Great Stitching Day with Nicole....

Nicole just left for home.... she wanted to get going & hopefully beat anymore bad weather since it seems to have cleared up some at the moment. It's been POURING most of the day. Despite the weather, I had a wonderful time! We have so much in common and of course we both love stitching... bet you can't tell that huh? ;-) I think bouncing some of my ideas off her & getting her feedback helped me to make a decision to try a stitching rotation. I have SO MANY pieces I want to stitch, and so many UFO/WIP's too. I'm going to list (some of) them here & then try & figure out a schedule, but it won't start for a week or so as I am going to finish something I started last night & then I need to stitch an ornament & an emery before I can do anything else. Wish me luck! ;-)

Here are my lists that I'll chose the first rotation from, then I'll pull something else or add something new as I have a finish. I'll likely edit this a dozen times before long! lol

UFO list:

1. Personalized Sampler
2. And A Forest Grew
3. Black Magic (Just Nan)
4. Personalized Quaker
5. The Lord's Prayer (Stoney Creek)

WIP list:
1. Quaker Virtues
2. Ornament Exchange Group (3 to go!)
3. Seasonal Exchange

Want to start list:
1. ABC Lessons (LK)
2. Heaven Doth Ask
3. CiCi's Sewing Box (DT)
4. Be Not Forgetful (My Big Toe)
5. My Earth (SB)

Geez, after typing it all out, I think I've scared myself! LOL

I'll have to look at it for awhile & see which ones I want to stitch first & must add at least a couple of smaller pieces in with the large ones! ;-)

Monday -
Tuesday -
Wednesday - Quaker Virtues
Thursday -
Friday -
Saturday -
Sunday - FREE Day (stitch on whatever I want!)

If anyone has any tips on how to make this easier.... feel free to share! :-)



And sweet Nicole brought me one more thing to add to my list - Just Nan's Bellemeade, kitted with fabric & all the silk threads! She sure knew how to make my day! It's lovely & I can't wait to stitch it! Thank you again Nicole!!

On a serious note, our stithcing friend Terry is in the hospital. She is having some pretty serious problems. Please take a minute to say a prayer for Terry or send positive thoughts her way. I'm sure she would appreciate them. Hopefully she'll soon be better!

Nicole, thanks again for coming today, it was wonderful to see you & I look forward to next time! :-)

Thanks for stopping by & be sure to watch next week. I'll be having some sort of give away for my 2nd year blogging anniversary! :-) Happy stitching!

Isn't She Pretty?!

Ray & I ran to Wal-Mart yesterday afternoon to get a double Shepherd's hook to put two bird feeders on & while there, I saw this pretty angel in the garden center. I fell in love with her & wanted to buy her, but I didn't. After sleeping on it, I decided to go back this afternoon & if she was still there, to get her. It was the last one, so I wasn't sure if she'd be there or not, but as you can see, she was. Several people stopped us to look at her while in the store & the cashier just loved her. She stands 3 feet tall & is now in the corner of our courtyard. Don't you LOVE the little bird she's holding? :-)

Just had to share as she makes me smile!

Be sure to see my post from earlier today about my Quaker Virtues start. Happy stitching & thanks for visiting!

My Quaker Virtues Start....

Bygone Stitches Quaker Virtues

Fabric - 25 ct Vintage Country Mocha (over 1 thread)

Fibers - DMC 815 & GAST Dark Chocolate

Started Feb. 25, 2009

Here is my start on Quaker Virtues... didn't I get a lot done? ;-) I had a headache last night & it was hard to get this much done, but that's okay. I know it will take quite awhile to stitch this lovely but large design. My SAL friends on this one are Vonna, Terry & Nicole. I sure hope they were able to get more done yesterday than I did! :-)

Thanks for stopping by & happy stitching!

I have a finish! (Edited to answer a question...)

This is Plum Street's "Love Notes" that I stitched over the past few days. I finished it last night. I have a framed ordered for it & it should be here next week. I left off the top & bottom border and of course I changed all the colors! It's stitched on Sand Belfast using GAST Rustic Cottage, Blue Spruce, Berry Cobbler & white DMC. The frame is by Eastside & I think it matches perfectly, can't wait to get it here! :-)

Tomorrow is the big starting day for Quaker Virtures... in the meantime, I hope to stitch on an ornament for Carol in the exchagne group I'm in!

Thanks for stopping by & happy stitching!

*** To answer Craft-i-Leigh's question about fabrics - I think most stitcher's have their own preferences when it comes to fabrics. I like 32, 36 & 40 cts best and I use mostly Belfast, Edinboro & Newcastle which are all Zweigart fabrics. I also like the Graziano fabrics from Italy, they're wonderful. Vonna recently urged me to try 25 ct Lugana over 1, and I have found that I really like it as well, esp. the Vintage Country Mocha, it's a lovely shade. I encourage you to try stitching over 2 as well. Maybe start with a Jobelan or Lugana evenweave. I personally prefer linens over evenweaves, but that's just me! Hope this helps with your learning & I'm sure there are others who are more than happy to answer your questions!

Another week....

Wow, hard to believe another week has come & gone already! This year is already flying by. I have stitched, I finished two ornaments & started Plum Street's "Love Notes" on Friday. One of the ornaments I ruined while doing the finishing. Ray thinks I can salvage it, but I'm not so sure. :-( Ever done anything really stupid like that? It's more than annoyiny & upsetting. :-( Maybe I'll work on it today & see if I can find a fix for it. Cross your fingers for me!

Vonna, Terry, Nicole & I are starting ByGone Stitches "Quaker Virtures" on Wednesday. Not sure how long it will take me to stitch this one, but my goal is 5 years! ;-) Yep, you read that right. I seem to have problems finishing really big projects & I'm determined to start several other projects pretty soon, AND I'm going to finish several UFO's that have been in the works for 1, 2 or even 3 years. Maybe I can finish this mega project sooner since I'll have the other 3 gals to give me (a hard time) I MEAN motavation about it. Think that will work? ;-)

I want to thank all of you who have left the comments about my Just Nan finish... thanks so much! :-) I can't believe I finished it in about a month either.... but it's not THAT big... just lots of color changes and a bit of over 1, which I don't mind. I have other JN's I want to stitch this spring/summer too, just have to get started on one.... hmm, which one will it be?! :-)

I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead filled with lots of stitching!

Just Nan Progress Update....

Or shall I say FINISH! Wooohooo! It's done! YEAH!
I started it on Jan. 14th & if it hadn't been for the beads/charms, I would have been done yesterday, making it one full month. Now it's a month + 1 day, which isn't too bad I don't think! :-) I'm so thrilled to have it finished & now I have a list as long as your arm for what I want to stitch next! ;-)

The pic should be clickable to see a slightly larger image if you'd like!

I know lots of folks are stithcing a rotation and I've though about giving that a try, but not sure I can. I think I'll start 4-5 NEW pieces & just stitch on whatever calls my name that evening when I sit down to stitch! ;-) First though, I have two ornaments & an emery to stitch. I'm a tad behind on my commitment stitching, but I'll catch up real soon I hope!

This past week was crazy busy... remind me not to pick the week after Market to make so many appointments. First I spent Tuesday afternoon at the eye doctor. Seems I now have not one but THREE cataracts. It's a wonder I can see at all at this point. Two are on my left eye & one on my right. As of last May I only had one on my left. Seems surgery might be closer than we'd first planned. We'll see in a few months. He says he gives up on me... I'm one of the most difficult patients he has as every year it seems to be something different or worse. Ever read the eye chart & see two of each letter, one on top of the other? No, not normal? He didn't seem to think so either for some reason! lol Anyway, I always seem to get a horrible headache anytime my eyes are dilated, and I had it for well over 24 hours. Doesn't help when you need to work on the computer OR you want to stitch. A new prescription for glasses won't help my wonderful 20/40 vision (that's with bifocals) so I guess I'll have to hang in there. I did, however, find a really wonderful pair of frames that I really needed... so a new pair of glasses should be ready to be picked up this week one day. They're cool, and RED! :-) Go figure huh..... ME pick something red? ;-)

Yesterday Ray & I shared our 21st anniversary. So hard to believe we've been married for 21 years! How did we get to this age this quickly? We're we 18 & 21 just a few years ago? (our ages when we met!). Next up are our birthdays (both in March). Talk about time flying by..... and lots of gray hair to boot! lol

Hope you had a great Valentine's Day and have a wonderful week ahead. Happy stitching!

So who's stitching?

My floor stand arrived Friday & I think I like it! The only thing is flipping it over every few minutes when I have a color change, which is a lot with this Just Nan. It does turn, but geez, I'm afraid I'll wear it out turning it every few minutes. Any suggestions on this from "experienced users" out there? The floor stand is ugly, there is no doubt about that. Oh well... I'll give it a bit more of a try & see how it goes! :-) I would love to finish this Just Nan much sooner than I had planned, so cross your fingers for me! :-)

With Market this weekend, I've been watching & hoping to see something fantastic that I must stitch. So far, I've seen one Drawn Thread (not really a market release) that I MUST stitch. Ray is going to make a box for me when all the pieces are finished!! :-) Wooohooo! Here is a pic of it.....

The pic isn't the greatest, but you get the idea! :-) I just love it... it has lots of flowers, trees, bunnies & maybe a bird or two... I can't see it that well yet. DSL should have it soon. The box is very pretty, but it retails for around $400, so I won't be getting that one for myself. The design is just gorgeous though, and I don't have a "dowry box" as Olde Colonial calls it. :-) I hope to by Christmas though!

I also MUST have this piece by Paulette at Plum Street - I think it's called "Love Notes" ----

I might even have to stitch it on a piece of rose colored linen (gasp!!) I have in my stash... we'll see when I get it here. Hopefully it will be within a week or so. I won't have it by Valentine's Day, but that's okay. Ray & I were married on Valetine's Day (21 years ago this Saturday), so I have a fondness for things that even relate to that day! :-) This one is just my fav so that Paulette has done, though they're all great.

I have seen a few small things that I really like, a little Just Nan, a Quaker piece by a new designer that Kelmscott is going to distribute, a "Chocolate" design by Hinzeit.... my list could go on I'm sure but I'll stop here. DSL will have all of these things & many more... be sure to visit.

Have a great Sunday & happy stitching!

More JN Progess and......

Yesterday was Petra's birthday - she had a great day from all accounts & I'm so glad she did. I sent her this "Homepsun Heart" pincushion & matching fob along with the "Love" scissors. It was fun to make & hopefully she'll find it useful.
Here is the next "weekly update" on my Just Nan's Common Ground. As you can see, it's getting there, but I haven't stitched much at all since Sunday. Hopefully I'll get to stitch on it this weekend. After much looking & thinking, I've decided not to send this one to Jill Rensel. I think the border is "mat" enough for it & custom designed mats might be a bit much. That's okay... my list for Jill is as long as your arm, so I won't do without! I already have a SB kit that I want to stitch that I think I'll start soon & just order the mats for those instead! See, easy and wonderful! :-)

My floor stand still hasn't shown up :-( but maybe today. The qsnaps do seem to be helping with the pain some, hope it continues and that the floor stand helps even more. Only one way to find out!

Thanks for stopping by.... happy stitching!