Checking In & A New Beginning

It's been a bit since I checked in with a blog post...been pretty busy!  I hope this finds all of my blog buddies doing well and ready for the Thanksgiving holiday, if you are here in the states!  I am spending the afternoon at my Mom's for Thanksgiving.  My sisters and their families will be there as well.  My son will go and has dibs on one of the turkey legs!  My Mom makes the turkey, dressing and mashed 'taters/gravy.  The rest is up to us three girls.  I am taking an appetizer, veggie and wine.  Should be a relaxing day and I am looking forward to hanging with everyone...we did get together to carve pumpkins but my son had to work that day and it's a busy time with carving, eating, games...Thanksgiving is much more relaxed.

Moira Blackburn's Keep Me Sampler - I have worked on this off and on.  I really love the flowers along the edge, inside border.  I am at the point that drew me to this sampler, the willow tree - it goes between the two hearts.  I have changed pretty much every fiber and have to decide on the fiber for the tree. 

I took a class offered through my sampler guild the end of October.  Catherine Theron was here for a couple days.  No Place Like Home Stitchery book as has a beginning.  The class was fun, went with a couple of my buddies!  Only bummer - Catherine was suffering from a migraine and for the first half of the class came in and out, while laying down.  I love hearing tips and techniques from teachers and we missed out about half a day.  

Here is the beginning of the back - the letters are over one and will be surrounded by grass...since it's on 32 count, the over one is not that bad.  I usually work on 40 or 36 count.

I received gift certificates from my stitching buddies for my birthday.  I went shopping Friday with Mary - the Dovo scissors and some of the fibers were what I selected with my certificate.  I also picked up a couple Blackbird patterns I had on hold, "chocolate raspberry" linen and the hot pink case is for my doo-dads.  My old one is not staying closed - and it is over 15 years old....time to replace. 

Work on Birds & Berries by JBW.  This is my "go-to" project if I want to stitch for a short period of time or if I am really tired.  It's all one fiber - very repetitive - although I have made a mistake or two...

With my other gift certificate, I picked up a couple of the items in this pic...the fabric is so luscious.  The charm squares are festive...

I have been quilting a bit.  The time change earlier this month took some getting used to.  I was wide awake at 4 for several mornings so I got up and cut half-square triangles.  I really hate the time change and it always takes me a day or two, but this year was a bit longer.  The only advantage, I received an extra hour of my 50th birthday!!

I went to Mary's to stitch with friends a couple weeks ago...always a good time.  It was a small group this time, but an awesome day! 

I will have a JoMorton finish to post next time, I hope.  It is sitting on the sewing machine awaiting binding. 

And now for the new beginning...a few posts ago I shared that things were starting to appear a bit shaky at work and I was pretty sure my days were numbered - well, I knew, without 100% confirmation, that it was only a matter of time as the payroll and 401(k) administration (for which I was solely responsible) was transferring to the new owners at the first of 2014, joining benefit administration that was moved this past summer.  I received confirmation the Tuesday before Halloween that I was to be laid off effective March 2014.   With knowing my days were numbered, I started looking for a new job.  I had time to be picky that way and could be a bit more selective.  I started interviewing the beginning of October.   The day before my boss told me of the layoff (and that we were telling 9 others that Thursday the same), I had an offer, which I accepted.   That next week I gave my two week notice and tomorrow I begin my new job.  I definitely took a step up - it's a much larger company...not family owned.  I will not be the only Human Resources person, which is a good thing!  I am excited and looking forward to this great opportunity.

Happy Thanksgiving - hope you spend time with people you love, doing things you love, peaceful!

Hugs,

Sherry :0)