Reason for My Stash Sale....

I went up to Amy's yesterday and went just a tad crazy in the Down Sunshine Lane room.

The Sampler Company "Hetty Child, "40 ct. Antique White linen and Kelmscott's Lace Scissors.

With thy Needle and Thread "Needles and Pins Heart Pinkeep," 30 ct. Iced Cappuccino R&R and Kelmscott's Primitive Storkette Scissors.

Close up of both scissors - I'm such a sucker for pretty scissors!

New LHN designs "Rosey" and "Hillside Travelers" with 40 ct. Summer Khaki linen.

I also got a good portion of my "Souvenir of Paris" stocking done. I hope to finish it up today!!

30 ct. St. Valentine's Blend by R&R, Recommended threads (2 over 2).

Thank you to those who are helping me clear some stash! My husband thanks you too! :)

Write soon!

For Sale

I have listed lots of charts on my trade/sale blog!!

Shores Block 9 Finished!

I just finished this up today! I think this is my favorite block. I love everything about it, although I didn't love stitching those rocks! :)

I only have two blocks to go now!

40 ct. Summer Khaki over-dyed with Tan Rit Dye, NPI silks (1 over 2)

Many of you may have seen Paulette's gorgeous pictures of her recent visit to Shepherd's Bush. It's definitely my dream to visit the shop one day. It has been for about 14 years now! Anyway, I noticed their version of Long Dog Sampler's "The Token" in one of her pictures and loved it. I asked around and found out that they used Gloriana Rosewood. I had started The Token a long time ago, but didn't get far. I ended up using the linen for something else. So I decided to restart it the other day using Rosewood (I had a skein in my stash and ordered a few more, hopefully it matches).

40 ct. Lt. Examplar Linen, Gloriana silk (1 over 2)

I don't know why I'm on a Quaker kick lately. I have yet to finish a large Quaker sampler, but oh well, stitching is supposed to be fun, right?? :) Write soon!

Marianne Wenn and Tea

Marianne Wenn Sampler from Norwich Museum

I fell in love with this sampler right away, but like Terri, I did not like the called for colors. So I did my own tentative conversion. I say tentative because there are a couple colors I'm still unsure about and may not know how they will look until I start stitching.

DMC - My Conversion

304 - Bell Soie Tulip

3706 - Belle Soie Angel Blush or NPI 222

3713 - AVAS 1011

725 - NPI 694

744 - Belle Soie Scarecrow

890 - Belle Soie Crème de Menthe

3818 - NPI 256

906 - Belle Soie Beanstalk

312 - Belle Soie Blue Lagoon

3761 - Gloriana 124A Slate Blue Light

433 - Belle Soie Chocolat

3863 - NPI 764

842 - NPI 761

844 - NPI 976

Well, I'm not sure when I'll actually get to this sampler, but it was fun playing in all the threads.

Since it's been colder I've started drinking hot tea. I went to Pier One today and found a sweet little teapot on clearance. I've been trying many different teas lately and I've found a favorite... Twinings Irish Breakfast Tea.

Well, hope you all stay warm out there! Write soon! :)

Shores and More Knitting

I worked on Shores a little bit over the weekend...

I also worked on my BFF sock. I'm down to the heel flap now!

This sock isn't actually this bright!

Unfortunately I had to rip out my other socks. I messed up on the increase - I'll start over soon (I need to brush up on some basics - it's been awhile).

I also decided to start a scarf. I have always loved this scarf made by Brooklyn Tweed. I went through my stash and found the perfect yarn (yarn I was using for a couple of sweaters that I know I'll never finish).

Noro Silk Garden #86 and Cascade Lana D'oro Tweed #7619

Hopefully, I can get it finished and the sock finished soon! Write later!

Antique Shop Find and Socks

I decided to go to my not-so-LNS, It's a Stitch, today. I needed to match up a skein of silk for Jane Tindall. Margaret let me know that two of 3734 are needed. Thankfully, they had one in stock and it matched!

On the way back I stopped at an antique mall and found a glass flower frog. I have always wanted one to hold my scissors. I found a little glass bowl there to set it on also.

It was great find and not very expensive at all! My next stop was Five Guys, for a very yummy and very peaceful lunch. My dh was so sweet to watch the kids so I could have a few hours to myself. After Five Guys I stopped at Barnes and Noble - first stop, Starbucks, to get a Tall Caffe Mocha! :) While there I found this knitting book - Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks. I have always wanted to try toe-up socks and I have always wanted to try two-at-a-time. So I came home and cast on right away. I'm having so much fun knitting these.

Well, I'm going to get back to my socks! Thank you to everyone for your very kind comments on Margaret Havelock - They mean to much to me. Write soon!

Margaret Havelock Finished!

I finished my first reproduction sampler!

"1836 Margaret Havelock Sampler" from the spring 2010 issue of
Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly (Vol. 58)
Fabric: 40 ct. Fawn by Lakeside Linens
Threads: DMC (1 over 2)
Started: 1/16/11 - Finished: 1/21/11

Now I'm going to start on my ornament and then get back to Shores! Write soon!

A Little More Margaret and New Start

I worked on Margaret a little bit yesterday...

40 ct. Fawn by LL, DMC threads (1 over 2).

I'm still loving it!

I also decided to start something new (having my own belated January challenge). :) I decided to start "Rose Quaker Sampler" by Wiehenburg. I was going to use NPI, but ended up going with DMC because I wanted to make sure I had enough and not have to worry about dye-lots.

40 ct. Vintage Magnolia by LL, DMC threads (1 over 2).

Another goal for 2011 that I have set for myself is to stitch an ornament a month. I realized when putting my ornaments on the tree last year that I only had a couple stitched by me. So the first ornament I want to stitch is "Souvenir of Paris" by Blackbird Designs.

30 ct. St. Valentine's Blend by R&R, GAST and WDW threads.

It's all kitted up and ready to go! Can't wait to get started! I plan to use Vonna's Tutorial to do the finishing myself. Wish me luck! :)

Write soon!

Started on a Whim...

I was surfing stitching blogs last night and came across this beautiful sampler stitched by Anne of Tempus Fugit. It's Margaret Havelock 1836 from the Spring 2010 issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework.

40 ct. Fawn by Lakeside Linens, DMC threads.

I'm loving it! Somehow in just one day my house is completely destroyed again (it may have something to do with those three boys running around), so I'll be having a repeat of yesterday - getting everything clean, so I can relax and stitch. Am I the only one that needs a clean house to stitch?? :) Write soon!

Needlecrafts of all Sorts!

The rocks are finished! I was determined to get them done last night. Now I'm on to more solid stitching. A very nice change! Please excuse the wrinkles (too lazy to iron). :)

40 ct. Summer Khaki (over-dyed with Tan Rit Dye), NPI silks.

I went up to Amy's yesterday as planned. We had a fun day - not a stitching day, but a knitting and crochet day. She has always wanted to learn how to knit, so I brought some yarn, needles, and a couple books up with me. I showed her the basics of casting on and the knit stitch. She was doing very well, but decided to crochet a little (which she is an expert at). She started on a dishcloth and finished it up in no time, and she gave it to me, which was very sweet of her!!

I love it! Thank you again Amy! I decided to get out my old BFF socks. I love the one I finished and really wanted to finish the second sock. I was stuck on the pattern though. I couldn't remember how I did the cable increase. I tried it and ripped and tried it and ripped some more. When I got home I finally figured it out.

Hopefully, I'll be able to get them finished up soon!

In other news - I got a couple threads (still missing one - it's on back order with the dyer) I was needing for "Jane Tindall 1864." I just love this sampler. I hope to start it sometime in 2011. :)

40 ct. Pearled Barley, AVAS silks.


Yummy silks...

Well, nothing else going on here! Just cleaning, so I can relax and stitch (or knit). Write soon!

More Shores

Sorry, I haven't posted in awhile. I was busy stitching another model for Lisa. I just finished it last night and now I'm back to working on Shores of Hawk Run Hollow.

I got block #2 finished up a couple weeks ago...

And now I'm working on block #9...

The rocks are taking forever! I'll be glad when I finish them up! Well, nothing else going on here - just hanging out with the kids (they have five days off because of teacher furlough days and the MLK holiday). I am going up to Amy's tomorrow and I'm so looking forward to it! I really need a day off! :) Write soon!

2011 Goals

I normally don't make resolutions, but I would like to set a few stitching goals for myself. There are a few things I would really like to finish this year.

1. Shores at Hawk Run Hollow

I only have 3 1/2 blocks to go! I think I'm going to focus on it until it's finished!

2. Paradise Lost

I'm fairly close to being finished - I just need to do it already! I'll make it my focus after Shores is finished.

3. Anniversaries of the Heart

Love this project - I don't want it to become a UFO!

4. Sarah Woodham

This sampler is just too gorgeous not to get finished!!

5. Ruth Bacheler

Another gorgeous repro sampler. Definitely want to get back to Ruthie sometime this year.

6. CHS Alphabet

This is such a fun design and the blocks go so quickly, there is really no reason not to get it finished this year.

I must also add my two new starts... Frances Eden and Elizabeth Mears. I really hope to get them all finished this year. Not sure if I can actually do it, but I'm going to try!!