A New GrandKitty!

Yes, you read that right.  I have a new grandkitty.  I do not have grandkids yet and really don't expect any soon but I do have furbabies that I call my grandkids.  My oldest son has 2 dogs, 1 kitty and a lizard (which I really would rather not like to think about).  Unfortunately I don't think I have any pictures of them yet but I can show off Sherrie's new baby.  She has wanted either a kitty or a puppy since she left home last August.  After talking about it, she decided that a kitty would be easier for her to take care of.  So off she went then her roommate/landlord put up so many obstacles about getting an animal that Sherrie decided to move into a more pet friendly home.  So yesterday we went with her when she picked out her new kitty.  Now I didn't realize this before, but a lot of rescue organizations will not adopt out single kitties.  They want you to take a pair of them.  Well, Sherrie could only have one so she was getting pretty discouraged.  But after visiting three different stores and talking to the gentleman who was in charge of this kitty, he agreed to let her adopt only one.  Actually it's not final yet.  She's fostering to adopt to see if the new kitty gets along with her new roommates/landlords' cat and dog.  So if all goes well, at the end of two weeks, she'll be a proud kitty mama.  The kitty's name currently is Bandit (although that may change) and is a Maine Coon mix.  He's so cute and playful and his favorite thing to do is curl up on Sherrie's lap.  She originally wanted a calico or a tuxedo breed but fell in love with this one's personality.  I told her it just proves that God always has our best interests at heart and what we want may not be what He has planned for us.  Even kitties!

Quaker Gone Tropic Update

I just realized this morning that I haven't updated Quaker Gone Tropic in a couple of weeks.  So here it is in all its glory.  Sometimes I look at it and think I haven't gotten anywhere on it at all.  Other times I look and it and think "Wow, you've made a lot of progress".  Don't know where I stand today.  I do really like most of the colors (yes, the jury is STILL out on the color of the large motif.  But guess what?  It's not getting changed.), especially the pink and the green combination.  And I'm still planning to stitch a secret into this.  I wish I could stitch on it more but my eyesight still isn't cleared up enough to stitch over one yet for more than a few minutes. Today I thought my vision was much blurrier (is that a word?) than usual.  Then I realized that it was a combination of my vision, my glasses being dirty and the magnifier I use also needing cleaned.  So it was a triple whammy.  But I'm happy with my progress.

Stitching Stands

Do you use a stand when you stitch? If so, tell us about it and share pictures if you’ve got them. If not, would you like to try using a stand? Do you have any tips or tricks around using a stand versus not using a stand?


Do you use a stitching stand?  I sure do.  In fact, I've used one for the last 25 years.  I have a beautiful floor stand which frankly I hardly ever use.  It's to be used with a recliner but quite frankly, it just seems too unstable for me.

I think it's called an Ergo but I'm not sure of that.  

My favorite stand are my lap stands from K's Creation's.  I have all three of the sizes of the original frames but my favorite one to use is their Z Frame.  I'm still using the original one that they came out with probably about 15 years ago.  I love it!!  It can be positioned any way you like and it can hold scroll frames, q-snaps, or stretcher bars.  It's just a wonderful frame.  The only problem we have found at the store is that their customer service has really deteriorated since Kay died.  And that's so sad cause they have a wonderful product.  

Another advantage I've found with using a stand is that you can teach yourself to stitch two-handed.  It took me a little while to learn the technique but it was so worth it in the end.  Takes the strain off of one hand and allows you to stitch so much faster.  

So if you haven't tried using a stand, you might want to try it.  You may just surprise yourself.

Visit all the blogs in this round of Stitching the Night Away blog's blog hop.

1.	Cindy	2.	Stands - Love 'em or leave 'em?
3.	Stitching Stands

Surgery Update

Well I survived my eye surgery.  It was as hard as I thought it would be and it was easier than I realized as well.  Doesn't make sense I know but while the surgery itself was uneventful, I found it really weird to be awake and hearing all that they were saying.  I also kept making random comments like, "What pretty colors."  The surgeon just told me to keep watching the colors and it would all be over soon.  I think I also told her that I was hungry.  I guess they hear lots of strange things like that.  LOL!  Anyway, I can't believe I'm going to do this but here is a picture of me yesterday before I had the dressing removed.  The next picture is of me today.   Okay, normally I look A LOT better than this but hey it is what it is.  Good news is that they were hoping my pressure would drop to 17 but yesterday when I had my post-op appointment it was actually at 14!  I honestly don't recall when it was ever that low.  So I am thrilled even if I do look like someone out of a horror movie.  I just keep telling myself this too shall pass.  So hopefully I will lose no more vision than I already have.  I'm going to try to stitch a little later.  That may have to wait but I'm going to give it a shot.  So happy dance with me for my great news.

Stitching Blahs

I saw this on another blog and decided to participate.  It's a blog hop where everyone blogs on the same topic. This first time it's the stitching blahs.

Have you ever had a case of the “stitching blahs” where you just didn’t want to stitch? Or maybe it was more like you didn’t get to stitch because you were busy and that created a chain reaction sense of the “blahs” and led to even less stitching…. sort of like a case of “the Mondays” that we are all familiar with. How do you handle your stitching blahs and get back into stitching mode?


The last time I had the stitching blahs was when I had my dad living with us.  I spent so much time taking care of his needs that stitching went by the wayside.   I have no regrets taking care of him but it wasn't easy.  After he passed on, I really didn't stitch for about 2 years.  What got me back into stitching was blogging.  I figured if I was going to blog about something, I'd better be doing it.  I started out slowly and then worked up to where I was stitching every day.  I'm still not finishing as much as I was before he lived in with us but I'm stitching what I like And having fun.  And please forgive the change in the font here.  I just had eye surgery yesterday and having a little bit of difficulty seeing the keyboard.


Be sure and check out all of these wonderful blogs which answer the question of what do you do when the   stitching blahs hit.

1.	Stitching Blahs? Who, Me?	2.	Losing the Stitching Mojo!!
3.	My Life and Stitches	4.	Stitching the Night Away Blog Hop
5.	It's a Blog Hop!	6.	Linda K's Creativity Works
7.	Dealing with the Stitching Blahs	8.	Cindy
9.	Faithfully Stitching's Blog Hop	10.	Blog Hop? Sure, I'm in!
11.	STNA Blog Hop @ Handmade Redhead	12.	Einschies stitching blog
13.	blog hop #1	14.	blog hop #1
15.	Milly's Stitches	16.	Cathryn's Place
17.	Stitching Blahs	18.	Who's Lost that Stitchy Feeling?
19.	Stitching Enui	20.	Blah blah? Nah Nah!
21.	Blog Hop - stitching blahs