STITCHING AGAIN

WIPocalypse Febuary 2012

2012-02-07T17:28:00.000-05:00

I have two WIP's finished since the first of the year.Both of them have been around for a few years so it felt great to get them finished.

In Remembrance by Liz Navickas Designs

Noah's Needle by Just Nan

Herbie

I lost my stitching mojo to my reading urge mid month and read all fifteen of Lynsay Sands, Argeneau Vampire's series and loved each one of them. Then I worked on Pot 4 Dickie and Herbularius for a few hours each but I am including them in my Wipocalypse list this month.

Pot 4 Dickie

Hope to have more progress to post next month.

Happy Stitching everyone

My Birthday Weekend

2012-01-29T18:55:00.000-05:00

I was 62 on Friday and had a great weekend. Thursday at my staff meeting my boss had a birthday cake for the people with January birthday but for me she said I need my own special cake.

When I came back from lunch I had a brownie with ice cream and strawberries waiting on my dish with flowers and a balloon from the ladies in the office.

I went down to spend the weekend with my sister Janet and her husband Richard. Janet and I went to lunch on Saturday and spent some time in Hobby Lobby, hee hee look at all my goodies. I could have spent a lot more but I put on the breaks.

I also finished another WIP, In Remembrance, this makes two from my list, Woo Hoo!!!!! hope I can keep it up.

Happy Stitching Everyone. :-)

TUSAL First for 2012

2012-01-24T17:06:00.000-05:00

I have been working on a few things since the 1st so I have a few colors in here so far. Jan added a few ORTs during our S & B on Saturday too. The pretty blue is some lose threads I pulled out the piece of fabric that Jan and I hand dyed for Deep Blue Sea.
Happy stitching everyone.

IHSW Janary 2012

2012-01-22T19:50:00.001-05:00

This week end was Stitch and Bitch for January and the first IHSW for 2012. Jan and Sharliena joined me and as always we got a lot of Stitching and Bitching done, it was just what I needed this week. Because of the snow and ice we had Friday night Tracey didn't get to join us this month but sure hope she makes it next month.
I pulled out one of my WIP's from the 2012 WIPocalypse to work on this weekend. I have been putting off doing the Hardanger on my In Remembrance piece for a few years and really want to get it finished and framed. Once I got started with the correct number 12 cotton instead of the silk it called for it went very very quickly. I finished the 6 main spots and the left side wrapped and doves eyes at the bottom. It is looking great and I hope to get the other side finished this week. Once it has finished it will be my second WIPocalypse finish for 2012.

Here on the left is where I left off in 2010 when I worked on it last, all that was left was the hardanger wrapping, and on the right is where I am today. Can't tell the difference unless you enlarge it so I went ahead and did that for you. I did get the bottom right corner wrapped and 3 doves eyes done. Should be able to get some of it done this week but don't think I will get much done next weekend. I am going down to my sisters and I don't get much stitching done down there but will keep you all posted. Talk to you soon since I will post the picture of my TUSAL jar this week.

My first finish for my WIPocalypse

2012-01-14T18:13:00.000-05:00

Noah's Needle is the first finish for 2012 and I have added The Bramble and The Rose WIP to my list.

I am not sure how I am going to finish it yet but I am thinking framed instead of a bell pull but I'll see. Here is a close up of the small dolphin charms, aren't they nice.
I am going to work on Pot 4 Dickie this weekend than pull out Herbie for a day or two.
Wednesday is the second stitch in at In Stitches for the month and I am going to take Pot 4 down to work on that night too. Next week end is my busy stitching week end, its both our monthly Stitch and Bitch and the IHSW so I hope to get more work done on my WIPocalypse projects. Now if I can only stay away from Words with Friends (March_50) long enough to get some stitching done.

Happy Stitching Everyone.

WIPocalypse - January 2012

2012-01-09T19:05:00.000-05:00

Tonight we have a full moon and snow here in Virginia. I was hoping to miss this wonderful trick of Mother Nature before heading to Florida but no no here is a little bit of snow. But that is OK I really don't mind snow I just don't like the cold anymore.

Here is Herbie, still on part 2 but getting closer to starting the beading.

At the Stitch In on the 3rd I worked on Pot 4 Dickie, I am working on band 6.

The last one I have worked on the last week and a half is Noah's Needle by Just Nan, the stitching is done and I am doing the beads this week. You can just see the beading needle by the parrot on the left side. I feel like I am using a spear since I normally stitch with a petite size 28 needle now, but I needed the beading needles since the beads in this Just Nan are the smallest beads I have ever used before.
I am really please to get the piece finished and yea for the 2012 WIPocalypse I don't think I would have gotten (almost) this finished without this SAL.

Happy Stitching everyone and I can't wait to check out all the progress everyone is making on their WIP's.

WIPocalypse

2012-01-02T18:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday and today I have been working on the first WIP in my list for the 2012 Wipocalypse. I have been working on part 2 of my Chatelaine Herbularius for a few months now so I pulled it out yesterday and started stitching. I am going to pull one of my others out tomorrow. Herbie is a year long project but I don't think I will get caught up before it is over but that is OK. I also have another Chatelaine, The Deep Blue Sea that just started but I am waiting for my fibers and beads and well OK one that will start in February, The Octopus. Both of these will be added to my Wipocalypse list as I finish something that is already on the list. I am retiring and plan to move in 2012 so should have time once I am settled in Florida.

Here is my progress on part 2 of Herbie, the green around the center is finally finished, beautiful but there are a lot of shades of green in that part of the design. Now I am working on the 1/2 stitches around the green then on to the border. Once finished I will do the beading than on to part 3.

Happy Stitching Everyone.

2012 Wipocalypse

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Happy New Years

Today is the first day of 2012 and the first day of the 2012 Wipocalypse. I will also be retiring in February and moving to Florida so I went through my WIP’S pile and came up with 11 projects that are different stages of completion. I also have a short list of projects I will add one at a time as I finish each of my WIP’s. There are also 3 or 4 Chatelaine’s that are on that list to add. There are a few of the WIP’s that can’t be finished this year since they are BAP’s but there a many that can be finished in just a few weeks. My list isn’t in any kind of special order but I will mark of the projects as they are finished.

Wipocalypse for 2012

1. Herbularius by Chatelaine

2. Noah’s Needle by Just Nan

3. The Embroidress Band Sampler by Moss Creek Designs

4. Celtic Table Runner , design by Ink Circles

5. In Remembrance by Liz Navickas Designs

6. Family Treasure III by Told in The Garden

7. Housework Never Killed Anyone by Lizzie Kate

8. English Moto Chatelaine designed by Suzann N Miller

9. The Untold Story by HAED

10. Pot 4 Dickie by Long Dog Sampler

11. Quaker Welcome Band by Wiehenburg

12. Mary Wigham by NeedlePrint

Needlework Sign Done

2011-12-31T00:20:00.000-05:00

Wow just under the wire for my last finish for 2011. It is now 12:01am on 12-31-2011 I cut it close but it is done before the New Year begins in just 23 hours and 58 minutes. This is stitched over 2 on a mystery piece of 28 count fabric I had here at the house that I dyed with some strong tea. Jan and I worked on the piece this year during our monthly S & B. Jump over to her blog and check hers out too.

I will post my list for the 2012 WIPocalypse on Sunday morning to start the New Years.

Happy New Years and Happy Stitching to all my stitching friends and stay safe.

TUSAL 12/2011

2011-12-24T12:02:00.000-05:00

My last TUSAL jar for 2011, look at all those great colors.

See you all for the 2012 TUSAL, I already signed up.

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-17T07:34:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas 2011

Hope you have a great Holiday Season.

Happy Stitching and be safe.

Herbie Part 2

2011-12-11T14:45:00.000-05:00

Haven't felt like stitching much the last few days but here is what I have done on part 2 of Herbie. Yesterday I moved it over to the 30 inch scroll frame and got a little more of the green done on the left side. Hope I feel like stitching this week since I need to work on my Needlewoman sign before next Saturday, for our monthly Stitch & Bitch.

One More for the Weekend

2011-11-26T22:25:00.000-05:00

Hello again I have one more post to share since my needle has been flying, so I have another small project to show off this weekend. The plaid sheep and these small Flamingos have been in my want to do pile for ages and this weekend just seemed like the best time to get them done.

I haven't decided how they are going to be finished yet, but I will post them again when I do.

My needle is not leavings its pack tomorrow so until I post again, Happy Stitching.

My Plaid Sheep

2011-11-25T21:41:00.001-05:00

I started this on Thanksgiving day because I just wanted to get the stitching finished on something. It's a design by Casey Buonaugurio and I don't have the slightest idea when I got it but I just think it is so cute. I still have to decide how to finish my little sheep but at least the stitching is done. Hip hip hurray. I am thinking a small pillow but I will post it when it is done. Hummmm now back to Herbie and part 2.

TUSAL Nov. 2011

2011-11-25T15:15:00.000-05:00

My TUSAL for November 2011, lots of black and green and blue silks. Most of the white is from the edge of Pot 4 Dickie where I cleaned up the edge after I zig-zaged around the edge of the material.

Well still haven't found out about the dolls out in the back but they are still there. Who knows, but I like the way DeDe was thinking. They are being aired out before getting dress up and given to needy kids.

Happy Stitching all.

What are they doing????

2011-11-23T14:21:00.000-05:00

I looked out my dining room window and saw a sight I just can't figure out. What the heck are my neighbors doing. There are no little girls or even little kids living at the house.

IHSW 11/ 2011

2011-11-21T16:55:00.000-05:00

This was my first IHSW and I was able to combine it with my monthly S&B with my friends Jan and Sharliena. I worked on Herbie and my Needleworker sign during the S & B then pulled out my Pot 4 Dickie and Quaker Welcome for Sunday. I love living alone it gives me a lot of time to stitch when the mood hits me and this weekend it was here in spades.

Quaker Welcome

Pot 4 Dickie Band 7

Needlewoman sign

As you see my needles were all over the place this weekend. All in all I worked on 4 WIP's woo hoo what a great stitching weekend.
Happy Stitching Everyone and have a Happy Thanksgiving Day, if you celebrate it.

Herbie Part 1

2011-11-19T21:49:00.002-05:00

During my S&B today with Jan and Sharliena I worked on my Needlewomen sign and on Herbularius. We ate good food and had some great conversion. A good time was had by all. Jan and I worked on our S & B piece for two hours and we will spend two hours working on them over the next month so we can finish them at our last S & B in 2011.

I kept stitching after they left as part of IHSW and finished part 1 of Herbie, well all but the beads. I am going to do part 2 than bead them both before I move the piece to a scroll frame. I am going to work on Pot 4 Dickie and my Quaker Welcome tomorrow to continue my second day of the IHSW.
I will post again on Monday with my progress on Pot 4 Dickie and my Quaker Welcome as part of IHSW.
See you all soon and Happy Stitching.

TUSAL 2012 Sign Up is opened

2011-11-15T20:55:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that the sign up for the 2012 TUSAL is up at It's Daffycat website. It's totally useless but it is fun.
Happy Stitching Everyone.
I look forward to seeing how many other stitcher join next year's TUSAL

Monday 11-7-2011 Update

2011-11-07T17:01:00.000-05:00

Wasn't feeling real well last week but I wanted to do a quick update on Herbie and Pot 4 Dickie. Then I am going to tuck myself in my recliner till bed time. No stitching tonight but I may read a little.

Here is Herbie still on Part One but I am doing the specialty stitches, so a few steps closer to the beading.

I finished band six on Pot 4 Dickie and I still love this piece. The pattern changes every band so it is not boring even if it is ALLLLLLL BLACKKKKKK.
Happy Stitching All.

Monday Update

2011-10-31T19:11:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween everyone, we have a chilly one here in Northern Va. I have three updates this week and I am really really happy with all of them.

Herbie is the first today, I am still on part one but I am almost finished the cross stitching. I will do the speciality stitches then the many many beads.

I started working on my Quaker Welcome Sampler I am using Dragon Hoard by HDF, on 40 count hand dyed linen, I got it from them too. I really love stitching with these silks, I thought the fabric was pretty thin but it is stitching up beautifully.

My third update is on Pot 4 Dickie I finished band 5. It is also 40 count linen and it is great to stitch on.

Happy Stitching Everyone.

TUSAL

2011-10-26T16:15:00.002-04:00

Just love those ORT's

Another Update on Herbie

2011-10-24T18:00:00.000-04:00

Goodness I have been stitching like crazy and just can't help posting one more update on Herbularius. I am still on part one but I'm closer to starting the specialty stitches than the beads, that's going to be fun.
Happy Stitching Everyone

Herbie update

2011-10-22T23:15:00.000-04:00

I started stitching this morning on Herbularius and stitched till my eyes started burning. I wanted to get the outer edge done but it just didn't happen today. I did get it started with the bronze petite Treasure Braid, its the first time I have use this brand an I really like stitching with it. Don't know if I will get any more done tomorrow since I am going to the In Stitches Lock In Sunday afternoon which I know will be fun. I am going to take Pot 4 Dickie to work on since Herbie is a stay at home piece.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend, Happy Stitching.

Weekend update

2011-10-17T20:58:00.002-04:00

Saturday was October's Stitch & Bitch, Jan and Sharliena joined me for breakfast than back to my house for the day. Sharliena has gone back to school so she worked on her homework while Jan and I stitched, of course all of us bitched a little. As always it was great to get together and relax.
Jan and I worked on our S&B piece. I got my sign out line finished and before we meet again we are going to chart and stitch our names in place on our signs. Jan has most of her other lettering done but I haven't even started my lettering, I wanted to get my sign done first. You can check out her piece on her blog.

Here is what I have done on my sign.

Then I worked on Herbie for the rest of the weekend and I stitched some tonight too. The colors are really eye catching and I am really glad I started this piece. As I said in an earlier post this is the first Chatelaine I have started to stitch.But I have to say it is the third one I have purchased.

I worked on Pit 4 Dickie last week and plan to work on it tomorrow and Wednesday so I will post a picture later in the week.
Happy Stitching Everyone

Herbularius Update

2011-10-09T16:41:00.000-04:00

Here is my start on my first Chatelaine , Herbularius The first picture was my slow start last weekend, as you see I didn't get much done but it was a start.

This weekend I worked on it Saturday and Sunday when I had stitching time.

I would have had more to show but I had to go back and take out the top dark azure stitching, I was off by one row. Of course I found that out after I started adding the next color under the dark azure . Out came the stitches and that is where I start on HERBIE next time I pick it up.

Jan and I went out to breakfast on Saturday and than down to In Stitches to sign up for the Lock In on October 23rd its going to have a Halloween theme so its going to be a lot of fun. I am so glad we made it down early since the seating is limited to 25 people and I think we got slots 20 and 21. I am looking forward to having a great time, but no costume for me that is just not my thing.

Happy Stitching Everyone

September TUSAL and something to think about

2011-09-28T14:31:00.001-04:00

Here is a different view of my ORT jar this month. I took a picture of the top view for a change.

One of my coworkers asked me today what I did with the finished projects that I don't have framed yet, well here is what I do. They live in a drawer waiting to find a home in just the right frame. I didn't know I had this many in the drawer, oh well maybe I will frame them when I retire. I mean I am going to have to have something to do everyday. :-)
I know there are two pieces in this set that will never be finished but they really look good as they are so I may frame them anyway. So I'm wondering where are your unframed finished projects????
Happy Stitching

It's Framed

2011-09-25T14:49:00.000-04:00

I need to move the How Does Your Garden Grow up a little so I can move the TOS up to make THE WALL look more even but for now here it is.

Tree Of Stitches is finished

2011-09-24T21:16:00.000-04:00

I finished TOS today, boy oh boy there were a lot more beads than I thought at first but they are all on and it looks really nice. I really like the color I choose, and now I need to find a frame that will set it off .

Here is Horace

&

Here is Lester

Here is my Tree Of Stitches

Castels in the Air has a home

2011-09-19T05:15:00.000-04:00

Castles In The Air has joined a few other pieces on the wall of my living room. I got the frame yesterday, I love how it turned out and it looks great.

September 2011 Stitch and Bitch

2011-09-18T14:12:00.000-04:00

Our monthly S & B was yesterday, Jan, Sharleina and 2 of her girls joined us for the day. We ate at Denny's than came here to the house to spend the day. Jan and I worked on our joint Needleworker Sign for about an hour and a half. I finished up the six pairs of scissors at the top and will finish up the outline of the sign next month. Hope to get to the fun part of all the lettering done before the end of the year, but may have to spend one S & B just working on this piece.
I worked on my Tree of Stitches and finished part 10 before I quite stitching last night. There were a lot of small star stitches but they look great.Just 5 more parts and I will be finished. I have seen so many beautiful trees I can't wait to add my finished one to the rest of them on The Stitch Specialists Yahoo Group. I will be posting more pictures by the end of the week.
I am also kitting up the Chatelaine's The Medieval Cloister Herb Garden "Herbularius" I thought I had them all but I was mistaken plus just putting the floss together is making me wonder if I will be able to work on this great piece. There is just sooooooo much to it I am getting cold chills thinking about starting it. Now if I can figure out weather they are good chills or bad chills I don't know for sure yet. I will let you know soon.

Happy Stitching All

The Tree of Stitches

2011-09-12T17:01:00.000-04:00

I finished part 8 of TOS , I am still really in love with this tree, but will put it down for a day or two so I can work on Pot 4 Dickie. I will post a picture later in the week.
Happy Stitching all
March Ann

Tree Of Stitches

2011-09-05T17:28:00.000-04:00

The Mojo is really working this weekend. Here is my Tree of Stitches, I started it last night. I just finished part 4 and haven't the faintest idea where I am going color wise in this one but I know it will be great. Many thanks to Abi Gurden for the great design and the chance to learn and practice all these great speciality stitches. I signed up with The Stitch Specialists in Yahoo Groups but the sal was over when I signed up but we were still able to get this great project. She has another one starting soon call The Great Escape.

I was going to do this on a piece of tea-dyed material that I dyed last week but I just didn't like it after all so I pulled a piece of 28 ct linen that I had in my stash. I really like how it is turning out so alls good in the end.

Happy Stitching everyone and I will post again soon.

Castles In The Air DONE

2011-09-04T18:23:00.000-04:00

Castles In The Air is done. I put my initials and the date on it and I don't think I like them so I may take them off but until than............ IT IS DONE.

Hip Hip Hurray !!!!!!!!!!

A Little Tease

2011-08-31T16:16:00.000-04:00

Just a little tease from Parts 22 and 23 of Castles In The Air. The Dragonflies still need their eyes but you can see how pretty they are. Aren't the yellow flowers with their gold centers nice. I will post more as I get the medallions done. I'm sure CITA will be finished over the weekend since I have a few wonderful things I want to start. Oh my so many wonderful things to start and ah well to finish too that are in my WIP/UFO wooden crate.

Happy Stitching All

August TUSAL

2011-08-29T16:53:00.000-04:00

Here is my August TUSAL see all the pretty black and the pretty CITA colors. Didn't do much stitching this last few days but I hope to get some done this week.

Have a great week and Happy Stitching.

Hurricane Irene August 27th and 28th 2011

2011-08-28T16:55:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone on the East Coast made it through Hurricane Irene, just what we needed after the earthquake. I am in Northern Virgina and had to work last night so I was safe at the hospital during the strongest hit here in Alexandria. When I got home this morning I had a few limbs down around the mobile home and no electric. I am sitting at a friends house recharging all my goodies, the laptop, the cell phone and the Nook. It is going to be sometime tomorrow before I one of 120,0000 people get my electricity back I mean after all its all about me right.

I will try to post some stitching later in the week so until than stay safe and make sure every thing you own is charged ALWAYS. Hee Hee
Happy stitching all

One step closer to finishing CITA

2011-08-21T18:53:00.000-04:00

I have another update for today, it is the top right medallion of CITA beads and all,. You can't see the beads very well in the picture but they do twinkle.

Here is a snap of the cross stitch I did for my nieces, all framed. The girls where very pleased with them. The Navy one got to Kelli on her 25th birthday yesterday, as you can guess she is in the Navy. Chicks Rule went to her older sister Ashlea as a late birthday present. I was very very happy with how they turned out.

Have a great week everyone and Happy Stitching.

Update on my active WIPs

2011-08-21T10:45:00.000-04:00

My first update is on the Tavern Sign II that Jan and I are stitching on during out monthly Stitch & Bitch. Jump over to Speedy Jan's blog to see hers from our August S&B. She is working on her lettering, it looks great. Can't wait till I catch up.

Here is where I am on the top right medallion on CITA I hope to finish it up today.

Last but not least is the top half of band 5 of Pot 4 Dickie, can you tell its the bottom of pages 1 and 2. I just opened my 5ht skein of floss since I am doing it on 40 count linen with 2 strands over 2 for great coverage. I like the deep dark color instead of the light coloring of the model done on 18 count aida with one strand.

I start back to days tomorrow for I don't know how long, I just go where I am needed and I may be going over to one of our sister hospitals to help cover the midnight shift there. Don't know for sure but that's fine, I only have 33 weeks till I retire and I can jump around if that's what is needed.
Happy Stitching everyone have a great week.

Stitching update

2011-08-16T09:26:00.000-04:00

I have been working on Castles in the Air and Pot 4 Dickie during the last two weeks. I have the castle and the top wall done on CITA and will work on the top right medallion over the next few days. I worked 6 days last week so I am off till Friday midnight.
So here is the top wall the black in the wall looks really nice.

This is a close up of the castle, the back stitching made it look a lot better to me.

And here is the start I made on row 5 of Pot 4. Sorry for the wavey picture I was trying to hold it up and take the picture at the same time. Gee only a zillion rows to go, hee hee hee.

Happy Stitching everyone see you soon with another update

A Day of Stitching

2011-08-06T22:36:00.000-04:00

Woo Hoo, the MoJo is back at least for today and I stitched all day long except for a little while that I spent cooking and washing dishes.

Part 22 Top Left Medallion

Here is the start of part 23

Here is my Castles in The Air I finished the beading on the top right medallion of part 22 all 116 beads. I an working on the top section of part 23 and the top left medallion of part 22 before moving the frame to the bottom of the material.
I hope to get some more stitching done tomorrow but I have to do midnights again this week so I have to figure out when I'm sleeping tomorrow so I can be alert to train tomorrow night. Once the new operator is trained I am going back to days.

August Stitch In

2011-08-05T11:17:00.000-04:00

Went to the first August Stitch In at In Stiches Wednesday night. It was fun to see everyone and what they were working on. It was great to meet a few new people too. We spent time stitching and getting to know each other.

I worked on my Pot 4 Dickie and got a little little bit done on band 5. It helped bring back a slight touch of my MoJo. I am going to work on Castles this weekend and leave the junk room alone.

I have picked my next year long project, its going to be a Chatelaine piece called "The Medieval Cloister Herb Garden : Herbularius" It will take a while to get the fibers and beads together but once Castles is finished I will get serious about getting it started. The first part came out the 1st but I am just not ready yet. Isn't it beautiful????

Happy Stitching

2nd full moon in July

2011-07-30T20:05:00.001-04:00

This month we have 2 full moons so here is my 2nd TUSAL for July. Not much done this month as you all know the MOJO is on vacation.

Happy Stitching Everyone

Castles In the Air

2011-07-24T11:29:00.000-04:00

Not doing much on the stitching front. I have been reading alot at work on midnights and sleeping and taking care of house things during my off hours.

I have worked on my CITA part 22 top left madalion, all done but the beads. Very very pretty.
Have a great week everyone.
Happy Stitching

Mid-week Post

2011-07-13T09:32:00.000-04:00

Woo Hoo I have finished row 4 on Pot 4 Dickie. This one went pretty quick for me, I started it on July 4th and finished it on the 12th and there were many days/nights when it didn't even come out of the backpack because I was reading or surfing.

This weekend I picked up my Castles in the Air for about 30 minutes to work on part 22 not much done but it is a start. This is the top left corner, I will be working on it some more during our July Stitch and Bitch on the 16th. I think I am going to combine parts 22 and 23 together so I will be doing the two top corners and the Castles and wall along the top edge. This has been a great stitch and I am looking forward to seeing what Yvonne come up with for the new mystery sampler she is planning to start next January.

Happy Stitching Everyone, Hope you are enjoying your summer.

HAPPY JULY 4TH

2011-07-04T13:13:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I boxed up two very large boxes of clothes to get rid of and can now hang things up in my closet to get them off my dresser and rocking chair. I also got in some stitching and reading so I am well rested and ready to head back to work tonight.
Here is Pot 4 Dickie, I have finished band 3 of well I really don't want to count how many there are.

Here is an update on the piece Jan and I are working on during our monthly S&B's. Neither of us wanted to work on it in June so we agreed to work on it for 2 hours on our own. I worked on mine today for 2 hours and this is my progress. I have not work with silks before and am finding them easy to work with, I don't think this will be the last time I work with silk threads.

Tavern Signs Too by Carriage House Samplings

Happy Stitching everyone

TUSUL for July 2011

2011-07-03T00:25:00.000-04:00

Here is my TUSAL for July, a lot of white from the edges of Pot 4 Dickie.

Here is an update on Pot 4 Dickie, I have a little back stitching to do and Band 3 will be finished. I was working on some paper work this week but did get some stitching finished on midnights last, and got some reading done too. I love fan-fiction and have been reading a few of my favorites.

Happy Friday

2011-06-24T17:57:00.000-04:00

I have a few plant pictures and an up date on Pot 4 Dickie. The Peace Lilly has lived here for a few years and this is the first time it has bloomed. Isn't it pretty I figured it was going to die and I was very surprised to see the bloom this morning. The other one is my Mother of Thousands plant that I got in Florida last months. My mother used to have these in the dining room window as we were growing up and to me they always looked like little plam trees and well they make me think of my Mom. This is only the second time I have seen them in many years and I hope I don't kill them this time.

I only have a little bit to do to finish band 3 on Pot 4 Dickie, I plan to get it done this weekend. I will post again when the band is done. Happy Stitching everyone.

Long time no post but a little stitching was done ;-)

2011-06-17T05:48:00.001-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but I have been reading alot instead of stitching but I do have an update or two.

On the Pot 4 Dickie I am about half done on band 3 and the Family Treasures bell pull is about 2/3 done, I love all the different flower gardens.

Castles In The Air 21 parts done

2011-06-03T23:03:00.000-04:00

Finished the beading on parts 20 and 21 today on CITA. It looks great but I need to press it since the beads have distorted the fabric a little bit. Part 22 is the 4 corner medallion but I won't start those for a few days. Part 23 will be out around the 16th of the month and that will finish this great looking Mystery Sampler.

I'm going to work on Pot 4 tomorrow while I work the midnight shift Saturday night. In fact I am going to be working a lot more midnights (my choice) since one of our full time midnight operator will be leaving. I am going to work midnights until a replacement is found. At least that is the plan unless something else comes up between now and the 19th. But it will be a nice change from days for a while.

Happy Stitching All

June TUSAL

2011-06-02T18:02:00.000-04:00

Here is my TUSAL for June, a lot of black and some wonderful colors from Castles In The Air. I am on the beading for parts 20 and 21. After that its on to part 22 which is the 4 corners. Looks like there is only going to be 23 parts to this wonderful sampler. I will post some pictures of my progress on both CITA and Pot 4 Dickie .

Happy Stitching All and blog to you soon.

I'm Back

2011-05-26T19:34:00.000-04:00

Back from Florida and I had a great time. Didn't get any stitching done but added to my frame stash and one or two old patterns have been added to my stash. I looked at a new area this time while I was there. I saw a few condo's I really liked in Inverness Florida and I love the little town itself. It's got small lakes and water ways and part of the 46 mile Withlacoochee State Trail runs through the edge of the small town. The have beautiful parks and a small shopping area around the town square and TownHall.

alligator
rock

My brother Denny and his wife Karen and I took a pontoon boat ride on the Withlacoochee river. Captain Mike had a lot of great info about the river and the animal live on the water. I would love to take a much longer ride next time I'm in Florida.
I am going to work on Castle in The Air over the weekend during my monthly Stitch and Bitch on Saturday with Jan and Tracey. I'll work on it and Pot 4 Sunday and Monday.
Happy Stitching everyone and Happy Memorial Day.

Castles in the Air Pt 20

2011-05-13T16:55:00.000-04:00

I am once again behind on my Castles in the Air, but will be working on part 20 this weekend and part 21 next week. Well at least until Wednesday when I head for Florida to spend the week with my brother and his wife Karen. I am taking Pot 4 Dickie with me since CITA is just to big to tote around on the frame. I will only be gone a week but don't have to be back to work until the 31st of May.
Here is a picture of part 20 so far. I am going to do the floral medallions since I am not crazy about the fantasy choices for parts 20 and 21. The bee hive and the lady on the bench were OK but I just didn't like them for my castle grounds, and after all it is my Queendom.
I am really happy with this SAL and when it is finished it will be breath taking. I can't wait to see what she has planed for the 4 corners.
Till later stay safe and Happy Stitching.

Happy Mothers Day 2011

2011-05-08T11:44:00.000-04:00

I don't have any stitching pictures today but I am going to work on my Castles In The Air and will post a few pictures tomorrow. What I am going to post about is what I did this morning. I drove by the house where I grew up and its true it alway looks smaller when you go back. Now you do have to know I only live about 4 miles from the subdivision where my parents lived from 1952 till 1982, but I just don't go back. Mom and Dad raise 4 kids in a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath duplex. And let me tell you that driveway was not there and it was a blase to roll down that hill. Hey I was a little kid at the time. But boy did it look tiny when I looked at it today.

Then I grabed some Mickey D's and went to Arlington National Cemetary and had breakfast with Mom for Mother's day. The tree that sits in front of the neiche was in bloom it was covered with little white flowers that smelled heavenly. Mom use to love it when we would go out there so she could sit near Dad for a while. Geeees I didn't cry out there but am balling like a baby as I type this. But that's ok its a good crying.

Happy Mothers Day and I will be back soon with pictures of CITA.

May TUSAL

2011-05-03T19:34:00.001-04:00

May is here already and I am heading to Florida in two weeks for a week. I will visit my Brother and his wife and scout out some more retirement info. Just 12 more months and I am hanging up my headset.
Here is my TUSAL for this month and the black is slowing building up. I am almost finished band 2 of my Pot 4 Dickie and skein 3 is almost gone.

Happy Stitch Everyone

A New Traveling Patten

2011-05-01T15:55:00.000-04:00

Woo Hoo Angela P at Hooked On Stitches is starting a new Traveling Stitcher pattern its Lizzie Kate's "Life's a Stitch" pattern. You have till May 8th to sign up to see if you can be the next stitcher in this new Stitcherhood. I know I missed the other one that has gone missing so I will try to keep up with this one so I can get on the list each time it is ready for a new trip. Wonder how many miles it will travel in the next 12 months.

Happy Stitching Everyone.

How oh how am I going to put my stach in order.

2011-04-30T10:45:00.000-04:00

My old stash storage

My new stash storage

I haven’t been doing much stitching this week because I have had the urge to find a new way to store my stash to get ready to move in about 12 months. I know that seems like a while but believe me I started counting at 32 months and it seems like it was only yesterday. I am also a procrastinator so now seemed like a good time to really start. And yes I know I am still buying samplers on EBay but I am also going to be getting rid of the patterns/chart books that I have out grown. I am putting the keeper patterns in heavy duty sheet protectors and than into 3 inch 3 ring binders instead of just having them stored in a storage tub. Once I have everything in binders I can put it into some kind of order but for now its fun to flip through the binder to see all the patterns and magazines I am keeping. I found a lot of patterns I had forgotten I had and many I wonder where my mind was when I got brought them.

I also found a few patterns that I brought years ago that yes you guessed it I bought another copy of from EBay in the last few months. Gee guess my tastes haven’t changed that much in the last ohhhhhh thirty five years.

I have found a few interesting baggies with goodies I picked up at classes and Guild meeting a few years ago. I found two small very nice Trinkets by Orna Wells that I stitched a few years ago. Aren’t they great, I want to finish them into ornaments or box tops, they will look wonderful as either.

I did pull out an old bell pull by Marilyn Leavitt called Family Treasure III. It’s a little over half done and I put a few more stitches in it on Thursday night as my UFO of the week. :-) I would like to get this one and my Noah’s Needle by Just Nan completed sometime this year. Of course something else is going to wait and I will mostly change my mind what I want to work on next week but for now that's my story and I am sticking to it.
Happy Stitching everyone

Update for April 21st

2011-04-21T19:27:00.000-04:00

Goodness I haven't posted for many days so here we go. I have went a little eBay crazy this month and won many older sampler patterns and two nice pieces of fabric a 40 count and a nice yard of 32 count both were ivory so I can do some hand dying. Here are pictures of my 16 new patterns. I picked up a few samplers and a set of English houses done by Downunder. Nothing expensive but ones I really like so the stash collecting continues.

Saturday the 16th was our April Stitch and Bitch, Jan and Sharliena made it this time. Tracey was unable to make it this month but Sharliena did bring her oldest daughter with her this month. Jan and I worked on our Tavern signs but all I have to show is time is the sign outline so it is not very interesting. I will post a picture next month. I worked on my Pot 4 Dickie and got the first line of the alphabet done in the second band.

And last night was the 2nd of this month's Stitch In at my LNS In Stitches and I got a little bit more done and now I am 3/4 way through skein number 3.

Castles In The Air Part 19

2011-04-06T17:19:00.002-04:00

Well I have been home sick for a day in the half sitting in my recliner stitching when I was not napping. I get to go back to work Thursday and the Specialist on Monday afternoon. My blood work came back with a few high levels and a few low levels that my doctor doesn't like. So on to the specialist to let them do more tests oh joy.

OK enough of that. Here is part 19 finished, I love the colors of the folly. I am glad I decided to put in in my castle.

See how it all looks when it is together so far. Just a few more sections to go before my Castles In The Air is completed.

April TUSAL and CITA Update

2011-04-03T08:43:00.001-04:00

Here is my April Tusal, many snipits of black have joined the jar this month from my Pot 4 Dickie sampler.

Here is Part 18 of Castles In The Air, I got it finished last week and Part 19 with no speciality stitches will get finished today. And I plan to start on Part 20 Monday after work. I will take Pot 4 to my Wednesday Stitch In this week. These two pieces are the center of my stitching world right now even if I am still looking and buying stash at the same time. I went a little EBay crazy last week and got a handful of charts and some material, I will post a picture when all my new stash gets in.

Happy Stitching Everyone

Band One Done

2011-03-26T19:27:00.000-04:00

Woo Hoo band one is done on Pot 4 Dickie. Please notice the floss that I left laying on the piece, that is all that is left of skein 2. I am working on 40 count over 2 with 2 stands of floss for the cross stitch and one stand of floss for the blackwork/back stitching. Its a very easy piece to stitch and it looks great but it will take a while. But even with a pinched nerve in my neck that is making on thumb tingle I will continue to stitch but just a little slower now. I have to spend some time with the heating pad and muscle relaxers.

Happy Stitching Everyone

March's Stitch & Bitch

2011-03-20T13:26:00.002-04:00

Had a great S&B this month, Jan, Tracey, Sharliena and her daughter Elizabeth joined me at Denny's for breakfast then to my house for stitching. Jan and I worked on our Tavern signs than I pulled out my Pot 4 Dickie.

I haven't had a chance to work on it this week but I really love working on it.
Last week I finished stitching "Lizzie Kates " Chicks Rule" for my niece Ashlea and it turned out great. Now I have to get it and the Navy one I did for my other niece Kelli a few weeks ago. The colors on the Chicks Rule are bright and happy, its a special edition kit, number 677 out of 1000 I love it.

TuSAL for March

2011-03-03T18:50:00.000-05:00

Here is my March TUSAL there is a lot of black DMC and white linen from my Pot 4 Dickie. And a few snips from Castles In The Air and the LHN needlebook and fob.

And here is my progress on Pot 4 Dickie from Log Dog Samplers.

I love the way the 40 Count Linen feels as I am stitching. I am an evenweave kind of girl but this is a lot better than I thought it would be. I am going to work on it tonight and Friday evening than make myself put it down to work on CITA over the weekend. Of course that will be after a trip to the Woodlawn Needlework Show. I entered a piece this year just because I wanted too. Its Van Gogh's Irises, it was the last thing I did on aida. Oh wait I have a Mystic Stitch that is in my UFO pile on aida.

Happy Stitching All see you next time.

In Stitches Lock In

2011-02-27T10:57:00.000-05:00

Last night I attended my first LOCK IN at In Stitches it was a great group of 25 needlecrafters locked in the shop 6pm to 10pm. We shopped, talked, ate and shared with each other. I saw many great projects and of course got many great ideas for new projects.

I had the pleasure of being one of the winners of a great door prize. Ellen made up goodie bags in nice canvas totes she picked up at the Nashville Market. I also picked up a few patterns that Ellen got from Market and one or two other goodies.
I worked on my Pot 4 Dickie and saw the finished model that Ellen has from the designer. Wow it was about 4 feet long and gorgeous. It was done on 18 count fabric with 1 strand of floss with a greenish cast but still gorgeous. I am doing mine on white 40 count linen over 2 with 2 strands of DMC Black and will be posting my progress pictures as I go.
Happy Stitching all and have a great week

February Stitch and Bitch

2011-02-20T11:12:00.000-05:00

We had a great S&B this month and I have two new starts to share. First Jan, Sharliena and I had a great breakfast at Denny's, lots of food and great prices. Than back to my place to stitch, Sharliena worked on J Walls Bubbles and it is coming along great, I just love her stuff. Jan and I started a new SAL we are going to stitch Tavern Sign too by Carriage House Samplings. We are both using hand dyed materials that we dyed ourselves. Mind is 28 ct over two while Jan is doing hers over one but I can't remember the count she is using. I am going to do the sign than add the lettering and I think Jan is going to do it the other way around, that's what makes these so much fun.

I started working on my Long Dog Sampler Pot 4 Dickie, it is black on white 9 inches wide by 33 inches long and is going to take a loooooooooooooooooot of black floss. I am thinking about slipping in a punch of color every once in a while but I'll have to see how it goes. I worked on it after Jan and Sharliena left so I got a bit more done. I am going to work on it today while I am waiting for the cable man to come since my Internet connection seems to be moving at the speed of an old dial up connection. WHICH IS NOT FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last week I forgot to post a picture of my stitch finished ILH Needlebook cover. I still have to do the finishing but the stitching is done. I thought it was going to be to big but once it is finished I think it will be OK.

TUSAL 2/2011

2011-02-03T17:34:00.000-05:00

Here is my ORT jar for 2011. Not much stitching but at least there are some great little ort's living in my candle jar. I have to say I did give them a little fluff before the picture to make them look their best for this months picture.

Woo Hoo Some Good Stitching

2011-01-29T20:09:00.001-05:00

Over the last two weeks I have stitched a few small patterns that I have had in my to stitch piles (which is now taking up a lager corner in my living room). I did this NAVY design by Hinzeit for my niece Kelli who as you see is in the Navy. I want to find a navy blue frame and mat to frame this small design for her birthday this year.

At the last Stitch In I finished this design by JBW Designs its the French Country Pig. It will go on the wall with the French Rooster and the Apple by the same designer.

Then I did the second freebie design from Homespun Elegance, it is called Happy Winter. I will finish it as a small pillow ornament for the tree next year.

Here is the Welcome I did a few weeks ago with the charms that I picked up at In Stitches. Getting it into a frame is my next step.

I am getting ready to pull out my Castles In The Air and work on Part 18. I am going with the Fantasy Version again and will post a picture when its done. Happy Stitching All.

First Stitch and Bitch of 2011

2011-01-15T20:10:00.000-05:00

We met today for our first S & B 2011, as always it was a great day. Tracey, Jan, Karen and I had breakfast at Riviera than Tracey, Jan and I came back to my house to start our stitching. Sharliena couldn't join us today and she was missed.

I finished stitching a small freebie I started earlier this week. I only need to find a little button or charm. It is Happy Autumn by Homespun Elegance from 2004. I found it stuck in one of my pattern books and decided to stick it in my to-do-pile. Since this is my year to work on some smaller things I pulled it out to work on. Oh course the picture came out a little dark but it is a sweet little design. There is also another pattern on the same sheet of paper called Happy Winter, it's going back in the to-do-pile. I also started working on my second Celtic Knot on a table runner I worked on last year so it has come back under the needle. The Celtic Knot is the September 2007 freebie from Ink Circles.
We went to lunch at Chef Huang's then headed to In Stitches. I picked up two charms for my Stitcher's Welcome, knobs for my stitching frame and the new Cross-stitch & Needlework magazine. I love the Irish Blessing on front of the magazine and the 2 great samplers that are inside. Jan and I also picked our next S & B Sal. We are going to start the Carriage House Samplings, Tavern Signs Too, Needlewoman sign. It was interesting to hear the Patricia at In Stitches has done the pattern 15 time for fellow stitchers. Its a great piece and I have a great place to hang it already picked out.
Well that's all for this issue of S&B at March's
Happy Stitching everyone and see you at the Stitch In at In Stiches this Wednesday.

Welcome 1st stitching finish of 2011

2011-01-12T19:44:00.005-05:00

Here is my first stitching finish for 2011. I will find a rustic frame for it next week. I am thinking of doing a collection of stitched Welcome pieces. I already have the Wiehenburg Welcome Sampler in my to- do -box to work on this year. So two is the start of a collection right, I think so.

This table has been around in our family as long as I can remember. My Uncle Bob brought it from oversea when I was a toddler I think. Over the years the top had warped and some of the inlaid ivory on top has been lost but it was still a great table. The top and body are two pieaces and the base is hinged so it can be folded up out of the way. I am sorry to say that when I moved in with Mom in 1999 I stuck it out in the shed and forgot about it. I don't know why but I was thinking about it last Friday and dug it out to bring inside. All I have done so far is spray it with bug kill (just in case) and brushed the cobwebs and some other dirt off it. I was really surprised to see it looks like the top is not as warped as I remember, that makes me happy. I plan to get some good wood cleaner and maybe a wood sealer. I am bringing this little table back into my world.

Happy Stitching everyone.

TUSAL and My First Post of 2011

2011-01-10T18:10:00.011-05:00

I am very late posting my TUSAL for January but that could be because I didn't start stitching in 2011 until the 5th at the first Stitch In for the year. Then I did some stitching on Sunday so here are my ort's so far this year. I will do better next month, :-).

Here is my Sunday start on Homespun Elegance Ltd, Welcomes A Plenty VII, "The Home of a Stitcher". I have to get the charms but I think it will turn out great.

Both pictures came out pretty dark

but I wanted to get them posted tonight while I had the urge to get it done.

Happy Stitching and Great Finishes for 2011

Happy Holidays 2010

2010-12-22T18:00:00.007-05:00

Want to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Great New Years.

I just didn't feel like putting up a tree this year but still wanted something so here is the Wooden Block Tree I made many years ago. It still looks great and it was just right. Makes a great Christmas tree with all the little holiday ornaments and decorations sitting on the edges of all the layers.
This week I made a pin keep from the Lilies of the Valley freebie that I stitched earlier in the year and I finished the fob from the LHN, Wool Needlebook and Scissor Fob that I finished stitching last week. I am planning on doing the needlebook next month and I will post it when it is done.

Fronts and backs.

Have a Great Holiday season and Happy Stitching.
March Ann

December Stitch and Bitch

2010-12-12T09:21:00.006-05:00

We had our December's Stitch and Bitch Saturday the 11th and a good time was had by all. Jan, Sharliena and her daughter Elizabeth came over and we stitched and of course bitched a little. Jan presented both Sharliena and me with a hand-turned scissor holder and a needleminder. Sam, Jan's DH turned the holders himself and its beautiful. The needleminder is blue with a fairy and flower, two of my favorite things. Isn't it nice, Jan put it together herself, such a talented family.

I completed Part 17 of Castles In The Air but I am not happy with the french knot eyes. But I haven't decided if I want to change them yet or not so until I make up my muddled mind here is my newest picture of CITA.
Last but not least I worked on my LHN Wool Scissor Fob. Still don't have my stitching MO JO back but I am working at it to keep my fingers moving. Working on little sections at a time instead of a big A** project seems to be helping and I don't fell to guilty when I grab my Nook to read.

Castles In The Air

2010-12-05T17:12:00.003-05:00

I hit a blue funk and my stitching MoJo has gone on a major slow down plus I think I am also fighting a little bug the last two weeks. No energy and food and I are not getting along very well. I also will admit I have been spending a lot of time reading I love my new NOOK.
This week end I did work on CITA part 17, I picked the fantasy section again. Its not the most realistic mermaid but it looks good. I will get it finished this week and post the finished section, here is what I worked on yesterday and today.
I didn't make it to In Stitches Wednesday evening stitch in and I hear I missed a great time but I just couldn't make it this week. I do want to say Happy Holidays to all the ladies that made it and I will see you all next month. To see the cute "make and take" that everyone got jump over to Jan's site and take a look at the nice pincushion.

Happy Holidays and Happy Stitching
March Ann

2 Finishes Woo Hoo

2010-11-21T18:53:00.002-05:00

My Christmas Quaker Bell Pull was finished this afternoon, I love it. Now I have a few weeks

to get the material I want and finish it as a bell pull. I want something rich that won't clash with the red, green or gold. I also finished the Home Of a Needleworker Too on Wednesday but wanted to wait to post the picture. I'll have to find a frame for it next.

I went to Michael's this afternoon and picked up the floss for a few small projects. I have plenty of material but needed a few colors of DMC. I know my local Michael's isn't doing a very good job lately of keeping stocked but I am hard pressed to pass up a 20% off sale. I do support my LNS when it comes to patterns, fabric and special threads.

Happy Stitching Everyone and hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

November's Stitch and Bitch

2010-11-14T09:25:00.003-05:00

Happy Sunday everyone.

We had a good Stitch and Bitch again this month. Jan and my sister Janet were here yesterday and my sister spent the weekend. We ate and we stitched and girl did we BITCH. Jan and I worked on our SAL Home of a needlework byLHN. She got hers finished but I have a few more hours to put into mine. Hope to finish it tonight since I am working a midnight shift and should have plenty of time to stitch.

I also worked on the last page of the Christmas Quaker Bell pull and should have it finished by next Sunday if I can keep the stitching mojo going this week. I want to be ready for the part 17 of the Castles In The Air that should be out around the 16th.

I am also researching E-Readers so if anyone has one they like please let me know. I am leaning towards the Barnes and Noble Nook since it will do different formats, and I want to read my doc files and pdf's files on it too.

Happy Stitching Everyone.

WOO HOO

2010-10-30T17:04:00.012-04:00

I am doing my Stitching Happy Dance because my stitching MoJo has really been good the last two weeks. I have finished Blessed Beyond Measure by BRD's.

I also finished the beading on parts 14,15 and 16 on my Castles In The Air.

The blackwork gate now has gold and silver colored beads to set off the great design and my Swan looks wonderful swimming in her pond while the butterflies and frog look on.

Happy Stitching All and may your Stitching Mojo stay with you.

Blessed Beyond Measure

2010-10-27T19:48:00.003-04:00

I needed a break from my Christmas Quaker Bell Pull's 1 strand over 1 so I pulled out the BRD Blessed Beyond Measure that I got the supplies for last week during our Stitch In. I've finished one of the peacocks on the front and I really love how it is turning out and how fast it is stitching up. I started it Sunday afternoon after I finished working on CITA. I should have the stitching finished this week and will post again.

Happy Stitching everyone.

CITA Part 16

2010-10-24T16:50:00.003-04:00

This week end I worked on Part 16 of CITA, its finished. Now I need to go back to do the beading for parts 14 and 15. I plan to do that next weekend while during the week I plan to work on the Christmas Quaker Bell Pull. I will get the beading done before part 17 comes out. As you can see I am going with the fantasy version, welllllllllll at least for this part. I will make up my mind as each part comes out.

Happy Stitching everyone.

In Stitches-Stitch Night

2010-10-20T21:47:00.007-04:00

Just got home from the 2nd monthly stitch night at our LNS In Stitches . I finished the large medallion on page 5 of the Christmas Quaker Bell Pull. I hope to have it finished in the next few weeks.
Then of course I did some stash enhancement and pick up the floss and fabric for Blue Ribbon Designs, Blessed Beyond Measure. I am going to use 32 count Jobelan lambswool instead of the linen it calls for. I am just not a linen kind of gal. I'm going to do the peacock design and will keep you posted on my progress, when I get it started.
I also want to say thank you to Ellen and Patrica for making the Stitch Nights so much fun and for all the help with my stash enhancements.

Stitch and Bi**h for October

2010-10-18T18:43:00.003-04:00

I am late posting but better late then never. Saturday was our monthly S & B and this month we were 4 1/2 stitchers. Tracey joined Jan, Sharliena and her daughter Alexis (sorry if I missed spelled that Sharliena) and me for breakfast, stash shopping and a few hours of stitching, and of course lets not forget the clean bi**hing with a 7 year old in the room. We all went down to In Stitches after breakfast and I now have my first pair of Dinky Dyes scissors in purples and greens.

I worked on my Christmas Quaker Bell pull, page 5 is almost done and page six will finish it up. It is turning out great as I have said before. I was looking at material up at the fabric store the other day to use as my backing material and its going to be a hard choice. I will take the finished Bell pull with me and start cutting down my choices. I want something that's not to busy and that will make the stitching stand out.

Jan and I didn't work on our SAL piece but will be working on it for 2 hours between now and our next get together. I will post after I get my 2 hours done since I have not posted a picture of the piece lately.
Happy Stitching Everyone.

Weekend Stitching

2010-10-11T20:26:00.009-04:00

I finished part 15 of Castles In The Air , except for the beads on Sunday evening. I am putting it down for a few days to work on my Christmas Quaker Bell Pull, I want to get that finished in the next few weeks. Then its on to my HAED before picking up CITA again.

Saturday I went up to Hume, Virginia to a memorial service for my friend Karen's son Chris. It was held a pretty white church up in the mountains. The setting was great and I hope to get back to that area with my camera again one day next month. I did some pictures of the flowers for my friend and couldn't resist taking a few pictures of the trees and some of the church.

In front of the meeting house for the church there was a cut section of a large tree trunk. Someone had made a timeline of history on the face of the wood. You can't see it very well because the paper is very weathered but the bottom card is a tag for the Civil War. Someone went to a lot of work to work it out and it is a shame is has not been kept in better shape.

Stitch In at In Stitches and STASH

2010-10-06T21:26:00.004-04:00

Tonight I joined the ladies at In Stitches for the first of two monthly Stitch In's. There was a lot of great stitching and knitting going on and a lot of great sharing. I got STASH too. I brought home the Just Cross Stitch 2010 Christmas Ornaments magazine, a new craftlite mini clip magnifier light,BRD's Blessed Beyond Measure and a sit of Stitch Clips (so I can put CITA back on my scroll frame).

There were many many goodies tonight but I have to say my favorite one was the mincemeat cake, it was yummy. Its really great to get together with other stitchers and its wonderful of In Stitches to host the Stitch In's twice a month. I am glad that I have finally joined them.

Oh I also did some stitching on my Christmas Quaker Bell pull, I'm still on page 5 so I have one more to go. I have decided to work on the Welcome Bell Pull by Wiehenburg next year so I purchased from Bush Mountain last week, I love spreading my stash dollars around but I still support my LNS.

Castles in the Air

2010-10-03T17:04:00.002-04:00

Worked on Parts 14 and 15 this weekend, I got most of the blackwork fences done. I only have the scrol work on the gate and it will be done. So I have had a nice stitching weekend with a little stash shoping at my lNS and Michael's. I got floss and two more months in the Blackbird Designs stocking and I picked up the new Cross Stitch & Needlework. (Thanks for the call to shop Jan) I will work on the gate this week and when its finished its back to my HAED The Untold Story.

This week is our LNS Stitch In on Wednesday and I will work on my Christmas Quaker Bell pull, I may even finish page 5.

Happy Stitching everyone.

The Untold Story

2010-09-26T17:53:00.004-04:00

Worked on The Untold story today but still didn't get page 4 finished but I did enjoy my stitching today and isn't that why we do it. I will try to work on this one, my Castles in the Air and my Christmas Quaker Bell pull this week. I will post when I have more progress to show.
Happy Stitching all.

Saturday 9.25.10

2010-09-26T00:38:00.005-04:00

Today I worked on my CITA and wanted to post my update. I am once again combining two parts, this time parts 14 and 15. I love how the fence is turning out, it is looking great.

Tomorrow I am going to work on my HAED, The Untold Story and Sunday I will post the update on it in the evening.

I did take a break for lunch today and met my friend Karen. Last week she had a great tragedy in here life but she is doing as well as she can. She got a call from her son's work to tell her he had not shown up to work. When she got to his apartment she found that he had suffered a seizure some time during the day and past away. Chris has had seizures and health problems for years but was doing ok lately. My prayers are with Karen and her family, he will be missed by many.

Sunday updates

2010-09-19T09:54:00.007-04:00

I only got a little bit more done on my CITA this week because Monday and Tuesday I was sick again with inner ear problems. Gee should have guess what was coming after last Saturday. Oh well I am doing better now so let me post a few stitching pictures.

Castles In The Air Part 14 has some great blackwork but to do it right you have to do it slow. I did make a few adjustments to make it look more uniform but I really like it.

Here is The Untold Story my HAED that I have been working on for the last year and a half. I have been on the waiting list for the Our Friends HAED Sal while being a buddy with Jan. Well I can now post on my own and that got me wanting to work on TUTS again(I Know weird me) This is where I ended last Jan. 9th on page 4. While Sharliena was her yesterday for our monthly Stitch and Bitch (We missed you Jan) I worked on TUTS.

Here is the bit I got done on page 4, its a lot of confetti but I am back into it now so I will be working on this piece, Castles in the Air and my Christmas Quaker Bell Pull over the next few months. When CQB is done I will work on Mary Wigham, may throw in a biscornu too. Jumping around so much I feel like I am not getting anything done and I need that push once in a while. Of course it doesn't help that I have other things I keep throwing into my stitching time. Oh well that's life and it sure beats the alternative.

CITA the start of Part 14

2010-09-12T18:25:00.003-04:00

Well this week end didn't start off to good my Saturday started with a bad head ache and went down hill from there. I spent the day in my recliner with the Cook.TV channel on all day while I napped on and off. Boy there are a lot of new cooking shows out there I have not seen, some good and some very very BAD. So I went to bed early hoping the Sunday would be better. And I am glad to say I woke this morning feeling a lot better.

I started Part 14 of CITA and got some of the left side done. Since I didn't bead part 13 yet I was able to use my Q-snaps which is making this part go pretty good. There will be some black work in this part as well so having the fabric tight is going to make it a lot easier. Once again Yvonne has done a great job on the next part and I know the next part will be just a great.

New Toy

2010-09-10T13:59:00.004-04:00

I purchased a new camera this week, it will be my retirement camera. I got a Canon Rebel XS and it has a lot of bells and whistles that I have to learn to use. These are my first close up flower pictures, I love how close I got. They are part of my porch garden. I can see many many much better cross stitch pictures coming to my blog. Plus anything else that strikes my fancy. Watch out Edgar I may start posting pictures from Virginia.

I will have a picture to post on sunday night on my CITA so until then Happy Stitching.

Castles In The Air, Part 13

2010-09-05T13:39:00.004-04:00

Part 13 is done except for the beads and I am going to wait to finish part 14 before putting them on. I have been beading as I go and I don't know how anyone will go back and do the beads at the end. More power to anyone who is going to do that, I have already used one pack of each color and now working on the second pack each. But this is such a beautiful piece and I am really enjoying the stitching but its big and awkward to stitch on with all the material and still have a nice tight piece to stitch on. I have used Q-snaps, hoops and needlework scroll frames during this stitching journey. But I am going back to my q-snaps and just fix any beads that get loose or broken, I need my tight material stitching surface back.

Happy Stitching

2010-09-03T12:13:00.003-04:00

I have been thinking about my God Mother a lot the last few days. All the kids called her Boo Boo and I loved her to death. I spent may may weekends with her while my parents took care of my younger twin sisters. I stitched one of my first big project for her, it was the Pentagon. She worked there for 30 years before she retired back in the 70's and that is where she met my mother in 1942. The last time I saw her was in a nursing home in Erwin Tennessee. She had completely slipped into another world of her own but this piece was still near her on the wall beside her bed. I don't know what happened to it when she pasted away but I know in my heart she really enjoyed. So I never regretted stitching it for her but I will never do another project with so many straight lines or angles. This is the only picture I have of The Pentagon but I will alway keep the pattern even if it always stays in my stash.

Happy Stitching

It was a Stitch In

2010-09-02T10:09:00.002-04:00

Last night I attended my first Stitch In at In Stitches in Alexandria Virginia. Thanks for including me Jan. I met a lot of very nice ladies and ate some very tasty goodies. I worked on my Christmas Quaker Bell pull, I saw others working on cross stitch, needlepoint and knitting too. One of the ladies was knitting her first mitten while someone else worked on the second sock in her pair. Everyone was doing wonderful work and I really enjoyed seeing the different things being done. The Stitch In is held every first and third Wednesday of the month and I plan to attend many more.

First day of Vacation

2010-08-08T19:52:00.004-04:00

Today I worked on part 12 of Castles and will get the beads on tomorrow and start on part 13. Getting to part 14 is my goal for the next two weeks than I will have till mid Sept. to get it done before 15 comes out. I really love this piece there are so many different stitches it makes it beautiful and fun to work on

I worked on my Christmas Quaker Bell Pull on midnight shift last night and got a little more done.

My Daughter and Grandson will be here Thursday but I should have a lot of stitching time before and after their visit.

Happy Stitching

Another month of almost no stitching

2010-08-03T16:43:00.002-04:00

Here is my start of part 12 of Castles In The Air, gee I have till mid September to finish 12,13 and 14. I am hoping to get my stitching MOJO back this week for the start of my next 2 week vacation. I am staying home this time but my daughter and one of my grandsons are come for a visit from Missouri. But I hope to stitch before they get here on Thursday and after they leave on Monday.

Here is the Christmas Quaker Bellpull so far, I am on page 5 of 6 pages. It looks great and I love stitching on it when I am stitching.

Oh well summer is always a slow stitching time for me but lately my slow stitching has slowed down to almost dead stop. Oh well that is part of any of my hobbies.

Happy Stitching everyone and hope to post more progress in a few days.

Long Time No Stitch

2010-07-01T22:00:00.004-04:00

Here is my Christmas Quaker Bell Pull with the first 3 pages finished. Needless to say I didn't reach my goal to have it done by July but oh well that is just the way this whole year is going. This is the first stitching I have done since I got back for vacation but I will get back to my stitching. :-)

Happy Stitching Everyone.

Vacation Time

2010-06-13T08:34:00.003-04:00

I just spent the last week in Florida and can't seem to get back into my stitching.(gee this happens a lot) I worked on my Christmas Quaker Bell pull for about 2 hours in the last few weeks but just don't feel like working on it since I got back on Thursday. I had a busy week in Florida and went to Sea World which was fun but almost to much for this overweight 60 year old. I was very surprised that I was able to walk the whole park but boy did I pay for it with soar feet and cramping calf's for almost 4 days. I spent one night in Tallahassee with my friend Pamela and we had a nice visit and I love her new apartment.
I meet my sister-in laws sister Angela and her three kids and it was a great visit all in all.
I will post a picture of my CQB later this week if I get page 3 finished.
Happy Stitching All

Wiehenburg-Contest Sampler

2010-05-27T14:15:00.002-04:00

I started my Weihenburg Contest Sampler this week and here is my start. The material is almost a light butter color but of course the camera lies. :-)

I will be posting an update on my Christmas Quaker Bellpull this week end and anything else I decide to work on.

Happy Stitching everyone.

Better late than never

2010-05-24T17:37:00.003-04:00

Got a picture of my goodies from Edgar. I love the pyn keep with our initials stitched on it and the finishing is perfect. I opened the chocolate last night and they are very very good and I am not even a mint kind of gal. I am going to frame the postcard of San Fran too.

Thanks Edgar

2010-05-17T20:10:00.002-04:00

My package came today from Edgar. I can't do a picture tonight but I wanted to post a quick note. He sent a very nice pin keep with a sheep and black ribbon with pearls, just my thing. I got a great piece of black sheep material (I love it) and I am thinking its going to become a pillow. There was 3 sticks of incense, mint chocolate candy(the ones Edgar mentions a few weeks ago, a package of California poppies seeds and a nice postcard of old San Fran. Thanks Edgar I love it all.

A late finish and Stitch and Bitch update.

2010-05-16T19:38:00.006-04:00

Wow another post and more pictures. This it a pillow I made for my friend in Florida. I stitched it for Christmas but never finished it. Since I am heading down to Florida in two weeks I had to stop being afraid to try a pillow and just go for it. It turned out great.

Jan gave me my first scissor frog today and I had the perfect wine glass for it. I had to fill it with a few pairs right away.

Jan and Sharliena spent the day with me. We went to breakfast and lunch of course and stitched. We also watched Avatar. Jan's had seen it a few times but Sharliena and I had not. I enjoyed it myself and loved the special effects.

Jan and I worked on our LHN piece for two hours than I switched to my Christmas Quaker Bellpull. I am over half done on page 3.

UFO and Castles In The Air Update

2010-05-15T13:54:00.005-04:00

I felt better Thrusday and worked on the next UFO I decided to pick up. I am working on Noah's Needle by Just Nan.

Here is when I started Thrusday afternoon:

This is where I ended: Friday and today I have worked on Castles In The Air Part 11, I got it finished and beaded this afternoon.