Woof-Woof....

You Are a Chihuahua Puppy

Small, high strung, and loyal. You do best in the city with a adults - young kids could crush you!

What Breed of Puppy Are You?

Found this one on Michelle's blog at Ozark's Sew 'n Sews
Here's the kicker....right after I took the quiz, I said to Sweetie Man, "Guess what puppy I am?" And before I could even get the words out of my mouth he said, "Chihuahua!" Well let me tell you, I was stunned he guessed it. So of course I asked him why, and you know what he said, "Well, they're yappy and high-strung." Do you believe that...ME...Yappy and High Strung!!! Well, I never...... But you must admit, it is a cute little puppy...so I'll forgive him!
Anyway, for all you book lovers, I found this site called Library Thing. (and it's free unless you want to pay and go crazy) Click on my books on my side bar and it will take you there too. They help you make a link (widget) also for your blog. I decided to do my own 50 book challenge for this year, as I noticed some people were doing, (there is a site for the 50 book challenge if you google it too, I think) and I'm going to record them at Library Thing. I think this site is really great for that. I haven't explored the whole site but it seems that there is alot you can do on it. It will also tell you books similar to the book you're reading, give you the picture, what others thought of the book, etc... Really a great site...check it out.

And last, but not least, thank you for all your kind words on my Blogiversary....you are all AWESOME!!!!! I look forward to spending another exciting year learning more about all of you and your hobbies and lives! And congrats again to all the winners!! So, till next time, yinz crazy guys......

HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY TO ME!!!

A little something to all of you, whether I've known you for the past year, or met you recently, I consider you all my friends. I think this little poem just about says it all.....

MY BLOG-I-VERSE TO YOU

Today's my Blogiversary
And this I know is true
I've never met as wonderful
Fantastic friends as you

I haven't seen your faces
And never shook your hand
But somehow on the internet
I feel as though I can

You've laughed when I was happy
You've cried when I was sad
You've told me I could do it
When times were going bad

I value every friendship
I knew right from the start
You never thought to judge me
You know me from "my heart"

You come from many countries
And many states stop by
Sometimes it's all with complements
Sometimes you just say "hi"

So on this celebration
To great friends near and far
Let's raise a glass and "cyber toast"
Each one of YOU a STAR!!!!!

Before I reveal the winner of the First Folk-N-Fancy Blogiversary Comment Contest, let me thank you for ALL of your comments this month. There were 51 people who commented with a total of 145 comments! Not bad!!

And with that said....the GRAND PRIZE WINNER IS........ DONNA FROM SQUITCHINGLADY
WOO-HOO!!!!!!! YEAH, DONNA....YOU GO GIRL!!!!! (ok, I'm done!) Donna commented 6 times by the way.
And because I'm feeling particularly generous, I'm going to send a little something to the top "commenters", namely, Sue at Good Yarns and Sue at Stitching & Life in the Company of Pets who both commented 9 times. So if all you wonderful ladies could email me your addresses at gfigure@yahoo.com, we'll get your surprises out next week.

So with that, I'm gonna start another year here enjoying all of your friendships and maybe making some new ones!!!! Thanks again for a wonderful year at Folk-n-Fancy...till next time, yinz crazy guys......

I've been Tagged....

Kari from Dogwood Dreams tagged me.

Each play of this games starts with 6 weird things about themselves. I will then tag 6 people who will do the same as well as let them know they are tagged in their comments and tell them to read mine. Okay....There are so many weird things about me, it was really difficult to choose, but here goes:
1. It bugs the heck out of me to leave dirty dishes in the sink (or very few) when I leave the house or go to bed at night.

2. I can't stand to have papers, books, mail, etc...piled on tables unless they are neatly piled or better yet, not there at all. I will just make a nice pile then I feel better. Weird, eh?

3. Must go through the mail ASAP, sort, and file it. (do the same with my emails)

4. I always check the stove top and oven to be sure it's turned off before leaving the house or going to bed whether I've used it or not.

5. Must make my bed ASAP after getting up....even in a hotel room on vacation.

6. Have an uncanny knack of remembering where things have been put or filed at home or at work. (aka "finder of all lost things"). I cannot remember numbers (phone numbers, etc..) to the point of frustration sometimes.....I'm talking from one minute to the next.

The funny part about all these weird things is that I pretty much know what has caused each of them. There are some other weird things about me....but I'm only allowed six, so I'll save them for next time.

I think I'm gonna take the route of Sue at Good Yarns and tell yinz guys that if you wanna do this one, go for it! No pressure! I've seen this on alot of blogs so I'm not sure who has done it already and who hasn't....I don't think I had done it unless I did it long time ago.

Okay...next on the agenda another Project Linus blanket....


I used TLC Amore on this one. Gave it a different look on the edge but it was difficult to see the stitches as I was doing them so I sorta guessed. But it turned out okay. My coordinator for Project Linus asked me to do 12 fleece blanket edgings. She would supply the fleece and I would the yarn. I said heck yeah!!! She dropped off a huge bag for me yesterday. I haven't gone through it all yet, but I'm anxious to see what yarn I have to match it. Definately will show pics as I finish them up. These are so easy to do with the skip stitch tool for a 45mm rotary cutter. If you want one of your own, just email skipstitch@alltel.net for more info. I think they are about $10 plus shipping. (don't quote me on that).

Next, a little more progress on my Britty Dog ornament. And "NO" that isn't a little poopy coming out of his butt....it's the beginning of the Christmas Stocking that will hang on his tail...but you knew that already...right?????
I know I said it works up fast but I've been working on about three things at one time, so that's why it's not done yet. Been thinking about how I want to finish it now. I would like to try and make my own cording with floss to surround it and maybe a tassel. We'll see. I wanted to make stockings for everyone for next Christmas including the animals. I found the Britty Kitty Stocking and loved it and so I emailed Brittercup Designs to see if there was a Britty Puppy Stocking. They said as a matter of fact one will be available for sale in stores or online after February. So I ordered the Kitty one from my favorite Cross Stitch store in town (remember the one next to the bank....on pay day) and I'll wait for the Puppy after that. Those designs are so easy and so cute!!!

Okay, yinz guys...this is the last chance to comment, cause tomorrow is my BLOGIVERSARY!
I'll have the Sweetie Man draw a name tomorrow evening to give all you late readers a chance to comment on today's blog. So keep an eye out for the winner tomorrow evening! I still don't know the prize cause I want to sorta customize it to the winner!

So, till tomorrow, yinz crazy guys......stay warm!!!

HELP.....

......I'm SUDOKU-ING AND I CAN'T STOP!!!!! Okay, I've fallen victim to the latest craze....I swore I would not.....said I could not! But then Sweetie Man gets me hooked....line and sinker!!
I really didn't think I could do it but I did. I got frustrated at first, but then I googled strategies for sudoku so I had a plan rather then just willy-nilly placing numbers and getting frustrated. Once I got that down, it was all over. But ya gotta remember, my brain is getting older and I need to keep it active. I told my son that I'm going to stay alert so that when I'm 105 he cannot swindle me out of all of my millions...yeah right!
I must say tho, when I purchase this T-shirt, I may be taking things a little too far.....

Tho you must admit, wearing it could be interesting (okay...get your minds out of the gutter!)

I started another cross stitch.....sorry! It's just a little one and it goes with the forum I'm in also....so it's okay! I have been wanting to try a Brittercup Design ever since I saw them. I love working this....


I would like to make three Brittercup ornaments for my dogs and one for my cat. Something about the simple design I just love. I just started this one and it's working up so fast.

Last, I think I'll leave you with a little quiz I found on Anne's blog. (if this didn't link for you before...try it again...I fixed it...sorry!)

You Should Paint Your Room Blue

Peaceful and soothing, blue rooms have been known to reduce blood pressure. Your blue room will encourage deep rest and great sleep. A blue room is the perfect oasis for a stressful life.

What Color Should You Paint Your Room?

So, till next time, yinz guys.....(keep those comments coming...5 days to go!)

Lots to show yinz guys!

Okay, we all can agree that pay day is a good thing.....but you want to know what is even better? When the bank you take your check to is two doors down from the cross stitch shop. (if there was a yarn shop across the street also, I'd be in BIG trouble) Anyway, the magnetic forces that control the universe, pulled me into the shop after I cashed my check....I tried to stop them but it was useless. So reluctantly I entered.....Donna, the shop owner, knows me by name (of course) so I looked for something to buy....just felt like buying something. So I came up with this....

The two magazines were only $ .25 each and there was at least one pattern in each I liked.
The reason for the fireman's prayer was that I would like to do two cross stitches for some wonderful people (whose name I shall not mention in case they read this). One would be this prayer and the other would be this truck.......

A lady at work gave me a copy of this one. Now I'm not needing to finish either till like next Christmas, but it never hurts to be prepared, right?
Today, I went to JoAnn Fabrics and got this nice stash. (thought I didn't crochet or knit anymore didn't ya....WRONG!!)

Sweetie Man's daughter will be leaving for Afghanastan next week and when asked what she would like us to send her homemade, she said slippers and blankets. I got one slipper done.

I plan on making about three pairs in different shades she requested. This pattern is so easy....it's Bev's Quick and Easy Slippers. I love them and have made a few pairs already for myself and others. She requested certain colors as you can see. The fleece will be made into a blanket somewhat like I did when I crocheted this one for Project Linus....
Going back to cross stitch, did you ever look for anything in your house and became obsessed with finding it just cause you know it's somewhere in the house whether you need it or not right now? I did with this pattern book...

I knew I had it and I truly could not find it on the internet except for one lady on ebay. It has these cute little egg ornaments that are cross stitched. The book is dated from 1990 and I think there was another one also, but I never saw it.
In the process of looking for the egg book I came across this cross stitch I started 14 or 15 years ago.

Isn't precious.....especially now since my son is 19 years old. I will finish it someday just cause it's so sweet.
Oh, and I also got the backing for the Kitty List flat fold finishing.

Thank you so much to all of you who hooked me up with a site on the "how to's"! Can't wait to do it. I'll post the pics of the finished product.

This next cross stitch wasn't on my to do list, but I got it last year and I've always wanted to finish it. I don't know about you but I usually like to have a few projects going at one time that way I don't get bored. I felt like working on something small last night so I picked this up and stitched a bit.

And look what I got in the mail from Paperback Swap. (see sidebar) I forgot I had this on my wish list over there and it came up. Just a bunch of feel-good stories.

Oh, and not to completely freak you out...BUT we caught another mouse. This one wasn't so full of blood and guts.....I think the trap broke his butt!

Well, I think I've bored you enough so I'm going go do something crafty and wait for the chili and corn bread to be done that the Sweetie Man is cooking up now (the house smells delish!) Hoped you enjoyed all my stuff......so till next time, yinz guys.....(don't forget those comments....not too much time left for the Blogiversary Contest!)

EEEEEK....A MOUSE!!!!!!

Ok, I know all you CYBER-ADDICTS are thinking this....

BUT IT WASN'T!!!!! IT WAS THIS.............................

A true honest to goodness bonafide HOUSE MOUSE.....IN MY HOUSE!!!!!! But thanks to the bravery of my older dog Katey (who everyone in my house makes fun of cause she licks walls) this mouse is now in MOUSY HEAVEN!! You Go Katey....that's my Girl (gave her 2 pieces of jumbo aka bologna for finding it)!!!
It seems that my son claimed he saw a mouse one night in the kitchen of which I've never seen one in the kitchen. Many years ago before animals roamed my yard, there were a few in the cellar (aka basement). We have a very old house and there are little crevises and such were one such rodent might enter. Anyway, this one was in the kitchen. Needless to say, I was not going to be a part of any rodent scaring the beegeebers out of me when I least expected it. I love animals of all kinds......but mice running rampant in my house are not part of "kinds"! I promptly went to Walmart and purchased as many of these as I could....

Okay...I'm kidding, I actually purchase 6 of this little ditties that I've use with much success in the past.
Sweetie Man wanted to buy the poisoning stuff....I thought to myself, "this isn't a mouse picnic....I don't want to feed them.....I WANT THEM DEAD AND I WANT TO SEE THEM DEAD, not find them dead somewhere three years down the road." But I kindly said, "No, Sweetie, this will work much better and it is reusable provided there isn't much blood and guts on it!"

So I positioned six of these in my kitchen. The next day....nothing.....I did find mouse poop of which I promptly took out my strongest kitchen cleaning agent and scrubbed my kitchen down cause that really freaked me out...ugh!!! I repositioned the traps and also put a couple in the basement. Nothing! Then yesterday while washing clothes I heard a tiny, "squeek....squeek." I started to sing thinking it would scare it into hiding till I managed to run to the upstairs. I asked my son and his gal pal to assist me in checking out the basement for the squeek and they agreed...actually my son was excited cause it gave him the opportunity to scare us girls of which he did on the way to the cellar and we screamed (to make him feel good). Anyway, to make an even longer story short, I thought I would bring down my elder dog, Katey, just for the heck of it.....Well, sure enough she found the trap within seconds, which the mouse dragged about a yard away from where it was set and pulled it out for us!!! At that point I was standing on top of something to be sure my feet did not touch the floor. (actually I put snow boots on when I went down the cellar) Anyway, the bottom line is, we caught the mouse (my son said that it wasn't the one he saw ...I think he was just trying to freak me out again)...but the traps will remain in place either way for awhile. The trap unfortunately will not be reused as there was too much blood and guts on it (see previous paragraph)....I think he struggled for awhile on it....YUCKY!!!!! So, with that little story under my belt, I'll let you get on with your day.....till next time, yinz guys........

First 2007 Cross Stitch finish...

Well, I finished a cross stitch which is my first for 2007....

I used three strands on this and I wish I hadn't cause I really hate working with three strands of thread...I much prefer two strands. Anyway I had sent away for the threads on the cat.....Needle Necessities #147 terracotta. I think it gave kitty a nice little coat. I don't know how I'm going to finish it yet....I'm gonna investigate that. I did see where some people finished little pictures like this in a sorta tent form. I don't know the name of it or how they did it...but it wasn't in a frame and was free standing. If anyone knows, I'll listen. Last time a cross stitched I wasn't blogging or in any forums, so I'm learning all sorts of things.

I'm still working on my mastif and with the suggestions from other cross stitchers, I'm not continuing in the manner I was where I was doing ALL of one color then going to the next. I think that is what was messing me up. I'm going to work on one section at a time starting with the ear and working down.....I lose stitches the other way. Here's a pic of my progress.....

Obviously Christmas has passed so my neighbor won't get it then....but I'm sure I'll come up with some other date to give it to them.

And my JoAnn Fabrics gift card that was given to me by Santa Sweetie Man was burning a hole in my pocket so I splurged on some cross stitch stuff since that is what I've been doing more of with my crochet and knitting thrown inbetween. First I got some floss to fill in the spaces of my five boxes of floss I have now...

Then I bought some scrolls and a stand to hold my projects....I like this alot better than hoops.

With using coupons, I still have a wonderful $22.00 left over!! I think I done good!

So on this rainy rainy rainy (did I say it was raining!!!) weekend, I mostly cross stitched, played games with my son, the new gal pal, and Sweetie Man, cleaned up my cellar (aka basement to you non-Pittsburgh folks) and tonight I plan on finishing up my first crochet project for 2007....tho it isn't really that big of a project. Oh, and watching a new Wife Swap.....and tomorrow.....AMERICAN IDOL!!! WOO-HOO! The puppies are driving me a little bonkers being holed up in the house so much with all the rain....they are definately stir crazy! Hopefully things will get a little dryer in the next couple of days!

So, ladies (and gents) that's about it from Rainy Craft Central......till next time, yinz crazy guys...... (don't forget those comments for the Blogiversary surprise drawing!)

New year...new look!

As you can see I'm currently "under construction"! I wasn't really happy with my last look so I opted to change. It took alot of playing around but I came up with this RED HAT theme (ya know, wild and crazy gals 50 and over?) I'm also going to throw a little Maxine in the mix....she's hilarious! I was messing with my template and then decided to give the New Blogger stuff a try. I had switched to the New Blogger but never used their new Layout. I do have to tell you that once you get the idea as to what is going on, it's a heck of alot easier to make changes and add things. No more searching on your HTML template for the exact location of where to put things. And you can upload pics right to the sidebar rather than finding the url from Photobucket or whatever. Pretty slick! But whatever you do, "select, copy, and paste" your old blog to a disk or your documents in case things don't work out for you. I actually just took one of the already made templates from blogger and put in the colors I wanted and came up with this look. I'm pretty pleased with the results. You first need to go to your template and I think it's "customize design" or something like that. Then change your template (blogger said they will save your old one, but I still did a back up)....pick anyone really because you can change colors and fonts after you do. A screen will come up letting you do this. Then once all that is done your template will look like squares that you can drop and drag and edit individually. You will have to put back in things from your sidebar that's extra....blogs you read, pictures, etc.... JUST SAVE THAT OLD TEMPLATE SOMEWHERE IN CASE YOU MESS UP SOMETHING OR NEED TO FIND A URL FOR AN AVATAR OR WHATEVER. And preview before you save. So be patient as I add things and figure out where things go for now. And try it yourself....figuring out things like that is good for the brain cells...helps ya live longer! So, till next time, yinz crazy guys!

Have an obsession?

Anyone watch Good Morning America? Anyway, they posed this question which I thought was pretty good. Seems this lady had an obsession with makeup and was trying to go a week without using it...she did it but had alot of trouble. The question they posed was, "What could you NOT go without for one week?" Now I don't think they meant people or food items, tho they did mention coffee, but I'm gonna narrow it down and say NOT including food items or cigarettes. (cause no coffee with probably send me to the looney bin!) In my case I would have to say, CHAPSTICK....or lip balm or anything to make your lips moist. I happen to have it on me all the time plus in practically every room of the house. I do not leave the house without it in my pocket or purse. Have a couple sticks at work. Goes on first thing in the morning and last thing at night...sometimes even in the middle of the night if I get up for whatever reason. Even vaseline will do. I cannot stand to have dry feeling lips that you have to constantly lick. I probably swipe them every hour or so! With that said, tell me what you cannot go without for a week, be it a watch, earrings, makeup, brush, whatever.....this should be interesting. So, till next time, yinz crazy guys! (excuse me while I go moisten my lips)

A New Fangled Thingy Majig....

You're gonna love this. It's called Skip Stitch! It's a new little devise that puts holes where you want them, slick as a whistle! Bridgette, my coordinator from Project Linus sent it to me awhile back and I never really got the chance to mess with it till now. I love it.

It attaches to your rotary cutter and using your rotary mat, of course, it cuts these little slits in anything....in my case its fleece blankets so I can easily crochet around them for my Project Linus blankets.


I used a G hook and some worsted weight yarn and just did some single crochets around it. I love this thing.....heck of alot easier than hole punching like I used to. Now, I don't know who has them now but if you just google skip stitch I'm sure you'll find one if you are interested.

Next on my agenda, Tina from Timeless Creations saw that I was doing some cross stitching lately and was so nice to send me these books she didn't want anymore....thank you, TINA!
They are right up my alley. She also sent me a couple of skeins of floss and a nice piece of 16 ct. brown aida. I didn't show that cause I already started using it for this....


It's supposed to be a scissor fob but I'm going to use it as an ornament for Christmas. It's from the JCS 2006 Ornament book. I'm sorta liking the Quaker ornaments alot and this was one of them....tho it doesn't look exactly like the picture in the mag, I sorta gave my own twist to it. I need to know how to make my own cording with floss cause I really like the look of that around the ornaments too.
So, in addition to taking down outside decorations and watching football with the Sweetie Man this weekend, I was a busy crafty beaver. We were supposed to have a game night with my son's new gal pal, but that sorta fell through and we're gonna reschedule. But that's cool.
So, till next time, yinz crazy guys.....(leave those comments!)

Before you say anything....

...keep in mind I didn't say I would post EVERYDAY. I said that WHEN I post, and you leave a comment for THAT day....you will get your name put in the Blogiversary Drawing. If I post only 15 times till January 27 and you comment 30 times, that means you are getting only 15 chances to win! Does everyone understand that! Good, cause now I don't feel so bad about not posting yesterday!!! (tee-hee!) You thought I was angry, didn't you? NAW!!!

Okay.....I just have to show yinz guys this....remember this little guy?.....

Who then became this little bigger guy?.........


Well, now our 5 month old (yep- 5 month old) has turned into a full-fledged "lap dog"!



That's really not a good picture of him....his face is so adorable..especially when he looks at you with those big black eyes of his....he is sooooo sweet! And he is so in love with our little Chloe (the terrier) She will be munching away on something and he will lay next to her and put his huge head on her back...and she doesn't even budge. Luckily, she is "fixed"!!! Whadda crew we have!!

I also wanted to show these little ornaments I finished up. Actually I stitched them a long time ago and ran across them as I was going through my cross stitch stash.
I believe that people who now live in heaven sometimes send us little messages just to let us know they are there and thinking about us as we do them. The one little ornament has the name "Joe" on it. I had planned one year to stitch little stockings for everyone in the family but only made one for my brother Joe. Well, he lives in Heaven now with his wife, and my parents, and I think finding this was his way of telling me Merry Christmas and, being as he was a tremendous animal lover and owned quite a few in his day, he was telling me, "hey man, nice dogs!"
So, with that, (don't forget those comments!)....till tomorrow, yinz crazy guys!

The NAME GAME!!!!

L	Loud
U	Unforgettable
C	Charming
Y	Young

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

I don't know about this little quiz. Found it over at Donna's blog! I can agree with the U, C, Y,....but I think I'll change the L to Loveable!!

Anyway, my New Year's started off rather nicely if I do say so myself. A relaxing New Year's Eve with the Sweetie Man and on New Year's Day after relaxing at home a bit we enjoyed a nice dinner with family at my brother's house. Now it's back to the normalcy! I'm debating on whether to take down the Christmas decorations during the week or wait till the weekend and enjoy them for a couple of more days. Sometimes I just do it little by little then by the weekend the tree, with help from the Sweetie Man goes.

As for my resolutions, I'm up to 17! One of them, as you may have already noticed, is of course getting back on the weight loss train! I had to move the tracker back a couple of notches thanks to someone's delicious cooking (you know who you are, Sweetie Man!) But I will be serious about this one cause there's a big family wedding coming up (unfortunately not mine, yet!) and I want to look presentable! I did make my goal a little more realistic than last time also...30 lbs. vs. 40 lbs. According to my doctor, it's where I probably should be with my height. Hey, it's not my fault I was born short!

And speaking of presentable...I unveiled my tattoo to my relatives on New Year's Day.....let's just say, if they had any thoughts of me being crazy, I've just managed to confirm them! I don't think I'm crazy....I love the tattoo.....I plan on adding to it! I'm just being ME!!!!

And in case you didn't notice, I have a blogiversary tracker going on up top also! Woo-hoo! That's right, January 27 will be my one year blogiversary! And as a little thank you for being such awesome readers, I'm going to have a little contest and drawing that I saw on some other blogs that I thought was really nice! Begining today, January 2, 2007 and through January 26, 2007, everytime you visit my blog and leave a comment, I will put your name in my little box for a drawing to be held on my blogiversary, January 27, 2007. Keep in mind, that if you leave ten comments in one day on one post, you will only get your name in one time for that day. The prize....mmmmm....a box of goodies....that's all I will say....a little bit of everything that I'm just going to put together through the month! So, have fun with it and start commenting!

Oh...and one more thing! There may be a special new young lady in my son's life! I'm so excited.....she's very nice and very pretty! Keep your fingers crossed!

Well, that's about it for today! I'm going to get back to keeping my resolutions! I already managed to keep one...I got to work on time!! (But as I always say....It sure makes for a long day when you get to work on time!) So, till tomorrow, yinz crazy guys....

From ME to YOU.....