2013

1

Blogging and Stitching, week 3...

Posted on Saturday, May 25, 2013

And, once again, I prove how badly I FAIL at keeping anything updated!
I apologize for not posting an update last week, but my family was really, really busy and I didn't get much time to stitch. (Honestly, I think I sat and cross stitched for maybe 2 hours last week.)  So, there really wasn't anything to actually post...

I did get some time to stitch this week!




I only worked on this one piece the last couple of weeks, because I really enjoy it!  It is a relaxing piece for me, so I'm able to unwind a bit. (Its been a pretty hectic couple of weeks.)

I do have a funny story to share...
My husband and I went to the lake last Monday, so he could do some fishing...
I of course, took along my cross stitching.  Well, my husband caught a fish, so I had to drop my stitching, grab the net and bring it over to him...
I got back to my stitching (which was safely on my chair) and noticed that a bird poop had landed on my cross stitch!  Luckily, most of it was on the plastic bag, that I carry the pattern and floss in...
...but, a small portion did land on my actual piece of cloth! (Thankfully, it is on part of the cloth that will be cut away when it is time to frame it.)
Now, I've been going out to the lake for years with my hubby and I always take my stitching bag with me and I've NEVER had that happen before!
And, I really hope it never happens again!

Anyway, since I had so little to share in this update, I thought I'd add a few pictures from our yard!
(The verbena tree and lilac trees' blooms are starting to open...)
Can't wait for all the lilacs to bloom, the smell is just fantastic!
Anyway, I really hope everyone has a wonderful (and safe) Memorial Day weekend!  I plan on updating again next Saturday...fingers crossed! (Changing to Saturdays, because Sundays can get really hectic, with my husband's work schedule.)
See everyone later!

Oh, one last picture, that I had fun editing!

Happy Weekend!

4

Beautiful day...

Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2013

It is a lovely day outside and I had a few spare minutes, so I thought I'd seek outside and snap a couple pictures of the budding trees in our yard.
We even had one tulip in bloom! (Our poor tulip bed needs some work!  Hardly anything came up this year.)

Our lilac trees are getting ready to bloom...
(And I can't wait, I just love when all the lilacs bloom!)


So far only the purple ones are blooming...
I really hope the white ones start soon!

We purchased a type of verbena tree last summer and it survived the winter...
And is starting to bloom!


Once the buds open, the tree will be full of pretty white blooms!
(I did edit the photo a tad, just for fun!) :)

Lastly, a picture of our lone tulip...
(At least I think it is a tulip.)


Quite frankly, I think its a lovely little flower...
Planning to work on these beds this fall, so next spring there will be a whole bunch of tulips in bloom!

Anyway, off to work I go...
Hoping to have tons of new products to upload to the shop soon!

2

Blogging and Stitching, Week 2...

Posted on Sunday, May 12, 2013

Almost didn't think I would get this post up today...
...got busy working on new pictures for the shop and lost track of time.  Luckily, my hubby made it home from work and is making dinner for us tonight, so I have a few extra minutes to get this post written up!

Well, after finishing my post last week, I started this week all "gung-ho" to get stitching! (I really wanted to make some progress on my projects.)
So, I started the week working on my angel project and you can finally see the angel!



(I think the entire piece is coming along nicely.)

My hubby came home on Monday and we finally had a few nice days, so we headed out to the lake to go fishing. (Well, my hubby fishes and I sit and stitch or read.)
I had planned on stitching most of the afternoon, but I got busy reading through my cross stitching magazines (planning out future projects) and didn't get much time to actually stitch...
Thankfully, Tuesday was a lovely day, too!
And...I finished my first piece!

 I'd started this piece last summer, after coming across different "Keep Calm" patterns and adapted this one to suit my needs. 
I'm just happy to finally have it done!  Now I just need to clean it and get it framed!


(Looking through other cross stitch blogs, it seems customary to show a picture of the back, of a finished piece...which is quite scary for me!  Honestly, the backs of my pieces are usually a mess.  This one isn't too bad...good one to start with!)

Well, you'd think that with one finish under my belt, I'd set to work finishing other pieces...
Yeah, my brain doesn't think like that!


I started TWO new projects!

Thursday night, I started the kitty project...
I've had this kit for around 2 years, but just never got around to starting it.
Well, I wanted something bright and fun to work on, so I thought this would be perfect!


It doesn't look like much, but it is the start of the gray and white kitty.
This project is going to be a challenge for me...
It is full of quarter stitches, which I've done in the past, I'm just not crazy about them.  Plus, it has a ton of french knots. (I have a love - hate relationship with french knots...I love how they look, but I hate to trying to make them.) 
So, this project will probably make me pull my hair out, but it will probably turn out to be my favorite, once its finished!

Lastly, I ran into town and Friday and picked up the Live, Laugh, Love kit. (I never intended on doing that, but I just couldn't pass up the piece.)
I've only put in two days worth of stitching, but I think it is shaping up nicely...

 I'm having a lot of fun working on this piece and I'm quite excited to see it when it is all finished!
(Plus, I have the pattern now and I would love to try using different colors and see how it comes out.)

So, that has been my stitching week...
Managed to get my first finish, but I think I canceled that out, by starting two new pieces! :)
Either way, I'm excited to keep working and see what I'll have done for next week!

Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day and has a terrific week this week!
(See everyone next Sunday!)

10

Blogging and Stitching...

Posted on Sunday, May 5, 2013

Well, here it is May 5th all ready and I haven't posted anything in almost a month....
I completely FAIL at keeping a blog updated! 
Honestly, I was really, really going to try my best to post everyday, or at least once every week, but I just couldn't do it!  Why?  Because, I had no idea what to post!
I didn't want to bombard everyone with candle updates. (I don't mind posting a few, but I didn't want that to be the only thing I posted about.)  So, what was left...
What was left was my life in general and quite frankly, I'm boring!  My life is fairly boring (which is the way I like it), so I had no clue to write about.

Then a couple days ago I had a small epiphany...
I have trouble completing projects...especially large projects! (I do fine with the candles, because I can start a batch and usually have it completed, photographed and ready to post to the shop in about 3 - 4 days.  Some take a bit longer, but in general it is easy to stick with.)
Besides the candles, I love to cross stitch...
(I cross stitch mainly for myself and my family.)
But, I have a HORRIBLE time completing a project! (The larger the project, the harder it is for me to complete.)  So, I thought..."What if I start blogging about my cross stitch projects and post weekly updates?!?!"
That way, I'll have something to post on a weekly basis (obviously, I'll post more if something interesting happens or I release some really terrific new products) and I'll finally get around to completing some projects! (Plus, I'll get to post new projects, too!)

So here we go...
Since this is the first post, I thought I would open it with a few pictures of projects I am currently working on and projects that I would like to start in the near future...


(These are just a few of the kits I have, that need to get worked on.  I also have other projects from patterns I've found in magazines, purchased online or drawn-up myself.  I don't think my kitchen table is actually large enough to hold all my current W.I.P.s (works in progress).) 
I'm a cross stitch pattern junky!  I love finding new projects, even though, I never seem to finish them.

This is a cat welcome project, that I started about a year ago.  I've actually made pretty good progress on it, but just haven't gotten around to finishing it.
(Honestly, I get bored very quickly, especially if I'm working with the same colors, over and over.  I really like to work with new colors as much as I can!)

This is a kit, featuring the Serenity prayer and a lovely lighthouse motif. 
I'd originally purchased this kit, to make a gift for my mother-in-law for Christmas.(I believe that was 2 or 3 years ago!) 
I actually didn't start working on this until this past December...

This is one very special piece...
It is the Lord's prayer and was actually started by my mother.  She passed away 13 years ago and a few years back, I found this, along with the pattern and floss.  I decided to finish it myself.  I was making good progress, but just got sidetracked.  I would really love to complete it and frame it, so it could be displayed in our house.

And lastly, (I've probably bored everyone enough for one afternoon) my little angel!
I've been putting in a lot of time to this kit recently and I'm hoping this will be my first finish! (Not guaranteeing I'll get all washed and framed, but my fingers are crossed.)

Like I said earlier, I have other projects laying around and they're sure to make an appearance soon, because I can never work on one project for long.  I always have to be skipping around!
I'm planning to write up an update every week, more than likely on Sunday...
I'll post pictures of my progress and probably share little stories along the way!
I'm just hoping that doing this will help me post more often on this blog and keep me working on my cross stitch!

6

Sleepy Caturday...

Posted on Saturday, April 13, 2013

This week, there was a contest in a devianART community, that I am a member of...
The theme was "sleeping cats".
You could only enter three pictures, but of course, with four cats running around in my house, I took tons of pictures!  So, I thought I would share some of the pictures here, because they are pretty cute. (I know I am a bit biased, but I do think they're adorable, especially when they're asleep.)

"Dogs come when they're called.  Cats take a message and get back to you." (Mary Bly)



 (My adorable, fluffy boy, Hoss, asleep in the cat tree.)





 (Cooper, my giant Ragdoll kitty, that causes nothing but trouble, but is adorable when he's sleeping.)

 (Lastly, our petite princess, Ziva, asleep on the couch.)
(I know I said we have four cats and we do, but I wasn't able to get any decent pictures of our oldest cat, Dahlia.  She's difficult to a get a picture of, because whenever you point the camera at her, she starts sniffing and marking it.)

Did you know...
- on average, a cat will sleep for 16 hours a day.
- cats spend 30% of their waking hours grooming themselves.
- a group of cats is called a "clowder".

0

Mother's Day - May 12th...

Posted on Friday, April 12, 2013

Yes folks, we are only ONE MONTH away from Mother's Day!
Have you gotten a gift for the most wonderful person in the world yet? (By that, I mean your mother!)
If you haven't, then I have some lovely candles that would make the perfect gift! (And, they won't break the bank either!)

For those women that love bakery scented candles:
1) Lemon Meringue Pie Soy Candle
"This is one wonderful and delicious soy candle!
This lovely, 11 ounce tureen - style jar is filled with the wonderful aroma of fresh baked pie crust filled with lemon custard and lemon zests, topped with a creamy vanilla meringue.
(It is sure to become a quick favorite!)"





2) Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcake Soy Votive Candles 
"These cute, soy votive candles come layered with 2 lovely colors, dark brown and white. (The top is swirled with brown.)
The fragrance begins with a creamy top note of coconut, followed by a warm middle note of butter - cream and rounded out with a base note of dark cocoa."



3)  Peppermint Patty scented Soy Candle Tarts
"This yummy jumbo soy tart contains the aroma of creamy peppermint and vanilla with strong base notes of bitter sweet chocolate!
(If you're a chocolate fan, then this is the perfect tart for you!)"



Then for those that enjoy more floral scents...
1) Sweet Pea & Vanilla and Jasmine scented Soy Votive Candles
"Here you will receive two, Sweet Pea & Vanilla scented votive candles (the scent is filled with a smooth, creamy blend of french vanilla and light floral notes of spring sweet pea) and two Jasmine scented votive candles (they're filled with the pretty, light scent of a jasmine bouquet)."



2) Japanese Cherry Blossom Soy Candle Tin 
"What a wonderful, little soy candle, filled with the fabulous scent of Japanese Cherry Blossom! This terrific scent starts with a fruity, sweet top note of pretty banana, apple, berry accompanying wild rose and white jasmine, mingled with base notes of precious woods, vanilla and a dewy musk."



3) Birds of Paradise scented Palm Wax Candle
"This is a lovely palm wax candle, both in appearance and color.
It has a sweet floral aroma with base notes of fresh fruits and vanilla.
(A very unique fragrance that is sure to be a big hit!)"



Or how about giving mom, relaxation in a candle...
1) Day at the Spa scented Soy Candle
"Day at the Spa is a wonderful refreshing and calming scent, that makes a terrific soy candle!
This candle has notes of lemongrass and black currant with hints of patchouli and sugar cane. It is a wonderful candle that you'll want to use year round!"



2) Tranquil scented Soy Candle Tin 
"This is a spa inspired scent, with sky ozone rain, infused with soothing green chamomile, wild lavender and rose with an accord of lilac, lily and a clean musk violet base. (It truly creates a spa experience!)"



3) Relaxation Soy Candle (Lavender scented Candle) 
"This is one very special soy candle, because it has been scented with a lovely combination of fragrance oils and essential oils. It has the wonderful aroma of fresh picked lavender flowers, with a faint background of musk."

(This candle is even nicer, once it has started burning.) 
(As the candle burns, the gold glitter becomes more apparent.  So, this candle just keeps getting better!)

 Well, maybe you just want to give your mom something fun, that will bring a smile to her face...
1) Cotton Candy scented Soy Votive Candles
"These adorable, soy votive candles come layered with 2 lovely colors, deep purple and pink. (The top is swirled with blue soy wax, mixed with silver glitter.)
Cotton Candy fragrance is full of sugary, sweet strawberry notes, rounded out with lovely, sweet vanilla!"

2) Monkey Farts scented Soy Candle 
"This is a fun and fruity scented soy candle and it is sure to bring a smile to anyone's face!
This scent starts with a top note of sweet pineapple, banana and orange, leading to a heart that combines green apple, coconut rum and dreamy vanilla."

3) Butterfly Meadows scented Soy Candle
"A hand poured soy wax candle that will fill your home with the aroma of a bright, sunny day!
(Butterfly Meadows scent begins with top notes of summer dandelion, refreshing verbena, and soft heliotrope; followed by middle notes of spring meadows, lily of the valley, and weeping willow; all sitting on base notes of sweet pea blossoms and Kentucky blue grass.)"

So, come on over to my shop (Carrie's Curiosities, LLC ) and find the perfect gift for your mother!

2

Back from Vacation...

Posted on Wednesday, April 10, 2013

So, last week was spring break for my son and my aunt really wanted him to come and stay with her for the week....(who am I to deny family spending time with my kiddo!)...
So, I got to take vacation, too!
My husband is an over-the-road truck driver and whenever I get "free-time" (basically, whenever my aunt is ready for a long visit with my son), I go along with him.  I have a lot of fun! 
I've never traveled much, so tagging along on his routes, allows me to see a lot of the country...and, I get to spend more time with my hubby. (Plus, I get to take a break from work and catch up on my reading, search word puzzles, magazines and napping!)
Usually I don't take my camera along with me, but last year, there were many times I wished I'd had my camera. (I missed taking pictures of some really cool things.)  So, this trip, I packed my camera and planned to capture as many "moments" as I could...Unfortunately, we were really busy, so we didn't get much time to take breaks and walk around. (Plus where we were sent, didn't offer the greatest opportunities for pictures.  Oh and I kinda slept through 50% of the trip!) ;)
I did manage to take a few pictures, that turned out pretty good. (Taking pictures from inside a moving semi-truck, is no easy feat!)
(I'll try to remember where I took the photos, but I have a horrible memory and I'm really bad with locations.)

 (I thought the "bubble" building was kinda neat!)
We're somewhere near Chicago or around Chicago or in Chicago...Chicago seems to go on forever!

Nestle plant..."Just leave me here for a few hours"!


This is some type of quarry, that I believe was around the Chicago area.

Airplane landing in Milwaukee (I think)...
(Airplanes are kinda freaky when you're driving, because there are times they get so low, that I swear they're going to crash into the highway!)

Rock face, as we were leaving Kentucky.

Well, there are my exciting photos!
I know they aren't much, but I still had a really great time and I'll definitely try harder on the next trip to stay awake and get some nifty pictures to share!





6

"Bird - Brain"

Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2013

My husband is the "bird - brain" in our house...
Well, he is actually a bird enthusiast, but its fun to call him a "bird - brain"!
Last winter, my family and I started feeding the birds during the winter. (We've always had one bird feeder in our back yard, but last year, that one bird feeder was joined by 3 more and we had tons of birds visiting our back yard.)
This year was no different.  We've added another bird feeder and two suet feeders for the wood peckers, that started visiting our house.
Watching the birds has become a family hobby, even my son enjoys looking at the birds and finding them in our "Birds of Michigan" book. (Our cats love it too, but for a whole different reason!)
I try to take pictures of the birds whenever I can, especially when it is a new bird that has decided to visit.
I haven't had much luck this year, but a couple weeks ago I finally managed to get some decent photos of a female Pine Grosbeak.  She was actually sitting in my neighbor's crab apple tree, but I bet she came by, because of all the feeders! (That's my theory at least!)
So, I thought a would share a few of the photos...




I was really surprised how long she sat in the tree eating berries, especially with me walking around, snapping pictures. 

A few fun facts about the Pine Grosbeak:
1.)  They usually have 4 - 5 eggs, that are a bluish green. (They don't have any special markings.)
2.) They like to eat seeds, fruits and insects. (They will come to feeders.)
3.)  They are very tame and approachable.
4.)  They eat tiny grains of sand and dirt to aid in digestion.
5.)  They like to "bathe" in the fluffy snow.

Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed the pictures!
Have a great weekend!