Finishes

Friday, November 28, 2008

Bent Creek finish

I plan to make this into an ornament and it's already so large that I didn't stitch the snowglobe. I had a great idea, though. I think I might stitch the snowglobes on 28/32 ct so they'll make a nice ornament rather than this huge monster. I could probably get smaller buttons, too.

Here's the Nativity Snow Globe:
BC Nativity Snow Globe finished Nov 28 2008

Bracelet finish

Hooray!! It took 4 hours over 2 days to attach all the charms and dangles to the Shepherd's Bush bracelet. Whew! LOL I put all the charms on except for the last one: cherish. I didn't have enough links to keep them all double-spaced. I can always use it on something else since it's a terrific charm.

This is a wearable companion piece to the SB Cherish Sampler. Each month's motif has a corresponding charm. The dangles pick up common colors for the month.

SB Cherish Sampler charm bracelet Nov 28 2008

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Another quick finish

This was the kit of the month at The Stitching Post for November. I started and finished the piece last Sunday. Love these quick stitches!!!

Erica Michaels Fall Nov 23 2008

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Cherish Sampler finished

I finished stitching the 2006 exclusive Cherish Sampler from Shepherd's Bush. Just have to put the buttons on! This is my third SB finish in a row! I have an oldie from 1988 upstairs waiting for me. Maybe this is the month!

SB 2006 Cherish Sampler finished Nov 22 2008

I don't recall the color of the fabric, but it's a light pink. Cherub? Maybe.


I was feeling like I wanted an outing so I bundled up and went to Savage Mill. It used to be a weaving/cording mill, but it's now full of great gift shops. My favorite shop there (and possibly on the planet) is Artcraft. You never know what you'll find there. I picked up a star Christmas ornament that's actually a 5 piece wooden puzzle. The lady ahead of me in line had a colapsable vase! Who knew?! I also picked up a little something for me and another in a different color as a Christmas present. They were having a special holiday event this weekend and I heard a keyboard performer and saw a magician. I had a nice time.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Shepherd's Bush finish

I plan to make this into a Christmas ornament rather than the necklace it's supposed to be. I can use something else in the necklace hardware.

This was started after dinner yesterday and finished during the 11 o'clock news. I like fast finishes!

SB Christmas Sheep finished Nov 18 2008

Jane

Monday, November 17, 2008

Katrina's RR and Shepherd's Bush finishes

Katrina's RR is from Drawn Thread: The Wildflower Garden and The Sanctuary. The geese I just copied from the area next to mine to make a flock of Canada geese.

RR Katrina's finished Nov 15 2008

This is an early Tina Richards design from the Vanessa-Ann book Sleepytown Days. It's called Balloon Woman and it was fun to do. The fabric is an overdyed blue from Charles Craft that I picked up at A.C. Moore. There's a goose on the chart to the right of the child, but I didn't care for the proportions so I didn't stitch it.

SB Balloon Woman from Sleepytown Days finished Nov 16 2008

Finished my part on Kathy's RR

This is from Our House by Goode Huswife. I liked all the colors and although the leaves are gone from the trees in my area, it is, after all, fall and I was inspired.

RR Kathy's Our House Nov 13 2008

Saturday, November 1, 2008

I've finished a few things lately, but the computer with dial-up goes so slow I didn't want to invest that kind of time into the process. Now with broadband, it works like it should!

Here's what I've finished lately:

Graphique Needlearts "Nine Lives"

Nine Lives finished September 2008

Lizzie Kate's Hocus Pocus (to be finished as an ornament)

LK Hocus Pocus finished Oct 18 2008

Plum Pudding's spells:

Plum Pudding Needleart Spell Binding  Spells & Potions finished Oct 2008

Pat’s Neighbourhood RR:

RR Pat's on Nov 1 2008

I've started Kathy B's RR, but it's late so I didn't get far. Much more will be done tomorrow.

Jane

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Two Labor Day finishes

I bought this needlepoint case kit in August and just had to finish it ASAP. I made it into a "purse" for my sewing box. I picture using it for implements like scissors and tapestry needles.

Stitch & Zip Sewing zippered case finished on Aug 31, 2008


I stumbled across this little kit that I bought in 2005. I have a lot of Brittercup Designs charts, but this is the first one I stitched that was not on someone's round robin. ;) The fabric is potato.

Brittercup Designs Basking in the Sun Britty Kitty finished on Sept 1 2008

Now I've started a kitted freebie from Lavender Wings "Spooky Time". Cross your fingers that I have enough thread to finish! It might be close.

I picked up my pieces from the state fair today. On the way home I stopped at Needlecraft Corner (www.needlecraft-corner.com) and saw Drema and Kathy and Amber. I bought the new La-D-Da (troubles on a line, you'd take yours and I'd take mine), the threads and fabric (WDW Baby's Blush??). I picked up Victoria Sampler's cat in a bat costume, and a few other pieces of fabric just for the fun of it.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Sue Clout of New Zealand - I'll miss her greatly

I'm lucky to have considered Sue my friend. She passed away unexpectly on Friday, August 15, 2008. I had emailed her last week since we hadn't chatted in several weeks only to have her DH reply yesterday with the sad news. She had a great sense of humor, loved Shepherd's Bush designs, and adored her family. I will always treasure our friendship and the Round Robin pieces she stitched on.

God Bless.

Round Robin finish and a small piece

I finished stitching on Lisa's RR. I do so love a Halloween theme! It was also a great "reason" to buy the new Prairie Schooler chart. Like I really needed a reason! LOL

Here's a pic:
Lisa's RR on August 19, 2008 PS When Witches Ride

I spent the earlier part of this week stitching this little urn of cabbage roses from a Ewe & Eye & Friends chart celebrating the 2000 Millennium. I found this frame at Joann's Fabric about 6 years ago, knowing that I would stitch something of EEF to put in it. I love it!!!

EEF 2000 Millennium in cabbage rose frame from Joann's Fabrics

Last night I started Hallow Sampler by The Primitive Needle (if I've remembered correctly) over 1 thread. It's fun and I have A-C and half an owl done. :) It should be approximately 4 x 4 when it's done.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Storing my stitching

If you read the Legacy bb on Yuku.com, then you may have already seen this.

I use just about all the methods mentioned and I still can't find anything easily! LOL I use binders with sheet protectors for designers. I'll put the buttons, charms, fibers and fabric in with the pattern, but the fabric is inside the chart and the floss is at the back of the chart so they are separated (didn't even think the fiber could bleed onto the fabric!!!!). I saw a $50 piece of fabric yesterday in a shopping bag that I have no idea what it's for. I hope it occurs to me! I had to have had something very specific and special in mind to spend that kind of money on fabric.

Projects I've started (and there are very, very many) graduate to 2.5 gallon zippered plastic bags. Projects I want to stitch soon, but am still gathering supplies go in the 2.5 gallon baggies and placed in a specific tote bag. All my Drawn Thread is in two Millennium-themed tote bags. I have an old chest of drawers and one drawer is Bent Creek, another is Heart in Hand, and another is needlerolls. I can't remember what's in the other two drawers!

Shepherd's Bush is in clear plastic files totes and Xerox paper boxes. These are organized by books, small kits, needlerolls, shop exclusives, medium kits, and large kits. The SB attitudes series is in a tote bag with the fabric kits to complete the hanging pillows.

I have a couple of the 7-drawer rolling craft carts that were discussed here a couple of years ago (Target carried them). My BC snappervilles are in one drawer, needlepunch in another, the freebie patterns you get for buying the JABCo buttons (kooky days and now the teapot series) are in yet another drawer. I have some Halloween, fabrics, LHN/CCN and other smaller designs stored there, too.

I have Xerox boxes (labeled) with samplers, holidays, kitted medium, kitted large, and magazines. Most of the stuff in the Xerox boxes are older charts from when I moved 14 years ago.

I'd like more time, please, to stitch. And, perhaps, too, a faster needle. That will take care of most of my stitching storage "problems". ;)

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Jane C's RR is finished

I had a blast stitching Home Sweet Home by Prairie Schooler for Jane C's RR. The sunflower is from Sunflower House by Chessie & Me. By chance the sunflower colors are the same ones used in the PS sunflower-birdhouse earlier in the piece. It makes a nice balance, I think.


Jane C's Round Robin Aug 2008

I wish the alphabet and the numbers that are in the grass would show up better, but the grass color was pre-selected. Subtle may be better!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

SB Sail Away is at the framer's

The customized custom mats arrived from Jill Rensel last Thursday and I took the piece to Kensington Framer's to be framed on Saturday. They had a beautiful champaign colored frame with a tiny bit of scrolling that echoed the scrolling of the flowers and vines at the top and bottom of the mat. Best part is that they can frame it in only one week! I want to enter it in the state fair before everyone stitches and enters it.

This shop is my ace-in-the-hole! I've always found the perfect frame here and they do a terrific job with the needlework. I also like looking at the gallery art they have available for sale. One day.....

While at the framers I saw a beautiful frame that looked like peacock feathers caught beneath a gold grid. Breathtakingly beautiful! The framer said it was the most expensive frame in his shop (8" x 10" ~ $116.0). Isn't it always the most expensive thing that catches our eye? I am looking for a piece to stitch for that frame. (I'll eat beans and hot dogs to afford the frame! LOL LOL)

I contacted a LNS first to see if they could frame my piece in time for the fair held later this month. NOT! Why didn't it occur to me that everyone else would be doing the same thing, too?? And they were all thinking of this LAST month. :)

I'm still stitching on the 3rd of the 4 Round Robins I received a few months ago. I'm on the home stretch and made the last design decision last night. Grass always takes longer to stitch than I think it will. At least I've already pulled a couple of possibilities for the 4th RR. :)

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Pics of recent finishes

I finally got my act together and scanned my recent finishes. Here they are:

JABC Flip Flop Days May 31, 2008 JABC Flip Flop Days


Mosey 'n Me Spooky Pumpkin May 2008 Mosey 'N Me Spooky Pumpkin


SB Long Stocking necklace July 19 2008 Shepherd's Bush Long Stocking


SB Free freebie  July 20 2008 Shepherd's Bush Free (freebie) Just needs the flag button.


Toast with Butter recipe July 14, 2008 Toast with Butter recipe

Boiling Water recipe xs July 16 2008 Boiling Water recipe

The two recipes are from an old (~1984) fabric store's Items to Make and Sell booklet. I found the booklet in the local Thrift Store a week ago. I love stitching recipes, but they have to be recipes that are already charted. I may make an exception for the Nestle's Toll House Cookie recipe. I might even buy some of the cute JABC chocolate chip cookie buttons and stitch them down on the fabric.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

I've finished with Georgie's RR

This was a lot of fun to stitch! I adore Halloween themed Round Robins. The design is from Happy Haunting kit by Shepherd's Bush. The tombstone (great idea!) is from SanMan Originals Designs.

Georgie's RR on July 10, 2008 RR Georgie's SanMan Originals tombstone on July 10 2008

Monday, July 7, 2008

Started a new project

Not that that's news to anyone who knows me! LOL I've had the Carriage House Samplings alphabet for a while now. This past weekend I went to the LNS and picked up the fabbie and 8 skeins of Black Crow (so they'd be the same dye lot). I'm going to use the colored labels that Needle Delights in Pensacola, FL did. I wish I had the patience to do it over one. I'd start it, but that's as far as it'd go. I've done two of the 26 rectangles. I ordered all the GAST from JJ's Collectibles during their 4th of July sale. Doing the rectangles will keep me very busy, but the project is already on a back burner! LOL I have to finish stitching the RR I have. I love what I'm stitching and yesterday made fantastic headway!! I can't decide whether to stitch one of the pumpkins. It's charted to be green and it looks cute, but I like orange better. Well, I still have time! :) It's the witch and her spooky sheep from Shepherd's Bush's Happy Haunting.

My order from Shepherd's Bush arrived on Saturday! In it was Into the Night (another great spooky sheep), WDW carrot fabbie and lime green vintage cashel. The carrot fabric is for "3 Black Cats" and the lime cashel is for "A Boo C" both by Cherrywood Design Studios.

At the LNS Saturday I also picked up "My Country" by Lizzie Kate (it's a LE kit). What sold me was the Liberty Bell charm with its tiny crack. Maybe I'll do it for next years' 4th of July item. The Holiday chart for this 4th was the freebie "Free" from SB. I ordered a flag button from JJ's. It should fit the space.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Sail Away by Shepherd's Bush is finished!!!!

I finished this a couple of weeks ago! Whew! The next day I called Jill Rensel to talk about her customizing the mats she designed for the piece. Although I love the anchor, I'm not crazy about having two anchors. I had an idea for a topper and she's going to do it for me!

It should arrive in early to mid-July so I hope I have enough time to get it framed before entering it in the fairs. I may enter it in Woodlawn in the Spring.

Pics as soon as I can find time to scan and upload to webshots!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

I see the problem.....

cat
more cat pictures

Funny website pun

pet
more cat pictures


These are just too, too funny!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Bought just one thing!

I had to post this because it's never happened before. At the LNS I purchased just one item! And that was a special order for Lemon Drop linen in 18ct.

I had some banding I'd ordered and got that. Also, I picked up my Maryland crab needlepoint that I'd matted and framed in Maryland state colors: red, white, black and gold.

http://www.sos.state.md.us/Services/MdFlag.htm

Now to find the pattern that goes with the Lemon Drop fabric!! LOL

19 years later....

I found a shop bag with a needlepoint canvas tacked to the stretcher bars. The design was an ornament freebie (I think it was a freebie, after all it's been 19 years!) done with one skein of Caron Watercolours and 1 spool of Kreinik #16 braid in a coordinating color. The design was 3/4 done with Watercolours in shades of blue and silver Kreinik. I finished it in 2 hours!! So pleased!

I was so pleased I started another one! LOL The first one took a few days to complete. The second one took 19 years to complete. Any bets on how long it'll take me to do this one?? LOL I am going on vacation next week so maybe I'll bring these ornaments as my only project. This one is in rich dark colors with reds and purples. I've paired it with purple Kreinik. I like it!

The bag held, as you can surmise, several skeins of Watercolours and several spools of #16 braid. Some are obvious pairings and some I have no clue what I was thinking. Did I not get Kreinik for each?? I may have to take the uncertain pairings to the LNS and check out new combinations. If I'm smart, I'll write the pairings down!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Yesterday was a rainy Sunday

I had no energy to go anywhere and nothing on my errands list so I stayed home and stitched! I started LHN's Blessed are the Merciful on Friday night and finished it Sunday night. Wahooooooo!! Pic to come. I didn't like the finished result nearly as much as I liked the Berlin-work-like picture on the cover of the chart. Crescent Colours' Sassy Brassy is gold and warm brown so I had to manipulate it for the sun, the window trim and the centers of the border flowers. Who wants brown suns?? Now I have all this leftover just brown color. Maybe I'll use it to stitch a dog or cat on someone's RR.

I picked up Little By Little Designs' Pocketful of Posies that I'm doing on white. I converted to overdyed threads and it looks great!! I'd like to get that one done by this weekend since I'm about at the halfway point.

I'm also working on LK's Good Things (for the second time). I have it on my Q-Snaps right now. This time it's on light blue with the called for fibers. Nice!!

I have a long list of stuff I want to stitch. Sigh. Too much to stitch, too little time!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Mill Hill & Jim Shore!!!

Have you seen these?!?!?! I LOVE them!!! I have several of the Jim Shore Collectibles including his 12 Days of Christmas ornaments. My LNS had 2 of the 3 cats (only missing Scarlet). I bought these two and Harvest Trio "kit". I ordered the banding the same day. The kit costs about as much as the actual collectible! I'll have to be careful about that even though stitching it will be different.

So much to stitch and so little time!

Just cruisin' on my stitchin'

I'm not really driven to stitch anything lately. I took my needlepoint crab in the water to The Stitching Post (Catonsville, Md) for framing a week ago. I think I'm going to be really pleased with the results. Double matted with red and yellow in a black frame (three of the four Maryland flag colors; only color missing is white, but I guess I can consider the white mat core to suffice).

I can't find my LK Good Things Come to Those Who Stitch that I finished. I even had a frame for it. Bummer. So I'm stitching it again, this time on sky blue with the fibers called for. I like it better, but I dislike stitching things more than once.

I placed a nice order from the last online Needlework Show. Although I can't recall any of the titles of the charts, I'm looking forward to stitching the portraits of the women that are actually pictures of birds in flight near a tree and a flower. The county fair has a pairs category that these will be perfect for! Just have to get them and stitch them!

I also placed an order from a French designer for some nice heart designs with houses and trees trimming the outer edge of the hearts. One design is of a village using all sorts of colors. Online they had the same design, but monochrome! I had the monochrome one in my cart, but decided I'd rather have the option of doing it in color. Stitching it in one color doesn't require the abilities of a rocket scientist! :)

I'm still plugging away at Shepherd Bush's Sail Away. I really want to get it done before it's released (probably in September 2008) to all the world and enter it in the fairs this year. Tick tock! Tick tock!

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Hob Nob finish

This was a quick to stitch piece that I had over a year until I started and finished it in one day in April. Yummy!

Hob Nob Designs Chocolate Need I Say More April 2008

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Karin's RR

Karin's RR Chessie & Me Happy Few finished on March 28, 2008

Chessie & Me Happy Few finished on March 28, 2008

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

A Poem

I saw this on a SAL blog, but had to keep it where I could find it. Such a nice poem for stitchers:

The Sampler
by Lynda D. Prouse

Rummaging around a junk shop
One lazy summer day,
I stumbled across a treasure
And bought it right away.
It was a delicate piece of embroidery,
Called a "sampler" long ago,
Made by a young seamstress
While learning how to sew.
Though the edges were worn and faded,
The tiny stitches remained intact,
Each one vividly portraying
A pictorial of interesting fact.
It showed her house and garden,
A delightful scene from yesterday,
Birds flew across the fabric
All stitched in a magical way.
Flowers sprouted around the borders
In rows of sparkling hues.
And in the bottom left-hand corner
Was the date of 1882.
I took in all its features
With eager and appreciative eyes
And couldn't believe my good luck
At discovering this wondrous prize.
It was like gazing through a window
To a place I imagined to be,
A simpler time to live in----
Just right for a dreamer like me.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Happy Spring! Happy Easter!

Spring has Sprung  freebie Mar 14 2008

Bent Creek The Bunnies Mar 22 2008

I'm so glad it's Spring! Temps are in the mid-40s today, but on Wednesday the temps should be in the 60s. :) How great is that!

These were easy stitches, but Spring has Sprung took 3 days while The Bunnies took over a year from the time I started it.

My chart for the Dragon Carousel arrived last Friday. I'm soooo excited! I was going to attempt to add metallics but I am overjoyed to see that it CALLS for metallics, both blending filament and #4 Braid. Lots of beads, too! I bought most of my floss at A.C. Moore and ordered the fabric Gothic)from Picture This Plus' website. I'm looking forward to stitching this. I'm not looking forward to stripping and working with all that BF, though.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Lizzie Kate Big Girl Panties....done in 2 days!!

Lizzie Kate Big Girl Panties Mar 3, 2008

This crazy, funny design only took me 2 days to stitch! I sewed the yellow buttons on at quirky angles. I also made a color change! If I stitched it as charted, the panties on the right would have a purple band at the top not yellow. I substituted DMC 745 since it was handy from the bee CEC Easter ornament. Now my piece matches the picture!

Be Scary pillow

I finished this Pine Mountain design at the end of February, but just didn't feel like scanning it, putting it on Webshots, and then posting it in the blog until today. So without further delay......

Pine Mountain Be Scary pillow Jan 2008

These are so much fun and I love the designs. I have oodles to do, but never seem to pick them up to stitch.

Cross Eyed Cricket Soft Boiled Ornaments...done!!

CEC Soft Boiled Ornaments Tiny Chick Feb 24, 2008 CEC Tiny Butterfly Feb 25, 2008 CEC Tiny Bunny Feb 26 2008 CEC Tiny Sheep Feb 27, 2008 CEC Tiny Bee Feb 28, 2008

These were so much fun to stitch! These were quick, too. It really seems like spring will come. These were done on 20 ct fabric: sunflower, lilac, antique rose, lime green and daffodil. I swung by Joann Fabrics to get backing calico and I am very pleased with the choices I made. Surprisingly getting backing for sunflower (chick) was the easiest! The butterfly on lilac was the hardest; it's a very greyed hue.

Friday, February 29, 2008

Quaker Christmas SAL and other stuff

I'm not a member, but I added a link to the blog on the Stitch-a-Long. I may decide to stitch this and then I'll ask to join. It's a very pretty design and I'm interested in seeing what others are doing. Someone mentioned doing it with red as the main color with green bits. Interesting idea!

My order from JJ's Collectibles came yesterday! I am so thrilled to have the LK kit "Put on your big girl panties and deal with it." I wasn't sure whether I'd like it or not, but I always loved the colors used. I'm glad I decided to get it especially since it's selling out quickly.

I enter things in the local county fairs so I also purchased Bent Creek's The Red Thread: County Fair. Maybe I can glue some plastic fair animals around the frame! LOL Actually, that's not a bad idea!! Someone remind me of that at framing time. ;)

I am almost finished stitching the cute CEC Soft Boiled ornaments. I need 032BF (I buy it nearly every month; where does it all go?????) and I'll be at The Stitching Post, Catonsville, MD, on Sunday so I'll get it then. I've wanted to do a whole series before, but I don't think I ever have.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

So much new stuff; too much old stuff

Rhetorical question: Why are there always so many new charts and kits to get and too much old stuff not stitched?

Shepherd's Bush now has a Green Snowman kit. Not that I've stitched (or started!) the Red Snowman kit. I like the Green Snowman better. I've started Scatter Smiles, but can't stick with it. I have Scatter Hearts and Scatter Eggs, the buttons and the backing fabric, but haven't started yet. I'm trying to finish things that I've started this year.

I was going to make a list of "Things I Hope to Finish Before 2010", but it would be too long, I'd keep adding to it and it would have 200 - 300 items on it! Still, it might be interesting.

I've had kitted up the Cross Eyed Cricket's spring/Easter eggs chart book: Soft Boiled. I like them all! See it here: http://www.hoffmandis.com/detail.cfm?ProductID=07-1328&start=91&image=07-1328.jpg&ProductName=Soft%20Boiled&DesignerName=Cross%20Eyed%20Cricket%2C%20Inc%2E&SubcatID=&DesignerID=CEC&Keyword=&prodlist=des&desrefine=&CatID= I bought the fabric at the time I bought the book while at In Stitches in Alexandria, VA last year. I started them this weekend after seeing them stitched by a friend of mine. I took a page out of her book and I started with the ones I don't like as much. So far the chick and the butterfly are done. I started the bunny last night and made great headway. It'll be nice to have some things done for Easter.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Started CHS Shores of Hawk Run Hollow

I'd pre-ordered the chart and fabric (32 ct) from Drema at Needlecraft Corner. Then, when Kathy released the list of fibers needed I placed an order from Drema for the silk (mostly because she had the NPS silk on sale!). I put in my first 20 stitches (thereby claiming the piece as mine) on Tuesday, February 19, 2008. I'm so excited by it. I'm using one strand of silk on the 32 ct linen. I'm starting in the upper left corner with the lighthouse.

Because Bunny Parade and The Big Zipper call for tons of boring border stitching I did NOT start with the boring black border for my square. I will come back to it.

I have to use my magnifier to see the threads of the fabric at night. Even though I use an Ott Light (love it!!) 32 ct is getting harder to see. Maybe it's the weave. I don't have this much difficulty on all 32 count fabric.

Friday, February 8, 2008

It's been a while

It's been a little while since I posted a finish. I do have something done; wish I could remember what it is! LOL I used to keep a list in a little notebook, but I haven't done that in years. Maybe it's my Mosey 'n Me Halloween pumpkin. Could be! I hope to have time this weekend to catch up on that kind of thing.

Nashville Market is starting and I am looking forward to getting CHS Shores of Hawk Run Hollow. I ordered the fabric, too, and am looking forward to my envelope from Needlecraft Corner to show up!! I bought the NPS silks from Drema last week while they were on sale. :) I'm no dummy! LOL I'd like to see a picture of the new Lizzie Kate releases. LK is one of my favorites.

"New Kitty" (or Salem, Sweetie, Spottie) rolled onto her back last night so I could rub her tummy. She purred and gave me a kitty kiss (licked my hand). This is a big step forward for her and I am pleased. I've just been glad I could help a friend by taking her in and that she and the other cats get along so very well. She's the only one who will provoke Bennington (aka Bruiser) and she wins!! LOL

I plan to purchase a new-to-me Little House Needleworks design "The Busy Needle" from the shop Busy Needle www.busyneedle.com. This shop exclusive was shown on someone else's blog (and I wish I could remember where since I liked her blog) and I really like it. I've been thinking about purchasing the liberty one of her two newest releases. Can't quite get my head around the cost.....yet! LOL

Last night I finished Pine Mountain Tie-up "Be Scary". I bought the kit last Sunday and the pillow to stuff it at the Superbowl Sale at The Stitching Post (my LNS). I rarely get a piece stitched within a week much less finished within a week! Wahoo!!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Picked up framing

I like to enter my finishes in the county fair in August so I don't take the protective wrap off until just before entering. That's why these pics of the framing won't be the best, but they'll give a good feel for the finished pieces.

LHN Americana Sampling framed Jan 27 2008 Barbara Ana Designs Wanted framed Jan 27 2008

Of Female Arts by The Primitive Needle

I'm so delighted to have finished this today. I'm not sure what's next that I want to stitch. With the Super Bowl Sales coming up and Shores of Hawk Run Hollow (www.carriagehousesamplings.com/new) about to be released I don't want to get involved with something big.

Regardless, here are the pics of my finish:

Of Female Arts by The Primitive Needle finished Jan 29, 2008 Of Female Arts by The Primitive Needle right side Jan 29, 2008

The fabric is a great DMC 14-ct. Aida I found at A.C. Moore. I used GAST's Tin Bucket and my framer, Terri, has a perfectly matched frame in the color Tinsmith. Couldn't be more perfect!!!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Started an afghan

I like to say that I can crochet, but don't like to. So why did I purchase a Vanna White afghan book and 33 skeins of "her" yarn yesterday?? Well, I've loved the design on the cover of the book and, finally, the yarn was on sale for $2 per skein. With the 40% off coupon on the book I almost couldn't afford not to buy it all! LOL

I started it yesterday. It's crocheted with a P hook using 2 strands together of the Vanna White yarn. It's a ripple design and every three rows the colors change. I think there are 12 color combinations. At the end of this row I start with the combo color 4. Yippee!!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Anticipating Nashville

I always look forward to the xs Markets with great anticipation. This one is no exception and is coming up in 2 weeks.

I have only pre-ordered one item: Carriage House Samplings' Shores of Hawk Run Hollow. Not that I've stitched much on the first one, or any part of the second in the series.

I am very interested in Sweet Treats, a new Country Cottage Neeleworks design series of yummies. I saw a picture on her website: http://www.countrycottageneedleworks.com/threadpacks.html

I also am a big fan of Lizzie Kate. I am close to pre-ordering "Big Girl Panties" just because it sounds like fun, but I think I'll wait until I see a picture.

The closest thing I came to a cross stitch resolution for this year is to stitch what I have and not buy so much. Nashville releases will be my first test!

Finished my part on Lynn's RR

I finished my part on Lynn's Round Robin last weekend. I used The Country House Sampler by The Sampler Company for all but the house. The house is from Christmas Past by Willow Ridge Designs. I kept the same colors as the original chart called for on the house. I thought it'd blend better to keep the designer's color scheme.

Lynn's Round Robin on Jan 19, 2008

The fabric is 32 ct, but a very tight weave which made it hard for me to see the holes. I bought an inexpensive around-the-neck magnifying glass at Michaels and put the piece on Q-Snaps and I could see the stitching a lot better. Whew!!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Little House Needlearts kit Americana Sampling

I finished this the other day! Hooray! I started it back in 2005 when it was released, put it aside until I decided on New Year's to work on WIPs more often in 2008. This was handy and a week later....Done!!

Little House Needleworks Americana Sampling (kit) Finished on Jan 8, 2008

I like where I decided to put my initials. I feel that it's subtle yet keeping with the flow of the piece.

I took it to Michaels today for framing. Gotta take advantage of the 60% off sale while it's going on. Picked out a nice cherry frame that compliments the piece in tone. The same framer was there and waited on me. We got along very well today! She didn't push the mats on me after I told her just want a frame for it. Excellent; I am pleased. Turns out she's the manager of the framing department.

The manager of the framing department of a similar shop that's now out of business had a terrible framing manager. She was terrible as a manager and did terrible framing. Crooked mats were her strong suit! I overheard her talking to one of her staff as I was coming in to pick up a piece. She was telling him that it looked "good enough" and the customer would never notice it wasn't framed straight!!! I never brought another piece to that framer.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Froggy goes to the frame shop

I pulled into the parking lot of Michaels this past Sunday and saw the 60% off of custom framing sign hanging outside the store. Just by chance I had the frog xs piece (see prior post) with me. Lucky me!

I had in mind a simple framing with perhaps a metallic frame in green. I rang the bell to get the clerk's attention from the back of the frame shop. I told her I'd like to have it framed in a green metallic frame as I pulled two slender white pieces of paper on the table under my piece. I hate to have the fabric colors dulled by dark gray granite table tops showing through the xs fabric as I'm trying to match mat colors. I use a white underlining of some sort just so the colors will be true. She said, as she removed the white papers and restacked them, "Of course you'll get mats." She reached for the mat corners. I told her I didn't want it matted. She said that I had to get it matted "because it makes it easier for us to frame." Astonished, I replied, "So you're telling me I have to get something I don't want just to make it easier for you." She conceded that I didn't have to get it matted. Gee whiz!!! This particular Michaels did a poor job in framing when it was the location of an MJ Designs (remember them?!). Must be something in the air because it's been years and are not the same people anymore.

She never did show me a green metallic frame, but she did show me other green frames and a nice gold/red frame that will look nice with it so I ordered that one. I'm almost afraid to bring in my Little House Needleworks "Americana Sampling" for framing that I finished the other night. The frog had better be finished with wire and not one of those darn sawtooth hangers!!! I detest sawtooth hangers.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year!!

I made it to 2008. There were moments in December where I wasn't too sure. Fainting on the stairs (sat down just in time!!!). Hospitalized suddenly for a week with blood clots in the lungs. How the carpool missed the SUV hitting us I'll never know, but will be ever thankful for. Thank God!

I finished Wanted by Barbara Ana Designs today!! It's so cute and funny. Here's the pic:

barbara ana designs reward jan 1 2008

The design calls for the words "x stitches" to be done in white, but it was invisible on my fabbie. I switched to the medium green used in the frog.

Ribbit!! Ribbit!!

Wishing everyone a good, and happy 2008.