I'm Going Off the Rails of the Crazy Train....... (558-560)

I can't seem to get that verse out of my head after listening to it play on my car radio. I didn't even know who sang it so I googled it....Ozzy Osbourne. I thought I'd read some of the lyrics and here is the first verse:

"Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe it's not too late
To learn how to love and forget how to hate. "
 Yikes, I so wasn't expecting that, but it rang true for today's issues. If only........
It has so saddened me lately how fellow stitchers are attacking each other on social media to push their agendas and not showing respect for others whose opinions/beliefs may differ. Yes, we are ALL brutally aware of what is happening in the world today and want to see things change. But there is a place and a respectful way for expressing said views without trying to ram them down peoples throats. I tend to find I get my ire up when I see others being bullied and jump to defend them even if I don't agree with their views. Sometimes being "mean/nasty" can be counter productive...just my humble opinion...enough said!

I have continued to be a crazy woman stitching and it's time to share. First up are my FFO's. I showed this last post, but not FFO'd. Here is Fourth of July Sampler  by The Humble Stitcher.  stitched it on 40 ct. Iced Cappucinno, over two, with VMSS fibers.   I wanted it plain and simple..no frills! This was my first time using sawdust as a filler and I love it. You can get it very firm and it holds shape well. I have a big tub of it from my SIL, and will definitely use again.

Next up is Project Quarantine  by With Thy Needle and Thread. I stitched this on a 40 ct mystery linen, over two, with a combo of DMC, WDW, GAST and VMSS (trying hard to stitch from stash). I had a frame I'd bought a couple years ago from Wal-Mart that was the perfect red. Now it had a wooden cow, mounted on chicken wire, in the middle, but I removed the cow and glued fabric covered mat board over the wire. Added some pretty red rick-rack (thanks again, Robin) and voila!

This last FFO was a major save!!! I had stitched this in 2013, as a box, and  finally started to FFO it last week. I accidentally tore the perforated paper and that would have meant for a very messy joined corner. So, I had gotten a cute little hornbook at Hobby Lobby the week before and inspiration hit! I Mod Podged the stitching....yea I know, but  otherwise I couldn't cut without all the stitching unraveling....and glued it to the painted hornbook. I think I like this much better than the box! WIN!!!!

Now my SAL status:

FB Peppermint Purple Blackwork SAL

iStitch Designs Burgandy Sampler Band SAL (only 1 week and bonus chart left)

Learning Stitches by Jeanette Douglas via Sassy Jacks

 A couple new starts: 


Token of Love by WTNT.....stitching, over one, on a 28 ct. mystery linen with WDW and CC. I chose a darker blue, Teal Frost, since I had in my stash and subbed Putty for Sandcastle for the same reason. It seems Oscar is a tad hard to come by so I sent out a plea on FB and a stitchy friend came to the rescue...thanks Nancy!I love these colors!!!

Then I finally decided on a piece to do in honor of my second granddaughter, Esther. She likes ballet, flowers and the color red...and this really seemed to fit the bill. This is French Schoolgirl Sewing Bag and Smalls by Needlemade Designs. The original design for the bag front said "Amities" and you would put initials of friends and/or family there. But Esther asked if I could put the wod "love", so I obliged her. I found four different large alphabets and stitched each letter in a different style. I may go back and add some initials but am going to wait until the end. It's stitched over one on 27 ct. Natural/red ticking banding with GAST Soot and CC Cupid. This ones going to take awhile!!!

Then, in the midst of it all, I stitched up this dapper turkey......Dressed for Dinner by Erica Michaels. I did him on 7 ct. Klostern with #5 perle cottons and Rainbow Gallery Tweedie. I wanted him  to look like the turkey we all made in school with the brightly colored feathers. He's a bit out of proportion to go with my LK pilgrims, but that's okay, he'll hold his own.

A couple things to end with...look at this cute little fan you hook into your phone!!! Hopefully it will help me when I'm hot outside!!!

And, Rich and I had a hankering for some steamed crabs over the weekend so, yesterday, we took a little drive (about 2 hours) to Billy's Crab House just over the line into Maryland.  The crabs, shrimp and hush puppies were delish and you can see we ate it all!!! A nice respite from the "crazy train"!!!

I hope you are enjoying your summer so far and continue to do so. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

A Whole Lotta Stitchin'/Strollin' Going on....550-557

I have been a very busy bee since last time we met. I am trying to be industrious and work off nervous energy through needlework. Some days it works....some days it doesn't. I am still mainly staying home with weekly grocery shopping and a couple visits to Hobby Lobby. I did get my haircut the other day, which was interesting, but doable, with a mask! We are going to venture up to Baltimore tomorrow to see my parents; we haven't seen them since the beginning of February.  It'll be a day trip, so a lot of driving for a short visit. Do we hug...wear masks the whole time??? I don't know, I just feel we need to see them in person and they see us. 

I have a lot to share this post and it will be photo heavy. I'll try to be brief about each project, but if you have questions just leave in a comment. But be sure you have an e-mail listed  and aren't "no-reply blogger" as I can't respond personally to you if that's the case. I've been hopping around a lot--this is what it looks like next to me on the sofa:

First up, I've been cutting more rectangles for masks for a local Richmond group. I figure I've cut up about 75 yards of fabric into 6 X 9 rectangles so far. This is my latest batch:

 
Next is my progress on my SAL's:

iStitch Designs  Burgandy Sampler Band SAL

Peppermint Purple FB Blackwork SAL

Learning Stitches (Jeanette Douglas) SAL with Sassy Jacks

I had a couple birthdays I stitched gifts for:

Stand By Your Peeps by JABCO

Sampler Stitching Tote by Noteworthy Needle   This is on a tote bag that was available last year at Target. Stitched with #5 Perle cotton.

These are cute little holders for your perle cotton. The bottoms open up and you can store the little balls inside and "pull" up through the top.
 

Pearl (that's how it was spelled on the chart) Cotton Nestler by Patricks Woods

 This was a non stitched gift but I fell in love with it when I saw it..and yes, I had to get one for myself!!! Bay Dreams by Spartina wallet...in case anyone is interested! :)

 Then I had some finishes for me...first up is A Fish Tale, a shop exclusive for Salty Yarns designed by Hands on Design. I decided to stitch this in honor of my grandson, James (he likes to fish and crab), so I put his initials on the top of the pincushion.

A little out of season but here is Autumn Blessings  by Noteworthy Needle, stitched on a foam pumpkin.

This came about with a little help from my friends...one lent me her chart and one sold me an extra silver ring..... Bee Pin Ball by Carriage House Samplings. I think I'm going to replace the ribbon with a silver chain.

And, I had to do a set of nestlers for myself!!!!

These two were finished by others:

Silk Sampler by Birds of a Feather framed by Patti Nicolosi of By My Hand Needl'werk's

PSS Retreat 2020 Bag finished by Faye Riggsbee (Carolina Stitcher) design by The Spinning Monkey

WIPS: 

The Berry Thief by It's Fine-ally Finished

And last, but not least...a finish not yet FFO'd:

Fourth of July Sampler by The Humble Stitcher

Whew!!!! I think that's it for today. Thanks for strolling along with me..hope you enjoyed the ride! I'm off to see what's on the agenda today.....STITCHING...what else???

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

And we're still hanging in there.....

I haven't been counting the actual days that I've been self isolating, but I know it's going on two months. You would think the time would be dragging, but I feel every day/week is going by so fast....perhaps that is a good thing!!! I keep busy with my stitching and I've been cutting fabric for masks for a local group in Richmond while my sewing machine was in the shop. I managed to get a haircut from the girl that does my daughter's family and my hubby's hair. She came to my daughters garage...mask and antiseptic in tow...I feel much better now. So basically, I stitch while binging some show after I've done any chores. I watched 5 seasons of When Calls the Heart and am currently watching an NBC show called Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist...on the suggestion of my younger daughter...it's rather quirky but lots of musical numbers, which I love. A retreat I was going to has been cancelled a second time and I miss seeing my stitching buddies and sharing our passion. I have been texting daily with a small group of friends and we're sharing our projects that way.

 So, now on to what I've been working on. As I said above, I've been cutting yards of fabric into 6X9 inch rectangles to be made into masks. At last count, I've cut up about 45 yards. Here is one days worth:

I've also made about 100 masks for family and friends. That put my machine into a tail pin and I had to venture out to the repair shop. Luckily, it was only about a 10 day wait period and I have it back, as I finally got three of the Brenda Gervais project bags to make for myself. 

I'm a week behind on my SAL's. The weekly installment for the blackwork piece is a long narrow band where you are supposed to put a quote of some kind.. Since I'm doing mine on banding, it won't fit. So, I will have to improvise a bit. I'm thinking about just dong the graphic element alone or starting to do single boxes down one side and doing my quote vertically. Hmmmm...any thoughts? Here is where I am to date:

I am now two weeks behind in my iSTitch band sampler, but you will see why shortly.

I have started a mini SAL with two friends. We are starting the Berry Thief by Jackie du Plessis. I was lucky to find a complete kit for sale on FB recently and snatched it up. I haven't gotten too far but at least it's started. (Sorry, couldn't figure out how to get photo bigger)

Berry Thief Needle page

I decided to put in an all out effort to get Seeking Refuge by The Scarlett House completed. It took about a month to stitch. I chose to stitch it on 46 count Vintage Buttercream linen (it's much more golden than photo) with a combination of Victorian Motto, WDW and GAST fibers, heavy on the VM's.  I made the checkerboard borders two toned, changed the bunnies from white to brown and substituted beehives for the dogs. I meant to move the dogs down to where the birds are....but forgot, so birds it is! I love this piece and the saying was perfect for these crazy days.

 I will close with a Happy Mother's Day wish for all and hope that you can visit in person (at a safe distance) or virtually with your Moms and/or children. Here are a couple photos from our garden to end with. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi

Scotch Broom

Our 'mini' wildflower garden