HAED Themed SAL Jan. 2009 And NEWS!

The Theme was: Background. So I continued working on Dark Cherry. I'm working around the sparklies, I'll do them once all the other stitches around that area are done.

Now for the News! I am one of the Winners of 2008 SAL Challenge! I was so stunned when I saw the post this morning over at the HAED BB! I get to pick 2 full sized charts as my prize!!! I haven't picked yet, I'm still in shock! I'll update you when I do make my picks. The people over at HAED are so wonderful! Thank you HAED and all the HAED stitchers!!!!

On a non-stitching note, I have to travel for work next week. I leave on Superbowl Sunday and return on Friday. I'm going to New Hampshire/Maine. Just the place you want to go in February, NOT! No offense to anyone that lives there, I just hate the cold. NJ is cold enough for me, so I'm not looking forward to this. Pray for a foot of snow at Newark Airport on Sunday! (Maybe then I can get out of this trip!) I don't think I will be updating my blog till after, so have a great couple of weeks, dear readers! Thank you for your comments!

Jan. 2009 HAEDless SAL

Worked on CDC this weekend. I've finally made it to the right border. A bit less than 2 pages to go on this one! Stitched on Black 25 Ct.Lugana using Vicki Clayton Varigated Silk in Tugtupite, full X, 1 over 1. Started April 12, 2007.


I worked a bit more on Dark Cherry before the SAL this weekend. I am really slow compared to some of the other stitchers! If you'd like to see other's, visit The HAED BB, and look in the Dark Cherry SAL forum here: Dark Cherry 2009 SAL pics

HAED 2009 SAL Challenge!

It's being working differently this year, so here's the scoop.
The SAL challenge for 2009 which will be a freebie QS 1 Year Challenge...
The challenge being CAN YOU STITCH ONE of four QS charts in a year?

Each person selects ONE of 4 special QS charts. All four charts are approx the same size. (These charts were not released for sale - there are only for participants in THIS SAL.) We sent email to the mod with our chart choice, at which time she sent back the details so we could kit the selected chart. On the second weekend in January we received the first page of our selected chart.

Every second weekend on alternative months until the end of the year.. we get a new page. i.e. January, March, May, July, September, November

We will have a monthly freebie QS Challenge SAL which will run over four days .. Friday to Monday.

We can stitch the chart any time we want, not just over those four days.. and we don't need to post regular WIPs if we don't want.

BUT... if we DO post at least 4 WIP pics we will receive the remaining freebie charts at the end of the year as a reward for participating in the SAL... they will not be available at any other time they are exclusive to the SAL... so that is four QS charts for free if we post WIPs.

IF we finish our chosen chart within the year including posting a final picture we will go into a drawing for five charts of our choice, courtesy of HAED.

So..... HOW COOL IS THAT??!!!

My choice was Dark Cherry - artwork by Ching-Chou Kuik.
We've just completed the first weekend of the SAL. Here's my progress. Stitched on a Silkweaver Solo, 28 ct. Opalescent Lugana, full X, 1 over 1. A little more than 700 stitches so far.

Christmas Cat Pictures

Here's the boys on Christmas morning. Daddy is helping them open their presents. On the right are (in order left to right) Sky, Simon, and Storm.




Here is Sky. Daddy! Hurry up and open that!!!!



Ohhhh! Cat nip!!!!



We can have some now!!! YAY!



Then, on Christmas night...
Peace on Earth,



Goodwill toward Men!

Happy New Year!

I know I haven't blogged in a while, sorry. I was off from work Dec. 17th through today. Lots of company and visiting over the holidays. I hope your Christmas and New Year holidays were fantastic, and all your fondest dreams came true!
I'm posting pictures today of the progress I've made with my projects over the holidays.
First up is Curly Tailed Rosey, hadn't touched her since Feb. of 2008! HAED had a SWIP/UFO SAL this weekend so it was the perfect time to get her out. I had a page happy dance! This is page 1 completed and page 2, 3, and 4 started.
Next is Lil Blue Fairy Cat. I wanted to finish him before the new year, but that just didn't happen. I don't have far to go though, so maye this year...

Next up is a new start for the new year! Bewitched, artwork by Katerina Koukiotis. This is what it will look like. It was RAK from Becky (rlj1217 from the HAED BB). Thank you Becky!!!! This is my first black & white chart start. I am stitching it with Vikki Clayton silks! The fabric is SMF, 28 ct. Jubliee, the color name is Squall. It's a very light grey.

Here's what my start looks like. It's hard to get a good picture of this one. The silk is really shiny IRL. It's a pleasure to stitch!

So that's it on the stitching front! I start back to my Spin classes today. I'm starting slow, with 2 classes a week. I'll see how that goes for a bit before getting back to my normal 6 classes per week. It'll feel good to finally get back!
I hope to post again tomorrow with Christmas Cat pics!