Books

October

October 9, 2012 by Michelle 12 Comments

October is one of my favorite months, although it is often one of the busiest months of the year for us. I haven’t had a whole lot of time to do much stitching (or blogging obvs), and as you notice this post is brought to you entirely in Instagram photos due to lack of time for editing photos.

So, I’ve been trying to get into the groove with stitching on my WIPs, but it’s been hit or miss. I pulled out a little piece that is perfect for this time of year and started it on the 1st. The chart, fabric, and threads were a gift from Lori for my birthday. I’m really enjoying stitching on this piece, which is nice because lately I haven’t enjoyed stitching on much of anything.

Another sweet friend of mine gifted me with these awesome skull ornaments last week. I love it that my friends know me so well.

I had hoped I’d have lots of quilting to share too, but alas, there’s none going on. I’m holding out hope for some time at my machine this weekend.

About the only thing I’ve managed to do with any regularity lately is read (and paint my nails, but that’s a given).

Have you read Gone Girl? That is one book that I could not put down. Seriously.

And my new book, that I started on Friday. It’s the second book in a series. Also another good read.

And of course, my days are not complete without one of the boys curled up on my lap. They have gotten so big, it’s weird to think that four months ago they were itty bitty. This is my sleepy Ramses.

Hope that October is treating you well, and I’ll be (hopefully) back soon with some quilting progress and some more stitching.

I am grateful for slice of life photos.

Just a Reminder…

March 19, 2012 by Michelle 9 Comments

You know where I’ll be on Friday.

Auld Lang Syne

December 31, 2011 by Michelle 26 Comments

Can you believe another year has come and gone? I thought I’d squeak in a final post for the year and do a little recap of 2011. Above you can see my finishes for 2011. A couple of quilts, some beading, some finishing, and a few medium-sized pieces.

They are (from left to right):

Camille’s French Sampler, Holly Wool Biscornu, Snow Garden, Be Mine
Indulgence, 2000 Years Ago, Joyful Night, Valentine Rose
Dash Away All, a beaded fob, Day of the Dead earrings, Sweet Treats Block 1 and Border
Stars & Stripes, Honfleur Sampler, Angel of Tulips, Garden of Eerie
Penny Angel, Mele Kalikimaka, Hand & Heart, Joy

I linked each of those to the associated blog post so you can get more info on them if you want. I’m pleased with my finishes for the year, although I’d hoped to have more. But, isn’t that the way it always is?

As for the books I read this year, here’s my little list for that as well…

City of Bones
The Forgery of Venus*
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet*
Parrot & Olivier in America*
Lover Mine
A Northern Light
The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels
The Hare with Amber Eyes*
Living Dead in Dallas
Heaven is for Real
The Help
Lover Unleashed
An Object of Beauty*
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Club Dead
Soulless
The Paris Wife*

The books with asterisks are book club books.

And I thought I’d share with you a look at my ort jar. I’ve been letting these bits pile up for awhile (much longer than just the past year – they are packed in there really well), and decided that tomorrow will be a fresh new start across the board.

After my stitching today, I’ll empty this out and begin anew on January 1.

I’d really like to also finish Margaret Cottam, but that may not happen before the ball drops at midnight. I would love to see another “1” on that corner though!

And tomorrow, I will have a new start, as part of my New Year’s Day tradition. I can’t wait!

Happy New Year!

I am grateful for new beginnings.

Looking Back

December 29, 2010 by Michelle 19 Comments

I can’t believe it’s almost the end of 2010. Where did the time go?? I thought I’d look back at the year though and see what I accomplished. Above are my finishes for the year. Most were small things, and many were gifts. In fact seven of the twelve were for other people. And speaking of gifts, there are a couple more finishes that I can’t show you yet.

I did also manage to start and finish two larger pieces for myself, well ok one of these is a gift for Eric (Where My Heart Blooms). So, one piece for me.

I did manage two A&E finishes this year, which is a good start on my A&E wall. So, I am quite pleased with that. I hope to have more A&Es for my wall next year.

And I did get one quilt done this year too (see that first finish at the top left) – also a gift. So, at least I managed to sit at my sewing machine a little bit. I hope to have more of that next year too.

And I read a few books over the year as well:

Lover Unbound
The Ultimate Trophy*
No Tomorrow*
Catching Fire
The Lost Chalice*
Lover Enshrined
Eclipse (re-read)
Water for Elephants
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Mockingjay
Lover Avenged
The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider’s Guide
The Lacuna*

Not nearly as much reading as I would liked to have done (*and four of the thirteen were for book club). Hopefully next year, since I am done with school, I can get more reading done.

And speaking of being done with school…what else happened this year?

I completed my 365 photo challenge that I had started in March 2009
I participated in the Worldwide Photo Walk for the first time
I completed my coursework at school
I passed my certification test for Microsoft Project 2007
I started a new job
I passed my certification test for my CAPM and joined PMI
I relearned how to knit
I participated in several 5Ks as well as the 10K of death
I attended my first seminar (the EGA South Central Seminar)
We lost sweet Romeo
I participated in the Secret Stitcher program at Guild
I took a needleturn applique class
I took a class from Amy Mitten
I went to Nashville Market

Not a bad way to spend the year, I suppose. I’m excited to see what next year holds. Thanks for sticking with me throughout 2010. I truly treasure the friendships I have made through this blog.

I am grateful for another year and the hope of good things to come!

Dia de los Muertos

August 30, 2010 by Michelle 25 Comments

Meet Frida.

Frida is a Day of the Dead Zombie that my sister in weirdness and good friend, Kim, made for me for my birthday. I received some other beautiful handmade things for my birthday that I can’t wait to show you, but Frida demanded to be first. I thought Frida was not only a fun gift, but she also was rather timely. Isn’t it funny how sometimes in your life, you keep having the same theme pop up? Well, about a week before Frida entered my life, I received my copy of the JCS Halloween Issue.

Notice the cool sugar skull design from Monsterbubbles. Love it. I think I’ll definitely be stitching that one. And why did it catch my attention, you might ask? Well, I’ve been reading this book.

Ok, pay no attention to the fact that my sidebar still says I’m reading The Museum of Innocence. I abandoned that in favor of this book, given to me by a fellow book clubber, who said it was fantastic. It is. And within the first few pages was a beautiful description of Dia de los Muertos and sugar skulls and leaving offerings for one’s loved ones. Such a gorgeously written book. So, here I am reading this book, thinking about Mexico and sugar skulls and then I come across the Monsterbubbles ornament…coincidence? I think not.

But wait, just when it couldn’t get any more interesting…the next book for my bookclub?

Yeah. It ties in with the museum’s nest exhibit called “Fiery Pool: The Maya and the Mythic Sea”. It’s all working together in some kind of wild swirl of strangeness. Now, I know that there’s a thin line between some of the connections I’m making…but my head is making them nonetheless.

Which is why, dear friends, I just had to introduce you to Frida. That’s where my head’s at these days. Plus, it’s been a rough couple of weeks so zombies seemed relevant.

But, just in case you’re here for the stitching…I’m doing some non-zombie related stitching on Where My Heart Blooms. It’s coming along.

So, until next time…Frida will be keeping an eye on things.

I am grateful for zombie felties that bring a smile to my face.

Long Weekend

June 1, 2010 by Michelle 16 Comments

I’m sure you’re dying to know what I did with an extra day this weekend – no studying to do, nowhere to go, no plans. Let me start by saying, it was so nice! Since the cottonwood is floating all around in the air and messing with my allergies, I did try to spend as much of the weekend indoors as possible. I went for my three mile walk on Saturday though, and it was good to get back into that habit.

Eric and I did spend a fair amount of time just enjoying each other’s company and working our way through some videotapes that have been piled up next to the tv for who knows how long. Of course they are unmarked, so it was quite entertaining to take the one off the top of the pile and wait to see what was on it. So….we watched the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics. The 2008 Summer Olympics. Yeah. We also watched the MTV Movie Awards from 2009, the ACMs from 2008 (Kenny Chesney won Entertainer of the Year in case you missed it and were wondering) and the CMAs from 2009, I think. Oh, and there was a random tv movie in there too called The Last Templar. Of course, they showed it over two nights, and the second night it was preempted for the Stanley Cup, so we only saw the first half. Oh well. But, we made it through our pile of videotapes and were highly amused by what we found.

I also spent an afternoon doing the finishing on a couple of gifts that I hope to be able to show you in a few days. They both came out how I envisioned and I was very pleased by that, especially since my finishing skills leave something to be desired.

While Eric and I were watching all this great tv, I did some stitching too. As you can see above, I worked on Where My Heart Blooms a bit. I finally finished up that house and then the grass beneath it. Then I stitched that little plant to the right of it no less than four times. Don’t ask. U also stitched on And They Sinned a bit as well, but didn’t think you wanted to see more cloud. I’ll post a progress photo when it gets interesting.

I also managed to finish a book this weekend. That’s two weekends in a row I’ve finished a book. Yay me. I decided to re-read Eclipse before the movie comes out at the end of June. Plus the Bree Tanner book is coming out on the 5th. And I have to say, I enjoyed Eclipse just as much (maybe more) the second time as I did the first time I read it. And what did I pick up to read next? Water for Elephants. Really looking forward to that one.

So that’s what I’ve been up to for the most part. It’s guild night tonight and I am looking forward to giving my second Secret Stitcher gift as well as the revealing of the Secret Stitchers. I can’t wait to find out who stitched this gorgeous piece for me. Until next time!

I am grateful for reconnecting with the most important person in my life.