My Disaster!

Ok, so it's not a big disaster of worldwide proportions, but it's still a real big problem for me. This is why I haven't done an update to the poppies. My magnifier/lamp separated from its swing arm and I have no light in my stitching corner. To say nothing of the fact that I REALLY need my magnifier. So I haven't been able to stitch for over a week now. Dave & I have an email in to the company that makes it to see if we can get a replacement part for it. But we're finding out the company is not standing behind their product since we've heard nothing from them and there's no phone number on the website. Dave is going to try and see if he can build me a clamp that will hold the light to the swing arm. In the meantime, I've moved my trusty old Dazor lamp out of the craft room and into the living room. It doesn't look as pretty as the other one did, but it sure is reliable.

Brought One Home

I had Live Simply by Lizzie Kate framed and was able to bring it home today. You can't tell from the picture but the frame is primitive in a cream color that's been sanded to look even more primative. If I couldn't find one that I liked, I was going to have Chris(my framer) beat up on it even more. It's a shadowbox frame and at first I wasn't sure I really wanted it but I realized today that I could stand it up in addition to hanging it on the wall. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

Where Has All the Cross Stitch Gone?

On a whim Dave & I went to the county fair yesterday. It was so much smaller than the state fair in the fall. It only took us an hour and we were like, ok, we're done now. Let's go get lunch. One thing I noticed was that I could count the number of cross stitch pieces on less than my 10 fingers. I've noticed a decline at the state fair as well, but this was truely pathetic. There was one piece that hadn't been framed stuck in a display case with some crocheted pieces and there were about 8 hung on a wall. That was it. The ones on the wall were mostly smaller than 6 x 6". There were 2 larger pieces and one was really a needlepoint one that had been mislabeled. I actually would have stitched that one myself and might see if I can find the kit. I would have stitched the other large piece as well. It was a very colorful tiger stalking in some greenery. Very bright colors, right up my alley. I remember when we first moved here in the early 90's, the fair had to devote 2 walls just to the cross stitch entries. There would be several Mirabilias, Lavender & Lace, Stoney Creeks. They would be professionally framed and I would love to spend quite a bit of time looking at them. Now I realize how expensive framing is. Most of my stuff goes in my fuppy box but if I were going to exhibit them, I would go ahead and spring for the tab. Is the economy affecting our hobby that much? I would have to say in my humble opinion that I believe it is. When people are worrying about their next mortgage payment or how they're going to feed their kids, then something has to give. I've been blessed to have a hubby with a good job and I also have a good job (with a discount on stash no less!), but I do find myself working from my stash instead of buying new stuff. So do you plan on having S.E.X. when the recession ends?

Short Update

I know it doesn't look like I stitched much on my poppies but believe it or not, the second poppy is done! I managed to finish it this morning and plan on starting poppy number 3 later. I can actually see the end of the road on this one. It's been such fun to stitch too. I feel good every time I look at it.

On another note, we took Suzie Q (that's what I call my new baby) out for a road trip yesterday. We drove up to Prescott yesterday to check out what turned out to be a wildlife refuge and stopped for lunch as well. It was about a 3 1/2 hour trip. I have to say it's a good thing David isn't driving it regularly. He just has too much fun in it!

Another Update

I guess it's time for another weekly update. Where is the time going? Wasn't yesterday Christmas? Anyway, here is the update on the poppies. I'm almost done with the big poppy. I should be able to finish it today or tomorrow. Then it's on to the next (and final) one. I don't have an update on the Lizzie Kate today. I really didn't get a whole lot more stitched on it than last week. The problem is that I'm stitching on it on Wednesday morning and that's when I watch Lost from the night before. I can't possibly stitch and watch Lost so I don't stitch. That means I only stitch on it for about 30-40 minutes a week. I may change the day I work on it to avoid that problem. I want to add in the graduation piece as well. It's a good thing I didn't pick one with a tassel on it. The color the department has chosen for their tassel is hot pink. I just don't think I could hang a hot pink tassel on Sherrie's sampler.

Look What I Got!

Look what David got me for our anniversary later this month! I'm so excited! We've been planning to get a new car (well, new to us anyway)for a while. The plan is for Sherrie to take my car when she graduates and for us to get a new one. I have wanted a convertible since I was about 12 years old. And it had to be red The closest I got to one was my mom's '64 Mustang. But she sold it before I could learn to drive. I did have a Mustang before I got married but it wasn't a convertible. Since we've been married Dave and I have always gone for a more practical approach. But in the back of my mind, I was still dreaming of my red convertible. Well, he found one and we went out test driving yesterday. I drove a Prius and had decided that I should go with that one because of the MPG and the green factor. But later I was thinking that I may regret letting the other one get away. So we took off yesterday after dinner and came home with my dream car. It's a 2008 VW Eos hard-top convertible. Dave calls it a Transformer car. I absolutely love it!