Weekend Stitching

I worked on "Finch Song" most of the weekend.

I also worked on "Love and Wisdom" a little bit on Friday. We are planning on going down to Florida sometime this week. I'm not exactly sure which day yet. This will be the last trip for the summer. The kids go back to school on August 18. I can't believe how fast this summer has flown by! Well, nothing much going on. I was thinking of taking the kids to Chick-Fil-A, so they could get out and play a little bit. Write soon!

Another Drawn Thread Start

I couldn't resist starting this chart that I got from Katrina's Sale Blog. If you haven't been there yet, you must check it out. She's got some great deals! The chart is "Love and Wisdom." A long band sampler full of specialty stitches. I had all the the NPI and a cut of 32 ct. Natural Belfast that was the perfect size, so I thought "Why not?"

I found out through Amy that these Rolaframe scroll frames are still being made and she's planning on carrying them in her shop. I was very happy to hear this. I like them better than the EZstitch frames because they are so lightweight and so easy to use!

I did stitch a little on "Finch Song" last night. Not really enough to show a pic. I'm just working on the hill. Lots of green! :) Write soon!



P.S. Thank you all for your very kind comments on my Riddle finish! :)

The Riddle is Finished!

I decided to be good and get "The Riddle" Finished up. This was such a fun stitch from beginning to end. I didn't get bored once! The only thing that bothered me were the tiny errors throughout the pattern. Nothing major, just enough to be an annoyance. So if you decide to stitch this, watch out for them!

The Drawn Thread "The Riddle"
Fabric: 32 ct. Vintage Fawn by Lakeside Linens
Threads: Needlepoint Inc. and Gloriana Silks
Started: 6/22/09 - Finished: 7/23/09

Well, now I think I'll get back to "Finch Song." Or maybe I should be good again and work on "It's Berry Time?" Nah, I think I've been good enough for one day. :) Write soon!

Finch Song Start

I started Finch Song the other day. I decided to go with the linen that came in the kit (French Vanilla by R&R) after all. The Lt. Examplar was a little too dark for some of the thread colors.

Amy and I are thinking of doing a mini SAL. We both would like to stitch "A Sweeter Love" by Plum Street Samplers. When that will be? Neither of us are sure, but I know we both like to look at the silks and dream. :) I pulled the NPI and linen I'm thinking of using. It's 40 ct. Vintage Homespun. I've been saving it for that perfect project. :)

I have some more dk green silk to finish "The Riddle," so I guess I really should get back to it. I'm just loving "Finch Song" right now, so it may have wait a while. :) Write soon!



Edited to add: I'm using CythinaC's alternative lettering that she designed for Finch Song. Click here for a link. She does great lettering. Thanks Cindy!! :)

Busy Weekend

I went up to Amy's yesterday to hang out for a little bit and stitch. It was very last minute and she was very sweet to let me intrude on her for a few hours. She even got me lunch (Zaxby's, my very favorite)! While I was there I got a few of the new Shepherd's Bush kits from her online shop Down Sunshine Lane. SB kits are my absolute weakness, next to Lakeside Linen. :)

The first is my favorite - I've been waiting for this one ever since I saw it after their retreat last year.

Finch Song

I'm actually thinking of using a different linen. Maybe Light Examplar (pictured underneath) instead of the R&R French Vanilla.

The next is a very sweet kit that comes with beautiful fabric, ric rac, and a very sweet pin (DMC threads and linen too).

My Pins

And the last is another sweet and simple kit. I just love these tall pudgies. They are so cute.

Thanks A Lot

While at Amy's I worked on The Riddle a little bit. I'm getting very close to finishing! I'm also getting close to running out of the dark green thread. I may have to put it on hold until I can get some more.

I got this section finished up yesterday...

In other news.... Paulette the designer of Plum Street Samplers is having a great giveaway at her blog for her three year blogiversary. There is also a very nice freebie she designed for the occasion. Be sure to leave a comment! She is such a sweet person and a terrific designer!

And today is my baby Matthew's birthday. He's three today! I can't believe my baby is three! It seems like just yesterday that I was in the hospital with him. And now he's my little monster!

But he's a sweet monster! We're going to have a quiet party at home for him. I'm going to make him a cake with "Wow Wow Wubbzy" figurines on top (his favorite cartoon). Well, hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend. Write soon! :)

A Little More Riddle Progress

I got the second over one section and bargello finished up yesterday. Now I'm on to the alphabet section above it.

I also got a bit of stash from Down Sunshine Lane yesterday. I got some linen to stitch a few of the Blackbird stockings and LHN's "Bee Sampler. I also got Plum Street Samplers "A Sweeter Love" pattern and Annie Beez "Colonial Revival" pattern (not pictured).

Well, the kids are wanting lunch! Write soon! :)

Progress...

I worked on "It's Berry Time" a little bit over the weekend...

I also worked on "The Riddle" some.

I got this section finished...

Now it's time to work on my favorite section with more bargello! :) Write soon!

More Sale Items Added!

I added some more charts and linen to my Trade Blog!

Ornament

I forgot to share an ornament I stitched for Shelleen for our exchange. It's the Prairie Schooler ornament from the '99 JCS ornament magazine.

Prairie Schooler "Let it Snow-Man"
Fabric: 40 ct. Vintage River Willow
Threads: DMC and WDW

A Little More Berry Time

40 ct. Vintage Maritime White, Belle Soie silk "Rouge" (1 over 2)

Not much to report - nothing really going on here! Just stitching in between loads of laundry and dishes. Write soon! :)

More Riddle

I've been working on "The Riddle" for the past couple of days. I finally got the grass/tree section finished and now I'm onto the over one words.

I think I'm going to get back to "It's Berry Time" now. I saw a beautiful finish by Francoise (not sure of blog) and she used the same thread (Belle Soie Rouge) that I'm using. It turned out so pretty! If I find out her blog or photo album I'll post a link. Write soon!

It's Berry Time

I got a little tired of stitching with all that green, so I decided to take a little break from "The Riddle" for a day or two. I ended up starting the new Loose Feathers by Blackbird Designs "It's Berry Time." I'm using Rouge Belle Soie silk and stitching it on 40 ct. Vintage Maritime White by Lakeside Linens.

I love the color of this silk - it has shades of red, fuchsia and pink.

Well, my child is needing me! Write soon! :)

Weekend Stitching

I cleaned like a mad woman on Friday so I could relax and stitch on Saturday and Sunday. And that's exactly what I did! I worked on "The Riddle" all weekend. I was stitching along on the grassy area when I realized I didn't have a color that was needed! I double checked the thread list and sure enough it wasn't on it. The color needed was 341, I did have 342 in my stash, so I decided to try it out. I think it turned out ok. It's not as light as the picture, but I think it will be fine.

Even though I didn't have the right color, I had a lot of fun stitching the grass because it's all bargello. I love bargello. Have you all seen Coni's finished bargello canvas work piece? I would love to stitch something like that one day!

For those thinking of stitching this - there is a mistake on the left detail grass pattern - the bottom row is missing. That caused me to frog a couple times. I must have been tired because I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong! :)

Well, nothing else going on here. Just hanging out with the kids - watching Spongebob. :) Write soon!

The Riddle Progress

I have been working on the riddle for the past couple of days. I got one tree finished (after frogging the dumb branch about 10 times) and part of the house.

I am loving this project. I love the colors and the fabric and the silk threads. My dh took my older boys golfing and Matthew is taking a nap (kind of late, but I'm not complaining), so I'm going to get back to stitching! Hope everyone is having a Happy 4th! Write soon!

Scatter Freedom Finished!

I got it finished up last night. It was such a fun stitch!

Shepherd's Bush "Scatter Freedom"
Fabric: 18 ct. Khaki Davos
Threads: Crescent Colours, GAST and DMC (3 over 2)

I went to the American Frame website and was looking at frames. I really like this one...

Maybe I'll actually order it this time. I love to pick out frames, but hate to spend money on them. Isn't that silly?? I guess I'd rather be spending my money on stitching stuff than framing - I really need to get over that! :)

I hope everyone has a very happy and safe 4th of July! Not sure what we have planned yet - we will probably just go outside and watch the fireworks like we did last year. We could see them from our condo parking lot. Write soon! :)

New Stash and New Start

I got some stitching stash from Down Sunshine Lane yesterday. I was able to get some things with the money I made from selling my old stash (thank you everyone!). :) The first thing I got was some fabric and the buttons for Shepherd's Bush's "Scatter Freedom."

I was browsing this quilt magazine...

When I came across this article...

And I saw "Scatter Freedom" as one of their stitched models in their shop. I hadn't really looked at it before and thought it was so cute! So I decided to stitch it for the Fourth of July.

I started yesterday when I got the package from Amy. Here's my progress so far...

I think I should be able to get it finished by the 4th. I also worked on "The Riddle" a little bit yesterday. I'm almost done with the bottom portion.

And here is the other stash I got from Down Sunshine Lane...

Moira Blackburn "Pains of Love" and "Emily Bronte Sampler," Blackbird Designs "It's Berry Time," LHN/CC thread pack "Joyful and Caring" and a fat 1/4 of 40 ct. Flax New Castle Linen.

Yummy silk and linen

I had a couple people ask about my stitching... I normally stitch in hand, but I do use scroll frames for projects that are long or that have specialty stitches. I usually iron my pieces before taking a picture. I'm just picky that way - I can't help it! About the scroll frames I use - the one pictured is an old frame called Rolaframe that I got at my LNS when I lived in Georgia. I honestly don't know if they are still being made. I also use the EZ Stitch frame, which I know is still being made. You can find them at Michael's and other shops. I also use Q-Snaps once in awhile, but not very often. I prefer to stitch in hand if at all possible. I don't use a stand with my frames, I tried them once, but I never got used to them.

Well, that's all for now! I'm going to get back to my stitching! Write soon! :)