Some catch up and some finishes

Hi Everyone, having ones computer die can be very rough with commuications with family and friends. I now have a new desktop computer, fits just right into my messy desk area. Springtime has come to middle Georgia - the cherry blossom trees are just about done, but now the azaleas and dogwoods are showing their beauty, will try to get a photo up sometime soon. Below is my March TUSAL, I know it is a bit late, but no computer, not picture to post.

I did get my March ornament stitched. She is from the 1999 JCS magazine.

Below is my wash/dishcloth for the month.

I have been busy stitching and doing some beading as well as working in the garden.

Thought I had it down on how to down load my pictures from the camera and no it didn't work, had to have DH and DD come and help me figure out this new program.

I know this will get easier as time goes by, so bear with me.

Hope you all are doing well - I will be catching up once again with my blog reading.

Have a great rest of the week and a good weekend.

Thank you for stopping by --------------- Roberta

Today is the first day of the Cherry Blossom Festival

Well, I am slowly getting use to the new computer and was able to download pictures from my camera.

Since today is the first day of the Cherry Blossom Festival here in Macon, Georgia, I thought I would share part of what this is all about.

First, the newspaper is printed on "PINK" paper. Everything is "PINK" and everyone dresses in Pink and they serve Pink pancakes. It is truly a fun event and this year the weather has been so cooperative that the Cherry Blossoms are out and still busting out - will have more photos of trees tomorrow. I belong to the Ikebana of Middle Georgia group and we are invited every year to do arrangements in all of the rooms of this historic house - the Woodruff House.
Below are three photos of my designs which in located on the first floor sitting room.

The container above is a true Ikebana container.

The one below I found at TJMaxx and was hoping that chopsticks would fit in the holes - and yes they did, so it is truly a unique container.

The two designs above are sitting on the mantle and this design below is in the hearth.

Here is a photo of the whole look.

I will try to post some more photos of designs, but I need to ask permission of the other ladies who put designs in.

Thank you for visiting -- until later --- have a great weekend ----Roberta

No Computer, No Blogging, No Messages

Just a quick note, to say that not only am I waaayyy behind in blog reading, but in everything else that is 'computer'.

My faithful laptop has been acting up for the last several months and I am sad to say that it has seen its last days. So here I sit with a new 'desktop' but without all my goodies - pictures, worksheets, patterns, whatever. The computer doctor is trying to pull off my information from the laptop. So hopefully, I will be able to get this new 'puter organized. I am really concerned about my pictures, we'll see what happens.

So off I go to get more comfortable with my new friend. I will be back in blogland soon, but I need to catch up and read everyones blogs first.

Until later ---- Roberta

Finishes, kitties and the yard

This has been a busy, crazy month for me, but I did manage to get stitching done and some pieces finished, as well as, getting some work done in the yard.

I finished up this ornament last nite while watching the Oscars - so now I have my February ornament done - need to pick what I will stitch for my March ornament.
I have managed to also knit and crochet two more wash/dishcloths. This is also another goal of mine for this year - a wash/dishcloth a month.Finished putting this strawberry together - it was stitched last year!!! Time does seem to fly, I have about 5 or 6 more of these!!!
Now I have finally finished BBD's Tis the Season!!! I started this last year in hope of having it done for Christmas 2010 - WELL, it didn't happen, but it is finished now and I just love it.
The Cardinal is just so beautiful and it was a fun area to stitch, the leaves on the other hand where not my favorite things to work on.Now for some kittie photos - Ms Saddles and Mars helping me with my sewing.
I brought the sewing machine down to the kitchen because I had a lot of machine work to do and I needed to work on the machine inbetween cooking and doing other household things.
Now here is Natsuki and Ms Saddles with Ginger in the background. They are sitting on my ironing board in the kitchen, watching everything I am doing. They do try to help out!! LOL
Now we have Natsuki doing her high railing act.
This just drives my husband crazy - he is fearful that she will fall!
Now here is Blackie - one of the outside feral cats, she is watching the birds on the ground eating the seeds that fell from the feeder.
Here is a quick snap of one of the birds - a Tit Mouse.Here are the pretty faces of the Pansys - they are just so sweet poking out of the leaves.
A shot of the side yard, the bushes starting to green up.
Bought myself a Pink Dogwood. Also have some potting to do.
Another shot of the yard - front side - Spring is in the air!
Well, I must say if you have managed to stay with me on this post - thank you!!! As I have said in the past, my computer time is so limited now that I am working, that I needed to get in as much as I could in this one shot. I am able to read blogs sometimes during work, but I am not always commenting - do not want to push my luck!!!

Thanks for stopping by - Enjoy the week ---- Roberta

February's Projects

Well, it has taken a bit of time to get some pictures taken of my February stitching, but it would help if I had batteries in the camera that were full!! LOL

One of the things I hope to accomplish this year is to make a wash/dish cloth each month. This is the one for February. I find that it is easier on my eyes if I knit or crochet in the evenings, when I have a tiring day at work, so these washcloths are a nice evening project. I also have a pair of socks going and a scarf or two!! can't remember!!! CRS is taking over very quickly. LOL
Here is one of the projects from my challenge of 15 new ones for the year, didn't get very far did I??
Here is good old Sanctuary by Drawn Thread - my hopes is to get this done this year, but then again I have been saying that for about 2 or 3 years now!!!
Another newbie, Witches Hollow, but it was started last year. In hopes of getting this done by August.
Here is my ornament for the month of February - it is from the 1999 JCS Ornament issue - it is called No L by Eileen Bennett.
Now here is Quaker Christmas - don't know what happened, but this was to be finished in 2009 (notice date on picture) and it has been put away twice now!!! not sure what is bothering me about this piece, but it will be finished with any luck by the end of March - at least that is my goal for this piece.
This is from a class I took with Catherine Jordan at the San Francisco EGA Seminar. The box top is done and the inside piece is painted, just have to put some stitching on the piece - a sea monster and a mermaid. This is another piece I hope to have finished by the end of March.
Here is Tis the Season from the BBD Joyeux Noel. Almost done it is set to be finished by the end of this month. I just love the bird on this piece.
Work is keeping me busy, so my computer time is becoming so limited, I do try to read as many blogs as I can, but I am finding it hard to always comment, so do know my friends from the blog world that you are still part of my life.

Thank you for visiting me.

Roberta

TUSAL, scarf and an outreach

Well today was a rainy misty day, but headed off to Athens, GA for stitching time with friends. The first Thursday of each month we get together to sit, stitch, eat and chatter. It is a great time with friends.

So now I am home, waiting for the meatloaf to cook and trying to get caught up with the computer things. Computer time is really cutting into my stitching time, but I love blogging and reading blogs and reading the groups messages, one learns so much about what people like to stitch and buy, but it is also an enabling tool for wanting to buy more things for ones self!!! It is also so good to see what new products, designs and classes that are available through out the country and the world.

Below is my jar for the TUSAL, this is one SAL that requires very little from me - I love doing this. I went to Marshall's and bought this great glass container for only $6.00 just for this SAL.

Here is another pompom scarf for one of the gals at work -it is finished, and it is long, we used 2 skeins of pompom.
These next two stitched pieces are for the EGA project - Kissing Pillows - theses will be made up into a small pillow and then they will go, with other pillows, to a military base and will be given to those that are deployed overseas. I believe one is kept by the military personnel leaving after it has been kissed by members of the family and then (I am not sure about this part) the other pillow will be kissed by the soldier and kept by the family.
I feel really strong about doing whatever outreach project I can do, since I love to stitch, knit, sew or whatever - it is something that needs to be shared and I do hope that what I do does make a difference.

So my goal for this month is to get at least 1 ornament done - I have 4 lined up and kitted; I will finish "Tis the Season" (WIP) work on getting the writing stitched on "With My Needle" and some motifs done on Witches Hollow. I could be biting off more than I should but we will see how it progresses - I can always adjust.

Well, off to read some blogs and finish up dinner - have a great weekend everyone.

Roberta

Some finishes

Well, I am happy to say that I have finished 4 ornaments for the month of January.

Below is a freebie from Sandy.
The next 3 ornament Raindeers are from Sharon at DaffyCat, they are so cute, and a fun and quick stitch.

I love to make washcloths/dishcloths as gifts for friends. Below is a pattern I did this past month it says "Happy 2011".
These 3 little heart squares are for a neo natal unit at an area hospital - the mother wears the square for a day or 2 and then when the infant is born it is placed in the incubator with them and the smell of the Mom is present with the baby.
Now you all know that I can stitch or knit or whatever at work on occasion when it isn't busy, well it has finally slowed down at work and I was able to knit two scarves using the PomPom yarn from Michael's. One of the girls at work loved the scarf and wanted to learn to knit one, but I thought learning to knit with pompoms might be a bit overwhelming so I will make her her scarf this coming week. DD, Lindsay also loved the scarf - her pompom yarn is the pink one shown.
Both of these scarves where knitted on #8 needles, but you can use any size on up. I casted on 8 stitches on the brown one and 10 on the purple one. Just knit as usual pushing the pompom out of the way - usually I was able to get 2 stitches between each pompom, but sometimes 3 stitches and once in a while only one.

Well, need to go and work on some other projects that need to be done - one is a WIP and the other is a new start.

You can see on my side board the list of new and wips that I want to do this year.

Thank you for dropping by -- will put up some photo's of the Callaway classes in the next day or two.

Roberta