Mystery Progress

I have been neglecting my Papillon Mystery sampler project and finally picked it up this weekend. I managed to finish part two and put on all the beads up to this point. I was waffling on whether or not I liked my design choices but now that more of the design has been completed and the beads are on, I'm pretty happy with it. I've started part 3 which involves filling in between the two sides. I hope to have another progress picture shortly. Who knows, I may even be caught up by the time the next section comes out!

A finish!

Yesterday I finished my BBD piece including putting on the antique buttons. I'm not sure if you can see it in the photo but the middle button has a flower petal carving around the edge which I thought went quite well with the design. As you can see, my chain stitch is definitely on the "whimsical side. I tried three times to get the left handle to match the right and just gave up!

I think it came out really cute. I'm not sure if I will use the same fabric for the back or regular fabric. I'm going to have to take it to Joann Fabrics to pick out some ribbon because I couldn't find anything in my stash that suited the piece.

Now that this piece is done, I've picked up my Papillon Mystery Sampler and managed to finish part two and put the beads on for parts one and two. I will show you a photo of that tomorrow. I hope to start part three this week as once I have it in my hands, it seems to work up quickly. I'm really enjoying all the different specialty stitches the piece calls for.

Exchange Received

I found out that an exchange I sent out for a birthday has been received in Germany this week.
The recipient loves butterflies and lavender so I used two colors of purple hand dyed cotton to stitch this butterfly pattern from My Aunt's Attic. It came out MUCH larger than I had anticipated - I guessed quite wrongly that the piece of fabric I found in my stash was 32ct. Ummm... I don't think so! I also had to rip out the last butterfly twice because the wings weren't matching up. I didn't stitch the design exactly as charted and I'm quite happy with how it finally turned out. I was glad to send this one off in the mail.

Here is a photo of the fabric on the back of the cube. I thought it was really pretty.

What a difference a dye lot can make

I recently purchased a skein of Caron Waterlilies at my relatively local LNS (they only had one skein) because I really want to stitch the project on Temus Fugit's blog. After reading the project directions, I realized I would probably need two skeins so I ordered my fabric (28 ct. Light Mocha Cashel) from ABC Stitch Therapy (my online go to these days) and two additional skeins of Waterlilies Cherry.

Well, my extra skeins arrived today and boy are the two dye lots totally different. The two skeins on the right are the ones I received today. I really don't care for them, I wanted my project to have the look of the skein on the left. The two on the right are much darker and some sections even have a bluish tint to them. Sigh....what are the chances of finding the same dye lot again? Slim right? If anyone out there has Caron Waterlilies Cherry in dye lot # CS101910 - I will gladly and gratefully buy it from you. I am quite disappointed and not sure what I will do - maybe choose another color to use for the project?

Braving the Blanket Stitch

Well, I took a deep breath and started putting in the blanket stitched flowers this morning. I got the first one done before I left for work and finished the rest up this evening. Once I got over trying to make them "perfect" they went quickly and were fun to complete. They really add a pop to the piece I think. I have the eyelets to do yet on the bottom four flowers and then it will be on to the chain stitching for the basket. Sorry the photos are lousy - no zoom capabilities.

I've actually had quite a surge of stitching mojo this week. I had been mainly knitting and working only on a birthday exchange - Happy Birthday Ilse - but picking up this BBD piece has been good. I also started and finished the front of an exchange piece and plan to start the back tomorrow. Maybe I will actually mail an exchange out early!

Only two more days until the weekend - hope you're having a great week and thanks for stopping by!

Keeping Busy

We had a glorious weekend here - definitely springy! It was sunny all weekend and in the 60s both days. I painted my dining room and also raked the yard out. Needless to say I'm quite sore today. As a reward for working so hard all weekend, I did spend some time stitching yesterday afternoon. Picking up a needle was about the easiest think I could think of! Here is my progress on BBDs Buttons & Pins. I picked up this chart when I was in Las Vegas in February. It is a bit different in that it calls for blanket stitch and chain stitch in parts. I've been a bit intimidated by this and I think subconsciously I've been avoiding the piece. But I am soldiering on. If any one has already stitched this piece, did you stitch the centers of the blanket stitched flowers before or after doing the blanket stitch part?

I've also been expanding my knitting skills with a new pair of socks. This is the Butterfly pattern from Fiber Trends. I've learned how to do yarn overs properly to create a butterfly pattern. Unfortunately, I don't have sock blockers so it's a bit hard to see the pattern. I will work on trying to get a better photo. I'm using Blue Moon STR in the Ruby Slippers colorwy. I really like how this pattern is written - clear and very easy to follow.

Needlework Show

The online needlework show has opened today! I really like this avenue for shopping as there are always some new designers to put on my list that I probably will never see in my local LNS which has been pretty dismal lately. I really like two of the new CHS designs, Black Horse Inn and Frederick. I am also putting three My Mark designs on my list - Home, Grace and A Garden Walk. Two will be stitched for friends and the house one for me. I really like the new "emotions" pieces of which Home and Grace are a part. I also like the Sue Hillis design Pirate's Creed. I think I will stitch this for my office at work! I'm sure I will find some more favorites before the show closes next Monday. Don't forget to go browse!

Thanks to all of you who've left such nice comments about my friend Charlie's passing. Stitchers always are such a comfort to those of us who need it and I'm thankful to be on the receiving end this time.

As for my own stitching, I have very little to show at this point. I did pick up my UFO CHS alphabet piece and do a bit on that. I'm up to I is for Inn. If anyone needs M for Mermaid, please let me know as I ended up with two in my possession. Sorry this photo is so bad. I really need a camera with a decent zoom lens. Maybe for my birthday this year.

Goodby Charlie

My friend Charlie stitched these amazing masterpieces while he was going through some recovery several years ago before I knew him. I have not know Charlie for long - only three years - but he's always been special to me. He was one of the most caring individuals I have ever met.

He was brought into my life for a special reason I think - to show me what it means and how to die with dignity. It is a lesson I will not forget, I promise. He got to see these finished just this morning. Through a chance conversation in February, he learned I was a cross stitcher and showed me the unfinished pieces that had been tucked away for several years. I told him they were too beautiful to stay rolled up in the tubes they came in originally so as a small gift to Charlie and his family, I finished them into stockings that his family will now have forever. I will miss you greatly Charlie and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am blessed for having known you.

Promised Pictures

As promised, here is a picture of my new buffet in its place in my dining room. It fits very nicely in the space and will hold quite a lot. It will also provide some nice display space which I am very much in need of in this room. Saturday I bought some wax that I will apply to keep the paint finish as is. I'm pretty sure the hardware is original and it's quite a solid piece despite its appearance. I'm so thrilled with my great deal.

I'm also sharing a photo of my completed Jaywalkers - my first pair of using this pattern but definitely not my last. I really like how the pattern minimizes the effect of pooling. This is Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR in Red Rock Canyon. They are a gift and will soon make their way to the birthday girl - belated as they are.

I saw this on Adrienne's blog and couldn't resist seeing what my personality is. The mania part really fits my work life these days as I'm doing at least 2 other people's job in addition to trying to get my own done.

The Recipe For Me

3 parts Savvy 2 parts Tolerance 1 part Genius Splash of Mania Finish off with a squeeze of lime juice

What's" the Recipe for Your Personality?

I have been working on several different things that I hope to show soon. I finished my sister's birthday socks finally and I also dragged out my quilt and finished quilting the border after someone at my s&b group told me an easier way to finish it. Now I need to trim it down and get started on the binding part.

I also found a fabulous old buffet piece for my dining room. I've been looking for about 4 months now and found one in an antique shop. It was priced really nicely and I got a 10% discount for paying with cash. It's just what I was looking for and fits the room perfectly. I painted my office and plan to tackle the living room this weekend. Then it will be the dining room's turn - a new lighter color that will work better with the lighting and furniture in the room.

I will show some photos this weekend!

Thread a licious

I was enabled in my first Ebay purchase ever by my friend Jodi. She told me about these hand dyed DMC colors that she had purchased and I ended up buying this bunch for myself. I received some free skeins for a first time purchase. The seller's prices are really reasonable and I am very happy with my purchase. I bought a grouping of blues, greys, pumpkins (my favorites) the Easter collection and a grouping of pinks/heather purples. I may try some reds and greens in the futures and I need to see if she does a black.

I've also finally completed part one of the Papillon Mystery sampler. I've still got to add the beads. I've started part two so once that's stitched, I'll add the beads to both parts. I'm pretty happy with how its turning out. Some of the motifs I think would be more visible if I were using two strands of silk instead of one but others I think would be overwhelmed.

What's in a name?

Adrienne had this on her blog so I thought I'd try it. It's surprisingly accurate.

What Patricia Means

You are influential and persuasive. You tend to have a lot of power over people. Generally, you use your powers for good. You excel at solving other people's problems. Occasionally, you do get a little selfish and persuade people to do things that are only in your interest. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

What's on the needles

After finishing my Stitcher's Wallet, I started this small BBD design which I picked up at Stitcher's Paradise in Las Vegas last month. It's one of their new market offerings. It's supposed to be finished as a pin keep using crushed walnut shells that you can buy at the pet store. I'm not sure I'll be able to find those around here so I may just use fiberfill to finish it off. It has a couched ribbon trim and I'll need to look for ribbon before I can completely finish it.

I've also got my first pair of Jaywalkers on the needles using Blue Moon STR in Red Rock Canyon. These are a birthday gift so I really need to buckle down and get them finished - I'm already late as the birthday was 2/23. I'm really concerned about running out of yarn although I never have before. I may order another skein just in case. I can always use it for a pair of my own Jaywalkers as I really like the colorway.

Enough is enough already......

It's hard to believe that spring will ever come when the snow just keeps coming - 10 plus inches at least today.

This was the view out my back door today - that's my car. And on the right, the view over to my neighbor's house. I literally can't see them when they're standing in their driveway becasue the snow pile between our houses is so huge.

This left photo is a small maple tree that stands in my front yard - and the snow bank that has come from shoveling my sidewalk. I literally had to toss today's snow over my head - and over the pile so it couldn't slide back down onto the sidewalk. The photo on the right is the sidwalk before I shoveled.

And the view down the street.....just think, all this has to melt - and go somewhere.....the fun never ends.

I've been tagged....

The oh so talented Kathy has tagged me so it's my turn to post 7 weird or random facts about me. Hopefully, I can come up with 7!

Here are the rules....
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the Rules on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged

Seven Random Facts About Me

1. I have been to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kiev two times each (on separate trips and when they were still part of the CCCP and St. Petersburg was still called Leningrad).
2. I hate talking on the phone and rarely answer it at home - so leave a message if you want to reach me!
3. I think reality type TV shows are the stupidest thing ever invented.
4. I absolutely love Spongebob Squarepants and happily watch repeats.
5. I am a frequent visitor to www.People.com to look at the day's photos.
6. I have lived in the states of Ohio and Florida two separate times each.
7. I hate it when my socks get wet and have to change to a dry pair as soon as possible.

And here are the seven interesting people I have tagged!

Joanie
Sue
Nancy be sure to check out her new designs!
Barbara
Carol
Michele
Anna

Spreading the Word about Fiber College

If you read comments on blogs, which I just got around to doing on my own this week, you can find some very interesting things. One of the recent comments on my blog was from Astrig asking if I'd spread the word about Fiber College on Penobscot Bay which I'm happy to do. Sorry it took me so long Astrig!

I can't remember how I heard about this event originally but I had hoped to go in 2007 and wasn't able to. If you look at the wide variety of offerings, it's hard to imagine not finding anything that would interest you. And the Penobscot Bay area in September is sure to be glorious. I am going to make every effort to attend this year. Be sure to check out the blog as well - the poster for this year's event is gorgeous.

Be sure to let me know if you're planning on going up for this event. I've heard the area is gorgeous and there's sure to be lobster!

Completed Stitcher's Wallet

Thank you everyone for your nice comments on my stitcher's wallet. I'm really thrilled to have it completed. I have really enjoyed working on this project with Joanie and Sue and I hope my finish encourages them to hurry up and finish theirs so I can see it! LOL

Believe it or not, I actually completed the final finishing and it was a lot easier than I expected. Last night I cut out all the pieces, sewed the front and back together and began sewing on the pockets. I finished up a short time ago and here are the photos. I've already filled my wallet with the materials for a new BBD project (not the stuff shown in the photos) that I started right after I finished my wallet.

The pockets are sewn onto the muslin by hand and the left hand pocket stitching is not that great but there was no way I was ripping it out to do it over. I got better with my hand sewing as I moved from left to right. I considered sewing on the pockets by machine before attaching the front and back together but I think it would have made the piece more challenging to turn rightside out. This went together A LOT faster than I thought it would with no swearing at all! LOL

I'm really glad I've finished this piece but will miss working on it on Friday nights. Guess I will just have to find another large project to start right?

Done, Done, DONE!

I finished this on Sunday, February 17th! Wahoooooooo! Now to get immediately started on the finishing part. I'm off to dig out my materials.

Stitchers Wallet and a Mystery Start

Here is the progress on my Stitcher's Wallet. This is actually progress from the week and not just Friday night stitching. I took this to work with me last week and was able to work on it during my lunch hour two or three times during the week. I probably won't have time to do that this week but if I get up early enough, I might work on it before Friday.



I also started the new Papillon mystery project. Here is my progress so far. This piece is full of wonderful specialty stitches and I really like how it's turning out. I'm using 32 count linen in Toasted Almond and Needlepoint Inc. Silks.







I've chosen a cream, two blues and a brown (the one on the right is the one I ended up using) for my flowers to coordinate with a quilt I'm making for my bedroom. I repainted my bedroom this weekend and the bathroom two weeks ago so I'm on a bit of a roll. The color is Benjamin Moore Beacon Grey which is a bluish gray color. I think this piece will look great in the room once it's framed - at least I hope it does once the rest of the design is revealed!

Hope for spring?

It was quite cold here today - maybe mid-teens with a really wicked wind that brought the temp down to single digits. It was nice to come home to see my hyacinth in bloom - a little breathe of spring even though we've got quite a way to go before we see that up here. My friend Mulan gave me the bulb all rooted for Christmas and I'm enjoying the fragrance of the blooms as I sit in my office.

I managed to put a tiny bit of time into my Stitcher's Wallet SAL piece both last Friday and the Friday before. As you can see from the progress - or lack of! - I've not worked on it that much. I've been so tired on Friday nights that I can only manage a small amount of stitching without frogging. I'm going to try and pick this up a bit this week and see if I can make more noticeable progress.

I also received my Christmas exchange package from Germany last week. Manu stitched me the most gorgeous pillow and sent some wonderful goodies as you can tell from the photos. The gummy bears she sent are gone as of tonight and the chocolate is about half-way gone!

Some lovelies in the mail

Yesterday when I got home, I had this lovely, unexpected surprise waiting for me from a dear friend. She makes the best scissor fobs and this one is no exception. Lovely colors and a cute little flip flop to remind me that summer will eventually arrive again! Thank you Sue, I will put it to good use.

I also did a little end of the year stash enhancement from ABC Stitch Therapy. I always look through their clearance pages but usually manage to refrain from buying. I decided to give in and order a few charts and a Sampler and Antique Needlework issue. I really love the pin cushion on the front and plan to stitch it one of these days!

UFO Sunday

This was my view out my office window this morning. Although it was fairly warm with lots of melting going on, it was a dreary, grey day. I just could not get motivated to start painting wooodwork trim so instead I spent the day working on my HAED Storey Keeper WIP.

Can you believe I put in 400 stitches on this today? It just seems so puny looking but I worked down another row to the bottom of the page. I've still got a column and a half to go before the first page is finished. I swear I'm going to be working on this 10 years from now! I definitely need to get some small projects going so I get a sense of accomplishment. I'm going to try and work regularly on this on Sundays to see if I can make some progress.

This week I'm going to be focusing on my Valentine exchange piece and see if I can't finish the stitching off.

Colder than....

blue snow? Or some blue sock yarn? LOL On top of all the snow we've had this week, today was quite cold, -2 degrees Farenheit when I came through town and the high was 10. Yeeha it was a nose hair freezer day - or one where the snow looks blue if you dig deep. Sigh.... remind me why I live in Maine again? My brain is so frozen I can't think - not to mention my toes and nose and fingers.

The yarn above is my last installment in the 2007 Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sock Club. It's called ... Bella Coola! I did not sign up for 2008 Sock Club but my friend Kathy did so I get to live vicariously through her and the blogs of others who joined.

I've been working along on my Valentine's exchange piece and finished the back of my cardigan project and started one of the front sides. I will post a photo of that over the weekend I think.

I hope wherever you are, you are keeping warm!