On Friday my husband and I had a total meltdown after dealing with our end of year bill from our energy company. Getting a bill for 800 euros just before Christmas really sucks ass. We can pay it, but it really screws up most plans we had for Christmas shopping and such, especially after just getting back from holiday.
To get my mind off the stress I dug into my Tickle Trunk of crafting goodies and pulled out a little cross stitch I had started last year after finishing my rocking horse pillow.
I finished it off and wanted to try my hand at framing, so I took an ugly old blue and gold frame we had here and covered it with some nice red Christmas fabric leftover from my tree skirt. Then I tried a method of mounting that I found online where you use thread to tie the cross stitch around the mounting board (which was just the back of the frame in this case). I probably should have looked for a square frame but I was on a mission and wanted to try the framing thing so I used this one anyway.
It looked like it needed something after I put it together so I used some of the gold rope I bought for my lightbulb snowmen and added it around the inside edge of the frame.
Worked great for getting my mind off the mega-bill and got me in a crafty mood, so I started another stitching project of an old toy store window at x-mas.
I really need to get better at using a glue gun cuz my fingers are killing me from the glue oozing out around stuff as I press it.
Hello! I found your website lastnight and stayed up util 1 am reading all of your posts..lol I am originally from the U.S…Oregon to be exact and we moved to the netherlands on May 18. I totally relate to everything you have blogged about and I am so glad I found it. I love all your animals,espically the hedgehog and wondered if you could e-mail me and let me know where you got him?. Love your crafts..Im into cardmaking myself and have really gotten into it since moving here..wat a stress reliever it is..lol
Sonya
Girl, don’t take that bill laying down. We got TWO (count ’em) juicy requests this month for around €300 each (Oxxio and Eneco — gas and electric) with a 7-day notice. The Dutchie got on the phone with both and TOLD them that no, we will not pay them at once, but in installments, and that it was disgusting that money should be demanded so close to Christmas.
Both suppliers agreed…we are paying in installments AND starting in January once we are back from Canada.
The Dutchie’s brother was gobsmacked…He said most people just sheepishly pay without question, which is why these utility companies continue to get away with it!
Fight the power!! (literally, lol!)