Wordless Wednesday ~ Designs by Lisa

Wordless Wednesday ~ Designs By Lisa

Suit yourself

This week Kathy, of Designs By Lisa is having a sale on this great design entitiled ~ Suit Yourself. What a clever design title. I like this for quite a few reasons but probably most of all, it is quite masculine and a great gift idea for the man in your life.

I know father's day is right around the corner and the big guy's been complaining about the felt on his poker table getting all messed up b/c of the condensation from the drinks. I am going to split these up and make them into coasters.

It will take care of the drink issue and they'll match the poker area (not that that is a concern for the big guy, but I'll know they match). I think he's gonna LOVE this!

Sale runs through Friday, May 28th, be sure to check it out!

Why I joined the SYHO Campaign

What can I say about being involved in the SYHO campaign? Only that I'm very proud and happy to be a part of it. I've been stitching for over 20 yrs, and it's such an important part of my life. It's my passion, and people who have a passion for something, live it, and want others to share in it, and that's why I'm excited to be a participant. I wanted to share with others the love I have for stitching, and provide the campaign with a fun chart in the month of May. I want to spark an interest in people to pick up needle and thread and carry on this love of cross stitch. And the fact that the campaign is also promoting heart health, well, that was icing on the cake and made it all more worthwhile. Be Healthy, and Happy Stitching!

Kathy, Owner & Designer
Designs by Lisa

5 Little Know Facts about Designs By Lisa

1 ~ Even though the company is *Designs by Lisa*, I may not answer to Lisa, since I go by a shortened version of my middle name which is Kathleen. (Kathy) Why? Because when I was born, my dad was out of town, when he returned, he did not care for the name Lisa which my mother had loved and named me. He started to call me Kathy, and the name stuck. Someone had to give, and my mom lost. So in honor of my mom, I named the business after the name she had really wanted to call me.

2 ~ I model stitched for 4 yrs before starting to design.

3 ~ I have never, ever, bowled in my life. Is that sad or what? It looks fun, sorta.

4 ~ I have an obsession with painting*as in rooms, walls, entire houses, etc.

5 ~ I love riding on the back of my husbands* Harley. There's something to be said about being on a motorcycle winding through beautiful scenery with the wind blowing through your hair (okay, that don*t really happen because I wear a helmet), but the rest is true!

Chicken Pasta Recipe by Designs By Lisa

Ingredients:

1 * cup uncooked penne pasta
1 cup chopped asparagus
6 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cloves garlic
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with herbs, including juice
1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Cook penne pasta until al dente (tender), 10 to 12 minutes, or according to package directions. Drain the pasta thoroughly. Set aside.
In a pot fitted with a steamer basket, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. Add the asparagus.
Cover and steam until tender-crisp, about 2-3 minutes.
Spray a large nonstick frying pan with cooking spray. Add the chicken and garlic and saut* over medium-high heat. Cook until the chicken is golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Add the tomatoes, including the juice, and simmer 1 minute more.

In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, steamed asparagus, chicken mixture and feta cheese. Toss gently to mix evenly.

Divide pasta mixture into two servings and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Analysis (per serving)
Calories 455 Cholesterol 81 mg
Protien 41 g Sodium 240 mg
Carbohydrate 55 g Fiber 6.5 g
Total fat 8 g Potassium 462 mg
Saturated fat 3.5 Calcium 125 mg
Monounsaturated Fat 2 g

King of the Kitchen ~ Designs By Lisa

If you've been reading the LTS blog you've probably picked up that the kitchen and I do not get along. In fact, the big guy asked me recently where I'd like to travel when the kids get older. I said probably Hawaii, Ireland.....he interrupted and asked for a more domestic local. Maybe Texas or Arizona, I suggested.....nope closer he replied.....like maybe the kitchen. He laughed for quite some time at himself.

Seriously? He's nuts! He knew when we got married, I was not skilled in the kitchen department. I am certainly not the Queen of the kitchen, but the big guy on the other hand, is FABULOUS at making pretty much anything and everything under the sun.....and so I will stitch this fun little design for him to let him know that if I can't actually make "food" in the kitchen I can still flex my stitching abilities there (:

Fabric: 28 Count Hand-dyed Sandcastle Jobelan #429-503 from Wichelt
Threads: Gentle Art Sampler Threads,DMC conversion included

Beads: Mill Hill glass seed beads # 00367

Frame: East Side Mouldings: 800-840-6077

Design Size: 9 1/2" w x 7 1/2"h

Stitch count: 134w x 106h

Kathy from Designs By Lisa is having an exclusive sale on this fabulous chart till May 16th. Sale price is $5 and that INCLUDES shipping! Be sure to get over to her website and order b/4 they are gone!

LTS / SYHO May Stitcher Newsletter now available for download

The May Stitcher LTS / SYHO Designer Encyclopedia newsletter featuring Kathy Hackford of Designs By Lisa has been published. This newsletter is filled with activities, heart healthy tips, tricks and games to get stitchers excited about stitching!

You can check out the latest newsletter HERE

...and in case you missed past issues, you can find them HERE as well as fun downloadable activities, complimentary charts and much much more!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Designs by Lisa

Moday Morning Motto ~ Designs By Lisa

I know I am not the only one who wakes up on Monday morning and feels a bit....blah......well actually if I must be honest (and b/c this is a blog by a mom for moms, I guess I'd better be) I am like that almost every morning. My poor husband had no idea what he was getting into and yet he's still here after almost 10 years....bless his heart!

Yes I admit it, I am NOT a morning person. My face is full of pillow wrinkles and my hair has become a tangled mess insisting on running in 1,000 directions to avoid a comb and welcoming a hat. I get up b/c I have 3 small children to get out the door to school and work to get done before they get home. Otherwise, I would sleep till noon. Alas, those college days are far behind me.

So after I got the last little one out the door and settled down to write the Monday morning Loose Thread Stitchers Facebook update and view my friends Facebook updates I came across one that made me smile...on a MONDAY morning no less....NEVER happens (:

My girlfriend, Kathy of Designs by Lisa, just released a new design called Monday Morning Motto and I promise you the only difference between me and the bird is the color of the hair. I am so getting this one and putting it right next to my bed on my nightstand. Maybe if I see it in the mornings it will get a little spring in my step and a smile on my face.....now if it could only get rid of the pillow wrinkles and bed head, I'd be set!

SYHO Friday ~ Designs By Lisa

It’s Official it’s SYHO Friday! Yippee! We are thrilled to introduce Kathy of Designs By Lisa, the SYHO Designer Encyclopedia May 2010 designer.

Month ~ May

Design Company ~ Designs By Lisa

Design Title ~ Purrrrr Like You Mean It

Fabric ~ 32 count Hand-dyed Raspberry Jobelan #865211 from Wichelt

Threads ~ GAST Chalk, Black Crow, Pebble, Rose Garden, Tea Rose

Buttons ~ Just Another Button Company #ss1005.T

The May SYHO Stitcher newsletter will be out on Monday...till then be sure to get over to Hoffman Distributing Company's website and drool over their Friday new releases and then get to your LNS STAT!

Have you heard about this fun new contest on the Designs By Lisa Facebook Page? No? You have got to check it out!



All you have to do is fan the Designs By Lisa Facebook Page and help Kathy write a caption for this photo of her best buddy Oscar and you could win a FREE Designs By Lisa chart of your choice.

Be sure to enter by Sunday, February 21st. The winner will be announced Monday, February 22nd. Open to US and Canadian residents only.