The Tsar's' Cabinet

Two posts in one day- it's a record. This afternoon I went to the Museum of History to see the exhibit of the Tsars'  Cabinet.

They had displays of the Tsars' dinner services, glassware, serving pieces from the Romanovs. There were explanations both of the pieces and how they were made and the history of the times they were made. This exhibit ends shortly and will be moving up to Massachusetts. They also had an exhibit of  Russian Icons in conjunction with it.

It is called "Windows into Heaven" and is from a private collection of a couple from Charlotte. The icons in this collection are amazing. This collection will not be going up to Massachusetts. I wish I could have taken pictures but as both collections are privately owned they prohibited it.

Stitch from Stash Report February 2014

Stitch from Stash Report for February-
 Amount allowed to be spent for the year $300.00
 Christmas GC $50.00
Total= $350.00
Spent this month  $0.00
Splurge Weekend= $80.73

I stitched a little on "The Quiltmaker"

With the snowstorms last week I didn't have much time to stitch. 
    One of the reasons that I wanted to do Stitch from Stash is to learn more about blogging and to become better at it. Last month when I tried to write a blog with IE as my browser I couldn't. I had to download Firefox. This month I couldn't do one in either IE or Firefox, and had to download Google Chrome. Pretty soon I'll go through all the browsers- then what will I do?
    I found I had comments to moderate and I did that today-I told you I was learning! I'll answer them as soon as I can.
    The other project that I decided to do this year was to go through my stash and organize it. As I was writing down patterns and what supplies I would need for them- I discovered that there was something missing for most- Fabric. I figure it will take me most of the year to finish The Quiltmaker, Pretty Pumpkins and Christmas Spirit. My plan was to make November my month to use my stash money and December my splurge month and buy whatever I needed for the next projects. Since Mel made last weekend a splurge weekend I decided that just in case a miracle should occur and I finish all three projects early I would order some fabric. I also ordered some specialty threads.

Stitch From Stash -January

Stitch from Stash Report for January-
 Amount allowed to be spent for the year $300.00
 Christmas GC $50.00
Total= $350.00
Spent this month 0.00
This month was easy- I have been working on two WIP's-
The Quiltmaker and Pretty Pumpkins.

Here is The Quiltmaker- I've added a few more stitches but haven't been able to take any 
more pictures.

The cross stitches for Pretty Pumpkins are done, I just have to do the back stitching. My plan is to work on The Quiltmaker Monday-Wednesday and Pretty Pumpkins on Thursday. I have also finished the cross stitches on Christmas Spirit- but I've put it in a scroll frame to do the back stitching and to add all the beads- so I don't have any current pictures of it.

      I think that this Stitch from Stash might just backfire- as I look at other blogs I see so many things I'd like to stitch.....

Stitch From Stash 2014

I have joined my first SAL with Mel from Epic Stitching- Stitch from Stash 2014. The idea is to stitch with what you have already. There is a monthly goal of not spending more than $25. I like the idea of being able to spend a little for floss, beads, etc. to finish a project- rather than to be strict about not spending any money. There are 130 people in the group- Mel will certainly be busy keeping up with everyone. I joined for two reasons- first I had some unexpected expenses this past year and need to save money this year. Second I want to be a better blogger- spend more time working on my blog- learning how to do things. My first challenge- putting the Stitch from Stash button on my blog- thanks to Karen at Sew Many Ways I did it. I will post later about my stitching goals this year- when I've had a chance to take some pictures.

Pinterest.... Oh no....I signed up for Pinterest. I've heard you can lose hours searching on it. I already lose time looking at blogs and on yahoo groups. I may have to set a timer to limit myself. Mostly I'll just pin quilts and cross stitch patterns I already have to inspire me.

Time Flies...... I can't believe how much time has past since my last post. I do visit my blog every day to look at other blogs but not to write on my own. None of the projects I mentioned are finished but I have made some progress on them. I have had problems with trying attach pictures- but I'll try again. Here is the last picture I took of "The Quiltmaker" I have started a couple of other projects as well: "Pretty Pumpkins" by Glendon Place "Christmas Spirit" by Joan Elliott I will post some updated pictures when I have the chance. I look at other blogs and see their progress on projects- and that is what I started this blog for- to show mine. I need to post more Shirley

Who turned on the heat?

It's been in the 90's the last couple of days. It seems that we were enjoying a nice spring and suddenly it's weather like August. I'm just wilting. Although I haven't posted, I do visit my blog everyday. I use the sidebar to visit other blogs. Now I think that I will post first and visit other blogs after. I also belong to too many yahoo groups and I need to leave some. I just cannot keep up with the emails.  Not a lot of quilting and cross stitching happening- but I have moved my sewing room into a different room. I am almost done with it and I will post pictures when I am finished. On Sunday I will start listing my goals for the next week.


Shirley