Ten Lords-a-Leaping

I finished up Day 10 on Arthemise's Just Nan RR. I just love the colors in it. I decided to go ahead and start another block, since she has so many empty ones. Although I really wanted to stitch 8 Maids-a-Milking, I decided to opt for Day 1, since I'll be signing both blocks I don't think it would look as good with both right next to each other. So, the partridge is making an appearance.

Not much else going on stitching-wise, but have you seen the new Mirabilia, Mermaid of Atlantis? Gorgeous. I love mermaids, of course, and this one is a stunner. I've already pre-ordered her. It makes me want to get to stitching on Mermaids of the Deep Blue soon (not that I don't have several other projects on the go already!!).

Thank you all so much for your comments on my biscornu. I really enjoyed stitching it, and I did find it amusing that several of us decided to stitch Martina's designs for the exchange! I haven't seen any photos of anyone else stitching Manuela's Sunflowers, so I thought it was kind of fun to maybe be one of the first.

And Christine asked if I would recommend seeing Wicked - absolutely! The reason we had our tickets so far in advance is because when it was here last year, it sold out almost immediately. After that first set of shows sold out, they began selling tickets for this year ...so that's why we had our tickets for so long. If you've read the book (and if you haven't, go read it, it's great), the musical follows the same general storyline, but is not as dark, you might say. It's quite funny and the sets are great. I'll probably be picking up the soundtrack this weekend.

So that's all the news from here in Tornado Alley...it's been an interesting couple of weeks with all the storms and tornados touching down. Hope a house doesn't fall on me...

Walk to Rivendell: Pippin realizes it is the Stock-brook. The banks are low enough now for them to cross. The land on its south bank is wet and reedy. They reach a belt of trees, mostly oaks with a few elms and ash. Drops of rain fall. (Total Miles Walked: 50!!)

I am grateful for a wonderful life.

Biscornu Exchange

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. It's been busy around here. The photo above shows how I spent my weekend. On Saturday, we went to see Wicked, which was amazing. We bought tickets before we got married actually, so this has been a long wait! On Sunday, we went to the museum to see their exhibit of Japanese paintings. What I loved about the paintings, was the way they were mounted onto silk. I may have to take inspiration from that and do a wall-hanging of a stitched piece.

Anyway, the big news is that Pam has received the biscornu I stitched for the exchange on the Friends Gather BB!

I stitched a freebie called Manuela's Sunflowers by Chatelaine Designs. The design called for gold beads and gold Kreinik, but I liked the yellow beads instead and left off the Kreinik. I used my Silkweaver Lemon Zest fabric for the bottom. I love the way it turned out, being my first biscornu, and I'm so glad Pam liked it too!

I also sent Pam LHN's Spring Violets and some of the threads to stitch it. I'm so glad for another successful exchange!

I am grateful for fun exchanges with other stitchers.

Songbird

Hello, all! I am slowly but surely getting past all the allergy nastiness that has been keeping me feeling not so good. And of course, good mail always helps! I went ahead and ordered the Songbird Pullware for Lady Scarlet's Journey, even though I am not even finished with Barnabee. Since Jenna and I have plans to stitch this one next, I figured there was no time like the present to make sure I got the pullware. It arrived and it is so pretty! Now, I will just have to figure out how to finish my pieces into a bellpull once I get them stitched!



I have been stitching solely on the last Just Nan RR I have to stitch on. Arthemise has chosen to do a bellpull of the Just Nan Twelve Days of Christmas for her RR. I am stitching on Day 10 - Ten Lords Leaping. I just love the colors in this, and I have been looking forward to stitching on this one since the RR started. I think I may have to invest in this chart, even though I have Teresa Wentzler's 12 Days ornaments on the go. I should be able to get this finished up in the next couple of nights. There are still several blank spots on this though, so I may ask her if she wants me to go ahead and stitch a second one, or if she wants it to come on home. I was kinda torn between 8 Maids Milking and 10 Lords Leaping.

And speaking of the Just Nan RR, I so appreciate all of your wonderful comments and compliments on it. I have asked Carol and Jenna to stitch in my last two spots, as they were my two initiators on the Barnabee Quest SAL. I am so excited to send it to them! I will probably go ahead and order that snowflake charm for the Frost Flower square while my RR is traveling again.

Walk to Rivendell: Camp - Woody End. A green floor in the wood, roofed by boughs of trees. To the east a steep shoulder falls, and they can overlook the river valley. The lights of the village of Woodhall seen below (ca. 11 p.m.). Sleep late (leaving time ca. 11:00 a.m.). Frodo decides to cut SE to Buckleberry Ferry. Scramble down hill into the thick trees below. It begins to cloud up. A deep-banked stream below the hill cuts across their path. Looking back, they see a Black Rider on the hillcrest where they had camped. They force through the bushes alongside the stream. (Total Miles Walked: 47) [That's a lot to happen in only a mile and a half!!!]


I am grateful for having lost 31.2 pounds!!!

Just Nan RR - Welcome Home

I can hardly believe it, but it is home! This is my Just Nan RR. The fabric is a beautiful sky blue that you can't really get the full effect of here. I still have some stitching to do on my square, and adding beads, etc. The top middle piece probably needs the silver snowflake charm, as well. But, it is lovely! I am so appreciative of my first RR, and the wonderful stitching that all these ladies did for me: Michelle, Cathy, Allie, Angi, Kari and Jennifer. Thank you all so much!

I have also received Michelle's RR, so I have started stitching on it. I have to run out this evening and pick up a few DMCs that I need for it. Most likley, I have the DMCs roaming around somewhere in one of my WIP bags! I had to borrow several from Baby Garden just so I could get started last night. So, that's what I stitched on yesterday.

I finished reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban yesterday as well, so now I am starting on Book 4 (Goblet of Fire). I don't know if I'll get them all read before the last one comes out, but I'm going to try! And thanks, everyone for your continued comments and support - I appreciate them!

Walk to Rivendell: It's been far too long - I'll be back on track starting this week.

I am grateful for my own magnificence.

Another Success

I recently had another success that I rewarded myself for. And I rewarded myself with knitting! I've been wanting to learn how to knit for so long, and I decided to make it a reward when I reached a specific goal. So, on Saturday, I finally had time to redeem my treasure. Even though I was still feeling like crap, nothing was going to stand in the way of my knitting. I drove out to a yarn store I had found via the internet, which looked like a good bet. Their web site shows that they offer classes, and it also looked like they had a good selection of yarn/needles. So, when I got there, I inquired about their beginning classes and was told that they are in the middle of one now, and don't have the next one scheduled yet. So, they suggested I check back in about the classes in a couple of weeks. But, I want to knit now!!! The guy at the register suggested that I teach myself from a book. Now, as you may know, I previously bought Stitch n Bitch in order to teach myself to knit. The problem though is that I was just lost in the instructions. Which I explained to my helpers here. I was shown what yarn would be good to start with and which needles are good for beginners. So, I purchased a skein of yarn and size 8 needles to begin. I figured I would just go home and try to figure it out, now that I at least had the tools to do it with. As I was getting ready to leave, the owner of the store asked me if I would like her to teach me. I jumped on the chance, and she sat down with me for about half an hour and showed me the basics - how to cast on and how to knit. She said next time I come back she will show me how to purl. So, I practiced. I practiced and ripped out, and cast on, and did it over and over again. It isn't pretty, but I love it. And when I went home and looked at my Stitch n Bitch book, the instructions now made sense - now that I had seen it done. So, I am very excited and proud of myself. I still intend to see about signing up for a class, but in the mean time, I think I have a start at knitting. Yay!!

I stitched a little bit on Mystery Sampler too, but that's about all I did. Eric and I did some cleaning and reorganizing the past couple of days, and like I said I was feeling yucky still. We had intended to have a night out on Saturday night, but the most I was up for was going out to dinner.

I received my Silkweaver Fabric of the Month package on Friday. It had a light blue, which is a FOTM Exclusive, and the green one is Cactus.

On Saturday, I received my Stitching Bits & Bobs order - can you believe it???? I had ordered two charts for use in my upcoming Neighborhood RR. I am doing a Halloween-themed neighborhood. How fun will that be? I love the idea of having spooky houses and pumpkins and stuff. I think I am going to stitch the graveyard from Village of Hawk Run Hollow in the center if I can figure out how to make it fit. It is unfortunately bigger than the 70 x 70 my blocks are supposed to be. The threads in the photo are for Chatelaine's Pearl Lights. I try to get a couple threads here and there whenever I get a chance. Someday, I'll get a chance to stitch it!


I am grateful for knitting!

Little Fish

To answer a question from a couple of posts ago, my wedding cake was Italian Cream with Buttercream icing. I have no idea why they call it Italian Creme, but it's a dense, rich cake (sort of like Spice Cake) with nuts in it. Mmmmm.

As I mentioned yesterday, I decided to stitch a little on Bay Sampler. I finished up the yellow fish yesterday morning and started stitching on the lighthouse next to it. I love this piece! It is big though, it is too wide to comfortably fit on my scroll frame, so I have the edges folded under, which is ok for now.

I stitched more on my Mystery Sampler also last night. Actually, I did a bit of unstitching. I had made a mistake on the A, so I picked that out and fixed it. (I still need to add back the green on that right leg.) Unfortunately though, it meant that two of the other motifs were in the wrong spots, so I unstitched them as well and restitched. Oh well, at least it is right now. This is a good-sized piece, so I hate to have a mistake in it, especially one that would throw everything else off.

I am feeling really under the weather today. I have a sore throat and a cough, probably from being out in the cold and rain and wind this week. I hope it passes soon. It's making me want to curl up and nap with my cats though. Glad it is Friday! Hope you've all had a great week. I'm still waiting to hear that my biscornu exchange has been received and then I can post a photo. I am very happy with how it turned out. I may stitch on Barnabee tonight, depending on how I'm feeling.

I am grateful for reading Harry Potter at lunch.

Continued Success

April Woolly Tyme

Homespun Elegance

DMC, Weeks & GAST on 28ct overdyed linen

Embellished with large brass carrot charm

Finished 4/9/07

Thank you all so much for your wonderful anniversary wishes. It was great! This weekend we should be able to get around to looking at our photos we took. I actually took a camera this time and got some interesting shots I think. As you can see, I finished my April sheep blanket. I love the Raspberry Parfait thread that was used for the strawberries - such a pretty color. I did have a counting mistake in this, but it was way back at the beginning, and by the time I noticed it, I decided to just leave it. It just makes my middle bunny a little fatter than he was intended. I have made a start on the May blanket too, so I should be able to get that one finished in time for the beginning of the month. Yesterday I placed an order at Stitching Bits & Bobs for a couple of charts that I want to have on hand for the Neighborhood RR (hosted by Carol) that I've joined. As soon as the group can decide what count fabric we want to use, I'll be able to order my fabric as well. But, back to my point...I placed my order yesterday, wanting to take advantage of the sale they had going on, since I was purchasing Village of Hawk Run Hollow, and that's a pricey chart. Now, this is the part that floors me...they've already sent me an email stating they've sent it. I about fell off my chair. I have never received a package from them in anything less than a month - often it is closer to two. Usually, it doesn't matter too much, because I am buying from them because of the sale, and I don't need what I ordered quickly. But, can you believe it's already been sent?? I ordered two charts, and two skeins of thread. Wow. And speaking of things on the way, I got an email yesterday announcing a new Just Nan Limited Edition WhimZi. I'm signed up on the automatic list for these with Silver Needle, so I should be receiving it soon. Here's a link, if you want a peek of what's coming.

I have another lovely thing to share. A couple of weeks ago, I reached a major goal - I lost 25 pounds! As a reward to myself, I got this ring from James Avery. I've been wanting this ring for a long time, so it was a perfect reward. This is their African Beaded Ring. I was actually able to order a whole ring size smaller than what I had been wearing too! A double reward!

I still haven't had it in me to get back to stitching on Baby Garden. I think it has sunk in that it won't be done in time for her birthday, and I am just tired of stitching on it. I'll probably stitch on Barnabee tomorrow night though, I think I can do that. I didn't stitch at all on Tuesday, and only a little last night. Most of what I stitched last night on my Mystery Sampler got ripped back out though because I was a stitch off somehow. This morning before work, I stitched a little bit on Bay Sampler. I had a dream about it after reading Rob's blog (Coastal Stitching), and saw Bay Sampler there. It definitely inspired me to get back to stitching mine. I finished a little fish this morning. Anyway, hope you're all having a great week!

I am grateful for silk threads.

Biscornu Exchange Received

I received my biscornu exchange from Jean yesterday. She stitched the most beautiful biscornu, I just love it. She stitched it in a dark red/burgundy thread on an opalescent fabric. Gorgeous! And it came all the way from Singapore! Thank you, Jean! I posted off my biscornu yesterday, so I'll be sure to post a photo once it's received.

On Sunday night, after we got home from our trip, we had a piece of our wedding cake that has been in the freezer since our wedding. It was surprisingly still really good. Maybe that's the mark of a good cake? We toasted our one year with champagne too. And then, last night, Eric came home with roses for me. There was one white rose, for our wedding vase. We incorporated a rose ceremony in our wedding.

And there were red and white roses too.

I stitched a little on my mystery sampler last night, because I just couldn't face the over one stitching on Baby Garden. I am finished with my Tuesday night classes for now, so that means I should be able to get a little stitching in on Tuesdays now too...hurrah for that! Oh, and I almost forgot to mention...my present to Eric for our anniversary. I made him a book of our honeymoon photos from Rome through My Publisher. The book came out fantastic and is a beautiful showcase for Eric's amazing photos. It was also appropriate with the first anniversary being traditionally a gift of paper. It's a coffee table book, and really is beautiful! It also allows me to cross off number 10 on my 101 Things list, "Finish Travel Album (which you already saw), and put together honeymoon album". I've now completed 15 things off my 101 list.

I am grateful for memories.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter...a day late. We are back from San Antonio and had a fabulous time. I definitely needed the time away. I will fill you in on all the details of the trip when I have a chance to look at our photos and organize my thoughts. For now, though...here are a couple of old finishes that I thought I'd share since I hadn't before. The first one (above) is from 2002. This is Happy Hoppy Easter from Lizzie Kate. The next one (below) is March Hare, a Limited Edition Whimzi from Just Nan that I stitched last year right around our wedding.

Here is my egg tree and glass bunnies. I need some more egg ornaments, but I like the idea of collecting them individually so that they are all different. I have three hand-painted glass eggs, a cloisonne egg, a paper mache egg, and a feather egg. I've been enjoying this little tree from February until now...so glad I purchased it! It is the same tree I had my Valentine Hearts on.

With a five hour or so drive each way to San Antonio, I did take stitching with me to do in the car. I've never stitched in the car, so I found it to be a little more difficult than I imagined. Every time I would count over or have my needle in the right hole, we'd hit a bump or something. So, I did almost completely finish my April sheep blanket. The only thing I didn't finish was the French knots. I wasn't confident I could do them in the car. So, I will finish that up today probably, and get the finishing done so that you can see it!

After I finished stitching on my sheep blanket, I switched over to my Mystery Sampler. I finished up the first motif and started on a second. By that time, I was losing my light, so I put it away. Today, at lunch I am off to the post office to mail my Biscornu exchange piece for the FGBB and my Just Nan RR. Happy Monday!

I am grateful for my amazing husband.

Jumbled

The past couple of weeks I have felt really out of sorts. Which may explain why I have been so remiss with blogging as well as with reading blogs. My intent is to get back in the swing of things. I went to an amazing workshop/lecture last Saturday that has given me so much to think about that I can't seem to focus on anything. Eric and I are leaving for our trip tomorrow morning, and I am really excited about it. I think that a little time away, and time with each other, will rebalance me. Tonight I will be wrapping up my RR to send on Monday. I also need to put the buttons on my biscornu exchange piece and wrap it up to mail on Monday. Otherwise, I will be doing a bit of laundry and packing.

I have only stitched a very little bit on Baby Garden this week. I started the goldfish pond, and the center of it is all over one. I love this piece and Barnabee, but I am getting a little burned out on Just Nan at the moment. I just can't seem to sit still with anything. I decided to give myself a little mental break and I started the Papillon Creations Mystery Sampler that was in the Gift of Stitching. I love silks. That is all I can say. These are the first Vikki Clayton silks I've used, and they are nice. I don't really understand how she offers her silks at what seems to me, such a discounted price from other silks? Anyway, they're nice. This is a big piece of fabric though, and since all of my q-snaps are occupied (you know you have too many WIPs when all your q-snaps are in use) I am stitching in hand.

I also spent a fair amount of time the past two days dealing with a flat tire that was irreparable, and then getting four new tires. So while I was sitting and waiting, I stitched a little on my April sheep blanket. My poor bunny in the middle looks like a chocolate bunny that someone has eaten the ears off of!

I received the next installment of my Leanne's House block of the month quilt. The colors of the fabrics are so pretty! Well, off to get some things done. Hope you all have a great weekend. I'll be sure to take lots of photos.

Walk to Rivendell: Turn right off the path on "a green ride" through thickets. (Total Miles Walked: 45.5)

I am grateful for Oren Harris.

Just Nan RR Round 5

It's been another busy weekend around here. Hope you've all had a great one. I did the beading on Cathy's RR to finish it up. Cathy had us stitching ornaments for her. I chose to stitch the Sugarplum Violets ornament. My grandmother used to grow African violets, so this one just called to me. And I love the purples. This is the next to the last round on my Just Nan RR. I can't believe we are already about to send out the last round. This has gone really fast!





Here you can see all the ornaments that have been stitched for Cathy so far.




I stitched on Barnabee on Friday night while watching Eragon. It was pretty good - but not nearly as good as the book. I'll be looking forward to reading Eldest once I am finished with my Harry Potter books. I finished up the borders for Part 2 and then made a little start on the first couple of bands and the birdhouse.


I am working on the finishing for my biscornu. I am doing the backstitching so that I can then sew it closed. It should be done soon. My goal for this weekend was to get both my RR piece finished and my exchange piece finished. Eric surprised me last week and let me know that he is taking me to San Antonio for our first anniversary next weekend. He apparently has had this up his sleeve for awhile. So, since I won't be stitching next weekend, I'm glad I was able to finish up what needs to be mailed out next Monday. So, that's the plan for tonight - maybe a movie, and a little stitching. And last, but not least, thanks to all of you who sent Eric well-wishes for his surgery. He is doing great and has not had to take any pain pills. He should be completely healed soon, which is good since the incision is on his back and not entirely comfortable. But, he is doing great!


I am grateful for my life and the people in it.