Recently...

Tora says time for sleeps not stitches! 

Happy Birthday!

To my mom!!! And to the royal baby! We're sure that Kate & the baby decided on today so our family would always remember his birthday!

Party nails for the celebration! Don't look too close, it was my first attempt! And no way I'm showing my right hand, haha. (Tutorial from Cutepolish here.)

Halloween Stash & the Dallas LNS!

A quick visit to the new-to-me Dallas LNS proved very pleasant!!! I love how open and spacious the store is and how they display their special floss.  Each color for CC, GA & Weeks has it's own spot on the wall which makes choosing a color MUCH easier.  The Kreinik is either in braids on a rotating stand or in beautiful wooden drawers by shade. They are kinda low on fabric but they do have some beautiful choices I hope to explore on my next visit. And they are just getting started!

Picked up some Halloween stash - JCS Halloween edition & a small black bat needle minder! So cute.  Also got a couple threads and a Mill Hill Christmas kit.

The store was playing country music loud enough to hear it but not too too loud. Ya know? AND they had guard puppies! Who doesn't love a store with cute critters.  The Westie is the more active guard puppy... also keeping the Mom on the ball with cookie time.  The Scottie is more laid back and content to nap under a table. But, should someone walk past the store without entering, she can be called upon to bark her disappointment! It was an awesome fast trip! And it's always fun to recognize someone and be recognized in return! I fear the closeness of the location and the ease of dropping in may damage my budget.  We shall see!

Also... Tora likes to help stitch by chewing on the fabric and frame! Managed to snap this shot before she did any damage to the fabric or my calm. We talked and she laid stretched out along my legs for the rest of her shift as helper.  Progress, slowly but surely! Crazy cat...

 Now... off to pick favorites from the JCS Halloween issue & compare notes with the Stitchy Cousin!

Looking forward to Halloween?

I am! And I know one other stitcher who is too!

This freebie is from Cross Me Not. Stitched on 35 Onyx with DMC threads.

123 Freebie SALs!

This was catch-up month! Not sure I'll get them finished by show & tell but they are stitched and that counts!!! :)

May --- Plume 

I exaggerated a tad when I said this one was done.  There are four little pieces left to add! 

June --- The Guardians of the Sea

Love how I was able to line up the beads facing the trident and the tridents are horizontal. First time arranging beads and I'm very pleased when how they turned out! Also, blending filament to add shiny to their hair & tails!

July --- Cozy Christmas Wishes
A favorite that I'm really happy with.  Just not too happy with the photograph.  The steam from the cocoa is sooooo pretty but nearly disappears in the pic.

More Tora!

As requested, more pics of Tora! When we first got her, I texted a pic a day to our friend who was worried and missing her. 

Her favorite evening activity is napping in Mom's lap when she gets home from work.  

She also likes sitting on top of chairs. It did freak me out at first that she likes to stare at the floor... WHAT is she looking at? Do I need to kill something?? Nope, she just likes hanging on stuff.  Pretty sure she's part monkey.

And sleeping upside down!

She loves long, skinny things... straws, pencils, cords. And by love, I mean completely obsessed. 120%.

Playing is hard work! She does that thing where she falls when she sleeps... the more asleep she gets the further she slides.  Hilariously cute.

New Additions!

We have two new additions to our house! One planned & long-awaited and one unplanned & sudden.  First the planned... Jake's new car!

After looking at several cars (to see if he'd fit - 2 hits & 1 miss on that test!), finally he decided on a 2014 Mazda 6, currently unnamed. Jet Black Mica with a sand interior, 6-speed standard shift.  Yes, he chose a manual that I can't drive yet! I'll learn one day and his total happiness over the purchase erased my angst.

 

 

And the unplanned addition... Tora!  Tora was found in a box in a Wal-mart parking lot with a sign that said free cat next to a somewhat friendly but shady guy.  She was very sweet and nice but had a matted eye and was generally in not good shape.  Our friend decided to take her and get her healthy.  The vet said she was too young to be removed from her mother causing her to be sick and gave her some antibiotics to straighten her out.  Fast forward a few months... our friend's dad decided one day to lock her in the back yard with no notice or chance to get her a new home.  So, we stepped in! We couldn't let such a tiny kitten be locked outside in the hottest part of the year! She's adapted very quickly to her new home but is very bitey and totally nuts.  We're *hoping* when she's old enough to get fixed, it'll calm her down!

Oh, and she *hates* being locked out of the bathroom when someone is in there.  It's pretty hilarious.  She throws herself at the door hoping to get in, sometimes hanging on the door knob and scratching with her back legs.  If we've not latched the door well, she gets in and sits patiently until we are done. Doesn't make another sound or cause any more trouble, no matter how long we take.  Totally weird.