Off to Stitching Retreat

It has been a crazy-busy week at work--I mean non-stop. No time for stitching, no time for playing with my grandson, nothing! So, without any regrets, I leave tomorrow morning for a 4 day, 3 night stitching retreat on the coast. Yes, the cold, windy, rock-strewn Pacific Ocean. No pressures except how much can I get done on the selected project (or in my case, projects) :) All the meals are included-what bliss!

To add to the fun, our wonderful hostess is a Longaberger representative. She brings her "excess" inventory and has a "little" sale. There will be much to tell when I return. Have a great stitchy weekend everyone!

Prairie Schooler ABC SAL Update

Here are the 2 blocks I completed for April on the Prairie Schooler ABC SAL. Most of the DMC threads have been substituted by overdyes and I am liking the results so far.

Here is the entire project so far. It is coming along nicely. You can see that I started L and M for next months letters. Also, I couldn't come up with a better idea for Vineyard so gave up and am working on that letter also. It should be finished for May too. So far, so good.

Family Stitching Day Results!

My oldest daughter invited me and her sister over for a stitching/movie day yesterday. And look at all the wonderful projects that got worked on! First up is a beautiful Jesus and child. It has a background fully filled-in with flowers and greenery. So there is still a lot for my oldest to finish, but wow, the progress so far is fantastic!

Here is middle daughters progress on a very sweet birth announcement for her friend. She is getting close to finished and it's a good thing-this baby is due the first week of May! It is even cuter in person. :)

Here is my progress on Nancy's Needle Tulip and Fans Quilt. It is moving right along. Isn't that Caron Watercolours overdye just beautiful in the border? Please ignore the bits of the table you can see thru the mesh. :)

Last, but certainly not least, is a new start of mine. I am participating in a mystery 2010 SAL with Sylvia on her blog. I am a bit behind and only have the January block started. If you are interested in having a closer look at this project, click here. Sylvia's blog is written in German, but at the top of the page you can select from a drop-down menu to translate it to English.

What movies did we watch? The Blind Side--if you have not seen this movie, you should! With all the trash coming out of Hollywood these days, this is a rare example of something worthwhile. For those of you familiar with Tim McGraw, the country and western singer-he is in this movie. But with no mustache and no black cowboy hat--he was nearly unrecognizable! Also we watched the Count of Monte Cristo with Jim Caviezel and Richard Harris. It is an older movie but also a good one.

Guess Who Came to Lunch? And A Finish!

Now the funny part is that my 2 acres are completely fenced (6 ft) EXCEPT the gate across the driveway was open! My 5 yr old grandson went outside and clapped his hands and literally chased them around the house and up the driveway. The deer HOPPED away, maybe bounded is a better word. I have also seen a coyote --and bald eagles fly around here regularly.

Goode Huswife

With My Needle

mystery fabric

various GAST threads and DMC 833

Here is my eighth finish for 2010. (Many of the projects I share with you were finished in 2009). As I mentioned before, the bottom row had to be left off because I ran out of room. And I substituted GAST threads for most of the DMC.

For some reason I have a hard time keeping track of the fabric I use. I have a fabric stash basket. Each piece is packaged and labelled. But when I pick something to use, well, my brain just disengages. I need to find a better way. Any suggestions?

2010 Finish-Bloom Where You Are Planted

Birds of a Feather

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Unknown fabric

Called for GAST threads

I have been seeing several blogs working on or finishing up this design. So, here is mine! This was an in-the-purse project for stitching when there are unexpected "waiting" times. The stitching still went really fast!

My husband did a great job framing it for me. OK, I will admit that the frame is from..... (gasp) the dollar store! Yes, it is a faux wood (read plastic) frame. But it has a reddish tint that goes great with this design.

Jenny Bean's Halloween Sampler got started yesterday and I hope to have another finish for you tomorrow. Plus I am getting ready for a stitching/movie day with my daughters on Saturday. Looking forward to that!

Back From the Finisher!

Third Day of Christmas

Renaissance Designs

Stitch guide by Pamela Harding

Didn't this turn out great? I love the bright colors and the bow at the top. My finisher's name is Kathy Klinko-she does really beautiful work. Thanks, Kathy!

As usual, I changed a few things from the stitch guide. I tent stitched the green wreath on the door and embroidered the flowers (using lazy daisy stitch) on top of it. The stitch guide called for a hand-made wreath using a plastic ring and detached buttonhole stitch. Well, I admit that I just couldn't wrap my head around how to do it.

It was also a first for me to use pipe cleaners for the candy canes and stitch over them with Neon Rays. The padded effect was wonderful! Pamela is certainly stretching my stitching ability on these canvases-thanks, Pamela!

More Giveaways!

Sherry over at Inhale Life is having a giveaway for Family Sampler by Pat Roger--Check it out here!

And don't forget Edgar's giveaway for his 3rd year blogoversary-Go here!

Marnie Ritter Scotch Ya!

Scotch Ya!

Marnie Ritter

18 ct white mono canvas

various thread substitutions including Threadworx #135

Here is my finish of Marnie Ritter's Scotch Ya design. It was one of 2009 ANG's Workshop by Mail. This is my first effort at one of Marnie's designs. But I have several more in my stash that I am looking forward to!

Laura Perin's Grandma's Flower Garden

Laura Perin

Grandma's Flower Garden

various DMC perle cottom #5

Here is another great freebie from Laura Perin! (Scroll down to find it.) I finished this as a flat-fold and gave it to my mother. This is a lovely springtime design and quick and easy stitch. In case you are getting the idea that I like Laura Perin designs, I do! :) I also used one of her freebie designs for an ornament exchange last Christmas (more on that to come).

For those of you who have never tried the flatfold finish, go here--it is a no-stitch finishing technique. Thank you, Vonna, for sharing your expertise with us!

This was my first effort at a flatfold and despite the little area at the bottom where the cording meets-I am still happy with it. More importantly, so was my mother!

Have a great stitching day!

Puzzle Pieces-Scotch Stitch Variation

Puzzle Pieces

Lois Caron

18ct pink mono canvas

various Watercolour/perle cotton threads

Here is my 2009 finish from Needlepoint Now magazine (July/Aug 2009) called Puzzle Pieces by Lois Caron. It is stitched on rose/pink 18 ct canvas using Watercolour #145 Carnival in the center and around the outside edge. I believe the rest of the threads are DMC perle #5 & Watercolours chosen to blend with Carnival. It was a fast and easy stitch and was so much fun to do!

Fabric Covered Boxes

I admit it! I went a little crazy last Christmas and covered FIVE round boxes in fabric. Please don't blame me--it's THEIR fault! I finished one box and couldn't stop myself! :)

Wait a minute-there are only four boxes here? Oh, yes, the other one is packed away in the Christmas decorations-full of ornaments. I promise to take a picture next Christmas (it's a cute one, too, covered in Christmas trees).

Believe me when I tell you that there is a learning curve. Finding the boxes was the easy part. They came all together in one package at JoAnn's. But, I couldn't find the right kind of glue, then I couldn't find the perfect fabric to line the inside of the boxes, then I learned that the large boxes are hard on the hands. (Squeezing the glue bottle hard and long really caused my hands to ache.)

Worst of all, I am still dealing with the guilt of keeping every one of them for myself. Isn't next Christmas soon enough to share the wealth? :)

Goode Huswife With My Needle

Here's the latest on my bedtime stitching project-Goode Huswife's With My Needle. It is coming along nicely--the top section is finished. I did do some color substitutions with GAST overdyes for DMC. And I used some colors from the dress in the top row to brighten it up a bit .

One little problem-the fabric piece I used was too short. :( The green beneath her shoes will be the lowest part of the project. There is supposed to be a line matching the top row (above the words) beneath the green. I'm trying to count my blessings because it could be much worse!

Otherwise I spent the Easter weekend stitching on my Prairie Schooler Alphabet project--it is coming along nicely. Another update on that in a few days!

I am so thrilled by all my new followers-Welcome!

Happy Easter 2009 Finish!

Laura J Perin freebie

(Scroll down to the bottom of the page)

Happy Easter to All!

Prairie Schooler ABC Sal Update

Here are the two blocks finished for March--S and T.





I also finished the bottom section of O. The picture below shows the left hand side of the congress cloth to the middle of the design. The right side of the canvas can't be seen because it is rolled up and tucked under the stretcher bars. Eventually I will be able to move to the right side and you will see the rest of the canvas.




The finished product will be 3 rows of 9 letters. Does that sound like too many letters? lol Yes, between Y and Z there will be a block for AND. Here is what the entire project should look like when I am all done! Isn't it stunning?