Merry Christmas!

 Christmas will be a lot quieter this year because of the "C word" but we'll reflect on past Christmas' spent with family and future Christmas' to come.  We're blessed with our health, a warm house, plenty of food, and the promise of better days to come.  I also feel blessed to have my cross stitch hobby with lots of things to stitch to occupy my time while we can't go anywhere.

I finally framed my 2008 Prairie Schooler Santa in a sled frame I found at Kohl's last year and am pleased with how he turned out.

I'm also FFO'ing the Covid Santa ornaments (from Beverlystreetshop on Etsy) for our family's 2020 ornaments.  I used Vonna Pfeiffer's hoop finish tutorial on Youtube.

I took a little break from model stitching last night to put a few stitches in my wip of Blackbird Design's Joyeux Noel.  I'm working on the band of greenery and berries.  One of these years I will finish it.

I'm beginning to think of my 2021 stitchy plans (I loosely plan bc I've found that I often don't stick to a plan.)  Without thinking too much, I have quite a list....working on wips, some HATS samplers, stockings for our son and future daughter-in-love, etc. From the looks of it, I'll be quite busy stitching.

With the promise of 2 vaccines currently starting to be used, there's some light at the end of the COVID tunnel.  We just have to be patient and keep taking precautions for a while longer.

Merry Christmas!

Happy stitching! 

Another Thanksgiving in the Books...Moving on to Christmas

This year's Thanksgiving was strange this year due to COVID precautions.  Our Austin boys got tested before visiting and although it wasn't totally without risk, we felt that their visit was worth the little increased risk we took.  (They're all working from home and not going out much (wearing masks when they DO go out.)  We also did a Zoom visit with the relatives we would have seen on Thanksgiving which was strange but better than nothing.  I was so distracted setting up for the Zoom that I forgot to take pictures.  One of the boys took one of the table before I put out the food.  We even used paper plates for the first time for Thanksgiving instead of the good china, our nod to trying to make it a little safer.  I must admit that I didn't miss hand washing the china but I did miss getting to use it.  Hopefully next year!

I finished the Theresa Kogut's Give Thanks Turkey but didn't finish it in time to FFO it.  (Maybe next year!)

I blame it on COVID but I was very late choosing an ornament to stitch for the family ornaments (total of 5!).  Then I saw someone stitching A Very COVID Santa (from BeverlyStreetShop on etsy) and knew I'd found the one!  I'm not celebrating COVID by stitching it but it will indeed be something to remember in future holidays when we finally get back to normal (whatever normal will look like).  I popped the first one temporarily in an embroidery hoop to see what it will look like FFO'd that way.

I mailed off the rest of the stockings (designed by Bent Creek) I made for our daughter's family and they received them yesterday.  Our poor granddaughter (4) forgot that I'd made hers a couple of years ago and was a little sad that there wasn't one for her in the box (although I sent her some treats in the same box).  All was well when I explained that I stitched hers FIRST and wanted her brother and parents to have their stockings too.  I stitched them and they were beautifully FFO'd by my friend Vonna Pfeiffer aka The Twisted Stitcher.

The boys left us yesterday and a cold front arrived bringing rain that will probably go on all day.  I'm looking forward to putting away the Thanksgiving decorations, maybe putting out a few Christmas ones and then being a couch potato today while watching football and stitching.

Happy stitching!

 We've had a few cool days here but it's back to 80's weather for a few days.  The ragweed pollen count is lessening so at least I can go outside without sneezing and my eyes itching.

I've mostly been model stitching this week (almost done) but pulled out my own project last night....Give Thanks Turkey by Theresa Kogut.

I managed to finish stitching Miss Fortune the day before Halloween and have an idea for an FFO but haven't gotten around to it yet.  As is often the case, she was a lot cuter "in person" than the photo on the chart.

I worked a little on my Carolyn Manning piece for the sal.  It's going to be an enjoyable stitch;  with all the repetitions you can get "in a grove" with this one.  It's amazing to see just how many DMC reds there are!

 

Our Thanksgiving will be a bit smaller this year.  2 of our kids will come here (after testing for COVID).  This weekend I plan on 2 baking/freezing cookies (chocolate chip and oatmeal) to send back with them when they go back home.  I hope to make some peanut butter cookies too before I get caught up in Thanksgiving plans.

Be well and....

Happy Stitching!

Salem Remembered, Ann Pegg framed, WIPS, 2 Upcoming New Starts

 I did manage to finish stitching my Salem Remembered (Primitive Needle) piece but not sure how I'll eventually FFO it.

 

I picked up my Ann Pegg 1877 (The Scarlett House) and we finally remembered to go outside yesterday to get a beauty shot.  (I like to photograph them outside under natural light so I don't need a flash that would reflect off the glass.)  The framer told me this was the nicest needlework he's framed and further said he could hardly tell the difference between the front and the back.  It made me feel good.  I've printed off the lyrics to the hymn from which the "motto" (on the sampler came) and will put it on the back of the framed sampler along with my name, the name of the design, the designer, and the date I finished it.

I finished one of the models I've been stitching.  It has arrived "home" and the designer is happy with it.  Now I just have 7 more  models (one is small-medium sized and the others are small) to stitch.  So fun!

I've been working a bit this weekend on one of my pieces, J. M. Gardner by With Thy Needle and Thread.  It's a small sweet sampler and I'm enjoying it very much.

I'm joining a SAL starting Nov. 1 with one of my Facebook stitching groups.  We're all choosing a design by Carol Manning.  My choice is Ruby from her Shooting Star Collection.  I've gathered up my reds and will probably use a piece of fabric from my stash.

Another project I'd like to start is a turkey by Teresa Kogut that was in one of my stitching magazines.  (While looking for a picture online, I see that she's released it as a pattern since then.)  I'd gathered up the overdyed threads when it first came out but finally ordered some fabric for it today.

I feel like between all the Facebook stitching groups and watching Flosstube that I want to stitch "all the things".  I've also decided I should always have a sampler wip since there are so many I want to stitch.

Our city's water crisis is almost resolved but the county told us they found some mosquitos in their traps with West Nile virus.  Mosquito spraying has been more frequent.  There's so much ragweed pollen outside now that I can't spend much time outside anyway...although the weather has been gorgeous lately.  Oh well--more stitching time.

Stay safe and...

Happy Stitching

Model Stitching so Not Much to Share...and 2020 Strikes Again

 I can't believe it's already October!  You'd think with less travelling and group activities during COVID precautions that time would seem to go more slowly.  That hasn't been the case largely due to my watching more Flosstube and getting excited about stitching "all the things".

I'm also busy model stitching so I don't have much to show.  I did pull out my years-long wip of Salem Remembered by Primitive Needle and started PS Miss Fortune to stitch when I give myself some time off the models.  I really enjoy having something seasonal to stitch during the actual season whether I finish or not that particular year.  

For Salem Remembered, I'd waited on buying the third silk floss needed for it and find now that it's not being dyed anymore.  I have some silk in my stash that will work though although it might not be exactly what the designer had in mind.  I may even finish this project this year!

Just last night I started PS Miss Fortune.

Our most recent 2020 challenge is that our city's water system is contaminated with naegleria fowleri (aka a brain-eating amoeba).  Tragically, a local little boy died from it last month.  While we're dealing with the big inconvenience of using bottled water and boiling water before using (and being very careful when showering not to splash any in our noses), we have nothing to complain about when we think of that poor family who lost their child.  We're learning a lot about municipal water systems and the amoeba now.  Our city and state is working hard to find/fix the source, flush out and eradicate the amoeba in the water system  (and also providing bottled water at a drive-through POD) and we hope it's cleared sooner rather than later.  (Could take 60 days, give or take.)  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naegleria_fowleri

Ann Pegg is still at the framer's.  I think I'll give him a call Monday in case he got busy and forgot to call/text me that she's done.

Be well and......

Happy Stitching!

Sampler September and New Toy

 I was almost sorry to finish Ann Pegg so started another sampler....then another.  Well, it IS Sampler September after all!

First to answer a question....I stitched Ann Pegg one strand over 2 (using called-for floss) on Flax Edinburgh 36 count linen.  I just started using this linen and really like it.

The first new sampler start is Red House Sampler by Brenda Keyes of The Sampler Company.  This one has been sitting kitted with floss in my stash for several years now and it's time has come.  I was thinking of changing the red but, in the end, just stayed with the called-for DMC flosses.

For my repro Sampler for Sampler September, I chose another one that's been in my stash for a while...JM Gardner by With Thy Needle and Thread.  I just worked on this one for a couple of days and already love it.

Alas!  The samplers will be playing second fiddle for a while because I'm model stitching again.  I'm enjoying model stitching as always though.

Happy mail:  Vonna Pfeiffer did her magic on Louis' stocking and it arrived last week.  They know I've been working on a stocking for Baby Callum but didn't know that I've stitched stockings for mom and dad too.  I'll send the three of them a little before Christmas so they can hang them up with our granddaughter's stocking that I made a few years ago.  That is, IF I can wait that long. 

My son and his GF hinted about stockings for them so theirs will be next.  I was having trouble deciding what style stockings to make so talked to them about it.  They will be Scandinavian-looking with white floss on red fabric.  I found one pattern I liked and then thought about how to make the other similar but not the same.  I decided to look for similar pattern repeats and plot it on the stocking size/outline of the design I have.  I think that should work out.

I've been thinking about getting a stand up paddleboard to use on our lake for some time but never found exactly what I wanted (that didn't involve borrowing a truck to go pick one up) and wondered if spending the money was a wise idea.  Then I got to thinking about how our traveling this summer is on hold because of COVID restrictions/precautions and thought I should really be enjoying the lake more.  Recently our neighbors' son (who lives across the lake) paddled over and I asked him about his board that looked like what I wanted.  Amazon!!  There was a little snafu with the delivery (Amazon customer service was superb!) and my board arrived on Monday.  I've been out on the "maiden journey" but haven't had the time to use it again.  I look forward to going for a paddle this evening.

Happy stitching (and paddling)!

Ann Pegg 1877

I have a finish!  I loved every stitch of Ann Pegg 1877 by The Scarlett House.  I stitched her one over two on Flax Edinburgh linen (I love the feel of this linen!) with the called-for colors. 

As always, I have another project "going"...Country Cottage Needleworks' The Nativity.  I'm using a scrap of linen with a little subtle mottling (I think 32 count) from my stash and the called-for colors and stitching 2 over 2.  

Sorry for the wonky picture.

Because I think I should always have a sampler going, I'll be deciding which one to start next.

We almost had an unwelcome visitor yesterday.  We were expecting tropical storm strength winds and some rain from Hurricane Laura.  We prepped for it to hit with the exception of boarding up the windows because the outlook for our area kept getting better and better.  (Boarding up is a lot of work!)  The storm veered to the east as the day went on yesterday and we hardly had any effects...just some nice breezes that made it nice to sit down by the lake in the evening. 

As relieved as we are to have been spared, we're heartbroken for the people who were slammed by this monster storm.

Be well and...............................................................

Happy stitching!

A Fall Finish and a Picture of a Framed Finish

Last week I felt like stitching something with a fall theme so I perused my stash and chose LHN's Autumn Sampler.  It is a thread pack that includes Belle Soie floss.  Loved stitching with the silks.  It's stitched one over 2 on Edinboro 36 count cream linen (also found in my stash) and I altered the design just a bit.  I omitted the word sampler, centered the word autumn, and filled the space with vines/leaves.

We finally remembered to go outside (to avoid glare) to take a picture of my framed HATS Jane Marshall sampler.  No glare but you can see my DH's arm.  lol!  I really enjoyed stitching Jane and have another HATS Little Gem waiting in the wings to be stitched.

Now I've returned to stitching Scarlett House's Ann Pegg sampler.

Happy stitching!

Progress

It's too hot to do much outside here in SE Texas and, since we're trying not to leave the house very much (thanks to COVID precautions), I've been stitching a lot.  Actually I've been enjoying getting to stitch so much...it's like building all this stash over the years was preparation for sheltering in place!

We're both healthy but have heard of some family and friends who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have had mild symptoms.  I hope and pray that this pandemic will go away soon...but I think it will be with us for a long while yet.  My fall stitching camp was cancelled as has the International Quilt Show that was to have been held in late Oct./early Nov.

My stitching priority was to finish the stitching on our son-in-law's stocking and send it out to Vonna, The Twisted Stitcher so she can have plenty of time to work her magic on it.  The design called for white buttons on the snowman but I thought black buttons would more resemble "lumps of coal" like in Frosty's song.  Besides, I had some black buttons here already that would work.  I wasn't sure I liked the design but it was the one I liked best from the rest of the series that I hadn't already stitched for them.  Once I finished, I found I really liked it.  Often the pictures on the designs don't do the designs justice and I think that's what happened with this one.

I need to figure out which stocking designs to stitch for our son and his girlfriend.  I figure by the time I chose/stitch the designs that it will be too late to get them done for this Christmas.

Next, I finished stitching the PS Santa that I want to mount in a cute sled frame I found at Kohl's last year.  (I really hope they have those sleds again this year because I think they'd make great gifts for my kids.)

I decided to stitch Strawberry House for a SAL with the Littlehouse Needleworks/Country Cottage eedleworks group on Facebook.  I was in a hurry to start this one and, since I didn't have the buttons or one of the floss colors, I made do from my stash.  (Isn't it nice to have a big enough stash to be able to do that?)  It was a fun, little stitch.  I'm not sure what I'll do with it but I'll think of something.

I decided that the occasion of my birthday and an approaching tropical storm/hurricane (It turned  and mostly missed us.) was a good "excuse" to start a new sampler.  I'd had Ann Pegg 1877 by The Scarlett House kitted up with floss for a couple of years but just hadn't started it.  Well!  I'm enjoying this one so much that I can hardly put it down!  I'm quite a bit further along that the pictures show after stitching last weekend.

In the spirit of finishing up some of my wips, I'm stitching a few floss lengths on BBD Home of the Brave.  When I picked it up the other day, I had already stitched the alphabet, the house, and a little more.  I've been working on the flag for a couple of days now.  I haven't taken a picture yet of that wip.

I've found myself watching a lot of Flosstube lately.  It can get me into trouble as I'm seeing lots of things I want to stitch.  If only I could figure out a way to function with no sleep!!

That's all for this time.

Happy stitching!

July Already!

I'm not sure how this works but even thought we've been staying home more because of COVID-19 restrictions (and it's really spiked here in our neck of the woods!) and staying inside more because of the heat and humidity, the time has really flown by! 

One of our sons came for a visit but only after having himself tested for COVID-19 before risking bringing it into our house.  It was nice to spend a couple of days with him as we hadn't seen him since Christmas.

I've been reading/listening to the old "Irish Country..." series by Patrick Taylor which has been comforting in this crazy time in which we live.  While stitching, I often either listen to books or watch Flosstube.  Watching Flosstube is going to get me into trouble because I want to stitch everything my favorite Flosstubers are stitching.

I finished another model so I'm now working on my own things.  (The model I stitched before this one is about to be released so watch on Little House Needleworks for that one.)

Bent Creek Snowman Stocking is for our son-in-law.  This will finish up the stockings I'm making for their family although they've only seen the one for Paige so far.  I love sending them to Vonna, The Twisted Stitcher for finishing.  She does such a great job!  I'll post pictures of the finished ones here too.

I'm working on PS Santa 2008 that I hope will fit in a cute sled frame I found at Kohl's.

I've made a little progress on my True Virtue sampler:

I was in the mood to do some patriotic stitching so stitched Miss Liberty by Shepherd's Bush.  I'd had this kit in my stash for several years but didn't like the fabric included so I pulled out some from my stash that made it stitch up small enough to finish as an ornament or bowl filler...if I ever get around to FFO'ing it.  I also stitched a patriotic freebie by Cherished Stitchers (available exclusively to members of the FB Star Spangled Stitchers group).  I didn't have the called-for overdyes for this one so just pulled some colors I liked from my stash.

I'd also like to work on finishing up LHN's Melicent Turner (I'm so close!) and, since joining the FB group of One Nation Stitchers, I pulled out my languishing wip of that one.  I'm not even sure one of the colors I was using with that one so I'll have to figure it out.

I need to get back to work on Baby, It's Cold Outside and Lucy Redd sampler too...and I'm itching for a new start.  So, see?  I have plenty to keep me busy while staying home/inside.

Janet asked me about my color conversions for CCN's Liberty Lane, so here you are, Janet:

 Old                               New (DMC)

B5200                          3865

GAST Liberty               3750

GAST Rhubarb            3777

420                              420

640                              3031

937                              3051

3023                            611

3031                            3371

3347                            3052

Be well, stay safe, keep cool, and most of all..............

Happy Stitching!

It's Been a While

It's been a while since I've updated this blog.

We'd planned a 6-day trip to visit our daughter's family (and celebrate our granddaughter's 4'th birthday) starting March 10.  Thanks to COVID19 and the lockdowns, we opted to stay a "bit" longer, thinking it would only be another week or two.  It ended up as a total of 9 weeks there!  We ended up celebrating a total of 3 birthdays, Easter, and Mother's Day there.  Our daughter and son-in-law were trying to work from home with a 4 year old and a one-year old (He turned one while we were there.) and we served as "Grandma and Grandpa's On-site Day Care".  It was a blessing to get to spend so much time with them but they wore us out!

It was interesting living out of a suitcase for that long.  We are grateful to be able to order things we needed and have them delivered...toiletries, prescribed medications, etc.

I didn't take much stitching with me but I wouldn't have had the time or energy to do much stitching anyway.

Vonna, The Twisted Stitcher, contacted me while I was gone that she'd FFO'd the two Bent Creek stockings I'd sent her.  Since I had no idea at the time when I'd be home, I asked her to send them to me at our daughter's house.  As always, Vonna did a terrific job!  I have one more stocking to go and I'll be finished with their family's stockings.  (Then I have to choose and stitch stockings for our oldest son and his girlfriend as they've requested.  I'd planned to choose and start stitching them as soon as the 6-day trip was over but....they might not be done until next year now.)

I stitched a model while I was gone and I'm working on another one now.  In addition, I stitched a little patriotic piece by Barbara Ana and I'm working on Baby It's Cold Outside by Heartstrings Samplery and True Virtue, a sampler from an old JCS issue that I found while looking for something else in my wip pile.

 As usual, I have lots of things I want to stitch, both wips and new starts.  I'll never be bored, that's for sure!

Be well and....

Happy stitching!

Got Luck?

One of my FB stitching groups just started a Friday Freebie SAL and I chose for my first one "Got Luck?" by Plum Street Samplings.  I'll use it as an ornament for the skinny tree in my foyer that I decorate for the seasons.  I can use some more St. Pat's ornaments.

Happy stitching!

Kringles by Little House Needleworks

I was privileged to stitch the model for this new release by Little House Needleworks.  Diane really outdid herself on this design and I knew from the minute I saw the design before stitching the model that it was going to be something very special.  It was so fun seeing it come to life as I stitched it.

It's a big piece!  It also has the potential of stitching smaller portions of it if you don't want to stitch something that big.  My strategy for stitching large pieces is think of them in smaller portions.  It seems to work for me.

Fun fact!  I broke my arm during the time I was stitching the model.  I learned that stitching is a good rehab activity.  It especially helped with regaining my supination/pronation range of motion.

Kringles is being released this weekend at Nashville Market and will soon be available from your LNS or ONS.  (Call them now if you know they're attending Market.)

Happy stitching!

Another Finish!

Autumn Alphabet by The Scarlett House.  My good friend was stitching this when we were at Camp Gottastitch last fall.  Another friend suggested changing the pumpkin color from an orange to GAST oatmeal.  I liked it so much, I shamelessly "borrowed" her idea.  This was stitched with one thread over 2 on 36 count linen.  On the pumpkin, I stitched vertically following the curve of the pumpkin.  I'm pleased with how this turned out.

I'm so happy to have so many finished in a row thanks to finishing up some wips that only had a small left to stitch.

Next up (aside from Melicent Turner sampler I already started) will be a birth "sampler" for our grandson.  My goal is to finish/frame this in time for his 1st birthday in May.  It took me a long time to decide which design to stitch for him.

Happy stitching!