A Quick Sunday Evening Post

This new design from Lizzie*Kate totally cracks me up - and it's TRUE too!  I will have to stitch this one and give it to Alpha Bunny.  I wonder if he would be brave enough to hang it at work....   LOL

I hope that all of you had a great week and that you had an even greater weekend!  My week was wonderful - the robot at work is finally starting to listen (it's out of the teenage phase now, I guess) and the evenings are still filled with naps, stitching and some rounds in the garden with the watering can and the trowel for digging up weeds.  It is starting to look a bit more decent in the front yard now - the back yard is still very much in a state of neglect.
For once, I did remember to harvest some lavender before the season is over.  This small bouquet is hanging on the wall in my lavender colored stitch room.  It smells fabulous!  The scent is much more similar to cinnamon than to lavender, oddly enough...  Of course I already have plans to stitch a small adornment to go with the bouquet.  LOL

I was bad about stitching on my Fremme sampler this week again.  I had way too much fun working on the silk gauze sampler and it is finished and hanging on the wall!  No more excuses this week - back to the blue sampler!
Well, here below is Be Mine by Heart's Content (all photos should be clickable).  I only changed one thing and that was the color on the inside of the crown.  I was thinking of changing all the pink flowers to green for them to look like clover leaves, but DH didn't agree with that idea, so I let it be.
Here is one solo pic and one photo showing Be Mine and her wall buddy (Random Threads by Erica Michaels).  I also learned something really cool about this design; Chris of Tot Hill Farm Stitches stitched the cover model for Maureen's kit!!  I can tell you that the cover photo saved me many times!

I had really hoped that this weekend would be a finishing galore weekend.  I have so many projects that are waiting patiently to get finished up.  It is high time to reduce the ever growing pile of "almost finished" projects.  I did get a minute part of the pile done - both projects are Patrick's Woods pieces that I finished stitching back in May.  Here are the back and front of Hare Lines, containing a little note-book, and the little violet pin-cushion (sorry, too lazy to go check what the piece is called...)

The greatest surprise of the weekend was how long it takes to finish up the acorn ornaments from Cross-Eyed Cricket!  My goodness - this will take eons!  The shapes are odd, so you really have to manipulate the fabric a lot (= a lot of lacing thread and time) to get it to finally lie snugly and correctly around the cardboard.  I did at least make sure that all the batting is cut out and ready to go....  The caps and the cardboard were cut out a long time ago and have been waiting in one of those storage boxes that always seems to disappear as soon as you get the urge to roll up your sleeves and start some serious finishing work!  I bet most of you have at least one of those around, am I right?

Well, I did get 1/2 ornament finished.  I still haven't figured out whether I will use twisted cording or not.  Twelve ornaments all in all - not sure that I have the patience to twist for all of them.  :-)

I guess that I am trying to compensate for my snail speed finishing work by buying more stash... rational thinking, right?  Here are some pretty and very girly linens together with ditto and sparkly flosses.  These will be a couple of door prizes for a retreat in October.  I'd better get hopping if they are to be finished by then!  I am looking forward to stitching some real girly stuff.

 

I also found this other great chart from Lizzie*Kate; Oh Baby at the LNS.  The chart contains bunches of baby motifs, all of them the same size and style.  This makes it real easy to pull together a simple and personalized baby sampler, stitched with any color your heart desires.  I think that I will have a lot of fun stitching from this as well!

Well, other than that, I think that I managed to watch at least half a dozen animated movies this weekend (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Caste, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Over the Hedge, The Incredibles, Coraline, Bee Movie, and so on), so it''ll be real interesting to see what I dream tonight. 

 As always, take care and Happy Stitching!  I hope to visit you all real soon!

Rain, Glorious Rain!

Happy Monday everyone!  It is a great beginning of the week here - it is finally raining!  The KY clay really needs a good soaking.  What is even better about the rain is that the ground, which hardens into brick during the dry spells, will get soft enough to dig in.  This is truly great, since DH and I picked up some assorted perennials this weekend.  The timing could not be better!

I am still totally in love with the new hobby; napping!  In other words, the needles are not exactly racing here.  I did stitch this adorable design by Barbara-Ana (Quoth the Raven: Nevermore)) and I like the raven so much that I had to stitch up a mini-version too.  As you can see, he is itty-bitty.  I was thinking about finishing the tiny one into a pin, but he may be too small.  The design is intended to be used as a scissors-fob, but I think that it is way too large!  I'll have to come up with something else to do with it.  I am also contemplating making a third version for an exchange coming up this fall - he is just too cute not to share.

You can buy this pattern either from Creative Poppy (they'll send you the pdf and a pass-word pretty much instantly) or printed out on paper (I got my hard-copy from ABC Stitch Therapy). 

Barbara Ana has a couple of additional - equally adorable - Halloween designs; Owl-o-ween Scissor Fob and Trick or Treat Scissor Fob:

I have also fallen back into the dangerous habit of browsing e-bay every now and then....  Sometimes, I really do manage to get a great deal that I am really pleased with, such as this silk-gauze kit (frame included!) from The Heart's Content for less than $25.  Three of the letters had been stitched by the previous owner, but I ripped them back out and started from zero.  Here are a few progress pics:

As you can see, I am working on filling in the background right now.  It takes time, but I enjoy it - since everything else is already stitched there is no need for counting.  Very relaxing...

I would love to find the companion piece Love Thyself one of these days...  ;-)

The new sampler is coming along slowly too, but it is all right since I really enjoy working on it.  The problem is that I try to tell myself to switch between the projects every other hour or so, but then I get so engulfed with what I have in my hands that I forget everything else....  Oh well, there is just too much fun to have!

Did I show you the sweet little scissors keep from Rovaris?  I am becoming a big fan.  I was really impressed with the "Stitched Initial Necklace" that she came out with a few months back (here is the back of mine).  This is the latest sweetie from Rovaris: Scissors Fob Kit.  All the parts spread on top of the sofa:

After a very quick and easy assembly:

While browsing the net to find the link to the necklace, I happened to run across another of Rovaris' beauties: Wreath  What a gorgeous design!

Speaking of beautiful cross-stitch, check all the photos of Forget-Me-Nots in Stitches at Barberry Row. Many of these designs are older and not posted on any US stores or on Lauren's web-site, so some of them were new to me.

Well, other than that, not a whole lot going on at the stitch front.  The garden has finally gotten some TLC, so I can post some photos without weeds!  :-)  Here is an oak-leaf hydrangea, planted last year, and she seems to be doing well.

The other day I saw a robin take a drink form the sunflower bird-bath.  That made my day!  :-)

The hardy hibiscus are doing really well this year too.  I discovered that one of them already started blooming this morning.  (Please ignore the clover.... LOL)

Another hydrangea, also planted last year.  I love the shape of the flower clusters on this one!

Lavender - what is not to love!?  They really take care of themselves, smell wonderfully, and are a bee and butterfly favorite!

Our new flowerbed is starting to look a bit "bushy"...

More lavender.

And the older hydrangea is sporting both pinks and blues this year.

The bunnies don't want me to log off before they say hi.  Princess has some tummy problems right now, but I think that he'll get better soon.

Well, time to get going!

As always, thanks so much for all your wonderful comments and have a great week full with fun stitching time!  I hope to pop over and see you all soon!

Happy Stitching,

Problems Focusing... hmmmm - what!?

Happy Weekend Everyone!  I am sitting here, huddled up in the basement together with the rest of the family (read "zoo").  I hope that all of you are all right and that you were not hit by the crazy weather this evening.  We were very lucky that it wasn't as bad as we thought it would be, but we didn't take any chances.  I have worked for my current employer for 7 years now and this is the first time e-v-e-r that they have announced three (#3!) times over the PA system that we'd better get ourselves home before the storm hits.  They Mayor shut down town, so after 3 PM you pretty much had to be a fool to still be outside.
I rushed home, woke up DH and we brought down every single pet (17) and every single cage (8).  DH set up the TV-system so that we could follow what was hitting outside and we brought down food, water, and strapped down all the out-door furniture. 

Some of us (me!) did also bring down all the laundry (our washer and dryer are down here) - you gotta think ahead, right?   Others (still me) brought down about 10 WIPs to stitch on...  Yep, I do take the Apocalypse seriously... I won't be bored, that's for sure!  The predictions were dire; golf-ball sized hail, 80 mph winds, and the perfect parameters to match the storm of 1974 (not even kiddin', this is what was announced on each and every TV/radio station).  Two hours later, the sun came out and we could relax.  Thank goodness!  I hear that everyone was not so lucky and I really feel for them.

Other than that, the week was as usual.  Work has been fun,  even though I am still in a state of exhaustion when I get home.  I really need to look over my sleeping habits - they are poor!!!  Part of the problem is that I am back to really enjoying stitching.  I am currently suffering from the "just one stitch more" syndrome...  It has been a pretty productive week, but I keep straying of the WIPocalypse path...

Here is a little cutie that I just stitched up for myself.  I stitched another one for L-Bug a while back, but never got around to stitching up the second kit.  I love all of the designs from Les Brodeuses Parisiennes - they have the cutest designs, color combinations and finished  pieces to stitch on!  I am already using this baby - it is much roomier than it looks!

To decrease my level(s) of guilt, a portion of time was spent on the pre-stitching for the Blue Ribbon Box.  Class is next Saturday, so there is not a whole lot of room for procrastination.  I must admit that all the pieces stitched up surprisingly fast.  Part of the speed was thanks to the fact that most of the stitching over one is made with tent stitches.  I can not wait to get the beautiful box in my hands! 

 

I was toying with the idea of "cheating" and start finishing up what can be done before class, but I decided to "be reasonable" and stick to the pile of WIPs on hand.  I started assembling the Clamshell Etui smalls instead.  It would be fun to have that one slapped up and ready to come with me next Friday.  Well, I'll see... no promises.  :-)   I started with the easiest pieces, but I am not thrilled with the fiberfill I used.  It feels so "fake", if that makes sense?  I wish that I could find some of that lizzard sand that everyone keeps talking about.  5 pet-stores later and still not a lick of crushed walnut shells in sight.  Anyway, two more (much trickier) pieces to go before I can sit back and enjoy the finished project.  (For those of you who don't know, Sherri loves gussets... interesting pic on the Wikipedia link btw, I admit to doing a double-take on that.  LOL)

Then some well needed time was spent with the unfinished sampler clamp from Heart's Content.  Part of why I never got around to finish this pretty little thing was because I didn't like the construction and the border patterns was blah.  Inspired by the Blue Ribbon Box pieces, I decided to do a drawn thread border with a woven ribbon - I love it!  I ignored the finishing instructions and did my own thing, or I would still sit here, with a confused and unfocused stare on the directions. 

Here is the finished cushion part, with small blue glass-headed pins:

Voila!  Glued down and clamped to the table. When I proudly handed it to DH to show it off, his only comment was that it is not to be clamped down on any of our furniture.  Well, that order was placed a tad too late... LOL

What more could I accidentally start on that is not on any of my 2012 Stitch Lists?  Well, the first Prim Sisters kit arrived with the mail earlier this week.  I love it!  Needless to say, this one could not wait for next year to come around.  The stitching took a quick three evenings with a very comfortable over-two stitch on 30ct linen and it is adorable! 

The lining cottons are sooo pretty, but they are cut to a very frugal size, so I will have to come up with some clever way to adjust for my elongated finish (I decided to add my initials, so it is now taller than it should be).   I added the year too and I like the "curvy shape" of the stitched part - I will try to use that to my advantage when I get around to finish it up (in 2013...?).  I love the prim style - I stitched in a blatant error, but does it matter?  No, it's prim - it's not supposed to be perfect!!!  (I am sticking to that excuse, so there!  :-))

What else can I report?  Well, I have been running amok on Etsy lately.  I am in a MOP button phase, thanks to Giulia's Shabby Chic pendant (don't get me started on the fiasco with those non-existing kits, though...).  After some dangerous browsing, these beauties came home to live with me.  I adore the flower branch in the center.  The large button to the right used to have something glued to its top in an earlier life, but I like it just the way it is.  We are taking Sherri's Button Brag Book class next Sunday and I have a feeling that my book will be dedicated 100% to MOP buttons - I have been collecting them for years.  There is something about MOP - not only the soft sheen and the elegant color variations, but also that it is cool to the touch and tough and brittle at the same time.  So pretty!

 

Speaking of Etsy, I found another cool shop: BeadLady.   She is selling tons of pretty pewter beads.  Here are just a few examples of parrots, bunnies and berries, but she has plenty of other neat stuff like mermaids and ocean themed beads.   I was good and didn't buy any of them.  Yet.

 

 

Last weekend was fun - we celebrated Laskiainen in the Scandinavian Heritage Society.  I baked Semla, which Swedes in accordance with tradition only eat once a year, on Fat Tuesday (except that the bakeries start selling them weeks before the official date).   They are very easy to bake and there are plenty of recipes on the net.  Here they are in progress:

Simple buns have been baked and are ready for spa day

Cut off a "lid" and pull out the inside with a fork

Mix inside with almond paste and milk (Kroger carries almond paste)

Do a turkey and stuff mix back into bun

Top with whipping cream and "lid" - eat and think of home

Speaking of eating, here is my little Princess, eating and using the bathroom at the same time - and they say that men can't multitask - totally unfair!  Funny how something that should be gross is totally adorable as long as a bunny does it!

This is another Princess hobby - finding stuff that mom dropped and eat it.  Look how he has eaten the upper part of the bobbin.  And he was careful enough to make sure that it was the side where the floss number was written too.  As you can see, the floss has had better days as well - here it is, gnawed and slobbered on.  Princess also gave me a bundle of WDW that can not be used for anything anymore - what do you do with floss that has been cut (and slobbered) to about 6 inches?  Princess is teaching me to keep track of my stuff, that's for sure!

Well peeps, time to get to the stitching.  Looks like I am all alone tonight - everyone else has passed out here (except probably the mice - ugh).  That means that I'll get the bed and the entire upper level all to myself!  Bwahahahaaa....

BTW, how come that I can only see the dirt and the dust when I am in the process of uploading the pics to the WWW?  Apparently I am in blissful ignorance in real life.  Odd indeed...

Finally, I managed to track down a design that I have been chasing for years - feels great!  Just learning the manufacturer and the name of the design made my entire day!  Here it is; Country Life Calendar by Pako - isn't is a beauty!?

G'night and Happy Stitching Dreams,