Monday, June 29, 2009

Weekend Finishes

Thank You....

I want to Thank all of you for your concern over my mishap on Friday. I did call the doctor and he thinks it was a slight heat stroke but since I was able to recover so quickly and had no lasting effects from it there was no need to be seen. He did say to be more careful in the heat and be sure to always have water to keep hydrated. I'm still sore where I landed but that too will improve with time.

Finishes....

Since I was hurting I did nothing this weekend but lay in the bed (it hurt to sit too long) or stitch. I really want to get a big bunch of ornies done this year and will probably make July my Ornament Stitching Month. To get started I printed off a bunch of free designs by Victoria Sampler. To start off I did this.....


"Gingerbread Cookie Ornament" by Victoria Sampler
Stitched on 28 count Cashel with
various fibers
I still need to find the perfect fabric for the backing for this. I think I want a solid red so it doesn't take away from the design.
Another Cube.....



I don't remember when I stitched this design but I do remember it's from one of the JCS Ornament issues. I think the fabric is perfect for the design.
A Gift.....
I know how I've gone on and on about how sweet my DH Tracy is and how he spoils me rotten. He felt so bad after my fall on Friday he just had to cheer me up with this cute little froggy. He got it for me while we on Fremont St after dinner.






The necklace will probably turn my neck green when I wear it but I really don't care since he was go sweet to get it for me. I think I'll take the necklace out of the frog and use it to hold my tiny stitching supplies like my needle threaders.

I'm still working on the 3rd Christmas In My Heart design and should have it finished in the next day or two and then on to more ornaments I think.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching





Saturday, June 27, 2009

A Date, A Mishap, A Finish

Yesterday was our monthly Date Night (or in this case day). Since the display at the Belliago was changed for summer that was our first stop. As you can see in these pictures the conservatory was full of really pretty colorful flowers and things that remind you of Summer. There are many more pictures in my Webshots album if you would like to see more (link in the side bar).
View from the Lobby Entrance

The Ferris Wheel was huge and had Sunflowers in each seat


View from another Entrance. The Glass Green house was full of Parakeets and Lorakeets


Who could resist this Froggie
Parts of the display are from years past but in different settings.
After our stroll through the flowers we headed back out to the strip to catch the bus to go downtown to Fremont Street for some people watching and dinner at Tracy's favorite buffet and this is where the mishap happened. It was very warm but I didn't think that it was that hot but guess I was wrong. While waiting for the bus I began to fell dizzy and sick to my tummy. This has happened before and soon passed so I didn't say anything to Tracy. The next thing I knew I heard someone say the bus is coming and then I found myself flat on my back on the sidewalk. A very nice gentleman helped Tracy get me back on my feet, my glasses picked up and on to the bus. He even got someone to give their seat up for me. After about 10 minutes on the bus in the A/C I was feeling much better. Tracy thinks it was a slight heat stoke that hit me and was really scared. He wasn't sure we should continue with our plans but I assured him that I was OK and we did go for dinner but made it a early evening. I must have hit my tush really hard when I went down because it's really sore today and walking is a little painful so I'm staying put in my stitching chair and stitching the day away. He felt so sorry for me that when he went out to get stuff for dinner he came home with a bag of Dark Chocolate Truffles for me and he is cooking tonight.
Now for my latest finish.....




"Christmas In My Heart 2004" by Cross n' Patch Emie Bishop
Stitched on 28 count White Linen
with DMC Perle Cotton and floss
This is the second in the series of 4 and the one that Tracy picked for me to do after the first one. I think it may be my favorite one but I'll probably say that after I finish each of them I have started the third pattern and making good progress on it too. I have also started a Hardanger Ornament by Victoria Sampler but not enough done yet for a picture. Since I'll be doing the Hardanger Class I thought a Hardanger Ornie for the exchange would be nice to do.
That's it for this update. Be sure to check out the photos of the Belliago on Webshots, lots of pretty things to see.
Until Next Time.....Have a Great weekend with lots of stitching time





Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Monopoly Monday and Tuesday too

I really wanted to get the lettering done on all the properties on side three so I spent two days on Monopoly this week. One more week should almost finish up side three and then on to the last side. I am shocked at how fast this is going and that I have managed to stitch on it almost every Monday. I really don't enjoy BAP's so that I've stuck with this is a real surprise.

Monopoly Board 6-23
What would a Blog entry be lately without a little finish. I have totally fallen in love with the "No Sew" cube finish. I was thinking that they would be really cute under the Christmas tree like little packages. With no kids at home it's really kinda bare under the tree.

This is "Silly Snowquake" that I stitched earlier this year but didn't finish until now. I thought the pearl headed pins added a look of snow to the finish.


Side and back of cube.
Summer is really here now. We got up to 102 yesterday and the start of heat is here and will stay now until late September. The weatherman said we have chances of Thunderstorms on Thurs and Friday but I'll believe it when I hear the thunder and see those drops fall from the sky. We are planning a day and evening out and won't let a little rain stop us.
Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

Monday, June 22, 2009

Weekend Stitching

I had a fairly good weekend of stitching. I completed the stitching on another ornament. I can't believe how long it took to do this tiny piece but stitching 1 over 1 with overdyed floss seems to take forever. This is from the JCS Christmas Preview Issue and I can't wait for the companion piece in the Ornament Issue. The design in the magazine was done with white thread on red fabric but I prefer the red on white. I'm also doing this on green fabric with ecru but stitching it over 2 and will make a knob knocker out of it.

"Joy of Christmas" by My Big Toe Design
Stitched 1 over 1 on 32 count Ivory Jobelan with
Crescent Colours "Cupid"
This shows how small it is compared to a pair of Stork Scissors
After almost going blind stitching 1 over 1 I decided to pull out BOO Club by Lizzie Kate. I really enjoy doing her designs and this one is another really fun one.





This week I'll be working on the Monopoly Board, Christmas In My Heart and Maddie's Birth Sampler. I may even sneak in another day on Tea and Stitches or maybe Home is Where You Hang Your Needlework. Just depends on what falls out of the WIP Basket.
Since Tracy had to work on Father's Day I'll be taking him out to dinner at the end of the week when he is off. We'll probably make a day and evening out of it with a visit to the Belliago for the Summer display and maybe a little tourist watching and some shopping for the Grands.
Until Next Time....Happy Stitching and Have a GREAT Week

Saturday, June 20, 2009

A Batch of Cupcakes

I have been making cupcake pin cushions as gifts and decided I would just stitch up a few and get ahead of the game. Can you tell I love making these and sure will be doing more of them real soon.


"All Dressed Up" in formal wear
Thought the little bear would be really cute in his formal wear. Now he is ready for any white tie affair. You can't tell from the picture but his bow tie is done in a Opalescent metallic and his buttons are pearl headed pins.


"Smile"


"I Love to Stitch" with Scissor charm



"Rose Garden"




"Butterflies and Bows"





"Sweetheart"



They are all stitched on either 28 count or 32 count linen with overdyed floss. I really didn't follow the color in the chart, just picked colors I liked out of my stash.

I spent the rest of the week working on another ornament but it is slow going. I'm doing it 1 over 1 on 32 count Jobelan. With any luck and if the frogs stay away it should be done this weekend and then I'll work more on the Sampler for Maddie.
Until Next Time.....Have a Great Weekend with lots of good stitching time.

A Loss in the Stitching Community

On Thursday morning the stitching world lost a very talented designer and good friend to many. Marc Davis passed on to the great stitching lounge with his beloved dogs on his lap. Marc designed under the name of Needlemania and did some very lovely designs. He was aslo the owner of several Yahoo Groups of which I have been lucky enough to be a Mod of. We will miss his sense of humour and sharp wit as well as his friendship. Rest in Peace Marc, we will never forget you.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Monopoly Monday and Last Weeks Stitching

I didn't realize how much stitching and finishing I had done until I started adding pictures to this entry. Today I worked on the Monopoly Board again since it was Monopoly Monday. Have all the properties outlined for this page. Only 1 more page and the center left to do. I really can't believe how quick this has gone and how much fun it's been to work on.

Some of the next pictures are a little faded out. Not sure what's going on with my camera, maybe I need a new and improved one.


Wasn't sure what I was going to do with the Stitching Angel and decided it would make a really cute cube. I added a heart charm and on the top is a Angel charm. I'm really happy with the outcome.






"A Spot Of Christmas" by Milady's Needle
2009 JCS Ornament Preview Issue
Stitched on 28 count Natural Irish Linen
with WDW, GAST, Crescent Colors, Krienik, DMC and Mill Hill Beads
This will probably be my ornament for the "Christmas in July" ornament exchange in my ILCS group. It was a really fun one to do and stitched up rather quickly. I just wish the beads in the border showed up better.



"Christmas In My Heart - 2005" by Emie Bishop of Cross n' Patch
Stitched on 28 count White Irish Linen with DMC
This is the second heart from the 4 in the chart. I decided since I'm not going to cut this one out I would just do regular Kloster Block and not do the Buttonhole stitch around the border. Tracy was the one who decided this would be done next so maybe I'll finish it on a box top for him to put his junk in.




"Sweet Baby Sampler"
I made some good progress on Maddies birth Sampler. It's almost half done now and I really think I'll have it finished before her first birthday.
I also finished another cupcake or two but can't share them until they find their way to a new home.
Hope everyone has a great week with LOTS of good weather and stitching time.
Until Next Time....Happy Stitching




















Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Monopoly Monday - A Day Late

Another page finished on the Monopoly Board. I now only have about 3 pages to go. I was thinking this would take a year to do but looks like I may be finished in the next couple of months.

Monopoly Board 6-9




Also got another project finished. I had this stitched last month but had misplaced the buttons. The buttons turned up yesterday like magic. I got Tracy to cut the cardboard for the flat fold and finished putting it together today. That's two finishes in two days....guess I'm on a roll LOL
Until Next Time....Happy Stitching


Monday, June 8, 2009

Weekend's Update

I have made my first No Sew Cube (Thank You Shelley for the link to the instructions). It was much easier than I thought it would be and will be doing more of these I'm sure. I wanted to do another with the latest Hardanger finish but of course the lousy WalFart didn't have any cubes the right size so that will have to wait until I can get to JoAnn's or Michael's.

No Sew Cube front
No Sew Cube back


A Finish....
I'm still really enjoying doing Hardanger and see lots more of it being done now. This was my finish this weekend.
"Christmas In My Heart 2003" by Cross n' Patch - Emie Bishop
Stitched on 28count White Linen
with DMC #8 and #12 Perle Cotton and floss
This is one of the four designs on the chart and I will be doing all four of them. Emie Bishop has been a favorite designer of mine for years and I was lucky enough to meet her at a stitching show in IL in the late 90's. I did one of her designs and entered it in the Arkansas State Fair was was surprised to win "Best of Show" in the Hardanger catagory. I have also started another of her designs "1996" Angel" but my eyes just were too tired to handle the buttonhole stitch on 32 count fabric. I'm doing it with Pink Perle cotton on a light Pink fabric and when finished I'm sending it to Donna for the Stitch for a Cure tree. I hope to have enough progress to share with you later this week.
I'm working on Monopoly today and then will get back to the birth sampler for Maddie. Speaking of the little cutie, here is a picture of her in the "Piglet" onesie I stitched for her. Thank goodness I got them done and in the mail to her before she outgrew it.






It was a nice stitching weekend here. A little windy but the temps have cooled off and are only in the high 80's.
Until Next Time....Have a great week with LOTS of good stitching time

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Mid Week Update

It's been one of those weeks where I've had a little problem focusing on projects so here is what I have done.....

A Finish....

"Stitching Angel"
Free design done on 28 count Cream Evenweave
with Crescent Colors "Blooming Crocus"
I started this a couple of weeks ago and thought it would make a really cute cupcake but it turned out to be a little too large so I put it down. I kept looking at it and thinking it wouldn't take long to finish so last night I picked it up again and finished it off. I think I just might try to find a small frame that will match my "Not Tonight Dear...." and hang them together.
WIP's, New Starts....
I'm still on the Hardanger kick and had to start on this one.....
"Christmas In My Heart" by Cross n' Patch, Emie Bishop
Stitched on 28 count Linen
with DMC
Not really a lot to see yet but it's coming along slow but sure. I really hate doing the Buttonhole stitch (always have) and can't wait to get it finished so I can do the cross stitching on it then the fun part, cutting and doing the needle weaving. When I finish this I will have enough practice at the Buttonhole stitch to move on to the Angel.
My major focus for a while.....

"Sweet Baby Sampler" by Praiseworthy Stitches
stitched on 28 count Platinum Cashel
with various Silks
This is for my new grandbaby Maddie. I hope to have it done before her first birthday. I have changed all the colors called for and so far I'm really happy with the combinations. I will add pink beads to the centers of all the flowers in the border but that will be my reward at the end. So far the borders from page 1 and 2 are done so that's half way for them.
Best Buddies....


Gibby and Maddie
I just got this picture last night and had to share it. They had some friends over and of course they had to hold Maddie but that didn't make Gibby to happy. He kept telling them "You have to leave her here when you go home". I hope he still feels the same way in a couple of years when she is following him around and getting into his toys and things.
Must get back to stitching on the sampler, the way time flies her 1st birthday will be here in a flash.
Until Next Time.....Have a great rest of the week with lots of stitching time.