Cross Stitcher Suzanne

Awesome giveaway at Cross Stitch and Cupcakes!!!

2011-04-15T09:51:00.000-04:00

If you love giveaways, then you have to see this one...guaranteed to make you drool!

http://crossstitchandcupcakes.blogspot.com/2011/04/blogoversary-giveaways.html

Good luck everyone!!!!

Suzanne

First Posted Finish for 2011

2011-04-14T20:06:00.000-04:00

Now I have finished a few things, however, this is the first thing that has actually been finished!!! I can't believe that it turned out so nicely. I didn't know that I had it in me to do this kind of finishing....I feel like I am up in the ranks of Vonna and Focus on Finishing!!!!

This is going to be a gift for a special little boy. He was born on my birthday, although 35 years later! LOL

Thanks for looking!

Jennifer's Giveaway - Drool Warning!!!

2010-12-01T10:54:00.000-05:00

Jennifer is having an amazing giveaway. You get a chart, plus all the overdyed threads to stitch it. Plus a book from Blackbird Designs, plus a box with scissors in it.....wow.....!!!!

Go here to enter!

http://feathersinthenest.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-giveaway-2010-begins.html

Bernina Giveaway!!!

2010-11-22T10:50:00.003-05:00

http://www.weallsew.com/happy-thanksgiveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-1802

This blog is giving away a Bernina Goody Bag!!! I am so excited!!!

Suzanne

Giveaway on Dixie Samplar Designs

2010-10-24T16:13:00.000-04:00

A Halloween giveaway!!! Oooh how spooky!!!

Go to http://www.dixiesamplardesigns.com/2010/10/spooktacular-halloween-giveaway-2010.html#comment-form to join in!!!!

Good luck!

Suzanne

Anyone want lots of Kreinik?!?!?!?!?

2010-10-15T17:14:00.000-04:00

As I was reading my blogs on Google Reader, this one came up and caught my eye! I love to stitch with Kreinik, whether it is with silk or metallics, they are the best. This lady is having a giveaway, what better way to stock up?!

Giveaway blog post: http://www.favecrafts.com/sweeps/Assortment-of-Kreinik-Threads#

Now I would highly suggest adding this site to your reader! It is the most amazing site that I have ever seen. It has even encouraged me to try knitting again, as well as try my hand at embroidery!

http://www.favecrafts.com/

Give it a read!!!

Good luck everyone!

Suzanne

New Giveaway on Confessions of a Serial Starter!

2010-10-05T21:29:00.000-04:00

A Tisket, A Tasket, She went to Market!!! And came home with tons of goodies and she is giving us a chance to win some of it!!!

http://serialstarter.blogspot.com/2010/10/tons-of-goodies-and-market-giveaway.html

Suzanne

Giveaway on Needles and Threads

2010-10-05T21:20:00.000-04:00

Another giveaway!!! Some gorgeous needleroll charts.

Go to http://lisasneedlesandthreads.blogspot.com/2010/10/more-items-added-to-sale-blog.html

And take a look!

Suzanne

Giveaway on Stitches by Carin

2010-10-05T21:15:00.000-04:00

A Halloween themed giveaway...check out the picture!

So go to http://cazwa.blogspot.com/2010/10/give-away.html and join in!!!!

Suzanne

Teddy Bear Giveaway! Too Cute!

2010-10-05T20:52:00.002-04:00

http://bearbits.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-fall-giveaway.html#comment-form

This is an utterly adorable teddy bear!!!

Suzanne

New Giveaway by Epic Stitching Blog

2010-10-05T18:16:00.002-04:00

http://epicstitching.blogspot.com/2010/10/rose-cronus-giveaway.html

Some very nice things that she is giving away!!!

Suzanne

New Blog Giveaway by Sarah at CraftyMoo!

2010-10-02T22:03:00.002-04:00

http://craftymoo-sarah.blogspot.com/2010/10/give-away.html

Take a look....tons of goodies....I am definately drooling!!!

Suzanne

New Blog Giveaway by Blue Ribbon Designs!!!!

2010-08-15T04:26:00.000-04:00

Go see Belinda's posting at http://blueribbondesigns.blogspot.com/2010/08/milestone-giveaway.html and good luck!!!!

Suzanne

The Children Now

2010-02-28T18:50:00.000-05:00

Calista Shelley Maria

August 2009

Age 10

Tiago Antao Paulo

September 2009

Age 2

Miranda Elena Paulo

September 2009

Age 4

First Day of School

All Three of my Babies Together

September 2009

In Portugal - Can

2008-08-14T19:52:00.000-04:00

New finish and a hectic life!

2008-07-18T16:58:00.000-04:00

Well Steve has been in Portugal since July 1st and I am about to go crazy! I am home alone with the 3 children and haven't had a moment to myself. Needless to say my grey hair has come in with a vengence!!! It will come to an end on Sunday as his parents are coming up to fly with me to Portugal on Friday and I don't plan on being home at all every night when they are here!!!! As far as I am concerned, I will watch the kids during the day but when Mira and Tiago go to bed, that is my time!!! I am going to the movies, maybe go get another tattoo (which I have wanted for a long time!!!), definately going to the gym! I did manage to get one thing stitched! I am a part of Brooke Nolan's yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bbinteractive/) and Brooke has designed some challenges for the stitchers. She designs a piece with DMC colors and you have to personalize it on your own (ie different fibres, add beads, specialty stitches, etc). Then the group votes on whose is the best and the winner gets a prize. Not bad and it is a quick stitch. Here is mine and the changes that I made were:

1. Used multicolor beads in the jar for jelly beans (my kids love them!)
2. Stitched the glass on the jar in one strand.
3. Stitched the shelf lace in one strand for a more lacy look.
4. Stitched the roof on the house in satin stitch for a more uniform look.
5. Brought the blue on the side of the house around to the front to
simulate a brick look.
6. Stitched the cherries in rhodes circles.
7. Stitched the watermelon 'meat' in satin stitch.
8. Stitched the tablecloth in satin stitched blocks.
9. Used a half rhodes stitch instead of the beads for something different.

Here is the piece now....

Hopefully the next posting will be when I am in Portugal!!!! Talk to you all later!

Love,
Suzanne

Peacock Stitching Chair - Update

2008-06-16T22:58:00.000-04:00

I finally finished the stitching on this chair! Now comes the hard part apparently! The assembling of said chair. Here is the pictures in order from top to bottom:

1. What completed chair will look like (picture courtesy of The Cat's Whiskers Design Studio website http://www.dinkydyes.iinet.net.au/TCW_Home.htm)

2. Here is a close up of one of the arm rests on the sides. The second picture is to show 'sequencing', quite an interesting way of stitching. You basically use your overdyed theads to mirror the other side with color etc.

3. The first picture on the left is the chair back and the one on the right is the scissor fob.

4. The picture on the left is the chair seat motif. This would make a nice biscournu....maybe if there is fabric left over and some threads left over, I can make one to go with this set! The picture on the right is the scissor pocket.

5. Here is the whole piece of fabric showing all the stitched pieces together.

Wish me luck on assembling this little item!

New Finish and June Fob Exchange

2008-06-15T17:20:00.000-04:00

Well I am slowly but surely getting back into the stitching groove. I joined an exchange on the bbinteractive group (Brooke Nolan's group) and finished up this fob. It is a freebie by Michael Powell called Greek Window. It worked up really quickly and I hope that my exchange partner will like it! Now all I have to do is get to the mailbox sometime this week and get it mailed out. That will be one less item on my To Do list! LOL

Needles on Fire

2008-06-01T09:10:00.000-04:00

Well this week has been a busy week for me since Steve left to go to Seattle on business. I managed to get Calista and Miranda into their separate rooms. I caught up on laundry. I got the back yard mowed (and if you have seen the size of my backyard (for a city backyard) you would know that that is no easy feat with 3 children!! LOL). I built a shed (I call them a lego shed!). I also got the front lawn ready to build my flower bed and rock garden. Not only that but I finished Elizabeth's Designs - Bee Keepers Cottage and I also finished Follow The Leader Designs - Mystery Sampler (featured in The Gift of Stitching e-zine). I stared the Mystery Sampler when I went to Portugal last summer and finally buckled down and finished it now. It is done on 28ct blush linen with PC#8 white, DMC B5200, and Wisper white. Looks good but have no idea what I am going to do with it now. Might finish it up into a wall hanging and put it on eBay....any ideas???? I am also posting a picture of a coin purse that I whipped up one night for Calista (she is always bugging me for more crocheted things! LOL)

Top

Tiago's Photo Shoot

2008-05-30T18:48:00.000-04:00

I was working on the front lawn this afternoon when Tiago started to fuss while in his exersaucer...so since he can sit up on his own now, I decided to introduce him to grass. Grass...this is Tiago! Hope you two get along! LOL

Life Gets In The Way

2008-05-24T12:24:00.000-04:00

Well it has been over a month since I posted last. Sorry guys! And, ironically enough, I have been on the computer a lot! Doing the books for Steve's company and for my daycare, I read my email and read my group messages...I can't wait until Portugal! (This is the village where we stay,this site http://www.bragancanet.pt/picote/ingles/ It is gorgeous!)

Well craft wise I havent' been doing too much. I haven't picked up a needle to stitch since March! I have done a lot of crochet though. Finished a Baby Hoodie sweater and a baby dress from a magazine that I picked up at Walmart. I used a soft type of yarn and it was such a pleasure to stitch! It worked up quite quickly and looks great! Not bad for a self taught crocheter!!! Thank goodness for the internet.

I had a long list of items that I wanted to get done before doing any crafts for myself:
1. Paint the main floor of my house (dining room, breakfast nook, kitchen, main entry are all done...just have to do the living room wall and the kitchen ceiling)
2. Finish sweater and dress set for a friend of my husband's who is having their first daughter (done)
3. Finish Red Dragon that Joanne (from CanadianXStitchers) sent to me to have made into a wall hanging (done - picture is below)
4. Finish Elizabeth's Designs - Bee Keeper's Cottage (1/2 done)
5. Make a scissor fob for Brooke Nolan's group swap (due in June).

Hopefully I can get them all done!!! LOL

I have started to collect SAL's (Stitch A Longs) and want to start a bunch of them but haven't gotten around to doing them yet! LOL I have a bunch of UFO's (UnFinished Objects) to finish up first. The first one on my list is Elizabeth's Designs - Bee Keeper's Cottage. It is over half way done so that shouldn't take too long.

Here is the Red Dragon wall hanging that Joanne had stitched and I sewed into a wall hanging. She sent me some burgundy ribbon and white backing fabric. I found some raw silk fabric on sale last week that looked perfect with this! So I had to re-cut all the pieces and get it sewed up last night as Joanne is coming to Ottawa to run in the Marathon tomorrow. We are supposed to be getting together for coffeee today so that I can give this to her! I hope she likes it!!! It is harder to make things for other people because I set my standards higher than if I was making it for myself. LOL Doesn't everyone!!!

Well the kids are getting bigger. Miranda turned 3 on May 11th (Mother's Day) and we got her hair cut shorter...she has a bob that comes to her chin. So much easier than fighting with her to brush her hair and put it up everyday! LOL She is 3 now going on 10! We were on the bus the other day and she noticed a young man with earphones in his ear. She said to me that she wanted an Ipod. I asked her for what and she told me that she wanted to plug her ears with music! LOL Then later on that day, I was heading out to the gym with my friend (she was waiting in the car) and Mira was coming with me. She had an accident (we are toilet training) and she tried to run away. I grabbed her by the sweater and told her to go upstairs and change her pants. She glared at me then turned around, stomped up the stairs and said "Now look what you made me do....You made me lose it!!!!" She was quite indignant and I had to turn around to hide my laughter!!!

Calista is running this weekend in the Nortel Kids Marathon. She completed 40 km out of the 41 km that is required. The 40km was to be done through different activities such as her playing hockey, running, walking, etc. Then on Sunday, she goes downtown and runs another 1 km to finish up. She is quite excited!!!

Tiago is growing up fast! He will be 7 months on the 28th of this month. I can't believe how much he is growing. He loves Steven and when you ask him "Where's Papa?" He will turn his head and look around for him, then when he sees him, he will start grinning! He also mimics noises now. Whenever I feed him I always open my mouth and say uuuuu-mmmmmm. Now he does the same thing and it is hilarious!!!!

This weekend, Steve leaves for Seattle for a week (Yay!!! the bed to myself for a week and noone coming into the room at 3am and turning on lights and waking me up! LOL) so I am going to try to get the bedrooms switched. We are moving Calista into her bedroom (finally!!!) and Tiago and Miranda will be sharing a room. That should be fun. I am also going to attempt to paint the ceiling in the kitchen and try to get the last wall painted in the living room....all good intentions, but have to find the energy somewhere!!! LOL

Well I am going to sign off as we are hosting a poker part tonight and I have to finish cleaning the house and cooking food!

Talk to you all later!
Suzanne

Update....

2008-04-02T16:46:00.000-04:00

All pictures are in my webshots (still more to add, but lots there now). Including some photos from the wedding, and my ring! If you want to see the actual photos from the wedding, the proofs are at www.dotphotopro.com The user id is graceland and the password is ssfer Enjoy!!!

Exciting News and Happenings!

2008-04-01T22:47:00.000-04:00

Okay, here are two exciting things that have happened to me. One, I got married again in Las Vegas!!! Two, I got my design published in this months The Gift of Stitching magazine (http://www.thegiftofstitching.com/).

First thing first. Steve and I have been married for 10 years and we had talked about what we were going to do to celebrate our anniversary. The options were go back to Victoria, British Columbia (where he proposed), go on a cruise (not likely as I am terrified of deep water and heights), or go to Las Vegas. Well he wasn't going to tell me anything about it. Calista had an episode on Tuesday night (extremely horrible!) so he ended up telling me because I was going to book an appointment with her doctor. He didn't say anything except that we were going away on Thursday morning and that we had to leave at 5am. When we went down to Saint John, New Brunswick for Easter, we brought his parents back and I didn't think anything of it as we do that often. So his parents were going to watch the children for us. I had no idea of what to pack (Steve told me to just leave it and he would deal with it - couldn't do that! He would have no idea of what would fit me! Darn this post baby body!!! LOL) So long part short, I was going crazy with not knowing what was going on...I am the type of person that doesn't like other people in control of my life, it really bothers me! hehehe Lucky enough I love and trust Steve totally.

So we leave the house on Thursday morning (after spending all day Wed pumping him for details of what to pack, how much to pack, etc), and he had arranged for a town car to pick us up (a classier version of a taxi). We get to the airport and he tells me to go sit down somewhere so that he can check in. After that is finished, he keeps tormenting me about where we are going, flashing the tickets, giving false hints, etc etc. I was so curious that it was killing me...my mind was going around all these little hints and such. So at this point (since I didn't see the passports), I started to think about going to Victoria. We end up meeting up with some friends of ours who accompanied us on this trip as well. We get on the plane to Toronto and I am still under the impression that we are going to Victoria. We then land in Toronto and we have to pick up our bags...so at this point, I am pretty sure that we weren't going to Victoria as there is no reason to go through security if we are staying in the country. And the American flags around that area are putting off warning bells! LOL After picking up the bags, I am pretty sure that we are going to Las Vegas....it is the only place that Steve and I have talked about. (BTW have to mention that apparently Steve had this planned for over a year!!!) After a 4 hour flight and looking out my window at the amazing scenery on the ground (will post a link to the photos soon - as soon as I can get Steve to transfer them from my laptop to my portion on the server! LOL)

Okay, where was I? Oh yeah...so we land in Vegas. All I see is clear blue sky for as far as the eye can see and wayyyyyyyy too many palm trees. If we have to rake leaves in Canada, what do they rake in Vegas??? Okay...sorry! Back to the story. We take a shuttle to our hotel (http://www.planethollywoodresort.com/) and I am completely in awe. The lobby is shiny, clean and amazing. We check in, then go up to our room. 18th floor, king size bed, wide screen tv, extra deep soaker tub, marble floors in the bathroom, and a view from our room that is amazing (I will be using this word a lot so beware!). Amy and I take some time to relax on the bed and watch some tv while Steve and Jim take care of some stuff downstairs. I unpack all the clothing in my suitcase and am cursing myself for not asking some more sneaky questions....the clothing that I packed was mostly in appropriate for that climate. Oh well....SHOPPING! So we go out and start walking around. We stop at Fat Tuesday's for these slushy alcoholic drinks....they are in a plastic container a meter long, I swear! I am 5'9" and if I put them on the floor, they would reach to my knees. I got one that tasted like a vanilla latte from Starbucks, but has a kick to it, and to top it all off I got an extra shot in it (bad mistake,,,,no food and jet lag...you add up the equation!). At this point we are walking around and looking at things and stores. There is this company that is renting time in luxury cars (anyone want to rent a Lamborghini for $1200 for 5 hours). Tons of things to look at....Harley Davidson Cafe (this is for my friend Kym...she is a Harley girl through and through! Rock on Kym!). I won't bore you with all the details, but will go over the major things. We went to an oxygen bar and had a water massage to get rid of the jet lag. We went to the M&M museum/store on the Strip. MGM Studio Hotel and Casino. New York New York Hotel and Casino. Belagio Hotel and Casino. Cesears Palace. I can go on.....the pictures don't do anything justice! On our anniversary (Friday March 28th) we went to a restaurant called Koi. Nice enough place but I felt over dressed. Everyone assured me that I look fine (I am the kind of person that doesn't like getting dressed up, wearing make up etc). I had a lobster dish that was to die for! Then for dessert, the most amazing dish came out. Steve had arranged for this special treat. It was a Japanese delicacy. The icing is wrapped in a outer coating that is made from rice pounded into a gelatinous consistency and then frozen. They had cut 4 balls into 4 quarters and each ball sat in a corner of the plate. A large fresh raspberry sat in the center of each of the quartered ball. In chocolate, "Happy Anniversary" was written in gorgeous script. And sitting on the top edge of the plate was a black jewellers box. This was a ring that I had picked out and told Steve about and he had purchased on the sly (sneaky man!). Since learning what this trip was costing I had put the ring out of my mind and decided that this trip was good enough for me....who said that memories are priceless??? So I see this ring and I got really excited. I mean this is a nice ring! There is one central diamond and then two others that are slightly smaller flanking it. Then along the sholders of the ring are 3 smaller diamonds on each side....really really nice and totally suits me! Steve informs me that it is bad luck to wear the ring until after midnight....some superstition that he said the saleslady told him. So I believe him (how gullible do you think I am???) and give him back the ring.

After supper we go back to the room and Steve informs me that I am not allowed to change into jeans. So I leave the dress on...and we leave the room. We are down in the lobby when Steve says to close my eyes. He leads me to a car (which I find out later is a stretch limo) and it is going off the Strip. Mind you there is some pretty rough looking property once you get away from all the glitz and glamor! We go to the Graceland Wedding Chapel (http://www.gracelandchapel.com/). There have been a lot of celebrity weddings there - Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Damien, Aaron Neville, Richard Simmons to name a few. Lo and behold, guess who marries us?!?!?!?! Elvis!!!!!! Now I know why women went crazy for him....he is hot! LOL hehehe Not as hot as Steve....I tell you he cleans up really nice!!!! So we get our vows renewed and I get my ring!!! We snap some pictures and get our DVD of the ceremony....it is really good and Steves parents started crying ( I was kind of embarrased at them seeing us kiss though!)

That night after we get back to the hotel, we go walking. He takes me to Cesears Palace to look around...boy is that place amazing! (Again pics when I get a chance!) We sneak into the pool area (it was closed at that time but the doors were open). Think of a Grecian bathing room and you will get the pool.

There was not a night that we went to bed earlier than midnight. It was a very fun trip. We also went to the Belaggio hotel to see Cirque de Soleil's O. They spent $17 million dollars on this theater and the production was amazing. If you ever have the chance to see it, go for it! You will be thrilled! We did lots of other smaller things like shopping and walking around. Eating meals was probably one of the most expensive things that we did....the food on the Strip is not cheap!

We also hit the outlet mall in Vegas as well. I picked up a pair of Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses for $12.00 (okay okay I know that they are knockoffs...but cute none the less!), I picked up a purse at the Guess store for 45.00US and a wallet for 15.00US. Wnet to the Carter's outlet (children's clothing) and spent about $50US and got tons of stuff for Tiago and a dress for Mira. The shopping was amazing (see I am using that word again! LOL)

Okay well that is about it. I will try within the next few days to post some pics to my Webshots album http://community.webshots.com/user/crossstitchersuzanne Okay off to clean my house and wait for the daycare children!!!!

Suzanne

2008-03-04T22:00:00.001-05:00

Okay two guesses who this little girl is....and two more guesses as to who else looks like that! LOL Yep Mira is the spitting image of me when I was her age! This first picture is one with my father and my younger brother (Samuel Jason - deceased at 2 months of age). The next picture is me attempting to eat cereal, funny enough Mira makes the same mess and has the same look on her face when she does it! LOL

Life has been going well lately. The weekend before last Mira, Tiago and Steven all had the stomach flu. Steven wasn't vomiting or anything, he just felt quesy. But Mira and Tiago are both responsible for at least two loads of laundry! LOL They are feeling much better now however on Saturday Tiago started coughing quite badly. I took him to see the doctor this morning because he had some rattling in his chest and as well, a friend of mine's little boy (a few days older than Tiago) was hospitalized with RSV (respiratory virus). So I didn't want to take a chance....but it is only a bit of chest congestion. He is sleeping with a humidifier right now and hasn't coughed once since he went to sleep.

Calista has been doing great on the new medication. This is a fast acting form of Ritalyn (called Dexadrine) and she takes it twice a day. It is amazing....I have my nice little girl back! No attitude, no talking back, no saying "I hate you" or "You don't love me"....mind you there is still a bit of attitude but it is mostly when she is tired. She is doing so good and I am so proud of her (tell her that all the time!)

So the other day I buy a couple of tear tickets at the lotto booth where I buy my bus tickets. And since I had to open them there, it was an instant surprise! I won $100!!!! So I went home and thought about what I wanted to spend it on. I have been drooling over these two biscournus (french for pincusion) kits from The Sweetheart Tree. I honestly stayed away and stayed strong for a couple of days, but then on Saturday, I broke down. I had to have them!!!! So I ordered them, the top picture is the Rhodes Butterfly biscournu and the bottom one

is the Cherry Blossom biscournu. So I should have the kits by Friday or Monday at the latest. I am so excited!!!!! LOL Honestly, it doesn't take much to get me happy or excited!!!!

My goals this month is to get the Easter exchange biscournu out and into the mail by next Friday. Hope my exchange partner will like it!!! LOL Then I have to crochet two baby hats for teachers at Calista's school. I also have to crochet a spa set for a friend of mine's birthday. A layette set has to be crocheted for a friend of Steve's who is expecting their first girl. I also have to get my model done for my very first design!!! I might have to mail it to Australia...but I will get it back I hope!!! LOL

Okay I am off to bed as my contacts are so dry they are trying to jump out of my eyes! Til next time!!!!

Sick Kids, Stitching, and Designing

2008-02-26T21:43:00.000-05:00

Well this weekend past was a write off as for things to do. Poor Mira came down with the stomach flu on Friday night and wasn't 100% until Sunday. Then Sunday evening, Tiago came down with the bug as well. I think that it is worse when babies get it as you don't know what to do to make them feel better as they can't tell you. Tiago didn't nurse for all day Sunday and only a little bit on Monday. Today he nursed at 630am, 330pm, and just little snacks all through today. I am so full right now!!!! I finally got the kids all together to get their portraits done on Sunday. We had started out with them done at WalMart however they called a couple of days before I was to pick them up to say that the camera was broken and that the pictures couldn't be printed. It took an hour and a half to get one shot of the kids and it wasn't even a good picture. So I took them to Loblaws on Sunday and it took all of 20 minutes to get this picture. This was only one of about 20 that the photographer snapped...I love it. Calista looks so mature, Mira looks like a little devil and Tiago looks like a handsome little man! It was worth it to get them done at Loblaws. It costs more than Walmart does (not by much) but you get the pictures the next day and they are a bit more liberal with the type of pose that you can do.

Here is a progress picture of Peacock Stitching Chair by The Cat's Whiskers Design Studio. I am stitching it on 32ct Pearl Grey evenweave with the required Dinky Dye silk fibres. It is such a quick stitch! I can finish one portion while sitting to watch tv! Here is a close up of the back of the seat with the peacock on it. I love this idea. Might have to buy the next one in the series (although I am not a floral person).

Well some good news. I have designed a small little Easter design. I woke up one morning and had it in my mind so I started to jot it down on paper. Got it all graphed out and then started stitching. Now I know how the big time designers can do it. I stitched, then ripped, then stitched, modified and stitched some more....fun! So it is all

done, all I have to do is finish it into a mattress pincushion and I have spoken to someone about submitting it. Hopefully it will make into the magazine. Wish me luck!!!!

Life & Trading Post

2008-02-16T08:56:00.000-05:00

Well I haven't written in the last few days as I have been busy busy busy! But when I look back over the last few days, it doesn't seem like I got anything done! LOL Monday was horrible temperatures....-20C with a windchill to -35C, Tuesday was cold and Calista's school cancelled the field trip. Wednesday was a bit better and Thursday was gorgeous, only -3C..how is it that we can freeze to popsicles one day and have warm temps the next???

Yesterday was really hectic. I took the kids (Miranda and Tiago) downtown to get their passports done before we go to Portugal for the summer. I get down there and I forget Tiago's birth certificate...okay I will do Miranda's and when I come to pick it up, I will get Tiago's done. Get up the the counter and am informed that Mira's passport is not good enough, I will need her birth certificate as well! Ugh! Thank goodness Steve slept in because as I was getting the kids dressed up to leave, he calls and tells me that he had slept in! So he ended up bringing both birth certificates to me and then went to work. So I went back, got in line again (first time waited 30-35 minutes to get to the counter, line up and checking included), this time I was in line for 5 minutes, got the forms checked and then went to sit down until my number was called. Get up there and am proud that I have all documentation and pictures signed...they ended up refusing Tiago's picture because it was too bright....and that was the best one out of approx 25 shots! (Just as an aside note...Tiago is laying on the floor in my computer room on a towel..he was vertical facing me and now he has rotated himself counterclockwise 90 degrees and is smiling and laughing like he has just accomplished the world's greatest feat!!!)

So anyway, I run across the street (no easy feat with two young children!) and get Tiago's passport picture taken - again! Funny enough, he was wearing the same sweater that he wore in the first one! So I finally get the passports completed, just have to wait for them to be mailed to me. We go meet Steve for lunch and then take the bus back home. Then I get a phone call from the Walmart Portrait Studio saying that they can't print out our portraits (we were to pick them up on Tuesday) because the shutter on the camera was broken and noone could tell. It took an hour and a half to take one good shot where all 3 children were looking good and smiling (sort of). I had to bribe them with MacDonalds' to keep them in good spirits! So I am going to get a refund and go to Loblaw's to get their portraits taken....I find them so much better and I am kind of glad that the Walmart ones didn't turn out.

Then yesterday I get a package in the mail...I am so happy! A shop in the Maritimes was selling grab bags with fabric, floss, charts, etc for $25.00. So I sent the owner $40 ($9.00 was to cover shipping). This is what I got. Elizabeth's Designs - Christmas Joy, Elizabeth's Designs - Autumn Harvest, Elizabeth's Designs - Bee Hive, Elizabeth's Designs - All Hearts, Annie's Attic - Timeless Doilies in Crochet, TuckAWay Ornament, Skein of DMC Rayon, Card of Rainbow Gallery Overture, Card of Rainbow Gallery Hi-Lites, piece of purple linen, piece of goldy orange linen, piece of 16ct blue aida, Carolyn's Garden Carnation kit, Needlepoint Ornament kit, Maritime Cross Stitch leaflet, Sweetheart Tree - Welcome Tree chart, Sweetheart Tree - Irish Shamrock Sampler, red and white bee button and a bunch of free charts printed out. Tons of stuff for my money! Now here's the thing. I already have the Autumn Harvest, Christmas Joy, and Timeless Doiley's charts. So I am offering them up for trades. I prefer to trade for fabric, silk or overdyed floss/silk, or more Elizabeths Designs charts (you will have to let me know which ones you can trade as i have a lot and am looking to fill a few gaps). If you don't have anything on my list, just let me know what you have for trade and maybe we can bargain! LOL

Survey Questions and Finishes

2008-02-11T17:08:00.000-05:00

Lots of people have been emailing me with regards to my answers on the survey. Yes, I do have 2 tattoos. One is on the back of my left hip and is a heart with Steve's name in it. Tacky, I know but at the time we were together for 12 years and I didn't think that we would be going anywhere separately any time soon! Actually on March 28, we will be celebrating 10 years of marriage. My other tattoo is one that Steve and I both share. Here is a picture of it.
I don't know if you can tell what it is. But there are two S's entwined in the center, a C and an M incorporated into it. As well, there is a 95 on the bottom to signify the year that Steve and I met and started dating. It is located on the back of my right shoulder. Half the time I forget that it is there! LOL

As for dancing in front of a mirror naked, who hasn't done that!!!! My favorite person to dance to is Justin Timberlake!!!!

Well today, I took the plunge and made myself a crochet hook roll up. It turned out quite nicely. First time I have used my sewing machine to make something other than pillows or banners! I got the tutorial from http://www.planetjune.com/blog/roll-up-crochet-hook-case-tutorial/ and here is what it looks like. This is it closed up. I loved the fabric and bought it on a whim. Didn't know what I was going to use it for but this seemed like a good thing! The other thing that I finished today was a hat for a friend of Steve's who is expecting a baby girl. This was quick to make and I finished it while the kids and I were watching Harry and His Bucketful of Dinosaurs and The Big Comfy Couch. Here is the hat and I have to go make supper now as Steve came home early! Yikes! LOL

Survey

2008-02-07T12:07:00.000-05:00

I saw this on another blog and liked the idea!

1. You can only answer Yes or No!
2. You are not allowed to explain anything unless someone messages you and asks!
3. Repost this on your page.

****************Here we go!!

Kissed someone on your friends list? No
Danced in front of your mirror naked? Yes
Ever told a lie? Yes
Tripped on mushrooms? No
Done ecstasy? No
Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back? Yes
Been arrested? No
Kissed a picture? Yes
Slept till 5pm? Yes
Had sex at work? No
Fallen asleep at work? Yes
Had an actual snake? No
Ran a red light? Yes
Been suspended from school? No
Totalled car/motorcycle in an accident? No
Been fired from a job? Yes
Sang karaoke? Yes
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes
Kissed in the rain? Yes
Sang in the shower? Yes
Sat on a roof top? Yes
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Yes
Broken a bone? Yes
Shaved your head? No
Slept naked? Yes
Blacked out after drinking? Yes
Played a prank on someone? Yes
Had a gym membership? Yes
Felt like killing someone? Yes
Made your Partner cry? Yes
Had sex more than 9 times in one day? No
Had mexican jumping beans as pets? No
Been in a band? No
Shot a gun? Yes
Played strip poker? No
Donated blood? Yes
Video taped you having sex? No
Still love someone you shouldn't? No
Have a tattoo? Yes
Any piercings, other than ears? No

Brand New Day!

2008-02-06T21:03:00.000-05:00

Well this morning was the start of a great day. Steve left on a business trip last night to Moncton and I let Calista sleep in the bed with me. I woke up this morning with a good feeling. Calista woke up early, got ready early and with no problems. She has ADHD so a lot of mornings it is a struggle to get her to keep focus and keep on track, but she was awesome today! Even after school had to remind her several times to put things away, but she didn't give attitude, wasn't rude or anything back. So today was a great day! Mind you, we took her off her medication (Strattera) as it wasn't doing anything for her. So it is a struggle everyday but as long as I take it one day at a time, then I don't get frustrated with her! LOL

She has been on my case lately to finish a project for her friend's birthday. To all of you that mentioned this ornament (Paris Christmas Ornament by Monsterbubbles), thank you! It turned out wonderfully after I tweaked it a bit. I decided not to add the Joyeux Noel and I changed some colors. I finished it into a stand up pillow and I think that it turned out amazing. It is the first time that I have made something like this....the only thing I didnt like was that the corners and seams were not as crisp as I envisioned! If anyone has any hints, let me know!!! LOL The crocheted cat was made with Bijou yarn (combo of wool, and acrylic, and metallic), quite cute!!!

Here is the latest picture of Tiago. He is such a little ham sometimes. He sat in his swing today while I was sewing and was babbling away to his little fish! This picture was taken on Friday while I was making supper. He likes to sit in his bouncy chair and we have the greatest conversations with Mira and Calista! LOL

Okay, well I am going to go downstairs and watch some crime drama on TV and maybe put a couple of stitches into the Peacock Chair. That or start on the crocheted layette set for a friend of Steves. Have a great night!

Yippee! It came!!!!!!

2008-02-01T16:04:00.000-05:00

I am so excited. This morning I went to the WalMart to get Miranda's passport pictures done and since they were having a special portrait deal, I got the kids done and ended up saving 10% because of purchasing passport pictures! Yay! I will post a picture of the portraits when I get them. They turned out good but it is a real hassle trying to get 3 children to cooperate and smile at the same time!!! It took an hour and 20 minutes but we got a decent picture! So we went to MacDonalds for lunch before heading downtown to the passport office. Well when I looked outside and saw the snow, I decided that I will save downtown for another day. This is what it looked like when I got home. Blowing snow, high winds, and snow pellets. There were accidents already! So I got home and opened my mailbox and what did I see! Yay! My mail from Traditional Stitches (http://www.traditionalstitches.com/) came and my Peacock Stitching Chair was included. I even took a picture of the Dinky Dye silks that I splurged on with the fabric. Lucky me I even had the color and count called for. It calls for 32ct Belfast Linen in Pearl Grey. Well I had 32ct Lugana in Pearl Grey. I am so excited I can start right now....Well I have to finish a few things first. I am crocheting a cat that I found on the Lion Brand website. I already crocheted a little lion. It isn't perfect but Calista wanted it anyways. Then I should finish the SAL that I am doing on the wXSw Yahoo Group that is by Helga Mandl and Barbara Ana Designs. The SAL is closed now but the charts are still coming. I can't keep up!!! Oh well, will have to go into my UFO pile and get to it eventually. My gum is healing well although it still aches a lot. I am still on Advil Extra Strength and I am wondering if I should call the dentist and get it checked. I have been vigilant about not eating any solids (lost 10lbs so far between the liquid diet from my appendix and the liquid diet with this tooth) and drinking lots of water and gargling with salt water and rinsing with mouthwash. I hope that it isn't infected or that I have the dreaded DRY SOCKET!!!!

Finishes Yesterday and Today

2008-01-27T14:48:00.000-05:00

Well since I felt like crap yesterday, I didn't do too much. A lady from another Yahoo group that I belong to sent me a skein of DMC Color Variations floss to do the Mystery SAL that I am doing on the same group...sooooo since she didn't ask for anything in return I found this cute little beginner Hardanger Card kit from Textured Treasures http://tinyurl.com/3xohw7 that I had finished the stitching on back in 2005 when I was on bedrest when I was pregnant with Miranda. So I assembled it and added a little surprise to it for Sharon M.

I saw this pattern for a crocheted hotpad on About.com It was designed by a lady named Sandi Marshall and can be found at http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa041898.htm It was quite easy to work up and looks amazing. It is classed as a easy piece but I thought that it would be hard considering that I am just beginning to crochet. I have crocheted a layette for Tiago that came from a project book and some other little hats that were freebies off the internet. But this one looks difficult and really wasn't! I am not used to crocheting in the round, more used to crocheting rows and then slip stitching them together. But it turned out great and is a gift to my MIL for their new home! This is the picture of the layette set that I made for Tiago....remember this is the first time that I have ever crocheted anything using a pattern!!! The story behind this is that I wanted to find a hat for Tiago for when he was born. Walmart only had the little caps that tied under the chin and I didn't think that was good for a newborn. So I went into the crochet area and found a leaflet that had a layette set in it. I bought the yarn (have to keep reminding myself that it is yarn and not wool!! LOL) called Bunny Prints...a nice blue with flecks of other colors in it. I did the hat and was amazed at how quickly and easily it came about. Mind you I had to frogg quite a few rows before I got my tension even! Then I decided to do the booties...that was a bit harder! Then I did the jacket and even my MIL (who has crocheted all her life, being from the Old Country of Portugal) was amazed at how well it turned out! So now I am hooked on crocheting (no pun intended!!!)

This is a gift to my SIL who works for an Irish company and is frequently travelling. They recently bought a new house and she has a room that she is using for an office for the first time. I hope that she likes this. It is by Charland Designs and is called Little Claddagh. It was stitched with ecru perle coton, overdyed threads, and even came with a a little sterling silver charm.

Well I am going to get into bed now...still feeling a bit achy from that dratted tooth! Tiago is sleeping, Mira is in her bedroom watching Dora and Calista is downstairs watching Hannah Montana! Steve is in bed having a snooze so I am going to join him!

OMG Can my body take much more?

2008-01-26T17:05:00.000-05:00

On October 28th, I delivered my son. On January 6, I had my appendix taken out. On January 26, I had a molar removed.....how much more can I take? I think that someone has it in for me! LOL I am sitting here with the taste of blood in my mouth. I can't rinse with salt water until the socket starts to heal (probably later on tonight or tomorrow), I can't eat any solids (I am starving..tell you later!), and I am cranky because I had to see the dentist! A part of my molar broke off last week sometime and with running the daycare, I just forgot to call the dentist. So we dropped Calista off at Portuguese school and went to the diner for breakfast like we do every morning. I was finishing my toast when I felt this punch in the side of my face. One piece of my tooth had broken off and exposed the nerve and when the bread hit it...wow! Pain! It hurt so bad that tears came to my eyes and I ran to the bathroom and lost my breakfast. I have never felt pain like that before. Like I told the dentist, I would rather give birth than have any pain in my mouth!!!! I think that I offended him! :P Oh well, they say that trouble comes in threes. Although I wouldn't consider Tiago trouble, jus the damage to my body that was caused by him coming to us! Oh well off to bed to relax and maybe sleep for a bit...can't take anymore ibuprofen until 7:30pm...and it is only 5:15pm. Man I am a wimp!!!!

Whooo Hooooo!!!

2008-01-24T21:23:00.000-05:00

I just sold some xs stuff to a person in RL. I received $60 for it. I just got done ordering Peacock Stitching Chair and the Dinky Dyes silk threads to do it in from Traditional Stitches in Alberta. www.traditionalstitches.com I can't wait until it comes in! I put it on the Amex so will have to give the cash to hubby to pay for it now! LOL We have a deal. If it is house purchases it comes out of the joint account. If it is fun stuff or hobby stuff it comes out of our money....so I think that this is hobby stuff for me, but anyone have any ideas on how to convince hubby that it is necessary for the house?!?!?!? LOL Don't think that I can get that one past him!

Well my other daycare child started today, when he was actually supposed to start tomorrow. Liam is such a cute little guy so full of energy! His mother and he came over today for a little visit before he starts tomorrow and he didn't want to go home! He ended up having lunch and his nap here while his mother drove her mother in law home to another city. He had so much fun playing with Miranda (minor fights are allowed!!! LOL) that his mother and I had a hard time corralling him to get him dressed for home! I think that this will be my baptism into little boy behaviour because before you know it, Tiago will be like that! Time goes by so fast!!!!!

Have to love eBay!!!

2008-01-23T16:45:00.000-05:00

First of all, I have to say that if anyone wants a link to their blog listed on my site, just email me or leave me a comment and I will add it on. I use them as well to see what my friends are up to! LOL Easier than phoning and email! Heheheh

Second, I would like to let everyone know that I have put some things up for auction. I am tired of giving hints to my dear dear husband about certain things that I would like so I am going to try to sell some of my stuff that I won't be using in this lifetime. The link to the auctions is http://tinyurl.com/3bmeej. What I want to get is this:

It is called the Peacock Stitching Chair. More information about this can be found at http://thecatswhiskers.net.au/chairs.html#chair. I have asked for this for my birthday and Christmas to no avail. So I will have to find a way to get it for myself! LOL Hopefully I will have time later this week to go through my fabric stash and post some items.

Today was Me day. It wasn't that cold today, only around -10C so Miranda, Tiago and I took Calista to school and walked to Tim Hortons and had breakfast. Then we went to Walmart to pick up a few things. I found a crochet kit for a iPod Nano armband for biking, gym, etc. It was on clearance from 9.97 to 5.00. It included the DMC Senso Cotton Microfibre that I have been dying to try!!!! It makes two armbands. I might make one for my niece for her birthday or I might just make them and put them on eBay to raise money!

Well I better go. Mira is standing here crying and screaming because Go Diego Go is over and I won't let her watch anymore. Bad mommy won't let her watch anymore than one hour of cartoons a day....oh well! Hehe. She is saying "I want to watch Go Diego Go NOW!" Yeah right chickie like that will help your cause!

Bye for today!

Snow, Snow, Snow and more Snow!

2008-01-22T09:19:00.000-05:00

Yuch I hate snow! It is wet, cold and most of all messy!!!! I was listening to the news this morning and it showed the Hwy 417 completely crawling on the way into Ottawa. There have been numerous accidents because of people not switching over to winter driving. Thank goodness Steve takes the bus when he goes to work downtown!

Well I am chatting with my BFF Joann this morning and I can't help feeling a bit nostalgic. We used to chat all the time when we were younger. We went on bike rides, and little bike trips. But it is hard when you grow up and have families of your own. I miss the chats that we used to have. But now she got a computer and although she is on dialup, we manage to chat whenever we have a few minutes! It was kind of neat when we discovered that our daughters (who are only a couple of months apart) were watching the same episode of Dora the Explorer!

I am stitching an ornament for a friend's daughter that absolutely loves Paris. It is the Paris ornament from Monsterbubbles that is in the 2007 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue. I hope to have it done in time for her birthday. I am stitching it using GAST Soot, Banker's Grey, DMC 3856 blended with Krenik 095 for the side bar. I won't be stitching the words Joyeux Noel as I don't want it to be used strictly for Christmas.

Okay well Tiago isnt' fussy today so I think that I will be able to get all my cleaning done that I have listed for today! Not only that but I hope to sneak in an hour or two of stitching while Tiago sleeps and while Mira watches cartoons. Wish me luck!

2nd Posting to New Blog

2008-01-21T17:02:00.000-05:00

Well thanks everyone for all the comments! I have added links to my stitching albums. I just can't figure out how to add all those bling labels like "I love Cross Stitch" etc. I have also been instructed to add pictures of my children. So here is one that was taken at my sister in laws on Christmas Day. Calista is my oldest, she is 9 years old and my little genius! Miranda is the 2 1/2 year old diva with the funny face. Everytime she sees a camera, this is what she does. I cannot take a good picture of her smiling without her saying Diva!!!! The handsome little man in the Christmas outfit is my new son Tiago. He is 8 weeks old here and such a little sweetie! However today he is a terror. Hasn't slept all day and cried all day. He has been nursing every hour and has his diaper changed every hour. Can't figure out what is bothering him! Needless to say, Mira has been cranky as well so I am a bit stressed out! Had a small 1/2 glass of red wine and feel soooo much better. However, he just woke up after a 30 minute nap (normally they are 2 hours long) and is crying again! So I better go get him!!!!!

Here I Go Again!

2008-01-18T15:25:00.000-05:00

Well this is my first attempt at blogging. I don't think that people really want to know what I do every day but it will help feed my need at letting people know! I am not really a private person and I love to talk! I love to stitch and crochet. But I don't get enough time to do it all!

Let's see the most recent item that I finished was a Crocheted Hot Pad that I will try to get uploaded as soon as I remember to charge my camera's battery! LOL It was made for my mother in law just as a 'whatever' gift!

Well Miranda and her friend Trent fell asleep in my bed while watching cartoons on Treehouse. And Tiago is sleeping in his swing so I am going to take advantage of the time and clean up all the toys, do dishes, and get supper started! Making Harvest Soup with Garlic Bread! Should be yummy. Then I have to get ready as I am going out with my friend Cindy to the pub for a drink then off to see 27 Dresses!!!