The Happy Dance Continues

    After throwing the rotation out the window and much 'nose to the grindstone' stitching on just this one piece, I finished Summer at Hollyberry Farm on Monday!!! Yeah!!!  There were many color changes and adjustments made but I am very happy with the outcome and I will be getting it to the framer asap!!!

I've  been working on Randje per Week a little too, not up to the 10 rows I usually do before posting an update but getting there!  

   I know I said I was going to go back to Dorothy after finishing SaHF but Ann Bowers has been calling loudly from her perch on the bookcase and I just had to get back to her.  The over 1 verse on 45 ct. is going VERY slowly but it won't go any faster by not working on it at all!!

I am working the verse in a combination of tent and cross over one, to try to avoid overcrowding but to also get adequate coverage.  It seems to working out okay so far.
  I have Ann on the list to finish this year so I think I am going to work on her until she is finished now.  There are six rows of verse in this section and when I roll it, there are is another whole section of verse (not sure how many rows, don't want to look!!) to be done before the grand finale. It is too close to put away again though so I will push through if I can.
  Dorothy is also on the list to finish this year too and I intend to get her done.  I have one last October birthday gift to stitch but I don't think that will keep me from getting Dorothy wrapped up within my deadline. That floral area is half of the sampler but it's mostly cross stitch so should go quickly once I get back to her.
    I am very happy with how closely I have managed to adhere to my list this year! When I did stray, I still found a way to work things off my list too!  Some of my friends have laughed at me for making that list every year but it keeps me focused and seems to get a good number of those UFOs onto the other list I keep of finishes for the year.  My list is growing and since it is only September, I hope to add a few more finishes to the list by the end of the year!

Hope you are enjoying your stitching as much as I am,  Laura

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

IH&S Weekend July Report

    I always have grand delusions of the amount of stitching I will get done while my husband is away.  I forget that with him gone, I have to do not only my chores but his as well.  And since he has taken over the kitchen duties, when he is gone I have to cook for myself.  That is a huge time drain!!  Add to that, I didn't have much in the house since we were planning to be away so I had to make a grocery run as well.  Subtract pretty much a whole day of stitching there!!
   Just my normal stitching time on Friday but Saturday was a double header so I got in maximum baseball stitching on that day.  Sunday is my regular cleaning day and since DH was coming home that day, I really couldn't skip it.  So, once again, just regular stitching time on Sunday.  So basically, IH&SW winds up being just my normal stitching weekend!  Oh well, I had fun and I actually got to stitch, which I wouldn't have been able to do had I gone to the wedding.  I wasn't even going to take my stitching  bag on that trip!
  Even though I didn't get in any EXTRA stitching time, I did manage to get some things accomplished.  I got 2 entire, as in all the way across the sampler, stripes in on One Nation!!

Only 4 more stripes to go and this baby will be finished!!  I am hoping for the beginning of September and if I can stay on track, I should be able to do it!
     Then, I got back to work on the Blackbird SAL.  Since it was over the half way mark I thought I would push through and finish it.  And since I had already taken such liberties with it that it was no longer a reproduction, I went more and more off the track the closer it got to the end.  Now it can only be called an adaptation.  But one I really like!!

It got to be a lot of fun once I went my own way and I especially like the nod to the bargello (that I love) at the end!  Definitely not on the original but totally mine!!
     So that was the IH&SW for me.  I am now going to work on the Ranje's for a couple of day I think.  I still have quite a few bands to stitch to catch up with the group and those bands go so fast and are so much fun to stitch!!
   I am off to Winston-Salem to meet my girls for a weekend of fun and sampler exhibit viewing.  I am planning to tack on a quick trip to Atlanta too if all works out well so I will be off the air waves for a bit.  I should have some good stitching to show when I get back!

Thank you all so much for the fabulous comments you have left for me lately.  I apologize for not sending out replies this last round but I just couldn't manage it with other things going on right now.  Just know I appreciate them so much!!

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

Well, that's a week of my life I'll never get back!

   I spent the last week running around like a crazy lunatic trying to get all the things done that needed to be done before we left for the big wedding in Ohio.  At the last minute, the cat sitter fell through and left us with no one  to tend the fur babies.  Since it is my husband's family and you know who they would rather see, I volunteered to stay and he had to make the long drive alone.
   I know that it was all due to unforeseen circumstances and I shouldn't feel badly about any of it.  But I must say I do feel a little guilty that I get to stay home and stitch all weekend, in the comfort of my own home, while he has to attend all the  family stuff associated with a wedding all by himself.  Oh well, such is life!!
   Since I was spending so much time doing other things, my stitching time was greatly curtailed.  People who know me will be shocked by this but there were several evenings since my last post that I didn't stitch at all!!  Oh the horrors!!!  I did manage to get some time in on a few things though.
    Sunday we had Sandra Sullivan come to teach at our sampler guild.  If you remember from my last post, there was some pre-stitching that had to be done since it was a finishing class.  This is the stitched piece.

And this is what it looked like after the finishing magic was worked on it. So Cute!!

The little spools are supposed to be wrapped with floss in the same colors as the stitching.  Needless to say, I haven't done that yet and 10 years from now you will probably still find them unwrapped!!

At this point, I must confess that this had nothing to do with me.  As you are all well aware, I am finishing challenged and left to my own devices it would probably look like a one-handed monkey did it!!  My good friend Tricia took pity on me, working mine and hers at the same time, and I am now graced with this lovely pincushion!! First class I've ever left with a finished product.  Thanks so much Tricia!
    Also during this past week, I managed to get the large alphabet finished on the Blackbird SAL.

I am going to try to finish this one up during my 'retreat' this weekend.  It is such a small piece and should not still be hanging out in my  'In' basket!!
    I spend most of my stitching time working on One Nation.  I got the stripe in per my rotation assignment and then just kept going.  I thought about working it until its finished but on second thought, I think I will just try to stay on top of it so it will be finished on schedule.

Even on 40 ct this is a HUGE sampler!  I can't wait to get it finished and framed.  I think it will be impressive looking hanging with 272 Words although it might require a wall reshuffle!!
   So that's all that's going on for now.  It is IH&SW this weekend ( how fortuitous is that??) and I have some lost stitching time to make up for. I took care of the rest of my errands today so I should be able to spend the rest of the weekend blissfully stitching in my little corner and catching up some viewing on my DVR! Heaven!! I should have lots to show next week!

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

Stitching Over the 4th

   Hope you all had a wonderful 4th!  Ours had some excitement for a while since all eyes were on Arthur and where he might be going. But we only had some thunderstorms and heavy rain overnight and frankly, it didn't even wake me up.  If The Hubs hadn't told me it had stormed, I probably wouldn't have known!!
    Son #1 was home for the weekend and although we didn't see too much of him while he was here, I think he had a good, relaxing time.  I don't know how me manages to live in a semi for 6 weeks at a time.  I would be stir crazy and seriously, the bathroom or lack there of, would be a real issue for me!!  He went back out yesterday and he says he isn't going to stay out for so long this next time but he said that last time so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
   I did manage to get some good stitching time in while hurricane watching, etc.  I put in my weekly stripe on One Nation.

Technically, I haven't done the one for this week yet so I think I will pick this one back up after I finish this post.
   Most of my time was spent with Summer at Hollyberry Farm.  I have really enjoyed working this piece but that house is huge!!  I changed some more of the colors (Surprise! Surprise!) but I did  manage to get the upper floor in and more of the border down the left side. Love that Lancaster red!!

  I have been admiring the Randje per Week group on Facebook for quite a while now.  It started in January and is half way done now so if I was going to join in I really needed to get a move on!!  I ordered the banding a couple of weeks ago and it had come in so I started working borders after I finished the work above.

I'm working it on 32 ct banding with Needlepoint silk and I got all of this done in a couple of evenings.  I wasn't sure about the coverage in the beginning so the first few bands are done in Smyrna cross.  I may work some of the later rows in different stitches too, just to keep things interesting.  Another color comes in a little further down the design as well. This is the first ten rows and I think this week row 52 was released.  So, if I can put 5 or more rows in each week, I should be caught up in no time!!
  Once I had my fill of stitching borders, I got out the piece I needed to pre-stitch for a class my sampler guild is having.  We had someone sign up late so I gave my kit to her and just pulled supplies out of my stash. So, mine will not look like everyone else's.  Add to that, I changed some of the colors... and moved some of the colors around to other places, more of some, less of others.

Please excuse the shadow. I think it's my hand!!

The linen in the kit was cream, which I did not have a scrap of in 32 ct so this is either natural or flax, I'm not sure which.  It is for a Sandra Sullivan finishing class and although smalls are not usually my thing, probably since finishing is my nemesis, I signed up anyway to help out the guild.  And if it turns out terrible, I am going to see the Finishing Fairie at the end of the month and she will fix it for me!!!!
  To wrap up this report, I pulled the Blackbird SAL piece back out.  I had been thinking about it for a while so I knew I wasn't totally done with it. Plus, I am really trying not to make any more UFOs and it is a sweet piece, someone will be happy to get it as a gift down the road. So I tried the darker color for the large (supposed to be eyelet but I'm doing Smyrna) alphabet and I think I like it. I know I like it better than before!!

  So, there you have it.  I have managed to stave off the summer stitching slump so far.  I feel like I am really making some progress on my current rotation.  I have a gazillion more to finish and probably 10 times as many to start but I figure if I don't get hit by a bus tomorrow, I'll at least have a chance of making a dent in my ginormous stash!!  I have seen a lot of people selling off their stash lately, I don't think I am ready for that yet.  I'm still adding to mine (OMG!!) and get excited when new charts come out. Just ordered 2 new ones from With Thy Needle and Thread this morning!!!

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