Rainy Day Today

 

 

 

Thanks for all the supportive comments I have received! I try to respond to every person, however, there are some who are "no-reply blogger" and I can not respond to you. Please know I read your comments and appreciate every one. I'm not sure how you change, or if you want to change, that setting, but I would love to respond to you, if desired. Thank you to Diana and Kelly!

I got caught up on my iSTitch Sampler Band SAL last night. I have been adding a touch of red for any hearts that come up. I think there are only 5 more to go and I may just make it on my banding. There was a  section at the top with a major weaving flaw, so I had to start down further than usual. Fingers crossed it will all work out or I may have to stop sooner than I'd like.

Hoping to get some finishing done on this rainy day ( though now the weather report is not so conclusive)!!! Here is what I hope to work on....Beekeeper's Miniature Sewing Box by Catherine Theron.

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Back to Reality.......

......laundry, grocery shopping,etc.!!!

 

 

We were away last week in Avon, NC (Outer Banks) with my older daughter's family. Sadly my younger daughter decided not to come since the other family was just finished getting over Covid and didn't want to take a chance with the new baby. She made the right, yet tough, decision, but we were all disappointed.It was great---we pretty much had the beach to ourselves for most days!

Chillin' in the pool

2 mile round trip walk for ice cream every day

I forgot to mention yesterday that I stitched most of A Merry Little Christmas while sitting in a swing on a porch with a lovely breeze blowing....heaven!!!

I worked last night on my iStitch SAL (week 22). I was two weeks behind but am catching up. Stitching with Glorianna Elizabethan Green.

 It's shaping up to be a HOT one today, so off to run errands before it gets too steamy. Hope you have a cool day!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi 

Pondering, Debating and Stitching.......(647)

 Wow, it has been over two months since my last post and life has given us a wonderful gift!!!  We have a new grandson, who was totally unexpected, and  born on Easter Sunday. Long story short...my daughter and SIL have been on an adoption list for over 1 1/2 years with no bites. On her way home to NC from our house Easter Monday, my daughter got a call that a baby had been born prematurely in Knoxville TN and the mother was interested in them as the adoptive parents. They left Tuesday for Knoxville and fell in love at first sight.. He was in NICU for 10 days....healthy but tiny and not eating much. We drove to TN that Saturday for support and to meet our sweet little grandbaby, Jax. All is well and Jax is thriving with the best pair of parents at the helm. 

The formula shortage put a little crimp in things....Rich and I went to 14 different stores here in town searching for his special formula but to no avail. A few days later we scored 7 cans between a couple rural Food Lions!!!

Here he is...all 4 lbs 10oz at the time!!!

 

Now, on to the pondering and debating.....I've been trying to decide whether to continue with my blog, or not..and have reached a decision...st least temporarily. When I started this blog back on January 1, 2012, I wanted to use it as a diary of sorts to keep track of my stitching. Here is what I wrote that day:

"Another goal was to start a blog to record my stitching projects, progress, finishing, woes etc.....and maybe a little of my "other" life as well. Someone once told me a blog was a good way to document your life, as an on line diary of sorts for your children/grandchildren. I am entering my 60th year.....and NO....I can't be that old...and YES....my mind wanders and forgets things. So hopefully, this will keep a record of sorts for me."

 

I am now into my 70th year..and man, time is flying by!!! That results in  more time between posts and then it's a chore to gather all the photos, info, etc. The posts start to get fairly long  and readers probably tend to get bored by the end of them. So, since I'd still like to document my stitching journey, even if just for me,  I am going to try to attempt short posts on a daily/semi daily schedule....a la Amy Wilson of Thread in Hand. If you are not familiar with Amy, she passed away recently after years of fighting cancer but was an avid stitcher and posted on an almost daily basis throughout all her challenges. I admire her bravery and determination and was lucky enough to have known her. Please check out her blog pots if you want inspiration!!! 

 

Anyway, we'll see how this goes and if it's easier for me to stay on track....free and easy like Sunday mornings! :) I hope you will stick with me for the duration.

 

So today I want to share my latest stitch finish...yet to be FFO'd. I joined the Colorado Stitcher Summer Camp...you can read about it here...Summer Cross Stitch Camp 2022. There is a theme for each of the summer months and you can participate, or not, in each one. You can choose as big, or little, a project as you'd like and be entered to win a prize if you complete your choice. June's theme was to stitch something with a holiday theme. I chose A Merry Little Christmas by Stitching with the Housewives. I stitched it over one on 28 ct. Crystal Glacier by PTP with an Anchor floss conversion from the called for DMC. I also stitched the freebie design Sheri offered and attached it to a cute project bag a friend made for me. 

 

 

 

 

 

The same friend who made me the project bag, also gifted me this adorable needle minder and scissor fob. Thanks so much, Lisa!!!

 

I will now be stitchin' in style when July rolls around....not too soon I hope!

That's it for today...hopefully back for a quick visit tomorrow. Take care and thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi 

P.S. If you wonder what the numbers in my header mean, here;s the back story on that. In 2017 I decided to post one of my finished projects every day, starting with the  number 1, and see how far I could get. Well, I posted one every day for that whole year and have continued to post as I complete new projects. I am now up to 647 and going strong!!! Sadly there are also many I didn't document, gave away as gifts and therefore have no photo/record. It has been a long and fruitful journey that I hope will continue for as long as I can see and hold a a needle.

Who Knows Where the Time Goes.... 644-646

 

Anybody else a Judy Collins fan? She's one of my favorite folk singers..had such a lovely voice.

It's been a busy month since I last posted....a week traveling to and from Nashville, followed by a long weekend in Baltimore spent with my parents and daughter and son-in-la from NC and another long weekend in OCMD taking a class with Catherine Theron.

Nashville was a lot of fun, but seemed rather low key this year. Not sure if it was Covid related or another reason. There used to be a lot of frenzied excitement about Market because, in the past, you didn't know what was coming out at Market until you got there. Now, with all the previews and pre-orders, there are not many "surprises". Nonetheless, it's great to see all the new designs in person and chat with the designers. I am very lucky to attend and help Sally and Sara. My favorite find...and it wasn't even cross stitch...was a wool felt designer, Under the Garden Moon. She had some adorable projects and I treated myself to her Book of Sampler Stitches. This came with a huge piece of linen that has the stitches and names printed on it and you just fill in with the embroidery stitches/motifs. There are tutorials to help you along with each section.

Here are my stash enhancements from Market...so hard to limit!!!
 

 

I thought you might get a kick out of this: Beth Twist designed and stitched a QR code that she wore as a pin. When you scanned it, it took you to her website...pretty cool, huh!!!!  Try it, it works!!!

When we were at my parents, my daughter, Jess, brought a quilt she had made years ago and recently had quilted. She asked if I would bind it for her. Having done this only once, on a wall hanging back in the 80's, I said I'd try. Well, it was much easier than I thought, though working with a full size quilt is quite different than working with a wall hanging....so much fabric to deal with!!! But I persevered and it tuned out great. She'll be getting it back Easter weekend.
 

As I mentioned, I made a trip to OCMD and took a class with Catherine Theron. It was a great weekend with old and new stitching friends. Here is my class piece...lovely but has a lot of spider trellis stitches....not my friend!!! I will attempt them, but may abandon for another "round" stitch if I continue to be stymied!!!

 
Now on to some finishes.... First up is my March ornament for the SAL on IG sponsored by Carol Of Stitching Dreams. It's Letter to Santa by Living on the Rainbow. She is a designer from Ukraine and this was my second piece of hers I stitched this year. Done on 18 ct perforated paper and finished as an envelope. I left the top open this time so I could insert cash or a gift card. I had to finagle a bit as part of Santa's face was over one and wouldn't work on the paper.

Next is Plant Some Flowers Scissor Keep by Sue Hawkins. This was a little kit and I used the included  fibers and 18 ct canvas. I changed the wording from "plant some flowers" to "plant some kindness". Isn't this the sweetest???

 

Last but not least is Block Party 17th by Hands on Design. I did change this up a bit fabric and fiber wise. I stitched on 32 count Vintage Tundra by Lakeside with a combo of WDW, CC and VMS fibers. I wanted more of a 'greeny' green rather than a 'yellowy' green...if that makes sense. I then had to change the wool topper too. I decided to join the pieces using a DMC #12 perle cotton. I found that a bit easier to see and slip my needle under to join.

Here are a few WIP's that got some attention over the past month:

Denim Band Sampler SAL by iStitch Designs

New Car Project...Spirit of Christmas Stitching Angel by Brookes Books

The Sweet Shop by Living on the Rainbow

 To end, here is a little present I gifted myself with. It's an Afternoon Tea Sewing Station by A E Williams. It's pewter and from England. A friend had posted a photo awhile back and I ordered one. It took a bit to get here but was so worth the wait. The cup lid lifts off and is a pincushion, the tea pot is a thimble and the scissors were included.

Hope you have a lovely Easter and spring season. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

 

Finding Solace in Stitching.....Again!!!! (637-643)

 Yes, I'm sure many of you are turning to your needlework as we navigate these worrisome times. We must pray for the poor people of Ukraine who are fighting bravely to retain their democracy and freedom and for someone to rein in Putin before he starts WWIII. I've said it before..and I'll say it again...why can't we accept others beliefs and differences and live in peace? I try in my own way to do this...and it isn't always easy.... but middle ground can often be found and we can move on.

On that note, I'd like to share, before I start showing other projects, two pieces I've worked on from a Ukranian designer, Living on the Rainbow. The first is a recent finish, Home for Christmas. I stitched it on 18 ct perforated paper and sewed both sides together. I had to adjust a bit on the truck because some was over one and wouldn't work on the paper. Isn't it adorable?

The second is a WIP, The Sweet Shop, worked on 32 ct. Antique white belfast. I originally wanted to do these on Aida since they are totally stitched and I thought that would give better support for the finish. But there were a lot of 1/4 stitches and I hate doing them on Aida...so linen it is!!! I'm showing my WIP and a photo of the finished piece....how cute is that!!!!

If you like these, please visit and support Elena's etsy shop: Living on the Rainbow
There is much more to drool over!!!

So, a couple of finishes..... First Frost by Hands on Design has a pair of precious snowmen...stitched on 28 ct. white linen with DMC. I fell in love with these guys the first time I saw them. I finished as Cathy suggested....no face, but they sure do still show personality!

 

 Holly Jolly Ornament is a collaboration of Heart in Hand and Bent Creek under the umbrella of Friendstitch. It was stitched on 32 ct Summer Khaki with Sulky #12 threads. This was the first time I've used these fibers and I really liked them...you only use one strand and get great coverage. I found the cute "frame" at Hobby Lobby around Christmas. I mounted my stitching to what was originally the back and left the original "front" as my new back. 

 

 These two finishes were from a virtual retreat I took from Jennifer Richardson at Violets and Verses, Martha Worboys Red Bristol Band Sampler and Pocket Sampler.

This was a class with the Orange County Sampler Guild last fall, OCSG Sampler Tree by Liz Matthews. I stitched it on 36 count PTP Heritage with DMC. I finished it on an antique door knob.

My final finish was for Colorado Stitchers Winter Stitch Camp. We were asked to stitch a project that only used one color of floss. I chose Cottage Charm Scissor's Pocket by Milady's Needle. This was a kit and included the Blackbird sampler fabric....stitched on 40 ct. Pear from Lakeside linens with Belle Soie Tortoise Shell.

I completed the stitching On Diligent and it is in the capable hands of my framer, Patti Nicolosi. I changed the letters from navy to black.

I have a few WIPS going on.....Harriett Salt  by Hands Across the Sea

 My Stitching Box  by Jeanette Douglas

and Winter Comes by Heartstring Samplery. Oh I LOVE this on the black...that border!!! Sorry about the wrinkles...running out of time!!!
 

So, that will be it for today. I am off to Nashville! Sally and Sara are picking me up tomorrow and we're heading to Market!!! I have been helping Sara walk the floors the last couple years they held Market. Sally stays in the room and prices things as I run bags and bags of goodies up to her. The last one we attended was the week before the s**t hit the fan in 2020 and I know designers and shop owners are so looking forward to this. I'm all packed and have my stitching for the car and the hotel room all figured out. I hope I can sleep tonight...melatonin here I come!!!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship! 

Stasi

PS  This is for you Sandra!!!