New Giveaway at Carolyn's blog "Taking one Stitch at a Time"

Hi folks, have been visiting different blogs and ran into this little giveaway. Here is the link: Taking One Stitch at a Time.  Carolyn has a lovely blog and makes some very nice things. Check it out!

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Giveaway

Hello friends, this shop is having another giveaway of the new spring colors of floss and perhaps some trim. Here is the link: Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. Check it out and good luck!

You know you're eating bad food when....

Well friends, I have no pics this time, just a bit of....complaining. I've come home from a two week business trip to Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Now, before I start complaining, let me begin by  saying that I love getting away. Air travel still thrills me and the airport security screening seems to move faster every time I go.  I also enjoy driving around and then going to my hotel room and worrying about nothing other than what to have for dinner.

Part of the appeal of traveling for me is being able to go to local restaurants and tasting local favorites. In South Carolina I can count on having chicken and dumplings. In Pennsylvania, a glass of Birch Beer with my weinerschnitzel is vonderful gut! Unfortunately, this time around, I didn't have the time to search out these local restaurants and wound up at a few spots that were recommended by hotel front desk keepers - what is the official term for these folks??

Suffice it to say that the food I had this time around was terrible. In Lewisburg, I had dinner at a favorite Italian eatery that was so terrible, I wondered how the proprietor/owner wasn't embarrassed. The restaurant hadn't been decorated since the late 80's or early ninety's. You know the look - all gray and mauve with chrome finishes. Plastic flowers decorated the windows. The food was bad. I had the seafood linguini and couldn't tell the shrimp from the scallops...scary!! And the sauce hadn't been finished properly...too bitter and also lacking in flavor. Locals swore it was THE place to eat. I did eat at a Thai place that was wonderful! Siam Restaurant serves food that is authentic, flavorful and fresh. The food is spicy - even their "mild" is too hot so make sure you tell them to skip the "spice".

Here is a pic of Siam. It is a tiny little place so be sure to get in early. During the winter it's not so packed but in the Spring its hard to get a seat. There are another three tables on the other side. They are moving in March to a bigger area. Here is their Facebook link: Siam Thai Restaurant


In South Carolina I wound up The Clock - maybe the one near Florence. There are several apparently, but I don't recall the city I was in. I don't think it matters as they probably all serve the same type of food. I looked at the menu (dirty and greasy) and decided on a burger...how could one ruin a burger right??? I did get a burger looking thing, but it certainly did not taste like a burger. It was salty and had the texture of meat but I have no idea what it was. I did have them put mushrooms, swiss cheese and bacon on it, and lettuce and tomatoes and that should have helped, yes?? NOT. The vegies and cheese tasted the SAME. Close your eyes and put a piece of paper in your mouth, THAT's what this burger tasted like. I gagged and couldn't finish it. Now, most of you don't know me, but I am one of those folks that will and can eat ANYTHING. For some reason, I just couldn't stomach this "burger". It was so fake.

I also ate at a Chinese Buffet that was horrible, but really, I can't complain cause its, like...its a Chinese Buffet for god's sake. So that experience I will not complain about.

So after three bad meals and countless trips to the water closet, I decided to eat in the last two nights and picked up frozen entrees at the Walmart and ate in my room.

America, you know you're eating bad food when:

• you can't tell what's in the food (no particular flavors stand out)
• you can't distinguish the lettuce from the tomato by taste or texture (yikes!!)
• the cheese sticks to the roof of your mouth and you need a shovel to get it down
• frozen entrees taste and smell better than the slop you are getting at the restaurant.  
• your stomach keeps trying to return the food to your plate and
• you spend more time than usual in the bathroom after you've eaten it.

Happy New Year!

Hello my stitchy friends. Hoping you are having a lovely Christmas Season and wishing that 2013 is an especially wonderful year for you and yours.

I've been thinking of my stitching successes for 2012 and feel I have had a very good year. Managed to finish a few UFOs and finished several WIPs that had been languishing for a long time.  I've started a stash diet, too, which so far has been very good for me. I've decided that I want to work on the many projects I have on hand. I have already kitted up the Nora Corbett's sunflower fairy from the CS&N magazine (issue ?).

Below is my most recent finish of a DMC freebie..this was a challenging stitch for me because it had more colors than I like to work with. I just loved the way it turned out although I do think some shadow along the base of the pots would have given it a bit more dimension...I wasn't going to add anything once I finished it though.

This next one is the one I am currently working on. I ran out of a color so had to put this down for a few days but I am back now and hope to finish this one in another week or so. The pattern did not have any outlining so I added back stitching to sleigh, Santa and some of the presents and I think that it really makes it pop.

Below is a pic of the lovely ornament that Angela made for me for this year's Christmas ornament exchange for one of my Yahoo groups. I love it and am going to make others in colors.

This next one is MILL HILL Bead Kit "Paisley Pumpkins". This was a real pill to do...too fiddley. But its done and framed!

And lastly, here is my Rabbit in a Berry Patch framed by moi. I just think this is such a different kind of design. Simple and elegant. Definitely one of my faves.

Well, that's it for now! Thank you for visiting and please leave a comment!!

Hugs, Christina

Exchange Ornament

Hello all, I wanted to share a pic of a little biscornu ornament I made for Meari, for the SNS2 yahoo group. She took this picture and let me use it here. I enjoyed making this for her. The pattern is from this year's JCS ornament issue, but you won't recognize it, I think. I changed everything about the design. I like mine better!

A Giveaway at To Stitch or Not to Stitch!

Hello all, I know its been a long time since I last posted. I have been busy stitching and doing Holiday related activities so not much time to blog. Also, still no camera! Might Santa bring me one this year? I certainly hope so! I thought to post about a lovely giveaway that Barbara is having at her blog. I really enjoy her blog and visit quite often. Check it out and join the fun! Here is the link: Barbara's Wonderful Giveaway!.  Good luck and Merry Christmas to all.

Stitching Update - Announcement of Winners

Hello friends, I've another update with pics and announcement of the winners. Sorry for the late announcement, but have been under the weather and only worked a half day...and just plain forgot.

The winners are  Xeihua and Mab3500. I will be sending each winner one of the patterns and a few other treats.Congratulations and thank you all for participating. I've got up to the 50 mark for followers, so thank you for that as well. Winners, please contact me with your mailing addresses.

Below are a few pics of what I have been working on:

Above is Halloween Quaker...coming along nicely!

I

I sewed Give Thanks onto pre-made heart pillow with a hanging cord...how's that for finishing! Just fab! Especially since the pillow only cost me one dollar!

And this is my progress so far on the By the Bay fall SAL. Tres cute. I love the Dr. Seuss like trees.

Well, that's it folks! Keep on stitching!

Hugs,
Christina