I did it...

Well, I finally did it, I started stitching on evenweave fabric!

This is what I was able to get accomplished last night.

The pattern is by Country Cottage Needlecrafts...

...and it is Santa's House, which is part of the Santa's Village patterns.

I used 32 ct. Lambswool Linen fabric, which is what was recommended, when I bought the pattern.

(Since this is my first attempt with evenweave, I didn't want to stray from what the pattern suggested.)

Getting started was a bit difficult and I kept watching a tutorial, to make sure I was stitching it correctly...

...but, I think I started to a get the hang of it!

Honestly, I'm not sure I'm going to do a lot of stitching on evenweave/linen (it gave me a bit of a headache), but I am looking forward to seeing how this piece turns out.

(I'm hoping it will get easier, as I continue to work on it.)

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This week, I finally made a list of all the DMC colors and started marking what I had in stock...

I had a more colors than I thought!

I'm pretty covered from DMC 150 to DMC 3722.  There are a few gaps, but not very many; however, after 3722, I am definitely lacking!

At least now I know what colors I need to purchase!

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Today was picture day...

...well, picture day for my Etsy shop!

I've been working on lots of new jars, so I had a lot to photograph.

And, I bought some lovely roses to help make my pictures extra special...

Aren't they pretty?!?!

I believe these are from the 2nd batch of roses I had to buy...

Why did I have to buy more than one batch?

Well, the cats decided to gnaw off the petals on 3 of the roses I bought the first time.

Luckily, none of the cats are sick and I was able to get replacement flowers!

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So, I know today is "Caturday"...

and I am going to post something cat related, but I wanted to do something a bit different. (I would hate for anyone to get bored with my cats!)

I wanted to share a couple of my favorite videos from Simon's Cat. (If you haven't heard of these, then you definitely need to check them out on youtube; they're hilarious!)

This one reminds me of Cooper!

(He gets like this from time to time and all we humans can do, is sit back and watch and hope that nothing valuable is destroyed!)

And, this one is ALL my cats, when there is catnip around!

Well, I hope everyone is having a great weekend and I'm sure I'll be writing again soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

My Husband's Hobby...

Hello everyone!

So happy to have met, so many new and wonderful people during the GYB event and it was great to see some terrific existing followers stopping in to post.

I had a great time reading new blogs and I am still going through the list of participates! (There were so many fantastic blogs!)

(If you are interested in reading my 'Grow Your Blog' post, you can find a link on the side - bar.)

Anyway, I thought I would share a couple photos of something a bit different...

...my husband's newest toy!

My hubby is an avid fisherman. 

(He spends the spring and summer fishing for bass.)

His Christmas present was this, tackle cart.

(Now all his stuff is together, in one place.)

There is room for a little bit of everything.

(Apparently Cooper approves of the new cart, too!)

So now, you probably know why I use tackle boxes for my craft supplies...

...we almost always have some floating around our house and if I'm not able to use one, then my hubby can put it to good use and vice versa.

(Honestly, I'm trying to figuring out how I could use the cart!  I think I'd be able to put one to good use.)

I do love that my hubby has a hobby that he enjoys, because he understands how much I enjoy my hobbies.

And, I try not to say too much when he adds to his fishing stash, so he doesn't complain much when I add to my stitching stash!

Well, that is all for now...

...I'll be back soon, I'm sure! (Trying to get lots of stitching done!)

Grow Your Blog (2015)...

Hello and welcome to my blog!

Earlier this month, I signed up to participate in the Grow Your Blog event, hosted by Vicki (2 Bags Full).

This post, is to introduce everyone to my blog, myself and my favorite hobbies.

Since I have done several introduction posts (and have an About Me section), I thought I would do something a bit different...

So, I thought I would share some facts about me!

Ten Facts About Me (Carrie)

1) I am an only child.

2) I have lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan my entire life.

(I did live downstate briefly for college.)

3) I began college with the intent of becoming a lawyer.

4) I am a Libra.

5) I do not like the taste of alcohol and therefore, do not drink very often.

(Hardly ever.)

6) My favorite color is blue.

(I love all shades of blue.)

7) I love baking, but hate to actually cook.

8) My favorite season is fall.

9) I have three tattoos.

(One on my back, one on my hip and one on my ankle.)

10) I love snowmen and collect them.

There you have it, some interesting facts about me!

---

For those that are new to my blog, I will give a tad more background...

My name is Carrie and I am 33 year stay-at-home mom.  I've been married for almost 12 years and our son will be turning 11 soon.

I love crafting and turned that love into an Etsy shop, that sells soy candles, air freshners and hand painted mason jars.

My hobby is cross stitching and that is the focus of this blog.

I started this blog, to connect with others that love cross stitching.

My blog also features my cats.

I love my cats and I adore sharing the pictures I have taken of them.

So, there you have it...

...more information about me, then anyone ever wanted to know! ;)

I certainly hope I didn't bore anyone too much and I look forward to getting to know those that have participated in this event!

(Well, I look forward to getting to know anyone that follows my blog.)

It's "Caturday" and a finish...

Happy weekend everyone!

Hope everybody is having a great one!

Well, it is that time again...

...Caturday!...

I'm afraid the cats were not extremely active this week...

...they spent most of their time sleeping on the couch with me.

(I am feeling better, though, so all that sleeping was for a good cause!)

Dahlia, snoozing away on the couch.

Apparently Hoss thought sleeping on the couch looked like a good idea, so he had to try it, too!

Cooper, snoozing away on our bed.

And now, some cute close-ups of the all the adorable fluffiness...

(I just love Cooper's eyes!  They change color all the time, but the color is always in the blue family.)

Because I just can't resist Hoss...

Look at that fluffy belly!

And lastly, to prove that my cats do more then sleep...

Cooper, bird watching!

(He just loves sitting in the window, meowing at the birds.)

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Besides all the sleeping, I have also been busy stitching and I have my first finish of 2015!

The Scooby Doo gang is complete!

I am so happy with how it came out and I can't wait to get it framed!

(The piece was stitched on 14 ct. - white Aida cloth.)

I was impressed that even the back turned out pretty decent.

(Usually the back of my projects look like a train wreck, but I'm trying to be more careful.)

I also finished another project...

It is a new set of Valentine's Day themed jars for my Etsy site...

(This set of jars has been in my head for weeks, I just hadn't gotten around to actually making it.)

I still have to distress the jars, but I am very happy with how they turned out!

Well, that is about it for now...

(I'll be back later with my "grow your blog" post.)

And, laundry is unfortunately, calling my name.

Hope everyone has a great day!

As the Stash Grows...

Kinda sounds like the name of a soap opera, huh...

...well, this post is certainly filled with pretty things (if you like bright colored floss), but no drama.

(Just how I like things, drama free as can be.)

Anyway, my DH and I ran to town earlier this week and popped into the bookstore.

Of course, I came out with 2 stitching magazines...

1) Cross Stitch Crazy, Number 198

2) The World of Cross Stitching, Number 223

I love both of these magazines and really need to just bite the bullet and buy a subscription to them.

(I always hate looking through and finding I've missed a really cute pattern.)

I also purchased a new book...

This is actually one of the first books I've purchased in quite awhile.

(My aunt lends me books all the time, so I am never without anything to read.)

The book is entitled, "Sworn to Silence", by Linda Castillo.

It is a mystery novel, about a woman (Kate Burkholder), that left the Amish community in Painters Mill, Ohio, only to return years later, as the Chief of Police.

It sounded very interesting.

(Now, to find the time to actually read it!)

My floss stash has also grown...

The sad part, that isn't even all of it!

(I am hoping to one day have all 454 solid DMC floss, so I try and pick up a bit, when I can.)

With all the new floss, my storage box has filled up...

The top is all full!

The bottom part is still empty, since my order of large floss bobbins, still hasn't arrive...

I'm hoping they'll be here tomorrow.

So, as I was exploring my new magazines, I came across the term "railroading"...

(I think I read it somewhere else, but I can't remember...)

And, I was curious, so I tried it out...

(I apologize for the fluff on the piece, I'm afraid I haven't had the chance to de-fur-ify the piece yet.)

Anyway, most of the light blue section and the deep orange section, were done using the railroading method.

Honestly, I'm not sure I see a huge difference and I found the process very tedious, but I think I'll keep working on it. (Especially on pieces that are meant as gifts.)

Well, that is all from my neck of the woods...

...my stomach is grumbling, which tells me, it is time for lunch!  Hope everyone has a great day!

TUSAL, Update #1...

I can't believe it, I am early...

...finally, I am on time (actually early) for posting about a challenge!

So, what challenge is this post for, it is for the Totally Useless Stitch A-Long (TUSAL).

Now, if you are scratching your head, wondering what this challenge is....

...then, you need to head over to It's Daffycat's blog.  The challenge, rules and sign-up are all explained there.

Basically, it is a challenge for stitchers to keep track of their stitching progress, by saving the excess floss and seeing how the pile grows.

(It sounded like a like a lot of fun!)

So, all need is a jar/container, some excess floss and a camera to photograph your progress.

(And of course a blog, so you can share!)

Well, I picked out my jar...

It is an antique Ball mason jar.

The jar is a little large, but I picked it for 2 reasons...

 1) It was the closest empty jar I had sitting around. 

(Honestly, it was on the coffee table right in front of me, so I just used it.)

 2) I'm being optimistic!

I have a ton of projects planned for 2015, so I'm hoping I'll need all the room.

So, with the first 19 days of January behind me, here is my jar now...

Not too shabby!

Here's a picture of the 'nest' of floss, so you can really see how much is there...

Definitely a good start to the year!

Well, I am looking forward to reading others TUSAL posts!

I hope everyone is having great start to the new week!

Happy "Caturday"...

Hello and Good Morning, hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I want to thank everyone for the well wishes...

...I'm still not feeling the best, but I hope a weekend full of rest will help.

Unfortunately, since I haven't been feeling well, I don't have a ton of pictures to share...

(Only 2 new ones from this past week.)

But, I do have a little surprise...

So, first the new pictures...

Dahlia...

"Hold all calls, I'm trying to take a nap."

And, Cooper...

"Human, you're in my spot!"

....

And now, the surprise...

Some throw back pictures of Cooper!

(Wasn't he just the cutest kitten, and can you believe, he only weighed 2 pounds in this picture...)

He grew up quickly and became quite the handful...

(And, he has always had a love of boxes.)

Spending time in the great outdoors!

(Cooper is actually the only cat we have, that spends anytime outside.  Our other cats want nothing to do with it.)

Cooper and Hoss, one of the rare moments where they actually got along!

And lastly, a couple pictures, showing off Cooper's lounging ability...

(He is a champ, when it comes to lounging!)

Well, I'm going to take a cue from Cooper and go lounge on the couch!

See everyone again soon!

 

Floss, Fabric and the Flu...

It has been quite the week...

Things started out very well, two of my orders came in and I was able to start a couple projects.

Unfortunately, I ended up with the flu...

...I haven't been feeling very well, but I have been able to stitch a bit.

(At least I should have some stuff for my next WIPocalypse and Turtle Trot updates.)

I was very excited to get my first batch of evenweave...

Of course, I also ordered a couple new patterns (they are part of my turtle trot) and some floss...

...but, I didn't start working on them yet.

Since I'm not feeling well, I didn't think it would be the best time.

I've never worked on evenweave, so I'm sure I'll have some difficulties along the way and I want my head to be completely clear.

I have put some work into my new floss box...

Almost done with the top!

(Now, to get to work on the bottom.)

I also started working on one of my WIPocalypse projects...

I won't ruin the surprise of which project it is...

...but, I am having fun working on it!

Well, I am afraid that my head is still pretty foggy and I could use a good rest.

Hope everybody is having a good Friday!

Floss Storage...

As promised, I took some pictures of my new tackle box (floss storage box) and what it looks like inside...

(It looks kinda pretty, with all the lovely colors.)

First, I thought I would show you my old storage box...

(The floss box was actually my mother's, but when she passed away, I inherited all her cross stitch stuff.)

I honestly have no idea when or where she purchased this box...

...I just always remember it being there.

Side One

(This has floss numbering (DMC) 800 and up.)

Side Two

(Contains floss numbering (DMC) 799 and below.)

A look inside...

A close-up...

So, as you can see, this storage box is pretty full.

(I do have a couple empty compartments, but I also have floss in bags, that's being used in current projects.  Not all the floss is accounted for and some of the compartments will need to be rearranged a bit, once I finish with things.)

Needless to say, I needed more room...

My husband found me a tackle box on the Bass Pro website and it happened to be on sale, too...

...so, we thought we would give it a try.

All shiny and new!

The top part...

The bottom part...

(Look at that room!  Just think how much floss I can put in there!)

So, I did start to put stuff into the box...

The top part holds the smaller floss bobbins quite well and the large space on the right (where my extra floss is currently laying), will be great for storing fabric, scissors, patterns, etc...

There isn't much in the bottom portion yet. (Honestly, it is completely empty.)

But, it will hold the large floss bobbins. (You can see a few in there as an example.)

Unfortunately, no store around me carries them, so I had to order some.

So there you have, a peek inside my new tackle...urm...floss storage box!

I think it is going to work out quite nicely!