The Hiatus is Over

Happy Thursdays Darlings!

Well I have certainly taken quite the break. In fact I'm pretty sure I haven't touched a needle in almost 2 months or more. Well that has all changed. Nantucket has been waiting patiently for me and over the past couple of days I've slowly been filling out the house. Believe me looks are deceiving... there are TONS of little stitches in there. But it's looking good so far :) My mojo is back in gear people! (And yup that's the Career's section of the classifieds in the background...)

I also have to mention the spring exchange that I did a while back with Stitched with Love Exchanges. There were a couple of tense moments when the package I sent took quite a bit longer than expected to arrive, but everything turned out in the end - *whew*!

This is what I sent to June:

June picked rabbits as the theme of her package so I thought Mr. Peter Rabbit was very fitting. The original pattern didn't have a border but I thought it needed one so I added one myself :) 

And this is what I received from Dawn: 

I just loved all the little treasures she sent to me especially the cookie cutters and cake themed chart :) Right up my ally!

Apart from that, while I've had no luck on the job hunt so far, I have been MEGA busy. All I've done for the past month is house building prep. 3 weeks of which was burning all the brush and trees on the land that will hold our future home… painstaking would be an excellent word to describe this process. Luckily I didn't have to do the cutting, which my lovely boyfriend and father have been doing. 

My land!!!! It's all dug up now :) As you can probably tell it was the beginning of April when this photo was shot - STILL SNOW ON THE GROUND!

On Fi-ah!

Mr. Amazing at work :)

See I told ya I've been B-U-S-Y!

Well my lovelies, that's all for now. I've got a bit more to talk about but I'd better to save it until next time.

Lots of love,

Melissa

New Beginnings

Happy Friday everyone!

Pewf! It's been a hard few days I must say. But I have managed to pull through.

I got my exchange piece off in the mail just in time thank god! While I love doing exchanges I have no idea why I procrastinate in sending them... I could have just sent it when I finished the piece buttttt noooo I have to put myself through the extra stress of waiting to send it off and then the stress of wondering 'How am I ever going to make it to the Post Office before it closes tonight!!!'. Unfortunately, this will likely be my last exchange for quite sometime I think. I found out late last week that I would be losing my job at the end of the month :( 

Lots of cuts at work and I got caught in the landslide. While the thought of no longer working at I place I have come to love is so disappointing, I have decided to take it in stride. There's pretty much nothing that could be done seeing as I had zero seniority. It had nothing to with my work and everyone has been so supportive. So I'll walk away in a couple of weeks having made some great friends and having learned so much more than I ever thought I would. I also have a lot to be thankful for besides as well. I mean I could have been moved into a new house with a massive mortgage and no way to pay it. As it is right now, I live with family and  all I really need to worry about it a couple of bills that my Employment Insurance will more than cover. So I'll be ok financially. So with that, it back on the job hunt for me.  

Over the past couple of years I've been applying to the occasional job ad and have had a couple of interviews. No job - obviously. With everything that has happened recently I've really got to thinking about how I need to approach any future interviews. I need to work on being clear and to the point. I find when I don't know an answer I tend to bable. ENOUGH OF THAT I say! I'm going to try and prepare more and perhaps even make out a list of possible questions.

Secondly, I've got to work on that thing called confidence. Jeez, I used to have oodles of the stuff, but lately I don't know exactly where it might be hiding. Practicing before an interview should help, but I also need to sell myself better and have more confidence in my abilities. I know I'm smart and have a lot to offer I just need to start acting like it. I also need to have confidence in me as a whole. In the end I think I need to start taking care of myself and work on some of the body issues that have been accumulating. I've never been a skinny girl and I have no desire to be, but I do want to get to a healthier me. Not one who is huffing and puffing after a couple flights of stairs. ENOUGH OF THAT! I've joined a gym and have a couple of sessions booked with a personal trainer to plan out some goals. Having been there a few times as this point I'm feeling great! I have more energy and even my boyfriend says I look more invigorated (God love him lol).  I hope to eventually be able to complete a spin class... which I tried to attend the other day... yeah that didn't turn out so great haha... Didn't even last 10 minutes and my butt is STILL hurting from the seat. Given that I used to own a bike when I lived in Europe - which I used ALLLLLLLLLLL the time, I don't really understand how I got to the point where peddling for short periods standing up got to be so hard, BUT, I digress. Confidence starts and finishes with me, and if I'm not feeling good about the skin I'm living in then confidence will be hard to come by. So here's to new beginnings! I'm ready for what the future holds and I refuse to get down on myself! There's lots of opportunities out there and I'm ready to dive in head first!

Ciao for now!

Melissa

The Dangers of Stitching and Gaming

Happy Tuesday everyone!

I've been procrastinating with posting this post (tut tut on me)! So I finally made myself snap a few pictures last night - Couldn't very well have a pictureless post now could we?!

Still busy in my little corner of the world and last week the cold hit me again... which seriously affected my stitching productivity. BUT it could have been worse. I could be down with that life-sucking, send-you-off-to-bed-for-a-month flu I had at the beginning of January. So by comparison this one has been fairly mild. I hadn't been feeling quite the same since January so I suppose it was only a matter of time before I got sick again. So I took a little time off to focus on getting better (... which was just as well because Old Man Winter had whipped up some nasty weather for us that day). I napped all day and really tried to take it easy over the weekend, hoping to encourage my immune system to get back on track. I'm feeling much better now and I'm really hoping to feel 100% again pretty soon. Now if only this dry throat would just bite the dust!

All the winter storms and all this sickness/injury that has been plaguing me lately has left me yearning for spring. I can't say this enough. I can't wait to see the soggy grass make a fresh green appearance from under the snow and for the tulips to start poking their heads out of the ground. I'm literally starting to have dreams about Spring, so mother nature - if you're listening - its time to bring a little bit of Spring to NFLD! Now only if it worked that way haha. Welllll - wouldn't you know it, I think she heard me!

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

By: Lorie Hill

March roars in like a lion

So Fierce,

The wind so cold,

It seems to pierce.

The month rolls on

And Spring draws near,

And March goes out

Like a lamb so dear.

We all know the saying - In like a Lion, out like a Lamb - wellllll it's literally been peeing out of the heavens since March 1st - hey at least it isn't snow! I don't mean a light rain or anything I mean full blown down pour.  We've had 4 days of rain to awaken to... dare I say it... a spring like sunny morning today!!!! I really hope that our weather stays true to this saying... although I know that we're likely to have one more snow storm before Spring starts to pop her lovely head out of the soil. But hey! A girl can dream can't she?!

I guess you could say I'm reallllly in the mood for Spring too because of the exchange piece I'm stitching. The theme this month is Spring/Easter and I'm having oodles of fun putting together a package for my exchange partner. Too bad I can't show my stitching just yet!

But that's not to say I don't have stitching to show you. Since I had such a low key weekend, I resumed my post in the stitching chair and watched my boyfriend play games allllllllll weekend. I'm sure he was in his absolute glee... me... not so much. I actually don't mind the odd game as long as it has a good storyline. But boys... they just LOOOOOVE their shooting games. So I stitched and stitched and stitched with the soundtrack of 'bang, boom, kaBLAM' in the background. I haven't shown a progress pic of Nantucket for some time now so you'll see quite a bit of difference. I'm over halfway done now! It's looking so great don't you think?!?!

By the way, I actually managed to get pictures this morning with the fleeting morning sunlight *GLEE*

You'd say I've never seen the sun before...

I'm powering through this one for sure. All the different motifs and sayings are great little stitches and usually when I start one I can finish it pretty quickly and see lots of progress. I guess that's what's great about samplers!

Now I should mention I'm not completely innocent on the gaming front... a couple of Sundays ago I fell into the trap of the gaming monster myself. The monster...

Dear god is this game ever addictive...

Now let the epic battle between stitching time and gaming time begin!!!

Until next time,

Melissa

Birthday Celebration and Giveaway Winner!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Well I've finally gotten around to writing this post. It's been a busy couple of days and to say I was in no mood to spend any more time on the computer than I ABSOLUTELY had to would be a huge understatement.

But I've missed you all soooo much. I don't think I've been able to take in all your lovely blogs for almost a week now!!! YIKES!

As you can probably guess the weekend was just a touch busy too ;) But what a GREAT weekend! And of course I have some awesome pictures to show you!

First order of business... BBQ!!!!! Yup we're hard core, grilling it up on the smallest BBQ you've ever seen in -10. The boyfriend did an awesome job I have to say :)

Steaks anyone?

Then a LOVELY most DELICIOUS surprise from my friend. THE best cake I've ever had in my life! I mean it - the icing was so light and creamy... the cake so moist and fluffy... not to mention the Ferrero Rocher! It was to die for!!!

The next day was just as beautiful. Especially when you wake up to toutons, eggs and bacon. Oh and did I mention toutons fried in bacon fat. Certainly not a heart healthy meal but probably the tastiest morning after the birthday breakfast one could ever ask for. 

YUMMMMM! These girls are amazing touton makers!!!

After a little downtime post breakfast it was time to pack up and get ready to go home. With a storm on the way there was NO WAY I was going to stuck in a cabin with no running water that we had to walk into because of the snow. I was sad to leave because I enjoy the cabin so much, but there'll be a next time!

Shot of the lake in front of my cabin. Gotta love the winter landscape!

On the way home the gang and I decided to make a little detour to Brigus South. You might recognize some of the scenery because I had pictures up of this very same place during the summer. But don't be mistaken... it was WAY colder this time around. The pictures however were beautiful none-the-less.

Me and my friends, complete with big puffy coats. Ca Ca coooooold!

Beautiful! Brigus South is another one of my favourite communities on the Island. It's such a picturesque fishing village and is the epitome of Rural Newfoundland. 

Now onto the big news!!! We have a winner! And itsssss *drumroll*

CONGRATULATIONS Tammy! I'll be in touch soon :)

And thanks to everyone who participated! 

Well that is all from me for now,

Have a great week everyone!

Melissa

Giveaway winner announcement soooooon

HI ALL!

I've encountered a little delay and will hopefully be posting my giveaway winner tonight or tomorrow! Sorry for the wait!!!!

Melissa

Sails

Happy Thursday everyone!

Welcome to all my new followers Annnnnd Happy Valentines Day! :)

I've never been a huge Valentines Day celebrator. BUT I'm certainly not a hater! I mean come onnnnn a day all about love - how could anyone hate that!? Even if you don't have a significant other, it doesn't mean you can show how you feel about someone whether it be your husband/wife, mom/dad or even brother/sister! But this year I do have a special someone to think about :) I feel like I should recognize the day by making sure to spend time with the one I love at the very least. But as for big boxes of chocolate, extravagant dinners and huge bouquets of roses, v-day cards - well I was never a fan. Just show me that you love me and I'll be a happy woman! Of course a little bit of this 'I don't do Big Valentines Day' mentality went totally down the drain when I saw this on my bed: 

I nearly cried! No joke. I've never gotten roses before...

Such a sweet gesture and he even got one of my favourite teas. Yup, suffice it to say I was thoroughly surprised! I've defiantly got myself a keeper ;)

Now onto the stitchy stuff!

I've been merrily stitching away on 'Old Nantucket' over the last week or so and I've got a fair bit done. I stopped last night after having completed the word 'sails'.

Since it was (and still is...) billowing out I thought the word to be very poignant. I for one wouldn't want to open any sails in the wind we've been having lately! I might as well not even do my hair before I leave the house because between the winter hat and the wind... well lets face it... there's no hope. I've been longing for the spring for what seems like forever now and winter is hardly over yet - AT LEAST another month or so to go yet. 

So I think my stitching chair is where I'll likely spend the rest of these winter days. I just have no interest in the outside. It'd be ok if we had a couple of days of decent weather without the wind so that I could get out and enjoy the snow... BUT NOOOOOOOO it's either snow and wind or just plain old freezing nippy wind. It just makes me want to retreat. AS. FAST. AS. POSSIBLE. Even the thought of having to go out to my car makes me cringe. Nope, I don't want to have to battle the elements when I step out the door!

Hopefully mother nature gives me a little break on the weekend because I'm heading up to the cabin on Saturday!!! Snowmobile, crackling fires and good friends await! To say I'm counting down the days is an understatement haha.

I suspect my next post will reveal my Giveaway winner! Make to leave a comment here if you'd like to participate! Ends on Sunday February 17, 2013 :)

Until next time,

Melissa

Heart Broken...

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Well actually I'm kinda down in the dumps as it were... Not that anything life altering has happened... but I guess it is a little life altering for a stitcher.

I went on my favourite online cross stitch store this morning only to nearly have heart failure when I saw the shipping costs. Puzzled, I messaged the owner. Apparently the US postal service has pretty well doubled shipping prices internationally (I live in Canada) - we're talking $8-10 instead of the $4 I used to pay. This has resulted in my utter devastation. I order things fairly regularly online due to the fact that I don't have a Local Needleshop I can raid every now and then. Before, it was fairly economical for me to order only one or two charts per order and still feel like I'm getting my moneys worth. Now that's all changed. Knowing that online shopping is my only option I think I'll now have to wait until I have a fairly substantial order built up before I can justify purchasing anything... period. 

This just breaks my heart... I honestly feel jipped. Just last week I made an order of a couple charts and now it's double. And because I don't have a huge selection of charts in my stash I think this will probably mean that I will not be able to participate things like SALs with monthly charts and Exchanges.

I don't even want to think about what this might do to all those lovely online stores either! 

Ugggggghhhhhh I'm feeling such a mixture of frustration and disappointment, especially knowing that there is nothing I can do about this. 

What else can I say??? OH MY!

Melissa