Ann Pegg -1877 Finish

I put the last stitches in Ann Pegg yesterday. 

I have made a solemn promise to myself that I won't look at, think about or dream about or pull any cross stitch to work on until I have made some major progress on other pending projects.

I must have the love seat completely finished by this weekend.  Hubby and son are taking it to Harrisonberg for the beginning of the big move into the townhouse.  

Getting closer to completion. This is a picture without the cushions.  It's all trial and error. And my back is killing me from hunching over on the floor.

Decided I would give my back a bit of break and have been knitting away.  Of course, while doing laundry!  I'm always multitasking. 

I have made some progress on the baby blanket as I've been taking it along with me while waiting.  Last week it was for an oil change and car inspection and the many appointments and meetings for my husband.  It's better then me impulse buying by going through stores just to waste time.  And I am saving money.

More to spend on crafts!

Until next week happy stitching whether it's on a sewing machine, knitting or cross stitching!

Juggling too many balls!

A few nights ago we went to dinner with a guy who was in DC, who worked with my husband at a law firm in our area.

After catching up with my husband, and talking to my daughter, he turned to me and said "and what are you doing?"

My mind went completely blank.  The only thing I could think of was "I cross stitch!" I have been pondering that question and my response ever since. 

I am more than just a stitcher, I do more than just stitch.  I am the taxi cab driver for members in my family that have no driver's license.  I am everyone's personal shopper. Including groceries and picking up items for new apartments and new townhouses. 

There isn't a day that the washing machine and dryer aren't going. I put all out clothes away.  In the drawers in the closer.  Unlike my children who will dress out of their clean laundry baskets.  I won't see all my laundry baskets come back to the laundry room until they head back to college.

That doesn't include cleaning up the kitchen for all my family members who leave dirty dishes in the sink and don't know how to load or unload the dishwasher.  

I also take care of pets.  Letting them out, letting them in, feeding them. Taking them to the vet.  I had my oldest son's cat while he was deployed. I now have my daughter's puppy, in addition to my two dogs, who isn't housebroken yet, and am constantly cleaning up accidents.  Suggest everyone buy stock in paper towels cuz I'm going through rolls like Sherman through Atlanta. My poor Dixie is badly in need of a grooming and I'm wondering how to work that into my schedule.

Not including running the sweeper and cleaning toilets. There is no maid that shows up in the middle of the night and makes these things happen. The beds don't get stripped and remade by themselves, and I have never found a piece of chocolate on my pillow.

I was the general contractor when we did our master bathroom renovation.  Picking out everything and purchasing it to save money to stay in budget.

I am a professional painter when I need to be, along being a interior decorator. 

I volunteered to make slip covers for a couch and love seat having no idea what I was doing or what I was volunteering for.

Plus I have started knitting a baby blanket for my niece who is having a baby boy in December.  According to the pattern it's a one day knit.  I know it will take me longer than 8 hours.  

And not to forget finishing Ann Pegg.

And yet these things don't cover the personal dynamics of being a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend. Of being the voice of reason at times, to listen to woes, to be a fixer of problems, to tell them the truth even when the don't want to hear it.  Sometimes being a referee and mediator.

So I am more than just a stitcher. I do more than just cross stitch.  I wish I had thought of all these things when I was asked the question.

Ann Pegg 1877

A couple of more days and Ann will be finished.  I bought this chart because so many of my samplers are relatively the same size meaning large.  

However in stitching her, I find that I am not a big fan of samplers with mirror images and those that only use a few colors.  Diversity is my friend. Otherwise I feel bored with the project, but I have started it and I will finish it.

I reading last week's post I realized I forgot to post a finished picture of Isabella Gray.

 Love her!

Not sure what's next but I also have to begin knitting.  December will be here before I know it.  Until next week happy stitching.

Ann Pegg 1877 - Take along project

Ann Pegg 1877 by Scarlett House, 

36 ct. Vintage Maritime White by Lakeside Linens. Gentle Arts Thread. This is my take along project that I started a few weeks ago.  I bit the bullet and attached it to my floor only because I didn't want to start another large project.  

Right now I am juggling a lot of projects other than cross stitch and those need my attention too.  So it's easier just to sit down when I have a few moments and put a few stitches in here and there.

First other project I have going is making slip covers for the love seat and couch.  I keeping looking at the drop cloth draped over the love seat and feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the extra material.  On top of that I didn't like the way it was draping over the seat cushions, so I bought some upholstery fabric on clearance just to cover the seat cushions. I by no means am a great sewer. And I am sewing seat covers without a pattern.  

Not great, but acceptable. I don't know why I am obsessing over these when it's gonna go in a town house lived in by 3 guys.  And their beige!  Almost cream for that matter.  They be covered with food, beer and who knows what else. One down, 4 more to go!

Then if that isn't enough on my plate, my niece is having her first baby.  They found out last week it's gonna be a boy. So I promptly went looking for yarn to knit a baby blanket.  I couldn't decide which yarn, so I bought both.

And....we had a lot of drama going on last year.  Because of that, I didn't follow through on getting additional tests done that someone my age should have.  I decided that this year I was going to take care of my health. I already had a mammogram, my lab appointment is Thursday, and on Saturday I had my eyes checked and ordered new glasses.  Today I received the referrals from Tricare to make appointments for a colonoscopy and to check out my girl parts.

That's about all for this week happy stitching!

Isabella Gray 1838 - week 4

Another project I thought I would have finished by now.  And just maybe I would have, if I hadn't had to rip out the border (flowers and all) on the bottom and half way up the right side when it wouldn't match up.  All fixed now and back on track!

One or two more stitching days and I should be finished. I will stitch for an hour more tonight and probably most of tomorrow.

All the kids were here for the 4th of July. So I have a valid excuse to stitch as I wash all the bedding and towels from the kids visits.  Plus I my hubby and mine laundry is backed up because the youngest child finally ran out of clean clothes.  Which forced him to do his laundry and tied up the washer and dryer for a few days.  

A few years ago I bought both my sons Manassa t-shirts from the local museum. Thinking I was doing something great and thoughtful. It is now a joke between the two boys, who are constantly gifting their Manassas t-shirt to each other. Or shoving it in their suitcases when one of them leaves.  I was quite happy to see my youngest in his Manassas T-shirt thinking it finally grew on him to the point he actually liked it.  Until he explained at the dinner table it was the only clean shirt he had left. 

Meanwhile my daughter brought a puppy  home.  Don't think she should have. But I'm only the mother! What do I know about the time and commitment and costs for caring for another living being.

The 4th I came down in the morning and stepped in something that was sorta slimey. I start looking around the kitchen and there's more spots like that.  A closer inspection made me recognize what it was and I'll just say it falls into the parasite family that often accompanies pets.  Here she's all dressed for work and I made her clean it up.  She was totally grossed out and I took great delight in pointing out to her that she is the one that wanted a dog.

Now all the dogs must ( I have 2) have their stool samples taken to the vet. Why oh why can't you get the dog(s) go when you want them too? My hubby says he'll do it tomorrow for the 2 that were being uncooperative, since the dirty deed must be no older than 8 hours old. Oh geez! Never a dull moment here!  I'm pretty sure her puppy is the culprit and when she has to stay outside with him while the medicine takes effect, she'll be rethinking this whole dog ownership thing.

Meanwhile I ordered some empty Altoids cans off of Etsy.  They should arrive this week. The cinnamon ones aren't so available and I don't feel like driving all over the place to find them.  Plus I would feel obligated to eat all those mints. It was easier just to buy empty ones and be done with it!

I am finally sending off my application to the Loudoun County Sampler Guild.  Especially when it's good for a discount when I purchase anything at my LNS. Hopefully I will save more than $30 over a year, which is the cost of the membership fee.

I have also been working on my take along project as time permits. No picture to share this time.

Since I'm so close to finishing Isabella, my next sampler will be Mexican School Girl Practice c.1830 by Samplers Remembered. Just loved the motifs!

Guess that's all for now. Till next week, happy stitching!