Monday, August 29, 2011

Northwind SAL Week 2

Oh my goodness -
I think this SAL has hit overdrive! Wait until you
see what the girls got done this week!
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Since Angela didn't get her stitching shown last week - I'm showing her progress first! She's not only caught up but doing very well! She is very happy with her choice of fabric now and it shows. I believe she said it is 18ct Sterling Aida. 




Rose got that blasted cloud behind her! She is beyond happy to have it done and hopes the lettering will flow! I think she'll be surprised how much she'll have done next week.




Shari is the rock star this week! Holy smokes - if she keeps up at this rate - we'll all be watching her frame Northwind soon. lol She is kicking butt.




And brining up the rear - me! I got more accomplished than I thought I would. I had hoped to get three lines of verse in and got a bit more.



My plans for this week - finish the snowflakes and bird to the right of the cloud and make sure all the other snowflakes are finished in what I have done. And then zoom to the bottom! We'll see how that zoom part goes. lol

One thing I have learned about SAL's - the very best part is not the stitching. It's making new friends who share the love of fabric and floss as much as I do. I would like to say - Ladies, thank you for joining me in this adventure and for sharing your lives with me. Here's to new friends!


Well everyone thanks for visiting and watching our project grow!
Denise




Sunday, August 28, 2011

My Weekend...

Nothing much happening this weekend. Made the coffee cake Edgar had on his blog - needless to say mine didn't come out nearly as pretty as his did. To show the picture or not -- nah, maybe next time. It looked horrible but tasted divine. I, umm, under cooked it and then placed it on a plate not realizing how badly under cooked it was - then it went on a cookie sheet to bake some more - and then back to the plate. In all that back and forth - it fell to pieces. BUT, it still wasn't in the house for 24 hours!

Otherwise, we celebrated BIL's birthday today. Keri didn't want her picture taken and I got one anyway.

Never never make a horrible face! 

Rob getting some baby time. 
 Miss Alivia had not taken a nap all day. Rob got his hands on her and did raspberries on her head. And out she went. He loves babies and if we could have had a dozen - he wouldn't have minded one bit. Honestly, I think he's about ready to be a grandpa.

Promised a picture of The Raven - he's mounted and ready to frame!

The Raven
by La-D-Da
PTP Cashel Fossil
Recommended floss
Started this one yesterday ~

Blackbirds
by All Through the Night
28ct Putty linen
Valdani Aged Black floss
I wasn't planning to do this one next - but it was sitting beside my chair and the floss was with it. Remember those lazy comments from the other day... lazy is still hanging around.

It's not even 6:30 and I'm ready to go to bed. Made lasagna for dinner and had the kids over. I swear it feels like Thanksgiving evening -- that stuff is sitting heavy!

Tomorrow is another week  - and that means Northwind Monday! Can't wait to see how much we've accomplished this week!

Until tomorrow -
Denise

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Oops!

Pulled out Northwind this morning to see where I wanted to stitch this coming week. And in counting out snowflakes I stumbled upon this mistake!


See that top right curly-q? Now look at the pattern - it's not where it's supposed to be. Decision time - keep it or rip it. I, in all my laziness, decided it should be kept and I'd re-arrange the snowflakes around it AND also stitch the curly-q where it belongs.

Guess my cloud is blowing a bit more wind than the others. Ah, the joys of counting while on pain meds! lol

Oh, and I finished the Raven this morning. Do you see a pic? No. Why? Again with the lazy thing - camera in the dining room, stitching in its room, and I'm in the living room.

And to everyone on the east coast - be safe and stay dry!
Denise

Monday, August 22, 2011

Northwind SAL - End of Week 1

It's Christmas Morning today. I got to see every one's accomplishments! Would you like to see what we did?

Shari (Shari's Sharings) made serious headway! I am very impressed with her progress. I hope her progress is as great this week - but - her baby boy moved out this week and she's feeling a bit down about it.



Rose (Christmas City Stitcher) got a good start. She has been busy this week - returned to work from a summer break. I was happy to see she was a 'top' starter like me. She didn't get quiet as much done as Shari and I but I know she'll catch up soon!



Angela (Indomitable Angela) wasn't so lucky. She bought the linen recommended and decided it wasn't her cup of tea. She ordered some 18ct Aida and had to wait. But, she did get to visit some family while waiting! lol Next week I know she'll have lots to show!

And me -- how I do? Not so bad! I didn't kick butt like I have been but I did make progress!



With this project - I think we'll all meet at the barn. It's heavily stitched and there is A LOT of barn to do. Can't wait to see what we will have done for next week!

Well, there's daylight a burning and I need to go get in that chair!
Denise

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Busy day -

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale - a tale of a finishing day.
***This is a picture heavy post***

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After a blazing 5 hours of sleep I got up this morning at 3 am. After stitching for a few hours and hitting a bump (old DMC lots vs new DMC lots) I decided to cook. By 7 am I had made Paprika Chicken and BBQ Hamburgers. Everything was out for Fennel Sausage Soup and Pumpkin Cookies. I paused and went back to stitching. 

Time passed and DH went for groceries - I took a nap. Back up and raring to go - I launched in on the soup and cookies. Then to finishing...

You might remember this from several weeks ago ~ 

Monthly Mania by HIH
 And from last week ~
Bent Creek

Plum Pudding NeedleArt

Knotted Tree NeedleArt

Designs by Lisa

Plum Pudding NeedleArt

San-Man Originals

The shelf on my bookcase.
The shelf needs some help - but looks better in real life than this picture. There are 12 birds on this shelf alone - my house may one day fly away as predicted. 

And then I find out I won a give away - woohoo - a Coastal Living magazine from Susan at Afford You Passions - Thanks Susan! 

Tomorrow is our first reveal day of Northwind. I'm so excited! Can't wait to see how the others did. 
Denise

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Odds and Ends

Thank you every one for all the comments on my last two finishes. I'm not really that fast a stitcher - I've just have A LOT of time lately. Last night I slept for 3 hours and got up at 2:30 - all I could think of is you guys -- "and they think I never sleep as it is -- what would they say now?"

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Waiting patiently for my sister to come get her children. I've come to the conclusion my DD can wait another 20 years to have kids and she's to NOT leave them with me. I'm pooped! Maybe it's the back, the meds, or the fact of the three hours mentioned above but "Come on Keri!"


Rob had Alivia in his lap and starting drinking chocolate milk. She wanted in on the action -



See Keri's hosting her friend's baby shower. I got to help with the decorations yesterday. May I introduce the "Diaper Cake" -



Started The Raven yesterday morning - and this is where my progress stopped this morning at 10 am.



I'm using PTP Fossil. It's lighter than the called for fabric but the colors are showing well. It only has three. The repeats went quickly.


Can't see the baby -- she's crawling after the dog.
Gotta go --
Denise




Thursday, August 18, 2011

Two More of These ____ Birds Done!

I like series. I love birds. I even love to look at these when sitting in my stitching chair. But, I MUST put these down. I have burnt out on them. My little fingers just won't do any more for awhile!


Winter and Valentine Birds
Heart in Hand
scrap aida and recommended floss
I have to share - even though I have completed several of these birds - I designed my own today - the birthday bird. CalamityJr thought there should have been 12 birds and not 11. Birthday was the only 'day' I could think of to play with. It was completely inspired by HIH and all credit goes to them for this one.

btw - ____ means stupid  --  nothing bad. I just didn't want that to be the title of the post to say something derogatory of a designer when I am the one frustrated.

Got The Raven today. And I picked out the linen. Maybe yet tonight I will pull the floss together.

Two patterns done in two days - no way I can keep this pace up! lol
Denise

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

We have a Diagnosis!

I won't bore you with the details but finally - an answer to the pain! Heading for my first PT appointment in a couple of hours!

But ~~ this leaves me with some extra time on my hands. (Pardon me while I turn my head and SMILE) Thinking this may lead to some extra time in the stitching chair too.

What to do - what to do. I'm already in a twice a week SAL. And a have a couple more Long Legged Birds to go - and The Raven (see post below) should arrive this week some time - I might even have time for WIP work.

The long and short of this means - if you thought my needle was smoking before - Look out!

I'm off to look at my stash and make some plans for the next 2 1/2 weeks!
Denise

Sunday, August 14, 2011

3 Small Finishes and 2 Birthdays!

Hello everyone! I've been MIA this weekend. But, I used my time wisely. Between birthday parties for Mom and Alivia - I stitched!

I'll keep this post short since it is almost 11:30 pm on a Sunday night. This never happens - I have tomorrow off and I'm not wasting a minute of the time.

Lookin' Like Fall
Plum Pudding NeedleArt
DMC Floss and a scrap of fabric

Just A Little Autumn
San-Man Originals
DMC floss and scrap of fabric

November Twirls
Bent Creek Designs
14 ct Fiddlers Cloth and recommended floss
I finished Looking Like Fall on Friday, Just a Little Autumn this morning at 12:30am (bad storms rolling through the area and woke me up) and November Twirls by 10:30 tonight.

Pumpkin asked what I was taking that made me stitch so fast - honestly - pain pills! Take the pain away and I can fly! lol

Time to show off the birthday girls ~

Enjoying their cake and ice cream!

Aunt Niece's gift - have to start them early!
Ohio State may be having some issues but a true fan keeps cheering. We won before Tressel and Pryor and we will win again!

My bed is calling now - and I do have to be at the chiro in the morning - so I'm off to bed! Hope the storms have passed and everyone is ok.
Denise

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Blessed Be!

First, I would like to thank everyone for their kind comments and good wishes at my doctor's appointments. I'm running at about 50/50 with the docs!

Mary Jane - you guessed correctly - there is a fall basket in the works. Still have a few more to stitch and finish.
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Would you like to see what's hot off the needles?

Blessed Be
Plum Pudding Needleart
some 28ct evenweave
DMC floss
My next small project is another Plum Pudding design. I'm guessing I found these complimentary charts on some site or at a shop. I can't remember. Sorry.

My hand doctor gave me some pretty good news - no matter how my hands feel - Keep Stitching! I will be having a small procedure done on my left thumb. Not a big deal. Now the other doc and I did not see eye to eye. That situation will fall into place next Wednesday.

Off to find birthday presents - Miss Alivia will be one on Saturday. How has a year passed so soon?

Next post will probably be the start of Northwind! Woohoo - hopefully Mr Mailman has visited Angela and brought her pattern and fabric. Everyone is ready to go and show off how 4 people can do the same thing so differently! ;0)

Off to shop!
Denise
 

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Stash and More Crows

Hello Everyone!
Raven is on my to do list. I have three smalls (all pumpkin/crows) up next. Hoping with fingers crossed to get them done before we start Northwind. But, there might be a slight change of plans. More on that later.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who commented on Raven. And also, I wanted to welcome my new followers. Somehow I'm up to 152!

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By now we've all seen the newest JCS magazine. I got mine Tuesday and by that afternoon I had a new start. Now - it's a finish!

A Crow's Pick
Knotted Tree NeedleArt
28 ct evenweave
DMC floss
Sept/Oct 2011 JCS

As I was loading the picture I noticed I didn't add any buttons to it yet. I'll have to check the stash and see what works.

Yesterday DH asks if I would like to go on a ride. Ok...sure. We leave before noon and head north. We ended up taking the L-O-N-G route to Cleveland. Our lunch consisted of handmade ice cream some where along SR 250 before Applecreek. And we stopped at both stitching places! I was very good and bought a few things for myself. But, I started my Christmas shopping. I'm afraid there might be boos and hisses from the masses if I talk too loudly about that. ;0)


One free pattern, a button for Thanksgiving Day bird, 2 crow and 2 summery patterns. Not bad and I didn't break the bank.

Today has been filled with household chores and soon I'll be making spaghetti. Tomorrow it's back to work. Only for four days this week - I have Wednesday off for a doctor appt. Which brings me to why my stitching might have to be re-arranged. I have another appt with a hand surgeon to see exactly what is wrong there. Maybe nothing - maybe surgery. Haven't gone to med school so we'll see.

That's a wrap up of my weekend. Hope yours was terrific and filled with happy stitches!
Denise



Friday, August 5, 2011

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

For the Birds...

I wanted to share Mary Jane's latest finish. She didn't think anyone would be interested. So please --- comment on this post and let her know how much you liked her finish!

Bluebird of Happiness
Check out her added musical notes. This birdy is NOT singing the blues!

I just finished this little number a few minutes ago. Here it is hot off the needle --

A Crow Above
Designs by Lisa
On 32ct Antique Copper
Recommended floss
A question - I had to use a hoop to get the pine needles in correctly. When I ironed the fabric I got hoop shadows still showing. It looks like the hoop rubbed out some of the color in the fabric. Is this possible? And how do I make the shadows disappear?

Not sure what my next project will be. Maybe that other long legged bird or a couple of other small ones that are out and about.

Heading out soon -
Denise