I know, I know- long time without a post again! Got busy with the camping trip and clean up afterward. Doesn't it always seem to take longer to get everything clean and put away after vacation than it did to get it all packed? Glad we didn't put it too far away because we're going again next weekend. Just a short weekend trip this time but we wanted to get one more in before it starts to get too cold at night.

Anyway, before I get too far wanted to say thank you for all the kind words about my cubed mandala. I sure learned a lot doing it and definitely want to make more. And I did hear about the Fall Celebrations but too late to make plans to go. I'm definitely jealous of anyone that did make it. The class from Tracy Horner alone would have been well worth the trip. Maybe next year.

Moving on to new things, I brought a ton of pics today so let's get to it. First up camping with my parents and cousin Lauren. We had great weather and bunches of fun and I learned how to play cribbage. We even saw a bunch of wild turkeys. Thanksgiving dinner anyone?







Besides camping I've also been stitching. I'll have to update the birth announcement next time but I do have a finish and a finished finish to report. I decided awhile back to stitch the LHN Little Sheep Virtues for my sisterly law and to finish them as pillows. She collects sheep and she's had a rough year too so I thought she might appreciate the series. She was very excited with the first one so I'm already working on another (maybe two) for Christmas and maybe some ornaments too as the rest of the family reminded me they haven't gotten any stitched items in awhile. So here is my first in the series stitched on 32 ct Chestnut linen and finished as the model was (turned out pretty well too for my lack of finishing expertise). My button hole stitch could probably use a little work but it was a rush job to finish so next time.





Finally for now, Josh had a daycare field trip today to a farm for some Fall fun- hayride, pumpkin picking, corn maze, play time on some cool pedal cars, some jumping fun, and a corn box (think sand box but with corn). I went with them and if school doesn't go next year we will definitely come back on our own. This place was great!







Add to it that we put up the Halloween decorations this afternoon and it was a perfect but busy day. Tomorrow's forecast is promising some thunderstorms so I'm taking that as a sign to stay in and stitch and play. Be back later with some more stitching pics. I'll try not to stay away so long this time.

A late TUSAL and some stitching updates

Totally missed TUSAL last week but I come bearing all kinds of pics to make up for it today! First of all, I got a new ort jar!





We were out shopping a couple weeks ago and came upon a display of these Mason jar mugs at Bed Bath & Beyond. Seemed a perfect ort receptacle at the time and it has been so far. Check out everyone else's orts here. And yes, those are non-black orts up on top. Since I finished stitching A Spirited Mandala a few days ago I made a fair start on the first round of My Favorite Teddy birth announcement from Vervaco. I bought the kit online and have swapped the Aida out for 32 count ivory Lugana and converted the threads to DMC since there won't be enough for all four of the stitchings I'm planning. I like it so far and it feels like its going fast...



The fabric's a little yellower than in person but otherwise the colors are about right. Strangely, the other project I've been sneaking in is on the same fabric (found a use for some of that extra Lugana already!) and was photographed at the same time with better results...



That's the start of Jack-A-Rachnid by Tempting Tangles Designs from the new JCS Halloween issue (the one that came with subscription). Just couldn't get out of the spooky mood.

And speaking of spooky, I turned A Spirited Mandala into a finished object...







I used a combination of instructions found in tutorials here and here. I think it turned out pretty well for my first attempt. One change I made was to leave off the ribbon and bow and do a row of beads down the middle. I tried it a couple ways and liked this one best. Oh, and I also used four round beads stuck into the bottom with straight pins to make feet so it stands up a bit.

So other than all of that stitchy goodness we've been keeping pretty busy. We're at just a few more days until our camping trip so my dining room currently resembles a camping supply store but we're slowly getting it all organized. Hoping to try to get in a quick picture post while we're gone but I'll share some pics when we get back if not. Either way, everyone in the house is counting down the days for now.

One minor change to my 2014 plans- I will apparently not be attending the retreat I previously mentioned. I don't want to get involved in a big fight with the company but am a bit disappointed in how they handled things as it was not made clear up front the process used for "selecting" attendees and was made quite obvious that "first come, first served" wasn't it when I called to question my declined registration after receiving a seemingly positive original email followed by a second last week to say sorry but no. That's fine, my money will instead go toward attending Celebration next Spring where it clearly states everything on their site. Plus there's a decent chance I'll be able to meet up with some online stitchers as this seems to be a much bigger event.

August IHSW/WIPocalypse

Everyone get a bunch of stitching in this weekend? I got a fair amount done, I'm definitely over the halfway point now on A Spirited Mandala...



And since I'm a day late this post also will include my pitiful WIPocalypse update. What is this WIPocalypse, you ask? Well, it's a fun SAL hosted by Measi to motivate us to work on those WIPs we really want to finish (since we're all still here and the world didn't end last December:) ) Anyway, most of my stitching last round was on the mandala but I did manage to make a headless lady appear in my Fantasy Triptych...





Besides stitching we actually got a jump on camping prep for our upcoming trip in September. I grew up with camping as our family vacation so I'm pretty excited to introduce that to Josh for the first time. Erich is a more recent convert but he's already wanting to plan a big trip for next year if this goes well. Josh has been out to visit Grandma and Grandpa's campsite before but this will be the first time he's stayed overnight so hopefully all will go well. At the very least he liked the tent when we popped it up to air out...







Thats about it for the moment. Lots on my plate this week-extra work hours, haircuts for the little guy and me, all the normal housework. Better get to it. And don't forget- I'm still looking for feedback on the Nordic Needle retreats past and anyone planning on attending next year. Have a great week!