Hold onto your hats...

...it's gonna be a bumpy ride...

I'm finally back online at home...which means more blogging...and more stitching...and more papercrafting...and more pictures...

Be ready...

I really need a new router...

I can't stand not being able to take pictures and upload them to share with you all. I love and hate technology at the same time.  Ha!

I was bored out of my mind earlier today while waiting for something from one of my customers, so I was flipping through the pictures on my phone and found two worthy of posting here on my bliggity blog, because I just think they're so daggone cool.

This picture is of the Wanamaker Building in Center City Philadelphia.  This building hosts the largest playing pipe organ in the world!  Wanamaker's has changed hands a few times over the past 10 years or so, and is now Macy*s.  The ladies in my family go down every Christmas to see the light show -- we all know it by heart :-) -- and to do a little shopping while we're there.  During the Christmas season, the organ's pipes are covered by the Christmas Light Show Spectacular (I think that's what they call it) during the season, and when it's all taken down, this is the view you get while inside the center of the store.  (I will most definitely post pictures of the Christmas show when it's that most wonderful time of the year :-))

How amazing is this?!  And to think it's inside one of the buildings downtown.  Incredible.  If you click here, you can see information about Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, and even purchase CDs if you like orchestral pieces written around organs. (I am in no way affiliated with the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, I just figured I'd post their site in case any of you are interested in learning more about this incredible instrument.)

There is so much incredible architecture in Philly, it's hard to capture it all while you're strolling the streets.  I particularly love Old City, so next time I'll have to remember to bring my trusty camera and take shots for all of you to see.  I actually took this picture when I was in the city for the grand opening of Paper Source's Walnut Street store, at which I won one of the hourly drawings!

This next picture was taken in Durango, Colorado.  I went on a trip to take a ride on the narrow gauge railway which runs from Durango to Silverton in Colorado.  It was AWESOME.  I did it in the winter, so they only do half the trip (which still takes around 6 hours round trip) since the fear of avalanche is too great.  I'll pass on avalanches, thankyouverymuch, so I was appreciative of their cautionary measures.  Apparently, the summer tour which goes all the way up to Silverton before it turns around, is equally as amazing.  The views are absolutely breathtaking as you go along the Animas River.  One of the conductors pointed out the old telegraph wires which still run along the mountains alongside the train tracks.  I guess it's too remote to even bother taking down the wires!!

I took this picture when the train was stopped to turn us around to head back to Durango.  How cool is this!!!  I highly recommend taking this train ride, and if you'd like more info about it, click here.  (Again, I have no affiliation with Durango Train, I just had such a great experience, I want you all to experience it, too!)

That's all I have for today.  I'm hoping I can either get some stitching in or a few thank you cards made. 

Oh!!  Before I forget!!  Today is "Slightly Indulgent Tuesday" over at one of my favorite foodie blogs, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, so hop on over there and download some super tasty recipes!

Do something creative today!!!

Happy Monday!

First of all, God Bless America and our troops.  Hats off to the Navy SEALs for performing what no other special ops group could do.  They're elite for a reason.  We will never know their names, so the best I can do is pray for each and every one of them, and thank them in my own way.  I was up late last night watching the live footage from Ground Zero and The White House.  Incredible.

Second of all, thank you to all of my new followers!!  I'm still trying to get Internet access in my house, so I'm unable to do any blogging of any kind while I'm home (I'm again doing this on my lunch break at work).  Actually, I have Internet access, I just can't get my computer to recognize the wireless network setup by the previous owner.  I may have to just go out and get a new router.  Ugh.  At least I have cable so I can watch tv and so the house isn't so quiet.  The emptiness was echoing off of the hardwood floors and curtainless windows...

At least having cable allows me to watch awesome shows like "Game of Thrones" on HBO to fill up the time I'm unable to spend on the Internet.  It's filling the void I'm missing until "Boardwalk Empire" comes back on.  "Game of Thrones" is very much like "Lord of the Rings", which I LOVE, so this series is right up my ally.  So far, so good.  I actually put my needle down during these shows so I can pay full attention.  Ha! 

Side note:  I just found out that FOX finally has their shows available on demand.  I was able to catch up on one of the two episodes of glee I missed due to this cable/Internet debacle.  Yes, I'm a "gleek".  Don't judge me.  Haha.

I wish I could say I've completed a million and one projects since being in my new house with my spiffy new craft room, but alas, I have not.  I did finish a Cricket Mitten, which I'll be turning into a Baby's First Christmas ornament, but I neglected to take pictures of it to share.  This whole not having Internet at home is starting to cramp my style.  Can you tell I'm slightly annoyed???

Moving on...

I'm still working on one of the baby gifts for my friend, Katie.  I'm so close, yet so far...I still have to complete the border and stitch dear Tessa's name into the piece.  I haven't had much time to just sit and stitch for a while, so I might just have to force myself to plow through it and get it done.

I stopped at my new favorite store, Paper Source, over the weekend, and got some cute stamps and a sweet pen to do embossing with.  I cannot wait to break this out and do some awesome paper crafting!!  Stay tuned for what I'm about to create with that stuff!!

Happy Monday!  Do something creative.  Hang your American flag high and with pride today!  God Bless America and our troops.

What a week.

I moved into my new house last Sunday (holy crap I'm officially for real a homeowner now - it didn't seem quite so real until I moved in for good!), and it's been one insane day after another.  I STILL don't have cable or Internet access (I'm writing this on my lunch break at work) -- I plan on calling Comcast today to see about getting an appointment for that -- so I've been unable to do much of anything other than tidy up my house and....tidy up my house.  B O R I N G.  Haha.  I at least have a radio so I can listen to my Phils as I sit in the living room and stitch.

On Easter Sunday night, however, I decided to retreat to my craft room to relax after the day of festivities (Yes, all of you crafty people out there, I'm fortunate enough to have a designated craft area in my house!  It's the entire third floor!).  Even though it's been relatively cool still, as the weather warms up, so does the third floor.  The fact that heat rises is no joke.  It was pretty warm up there that night.

Anyhooter.  As I sat at my project table with my sweet sweet Ott Lite, I hear little paw pads climbing the stairs to the craft room.  Then, I hear a huge flop.  (It's amazing how quiet and agile my monster cat can be...and then how loud and ungraceful she is when she flops down on the floor...) 

She follows me all over the house, and when she realized I was sitting up high at my table, she decided to take a lil' snooze.  She's obviously exhausted from all the creeky floorboard dodging she's been doing.  Yep...she's figured out where all the creeky hardwood floorboards are, and can avoid every single one.  Animals are amazing.

I hope to get reconnected to the 21st century by the end of this week, but until then, I'm enjoying this gorgeous weather we're having by opening all the windows and blasting the Phils on the radio.

Ahhh....the sounds of summer :-)

Holy Creativity, Batman!

This is just a short post to give a shout out to my friend, Angela.  She's an amazing baker, and is quite skilled at cake decorating.  Today at work we had a baby shower for another coworker, Erin, and Angela volunteered to make the cake for the occasion.  This is the masterpiece she created --

How A W E S O M E is this cake?!?!  Erin has painted an argyle pattern on the walls of the nursery, so Angela took that theme and ran with it!  I love this.  LOVE.

I mean, look at those baby blocks on top (yes, they're made of cake, too!)!! How amazing!  And the argyle around the cake layers.  Incredible.  I won't divulge how long it took dear Angela to make this cake, but suffice it to say, it took her a long time.  I think it was totally worth it, since the entire office was ooo'ing and aaah'ing over it all morning, and Erin was totally floored that Angela did this for her. 

I also hear it was beyond delicious...a vanilla and chocolate swirl pound cake.  To die for.

Thanks for letting me share these pictures, Ang -- your cakes are A M A Z I N G!!!

There is a Season

Cricket Collection has some of the coolest designs out there.  Most recently, the designer has created four designs - one for each season - that are just SO cute.  I've already completed three of the four, and you've already seen my Winter, so I figured I'd show you the other two which I've completed but not yet framed.  I actually haven't decided as to whether or not I'll be framing them or making them into pillows...but that's a decision for another day.

Here's my favorite so far - Autumn.  I know we're all trying to get into the spirit of warmer weather, but I just love love love this pattern and the way it turned out.

I stitched this on 32 count Desert Sand.  I think it's available from Wichelt, but I can't quite remember, so don't hold me to that...

How freaking awesome are these colors!!!  I love fall colors, and they all just pop off of this fabric.  LOVE.

The apples in the "U" might be my favorite on the left side...but...the "T" is the absolute COOLEST.  The twisted tree trunk!  The leaves (which are stitched in a varigated silk)!  The crow!!  So darn COOL!!  And the Jack-o-lantern in the other "U"!  Love it!

And then, of course, there's the marshes with the cattails in the "M".  The turkey and the acorns are just the best final touches to this totally cool pattern.  I love everything about it!

Now...onto fresher colors...SUMMER!!  This pattern was the first of the series to be released, so I finished this in no time.  My favorite in this pattern are the chairs - one on each end.  I wish I was in one now, on a beach, sipping an umbrella drink.  I can't remember what the name of this fabric is, but I know that it's 32 count Jobelan.  If I can remember the name, I'll post it later.  I know this picture came out a smidge dark, but the fabric is an overdyed, and looks very much like a cloudy summer sky.  Totally cool.

I just love the radishes and carrots...and the grapevine on the "M"!  It'll be wonderful when those lazy, hazy days of summer come rolling in once again :-)

And look at that totally adorable birdbath in the "E"!  OMGosh!!  I love these patterns! 

I'm in the midst of making the final trips for my move and trying to complete some baby gifts, but next on the list is the final in this series, "Spring".  I will be stitching it on a 32 count Silkweaver fabric called Buttercream.  It's a beautiful fabric, and I can't wait to get started!!!

Do something creative today!! :-)

Old Glory

As spring and summer rapidly approach, so do the major holidays which remind us Americans of the freedoms we have and those who have fought and died and continue to fight for these freedoms.  Too often we get caught up in our own lives to take a minute and remember those men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, or who are separated from their families for months at a time on deployment.

In these uncertain times, no matter what your political preference, remember to support our troops.  As the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran and the granddaughter of a United States Marine during WWII, I hold high respect for our military.

Hang your American flag high and with pride this year and all year long.

Pattern from Stoney Creek magazine