Catching up

Hello my stitchy friends - Life has kept me busy with tax returns on extension until 10/17 and getting ready for retreat and visiting family. I've been stitching, but nothing for show and tell yet. Today, I'm going to Ohio for a weekend retreat organized by Covered Bridge Needlearts and the wonderful owner, Shelley Musmano. We will be joined by Lori Markovic of La-D-Da and I'm truly looking forward to the next 48 hours. There's been some pre-stitching and will have a finished photo next week for you. I've done weekend get-a-ways, but this is the first time that a designer has been part of the retreat and I'm really looking forward to meeting Lori and seeing how we are to finish our pre-stitching.

I recently participated in a Fair and Square exchange with Ruth B from CA (The Musing Badger is her blog). This is the second time I've been paired with Ruth and let me tell you - this gal's imagination and skills are just wonderful. The photo does not do justice to her over one stitching of the Pt Loma lighthouse and the "Quaker" water and embellishments that she stitched. The second square is her "signature" to me. Isn't it wonderful? Now to determine the best way to finish off the squares.

Enjoy your weekend - it's going to be rainy, windy and cool here. Perfect weather to be inside stitching!

Linda

Stitching with a friend

Happy Monday morning to all.

I have (if I can make it work) a photo of my Mystery SAL with iStitch. Carol sent me a resized, non-clickable picture, so let's see if I can copy it. (I have zero skills when it comes to computers). EDITED: My picture was still too big, so I've removed it. I told you my computer skills were zero!

Friday night, I had the great pleasure of meeting Lee and some stitching friends of hers for a few hours of laughter and stitching. It was a good way to end the week! It's a bit of a drive for me, so not sure how often I'll be able to go. The frog paid a visit while I was with the ladies - just can't talk and count at the same time. I saw such beautiful stitching too. Two of the ladies were doing "Spring Quakers" by Karen Kluba - so, so pretty. And being with other stitchers sure gives you some ideas about needle parks and accessories to make life easier for stitching. I was working on LHN's "Joy" - one of the first ornaments from 2010. Sadly, no picture.

Work is calling, so off I go. Hope to be back later in the week with some other photos - I really do stitch! Find some time for yourself to do what you like best this week.

Linda

Almost Labor Day?

Oh my gosh......where has the summer gotten to? The older I get, the faster the pages turn on the calendar. We had all kinds of plans in May for what would get done around the house and who we would visit. Hmmmmmmm - I'll get back to you on that.

I am, however, making a quick trip to the west side of Cleveland to visit my cousin tomorrow. I have 12 cousins, but this one is my very favorite and the visit is long overdue. DH gave me the timetable this morning - first stop is Just Stitching (and I didn't even have to ask) and then on to see Laura and her gang.

I have a retreat piece to finish and part 2 of the IStitch SAL - and a couple of Halloween ornies I want to stitch, but also have two squares for Fair and Square. And nothing is calling to me. Why is it that we have enough stash to open our own store but when it comes time to stitch for someone else - nothing will suit? Hoping to go through the stash a little more tonight to see if I really don't have something that is "just right" for my partner and maybe then I'll only need threads tomorrow.

Hope everyone's weekend has some time for you and what you like to do best.

Linda

I Stitch SAL

Before we left for the Corvette show, I finished part 1 of the Mystery SAL that Carol from IStitch has formed. I tossed threads on the quilt in my bedroom and came up with DMC 3064 and Gloriana Olivine on unknown linen in my stash. The next post of this piece will be the finish - which won't happen until November since Carol is releasing this in parts. I will use the finished piece in my bedroom - either as a wall hanging or a small pillow.

I can't get a small enough picture to post that will still enable you to see the piece, but also protect the designer from anyone enlarging and printing the design. I respect Carol's wishes, so you'll see the end result later in the year.

I am stitching this mystery in honor of our 41st wedding anniversary (8/29). When we got married, we knew not where we were heading and what lied ahead, but we were together and that was what counted.

Linda

Some stitching to show

One of my favorite designers is Carol from IStitch. In a recent exchange with Marcy for the Fair and Square group, I stitched "SEW FORTH" by Carol. It was pastel, sampler like and just called to me based on what Marcy wrote that she liked. I stitched with the HDF just as Carol called for and I couldn't be happier with the finish. The back square was kept simple with just our initials and three hearts.

Last week was certainly different - first the tremors from earthquake, which I felt in Pittsburgh and then Hurricane Irene wrecking havoc on millions of people. In the midst of this, we were in central PA at the annual Corvette show with our dear friends from Massachusetts. Due to the weather, they headed home on Saturday instead of Sunday, but not before I had 3 full days of one-on-one with their sweet 5-year-old daughter Rebecca. What a blessing to have a child put their arms around you and tell you she loves you.

And what a blessing - our family and friends who were in the path of Irene are safe with minimal damages.

Linda

She's alive!

I am still around - keeping busy with work and stitching and reading other's blogs. I need to get more disciplined about staying in touch.

Tax season is long past, but still there are tax returns on extension (which is good for the checkbook) and other work to do. A hot, lazy summer has only added to my laziness. Oh....and a new Kindle, which has increased my reading time. There's still a pile of paperbacks and hardbacks calling my name, but the e-reader is certainly easier to carry and hold.

Our son moved to St. Simon's Island GA in July and that added to confusion and time as he needed help packing up the apartment and oh yes..bringing furniture back home that wasn't destined for the move, but also wasn't ready for donation. We're very glad that he's now an Assistant Professor of English at Coastal George College, but he's also 800 miles away. And I don't fly. Hard to let them go so far away.

I have one meager posting today - my squares received from Marcy M from PA in the Fair and Square exchange. She dyed the fabric with Rit blue denim dye and did this cute snowman for me in hardanger. ::sigh:: Someday I'll learn how to do that too. If only you could see how beautiful her stitching is in person - truly lovely!!

Have other finishes and postings - will try to do that over the weekend. I am currently working on old WIP's and will be starting the Mystery SAL with Carol R from iStitch. Also have a class project for a fall retreat, but still figuring out where to begin stitching! Looking forward to meeting up with Lee and Carol tomorrow for some stitching and a general catching up.

Linda

Six weeks to go

For 42 years, I've spent the first 3-1/2 months of each year doing income taxes and by the beginning of March, go into count-down mode. Six weeks from today is the absolute deadline without extension to file 2010 tax returns. Yes, that date is April 18 and not April 15. Is the IRS being generous to us? - NO! It seems that April 16 is Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia, and is officially a holiday only in DC. Since IRS is headquartered in DC, they will observe the holiday on Friday, April 15. So since the IRS is closed on the 15th, the next business day is the 18th and that's when tax returns are due. The best part of this year is that Easter is after April 15, which means I get to enjoy and participate more fully. Small things mean a lot when you are buried in tax returns and being the bad message bearer!

I've been stitching a little on small things for gifts and actually have something to show - but forgot to take a picture. Hopefully I can post something later in the week. Stitching is my stress-reliever that's for sure.

With the sad news of Lisa Roswell's passing last week, it surely makes you think about how quickly life can change for all of us. She continues to be in my thoughts, even though I never met her. I knew I had bought a few of her designs so last night I went stash diving. I bought one piece last fall - I was drawn to it by the alphabets (I love them) and the simple but poignant message.....Let Your Life Speak. From all that was written about Lisa in the past week, I think she did just that.

Have a good week. Be safe and well my friends.

Linda

Just another Friday night

Last night I finished a birthday present that I started on January 30th, but can't show pictures until it's received. With the last stitches in, I decided to pick up one of my challenge pieces (everything I needed was right next to the stitchy chair) and it was early and I was thinking - I can make progress tonight. Wrong!!! I got maybe 10 stitches in and decided no wonder it was a WIP/UFO and nicely put everything away. But when I looked at the other challenge pieces sitting there, all I could think that what I really wanted to do was start a new project. However, the new project I had on my mind needs to be kitted up - so instead I watched a little TV and went to bed. Maybe tonight I'll get to kit up the Goode Huswife piece that has been catching my eye - Quaker Corners, which is part of the collection of Goode Huswife IV that I was able to purchase at a reasonable price from Shakespeares Peddler.

Those who have Monday off (in the states) I hope you get to stitch or stash.

Stay warm and safe.

Linda

Thread colors

Just a quickie post - the thread colors for the BBD Bonus Chart are:

Crescent Colors - Cinnamon Toast, Jakey Brown and Queen Bee

GAST - Endive, Old Hickory, Old Purple Paint

I mistakenly said WDW instead of CC in my original post.


Stay warm and safe.

Linda

Monday Finish

I said last week that I hoped to have the BBD Bonus from the Swan Lake AOH chart done by today - and I just finished the Smyrna stitch!!! I loved the colors in this - was drawn to them right away. I used the called for GAST and WDW on 25-count Floba, 2 over 2. I wanted the bigger finish, so changed the fabric. Since I plan on putting it on a wall of other alphabets, it will most likely be framed. But framing will have to wait for a while. I was planning on working late tonight, but the snow chased me home, so I had the time to stitch. No snow the rest of the week, so I'll be putting in some extra hours to get returns out the door.

There's a birthday present (it's late) and a birthday present (not due yet) that I'm working on, so no pictures for a while. Have a good week.

Stay safe and warm.

Linda

PS on Finish

P.S. When I learn better how to post pictures, I promise not lead off with a WIP when the title says FINISH. The BBD design is not finished - hopefully by Monday.
Linda

A finish

As promised, I'm back with a finish. But....not a finish from my challenge list. ::sigh:: This finish was a Christmas ornie for a long-time stitching friend from Sacramento CA. Geri and I met through an old AOL craft room and have stayed friends through a small Yahoo group. Geri is not only a wonderful cross-stitcher but also a terrific seamstress and makes period clothing, including corsets! I wanted to stitch Beehive Needlework's "Ephinea's Snowflakes" and couldn't resist stitching this for her. The thread color (Belle Soie - Cranberry) was matched to the backing fabric (the pincushion is resting on it) which I bought at a quilt shop while on a weekend stitching get-a-way in November. The little heart buttons were an addition from my stash.

As for the challenge list - no wonder those items are WIP's. They still weren't grabbing my attention to work on, so I picked up BBD's bonus chart from the AOTH series. This chart is part of The Swan Lake pattern. I am stitching it on 25-count Floba, 2 over 2. I wanted this chart to be a larger piece and not the small as charted. I'm enjoying the Floba so very much. I ordered it from Violarium and it's like stitching on silk. I love the "flecky" background - reminds me of Fiddler's Cloth, which I've always liked. Just wish I could get the same affect in 28 or 32 count.

Obviously, I have a lot to learn about posting pictures on blogger as I can't get the pictures where I want them. The BBD design is first and the Beehive's Needlework is second of the pictures at the top. But you get the idea.

Today is DH's birthday - his birthday is so easy to remember: 2-3-45. So we had Chocolate Lava cake for dessert. No......I didn't make it - Omaha Steak made it. LOL - friends sent us a gift package for the holidays and one of the boxes had 4 Lava cakes inside. They go in the microwave for 50 seconds and voila - add whipped cream or ice cream and you have instant dessert! No idea what the price is to purchase separately, but DH likes them, so it was a good dessert for 2 on a work night.

Work - the 4-letter word that in my case turns into a 5 letter word - taxes. It's started already with the people who are applying for financial aid coming first in the door. So stitching time will be limited, although I'm planning on some time for me before the game on Sunday.

Stay warm and be well.

Linda

Picture Time

I signed up for Up for the Challenge - to finish WIP's in 2011. I did name 15, which is more or less about what's there that I really want to see done. The oldest is The Barnraising, which is a MLI design. As you can see Ruth, the barn is done - it's the men and women that need done!!

The Cleveland design is from Oberlin Stitches and has Cleveland landmarks around the letters tha spell out the city where I was born. As I mentioned before, this is for a woman I went to school with in Cleveland and now lives in Australia. She and I re-connected several years ago through the Internet. The backstitching and confetti stitches made me put it in the drawer.

And last is a street scene from Bethany Beach DE - from the LNS there. My secretary and I each are doing one side of the street for a mutual friend who loves to vacation there. This will be the LAST time I stitch on Cork linen - trust me!

Next time - some finishes!

Stay warm and safe.

Linda

Linda