Christmas Ornament Exchange 2008

This year I participated in my first exchange. This was a Christmas ornament exchange on the group of The Gift of Stitching Magazine.

Here is the front and back of the ornament I made for Jane in West Virginia. The pattern is from The Prairie Schooler Pamphlet "December". I stitched the pattern on 14 count white aida with 3 strands to make sure the stitches covered and gave it a plump look. I wasn't quite sure how to do the finishing, so I just did it like a normal sewed item would be, inside out, then reversed it and stuffed it. I made my own cord this time, but I feel like it should have been tighter.

This is also the first stitched ornament I've ever made. I was kind of sad to see it go, but I have the pattern still and can make one for myself if I feel like it. I don't usually go in for this style, simple country sampler sort of stuff, but it's growing on me.

Make your own glass from Corning Glass Studio

It'S here! Smaller than it was in my head, and a bit lighter in color than I wanted but still pretty and made by me. Did your pumpkin come yet?

Crafting Efforts

Lately I've been bouncing from one project to the next,

Prairie Schooler pamphlet December - Just started 11/13
TGOS Magazine Winter Wishes - Started 11/10. set of 4 ornaments. I've started one of them and already messed up the colors. It's one over one for all the wording and I'm NOT picking that out.

Snowed - In: Stitching complete, now I have to pick fabric for the back and sew it up. Is this a gift? for an exchange? For me?

Irish Hiking Scarf: This is really only knitting project I have going right now. I was initially hoping to finish it by Christmas, but I don't know who I would give it to. Apparently all the men on my list (dad, brother-in-law, future brother-in-law) don't really wear scarves. I will still keep working on it becuase it's a beautiful scarf.

Currently reading The Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. November 7 - I'm on page 17 of The Guernsey Literary and.... I'm really hoping I like it. I love the title, and made a mental note of it back in June. I love reading other people's letters!

November 14 - I keep reading this book on the bus during my commute to work. What I really need to do is settle down with the book at home tonight and read. I stumble on passages that are so touching they make me tear up, and I don't really want to cry on the bus, especially on my way to work, when I want to show up and look professional, not bedraggled.

Time to vote!

Riding the bus to work this morning we passed my polling place. The line of voters wrapped around the block and went on for two more blocks! I'd better bring some snacks when i vote tonight.

Halloween fun

This year Halloween was fun! I went to a party with some friends and before we went out, they dressed me up as Red Riding Hood. More pictures to follow of the crew, but here is the main part of my costume. Yay!

Every year I take my birthday of from work, because really it should be a national holiday! Today I am sitting around at home, uploading photos, reorganizing my closet and blasting some great tunes. Imagine my surprise when the doorbell rings and I'm sitting at my computer still in my pjs. I scrambled to put on jeans and shoes, and when I got down to the door there was a delivery person with an Edible Arrangement bouquet from my friend Amy! Fantastic! Pretty fruit that I can eat - I don't think this will last long. Thanks Amy! What a great surprise.

This week did not start out well. Monday morning I was about to leave for work when I realized that I didn't have my subway pass. It's a plastic card that I can reload each month, so in losing it I lost $2.00, my October pass AND my November pass that I bought last week for $59.00. Man!

Shirt sleeves

It's funny how one little thing can make your day. This morning I decided to dress better for work and wear an actual shirt - button down, not a t-shirt or made of t-shirt jersey. Amazing. I have a short sleeve button down emerald green shirt in my closet. It has little pearl buttons that make the sleeves like french cuffs. I bought this shirt last October (11 months ago) along with the same shirt in maroon to go with a jacket - in that fall spurt of I-have-to-shop-and-buy-all -nice-professional-clothes-and-stop-dressing-like-a-shlub insanity. Imagine my surprise when I went to put on the green shirt this morning and the price tag was still attached to the label. I'm sure I've worn this shirt before...or at least thought about it quite a lot. I know I've worn the maroon shirt because I wore it with the jacket I bought to a work conference (the event that set off the shopping spree last year). I liked the shirt but was a bit uncomfortable with the sleeves, cute as they are. That little french cuff detail doesn't lie flat under a sleeve when the shirt sleeve is already as tight as it can get on your arm. Last fall wearing that shirt it was bunching up, a little too tight for my body, definitely too tight for my liking on the arms.

Pleasant surprise of the morning - putting on said green shirt and realizing that it fits just fine. The sleeves do not dig into my arms. I can raise my arms over my head! No puckering anywhere - bust, stomach, shoulders...in fact now it might be a little big in the bust.

On September 1st I stepped on the scale to see where I stand, and according to the scale I've lost 7 pounds this summer. I didn't believe it, but I weighed myself again on the 7th, and still the same lower number. I haven't been working out or being a control freak about food. Now that I can see the difference in a tangible way - this shirt fitting better, I'm starting to believe the loss is real. Hooray!

I got sushi for lunch in an attempt to stop my bad day from getting any worse. I just opened the container and there is no ginger or wasabi, and my chopsticks are from 7 11! Come on!