February Stitch from Stash Report

I did okay for this month.

Running balance:         $6.95
February amount:      $25.00
Spend:                       $19.00
Credits for finishes:    $0.00

Total is:                    $12.95


I am still in my budget! Two months in a row! Whoo-hoo!  I bought these two patterns:

 The Witches of Booville by Stoney Creek was $7.00.  It is a used pattern and I couldn't resist it. The witches are cute.

I got Nora Corbett's Geranium Pixie.  I love her colors.  I want to get her fabric soon but I might wait into April or do her on a white.

 I have to get a business suit for interviews.  I am now looking for part time job.  I need to look the part.  My class is doing Mock Interviews in ten weeks. The Career Director, who oversees all the career centers on all campuses, will be doing the interview.  The teacher wants us to have the full experience of being interview.  So nervous thinking about it now but it will be a good experience.

I have been stitching on my SAL, Fleurs de Ciel. I am still on page 1.  I know I will finish page 1 this weekend, but I do not think I will be done with page 2 by March 10.  I am hoping I can still get the next pages.  I will send her a message next week.

I am so happy March will be here in a couple days.  I am so tired of the cold.  One morning, last week, it was a -5 degrees!  Without the wind chill! When it hits the 40s and 50s, it is going feel so nice!  I can not wait! But we do have some more of that white stuff on Sunday into Monday morning.  I hope I can go to school still.

I hope everyone enjoys the next couple weeks.  I will try to put up another update on my Fleurs when I get to page 2.  Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog.

Until next time,
Vicky

First term over and One year Anniversary!

I survived my first set of final exams.  Two more sets of finals (terms) and I graduate. I passed and did alright.  One exam I aced but I do not know my score yet.  I did get a 87 on my Anatomy exam and my final grade is 94.  I got an A in First Aid and CPR, plus I am certified for CPR now too.  Monday starts the new term.  I am looking forward to a fresh start.

I did not stitch every day this past week because I was studying for the exams.  I did catch up on my new starts for Debbie's Ultimately Crazy Stitching Challenge on yesterday.  The following pictures are 7 new starts.

 LHN Calendar Girls-October

 Panko Costumes Through the Ages

This is going to be huge!!!  The finish will by 35 x 26 inches.

 Stoney Creek Joyful Owls

 Lizzie Kate At Our House

 LHN Calender Girls-June

 Halloween Hoots by Ursula Michaels

Ivy by Nora Corbett

The fabric is upside down in the picture.  

This is me on January 14, 2014

Me on January 16, 2015.

I went to the see the nurse from the surgeon's office.  I celebrated my first surgery anniversary.  I had lost 70 pounds this past year.  I am very proud in what I had accomplished.  My life changed so much this past year and all for the better.  I have more energy and I do not mind going for walks or doing chores.  I like doing them now because I do not get so tired very quickly.  I can do stuff.  I love to go walking and I will continue to do so when the weather is a little warmer.  I know I could have done better.  I can make a whole bunch of excuses but in the end, it was me who made those wrong choices.  I am being hard on my self and have been told that many times, but I am the only one I answered too.  I am the one that I have to take of so I can live a long life.  Before my surgery, I was heading to an early death. Now, there is big chance I can live a longer life and do more traveling and exploring this world I want to do. I need to loose more weight to enjoy these activities.  I won't loose the weight if I continue to make the wrong choices.  I would never regret having this surgery because I am living a life now and before I wasn't and for that I will always be grateful.  

I will be back next week with more starts. 

Hugs,

Vicky

Stitching Challenge and YOTA

The first week came and went and I did stitch every day so far! It is amazing I was able to do that. I had a head cold this past week too.  I went to my doctor ( I was due for a visit in a week anyways) and he gave me some antibiotic and I am feeling so much better.  I did miss a day of classes.  When I got back, we had a test.  I did not do so well, but since it was my first low grade, it didn't affect my average grade by much.  I still have an A in the course. :)

I showed you my first two projects last week.  Here is the ones I had started this week except for todays (Jan 10).  I haven't stitch yet today.

 Day 3   a new start:  County Cottage Gingerbread House.  A pattern I got in an exchange.

 Day 4 was a WIP I picked up.  It is Nora Corbett's Lady Slipper.  The top picture is before and the one after is the new stitches added.  I will be finishing this one up this year.

Day 5 is a new start, Lizzie Kate Promise Me.  I will be finishing this one this year too.

 Day 6  is a new start, Lizzie Kate Time for God.

Day 7 I started on Waxing Moon Simply Americana.

Day 8 I started on Ink Circles Reflections of Paris.  Definitely a different style for me stitching but I so like it

Day 9 I started on Mirabilia Elizabeth.  I hope I can come back to her soon.  I love the fabric I am stitching her on.  The picture makes the colors very grayish but in person, it is a light purple with a hint of pink, blue and green.  It is gorgeous.

Since it is the 10th of January, it is time for a YOTA report.  I do not have a pictures but I will be working on Lizzie Kate's ABC Lessons, ( a picture is in the last post) and I want to work on LHN Pumpkin Hollow.  I will have pictures by next month, I promise.

This week I have a test on muscles and my oral presentation on Monday. On Wednesday and Thursdays is Final Exams.   Friday I go see my surgeon for my one year anniversary for my surgery. One way I am looking forward to it but I know what I been doing the last 6 months and not looking forward to the appointment at the same time.  Maybe it wont be as bad as I think it will be.  I have the weekend off from schoolwork.  Yes!

I will be back next weekend.  Have a great week!
Hugs, Vicky

Good bye 2014 and Hello 2015!

Hello 2015!  I have been missing in action for a few months in blogger land.  I have been busy with school.  Yes, I am going to school and being trained to work in a doctor's or hospital office.  I am liking the classes but a lot of work.  I am keeping up and my grades are high.  The only thing is my stitching is suffering big time.  2014 was a year of change for me.   I had my gastric sleeve surgery in January 2014 and my life changed so much!

I had signed up for ‎Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2015 (DUCJC2015 on Facebook.  I did not make a list.  I have so much stash I want to do, I am just taking a pattern or an WIP or UFO a day from my stash and working on it.  I hope I can do it.  With schoolwork and final exams coming in a couple weeks, my stitching will be very minimal, until Jan 16.  The idea is to stitch on something different every day in January, whether it will be a new pattern or a wip or ufo.

I joined Mel's Stitching from Stash again.  I was doing good on it the first 6 months or so last year and then I went berserk and went off the budget.   I am back on it and with school, it should be easier.  My mind will be on school until I graduate in July.  However, I did spend this month but less than $10.

I joined Angie's SAL for $5.00.  Since I joined today (Jan 2), the price will be coming out of my budget.  However I do have a piece big enough to start it on Jan 10.  It is very pretty.  I am going to try my best to get part 1 done in 2 months.  Even if I have to bring  it  to school and work on it on my lunch.  A few stitches here and there will bring it closer to the finish.

I joined the YOTA SAL too from Pull the Other Thread.   You work on a UFO and mention it on the first Saturday of the month, except for this month, it is on the 10th.  So I will be back on next week.  I do have  a few UFOs I want to work on, and I am sure I will find one before Saturday to work on one.

For Day 1 on DUCJC2015, I worked on Nora Corbett's Azure.  Last month I got her partner, Verde and the matching fabric.  Still waiting for the fabric but it will be here shortly.  I worked on Azure's arms and will be going back and finish her this year.

On Day 2, I worked on Lizzie Kate's ABCs Lessons.   I am going to finish this one this year too.  It has been an UFO far too long.  I finish stitching the last line and some letters.  Today I am starting something new which I will post by the end of the week.

On the week before Christmas, I got the most wonderful gift from a Secret Santa.   I saw this being sold on Facebook and asked the seller I will buy the kit after the New Year if no one buys it.  I was so surprised when I opened the envelope.   Shelley from California send it to me as a surprise.  I will be starting it this month.  Thank you so much Shelley!  It will have a special place on my wall.

Here is few pictures of me at Christmas or around Christmas.

 This is my sister Dawne and me on Christmas Day at her house.

 This is me a week before Christmas.  I had lost about 75 pounds this year and have so much energy.  I am faster than my Dad these days, lol. I do have a lot more work to do to get more healthier.

My father turned 70 on December 17, as well as his twin sister.  We threw a party for them and tried to surprised them.  My aunt's ex found out about it and told her about the party.  And than he had the galled to asked for an invitation!   She knew about the party for a couple weeks but didn't tell my Dad.  He knew something was up but couldn't figure it out.   This picture above is the family with my Mom's best friend, Marie. Starting at left, me, Dad, Marie, Amy, DJ and Dawne.

Thank you for visiting me and I am sorry for the long absence.  I will try to post more after January.  I will be my January Stitching at least once a week, and maybe more if I find time in the week.

Until next week my friends,
Vicky

Update and A Finish

 Here is my update on my Fright Night Friends for Week 7.  My goal this week is the second L and the sign post. I didn't stitch on it today which is Monday.  I was finishing up on Paws. I was  so close to finishing it, I didn't want to wait until Thursday to finish it.

 Paws and Stripes

by Stitchy Kitty Designs 

28 count even weave dyed purple by me

Recommended DMC threads and added white beads

This took me longer than I expected. One of the reasons is I have been getting headaches recently and been a little tired in the afternoons.  This summer is better than last year when I didn't want to stitch at all due to depression. I do need to get a button for the middle paw, but I won't show this again until I finish it into a wall hanging. I got the fabric and trimming already.

 Nora Corbett came out with a new pixie, Fairie Summer Love (FSL) and I fell in love with it. I love the greens in her dress and blue wings.  I am going to to stitch her on a Silkweaver solo I had in my stash. She will have a few stitches by next week's update.

Joann's had a 27 cents sale on Saturday. I took advantage of it, and got 95 skeins. Plus I wrapped majority of them on bobbins that night, and it took me about 6 hours. I am planning to use the skeins for FSL, Mirabila Lady of Freedom, and Sue Hillis Maps of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The maps are for my aunt. She had the patterns and gave them to me. I will be starting Massachusetts on Thursday.  I will be starting 2 new projects this week.

My dad is still in the rehab but he is doing good. We are hoping he will be home this week. It's been two weeks since his surgery. My cousin came over and fixed the dishwasher. I am very happy it works now.

Have a great week!

Hugs,
Vicky

End of 2012 and Start New Year 2013!

These lovely gifts came from Shirlee for the Christmas exchange on the Stitched with Love Exchanges blog.  The ornament was stitched with my favorite Christmas colors, blue and silver, and so beautifully put together.  I am going hate to put it away for next year. Plus I got q-snaps huggies, aida fabric, scissors, cat needle minder, and a bar of shea soap, which smells so good. Thank you Shirlee!

These are the gifts I gave to Jayne.  Some silk threads, scissors, Sue Hillis Spool Tree pattern, fabric, erasable highlighter, and a stitched pillow. The stitching took me awhile because the greens in the dress was very random. Near the end, I added green where I think the green should go, but the gold specks are uniformed.  I stitched the skin one over one, which was more easier to do than the dress. Here is a close up.

Caroler 

a freebie from Whispered by the Wind

25 count Stormy Clouds

DMC and Kreinik gold

Earlier this year, I joined an online class to make a top stitch box. I gave the box to my sister.  I decided to make another box for my second sister.  I stitched the top, stained and lined the box as I was taught.  Everything looked great.  (My sister came Sunday before Christmas.  She had to work a double shift on Christmas).  The only thing I had to do was attached the screws. No big deal, so I thought. I had the last laugh on that one. I am screwing the hardware on and they aren't getting tighter.  I am putting pressure and turning and turning, but it seemed the holes were too big  for the screws.  Because I got behind stitching, I put in a lot hours to get this box done in a weeks time and  the screws were too small.  I was so disappointed and frustrated.  I was going to get another box and send it to my sister in January. I took the stitch part off the box and made it into a wall hanger. I gave it to her next day, which she said she liked better than the box because she can hang up somewhere now. I guess it worked out but I am still disappointed with the box.

Dream by Joan Elliot

32 count Rocky Mountains even weave

DMC threads and beads

Hope by Joan Elliot

32 count Rocky Mountains even weave
DMC threads and beads

Merry Christmas by iStitch designs
25 count Stormy Clouds
stitched one over one, DMC threads

A picture to show how small the ornament is.

My sister , Amy, posing for me.

I had signed up in an Advent exchange with the Stitcherhood group.  These are just a few items I received. I, also, got needles, fat quarters fabrics, floss bobbins, another ornament, 4 out 6 Lizzie Kate Snow Belles and Lizzie Kate Santa '12 pattern.

Snowman towel on Day 10

 Stoney Crerk Snow Happens on Day 23

My first day gift, crystal snowman ornament.

Snowman candy jar with M&Ms peanuts and Almond joys, my favorites.

 Day 25 Glendon Place Murky Manor.  I hope I can start it in the coming year.  It was on my wish list.

Part of my Christmas tree.  The snowman ornament was stitched by Pat, I received this year. This is a new tree this year and all the ornaments barely got on there.

This past weekend, I stitch a little more on Lady Slipper.  The dress is starting to form and I think I am going to make it my weekend stitch. I do want to finish her by my birthday in April.  I am not making too many goals this coming new year.  I seem to make my goals too high, and than I feel bad not making them.

My goals for 2013:

1. Lose 25 pounds before my Las Vegas retreat 

2. Exercise 3 times a week for a period 20 minutes.

3. Finish Lady Slipper by April 21.

4. Finish 6 more projects I had started

5. Stitch 4 pages of HAED The Accolde.

6. Stitch 4 pages on Witches 'n Bits Time To Go

I think the goals are doable.  

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and this coming New Year will be filled with lots of finishes, good health, and happiness.  Happy New Year 2013!

Hugs, Vicky