Canvas Work

Here is my minimal progress on my Gay Ann Rogers piece. It is called - A Case for Color. So far, I am enjoying it even though I have not made much progress.



Whoever thought to sell little assorted packs of beads was a genius!  Just perfect for the little pizazz! 

  And I am happy to show off my new project bag.   This is a gift from my boss and his wife for my birthday last month.    He took quite a bit of ribbing after he announced it was one of Vera Bradley's newest patterns.   Hmmmm, he knew this why???  It is perfect to slip in my mesh project bag and carry my stitching things to guild meetings, retreats or to friends.

 And in true Dave and Mary form, they didn't stop at the bag......I got the eyeglass case (perfect for the cheaters), pencils (great to have around needlework - no pens allowed), a journal (for meeting and project notes) and more.   I am one lucky gal with all this loot.

This one's for Stacy

Quick re-cap of my retreat.....this is the 3rd time I have joined the members of my needlework quild for a 3-day weekend in Ocean City, Maryland.   We stay at the Lankford Hotel in OCMD and it just happens to be connected to Salty Yarns Cross Stitch store.   Hotel Owners/Operators are also Salty Yarns Owners/Operators and we are so catered to during our stay by these fellow stitchers.

So, for Stacy, since I packed up the trunk of the car before she could get a look at my bootey here's a sneak peek of my stuff.

But first......this is my new start for this weekend.   WOW!  Another quick stitch and I am loving these quick stitches.  They are taking me back to LOVING cross stitch.   This is from the Primitive Needle and called Live Simply.  Shouldn't we all just Live Simply?? I had the pattern in my stash so I  picked up the WDW floss on my first trip around the store when I arrived on Friday.....

In addition to getting some stitching done.......I did a bit of reading of my current read - The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.   It is getting interesting!!!!

On the way down to OCMD, we took a detour to a quilt/fabric shop....Serendipity Quilts and of course I picked up some fat quarters to add to my stash along with this pattern for a table runner....

and, just because this one has spools of thread.  I'll have to make some sort of stitching accessory with it....

and these two for the cute little "runaround bag"

So fast forward to when we arrived and we got a little 'welcome gift' - Just Nan's Hagatha's Hat!  Mine is purple and the fabric is  WDW Peoria Purple is in the bag.

Since my nearby stores don't carry cross stitch magazines, I picked up the Christmas edition of Just Cross Stitch....something to ooh and ahh over in the weeks to come.

On my wish list before I went was Blue Ribbon Designs - Blessed Beyond Measure.  This is the one thing I knew I was wanted to come home with.  I love the fact Belinda includes 5 designs to choose from for the outside sleeve.   Being a quilter, I love the lucite ruler.  What a handy little stitching accessory.  I know in addition to one going in my bag, at least four or five other ladies were taking this one home too.

I just couldn't live without this one.   It was done up and on the counter near the check out area.   There were a couple in the series and they were completed and are mounted in shadow boxes.   All the little embellishments/adornments came with the kit.   I think I will mix some mono-filament in with my floss on Mr. Bones bones to give it an edge!

This from Pine Mountain! is another quick stitch.  These awesome little all-in-ones.   There is one for each month and I can see them in my future!!!

and of course some other embellishments and needles

New Halloween Start

I have gushed over my fabric so and over the chance to mix it up a bit using some wild colors, so here is my progress.   This is Sew Spooky (see an earlier post for the link to the designer and pattern).   A DMC green I didn't have was suggested for the witch's face but I used a Dinky Dyes silk I've had just waiting to be used.  This is another fun stitch (so far!)   I hope I progress as quickly as I did on the Lizze Kate one last week.

And I choose....

Picture This Plus, 28 ct. Cashel

Halloween trilogy by Lizzie Kate.   I have been itching to use the fabric since I bought way back when at CATS  in Hershey PA. (that is the first clue as to how long it has been in my stash pile!)  It is called DaVinci by Picture This Plus.   Originally I kitted it up for one of the other Halloween patterns but I succumbed to the need to use it last night. 

Truth be told, I think I just wanted to work with some fun colors since my current WIP is 5 skeins of WDW Gunmetal.........I needed a little color in my life!

whacked out reasoning

I am such a scatterbrain.......or maybe easily sidetracked would be a better description.  I am always going in several  directions at once...........and I seem to stitch the same way......meaning several projects at once.    I made a promise to finish some things before I started anything new but my will power is waning.  But but but  I am in the mood to stitch up something fall and Halloweenie.......something small and not an undertaking of epic proportions like I usually do (remembering proportion is a relative term!)  I need a diversion from my current stitch.        I looked over the list of things I had completed for 2010 and found I completed 9 in 8 months and that little imp on my shoulder said......"go ahead, you've been good" so I am off to check out my stash for some Halloween quickies!  There wasn't much convincing needed.   Maybe it's the beer.   As I stated before I am not a beer drinker however, I worked in the two sheds today cleaning and sweeping and sorting 'stuff' and sat down with Mr. Wonderful to watch the end of the Notre Dame game from the bar stools in his 'cleaned' shed and had a beer.  It sure did mellow me out.  Off to the stash cabinet and I will let you know what I come up with!

continued after my stash hunt.........

<><>

<>

<><>

Not too big, but 40 ct!

some possibility here

another option...love the fabric

nothing to do with halloween but I love the floss and it seems to be a quick stitch

hmmmmmmmmm, got some thinking to do here......

So what is this Crafting ADD.........

Well I made a promise to complete some WIP's before starting anything new and I did manage to check a few things off my list and was thrilled with the accomplishment.    My first quilt........rather my first quilt constructed AFTER taking a quilting class.  I made my children each quilts when they were young and now after this class, realize it is all in cutting....talk about the need for precision.  For this quilt, I used the batting that when washed it *crinkles* to give the appearance of an old quilt.  I am not seeing as much crinkle as I expected but maybe because I line dried and didn't use the dryer.   I am happy with my results and am ready (fabric purchased) to start a queen sized for my bedroom .....but first to finish some things before a new start....famous last words.

I also have my son in law's graduation announcement 99% completed....I need to add the beads and it isn't something you want to do in the lunch room at work so I am totally justifying that! 

We all know my framing issue with the Between the Sheets sampler.......update - stopped by on Saturday morning to see if just by chance it was done.   It was not but the owner was very happy to give me the news it was fixed.   Such an attitude change from when I dropped it off and he was giving me the 'management' statement of blah blah blah linen stretching fabric blah blah.  

I rewarded my efforts with one new start - or so I said - and am pleased with my progress on the Blue Ribbon Design - A Little Quakeresque.   Not bad for three weeks.

but then I started to knit this shawl......you start with 3 stitches and add one stitch to each row until you have 150 on your needle.  I have 55 stitches on my needles and pledging to knit a minimum of two rows each time I pick it up.  Once you bind off, you add fringe.   The photo does not do it justice and until the fringe is added things are kind of a lump.   A friend, Carol, has made several and shared the yarn - Lion's Brand Trellis - which of course they no longer make .... no fear I have my bids in on eBay.  Carol's completed shawls are gorgeous and this black and champagne will perfectly completion my black and champagne dress for my son's wedding in August. 

So to the wedding, I want to make a wedding sampler but with all the drama of on again/off again wedding last year (not their doing but mother of the bride issues) I just couldn't get my mojo into stitching one for them.   I first wanted to stitch a design that was ellaborate and all victorian and lacey looking.   The bride and groom are more streamlined and their taste gravitates towards Ikea and straight lines.   A friend had this booklet and I am happy with the simplicity.  Sorry, the brochure doesn't photo well.     I stitched an hour last night and almost have "become one" complete.   I think it will be a fast stitch.

So there you have it....another couple of starts each with deadlines.   I must like working under pressure.  

Lastly wishing a great Memorial Day to everyone .....a safe and happy holiday.   Last night as I locked doors and turned on step lights, I caught this view out the front door.   I thought to myself, this is what it is all about.   I am free to enjoy this type of beauty as I look from my front porch because of the sacrifice of others.   I am appreciative of the freedom and priviledges of being an American.  The sunset was beautiful and the camera does not do it justice.  

There's the first star!  Make a wish.

What's missing in this picture?

Me!  These are my new chairs and my new favorite summertime stitching spot.   Mr. Wonderful - the man of sooooooo many words - even commented and suggested I get a couple more.   Well, I can only get two at a time......it was hard enough fitting two in the back of a Prius.   Two guys in the parking lot suggested  getting  a saw from Home Depot to cut off the legs so I could get them in the back of the car which only made me more determined to get them in the car.   Between them is my new fern, Ike.   As I was driving home from Home Depot, I thought I need to name my fern!  I thought about Poindexter but then remembered one of my son's doctors called him Spikey Ikey for his spiked hair.....so Ike it is!  My daughter has a fern about 4 times this size and his name is Bob!  He spends the winter in her dining room.......so I guess Ike will move inside in the fall.   Mr. Wonderful didn't quite understand the whole name the plant thing.   I explained that I don't plan to talk to Ike but if Ike follows in Bob's footsteps, he will take on a life of his own.......maybe it was too much sun for me yesterday.  And on the table..........another project I started!  What is up with that???  Do I have Crafters ADD or what?

Questions and Answers

Meari wanted to know what the pattern was that I picked up at Salty Yarns last weekend that was pink and green on the cover.     Well here is it. Photos are clickable for a larger view.   (Sorry, I am photo challenged! Sometimes they automatically turn to the correct orientation and other times, like now, they don't!) It is a Sue Hillis booklet on stitching the lining and smalls for the Whitman Sampler Tin.  Even though these are sideways, you can still see the detailed instructions and this is only some of them.  I was really impressed with Sue's detail and color photos of the finishing.  That is what sold me on the book.  Finishing is where I need some lessons. 

Next, for Julie M. my framing issue.   I don't know if that shows how untrue the edges are.   I have taken my items to the locals Farmer's Market for years paying 1/3 to 1/2 what they charge at the chain stores even with a coupon.  Here are some more photos with the help of my Omnigrid lucite ruler.     Each horizontal line with the hash marks is one inch apart.   You can see over the space of 2 inches it 'moves' about an 1/16 of an inch.   No big deal some may say.......it gets worse.....'moving' over a 1/4 inch over 4 inches.    I expected to get home tonight and have a voicemail from the framer but nothing.   I need to put on my 'don't mess with me' face and pop on in to the store tomorrow.    Part of me is just easy-going and kind of like  ...it adds character......but another part is  screaming you didn't get what you paid for.   We shall see what the morning brings.....for now relaxation with needle and thread and my Blue Ribbon Design piece!

I know I need to answer some of your questions

but I promised myself I would not suck the time out of my life another night being tied to the internet.   So a quick, thanks for the comments and a quick thanks for the questions.  The answers will come in due time.   I need to take some pix to go along with the answers.

PS  Great day at Weight Watchers - down another 1.8 lbs!

Retreat!

and not the kind where you back up!   What a fabulous weekend I have had and restful to the body and soul.   My Guild - those great group of talented stitchers - goes on retreat once in the spring and again in the fall to Ocean City Maryland for a weekend retreat.   Only rule is you have to be a Guild member to attend ......

What's this spilling out of my bag? Stash Enhancement??   Before I get gushing over all my purchases I never even took my camera out while I was there so I can't even share a photo of the beautiful weather we had.    But I will share the Cat's Meow of the Lankford Hotel where we stay.   I always buy a Cat's Meow of favorite places I visit.  It is a perfect replica except it is missing the porch rockers!

So here's the deal, one of our members, Staci, has a condo in OCMD and over the course of years of going to OCMD she has become good friends with the hysterical Sally of Salty Yarns.   If you ever met Sally, you know just what I mean.   She can hold the attention of the room with her recanting of events and we laugh til we have tears in our eyes.   What a way with words......for a dose, check out her shop and newsletter page.   What a hoot!  Not only does Sally own a fabulous cross stitch store, she owns the hotel that is connected to the store.  And to make this even more perfect there are big porch rockers on the porch that opens to the boardwalk.   Like I said......could it be more perfect?  I think not.   If you are anywhere near, you need to make a detour and head to her shop.   It is so very worth it. 

I was prepared ahead of time with copies of the back pages of patterns that I needed fabric for and I stocked up.   Don't you just hate being in the mood to start something and not having the fabric?   If try to substitute with what may be in my stash and then get aggravated by the wasted time.    I also got just a couple patterns.   A great book with patterns and finishing instructions for the Whitman Sampler but alas, the tin is not available.....at least not right now and hopefully it will be in the future.   I will be scouring eBay.  The diagrams and directions from Sue Hillis are worth the purchase.    The  Spool Tree  pattern I am starting next is the first of her designs I will be stitching and I think I will like her instructions after a quick perusal of the Whitman Sampler book.  

I also picked up the Lizze Kate ABC's on Aging.   I don't know if this is the exact one I had wanted.  I didn't know there were so many different versions.  I have enjoyed seeing others progress on this and just kind of took a liking to it.  And look at this little cute birdie on the left below!  It is Just Nan's Needle Tweets.   All finished, it is about the size of a half dollar!  It is too too cute.  

And then of course, a pattern with a squirrel, The Sheltering Tree.   I don't know if I could have found a more perfect floss!     So which one will I start on?    None yet!  Still working on that pledge ~ finish two/start one!  It's one way to clean up those WIP's overflowing out of project basket. 

But that's not everything......I went to the Bikini Shop - the store name not necessarily the items I bought!  The Bikini Shop is run by Sally's daughter Sarah and is located 'under the boardwalk'.  If you want some awesome french terry clothes in beautiful colors and coordinates, it is a definite must stop as well.   Well I have done what I can for the economy this weekend!