Cards, Gifts & Shopping Oh My

Well seems like Christmas just sneaked up on me. I have like hardly any cards sent out. Still have most of my shopping to do, and seems like not enough time to do it in. Got some cards done up this morning, and they will go out today. So if y'all are expecting cards from me they will be late....lol. Not sure what happened with Jeremy's school pictures, but they were dragging their a$$es so I'll have to send out more cards or what not with pictures when I finally get those. Shopping Bill and I will get done Saturday. Good news he'll at least be home over Christmas. He'll probably be gone just after Christmas just in time for the out-laws to make it our way. Bill did talk to his Dad, and suggest they change their trip spend Christmas Day at our place as Bill will for sure be here, and THEN go to Sharon's (Bill's sister), but all he got was excuses. We already booked the hotel. Sharon is expecting us. Our plans are already made. What they are really saying with all that is seeing Sharon is more important than seeing Bill. Nice huh. Last year they didn't even bother to come by even though they were in Saskatchewan. Bill even suggested that Sharon and her family come out to our place, but nope that's not going to happen. I felt bad for him, and I feel worse for me now I'll be stuck with his parents, and he won't even be here.....grrrrrrr. He knows what he has to buy me to make up for it.....lol

Stitching News
So close to being done the model I can taste it. Two motifs left, and the border.

I'm going to try an interesting challenge in 2008 called the Take Further Challenge. It's a designing challenge, she gives a theme and then you have a month to develop it into a design. I'm not expecting miracles, but I might get a couple usable ornie charts or small charts. At least use my creative brain try something new. Take It Further Challenge After reading the instructions again you can either work the idea on paper or your choice of needle art. I'm thinking right now any ideas I come up with will stay on paper until I have the time to stitch it....lol

Come on Come On Admit It Ya Missed Me

Oh my poor neglected blog how I have let you down.....lol. Well my new job which was to have been easy peasy....lol....oh wow this week has been so busy. The phone rings off the hook, I'm constantly being interrupted from people walking in off the street and I don't feel there's enough time in the day to finish everything. Or at least there wasn't Friday. My boss was talking to her boss saying their Dept is way more busy now that we've moved to the new location, and FCSS (Family Community Social Services) and By Law are all in the same building. I don't mind it being busy as my stress level is still waaaaayyyyy lower than it was at the bank. Bill is home from New Zealand, and brought goodies some decent wine, a little map, and an All Blacks (their Rugby team) jersey which is really nice I wore it Friday to work.

Stitching News
Still working on the model. The last two weeks I haven't gotten much done in it, and I need to get it done ASAP.

Okay Interesting Exercise

Take a look in your closet, or on your floor, laundry hamper or where ever you stash you clothes....lol. The other day I was actually hanging laundry into my closet, and noticed all the colours or should I say lack of colours. There was lots of black, red, maroon, hot pink, some white, and some blue. I then noticed in my living room that my couch and love seat are a deep red, my area rug is mostly black and the carpet is a deep teal (yes our plan is to change the carpet), and the kitchen is mostly White. The new art that we just bought mine is mostly primary colours with lots of black, and Bill's is blue. I thought that was interesting how the colours I like the wear have spilled over to the rest of the house. It has sort of spilled into my stitching as well. I do like strong bold colours. I also find that I grab a lot of blues and purples. So have the colours from your closet spilled over to the rest of your house?

Stitching News
I've done jack squat it seems this week. I need to get my act in gear and get stitching. Some one kick me in the behind to get going.

Yeah I'm Probably Nuts

So the first day of the job went okay I think. The people seem okay. Other than parking in someone's spot first thing in the morning. I think I did all right. I'm basically an Accounts Receivable Clerk that answers the phone. The building is so cool it's the old Wetaskiwin Court house that the restored the original building then added on glass sections to each end. The original building is from 1907 I got the full tour yesterday, and that includes the old jail cells along with the judges chambers. They've done such a nice job restoring it.
Here is a before pic:

Here is the after pic:


It looks really good from the inside. So yesterday after work I treated myself to a new top, new pants (nice warm ones), a new toque and new gloves. My plan is to walk to work as long as the temperature is above -20 C. Yikes, yeah I'm probably nuts, but the walk will be good for me. We are talking about 10 to 15 minutes at the most. I have a good coat and good boots to wear so I won't totally freeze just feel like I'm freezing.

Stitcing News
Well with working all day, errands after work, grabbing Jeremy, and doing Hockey last night by the time I sat down I was to tired to work on anything. Seeing as I'm walking to work today I'll take lunch in the lunch room so I took the model with me I'll probably work on that there.

New Job Starts Today

I'm pretty excited start the new job today....woo hoo. Have to be there at 8:15am yikes that like 2 hours before the bank....lol. Well guess I'll get used to that pretty darn quick. Timed the drive yesterday, and it will take me like four minutes to drive there, and that's going through a Play Ground Zone. Mind you that was Sunday so this morning might take longer more people heading out to work. Sill what a long horrible commute I have...lol.

Stitching News
Got bunch done on the RR finished a section just started the next one. I will take pics later.

Great Now What

Okay guess I'll need to start posting on my Bitchy Blog more....lol.

Started putting the Christmas Tree up yesterday, and will finish that today. Jeremy and I went to see the movie Enchanted yesterday it was so good. I really enjoyed it. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

So brings me to the question how many blogs does all the 3 people who read my blog have? I know Loretta has a lot...lol. So how about the rest of you? I'll start:

Me I have three this one, Finishing Techniques, and my Bitchy one link held to protect the innocent. So why three blogs? I've always wondered why people had multiple Blogs, and now I'm writing in three. This one, and Finishing Techniques I update regular, but the Bitchy One has maybe one entry in it....lol.

Stitchy News
Did loads on the RR I hope to take pics later. Dang plus I promised a pic of the model so I hope to do that today. So I guess I need to get going on that.

I'm going to blow my own horn again

I just took this off another person who did the blogging challenge for November.


Stitching News
First weekend of the month is UFO SAL. Good excuse to get some work done on the RR I'm in, and then tonight I'll post a pic of the model I'm working on woo hoo I'll get to share it.

Last Day of Challenge

Well today is the last day of the blogging challenge. I made it posted something once a day. I probably bored a lot of people sorry....lol. Guess we will find out who the winners are.

Well here is kiddo this morning. He always wants his pic taken when I'm taking updates of stitching....lol. Do you think he's cold?


Stitching News
Other than finishing an ornie I did no stitching last night. Here is the pic of the ornie. Please don't look to closely at the finishing as it isn't perfect, but I think it's acceptable. It's a free pattern from Stitching The Night Away I used the May 2005 ornie, but I changed it a little. I did the beads differently than they were charted. I also did just regular x's around the outside of it instead of the stem stitch. The bead border inside the x's is my touch too. I like beads and sparkly....lol. You can find the finishing instructions I used here Basic Flat Ornie

Using What I have

I love to stitch small designs and just limit myself to what I have on hand. So Bill left today to go back to New Zealand for work he'll be gone for a seven to ten days, and tonight I'm going to stitch an ornie. I haven't made any for myself for awhile, and I love hand made ornies. It's something I should do more often. So I selected an Ornie from
STNA Free Ornie Patterns I figure I should have some sort of finish on Finishing Techniques Going to try one of the finishes that I have put up there.

Stacey Shut The F***K Up

So for the past three weeks I've been having to listen to my co-worker belly ache about her hours. There is one full-time teller, and the rest of us are to be there about 18 hours. Now in a perfect world where no one takes vacations, get sick or needs operations that would happen. I've been working 18+ hours at the bank since summer, and this b*tch who has been with the bank for less than three months is complaining about HER hours. So you can imagine how happy she was with me when I gave my two weeks notice. So all of last week she was saying to me 'Stacey have you SEEN what you did to me in December?' She's all bitchy, because with me gone she has to work even more hours. I said no I hadn't seen the December schedule. She asks if I wanted to see it. I said nope and walked away. Sorry but bite me. I'm not going to stay at a place where the stress of working there gives me hives, I have bad dreams about it and the customers treat us horribly. I'm not going to put up with that sh*t, because she thinks she's getting more hours than she wants. So Friday night just before closing (we stay open until 6pm on Fridays) she starts belly aching AGAIN. Now she's moved on to how she's the ONLY one that works until 6:15pm every Friday. Going on and on about it. Our boss leaves at 5:30pm, and she's yapping at her as she walks out the door 'why do you get to leave early?' She then turns to me, and says it's not fair. My response was 'I don't feel sorry for you, we've all been there.' So she left pretty pissed Friday as she didn't get the oh poor you sympathy she felt she deserved. So I just brushed it off until Sunday night. I'm looking at the November schedule and started counting. Um guess who worked until 6:15pm the most in November that would be me. Guess who worked the most until closing in general in November? Again that would be me. I didn't keep the October schedule, but I have my hours written down, and yes in October I only worked until 6:15pm on Fridays twice, but my boss would have done that as I would have worked until 6:15pm most of August, and all of September as we were short staffed. So yeah my boss would have been trying to make things fair for me. Like I was telling this B*tch suck it up as one month you'll work more late shifts and then the next month not as many. So yeah I agree with the B*tch it should be fair. I wish I had as many days off as she has, as many short shifts as she has, oh yeah and long weekends she needs to share having the Monday off after the long weekend too. Now I wish I said those things to her Friday, but I didn't. All I did say is I didn't feel sorry for her. Honestly I don't, and not sure what she wanted me to do about it. I don't control the schedule. So I wasn't very surprised when I went to work yesterday, and she didn't show up. What did surprise me was to hear she probably won't be there today, and may not be there next week. So a teeny tiny part of me wonders if I faked sympathy for her oh so horrible plight (scarasam) would she have been there yesterday? I do feel a tad bit of guilt as they would be short staffed when I leave to begin with, and if I had any doing for this B*tch bailing on them I'd feel really bad as I like the people I work with. The job itself just wasn't for me. Maybe in future I just need to keep my big mouth shut.

Stitching News
Worked on RR Chatelaine yesterday. Thinking I should stitch a little something as a Christmas Ornie for myself.

Excellent Outcome

So we took the Godard piece back to the shop yesterday, and the guy who we bought the stuff from was actually the owner, and he happened to be there yesterday. He barely even looked at the piece, and said no problem I'll send it back and we will get you a brand new one. Woo Hoo. Have to admit Bill and I were expecting the worst. We were expecting the shop to give us a hard time, and to blame us for the damage. It wasn't even an issue. So Bill will call the shop today as they will know if they have one at one of their other shops and if so we will get the replacement this week, and if not and they have to order it in then we wait about two weeks. which is fine with me.

Stitching News
Working away on the RR this round I get to work on a Chatelaine. This is what it looks like right now I'm pretty sure I should be able to finish that bottom section minus the beads, and start Section 6. It's all stitched in silks and sparkly floss which I love. The colours don't thrill me as I'm not into the earthy tones, but it is going to look fabulous when it's done.

From Walking To Striding

Well Jeremy had his second week of Hockey. It's amazing what two weeks, and seven hours of Public Skating can accomplish. Ok he's not a skating genius out there now, but he's doing a heck of a lot more than just marching feet on the ice now....lol. Bill had a week where he didn't have to go into the office so every day after school he took Jeremy to the ice rink to practice. Our Rink offers free public skating every day so we have been taking advantage of that. It has totally paid off. Jeremy actually touched the puck last night, and even had a shot on goal. I do plan on going to the rink today to see about Power Skating Lessons. I have to say I'm very impressed with Jeremy's no give up attitude.

Stitching News
Well I got the next round in the UFO RR it's Chatelaine's Mystery VIII. Will be interesting to stitch as I've been considering a Chatelaine. Well the new blog is all created I just need to start posting....lol. I hope to get something in there today. Trying to figure out how I want to organize everything....lol. Oh what fun.

A Stitching I Will Go.....

Woo hoo a day off. Bill has to be in the office today, Jeremy has school today and Mamma get's to stitch today. Ok Ok I do have some errands to run sign Jeremy up for a Day Camp, Jeremy has a Dr.'s Apt and I need to go to the Post Office, but other than that a stitching I will go.

Western Finals

Well today Saskatchewan plays BC for the Western Finals. In my house this is a big game as Bill is from Saskatchewan. So he's going to be plugged into the TV all day watching that. Then after there is some sort of Wrestling Pay Preview that with the dish we now get. Ask me how excited I am about that.....lol. The Football is one thing, but I totally can't stand wrestling. So I'm heading up to Edmonton to Michaels when the Football game starts. Hmmmm do I have to come back? LOL I guess so.

Oh my goodness good news Jeremy got his report card on Friday. He got mostly 3's which is basically doing average work, some 2's and even a few 1's, but the break down for these marks is really high for Grade One, to get a 1 (1 like an A) he'd basically have to get everything right 100%. Keep in mind that tests Jeremy has brought home he has only gotten one or two questions wrong and that's if he has gotten any wrong at all. He was still given an average mark. If he was in Grade Three giving the same effort his average mark would have been all 1's. So this is the break down for Grade One:
Work meets standard of excellence 96 - 100% 1 passing
Work exceeds acceptable standard 90 - 95% 2 passing
Work meets acceptable standard 80 - 89% 3 passing
Work is below acceptable standard 65 - 79% 4 approaching but not passing
Work is significantly below standard 64% & less 5 below passing mark

Yes I was very thrilled with Jeremy's report card as last year in Grade One he was 4's and 5's that this is a huge improvement. That 3 mark that he's given is a high 3 as if he gets anything wrong on a test he still ends up with an 88 - 89% mark.

Now in Grades 3 - 6 here is there breakdown:
80 - 100% 1
70 - 79% 2
60 - 69% 3
50 - 59% 4
less than 50% 5


Stitching News
I got some work done on both the model and the UFO RR. Today I'm going to work on the RR and then mail it out tomorrow. I'm off tomorrow so I vision a lot of work done on the model. Which reminds me I need to take a pic of it to show the designer. Just killing me that I can't post pics of it...sniff sniff.

I'm getting excited about the new Blog. Guess the first things I'll need to start posting about are Christmas Ornies, because it's right around the corner. So if anyone has any kewl Christmas Ornie finishes that you'd like me to see please let me know. I'm looking for the all over the board from elaborate to fast and quick......hmmmm sounds like another part of my life, but that more often fast and quick and less often eleobrate.....roflmao

Thank You Hockey Night In Canada

So Bill came home last night with Hockey tickets for the Edmonton vs Calgary game. At first I was like woo hoo as I haven't been to an NHL Hockey game in years, but omg the look on Jeremy's face when he saw them. 'Daddy can I go?' Bill was like it was up to me, and I'm like yeah Jeremy you can go with Dad. You would have thought it was Christmas morning he was jumping up and down saying thank you, thank you, thank you. So now BOTH my men are going to be out of the house at the same time. What is a girl to do? Hmmmmm just to much fun.....lol.

So I gave my notice yesterday, and those things are never as hard as we build them up to be. They are not happy to see me go which I guess is a good thing. My boss did ask if there was anything she could say to make me stay, and I was like no. Bill thought I should have said yeah pay me $17.50/hour, move me off the front line, and give me full-time hours. Now I knew that scenario was impossible so I didn't say anything. I said no, because I knew what I wanted from her she couldn't give me. She did say if I needed to come back that I could so that is good I guess. I hope I don't have to go back. It's nice to know that they are not happy that I'm leaving.

Stitching News
Got some more work on the model. In two weeks I'll be able to start showing it off. I can't wait as it is looking so pretty. My mail date is Monday for the UFO RR so I'm posting a pic of what it looks like now. I may post another pic Monday if Bill hasn't flown out by then, and take the camera with him.


Also the new blog seems to be starting to take shape. It's going to be under the domain of I already have sites I want to link to, and even ideas of stuff to write myself. I'm thinking that right now I want to focus on finishing techniques that don't require framing. Other more creative ideas. I may eventually link to some good framing instructions, but at first that won't be the focus. So some of you people out there like for example Emily at The Floss Box be prepared that I may be asking permission to link to some of your finishes, and maybe the occasional gentle nudge to write up a tutorial on how the heck you did that....lol.

It's Not You It's Me

Well the good news is I got the job with the city yesterday. It's offical and everything I went in, and signed papers. I can't believe the pay difference right now I make like $13.50/hour at a bank where there is a lot more to know, a lot more to learn (we have to take classes etc), and a lot of stress/pressure. For the city I'll START at $17.50/hour, and after probation I'll go up to $18.50/hour. Not as much to learn I'll be answering the phones, first contact to the public, and selling Dog Licenses. I'm not saying it's not an important position that first contact always is. I'm pretty excited about this new job I start on Dec 3. This means I have to give my notice at the Bank which I'm feeling a little uneasy about as I like MOST of the people I work with there. Our Manager is brand new to that position. Now I know these things are not my problem, but like I said I like these people. I will go in a few mins early, and drop the bomb so to speak. Can't I just send Bill to do it for me....lol. I always get that uneasy feeling like when you have to break up with someone it's not you it's me....lol. I know this is a much better situation for me that I'm going to less stress and more money. It's also more hours like double the hours not sure how I feel about that, but I'll make it work. I'm just glad that someone in this clickly town gave me a chance.

Stitching News
I decided that I was bound and determined to learn the reversible stitch for blackwork. Imagine my surprise to find out how simple it is. I found that I had to keep really close attention to what I was doing when I tried it, but it does work. Not sure I'll do the rest of the model reversible as she doesn't require it stitched reversible, and right now doing the backstitching stitch works for me, and is faster. I will try the reversible stitch at points I'm sure.

Ok I have an idea for a stitchy blog. A blog that is about finishing, and has links on how to finish for example a flat fold or a biscornu. Not sure how popular it would be, but I'm always looking for neat new ways to finish ornies and other stuff. Going to have to give this some thought.

Oh Happy Day

I got a call back from the job I interviewed at last week. Woo hoo. I was at work all day so I didn't get the message until like 5pm last night. I don't know exactly why she called me back as she just asked me to call her at my earliest convenience. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it's good news. Oh I so hope they offer me the job. Yeah ok it's full-time, but it's more what my back ground is. Not to mention it's close enough that I could walk to work. I'm going to give her a call this morning before I have to run out to the bank. Oh good thoughts please my less than ten readers.....lol.

Stitching News
Well Tuesday I was out all night, last night I was recovering from Tuesday....lol.....soooooo tonight I'll be working on a model. Woo hoo.

My Brain is Just Spinning

So I'm the balancing teller this week at work, and WOW is my brain just spinning. It's not something I'm used to doing every day to begin with not to mention it has just been a crazy busy week at the bank. So I can't like put my sign up at 10 mins to closing to start counting as we still have a huge line. So my brain is just spinning at the end of the day. I'm doing great at counting all the money it's the entries I'm missing. All the debits or credits to the different GL's. If I either remembered to do those or did them correctly the first time I'd be balanced first go each night.

Stitching News
Stitching this week nothing. It's calling to me....lol. Saying Stacey PLEASE WORK ON US WE MISS YOU. I'm just mentally spent at the end of the day that picking it up would probably push me over the edge. I of course only have projects on the go that are large, and require lots of my attention and colour changes. I should have a smaller thing on the go with large blocks of colour for times like this.

Woo Hoo Off Today

I can't believe I'm actually off today. Going to just enjoy it. Will probably do some housework, and such but I will be enjoying my day off. A girlfriend called the other day, and I should call her back. So I guess I'll do that today as well as call my Mom. After reading a friends blog, and reading how her Mom acts I'm pretty lucky with my Mom.....lol.

Stitching News
Worked on the model last night which I can't take pics of yet :( Today I'll do some for the UFO RR, and tonight a little on the model.

If I'm Stupid Your an Asshole

So I'm at work the other day, and a customer comes in with two cheques. One he wants deposited, and the other he wants to cash. Now the one for cash is for like $148.87 yes I remember the exact amount...lol you'll understand why in a couple of minutes. So after I deposited the one cheque I double check that he wants the .87 back. I wasn't trying to be ignorant or a smart ass. Some people don't want to bother with the change. He then starts to freak that I was double checking about the .87. Then looks at me, and says I was pretty stupid to ask that question. Um yeah okay if I'm stupid you are an asshole who lives off government assistance. How I managed to finish the transaction without throttling him is a sure miracle. I was so mad after that my hands were trembling. Like the crap I have to put up with from ignorant customers is amazing. I so hope I hear back from one of those other jobs I applied for.



Bill just left for New Zealand this morning for at least two weeks. Yes it's for work. No I'm not going with him. No I'm not mad I'm not going with him. Those are answers to questions I'm always getting. He has to go spend two weeks working on a rig. What am I going to do in a different country by myself? Would be different if he knew he'd have a few down days, but he knows he won't. To me that is not a fun vacation travel with him, and then split up at the location so he can go work.

Stitching News
Not that much exciting going on. Have to much to stitch not enough time to stitch it all in....lol. Isn't that always the way. Just finished the stitching part for two Biscornus. I got the idea as well as the patterns from The Floss Box She has really cute free patterns. I also found a neat site that seems to have good instructions for how to finish them Biscornu Instructions I also want to get a bunch done on my UFO RR that I'm in I can't believe the next mailing date is like November 4th I think. Plus the model I'm working on. Yup busy, busy, busy.