So many projects...so many problems!

I can't believe that my summer break is almost over. It seems that the summers get shorter every year. I have one more week off, and then school starts back full force. I am not looking forward to it. Don't get me wrong...I am very thankful to have employment, especially in these tough times when so many are losing their jobs. I just really love my time at home, with very little routine and low stress. One school starts back, things get busy and hectic--not only with my job, but also with Jake's homework and little league football, and with Michael's football season. He is a varsity coach who LIVES football from July to December. I feel like a single parent for six months out of the year. I think he has been coaching for eighteen years. I have been with him for at least fourteen of those seasons...the novelty of it wore off for me a long time ago. LOL! But I digress...

Enough school talk...on to stitching!!

I have run into a couple of roadblocks this week. I finally broke down and bought all the silks for Shores of Hawk Run Hollow. I have been admiring this on so many blogs lately...like Siobhan's and Debbie's. The silks came in the mail this week, but I was determined to finish Bird in the Bower first. You can see how far I got before I ran out of one of the NPIs...grrrr!!

I have an "e", a small flower, and "2009" to add, and it will be finished. I am placing an order with Needlecraft Corner today.

So when I ran out of silk, I started Shores... I have had the pattern and the fabric for some time. However, when I ordered fabric, I mistakenly ordered the 36 ct. instead of the 40 ct. I forged ahead with the 36 ct. I am stitching it with one thread over two, and I am not sure if I am going to like the coverage. I contacted Needlecraft Corner to see about getting the 40 ct. She responded that she didn't have it in stock, and she could order it, but the last time she ordered it for someone it took 3 months to get it. Sheesh. I don't really want to wait that long... so either I am going to have to be happy with the coverage of one thread, or frog what I have done and use two threads (and I really don't want to buy double the amount of silk for this), or try to find someone who has the 40 ct. and start over. I am thinking I am going to be happy with the 36 ct. with one thread and be done. After putting it away in frustration two nights ago, I pulled it back out again today, and it seems better to me now than it did then. Any thoughts/opinions?

While wallowing in my frustration over both of these projects, I pulled out Rosewood Manor's Quakers and Quilts, and I have stitched almost all of the first page. This is the first time I have used Valdani threads, and I really like them. I like the subtle variation and the rich colors.

I think Picture This Plus is having a sale on fabrics today. I am off to check that out, fix Jake some lunch, and hope to get a little stitching in before my niece's birthday party this afternoon. I am either going to work on Q&Q or pull out Molly (who has been calling loudly the last day or so). Still trying to make a decision on Shores before I put any more stitches in it.

Hope that all of you have a lovely weekend with lots of stitching!

Kellie

Edited to add: I meant to write this in my original post, but forgot...I had told Jan that I would post about her giveaway at her blog. Forgive me, Jan, for being remiss.

If you have not done so already, please check out Jan's fabulous giveaway at her blog, Belfonte Notes that she is doing in celebration of her new baby granddaughter. What a wonderful way to celebrate a new life. :)