I am NOT Slacking...

Well, good evening everyone!  I bet you're wondering where I've been.  I have had a lot going on this week.  However, in 2 days... count them 2 days... I will be a one full time job and one part time job (instead of 2 part time jobs) woman.  I LOVE teaching so does that count as a job?  I don't want to give that up besides it's only a couple of hours a week.  Anyway,  my leave of absence from one starts on Tuesday.  I will be so glad to have a little time here at home to catch up and take care of me.  I have been working multiple jobs for a little over 5 years now and it's time to slow down a little.  I'm not getting any younger.  I am finishing up odds and ends of things like renewing my National Registry for Paramedics.  That needed to be in by Monday, but I already turned it in and it has been accepted.  Not that I plan to move from Ohio, but it is a good thing to have just in case in addition to my state certification.

I have also been busy designing in between my bird orders.  I have four new cross stitch patterns that need stitched.  Any takers to help me out?!?!? lol.  I'm still working on birds so I can't start these until they are done.  But here is a sneak peek...

I have also come up with a few punchneedle patterns out of a book I have about Pennsylvania Dutch designs I have I'd like to try...  Obviously I won't be selling these as patterns because they are NOT my designs.

I also went for a pulmonary function test this week for my lungs and am waiting to hear back from the doctor as to what we are going to do next for my fast heart rate and shortness of breath.  My ankle is healing..SSSSLLOOWWLLYY... the new EMT's I'm teaching are enjoying the up close and personal look at it as it heals. lol  My tail bone is still very sore from falling on it especially sitting in the truck at work all day.  It's literally a pain in my butt waiting for it to heal!!!!

Well, friends I thought it was spring, but tonight I'm guessing not...

I keep hearing the tap tap tapping at my windows as the sleet is hitting it.  I am so glad I am not working right now because I would probably fall and injure myself again no doubt.  I am hoping we don't get too much snow overnight as I work tomorrow for 12 hours.  YUCK!!!! Then I work my last shift at my part time job Monday then, my friends, I'm hoping the magic begins...  yes completing some new projects and finishing up some old ones!  Mark my words... "I'll be back." like Arnold Schwarzenegger would say.  Hopefully all will go well and I won't go back to my one part time job!   

Just Call Me Oompa Loompa

Happy Tuesday everyone!  First, thank you to all my wonderful customers for the overwhelming response to my Spring Birds. :-)  I am so thrilled so many of you liked them too.  You can still order if you would like.  They can be found on my website www.gettysburghomestead.org  I had a slight hiccup with Paypal, but I have it fixed now... I think. lol

Second of all, does it seem like I'm accident prone?  What two weeks ago I fell down my steps and hurt my tail bone.  Well, last Wednesday/Thursday while at work I was getting out of the back of my truck and despite holding onto my partner's shoulder my left ankle decided to do a somersault.  I gave it a 10 because as it rolled I fell.  If it wasn't enough falling in front of my partner... oh no... I would fall in front of an audience.  My patient and a couple nurses at the facility we were at. Talk about embarrassing.  They also heard the same snap I heard and felt.  The pain was out of this world.  I still got up helped lower our cot and got the patient inside the facility.  In the meantime, I felt my ankle instantly swell and the pain was so nauseating I had to sit down and drink water for a few minutes.  Our next trip was taking me to the ER at 4:30 in the morning.  I am a horrible patient let me tell you. LOL.  A couple of x rays later a really cute doctor looking at my ugly foot it was confirmed nothing was broken just a lot of soft tissue swelling and a nasty sprain.  I got to choose what type of a brace I wanted and I went for the Ace wrap and have been using it for the last few days.

WARNING: graphic ankle pictures.  Remember, unlike TV, I was actually hurt while filming this LOLOLOLOLOL

Day 1

Day 2

Day 4 

This last picture was at work yesterday.  I did not take any time off of work.  The occupational health doctor I saw Friday couldn't believe I didn't want to be off.  He kept asking me if I was sure. LOL  I said it's just a sprain.  I'll wrap it and I wear boots at work so why wouldn't I go back?

So today while I'm home, working on my bird orders, I'll try to keep it up and hopefully the last of the swelling will go away.  Have a great day!

Spring Birds For Sale

Come and get them!!!!!!  My Spring birds are now for sale on my website!!!  The first 5 orders will get a special introductory price of $16.00 each.  Don't miss out!!!!!!

www.GettysburgHomestead.org

Birds Everywhere

Since it is a beautiful sunny day, and in the 40s, I thought it would be a wonderful day to go take pictures.  These are the birds I have been working on.  I think they could be made in any color and would still be awesome.  My choices were obviously robins since you saw the original, sparrows, and bluejays. 

The nest was taken out of this wreath after Mrs. Robin was finished with it last year. :-)  This was the second year in a row someone built one there.

Robins...

Sparrows...

 Last but not least Bluejays...

If you are wondering, YES, I will be selling these.  I still need to decide on a price.  I will let you know when I put them on my website, which I am guessing will be Thursday.  I will be offering an introductory price for the first 5 people who buy or place an order.   After the first five people buy or order the price will increase slightly.  This is one of the many specials I will run on my website as time goes along.

I finally have all the programs I need on my new computer to be mobile.  In fact this morning I tested out my cross stitch pattern designing software and it worked great!  I have two more patterns designed.  Now if only I had to stitch them. lol.  April can't get here fast enough!  Even then I don't think I'll have enough time.  Ideas just keep popping in my head so I have to get them on paper before I forget.

I just thought I'd pop in quick in between "working" on a few design things. I don't know is it considered working if you LOVE it?  I consider it a fun filled day!!!!

A Kick Start

Good Morning!!!I bet you are wondering what I figured out for my punchneedle project.  Nothing! LOL  I just haven't had time yet.  That is on my list for this week.  I also have some of my birds that need finishing touches.  That is on the agenda today though.  I need to get my kitchen island cleaned off so they must be finished today.  

I told you I would tell you about my business as things happen.  Well, this weekend I bought myself a laptop/notebook/netbook whatever it's called to use for my business.  I need to figure out how to get my cross stitch design program on it so that while I'm at work I can be designing new patterns.  I can also take it to my craft room and listen to music or watch movies while I'm crafting.  :-)  It'll hopefully keep me from thinking about how cold it is down there right now. LOL  Everyone else in this house has their own iPad or laptop, so it was time I got one too.  I have to keep up with the Jones' LOL.  This is one of the huge changes I'm making for my business.  I will be able to work on just about anything (blog,website, or whatever) I need to at all times while at work. It will hopefully keep me organized as well.  I have a program that is like a schedule book.  Heaven knows I need a schedule since my brain is always moving about twenty different directions.  This will keep me on task. HOPEFULLY.... lololol

My second bit of news, which is actually really exciting for me, I am one of the newest designers offering my patterns on PatternMart.  If you haven't heard of it please take a few minutes and check it out.  There are tons of patterns of all types offered on this website.  As of right now, I don't have anything listed as this just came about last Thursday.  As I said windows of opportunity are opening for me.  I still have a ton of reading to do to figure out how to use it.  I will let you know as soon as I am up and running.  Until then you can still buy all patterns from my website www.gettysburghomestead.org.

Saturday while pondering what I was going to do with that punchneedle fiasco I decided to move around stuff in my living room.  Whenever I get frustrated I stop and do something else.  What do I decide to do?  Move my living room around a little.  LOL.  Sometimes I think that is just as hard.  So, how about a few pictures this morning before I go and get busy. :-)

Spring is arriving...

You all know how thrifty I am.  All baskets pictures here were either flea market or thrift store finds.  

Not Happy and Happy

It is once again Saturday.  The Saturday that falls smack dab in between two shifts at work.  I worked a 24 hour shift yesterday and work another 12 tomorrow.  Yuck!  I came home this morning with a spring in my step and ready to work on a new project! What would it be today? A cross stitch project or I know a punchneedle project.  Yeah let's pick one of the new ones my kind friend sent to me in the mail.  Though gee I'd really like to design one.  No, I better stick to a pattern I already have.  Down to my stash I go.  OH yeah this one will be great...

Easter Montage by Twisted Threads... this is how it was suppose to look.  click HERE

You all know that I am not into bright cheery colors.  No, my life if dull and dreary colors.  Well, I bet you are wondering how do you make Easter colors boring?  Oh yeah this girl can do it. LOL.  Needless to say I didn't follow the colors or the loop size the pattern called for.  Oh no this girl is a rebel!  Being a rebel sometimes does not pay off I'm here to tell you.  This is how mine turned out...

I decided words are too hard to punch for me.  I tried three different times to punch the word Easter.  I am so angry right now I could spit.  I then tried to go back and just fill it in with the background color and yes you guessed it I ran out of that color. grrrrrrrr  If anyone has any advice on punching words please tell me.  I tried it with 2 strands of thread as directed at the end since the pattern said to do it that way. Nuh uh not going to work!  So here I sit frustrated. A whole morning wasted.  In other words NOT HAPPY!!!! lolol

I don't believe I showed you my new sign I painted.  I have wanted one like this forever.  So, I talked with Becca from Folk Art from the Harbor and she designed it for me.  She is also selling the stencil on her website. :-)  This makes me so HAPPY!!!!  I already had a old board in the garage so I got to it.  It has been a very long time since I stenciled a sign.  I just don't use many signs in my decor anymore.  hmmmm wonder why that is?  Anyway I like this one.

Can you see the mess on my table reflecting in the microwave?  Yeah that is my punch needle stuff.  I just left it where it was until I came to talk to you.  I am blowing of steam until I can figure out what to do with it.  I believe the trash is calling my name. :-(  Well, maybe if I eat my lunch something will come to me on how to fix it.  I sure hope so.  I'd hate to waste it...

I will share my newest news with all of you about my business on Monday.  See you then!

Patterns Now Available

The patterns for my newest samplers are now available.  You can purchase them through my website www.gettysburghomestead.org  Like I said these were suppose to be done last Christmas, but hey, let's just say I have a jump start on this year! lol 

Today I will tell you about one of the decisions I have made about my business.  For the month of April I have put in a leave of absence from one of my part time jobs.  I did it because a trip to the doctor for a routine medication refill appointment turned into a chest xray and pulmonary function test.  My resting heart rate is back up over 100 and most recently I get severely short of breath at certain times at work and when going up 2 or more flights of stairs. We are going to start with my lungs and if all is clear move to my heart for a possible cause.  I had been pondering a leave of absence for awhile now and the trip to the doctor pushed me over the edge.  That being said I will try to make the best of my time off and see if I can make my business a part time job.  Fingers crossed I can :-) 

Eye Candy

As promised, I would like to show you my friend Pam's house.  She is the sweetest lady, wonderful crafter, and as you can see from her pictures an awesome decorator.  Every time I go to her house I want to come home and redo mine!  These are the pictures I submitted for her to Country Sampler... 

Gorgeous right?!?!?  Thanks again Pam for allowing me to share your home with everyone!

I should let you know a window may have opened for me and business.  I am giving it some serious thought and will let you all know what I decide in time.  I also talked with a very wise accountant last night at work and have some awesome things planned for my business on my webpage.  I'm not totally ready yet, but if you'd like to take a look you can find me here.  I will slowly be adding to it as I decide what the future holds for me :-)

www.GettysburgHomestead.org