Have to take that back!

I will have to take back all the negative things I said about my stand now!! After sending an email to the company expressing my dissatisfaction, I got a call (on a Sunday) from the owner/builder of the stand! He explained to me how I could work with it until he sent me some spring washers.
I got those today and installed them, and now the thing is working like I just want it to! It is awesome! I am very pleased with it! I just wish the pattern holder was a little closer. I don't like them very far away. Seems a little hard on me to have it far away. But I have figured out a way to put it beside my bed and beside my rocker and still use my over the bed table to hold the pattern nearer.

My mother in law (Mabel) is doing poorly. Earlier this week, they thought she wouldn't last long at all, so DH started freaking about how to get down there (NC) since we lost our van and I know the little car won't make it.
We have enought to cover a hotel/gas/food but not a car rental. Plus, if you use a debit card, they authorize a charge for $525!!! There is no way my bank can authorize that, especially since I don't have that kind of money in my account, lol! Then, I checked on cash option. You have to have $300 in cash to rent a car!!
Dead end!! Or so I thought. Then I thought about asking my mother (big groan here) for help in renting the car. She can rent it and put me on as additional driver, then we can take care of anything else!!
I can only hope she will help us. It's not like we planned on losing the van or DH's job going overseas!! Of course, I had to endure the "lecture" about saving money, but I asked her "how can we save money when we don't have enough to even take care of bills and food!"

But, DH called down there today and then we had to check to see if hell had frozen over!! Sister actually invited him to speak with nurse there and then even more unbelievable--- she asked him his input on putting a DNR order in her chart. They did decide to do that because, like the nurse said, they could very well kill her by trying to save her (i.e. crack her chest like an egg)

She is doing better right now. She is sitting up and actually ate today and is joking and laughing, So we are going to try to get down there next weekend and visit her. DH knows this will be the last time he sees his mother, and boy, is that going to be hard!! Not only on him, but on me because I will be putting up with the after effects!!
Plus, he really has NO idea about Alzheimer's patients. Having worked in geriatrics for about 12 years, I have a pretty good grasp on it. He is really going to be bothered by this I know that also.

Not really looking forward to this trip. Except for the dim hope of finding a LNS while I'm down there! That would be a really nice surprise!

Total bummer!

Well, today totally sucked! I was so happy and excited about my floor stand! But it has one HUGE problem!!! WAAAYYYY too difficult to rotate stitching to get to the back!!! So, am going to have to return it.

I want a good floor stand so badly!! I really thought this would be a good one. That is the problem with ordering online I guess. You can't "see" what you are getting until it arrives at your house and you put it together!!

I really really wish I had a LNS around here! That way "maybe" I could see a floor stand and actually try it out!

I may exchange the one I got for ADP's EZ Stitch Floor Stand. I think that one is better for me and will work the way I want it to. Either that or Aritsan Design's Ergo floor stand. They both seem to be along the lines I want. Ease of rotation of frame!!

Well, that's my rant for the day!! Plus, I had to take Wedding Sampler off extender bars and put it on shorter bars so I could use my lap stand! Since I can't use the floor stand.

What a day!

Wedding Sampler Update!

Here is my current WIP--Teresa Wentzler's Wedding Sampler. This is stitched on 28ct evenweave (off white) and has loads of specialty stitches and beads in it. That is one of the reason's I love TW's designs!

I have to have this one done before June 2009, because it is for my cousin's wedding! I figure I should make that deadline with plenty of time to spare, but still nervous about it.

I spent the last few days in bed, not doing much but feeling crappy. I did however, manage to get online and spend some money! I ordered some things from ADP, for my lap stand. Some charts, floss, fabric and bling for designs I have here which needed the bling, or floss!

I have set up my floor stand, which arrived yesterday, so I am getting ready to try that bad boy out! Sure does look to be very helpful, but will ahve to "test drive" it!! I hope it helps as much as I thought it would!

Also got my booking/confirmation number for next year's Stitching Cruise yesterday! Hooray for that! It's now official! Only 330 days left until I'm sailing the ocean blue again! Can't wait! It's been so bloody cold here and now they are talking about another snow storm this weekend! I'm heartily sick of snow and cold weather!!!

My new bed is wonderful! I love it!! So comfy and so good for my back! Have not woken up once with back pain since I got it! I wake up with my usual back/body pain, but not like before, with the old bed. Cats and dog love it also. They have loads of room to stretch out on it now, without sleeping on top of each other!!

More economic stimulation from me!!

Well, once again I have helped stimulate the economy! And all I can say is thank heavens for tax refunds! I finally have purchased a floor stand, which is something I have been wanting to do for years now! This one ---> is called the Stitch It Mantis Cross Stitch Needlework Floor Stand. I found it on Stitch-R-Stuff, a really interesting and inexpensive online store!

I should be able to use this while stitching in my bed, rocker, recliner or couch! Plus, the big added bonus? The pattern/floss board comes with it! Most of the others I have looked at, you had to pay extra for the pattern/floss holder! Yay for that one!

Also, another stimulating purchase--- I finally got around to getting my new bed! It's a Simmons BeautyRest and boy is it comfy!! It's a very firm mattress (for my back issues) and has a pillow top with it (for my FMS). It's also about 6 inches taller than my other bed! I purchased a Queen size this time, so I had to buy me some sheets and a new bedspread. Thankfully, my heated mattress pad was able to be squeezed on there!

I love it and I had a good nite's sleep for the first part in a long time.

Well, just wanted to report my economic stimulation input! LOL

I'm going to be in trouble if....

my hubby finds out what I just spent money on! LOL I purchased Martina Weber's (Chatelaine) Mystery XII and Vienna Mandala!! I have also applied for the Yahoo groups for these 2 designs.
I just HAD to order the Mystery XII because it's Caribbean! I figured it was a sign that I really had to purchase this one. The Vienna one I got because it goes along with St Petersburg one I bought a while back.
Her designs are so intricate and detailed, just like I love them!! The more intricate, the better as far I am concerned.
I plan on using my store credit from ECC (for using my finished projects at Nashville market) for the kit that goes with the MXII. I will have to pay some of it, since the kit is over $100, but it will be worth it. I have never worked with some of the fibers Martina uses, but that will be the fun part of it all! She does give DMC conversions, for a less expensive project, but I wanted to do this one the "right" way.

I also ordered some more extender bars and an extra adapter bar from ADP so I can have more than one scroll rod for my lap stand. That way I can use my lap stand for different projects. I am also considering buying ADP's floor stand. I think that will help me a lot. Plus the floor stand looks as if it can also hold a Qsnap frame!! That will definitely be beneficial, since I use those a lot too!!

Well, they say confession is good for the soul and I do feel better now I have confessed my SEX for the day! LOL

What I returned home to....

I'm not telling this in sequence, but I don't really think that way anymore, so I just go with the flow! I decided to show everyone who reads this what I came home to after my cruise! Now remember, I had been spending 10 days in the warm (80-85F) Caribbean with loads of sun!

This is what happened while I was cruising: We got about 6 inches of snow that week! The schools were closed all week long, so that meant my dh was stuck with them ALL week long! hee hee hee! Needless to say, the emails I received from him were full of despair, nerves and stress! LOL

The kids of course had a field day! Here is my youngest (left side) with his best friend, attempting to ride bikes in the snow. I don't think it worked out too well though.

The picture on the top is our neighbor's van showing how high the snow got!

Then of course after I got home, they had one day of school then another snow storm hit and we got another 4 inches of snow. Our town only has one snow plow and had run out of salt! Not an unusual occurence. Since we don't normally get very much snow, we never have a large supply on hand! So these two snowfalls did the town in! People were being asked to stay off the roads unless you were emergency responders or it was an emergency that you absolutely had to drive!

Another night of no sleep!

Well, it's 6 am now and I have not been to bed yet! Very bad nite for me last nite! Legs are killing me, back is aching to beat the band and I'm pretty much miserable. I think there is somethiing moving thru in the weather system. Is supposed to rain today, but it's not that kind of pain!

I got my newest S.E.X. the other day!! 2 more solos from Silkweavers! One is a greyish color and the other is perfect for PR's SF! ( I do believe) I also ordered some more stuff from American Dream Products. That is what my lap stand is and I tell you it was the best investment I have ever made!

This is the second one I have had so far. The other lasteed about 15 years or so and I literally wore it out! I took a pic of it before I had to throw it out and emailed it to the fantastic people at ADP-USA and they said they had never seen one that had lasted so long with such intense use!
I ordered another set of side bars with a 10" spread instead of just the 8" spread I have now. I also ordered another adapter bar that will fit up to a 22" scroll rod, that way I can have more than one project on scroll rods and still use my lap stand!!

I am now on the hunt for a nice floor stand that can go around my rocing chair when I'm sitting in it and stitching! ADP has a couple of really nice floor stands and I know there products are sturdy!!

Total change of subject here, but I think it's time I organized all m files on my laptop. I need to organize all my stitching patterns that I have purchased and downloaded, all my freebies and other stuff. Will get to that soon!!

Class Day on Cruise!

This was the first class day during stitching cruise. This is Lorrie Birmingham and she is such a wonderful lady! She, Marilyn and Liz were totally awesome! Plus, the designs they created for the cruise were absolutely stunning!

They were all so funny and caring! They really make you feel so welcome. Also, no problem helping you with an unfamiliar stitch or issue you were having.

The picture below is my name badge I made for the cruise this year. We were all asked to make them since Lorrie, Marilyn and Liz couldn't remember everyone's name! LOL This is a freebie from Passione Ricamo and I decided to do it over one on 28 count evenweave. This way it was small enough to make a little "purse"/name badge! Worked out very well I thought.

Then I just added a nice bright twisted rope for the necklace part. Used design program to create my name for it. I'm not real good at figuring out what type of lettering, so just went with something easy! :)

Wedding Dress Picked Out!!

Today was the day!! My darling daughter found the perfect dress! It is absolutely lovely!! Classic, elegant and so perfect for her.

It is ivory/ecru in color, with some wonderful netting under the top layer!

Also lots of sparkly on the netting and along the shirring down the front.

It is so gorgeous!

She went ahead and got it today since it was a very good deal-$200 off bridal dress!

So, today she got the dress, the veil, the alterations paid for and the inserts in the "bosom" area!!

The dress is form fitting until just slightly below the hips where it flares out into a gorgeous train. As you can see from the picture to the right, it has 2 layers from the hips down. The top layer is the plain fabric and under that is a netting with loads of "bling"!!

She really looked a vision in it today and it was a "bad hair day" as she called it! LOL

And since she got her dress today, and if I make it there before the end of Feb., I can get my mother of the bride dress for 20% off! I saw a couple there that are very interesting, so I will probably go back there next week and get my dress for her wedding!

She will probably get after me for posting these pics on my blog because she doesn't want her fiancee to see the dress, but I doubt he reads my blog! lol

I'm home, safe, sound and brown!!

Well, I made it back home! Sure do miss the warm weather! I'm safe, sound and very very brown! Love it!
Here I am on the top deck (where the wind is the worst of course) on embarkation day! A lady was kind enough to take my picture (altho I don't really like my pic taken). It was so windy, you can't even see my hair, because it was streaming straight back from behind my head!!
I will be posting some thoughts, and pics here over the upcoming days about my cruise. Along with pictures of the wonderful designs/kits that were given to us in classes.
Next year, we are going Western Caribbean and there is only 345 days left until that cruise!! Yes, I'm already counting down!! LOL!!
When I got home, there was about an inch of snow left from what there had been dumped here all week long. There had been no school all week, so that meant dh had the kids everyday!! LOL Then Thursday night (first nite back) and early Friday morning, we got another 5 inches of snow!! We don't have any salt left in town, can't buy salt, and even if there WERE salt to buy, couldn't afford it! This city is flat busted broke!
Then, there was school on Mon, Tues of this week. They got out 3 hours early on Tues, because another snow storm was heading our way. So, on Wednesday, another 3-4 inches fell here in town and then on Thurs it was down to -4F, so they had a 2 hour delay, but I couldn't get the car to budge, so I kept the kids home yesterday! Hopefully I can get them to school today! (Friday)
Well, just a quick post to let anyone following my blog know I am safe at home! Freezing to death, but safe.