My return and a giveaway

Wow, has it really been almost four weeks since I posted? Yes, I guess it has. I'm sorry to heave been away so long but work was absolutely nuts. (Deadline is over until next time.) And not having a computer at home meant I couldn't even catch up on the weekend. But that is going to change. After this Monday I should be up and running due to the generosity of my Texas cousins for the new laptop (well, new to me!) and to Optimum coming to install the new Internet line. WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!


One good thing about not having a computer is I had more time to stitch. And stitch I did. I am signed up for four exchanges between now and early November. All but one is stitched. So that means three finishes that I can't show you yet. I can show you the last one I sent out. This was my floss keeper for Exchanging with BeckySC blog. The pattern is by Stitcherhood. I call it a stitchers companion since you can use it to hold your floss, needles and scissors. Or even a small pattern. My partner loved it. (So did I and really didn't want to send it away! Guess I will have to make one for myself one day.)


And this is the one I received from CJ. (her blog.) Isn't it cute?













Other stitching. I finished stitching another LHN ornament, Peppermint. I just love this one. And actually like it without the little charm/button that came with the pattern. I started and am almost finished with Peace, another LHN ornament. I am really making progress on my BBD Moonlit Garden. Sorry but the photo I took just doesn't want to post here. Weird, I can't figure out why. Oh well, I include a better one next time.





Next up is the darling Halloween biscornu I won from Barbara, To Stitch or not to Stitch. It is just adorable. I love her finishing. And she is having another giveaway right now!






You may have noticed the photo at the beginning of this entry. Well, in stitching a Halloween design for an exchange I stitched up a couple of extra things. Since October 27th marks my second year of blogging I thought I would hold a couple of giveaways to celebrate. This is the first giveaway.

The rules are simple. Leave a comment on this post saying you would like to be included in the giveaway for my little Halloween pillow ornament. Make sure your email is either in your comment or part of your profile so I can email you if you win.
That's it. No special things to do except let me know you are interested.




And of course it wouldn't be a complete blog post without some photos of Rory. By way of explanation of his "new toy." I used to have an old laundry basket on the deck outside to collect and keep his outside toys in. Notice I said used to. The basket had been sitting there for months and all of a sudden Rory decided it was more fun to play with the basket rather than the toys. He dumped the toys and proceeded to throw the basket and chew it to pieces. Thank goodness he didn't want to eat any of the pieces. Watching him chew off pieces and spit them out was a hoot. And the basket sure kept him busy. These pictures are from a couple of weeks ago. The basket is now completely flat and heading for the garbage. Now to figure out something else to keep his toys in.






This weekend should be a fun one. After two months of work and deadlines and staying home Rory and I are back on the dog show road. The three this weekend are close to home. Hope we have some more good news next after the weekend. Wish us luck.

Until next time...............

Love and stitches
Kathy
and licks from Rory too.

PS Silly me. I forgot to put a date on the giveaway. Entries close on October 10. I will draw a winner on October 11. Don't forget to let me know in your comment that you want to be entered.

Finishes and Smoking Needles

Hearts Left Behind by Hester's Needle

stitched with HDF on HDF Jackaloupe 32 ct linen

I have really been in a stitching mood. My needles have been smoking! I have not one but two finishes to show you! And there is another which I can show you at a later date. It is an exchange and hasn't arrived at its new home yet. Things have been quiet on the home front. No dog shows for Rory so my weekends have been quiet. A good thing. Especially since I know it won't last.

The biggest finish is Hearts Left Behind by Hester's Needle. An OOP chart that was generously lent to me by Missy at Deep inside Missy. Missy , I can't thank you enough for letting me borrow this. This piece did take me longer than I thought to stitch it. Many tears as well as sweet memories filled my heart as I stitched. Well, all except the lazy daisy stitches that are the leaves of the willow trees. Those produced a bit of unlady like language. But over all I loved stitching this in memory of my Mom, my best friend. I miss her so much.

Oh, I did make a change. I reversed the two lines with the name and date. The pattern calls for an all numerical date (10-5-29) and then the second line to have your initials plus the year. While my dates may be a little squished I felt it made more sense than the other way. What do you think?

Next finish is a Lizzie Kate piece. This saying is so me! While I don't mind vacuuming and straightening up I abhor dusting. I hate it! Do you hear me? I HATE TO DUST! Heck, I will even wash windows, clean the bathroom or wash the floors instead of dusting. So now you see why this one is so me? I used the fabric provided with the pattern. But I know I will stitch this one again and used something else. The pattern comes with a 27 count Northern Cross linen which I didn't like. But since I had started it on that piece I figured I might as well use it.

I am so looking forward to this three day weekend. Of course if Hurricane Earl gets close enough than I will make it a four day weekend. But as of right now Earl has been showing a path that will pass Long Island with minimal force. They are saying a tropical storm warning. 20 to 30 mile an hour winds and light rain. Sigh. Not a bad enough storm to warrant me calling in. Oh well. I do hope that those who are closer to Earl's path stay safe and dry. And more importantly keep their electricity so they have lights to stitch by.

I have two pieces that I am working on. One is BBD's Moonlit Garden that I started earlier this year then got side tracked with other things. Since this is a fall piece it is perfect for stitching on now. Here's hoping I can get a big chunk of this one done this weekend.

The second piece is one of LHN's ornaments. It is adorable and is stitching up so quick. I should have this one done this weekend.

Like I said earlier it has been rather quiet here but I can't end a post without a mention or a photo of you-know-who. So here is what Rory has been up to.

Sorry about the dark photo but I couldn't resist this one. Rory keeps trying to beat into my stitching chair. And sometimes he succeeds.

Rory and my great nephew, Devin. Rory insists that he is a lap dog.

Rory enjoying a good book. Oh, it really is. One of my favorite noir mystery authors and a good friend.

Rory in his new portrait from the photographers at Petco. I love how this one turned out.

Until next time....................

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too

Lots of stitching going on

This past weekend was the first in while that there were no dog show, no traveling and only a few errands to run. That meant I could finally spend the weekend doing almost nothing except stitch, stitch and stitch some more. Well, okay, I also did the laundry, vacuumed the house, changed the bedding and played with Rory. But I still had time for some serious stitching time and a sore butt from sitting to long.

But all that lovely quiet time produced a finish. Except for recent exchanges I haven't had a finish for me in ages! So here it is in all it's glory!

Lizzie Kate's Dog Lessons for People

stitched on 28 ct Linen (not sure which one)

used the recommended Weeks Dye and GAST

I also spent a bit of time on Hearts Left Behind and am on the home stretch with this one. With luck and another quiet weekend coming up I just may finish this too! So here are some photos of my progress on this one. I just love the colors of this one.

And of course I have to leave you with a couple of photos of Rory. He has recently found more of poor Rosie, the kitty's toys. (She no longer has any that he hasn't chewed on!) He stole this one from the closet where it was because Rosie didn't play with it anymore. Well, he has gotten the little yellow ball out. (It is now in the trash!)

Until next time..........

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too.

It had been a while.........

Wow. I can't believe it has been a month since I last posted. I apologize for being away so long. I guess the summer blahs had me there for a while. Match show on August 1st. Rory got a Sporting group 2nd place!

Oh, I have been busy. Six more dog shows, visits with family and a wedding in the past month. I still don't have a computer at home and won't for the foreseeable future. I just can't afford one right now. Work is keeping busy as well. I have a major deadline at the end of September so that limits my personal web time to lunch hour. I have been trying to catch a few blog posts here and there. I definitely miss reading about every one's ups and downs, trials and triumphs, starts and finishes. I am so looking forward to October. Less of this awful heat and humidity. (Am I the only one who thinks this summer has just been way too long?!!) And October means work slows up and I can read more blogs.

Rory meets my sister-in-law and her family.

Another show. Another ribbon. And another point making a total of 5 towards his championship!

And then there is Rory. He keeps me going. Between his show weekends and his antics at home. No matter how down in the dumps I feel he is there to make me smile at some silliness of his. His latest is to steal a sock every morning when I am brushing my teeth. Then he has to prance around the room with it! Where he is getting the socks from where I have no idea. I swear he has a stash under the bed! So then I have to spend 10 minutes or so chasing him around for my socks! I can just picture the first cold day when I need to wear shoes instead of sandals and I can't find any matching socks to wear!! Either that or they all have holes in them!!

On our trip last weekend to DC and Virginia. Rory gets to visit with his "Dogfather".

I have been stitching. A lot actually. I have really surprised myself with how much I have gotten accomplished. Especially with all those busy weekends. I finished and mailed out two exchanges. Finished the stitching on a third. Just need to finish the finishing. I am also two thirds of the way finished Hearts Left Behind and Lizzie Kate's Dog Lessons. (no picture of HLB this time. I forgot to take a photo of them this morning.) I also received two exchanges. One from the Hooked on Exchanging and one from the Lizzie Kate exchange. They are both just perfect!

Finally finished my giveaway pin pillow that was won by Nancy. Sorry that it took so long. But better late than never.

My "For the Birds" HoE exchange that I sent to Ina.

And I received this gorgeous ornament from Cindy. Thank you so much Cindy I just LOVE my new ornament.

Above is the pin pillow I stitched for Pirjo for the Lizzie Kate exchange and below is the fabulous exchange I received from Marion. She outdid herself and included an adorable toy for Rory as well as a card the plays "Who let the dogs out." Two more fabulous ornaments for my stitchy tree this Christmas. Thank you so much Marion. I love it all and Rory just loves his new toy.

Rory says Thank you Marion!

Isn't she a beautiful bride?

Last weekend was a lovely one for a wedding. Rory and I went from Long Island, NY, to Virginia to visit with some of my brothers and sisters and go to my nieces wedding. A number of late nights chatting and partying and a long, long drive but it was worth it. It was great seeing everyone. Below are a couple of photos from the wedding.

The flower girl and ring bearer, my great niece and great nephew.

Below: My sister and brother-in-law and their two children.

Some of the Kiley clan.

Rory had a great time playing with my sisters pups and meeting his little "cousins". Actually Rory really impressed me. He really doesn't have that much experience with children and he was such a gentleman with the girls.

I am so looking forward to this weekend. No dog shows. No traveling. I am hoping for lots of stitching time. And lots of nap time. While I love going to the dog shows they are tiring. And I really need some rest. Okay. I know Rory doesn't think so but.............

Until next time.............

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too