Wow it has been a while since I've been here. I'm not cross stitching lately but I'm knitting. I'm learning how to knit this scarf that is supposed to be 72 inches long. I'm up to 30 inches now. This will take a while. :)

I'm still reading everyone's blog and leave comments here and there when I can. I wish I could be cross stitching more but I don't have a place in my home right now where I can leave it undisturbed. My daughter is getting into everything now and the last thing I want her to do is mess up my cross stitching projects.

Next month we are moving into a 2 bedroom apartment and I'm hoping I will have some space for my craft area where my daughter can't get into it. I have a friend who wants to come over my place and teach me how to sew. I'm really excited about it and can't wait to start using my sewing machine.

Just want everyone to know I'm still here.

Happy Easter!

An Update

I just thought to give an update on my Nautical project. I finish stitching it but I need to work on the backstitching. I don't have much to do but I have been ignoring it for a while since I have been learning how to knit. I really like knitting and want to work on it more than cross stitching for now. I will post a picture of my friend's gift sometimes this week. :)

Still Stitching....

I'm still currently stitching my friend's gift. It is almost completed and it's way past her birthday, but that's okay. She will get it eventually. I was planning to give it to her this weekend at the party but she doesn't want gifts at the party. So I will hold on to it until it's just us hanging out. I don't want to make other people feel guilty by not bringing gifts because I bought one for her when she requested no gifts.

I finally got the thread I need to backstitch my Nautical project but I want to complete my friend's gift first and then move on to the Nautical project.

I have also taken an interest in knitting. I have been practicing on "casting on" the needle and I really enjoy it. I guess I am getting alittle bored with cross stitching that I like to do something new. But I know I will always go back to cross stitching once I get the mood to do them.

A Life Of Passion

Getting Back To What You Love


There are times in life when we are committed to pursuing our passions. Every molecule in our body is focused on doing what we love. At other times, necessity and responsibility dictate that we put our dreams aside and do what needs to be done. It is during these moments that we may choose to forget what it is that we love to do. There are many other reasons for why we may leave our passions behind. A hobby may lose its appeal once we've realize it will never turn into our dream job. Someone important to us may keep telling us that our passions are childish and unsuitable - until we finally believe them.

Forgetting about what you love to do can be a form of self-sabotage. If you can forget about your dreams, then you never have to risk failure. But just because we've decided to ignore our passions doesn't mean they no longer exist. Nothing can fill the emptiness that remains in a space vacated by a passion that we have tossed aside. Besides, life is too short to stop doing what you love, and it is never too late to rediscover your favorite things. If you gave up playing an instrument, painting, drawing, spending time in nature, or any other activity or interest that you once loved to do, now may be the time to take up that passion again. If you don't remember what it is that you used to be passionate about, you may want to think about the activities or interests that you used to love or the dreams that you always wished you could pursue.

You don't have to neglect your responsibilities to pursue your passions, and you don't have to neglect your commitments to do what you love. When you make an effort to incorporate your interests into your life, the fire within you ignites. You feel excited, inspired, and fed by the flames that are sparked by living your life with passion for what you love.

I had a passion to learn how to sew for a long time. I didn't have anyone to teach me. I tried to learn how to do this on my own but always become frustrated when I couldn't understand the directions.

I learn better when I am watching someone or someone show me how to make something. I was so thrilled when someone finally took the time to show me how to cross stitch. It's still a learning process for me and I was able to learn a few things on cross stitching on my own since that person taught me how to make the first stitch

I did messed up on my first and second and third project, but I kept going and it keeps getting better each time I do a new project.

Now I enjoy cross stitching and want to take it to the next level with linen and evenweave cloths. I'm not sure if I will be able to get it right and it does seems confusing since I am used to Aida cloth. If not, I will have to wait until I can find someone who can take the time to show me how to work on them.

I even have a passion to learn how to sew clothes, quilts, knitting, crotching and other needleworks. So I am looking and hoping to find someone who can sit with me and teach me how to do these things. I know one day I will find someone who will and I look forward to teaching others someday and pass on my future talents to them especially my daughter. :)

Last Friday, I went to Michaels to get some more stitching supplies and I got everything I needed except for one color thread. They were out of it and I was so disappointed because it was the one color I needed to backstitch my Nautical project. So it is not completed yet as I am waiting to that particular color thread to come in.

Right now I am working on my friend's birthday gift and I won't display it until I give it to her for her birthday. Time is close and I need to focus on it to finish on time.

SBQ

I think I will try joining in the SBQ.

Comment on your comments (giving and receiving): Do you love comments or hate them? Do you check them every day, never check them, or find them helpful? And finally, are you convinced no one is reading your blog if you don’t get any?

I'm usually surprised when I get comments, but I do get excited when I received them. It helps me to keep up with my stitching.

I don't have a stitching buddy or anyone to encourage me to stitch. I do this all on my own. I rely on the internet for help and I have to figure it out on my own. Sometimes it can get frustrating when I can't figure something out and I feel like giving up. But when I received comments on my projects, it inspires me to keep going and then eventually I figured out a new stitch.

I try my best to give comments. I like giving comments but sometimes I'm not sure if they're being read if I never received a comment from that person. I always wonder if I said something offensive or boring and I always try to give positive comments. I like to spread good vibes. :)

I don't mind anyone reading my blog. My blog is a quiet one because that's who I am. I'm more of a listener and reader than a talking person. :) I do it mostly for me to help me keep track of my stitching project.

For example, I didn't realized I didn't stitch for almost 2 months because I was playing too much computer games. So I'm glad to be back to stitching and I'm really enjoying it. I guess there are times when you need a break from something.

Nautical Project Completed But....

I finally finish stitching my nautical project and when I decided to do the backstitching, I realized I forgot to buy the threads for backstitching.

So now I will have to wait to go back to the store to buy some of the threads I need to complete this project. I have no idea when that will be because my husband is working 9 days straight and I'm not sure when he will be free for me to use the car and go to the store. Hopefully I can go sometimes this weekend.

Meanwhile, I will work on my friend's project and I hope I have enough threads I need for that one too.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone have a good Valentine Day.

I am almost done with my nautical project and I should be able to display a complete picture of it sometimes this week.

I found this pattern on PatternsOnline.com. It's a Nautical Clock designed by Ursula Michael from the Jeanette Crews Designs, Inc.

The fabric I'm using is a 14 ct. Treasure Trove Aida Cloth from Silkweaver.

I really enjoy stitching this pattern and I can't wait to frame it. It's pretty easy to stitch and looks great!

Yesterday, I realized a friend's birthday is coming up soon and I want to make her alittle something. So I will not display it on here until I give it to her. She might look on here since she does have the link to my blog.

So once I am done with the Nautical project, posting will be alittle slow while I work on my friend's surprise gift. :)

My Nautical Project Progress

Okay I am back in the stitching mood and here is my progress so far on my Nautical project. I really like how it's turning out and hope to finish it soon.

Oh wow! It has been a while since I've been here. I am getting into the stitching mood again this week. For a while, I've been busy playing games on the computer at Pogo.com. I love playing mahjong garden and I think it's wearing me out now. So I am ready to do something different now like stitching.

I've been wanting to learn how to sew clothes. But I am working on my resolution first with losing weight. I've lost a couple of lbs so far and trying to keep up with it.

I also been trying to keep my home more organized with less clutters because we will have to move this summer of 06. So the less we have, the less we need to move.

I've been working on my Nautical clock project and I plan to show my progress soon.

Hope everyone have a wonderful day!

Hello and Happy New Year!

I'm sorry to say that I haven't stitched anything for the last couple of weeks. I didn't bring my stitching stuff with me in Jersey during Christmas week and it wouldn't have made a difference anyways because I was sick with a flu since Christmas Eve. I'm still recovering with a nasty cough and so happy to be back in the warm weather of Florida. I'm getting motivated to stitch again once I get the Christmas tree put away and unpacking all the clothes and new toys for my daughter. I'm eager to read people's blogs again and catch up on the latest news. I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year and have a good 2006. :)

Wow I am terrible at blogging here this month. I've been extremely busy with the Holidays parties, dinner, shopping, etc. I haven't gotten any stitching done. I'm sure I will be back to it once it's all over in Jan. I'm so sorry I couldn't leave any comments on anyone site. I will sure work on catching up on them in Jan.

Hope everyone have a great Holidays!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I haven't done any stitching this weekend because I was busy shopping and looking at Christmas decorations at different Disney hotels.

I also have been reading a great book called "A Million Little Pieces." I am halfway thru this book and once I am done with it,I will go back to my stitches. I can't put this book down. I have to finish it.

I did start my Nautical project and I will post an update of my progress sometimes this week.

Thank you all for your kind comments on my Halloween project. It's always nice to hear from you. :)

I finally finish my Halloween project today! I'm so excited to finish it. It took me less than a month, but I don't care because it's finished and my third project to complete. I will make it into something for next year Halloween. I'm not in a Halloween mood anymore.

Started: October 23, 2005

Completed: November 18, 2005

I just ordered Winter Breeze fabric at Silkweaver today since they had a sale this week. While I am waiting for the fabric to arrive, I will start working on my Nautical project.

One of my Christmas project will be "Gentle Encounter" by Stoney Creek. I'm thinking about using a silkweaver fabric called Winter Breeze. Here is a picture to give you an idea what it will look like.



I thought maybe this fabric can give the background of this pattern a snowy scene with it. Then I'm not sure if a sparkly white fabric would be better. What do you think?

The pumpkins are a pain in the neck. The colors jump around all over the place instead of row by row. So it's taking me longer than I thought to do the pumpkins.

I was planning to do Donna Kooler Christmas Designs, but I changed my mind and decided to learn some new stitches. I was admiring the Victoria Sampler Christmas Ornament and I don't know how to stitch something like that.

I noticed that VS had a section where they teach different stitches as a beginner's project which is called Beyond X Stitch . So I decided I wanted to learn them and order the first one. The first project is about Rice Stitch. So I am eager to get it in the mail and start learning some new stitches.

Then someday I can make that Christmas Ornament on VS someday. :)

I am almost done with my Halloween project. I am working on the pumpkins now. Then I have to work on all of the backstitches. I'm getting really excited that it's almost done.

My daughter has been taking long naps for the past 2 days and I tend to do my stitches when she is sleeping. I hardly have time to do it when she is awake. I usually sit in my rocking chair when I stitch and when she sees me sitting there, she wants me to pick her up and rock her.

So I tend to clean the house, play with her, read a book, or watch a tv show. I got most of my stitches done during the day because last night, my husband and I were watching the Amazing Race. It's a tradition we started since we got married. We love to watch that show and see all the different places they travel to. Last night, they travel in Costa Rica to Pheonix Arizona. I would certainly love to visit those places someday.

Here is a progress on my Halloween project. As you can see, I am working on the third ghost now. I hope to start working on the bottom half. Hopefully I will be done this week.

I will post later about my christmas projects that I want to do. I'm not sure if I will get them all done by Dec. 31st. I highly doubt that since I am pretty slow. :)