Wow!! Hi!!

Wow! A few changes since I last used blogger.com.  I barely recognized my page.  I know, that is pretty bad. But, here I am again....with a few changes of my own.

First, I am stitching again, which is a change of pace due to the fact I now wear glasses.  I didn't know if I needed a cardiologist after the shock of just the price of the lenses.  To tell you the truth,  I thought of the monocle look for a couple of seconds...but of course, both eyes being the control freaks they are need different prescriptions.  Okay, okay, I got two lenses...Just when I got over the price of the lenses, I got hit with the price of the frames.  Let's just say.....very expensive, but eyesight is priceless.  So now I am at the stage where I can't see without my eyeglasses and I can't see well with them on either.  Weird.  (Yes, I got them insured...).

Somewhere within the trifocal range, I can stitch, which is a great relief as it helps to calm my fears over my eyesight.  There was a time where I didn't know if I was actually seeing or feeling my way through the stitching which kept me away from my favorite hobby. Which brings me to my stitching project, Provence Sampler, by the late cross stitcher designer, MLI. It was a UFO since 2007. I know that because I stitched that date on top thinking I would finish it that year...oops.....

My third change...my nails.  I went to get silk extensions put on because those little nails needed some drastic help.  I know that I may not keep them for long.  I know the buffing was not the smartest move, but I really like how they look and maybe this time I will keep up and then stat the nail hardening therapy so I can have my own great looking nails.

Oh, I guess the fourth change is that I am blogging again and hope to continue.  

Of course, somethings stay the same, the camera work....well, what can I say.... Happy Labor Day!!!

Stitch well....

How is everyone?

It's been a while. Found a job and that has taken lots of my time. My laptop died. Now, I am learning about my iPad. The highlight of my week was that I received my trades fro two wonderful sister stitchers!! Lots of magazines to round out my collection. THANK YOU!! Can't wait to do it again. LOL. Hoping that all my stitching friends are well. If anyone sees my mojo, please let it know I am searching for it. Mojo stitches....

Two young cardinals

greeted me today as I walked to the train station. They played and flew after each other. Afterward I hoped that they were playing and not showing agression. Still it was lovely to see them since we are going into Spring and they are the only ones I have seen around us. They are so beautiful.

Sometimes I wish I could carry a camera with me all the time to take pictures of such beauty. Even though I have a camera phone, the pictures are just now the same.

Right now, my camera's batteries are dead. I can't seem to get a break with that thing. Everytime I want to take pictures, it does not co-operate.

Till next time.... happy red stitches.....

Gifts from Up Above

There are some gifts that are so easy to overlook because they are so basic, but upon further inspection, they come to light as what they are, gifts from above. Today I was thankful for those.

A beautiful sunny day! Finding a snack in my local grocery shop for which I had searched two years. Weird, right? Well, about two years ago, one of my co-workers brought Peruvian snacks to work. They were so good, I started my hunt. I did find them in a small area of NYC where there is a great concentration of Peruvians, but it was really out of my way. You know, one of those places that you don't pass by on your daily routine. The only thing that I could do was ask my local grocery store which has a great concentration of Latin products to order some and stock them. On every opportunity I had, I would look and look, but never any to be found.

Today, two years later, I went, by chance to pick up the most wonderful croissants on this side of NYC (well, they are the best I found around me) and passed by the Latin aisle. Blinked a few times because in front of me on the clip display were 8 bags of Habas Fritas. I picked up 4 bags. They are an acquired taste. Not everyone, okay, no one in my family likes them, but I do and that is okay. They last longer that way. That was a huge gift from above today. I am thankful for it. To me it meant the world, sometimes it is the small things that make one's day.

On the personal front, today I wanted to be a better person. It is always usual for me to be honest even to my detriment. That is how I am. People tell me, I have to stop being so honest, don't put all my cards on the table. Let's face it, I am who I am. If I have to lie to get something, or play a mind game, I don't have all that energy to waste and it is usually not worth having. (Note to reader: Those thoughts were going somewhere, I can't remember right now.... think of it as a bonding moment. Maybe it leads to my next point in a disconnected way. LOL)

So, as I was thinking about putting thoughts into action, I received a call today from someone that I thought of as a professional contact. The call started as usual and it got personal, which humbled me because it reminded that no matter how badly you may see your situation, there are people that are going through worse and haven't verbalized it. I was also humbled to think that someone who I look up to would consider me a friend as well. I gave my honest opinion, thoughts and offered my assistance. One of my feel good moments of the day because I do believe that my honesty and consideration did truly show though our conversation. For me, it would have been hard to ask for help but helping someone does feel good. I have to remember that being asked to help is a gift. Sometimes by not asking for help when you need it, you deny others of the gift of helping. Hope that makes some type of sense.

Another point that I wanted to blog about today which happens to be a sort of "hot topic" on the news these days regarding Kirk Cameron and the comments he made on the Piers Morgan show. I believe that whether I stand with him or against him, he has the right to follow his moral compass. He shared his beliefs system with the world like others have done. He has done nothing against the law. Just shared what he believes in. It took alot of inner strength to share those beliefs because he must have known that there would be a backlash. "Different strokes for different folks"... that is what makes the world go round. Someone once told me, "There is a color for all tastes". I don't have all the answers and I can't pick everyone's moral compass, I can only pick my friends (sometimes my friends have picked me) and accept them for who they are.

Easter finery: Crocheted a beautiful cardigan style top for DD. Definitely will post picture tomorrow of this pretty cover-up. Hoping to blog more in the next few days. I am falling so far behind this year.

Friendly stitches.......

Hi Ho Hi Ho

The first couple of months so far have been challenging. Guess this is my year to come out of my confort zone and grow.

So, my first growth activity is to dream BIG. Now that I have a little bit of time to do so, I have started a blueprint of want I really want to accomplish in my life. My dream projects in every aspect of my life.

Since my days at my present employer may be coming to an end quickly, my first course of business is aimed at my "dream employers". Of course, my readers know who tops that list!!
Surely, you do!! I have set my sights high knowing that I can accomplish anything that is set in front of me.

I wish I could say I am saddened, but in many ways, I look forward to the change, knowing that I will keep in touch with the friends I have made and that their are many more friends yet to meet.

On the stitching front, Christmas stitching is calling loudly! It is probably because I am watching Sesame Street and a Father Winter is staring at me. LOL. My Disney project is staring at me too.... I will work on that today.

Yesterday, I borrowed three Monica Ferris books from the library. I am always darkening their door 10 minutes before closing time. Last time I picked up Gingerbread Cookie Murder. Quickly lost interest in it after the main character's two boyfriends chatted it up in a "mutual admiration society moment." Really????!!!!????? The simple idea turns me off completely from a moral standpoint that I can't keep reading. That book went back yesterday. I did like the cookie receipes from the book, though.

Off to stitching I go......

Do you like Aida?

For so many years I had a stash of it and never used it always opting for 28ct. Jobelan. Yesterday I picked up a piece of Charles Craft Aida 14ct because the holes were easier to see.

Part of me feels weird because it has been so long sice I have stitched on it, but it is so easy! I am actually stitching something!! Better something stitched than nothing at all, right?
That is my story and I am sticking to it. I am also switching out colors and scrunching the Aida to soften it.

Giving in little by little, glasses are in my future and I have to make peace with that. I have noticed that my stitching mojo comes back when I can see!! The 26-28 ct needles are also too small for me to thread. I used to see those holes, now I need a magnifier to thread.

By end of February I will have glasses. First comes my DS' broken nose fixing. Yeah....all these years without an ER visit. Well, guess that somethings can't last forever. Glad I didn't lower my coverage last year. I was sorely tempted!! I admit it!! Sky high premiums and good kids tempted me. Decided to keep the costlier but better coverage and I am happy I did.

Although things have been challenging I feel blessed. My DS only has a broken nose and it can be repaired. My eyes aren't that bad and glasses will take care of them. We are all healthy.

You are reading this keeping me company. What else can I want?

Simple stitches .....

Thank you, friends

for your very kind welcome back. Good to know that you are there. I will definitely look up those anti-viral addy's to see what is available for free. As a matter of fact, another friend showed me the AVG site and I was impressed (shh... doesn't take much to impress me IT wise LOL).

Sorry to hear that your son had so many problems with his computer. I don't think that people understand until it happens to them. This experience has definitely made me more careful of things that deal with passwords and accounts. A little paranoid, yes, but I admit it. Crazy to think that there are faked sites that mimic the real sites so well. You really have to look at the address your computer is linking up to. Lesson learned.

Cucki, did you receive the kit yet? I sent it a bit after Christmas for two reasons: the post office's I go to were so packed with people the waits were about an hour and I was afraid the package would take even longer to get there because of the Christmas rush. I would have rather it be home safe than in a bin waiting for its turn. If you haven't gotten it, you should have it any day now. I hope that you like it.

On the trading front, things are going well. This year, I am reaping the benefits of last year's search. Yippee!! Hope to trade a few more times this month. A friend once told me about 20 years ago that , "One man's garbage is another man's treasure." If I remember correctly that line is from a song. Maybe a Grateful Dead song. Don't quote me but he was really into the Grateful Dead. Well, in trading this proves to be the case for me. We don't trade garbage obviously, but trading what we don't use for something that we really want but can't get is a blessing. More than that, the friendships made are really out of this world. I can't begin to tell you how much they mean to me. Especially when I am having an "off" day to hear that something I did put a smile on someone's face for a while makes the day better.

It is true that someone somewhere is always thinking about you. I think of my friends everyday and there are times that one remembers those acquaintances from high school or college or former jobs and then somehow their names pop up in conversation out of the blue. We are all connected somehow in good ways.

Our shop, The Stitcher's Market, is going well. We definitely have to list the items that we have in stock and those that we can get. The journey is challenging and worth it. Like many stitchers I can get carried away and want every new thing that comes out. LOL. I am not immune. LOL.

Kids are growing like weeds!!!!! I no longer need to eat the leftovers the kids don't want. You remember that part of parenting, right? The kids don't want to eat something so they leave it behind and then you eat the rest. Well, that has become my DS' main goal in life. If I leave anything alone for more than 5 minutes, invariably the question will come, "Are you going to eat that?" What can you say other than, "Sweetheart, if you want it, you can have it." I don't know where he puts it. Kid is closing in on 6 feet at a really fast pace. If it is edible, it is GONE. It's a bottomless pit I tell you.

DD is closing in on 3 feet. Crazy, I tell you. The clothes baggy and long clothes that Christmas brought are now either just the right length or too short. Wait..... it has only been a month! Those clothes were baggy and long two weeks ago. Can't even blame the clothes dryer for that one. We are holding on the shoes.... both DS and DD's feet grow slowly. Rest assured, that is the ONLY part of them that grows slowly. But don't think that my son is falling over on tiny feet. He wears a 10 1/2 already. Lately, sneakers have been averaging 6 months for both. I think that is acceptable.

Need my stitching mojo to come back. Me thinks it is because I need glasses. (Shhhhhh) Yes, the eyeballs are straining and the eyelids are squinting and I have to face the fact that even with magnification the evenweave holes are still blurry.

DH and I watched Stargate Universe on Netflix last week. Some bonding time there with me talking to the characters and him keeping quiet. I over analyze television shows out loud. Yes, I am guilty of saying things like, "Is this a sci-fi show or a romance novel?" "No, no, no, don't have casual relationships with two or three people at a time, not good for the gene pool." And my favorite....."How can it be possible that no one is pregnant billions of years away from Earth?" Let's face it, almost everyone is in a relationship, no birth control, and no one is pregnant. Not very realistic there with the young nubile crowd. LOL. Yup, science fiction there, for sure!! LOL!!

If you have been with me this far, thanks for reading. I usually don't write long posts like this one so I hope that you enjoyed my ramblings.

Even stitches.....

Did you miss me?

Believe me, it was not intentional.

The computer that I use for my blogging and everything else was infected with at least 50 viruses. It got so bad that I could not even get it to load anything. Scary, scary!!

I guess that at some point in my life I did something really kind for someone, because someone I know offered to use their expertise to help me clean the computer. It took 5 days! I had worms and viruses. Even my viruses had viruses.

He found a keystroke logger, trackers and other things that are just plain scary. So, I have learned my lesson and will purchase anti-virus software as soon as my pocketbook lets me. I have 25 days to purchase it since I have the trial version right now.

Plan to get him at least a gift card to Dunkin Donuts, he saved me money I don't have. There were times I was going to just throw out this computer thinking that it was garbage. Not so, it was just infected.

Thought I would share that with you so you can learn from my experience and keep safe.

Scary, scary.... and it is not even Halloween....

Good News!! Under the Wire for 2011

My hands are stiff, my eyes are wonky, because they have done great work in completing a beautiful shawlette for my daughter. It is grey/silver lace with pretty shell ruffle on the edges.

Will post picture tomorrow because camera batteries are on hiatus (not that they work overtime or anything like that.. lol...)

Two days work, all worth the ripping and the recounting at 3 o'clock in the morning. Don't know if I will lightly block it yet.... it does drape beautifully now. Even when se grows taller, it will drape perfectly over her shoulders.

I always beam when I make things for my princess and they fit!!

Fairytale stitches.....

2012 is on it's way

Wishing all my friends and their families a fabulous 2012.
Wishing you smiles and tears of joy.
Wishing you peace and wonderful excitement.
Wishing you rainbows and enough rain to make them brighter.

Wishing you your heart's desire.

Let's make 2012 a year to remember!

Happy New Year stitches.....

Last scarf project of 2011

Well, well. this was an unexpected quickie of a project! My projected wear date is Easter 2012.... yeah, started a tad early.

100% cotton ... yarn from stash ...
Basketweave stitch repeat pattern

Hubby is making cheesy Crescent rolls, yummy!!

I expect to be back in a couple of hours. There is another crochet project on the hook that may get done in a few hours, if I can keep my sanity... LOL...

Happy stitches.....

Thank You Penpal!!

The postie brought my last letter from my penpal yesterday. Hubby brought the package to me at work. (He's a keeper). Anywhoooo... I couldn't wait to open it because I knew that there would be a letter inside from my penpal and I would finally know who had sent me my favorite Weeks Dye Works thread colors. She had also sent a large envelope with a very hard item inside which I thought was either a book or a frame. Hmmm....I was getting even more curious.

I have to say that even though I LOVE cross stitch, I was secretly hoping that it wasn't cross stitch related because I was caught in a weird S.A.B.L.E. moment and I wanted something i could share with the kids. She must have known because inside was a wonderful letter letting me know that her grandson was born healthy. Along with that was a beautiful book, The Tale of the Three Trees retold by Angela Elwell Hunt and illustrated by Tim Jonke. She also sent me 4 gorgeous blank cards.

I wanted to say THANK YOU for the most lovely gift. I read and re-read the book with tears in my eyes. The true meaning of Christmas. I will read the book to my children at Christmas, it is truly lovely.

All in all, I am very happy to have met such a nice and thoughtful person in my penpal and will continue to keep that relationship alive.

I feel blessed....blessings to all.....

Christmas will be here soon......

and I am not ready.

Luckily, I was able to pick up all of my children's gifts on during the Black Friday sales. Now, it's just the gift certificates and cards that are left. Hubby and I will exchange gifts after Christmas during the after Christmas sales.

This year I will be home for the week between Christmas and New Year's so it will be a wonderful time to spend time with the family and shop leisurely.

I received a wonderful exchange gift from my friend Lucy. We have exchanged gifts for the past 10 years or so. It's a very special bond that we have nutured throughout the years.

Back to knitting the red and whte sweater for my DD. If I don't finish it for Christmas, there is little hope that she would be able to wear it for much longer. Yes, she stretched out a bit since the RIPPING event. I now knit, knit, knit hoping for a quick finish before Christmas. I will definitely post a picture of that sweater here.

This year I was able to have a few giveaways and meet new friends. I joined a few exchanges and hopefully brought joy to other people. Looking forward to joining a couple of exchanges next year and continuing with my personal exchanges too.

For now, I am purling those stitches.....

And the Winner is.....

The winner of my 150th reader giveaway is:

CUCKI

Congratulations Cucki!! You have been a very loyal reader since you joined my blog. Your uplifting comments and readership is so very much appreciated!

Thank you to all who entered the giveway. Winner was chosen by counting all entries and asking an innocent bystander (read: hubby) to choose any number within the given range. He chose the number 6. That was Cucki's lucky number.

Happy stitching to all......

Blog Giveaway Ends TODAY!!

You have to be in it to win it!!

Open to all of my registered blog followers who have left a comment on the giveaway post below:

Good luck to all!!

http://betweenthestitches.blogspot.com/2011/12/because-i-love-paris-giveaway.html

Pen Pal News and Giveaway Update

Hi Everyone!!

Not much happening in my world to blog about except two things for now.

This month marks the end of my penpal card exchange. My card has been sent out with the very best holiday wishes and hopes for a blessed New Year.

Special grandma wishes to the person who received me as their penpal. Hope that all goes fantastically well and a bouncing bundle of joy arrives bringing the best of blessings.

My giveaway is closing soon and it seems to be a promising intimate group of followers in the running. It is a gorgeous kit and I am sure that when stitched it is even more stunning.

That is about it folks! Hope that everyone is having a wonderful day.

Peaceful stitches....

Because I Love Paris Giveaway!!

Hello Everybody!!

This giveaway has been long awaited. Today I have been inspired and have come up with a humble and beautiful giveaway.

As many people who read my blog know I love Paris, I love Disney and I love cross stitch. Those are three things about me that I think will never change.

This giveaway combines Paris and cross stitch! YAY YOU!!

Weekend in Paris
Dimensions Gold Collection Petites Cross Stitch Kit
Kit contains cotton thread, 18ct ivory Aida, chart, needle and easy instructions.

How to enter this giveaway:

1. Be or become a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post with your blog address or a way to reach you if you are the winner for ONE chance.

2. Post about this giveaway on your blog. Either a post or on your side bar for another chance.
Let me know that you have done this so you can get chance #2.

It's that simple! I want to give as many people as possible a chance to win.

This is a very pretty kit.

Giveaway is open WORLDWIDE. If you already have this kit, let your friends know about the giveaway. Maybe they would like to try for it.

GIVEAWAY ENDS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2011.
RECIPIENT OF GIVEAWAY WILL BE POSTED DECEMBER 18, 2011.

Thank you to all my friends and followers. Your comments are appreciated.

Stitch happy and good luck!

Knit, Knit, Knit, RRIIIIPPPPP Twice

There you have it and I thought I was doing so well.

Don't know what to say, well, I do know what I want to say, but this is a G rated blog. It is very heartbreaking to get both front panels knitted up to the neck to see that one side is off, then to fix it to note that it was correct in the first place. Look at the other panel and not be able to figure out how to even the panel out with the mistakenly ripped out opposite panel.... so to make everything even..... I RIPPED out both panels in order to start over.

Hopefully, I have learned what the panels are supposed to look like and will be able to knit them when my hands are looser.

Please send happy knitting vibes.... I don't think I could rip it out again....

Grateful stitches......

Is it Me???

First of all, I think I am on a cross stitch wanting binge! Every chart I see, I want. Aside from that, the ones I want are the most expensive foreign charts that have to be purchased in Euros. I am not complaining, just observing that my tastes are truly expensive. This is setting aside that I have more charts and magazines in my stash that would take me 10 lifetimes to stitch.

There is a part of me that is thankful, I only stitch with DMC or Sullivan's overdyed (some WDW and Crescent Colors too) because that keeps the cost a bit lower. I am scared to look at the silks because then I would truly be lost. LOL.

This makes it hard to buy Christmas gifts for myself. The only alternative is to buy them all a bit at a time.

My favorites are Renato Parolin, Isabelle Vautier, Filigram, AAN, AMAP, Nimue and so many others that the list would be 3 posts long. All I am saying is that no matter how much I have designers are coming up with the newest and freshest ideas that are must-haves to me. That is awesome because it keeps the art alive and fresh and evolving.

Do you also feel this way? Are you even more lost than I am? Are you a lifetime collector?
Do you have lifetimes of stitching collected and still collect more and more? Are we cross-stitch hoarders?????

I call it my retirement fund.

Supportive stitches.....

Je t'aime, un peu, beaucoup

Or otherwise known as "My heart avatar".

I have finally found the information for this gorgeous heart:
Magazine: Mains & Merveilles Broiderie Creative
Special Marquoirs
Number: 13
Published: 2007
67 gorgeous pages.

Creator: Isabelle Vautier

It is the cover project.

The samplers in the magazine are all created by Isabelle Vautier and Michele Rain.

They are only samplers in this magazine.

There are so many more that I would want to stitch because they are all beautiful.

Little red stitches to all .....