Romantique Sampler progress

Section 3 is complete!! I am really loving this design - I have never stitched a sampler before so this is completely new.
After I completed section 3 I was really, really worried that I didn't have enough fabric to do section 4. I have now started section 4 and I do have enought room, but just barely!

Sections 1, 2, and 3 all together. I can't wait to finish section 4 :o)

Fishing

Fifteen fish "caught" in the last two weeks. I can't believe how many of the hot blue fish I got out of that ball of yarn after knitting a dishcloth. Granted the dishcloth was on the small side and I did use the Lion Brand Cotton which seems to have more yarn in each ball, but still.
I will need to do something about organizing these so that the colors are more spread out.

A respectable 68 fish so far!! I need a total of 180 so I am not quite half way there.

What do you do with an Easy Bake Oven that your 9 year old got for her birthday, but doesn't like because she bakes in the "real" oven?? Give it to the 6 year old. He LOVE, LoVE, Loves it!! The kits for these are uber expensive, but I have heard that there is a website that shows how to create goodies from your kitchen cabinets. Time to start browsing!

He is so proud of himself. He can make these all by himself which is so important to him right now. He is a big boy after all, you know :o) I didn't get a picture of the finished product because as soon as it came out and cooled off, he broke it into 9 separate pieces and handed it out to everyone. Because: "Mommy, it tastes so much better when everyone is sharing and eating at the same time." Boy, does he have it right or what?!

cross stitching

This past week has been totally terrible. I lost one good friend to breast cancer on her 49th birthday and found out another friend has pancreatic cancer that has spread to her lungs. It is non operable so they are treating her with chemo. These two ladies I met when my older kids went to the parent participation preschool - they live/d a healthy life, exercize and good food. I am sad beyond belief. My cross stitch and knitting has kind of (but not really) taken my mind off things for a bit of time. My dad tells me that I need to move on - that these things happen. I know he is right. I am holding my kids and husband really close and appreciating all the little things going on on a daily basis.
I have managed to make some good progress on T's Christmas stocking. Above is the toe from the last time I blogged.

And here is how it looks as of yesterday. I did work on it a little bit last night so things have changed a bit.

This is the heel part

Some progress made over here as well. I seem to just jump around willy nilly as the mood takes me. It is totally amazing to me that some of the blogging pictures I look at have a "line" of stitches - like they stop at the same point in a row all the way down a section - How do they do that?

Betsy the Bass

This is a cute little cloth named "Betsy the Bass" designed by Janet Nogle who is the moderator on the Monthly Dishcloth Group.

I think the above picture is of the front - it sure stands out nicely :o)

Started: 02/01/2011

Finished: 02/10/2011

Needles: US5

Yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream

Color: 01742 Hot Blue

Lot: 1005 237084

or is this the front?

Both sides look really nice -- Huh....I just noticed that there is a part on the border (right by the tail - do you see it?) that is not garter stitched.....well...I don't think I'll take it apart. We just use these around the house so I think I am the only one it will bother.

FINALLY!!!

I finally finished the second section of the Romantique Sampler by Angie. I love, love, love it!! It took way longer to stitch the second part than I anticipated, but I am so happy with it.

Here is both section 1 and 2 together.
A close up of section 2. Aren't those heart flowers sweet?!
Now to send these pictures to the designer so I can get the next two sections.
Can't wait!!!

S..L..O..W

That's the word for the week this week. We have been very busy as a family so as a result not too much in the way of crafty work :o( I am also fighting off some kind of cold and my energy has been a bit low. But I am NOT sick!!
Progress on the Monthly Dishcloth - only the first day and of course everyone else is done already.

But, played with this little guy

For some reason he likes the back as much as the front. It is neat the way the pegs stick through.

This fish represents the end of this particular ball of cotton.

10yo making a fleece pillow. It's not done yet. I helped a bit and then one of his friends came over and helped him to knot. Just the rest of the stuffing left!

15yo daughter made this cake - I frosted it - for her French teacher. The teacher has been out for a bit dealing with a cancer and is supposedly cancer free now, but she is very tired and worn out and I believe needs some more treatments so she is taking the rest of the year off. We wish her all the best and the cake says: "Good Luck Madame Wolfeld" I hope she is back next year with some good stories to tell.

8 fish for the week

This is as far as I have gotten on the second section of the Romantique Sampler. I hope to finish this section soon so I can receive the next sections.

This is how it looks with the first section.

AND since I was looking around the internet, I found a new SAL that is working on special stitches and I thought I would join in. It's called the "Tree of Stitches" and I first found out about it on DJ's blog, Tickled Pink In Stitches. Her blog is fabulous!! That led me to the Stitch Specialists Yahoo Group where this pattern can be found. It seems like a very nice and friendly group - everyone helping eachother out. I can't wait to start this!