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

It Could Have Wound Up in the Fireplace

   I am happy to say I can call myself fully recovered and once again stitching like a crazy fiend!  I haven't worked back into my rotation yet, choosing instead to work on whatever I feel like at the moment. My main focus has been the patriotic pieces and I have made some real progress since my last post.
  I am still loving Summer at Hollyberry Farm. I managed to get all the alphabets in last week!  My SAL pal isn't happy with the pale blue and plans to change it to something else but I like it and think I will leave it as it is.

    After getting to this point, I got the Blackbird SAL back out.  I decided the color I had chosen for the border was too bright so I ripped it out and picked another color.  I am much happier with the border now. It's not what they called for but is much closer and not nearly as garish as the Mustard Seed I had used before.  It is now Apple Cider, a nice golden-brown.

    But I am not crazy about the piece in general.  Not sure exactly what the issue is. The color of the large alphabet seems to be out of character with the rest of the piece. All the rest is bold and bright while this is dull and really adds nothing.  I looked at the picture of the original posted to the site and the linen seems much darker then what is called for. So, do I change the color of the one alphabet?? Do I start it again on a darker linen??  Do I just chuck it and move on to something else?? Since I'm not getting any younger and see no point in putting time into something just to get it done, I am going to set it aside.  I may revisit it later but I may also just abandon it forever.   Lucky it's too hot to have a fire going or this might have wound up in the fireplace!!
   So, I picked One Nation back up and put another stripe on it.  I am trying to put in a stripe a week to get it done as quickly as possible.  This will become more of a challenge once we get past the star field because the stripes will become twice as long!!

      I am also fighting really hard against a case of starteritis!  I have several patriotic pieces kitted and ready to go and I kitted another couple of Tempting Tangles pieces last night.  Then this morning, I put together a Scottish piece I borrowed from a friend a while back that I really need to get stitched so I can give her the chart back.  (Any excuse to start a new piece!!)  So far I have resisted but I don't know how long I can hold out!!
    I also wanted to thank all of you who take the time to read my blog and/or leave a comment.  I don't always get a chance to reply, it depends on how crazy life is at the time, but I read every one.  In turn, I hope you enjoy your visit here and are inspired or just plain mystified by the madness I have been up to with my needle!!
  Hope you're enjoying your stitching as much as I am,  Laura

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!!

Making Up for Lost Time

   I haven't posted in so long I don't know if I remember how and so much has been happening that I'm not sure where to begin!!  Maybe I need to look at my last post and refresh my memory of where I left off.  Okay, I think I can catch you all up now!!
  After I finished the gift for my FDIL, I rushed it to the framer so I could have it back in time for her birthday, which we were celebrating at the beach.  This is what it looks like now.

(Sorry for the glare, it is under glass.  I love the frame on this and according to my framer, it is a molding specifically designed to match DMC colors.)
  Then I moved back to working on  Harriette Coe.  Every day I would say, 'Surely this will be finished in a couple of days and then I can post to the blog.'  And every day, it didn't happen!!.  I churned away and churned away until my stitching time became just about nil because I had to start getting ready for the beach!  I finally put the last stitches in  it just last night and I am so happy to have it finished!!

I stitched it on my usual 40 ct. so it is pretty small.  But it sure did seem to take forever!!  I have included the close-up below so you can see all of the animals.  The chart says all the eyes are to be stitched in the red.  There was no way I was going to do that!!  What are they then, Vampire animals??  Werewolf animals?? So, I just left the eyes blank.  It seemed like a much better choice to me!

   We try to go to the Outer Banks twice a year, in the spring and later, in the fall. We like the off season when there aren't so many people and not as much traffic.  We do, however, travel with an entourage.  This last trip there were only 7 of us but we have had as many as 18 in the past. We haul in all of our provisions like we are going to the wilderness or something. We carry in linens, food supplies, water, you name it.  That requires a lot of prep work.  Luckily, The Hubs has taken over the cooking so he does all the menu planning and food shopping for the week.  There is a huge perpetual list we work off of each time so the planning has already been done but the gathering, shopping and packing are a big, multi-day extravaganza.
   So, the week before the beach trip, I had my weekly stitch group on Monday, the regular EGA meeting on Tuesday, which left me with the rest of the week to get my act together for the trip.  Not just for the trip, but also getting the house together for guests since everyone congregates here before going on down the road.  I had already packed my stitching bag so the important stuff had been taken care of at least!!
    Wednesday morning, I woke up with a sore throat.  I did okay for the first couple of days but the 3rd day is always the worst for me and by then, I was feeling pretty wrecked. I haven't had a cold in a long time so I may have just been being a baby about it but no medicine helped and I was living on Advil and Halls cough drops. By Friday night we were talking about me staying home for a few extra days and driving down later in the week.  I gave it serious consideration but in the end, I wasn't sure I could make the 3 1/2 hr. drive by myself, even later in the week, so I went with the crowd.
  And so glad I did or I would have missed this...

Sunset over Frisco, NC  Sunday night

  So, I laid low for most of the week.  I read and relaxed and gradually got to feeling better.  I went shopping with my son and FDIL and had a lovely lunch out.  We didn't make it over to Ocracoke and we never made it out to dinner, 2 things we traditionally do every trip, but we had fun none the less.  And I got to wake up to this every day!!

The view from my bedroom

   Toward the end of the week, I did finally feel like doing a little stitching.  I got back to work on Harriette and wouldn't you know it, I ran out of the color I needed to finish!!  I took it as a sign and moved on to something else.  The Red House Sampler saw a little work.  Not a lot, but some.

Such a gorgeous piece and really in need of a slot in the rotation.  Not really sure what has happened to the rotation either but I need to get that worked out again too!
   Then,  last but not least, I started the Blackbird SAL piece last night after I finished Harriette.

I kind of went my own way with the colors, brightened some up and toned some down.  It will be interesting to see what everyone winds up with in the end!!  Its a small piece and shouldn't take too much time to finish.     Then, I guess I need to get back to the rotation, whatever that may look like now.  I am several months behind now in a couple of the Year Long Sals I joined and I, maybe unwisely, joined a couple more recently!! I have vowed to not add to the UFOs this year so completions are what's called for!
  Recently, I was looking at the list I made at the beginning of the year of my stitching goals for the coming year. Some of the things in the 'to finish' section still haven't seen the light of day.  It's nearly June, half the year gone already!  I need to get busy!!

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

I think this post falls into the continuing disasters category!

    When last we met I was planning to work on a piece for my mother's birthday.  I had decided to finish the cream colored piece for her since a) the pulled patterns were showing up more nicely and b) it was farther along and should have been quicker to complete.  Needless to say, that didn't happen!!
    I got the rest of the pulled patterns in and had moved on to the satin stitch flowers in no time at all.  I was confident that I would be able to wrap it all up in just a few days and be able to move on to the next project I had slated for completion.  Then, out of the blue, things started to go awry.  I can't even tell you what the problem was because even though I ripped out the 3rd petal three, I said THREE times, it still wasn't right and couldn't figure out why!!
    It didn't become a fireplace piece, although I did give that serious consideration.  Nor did I throw it in the trash although that sounded pretty good too!  I took it off the frame, folded it neatly, and put it all away.  I don't know what will become of it.  I may go back to it later and try again.  I may decide to change the flowers in the corners to something in cross stitch, I really don't know at this point.  All I can say is my mom didn't get it for her birthday and since this is was her 75th, I don't know if she ever will!!
     After all of that drama, I managed to get myself into 2 other SALs.  I think I have a mental illness where this is concerned! I get caught up in the excitement of the group (Group Hysteria??) and wind up signing up for more projects than I really have time for. But, I guess that's fun too and spurs me on to get other projects finished up.
    Since I have signed up for more SALS on Facebook, plus I plan to do the new Blackbird one that will be starting on the 12th, I decided I needed to reduce the rotation.  I am trying to NOT add to the UFO list so a couple of finishes are in order.  I managed to wrap up the Quaker Medallion Sampler last night!

40 ct Lakeside Linen w/ my own
GA Sampler Threads conversion

This is a current Facebook SAL so I can cross this one off the list now and add a new one.  A very pretty sampler and one that was in the stash for quite a while.  I bought the chart twice so I must have REALLY liked it!!  No trip to the framer for this one. It is destined to be a birthday gift for one of my stitchy friends!!
     I have also been working on Harriette Coe.  Not as much work done on this one but it will be the subject of some intense  attention over the next week or so and will be the next one I finish.

It is such a pretty sampler and once again, on 40 ct, almost fits within the Qsnap!!
     That's about all for now.  I have to go kit 3 new projects and see if my can make some further progress on Miss Harriette tonight.  Should have a guaranteed 3 hrs. plus to work on her since we'll be watching baseball. Wish them luck! Our Indians are currently in the basement in their division and need all the help they can get!!

Stitch On!
Laura

Taking Care of Business

   I am woefully behind in some of my reporting so I thought I better get to it!  I didn't get to spend as much time stitching this past weekend as I would have liked but my son and his fiance were home for the Easter weekend.  Seeing the family always takes precedence over all else so the stitching just had to take a back seat!
   This was the first time my son had been home since his birthday so we had to celebrate!!   I can't believe my baby is 27 now!  In honor of the big day, I made a 'birthday pie', a beautiful one I saw on Facebook believe it or not, called Strawberries and Cream Pie. It had an Oreo crust, cream cheese/cool whip filling, was topped with strawberry slices and drizzled with chocolate.  It was just as wonderful to eat as it was to look at and I have had several requests for another asap!  We'll be at the beach in May so maybe I'll whip another one up then.
  On the stitching front, I did manage to squeeze some in between activities.  I spent all of my IH&SW time working on Harriette Coe.  I think she is coming along nicely!

Harriette Coe by WTN&T
40 ct Lakeside linen w/ listed threads

   I have been feeling remiss in my SAL stitching, it's nearly the end of the month and I haven't touched any of them, so I spent some time yesterday working on the Quaker Medallion Sampler.  Since I'm stitching it  on 40 ct. it nearly fits entirely within my 11 x 11 Q-Snap!!

This is a close-up of the section I worked on yesterday.  I switched the colors over to Sampler Threads and the blue I used in the unfinished motif is an original one from a zillion years ago called Peacock.  I'm sure the new ones don't look like this and I just love this color!!

   The last bit of business I need to take care of is my Stitch From Stash report.  I wish I could say I have been good and didn't spend anything this month like so many others but alas, I cannot.  I had the opportunity to buy not just one but two pieces that have been on my long term search list during this month and I couldn't let that opportunity pass.  Just one of these charts put me over the limit.  So, in all good conscience, I have to withdraw from the contest.
   It was fun while it lasted and I was happy for the challenge but I guess for me, it was just not meant to be.  I am continuing to work on the things in my stash, especially the things I have already started but also continue to add judiciously to my stash.  I will continue to cheer you all on from the sidelines and will look forward to seeing who is able to spent the least in the end.  Good luck to you all!!

Catching Up

  I've been trying to get a post done for about a week now.  Every day it seems like something came up that prevented me from getting it done.  Today I saw a break in the activities and I am making a mad stab at getting this  posted.  Let's just say that my life has been interfering with my stitching time!!
  After I got the bargello section finished on Dorothy Walpole, I moved on to the piece I have been working on for my future DIL's birthday.  I've been carrying it around as my stitch group piece for a while now and it was time to get it finished, so I did!!

Lizzie Kate's
Cat Lesson's for People
40 ct. Lakeside Linen w/ listed threads

   As a replacement in the rotation, I started Harriet Coe.  I have had this one kitted up since the last week of December and I really wanted to start it.  I am working it on 40 ct. linen so it is much smaller than it is supposed to be but it is just so cute I can't stand it!!

Harriet Co by WTN&T
40 ct. Lakeside linen w/ mostly listed threads

 I did change the red from Pomegranate (all the skeins I could find were pink) to Ruby Slippers which is a limited edition from the last market. I really like this red and I'm glad I bought a bunch of skeins of it!
    Then, I decided to start something off my bucket list.  I have pulled this one out more than once just over the past year and each time put it back thinking the time wasn't right.  So, I made it the right time and just got it started.  I love this piece and although  it will definitely be a long term project, at least now it is underway.

  This is my progress so far. Not much yet but it will go into the rotation too and will see some work time on a regular basis, whatever that is!

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

  Then, as if that wasn't enough, I decided to finish this piece for my Mom.  She is in a nursing home now and has little in her room in the way of decoration.  I thought I would finish it with an edge so she could use it on a table as a scarf.  As you can see, I've started it twice.  The first time, I used a linen that was too heavy and the pulled work didn't open up the way it was supposed to.  I switched it to a more open weave linen and I like the effect much better!

This is an EGA correspondence course our guild did last year and since I had the issue with the linen, I didn't get it finished in time for the review and it has languished ever since.
  So, that is what has been going on here.  I haven't worked on my SALs this month at all, except for Dorothy, so I am behind with those now.  And since I have added 2 more pieces to the rotation, something is going to have to give.  I think I will have to work on a couple of things until they are completed to get the rotation back to a manageable size and then play catch up with the SALs.  Sounds like a good plan to me!!
  It is IH&SW and I haven't been able to put fabric, thread and needle together yet so I think I will go do that now.  Happy Easter and happy stitching to you all!!