January 30, 2015 Update

First off, I would like to welcome all of my new followers that found me via Grow Your Blog!  Thank you for coming by, checking out my blog, and hitting that little button to keep following me.  I really do appreciate it.  
I am still slowly going through the list and have added quite a few blogs to my reading list.  I am trying to keep up and read the blogs every day, but the weekends may be a challenge.  So many people joined in on this event!  
On to the update!  
At home, I am currently bobbing away getting all my floss on bobbins.  I had to go to Michael's and Joanne's to get floss and I am still missing 1 color.  I will probably wait a week or so before trying again, or I will order online if neither store has it.  Oh, I could try Hobby Lobby, as one isn't too far away from me now.  (I love that store, but it is dangerous)!  I am trying to get 5 on bobbins per night, but I didn't get any done at all last night though.  So, once I have all of my floss on their bobbins, I will grid my fabric.  (Aida 18 count white).  Then I can start.  In case you don't know what chart I am talking about it is this one:

Lovely isn't it?  I am doing this for a co-worker as she loves giraffes.  The colors are so vibrant and amazing, I am sure I am going to love working on this one.

As for Ruh, as of yesterday, he looked like this:

 I have no idea why it won't turn... I am sorry about that.  For some reason they do that every once in awhile.  That is his left hand, it is coming along nicely.  I have stitched every day at lunch this week except for  Tuesday, (I took a nap at lunch cause I was tired).  
This weekend is dearest daughters 15th birthday.  We are taking her and two of her friends to the AOD con in San Francisco for the weekend.  It should be an interesting time.  I will take pictures and share.  We also bought tickets to go to WonderCon in April.  I am super excited for that one.  I am hoping to also talk my hubby into going to Disneyland why we are down in Anaheim for WonderCon.  I haven't said anything yet though.  
I think that is it for now.  See you all next week!
S.I.N.

GROW YOUR BLOG 2015

Howdy!  My name is Donna.  If you are coming here from the Grow Your Blog event, welcome!!  If you are already a follower, welcome back!

I am going to give a bit of information about my blog and my hobby today.  I hope you enjoy the post and I hope you enjoy all of the blogs you will be reading today.  :)

I have been stitching for many years.  My mothers friend made a cross stitch of geese many moons ago and it caught my attention.  She taught me how to stitch and for years I did the little tiny ornaments or child friendly charts.  It fell away for a few years and then I picked it up again.  I now do mostly HAED charts.  I still have others, but I love HAED so that is always my focus.  If you would like to check out their site, click here.

The reason I blog is rather simple.  It is an easy way for me to see my progress on my stitching so that I do not get bored or annoyed with the fact that I really don't have much stitching time.  I think it is good to step back and see what you have accomplished in a weeks time, or even a month if that is preferred.  

I am currently working on Unleashed by Anne Stokes, charted by HAED.  He is worked on black 18 count aida, 2 over 1.  I have finished 16 pages and I am currently working on pages 17 & 18.  I am removing the background myself.

Here he is as of Friday, January 23rd.  I am gridding the fabric myself, page by page.  I started stitching him on the black fabric on February 22nd 2012.  (He was originally started on white and I was stitching the background).  He is a labor of love.  I am stitching him for my dear hubby, who has nicknamed him Ruh.

Soon I will be starting SK Giraffe Silhouette by Annya Kai.  This will be my at home piece.  Let me explain - 

     I only work on Ruh at my job.  So I get an average of 4 hours a week to work on him.  Since I am doing the Giraffe for a co-worker, I don't really need her seeing it as I am working on it.  As it is a surprise.  :)  

I am a one-at-a-timer.  I stitch one piece at a time.  Of course, that will be changing shortly when I start on the giraffes.  I will not be starting another until one of these are finished, which will probably be the giraffes!

On my blog I also speak about my work, my family and my irritations.  I also speak my mind.
My daughter is almost 15, (only a few days now), and she is the light of my life.  She is very artsy and wants to be a graphic designer when she gets older.  She has a knack for art and it comes very easy to her.  My hubby and I have been together since 1991 and met in high school.  We didn't date in high school however.  He is the love of my life, my soul mate and my best friend.  I am not sure what I would do without him.  

That is all I can think of!  If you care to follow me, there is a follow button on the side you can click.  I would love to have you around!  

Enjoy the remainder of your day!

S.I.N.

January TUSAL

You too can join the totally useless stitch a long, or TUSAL, here.  Or you can click on my side bar to the right and it will take you there.
I didn't participate last year, and I forgot to take a picture of my 2014 ORTs.  I thought I would participate this year though.

Sorry it's a little blurry.  But there you have it, my January ORT pile.

My weekly update for Ruh will be done tomorrow (late tonight) for the Grow Your Blog event.  Come see!!

Non stitchy news is that my daughter has her birthday in just a few days.  We are taking her and her 2 bff's to the AOD con in SF next weekend.  It should be interesting.  I will try to take a bunch of pictures to show you all.  
She had finals this week and finished her semester with 4 A's, 2 B's and 1 C.  I am very proud of her!

Hubby is not liking his job at the moment.  The last two weeks he put in 120 hours... eww.  But the paycheck was nice.  He is actively looking for a new job now.  He has a couple that he is applying to this weekend which I really hope he hears back on.  Keep your fingers crossed if you would?

I hope to see you all tomorrow for the GYB event.  Have a great day!!

S.I.N.

January 15, 2015 Update

Howdy!  Two blog post in one day??  Well yeah.  I took some time to go and read some of the other blogs and signed up for the Grow your blog event.  
I love going through and reading the blogs I follow and would love to find a few more like minded peeps.
So lets see, what is up with me?
California has spare the air days in the bay area.  If you haven't heard of that, it is where, in winter, you can't have a fire in your fireplace or a bbq outside.  Of course, if these are your only sources of heat/food, then you are fine, but most people in CA have another source of heat and another source to get food.  There are other provisions to spare the air days, but these are the ones highest up on the no-no list. Anywho, we have had numerous since Jan 1st.  I believe all but 3 days have been spare the air days.  I understand why they have them, please understand that I really do.  However I enjoy having a fire in my fireplace on a night when it is 40 something outside.  (Remember, I am from CA).
I was invited to a "not a holiday party" party for one of my regions at work.  They also invited spouses or significant others so my hubby is also going.  He needs the break from work, so it's a good thing.  We are driving down south tomorrow and staying the evening.  Then Saturday on our way home, we are going to stop at my girlfriends house and visit a bit.  I see her once a year, maybe. It isn't very frequently I will tell you that.  I am looking forward to the entire trip!
We have been having some wonderful sunsets lately, here is one that my daughter took a picture of the other night.

Gorgeous no?  It was like that for about 5 more seconds and then the pink was gone.  It was purple right before she took the picture.
Ruh is coming along nicely.  Here he is after today's stitching.

Such a handsome boy.  I love working on him.

So at home, after this weekend, I am going to start getting my stuff at home all put together so that I can start Giraffe Silhouette.  Still trying to decide if I want to do the sk or the BAP.  It is for a gift for a co-worker/friend.  Thoughts?

So, does anyone know if one can go go Joanne's and use their little rooms that they teach in to meet up and stitch in?  My new stitchy friend and I are trying to find a place to meet that we can stitch at and are having problems trying to find a location.  We thought maybe a library would work, but we don't really want to HAVE to be quiet.  Ya know?  Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

That's it for now I think.  Have a wonderful weekend!

S.I.N.

Joining In

I am going to be joining in on the Grow Your Blog!!! event this year.  If you haven't heard or seen the sign up, go here.
I shall return later today with my weekly update on Ruh!

Catch ya later!
S.I.N.

January 6, 2015 Update and TUSAL 2015 Information

I am joining the TUSAL this year, ran by Daffycat.  (Click on the link if you want to see what it's all about).
I wasn't very good at keeping up with it last year, but I emptied out my bag on the 30th and I am ready to start the new year with new ORT's!
My stitching is coming along.  Here he is after todays stitching:

Not much, but every stitch it progress right?

Dear Daughters birthday is coming up and she isn't sure what she wants to do yet.  She better hurry up and decide!!

Not much else is going on.  I mean there's stuff, but meh.

Laters for now.
S.I.N.