Annette's Acre

Blogging is obviously not a priority lately….

When we last met, I was planning a few days off….

Friday, I took advantage of the day off and did the “Saturday” errands a day early.  Nail appointment, grocery store, a visit to Hobby Lobby for some fabric:

Love love love the key fabric.  You’ll see more of that soon….

This selection went with a bit I bought last week from FabricLovers.com (Great site – great shipping and packaging)

(Phone pic – mildly crappy)

I also played with my new phone:

A Blackberry Curve 8900 with a Starry Night phone cover   I bought it thru Amazon Wireless which was quick and simple and way cheaper than buying it thru my provider.

Friday night (at 8:30 PM) kids and I went to see Prince of Persia.  Having played a few of the PoP games (Xbox360 and PS3) we spotted a number of game references: camera shots (showing the path to take), acrobatics (wall running, jumping) and even a couple lines including the favorite “That’s not how it happened!”  (Nice tie in to the post title, eh?)  I really enjoyed it.  Jake is certainly easy on the eyes….

Saturday, Sunday and Monday were all spent at home.  I didn’t leave the house.  I stitched more in those three days than I have in the last month.  Unfortunately, it was all exchange stitching (Chatelaine – done!, ABC Exchange – stitched!) so no pics for a bit.  I did break out the sewing machine on Sunday and tried out a recently acquired pattern:

Keys!  The bottom fabric I bought over a year ago when a local fabric shop was going out of business.

Bag is about 8″ across the top.  You can see the inside of the bag, too.

The pattern has three different sizes and this is the medium size.  I’ll use the pattern again – I like the pleat detail at the bottom – but will put in the zipper a little differently as I don’t like how the ends turned.

Tuesday, I visited the new Sea Life Aquarium here in Arizona with the kids.  Nice set of exhibits including jellyfish and seahorses.  Also managed a stop at a local Bead Shop and Krispy Kreme (chocolate and original glazed… yummm).

Back to work today…… but kept it easy and worked at home   Sadly, tomorrow I’ll have to pay attention to the alarm clock   But it’s a short week and a quiet weekend ahead!

(Click the picture if you don’t know what the symbol is… LOL)

Today, I’m 45.

I don’t *feel* 45.  Or maybe I don’t know what 45 is supposed to feel like?

In either case, the calendar says I’m 45, so that is what I must be

Celebration of this 5th anniversary of my 40th birthday commenced last weekend.  Saturday night found us (four of us plus Mom) at Cracker Barrel for dinner.  I came home with a little stash from Mom:

The floss/fabric is for A Stitcher’s Story.  Mom did good, eh?

Today’s plans include lunch with DH at The Cheesecake Factory (Miso Salmon… yummm), a little shopping at Williams-Sonoma (finally get my food processor!) and a visit to the Apple Store to play with an iPhone.  I’ll be upgrading my phone next month and trying to decide if I want a new Blackberry or make the switch to an iPhone….decisions, decisions.

I’ll also be putting together a stash giveaway to be posted later today

Joe:  Hello Stitch Fans!  It’s great to be back here at The Acre!

Fred: Yes, Joe, our little trip to Vancouver was fun, but it’s sure nice to be home.

J: Hey, Fred, did you manage to see any of our coverage of the Zamboni Races on TV?  The network gave me a schedule, but my DVR recorded some crazy infomercial, instead.

F: We didn’t make the network schedule, Joe.

J: Oh.

F: But we know we’ll make The Acre schedule!  Let’s get to today’s events!

J: Sure thing. Fred.  We’ll start with the Market Report!  Looks like She made a few purchases at the LNS Market Day last weekend.  I see Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow with a nice piece of 30-ct fabric, but it looks too small?

F: She’ll be doing it over-1, Joe.

J:  Wow.  That’s pretty ambitious.

F: Yes, but She can handle it.  A good light and magnifier, you know.

J: I have confidence!  I also see Lizzie*Kate’s Artfully Aging with a nice piece of Maritime White fabric and the new Jenny Bean sampler.  And I’m sure it’s no surprise to the fans to see those scissors!

F: Oh no, I think we could have easily predicted that one!  Don’t forget the French Country Homes and the last Loose Feathers.  All in all, a great selection.

J: Next on the program is the February Goal Review. 

F: I’m afraid we don’t have the positive results we saw for January’s.  This was a challenging month. 

J: Let’s review one by one…

• Complete all stitching/beading “below the fold” on Summer Queen

Sadly, this one didn’t get addressed at all.  But let’s not dwell….

F: The next one isn’t much better, Joe.

• Complete LUV Letters by Primrose Needleworks

We did see a little progress, but didn’t make it to the finish line.

J: Next up:

• Start/Finish next LHN Ornament:  He’s a Flake

F:  Ouch.  She “Flaked” a bit on this one.

J: You could say that, yes.

F: All is not lost, we hit the last one!

• Start knit scarf for SL

J: Oh yes.  The photography can use some help, but that’s a huge start!

F: Should we mention that finishing the scarf was her goal for the Knitting Olympics?

J: No, let’s celebrate the monthly goal success and let the medal chance go without comment.

F: Sure thing….  all in all, not a stellar performance, but given the work hours and the *great* progress on the scarf, I’m willing to give her a passing mark for the month.

J:  Me, too, Fred.  Me, too!  Let’s move on to March’s Goals.

March Goals:

• Finish Baktus scarf for S
• Finish He’s a Flake ornament
• Start/Finish Jenn’s Mirabilia RR
• Make some progress on Summer Queen

F: I think that’s a good set.  Not too easy, but not too demanding.  There are several books on the shelf that will be demanding attention, after all.

J: And of course, we have a birthday at the end of the month.  Our intrepid reporter in the field! The big 2-0!

See you next month, Fans!

As my stitching friends know, the best way to beat back a dreaded Stitching Slump is with new stash, right??

I had a comment from Theresa of Shakespeare’s Peddler on my recent post expressing my love of her new Jenny Bean…. (I know, I’m still kinda shocked and awed that she’d take the time to comment, let alone follow a link that was sent to her.  Thank you to whoever did that!!!)

So this reminded me I have been remiss about adding Ms. Bean’s previous releases to my stash.  And given the major slumpiness that is threatening to o’ertake me, no time like the present.

Christmas Sampler, Halloween Sampler (including threads) are on the way directly from Shakespeare’s Peddler (via Etsy).

Also sent a query on pre-ordering the newest one (with 36-ct fabric, though).

I can feel the Slump-y fingers loosening…..

Ah, Saturday!  One of my favorite days.

A mix of ups and downs today in the errand-running department.

First stop was my salon, to have my nails done (something I do every two weeks).

This is OPI’s Smitten with Mittens.  Nice a spah-kly, I must say.  My nail tech, Christie, is great with nail art – always something fun and seasonal.

Next stop was my framer’s with a freshly pressed Boo Club and my Mermaids finish from awhile ago.

Unfortunately, I found their retail space filled with something other than my framers   I checked with a neighboring shop and found they had gone out of business a couple months ago.  (Obviously it’s been a while since I needed framing….oops).

After a momentary panic, I decided to give my LNS a try.  I had one thing framed there years ago and while the result was fine, the gal had precious little people skills and all of her frame suggestions made me shudder.  I finally walked behind the counter and pulled corners myself until I was happy.  I was blessed with a wonderful pair of gentlemen that had done my framing for years after that, until they both retired in late 2008.

So off to the shop I went.

The new framing lady, Sandy, was great.  It took us awhile to find something appropriate for Mermaids (ended up with a darker blue, very simple frame) but we both knew it when we saw it.  For Boo Club, the first frame she pulled out was perfect!  It will be a few weeks before they are ready, but that’s fine given neither are gifts

While I was there, I picked up just a couple other items…

Counter-clockwise, starting top left:

• October Blackbird stockings (and fabric)
• September Blackbird stockings (and fabric)
• Bulk pack of Bohin 28 needles (Best. Needles. Ever.)
• Quarter of Vintage Lakeside Blue linen in 36-ct and
• Various DMC  for….
• Prairie Schooler’s Christmas Eve (Sampler of the Month at my LNS)
• a couple other items not shown as they are destined as gifts

…and it was all 15% off thanks to my Attic Addict discount

Christmas Eve will get started once I finish off the Mira RR this weekend.  It will.  Don’t laugh.  I didn’t say it would be finished for Christmas, though.  I’m not *that* crazy.

Left there and off to a quick stop at the grocery store (for the stuff I forgot yesterday… ugh).  I noticed a frame shop nearby and stopped in to discuss their needlework framing techniques as well as check out their other finished items (I do occasionally frame stuff other than needlework after all).  Steve was very nice and gave good answers to my questions. He recommended the small stainless staples and heavy needlework board, though I did specify I’d expect the staples on the *back* rather than top, which he agreed to do.  I’ll take in my next smallish finish and see how they do.  They have a much larger selection of frames/mats than my LNS does, so I like to have a choice

After all that… home to find beef vegetable soup in the crockpot and the Christmas tree up and lit thanks to my fabulous DH   I did suggest to K that we leave the tree as is (only lights… no garland or ornaments LOL) but she gave me “the look”   I guess we’ll be decorating later!