Last call!

Hello again, Dear Followers,

I managed to survive the first day of Cub Scout Day Camp...barely. The heat, the humidity, the pain of being on my feet all day, lots of walking, lots of lifting heavy stuff. Ack!  If anyone has experienced plantar fasciitis or know what it is, you probably have a bit more sympathy for poor, old Karen.

On top of all that, I had to put loaded air rifles into the hands of 60 10-year-olds and teach them what to do with it.

Only three more hot, long, sweaty, miserable days to go. Is it Hunky Friday yet? Tell me when it's over.

Okay, now that I've finished my pity party I want to take a moment to remind you of the deadline to enter my giveaway. Entries must be in on or before August 4th. That's this Saturday.

The rules are easy. You must be a follower. You need to leave a comment on my original giveaway post. You may pick two packages to be entered in. If you post on your blog with a link to my giveaway, you get double the entries. You can click on the button at the top left to get to the post with the packages and entry.

Good luck to you in the drawing. Good luck to me in surviving the rest of this week!

A Hardy, Hunky Friday

Hello Dear Followers,

It's that time again. Yes, Hunky Friday. I know you've all been waiting to see who I'd post this week. Well, with all the hullabaloo about Batman: The Dark Knight Rises, I considered Christian Bale. Now don't get me wrong, and for those of you that love him, more power to ya, but I'm just not into him.

However, there is a certain villain in the movie named Bane. I'm not all into the mask-on-the-face thing, but the guy that plays him...hubba hubba!

Without further adieu I give you Tom Hardy...

 

If you've gotten this far without fainting or having hot flashes, then let me remind you to enter my giveaway. Deadline is August 4. See button on the top left.

 

I been baaaad!

I have been a bit naughty this week. My checking account is melting!

I've now placed three different orders for beads. (Lots of Swarovski!) I ordered two chartpacks from Joan Elliott, and if that weren't bad enough, I asked Jo from Polstitches to add two other fabbies to my monthly L/E club piece. Oooo, I hope Sean doesn't notice. I might get a spankin'!

Accidental Genius

Let me tell you a little bit about my husband...

Sean's artistic sense of style is often, well, let's put it this way... usually when I ask him to pick between two things, I go with the opposite of what he chose. It's safer that way. This is the guy that will wear a Kelly green t-shirt with olive-colored shorts. eeeeewwww!

However, I ask his opinion about stitchy stuff on occasion, and I'll explain why.

Sean has a hobby. He has a 1967 Cutlass convertible taking up our entire garage. He currently has the engine out of it and has been doing bodywork on it for a couple of years now. Picture this...one side of the 2-car garage = Cutlass; other side of garage = engine, plus 2 or 3 welders, plus compressor, plus etc., etc.

He really likes to drag me out there and say "Look at my welding, Hun!" He also likes to try to explain a lot of the mechanics to me. Picture me saying "Uh huh, uh huh," while thinking "Bread, milk, butter, diapers, cat food..." I try to follow along because it makes him happy.

So why do I show him everything I stitch and tell him lots about it? Revenge, mostly. It's not that I really expect him to pay much attention or even care, but I sort of want to keep him included, and there's also that revenge thing.

So, last night I was in a bit of a quandary. I read a blog entry from Rahenna, about the Passione Ricamo SAL. She didn't like the big clusters of beads, and decided to substitute some beautiful Waterlilies where all the beads would go.

I am totally enamored with how this looks. However, and here's my problem, I do really love beads. I love the sparkle and texture that they add. This is the latest pic from PR.

Last night, so he would understand what I was harrumphing about, I told him my problem and showed him the pictures. I had to spend a minute explaining hand-dyed and variegated and that sort of thing.

He said, "Uh huh, uh huh. Well, what do you like best?" Big help, this Sean.

I put him on the spot and told him that he had to pick one or the other. I was fully intending to continue my standard practice of choosing the opposite. It is safer, after all. (think Kelly + Olive)

He thought for a minute and said, "I like the beads," and he paused, then added, "If you like the multiple colors of the thread, couldn't you just use a mix of different colors of beads?"

*crickets chirping* My jaw hit the floor.

I just finished placing my order for 7 kinds of purple- and wine-colored beads.

My husband, the accidental genius. I knew I married him for something. ;-)

Don't Forget!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! And remember, if you post a link on your blog, you double your entries. Entry deadline is August 4.

Check out the cute little button I made on the left. :D

Hugs and smooches!

I need an intervention!

I have no money for it, but my fingers want to hit "Place Order" on several hand-dyed fabby sites.

Oh, and never mind that PTPs Christmas in July sale is this week.

I'm doomed.

I Recall that it is Hunky Friday

The movie remake of Total Recall opens on August 2.
I thought Colin Farrell would make a lovely hunk to share with you.

Believe it or not, he actually does smile.

 

Okay, now, breathe.

Today's Teddy TUSAL, and...GIVEAWAYS!

Time for a TUSAL? Totally! Just ask Teddy.

My jar is starting to get pretty full. Will it last the rest of the year? Dunno, guess I'll try mashing them down a bit.

As promised, I've gathered some things to celebrate my 50-follower milestone. There are five packages. Please leave a comment including which package(s) you'd like to be entered for. I think you can select up to two. If you post about the giveaway on your blog and mention that in your comment/entry, I will put your name in twice. The deadline for entries will be August 4. I will post the winners around Aug. 5 or 6. I will be suffering at Cub Scout camp all the previous week teaching 10-year-olds how to shoot a BB gun. I will be quite exhausted afterwards. (Have the margaritas ready, Honey!)

* Edited to add...to enter you must be a follower of my blog. Thanks!

Package #1

 Package 1 is for the ribbon embroidery lover. There are 4 skeins of ribbons, a mixed bag of ribbons, and a little Santa kit.

Package #2

 Package 2 includes 6 skeins of Weeks floss and two pink, stitchable hand towels.

Package #3

 Package 3 includes two charts from The Sweetheart Tree; Blueberries 'N Cream sampler and Catnip Kitty Fob.

Package #4

 Package 4 includes three charts: Wombat Creek-Hearts As One wedding sampler; Ewe and Eye-Me & Thee; and Shepherd's Bush-Button Santa.

Package 5

Package 5 includes seven miscellaneous Kreinik metallics.

I hope you like the giveaway options. Be sure to check back that first week of August to see the winners. Thanks for following me!

Hugs!!

Holy smokes! - a milestone

Wow! I'm now at 50 followers. Who'da thunk?

Welcome to my new followers, and hugs to all of you that have been around since the beginning all those long months ago. tee hee  I'm a little surprised that I didn't scare any of you off with that photo of Mel last week. (He almost scares me off!) I have to blame that on dear, sweet Parsley who said "It would be funny if you sneak in a real stinker some time." So, it's all her fault. ;-)

I have been gathering things for the giveaway that I promised. I just haven't gotten around to taking pictures of them. I will do so in the next day or two. It'll probably be posted with tomorrow's Hunk. I guess I'd better pick out a good one!

Well, I'm so flattered that all of you are interested in my nuttiness. Every time I get a new follower I have to run and tell the hubby to remind him that he should be listening to me, as well. I'm so naughty!

Thank you all so much!

Hunky Friday - What date is it?

Here's your hunk for you...

 

Just kidding! You knew it was Friday the 13th, right?

Do you remember when he looked like this?

I do. Very sad how far those stars can fall.

Now, you don't think I'd leave you with that first image stuck in your head, do you?

Of course not! Here's another hunk for you. This one has as big an ego as the other one, though. This is Maksim Chmerkovskiy from Dancing With the Stars.

 

 

 Okay. Now you can forgive me for that first one. hee hee

See you next week!

Gettin' close to a giveaway!

Ooooo, we're getting close to a 50-follower milestone! I'm up to 48 now. Welcome aboard Tracy J!

I've begun picking out some giveaway items, and I'll be visiting my LNS tomorrow. That could mean trouble!

If you have any friends that enjoy stitching, round robins, or tasty hunks, send them my way. :-D

Did I forget Hunky Friday again?

Oops! I did it again.

I never did get out to see Magic Mike this week. I've been a little under the weather. But, I'm still inspired by the movie and Mr. Matthew McConaughey's recent wedding. awwww

So here he is in all his glory!

I have no words.

Yikes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I couldn't resist adding another picture from the movie. Heavy sigh!

4th of July WIPocalypse

Well, here we are. Another month has gone by. Have I gotten any stitching done? Yes, but not enough.

I finished Cat's Band Sampler RR. Boy, was that one a doozy!

Cat's Band Sampler RR

I finished Linda's Mirabilia RR. Garden Beauty. I gave her a little nose job. She had quite a beak on her.

Linda's Mirabilia RR

I'm around halfway through Stephanie's Joan Elliott Garden Fairies RR. I don't usually like to show partial pix of RR squares, but I tried being clever keeping my section unfocused in the back. (A trick I got from Laura of Passione Ricamo, revealing unfocused teaser pieces.)

Stephanie's JE Garden Fairies RR

Speaking of Passione Ricamo...I have the supplies to start the Mistery SAL (except a few PTBs), but I haven't had time to start it yet.

But, speaking of new starts...I figured I needed to start a wee bit on the Bellydancer kit that I am reviewing for Yiota's . I managed to quickly do the first two 10 x 10 blocks yesterday.

Bellydancer No 1 from Yiota's

"What else have you done, Karen?" you ask. Well, I decided that I'm not happy with my DMC StitchBows, so I'm going back to Ye Olde Floss Bobbins. I've been winding, and winding, and winding...and I haven't even scratched the surface. The Girl-child seems to enjoy watching me wind, though.

By the next WIPocalypse check-in I will need to have worked on and/or finished: Steph's JE RR, Kathy's Sweetheart Tree Band Sampler RR, Kathy's Mirabilia RR, and Debbie's JE RR. Not to mention putting a dent in the Bellydancer, completing Section 1 of the PR SAL, and starting Section 2. I'm exhausted just thinking about it, but in a good way.

That about sums up this month. See you in August!

Getting close to a milestone

Oooo, looky! I have 45 followers!

When I get to 50, I will be sure to have a giveaway. Spread the word.

(And I just noticed that this is my 50th post. How fun!)