Saturday 21 December 2013

Busy busy busy!

As I am sure we all are especially those with family.  Seems like every year that passes the more busier I become, mind you I don't suppose it has helped that the whole family has come down with a nasty virus and we had a moment of temporary insanity and decided to go down to the pound and adopt a dog.
Now you don't want to adopt an energetic street dog that's used to doing it's own thing when you are sick and looking after 3 sick children who are also sick, it's only been two days and I've spent the whole time cleaning up dog doo doo and pee, cleaning up children's vomit, mopping floors, vacuuming excessively due to the dog malting also excessively (I have polished tile on the ground floor there is no hiding that dog hair which of course is not the dogs fault but after a bath and a groom, really?!) and walking the dog every 2 hours trying to convince the dog outside is a good place to pee, not in the comfort of my home!  Anyhoo the timing is wrong I think to adopt an animal, I thought I could handle kids and dog but obviously I can't, nice dog but I will be taking the dog back Monday when the pound opens - don't worry this place dosn't put animals to sleep and is one of the busiest places for adoptions so hopefully someone with a but more energy than myself will come along and give this dog a chance.  Sometimes I hate myself for the decisions I make, I guess I am used to the living conditions in NZ where we have front lawns and backyards and footpaths to walk on, a place not only more ideal for dogs but children also.
  I have a couple of Samplers to show today, one (yes I am complaining here) the dog jumped all over not once but three times no matter where I put it! but despite this received no damage and this Sampler is The Humility Sampler by Carriage House Samplings which I really love working on as you become used to working the letters and can set up a rhythm without having to search for the next symbol.


Excuse me for not taking it out of my hoop but I'm still working on it and it's in a good position for me.  Just a note here as well, even though this is in a hoop I do use the method of one hand under one hand on top to stitch, I do this by sitting the hoop off to one side on my lap, I hope that makes sense.

 Mary Ann Farmer by The Scarlett House

This just arrived in the mail, happy me - Metta Putfarcken 1848 by Samplers Berlin

Something for the year 2014 :)  
I heard of a lady finishing her Metta in just 3 months!  Hear me choking!  Well I am not sure how long this one will take me but just lettin you know, don't hold your breath!  Probably be working this one in HDF silks and use her linen as well and do a tea dye on the linen.
Anyone else have an exciting new project they can't wait to make a start on for the year 2014?
Much love,
Amanda

Sunday 8 December 2013

Sampler Sunday

Okay short post tonight, the wee ones have worn me out for the day ..
.. the first photo was taken friday daytime but I managed to do a bit more the same day so I just took a quick snap now - I do love this piece so and wish I had more time to stitch on it but then I guess that is always the way isn't it?


Mary Ann Farmer
The Scarlett House

xxx
Amanda

Sunday 1 December 2013

Hope everyone is shopping to save money -

If you havn't already pop on over to ABC Stitch Therapy they are having an awesome 20 percent off everything!  Their shipping rates are reasonable for people like me who don't live in the USA - I just managed to save 35 dollars on my order!  Awesome!!
Want to know what I put in my basket?  Well I decided to join the Sampler World Snooty Parrots SAL 2014. so supplies for that went in - anyone else going to join me?  Plus I put in a half yard of Sheeps Straw Linen for a couple of BBD charts I have and a fat quarter of Cashel Linen for a project I saw in Cross stitch and Needlework Magazine - Now I had better get off this computer and clean the house :(
Love to hear if anyone else saved some money shopping the sales this week - any good deals?
Amanda

Sampler Sunday

What do you think of the post title?  I think I will make Sunday my post day for whatever Sampler I have picked up during the week and made some progress on - also I have put up some pages for my Samplers that I have either finished or am currently working on that I will slowly add to over the next few days, kinda organize my blog a bit.
So here it is - Sampler Sunday




Hey and thanks to everyone that made a comment about some paint colours for my house, it really helped clear my head a bit on what would look good - I have narrowed my paint choices down to just a few so will pick up some paint samples to see how they look in my home.
I am also hoping to pick up some bug off frog spray, my home has been really badly infested with the little buggers lately - Bug off Frog!
Happy Stitching - 
Amanda