Whew! It's been quite a day! I'd like to wish all the Mother's out there a very Happy Mother's Day! I know it was a hard day for some of my friends and family, missing mothers and some missing their kids. I got a lovely text from my Nephew who showed me pictures of what they had done at my Mom's resting place, installing a shepherd's hook with a hummingbird on it and a lovely basket of geraniums. My Mom loved to garden and always had geraniums around her house in the spring. I wish I could have done that for her, but I couldn't travel up there right now. I'm happy they were able to do something so nice for her.
My son visited for a short while...always keeping with the social distancing guidelines...masks and all. It was good to see a part of his face at least! LOL He brought me a box of Lindt chocolate truffles...yum!! And Heather brought me a lovely mug that made me cry. If you can read the text on the mug you'll know why. And DH gave me a lovely bag of chocolates too, along with a lovely cross stitch chart. I was truly spoiled!
It's also day 10 of Maynia...and I had a little time to stitch up a Christmas ornament from the 2011 JCS Issue. This is Winter Squirrel from Victoria Sampler. I substituted beads for the buttons...I wish I had had some though, those buttons really made that so cute! It's stitched on 28 count natural over two.
I picked up the piece I was working on yesterday since I had a little time and finished the second mermaid. I still have the border to do...maybe I can get a little more done on another day. I sure like how this is coming out!
Whew...that was a lot more than I expected to post...but again, I hope you all had something to celebrate today...whether it be your Mom's, your kids, or just that it was a beautiful day. Happy Stitching!
Are you tired of hearing from me yet? LOL!! I'm not sure if you remember the challenge our LNS had covering a year starting mid year last year. One of the items I stitched was the top of Sarah Elliott's Sewing Chest. Well....I decided I wanted to stitch more of the things that go inside the chest. So...the first thing I began stitching today was the inside of the top. This is stitched on 36 count Mourning Dove. There is still some border and another mermaid to stitch, but a lot of the work you see here was done over one linen thread. I don't think it would take too much longer to finish this...so perhaps on a light day during the month I could finish this up. We'll see. I'm showing the top that I finished last year, and then a close up of the mermaid. I love this set so much! It's been a fun stitch so far!
I hope you are all staying safe and keeping well. Happy Stitching!
I've had this stuff in my stash since my husband gifted this SAL for me several months ago. This is called God in my Garden by Tempting Tangles. I'm stitching this on Antique Ivory 28 count over one. It's going to be so tiny!! I'm substituting Gloriana Silk for the Dinky Dyes they called for. I don't have the names in front of me right now, but I'll write them the next time I update this SAL. I printed out part 13 just two days ago, but I only got started today. I was able to stitch all of parts 1 and 2 and most of 3 before I had to quit. I had a busy day, I wish I had had more time to stitch today, I'm sure I could have got a lot more done.
I have so many things in my stash, and honestly I never know from day to day what I'll be stitching on. I'll surprise you with something else tomorrow. Have a good night...and Happy Stitching!
Despite having a super busy day...I was able to download and finish part 10 of Gloria by Tempting Tangles. I love how this is turning out and I'm so excited that I've been able to keep up!! So...here she is in all her Gloria...haha
Between two Zoom meetings today (a stitch session and a Bible study), a trip to two stores for supplies, and sorting through some stuff, I can't believe I had time to finish part 10. I'm thankful though!! Don't look too close, I made a mistake....I think I was able to make it look ok without frogging a section of it. I don't even think it will bother me once I'm done! Yay me! LOL
I hope all of you are staying healthy and safe, and getting lots of stitch time! Take care...
Well, I was supposed to be stitching on a WIP today but I threw caution to the wind and stitched on another Maynia piece today. I actually finished too! This is a design by Carolyn Manning Designs that was in the 2019 JCS Ornament Issue called Peppermint Pal. I stitched it on 32 count fabric over two with a couple substitutions since I had to stitch from stash! What a fun stitch....
I got some happy mail today...my Yoda cup came...sadly a few days after Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you) but I still got to have a sip from it tonight after scrubbing it up good!
All in all it was a good day...now to head back up to my stitching chamber and put a few stitches in my Christmas Snowflake...let's see how far I get. And...to sift through a few items and see what I should stitch tomorrow? Decisions, decisions!!
Ok...off to get ready for bed....you know...if this quarantine lasts much longer I'm going to need a new pajama wardrobe. My life will never be the same again... Happy Stitching y'all!
Happy Cinco de Mayo!! I love my little Cinco de Mayo duckies...hahaha I guess you'll probably get tired of seeing them every 5th of May...but there they are. I'm getting quite a collection!!
As usual, I'm a day late and a dollar short talking about Maynia...I was so focused on May the Fourth be with you...that I never gave Maynia much thought. So....as I was contemplating my navel yesterday, I thought....since I've worked on something different every day so far (except one) I decided I would continue that through the month. I'll try to work on something different every day (I probably have 30 things I could work on whether they be WIPs or new starts...) so here is where I am so far.
On May 1st I started Christmas Snowflake by Shannon Christine Designs. I've had this in my stash for quite some time, then I decided to order some fabric by Stephanie and sent for Midnight Tryst in 32 count linen. That's what I'm stitching it on...and there is a LOT left over...goody...so you'll probably see this color a few more times in the future! Here is where I ended the first day...
On May 2nd...I worked on Christmas Snowflake again because I wasn't thinking about Maynia...ooops...hopefully this will be the only day that I didn't change projects. Here is where I finished on the 2nd.
On May 3rd I started and finished the 5th part of the Birds and Blackwork Flowers SAL by Leslie Teare. I am in love with this SAL!!! The colors are so pretty and I'm enjoying stitching blackwork...who knew?? I was able to start and finish this in the same day! This was stitched on 28 count over 2.
On May 4th (May the Fourth Be With You) I worked on Star Wars. This is stitched on antique white 28 count over one...and so far I've only been using 310. They suggested 11 skeins of black for this one....you'll be seeing a LOT of this color! LOL My stitching buddy, Cindy, is also working on a Yoda for Star Wars day...but we agreed that we would try and stitch on them on the 4th of every month...so hopefully I will actually finish this one day! We will see!
Today I started and finished 5 Golden Rings! This is stitched on 28 count white over two. I couldn't fully finish it because I don't have the button that is called for near the bottom. I literally just sent for all the buttons I will need to finish the rest of the series. Now I have to wait...probably for a while since the dang virus is slowing everything down...but at least the stitching is done...so watch this space!
So....I'll have to give tomorrow some thought....I have a couple of things I want to start...so we'll see what happens. If I have time I'll blog again tomorrow. Happy Stitching!
I'm getting things ready to file taxes...on both our stuff and Mom's estate. What a nightmare...so much to sort through...but I think we finally found all the paperwork, and we will be sending it to the CPA tomorrow. *Deep breath* I also spent over an hour on the phone with the claims person at Met Life. It's been 14 months dealing with these people. They finally told me today that they had sent her file to unclaimed funds. SAY WHAT??? I've been seriously working on getting this sorted for MONTHS!! If I can believe this guy I talked to today I will have to wait 5 days for them to return the money to Met Life, then they will finally cut the check and send it to me. Whew.....I'm exhausted.
On a brighter note, I finished Blooming Bouquets - Thankful by Jeanette Douglas today. I mean EARLY this morning...like 6 AM!! I knew I was having a Zoom meeting with my stitching pals this morning so I wanted to get it finished so I could show them...then put that challenge away for when stores open and I can get it framed. One of my stitching friends had given me the kit and I wanted her to see how it turned out. Here it is...stitched on 40 count Heartland with recommended silk floss. Most of it was stitched over two, except for the lettering which was stitched over one. I had to tear out one line of the old verse (I didn't really like it) and then stitch the new quote I had found... Remember that children, marriages and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get. I love that little bit of wisdom!!
I decided, since it's been a while since I updated you on some of my projects that I would take pictures and show you what I've been doing. I stitched a little on Marie Antoinette....these specialty stitches will be the death of me!! Stitched on 32 black over two. It's a pain to stitch on, but I think it will be worth it in the end.
I haven't got too far on Kringles, and I may put it in time out for a while until my friend Mouse, over in England, can get hers started and we can have our own SAL. I'll have to wait to send her some of the materials until mail is flowing between our countries again...hang tight, Mouse! I'll send it soon, I hope!
Creation has taken a back seat for a while too. I love this, but I kind of hit a wall with it. I'm at a part where there is a lot of confetti stitches, and I just needed something to finish quick and give me a little incentive. Here is where I've got so far...
Flowers and Lace has also been sent to time out...I put the butterfly in the wrong place. I usually frog before I send it to time out when I make a mistake, but I was discouraged...so there it sits...one of these days when I feel like it, I'll tear out the butterfly and add a few stitches...
Gloria is moving along and I've been able to keep up with the SAL. I don't like stitching on this one, the fabric makes the floss shred like crazy...but I'm determined to finish it on time, as I love how it looks...fingers crossed!
I have been sorting and searching and I found this pattern I started years ago. I pulled it out and thought I would try to finish it up this year. It's an older Weihenberg pattern, but I always thought it was pretty...here's where I left it...I may put a few stitches in a week and see if I can finish it up soon!
I started a sampler Heather asked me for for their wedding. It's been postponed for a while, and we are beginning the planning process again. They are disappointed, but I trust it will all work out for the good. I'm a firm believer that all things work for the good. I'm looking forward to seeing what that will be. I found this in a magazine and showed it to Heather. She fell in love with it...I haven't got far, but I'll be working on this to try and finish it before the reception in the fall.
Last is a new pattern I've had sitting around for a while. It took me several months to find all the beads I needed to get it started. I sent for fabric from Fabrics by Stephanie. I've ordered several fabrics from her through the years, she always does an amazing job. It takes at least 4 weeks for her to dye it and send it off, but the wait is worth it. I couldn't wait to get started, so I put the first few stitches in Christmas Snowflake today while chatting with my friends. I'm going to work more on it later tonight. This is a Shannon Christine Design, I have several of hers, I just love them!
I guess that's all the news for today. Because it was such an upsetting and crazy day, my DH is in the kitchen cooking dinner. Salad, tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches...I'm psyched! We've been cooking together since his office sent him home when the quarantine started. The first week was tough, but we finally found a balance and now we are really enjoying spending time together. I think I'll miss him when he goes back to work, but it won't be long before he can retire. At least this is a trial run so we know we can survive being together all day every day.
I've been bouncing between projects, trying to clean up my son's old room to open it up for a stitching room, sorting through old photographs and paperwork that I found at my Mom's house (my Grandfather was a stone mason, I found old notes and prices he charged for his work along with documents that showed my Grandmother was a member of the Dressmakers Union) so slowly but surely my house is getting back in order. I feel good about the things I've been able to accomplish. It has been exhausting...more emotionally than physically though...I guess that's why I'm having trouble keeping with one project.
I hope that you are finding purpose in your quarantine....and if you are an essential worker and still going to work, I am here to cheer you on and thank you for keeping our country going. I'm hoping and praying our country will get back to normal soon, and that all my family and friends stay healthy and safe. Take care...and happy stitching!
