What would you do for market stash?

I think the title says it all.  Kathy (no blog) and I had an adventure today, to say the least.  A huge snow storm has hit around the tri-state area here.  We thought for sure our planned trip to our not-so-local LNS would have to be cancelled (it's a little over an hour away in New Jersey).  But we woke up this morning to a rainy looking day and schools in session with an early dismissal (which means letting out by mid morning to noontime).  So we consulted each other.  And we decided that we really really needed a market stash expedition.  So we went!

About halfway there, I got a message from the schools saying school was cancelled and the kids would be gotten home asap -- the younger kids hadn't even gone to school.  Pshaw, we said.  The roads weren't so bad!  :D   So we kept going.  About 15 minutes before the LNS was supposed to open, I started calling to see if they were there.  And they weren't!  Even after their opening time they didn't answer!  That's ok, we said.  They often open a bit late.

We pulled up to the LNS and were horrified to see the store was dark!  No lights!  What?!  They have to come!  They have to open!!!  We were in panic mode.  We drove around back to see if their car was there.  Nope.  We drove back around front and were just about to do a Google search to see if we could figure out what the LNS owners' home phone was when -- voila!  The lights in the shop turned on!!!!   Oh we were sooooo happy!   lol!

Our poor LNS owner.  (Our LNS is Where Victoria's Angels Stitch.)   She'd gone to Nashville and brought home tons of things.  And she still wasn't finished unpacking  yet.  We really got first dibs on the market stuff!  Here's a picture of my stash.

Now keep in mind that I do have some more stash coming from a couple of my favorite ONS's.  I thought I was going to be so good this market.  Sigh.

By the time we drove back home, the roads were getting pretty iffy in New York.  New Jersey still wasn't bad for some reason.  But we got home!   So what would YOU do for market stash?   lol!

While I was at the LNS, I picked up one of my framed pieces, Rebecca Robinson by Scarlet Letter.  I'm so pleased with it!

Here's a detail of the frame.

And finally, I'm still plugging away on Sarah Woodham.  Of course, I didn't follow my promise to myself to stitch the verse along with the rest of the piece so I wouldn't be stuck doing the verse at the end.  I'm finished with Sarah -- except for the verse.  Sigh....   Here she is.

Here are some detail pics.

 

I really love how Sarah is coming out.  I'm just tired of that over one verse.  lol!

So it's snowing away outside.  The boy child is counting on a snow day tomorrow.  I guess we'll see!  They certainly messed up today sending the kids in.  

Thanks for stopping by and saying hi.  I love reading your comments!  Hope it's less snowy where you are!

Sarah Woodham progress

Well I've made up my mind -- Sarah Woodham is looking just fine on this 40ct vintage Maple Sugar.  Here's my progress as of the weekend.

I'm using the called for fibers.

The chart says that the model's verse was done in tent stitch over one.  But I was stubborn and I'm doing mine in a full cross over one.

Sarah is such a pretty piece!

In other news, we finally had a snow day last week with maybe half a foot of snow.  Still nothing compared to what you folks down south have gotten so far this year.  This past weekend, instead of celebrating Valentine's Day like we usually do, we cleaned the house from top to bottom in preparation for a visit from my sister, BIL, their two kids and their dog.  They couldn't stay long, just a couple of nights, but it was nice to see them and hang out.  And of course, it decided to snow more for their drive to their next destination today.  Silly weather!   And silly me -- I didn't take a single picture while they were here!  Didn't take a single stitch either.  Ah well!  

Now it's Winter Break this week, so the boy child is lying around being bored and not wanting to practice his bass.  He had a lot of fun with his fellow boy cousin while they were here, but now he's waiting for one of his good friends to get home from Florida so they can hang out.  It's snowing, but for some reason it's melting away on the driveway.  Which is a good thing -- less shoveling to do later!

Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!  Hope the rest of your week is a good one!  Can't wait for market!!!!   :D

Finish, new WIP, and some answers

So I did manage to finish Beneath the Waters.  Yay!

Beneath the Waters

Carriage House Samplings

30ct Legacy Custard Creme Linen over one

NPI threads called for

I really love how it came out!  

 

Now all I have to do is attach it to the box I made it for.  lol!

But instead of doing that, I happily gave myself permission to start a new project.  Bad girl!  Oh well!  I started Shakespeare's Peddlers' reproduction of Sarah Woodham.  I needed me some good flowery border to stitch!  I know some of you hate to do borders, but I sorta like stitching them!  And with my projects recently, there's been nary a sign of one.  

Here it is so far.

 

The fabric color doesn't show up well in the picture.  It's 40ct vintage Maple Sugar, and I'm using the Gloriana, Belle Soie and Threadgatherer silks called for.

I have to say, these are not my favorite fibers to use.  I have to use much shorter lengths and even so they tend to fuzz and shred.

I'm also doubting my fabric choice.  I keep worrying that the white isn't showing up as well as it should.  But I'm far enough along that I'll probably keep going.  I think it's looking ok.  I hope!

There have been a number of questions that I really should answer.  For starters, someone asked what the samplers in my new header are.  Here's the list of samplers from left to right.

Historic Countries Mystery Sampler (from the Gift of Stitching Magazine, a series)
Time and Season Sampler (Moira Blackburn)
Plantation Sampler (Canterbury Designs)
This is the Day (Hands to Work from JCS Magazine)
Dutch Beauty (Permin)
Lois Minshall (Threads of Gold)
Rachel Hyde (Threads through Time)
Ann Rogers (The Essamplaire) (also the first piece on the 2009 finishes post)
Hannah Lancaster (Porcupine Collection)
Charlotte Clayton (Northwest Sampler Guild)

Part of Charlotte Clayton, of course, was my old header picture. 

I've also been asked how I stitch since I don't use scroll rods or q snaps or hoops anymore (as I did in my old stitching life).  I stitch in hand with the sewing motion.  I think those who can stitch with a stand and who keep one hand on top and one on the bottom are the ones who are the fastest stitchers.  But I hate being tied down to a stand, scroll rods or whatever.  In hand stitching gives me the freedom I love.  Which is a good thing -- if I used things like scroll rods or stands, I'd be wanting all the cool ones with the pretty woods!  lol!

A while back I gave Sherry a chart she'd been searching for.  Imagine my surprise when an envelope came in the mail with a lovely card containing this.

(Sorry -- the streak of sunlight was supposed to be artsy but now you can't see the top pins very well.)   Such beautiful pins for my collection, on a nice red piece of fabric!  Thank you so much Sherry, for such a wonderful surprise!

In other news, the girl child is more than halfway through her first week of the second semester now.  She went back to college on Sunday -- and immediately emailed saying she needed money.  lol!  Our fault for not realizing that of course with the new semester starting, she would need money for her textbooks.  The boy child is through with his midterm exams and is now finishing up the first week of his second semester at high school.  Tomorrow is that mysterious entity known as Superintendent's Conference Day, so no school and a three day weekend.  The poor teachers have to go in though.  There's another SCD the weekend of his birthday -- that one seems to be a permanent fixture since it's occurred on his birthday weekend for the past few years.  But this one was a surprise from the blue.  Good thing it's on the calendar -- I had to check online several times and ask the boy child if he really had the day off tomorrow or if I'd written it in on the calendar by accident!  

So who's excited about market?  :D  Meeeeeee!   Kathy  of Carriage House Samplings has started showing peeks of her Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow on her blog.   I'm impatiently waiting to see any sneak peeks from Barb and Alma on their Blackbird Designs blog.   (Pretty please, Alma?)   Lisa of Primitive Needle has shown a few sneak peeks on her blog as well.   As has Paulette of Plum Street Samplers.  And Ellen of With My Needle.   Etc etc etc.  Oh I'm going crazy already!   I'd better stop talking before I plotz!

Enjoy the rest of the week and the weekend!  Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!

Stitchy pictures

Another A&E finish.  I really like this one -- it's Know Ye by La D Da.  I used 40ct vintage Pearled Barley and the called for NPI.

Know Ye by La D Da

40ct vintage Pearled Barley with NPI silks

I think it's so sweet.  And I love the colors!  (Sorry for the wrinkles.  I don't believe in ironing.  lol!)

A bunch of us decided to have Quaker Fridays a while back.  I was sorely tempted to start Ann Grimshaw, but I was good and pulled out a WIP/UFO.  Can you guess what I picked to work on on Quaker Fridays?  Yes!  My nemesis, also known as the three times started Mouline Rouge!  Here's where I am as of the last Quaker Friday.

Mouline Rouge by Long Dog Samplers

40ct Antique White with NPI 636

It really is pretty, and I'm finally convinced that I like this red.  (It took pulling it out after a year to convince me.)   But I'm having a hard time sticking to it!  I have a feeling Quaker Fridays are distracting me a lot from sticking to what I'm stitching.

Speaking of distraction, after finishing Know Ye, I so wanted to start one of two projects that have been calling my name -- very loudly.  But I told myself I really need to finish one of the WIPs that I have going before I can even think about starting something new.  Sooooooo, first I tried pulling out And All Was For an Appil.  And was totally unsuccessful.  After all, I'm a very long way from a finish on that one.   So if I wanted a finish that was reasonably close, I decided I needed to pull out Beneath the Waters.  Agh!  Back to over one!  But I got into it.  And here is where I am.

Beneath the Waters by Carriage House Samplings

30ct Legacy Custard Creme over one

NPI silks

I think now that I'm getting animals with color in, I'm enjoying the stitch again.

Isn't the snail cute?   :D  I have to fill in that area inside the snakes with more sea creatures. 

In other news, the father type just called saying that he's stuck in the biggest traffic jam ever on the highway to work.  It's snowing, albeit lightly, and there's an accident somewhere.  Poor father type was bored so he called to see if school was still on.  And it is!  I'm hoping it stays on, but I'm not looking forward to driving in the snow.  This week is exam week for the boy child at the high school.  Which means he only goes in for the exams he takes.  Which means I have to be driving him back and forth to school for his exams.  Which means that the boy child is still asleep, and probably will be asleep till he absolutely has to get up for his 1:15 exam.  Agh!   He's got an exam today and one tomorrow and then he'll be done with his exams!  I sure hope he does/did well!

The girl child is home this week for the break between semesters.  She'll be going back to college on Sunday to start the second semester.  Poor thing was so tired when she got home.  She had to work on an internship application too, but that's done and now she's relaxing as much as possible before the grind starts again.

And of course, the other news is the Australian Open!  You think I forgot?  Nooooo!   It's been very interesting so far.  And now we know who is in the women's final -- Serena Williams and Justine Henin.  I have to agree with Peter Bodo --  I don't think it would be good for women's tennis at this point for Justine to win the title.  What, so Kim Cljisters and Justine Henin can just waltz in after a few years of retirement and grab slam titles for the taking?  (Cljisters won the US Open after coming back from retirement in just a few months of playing.  Henin has just returned to tennis after retirement, again only just a few weeks into playing.)   It wouldn't look very good for those who've been playing all this time while they were gone.  Sorry, just my opinion, and also that of Peter Bodo.

As for the men, Andy Murray is in the final, and tonight/tomorrow, Roger Federer and Jo Wilfried Tsonga will play for the last spot in the final.  I'm rooting for Federer to go to the final, of course.  The final?  Well, I like both Murray and Federer so it'll be interesting to see what happens!  Federer is in his 23rd straight slam semifinal.  Pretty impressive.  Ok, I'll be quiet now.  :D

Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!  Hope it's nice and sunny where you are!

Ok, so I'm easily distracted.......

I put it down to the fact that it's a new year and I feel the need for a finish.  Yes, you guessed it.  I got distracted again.  I just couldn't deal with all that expanse of fabric that needed to be stitched.  I needed something small, something quick.  Or at least quickER.  Sooooo I picked up Margaret Pence by the Goode Huswife.  (Yes, she's OOP.)  And I just put the last stitches in her.  Yay!!  First finish of 2010!    I stitched her on 40ct vintage Pearled Barley with DMC threads.

It's obvious I needed to stitch her.  After all, I'm Margaret too.

And besides, I'm running out of wall space so a smaller piece is just what I needed!

In the midst of stitching Margaret, Tanya over at the Scarlett House distracted me some more.   She mentioned that she was placing an order with the Scarlet Letter, one of my favorite designers.  And one of the pieces she ordered was the first piece I'd ever ordered from SL.  It was also the first piece I'd ever worked on linen, and the first piece I'd ever worked in silk.  It's also a UFO.  My oldest.  From I would guess the late 1980's or early 1990's, but I don't actually know.  Well, Tanya made me go dig it up.  So I did.  After a bit of closet spelunking, I found my Lucy Maria Wiggin Sampler.

She's obviously not done.  And she's on some amazingly low count fabric -- something like 26 or 28ct over two.  Ugh!  I need to sit down with her and finish her. 

I actually did sit down with her for a while, but I couldn't take it for long. 

The good thing is that the reason I originally stopped working on her (back in those dark days of former stitching life history) isn't really a problem, or so I've been told.  See the problem?

I'm going to have like 1 inch of border at the bottom.  But this isn't a problem.  So I've been told.  :D 

Lucy is from my former stitching life.  Which I still haven't told you about.  But I will say this much -- I had to rescue Lucy from the clutches of some scroll rods.  I used to use things like that in my former stitching life.

In other news, the neighborhood college kids are slowly draining from the neighborhood back to college again.  Just in time for the girl child to come home for her week off between semesters.  Yes, her college is the lone one that has exams after Christmas and then a week off at the end of January when everyone else is back to classes.  Although I'm told that the University of Delaware or some such has a break from before Christmas to sometime in the middle of February.  Wow!  Better not mention that to the boy child.  :D   So anyway, the girl child will be home sometime this weekend for a week.  Time to stock up on groceries and the like!

Thanks for stopping by and saying hi.  Tomorrow is TGIF!

Back in control after bout of startitis -- maybe

 Well, the New Year has brought about a serious case of startitis.  I admit, I'm one of the victims.  And I know I'm not the only one.  There's Karoline, Gio, and -- well I know there were a whole slew of New Year's starts if nothing else!  I think all those New Year's starts just got the ball rolling!  So here's my case of startitis laid out to see.

You all know about the Prairie Schooler ABC SAL.  I'm currently here on it.  Admittedly, this was not part of the startitis.  But I had to show where I was before the startitis started.  :D

I think if there weren't 27 parts to it, it wouldn't be so discouraging.

Then, I wanted to try something else over one (the PS ABC is over one on 30ct), so I started this -- Beneath the Waters by CHS, which I'm also stitching over one on 30ct.

As you can see, I've gotten a bit farther since the last picture.  I do love this one -- need to get back to it!

Then New Year's Day came along and I said -- oh boy!  An excuse for a new start!  Sooooo, I started And All Was For an Appil by the Scarlet Letter with Laurie and some others.  This is what the piece will look like.

And here is where I am.  Rather paltry.

In case you're wondering, it's the cloud in the upper left hand corner.  Oh, and a bit of the sun underneath.  I'm using 40ct R&R Apple Brown Bindy with DMC threads. 

The funny thing about this one is that going back to over two on 40ct was rather jarring.  After all the over one on 30ct, over 2 on 40ct looked absolutely ginormous!!  And I just couldn't settle into it!  Of course part of the problem was that everyone was still home on vacation and break -- hubby and kids both.  And I couldn't just settle into a normal stitch.

So anyway, my mind was wandering around, thinking how much I was missing that over one on 30ct.  And I happened to think of another A&E that I'd started a couple of years ago and put down because the over one on 30ct was driving me crazy.  Hmmm, I thought.  I bet I could handle that one now!   So I went into my WIP (or UFO) drawers and found my Elizabeth Inman by the  Scarlet Letter.   And I seemed to find my cure for startitis.  This is what the piece will look like.

And here is where I am.

Now keep in mind that I already had the first four lines of the top verse done when I put it down back in 2007 or whenever that was.  I only had one more line of verse to do to get to the good part, but at that point in time, I didn't have the patience.  But now I did!

The good parts.  :D

I'm using AVAS and an unidentified piece of 30ct linen.  Ok, if you have to know, I bought the kit.  And that's what I'm using. 

A word of warning.  See the motif in the center there above?  With the blue flowers?  That was supposed to be stitched over two.  I followed the instructions, which didn't mention that that motif was supposed to be over two.  Then I looked closely at the pictures on the website and realized my error.  No way am I frogging that!  Luckily, from that point on, I just looked at the picture for what was to be stitched over two.  Just note that for future reference if you're planning to stitch this one.

So I think that's the end of my startitis for now.  It had better be -- I need to finish something now instead of accumulating WIPs!   There is one exception though.  I'm joining an impromptu SAL for a day of Quaker stitching a week.  But that's it!!  Really!  :D

Of course, we're not counting all the quilting and knitting that's been going on recently.  In my head that is.  I hope to do some actual quilting and knitting at some point too.  lol!

In other news, starting January 4, everyone was back to school and work.  The girl child even had to go back to school for language classes and to study for her finals.  She'll be back for her between semesters break at the end of January.  Anyway, it was really nice to get back to routine -- I don't know if anyone else thought so, but I did!   After all, the father type had been home on vacation since December 14!!  That's a loooooong time!  I dearly love my father type, but having him underfoot for that long -- well let's just say it's nice to be back to the norm!  I enjoy my alone time, even if it's not always stitching time!  Sorry, father type!  Hope you don't mind!

Thanks for stopping by and saying hi.  Sorry it took me so long to post in the New Year!

2009 year in review

Well, now that I've posted once this week, I thought I'd try to do a post on my stitchy finishes for 2009.  I don't know if this is going to work, but we'll give it a try.  I don't know how to do those lovely mosaic pictures, so there will just be a long line of pictures.  Sorry!

(Pretend there's a picture of the CHS Sampler Stocking here.  How did I manage not to take a picture of that?!)

Hope you enjoyed my stitchy finishes year in review.  Now I have to figure out why I didn't take that picture.......     Su has a post with more Year in Review blog links, plus her own, if you'd like to check it out.

I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, prosperous, and most wonderful New Year!