Reading Challenge - June

My binge of books continues!  I have now completed 30 years of Newbery books (not entirely in chronological order) and read 185 books off the list total.  This month, I read some non-youth fiction as well.

Books:
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Lawson - This book will bring up memories of reading the Little House books except this has a twist.  A 16 year old orphan girl tries to prove up her uncle's homestead claim in World War I era Montana.
The Master Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg - Two years after The Glass Magician and Ceony is preparing for her Magician test.
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale - An interesting take on the Grimm Fairy Tale.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - It seems to be a popular book right now so I read it.  It's about a woman who watches this couple at their house from the commuter train every day until one day the woman disappears.
Eyes on You by Katie White - A somewhat flat but readable mystery about Robin, a rising TV news star and author who suddenly receives a bunch of threats.
Sins of the Father by Jen Blood - The second Erin Solomon mystery where Erin investigates that her father may have been a serial killer.
Better World by Autumn Kalquist - The new prequel to the Legacy Codes series.
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt - A historical fiction piece based on the eviction of the residents of Malaga Island, Maine in 1911.  Funny at times but very sad at the end.
Abel's Island by William Steig - A novella about a marooned mouse.
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor - A very intense book about racism in the deep South at the turn of the century.
The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane by Russell Freedman - An interesting nonfiction book about the famous Wright Brothers.
Nothing But the Truth by Avi - An unconventional novel about a boy who is suspended for humming the National Anthem.
Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount Saint Helens by Patricia Lauber - An interesting account of the Mt. St. Helens' eruption with some interesting information about how nature recovered afterwards.
Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer - A novel about a man who runs against a corrupt mayor in Wisconsin.
In the Beginning by Virginia Hamilton - A collection of different creation stories from around the world.

An Ornament with a Special Purpose

I recently blogged on Stitching the Night Away about using ornaments and smalls in lieu of samplers for special occasions.

I've been wanting to stitch a memorial for a friend for awhile but my self-designed attempts fell flat.  While looking for an ornament for my daughter, I ran across a pattern that seemed perfect for my purposes.

It's called "Peace" by The Stitcherhood out of the JCS Ornaments 2013

I'm making some modifications.  First, I'm omitting the "peace" in the upper left hand corner and replacing it with different text.  I'm going to make it a double-sided ornament so I cam put the name and years of life on the back.  I also added blending filament in the snowflakes and the candle flame.

The interesting thing is, when you pull the floss for this, the colors look nothing like they do on the black Aida.  They are extremely muted but the black makes them brighter.  My kudos to the designer.

I've already started stitching and have completed most of the ornament.  Stitching is fast when there's only four colors!

My latest project

I'm back at the ornament grind.  No final finishing to show yet on the last two completed ones though.  Hopefully next week!

So, I've noticed that almost every ornament pattern calls for a 9x9 piece of fabric.  Really?  The final ornament is generally 3x3  There's no way I need three inches on each side for finishing unless I'm doing something extra special. All that wasted fabric.

With my latest start, I had to use some mathematical skills (which included drawing a blueprint) in order to figure out how to cut and place the ornaments.  But I figured out and I have the main body of the house done.  Just need to cut and stitch the black roof tiles.

The finishing is going to be quite complex.  Welcome to the world of The Victoria Sampler.  Hopefully I don't mess up after all this work.

Stitch from Stash A Wrap Up!

This year for Stitch from Stash, Mel decided to split the year up into two sections.  June marks the end of the first section, so I'll do a wrap up of the first half of the year!  I've been stitching a lot since I no longer have homework and I did not get a job for second semester.

I actually had a lot of surplus which I wasn't planning on spending, until I spent it. I liked the option to add money to your budget by finishing things.

Here's the wrap up.

Budget: $150
Total spent: $205.69
Total earned: $92.00

Pieces started:
--Tigger Candy Cane Ornament (Leisure Arts Kit)
--Yellow Submarine (Blackbird Designs)
--Cat Nip Christmas (Mosey 'N Me, JCS Ornaments 2002)
--Lights of Advent (Erica Michael Designs, JCS Ornaments 2006)
--Octopus's Garden (Blackbird Designs)
--Quail Ornament (Cross Stitch Christmas A Heartwarming Christmas)
--Candy Cane Horse (Charlotte's Collectibles, JCS Ornaments 2009)
--Berries Needlebook (365 Tiny Cross Stitch Designs - Kooler Design Studio)
--Biscornu Ornament (Cross Stitch Christmas A Heartwarming Christmas)
--Baptism Ornament (Sola Scriptura Needlework)
--Tweet Gift (Full Circle Designs, JCS Ornaments 2010)
--Peace (The Stitcherhood, JCS Ornaments 2013)
--Shining in the Night (SamSarah, JCS Aug 2015)
--A Merry Little House (The Victoria Sampler - JCS Ornaments 2008)

WIP/UFOs:
--Butterfly Rose Cross
--Do Not Meddle (1 page finish)
--Country Grace
--Snow White Discovers the Castle

Finishes:
--Tigger Candy Cane Ornament (Leisure Arts Kit)
--Cat Nip Christmas (Mosey 'N Me, JCS Ornaments 2002)
--Lights of Advent (Erica Michael Designs, JCS Ornaments 2006)
--Yellow Submarine (Blackbird Designs)
--Sunflower Sampler (Cross Stitch and Country Crafts)
--Berries Needlebook (365 Tiny Cross Stitch Designs - Kooler Design Studio)
--Fuji (Dimples Designs)
--Quail Ornament (Cross Stitch Christmas A Heartwarming Christmas)
--Candy Cane Horse (Charlotte's Collectibles, JCS Ornaments 2009)
--Biscornu Ornament (Cross Stitch Christmas A Heartwarming Christmas)
--Baptism Ornament (Sola Scriptura Needlework)
--Tweet Gift (Full Circle Designs, JCS Ornaments 2010)
--Shining in the Night (SamSarah, JCS Aug 2015)

Stitch from Stash Update - June 2015

Month: June
Carryover from May: $124.83
Amount Spent: $133.52
Amount Earned: $20
Final balance: $36.31

I am posting this at 4 in the morning, not because I'm a night owl or anything.  My youngest wet the bed.  Still working out that kink.  Oh, well.

I did not think I would spend that huge balance but I did.  Went on a bit of a shopping spree at Silver Needle and Needle in a Haystack.  Incidentally, everything I bought is for Victoria Sampler pieces.  I've never stitched Thea before so this should be interesting  I just started on A Merry Little House last night.

All my finishes this month were small.  Here they are:

Candy Cane Horse - Charlotte's Collectibles

Double Sided Biscournu Ornament

Baptism Ornament

Tweet Gift - Full Circle Designs

Shining in the Night - SamSarah

See y'all next month for Stitch from Stash B!

An anniversary and some stash

Today was the third anniversary of my lay off.  Although I am still unemployed, I am definitely in a much better position than I was three years ago since my husband has a job, I got my masters and I now have a teacher certificate free of any kind of alternative certification.  God is good.

Still looking for that first job though.

In other news, the rest of my ordered stash showed up today courtesy of Needle in a Haystack in Alameda, CA.  The ladies there were so helpful in helping me find a yellow fabric for my newest project (which after a bunch of mathematical calculations, I finally started but no pictures yet).

I spent a good chunk of the day doing a bit of finishing work.  Bought some more foam board over the weekend so I could finally mount Fuji.  I think I have him straight.  Haven't laced him yet or put the stainless pins in.

And that's all.  Stay tuned this week for my June Stitch from Stash update.

Caught up on Ornaments!!! (Until next Christmas at least)

I rallied and managed to get completely caught up on all the girls' ornaments!

My latest finish is actually hot off the press, out of the August 2015 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Preview!  I started it with my digital edition and then my magazine showed up yesterday.  I ended up using mostly DMC as I only had one of the required WDW colors but I think it looks fine.

Shining in the Night
SamSarah JCS Aug. 2015

My garden has actually produced a lone cherry tomato.  Yes, it is supposed to be yellow.

My husband and I went to a book sale yesterday in Dallas. I made out quite good.  I think the best book was an anthology of William Steig books.  It had barely been used.