A finish and camp stash

Sometimes I just don't know where the time goes. It's been two weeks since I've been here, and over two weeks since I was able to visit blogs. Hopefully I'll be able to start catching up soon. As to what I've been doing, work seems to be taking up a larger portion of my time. We've had a couple plant closures and layoffs. So while I'm thankful I still have a job, the stress level, and amount of things to be dealt with, have definitely increased. In addition, road construction season has begun, so my normal rather long daily commute just got longer. Therefore, not a whole lot of stitching going on due to just not as many hours in the day.

I have managed one finish. The SanMan board is having a Twelve days of Halloween stitch along where we are doing one Halloween pattern a month. I just finished the February one, given it just turned April, not especially on time, but still a finish (forgive the wrinkles I haven't ironed it yet).

Like my earlier one, this was also done on 18ct Light Fiddler Cloth with DMC.

Not enough of progress on Six Bats since my last post to show, so that will be for another post. However, I do have my new stash from camp to show

These Blue Ribbon Designs were some I've had my eye on since they first turned up, and the little Love Birds by Miss Crescents Colours I just thought were so cute they hopped (or fluttered) right into my basket too.

Quaker Gone Tropic was also on my wish list from the time it appeared. I won't be doing it with the Silk n Colors it calls for, instead I decided on these four by Cresent Colours. I think they are gorgeous and can't wait to get this one started. When Kim and I go to Camp Stitch a Lot we always start out with a preliminary road trip. Rocking Horse in Farmington has an awesome display of finished models, so we start out there. While there I picked up the cute little Ghost kit. He comes with the pattern, fabric, floss, and frame and is one of their shop exclusives. After Rocking Horse we stop for lunch and then move onto Deb's. All my other goodies were from my shopping trip to Stitches n Things. After we finished up there, it was onto camp for the weekend.

Once I got to camp, here are are the free designs I got. Generally every year at camp people bring patterns that they no longer plan on doing and put them on the swap table. These three caught my eye right off. I love the little mice on Mini Creations, and the words (especially the crows) were just to fun. Finally, who could resist the Go For It with the surprised cat.

In addition to my earlier goodies, we got goodie bags from Deb. These were just some of the fun stuff in my bag (which was a fantastic oversized plastic tote that will hold large projects wonderfully). Unfortunately I waited to long to take a picture of my goodie bag stuff and some of it has already been eaten or moved and I couldn't find it. Then after I got this picture I realized I'd forgotten my lovely carry bag it all came in. Oh well, you get the idea of the goodies.

Camp Stitch a Lot just flew by way to fast. With all the fun chatter, munching, seeing what everyone was working on, and seeing the class projects that were taught it was a fantastic weekend. Sunday Kim and I headed back home stopping to eat and then at JoAnn's. I had two 40% off coupons and there is one of the large JoAnn's right off the highway we were on. We each got a large roll of Monaco fabric (20x24 inches) for about $3, not a bad way to end the weekend. Monaco, with being an evenweave and having such nice holes to see, is what I'm thinking of doing Quaker Gone Tropic on, as the white should really make the colors I picked pop. I wanted a plain white rather then colored fabric so it wouldn't compete with the colors I picked. However, my fabric choice may very well change by the time I start.

Well I'm off to take Jaz for a nice slow and short walk. The previous lump on her leg, while it went down some, wouldn't totally go away, and it kept bleeding a little. With the lump and not healing, the vet suggested the lump really should come out so it could be checked and I agreed. So... Jaz also had surgery this past week (told you it's been crazy lately). The lump turned out to be a nasty cyst that was under the skin far enough it wouldn't heal. The cyst is gone now, and Jaz's leg is working on healing up. We'll go back next week to have the stitches out. In the meantime, short walks, no running, jumping, etc... Good thing in a way she's 12, as running and jumping really aren't what she's into much anymore anyway. Unless she sees a squirrel to close to her, all bets seem to be off if a squirrel in her yard seems to get to bold.