Operation Sparkle: This may just be okay...

So, there's this episode of "How I Met Your Mother" where Marshall is training to run the NYC marathon and gets hurt so Barney takes his spot without training to prove to Marshall you don't have to train to run a marathon. Barney completes the marathon with an unbelievable time, but then gets stuck on the subway because his legs stop working.

I lead off with that anecdote, not because I recently started rewatching HIMYM on Netflix (which I did, because I finished watching The West Wing for like the fourth or fifth time and I don't feel ready to watch Lost over again yet), but because this morning, I ran 11 miles.

And at the moment, with my buns, knees and feet so sore you'd think I just walked a theme park in flip flops, that's the mental image that popped into my mind. Barney on a subway not being able to make his legs work. Stairs are hard. Flat surfaces are hard.

But honestly, I'm so proud of myself. Because I ran 11 miles this morning. In a time I wouldn't want to be permanent, but totally workable...totally acceptable for 6 months from the race.

For the first time since I undertook this whole endeavour...since I decided "I'm doing Princess Weekend 2015", I actually believe I can do this.


Added the Princess 5K to my weekend agenda this weekend, which means it's a 5K, 10K and half in 3 days. So excited. I can't believe I'm actually going to do this. It's going to be such an amazing experience.

RDP SAL Week 16: "How does she know you love her?"

This week's princess is one of my favorites because it was the first time Disney made a movie where they appeared actively aware of some of their more ridiculous traditions.

It's Giselle, from Enchanted!

CLICK THE PIC

A couple of pattern notes:

• I thought about doing her crown of flowers as I have others and satin stitching it, but instead I chain stitched it to give it a different look than the rest of her. You can do either.

Okay, so that was one pattern note. 

Hope you all enjoy stitching her! Hope to be back next week with a fierce lady. I am going to be gone the start of the week so I hope to get a lot of stitching in today on her.

Until then - Happy stitching!

"God Help the Outcasts" - RDP SAL Week 15

Good morning stitchers!

This week we have another not-quite-a-Princess, but still a complete and total badass, in my opinion. Like many before her, I didn't really appreciate her movie until I saw it in my 20s, but I think it's ambitious, underrated, and an important message for kids about tolerance in turbulent times.

It's Esmerelda!

CLICK THE PIC

Hope you all have a great week! Next week we have another more traditional Princess (at least in title)...if I can get her done this week. 

I leave you with one of my favorite Disney songs ever...especially as I get older and see the injustice "different" people feel everyday.

"And then I was saved by a flying man in a loin cloth!" - Week 14

Good afternoon stitchers!

This week in the RDPSAL we have another non-princess. But I find her hilarious and I think this movie is entirely underrated.

CLICK THE PIC

Next week we have another non-Princess from an underrated movie. You'll never guess so I'll just leave you with some videos.

Stitch on!

"Then maybe I don't want to be a princess anymore..." - RDP SAL Week 13

Good morning Stitchers!

Sorry I didn't get this up yesterday...I meant to, but had to go buy food and then got caught up working on a baby gift for a friend. But I'm here now. And I only have one more pattern in the reserve so I'm going to have to get stitching this week!

So, the 13th princess in our stitch along is not one of my favorites, but I like her movie enough. It's Princess Jasmine!

CLICK THE PIC

I love the music in Aladdin, but growing up it wasn't among my favorite favorites because it was a little more of a "boy's" movie. But I'm really looking forward to hearing how the Broadway show is! It opens next month!

From my first trip to Disneyland

Have a great week stitchers!

Do you swim? - RDP SAL Week 12

Good Evening stitchers!!!

Week 12 is here and it's a lesser known "princess"...Kida from Atlantis!

CLICK the PIC

I always forget how good this movie is until I watch it, so I'm excited to use her in this pattern set. I hope you enjoy stitching her, and don't forget to send me your pics!!!

Next week, we get a little more classic princess...well, new-age classic.

Until then - Stitch on!

My Friends call me Meg, at least they would if I had any friends... - RDP SAL Week 11

Good morning stitchers!!!!
Though my computer acted slower than molasses this morning to scan this pattern, I've got it here for you now!

I proudly present, in the return of the Run Disney Princess Stitch Along, MEGARA!

CLICK the PIC

Megara has always been a favorite of mine because, like the entire movie "Hercules," she is a sassy little minx.

And she gets this great song.

See you next week...oh, it's good to be back. 

Happy Stitching!

The Run Disney Princess SAL continues the race THIS SATURDAY

That's right, stitchers, you read that right. I'm finally coming back to you, with a slightly different format.

We're going to return to our regularly schedules programming by bringing you a pattern EVERY SATURDAY until the deed is done. That starts this Saturday, February 1st, with everyone's favorite sassy Greek.

I'm hoping that a Saturday updating schedule will help me stay on task since I don't have to be at work by a certain time on Saturdays.

There are currently 2.75 princesses in the queue and I hope to make that a solid 3 by Saturday...so let's get back at this.

At some point, I promise, I will show you all the fun projects that kept me from the princesses...maybe this weekend or sooner.

Until then, keep stitching!

The Run Disney Princess Stitch Along is returning soon!

Mark your calendars stitchers! I've given myself the goal to get the RDP SAL up and running again (no pun intended) by the end of the month. I'm giving myself this lead in time in an effort to get ahead in my stitching. Right now I'm aiming for the 31st of January.

We'll return with everyone's favorite sasser, Meg from Hercules.

Stay tuned.

Finally...an update

Morning all,
I'm finally in a position to update...though it's probably not the update you all were hoping for. Let me start by thanking those of you who left your well-wishes on my last post. They really did mean the world to me.

A little update on where I've been:

• For those of you who haven't read my bio, I am a graduate student working on her PhD in Analytical Chemistry. I craft for the sake of my sanity in the hectic life I've chosen, but this semester has been really rough. 
• In September, I was collecting the final sample set I need for my dissertation, which kept me incredibly busy for the month. 
• In October, as soon as that sampling campaign was over, I found myself needing to prepare for an exam that failing would mean being kicked out of my graduate program (slightly important).
• Once that was done, I had midterms and in terms of crafting, I had to get Christmas presents finished. 

I'm still working on that last bullet point, so rather than leave you all hanging I'm making a decision.

The Run Disney Princess Stitch Along will continue it's impromptu hiatus until the New Year (2014).

Next week, I'm hoping to show you all what I've been up to instead of embroidering Disney princesses in the craft department, because it's my plan to finish my Christmas presents with the small break I get from school for Thanksgiving. 

To all of you stitchers in America, Happy Thanksgiving. Be safe. 

Know that this Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for all of you, especially the FiS community and Ms. Jennifer over there who has been so kind to me. 

Until next time, stitch on. 

Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain? - RDP SAL Week 10

Morning stitchers,

In case you missed the very important announcement regarding the RDPSAL, until approximately October, we'll only be posting EVERY OTHER WEEK. After that, I'm gonna try to make up by posting double patterns.

Until then, here's this week's pattern!

CLICK THE PIC

Pocahontas was not a favorite of mine growing up, but now that I'm older I appreciate her independent spirit and her determination to stand up for what is right, even if it's not the popular opinion.

And I have some pretty awesome memories associated with her since she's my best friend's favorite princess.

RDP SAL UPDATE - Please read stitchers

Good morning stitchers!

As you may have noticed, there was no pattern last week. And I have good and bad news about that.

The GOOD NEWS is that the pattern has been completed and has now been tested so it should be up tomorrow.

The BAD NEWS is that the remainder of August and the entire month of September is going to be very busy for me at school. So here's what's going to happen:

1. This week will be Week 10
2. For the month of August and September we will be on a bi-monthly schedule (or every other week). 
3. Once everything calms down (October) I'll post two patterns a week until we get back to where we should be. 

Hope you all understand. Keep stitching! And send in pics of what you've done. I promise to do a flickr update soon!

If you had a chance to change your fate...would you? - RDP SAL Week 9

Evening Stitchers!

Been a busy week and life is only going to get busier, so there's nothing fancy to this week's post. 

Click the Pic!

Until next week (hopefully)!

"I'm wishing..." - Run Disney Princess SAL Week 8: Snow White

Good afternoon stitchers!!!

Sorry I'm so late this week! I was sitting at my sewing machine and realized I'd forgotten to do the update yesterday like I promised! I'm going to blame the trip to Hobby Lobby that resulted in me making some new placemats for myself.

Anywho, without any further delay, here she is...the ORIGINAL Disney princess:

Click the pic!

Truth be told...I cannot stand this version of Snow White. I think it's the voice.

But she did give the rest of the girls a chance at being made. All the same, I prefer her like this:

Anyway, I will see you all next week. It will probably be another weekend update as I will be without my computer near the end of the week.

Keep on stitching!

Run Disney Princess Stitch Along - DELAY

Morning Stitchers,

Summer class has made life hectic. The new RDPSAL pattern won't be up until tomorrow.

Go get yourself some apples in anticipation (just don't buy them from an evil old hag).

"A Dream is a wish..." - RDP SAL Week 7

Morning stitchers!

It's Friday which means it's new pattern time!

This week's princess is often thought of as the original Disney Princess (even though Snow White came first). That's right, it's that vision in blue, Cinderella. Who, even though often marketed as the original princess, wasn't even born a princess...just saying.

Click the pic!

Hope you all enjoy stitching this one. I loved the satin stitching, personally.

I know there are new Flickr photos, and I am working on it, but school is getting a little crazy. And I start a new class on Monday, so if I get a little behind, I apologize in advance.

"Watch and you'll see..." Run Disney Princess SAL Week 5: Ariel

Morning stitchers!
Hope my American readers had a pleasant 4th. I had a wonderful, relaxing day full of fun, babies and pool reading. The only downside is the sunburn I got...but so far it isn't terrible. Here's hoping it stays that way.

And speaking of sunshine and swimming, this week's Disney Princess is quite the fish! That's right! It's everyone's favorite mermaid, Miss Ariel!

Click the pic!

I did Ariel in a seafoam green using a backstitch and satin stitch, using 1-3 strands. Stitch as desired.

Confession: I was actually forbidden from watching The Little Mermaid for about 5 years because Ursula scared me so badly. You know, at the end when she gets humongous? Terrifying. But now it is one of my favorites...mostly because of the music and Ariel. I love her independence...how she's willing to sacrifice anything to get what she loves. Is it right to leave your family and heritage for a guy? Debatable. But the translatable lesson is the one I love.

And, you know, this:

This one is from the Broadway production...which was okay, but not as good as some other Disney Broadway. But Sierra Boggess (Ariel) is a gem and I love her voice...and her as a person - she has such a positive outlook on life and what have you, so it's hard not to love her.

Until next week stitchers, I hope you have a relaxing quiet weekend full of craft time!

Yep...met her under the sea...

And on land.

"I'm a terrible human being..." - RDP SAL: Rapunzel

Hello stitchers!!!!!! I really do feel like a terrible human being because I forgot it was Friday.

Yeah, I'll let that sink in. 

Thus is the life of a grad student.

Today we have Rapunzel.

Click the pic!

Miss Rapunzel is my second favorite Disney princess. She was fiesty. She was amusing and I just love her so much for taking charge of her life and going after what she wanted.

And Flynn Rider is a hottie for a cartoon.

Getting to meet Rapunzel was so much fun! I wanted to ask her how much her hair weighed.

Until next week stitchers. Don't forget to send those pics!!!!!

"I know you..." - RDP SAL Week 3

Morning Stitchers!

It's Friday and you know what that means - it's time for the next pattern! Don't forget that if you're stitching along, I want to see the finished products so I can post them here. So head on over to the Flickr group and share them with me!!!!

This week's Princess is an oldie, but a goodie. It's Miss Aurora from the 1959 classic "Sleeping Beauty"!

Aurora is an interesting girl to me because being a '50s-'60s princess, she doesn't have quite the independent spirit that some of our more modern ladies have. But I still love her because she had fabulous hair and she didn't want to settle for someone else. She wanted the man she had fallen in love with once upon a dream...not some prince she'd never met. Lucky for her, they turned out to be the same person.

By the way, I always wanted her outfit in the above scene...forget the princess dress at the end...the peasant dress is where it's at!

Aurora and I have only met twice...

That's all for this week stitchers. Get stitching and send in those pics!!!! I'm anxiously waiting to see them!

The Run Disney Princess Stitch-A-Long is a non-profit, for the fun of it stitch-a-long. All patterns are copyright AEAC, all characters are copyright Disney. Stitching patterns based on Michelle Thompson's paper-pieced patterns, done with her permission. No infringement intended. 

What have I been up to this weekend? More importantly, what about you?!

This weekend I took a much needed break from school and work to do some crafting. It relaxes my brain and soothes my soul, so it's how I spend most my weekends.

This weekend, after an inspired trip to JoAnn Fabrics, I finally turned back to the paper-piece project that started it all...the Project of Doom, as it is so aptly named on Fandom in Stitches. Due to the limitations of my sewing machine, I've decided to lap quilt it instead. It's been slow going, but has allowed me to do a level of detail work I'd never have been able to accomplish on the machine.

But even more exciting, was logging onto the Flickr group this morning and seeing the first photo not by me from the RDP SAL!!!

ostera15

Keep stitching stitchers! Have a great week!!!