Diaries of a Haute Mama: August 2006

Digital Scrapbooking

What have I done? I have discovered a whole new craft. I knew digital scrapbooking existed, but I didn't realize how cool it was! Anything you can do with conventional scrapbooking papers, scissors, punches, kits, etc, you can do with a computer! And it saves you the clean up. I have been surfing, researching, downloading, and creating for the past two days. I have made my first digital scrapbook, and I will definitely be making more!

My brother and some friends came to visit us this weekend, and we all went to the zoo. I whipped up this scrapbook with the pictures I took. I'm sure I will make lots of changes as I learn more, but for now I am happy with this first attempt.

Click the picture to see the entire album

Morgan's Room, part 1

My oldest daughter's room is a construction zone! This past weekend brought new wall paint (two coats, including the inside of the closet) and new built-ins. The cabinets still need door fronts and shelves, but the framing is done. We even managed to move a TV cable from one wall to the opposite one so that we can hide the TV in the new cabinetry (once she's allowed to have a TV in her room). We painted the wall behind the bed a dark chocolate brown, and the rest of the walls are cream. She thinks cream is boring, but I think she'll change her mind once we get all the fabrics and art in the room! I still have lots more sewing to do. Curtains, pillows, bedding, and a curtain to enclose the nook. Hopefully we'll have it done before she moves out! :p

Competition Totals

I finished the competition last night with a total of 4256 stitches. I stitched until I was falling asleep at my needle! Nowhere close to the master stitchers on the board, but I'm happy with it anyway.

I haven't had a lot of stitching time this weekend, because we have been redecorating oldest DD's room. We built the house 3 years ago so that every girl could have their own room, but then Alex came along and changed that plan! So the two little ones had to move into the largest room, and Morgan (the oldest) had to take the "blue room." Not too long ago, I realized in horror that Morgan only has 4 years left in the house before college, and she may no longer be living here at home. I want those years to be in a room she can really enjoy, so we started painting, building, and sewing this weekend. She will have a whole sleeping nook with a trundle bed below and bookshelves built in all around. A curtain will hide her away while she reads, sleeps, or listens to her music. Storage will not be a problem, even though she has the smallest room. And it will all be in cool, teenage-friendly colors of brown, pink, and lime green. I can't wait to post the after pictures!

HAED Comp, Thursday

The last two days have netted another 988 stitches. Not real impressive. I was hoping for twice that. I forgot to clarify on my last post... in order to make the competition fair, since some people prefer to tent stitch, each leg of the stitch counts as 1 stitch. So, actually, I've only done half that amount in full stitches, but they each count twice. But being sick and real busy with my beadwork (I have two commissions as well as the fobs that I'm working on!), I just haven't had a whole lot of leftover time. Here's hoping today will be better!

Competition Update

I've finally added up all my stitches! 2,288 stitches so far. That's Monday and Tuesday. I haven't stitched any today yet. As predicted, I did indeed get DD's stomach virus, and have been confined to the sofa. Hopefully that will be a good thing for my stitching today! I have been trying to work the big blocks of color in order to get the most stitches in the smallest amount of time. I'm pleased with my progress so far, I think.

The first of the birthstone series are up! I have January through April on the website so far, with more to come very soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Here's a sneak peek at January's Garnet :)

HAED Competition

We're having a stitching competition on the HAED board, and I'm participating, although I have no chance of coming in close to the top. I'll be working on Fire, and counting the number of stitches made this week. I did manage a couple hours yesterday, and a few hundred stitches. It's fun just to be a part of it anyway!

Not only do I have four kids to keep me from stitching (and one of those currently has a stomach virus, so I'm sure I'm next), but my scissor fobs have been a hit! I've sold nearly all of them, so I've been working like mad to create more. I'm going to be adding a "Birthstone" series soon. The first few should be on the site tonight (hey, that rhymed!). I will have a little time at night to stitch, after all the kids are in bed. But as my teenager doesn't go to bed until around 10:00, and my toddler is having trouble sleeping (STILL!), that doesn't leave me much time. But I will post what little time I do get!

Scissor Fobs!

My favorite stitching tool is my scissors. Especially my pewter Ginghers. These babies cut like no scissors I have ever had. Unfortunately, I accidentally left them at my mom's the last time I was down in MS. What's a stitcher to do? I see no solution other than to buy a new pair! Thus, I am the proud owner of a new pair of Gingher stork scissors (what is the story behind the stork anyway?). Since I am a beader, and without my favorite scissors, I thought it might be a good idea to make myself a fob for this new pair, to make it harder to lose them. I've never had a fob before, and I don't enjoy the word "fob" at all. It sounds...I don't know...funny. But that's what they're called. So I made one. Then another. They stitched up quick, and were fun to make. I thought they might be something my stitcher friends would enjoy, so I added them to my website. My own line of custom scissor fobs, with a uniqueness that you don't find everywhere. They would make great secret stitcher gifts too! I have more on the way, and if you want one in colors you don't see, Send me an email!

Click for bigger pics.

Coral