Blog description

A little blog about my big loves; family, friends, stitching and yep, chocolate!

Chocolate Loving Followers!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Have you ever had this nightmare....

We used to call my son Tyler, the Master of Disaster. I am the Master of Disaster's Mother....

Here's the dream: you're at a meeting, a monthly gathering if you will, of like minded people. You are gathered with women whose talents you admire and friends with whom you love spending time. You're with two of your very dear friends and because the three of you all love McDonald's iced tea, you take turns stopping and buying for everyone. It's a once a month treat, well worth the caloric intake! Women come to this gathering to share, to be inspired and to show off (but not in a braggy way), their beautiful works of art. Art in the form of counted thread embroidery - oh, let's just say it, cross stitch! Samplers, beautiful samplers! In this dream (it hasn't turned into a nightmare yet), one of your friends, DEB lays her beautiful Yellow House Sampler on the table for all to admire. She's not at home, there's no fear of children wreaking havoc with her beautiful sampler; after all, only a child would dare spill something on a beautiful piece of needlework, right? You see where this is going, don't you? Yep, it was me.... I knocked over a glass full of ice and tea. Can you hear the gasps from ours AND all the other tables? Oh my God!!! It's a living nightmare! Oh my God! Hours and hours of work and I spill something on it. Can you imagine my horror? This is FAR WORSE than someone touching your needlework - to SPILL something on it. Are you KIDDING me??? Well, let me tell you - that Deb could not have been sweeter, or calmer. As we're all starting to scramble, she says, very calmly (through what should have been gritted teeth), "It's only tea." Only tea? She says, "If it stains, It'll just look old." My first thought was, "Oh Crap! Please don't tell me you used overdyed threads." "Nope, this one is stitched with DMC." Still, cool as can be, Deb is sitting there. I'm sure it's really because she was so stunned, she couldn't move :-) but we eventually got up (Julie, Deb and me), after totally disrupting the entire meeting, we ran into the kitchen area and washed it out. I was mortified; as you can all imagine. The KSSG (Kindred Spirits Sampler Guild) will never be the same. I am probably going to have to sit by myself, in a corner from now on. I deserve that - plus a dunce cap - I deserve to sit in a corner with a dunce cap on my head. A big one.... After a bit of washing, here's Deb's sampler, not too much worse for wear. All you can see of Deb is her skinny, little body - isn't her sampler gorgeous!!!



I won't go into the actual nightmare I had the next night about this except to say, when the women saw what I had done - which is blasphemy to a stitcher - they started shouting, "Stone her, Stone her!" I had to call Deb that morning to make sure she really was still speaking to me. She took my call, and she's very forgiving but, I'll understand if at the next meeting she sits somewhere else.....

This alone, would be enough to absolutely mortify most people. But not me. Nope, the day wasn't over yet. During our guild meetings we always have a raffle of some item or items that are donated. The raffle is just one way to raise money for our guild. Well this time, the drawing was for a Vera Bradley bag (a really pretty one), with three mesh accessory bags and a beautiful bird thread pallet to go with it made by Pat's DH. Of course I bought tickets. We all did. Finally, the time had come for the drawing. "The winning number is 6679." Drat, so close, my last ticket number was 6678. Shucks. Everyone checks their tickets, nobody has the winning ticket. "Is there anyone in the bathroom?" Sure enough, here come two of our guild members. "Do either of you have ticket number 6679? "Nope." "Hmmmmm.... has anyone left the meeting?" Everyone is buzzing, nobody can figure it out, and of course, I say, "Oh well.... better re-draw." Still nobody claims the prize and after some mumbling about, Julie says "Let me see your tickets." "You Won, you big dummy!" she says to me (maybe not those words exactly). What? Oh my gosh. If I hadn't embarrassed myself enough with the tea incident I certainly am by now. Who heard of numbers going down in sequence? My last ticket was 6678, and I just glanced at the last ticket and ASSUMED (you know what they say about that ~ and I just proved it as fact) they went UP in sequence, not DOWN. I know what you're thinking, "How in the world does she EVER get through a day? How does she get ANYTHING done? " Believe me, I ask myself the same things several times a day. I am here for the worlds amusement. That's why I'm here. Are you amused?

Here's what I won:






Isn't it great!? Well worth my embarrassment. Pat made the mesh bags to go with the bag and she used a pair of Vera Bradley boxer shorts for the fabric trim. She also covered a little pencil in fabric that is clipped to the bag but I'm not sure you can see that in the picture. Yep, as embarrassed as I was, I wasn't too ashamed to claim my prize.

So.... how's your week going?

Thank you all so very much for all the comments on Elizabeth Savilles. It is so exciting to see comments on a post - and I can't believe that so many of you took the time. THANK YOU so much!!! I can't wait to get her back from the framer (that's another story)- I hope I picked something that will do her justice. We'll see.

I've passed my one year anniversary for blogging and am so happy to have gotten to know so many wonderful people. I will be having a giveaway to celebrate, but I still have to get it together. You'll be the first to know!

Peace,
Terri

64 comments:

Sherry :o) said...

So - the raspberry tea dying was on purpose...this seems to be a habit! LOL

I think you were fine Sunday - the ticket thing was very funny - and if your buds make you sit by yourself...I know I would join you - at least for a little while :-)

Your pics are beautiful - blogs are addictive - that's for sure. If I ever start one, I will take you up on your offer of helping post pics. And I did check out many of your pics - spectacular!! So is the rubber band from a fight amoung males at your house? I know it most likely would be here!!

And now I have to get the Christmas Jenny Bean - I am almost 1/3 done with the Halloween Jenny Bean and LOVE IT!!

Until next month - hope you get tons of stitching done!

Kim said...

ROTFLOL...oh Terri.....tooo funny!!! LOL Thanks for the chuckle! and congrats on the fabulous win! Love that wooden birdie threadboard!

MyLifesAStitch said...

I'm sorry Terri, not to laugh at your misfortune, but .. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!! ROTFLMAO!!!!! Okay, now that that's out of my system.:)

AWESOME story! One you will look back on and laugh about with great affection - admittedly it may not happen til 20 yrs from now, but still. ;)

Deb's response does not surprise me in the slightest - she seems like just about the sweetest person you'd ever care to meet.

And, I do believe you deserved to be the winner of the bag (I'm chalking your brain freeze up to flusterment [is that even a word??] over the near crisis with Deb's piece) considering the extreme horror you experienced during the lead up to your win.

Enjoy the rest of your week, dearie!!

Anna van Schurman said...

If it is any consolation, I totally would be the person who spilled the tea. Just the other day knocked a glass of wine over at my cousin's onto the birthday card I stamped for my niece. That's why I drink soda in bottles when I stitch--I put the lid back on after every sip. Maybe you need a better container for the iced tea? (because let's face it, knowing you are clumsy and preventing horrible accidents, two different skill sets.)

Myra said...

Oh Terri! I can't even begin to imagine the embarrassment. Stitching friends are the best though and I am sure you are forgiven. I would sit beside you but would watch your tea glass closely. LOL The bags are beatiful - enjoy!

Cari said...

I suppose we're all laughing with you (not at you) because we've all been there and done that!! I'm the spiller in my group and luckily it was at my house on my stuff. Yikes!! Glad it was stitched with DMC...perhaps Deb had a premonition. And, I love the 'Yellow Bird' Vera Bradley set!! My friend got a bag and some accessories in that pattern for Christmas. And, the bird thread holder. How cool is that??

I love your blog! I'm so glad to have met you through our virtual lives and consider you a dear friend!! Thanks for sharing!!

Michelle said...

OMG, Terri!!! I am so glad the yellow house survived unscathed. I wonder if she was that calm with the bat? Gorgeous VB win for you too! Love it!

Unknown said...

Oh Terri - my heart goes out to you. What a truly horrifying moment. I tried to imagine my reaction and I am not sure that I could have been so truly gracious as Deb was, lol. I have to think I would have tried to smile and say it's ok but failed miserably. But, Deb's exactly right, it's just tea and just good ole DMC. Deb is amazing to be able to quickly see the bright side of the situation - glad it all worked out (washed out).

Btw, your new bag is beautiful, congrats on winning.

Can't wait to see what you working on and congrats on your one-year anniversary

Roberta said...

I cannot believe what happened and what a great story!!! Congrats on winning the VB bag and accessories, her things are gorgeous.

Have a better week and weekend.

Roberta

Julie M said...

Thanks for the laugh Terri, they've been few and far between lately so I needed that! I'm so glad that no permanent damage was done to that lovely piece. And what a wonderful raffle prize! Love it all.

Take care!

Loraine said...

Oh my Goodness...Terri, this is beyond funny to read, however, the whole time I am feeling so incredibly bad for you!!!!! Deb is a very understanding, wonderful doll, so good thing it was her sampler and not someone with a different personality!
After an incredibly bad morning, you made it up with the darling bag win! Cute, cute, cute!
Many hugs. I've missed our chats! Take care!

Susan said...

You know accidents do happen, of course to everyone else, never ourselves. 'Til fate steps in.
Am waiting to see Elizabeth framed. I know it will be beautiful.

Melissa said...

Oh, that was priceless! I know Deb stitched with DMC on that sampler so I could just see you panicking while she's sitting there cool as a cucumber (or I hope)! I'm glad everything worked out but you are infamous from now on (or is that "more infamous" than ever?)!!!

PS - and I can see you sitting in the corner next time, with the dunce cap! "reserved for Terri". Oh you are just too funny! And Deb's a good sport too.

Sandra said...

Terri, I really do feel for you, I bet your face was scarlet, what a dreadful thing to have happened, but so pleased nothing was spoiled. I love that bird thread holder, if ever there are any for sale, I'll be first in the queue.

Andrea said...

OMG! Terri, you are TOO FUNNY! Yes, I was very amused reading your story, you cracked me up, even though I can totally relate to what it must have felt like to be the one that spilled! Luckily, you have a great friend who took it all in stride and with grace, what a gal!
Hey, you're not the only one that does things like this though. One time, at my LNS, I was showing the owner how my God-son (who was a toddler at the time), had taken this stitching of mine I had on a dowel, and winged it across the room, and when I did that, a lady (that worked there)was standing behind me, didn't know she was there, and yep, I hit her right in the face and knocked her glasses off! I died a thousand times that day, even though she was very gracious about it and was unhurt. Wrote her an apology letter and sent it to the shop, later on, I got hired to work there part time and thought, oh brother, I bet she hates me, but even after the shop closed, we were in a stitch group together for years and she was always a great sport about the whole thing. I've never forgotten it though, it's the ONLY time in my life I'd ever HIT another woman! OMG.
Anyhoo.....now Deb has a great story about her sampler, and you were so kind to give it to her, lol!
I like your prizes, you lucky gal!
xoxo

Mylene said...

oh Terri, so sorry to hear of both incident, i can imagine the embarrassment. Congrats on the win though, all those pieces looks great.
And Happy blogoversary!

Giovanna said...

Ouch, I feel your pain...

Congrats on the lovely win!

Anonymous said...

So so sorry! Certainly not a laughing matter at the time, but it could have been much worse!

Congrats on your winning the group's raffle! I really like the bird thread keep!

Big hugs to you!
Robin

Annie said...

Well, life happens and we all have our clumsy moments. I'm not brave enough to blog about mine. But sounds like you have a nice set of understanding friends.

And congrats on the win. That should have made you feel a bit better!

Catherine said...

My, my, my....I don't know whether to laugh or to cry - okay, I'm crying from laughing! But only laughing becuase everything turned out okay!

I think you should show up to your next event with your beverage in a spill proof child's sippy cup!

Marion said...

Congratulations on the win!! Fabulous!!!
I love your Blog...ever since I found it months ago, I've been back for every update.....sometimes not commenting, sometimes commenting...take care my friend!!

Marion

Dona said...

I'm glad you were among friends and that Deb really is calm and understanding! Deb's Yellow House is still pretty. Some days are just like that, so don't worry. But how nice you won that great prize!

jayne@~an eye for threads~ said...

Can't say I have spilt anything on anyone elses piece HOWEVER, I have had incidents with highlighters on my own and once I was stitching with a friend and something REALLY funny was said and I had just taken a rather large gulp of my coffee...Enough said, off I went to the kitchen sind with MY stitching in hand and we laughed for the rest of the night but nothing funny was said until our drinks had gone down the throats.

What a nice prize, and a funny story to go with it, and although if your group is anything like ours you won't have to many quite times, but if it ever does become quiet you can be assured your nightmare will be brought up with great laughter. Way to funny.

Be always in stitches.

KarenV said...

Oh Terri! My heart would have stopped, I think. Glad that the story had a happy ending, anyway and that Deb was so calm :)

Congratulations on your win too, lucky you!

Margaret said...

Ok, Terri, I have to admit, I'm just sitting here laughing! lol! Accidents happen to everyone -- I'm sure you're still in Deb's good graces! Although I can understand the feeling of panic. :D Thank goodness for DMC -- and yes, it would just have been an experiment in tea dyeing! As for the raffle tickets -- lolol! Yes, I would have assumed the tickets went up in number too! But hey, what a great prize! Wow! I clicked on the pic of the bag to enlarge and I even saw the fabric covered pencil. How clever to use boxer shorts for the mesh bags and pencil! Hugs to you -- what a great story you have to tell now, right? lol!

Tammy said...

Oh Terri!!! :-0 I feel your pain, but your story made me lol. What a great sport your friend was! Congrats on your win too-awesome!

Carol said...

Oh my goodness, Terri! I really thought this was a joke until I continued to read with mounting horror--that is one of my biggest fears that someone will spill something on one of my finishes... Deb certainly handled it beautifully and I'm so glad she had used DMC and that it all turned out in the end. Sounds like a lovely group of stitching friends :)

Congratulations on your win, too--it sure has been an exciting week for you :)

mainely stitching said...

Oh my gosh, Terri! You must've been wishing for some porta-portal to transport yourself off to another dimension! I'm so glad that everything turned out okay!!!!! And wow, what a GREAT win! Enjoy those fab goodies, and don't be too hard on yourself!!

Jane said...

What a story, Terri. So sad and yet so funny (I guess I shouldn't laugh too much). Deb was so lovely about it and true, lucky it was only iced tea and not spilt milk!

Congrats on winning your prize too, you funny thing. lol

Tanya said...

I thought spilling stuff on stitchery only happened to me. Now I know I am not alone. Whew!Congratulations on winning the goods.

Cathy Lloyd said...

Gotta love you girlfriend! You are so stinkin' cute. Thanks for the giggle this morning. Your tea experience is everyone's nightmare!

Enjoy your winnings!

LiahonaGirl said...

Congratulations on 1 year of blogging. Your post was a perfect way to wrap up that first year! I too would have been devastated if I'd spilled even water on Deb's stitchery. I'm glad it all turned out and you and Deb are still friends! Whenever I watch Antiques Roadshow and they are handling a breakable object (usually an expensive ceramic or porcelain piece), I hold my breath just waiting for them to drop it.) Thankfully I've never seen it happen.
Nancy

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Isn't DEB the best!? I think that what happened to you could very easily have been me doing the spilling part, I'm a big clutz....
And your win is stupendous! WOW...beautiful!
And I must agree...McDonald's Sweet Tea ROCKS...I looked it up once on WW points and one day soon, heck it may even be today, will go get me a big 'ol swig of it!

Glenna said...

Oh, bless Deb. And bless you. Poor thing--I hurt for you all the way through your hysterical telling of it.

Nancy said...

You do have a wonderful sense of humor, and it sounds like you should be writing some needlework nightmare short stories! Deb's sampler is just gorgeous!

I had a similar experience a long time ago. I was stitching next to a vase of irises, and some how the purple color had gotten into the water. The vase tipped over, my project was now purple, I trashed it, and I make sure I don't sit next to anything wet when I stitch!

Holly Hills Primitives said...

Oh my goodness! I'll bet your face was 12 shades of red! Glad everything turned out okay though. Have a great day, Dawn

Joanie said...

Umm-mm, I want you to know that I laughed so hard when I read your post that I split soda all over myself. (I can invision myself doing exactly what happened to you, I am the klutz of the group.) It's a story for the ages!

Love your Vera bag and all the goodies!

Katrina said...

Happy blogaversary!!!

Wow, I can imagine how upsetting it was but a little bit of tea can't hurt too much especially on DMC ;-). Glad it turned out well.

Great gift prize too.

Marjorie said...

OMG Terri, if you are that dangerous with just iced tea, what are you like when you are drinking?! I suggest a sturdy sippy cup for your next get-together.

Sheila said...

Oh we are a cruel lot (mostly) - laughing at your misfortune, or rather Deb´s. But you told such a funny story :)
And what a great win: love the VB bag, and the matching mesh bags and bird are fabulous - a great win.

Patricia Lessell said...

I need to know what is so calorific about McDonald's Ice Tea? Well as they say all's well that ends well and you did win an amazing prize even if you can't read properly yet. Get Deb to give you some lessons because she at least knows the alphabet now so I'm assuming she knows her numbers now too! Only joking I just knew all about this before because I had read Deb's blog before yours.
Lots of Love
Patti xxx

Hazel said...

Awwww, I just read about this incident on Deb's blog. Poor you. It would normally be me that does something like that. Anyway, I am sure all the peeps sound like a very forgiving bunch. I wish I lived nearby and could be part of that group. It does sound wonderful and I wouldn't even mind a bit of tea on my work! ;-) Ps what a lovely blog you have. How come I have never visited before? x

Ann said...

Terri - I only see your "accident" as one more step in the finishing process done! I always tea or coffee stain all my stitching so come on over with your tea! I must share it's better than the woman who spilled a Pepsi on a scrapbook I had made for my Mom. I don't age my scrapbooks, so I took a deep breath and asked her to just leave everything and I'd clean up! If she had said "I'm sorry" one more time I might be in prison! ~Ann

Deb said...

Well, this story is cracking me up too and I was there! LOL For some reason though Terri, when I flash back to all of that, I think of whoever it was that was standing up there talking (poor woman), and all eyes on us getting out of our seats and then you and Julie running back and forth from the kitchen to clear up the spill on the table and it made me think of a Chinese fire drill. LOL They certainly got some cheap entertainment that day, didn't they?

No harm done to the piece, but you know what I'm going to be thinking every time I look at it now, don't you? You and McDonald's Sweet Tea!!! Please don't have any more nightmares, okay???

Linda said...

Hi Terrie,
I have some strange dreams, but that's a really good one.
I can relate in that I am a huge Klutz. My Dh thinks God gave me to him just to make him laugh! I drop, knock over and bump into things on a regular basis. My daughter with the baby wonders how they all survived me. And I have spilled the wrong stuff on the wrong thing. I get it. Thank God for forgiving people!!
Thanks for sharing your story, we are kindred spirits,
Linda

Linda said...

Oh, to add
I used to sing in a group, and I always held my mic because I knocked the mic stand over one time too many. And once, my contact fell out onto the floor in the middle of a song, just weird stuff,
Linda

Bertie said...

Oh Terri I am still laughing at this wonderful story, Deb was absolutely right, and an antique in an instant!! The sampler looks absolutely marvellous and how great to have a friend like Deb who is a calm influence!!

The VB is great and you deserve it after the initial tea dye shock, LOL.
I do love your wonderful story's.

woolwoman said...

very comical entertaining telling of a story with a happy ending terri - I would have been beyond mortified. and OMG - I can't believe your group almost redrew for another ticket winner - GF - what a seriously wonderful win that was! I love the yellow bird VB pattern and the thread board was so cool. Invest in a sealed cup before you take a drink to your next event. Seriously - I sat at a table year before last at a class sponsored by our ANG group with a national teacher from Cal. and a ditzy woman who is not a very polished or experienced stitcher spilled a cup of coffe on our table and it splattered and spilled all over her canvas - I just sat there in horror as the stream of sweet coffee ran in my direction - finally jumping into action and scooping up my threads and stuff just in time. It was quite a disruption to the class and to this day that woman is bitter towards this teacher and says he is the meanest man she has ever seen - Some people just dont' get it ! Mel

Just Me and My Shadow said...

Terri, I can imagine your embarrassment. So glad it wasn't over-dyed threads!! Lovely win in the raffle.

Chrissie

Ranae said...

I just read Deb's blog.
You poor thing! I can't even begin to imagine what that felt like.
I am glad it turned out o.k.

Nicole said...

LOL!!! Too funny!! Oh I definitely want to come to one of your meetings when I go up to MI, it sounds like you all have so much fun. Thankfully, it was only tea. And thankfully she had used DMC. Beautiful prize you won too - don't worry, I'm sure I would have done the same exact thing!! LOL! :)

Kellie said...

Sounds like all is well that ends well. :)
Your VB bag is gorgeous! Congrats on your awesome win!

Sherry said...

Oh Terri! I can't help but laugh but I can imagine how you must have felt. Congratulations on winning the lovely tote and all. I was thinking the same thing as Deb - the tea would only make it look older!

grace said...

Wow, I can totally imagine your heart dropping! I'm sorry it happened!
I laugh only because I would've probably done the same thing. :)
Lovely bag! Congrats!

SiobhĂ¡n said...

Oh my gosh!! So, do you wake up at night, screaming, as you relive this in your mind?! LOL Thank God that the tea just aged the sampler a bit!! Phew! :) I'm glad that everything turned out okay. And YGG on winning that set! It's fantastic. Thanks for the laugh!

Missy Ann said...

Look at this way, you got your bad days out of the way all at once. You're covered for at least a few months.

Love that bird thread palette. The tail is amazing.

Maggie said...

Oh dear, poor you, i did have a giggle at the ticket draw though, good job they didn't have the re-draw like you sugested! It's a beautiful bag.

I'm sure you will be forgiven the tea spillage but i can understand your embarrasment, things like that usualy happen to me, and it's no good being clumsy if your not going to show it, lol

Hope you have a better week net week :-)

Lois said...

You're not going to forget that get-together in a hurry! I'm just glad everything turned out okay in the end but, that has to be just about everyone's worst nightmare. What a lovely VB win - that very nearly wasn't!

Free Art Printables said...

That is something I would totally do! It cracked me up!

Valerie said...

Bless your heart, Terri! As I read your post I could almost feel your anxiety and my heart went out to you! From what I hear the sampler is fine and now you have a really great story to tell for years to come! Oh, and congrats on the win...you deserved it considering the ordeal you went through!

Isabelle said...

Hi Terry, your nightmare is really awesome!!
Your bags are really beautiful : enjoy them :-))
Have a great week-end ,
Isa

Brigitte said...

Oh Terri, this must have been awful for you when it happened. And it's so good that there's a happy end to the story. I'm sure that many stitchers have already been in such a situation. I once had stitched and finished an ornament for a good friend and had laid it on the table to show it to my husband. Unfortunately I touched my cup of tea and the tea spilled all over the ornament. That was some time ago when nobody thought of aging the fabric through tea and coffee dyeing. So I threw the ornament into the bin and stitched it anew.

Shelleen said...

oh my, I can't believe she was so calm when you spilled the tea. Congrats on the win!!

Susan said...

I'm behind on my blog reading, so I'm really late to the comment party.

During my first ever class at a stitching festival, I brought a cup of coffee to the class because it didn't know better. This was before everyone carried a travel mug and it was in a open cup. I don't remember exactly how it happened, but the instructor knocked it over and got coffee on the bottom of a lovely dress that had a Hardanger hem. She got it out and was very nice about it. Several years later, I took another class from her and she talked about the incident (again, very nicely), not realizing that I was the cause of it. And no, I didn't remind her that I had been *that* student!