Last of 2010, new and old starts, and some jazz

Stitchy news first.  I promised to show you my progress on Jane Tindall, so here she is. 

She's a pretty one!  I'm using the recommended WDW 40ct Confederate Gray, AVAS and Gloriana Filomel fibers.

And then on a total whim thanks to Katrina and Laurie, I started Frances Eden for a New Year's start.

I'm using 40ct Vintage Examplar and DMC threads.  The colors are so fun -- I'm loving it!  Here's a pic of what Frances Eden looks like.

The piece is by Handwork Samplers.  And yes, it's another Adam and Eve sampler.  Of course!

I've also won a couple more prizes recently.  From Melanie at Moonraker Lampwerks, I won a couple of ornaments.

Aren't they cute?  I did have them on my Christmas tree, but stupidly didn't take a pic of them there before the tree came down.  Thank you so much, Melanie!  I love them!  (Melanie makes the cutest blown glass beads too.  I have a set and I love it!)

 And from Carmen Sutton of Cardan Antiques and Needlework, I won this adorable Santa clip.  Carmen also included some walnut dye so I could dye things myself, and some wonderful smelling lovelies to make things smell so good!  Thanks so much, Carmen!  I love my prize!

I decided to join the Totally Useless SAL this year, better known as the TUSAL.  I always collect my orts anyway, and save the year's orts in a box somewhere every year.  Here's my ort jar, all ready for 2011.  It already has a few orts in it as you can see.

Please note -- I'm one of those stitchers who use the thread down to the last possible millimeter.  So don't expect long pieces of thread in my ort jar.  lol!

Finally, yes, the father type made it home on Thursday.  It's so nice to have him home!  The FIL is doing nicely and we're all very happy about that! 

The girl child had to head back to college yesterday evening.  Here she is just about ready to head out to the train.

(I know I will get asked, so.....   The quilt hanging on the wall is the baby quilt my quilt group buddies from years back made for me when I was pregnant with the girl child.  The quilt hanging on the foot of the girl child's bed is a quilt I won from a raffle from the Attic's annual breast cancer auction and fund raiser.  I don't remember which year it was I won, but I was amazed when I won!)

Finally, one of the events that the father type missed while he was helping FIL cope with everything was the boy child's school concert.  Normally this isn't a big miss.  But this year's concert was the boy child's first time playing bass for the school's jazz ensemble.  I had to tape at least a part of the concert just so the father type could hear his son.  Unfortunately the memory chip was full so I only got little bits of the concert.  Now I know some of you have asked to hear the boy child play.  Soooooo, here's a little clip of the high school jazz ensemble.  (It's hard to tell how good they are from the video.  They're really good!  It's always so enjoyable to hear them, even if your son isn't a member.)

The song is "In the Stone" by Earth, Wind and Fire.  Sorry it's only a little bit of the piece.  I wish I could have gotten the whole thing.  I hope you like it!

We first saw the high school jazz ensemble (an extra curricular, audition-to-get-in group) way back when the girl child was a freshman.  I guess the boy child must have been in 5th grade?  From the first time the boy child saw them play, he wanted to be in the ensemble.  And now he's met his goal.  :D  We're so proud of him!

Back to the ole routine this week.  The boy child went back to school this morning and has orchestra tonight as usual.  The father type is working as I type -- albeit from home, which is nice.  The girl child was probably up all night finishing an assignment that was due today from what I hear.  She has class during the prep time for exams, then  finals coming up too.  (Which is why she's back at college already.)  Poor kid.

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi!  Sorry for such a long post this time.  I guess 2010 didn't want to say goodbye.  lol!  I always enjoy visiting with you all!  Have a great week!