Shall we make plans?

Shall we make plans for a celebration?

I've noticed that my followers are now up to 85. 85?!? I can't believe so many people are even remotely interested in what I've been up to. Or, is it about the hunks? Wait! Don't answer that! Let me briefly revel in a passing cloud of self-importance. (It wasn't gas, I swear!)

So, anywho...

Welcome aboard to all my new followers! I'm glad to be able to share my silliness with you. I do my best to follow all of you. I may not comment all the time, but I make an effort to spread the love around when I can.

If we can entice another 15 people to agree to listen to my blatherings...er, follow my blog, then, guess what?!? I'll have a giveaway!

That's right, you heard it...a giveaway. Perhaps I could even be persuaded to dig around in my frightfully large stash of hand-dyed fabrics. Oh, you perked up at that, didn't you? Maybe I'll even toss in a gift certificate to somewhere...

If you'd care to help me get to that magical mark of 100 followers for a giveaway, then please mention me on your blogs.

I have another exciting event to celebrate! Sweet Kate from The Suddenly Kate Show is having a book blog tour, called "The Pasty Tour," to promote the launch of her new e-book, 12 Days Young/Young 80. She'll be visiting right here at My Stitchy Ramblings on March 27th. I'm very excited about this!! I'll shortly be reading the book myself, so I can sound like I know what I'm talking about.

The book sounds really fun! It's actually two short stories. One is a romantic comedy, and one is a scary story. From the short stories that I've read on her blog, so far, I've already seen warm, descriptive narratives, visceral chills, a wicked sense of humor, and wonderfully twisty endings.

If you're ready to check it out, you can get the book on Amazon here.

So, please make sure you join us on March 27th for The Pasty Tour. How fun is that?

An All-In-One Post (it's a biggie!)

 

This is becoming a bit of a habit. I've been a less than reliable blogger. Sorry.

In my defense, we had another death in the family in February. We suddenly and unexpectedly lost my uncle. We had family come in from out of state, for whom we were entertaining for a couple of days. In that same time frame I got terribly sick. (again!!)

I apologize for whining. It was just a tough month.

So here I am with a huge post. I will cover not only my February WIPocalypse update; not only my end-of-month Theme-a-Licious wrap up; but, I've also remembered that it is Friday, and you are overdue for your hunk.

Let's see...Where to start?

WIPocalypse
The themes for Feb. were Little House Needleworks, Love/Family, and white and red colors.

I found and started a new project that would fit all the categories of the theme. (Don't expect that to happen often!) I started stitching LHN's Baked Goods. I love baking pies for my family at the holidays. This reminds me of that. It does have the colors of white and red in it. The red that was called for was GAST Mulberry. The skein of Mulberry that I got, though, was very brown and has almost no red in it. The next time I'm at my LNS, I will pick a different color that I like better.

In January I started my Joan Elliott Diary SAL. This is how far I got on the January piece.

And this is how far I got on my February piece.....

[  ]

Yes, it is supposed to be blank. I never got to start Feb., so on to March I go.


I allowed myself another new start. (So naughty!) I did the first bottle of Ink Circles' "99." This piece is for my dear hubby. He really has been supportive with my stitching, even though I tend to make him sound grumpy. He even turns a blind eye to my stashing addiction. (mostly) I wanted him to see me start on something just for him. I changed the shelf color from the charted solid mauve to a pretty wood-colored overydyed cotton. There will be more to the shelves than just one row of stitches. That's all I got to before starting the Blue Moon beer bottle.

I have been working really hard on Laura's band sampler round robin piece. It is sucking the life out of me! The problem is that the sections ended up side-by-side (long story) and quite wide. Each section seemed to get larger and larger as each stitcher got more adventurous in the Celtic theme. Dear, sweet Catherine, who did the section to the right, was so inspired that she created an absolutely enormous section. Normally that wouldn't affect me at all, but since I had to stitch across from her, and because I am the last stitcher, I felt that my section needs to be the same size as hers to keep it symmetrical. Gaaaaaaa! This thing is eating my mojo.

How about some entries for Theme-a-Licious?

The theme this month was:
Figural February: Who are the people in your neighborhood...your WIP neighborhood, that is? Give your people-populated projects some face time this month.


Firstly, I posted last month that I finally received my Mira round robin back, with Lavender started in the wrong spot. I ripped out the offending stitches and re-stitched her in the correct position. I will send this on to Julie to work on Sweet Pea shortly. When I get it back from her, I will bead everything and call this one done!

I had wanted to get at least another 300 stitches done on Bellydancer No. 1. I didn't get quite that far. Almost 200 done in a couple of hours, but it doesn't look like much.

Before

After

 

 

 

I had intended to stitch a step or two of my exceedingly neglected Passione Ricamo SAL. I didn't get to it at all. I blame Catherine of the uber-large band. :-b (If you're reading this, Cat, I'm just teasing.)

The theme for March is:
March Madness: Work on something different every day...it's madness...of the funnest possible kind.


Honestly, that's not going to happen. I have too many obligation stitches to finish. Once I get through those, though, I might jump around a bit to some WIPs that have been neglected. I may even make a new start or two, just because I'm nuts that way.

Now, what you've all been waiting for...HUNKY FRIDAY!

Again, I'm sharing some special requests. Today I have John Cena for your entertainment. I much prefer Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson over this guy, but to each her/his own, right? ;-)

Oops. How did that get in here?

If you got all the way to the end of this everything-but-the-kitchen-sink post, thanks for sticking it out!

Until next time...
*hugs and stitches*

~Karen

Hunky Monday??

Sorry. I missed Hunky Friday. We had another death in the family last week. I had relatives in from out of town all weekend. If that weren't enough, I've got another lousy, stinking, terrible cold. Sniff.

Okay. Enough whining.

I've had several follower friends placing hunk requests of late. Over the next few weeks, I shall honor those requests. If you have someone special that you'd like to see featured, feel free to drop me a line.

The following hunk is not really my cuppa, but he is cute. Requested by a fellow blogger who has been watching Ripper Street with me, I present to you Matthew Macfadyen.

I'll try not to miss this next Friday. :)

Theme-a-licious Check-in

So this is my first mid-month check in for Theme-a-licious.

I don't have any pix ready to post, so I think I'll just tell you a bit about my plans.

This month's theme is: Figural February - "Who are the people in your neighborhood...your WIP neighborhood, that is? Give your people-populated projects some face time this month."

Most of what I stitch includes people, but I will make a special effort on a couple of neglected pieces this month. (I hope.)

I received my 2012 Mirabilia Round Robin back (finally). However, the last stitcher only put in a partial section, and she stitched it in the wrong box. :(    So, I picked out the stitches she had done, and I stitched Nora Corbett's Lavender Pixie in the correct box. Dear, sweet Julie from Red Couch Stitcher , has volunteered to stitch the remaining box with Sweet Pea pixie, so I don't have to do two boxes. When I get it back from her, I will do the beading on all eight pixies. I will share a picture during my WIPocalypse check in.

I really want to put in another couple hundred stitches into Yiota's Bellydancer No. 1.

Here is what she looked like last time:

I'm almost certain that I won't reach the actual bellydancer, but I'd like to make some progress.

I have also long neglected my Passione Ricamo Mistery Fairy SAL. I completed through Step 2. We've received Step 8 at the beginning of February. I guess I'm a little behind.

This is what it looked like through Step 2 (keeping in mind that I do the beading at the end):

So, let's see if I've made any progress by the end of the month. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

February ORTs

Quick post today.

It looks like 2013 might be a very stitchy year. It's only February, and look at all these ORTs!!


 

Sorry, I didn't have a chance to coax a cat into the picture this time.

*hugs and stitches*

Hunky Friday Redux - "Got Milk?"

Yes, I know. I did him before....ha ha ha! I just had to say that. (Wishful thinking)

I was inspired by a Super Bowl Ad. I wish I could send Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson out to get a gallon of milk for me. :-D You've got to love a hunk that doesn't take himself too seriously.

I just love this guy!

The Boys Are Back in Town!!

Forgive me, dear readers, for depriving you of hunky manliness for so long. You know the last couple of months were rather stressful. But, fear no more, I'm bringing back the hunks!

I hope you don't mind a repeat. Manu Bennett was my second ever Friday Hunk. The final season of Spartacus began last week, and I'm newly enthralled by this guy. Be still my little heart!!

I have some new pictures of him. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Just look at that smile!

Love the black tee!

I almost shorted out my keyboard with all the drool. ;)  Heavy sigh.

See you next time.