone go by on a bicycle and then heard her door open.

Hubby and I both work during the day which puts a hitch in my step every morning when I have to leave for work. If someone were to break into our home I would be devestated. Setting aside all worries about material things (which we have worked very hard for, thank goodness for rental insurance at least), its very scary to think of someone coming into my home without my knowledge and going through our things. I find it diffucult to believe that I would be comfortable in our home after it had been so violated.

So this morning, I called my mother and asked her to have her husband install an additional lock on our front door. I know its not necessarily a fool proof solution if someone REALLY wanted to get in our house, but it will make me feel better and hopefully will be a deterrent to someone with bad intentions.

I could really use a needle and thread right now.

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An Old Love

Last night I worked on a wip I hadn't touched in a long time. Nantucket Rose by Lavender and Lace. Its a great stitch! I got her to work on upstairs while I catch up on shows on my computer.

Hopefully, I can make some progress on her!

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Crappity Crap

Blackbird designs has released the next part of their current loose feathers series. And I thought I was gonna pass on this. Sigh.

I enjoyed having Monday off work for the Columbus Day holiday. I spent some time at home working on venetian opulence and finished another crochet hat. Pics to come!!

Danielle and have both signed up for the next lock in at In Stitches and today, I mailed in my registration for the needlearts weekend retreat! We are both super excited!

Hope everyone is doing well!

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Mind. Blown.

So during my usual web surfing yesterday evening, I came across a new post by Vonna! I am not going to tell you what it is. I am just hoping you follow the link and experience the wonder of this post she put up.

Do you follow Vonna? Why not? What is wrong with you? Just do it. Best day of your life.

So anyway, Vonna does some of the most amazing finishing work. Plus, she has a separate blog to help all us dummies learn her fabulous finishing methods.

After seeing Vonna's awesome creation yesterday, I fervently wished that anyday I would come upon her finishing blog and there would be a tutorial of this most amazing, awesome thing that she posted about.

Did you see it yet? What are still doing here reading my drivel?!

Finally, last night I just happened to recheck my google reader on my phone and this had been posted.

I will be making one, or five.

Yesterday was also cause for other excitement as Danielle and I finally got the email announcing the next lock in at In Stitches. So dang excited!! The email also opened our eyes to a retreat happening next month in Laurel. It is Friday through Sunday of glorious stitching AND a trip to a needlearts exhibit at Montpelier.

Not much stitching going on, although I did finish one of  the cutest crochet hats for a custom order. Looking forward to the end of the week as I approach a holiday weekend!!

TUSAL

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Newness

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post! I loved being able to show some progress on my latest projects instead of just prattling on about other stuff.

I am sure you have notice I have changed the look of my blog! I also have added a sale page. Please check it out and let me know if you anything catches your eye!

Have a great weekend!

Progress!

I have had some great progress on a few of my projects in the last week!

The one joy of being home sick. During my few days home from work on my couch I was able to get a big chunk stitched on Venetian Opulence.  

 Yesterday, when I got home, I had this great surprise in the mail!! Awhile ago, I began participating in a round robin board on yuku and sent out Lady of the Mist by Mirabilia. I had put in few stitches when I sent her out and look at all the wonderful progress!! The ladies that participated in the round robin did an awesome job!! Since I had such a great time with the robin that just ended, I decided to join another and just this month sent out a kit that had been sitting in my stash for a couple years. Can't wait to see it get some love!

 While working on Venetian, I took a few breaks and worked on my granny squares. They are shaping up very nicely and I love the vibrant colors!

 I also made this cute ribbed pumpkin hat to add to my etsy shop. It was so fun to make and even though it looks tiny, the ribbing allows it to stretch quite a bit. I have already had an order from a friend on Facebook for an adult size hat!

Tonight I am so excited because my favorite show is coming back on for the season! Yay!!

Back On The Horse

After working a half day and staying home sick last Thursday and Friday, I am back at work.

The weekend with hubby was restful and just what I needed. During my time at home I was able to work on my granny squares and also make some progress on Venetian. No pictures yet but I definitely will post some tonight!

I have made zero sales from my etsy page which is disappointing, but I have sold a few things to friends on Facebook.

Also, in the interest of cleaning up a bit, I have decided to set up a sale page here on my blog. I have some charts at home that I've already stitched or just aren't my cup of tea and need to go on to a new home. Hopefully, that is something I can get started in the next day or so.

It is a rainy day here so I'm very sleepy here at work. Hope everyone is well!

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Sicky Sick

I am home from work today, nursing my sick self. It all started innocently enough. Yesterday, I felt fine, but throughout the day I started to get a bit of a scratchy throat and stuff nose. By the time I got home I was very tired, alittle light headed and my body was just done for the day.

Hubby made me some yummy chicken soup for dinner and sent me to bed at 8 o'clock. Way early for me, I couldn't even keep my eyes open to read for a few minutes.

I may have gone to bed early, but it did not make for a good sleep. This morning I woke up and movement was not happening.

So here I am, home for the day. Maybe I will get something done. Maybe I won't.

Ive Been Hooking All Week

Busily workin away on my granny squares!!

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I'm Back!

Back from our trip and back to work. Boo!

At last, a picture of my TUSAL jar.

We had a great time on the beach. The water was so warm, the sun so bright! I enjoyed reading under the umbrella while Matt laid in the sun. We woke up very early one morning to walk on the beach and see the sunrise. We also collected great shells!!

When I got home I found out a Hobby Lobby store had opened near me so Monday I went out and got some of their yummy yarns. I decided to join a crochet along on Facebook. I really love the colors and my granny squares are working up very quickly!

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TUSAL

Yea that's not my jar, but it is the view from our balcony while we enjoy our honeymoon this week!

Ill make sure to post my jar when I get home!

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Cutie Booties

I finished my first custom order this week. Yay!

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TGIF!!

I can't believe it has been a week since I last posted!!

Not much going on, just some busy stuff. Matt had developed a reaction/infection to one of the sutures used in his previous surgery so he had to have another procedure this past Wednesday to remove it. His third procedure in less than a month!!

Since he was so good, afterwards I took him to a new place that just opened up in town. It's called Yogi Castle. It is a frozen yogurt place where you go in and make your own creations, your bowl is then weighed and pay by the ounce. It was fun to pick our own treats and then put some yummy toppings on it.

I also have not been doing very much stitching, but I have been crocheting!! I finally opened up my Etsy shop and although there isnt much listed right now, I am hoping to add a few things as I get them finished.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!! I am definitely looking forward to the next few weeks. Hopefully, we will be getting things back to normal in our house and we will be able to enjoy our coming vacation!

My Other Love

I've put my cross stitching aside for abit to do some crochet. I finished this super cute giraffe hat earlier tonight.

I would love to be able to build up some products in order to open my own etsy shop.

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