In a Patriotic Mood

  Since my last post, I've been struggling to get back to good health.  I am pretty much back to normal with the exception of the terrible hacking cough that still lingers and a lack of energy that prevents me from doing all the things I should be doing.  So instead, I am only doing the things I absolutely have to get done and the rest of the time I am resting and of course, stitching!
   I worked for a little bit on the Blackbird SAL.  It is very cute but it was feeling sort of tedious so this is where I left off. (I didn't realize my quilt was showing through the fabric. It really isn't mottled like that!)

     I decided what I needed to be working on was something patriotic.  Since I have a patriotic piece in the WIP pile that I want to finish for my husband for Christmas this year, I dug that out and went back to work.

One Nation by Bygone Stitches
40 ct Lakeside Linen/woodsmoke
with GAST

I had the field of stars finished when I put it away last time.  When I worked on it this time, I added the 3 bands to the right.

I couldn't believe how long it took me to get these few bands in!!  It will go into the regular rotation now until I get it done.  Don't see how I will have it finished in time for Christmas if I don't.  This thing is huge!!
   Then, my friend in Atlanta sent me a picture of what she had spent the weekend working on.  When she called to chat later in the week, we decided it would be fun to have our own personal SAL.  So I have been working on this.

Stacy Nash Summer at Hollyberry Farm
40 ct Lakeside meadow rue
mostly listed threads

I absolutely adore these colors!!!  I did swap out the red she used for Weeks Lancaster Red.  It is one of my favorite reds and I thought went well with the other colors.  Also, the leaves in the vine are supposed to be stitched with Apple Cider, which is the color of the first ABC letters.  I prefer green for my leaves so I changed the border leaves to Endive.
    Then, as if that weren't enough red, white and blue, I kitted this Rosewood Manor chart I have had in the stash for a long while.  I love this piece and I don't know if it will make it to the rotation before I lose interest in patriotic stitching but I sure hope so!!

   And finally, this piece that I first saw on someone's blog last summer as a class, is now out for the rest of us to enjoy and I snagged it right away!!  Another winner, in my humble opinion, and this looks like so much fun I don't know how long I will be able to resist this start!!!

       It has been a crazy few weeks since the beach. I had back to back board meetings this week and it looks like we will be playing musical chairs in my needlework guilds again.  I am currently the treasurer in both guilds but may be moving on to newsletter in one and programs chair in the other.  Lets keep our fingers crossed that the nominating committee manages to fill all the seats without me.  I have been on both boards for 8 years now and I think its time for some new blood!!


Hope you're enjoying your stitching as much as I am,  Laura

PS- I gussied up the blog a bit, hope you like it!!