UFOs and an OMG

Gee, I was certain I'd be back here before now. Instead of sitting at the computer, I've been filling the last week before going back to school (NO!!!) with fun. Very little stitching is being done, but oh well. I'm forcing my butt into the chair at my computer desk to get this post done, because there are things to do and people to see. Shall we jump right in to the UFOs?

First up is Buttoned Hearts by Shepherd's Bush. I started it long, long ago, but didn't make much progress. It's stitched on 18-count white linen with Medici wools. It comes with the fabric, wools, chart, and buttons. Wanna finish it?

Next is Home Sweet Home, a kit by Emie Bishop (Cross 'n' Patch). I started it in a class I took with her at the Charlotte Market ages ago. This project has a hardanger section in it, which isn't really difficult, but it helps to have had some practice. It comes with the chart, instructions, silks and metallics, and fabric. Wouldn't you like to finish this project?

Those are really the only two UFOs up for grabs today, but here is a fabric assortment I'd love to give away. As you can see, there are several colors. What you may not be able to see is the count variety. These are all evenweave fabrics, but none of them are linens. There's some Linda, Tula, some Lugana (I think), and at least another type I've forgotten the name of. Care to add them to your stash?

That's it for today's selection. If you're interested in having these items arrive at your house, please just leave me a comment by Tuesday, August 11. If more than one person asks for any item, I'll do a decidedly untechnological drawing to pick a recipient. Sound good?

And now for the OMG! Look! It's And They Sinned ... framed!

How's that for speed in framing? The framer did a lovely job of putting my mother of all samplers into a dark cherry frame. I like it! But where to put it? Looks like there's a rearrangement in my future. The stairwell sampler wall will require some space to accomodate the new acquisition. Sounds like an appropriate end-of-vacation (golly, I hate to say that) activity.

That's it until next week. I'm off now to prepare for a weekend motorcycle getaway to Steamboat Springs (gasp!) with the man I hang around with. I know! Doesn't that sound like fun? What a good idea he had. Do you think I'll be stitching while riding on back? Probably not. Have a wonderful weekend and make some fun.

A Surprise Trip

Well, it wasn't really a surprise. We'd been talking about it, and even decided to go the weekend before we left. But there was so much to do beforehand that it felt like a spur-of-the-moment idea. Maybe it was just me ... I didn't think we'd really go. Anyway, the man I hang around with, Zack and I took off on July 2nd for Sugar Lake, near Annandale, Minnesota. We spent almost a week at his family's lake house, which is a beautiful place. The weather was perfect (no exaggeration ... really)! Zack is an excellent traveller, of course, and we laughed our way across six states.

Since I'm a crazed tourist, and I had never been to Iowa or South Dakota, that nice man took the long way home so we could see some sights. Wanna see some pictures? If you don't, there's always the option of that back arrow on your browser, so feel free.

First, here's Zack enjoying a ride through the Bad Lands, where his constant companion declared, "Fifteen dollars to see the Bad Lands? Hell, we just wanna drive through, not stake a claim!" The man has a sense of humor.

We also visited these guys. What a spectacular place! It was even better than I expected.
I wasn't rushed through a single place, so I even had time to add some more squished pennies to my collection. I know. I'm a big dork. You wouldn't believe all the pictures I took.

The Corn Palace (bushels o' fun) was another great spot, but I could've skipped Wall Drug. I'm telling ya, South Dakota has tourism dialed in. We stopped at a rest stop just across the state line, and they loaded us up with materials. There was no way we could miss anything. One stop we had to make was Sturgis. It's weeks before the big Motorcycle Rally, but they're already preparing. My traveling companion needed lots of t-shirt shopping time (hey, a guy has to have the right Harley attire for rides).

I could only fit a few pictures in (I take those pictures that use a lot of memory), but I had to show you how happy Zack was to get home.

I had a huge surprise waiting for me when I got home on Friday. There was a package from Robin, which contained fabulous prizes ...

There's a lovely framed piece, a felted wool pin cushion and wallet, and a little scissors fob. How nice of Robin! Months ago, Robin offered to send a PIF (that she decided to call a RAK) to someone who commented on her blog. I was a lucky recipient! She asked about favorite things (hearts and purple) and fixed up quite a package. I didn't imagine that there would be such great goodies, so I'm extremely thrilled. Thank you, thank you, Robin.

So that's all I have time for today. Next time (hopefully soon) I'll have some pictures of stitchy things and of a big-ass finish (I'm barely containing my squeals of delight). I'd fill you in now, but I haven't taken pictures, and my brother is visiting. I wanna try to beat him at golf today. It's one of the few times I'm competitive ... golf with my brother. Even if he hasn't played for over a year, he can still kick my ass. Maybe I'll have some time to see what ya'll have been up to. I have loads of blog-reading to do. Until later, make some fun.

Comin' Along

Wow! Another busy week that sped by. I can't quite figure out where my after-work hours are going, but I know that they're going quickly.

I heard from Jennifer (no blog) yesterday, and she has received Lo How a Rose. As soon as she receives her fabric, she'll be stitching away. She's even thinking of starting a blog (gasp)! I know! Once you get started looking around at what everyone else is doing, you just can't help yourself. It's kinda like potato chips or popcorn. Whether she does begin blogging or not, she will keep us updated on her progress. I think it'd be great if Jennifer decides to join the club here in blogland.

You're probably sick of hearing about Eden (or at least you'd like to see something else), but I couldn't persuade myself to do anything else with the little time I had, so here's how ATS is coming along ...

Ugh! Now that I see that picture on the big screen, it's not very good. Sorry about that. Anyway, in the last update (two posts back) I had filled in the grass to the bottom of the spotted sheep. That was March 29, so I guess that's not too bad. I got to stitch so much last Saturday that my elbow was sore. So I had stitch-ass and stitch-elbow. I was waiting for that big snowstorm to happen, but it missed us by about 25 miles (dang it). The weather wasn't pleasant, though, so I used it as an excuse to hang out in Eden.

This is Friday, and the number is 6. Yes, my beloved blogger buddies, six weeks until summer vacation. I've made my plane reservations to fly off to see friends in New England for a while. Plane fare this year is too good for words. I'm already looking forward to laughing so much that my face hurts by the time I go to bed. What could be better than friends who laugh that much? We have so much fun that, if my stitching is out at all, it usually just sits on my lap because I can't stand to miss anything. And Vermont and Maine ... ahhhhh, I love it there.

That's it for now. I'll try to work on something different. Make some fun.