What's this?

It looks like a neglected blog.  September was a bit crazy here in my little corner of Virginia.  The Hubs had two surgeries,  he has severe carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands, that we are hoping will be successful.  After almost a month, neither one seems to be doing any better but the surgeon said that it could take up to six months for the nerves to wake back up if they are going to wake back up.  Work was absolutely crazy but that is pretty typical for the end of the fiscal year, unfortunately we weren't able to tell each other "good job" as my division is part of the several hundred thousand Federal employees that are locked out of their offices until this country's leaders and I am using that term loosely get over their childishness. As of today, I have been out of work longer than I ever have been since I started working and I am not liking the feeling.


I tried knitting years ago but never learned anything other than how to knit.  A few years ago, I knitted a number of scarves on huge needles (50 US/25mm) and really enjoyed it, so I started looking around for scarf patterns and have had the yarn and needles in my stash for this scarf since then.  I figured now was as good a time as any to give it a try and here's where I am:

I do have to work on keeping my tension even and pattern reading but I am happy with how this is turning out with simple knit and purl stitches.

I do have two finishes since my last post!  I am as shocked as any of you over that news!!!

Here is 99 by Ink Circles:

This is stitched on 32-count Golden Walnut with DMC.  Mine is in a different order from the pattern due to a placement error when I started so I do have to type a new guide but I am very happy that it is finished.

And here is Twilight of the Tsar by Dimples:

This is stitched on 32-count Smokey Pearl Belfast with DMC, Kreinik and Mill Hill beads.

 In addition to the finishes, I have made progress on several other projects:

Serengeti by Chatelaine stitched on 32-count Summer Sky Jobelan with recommended fibers and beads.

Sugared Almonds Gingerbread Houses by The Nutmeg Company stitched on kitted fabric, fibers and beads.

And, Mary's Sampler II SAL by Plum Street Samplers.  Stitched on a piece of mystery linen, it is actually browner than shown in the photo, with provided DMC conversion.  I used Simply Wool in oatmeal for the white sheep as it added a little bit of dimension.

Santa's Magic by Mirabilia has been put in the rotation.  That gives me three very large projects in my rotation so I am glad I have Sugared Almonds and Mary's Sampler II or there would be no finishes for the rest of the year.

I do have to get busy finish/finishing things soon and have been searching through the house for some boxes that I bought years ago (years before I moved to Virginia).  I know I brought them with me but for the life of me, I can't find them.  I know I will find them as soon as I figure out an alternative. 

A rainy IHSW

The weather here in my little corner of Virginia has been variable to say the least.  I understand that spring is changeable but it has been more changeable than normal the last couple of weeks.  The forecast for this weekend is for rain and thunderstorms which make it a perfect IHSW!  Another no pressure SAL, all you have to do is sign up here, and sit back and stitch.  Easy right? 

Before I pull out my Just Nan's Enchanted Swans for IHSW, I have a finish and an almost finish.

My finish is Waxing Moon Designs' Summer Sparrow.  You'll get to see this one twice as it is my ornament for this month so will be posting it the last Wednesday of this month too.

She/he is stitched on 28-count Summer Sky Jobelan with Gentle Arts Sampler Threads.  It's not my normal style although I really couldn't tell you exactly what my style is but it is one of a seasonal series and I am a sucker for those.

My almost finish is Twilight of the Tsars by Dimple Designs.

 

I spent last weekend finding and filling in all those stitches that I missed during the main stitching phase.  All that is left now is backstitching three different backstitching charts - one for each of the three colors used and beading.  I had thought of keeping this on the frame and pushing for a finish, but just was not in the mood for all that backstitching.  I should have a finish when this next shows in the rotation.

YOTA Check-In

Another fun SAL check-in!   All you have to do is stitch on a WIP.  You can focus on one, or like me, lots and post once a month - easy.  It's fun to see what everyone is working on and, of course, cheer them on.

I worked on several pieces this month, but will show Dimple Designs' Twilight of the Tsars.

Here's where I was when I started:

And here's where I left off:

Not a lot of cross stitch left, but there is quite a bit of backstitching and some beading so one, maybe two rounds in the rotation before a finish.

If you'd like to participate in the YOTA SAL, you can sign up here. 

I have taken next week off from work and have put a very old WIP on the frame.  The weather is supposed to be beautiful so there probably won't be as much stitching as I had planned when I first decided to take the week off, but some is better than none - especially when this what you are starting with:

This is as far as I got on Just Nan's Enchanted Swans when I started it in 1999!  The project is one of Just Nan's class project series and is one of many that I took as an on-line class through Tapestry of Dreams in Rhode Island a quick search did not find a listing for the store, so I suspect it is closed now.  Each week Kelly emailed you the directions for a different band and in a few months you had a completed sampler or at least that was the idea.  This is one of the few WIPs I can actually date with any precision as I have a copy of the email that was sent on March 4, 1999 with the directions for band 5.  Please do not post comments saying it is older than you are, the poor thing has a very bad complex as it has been sitting with other, younger, WIPs that are much further along!! 

TUSAL, YOTA and a new SAL

I have myself involved in five different SALs this year. I don't know what came over me, I kept seeing all these sign-ups and thought "I can do that"! It will be interesting to see how long I can keep it up.  

Before I start with the check-ins, I have been very remiss in welcoming my new followers!  Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read my, sometimes, rambling posts. OKAY, more often than not rambling posts...

And so far this week, the frog infestation seems to have moved on.  I am hoping they are lost somewhere in the middle of the not a lot that I live in and have not moved onto someone else's home...


My first two check-ins are for Daffycat's TUSAL and Pull the Other Thread's YOTA.

I participated in TUSAL the year before last and it was fun to watch the ORTs pile up. That year I put the ORTs directly into that year's glass ortament um that would be an ornament full of ORTS. Turns out that was a bad choice as I didn't realize how often I went digging through my bits of leftovers for a piece just big enough to do half a stitch or to help pull a thread through. I did learn my lesson and this year am using a much more appropriate, for my stitching style, bowl:

Now if the weather had cooperated with some sunshine you really could see the little threads there in the bottom.  There are actually more than usual as I, as mentioned in my previous post, had a frog attack so there are lots of frog fluffed pieces in there.  If you're interested in joining this SAL, hop get it frogs/hop? pun fully intended on over to Daffycat's blog for all the information.

My next check-in is for Pull the Other Thread's YOTA SAL, I found this one through a new to me blog Kali's Creations.  This one is a WIP reduction SAL and one I definitely need.  Between this one and WIPocalypse 2013, I may actually reduce that ridiculously long list over there to the right.  If you're interested in joining this SAL, check it out here!  I don't have a specific WIP that I am focusing on, as my entire rotation is now WIPs, but I did work on these the first two you have already seen, but in the following of the SAL's rules/guidelines, you get to see them again:

Serengeti by Chatelaine.  This was a new start, but as soon as you put a stitch in the piece becomes a WIP, so I am counting it.

Here's my before:

and the after:

Same story with Little House Needlework's Pine Tree Inn. I don't have a before, but here is the after:

Twilight of the Tsar by Dimple Designs is probably more in the spirit of this SAL and I am pleased with the progress I made:

Before:

And after:

Pine Tree Inn is going to be this month's focus piece for the 2013 Ornament SAL at Stitching Lotus.  If you are interested in this SAL, it's not limited to Christmas ornaments, check-in is on the last Wednesday of each month and actually  finishing it into an ornament is optional *that* criteria alone made it something that I thought I could keep up with - if I actually had to finish-finish every ornament, I would have been sunk.  The actual rules are on the SAL tab.  If you're interested in an ornament finishing SAL, there's a new one at Stitched: Now to Finish. 


There in one symbol on TotT that I would like to finish today and then I think Just Nan's Christmas Elegance will be put in the frame for the coming week.

Doors Closed

The title really has nothing to do with much of anything except that I just watched an episode of "NOVA" that was sort of "everything you wanted to know about elevators but were afraid to ask".  Did you know that the "doors closed" button doesn't work?   I only use the elevator at the office if I'm going more than 3 flights up or down but on the few times I have actually ridden the elevator and used the button it certainly didn't seem to do too much.  Of course in my building, it isn't really a surprise when something doesn't work as expected.

We are expecting our first extended cold snap starting tomorrow.  I don't mind the cooler weather and I do hope that it decides to stay cooler.  The temperature ups and downs are very frustrating.  Dressing for the temperatures in the morning is sure to have you overdressed for the afternoon. 

Thank you to my new followers.  I have been very lax in my blogging and blog commenting - I have been reading (you are all an amazing group of stitchers) and really do hope to get back to a more regular schedule of reading, commenting and blogging.

Before I forget, Donna at By the Bay Needleart is hosting another freebie stitch along.  This one is an autumn themed one done in four parts.  One part will be released each Wednesday.  The really nice thing is that it is sized to fit a 5"X7" frame when stitched on 28 count fabric.  I have my fibers pulled but have not started stash diving for fabric.

As this is supposed to be a way for me to keep track of my stitching, I should probably show some...

This is Ink Circles' 99 stitched on an unknown company's 32-count Golden Walnut fabric with DMC:

Before

After

Just Nan's Christmas Elegance stitched on 28-count Antique White with DMC, Kreinik metallics and beads.

Before

After

And this is Mirabilia's Santa's Magic.  It is stitched on 32-count opalescent Amertrine from Silkweaver's with DMC, Kreinik and Mill Hill beads.

Before

After

Twilight of the Tsars by Dimple Designs is going on the frame for this weekend's stitching time.

Huh? Would you look at that?

A blog post? From me? I don't think I've ever gone this long without posting something.  And I have only been reading and commenting sporadically the last few weeks.  Work has made it impossible to even think about turning on a computer or engaging my brain in any activity that requires more than two neurons firing at the same time when I am home. 

First welcome to my new followers I appreciate that you think I have something worthwhile enough to say that you're willing to show the world that.

So what's been going on?  I am finally over the cold that I mentioned in my last post, but the darn thing hung on for ages.  I got some gardening done - okay it was mostly weeding and mowing the grass, but at least the house doesn't look like it's abandoned.  Oh yes, I did find a lovely nest of yellow jackets while I was mowing.  Nothing intentional but they seemed to take offense to the mower running over the entrance of their home and then me stepping on it.  For something so small, about 1/2" to 3/4" I have no idea what that is to the rest of the world - it would have soooo much easier if we had just gone metric back in the 70s, they pack a punch!  And wouldn't you know that if one is injured say by someone frantically brushing it off their leg (which was encased in clothing) it sends out a message to all its friends that it's in distress and please come help and you end up with multiple stings because each one of the nasty little things can sting multiple times from multiple critters.  It was not a pleasant experience.  The worst of the areas is just now settling back and looking like normal I ended up with 7 sting areas but thankfully the skin reaction was all I had.

Our summer invasion of finches has arrived.  The little pigs-on-wings pretty much empty two feeders every other day or so.  They are having help with a third feeder a raccoon is climbing the feeder pole and dumping out the seed and then cleaning it up off the ground so I will need to get back out there with grease and make the climb a little more difficult. 

On the bright side, I have been stitching. In no particular order here is what I've been working on:

Ink Circles' 99
Stitched on Unknown Company's 32-count Golden Walnut with DMC threads

This photo shows the fabric color a little better, but also shows what happens when you forget to divide by 2 when deciding on a starting place 9" is probably a really good margin for a framer.  Fortunately there is enough space to put a row above this one and not throw the design off or frogging these bottles. AND there are only 96 more bottles to go before it's finished.

A HAPPY DANCE!!  Shepherd's Bush's Holy Night
Stitched on Unknown color of 28-count R&R Reproductions linen with recommended fibers and buttons

Summer Mystery SAL from By the Bay Needlearts Part 1
Stitched on 32-count Silkweaver's Lavender Swirl with DMC

Drawn Thread's Summer into Autumn
Stitched from materials in kit

Dimple Designs' Twilight of the Tsars
Stitched on 32-count Smokey Pearl Belfast with DMC and Kreinik BF and Braids

I think that's about all.  Probably not a lot of stitching this week as I am traveling for business, leaving tomorrow and home next Sunday.  Chatelaine's Winter Watergarden will be put on the frame for a little love this afternoon/evening, but unless the cats or The Hubs have learned to stitch while I haven't been looking, there won't be a lot done.  I do hope to get a chance to catch up on my blog reading and commenting while gone the wonders of tablets and WiFi.

Back Home Again

I had a very nice time in Mississippi last week, the training went well nobody threw anything or ran out of the room screaming so until I can read the evaluations I'll assume it went well, and I am glad to be home again. Of course, I spent most of today straightening and cleaning, but I think I'm about done.

Thank you everyone for the kind comments on Christmas Elegance. I have a bunch of Just Nan's older designs in my stash have not been too fond of her recent releases, but was a collector for many years and always wonder why I don't work on them more often I don't suppose the ridiculous list of WIPs has anything to do with it....  The mint M&Ms are hard to find but, if you can find them, they are well worth the hunt.
Another portion of my Serengeti threads arrived while I was gone.  

Talk about a beautiful package!  This one is from Needle in a Haystack.

And inside was the Petite Very Velvet, Gloriana Petite Princess Perle and Gloriana Luminescence:

I had an email from Drema at Needlecraft Corner saying that my order was ready for shipping, so I should have everything but the Dinky Dye threads soon.

As I suspected, I did not get any stitching done while I was gone, but I did do quite a bit on Twilight of the Tsars last weekend.

Here's where I was when I picked it up Saturday evening:

And here's where I left it on Sunday:

It is definitely egg shaped now.

Chatelaine's Winter Watergarden is on the stand for IHSW.  I have so little done on it that it's almost silly to all it a WIP but I do hope to get a good portion of part 1 finished.

Earworms, M&Ms, Stash and Stitching

Thank you to everyone for your comments on my Shepherd's Bush piece, I really am happy with the way it is turning out.

I have had a plague of earworms lately.  My current one is 3AM by Poets of the Fall, which replaced Viva la Vida by Coldplay - both of them are huge improvements over the Oompa Loompa song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!  That one was stuck for almost a week - very irritating to wake up and hear that running through your head - strange thing is I haven't watched the movie recently, so I am not sure how or why it started.
Have you tried these?

Yep, dark chocolate mint M&Ms! They are addictive!  I am not really sure why they packaged them in a zip closing package - it wasn't really necessary.

Look what came in the mail!!

First is my bead pack for Chatelaine's Serengeti:

Doesn't European Cross Stitch package things up nicely?

And second is Maxim & Zoya from Plum Street Samplers:

I am trying to figure out what drew me to this as it is not my usual style.  Not sure when this will fit in my rotation, but it will be soon I hope.

Stitching? Yes, I actually did do some stitching this week.  Here is my progress on Blackbird Designs'  Birds of a Feather:

Blackbird Designs' Birds of a Feather
Stitched on 30-count R&R Reproductions Irish Creme linen with Gentle Arts and Crescent Colours

That vine border on the left? It took me three tries to get it right. Counting to five was a very difficult task for me last weekend. It seems that the easier something is, the more I have to frog. 

Birds of a Feather was my Friday stitch, the rest of the weekend I worked on Just Nan's Christmas Elegance


Just Nan's Christmas Elegance
Stitched on 28-count Antique White with DMC, Kreinik and beads

Twilight of the Tsars has been put onto the stand and is ready for some stitching. I will be out of town for work next week, so I won't get a lot of time for stitching, I may take something small with me, but my experience has been that I am so tired after a day of training that all I can do in the evenings is review my notes for the next day and sleep.

I Hermited This Weekend

After following the International Hermit and Stitch Weekend for most of the year, you can read more about it on Joyze's blog,  I finally got around to officially joining for this weekend.  Of course that meant that I didn't get to do as much stitching as I usually do, but I did craft and finally finished our holiday cards I put them in the mail this morning, so I can say that I am DONE with holiday preparations!!

Before I get to my update pictures, thanks to everyone that left comments, I really appreciate them.  Dani, no treadmill for the last month?!?!?!  I'd be in really sad shape, literally and figuratively, if mine every went.  Ouch on the washing machine - not exactly what I would have wished for as a gift.  Over 1?  Are you doing Enchantment of Winter?  I have that one in my stash and if by some miracle I finish Twilight of the Tsar I plan to start that one.

Since it is now 8:40 and I have to be in bed in 20 minutes the joys of getting up at 4:00 AM, here are my update pictures:

Twilight of the Tsar.  I did the backstitching on the ring and added some blue.  I also remembered why I don't like stitching with blending filament, but the effect will be very worth it.

Next,

Hawaiian Mandala.  Added the gold topstitching in the outer border, the algerian eyelets not fun in metallic thread and worked on two side pineapples.

And finally,

Santa 2010: Socks & Underwear.  I put this one on my scroll frame and it went so much faster than stitching in hand.  I finished the body of the shirt and hope to give Santa some arms and hands during the week.  This one could actually be a finish this week as all that's left, aside from his arms and hands, are his pants and boots.

All in all, given the limited time I had to stitch, I feel pretty good about what I did get done.

An Up and Down Week

It has definitely been an up and down week, unfortunately, the down is the most recent part (another car repair - this one more expensive than the last  - believe me, it was a surprise when the power steering stopped working!!) so it is definitely coloring how I'm seeing everything right now.  I'm working on adjusting my attitude I found TimTams at the store tonight and hope to be in better spirits soon or at least before I eat the whole package and feel more miserable!!!

Thank you all for the kind comments on my finish.  I have it pinned to my design door I would take a picture but the battery in the camera is dead!  I swear the thing turns on at night as it runs through batteries faster than anything I've ever used!! so I can see it and dream of actually getting it framed someday.  They spliced the cable line into the main line today and The Hubs has been on the phone trying to get an appointment for them to come run the line to the house we live about 1/4 mile off the road, so getting the majority of the line run by the cable company was a HUGE plus, we only have to deal with a few hundred feet now. Jo, I had to smile at your description of your cable - fortunately, ours is buried, at least the bit running up our drive so pigeons should not be a problem - now the moles might be another story!

We had a fairly nice day on the water today I don't know if I ever mentioned that we own a boat - well the bank owns it and they kindly let us use it each month for a fee - I really need to take my camera and get some pictures - it got very choppy around noon, so we didn't stay as long as we had planned nor did we catch any fish, but it was nice being outside.

No stitching during the week, but I did get a fair amount done last weekend.  First up, I'm sure to nobody's surprise, is Hawaiian Mandala:

The white squares are either filled with algerian eyelets or bicones.  The eyelets will be done, but the bicones won't be added until I finish all the stitching.

Next is a new start Twilight of the Tsar by Dimple Designs

I found this series late so grab them when I can.  This one was an unwanted WIP that was given to me.  Unfortunately, the stitches were crossed in the opposite direction of mine, so I had to do some frogging right away.  Fortunately, there were less than a dozen stitches, so it wasn't terrible.  I think I will be going back this weekend and doing the backstitching on the ring.  I really dislike backstitching and there is a lot of it on this piece, so if I leave it until last I'll have another WIP/UFO.

As I was looking for my stitching pictures, I found one of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel at sunset. The CBBT is a total of 17 miles long with two tunnels and three bridge sections.  It connects southern Virginia to the Eastern Shore.  It's an amazing view from the bridge, but if you're too timid to do the drive yourself, they actually have people that will drive your car for you.  During really windy weather it can be a white knuckle drive and I can see how people would be nervous.  Anyway, as is usual, structures in the water attract fish and other sea life I caught a 4 foot eel along here once so we spend a lot of our fishing time along the bridge or over the tunnels. 

Wrapping, baking and card making are on the agenda for this weekend.  I hope to get some stitching time in there too.