Annette's Acre

My first pieced quilt top….(click to biggify)

Size is approx 36″ x 58″ 

The design showed a thicker border on the right, but I decided to do thinner borders around all four sides instead.  I am very pleased with the result and can’t wait to take it to the quilt shop on Friday to see about having it layered and quilted.  The quirkiness definitely helped hide some less-than-perfect bits.  I do need to work on how I manage the seams on the back, but for my first attempt at a pieced quilt top, I think I did alright

Time to show off two recent bits of exchange stitching.  

ABC Exchange (Hooked on Exchanging blog)

What I received…. a gorgeous pillow.  Love love love this!  Click to biggify…

I also sent a small pin pillow based on the Blackbird Designs “Know Your ABC’s” freebie.  I also did a small fob (recipient initials on the front, mine on the back with the date).  The cord is made from black DMC and metallic threads.

Finishing fabric you may recognize from this pic

Chatelaine Exchange (Chatelaine Board)

Today’s mail brought me this gorgeous ornament based on sampler designs from the Ruby and Sapphire mini-mysteries:

And the back:

I sent a biscornu based on Mini Mandala 1 and a beaded fob:

….to stitch Halloween stuff:

Mill Hill Lunar Trick – completed June 6th (started June 5th)

Finished as a magnet with dark purple felt backing

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!

I hate when time flies by and you’ve nothing to show for it….

Almost nothing.  I did finish my last Mirabilia RR piece over the weekend.  This is a section of Mira’s Morning Glory pixie:

If you want to see the full thing (it’s a very wide picture) click here: Sophia’s RR

Mine came home already and is off to the framer.  I’ll post when it comes home

Next up is a piece for the Chatelaine Exchange and an upcoming ABC Exchange   Someday soon I’ll stitch for me again!

I think we can safely say 2010 will not be a big blogging year.

Anywho… I did finish off the next Mirabilia Round Robin.  Well, mostly… but that story can wait until after the picture:

Click here for full picture.  But be warned… it’s pretty awesome.  Might make you want to stitch a dozen Mirabilia bits.

I started this while I was sick.  My first mistake, apparently. 

The goal was to finish before the end of March, but it took me until April 4th.  My first attempt at pulling all the floss failed miserably (fever,  you know).  I missed five colors and of course, I was missing two of those from the stash (and didn’t want to dig thru other WIPs).  Now, there are two colors of beads required as well.  Somehow my fevered brain decided I had them.  So I didn’t bother getting any more at the LNS.

I’m sure you can see where this is headed.

On Sunday, after finishing all the backstitching, I hit the bead boxes for the beads.  I had neither.  No problem, I’ll just sub some Delicas.   Yeah.  Not so much.  Now, the colors aren’t too crazy… a pale blue and a blue-green.  But what looked close on the monitor looked like crap on the fabric, so rather than use the questionable substitutions, I decided to go ahead and mail the piece off to its next destination (Australia) and send the real beads on to the owner separately.

I’ve never sent off an incomplete RR piece.  I’m not happy.  Definitely won’t be doing it again. (Sending incomplete… someday I’ll do another RR, I’m sure).

Something to note:  Wednesday, the 14th is my 45th birthday.  I’m celebrating with a bit of stash….for me and for you   Yup, a giveaway is in the planning stages!

Thank you for the well wishes

I’m  still coughing, but overall feeling significantly better.  Amazing what good drugs can do.

I did finish a couple books this week and managed a small bit of stitching:

This is He’s a Flake by Little House Needlworks with recommended fabric/fibers/beads.  I did leave off the random snowflakes.  I prefer a simpler look.

I’m making slow progress on the latest Mirabilia RR piece, but after frogging more than once this week, have put it aside for simpler fare until I get past the drugs. 

My TUSAL offering for the month – this is as of 3/15:

Obviously stitching has not been a priority for the last weeks.

Just some odds and ends to share….

First, I snapped this (with my Blackberry) yesterday as I was leaving work:

I was sitting in the vanpool van, this isn’t thru my windshield.  The rainbow was so bright!  It was lovely.

Here’s my Olympic knitting progress:

Sadly, my Olympic goal is not looking good.  This is a two-skein project and I’ve yet to finish the first one (seen on the left).  We shall see.

I did manage to finish the latest in the Mirabilia RR – this is a portion of Violet.

I also finished a couple books… and have to recommend one of them to any fan of good old fashioned sword/sorcery/epic fantasy.

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

This is the first in a trilogy and by all that’s holy, do *not* read the blurb for the second book before you finish the first one.  MAJOR spoiler right there!!  It’s got magic, politics, fighting, assassins, heroes and a nice twisty plot

Joe: Hello Stitch fans!!  Welcome to this special edition of “All My Acres.”  Today, we’re reviewing the January Gooooooooooooo…

Fred: Hey, Joe?

J: …aaaaaallllllllllsss….  Yes, Fred?

F: I know you’re a frustrated soccer announcer and all, but let’s not overdo, ok?

J: ::sigh::  Someday, Fred.  Someday.

F: Let’s recap the Goals set way back on January 2:

• Finish page 3 of Summer Queen
• Finish MP bookmark
• Finish pink baby blanket for S
• Hit 50 days on the Xbox streak

Definitely do-able on all counts.  How did she do, Joe?

J: Not bad, considering one was impossible.  Let’s go thru them one by one:

• Finish page 3 of Summer Queen

Here’s the current progress pic:

Using the handy Photo-Strater, I’ve highlighted the area where she went above and beyond the goal:

F: Wow!  That’s a good amount of overage there.  Nicely done.

J: Yes.  I think we need to up the ante for February.  But we’ll save that for the end of the show.  Next we have:

• Finish MP bookmark

F:  I know that was done! We saw the picture on January 15th.

J:  And a fine finish it was.  Another Goal to mark “Complete!”

F:  Can we carry that on to the next one?  ”Finish pink baby blanket for S”

J:  I’m afraid that one is still in consideration.  I know the plan was to finish the blanket on a car trip scheduled for yesterday, but unfortunately that trip got cancelled.  I see the blanket sitting on the couch and less than a half skein of yarn to go, so we still have a chance to see a finish yet today.

F: Hmmm… it would be easier if we had some football or baseball on this afternoon.

J: I know.  We do have a How It’s Made marathon.  And there is always the DVD collection.  I think She can do it.

F: As long as She isn’t distracted by….

J: Shhhhh…. stay positive.

F: Got it.  What about the last goal?

J: Sadly, this one was never possible.  If She’d checked her streak numbers on the day She posted, She’d have seen that it was broken on January 1.  So the best we could have hoped for was hitting 30 days.

F:  Did we get that far?

J:  No.

F: Oh.

J: Yup.

F: Ah.

J: So that’s it for the January Goal Recap.  Did you have anything else to add?

F: Why, yes, Joe, I do!  We know She was out of town most of this past week, but there was stitching accomplished and coming home early allowed for another finish in January!  This is the Pagoda Pincushion from one of last year’s Gift of Stitching magazines:

J: Very nice!  Especially that it’s, you know, finished.  Care to share the floss and bead details with the fans?

F: I thought you’d never ask!

• Overdye:  Needle Necessities 1781 – Alpine Meadows
• Floss: DMC 3834
• Beads: Delica 432
• Fabric: 32-count antique white evenweave

J: That means we’ve got three finishes so far this year.  Great way to start.  Are we ready for the February Goals?

F: Absolutely!  I hope you took into account it’s a short month.

J: Why would I do that?

F: Because we don’t want to lose our jobs??!?!

J:  Hmmm… true.  Ok.  ::scribble::  Here we go…..

February Goals:

• Complete all stitching/beading “below the fold” on Summer Queen
• Complete LUV Letters by Primrose Needleworks
• Start/Finish next LHN Ornament:  He’s a Flake
• Start knit scarf for SL

F: I’m not familiar with that second item.  Did She sneak in a new start??

J: It’s the annual Valentine piece for Him [DH].  I guess the usual pillow approach didn’t appeal this year.  Here’s a pic:

F:  How romantic.

J: Pretty much.

That’s it for today’s Gooooooaaaaallllll Edition of All My Acres!  See you mid-month for the regular update!

F: ::sigh::

Next week I’m off to Las Vegas for a business/pleasure trip.

I’m flying up Monday and will be there for a work conference until noonish on Thursday.  It’s an annual conference put on by one of the software vendors that I work with daily.  I’m giving a presentation on Tuesday on Ad-Hoc Reporting (exciting, let me tell you) but otherwise it will be sessions (both technical and not) and meals with friends and peers in my field.

DH is driving up on Thursday and we’re staying at the Monte Carlo.  We’ll be driving back to Phoenix on Saturday.  It’s about a six hour drive and I thank the heavens for satellite radio every time we make it LOL

As you might suspect, I’ve been giving some thoughts to packing.  I’ll be there six days and the conference is definitely business casual all the way…. it’s mostly tech people after all.

Took me all of about 10 minutes to decide on what to wear for my presentation (black pants, black shell and pink blazer) and what to bring for the rest of the week (a lot of jeans and nice tops).

I’ve spent several days thinking on what to take to stitch on and read   This was helped a little last night as I finished the latest Little House ornament, Pear Tree:

Here’s what I’ve decided (subject to change on a whim until I actually put them in a suitcase, of course):

On the left:  Jody Steward’s Pagoda Pincushion from one of last year’s Gift of Stitching magazines.

On the right: Little House Needleworks’ From Sea to Shining Sea.  Right now this is slated to be the next focus piece after I finish Summer Queen

I’ll also be taking along a crocheted baby blanket to (hopefully) finish on the drive home Saturday.  Also may throw in a simple knit scarf for airport time.

Now for reading… I need your help!  I’ve pulled five books from my bookshelves:

I will have my Kindle (of course), but I like to have a “real” book as well.  The Wynn has some gorgeous bathtubs   A nice long soak one evening is going to be heavenly, but I’m not going to risk the Kindle above a tub of water.

The books are:

• Sunshine by Robin McKinley
• Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
• Nightlife by Rob Thurman
• The Patriot Witch by CC Finlay
• Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

Which one should I take?