New blog!

Hello everyone,

Great news! I have a new blog. Yeah!! I just want to reach my followers who I have not contacted by email yet. The address is http://stitchorizeit.wordpress.com. It is bigger and better or should I say it will be. I am not 100% there yet but it is ready to view. So head on over and please follow me over there. It will be great! I am very excited! Hope everyone has started your Christmas stitching. It is getting closer.

Thanks for following me on this blog!

~Maureen~

Update

Hello everyone,

I am still alive! I plan on starting up a new blog this week and switching to Wordpress. I have heard some good things about it and hope to be able to post my pictures which at this point have really piled up. I may have to do 10 posts to be able to show them all. I miss blogging and I think this is the only way I can fix the problem.  i may be switching my name as well but I will inform everyone either here on this blog when I get set up or by email so you all can move over to the new one. thank you for your patience.

Happy Stitching!
                                                                                                                                                                    
~Maureen~

Still having issues with pictures

Hello friends,

I am still having issues with uploading my pictures to blogger. It's funny even people that have such great computer skills cannot figure out why I can't upload my pictures. I have so much to show you guys and it is so frustrating that I can't. Ughhh!!! I am considering starting a new blog. If I decide I will let you all know so you can move over to it. I wondered if anyone has heard of wordpress and if so how is it. If as a last resort I need a new blog, I would like to find out how it is before I take the plunge. Hope to be up and running soon. I have stitching and other projects I have been working on that I want to get some opinions on. If anyone has some info on wordpress that they can pass on, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

~Maureen~

Help!

I need Help!! When I try putting a picture on my blog I get a this message saying Upload failed- Server returned invalid response. Does anyone know why I am getting this or how to fix it? I was able to change my header and am still able to email pictures. Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated. I have a bunch of stuff I want to show you all!

Thanks a ton!

~Maureen~

Sooo....

I really want to show some pictures. Really I do! But they don't seem to want to cooperate at this time. I hope to have them up soon because I really want to show you all what have done. Hope to be back with those soon!

~Maureen~

I'm still here!

Hello friends,

Just wanted to let you know that I am still around. But don't get to excited because I don't have anything to show in this post. Sorry!! I am enjoying the rest of summer and just realized it has been a month since I have posted. My goodness! Where does the time go? Anyway, school starts next week and I plan on spending my 2 days off in my stitching room being a sewing fool. So I promise I will starting posting the many projects I need to finish next week.

Stay tuned........

Til then, enjoy what's left of summer and happy stitching!

~Maureen~

Quick Post

 Hello friends,

Just a quick post for a few things I wanted to share. First, is this sweet package I received from my dear friend  Maggee. I did a PIF with her and these are my goodies. The pincushion you see, she did on 40 ct. She did such a grat job and I just love it. I can think of 1000 other ideas for the other things. Thanks again Maggee!

I did manage to finish stitching the Summer pattern from Lizzie Kate. I just love the little fish button. It is so cute. So what do you think for finishing- should I frame it or sew into a pillow?

Lastly for today I went on a treasure hunt a few weeks ago and came home with these. Another scissor frog to add to my new collection. I now have 2. Woo Hoo!!! Also this jar of wooden spolls which I thought was really cool. They are also all filled with threads. Even better!

That's it for today, another trip to the 1000 Islands next week may produce some more stitching to show. So, until next time... Happy Stitching!!

Maureen

Stitching and Fun!

Hello friends,
How is everyone on this extremely hot Tuesday morning? I am staying inside in the air today. I am a little tired of sweating my a.... off. I am sure I am not alone in that.

Well, let's get started. I actually have finished things to show. Shocking, I know! These first 2 pieces I made for my mom and my sister. I don't think I have to tell you which is which. LOL! I made these to thank them for all they did for Madison and I on our weekend trip to NYC a few months ago.

The first pattern is a Little House pattern and the second one is Lizzie Kate. On both of these patterns I left off the border around them. Ithought by doing that they would be quicker to finish and I just wanted something small. I also liked the little houses. I like the way they turned out even with leaving the borders off. Btw, my mom and sister liked them alot.

I am working on the Cast a Spell by Blackbird Designs with my mom. I have 3 pieces done so far. The 2 at the top I did at our cottage. The bottom one I had already done. I am doing the small ones first because they are so quick to stitch. I hope to have it done and finished by Halloween. Only about 7 more to go!

In my last post I mentioned I was going to experiment with dyeing. The fabric did not turn out well so I gave up on that. The floss turned out fabulous. You can't really tell from the picture but you can really see the varigation in the threads and it was really fun to do. I can't wait to do more!  Since the fabric didn't work for me I am going to try trims instead. So stay tuned on that.

So on to a little fun. When I go up to the 1000 Islands I always have my camera with me because you never know what you may see. For instance, this gorgeous sail boat went by our cottage so I had to take a picture so you could see it. It was just so pretty!

Madison went kayaking for the first time. Pretty impressive, right! What is not noticeable in the picture is the water is shallow right in front of the cottage and my sister is actually in the water with her hanging on to the kayak. Since it is my sister's kayak she wanted to make sure nothing happened to it or Madison since she is not the best swimmer. She certainly did have fun.

She also has fun fishing with her papa. They did alot of that. God bless my dad for going down fishing with her everyday. What a trooper! Since I don't touch fish or worms, I am glad he was there.

That's all I have for today! I hope everyone finds a way to stay cool in this hot weather.

Have a great stitchy week!

~Maureen~

Stitching Away!

By stitching away I mean away from home. Sunday, Madison and I are leaving to go to our cottage at the 1000 Islands. I can't wait!! It is one of my most favorite places. My husband, not so much, so he gets to stay home with the dog.

So today I have no stitching to show but if you look at the picture below that is what I have packed to bring to the cottage. A little excessive, I know! I am only there for 4 days. The problem I run into when packing my stitching stuff is I am not sure what I am going to work on so I just bring everything. It's easier that way! Don't you think? I have a couple small things that I hope to be able to get done. I will show you what I accomplish

when I return. I better accomplish something, for goodness sake!! My mom will be up there as well and we are going to experiment with some floss and fabric and try dyeing it and see what happens. I thought it would be fun and There is lots of area up there to dry it.

Well..... last but not least. A friend of my mom's sometimes gives me some her stash that she does not want. Since there sometimes is so much that I will never be able to do everything, I would like to share this pattern.  It's a Shepherd's Bush called Buttoned Hearts and it comes with the buttons as you can see in the picture. Really cute! I just may never get the chance to stitch it so I would like to pass it on to someone who will. If you are interested please leave me a comment on this post telling me you are interested in receiving this pattern and please include your email if you know I don't have it. If there is more than one person interested I will draw a name on July 10.

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July and Happy Stitching!!!

~Maureen~

I'm Baaaack!!!

 Hello all,

Well, finally I am back! I have been with out a computer for a few weeks. Got a new one which I love and is so much better than the old one. Which was actually pretty old. I have found that things I couldn't do with the old one I now can with the new one and I am loving it! Now I don't have alot to show. being without a computer you would have thought I was stitching more and would have alot more done. But that was not the case! Anyway, here is what have .I finally finished Madison's  teacher's gift. just in the nick of time since next Tuesday is the last day of school. I stitched on the back
Love Madsion and the year. The pattern actually said teacher
but I put her name instead and coinciently it was the same number of letters.

 I had found a pattern in an old magazine for this little cutie. It's a corner bookmark! Isn't it just so adoreable! I just love how it turned out. The pattern the magazine had was blah! so I found this motif in my Stitcher's Journey book. I added my initial and Viola!! It's so cute it makes me want to make more. As gifts perhaps....Hmm...
The wheels are turning!

My Pay It Forwards are coming to a close. I will be sending those out by the end of this week. I received this lovely package of goodies from my good friend Erika. Thanks again Erika! There is a very useful tape measure (which I never have enough of), a stressball, a very pretty pin with the hospitality symbol for Va on it (which is the pineapple), a thread catcher that she made ( one can never have too many of these either) and a tool I can use for finishing called the purple thang. I can already think of 110 uses for each and everyone of these.

More to come since I am a little behind since not having a computer
But that is all I have for today. I need to get myself a little more organized.
Not quite sure why that is, I am usually very organized. Could be some distractions. We have some critter problems. Mice which my husband has found around the yard because he had put poison out. A skunk (YIKES!) which has been tearing up the lawn. He has been coming out when it is still light out. What's up with that! That freaks me out even more! When I take the dog out before I turn in I make sure I am very aware of my surrounding and I make it fast. Lastly, Madison has a little gold finch pecking at her window. Now he's cute. I don't mind him at all. In fact I stand there and watch him because he is so darn cute!

Ok that's it for today. Seriously, I am going now!
Have a great rest of the week!

~Maureen~

This n That

Hello,

I am a little late in posting this but Madison made her First Communion on May 12 and I wanted to show you all how pretty she looked. She did a wonderful job and her dad and I are so extremely proud of her. It was at a crowded 5pm mass but she wasn't alone. One of her friends from school also made her 1st communion that day as well. We had a nice celebration with family afterwards. Thank you Erika for the very special prayer card. I am going to have it framed for Madison so she will always have it. What a special gift.

 Part of Madison's 1st communion gift was this bike. We also gave her something that relates to the sacrament because this clearly does not. However, she outgrew her other one and needed a new one. A child with out a bike. That just doesn't work for me. It's great exercise! Now I need your help. Does anyone have any tips on teaching her to ride on 2 wheels? Any tricks you used on your kids or that your parents used on you. I am open for anything. She has been working on the balance thing so far.

The weather has been nice so I have been outside cleaning up my gardens. Not too much stitching happening this past week but I did manage to finish this little house  by Lizzie Kate. There is actually a word border that went around it but I just wanted the house. I am going to make it into a pillow to give to my sister.

The last thing for today is I was playing on the sewing machine a little. i figured the more I practice on it, the better I'll get and make the sewing machine my friend. I made up these little bags, One for accessories, one for my scissors, and one for orts or anything small you don't want to loose among all your stitchy stash. These were so fun to make and are going to look great in my stitching bag.
Still have lots of ideas in my head that I hope to make into something real soon. I better before I loose them. Although it doesn't take too long these days.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Happy Stitching!

~Maureen~

Finishes and Treasures

Hello friends,

Yeah!! I finally have some things to show you all and I finally found something that I have been looking for, since forever ago.
First up is this sweet little pin keep which I am going to save for a RAK.

Next is Remember Me by LHN. I have had this stitched since last year and just got around to finishing it. I decided to attach it with buttons to the little pillow instead of the beads included to sew all the way around it. Who has time for that? Not me! I just love this pattern. It is now on my stitching chair so I can admire whenever I want.

On to the treasures... I finally found myself a frog. I cannot tell you how excited I was when I had this in my hot little hands. I also found this jar of old white buttons which surely will come in handy with all my upcoming projects.

What antique store can I hit next? I've started a list of things I want to look for.

That's all I've got for now. My sewing machine is still not working so I will have lots more to show you later. Stay tuned....

Probably not much stitching this weekend :(
Madison is making her First Communion on Saturday
night and of course, Sunday is Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day Everyone! Enjoy the day!!

~Maureen~

A few bumps in the road

Hello friends,

I have a few bumps in the road. My sewing machine is not working quite well so I am unable to finish anything right now. Also, I went to download a picture to put on ebay and now my computer and my camera are not connecting. So I am also unable to show you all any pictures. It's driving me CRAZY!! I can't get anything done. I hope to have both fixed by next week so I hope to be able to show a few things later next week. I just wanted to give everyone a heads up on why I have not shown anything but YES! i am still stitching and have lots to finish now. YIKES!!!

Have a great weekend!

~Maureen~

Vacation and a Finish

 Hello Friends,

I am back from a fabulous vacatin in Mrytle Beach. So fabulous that it was very hard to come home knowing I had to go back to work. Here are a few pictures to show. Not too many as I don't want to bore anyone. This is the family picture someone took of us.

The next one is a picture of the sunrise. I love taking these. I also love taking pictures of the moon. There was one night the moon looked absolutely gorgeous on the water but alas... that one did not come out. Maybe next time.

There is this place called Broadway on the Beach. Anyone been there? I love it and this upside down house is a new exhibit they have. We didn't go in this visit bur I took a picture because I thought it looked pretty cool.





We found out while we were there that a friend of my husband's whom we haven't seen in about 13 years was about 15 minutes away from us. His family rented a house so we tookk an afternoon and went to visit them. We had a really good time. We talked while the kids played.
They have twin girls the same age as Madison so
they had a good time.

Anyway this little guy was nesting in a flower pot at the house they rented. I couldn't resist a picture. Isn't she so cute? You could get right up next to her and she didn't fly away but she did watch you very closely.

I did manage a little stitching while I was away and finished these darling flip flops by Sam Sarah. I just love them. I also started Lizzie Kate's Life's a Beach Kit from last year. I'll show that when I am finished.

That's it for now! Hope it is all getting warmer where you are. It's a little chilly in New York today. Now I am spoiled since being somplace warm. It better warm up soon!

Happy Spring Stitching!!

~Maureen~

A stitch and NYC

Well back from a fabulous weekend in NYC thanks to my mom and my sister who made it possible. I have never walked that much in my life and Madison was such a trooper keeping up with us. Here's a quick stitch I did. It was a freebie from the Sampler Girl and I started it there and finished it up today. I will probably finish it into a pillow at some point.

 So this is the reason we were in NYC. Madison's birthday present from my parents was to go to the American girl store there. This is Madison in front of the store with her doll and they had their matching dresses on. So cute!!! We had brunch there with other little girls and dolls. We were in a room called the Daisy room. It was adoreable. They have little seats for the dolls and they bring a little tea cup on a saucer for them. The food was very yummy. We then went shopping for Madison and Bella, is her doll's name. She had so much fun. We then went and did more sightseeing.  We went to Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Times Square, Chelsea Market, Bryant Park, St Patrick's Cathedral, the Today Show and probably a few other places I can't think
of at the moment.

 This picture I had to take because my girl loved having her name on a street sign.

 This is part of St Patrick's Cathedral. We went inside and it is just beautiful.

This is Madison,(Bella of course) my sister,  my mom and myself on a buggy ride through Central Park. It was so nice and the weather was great for it. I am amazed that there have been so many movies filmed there. It was so fun!!

Not sure if my husband will let me leave without him again. Last October when I was in Virginia our furnace broke. This time it was our hot water heater. Hmmm! Coincidence!! Still have a fridge and stove that are getting up there.

Welcome to my new followers and I hope to be back next week with something to show.

Happy Stitching!

~Maureen~

A little of this and that

 Hello all,

I have been inspired by some blogs(Myra to name one) with their project bags so I thought I would play a little bit and came up with this little bag thanks to Myra. I am going to use it for my LHN ornaments. I will kit a few up at a time and keep them in here. I am working on a few different ones so stay tuned.

This is my progress on Blessed and i just adore her. I cannot wait to finish her. She is so adoreable I will probably leave her out all year.

Not much to show for some reason. I am stitching but I just must not be finishing things as quickly as I thought. The weather has been abnormally nice so I have been outside beginning yard work and things. I am usually not doing it this early.

I am off to NYC for the weekend with mom, daughter, and sister. Should be fun and I have a project or 2 with me for the evenings. I have never been so I will be back to show some pictures next week.

Keep your needle to thread and keep stitching!!

~Maureen~

Some New Stash

 I love new stash! Who doesn't right!! I went to Expressions in Needleart today with my mom. We made a morning of it and went there and this is what I got. Lizzie Kate Summer Boxer, A Lizzie Kate Halloween pattern, Some reindeer ornaments pattern, and some fabric to do a scissor fob. To the left is the newest LHN ornament-Tree Farm- which I was very excited because that came to us in the mail today after we got back from our shopping. Yeah!!

 We also stopped at this antique store which I think I am hooked. I wanted ALOT in there. I did just come away with these beauties. Some spools of thread and this really cute frame. The bird is cute in there but I am probably going to put stitching in it.

Last on the list for today is my new stitching bag. It is still a little wrinkled b/c I just received it yesterday and it hasn't had a chance to be broken in yet. I just couldn't wait to show you. I get The Stitchery catalog and saw this bag and knew I had to have it. I told my husband that I had to have this bag. His first response was "What's wrong with the 10 other bags you have?" But this one is different, so I batted my eyes and he couldn't resist so here it is. It's got cool pockets on the sides for all my little stuff. LOVE IT!!

Thank you for all the nice comments on my Easter stitches. I really appreciate it.

In Stitches

~Maureen~

Happy Easter Early

Just wanted to show my few easter smalls I just finished. They are both by Lizzie Kate and really stitched up rather quickly and oh so cute.

There are a  few other things I am working on but am not able to post them yet. I will soon.

Thursday I am taking a trip to Expressions in Needleart in Canandaigua. I will post my new stash so everyone can see what I got. I get excited going to a needlework shop since there isn't a good one real close to me, I don't get there very often.

Happy Stitching Everyone!

Maureen

Finishes, a gift and giveaway update

Hello Everyone,

Just a few quick stitches to share. Peppermint by LHN. As you can see from the picture, I still have to put on the button. I figure I'll do that after I finish it. This makes #3 of the LHN ornaments done. Since I have all of the ornaments since 2010, I am just skipping around and stitching whatever. I'd like to have a bunch done by Christmas to enjoy with my Christmas decorations. Next up is Blessed which is the most recent one. I love this one and can't wait to see it finished.

This little beauty is a freebie by the Primitve Hare. Made for an upcoming birthday which I can't say in case she looks at this post. I think I am going to finish it into a little hanging piece. I added a little shamrock charm at the top.

I wanted to share this wonderful pincushion I received recently from my friend, Cathy. My mom and I met Cathy at the Dyeing to Stitch Retreat last October. I love Retreats! Anyway, Cathy sent these pincusions, one for me and one for my mom. Aren't they just gorgeous! Cathy's 79 year old mother does the tatting and  Cathy assembles them. I think they are just fabulous!! I took the pink one because I love pink. Thank you again Cathy!!


Now, for the giveaway update....

Since I only had 2 comments on my giveaway post
I declare 2 winners: Natalyk and Erika.
Nataly, please email me your address and I will get it sent out to you.
Erika, I will get a surprise sent out to you shortly.

Thanks for your comments, I love feedback on my posts.

In Stitches,
~Maureen~

Today!

Hello Friends!

This is the weather in Webster, NY today. It is our first snowstorm of the year and it is Feb. 12. This weather is wacky! It is a great day to work on bookmarks for the 2012 Bookmark Challenge and my 6 fat men. Happy Stitching Everyone!!

In Stitches,

~Maureen~

A gift and a giveaway

Hello,

I just had to share with you all the very sweet pillow my mom gave me for Valentine's Day. Isn't it just so sweet and she did all the finishing herself. She did such a great job. Below is a picture of the back as well because it it just too cute and must be shown. Thanks Mom for such a sweet pillow!


Giveaway time!!!

Since I am coming up on my 1 year blogiversary I wanted to give back. It's not much but I think it is pretty sweet. To thank all of you for becoming a follower I am having a small giveaway. It is open to everyone so please share if you want to. As you can see it is a small pincushion, a thread picker, and a set of 4 fabric markers. Since it is February, I thought I would honor Valentine's Day as well. If interested please leave me a comment on this post only. I will have my sweet Madison draw a name on Feb.20 (President's Day) and I will announce the winner on that day. Good Luck!!

In Stitches,

~Maureen~

Quick Finishes

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to share a few quick finished I have with all of you. First is the Hearts  by Heart in Hand. I realized I really have nothing valentiney so I whipped this cutie up.



The next one is also by Heart in Hand and it is the January Snowman pattern. This was really quick to stitch. Another thing I realized is how much I love snowmen and the many snowmen patterns I have that should really be stitched to add to my collection. So I am really going to try and work on that.

 Even if I work out a plan of maybe doing 2 a year.
We'll see how it goes.

This last one  I finished a little differently for me. The pattern is a freebie from the Sampler Girl and I experimented a little and made it into a longer pillow with little buttons at the top. I really like how it turned out and I thank everyone for all your wonderful blogs and for sharing your finishing. It inspires me to try different things in finishing and have a variety of things for my home. I used to just frame everything I made. How Boring!! It is so much more fun to finish in so many different ways.
My 1 year blogiversary is this month and I can't believe it has been a year already. I have learned so much from fellow bloggers and to thank everyone I will be having a small giveaway to celebrate so stay tuned...
I will be posting the giveaway next week.

Happy Stitching!!

~Maureen~

Show and Tell

 Hello Friends and welcome to my new followers.

 I have just a few finishes to show. I feel like I have been stitching up a storm but I let everything pile up and then I need to take a break from stitching to finish everything. It's a never ending battle, I tell ya! Anyway, I made up this little guy to add to my snowman collection. He finished up pretty cute and I like his carrot nose.

I also finally finished up these to bookmarks for the 2012 Bookmark Challenge. I have to get going on bookmarks for the next few months because the challenge is in May and I really have to increase my #'s to donate. I think I am around 11. Last year I had 30. So I need to get to work. So many projects so little time! I am sure I am not alone in that. Right?

 Love this! The mermaid scissor case from the Dyeing to Stitch Retreat. You are just seeing the front which is all that is finished so far. It is not a scissor case yet. I am actually going to sew a pocket on the back instead of leaving the top open. I'll show you when I finish it. Hopefully it will come out the way I am envisioning it. I have never done it before.

 I am doing a stitch-a-long with my good friend Erika and my mom. Hopefully another friend will be joining us as well. We are making the Lizzie Kate 6 Fat Men. It is so adorable! I am probably not as far as Erika but it will be done this year and will be hanging on my wall for me to admire next winter. I will keep you updated on its progress.

 I just wanted to end this post with my fabulous Birthday present I received a few weeks ago from my parents. My brother came over today to hang it for us. He is very good at that kind of stuff. If my husband and I hung it, It would probably end up crooked. Isn't it beautious! I love it! I have a few random things in it right now. I guess I have to make my stitching list even bigger and stitch a bunch of smalls to put in there. Then I guess I need smalls for every season or holiday to put in there. Oh Lord! Am I going to busy for the rest of my life!

Thanks for visiting me today! 
Happy Stitching!
~Maureen~