IH&SWeekend Report for February

   I am a little late with my report but those that know me won't find this unusual.  I used to be on time for everything but now find I get distracted from what I am supposed to be doing by just about anything at all!! But I am sure you all know what I am talking about and probably have some experience with this yourselves!!
   Anyway,  I did manage to get some stitching done this weekend even though the kids where home AND we had the Bridal Shower!  It was lovely and we all had a lot of fun.

The Happy Couple

He left right after this picture and went off with his father to the brewery to arrange the beer for the reception.  I think they had a good time too!!
   So the stitching went like this:  a little on Friday night, a little on Saturday night, a little on Sunday afternoon and since I was feeling like I didn't get enough time, I stitched on this same piece at stitch group on Monday.  Hope that counts too.  I worked on this piece only for the entire weekend and I added the blue flower and everything to the right of it and I even managed a start on the roof of the house.  I am so excited to be starting that house!!!

The Red House Sampler by The Sampler Co.
40 ct. Flax w/DMC

   Well, that's all I have to report.  I think I am going to work on this one for a while longer and see what I can get done on that house before I change over to something else.  I still have a lot of work to do on Ann Bowers  and the 1st of March I need to start a birthday piece so I don't think I can work on it for too long.
   Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  I should be back in a few days with the SFS report.  See you all then!!   Laura

You Know What They Say About the Road to Hell...

    I had good intentions for IH&SW, I really did.  My younger son and the FDIL were coming for the weekend to attend the Beer Fest with The Hubs.  Not being a beer drinker myself, I was going to be the duty driver, drop off and pick up was supposed to be the extent of my involvement and I was going to have the entire day to stitch and catch up on my shows.
   Things being what they always seem to be when you make a plan, that plan changed in a hurry!  The son and the FDIL had a big fight the night before and she decided to forgo our company, sticking us with her $50 ticket in the process.  Being the tight-fisted fiscal conservative that I am, I said no way we are wasting a ticket, and the others involved were only too happy to use my beer tickets!!
   We had a great time!!  The weather was nice, the event was in a tent so we were warm, the beer drinkers had lots of brewers and different brews to chose from. There was music, New Orleans themed food, and of course, the people watching was unmatched by anywhere I have ever been, including New Orleans down on Bourbon Street!!
   So, not much stitching was done over that weekend.  I did manage to get SOME done though.  I made a good start on Serenity Harbor.  I have the first part finished now but for the weekend report, I only managed the left side within the allotted time.  I have enjoyed this stitch so much and if you haven't joined this SAL, I highly recommend it!

40 ct. Lakeside Pecan Butter
w/called for DMC except sun

I really like the colors the designer chose for this one and so far I have stuck to the DMC with the exception of the sun.  I stitched the sun in an over-dyed floss but I'm  not too crazy about the color.  I will probably change it later but for now, it will stay until I figure out what I want to do there.  Also don't have the arching outline in yet.  I'm going to wait until I need to roll the scroll frame before I put it in.
   Once I got that finished, I pulled out an oldie but goodie and in going back through my posts, I don't think I have worked on this since last August.  I am currently referring to this as the Headless Bird Sampler.  lol

Pink Sparrow Sampler by WTN&T
40 ct. Weeks Parchment
w/called for colors

It's small but 'fiddly' as my mother would say.  Lots of small motifs and lots of color changes.  I am hoping to finish the top section today. (I may be overestimating the time factor here, as usual, but we will see!)
   I still haven't started either of the Scarlet Letter SALs I have signed up for yet so I need to get moving on those asap. Can't linger for too long on one piece!!  I also haven't touched the 3 pieces I carried over from last year yet.  As you can tell, I don't have the rotation worked out yet, just taking it as the mood strikes.  But, I'm not bored yet either and I feel like I'm making progress. That's a good thing!!
  So that's it for me for today.  Thank you all for stopping  by and I want to welcome my new readers.  It's nice to know I'm not out here in cyberspace alone!!

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

Framed!!

   I had been holding off taking Summer at Hollyberry Farm to the framer in eager anticipation of picking up the framing I had previously dropped off.  I called on Friday and she was just putting the backs on them so I went over first thing Saturday morning to pick them up.  I am so pleased with how both pieces turned out!!!

Close-up of the frame
Love this moulding!!

Harriette Coe is in the same frame, just a redder tone.  Both of these will be residing at my LNS for a while.  I will be picking up One Nation in December since it is for The Hubs for Christmas but leaving it at the shop until then ensures he won't see it until he's supposed to!!  He likes to peek!
  Well, I don't know why IH&SWeekend never seems to go like I plan but this one was certainly true to form.  At the time I signed up, I didn't have a thing on my calendar but by the time it rolled around I was up to my eyeballs in other things I needed to do.  I didn't get to stitch as much as I would have liked but that seems to be a recurring theme so I won't dwell on it.
   I managed to get that last line of verse in on Ann Bowers.  Yeah!!!!!  This is the last 4 lines of this section and I think you can read it pretty well.  I was a little worried about the method I was using to stitch it but if you're not looking at it with a magnifier, I think it's okay.
  

So, this is where I am now and the end is in sight!  I do have 2 more rows of over one verse to stitch but after what I just finished, it should be a piece of cake!!  And after the over one, that 45 ct over 2 is looking like burlap!!  Not really but it is a lot easier to work on than I remember.

   So, for the IH&SW report, I stitched the last row of over one verse above and I started one of those fall pieces that had been calling my name.  Not much to look at yet but I promise, you're going to love it next time.  I confess to taking liberties with the colors, again!!

Butternut Tavern Sampler Pinkeep
by Stacy Nash
40 ct Lakeside Maritime white
with GASTs

Well,  that's all I have for now.  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

What Happened to IH&SW this Month??

    I'm not sure if I am losing track of time or what exactly is going on lately.  I thought it was IH&SW last weekend but there was no mention of it on the blogs.  So I thought maybe I didn't have the date right and it was really this weekend.  But once again, no mention of it anywhere on the blogs.  So basically, I had 2 IH&SW's this month all by my self and have been carrying on like a crazy fool!!

   First, I finished out the alphabets and adjoining borders on Summer at Hollyberry Farm.

Then I added my stripe for the week to One Nation.

 Then I totally lost my mind and decided I really needed to start that piece that I borrowed from my friend so I could get it stitched and return her chart.  Lovely Scottish reproduction I've wanted to stitch for a while.

36 ct Lakeside linen w/ Au ver a soie silks
Looks huge compared to what I usually stitch on!!

Agnes Scott by With My Needle

It should look very similar to this once I get it finished.  Hopefully not too long from now!!  But she's a big girl and we'll have to see if I can keep her in the current rotation.
  Then, since I had totally lost my mind, I decided I needed to start something else off my bucket list.  Not an actual list down on paper yet but I know them when I see them, or when they keep popping up in my head!
This is Giovanni's Alphabet by Tempting Tangles.  Just a small start so far but more than I would have gotten done if I was stitching it on the recommended 28 ct over one!

I am stitching this one on 45 ct Lakeside Meadow Rue (I think), over 2, with the called for threads.  I have had it kitted for an age and figured now was just as good a time as any to start.  Love the colors!!!  It is an interesting combination of overdyed cotton and silk.

   So, I got 2 new pieces started and what did I do???  Why I went back to the one I REALLY want to be working on, of course!  This is where I am on SaHBF.  I am loving this stitch and may just work it until its done!!

      Maybe yes, maybe no.  We'll have to see what's in store for the week.  I have really been free wheeling it to keep my stitching mojo going.  I usually have a big summer stitching slump. Not sure exactly why but it happens just about every year.  I'm hoping to keep thing moving by only working on pieces I am excited about at the time and seeing where that takes me.  Should be interesting if nothing else!!!

Hope you're having as much fun with your stitching as I am,  Laura

IH&SW Report for March

  I didn't get to spend as much time stitching this past weekend as I would have liked.  It was my turn to host our weekly stitch group on Monday so I really had to do some prep for that.  Cleaning was right at the top of the list as well as baking so Sunday was pretty much a wash.  So to make up for that, I included Monday's stitching progress in my report  too.  Don't know if that is legit or not but I wouldn't have had much to show otherwise!!
  All of my hermitting  time was spent with Dorothy.  The big plans I had to finish the current sections and move on to another project never materialized.  I did however, manage to finish up the candle flame band I was working in Rice Stitch.  Yeah me!!

I did change to color of the deepest gold in this band.  It was supposed to be the same color as the dividing band directly below and I just found it to be too dark for the colors around it.  Lightened it one shade and I like it much better!!  Now do I change the dividing band to the new color as well or do I leave it alone??

  So that 's where I am now.  I think I am going to continue with this, getting in the over one verse (Lord help me!) and the bargello band that comes next before I put this one away.  Hopefully, I can get that much done by the end of the week because Ann Bowers is starting to jump up and down for attention and I would like to see her finished soon!!  Ambitious I know but having goals is a good thing!!

Olympics Stitching, IH&SW, etc.

   After the completion of AW 1662, a long project not just materially but also in time,  the call went out for  a replacement in the rotation.  I know I had mentioned going back to work on Ann Bowers and although she is still on the list to finish this year, I needed the fun of a new start!
   At the end of last year, when I was making plans for this year's stitching, I kitted about a dozen charts.  With Thy Needle and Thread is one of my favorite designers and Brenda's Needleworker's Sampler was in that stack just calling out my name!  I didn't start it right at the beginning of the Olympics since I was finishing up my SAL stitching but not too shortly after, I think about the 10th.
  Since I am doing this as a combo report, I hope this will make sense in the end!!  This is how far I had gotten by the start of  IH&SW which was this past weekend.  I thought I would be farther along than I was by then but actually watching the events really slows things down!!

40 ct. French Vanilla Swirl with listed colors
(this pic is most true to color)

   After IH&SW, this is where I am now.

And this is what the whole thing looks like now.  So, so cute and I just love the border!!

   It is close to the end, just the verse and the bottom of the border.  I hope to have it finished in the next couple of days.  We are supposed to have a snow day on Wednesday so that should give me the time I need to wrap it all up.
    I was also going to give my Stitch From Stash report but I think I will save that for next time.  Lets just say I was NOT a good girl like so many others!!

IH&SW July

  I know it's been a while since I've posted.  I've been working on some things that I can't show here and I find blog posts without pictures BORING!  So,  I've been off the grid as my son would say.  I decided to take a break from the stitching I can't post about and work on some other things for the IH&SWeekend.  It gave we a chance to refresh my mental state concerning my needlework and just do something for the fun of it!!
  My local EGA chapter president gave us a challenge for the summer.  We are trying to increase our membership and have reserved the display cases at the local library for a fall showcase of our guild's handiwork. The challenge is to come up with different types of pincushions for the display and I am into it in my usual over-the-top fashion!  I have come up with about half a dozen things I want to do over the summer.  I'm not sure how many I will actually get done given that it is almost the end of July but it could be fun to work them in between the larger pieces I'm working on.
   I stitched up the first one over the weekend.  It is an older piece I've had in my stash for quite a while, a biscornu done as a collaboration by MTV Designs and GPA called Seasonal Biscornu.

I stitched the side with the Rhodes stitches first and thought it was my favorite; then I stitched the other side and I think I like it even more!  I am not much of a finisher but will give it a go when I get some of my other deadline stitching finished.
   After getting those 2 small squares finished, and they took way more time than I thought they would for what they are, I went back to work on One Nation. The before picture is in my last post. This is where it is now:

I plan to work on this until I have the rest of this section finished, hopefully only another day or two,  and then I'll go back to my deadline stitching.  I have another pin cushion waiting in the wings and hope that 'carrot' will  keep me motivated.

  Just as an aside, while on the bay of evil recently I managed to snag these!

Chessie and Me sampler magnets!  How cute are they?!  Love them all!!
  Well, that's about it for me for today.  My framer called this afternoon and it seems I have some things to pick up.  I'll post again soon with some newly finished framing!

Until then,  may your needles fly!  Laura