tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67590569320895321522024-03-20T23:54:25.456-02:30St. John's StitcherMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-60255110105821466092014-07-09T16:12:00.001-02:302014-07-09T16:12:30.197-02:30I'm still alive!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Wednesday!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just a quick fly-by post here today to let you all know I'm still breathing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Been a busy month or so here at the new homestead and it doesn't look like I'm not going to get a break for a least another 2 weeks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are ALMOST ready to start moving our things in... ALMOST. I feel like I've been saying that for just about forever. In anycase, it's for real this time! Our kitchen cabinets are just about up. I'm stilllll painting base boards. And we will still need to stain the kitchen cabinets over the next couple of weeks before we can go for an occupancy permit (the joys of building...). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While just about everything will be finished by the time we're ready to move all our gear in, it looks like not everything will get done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like our kitchen countertops... yup went to order them today... 4 WEEKS WAIT. I seriously nearly died. Sometimes I really hate living on an island in the tip of the continent. Well it looks like I'll have plywood countertops for a couple of weeks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hope to get back to my regular blogging soon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-31394216124566090082014-06-12T12:04:00.001-02:302014-06-12T12:04:23.341-02:30Raving Gob Stuffing - The Entree! (Pt.2)<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Thursday,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Weeeeelllll it seems that I may have caught the foodie eye of some of you with my last post ;) I'm glad I could be the devil on your shoulder egging you on to indulge (cue evil laughter).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The title says it all. Today's post is allll about the entree that I hinted at previously.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll give you a little warning before I go any further... time is this recipe's best friend. But don't let this deter you, it's worth the effort!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm talking about <b><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/amy-thielen/peppered-pork-and-parmesan-flatbread-sandwiches.html" target="_blank">Amy Thielen's Peppered Pork Sandwiches</a></b>!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The recipe has a couple of different components that I've never done before. 1 was making flat bread for the sandwiches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The method was a little different compared to the usual way I make actual bread but it still came out lovely. Plus commmoooon! BREAD... carbs make me happy :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The second was that the recipe calls for the pork to be placed in a brine for a few hours / overnight. I did a dry brine comprised of salt and sugar. I won't get into the scientific reasons why brining is good, suffice it to say that its purpose is to produce a juicy piece of meat at the end of it all. This is particularly helpful for typically easily dried out meats like pork, chicken and turkey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can safely say I am now a brining convert! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Would you just look at that crispy peppery crust! I have to tell you, I was very skeptical about putting soooo much pepper on the meat initially. I don't do well with spice (I'm a total wimp), so the first time made this I put on about half of the called for pepper. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNNBmQJF66MfFisuPBeCpDO2vyMo9FI11cWddQw-DlgLOJxhY0ukql5C7Y2iiKU7YUlcytF_ovUs6WkcPKNun21lKHaIWJA8L3tBh0LOOvJr0VzV460SCyQip_DNDDSF-NPfOeyAIJOew/s1600/june+2014+057+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNNBmQJF66MfFisuPBeCpDO2vyMo9FI11cWddQw-DlgLOJxhY0ukql5C7Y2iiKU7YUlcytF_ovUs6WkcPKNun21lKHaIWJA8L3tBh0LOOvJr0VzV460SCyQip_DNDDSF-NPfOeyAIJOew/s1600/june+2014+057+edited.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've made this a total of 3 times since first trying it and now I try to get the thickest layer of cracked pepper corn I possibly can on this baby. At the end of the day, you shave the meat so thinly that you hardly taste much of the pepper at all. It just becomes another layer to the overall flavour. (PS: If you have an electric knife now's the time to use it - so much easier than hand slicing every piece.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was also my first time grilling flat bread on the BBQ. I couldn't get the picture of the bread going up in flames and burning down the house out of my head. I didn't let this pyro-phobia get to me though. I wacked on a few stretched pieces of bread dough at a time and they came out BEAUTIFULLY! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> And here we are, the final result. Toss in your favourite green, some parm cheese and flavoured mayo and you've got yourself a winner!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll leave you know with the pups. They got a little tried from following me around and around and around while I was running about the kitchen. They are my constant shadows. I can't go anywhere without them following me. That fact makes sleepy moments like these so precious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy cooking!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-9508544170740388582014-06-09T16:27:00.002-02:302014-06-09T16:27:56.868-02:30Raving Gob Stuffing! (Pt. 1)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Monday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My goodness it's been a busy couple of weeks! I seriously have had next to zero time to devote to the stitchy world. Between house work and actual workplace work, I've been flat out. Needless to say, when I opened my blog reading list and it said I had over 500 unread posts I realized just how much catching up I've got to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I did however get a little bit of time to spend in the kitchen :) One of my favourite things to do. As with any hobby, I find I go through spurts of feeling like spending lots of time in the kitchen whipping up something to feed the gob. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But, BOY, have I ever been on a roll over the last few days. I contribute it all to discovering a new cooking show called Heartland Table. I am now totally and completely in love with everything that Chef Amy Thielen creates. I have never seen a show or read a single cook book where I think I would actually make and eat everything they make. I may LOVE Jamie Oliver for example, but some of his stuff I could take or leave. But this is NOT the case with Ms. Thielen's creations. Everything I have seen her make so far I could gobble down in a second. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I spent the last couple of weekends trying some of her creations plus a few extras! I've posted links to the recipes for those that may be a little tempted ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's far too much to show you in one post so expect a follow up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For the sake of this foodie post I'm going to show you an amazing appetizer and flavourful (and nutty) dessert. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes I actually think I could just eat an appetizer and follow that with dessert and I would be one happy woman. But then again, when you have a show stopping e</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap;">ntrée, well WHO would want to miss that. (I loved it sooooo much I'm devoting pt.2 to it!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First up is <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/amy-thielen/fried-onion-dip.html" target="_blank"><b>Amy Thielen's Fried Onion Dip</b></a>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveK1M_nkOxS8H-1Lr_AVv719gTZdGZtLRpEl5YCzOY28WClZKKzCx2crqZpeK5dyzKUReLfh73scyhWYzAfzRGlHCEj-uDW0grUBWILSeY26PE9ewTtd_Cgm-vjhj6UopZ1uX32fd6X7S/s1600/june+2014+013+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveK1M_nkOxS8H-1Lr_AVv719gTZdGZtLRpEl5YCzOY28WClZKKzCx2crqZpeK5dyzKUReLfh73scyhWYzAfzRGlHCEj-uDW0grUBWILSeY26PE9ewTtd_Cgm-vjhj6UopZ1uX32fd6X7S/s1600/june+2014+013+edited.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course, if you're like me, anything involving onions, butter and a fry pan is an equation for success.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Goodness, just look at those caramelized pieces of heaven! I can almost smell them now, even though the dip has long since been devoured...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJ1MoB83yK3YvGKiAI1rJXh1vYy_DNKqMw0sdMlG2iswHeJGfRslelHyvAvR43YtLF-5L_vtKPBI9X3wF4cnebi2xlacaLsdYPAAomKsqgDpKl1e096Ua8xwwju6trQFYvtcZdTzDjwkE/s1600/june+2014+034+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJ1MoB83yK3YvGKiAI1rJXh1vYy_DNKqMw0sdMlG2iswHeJGfRslelHyvAvR43YtLF-5L_vtKPBI9X3wF4cnebi2xlacaLsdYPAAomKsqgDpKl1e096Ua8xwwju6trQFYvtcZdTzDjwkE/s1600/june+2014+034+edited.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Seriously, this is one quick and awesome dip. The best part about it? You eat it warm! It's not one of those "cover and refrigerate for 2 hrs" kinda dips. It is tasty cold as well, the flavours I found intensified after a night spent in the fridge. However, I found that I needed to let it rest at room temp for about a half hour before eating because it tends to become more solid when chilled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now onto dessert (Yup skipping the entree for now folks - watch for my next post!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hinted previously that dessert would be of the nutty variety. To be exact it's <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/another-pie/" target="_blank">Ree Drummond's Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjoefrfIH4d7uJvsQ0mRdilLXGEuf6Zazwbvcdw9JJYZABdxY29YpsvEyQ8xoTkmthRbnJy5MG9jCEQBDw_yUU6NQ6XFoqhsG0A7Qg6t7i822djBCV9KOxASh-rOXylP6wUn57u0vF0hl/s1600/june+2014+026+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjoefrfIH4d7uJvsQ0mRdilLXGEuf6Zazwbvcdw9JJYZABdxY29YpsvEyQ8xoTkmthRbnJy5MG9jCEQBDw_yUU6NQ6XFoqhsG0A7Qg6t7i822djBCV9KOxASh-rOXylP6wUn57u0vF0hl/s1600/june+2014+026+edited.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Pz1SyKxQVHDbYw-kOoXno6NNwVvcpcx0WUl38D5SA4JJV0q-EtKKZjhk1IR8zE5RD9JXRgv5fV2p6KoUIU5VnNvNnIdFcHPtkqkr_-CkRabBn88x8O1B8HjGPlvi4iX7ShLVN9Iz4LC-/s1600/june+2014+028+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Pz1SyKxQVHDbYw-kOoXno6NNwVvcpcx0WUl38D5SA4JJV0q-EtKKZjhk1IR8zE5RD9JXRgv5fV2p6KoUIU5VnNvNnIdFcHPtkqkr_-CkRabBn88x8O1B8HjGPlvi4iX7ShLVN9Iz4LC-/s1600/june+2014+028+edited.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NO BAKING! Can I just announce that again? THIS PIE DOES NOT NEED TO BE BAKED!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I heard that I instantly put it on the "to-make list."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As if all this and the thought of peanut butter didn't already have you hooked (I'm a lover obviously), this pie also involves making an oreo crust (which does, in fact, need 5 minutes in the oven but that doesn't really count as baking does it????)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlwkuqfMNXPBhRN3NdfgLmG2VVT9Jlk_pMUUsx-8hZ4InCXaFtt3Ot9BFkWI_3P00Gr5TJQpxyvsM7Y77bRYFUfHhUknHf8fC-ucaH8zaQgqXbXUPS9zVBzSlgGRsGIpBYEqWCGs3Zy7R/s1600/june+2014+012+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlwkuqfMNXPBhRN3NdfgLmG2VVT9Jlk_pMUUsx-8hZ4InCXaFtt3Ot9BFkWI_3P00Gr5TJQpxyvsM7Y77bRYFUfHhUknHf8fC-ucaH8zaQgqXbXUPS9zVBzSlgGRsGIpBYEqWCGs3Zy7R/s1600/june+2014+012+edited.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ohnbq5soY6cpDqWl_TdwXv4vU09wpIX7KUvTSfpbgbx5NaZ2s0qV0l4dGcYcyUHDc8yIFjdbXMiF6qdURDhuyiKF83WNJF-7nt-cIHNH7N1wP8sLNZUufFcIpR0AIuoEHlUkPE3lffHq/s1600/june+2014+016+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ohnbq5soY6cpDqWl_TdwXv4vU09wpIX7KUvTSfpbgbx5NaZ2s0qV0l4dGcYcyUHDc8yIFjdbXMiF6qdURDhuyiKF83WNJF-7nt-cIHNH7N1wP8sLNZUufFcIpR0AIuoEHlUkPE3lffHq/s1600/june+2014+016+edited.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh no... my stomach is starting to grumble!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Put whipped peanut butter fluffiness and crispy crunchy oreo crust together and you have a miracle in a pie dish.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RMaLLlGeydOzFdIb_83A87Zv0ndoihSwEIXcs4qyWeYYzCXLi6z5Z1Gc5J8VUk4Pu8d_67OudF3xMrm91KWDisV-MxDZoaZTKBnvLqxRnZTKzTLS-3kqdx2xQKxzT_BT5QL1CbU0ZW1q/s1600/june+2014+031+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RMaLLlGeydOzFdIb_83A87Zv0ndoihSwEIXcs4qyWeYYzCXLi6z5Z1Gc5J8VUk4Pu8d_67OudF3xMrm91KWDisV-MxDZoaZTKBnvLqxRnZTKzTLS-3kqdx2xQKxzT_BT5QL1CbU0ZW1q/s1600/june+2014+031+edited.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes - You want this NOW!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now go feed your gob and come back in a day or two for the next foodie installement :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy cooking!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span><br />
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<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-52126552762394607612014-05-29T16:36:00.000-02:302014-05-29T16:36:34.209-02:30A DIY Whirlwind Week!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Thursday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">BOY! Has this ever been a whirlwind of a week. I cannot believe it is almost Friday and the weekend is on the horizon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been a while now since I last gave you all a peak at how my house is coming along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We're getting into the finishing touches now with only the small stuff (except the KITCHEN) needing to be done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The last couple of weeks we've been staining in preparation for installing the stairs. Needless to say I think all our DIY efforts have not gone astray :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_IevNvLXpLpdKsVJpIKCnI2hQhuRjcrTrw1FCHoGernQyGgvJoy7UwjwqSanNx73vIibF6fv-rxpoSR1BIp84uGv3H1ayIikjqET_V1z1DIyf4RpvWIzK-9C9LeYFl3FKv7MSfjqyg42/s1600/20140529_073330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_IevNvLXpLpdKsVJpIKCnI2hQhuRjcrTrw1FCHoGernQyGgvJoy7UwjwqSanNx73vIibF6fv-rxpoSR1BIp84uGv3H1ayIikjqET_V1z1DIyf4RpvWIzK-9C9LeYFl3FKv7MSfjqyg42/s640/20140529_073330.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnsb8ULVZ2YAyKlfg5zygx5vEInvRabYo5O83RBMNwceDQLWThAh19ej871jD4oBWxqz7gzDWYptJJp1b1ompBRiWtCufCMzg8bktdX1537gkeVuhx1WXoTclvq3lpHDvfN92RuLRVSg5/s1600/20140529_073340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnsb8ULVZ2YAyKlfg5zygx5vEInvRabYo5O83RBMNwceDQLWThAh19ej871jD4oBWxqz7gzDWYptJJp1b1ompBRiWtCufCMzg8bktdX1537gkeVuhx1WXoTclvq3lpHDvfN92RuLRVSg5/s640/20140529_073340.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The actual stair treads themselves are not fully installed yet but they are well on their way!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next up is the gorgeous tile floor my mom picked out for my front entrance. The fiance and I went out probably a half dozen times trying to figure out what kind of tile we wanted to lay, but liked NOTHING. I was so sick of trying to find a tile to suit that I delegated the task to my lovely mama who as more than a serious nack for interior decorating! This stuff comes from bella Italia! A little piece of place I love so much right as you come in my front door :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpSi_wcHdFvlHsS2s4iWGggNWtDtjcP3Z0aWxh1Ts4gVkr9_bM5eLLh8A4UiilVzhun6o2mJFMrcRcS44cifF1QKJRI-JHr7wRVgYIqkYrx4Z7XpB1M_2byYSq1SbWMbaUNCatm3UGUJL/s1600/20140529_073226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpSi_wcHdFvlHsS2s4iWGggNWtDtjcP3Z0aWxh1Ts4gVkr9_bM5eLLh8A4UiilVzhun6o2mJFMrcRcS44cifF1QKJRI-JHr7wRVgYIqkYrx4Z7XpB1M_2byYSq1SbWMbaUNCatm3UGUJL/s640/20140529_073226.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think the tile also complements the rustic characteristic of the hand-scraped hardwood we chose to lay. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyAIDEekS6eRVUbK8pvWHxS3SaJZunr7DIIVlReqBHSMHQrr3aSCyEE9u-euJM4AmmKrvW9OZZvUuuLVJdJUTHQjWuqZdq3l4wgzJ1ceg725p0SHZRT-YgBd7FoWuG345hHqeWbDB0tUI/s1600/20140529_073214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyAIDEekS6eRVUbK8pvWHxS3SaJZunr7DIIVlReqBHSMHQrr3aSCyEE9u-euJM4AmmKrvW9OZZvUuuLVJdJUTHQjWuqZdq3l4wgzJ1ceg725p0SHZRT-YgBd7FoWuG345hHqeWbDB0tUI/s640/20140529_073214.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And here's my dining room! All finished, even if it's a little bit dirty. Thank god I have amazing superhero like carpenters for family :) Absolutely IN LOVE with the wainscoting. You might notice that there is no wall paper on the walls like I had originally planned. Let's just say THAT is a whole other post... but in the end I'm really very happy with how everything turned out, especially my perfect purple ceiling (YUP you read that right).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Outside of my ongoing housey project I have been getting some stitching time in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I need it for my sanity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are all burning out a little at this point, so some leisure time is well needed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Z_mEpFe11oIWdhHMJoOzpnCmsAHGlXtPOYF_vCyoePJIM0Ci9m5B9k9bED-9b_TBDP-0ca7T4Nm4Pa_1EuJvsXqIxO-aFa3Wm-6HGDfqJ5AxbBU0stQyxpAA73C62F4eP_jWvKVvNwiT/s1600/20140529_072020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Z_mEpFe11oIWdhHMJoOzpnCmsAHGlXtPOYF_vCyoePJIM0Ci9m5B9k9bED-9b_TBDP-0ca7T4Nm4Pa_1EuJvsXqIxO-aFa3Wm-6HGDfqJ5AxbBU0stQyxpAA73C62F4eP_jWvKVvNwiT/s640/20140529_072020.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-74175675822007818612014-05-21T12:08:00.000-02:302014-05-21T12:08:06.707-02:30Nan's Dinner Roll Recipe<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Wednesday Everyone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After receiving a couple of messages asking for a recipe for these beauties:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwraLCRdLVZ6BxOcu84B9OA-h9nqHwrfUToK0D9i2Ma_fNUzPFYODBEDboRKgY9sfroVgmR10T0G5afEh_-_I3yWziO-CeUcFHOrIVXz-ksesCxla8kM0Eut2X2oAByH_QgtxEM5K7Y1s/s1600/IMG_20140518_162001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwraLCRdLVZ6BxOcu84B9OA-h9nqHwrfUToK0D9i2Ma_fNUzPFYODBEDboRKgY9sfroVgmR10T0G5afEh_-_I3yWziO-CeUcFHOrIVXz-ksesCxla8kM0Eut2X2oAByH_QgtxEM5K7Y1s/s1600/IMG_20140518_162001.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I decided a quick post was in order so I could share it with all of you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I should warn you however, the recipe is more of a guideline for me than actual rules for baking bread. I often fiddle with how much liquid/flour I use or how long I let them rise, constantly trying to prefect. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One day I might only let the first rise happen for 45minutes and the next day I might let it rise for 1hr+! It's all about the way it looks and feels. This also means I may not use all the dry mixture or I may even add a bit of extra flour if I feel it needs it. So feel free to fiddle!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The following recipe is my Grandmothers Dinner Roll recipe - always a huge hit in our house and at family gatherings. It's gotten to the point that if these little treasures don't make it to the plate that it feels like something is missing! Brings reality to the saying 'savour the little things' :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Nan's Dinner Rolls</b></span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ingredients</span></u><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4c. Milk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4c. water</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4c. butter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 large egg</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 + 3/4c. Bread Flour (or all purpose if you're in a pinch)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 tblsp. sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 tsp. salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 tsp of active dry yeast (I also sometimes use instant yeast/bread machine yeast... just because I'm a kitchen rebel)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In a saucepan add the milk, water and butter together. Heat over low/med heat until the butter is JUST melted and the mixture is lukewarm to the touch. If the mixture is too hot it will kill the yeast so this is THE most important step to master. Too cold and the yeast will not activate. (A bit of "damned if you do and damned if you don't" isn't it?!) If you feel that your mixture is a little too hot simply transfer to a large mixing bowl and leave it for 5 minutes or so until it cools down (been there done that!).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Transfer lukewarm milk/water/butter mixture to large mixing bowl and stir the sugar. Once the sugar is desolved, sprinkle the yeast onto the surface of the mixture and leave for 5-6 minutes to activate. After this time, the yeast should look creamy and slightly bubbly if you're using the active dry yeast. FUN FACT: The sugar will help feed the yeast :)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While waiting for your yeast, in a separate bowl, mix the rest of the dry ingredients.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pour half of the dry mixture into the liquid mix in the large bowl. Add the egg. Vigorously stir the ingredients together until they have combined. Add more of the dry mixture (handfuls at a time) to the large mixing bowl until the dough starts to come away from the sides and can no longer be mixed with a spoon. In other words, the dough is too thick to work with a spoon now and you need to use those two hands God gave you! Time to get dirty! </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On a flat surface sprinkled with flour (don't forget to flour your hands too!), kneed your dough (adding more of your dry mixture little by little) for 7-10 minutes until you can easily form a ball and the dough is not overly sticky to the touch and is smooth and free of dry floury lumps. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Place the dough into a large greased bowl and lightly grease the top of the dough as well. Place a tea towel over the top and let rise in a warm place for 45mins-1hr, until the dough has more than doubled in size. The longer you let your dough rise the lighter the final product will be.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After this time, punch the dough and let rest for 5-10 minutes. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To make the rolls you cut palm size chunks from the dough and either (a) form them into small balls and place into medium sized greased muffin baking sheet. Don't over work the dough when making the balls. If they're not perfect no worries! OR (b) form them into little knots like the picture above. Start by greasing a large cookie sheet. Then cut palm size chunks of dough and roll them in your hand to make it cylindrical. Roll them out until the dough is no longer than the length of your hand. Tie into knots and place on the cookie sheet. Spacing at 1/2 an inch each. No matter which method you use, let rise for 45mins-1.25hrs or until doubled. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the tops and bottoms are golden brown.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let cool on a cooling rack and using a paper towel to lightly butter the tops of the buns while they are still hot. This is best done as soon as it's been taken from the oven and placed on the cooling rack. DO NOT WAIT! The butter will be absorbed by the bread and create a lusciously soft exterior.</span></li>
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Makes 12-14 rolls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NOTE: Because this mixture contains milk and eggs it will only be good in a sealed bag on the counter for a couple of days. I recommend freezing any extras after this time. These rolls hold up excellently in the freezer. Once thawed and reheated you'd never know that they weren't fresh from the oven!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Until next time!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Melissa </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-21273956793973271152014-05-20T11:40:00.002-02:302014-05-20T11:41:57.481-02:30These Pine Clad Hills of Mine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">Happy Tuesday Folks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Actually it's my Monday/Tuesday :) Back to work after an extra long weekend! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As much as I like to complain about the weather here in Newfoundland (like today... rainnnnn, or the last two days of pea soup thick fogggggg), the beauty of this rugged land offers up some of the best scenery in the world. I know... cocky of me isn't it? ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Despite having a miserable last few days weather wise, one day of stellar weather is enough to make you forget all about it! Saturday was this kind of day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Winds = negligible. This is huge deal considering they call this the "wind swept land". I won't deny it, trees along our coast not only grow in the most precarious of places (ie: on the side of cliffs) but they're also stumpily short and often grow sideways in the direction of the prevailing winds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Temperature = ideal. Well ideal for a long walk/hike without dying from the heat. 20 degrees C is nearly unheard of this time of year, but it HAPPENED!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Climate = dry as a bone. No mucky puddles to be had!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I took advantage of the wicked weather. Filled a bag with a couple bottles of water and a blanket, donned my old sneakers, hitched my dog up to her leash and off we went on a trip to Ferryland. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPHPTRlFLH-nBHo51NhcbHgA2Iwlc6Gr2CR-UeJtC1s9LkqHN8qzjRdwjT4PqgmPp4iWJkbUhulgM3OpACXGbDtW5QQkaX2RTGECNdCnkZOq96FDLDsIsB0ZyxwWgEoZANQdh12_D2ofK/s1600/IMG_20140517_123436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPHPTRlFLH-nBHo51NhcbHgA2Iwlc6Gr2CR-UeJtC1s9LkqHN8qzjRdwjT4PqgmPp4iWJkbUhulgM3OpACXGbDtW5QQkaX2RTGECNdCnkZOq96FDLDsIsB0ZyxwWgEoZANQdh12_D2ofK/s640/IMG_20140517_123436.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a child I can remember passing through this quaint community almost every weekend on the way to my Nan's cabin. Back then I knew it as "Fairy-land" and boy did that ever set my imagination to work. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHHFyUfAZryV6miMcr-aofJtVYcQrKJrKCxmHWEIN_DlwMMeXPr1HL9iedoJWtLCxxB_mB5O8qGVg9mz5I9IqDeTfzfpLfRUPqL5i0Dnk231Zm1b1b4zxvWP7ijEoppbE5IaYls1IhqfH/s1600/IMG_20140517_123222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHHFyUfAZryV6miMcr-aofJtVYcQrKJrKCxmHWEIN_DlwMMeXPr1HL9iedoJWtLCxxB_mB5O8qGVg9mz5I9IqDeTfzfpLfRUPqL5i0Dnk231Zm1b1b4zxvWP7ijEoppbE5IaYls1IhqfH/s640/IMG_20140517_123222.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Newfoundland (NL) has many superstitions and the mythical fairies are just one of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm not talking about your run of the mill, whimsical, beautiful fairy here. More like your menacing, conniving, poltergeist type of fairy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When my mother was a child my Nan would give her breadcrumbs before she would go out over the barrens (the mossy-marshy-rocky mix you see above). The breadcrumbs were for the fairies so that if they ever wanted to "take her" (who knows were) she'd be able to give them to the fairies in exchange for her freedom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now imagine telling that to a kid! I'd be scared out of my wits with fear! Perhaps this is why I'm such a homebody now ;) Who in their right mind would want to go outside with freaky fairies about????</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wh4gVYIa36CgDQzRQKgzYkPEGMNSoNOH2-YDRqPdb_cKBi_oA933ddK8UHr-Qb0hix-vJzCLMQs7tpf48DrhgAjTb9BER0SkHVwnZKAxFN8oYVscR7feOO2bnZSz70M1bKCfEh92IuPU/s640/IMG_20140517_122848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wh4gVYIa36CgDQzRQKgzYkPEGMNSoNOH2-YDRqPdb_cKBi_oA933ddK8UHr-Qb0hix-vJzCLMQs7tpf48DrhgAjTb9BER0SkHVwnZKAxFN8oYVscR7feOO2bnZSz70M1bKCfEh92IuPU/s640/IMG_20140517_122848.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Luckily, this perception of fairies in NL never coloured my liking for the community. It remains, as it ever was, a real life example of what NL is all about. The fishing heritage, the cultural heritage, and the iconic landscape NL has to offer. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQOqbYRyjTmTn07w8d6O729olI7sXoigojjL8D7NIfRNSZEGaA2pM7nr3KdKjC3jojEsHrKvcYwhKL3Mpcv_nnuULeoaKI44sxRaWh0uRI9xxSdKvpwoLWzWPZVak_orIFAw_R9jrAcmz/s1600/20140517_113620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQOqbYRyjTmTn07w8d6O729olI7sXoigojjL8D7NIfRNSZEGaA2pM7nr3KdKjC3jojEsHrKvcYwhKL3Mpcv_nnuULeoaKI44sxRaWh0uRI9xxSdKvpwoLWzWPZVak_orIFAw_R9jrAcmz/s640/20140517_113620.jpg" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For whatever reason, I feel oddly connected to Ferryland. I can honestly say it's my favourite community in NL, and I have been to MANY. It's not special to me for any particular reason. It's not THE most beautiful place in the world or even the province, although it certainly has it's merits! I don't partake in the community. I don't attend church there. All I've ever done in Ferryland is take in a walk from time to time. I've probably made the trek back and forth to the lighthouse dozens of times. Each time is just as satisfying as the last no matter if it's in the thick of a fog, in the freezing ocean wind, or when the sun is splitting the rocks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's just special. I can't give any other reason than that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After getting my annual dose of Ferryland, I headed back to my family's cabin in a neighbouring community. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Again, despite the weather for the remainder of the weekend, I had a blast. Relaxing, stitching, and making bread!!!! (Another favourite thing to do of mine).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This time it was rolls :) What's Sunday Turkey without dinner rolls!?!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love tying them up into neat little bundles of pure heaven! All you have to do is tear them open, toss in a little butter and there you have it... PERFECTION!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wILhyphenhyphenylJqXRJ6SqHN4GSPXxpZXiLl6bAt5GprjCt-iYQqsTiNasrtRy8R83FurdKL3UKpfFQGCWSF99808FgWIEveNgJgHE17D9kkFU09B4MeY0JFPF9ByQQ_PE4bUBIhT1EWp1BuRr_/s640/IMG_20140517_083656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wILhyphenhyphenylJqXRJ6SqHN4GSPXxpZXiLl6bAt5GprjCt-iYQqsTiNasrtRy8R83FurdKL3UKpfFQGCWSF99808FgWIEveNgJgHE17D9kkFU09B4MeY0JFPF9ByQQ_PE4bUBIhT1EWp1BuRr_/s640/IMG_20140517_083656.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm always a little sad when it's time to leave. And who wouldn't be when this is right outside your door? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You wouldn't know from this picture if it was spring or fall, but I can guarantee you, give it a couple of weeks and the juniper trees will have filled out, the birch will have sprouted a few leaves, and together with the pine, this will become a luscious landscape of green and blue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before I leave, I have to show you my stitchy progress! It was a productive weekend in more ways then one!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmAhg1NXievgq16ibZL004_VeJN7HaNJSSA5froj46_BBEqzKJXqo2M_BgApEtP98CjJaeNbcNVuYxgjasV2zm0___v7M6McEbMOtW8xIL7z9r9Yx4Xx0pLGuS4irkuOatkCix7BXsOLx/s640/20140519_215742.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Stitching!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Friday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And happy-start-of-the-long-weekend to my fellow Canadians!!! HURRAY! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am pleased to report that winter has, at least temporarily, been kicked out of my neck of the woods. HURRAY AGAIN! With the weather forecasters predicting 17C this afternoon and double digit temps all weekend I truly hope I don't have to share any more depressing icy pics with you until November. Hope I'm not getting too optimistic here...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now if I could just kick this little cold my brother kindly gave me, I might just be able to get out for a weekend hike and (dare I say it) enjoy the weather????</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I do plan to spend some quality stitching time on Santa this weekend as well. Yup, we're taking a much needed break from home construction. We may be thhhhhhissssss close to finishing but boy are we ever burnt out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So just because I am committed to putting in a TON of work in on Santa I thought it would be a great idea to show you how far along I am right now. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiLji45cUblq4G5w2yjZsQZ_KWq3RVwMF23HowtcCWS0kpsoLYuzEe3EccR-oGLHm2eMemg_0IMYzYUUVT1MKnudsxAE5JRMOz387kPu-ZnQ9tI0OY2aMPV6BmKp31FxtgHJLmuQe0ex4/s1600/20140514_224541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiLji45cUblq4G5w2yjZsQZ_KWq3RVwMF23HowtcCWS0kpsoLYuzEe3EccR-oGLHm2eMemg_0IMYzYUUVT1MKnudsxAE5JRMOz387kPu-ZnQ9tI0OY2aMPV6BmKp31FxtgHJLmuQe0ex4/s640/20140514_224541.jpg" height="360" width="640" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'd say I'm a little better than 1/3 of the way through on this chart so far. The really difficult parts are now coming up. I'm also leaving all the beading until last because BOY is there ever a lot of it. I figure the glass beads and my q-snaps may not make a lovely combo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This will be my first time ever really beading. YIKES! I'm actually kind of scared because not only have I never really done it before, but I have also never <u>seen</u> it done before. Sure, I see lots of lovely pictures out there with cross stitch and beading wonderfully mixed, but it's not really helping me with <b>HOW</b> I go about beading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some burning questions I have are:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What kind of floss do I use to bead? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do I even use floss?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Will the bead cover-up the fabric so it's not visible so that the design will look complete and not "holey". </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Am I suppose to cross stitch the spots where the bead is suppose to go in a similar colour floss to prevent "holeyness"?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do I attach a bead and then tie off or do I do bead after bead?</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So please, my dear stitchers, if you have any tips you want to share please leave a comment! I need your help :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wish me luck!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a great weekend,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-338377314616071492014-05-12T11:32:00.000-02:302014-05-12T11:33:46.693-02:30Hideous Beauty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's May 12...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRM0t9xVZH_f0DFqcbp02nump-BiIqLYk9EIOFjsZWtFWhNMQErDa2qhesMoXrG548bGPw0bSomU_ZWjybrJzoadMNWb6jPhRLkg9posplS_FiElleKXm06OSdVnOwEr3sKTjGdFE9DtA/s1600/20140512_080058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRM0t9xVZH_f0DFqcbp02nump-BiIqLYk9EIOFjsZWtFWhNMQErDa2qhesMoXrG548bGPw0bSomU_ZWjybrJzoadMNWb6jPhRLkg9posplS_FiElleKXm06OSdVnOwEr3sKTjGdFE9DtA/s640/20140512_080058.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-19640538923603290682014-05-06T12:35:00.000-02:302014-05-06T12:35:15.409-02:30Winter... GO TAKE A HIKE ALREADY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Tuesday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well I'm trying to be happy. That's kind of hard to do when you wake up to this:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgmThF6LzgrZ4RIQLdAXMi0KUxn5fbBhXmbOUyEHc8DINZ8pc348NfsUMYSEBV8jRpEDx125NnbA9r5A8QuXsAasvCmPdy4btVcc5xSQqdzjFdW7XkctPs_hr4CXuxx1ogjU8VKE8j-6n/s640/20140506_072434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgmThF6LzgrZ4RIQLdAXMi0KUxn5fbBhXmbOUyEHc8DINZ8pc348NfsUMYSEBV8jRpEDx125NnbA9r5A8QuXsAasvCmPdy4btVcc5xSQqdzjFdW7XkctPs_hr4CXuxx1ogjU8VKE8j-6n/s640/20140506_072434.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have a name for this kind of thing in Newfoundland. It's called Sheila's Brush. But BOY Sheila hasn't been too nice to us lowly Newfoundlanders of late. Normally she sticks to March to provide us with our last winter hur'rah! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It wouldn't be so bad if it was actually Winter time. But nope, all we've had is horrible weather and freezing temps and a Winter that is hanging on with every tooth and nail she has left. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's kind of ironic to wake up to this white stuff when last night, for the first time in weeks, I got to sit down and stitch away on Santa's Magic. Santa, as much as I love the idea of magic, I didn't need it to bring me a helping of snow!!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRKtgC0n1zqe5LC6Ub2sgl6dOTPA77faAx8tpQDnbqI1YJCV-DcIlzAVCRU_CX0MyykoJkh5iFyq9FlA6EKWAboTxLCEtcyZ80yf6OQ-wVFkAlZzNUryU1M2m6VuA624DRVNI4yhu-EAQ/s1600/20140505_215745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRKtgC0n1zqe5LC6Ub2sgl6dOTPA77faAx8tpQDnbqI1YJCV-DcIlzAVCRU_CX0MyykoJkh5iFyq9FlA6EKWAboTxLCEtcyZ80yf6OQ-wVFkAlZzNUryU1M2m6VuA624DRVNI4yhu-EAQ/s640/20140505_215745.jpg" height="640" width="360" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've now started down the sleeve and things are certainly starting to take shape!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But wait... you didn't really think you'd make it out of this post without witnessing some DIY did you? I did a bit of a trade of last night. A bit of light work for the house in exchange for some quality stitching time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just after supper last night I whipped out my trusty latex gloves and a foam brush in anticipation of STAINING. Eeeek! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To me staining is scary stuff. Once it's on it never comes off. And I'm not just talking about the wood variety of products.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlV_i7yw5RsjdMiH-3kUW-RT6NLKQP5rXmwbS1G_5O0-nbmrs-vojDJTPNZ5X1HySwA4FHXgpIDCuItsRNtCrmYUaT5LYdSUaxdjetW5rJcSakQgCIqFDwR97g5Y7wdZI7U6wv3WxdVzzQ/s1600/20140505_204544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlV_i7yw5RsjdMiH-3kUW-RT6NLKQP5rXmwbS1G_5O0-nbmrs-vojDJTPNZ5X1HySwA4FHXgpIDCuItsRNtCrmYUaT5LYdSUaxdjetW5rJcSakQgCIqFDwR97g5Y7wdZI7U6wv3WxdVzzQ/s640/20140505_204544.jpg" height="640" width="360" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you can probably tell, my parents garage is filled to bursting with allllll my earthly belongings. One thing staining requires is lots of room to move. I didn't have luxury of that on this particular occasion. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVF10X_e8C6rOw4KBEsu9R8x8ViwVHBBvXMo1eZjt9zSKYNUeIjgAyQgeZj9Pm9XCNSRE-wszrcMob8DMO3SgN21WW3h6ujrJs8EmzpX0D8xP8ha7DIdMbxV33j4xgJi-j2r_dnMwkTbB/s1600/20140505_204314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVF10X_e8C6rOw4KBEsu9R8x8ViwVHBBvXMo1eZjt9zSKYNUeIjgAyQgeZj9Pm9XCNSRE-wszrcMob8DMO3SgN21WW3h6ujrJs8EmzpX0D8xP8ha7DIdMbxV33j4xgJi-j2r_dnMwkTbB/s640/20140505_204314.jpg" height="640" width="360" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I cleared what little room there was to be had and set to work. I have to say I'm prrrretty pleased with myself. LOOK at how awesome that looks. These leggy lengths of wood with very soon be incorporated into my very own DIY staircase project. Of all the things that we'll do for the house the kitchen cabinets and the stairs will be the hardest! But thankfully my father and brother have done this several times so we are in very capable hands :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eihzwmooaGNBlsRphoAEE9cTYRhVybjkJKuNWXvsDoNM-dAWVyRCdd9dBR_Yx71TBKsKSIjn7xzKLkFwVt8Zd_zrpE-drwOgK6bv5qk-wEN7Y6xH4AE2_OXFtV2fC08txlR-rdCXO6fH/s1600/20140505_204619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eihzwmooaGNBlsRphoAEE9cTYRhVybjkJKuNWXvsDoNM-dAWVyRCdd9dBR_Yx71TBKsKSIjn7xzKLkFwVt8Zd_zrpE-drwOgK6bv5qk-wEN7Y6xH4AE2_OXFtV2fC08txlR-rdCXO6fH/s640/20140505_204619.jpg" height="640" width="360" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F-5gyQWc_XwrQ%2FU2jzCY3_-UI%2FAAAAAAAACOk%2FPqLHu9A4Az8%2Fs640%2F20140506_072434.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgmThF6LzgrZ4RIQLdAXMi0KUxn5fbBhXmbOUyEHc8DINZ8pc348NfsUMYSEBV8jRpEDx125NnbA9r5A8QuXsAasvCmPdy4btVcc5xSQqdzjFdW7XkctPs_hr4CXuxx1ogjU8VKE8j-6n/s640/20140506_072434.jpg" -->Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-31542443865524279072014-05-01T16:29:00.001-02:302014-05-01T16:29:21.304-02:30WANTED!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Thursday Everyone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am here today on a mission!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am desperately looking for this edition of Cross Stitch and Needlework Magazine (December 2012):</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3lhuZjHGW78fZB6pWNqQyv6PP3wOiiL6G5inxpKqly3UCsh3LFdqAEGB_YMGn4UrDvqwDRRnvrtMiwX9SlkouKu9lGyzDt5iSuOufnCgZX6rDDv4bzRJFIYYrCoOl-ghKybXERyPDy2G/s1600/Cross+Stitch+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3lhuZjHGW78fZB6pWNqQyv6PP3wOiiL6G5inxpKqly3UCsh3LFdqAEGB_YMGn4UrDvqwDRRnvrtMiwX9SlkouKu9lGyzDt5iSuOufnCgZX6rDDv4bzRJFIYYrCoOl-ghKybXERyPDy2G/s1600/Cross+Stitch+pic.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I remember buying it wayyyyyyy back but cannot find it now. It's entirely possible I may have bought it for an exchange but naturally I'm not sure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you have a copy or know where I can get my hands on one please pop me an email at stjohnsstitcher@gmail.com</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ciao for now!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-6845041675972642632014-04-28T12:22:00.000-02:302014-04-28T12:26:34.610-02:30A Day in the Life of a Reluctant DIY'er<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Monday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since my life is all about DIY right now I thought I might show you what it's like to be a weekend (and weekday evening) warrior such as myself :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step 1:</b> Roll over blurry eyed and try to focus on the machine that is making that unbearable noise... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6O81rAaAXfj3G9ABiwQOgBygkxatK2jEXC12CYRyp1HuhRd5gralnsAOR1LDDQzY-8nytdAPNfC-ePaEyX-BXD9ZJGmziS0LsRsHw_SXo85_ASQUvKAT5aK3ZhC23SeJUVHlHgOikxQl/s1600/20140426_063333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6O81rAaAXfj3G9ABiwQOgBygkxatK2jEXC12CYRyp1HuhRd5gralnsAOR1LDDQzY-8nytdAPNfC-ePaEyX-BXD9ZJGmziS0LsRsHw_SXo85_ASQUvKAT5aK3ZhC23SeJUVHlHgOikxQl/s1600/20140426_063333.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ugh. Yes that's 6:33... AM... on a Saturday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step 2: </b>Find work clothing that isn't stinky. This is a constant struggle people, I kid you not. When you're spending every waking moment on a project there's not much time for laundry except what you can bring yourself to drag upstairs at the end of a long day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step 3:</b> Take care of your body!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Breakfast, Lunch, Supper, snacks, WATER - lots and lots of water. This is very important folks. You don't want to crash half way been nailing that nail, or painting that room, or sanding that piece of wood. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0rIUzklly_H34NLW31wJmUyPmLJSoC_9JuicWWteKkrfCV1nUjv_Ztx9yVaM9jZt8n4eoOu8xygX5ACPwvdXozt_fri7XORShwzI_CGLv-VacaZUDmfgVOrvvAPsVsLFiOokVjjLlWxQ/s1600/20140424_133048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0rIUzklly_H34NLW31wJmUyPmLJSoC_9JuicWWteKkrfCV1nUjv_Ztx9yVaM9jZt8n4eoOu8xygX5ACPwvdXozt_fri7XORShwzI_CGLv-VacaZUDmfgVOrvvAPsVsLFiOokVjjLlWxQ/s1600/20140424_133048.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQW64iwLaLg0SIVHS9VK0ERYGu6JpSYewAijCjafRyHlXnow2FqQdXgMum1P6Lg_gH9ybIhQ9ZY7mV2vBsK0-RD6mwgLd13AfmdDEF2s2tPlYVw340ecOa7o3L1EA8hzjrZ5uXYgL1E1J/s1600/20140427_192018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQW64iwLaLg0SIVHS9VK0ERYGu6JpSYewAijCjafRyHlXnow2FqQdXgMum1P6Lg_gH9ybIhQ9ZY7mV2vBsK0-RD6mwgLd13AfmdDEF2s2tPlYVw340ecOa7o3L1EA8hzjrZ5uXYgL1E1J/s1600/20140427_192018.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was tempted to say 'rest' here as well, but rest is for pansies! Gotta feel like the feet are about to fall off you to tell you if you really worked hard that day or not... I jest of course. There's nothing worse than this feeling and at some point in the day you know when it's time to give it up because you can't handle another second on your feet. This happens even if you take little rests here and there. Rather perhaps the tip here is to have good footwear! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The puppies however get to rest all they like :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCtPLOdpciJGi1cqLshjXzAhzv6RK63YvK92H4g0uvwZUabcf1MwzBOk7HMbVRW7uKVqcYFV7Ryeau2gPvLc3XZVeHrYgyYVtYTJ_uOyUw5pxC12IuHJFhLRTCbs3jXH2MvMZRy4m2MYC/s1600/20140424_162533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCtPLOdpciJGi1cqLshjXzAhzv6RK63YvK92H4g0uvwZUabcf1MwzBOk7HMbVRW7uKVqcYFV7Ryeau2gPvLc3XZVeHrYgyYVtYTJ_uOyUw5pxC12IuHJFhLRTCbs3jXH2MvMZRy4m2MYC/s1600/20140424_162533.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB26VZ0Q-WB8cA0YZ1qAFpjBR04CoQBFYwLSH0PgwuC_ewQIdY-TENI0fYWTbc2Vmn3VKuiyUs16qAz1Oe1xmLM8gMagDyrZGdpkZQzff5XFxAO06Zf3dJT1QgSXQMrDtqbuykYfQn6Cx7/s1600/20140424_122340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB26VZ0Q-WB8cA0YZ1qAFpjBR04CoQBFYwLSH0PgwuC_ewQIdY-TENI0fYWTbc2Vmn3VKuiyUs16qAz1Oe1xmLM8gMagDyrZGdpkZQzff5XFxAO06Zf3dJT1QgSXQMrDtqbuykYfQn6Cx7/s1600/20140424_122340.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step 4:</b> Take time to prepare.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewny3JaQYB4NyU7OBStVnPIOf1vBbS69wasowGDaD2Of5-Pt1aoiJNxW7U61JbLAK3fpOKJ1aOxwvv363q-vXcYuixhJU3ynKKJ8Mgdbc6pQTM_p81rdVWgMpskzjZhjAt7wK0kxEOWZH/s1600/20140423_181338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewny3JaQYB4NyU7OBStVnPIOf1vBbS69wasowGDaD2Of5-Pt1aoiJNxW7U61JbLAK3fpOKJ1aOxwvv363q-vXcYuixhJU3ynKKJ8Mgdbc6pQTM_p81rdVWgMpskzjZhjAt7wK0kxEOWZH/s1600/20140423_181338.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's no good to be running around and trying to find things just as you're ready to get started on a project. Make sure you've got everything you'll need within arms length. Spending 20 minutes looking for that footstool can be very distracting when you're in the middle of a project. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step 5:</b> WORK! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's time to get'er done! And don't be afraid to get dirty while you're at it ;)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9IA7lj9MnxHhYAe5a6jACoi7FQPABSO7yoP3gDK2O_5HfTiq9SjnSxoQ9cM059vYxSe9wG4TVqJR_4ka8zqBxfQ_rh4ZTHRrvndlZX4JDznrhSYa-IKKtkEsPlzQaREh4bLfpvFP_4b_/s1600/20140426_112140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9IA7lj9MnxHhYAe5a6jACoi7FQPABSO7yoP3gDK2O_5HfTiq9SjnSxoQ9cM059vYxSe9wG4TVqJR_4ka8zqBxfQ_rh4ZTHRrvndlZX4JDznrhSYa-IKKtkEsPlzQaREh4bLfpvFP_4b_/s1600/20140426_112140.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3FgUFpyW1ndlZ-ZnKMLZCmRTZiVYkoMdzfyB_-yoTcoETe57IIWzI8VS1trc1drwYe9EWcDZmDy7UNpJalyg9xf-pCiwfeX25zITM-xd0PNivUoiZAiM78lWtKH2MLcQLE8Dnzlnx7ek/s1600/20140427_180505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3FgUFpyW1ndlZ-ZnKMLZCmRTZiVYkoMdzfyB_-yoTcoETe57IIWzI8VS1trc1drwYe9EWcDZmDy7UNpJalyg9xf-pCiwfeX25zITM-xd0PNivUoiZAiM78lWtKH2MLcQLE8Dnzlnx7ek/s1600/20140427_180505.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsXPJwq9vCU5ND5WhWGItCKD4bNodPvBeGVzzYWJ-1xQ-ncjVc6hVd6mi2bsA1NOgSjyrTNB066wRAIXSMlkXQhe7VRUjDVnqwtI3I0NW9r2UDVZQsupiaL8_TTYkv2Lo8k74qLFwU7_1/s1600/20140427_122139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsXPJwq9vCU5ND5WhWGItCKD4bNodPvBeGVzzYWJ-1xQ-ncjVc6hVd6mi2bsA1NOgSjyrTNB066wRAIXSMlkXQhe7VRUjDVnqwtI3I0NW9r2UDVZQsupiaL8_TTYkv2Lo8k74qLFwU7_1/s1600/20140427_122139.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9Vwf6Mu2kX3TimbYguQASSa_KGj6vFjI3e5Lvj-DP2lY8Qwx6xgl-JnzVjtTf9V8PHzCaKtXwO2WAGZxVtinQxAAdDu7erPgGo5mq-qylMkD8A1OraUiwaTyfWQ65F8UXBmGov2Mr7H0/s1600/20140423_203245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9Vwf6Mu2kX3TimbYguQASSa_KGj6vFjI3e5Lvj-DP2lY8Qwx6xgl-JnzVjtTf9V8PHzCaKtXwO2WAGZxVtinQxAAdDu7erPgGo5mq-qylMkD8A1OraUiwaTyfWQ65F8UXBmGov2Mr7H0/s1600/20140423_203245.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step 6:</b> Relax and reward yourself.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nggi4nlz5Jsfhuv9FQGgwcHQIf3NHxhprsPyVfk9Z32WKn_wvjKaYqZNlJRnpr7g4atB9nJvArRPNbC0lCEpu_UyaThaoTm9ifYvNGHPuJRAIquGuIXvC1tPyt3V8SxjdrcK-p5w1XZF/s1600/20140426_112126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nggi4nlz5Jsfhuv9FQGgwcHQIf3NHxhprsPyVfk9Z32WKn_wvjKaYqZNlJRnpr7g4atB9nJvArRPNbC0lCEpu_UyaThaoTm9ifYvNGHPuJRAIquGuIXvC1tPyt3V8SxjdrcK-p5w1XZF/s1600/20140426_112126.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some DIY projects are more rewarding than others. Some are just work work work and others fall more into the "Hey this might be a fun hobby" category. For some, the end result of a project may be the reward itself. Even so, I have found it still important to take a moment at the end of the day to take it all in a relax. A little bit of down time will help to rejuvenate you for the next day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you don't take time for yourself, whether that's a nice cold beer or going to your friend's birthday party, or both, you'd better prepare to burn out. It doesn't have to be (nor should it be) all about the project. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After spending weeks, days or hour after hour on a project, don't you think you deserve a reward ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ciao for now!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span><br />
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<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-83093699524309701752014-04-22T12:10:00.002-02:302014-04-22T12:11:12.653-02:30Time must have wings...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Tuesday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm happy to say I'm finally getting back into blogging again and am seriously trying to catch up on reading all your lovely blogs. I can genuinely say "I MISSED YOU!" :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was reviewing some of the older posts on my own little section of the blogosphere and saw this...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0VHRrpy_1ohrY2PlU-R7FwsOa0M4BocMrnwO1vhzZHwblKt4HekWiPvK6fkLJvo90570Vsk8UFhsFHCYYoTK-ZYwQz9haxrRmqxM4xZE7WmVIBnSpEFHn8-mcLSylh88-EgF2RdYGWtu/s1600/blog+archive+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0VHRrpy_1ohrY2PlU-R7FwsOa0M4BocMrnwO1vhzZHwblKt4HekWiPvK6fkLJvo90570Vsk8UFhsFHCYYoTK-ZYwQz9haxrRmqxM4xZE7WmVIBnSpEFHn8-mcLSylh88-EgF2RdYGWtu/s1600/blog+archive+pic.png" height="320" width="196" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pitiful....... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Seriously?! 6 whole posts in the first 4 months of 2014. What's wrong with you Melissa???? Get your butt in gear!.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Post for all of February and April and nothing in January. SERIOUSLY????</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">OH! And here's the kicker - I forgot about my Blogoversary!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE LAST 4 MONTHS OF MY LIFE???????</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can honestly say I don't think I realized quite how absent I've been of late :( It's only recently that I've been getting a real itch to get back to the finer, less DIY more crafty things in life. I miss it terribly. There's nothing I love more than stitching a few 'x's at the end of the night during my favourite TV show or running a bit of fabric through the machine at the crack of daybreak. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Myself and Phil took yesterday off from the house, and despite the fact that we were crazy busy during the day shopping for the house rather than working ON the house.... despite the fact that the only time I get to myself these days is often spent soaking the ache out of my bones in a bathtub.... at the end of the day, when the hand on the clock was headed for 7pm I found myself BORED OUT OF MY MIND. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If I was still in my teens, this would be an excellent turn of events. I would have thought "YEY! 3 hours to veg out of the couch and watch TV or go for a drive with friends or even to play some sort of video game". While I still like doing some of these things even now was an adult, I find it beyond difficult to spend any down time I might have not doing something productive. I've turned into my teen self's worst nightmare. But you know what??? I love it! More power to you adult Melissa!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I kid you not. I cannot wait to get home today and start the next project! Will it be hanging some doors? Or perhaps painting the study? Or maybe even sanding down the walls/ceiling of the living room????</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When the house is finally allll finished, I'm not sure if I could ever go back to a slower pace of life. I imagine doing more crafty projects, I imagine making curtains for my new house, I imagine more DIY projects. I don't ever want to stop :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SO prepare yourselves for an influx of blog posts! This girl got a lot to show you from here on out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span><br />
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<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-55215442639765540752014-04-16T13:45:00.000-02:302014-04-16T13:45:10.253-02:30Plenty of Painty Progress<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Wednesday! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First off I want to say thanks to everyone who commented on my last post. I really try and get back to all of you, even if it's a simple thank you :) I may have missed a couple because I've been so crazy busy, and honestly I have a brain like sieve. It hearten's me so much to have your constant support. So Thank You ALL so very much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you have probably guessed by now, I haven't really been around to write many a blog post lately. This is primarily because we're finally getting into the final stages of completing our house!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm beginning to think I should have called this the St. John's Stitcher and DIY blog!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the stitchy side of things I have surprisingly been able to stitch quite a bit over the last few weeks. I'm not sure how, but it seems that I'm fitting way more into one day than 24hrs generally allows. I don't have a picture for you but I did get a huge part of Santa's sleeve stitched.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To be totally blunt, Santa is probably going to stay untouched from here on out, at least for the next few weeks. It's now looking like we're heading for a late May move-in for my house. PEWF! I'm seriously getting butterflies just thinking about it. Both excited and terrified!!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I mentioned this in my last blog but the last few weeks have been ALLLLL choosing the finishing touches for the house. Hardwood, tiles, trim, lighting... paint. I basically live at Home Depot now. In fact, I was in there with my better half not so long ago, made it 10ft into the store when an associate walked passed us and said "Back again!" There's something comical yet pitiful in this scenario I swear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That day we were looking for doors. Lots and lots of doors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In this pic we're prepping the doors to be spray painted as our plasterer offered to do it as he was also set to prime our walls the next day as well. Killing two birds with one stone? Yes please. I'm thankful that these are one thing that I will not have to paint and they'll look so much better spray painted with and even coat than if they were painted with a brush and roller by yours truly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I started painting the upstairs little more than a week ago and the first order of business was to get the bathroom done. My parents may live just up the road but I think I'd prefer not having to jump into my car with dirty clothes all in a hurry to make it to the bathroom!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Saturday was a busy day in particular for painting. I'm thankful that I have friends who will spend a Saturday painting when they could be off to the mall or watching a movie. All much more entertaining than getting full of paint. But they made the day more exciting than most day I've spent down there. We all did lots of work but had tons of fun doing it together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the end of the day who can complain when you get to have a feed of fresh of the grill steak and an ice cold beer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My very own art niche! Perfect home to highlight my finished cross stitches I think (when I get around to framing them that is ;) ).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Current workshop / future dining room!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now! I know what you're thinking... "Jeez, that looks unsafe/precarious". While yes it is rather precarious, we've got supports on the bottom of that ladder. Believe me when I say it's not going anywhere! That being said... there is no way on this earth that I'll be getting out on that board LOL! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Master bedroom. I only have the ceiling and the accent wall painted so far. But the walls are going an off white colour so it won't look much different than it is here right now. Just much more polished.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Room #1 is my master ensuite and that room at the very end is my walkin!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I got out on that thing. Not as scary as it looks, but still not fun when you're looking down 12ft to the first floor!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the first spare bedroom and WOW it looks lime green here! In actual fact it's a yellowish celery colour. Of all the rooms in my house this is the brightest. I'm still not sure if I'm in LOVE with it but meh. It's not my room haha. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApKKjw7PP8DZbrKCg3IL2sJlCw6y72Uud0JMQTa4AC5dd6Q3yYga6-wFXHeNg61IoZgDxX3oqZ2n-ccowEnzLgWiDCGkxUORtRa3_FiNuSK-vqPrH8g2xYLhlN-iAvI6zri7DKLsvAwZq/s1600/April+2014+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApKKjw7PP8DZbrKCg3IL2sJlCw6y72Uud0JMQTa4AC5dd6Q3yYga6-wFXHeNg61IoZgDxX3oqZ2n-ccowEnzLgWiDCGkxUORtRa3_FiNuSK-vqPrH8g2xYLhlN-iAvI6zri7DKLsvAwZq/s1600/April+2014+021.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And last but not least is the final spare bedroom. This is my favourite colour out of all the colours I have picked for this house. LOVE IT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The one place that won't have as much painting as the other rooms is the dining room! I've decided to do wallpaper. Here's what I picked up the other day on yet another trip to yet another hardware store!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjER9lncqcEIJS7BDA_CKLrkmxGoSMoNjs5OLOa4_g4tL3weuM88TJdidhyphenhyphenh_nmeY5c4qZ_0PcYfBD8g3M8-qviUBrENn0se_ngCLO78x0_uV3yWyLd9d1JJ28nlk3SAfVFLO9BFZcbganV/s1600/Wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjER9lncqcEIJS7BDA_CKLrkmxGoSMoNjs5OLOa4_g4tL3weuM88TJdidhyphenhyphenh_nmeY5c4qZ_0PcYfBD8g3M8-qviUBrENn0se_ngCLO78x0_uV3yWyLd9d1JJ28nlk3SAfVFLO9BFZcbganV/s1600/Wallpaper.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I may have no clue how to wallpaper a room, but I seriously love this to bits! So cannot wait :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyways folks that's all for now! I'll be back with another housey update or two before all is said and done for sure :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a great day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-68985869882637406582014-03-28T12:44:00.000-02:302014-04-11T11:49:40.701-02:30Progress of the Non-crafty kind<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Friday!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">***Warning, this is a picture heavy post... but then mine always are aren't they ;) ***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I've been posting about my crafty progress of late, I've been neglecting the real progress that is literally happening in my backyard! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some of you may recall that I'm on my way to home ownership - an adventure that started back in June. Much blood (yes blood), sweat and tears later we're now in the home stretch! There have been bumps, scrapes and bruises, sweaty blistering hot days and bitterly cold days, and tons upon tons of wood and basically any kind of construction material you can possibly think of. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been spending weekends, public holidays and vacation days doing this and that for the house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A couple of weeks ago, it was insulation, last week it was spray foam and over the last few days? Picking up gyprock and cleaning up the plastery dust that now covers the floor. So long golden wood, hello grey rock dust!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've also just finished picking out paint colours!!! I love this part :) It took a few days of playing around and looking up ideas but here they are!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbk-U6agL4jkIj65Vf26ChjbrO0u7UF6htrD8GZk3Q18sY62aBEeEZ9qve0NZqoaKRcZtds4juSySin00nxOFYpAuSJiuoS-OARUy_IAn0GT7nLsVjjklY3nrt0mCBNRhiTvTXVBS4nQ9/s1600/20140327_201607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbk-U6agL4jkIj65Vf26ChjbrO0u7UF6htrD8GZk3Q18sY62aBEeEZ9qve0NZqoaKRcZtds4juSySin00nxOFYpAuSJiuoS-OARUy_IAn0GT7nLsVjjklY3nrt0mCBNRhiTvTXVBS4nQ9/s1600/20140327_201607.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think the last time I posted a housy update the house looked like this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Boy! It has been a while since I last updated you all about the house!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now she looks like this :)</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCXV4_AFoGXsTXza3PfAQARgX3uyzhJba2rj4a0nGvv_3cVm8SSbF1eDCqOSxSOsXVVbb51yVmLDwx2WvKE1KlWYYs_maao6HQDKbotlfNiGMiXmb1L4pO6Ez6l7OlwCAOwfZzjhqr78X/s1600/20140318_183156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCXV4_AFoGXsTXza3PfAQARgX3uyzhJba2rj4a0nGvv_3cVm8SSbF1eDCqOSxSOsXVVbb51yVmLDwx2WvKE1KlWYYs_maao6HQDKbotlfNiGMiXmb1L4pO6Ez6l7OlwCAOwfZzjhqr78X/s1600/20140318_183156.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup we've still got snow... and more on the way. Feels like a never ending winter!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK62A1lpzVgv1-Y4-qzPptgA3RfbBAOP6ONqhyphenhyphenApSSboWuqJhcyY1_XUmjbnSlbvvUkIdcWGwVlNzFghYsWWZAhdxXSmjqPu77EQqDQRXt6p6TntA_NXiHLINLoloVytSjjWDhRpNDU502/s1600/20140318_184034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK62A1lpzVgv1-Y4-qzPptgA3RfbBAOP6ONqhyphenhyphenApSSboWuqJhcyY1_XUmjbnSlbvvUkIdcWGwVlNzFghYsWWZAhdxXSmjqPu77EQqDQRXt6p6TntA_NXiHLINLoloVytSjjWDhRpNDU502/s1600/20140318_184034.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother and newly minted Fiance on hand with ze dogs. <br />
They're in what will be my living room!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzzajZxbzhWPxDKrHU9HqdyYP1i8jTxx2hq4873a6yKmzZ0ZgVVegBxL5hjO7KaLETC8YeLf7Ktu4CUSqgHfdDKAiKESgVFyaLpGf3KKdgqMb3JpgWOsTsYxImL9-RLEDG2Ua39nxAFsM/s1600/20140318_184102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzzajZxbzhWPxDKrHU9HqdyYP1i8jTxx2hq4873a6yKmzZ0ZgVVegBxL5hjO7KaLETC8YeLf7Ktu4CUSqgHfdDKAiKESgVFyaLpGf3KKdgqMb3JpgWOsTsYxImL9-RLEDG2Ua39nxAFsM/s1600/20140318_184102.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg96ukRt-9Ry9kDwkqCPk3pTXm5VCJvF3LdFtFEHGa6PT0hxFdtJyiXmOjJzf_W67iyijKLl1bM0YaMwuHnr9C9ivqQwyx0Z6FfN8SF2DnqV3O4bN4TMV0U3fq8iPWNdP8Q3B937V1k35W/s1600/20140318_184113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg96ukRt-9Ry9kDwkqCPk3pTXm5VCJvF3LdFtFEHGa6PT0hxFdtJyiXmOjJzf_W67iyijKLl1bM0YaMwuHnr9C9ivqQwyx0Z6FfN8SF2DnqV3O4bN4TMV0U3fq8iPWNdP8Q3B937V1k35W/s1600/20140318_184113.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Office</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-gt90EoO2NISOEgvs7ddHTDtXlnD2WHIFqzJLnVJPzYjE2rNnsK-c0k9ZyguhzQbeE1Ws-FcPirFS0Gjug_q7aHoFPWKRDqzjzl7BqpSYO71qJ_ZdopQwEfB2RV2GXBB-znrazETF_L6/s1600/20140318_184138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-gt90EoO2NISOEgvs7ddHTDtXlnD2WHIFqzJLnVJPzYjE2rNnsK-c0k9ZyguhzQbeE1Ws-FcPirFS0Gjug_q7aHoFPWKRDqzjzl7BqpSYO71qJ_ZdopQwEfB2RV2GXBB-znrazETF_L6/s1600/20140318_184138.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front Entrance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_NlhxJt1dY9pq2YggIFw1yz4isaYrvMmMNb2fy2F5N6xT67wonyDaoKKzodLzIX9oqynacLAUXER_EUnPWemFZJX11N0njMFTHeM7e-94poffzWNXHQor7a9zXk0EdQC3gaF5PM7c4jM/s1600/house+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_NlhxJt1dY9pq2YggIFw1yz4isaYrvMmMNb2fy2F5N6xT67wonyDaoKKzodLzIX9oqynacLAUXER_EUnPWemFZJX11N0njMFTHeM7e-94poffzWNXHQor7a9zXk0EdQC3gaF5PM7c4jM/s1600/house+1.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonus room! To be a crafty hobby studio :) Don't tell the hubby lol.<br />
Cleaning up this mess it what I have to look forward to tonight!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoZA8VzcUaNmhpRNjclEwEVedcHT982iMsxjY3mkR0B1e5FnkS6Q15UHXNhsfHkl9p50V_C2-bFCWAyiWTBmdR5Kz7OkRsxH_Rp9RgygLN6WhZKC8zUWYRvR9Hrhwn9ySpfHrD20gZp0f/s1600/house+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoZA8VzcUaNmhpRNjclEwEVedcHT982iMsxjY3mkR0B1e5FnkS6Q15UHXNhsfHkl9p50V_C2-bFCWAyiWTBmdR5Kz7OkRsxH_Rp9RgygLN6WhZKC8zUWYRvR9Hrhwn9ySpfHrD20gZp0f/s1600/house+2.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining room after the gyprockers... lots of mess.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaBABOdmDQzffim-blc0lfto_RhjLv6RVK8sg0-9Gr1BaCULwLYSvphPeBWTkNolyRpKq3tlU0nrthHT5_jTiApECeKDomsQuhp0T_1wPLMezrzqIoGUbJMAzw6S2kq0P-9YlB92uFSL8/s1600/house+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaBABOdmDQzffim-blc0lfto_RhjLv6RVK8sg0-9Gr1BaCULwLYSvphPeBWTkNolyRpKq3tlU0nrthHT5_jTiApECeKDomsQuhp0T_1wPLMezrzqIoGUbJMAzw6S2kq0P-9YlB92uFSL8/s1600/house+3.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front hall yet to get some gyprocking love!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnprZskUdxvQlDX3I-SEXBwvnfLz8WqSNbEEASzOwrbOVJnCekEshuGz4bBdI-1XjKdGFsdsaSLYmvA6ZA90AB3a00qT4SwUFW7QEqE_Q_Fv7PDzlVI-SuoSVWlZQGL6VBpO1Sz5cuyhEJ/s1600/house+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnprZskUdxvQlDX3I-SEXBwvnfLz8WqSNbEEASzOwrbOVJnCekEshuGz4bBdI-1XjKdGFsdsaSLYmvA6ZA90AB3a00qT4SwUFW7QEqE_Q_Fv7PDzlVI-SuoSVWlZQGL6VBpO1Sz5cuyhEJ/s1600/house+4.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room disaster area after the gyprockers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-Zwdxihma_7JOBu7Lp86T5A7g3DUups69_HAfStPdBcoqA7KatZ5o6BAY2ZT2ucsA7u70zruxRV1nR8p6Y3TiR_VKCZy9ORaOjO01TiAssf5bliFaKv-fYqVyAkxVjrlkFtZYbKREWrk/s1600/house+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-Zwdxihma_7JOBu7Lp86T5A7g3DUups69_HAfStPdBcoqA7KatZ5o6BAY2ZT2ucsA7u70zruxRV1nR8p6Y3TiR_VKCZy9ORaOjO01TiAssf5bliFaKv-fYqVyAkxVjrlkFtZYbKREWrk/s1600/house+5.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom's cleaning helper... <br />
or hindrance depending on how you look at it ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlC6OxdCvkcsgmtCw-c5L9O6OReWyh4nUUr_hAnsUb6X-OE_Uv9WRTZKkxuN4q8hHnId1Hikl1mZivdwMMJ5C-9lkXuQAVyQljqu23-3cxwVgIA6IxbNv_nXAwsWafSxDvm_1fc0wuYVJ/s1600/house+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlC6OxdCvkcsgmtCw-c5L9O6OReWyh4nUUr_hAnsUb6X-OE_Uv9WRTZKkxuN4q8hHnId1Hikl1mZivdwMMJ5C-9lkXuQAVyQljqu23-3cxwVgIA6IxbNv_nXAwsWafSxDvm_1fc0wuYVJ/s1600/house+6.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6_5jtI95J0zj3IyHNpsdfstEKGqeKTBqWiHqAzMSUgXpX4P-LqTQbtfAxmw-MOz1dA__-9UzxSEKmcyV5pHhnC5IaXSaVDQh11IlK63Gq2ErI0zzdO0wV105QquJGrZ2sNodHmQx0MKy/s1600/house+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6_5jtI95J0zj3IyHNpsdfstEKGqeKTBqWiHqAzMSUgXpX4P-LqTQbtfAxmw-MOz1dA__-9UzxSEKmcyV5pHhnC5IaXSaVDQh11IlK63Gq2ErI0zzdO0wV105QquJGrZ2sNodHmQx0MKy/s1600/house+7.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Future home owners... scared as hell but we put on a brave face :)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lots of work done and lots more to come :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy stitching everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-53196154417099295462014-03-13T15:28:00.002-02:302014-03-13T15:28:34.336-02:30More day, less sleep!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Thursday Everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't know about you but this whole Daylight Savings switch over has got me bushed. My eyes are stinging, I've been chugging coffee like it's gasoline for an empty car. Seriously, I'm just trying to get through this day...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love you daylight and the fact that I no longer have to drive home in the dark... And I know that with the longer days that means we're just one more step closer to spring! But why oh why do you have to rob me of that one extra hour of sleep?! I'm actually shocked that I'm feeling this so much. I don't remember losing that one hour of sleep hitting me like truck so much ever before!!!! Gahhhhhhhhh. Here's hoping I can trick my body into thinking all's normal tomorrow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past week, before the time change went and played havoc with my internal clock, I made lots of progress on my next quilty project. As you may already know, in my last post I announced the opening of my Etsy shop <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheWaywardNeedle" target="_blank">The Wayward Needle</a> :) This quilt is destined to be another addition very shortly if all goes well!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I spent 2 nights last week sewing together the backing fabric and basting this beauty. I haven't quite decided yet but I may just scallop the boarders. The colours, while from the same collection as my last quilt, are much more dainty. I think french country, spring mornings and Easter eggs when I look at it. So I think scalloping the boarder may just be the way to go on this one! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8cdlkX10EpSnX18M9Xf5DZaqndhiRryq1f2fW9L-4sB9sOtNM4vICNGWx-rHwrz6EEv2snyOBx5t2bV6PUxDtfGoEFAHfq3-oQYmXDUgTC_4u6xJQvSYgbAwzuLFdmVGAtprOE0NQqv5/s1600/March+2014+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8cdlkX10EpSnX18M9Xf5DZaqndhiRryq1f2fW9L-4sB9sOtNM4vICNGWx-rHwrz6EEv2snyOBx5t2bV6PUxDtfGoEFAHfq3-oQYmXDUgTC_4u6xJQvSYgbAwzuLFdmVGAtprOE0NQqv5/s1600/March+2014+011.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me know what you think!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ciao for now :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-66766869904924258202014-03-04T13:26:00.002-03:302014-03-04T13:27:19.542-03:30Headed in a New (Awesome) Direction<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Tuesday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you can probably tell I've been head to toe deep in quilting lately. Well I'm finally ready to announce why I've been utterly neglecting my stitching in favour of this 'hobby'. A hobby no longer, I've taken the plunge and opened an ETSY shop!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I present to you <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheWaywardNeedle" target="_blank"><b>the Wayward Needle</b></a><a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheWaywardNeedle" target="_blank">!</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheWaywardNeedle" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLqswJIWy3CUULeCe1YN0pG7sCCtfLKx2jSjxJ6EsK1xgioj4Yyzg46GibswYp8KxuDyFvNwgWPjjX0pFlbgzh1tQlc7yLJPD_acYEUV2jlKqjpPlThoXJi-vkUYEpPgX9GkxE31zkG2v/s1600/waywardneedle+banner.jpg" height="52" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I decided to call my shop the Wayward Needle because you never quite know what you're going to get when you put needle to fabric. Quilting is much like a journey. There are plenty of times that I had a plan for a project, got it all together and when I finished at the sewing machine, voila! it's not quite what I was expecting, yet just as lovely and exquisite. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The sewing process always manages to find some way to surprise me. Whether it is an unexpected challenge or that just the slightest alteration can change something to make it awesome. I can honestly say when I am finally able to take a step back and look at my finished quilt it's almost like magic. From tiny pieces of fabric, to the thread in the needle, it all comes together to make a finished product that is ever so cool. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of my goals this weekend was to finish the quilt I've been working on over the past number of weeks to get my new business started!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here it is!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While stitching will continue to be my first love (gotta get some of those WIPs done!), I'm going to keep on chronicling my quilting adventures here. I have another couple of projects on the horizon, and I cannot wait to continue sharing it all with you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ciao for now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa </span></div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-89749165192338204112014-03-03T11:48:00.000-03:302014-03-03T11:48:42.795-03:30Sick Stitching + a Milestone<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Monday! AND Happy March :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today is a true milestone, it's my <b>100th post</b>! Unbelievable! I've said it before and I'll say it again, I never imagined when I wrote my first blog post that both the stitchy world and the blogging world would become so important to me. I am so very grateful to able to write here every week and get to know my fellow stitchers of both the cross stitch and quilty variety! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm also happy to say that the drought has ended on the stitchy front! Thanks to my contracting the cold and being quarantined for a few days last week. However, I'm on the mend! Feeling much better :) I was the last in my house to get this bug, which I had thought I had successfully escaped. Nope. I wasn't quite so lucky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In any case it wasn't all bad. Being couch ridden, I decided to pick away at my cross stitching, considering that, besides moving your head to look at a pattern every now and then, no physical activity was needed. That meant no uncontrollable sick sweats, or exhaustion, or plain yuckyness ensued! YEY for being able to be at least a little productive while sick. Is there anything worse than feeling like a complete vegetable, laid up for days because you can't bring yourself to move a muscle????</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have finally managed to finish off part 2 of L*K's Holly and Hearts Sampler. Which has been tthhhhhissss close to a finish for just about forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The only thing that bugs me about Part 2 is the spelling of "honour." Not that I have a problem with Americanized English, but I've grown up with the British spelling. So things like the no "u" in honour drive the anal retentive side of me up the wall. I thought about changing the spelling having seen some people modify their's, but it always looked a bit too squishy. It was like two obsessive halves of me battling it out, one - the need to spelling things correctly (which given that I used to be a horrible speller would shock some of my childhood friends) and the other screaming that things need to look symmetrical. In the end, the more symmetrical - artsy side of me won out, much to the chagrin of my spelling side. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also fished out Santa's Magic from my all but empty WIP bag (no stitched words in sight). I'm actually pretty proud of the fact that I really only have 2 WIPs. Santa's magic and LHNs Mystery Sampler (on which I also need to finish part 2... there's a trend here). Just before Christmas I had put tones of time in one Santa and needed a bit of a change in scenery if you know what I mean. But now he's strapped into the qsnaps and ready for some flossy love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you can see from the picture I've been using some lovely sparkly thread... At long last I have met Kreinik floss! Or can I say Kreinik sandpaper. As beautiful at this stuff is... it's horrible on the fingers. The tips of my fingers were near rubbed raw after only an hour of stitching. Ohhhh the trouble we go through to make things extra beautiful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, I'm going to keep Santa on the stand and will myself to plug away at him for the next little while. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-82550869369360256792014-02-13T15:20:00.004-03:302014-02-13T15:21:04.260-03:30Back from Hiatus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Thursday,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been quite awhile! I've truly missed you blogland!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't have much in the way of excuses but to say that life took over for a while and I simply have not been focusing much on anything internet related. But I have been missing reading all of your lovely blogs out there my dears. I actually logged on to my reader last weekend this is how many posts I have missed out on over the last month or so... 1,678. HOLY COW! You guys are certainly prolific little buggers aren't you. I'm afraid I'm not going to be able catch up on all those lovely posts, but I'll certainly try!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I've been MIA from the blog world I've certainly not been missing from the crafty world. I've got a few plans in the pipe and can't wait to tell you about them, but that's for another post all together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For now a crafty update will have to suffice :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During the Christmas holidays I started another quilting project. The fabric is Honeysweet from Moda (I think) and below you'll find I've grouped them all up together (thank god for the banister...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beautiful pallet isn't it! Out of these jelly roll strips I made two lap quilts. So far I've got the quilt tops finished and planning to get them completed within the next couple of weeks or so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christmas also brought this awesome cross stitch stand. To say it's revolutionized how I stitch would be a huge understatement! I love it. I stitch soooooooo much quicker and am a total convert now - especially for larger projects. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On to more quilty crafts I've started yet another quilt (just because I ran out of fabric for my other quilts that I was doing above). As you can see I've completely taken over the dining room and have a pretty good set up going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can see here I've laid out some block combinations to be put together. AND my gorgeous new sewing machine! Another x-mas gift :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And finally, the last big development over the past couple of months is...... I got engaged!!! So happy :) I think he did pretty good on the ring ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll leave you now with a picture of our little Arya (who's not so little anymore) attempting to drag around a bone that was bigger than she was and that she could hardly fit in her mouth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-H99HLWL_-wM%2FUvwbaXvsrjI%2FAAAAAAAACBg%2F30cRXQ2mzWw%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2536.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnunL4IrEUABtZbDg9MgxUBvxdmywvdK-fv_7SJePxUfGwB7g8f1Ua62OLwE2phWOmmhR88aUotB67iQhO5GSLFZYU345KZuO6qm7mI_yAnBOqHavntAZnAZz_2jWaqIdbcaLqTLGo1bb/s1600/IMG_2536.jpg" -->Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-53500340801432388542013-12-22T21:23:00.001-03:302013-12-22T21:23:27.180-03:30Addicted<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Sunday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well you knew it wouldn't be long right? Yup, I've started yet another project... seriously... what is wrong with me???</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scraps ball!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="goog_351392384"></span><span id="goog_351392385"></span>I'm seriously beginning to doubt my sanity here...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just when I thought I had enough of something, I head back in for some more????? Didn't I just get finished with complaining about having too much to do????</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I once heard that the definition of insanity is doing something over and over again expecting different results. Yup! I guess that seals it - I'm insane. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But there is a bright side here! No pressure :) Meaning, this quilt is not for anyone. I'm just doing it because. If it comes out beautiful - yey me! If it comes out horrendous and I have no other choice but to burn it - YEY me! So I guess you could say I'm officially addicted. My stitchy bug has taken a vacation. She's been replace while on haitus with the quilting bug (if that's what you call it).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This one is made out of a set of fat quarter precuts by Moda, called Seasonal Elegance. I simply love the muted Christmas colours. Certainly seems to be the trend this winter actually. But I love that the colours are not overtly Christmasy at first glance. Instead the mix of the mild green/reds/silvers blend wonderfully with the unique patterns that are in this collection to put it in the "Christmas Category".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I'm in the Christmas-y mood here's one for road:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Holidays!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span><br />
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<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-51134206139029347352013-12-19T10:04:00.001-03:302013-12-19T10:04:33.001-03:30A Trip to the Framers<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Thursday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 posts in two days! Must be a record :) But I really couldn't wait any longer to show you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A couple of weeks ago I made my way to Michael's to finally get Nantucket framed. This is the first piece of needle work I have ever had framed :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was going for an old world kinda feel when thinking about framing. Actually, 'old trunk' is what I had in mind. I wanted the frame to look like it could have come off a ship somewhere. I think it turned out pretty good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How did Nantucket get framed if you have many finishes and none framed, you ask? Well because Michaels had a sale on their framing services. If you can call it that... I still ended up paying a minor fortune to get Nantucket framed. So what was the deal? Well 60% off plus an extra 20% off. Now that in my mind means 80% off... Nope it's an extra 20% off the total after 60%... makes no sense. Anyway, I didn't get quite the deal I was hoping for but I really wanted to get her framed!!! SO I ponied up the $150. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was so excited by this 'sale' that I actually brought a couple of other pieces along with me... but alas they will remain in my finished pile for a while longer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can't quite believe that $150 is considered a sale... I mean I've gotten a couple things (non-stitchy) framed before for around that price normally. I think Michaels prices must just simply be astronomical and I would NEVER shop there without a coupon... EVER. E.V.E.R!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, I digress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The REAL question I would like to ask you all is... Is there anyway to frame a piece of needlework yourself??? I've heard of Frames By Mail but I'm a huge scardy cat because I have no idea how it works exactly. I have so many lovely pieces that I want framed but I simply will NOT be dishing out $150+ to get them framed.... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">HELP</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yours truly,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One desperate stitcher.</span></div>
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<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-43318804543982733332013-12-18T10:34:00.000-03:302013-12-18T10:34:11.442-03:30Finished at the Factory<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Wednesday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well I'm very happy to announce that I'm finished with working at the factory... the factory being the dining room table and sewing machine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've officially completed ALL the Christmas gifts I had planned! I can't believe I did it... and ahead of time too! I was convinced I was going to slaving away on the machine on Christmas Eve. NOPE, not this time! Alllllll done :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before I show you any pictures I have to tell you that the camera just doesn't do justice to the vibrancy of the colours what-so-ever. It's pretty well dark when I leave for work in the morning and dark when I get home so there's not much opportunity to snap a good picture that either shows the right colours or that doesn't have a shadow in it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now onto the projects! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another 8 placemats for my grandmother donzo:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHdp3D5Mx2wcN4FXP4hCBgNEjtpyQGezcI2gL4_cDqkZsyZHj6vGu4KQQPobIuIYVTiiqDQzZvo4x5mmM_JDcdwfpCsupSEGb_DD7-4xevNNHywAGIs2yAN42tHWFDwtQqFm533Z1UIEL/s1600/dec+18+2013+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHdp3D5Mx2wcN4FXP4hCBgNEjtpyQGezcI2gL4_cDqkZsyZHj6vGu4KQQPobIuIYVTiiqDQzZvo4x5mmM_JDcdwfpCsupSEGb_DD7-4xevNNHywAGIs2yAN42tHWFDwtQqFm533Z1UIEL/s400/dec+18+2013+002.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The true colours of the placemats shown here. It was late afternoon when I snapped this pic so a little shaddy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7jYo7pNO0MjvafsTQ6wmfK591Ev-fHEBdH-OQiDYkZwBV2j5rRz0oXRBa5TVrKDAvr2S5wCCISjR324jepxZAw81l1YAiNYgZtbFnqgUx3HPnsj2l57MLrulxmPGBUYyeCOOY4UBQ5hb/s1600/dec+18+2013+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7jYo7pNO0MjvafsTQ6wmfK591Ev-fHEBdH-OQiDYkZwBV2j5rRz0oXRBa5TVrKDAvr2S5wCCISjR324jepxZAw81l1YAiNYgZtbFnqgUx3HPnsj2l57MLrulxmPGBUYyeCOOY4UBQ5hb/s400/dec+18+2013+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used the same 'tablecloth' material for the backing in these mats as I used in the other set I did not that long ago. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just love this fabric! Bought it for 50/60% off or something like that. Have to say I think these will look brilliant on her dining room table :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also finished up a throw blanket for my brother. He loves watching TV with a blanket in tow. The fabric was generously donated from my mom, who still has TONS of the top fabric you see here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a nice heavy material for top and on bottom I have a softer fabric that is bound to be nice and warm. I don't think it's quite flannel but it's definitely got a similar feel to it. Originally I thought I might quilt this but I was a little worried with how heavy the fabric was and how hard it would be free motion this one. So, since the top fabric is spectacular, I didn't see much harm in leaving it be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was so absorbed in my sewing on Sunday that I didn't even notice the snow storm blow in. One minute it was crystal clear, the next I turn around and meet a wall of white. Couldn't even see the road. Believe it or not, I love snow. It's just the removal of said snow after everything has calmed down that sucks... I'm sure many of you might agree. In anycase I'm hoping the snow sticks around until after Christmas... our temps generally yo-yo this time a year... so much so they could give you whiplash. ANYWAY, nothing like a White Christmas really! SO Mr. Snow, BRING IT ON!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll leave you now with some puppy pics! They LOVE the snow :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wishing you all the very best this Holiday Season!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span><br />
<br />
<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-40572699898005436762013-12-12T14:10:00.001-03:302013-12-12T14:10:44.855-03:30At last!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Happy
Thursday!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No I'm not referring to that awesomely catchy song that melts hearts! Nope this is all about the stitching people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">So first things first... HURRAY! I
have some stitchy progress to show you. Finally... It felt so good to take a
couple of hours and stitch to my hearts content this past weekend. I haven't
done this in FOREVER! I've mentioned this in previous posts, but I've only
managed to pickup a needle here and there in between all my other holiday
projects. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Here's
the progress I've managed with L*K's Holly and Hearts Mystery Sampler! PART 1
officially complete!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">In fact,
I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all the projects. The problem is I wanted
to put all my new sewing and quilting skills to good use and make Christmas
gifts... yup I put WAY too many projects on the list. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">It's
starting to get more manageable now but I've still got 8 placemats to
stipple/bind/finish and 1 blanket to put together yet! Pewf... just
thinking about it is giving me a little anxiety. BUT the comfort is that I'm in
the home stretch! Once I've got these placemats donzo, I'll really be able
to relax and cheat on my sewing projects with my stitchy projects :) Or
rather stop cheating on my stitching projects with my sewing projects! After
all, my stitching will always be my first love ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Until
next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Melissa<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-17088434605139316092013-12-02T14:56:00.001-03:302013-12-02T14:57:11.432-03:30A Quilty Finish<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Monday folks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Annnnnnd welcome to December!!! Let the festive festivities begin!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have another finish to show you all today of the quilty variety! (I also have a stitchy finish but I can't show it to you just yet!!!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So without further ado I present a beautiful throw! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I thought this would be more of a lap quilt, like my last one, it's actually more body sized and would be great to cuddle up on the couch with. I figure I will slowly make my way up to a full sized quilt... this one was hard enough to handle and it was much smaller than even a twin sized quilt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I say the main reason I found this quilt difficult to finish is because of all the stippling I did. Swirls all over the blanket. And when I say all over I mean everywhere my little needle could go. And boy did it ever use some thread to do! So when I finished this quilt Sunday morning passed, I was happy to see it end, but also oh so pleased with the end result. All those hours moving my quilt this way and that paid off, and I have to say I love the effect stippling imbues. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now it's on to the NEXT one :) I'm even thinking that maybe I'll sell some quilts. Not sure what the market is like for quilts but who knows :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also finished some placemats... again the stippling, but at a scale that was far more reasonable. Probably took me about a 1hr work from start to finish for each mat. Not bad for a beginner! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Again I really tried to optimize my fabric. I had about a metre and a bit to make some placemats out of. When all my calculations were done I realized I only had just enough fabric for 4 mats with binding made out of the same fabric (and that's using every inch of fabric... I mean it). I was a little disappointed that I didn't have enough to make a least 6... if only I had another fabric to use for binding....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have another 3 projects I'd like to get done before Christmas on the quilty side of things. Not leaving much time for stitching I know - but I'll squeeze it in there some where at some point or I'll go insane. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm so ready for a break at this point... I feel like I spend EVERY evening doing something. I just want a couple of nights where I do nothing but veg on the couch... with my new blanket :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Stitching!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-35865244638301048642013-11-22T10:13:00.002-03:302013-11-22T12:08:03.521-03:30Stash... like I needed more...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Friday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you have probably guessed today's post is about some new additions to my stash!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR3yxAoqsGfx2KYByu9WjW-PJZ98Zuozcxd6D1h8mLF5ArhXpItDvhJTTKsvN3rpD7OXorBVW1gH1mZ2Oq_hhEtagUfW-tUYhZIZHwBvfSEZvdM4HcI1jlx40D7A8d7fPoJAGfvTqNzIM/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR3yxAoqsGfx2KYByu9WjW-PJZ98Zuozcxd6D1h8mLF5ArhXpItDvhJTTKsvN3rpD7OXorBVW1gH1mZ2Oq_hhEtagUfW-tUYhZIZHwBvfSEZvdM4HcI1jlx40D7A8d7fPoJAGfvTqNzIM/s400/001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFRlQK3rL1_bwj_mvCo4dOxpKSr1vtzOt-_1gpxnyRh6eUCSxHIdd38n3kBA4-FgD9UhB1xDmhAMDnVnYyPd73R2EoLcqksKsS9korRLIlK6gc6xSwGX2AjhZeCZ2Sw7_8-yJ4LLzOLdv/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFRlQK3rL1_bwj_mvCo4dOxpKSr1vtzOt-_1gpxnyRh6eUCSxHIdd38n3kBA4-FgD9UhB1xDmhAMDnVnYyPd73R2EoLcqksKsS9korRLIlK6gc6xSwGX2AjhZeCZ2Sw7_8-yJ4LLzOLdv/s400/003.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoUyqSZLKvxf_KWJfryoQPySOVfiWI_OEvRdA3-jUeG9a0iIjHvrtNOPu8GcbuNOhDgNsi3UGZbk6889Czkqh2dx2EKUf2esvvXNBEk5lKqUVU4x0mG53XlPOkTcxsYV9O_SrSwh9zir3/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoUyqSZLKvxf_KWJfryoQPySOVfiWI_OEvRdA3-jUeG9a0iIjHvrtNOPu8GcbuNOhDgNsi3UGZbk6889Czkqh2dx2EKUf2esvvXNBEk5lKqUVU4x0mG53XlPOkTcxsYV9O_SrSwh9zir3/s400/004.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I remembered when I started ordering these new patterns I actually started to feel giddy with happiness! But did I really need them? Well yes and no! I have both mystery samplers started and need the other parts to finish them... but the other stuff? Well those were just because. What can I say? I love Christmas</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and Ella and the Frog is so sweet... I can see hanging it in my future daughter's bedroom :) .... ummmm what's wrong with me? I may not even ever have a daughter but I still want to stitch something that I MIGHT use... really I'm just justifying the purchase with an excuse - I only bought Ella and the Frog because </span><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;">I</u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> loved it. I have no idea where I would hang it, but nevertheless I still wanted it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This leads me to a bigger, more philosophical question... Why is it we feel the need to buy more stash even if we already have plenty to do???? I have charts coming out the ying yang. More projects started than you can shake a stick at. More accessories/fabric/hand dyed thread than I know what to do with! Really... where does it end???? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been much better recently with buying stash... that is, keeping control of myself and not going ape-shit-crazy over new patterns/fabric/floss. But I've only been better because I've been so mega busy with life and other projects, that are taking a bit of time (and money) away from my stitching. Shockin'... if it's not stitchy stash, it's quilty stash. What a vicious cycle! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the end I'm not going to set one of those goals you see proclaiming "I WILL NOT BUY STASH FOR A YEAR..." or "I WILL NOT BUY ANYTHING UNTIL MY STASH IS EMPTY..." In the end, and we all know it, those are empty and unachievable goals. Well at least to me they are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So what to do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can't see much in the way of options here. Being dedicated to stitching something as soon as you buy it is difficult, to say the least. So the only option is to remain as frugal as possible, so that my pocket book doesn't suffer too much and my stash doesn't start busting at the seams. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ahhhh first world problems....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll leave you now with a couple of pictures!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last night we had our first snowfall (real one anyway). Really big flakes of snow. Supper sticky... the stuff winter wonderland dreams are made of... and hard hitting snowballs!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrhn7SDU4erZJR40PVAEviVv5U4RJAL1z1eQTqlAdBnIT9LN5PrFhMen-I-E62OPWkJWjt04JZGIITXXPSmNOYpZOdgcW1zzE4gtKpPdaXR6kLkRIjzRytZe_eLkihISf4ETJpr42Pw78/s1600/winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrhn7SDU4erZJR40PVAEviVv5U4RJAL1z1eQTqlAdBnIT9LN5PrFhMen-I-E62OPWkJWjt04JZGIITXXPSmNOYpZOdgcW1zzE4gtKpPdaXR6kLkRIjzRytZe_eLkihISf4ETJpr42Pw78/s400/winter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The puppies were happy with the snow too! They couldn't get enough of the stuff and wanted to play outside all night long. Here they are this morning ready to play yet again (and looking for those belly rubs)! Too bad the snow turned to slush overnight :/</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHqF-vO2z8Y1h1ntNIyjYf5YMh4JDK5yriG1YEvDnkmEHYcM4LEf3yEXdePyCWSqIrnwXGN15YhPU0GTyh4yMLqZ0IQ-VGK5TU_HOhdwDZt7V70oFsM2gaUrH-urxFr9KggJFHYLcwCQH/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHqF-vO2z8Y1h1ntNIyjYf5YMh4JDK5yriG1YEvDnkmEHYcM4LEf3yEXdePyCWSqIrnwXGN15YhPU0GTyh4yMLqZ0IQ-VGK5TU_HOhdwDZt7V70oFsM2gaUrH-urxFr9KggJFHYLcwCQH/s400/006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6759056932089532152.post-53594007792309510272013-11-18T12:00:00.000-03:302013-11-19T00:12:45.173-03:30The the winners are...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Monday everyone,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm a little late in posting the winners of my giveaway... not that this is not typical of me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Better late then never I say!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsnnLLnLTFbUp_Eyep4adjC6joskMAFSjcdfYIQJI-0pyfD-Q21G0GcZ-WzsdcV9JjqeC114LJZ2BFbwB8FXYq5bs_hagiOns1C-jtHUygP1CJ4RYs4KvCiUuvJjPBv-aZ9xysqTcHu57/s1600/keep-calm-you-are-a-winner-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsnnLLnLTFbUp_Eyep4adjC6joskMAFSjcdfYIQJI-0pyfD-Q21G0GcZ-WzsdcV9JjqeC114LJZ2BFbwB8FXYq5bs_hagiOns1C-jtHUygP1CJ4RYs4KvCiUuvJjPBv-aZ9xysqTcHu57/s400/keep-calm-you-are-a-winner-2.png" width="342" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The winner of the $10 gift card to 123stitch.com is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>ANNIE!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The winner of a stitched goody by yours truly (going to keep what is a secret until received!):</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>ANNE of <a href="http://dollsmusings.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Dolls Musings</a>!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Congrats to both winners and thank you everyone for participating!!! Hopefully not too much time will pass before another giveaway ;P</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melissa</span>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02985600535017248188noreply@blogger.com11