I think I'll do one more. I think?

More

Stitching Star Wars

Just a few more...

There is a Star Wars obsession in this house.


I thought I would make my contribution. I don't know if I will do more, but I would like to. I thought I should start with my favorite.

Interviewed!

Oh Hai! Just wanted to share a little interview with me, by my friend, Mr X Stitch, in this month's issue of Creative Crafting. XOXOX-X-X-X

Open publication - Free publishing - More advertising

Wrapping it up

December is almost over. Man, it's been a long month. I've pretty much enjoyed every minute.

Some highlights this months were....

The Grover Beach X-Mas parade. Max and I were on the float for his school and Molly was in her school group ahead of us.


I helped my friend, Miss Crayola Creepy surprise her husband with this satin stitched Blake Griffin for X-Mas. She says he keeps it on his bedside table.


We celebrated with family members on both sides, like every year. I didn't take too many pics this year, so this is just a small representation of the family members that we celebrated with.




We took a lot of walks in between all the eating.




We got a juicer. :) I am really excited about daily juicing. I used it for the first time this evening. I love it. If you want to recommend any recipes, please do.

My friend Amy, has had huge success with one of her embroidery pieces. She asked me to help her catch up on demanding orders, along with payment. How can I refuse? I would do it for free for this girl, but you know, having some extra money in my Paypal pockets helps a lot. I finally get to order all the fun little embroidery trinkets and do-dads that I have had on my wish lists and bookmarks for a few years now.

I was asked to be in a couple of books to be published in 2012. I had to figure out how to edit photos of my work. Not my expertise, but I got them done by the deadlines.
I'll have an interview in a craft magazine in February and a local art show. More details in the New Year...

I am looking forward to 2012, continuing healthy habits and the weight loss journey. Hopefully passing up 200 soon. I would like to be 180 by April 2012, a year from when I started in April 2011. I have been maintaining for the past 3 months with strength training and walks.

My kids are growing up so fast and are hitting some milestones these next couple of years. I am going to be weaning myself from most of the ongoing social networking sites I am usually on. I will miss keeping up with a few of my favorites and their projects and exciting updates, but I know they know where to find me. I will still update my flickr and blog, and occasionally, Facebook.

I hope you all have a Happy Healthy New Year!!
Biggest LOVE
XOXOX-X-X-X

Contagious

I kind of like the blog style I have been having lately. Posting my embroidery projects and recapping the months. I don't know If I will continue this into 2012, but whatever, It's not like I have a million followers and I have to impress. You all know the theme here is my embroidery and my family.
........................................................................................................................................................................

Molly had her first band recital. She was so nervous, but ended up having a great time meeting up with her band buddies.


We spent Thanksgiving morning with my mom, brother and his girlfriend, sister and her boyfriend, at my brother's house. He had a mini Thanksgiving feast for us all so we could spend some time together. It was really nice. It's rare that we are all together, except for Christmas Eve.

I finished 4 more embroidery projects. Seen in past posts...

We spent Thanksgiving afternoon at our house. Randy cooked everything and I cleaned, just like everyday but more amazing. My Aunt Theresa and Randy's mom joined us. It was nice and cozy and very delicious. Of course I ate way too much and the fullness was really painful. My stomach isn't used to that anymore. It was worth it though.


Randy had to work a few late nights. I usually get scared trying to sleep by myself after the kids have fallen asleep. I try to find shows or movies on Hulu that will lull me to sleep. I thought of a show that I had heard mentioned by some friends and thought I'd give it a try since I wasn't too sleepy. I started watching and ended up watching the whole first season and lost precious sleep. I NEVER intentionally lose sleep, since I lose so much already naturally. Another "worth it" indulgence. Misfits (TV series)

Randy and I got to spend time with Mark AKA filmresearch and Amy AKA Drop Dead Quirky. It was a stitchy/silly meet up. My favorite. We also hit the dollar store and thrift store.


Mark presented us with a family of Coelacanths stitched beautifully to represent our family.



We met up with our friends Malinda, Jay, and kayla, to get our Christmas tree at the Avila Valley Barn. It's a tradition of ours. We usually don't get the tree that early, so I am watering every 5 minutes and keeping it in a cool area of the house.


I got a lovely package in the mail yesterday from Amanda
I won her blog giveaway, the one that promised something handmade, something coffeeish, and something bookish. All of her loves. I received a lovely scarf she made, a 1/2 lb of Autumn Harvest Light Roast coffee beans from her favorite coffee shop, and a Jane Austen bookmark. It was a sweet surprise.



It's now December 1st and this month is 10 times busier and I am actually looking forward to it all.
My mom, Molly, and Randy's dad, all have birthdays this month. My aunt from Hawaii is bringing her goddaughter to visit. Molly and Max will both be in the Christmas parade for their schools this weekend. Genova, Allen, Scudder, Winn, X-Mas celebrations. Yes, we celebrate 4 different times besides our own. And like I said, I am actually looking forward to it all this year. Holiday craft fairs, the Melodrama, and a partridge in a pear treeeeeee.

Merry Holidays!!

XOXOX

You Are A Beauty

Good-bye October

Busy times are ahead, so I thought I'd do a recap on October. Does that make sense? No. I just want to do a recap.

October 1st I decided that I would celebrate the month (my birth month and favorite month) by taking a break. I had worked hard for 6 months, A HALF A YEAR, on my body and new healthy lifestyle, by indulging a little. I have never worked that hard or long on myself. My metabolism is better, my sleeping is a little better, I have strength and some more energy. It's paying off, but I needed a little break.

Indulging this month included: Many Pumpkin smoothies, Chunky Monkey, I completed four embroidery projects, This healthy Birthday Cake, I got a manicure and pedicure, and some Halloween treats. I have gained 4 lbs. I was pretty bummed at first, but I can't complain, it is only 4 off the 40 I lost....now 36.

It's the 1st of the month and now it's time to get back on track. I am not worried about Thanksgiving because Randy is going to make the feast this year, all delicious vegetables, fruit, and Turkey. Grandma Ro has to bring her own stuffing. I'm not to worried about Christmas either.

October also included spending some quality time with all of our family. My sister has been walking with me on her days off in the evening. Cousin Rachel and Baby Fox have come to visit. We've spent time with both grandmas and both grandpas. We've seen Aunt T.T./Theresa a lot this month and got to see Uncle Joe and cousin Jake, and Great Grandma Dory.
I got a bonus friend visit from Amy too! :)

I really enjoyed October and I am actually looking forward to the holidays this year. I am not looking forward to the pain of getting back into my daily workouts, but that's the price I have to pay for indulgence.

...and now I will leave you with some recap pics. XOXOX

Night Tripper

Crowded

Fabric-hoop-doodle-spot first appealing color-split thread-needle thread- knot thread- stitch to the limit of just enough thread to knot-cut-stab needle into chair arm-toss thread bits on floor-choose next appealing color.....

Over the rainbow

It just needs to be framed.

3:00 AM

Every night I fall into this weird sleep. I will never be able to completely describe it, because I never completely remember. I can only describe it as "sections". When I awake through the night, usually the first couple times, I hallucinate very heavily. Sometimes it's one object, sometimes many. I can't begin to describe the images I see, they are unworldly.

I fall back into a deep sleep after the first "sections". Then always without fail, since as long as I can remember, even before the hallucinations, I wake up at exactly 3:00 AM every morning. Sometimes I will only stay awake an hour, if I am really relaxed. Most times I can not go to sleep till 6:00 AM.

This piece is dedicated to the mystery of 3:00 AM


Night-Night.

XOXOX-X-X-X

Housewarming

I have some friends in real life too. Can you believe it? I can't....

My dear friend Amy came over today to have some therapeutic laughs and check out my new place. She brought me this darling embroidery that she made when she heard I was moving to Washington....we never moved there, but I still do love the rain when we get it here in California.


Erin came to see the new place and to have a short but sweet visit the other day. She brought me these sweet succulents.


I am so thankful to have these special ladies and presents :) in my life.

XOXOX-X-X-X-X

Connections

I let my hand and the ink just flow. The design took over an hour to draw onto this 5 inch piece.
The needle and thread took over after that. The french knots weren't so fun...they don't look it either.

I designed this one with my "connections" in mind. I think of you often.

XOXOX-X-X-X

New additions

Home

Some of you have been asking for pics of the new place. Here are some views/paintings/objects in the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. You can click on the pics for descriptions.