Yes, I'm afraid And They Sinned got put away for now -- once again I got daunted by the part I was working on and decided not to work on it. Poor thing. I know I will get back to it though.
So instead, I pulled out poor Sarah Elizabeth Brooke (The Scarlett House). Finished all that darned grass. And now I'm in the throes of lots of brickwork. Sigh.
I need a good audiobook to keep me going.
My red floss for the bricks doesn't seem to have as much variegation as Tanya's did. But that's ok. Oh, and btw, if you go to that link, you will see a small correction to the chart for Sarah.
I hope Tanya doesn't mind. I really want to show how pretty this piece is. This is from Tanya's (The Scarlett House) blog.
I will get there someday!
Come the middle of the week, we will be cold and full of awful jackhammering noises in the house. Yes, we are putting a French drain system in the basement. Which means jackhammering, possible dust -- but hopefully the dust will stay down in the basement -- and cold (since we can't use the heat while the jackhammering is going on). I'm so not looking forward to the work, or the expense. But I am definitely looking forward to no more basement flooding. Wish us luck!
Here is a pic of Mia. She has definitely discovered the advantages of down coats. :D
This time, she went for the boy child's coat. (Kim, recognize the quilt? Yes, it's the one I got from you!)
Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi! I hope everyone has a wonderful week.
68 comments:
You are mastering that brickwork! Looks wonderful. :) And Mia's as cheeky as ever!
What is French drainage?
Brickwork is such fun to do, no day dreaming whilst you stitch otherwise you end up with subsidence LOL.
Did you enjoy Downton?
As always your stitching and Mia are beautiful.
You are not inspiring me to start ATS...LOL...just kiddding, I have no plans to start it any time soon.
Mia is as adorable as always!!!
That's great that your basement is getting fixed...we did some work to ours a few years ago....what a relief!!!
Take care...HAPPY MONDAY!!
Marion
Oh MY GOSH Margaret...once again !! I just ordered Hannah Tingey so I'll get to do some brickwork myself. Sarah is lovely. I have been really drawn to Tanya's designs lately. Mia is one smart CAT !! Goes right for the down sleeves. She's adorable. Snuggle up in your down coat, turn on a great book and enjoy the rumbling of the jackhammer while you stitch!! HUGS
I hope those French drains do the trick for you, Margaret--you've had more than your share of water in the basement over the past few years!
Love the house you're "building"--hope it goes quickly for you. Yes, a good audiobook would certainly help :)
The house is growing beautifully!
Gorgeous start! Too bad about ATS, it is quite alot of filling in, and it is in my WIP bucket from last year...... I have this chart and it is ready to go-- LOVE it. Something about houses right? And bricks? Nice job :)
Congrats on the progress Margret. You're doing well. And hopefully, no more basement flooding! I'm sure that would be great. Mia looks darling, as always. My Yes Dear has been a little rascal lately, with new (noisy) toys for Christmas. Fun, fun!!
Absolument merveilleux !
very beautiful ......
vivement la suite !
have a good day
marylin France
Once you get that brickwork done, it will be all downhill! Sure to be another gorgeous finish in no time, Margaret. I did recognize the quilt right away! ;o) I may put a length or two in on ATS today...just because. Happy Monday!
Lovely sampler Margaret, I do know what you mean, an audio book is so welcome-) you really need to knit some fingerless mittens to keep you warm:))
Good luck with building the drain, we have had our fare share of building work an still going!
Is Mia bothered!!
Gorgeous!!! She's really coming along. I hope you get back to ATS soon. I worked on mine last night!
Sweet progress, Margaret! I need to watch Good Reads to see what book you've chosen to keep you company as you lay the brick work. ;) BTW, my daughter LOVED The True Story of Hansel & Gretel! I keep meaning to tell you that.
Love the photo of Mia!
Mia is so cute! And I'm on the lawn with Sarah Elizabeth. I know you'll master those bricks! Best of luck weathering the cold and the noise.
Hope the French Drain installation goes well and takes care of your flooding issues!!!!
Sarah Elizabeth is just gorgeous :-).
Awww, Mia is adorable! and your brickwork is top notch...looking forward to seeing this one progress.
Basement flooding??Yuck...hope the French drains take care of that issue for you!
No heat while they jackhammer is double the punishment. I advise some good ear plugs and fingerless gloves, a warm quilt over your lap and lots of brickwork on Sarah! Hope you pull out ATS again soon, I was enjoying your progress on it!
Mia is a smart kitty! She really knows how to stay warm!
Margaret, I thought French drains are supposed to be installed OUTSIDE of the house? To intercept water before it gets inside? That's what we did when we bumped out the back of our house. The French drains have made a world of difference! During Hurricane Irene, our basement had a small amount of water, in the middle of the floor where it's just hydrostatic pressure (no drainage system will help that). Otherwise, we were dry. All of our neighbors who had sump pumps ran into trouble when the power went out for 3 days.
You are building one fine looking house dear friend. Hang in there with those bricks. It's going to be awesome!
Pretty stitching. Aren't you glad the brickwork outline is done? Amazing how different these variegate threads can look from piece to piece. I do like the solid look though just as well.
You need to take those coats back from Mia to keep you warm during the basement work. Aren't your fingers too cold to stitch?
Your sampler is coming along nicely Margaret... but all that brickwork... that's why I shy away from samplers with big houses. LOL
Mia looks like she's made herself very cozy and she's going to need a downcoat this week.
Hope the French drain installation isn't as messy as you think it may be. No fun, but you'll be glad you did it the next time you have a heavy rain.
Well goodness me...all that trimming the lawn to perfection now laying the bricks to a spectacular sampler...stunning work Miss Margaret!
Stay warm with Mia while the work goes on :)
GOOD LUCK!
Is it sad of me to think that filling in all that brickwork looks like fun?? Best of luck with it, it's going to look great!
That's a lot. of. bricks! LOL Hope your week is lovely - pretty little pussycat picture there.
Tanya
I love the house you are building! There's a lot of bricks that need laying. : )
Mia is one smart kitty--she knows where to get warm. And, good luck with the work in the basement--I am sure it will be worth it.
"Brick by Brick, row by row" - coming from a family of stone masons I appreciate your efforts!
Beautiful!But you also stitch at night! Mia you are too cute!
Thanks for posting this "boring" photo. I am just starting doing some samplers and I find it really fascinating to see how other stitchers approach a large piece.
I souldn't have thought to stitch all the grout lines first.
Can't wait to see the rest of the house!
LOL - as soon as I saw your first pic, the funck song "Brick House" started playing in my head (and I can't seem to get it out of there either...).
Mia is too cute and the quilt from your friend Kim is beautiful!
Keep warm and Happy Stitching
PS Thanks for the link to Tonya, I'll pop over there right now.
What a sweetie. I think I will sell my ATS since I will never stitch it and I've been considering SH's Sarah because I love houses. I find it comforting that you find a project, even a small part of it, daunting!
Wow, that's a lot of brickwork. It's tedious but it will look great in the end. Good luck with the drainage work. I really hope this cures all that basement flooding you've been dealing with in past winters!
Your projects are so beautiful!
Lovely brickwork!
Thanks for the pics of the finished samplers - they are beauties.
speaking of beauties - that Mia has the right idea, not much better than down over a nice quilt ;-)
The outlining of the bricks looks like a lot of work - I know I would make a mistake somewhere. :) It's such a pretty sampler though, and your stitching is beautiful! You've done my least favorite part and completed the border. I need to train myself to do that first. I seem to get bogged down on them.
I do hope the French drain means the end of your water problems.
I would love to borrow one of Mia's down coats, although I wouldn't wear it as well as she does - I'm freezing! :D
Sarah looks wonderful, but I don't envy you that brickwork. Your piece reminds me of one I did years ago (an old Barbara and Cheryl) that had a house and a lot of brickwork. My girlfriend told me that doing that kind of thing would drive her nuts. Now she does HAEDs and Chatelaines. Go figure! LOL Sarah is looking great!
Considering the grass, brickwork and decision to set aside ATS, I believe the word for the day is perseverance. It's all in what you want to persevere at. That brickwork could have me screaming, but ATS was so interesting. I think it's all in our brains!
What a sweet face Mia has!
Happy Stitching!
nice work ! wonderful ! happy new year
Oh! I think your brick work is fabulous, Margaret!
Mia is too cute!
Uh, if there is cement work being done, well, lets just say that even my Trane had a hard time filtering it out. I had cement dust in everything! i swore never again..but you gotta do what you gotta do..better to clean up dust than water. Lol.
Margaret! I was going to say that looked like a Kim quilt! Too funny!
I can't believe you outlined all those bricks. I'm doing the red first then going back for the cream color. Lucky you being done with all that grass. I jump around though, a bit of grass, then some brick, then a fun motif. I'll never finish at this rate! LOL
Good luck with the French drains and any amount of jackhammering has to be better than being up to your waist in water in the basement!
Sweet Mia, she'll be appreciating those jackets next week for warmth and noise reduction.
oooo well done on your brick laying looks like you went to collage to learn that art heheheh ...good luck with all the renovations etc and helloooo Mia :) love mouse xxxx
Your Scarlet House construction is looking great and I hope that the actual home construction goes well too :)
Mia know the good comfy spots.
Have a great week!
I had wondered if you had anymore basement flooding. What a HUGE relief it's going to be to not have to worry about that anymore.
THe brickwork is looking really good. I predict you'll finish this is no time at all. :)
Ai ai ai, all those bricks would drive me nuts! However, it's going to be beautiful when it's done..you go!
Your bricks are looking great! What a beautiful piece this will be when you are finished. Love the quilt from Kim too! And Mia - what a cutie!
Boring...Never!! I love reading your blog, and Mia sure is cute!
Melinda
Your posts are never boring... you always have such beautiful stitching to share. Hope your home improvements go well...
happy stitching...
Good luck with the basement work. Wow, that is some awesome brick-laying ^.^
Give Mia an extra cuddle from me please? She's too cute.
Hugs,
Veronica.
Can't see a problem at all with your Mondays,because I don't find it boring at all. Mia is always a cheer up for starters and Sarah Elizabeth is just stunning.
Love the pics of the brickwork. What a beautiful sampler that is.
Good luck with your building work Margaret, both the real kind and the cross stitch kind! Mia is a cutie, as always ;-)
Wow, nothing boring here, Margaret! I love that you have the foundation bricks in, just think you are stitching with RED now, so it should be a breeze! lol Now the grass, would have held me up some, but this project of Tanya's is well worth the efforts, huh?
Love the kitty pics, Mia is so pretty! Tell her leave room for you, so that you too can stay warm!!
Before anything else, love Mia's pics!! She looks so innocent and comfortable in his down jacket. What a great place she found to be nestled!! Sarah seems to be making you a lot of brick work. Huge! But I'm sure you'll make it through in no time ;)
Lovely stitching as always! Mia is so sweet.
Oh Margaret, that is one beautiful sampler! I can see why you want to finish it before starting anything else. I love doing houses, but I hate stitching all the bricks. However I think it's nice you don't have to refer back to the pattern all the time. as you can just fill in. Good for a boring movie or audio book for sure.
Good luck with all of construction. I do hope it helps with your flooding issues. You have had way too much of that!
TTYS. Hugs. :)
Sarah E. Brooke is looking beautiful Margaret!! You were smart to do all the outlining first!!
Okay...that one is just fabulous! Your fingers are flying as always! Love your little Mia! Enjoy your week Margaret!
Sarah is gorgeous! The brickwork should go fast since you have the mortar in, and that grass would have been the part boring me to tears.
Poor Mia, does it drive her crazy to have workers in the house making so much noise?
Wishing you luck on your house construction work on cloth and concrete. BTW our neighbors put in a french drain, and it works very well. Love MIA, come see Lucy.
Looks like Mia is preparing ahead of time for the drain work. She must have heard that there will be no heat temporarily. :) Good luck with your home improvements. Loving the brickwork. At least the hardest part of it is finished. You will have that house built in no time. :)
Whew, you have a lot of brick to lay Margaret!! At least you can relax and stitch and not worry about making counting mistakes!! Little Mia poking out from a jacket!
Your sampler is coming along beautifully Margaret. That is a lot of brick laying you're having to do!
Aww Mia looks so nice and cosy!
Whew! That is a lot of brick to cover.
Good luck with the basement reno! I totally need that done too. :(
You could never be boring - Great progress :)
Congratulations on finishing the mortar! She's looking good!
So glad the French drains are underway so you have no horrible experiences like you did last year!
That Mia! I think she is a model at heart and comes up with perfect poses for you to photograph!
Mia is so cute! You will have the brick work completed in no time. Looking forward to the next update.
Your piece is off to a beautiful start. Love the border. And that photo of Mia is so cute! With two cats of my own, I know how curious they can be. Looks like she's having fun playing under the coat!
I can see how that brickwork is going to be somewhat repetitive but it will be worth it in the end! A good audiobook is definitely the way to go! Good luck with the French drainage. Australian Open almost here - yeah!!!
I don't envy you the construction, but as you said, the end result will have it's advantages when complete! Ahh a brick layers job...at least it's mindless stitching for an audiobook or good movie with no counting to mess up - and it's looking good! Such a sweet pic of that kitty peeking out! Have a good weekend!
Sarah is looking lovely, I'm sure you'll soon be through the brickwork.
Cute photo's of Mia
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