I'm still here...

Just quite busy lately. Lots of commitment stitching and yard work and I've been riding my bike. By the time I get home and have dinner, I'm too tired to do much computer related. But I have some photos to share so I may spread them out over a few posts.

The first item I want to share is my completed quilt. This is my first ever quilt and I made it queen size to fit my bed. The pattern is from the Turning Twenty Again book and when I started putting my blocks together I totally missed the part of combining light, medium and dark fabrics - such a novice! LOL As a result many of my fabrics touch which is not how the pattern should look but it's my own unique creation so I am happy with it. After languishing for months, I set a goal of finishing it by the end of May and I did so a week earlier. I have been sleeping under it ever since and I'm thrilled with the way it looks. The wall color is new this year and was picked from the quilt fabric.

I also had two antique button cards framed and they are now hanging on the walls. I found the frames on clearance at Target and took them to my framers. I really like how these turned out as well.

Patriotic Fair & Square Exchange

Jill has received the squares I stitched so I'm allowed to post the photos now. I combined a freebie from Stitchy Kitty with one from Erica Michaels to get my design. The alphabet is one from the Alpha de Sof collection stitched over one.

I also put together the squares Jill sent me, making them into a tasseled pillow. The stars on each corner were part of the package Jill sent. I think it's such a cute design and have already laid this out for display. This was really a fun exchange and I hope to do another one when I have less commitment stitching to do - maybe in the fall.

Perfect PIF Surprise

Last week I received a PIF gift from Jen. She stitched me the PS Spring and made it into a little pin keep. It's much prettier than the photo and so neatly done. I wish my finishing skills were half as good - there's no glue anywhere it shouldn't be which never happens for me! Thank you Jen for your kindness.

Fair & Square Exchange Received

Today when I got home, I found my Fair & Square Patriotic Exchange from Jill in the mail. What a nice surprise after a very long day. Jill stitched the most adorable sheep design. I am thinking it will finish nicely into a little tasseled pillow. She also included some great patriotic buttons, a fat quarter of patriotic fabric, a home made stitch counter with a wonderful heart charm, some Caron Watercolors in the color Williamsburg, some blue ribbon and a great Remember the Ladies kit - Nice Matters. I love this saying and will stitch it remind myself that it does matter for those days when I'm feeling not so nice. Jill also made the wonderful card you see in the photos. Thanks Jill for making my first F&S exchange such a nice one. Now to finish the squares so I can display them for the 4th of July!

An FO and a start and some knitting goodies

Well, I finally completed sock one of my Butterflies socks and immediately cast on for the second one - no second sock syndrome here as I need this pair to be finished before June 21st which is the start of the summer of socks adventure. The completed sock fits perfectly so I'm really happy about that. I will have to figure out a way to photograph them to show the butterflies.

I also received a Knit Picks order last week. My butterfly socks are being knit on Knit Picks 6" nickel-plated DPNs and I'm really enjoying working with them. I was concerned with them being longer than my usual 5" needles but I find that I loose less stitches. I never thought I'd find anything I liked better than my beloved Brittanies but these just might be the needles. In fact, I like them so much I ordered a "variety pack" to have more sizes on hand. I also succumbed to two more knitting books - 2 Socks at-a-Time by Melissa Morgan-Oakes and Knitting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti which was recently reissued.

I've read through the 2 at a time socks instructions and this morning I ordered some 40" nickel-plated needles from Knit Picks to try the technique. I still love working with DPNS but must admit knitting two together would improve my odds of completing at least one pair for the Summer of Socks challenge!

Needlework Show Aftermath

The aftermath of my visit to the Needlework show has arrived. There are still one or two goodies left to arrive but the majority came on Tuesday. I'm thinking I got a little out of control! LOL

I just couldn't resist the CHS Black Horse Inn after seeing the photo on Joanie's blog and when I looked at her other charts, Frederick really called to me too. I have Anna's Bird and they remind me of each other and will probably look good together - once they're stitched in say, 20 years?


I also fell in love with these three My Mark charts. Two are new - the Grace and Home and one is an older one. I've never stitched anything by this designer but am looking forward to getting started on Grace which I will give as a gift.

I also bought the first Salem Sisters chart to go with the second one I bought a while back and a new chart by the Marking Sampler. In addition to the samplers, there is a sewing type pocket that isn't shown.

I've decided that I need to start time allotments for all of my ongoing projects and reading - if I work on each different project for an hour at a time, I might have a hope of getting something

accomplished! Wishful thinking? Maybe......

It's that time again....

I've once again signed up for the SOS or Summer of Socks 2008. Last year was pretty dismal but I have hopes that I will have much more to show by the time September 1st rolls around. I will need to kick it into high gear to finish these before the official start date as they won't count towards my total for most socks contest. I don't have high expectations to win that category but I intend to set a personal goal of at least three pairs this summer. I'm trying to get all of my house related chores done before summer starts so I can just sit out on the porch and drink sweet tea and knit socks. Gotta give the neighbors something to talk about right?

Speaking of getting things done, Sunday was UFO Sunday so I picked up my CHS Alphabet project. I didn't get a whole lot done but some progress is better than none. I also worked on finishing an exchange that's due to be mailed out by 5/30 and started my first ever Fair and Square exchange pieces. I'm off to work on those right now.

Tossing & Binding, Binding & Tossing

Well, I've been mulling over what to do about my Waterlilies Cherry situation. Yesterday, I dug through all of my specialty threads and fabric to see if I could come up with either a better fabric choice or a different thread option. I just happened to find that I had two SNC Shepherd's Moon skeins and did the old floss toss.

The top fabric is the original 28 ct. cashel I bought when I ordered the Waterlilies and the bottom, darker fabric is a 28 ct. R&R fabric I had in my stash. I think it's called light mocha or light cappuccino. I've already lost the fabric tag and it was just yesterday! While a large part of the appeal of the project was seeing it in the Cherry colorway, I'm really thinking of using the Shepherd's Moon and the darker fabric. The contrast won't be as great but I think it would be really pretty and subtle. I'm probably going to sit down this afternoon and put in the basting lines for the project and just start stitching.

While I've been mulling over what to do on the stitching front, I've been working on my quilt. Last Sunday I went to the quilt shop an hour before it opened and the wonderful and talented Donna helped me get the binding sewn on. I was so thrilled to finally cut off all of the excess fabric and hit the home stretch in finishing this project. Thursday night I took it to SnB and started hand sewing the binding. I worked on it a little bit this morning and I'm almost finished with one side. I think I will pick this up whenever I can't decide what to work on and little by little it will get done. My goal is to have all the binding done by May 31st. I think I'm more in love with my backing fabric than the front! LOL I just love how that little rim of black sets it off. It's much prettier than in the photo but I just couldn't seem to get a nice crisp picture. I will try again when we get some sunshine.

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?