Let the Happy Dancing Commence!!

   As you may know, I have been giving the 'formal' rotation a break this summer and just stitching what appeals to me at the time in an effort to keep the summer slump at bay.  I feel like it has been working!  I am ahead of my gift stitching for the fall/holiday season and I have been barreling full speed ahead with some of my other projects too.
  I've spent the time since my last post mainly working on One Nation.  With only 2 stripes left to go for a finish, I really felt the need to throw the 'one stripe a week' plan out the window and just  push it through to the end.  Last Sunday, during an afternoon baseball game, I put the wraps on that big project and when my husband saw it his response was, "Man, that's a lot of baseball!"  Indeed!!

One Nation
by Bygone Stitches
40 ct. Lakeside linen in Woodsmoke
w/called for threads except
blue changed to Weeks Americana

Since this finish, I have relegated the Randje per Week piece to my group project.  It is easy to work on a group setting and doesn't require tons of frogging afterward!  I will show my progress on this piece next time.

  Now, I am working like crazy to get Summer at Hollyberry Farm finished.  I am more than half way done now and should have some real progress to show next time.  When SHF is finished, I would like to finish Dorothy Walpole.  A couple of weeks of solid work should finish her off too!!

   But...I got my package containing my Market order this afternoon and I can't predict how strong my willpower will remain at this point!  Maybe if I keep my head down and just stitch like crazy, I can stick to the plan.  We'll see!!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you're enjoying your stitching as much as I am!! Laura

IH&SW Report and Other Stuff

   I wanted  to get an update posted but when I tried to take the pictures, the camera said the battery needed to be charged.  So, in the interest of expediency, and since I had planned to be in my stitching chair by 4 pm and it is now after 4 pm, I thought I would go ahead and write the post while the battery charged.  Not so dumb after all!!  I'm hoping it doesn't take too long to get up to speed!
   Things have been pretty busy since my last post and although I have stitched as much as possible it doesn't seem like I've gotten much accomplished.  I finished the 2 stripes I was trying to get done on One Nation which now leaves me with the last 2 and it will be finished. I am going to try to get this one wrapped up this week.   I haven't worked on Summer at Hollyberry Farm at all.  I added a couple of rows to the Randje per Week piece but not enough to show.
    I heard Dorothy calling to me from deep in the stitching bag so I go her out and did a little work on her.  This is what she looked like last time she saw the light of day.  I can't believe I haven't work on this since April!!

And this is the small amount I have added this past week.

I want to keep her in the rotation and she will get more time once One Nation is finished.
   I have to admit that I have been feeling the need for a finish. I have been working on mostly large projects all year and it seems like it's been a really long time since I've done a little happy dance so I decided I would stitch a few patriotic smalls in honor of the last gasp of summer.  I kitted a couple of small Blackbird designs and this little cutie by Heartstring Samplery.  It took me all weekend to get it finished, small though it is, but I think it is just the cutest thing!! It will go in the 'finished' box now but will soon be winging its way to the Finishing Fairie to be made into a cute little pillow.

I admit to changing some of the colors, the red is GA Ruby Slippers and the white I changed to GA Oatmeal to make it show up better on my linen (Lakeside Pecan Butter).
  So, for my Hermit report, I stitched the yellow flower on Dorothy Walpole and the small piece by Heartstring.  I must confess that some of my stitching time this past IH&S weekend was taken up with the frequent need to monitor what was being released at the St. Charles market.  I saw a ton of new stuff that I liked, some that I just HAD to have and some that I had to have right now!!  I can't wait to get it in my hot little hands!!  A report will be in order as soon as it comes in!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you're enjoying your stitching as much as I am,  Laura

Missing in Action

    I know it's been a while since my last update.  I didn't mean to be away for so long. Each time I post, I make a little promise to myself that I will post more frequently in the future.  And then, life seems to get in the way and I can't get back to the computer.  And you know what they say about good intentions!!
   I did manage to make it to Winston-Salem for the needlework exhibit, although one of my friends didn't, and it was wonderful!!  We did the tourist thing, bought tickets that covered everything, even though this was where my friend was born and raised and I'm sure she's seen it a hundred and one times!  I don't think she minded though since she hadn't been there for a while.
   We took the MESDA tour first and were treated to some of the most beautiful furniture I have ever seen as well as paintings and other decor.  We were very excited by the sight of actual samplers on the walls and our enthusiasm garnered us a private viewing back in the textiles area that was not open to the public during this particular tour.  We were in hog heaven!!!
   The actual exhibit didn't disappoint either.  So much needlework goodness all in one place was fabulous, the only downside being that we weren't allowed to take photos in the museum buildings.  I would have loved to have some pics of  a few of the samplers we saw if for no other reason than to share them here!  I did remember to take a few pics of the outside while we were roaming about though.

After the tour, we had a lovely late lunch/early dinner (affectionately called Dunch) at a wonderful restaurant recommended by the lady at the bookstore at the visitors center. I understand the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich was to die for!!)   A trip well worth another visit and I think I may have my husband interested in making the drive with me next time.
  A niggling medical issue cut my trip short and I wasn't able to get down to Atlanta this time.  I spent the next week visiting doctors and experiencing frequent bloodletting (10 vials drawn at last count!) and I'm now back on the road to recovery.  Being generally healthy and an admitted 'bad patient', this has been trying for me (and I'm sure my husband as well).  I didn't get a lot of stitching done during my ordeal (insert dramatic eyeroll) but I do have a little to show.
  I got another 10 rows stitched on my Randje's per Week piece.  I'm still about 50 rows behind but progress is being made!!

Finally, we have introduced the other color!!  This has been such a fun stitch and it goes so quickly you really get that sense of accomplishment!!
   Then,  I did some more work on Summer at Hollyberry Farm.  I continued the right side border, put in the flag, which took WAY longer than I thought, and added the two other motifs on that side.  Many colors were changed but I think you just have to expect that from me by now!!

  I am still working diligently on One Nation and have 2 more stripes almost finished.  I have held off showing it this time since it is just words and is pretty boring to look at.  Then, I took Dorothy Walpole out today so she could get a little love.  She has been hidden away in my stitching bag for quite a few months now and she is on the list to finish this year after all.  I'll post my progress on her next time.

So that's all I have for this time.  Hope you are all enjoying your stitching as much as I am!!  Laura