If Found Please Return

If you find my mojo, for just about everything, would you please send it home?  I really do miss it and am tired of being in this funk.  Stitching and other things are getting done, but I'm not able to concentrate for more than a few minutes at a time.  I sit down, take a couple of stitches and then think of something to do or get distracted by something on TV which is VERY unusual for me and then it's an hour or so before I sit back down to stitch and repeat so while I have stitching pictures to show, there isn't a lot of progress. 

So rather than try to remember what I've been up to since my last post, I'm just going to go right into stitching pictures:

Before:

 And after:

Holly by Mirabilia
Stitched on 28-count opalescent White with DMC, Rainbow Gallery PTP, and Mill Hill and Delica Beads

This one is actually a finish!!!

Before:



Summerhill House by Debbie Mumm for Mill Hill
Stitched on 28-count Bluebell Jobelan with DMC and Mill Hill beads

 As is this one!

Before:

And after:

Summer Mystery SAL by By the Bay Needlearts
Stitched on 32-count Lavender Swirl from Silkweaver Fabrics with DMC

Before:

After:



New England St Nick by The Goode Huswife
Stitched on 35-count Onyx from Weeks Dye Works with NPI  

 And finally:

Before:

And after:

Japanese Octagonal Box by Chatelaine
Stitched on 32-count Light Blue Belfast with NPI, Petite Treasure Braid, Gloriana, Wildflowers and Delica beads

 I have already started thinking about my 2013 stitching plans.  They will certainly feature fewer projects but I am enjoying the structure of my rotation just as I am enjoying all the projects that I have in it, but I would like to see more progress on fewer pieces than just a little on a lot.  It is going to be difficult to decide which pieces to leave and which to put "in the wings".

It was a WHAT?!?!

As you may have read on other blogs or heard on the news there was an amazing line of thunderstorms that hit Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia about a week ago.  Come to find out it wasn't *just* a scary thunderstorm with lots of wind, it was a derecho.  A derecho you ask? Well you may not, but I sure did.  According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory, "A derecho is a fast-moving windstorm that is made up of thunderstorms that repeatedly develop along the leading edge. These lines of storms can move very quickly and produce widespread straight-line winds over long periods of time. Derechos can move anywhere from 35-70 mph and last 8 hours or more. Most derechos that produce severe weather move at speeds greater than 50 mph. Warm season events probably move a little slower than cold season events." Seems the up- and down-drafts just keep feeding existing and creating new thunderstorms. Whatever you want to call them, they were scary.  The wind just would not let up, and I honestly kept waiting for something to come down on the house or the house to come down on something. We were fortunate that we did not lose power - it flickered but never went completely out.  We have several large branches down in the yard and a tree that came down, but no damage to any buildings.  As soon as it cools down some probably October the way this summer's going we'll get out and clean things up.  That is one of the advantages of living in the middle of not a lot, no homeowner's association to make a fuss if we don't pick up immediately.

So what else have I been doing since my last post?  Oh yeah, I was in Detroit for a week.  It was a very nice trip as I only had to speak once and basically hang around for questions/discussions the rest of the time.  DSister and DBIL were wonderful hosts.  Picked me up and dropped me off at the airport and trekked into Detroit to take me to dinner a couple of times.  I was able to take a couple of days off and see the rest of the family so all in all a good week.  Probably the only bad part of the trip was the building the hotel was in.  The hotel was in the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit and while it's a very beautiful building it is near to impossible to get around in!!  You could see where you wanted to be but could not get there.  The building is four towers connected by walkways - here is a photo from one of the walkways:

The tan/beige walkway is tile and it actually looks like a tire tread General Motors is headquartered in one of the towers.  It was definitely one of those places that you did not try a new way to get somewhere, figure out once and don't deviate!!
I did get a little stitching done in between travel and work.
Chatelaine's Winter Watergarden. Stitched on White Belfast with recommended fibers.

  

Before

After

It is really hard to tell what was done but if you look really hard you may see some additional filling stitches just inside the outer border. I *did* say a little stitching... 

Next is By the Bay Needlearts' Summer SAL.  It's stitched on 32-count Silkweaver's Lavender Swirl with the recommended DMCs.

Before

After

I think I am going to push through with this one as I'm so close to finished.  I took tomorrow off and Friday is my regular Friday off so I am hopeing to get some good stitching time in.  Chatelaine's Hawaiian Garden and Mirabilia's Holly are both moving back into the rotation.

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.

A Little of This and a Little of That

Like Karen at On Beads and Needles I had one of those "hero" co-workers and am home today with what I am hoping is just a cold.  I suppose, to be fair, most people are contagious before the actual symptoms appear so they don't know they're sick, but this could not have happened at a more inopportune time of course colds don't seem to care about your schedule.

Looking back, it's been a while since I posted, so there is a little catching up to do which if I am honest could really be done in a very short while but it is my blog so I am going to blather on a bit...

Before I forget, take a peak over at By the Bay Needle Arts' blog. Donna is hosting a free, four part, summer mystery SAL.  She has a fuzzied up picture of the finished project so you can get an idea if you squint and twist your head just so of what it will look like. Even though I need another project like I need a hole in my head I'm on for this one. Especially as I am fairly certain that I have everything I need in my stash and I do love Donna's designs. If you look through my stash you'd probably be surprised by that, as her designs don't really "fit" but there is just something about them that appeals.

I have been very lax in my stitching the last couple of weeks as other things just got in the way.  For the first time in I can't remember I did not put needle to fabric last weekend, instead I did a girl's weekend with a couple of friends from the office.  One of the ladies owns a townhouse about 10 miles from Ocean City, Maryland and agreed to host and she was an *amazing* host.  We had a great time - no stress, no must-dos - just food  if you are ever in Lewes, Delaware and have a hankering for Mexican food I highly recommend Agave - it's a first-come-first-served restaurat so the wait could be long but they do take your cell phone number and call you when you're table is ready so you can do some wandering around downtown Lewes, laughing, reading and a fair amount of b&tching discussion- we were all destressed and ready to tackle the world by Sunday afternoon.  I even managed a quick trip to a new-to-me yarn/needlework store in Bethany Beach.  If you are in the area Sea Needles is packed literally with yarn, patterns, and supplies for the knitter and oodles of patterns and supplies for the cross stitcher.  I wasn't able to spend a lot of time in there but I did enjoy the time I had.

The hummingbirds have finally returned!  I am not sure where they have been as I usually see the first one in late March/early April.  No pictures yet but once they settle in a bit I'll give it a try.

So, you ask, has there been any stitching in the last couple of weeks?  Well, yes a little.

Here is where I started on Chatelaine's Secret Victorian Garden:

Chatelaine's Secret Victorian Garden
Stitched on Silkweaver's 32-count Carol's Meadow with recommended fibers and beads

And here's where I finished stitching the backstitching of the gate and that silver bit above the smoke took FOREVER.

Chatelaine's Secret Victorian Garden
Stitched on Silkweaver's 32-count Carol's Meadow with recommended fibers and beads

I have a four day weekend coming up Friday is my off-Friday from work and Monday is Memorial Day.  I am hoping to get out on the boat despite the fact that there will be soooo many people taking theirs out for the first time this season and the area will be crazy busy but if we don't I have 99 by Ink Circles this will make a perfect addition to DSon's mancave apartment and Holy Night from Shepherd's Bush just waiting for a little attention.

Back Home Again from Indiana

As I was traveling for work for a good portion of last week, I did not get a lot of stitching done. I did take a kitted up ornament with me, but it is definitely too much effort to stitch while traveling by plane as there is not enough room in the cattle car economy class to breath stitch comfortably.  Thank goodness it doesn't take much room to read. I was very pleasently surprised by the location, the meeting was held at the Potawatmi Inn at Pokegon State Park in Angola, Indiana.  The only down side is that I didn't have time to be able to take advantage of any of the walking or biking trails, but the park is definitely on my list of places to visit again.

I got a little time last weekend and yesterday for stitching.  Last weekend Blue Ribbon Designs' Countdown to Christmas was on the frame.

I started with it here:

And finished with it here:

Blue Ribbon Designs' Countdown to Christmas
Stitched on 40-count Lakeside Linens' Magnolia with recommended fibers

I am at the "push through" phase on this portion of the project now.  All that is left is the grid that makes up the calendar and that is going to be very boring stitching. I may have to work the little ornaments into the rotation so that I have something to look forward to maybe something along the line of one ornament for every two blocks stitched.

I started a new project yesterday - Liz Turner Diehl's Flamingerge Egg.  It is a bit outside of my usual, but I have a thing for flamingos although I do tend to keep it in check so there are no flamingo decorations in my yard or my house although I do have a fair number in my cubical.  The entire kit came in this box: 

And came with all of this:

 The only thing missing is the styrofoam egg for the finishing.  And here is what I stitched yesterday:

Liz Turner Diehl's Flamingerge Egg
Stitched on 32-count Antique White Belfast with Madeira fibers

The colors are more coral and turquoise than the orange and blue that are showing in the photo. The piece came with Madeira cotton and silk fibers which I had never used, but do really like stitching with them. The packaging is interesting and keeps the fibers clean and easily organized but it is not ideal for storing leftover bits.

Chatelaine's Secret Victorian Garden is on the frame for this week. 

Whole lot of stumbling and tuning going on

Thank you to everyone that drops by and reads my posts.  I am still a bit mystified about the whole "blog thing" but I am certainly glad I took the plunge and started writing. 

I almost completely lost myself in iTunes and StumbleUpon last weekend.  I had wonderful plans to start Chatelaine's Serengeti and make progress on Carriage House Sampling's Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow. instead I listened to lots of music and found some really amazing ideas for home decorating, gardening, crafting and food.  It was almost as relaxing as stitching and I really don't feel too bad about not meeting my weekend stitching goals.

Not that I totally flaked on the stitching, here is where Autumn was when I put it on the frame Friday evening:

And here's where it is as of tonight:

The colors in the "before" photo are much closer to true.  Despite my apparent indifference to this piece, I really am enjoying the stitching and the big bite mark is finally filled in.

Blue Ribbon Designs' Countdown to Christmas is going on the frame for this weekend.  I am still working my way through Midsomer Murders, Queen's Another One Bites the Dust has started running through my head every time the music changes to a minor key that's a dead giveaway (pun intended) that someone is going to die, but I saw that Sherlock Season 2 will be on Masterpiece this Sunday, so some competition is in the future a development I am sure you are all grateful for.

IHSW

Thank you to everyone for the comments on my last post.  Midsomer's population has been reduced by another seven since last week - three in one show alone I never would have thought that bell ringing was such a dangerous hobby!

Another International Hermit and Stitch Weekend has come and gone. Thank you to Joyce for organizing this once again - although I believe she found something other than stitching to do this weekend.   I had grand plans for a very intensive stitching weekend, but was in a bit of a stitching funk yesterday.  As a result I spent the majority of the day reading, doing housework if I was doing housework instead of stitching you know it was a real funk!! and playing around in iTunes it took several hours for me to decide on eight new songs - turns out iTunes is rather like blog reading, you start in one place, follow links and end up hours later nowhere near where you started! Today turned out to be a perfect hermitting day - windy, pouring rain and cold so I was able to settle in and get some stitching done.

On the frame this weekend and for the coming week is Papillon Creations' Eightsome Reel. 

Papillon Creations' Eightsome Reel
Stitched on 28-count Chai Tea Jobelan with HDF conversion

I was able to stitch the red/blue medallion and gold/grey circle on the right.  This puts me at half-way.  It is going to be a push to finish this one as I as I believe I have mentioned before am not enjoying stitching with these fibers but I am too stubborn far along to throw in the towel.

Last week's project was Chatelaine's Japanese Octagonal Box. 

Chatelaine's Japanese Octagonal Box
Stitched on 32-count ice blue Belfast with recommended threads and beads

One more bonsai and a bit more of the slope of Mount Fuji done.  In order to get the colors more true to life, I tried scanning instead of photographing, as suggested by Jo, and it worked.  Unfortunately, I cannot get the scan to copy over to my blog, but I will continue trying.

Here is the link to the list of International Hermit and Stitch participants for April in case you want to end up miles from where you started...