Garden of Stitches
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Paradigm Lost
Just another weekly update of Paradigm Lost - still trying to make a dent in that very large motif in the upper right corner....
Daylily: Kwanso - last one for the year, will end with the double version of the common daylily... Stitched on today: Women of the Mayflower, a gift and Paradigm Lost
Monday, October 30, 2006
Pretty Carnations
It was An Emblem of Love night, and tonight I stitched the pretty pink carnations in the partial medallion on the left edge... plus some smaller motifs as well. I don't think it will take me too many more weeks to finish this. I am hoping to finish by the end of the year.New DVD Release Tuesday was a day early today with Mission: Impossible III found on the kitchen counter when I got home today :-)
Daylily: Siloam David Kirchhoff - one more day to go with daylilies. It is full-blown autumn here now, so the summer symbols will end.Stitched on today: An Emblem of Love
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Part 10 Finished
There was an angel on my shoulder this weekend. That's the only way I can explain this. I did manage to finish Part 10. It looked doubtful for a while tonight, because my brother called and we have not chatted for several weeks. We had a lot of sports talk to catch up on!! Anyway... here it is.
Daylily: Siloam June BugStitched on today: Mystery IX
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Stormy Days Are Good For Something
Stormy days are good for stitching. OK, it wasn't like it was a hurricane today. But it was raining pretty heavily off and on, and it was windy, off and on... it counts as a stormy day. I did manage to get a good amount done on Part 10, so there is the possibility that I can finish this part tomorrow. I didn't quite get the alone time that I had fantasized about to stitch this today. There were morning errands to run. Then later, laundry to do... then grocery shopping this evening. Tomorrow should be much quieter. It does now look to me like this is the outer frame of the garden. But we have not used any of the Pebbles Waterlilies or the two skeins of a pretty periwinkle blue NPI.... hmmmm.... wonder what we do next. I know there is a center design being offered for this. Some stitchers opted to buy some baubles from Martina to put in the center. I bought them when we stitched Mystery VI online, and I did not care for them. I opted instead to stitch the personalization in the center and I love it - hopefully that is what I will be doing with Mystery IX. I didn't even bother to buy the baubles this time... I have the set for Mystery VI (now sold as Indian Summer Reflections) if anyone wants them!I got an email from Annemarie this morning, alerting me that my birthday package for her finally made it's way across the Atlantic Ocean to her home in the Netherlands - two weeks (or so) this time! I didn't take a photo of her entire birthday package (some of it was for Pelle, actually), but here is what I made for her...(I must give credit to Kiwi Jo - I borrowed this finishing technique, for the most part, from the fob she made for me for my birthday):
Yes... here I go again - more fabrics to clear out! You see, I joined another Fabric of the Month with another dyer, so I need room in my fabric bins! These are tough ones to let go of, but.... I will! I hope you can see them well enough in the photo - all four are gorgeous!
Upper left: Silkweaver 32 ct Jobelan solo in lovely neutral browns, 18" x 26", $15 -sold
Upper right: Silkweaver 36 ct Edinburgh solo in blues/greens, 16" x 16", $10 -sold
Lower left: Silkweaver 32 ct Rocky Mountain Belfast (disc color), 18" x 18", $12 -sold
Lower right: Sugar Maple Fabrics 28 ct Iris Annabelle (disc color), 18" x 27", $15 -sold
The usual.... $1 shipping per piece in US - let me know if you are out of US for a low shipping fee... PayPal only outside of the US... US stitchers, any form of payment!
Daylily: Leebea Orange CrushStitched on today: Mystery IX
Friday, October 27, 2006
Reached a Goal, Linen For Sale, and a RAK
I met my goal for tonight - I finished the last of the small ponds on Mystery IX, Part 10. With a lot of rain and wind forecasted for the weekend, I am holing myself up to work on this until it is finished. I have some very small spring bulbs that we bought to support the cute little girls across the street (one of those school selling for funds deals) that I hope I can plant tomorrow (weather permitting), and on Sunday I will be happy to deal with the trick or treaters... but other than that, I am not dealing with anyone or anything. I need the alone time in a big way.I worked a lot on a gift this afternoon, and it was a lot of fun! But I cannot finish it yet, because I need a Mill Hill Treasure for it. I went to the LNS today, and I remember looking at the rack of MH Treasures when I first got there, but then I forgot to go back and choose one for the project -duh! Since I don't know when I will be near an LNS again, at least not in time to get this out, I did find what I needed on ebay from a very reliable ebay store that sells needlework supplies. I buy all my Anchor floss from her regularly and she ships fast. So, I got what I needed, plus a couple of skeins of Crescent Colours that I couldn't get while I was out today... so once the treasure comes in, I will be good to do the finishing :-)
I was RAK'd by my good friend, Karen! She is so sweet - what a nice treat! She sent me Just Nan's limited edition Horrified! with Whimzi Frame. Aw :-) I took the picture at this odd angle to show that the frame is attached to the chart.
I have this really, really pretty Silkweaver Solo for sale, if anybody would like it! It is a beautiful blue and purple blend. It is 28 ct Cashel linen and is 18" x 18", the cost is only $10 and shipping in the US is $1.00. If out of the US, still cheap shipping :-) I have a few more to put up, but it is late right now and I only have a photo of this one so far - I will get the others up tomorrow. Email me or leave me a comment here if you want to claim this one! ---sold
Daylily: Siloam Double Rose (with bugs)Stitched on today: a gift for a friend, and Mystery IX
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Good Timing for a Long Weekend
I have Friday (tomorrow) off, and I think this is actually great timing. I can put some extra time in on Mystery IX, and maybe, just maybe finish Part 10 by Sunday. Who knows! I did get most of the big pond in the bottom left finished tonight, although I did not yet stitch the one over one fleur de lis in the center - too late, too tired. I had to stitch much of this tonight with a 13 pound cat (Beau) nestled in my lap. My leg is asleep now!
Daylily: Sammy Russell RedStitched on today: Started a gift, and Mystery IX
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Bored.
My dear stitching friends, I am just totally bored with Mystery IX... most especially with Part 10. I put a lot of time in on it each time I pick it up (about four hours), yet the progress is so slow. Sometimes I don't mind repetition when I am stitching. And, I know the repeat motifs in Martina's designs are her hallmark. But I am not enjoying it this time, because to be honest, I am not very impressed with the outcome of this mystery. It just isn't coming together yet. Maybe it will? There are two more parts to go after this. But I find the center to be too busy for the rest of the garden, and the yellow in the triangle veggie gardens just sticks out a bit like a sore thumb. I don't quite get Martina's vision on this one yet. Maybe it will be more obvious after Parts 11 and 12. Ah well, thanks for listening.
Q. If you were to come across a sampler chart that caught your eye and
appealed to you, would you or would you not stitch it if it had a
morbid or "creepy" saying on it? If not, why?
A. Yes, indeed I would. I submitted this question to Renee a few months ago when several readers were commenting that they felt the verse on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow is too morbid. I just love it. After all, many of the older samplers were made during a time, or were at least reproduced after a time, when life spans were short. Accepting one's mortality is a healthy thing, after all.
New DVD Release Tuesday was a day late for us this week - fun ones, Nacho Libre and Monster House
Daylily: Purple D'OroStitched on today: Women of the Mayflower and Mystery IX
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Paradigm Lost Update
OK, here is this week's Paradigm Lost update. That large motif up in the upper right corner that I am still working on is divided up on at least four different pages on the chart. I felt like a juggler tonight putting the parts together to get this much done. I also finished up the acorns and oak leaves.Thank you to all who have posted to my Birthday Alarm account (lovely idea Annemarie had!). I plan to use this list to help me to remember when to send cards and gifts to my stitching pals! So, if you haven't signed on, I hope you will!! I would love to keep all my data in one spot (for once).
Do you love the TV Drama Series "24" as much as I do? I saw some previews on TV during the World Series tonight - and they then gave a website - if you have not seen it, here is an extended trailer for next season! Uh-oh, Jack is asked to sacrifice himself? This cannot be good for Jack!! :-) 82 days until it premieres here in the US - yay!
Daylily: Siloam Bo PeepStitched on today: Paradigm Lost
Monday, October 23, 2006
An Emblem of Love Update
It's Monday, so I worked on An Emblem of Love again. This sampler continues to move along pretty quickly :-)I just saw in Jenn's blog that today she received the fabric she bought from me last week.... and in the package I tucked in a little fob that I had made for her. She was so down in recent days, and I wanted to give her a little "therapy fob" to remind her that her friends love her. (I finished it in the evening and it was raining out... so I could not get a good photo).
Daylily: Radiant GreetingsStitched on today: Blessings Be Thine and An Emblem of Love
***Note to self: To keep track... in preparation for winter and to deal with recent weight gain (due to sloth), I restarted the induction phase of Atkins today
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Not very productive
This certainly was not the productive weekend that I had hoped it would be for Mystery IX. I felt very blah today, still feeling sad about yesterday (thanks for the support everyone - you are so sweet)... Anyhow, I finally did pick up M9 when the World Series game started.... and I did get this far. I had best be better focused with this next week if I am going to finish Part 10 this month. I think Parts 11 and 12 could be large too - this is not filling the fabric as fully as Martina's mystery gardens typically do, and there are a few colors of silk that are yet untouched in the kit.... I better not set high goals for myself next month.
Daylily: Siloam Night RingStitched on today: Mystery IX
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Trying To Stay Committed...
... to Mystery IX. I picked it back up again today. At least I got another of the small pools finished. Those are the easier/more enjoyable parts of Part 10... tomorrow I get to do one of those hedges again... can't say those are much fun. I just have to hang on a bit longer.I still have some great hand dyed fabrics available for sale if anyone is interested - they are listed in yesterday's entry. all are sold now
When I got up to blog, I found my two calico cats enjoying the sofa Mike uses (he is at his computer). Couldn't resist taking their photo - they do love to lie on magazines, newspapers, towels... whatever is comfy.Gotta admit - having a not so great day. I had a miscommunication with a dear friend, and I don't think she is all that happy with me right now. I hate days like this.
Daylily: Yazoo Jim TerryStitched on today: Mystery IX
Friday, October 20, 2006
Hand-Dyed Fabrics For Sale - up to 30% off
OK, I figured I should be working on Mystery IX this weekend... and I will... but my hands are so achy right now, and I think a lot of it is from manuevering the big Q-Snap (and I want the good tension and even stitches that come with using the Q-Snap, so I won't be ditching that). So, I decided to work on something smaller, Women of the Mayflower. That ship is taking some real time to get done using the diagonal satin stitch. It's quite a bit of work with doing the counting and doublechecking to make sure that the pattern within the hull is correct. I am cleaning out - I have to make room in my hand dyed fabric boxes!! I am selling some, so let me know if you want them before I stick them on ebay!! (All have good color swatches available on their dyers' websites).
Enchanted Fabrics 28 ct Monaco - Stormy Night - 18" x30", $10.00 - sold
Sugar Maple Fabrics 32 ct Lugana - Jelly Bean - 18" x 27", $15.00 - sold
Silkweaver 32 ct Lugana - Karma - 18" x 26", $15.00 - sold
Silkweaver 32 ct Jobelan - Elegance - 18" x 26", $15.00 - sold
Sugar Maple Fabrics 28 ct Cashel Linen - Keenan - 18" x 27", $18.00 - sold
Sugar Maple Fabrics 28 ct Opalescent Lugana - Frangipani - 18" x 27", $18.00 - sold
Sugar Maple Fabrics 28 ct Lugana - Peach Grove (oversize cut for Passione Ricamo's Once Upon A Time) - 25" x25", $20 -sold
As usual, shipping is $1.00 for one piece in the US. I take PayPal and money orders - if you live outside of the US, then PayPal only (and I will still give you a low shipping cost). Let me know if you want any of these! You can either email me (see the About Me... section of my sidebar) or you can just let me know in the comments section here.
Daylily: Siloam Plum TreeStitched on today: Women of the Mayflower
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Half Way There
I did it - I made it half way around Part 10 tonight, just about ten minutes before bedtime too. So, this entry will be short - gotta work tomorrow!
Daylily: Red TwisterStitched on today: Finished a gift that I started yesterday and Mystery IX
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
I Do Know One Thing...
...I am going to be one very relieved, and very happy, stitcher when Part 10 of Mystery IX is finished. All I have to share tonight is more of this blah blah... can hardly even see tonight's progress - gulp.Thank you all for your super sweet and encouraging comments about my scissor fob. You cannot imagine how much I appreciate them. My confidence is a little higher now. Thanks :-)
Daylily: Siloam Gum DropStitched on today: Women of the Mayflower, started another gift, and Mystery IX
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
My First Scissor Fob
If you have been around my blog long enough, then you most certainly know that I don't stitch smalls. I view myself as finishing handicapped. I thought it was because I did not own a sewing machine, and was not planning to buy one because I had no idea where I could put it and use it here (I totally take over this very large three bedroom colonial house - I need to leave some space for things other than stitching, and so far, I am not succeeding). But, I did set a goal for this year to develop some skills. With the year ending and the holidays (and many birthdays) approaching, I recently started to study online tutorials with the intensity that I remember I had when I was in graduate school and studying for my counseling licensing exam. Well... here is my first effort, and of course, I did not keep it - one typically does not keep smalls :-) (OK, I did stitch a small Lizzie Kate freebie into an ornament - will show when I remember to photograph it - came out fine except my ribbon is off center so it hangs funny... to be expected, right??). Anyhow, Su received it today (her birthday was Sunday - thank you again, postal service, for being so slow overseas)... and now I can show it... does it look OK?? I am very self-concious about it! I made at least two rookie mistakes - I made the ribbon too long (so I added the wooden beads and hoped they might make the ribbon at least look smaller - and add some texture to the acorn theme), and I totally forgot to put initials or the year or anything on the back (which is blank evenweave - I haven't yet been brave enough to use cotton fabric as the backing yet).
Acorns and Threads Scissor Fob
Jeannette Douglas Designs
Chart is a freebie found: here
Sugar Maple Fabrics 28 ct Winter Wheat Lugana
Gloriana Silk, DMC Floss, Mill Hill Petite Beads
Stitched and Finished on 10/8/06
It is Paradigm Lost Tuesday again... here is my weekly update. Still loving working on this one very, very much.
It is New DVD Release Tuesday, and Mike picked up one I have been dying to see: The Break-Up - we must find time this week to watch this one - I am such a big Jennifer Aniston fan :-)
Daylily: Prague Spring
Stitched on today: Women of the Mayflower at work (bearing in mind that I must finish this one this year, I already put the date on it!) and Paradigm Lost
It is Paradigm Lost Tuesday again... here is my weekly update. Still loving working on this one very, very much.It is New DVD Release Tuesday, and Mike picked up one I have been dying to see: The Break-Up - we must find time this week to watch this one - I am such a big Jennifer Aniston fan :-)
Daylily: Prague SpringStitched on today: Women of the Mayflower at work (bearing in mind that I must finish this one this year, I already put the date on it!) and Paradigm Lost
Monday, October 16, 2006
Kingdom Sampler Framed/Hand-Dyed Linen For Sale!
I got this back from the framer about a week ago (at least), but I keep forgetting to put up a photo. Here it is - I love it! The photo is odd - Mike hung it quite high in an existing hole "for now" since I cannot figure out yet where I want to hang it :-) Just tilt your head a bit... there you go!Mike has two fat quarters of R&R linen for sale - Yes, I said Mike does :-) He is asking for $16 each, which is well below their retail price (typically $22-$23 each).... he has:
32 ct Mockingbird, 18" x 27" - sold
30 ct Fern, 18" x 27" - sold
If you are interested in either or both of these pretty fabrics, please let me know. He uses a different PayPal address than I do - and he accepts checks/money orders from US stitchers. I believe he asks $2.00 for shipping. Thanks :-)
Well, I have been keeping at working on An Emblem of Love on Monday nights. Tonight I finished the half medallion to the bottom left of the sampler.. and some smaller motifs... lots of GAST Tarnished Gold in this area. The gold flower to the extreme bottom left represents the bottom corner of the sampler. That's good progess now! I really, really look forward to working on this sampler on Mondays. I just hope Mike won't think this sampler is too feminine to give to him (and who am I kidding, it really is very feminine!). He's a good guy, he will still love it.
And, here are those lovely gifts from Jenna that I wrote about yesterday. Isn't the biscornu cute? And, look at the pretty tools she made!!! There are actually two of the small pins - the other is not lost, it is in my needlecase - I used it when I was putting together a gift a couple of nights ago. Here those of you who asked can see what a dololly is. It is the bigger tool in the bottom right of the photo with the chain on it. You take the bent wire and slide it under stitches in the back of your fabric. You can then use the hook (or, if you prefer, as I do, you can use your needle) to pull small, hard to grab threads into the loop and then pull. Voila! Your tiny threads are anchored. I think they call it a dololly because it can "do a lotta things." I used mine a few days ago to insert into a decorative bead with a small hole, put ribbon through the loop of the dololly and pulled the ribbon through the bead while doing finishing work on said same gift. The ideas for using this tool are endless. Jenna did an amazing job with this! Thanks again Jenna!
I received a package of gifts from Katrina today. I had sent her the last issue of JCS a few weeks ago because she really wanted it - and she wanted to reward me with little pressies - a cute needlebook with needles and a little bottle of pretty hand and nail cream - aw, thanks Katrina - you didn't need to do that!
Daylily: Shark's ToothStitched on today: An Emblem of Love
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Thank Yous
I didn't stitch for very long again today - I gave up when my pinkie and ring finger on my right hand felt a bit numb. Now it is fine, but I didn't feel like stitching again... so I got this much done, just still trying to motor along on Part 10.Thank you so much to an annonymous kind stitcher!! You know who you are - but I don't know who you are! I received a mystery RAK this weekend from someone in Mississippi. I cannot figure out who you are! I want to thank you so much! This kind, wonderful stitcher sent me Prairie Schooler's Birdsong II (from my wish list) along with a large pile of Crescent Colours floss for it! Thank you!!!! You are the kindest! Will you reveal yourself?
And, Jenna sent me the most wonderful dololly and some other wonderful stitching gadgets - that she makes!! She did an amazing job! If the weather is nice tomorrow, I will try to get a good photo for you all - Jenna has amazing talent! Thank you Jenna! And, she included the cutest little pink biscornu in the package! It's my first biscornu! Thank you Jenna, you are so sweet!
And, a final thank you to my stitching friends who are scooping up the fabrics (and some of the charts) that I am selling - what a nice treat to avoid ebay and know my fabrics are going to good homes - thank you! I will ship as soon as payments are received :-)
Daylily: Ruffled ApricotStitched on today: Mystery IX
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Fabric & Stash For Sale - Good Prices!
Fabrics and Stash for sale:
$1.00 shipping in US for one or two items! Otherwise, email me for great shipping rates for multiple items and international purchases. I take PayPal (preferred) - if you are in the US, will take a money order or check (or well-concealed cash).
Fabrics:
28 ct Prairie Grain Jobelan, 18" x 28" (I believe it is for Butternut Road's Earthdancer) - $7.00 -sold
32 ct Parchment Lugana, 18" x 27" - $7.00 -sold
32 ct Laurel linen, 18" x 27.5" - $7.00 -sold
32 ct Antique Tan linen, 18" x 20" -$6.00 - sold
28 ct Lavender Mist Jobelan, 18" x 27" - $7.00 -sold
28 ct Queen Anne's Lace Hand-Dyed Jobelan, 18" x 27" - $8.00 - sold
R&R Reproductions 30 ct Butternut, 18" x 27" - $9.00 - sold
And, some charts for sale too - click here for photos and prices. (The fabrics are gone now, but there are still charts)
As for stitching today... more of this!
Daylily: Trahlyta
Stitched on today: Mystery IX
$1.00 shipping in US for one or two items! Otherwise, email me for great shipping rates for multiple items and international purchases. I take PayPal (preferred) - if you are in the US, will take a money order or check (or well-concealed cash).
Fabrics:
28 ct Prairie Grain Jobelan, 18" x 28" (I believe it is for Butternut Road's Earthdancer) - $7.00 -sold
32 ct Parchment Lugana, 18" x 27" - $7.00 -sold
32 ct Laurel linen, 18" x 27.5" - $7.00 -sold
32 ct Antique Tan linen, 18" x 20" -$6.00 - sold
28 ct Lavender Mist Jobelan, 18" x 27" - $7.00 -sold
28 ct Queen Anne's Lace Hand-Dyed Jobelan, 18" x 27" - $8.00 - sold
R&R Reproductions 30 ct Butternut, 18" x 27" - $9.00 - sold
And, some charts for sale too - click here for photos and prices. (The fabrics are gone now, but there are still charts)
As for stitching today... more of this!
Daylily: TrahlytaStitched on today: Mystery IX
Friday, October 13, 2006
Violet and Lace Sampler Is Finished
I put the last band in tonight, and now it is finished :-) My next step is to save up a few dollars to get it framed.
Violet and Lace Sampler
Earth Threads
Zweigart Olive Green belfast linen, TG Silk 'n Colors, DMC floss
Stitched as a SAL with Katrina
10/5/06 - 10/13/06
Better photo of the finished sampler: here
Finally, I got word today that the little baby gift I stitched for Karen and Riley arrived in the UK today - a full three weeks after Mike posted it off to them for me. But, I am so relieved that it has arrived safely! It is a little birth announcement and is just tucked into a tuck away pillow - I have been a bit more adventurous with finishing in the last couple of weeks, though ;-)
Here I Am
SamSarah Designs
36 ct. white edinburgh linen with WDW floss
In tuck away pillow by Olde Colonial Designs
Stitched in August and September 2006, at work
And, after I finished Violet and Lace Sampler I made some pretty good progress on the next pool on Mystery IX....
Daylily: Lighthouse Rose Bouquet (coming down the homestretch - only a few more left that I could name)
Stitched on today: Finished a birthday gift, Violet and Lace Sampler and Mystery IX
Finally, I got word today that the little baby gift I stitched for Karen and Riley arrived in the UK today - a full three weeks after Mike posted it off to them for me. But, I am so relieved that it has arrived safely! It is a little birth announcement and is just tucked into a tuck away pillow - I have been a bit more adventurous with finishing in the last couple of weeks, though ;-)
And, after I finished Violet and Lace Sampler I made some pretty good progress on the next pool on Mystery IX.... 
Daylily: Lighthouse Rose Bouquet (coming down the homestretch - only a few more left that I could name)Stitched on today: Finished a birthday gift, Violet and Lace Sampler and Mystery IX
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Just one band left
Wow, this sampler works up quickly - LOL! I only have one band left and it is finished. I hope Katrina won't mind, but I plan to stitch that band tomorrow. I think I will need the extra day next Thursday to work on M9 Part 10 - the sands are running low in the hour glass this month on that project. The scan I took tonight came out great - until Blogger got ahold of it! Now it is shrunken down and hard really to see all the pretty specialty stitches.If you are looking for a good deal on some standard fabrics, please go to my entry below this from earlier today - let me know if you want any of these fabrics :-)
Daylily: Painter's SplashStitched on today: a gift at work, and Violet and Lace Sampler
Fabrics for Sale
I have another little batch of standard fabrics that I want to sell. I will post them here before I try them on ebay :-)
Shipping is $1.00 in the US - if you are not in the US, let me know and I will get you a very good shipping rate. I accept PayPal, checks, money orders. If you are out of the US, PayPal only. Prices are next to fabric.
25 ct Apricot lugana, 18" x 27" (great for HAED) - $6.00 - sold
28 ct Ivory Jobelan, 9" x 27" - $3.00 - sold
28 ct Natural Light Linen, 18" x 27" - $6.00 - sold
28 ct Prairie Grain Jobelan, 18" x 28" - $7.00 -sold
Please email me (see my profile in my sidebar) or leave me a comment here if you see a fabric you like, thanks!
Shipping is $1.00 in the US - if you are not in the US, let me know and I will get you a very good shipping rate. I accept PayPal, checks, money orders. If you are out of the US, PayPal only. Prices are next to fabric.
25 ct Apricot lugana, 18" x 27" (great for HAED) - $6.00 - sold
28 ct Ivory Jobelan, 9" x 27" - $3.00 - sold
28 ct Natural Light Linen, 18" x 27" - $6.00 - sold
28 ct Prairie Grain Jobelan, 18" x 28" - $7.00 -sold
Please email me (see my profile in my sidebar) or leave me a comment here if you see a fabric you like, thanks!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Just 1/4 Finished
It took me all evening, up to 11:30 PM, but I finished the pool in the corner. So, now I am 1/4 finished with Part 10. The colors on this garden are fantastic. But, since I take my photos at night before I go to bed, you keep seeing photos taken in artificial light with my lacking photography skills - tonight's is quite overexposed again. When this is finished, Mike will take a good photo to share. So... anyhow... I was trying to do some calculations tonight to try to determine a schedule for getting Part 10 finished this month. There are 9 more motifs to finish for Part 10 (ponds and hedges) - initially I figured that would be about 9 more nights to stitch. But, the big pool took two nights to stitch. So that is more like 12 nights still to stitch. OK, something else has to give in order to meet this goal. Angel of Love and Mermaid Heaven will be the first sacrificed this month - they will have to wait. I think Houses of Hawk Run Hollow will (sadly) also see less time. But I really do want to keep up with this mystery each month. What the heck Martina, why is Part 10 so huge? It is bigger than any part was on Medieval Town Mandala... sigh.
Daylily: Grape Ice***I've got no BlogRoll today - I visited their site and it says FATAL ERROR, with a note saying they are working on the problem. So, I am sorry I did not get to visit your blog today...that is where I store your links!
Stitched on today: Gift while at work, and Mystery IX
Most shocking news
I am shocked to learn that the pilot of the small plane that hit the Manhattan high rise at approximately 2:45 PM today belonged to and was piloted by Cory Lidle, pitcher for the New York Yankees. I watched this story unfold for a good hour or more this afternoon before his identity was disclosed. I remain in shock. Cory was flying his small plane home to California from New York after the Yankees were eliminated from post-season play over the weekend. His wife was on a commercial flight heading to California at the same time. Cory had no passengers in his plane, although there were other fatalities (from 1-3 others, depending on what source is read). Apparently, he crashed very shortly after take off with what may have been a fuel problem. My deepest condolences to Cory Lidle's wife and young son. This is a most terrible tragedy. My deepest condolences to the families of the other fatalities, and to those who lost their homes, as well. (photos from www.cnn.com)
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Paradigm Lost SAL Update #???
Here's another update on Paradigm Lost. I stitched one of the motifs over to the left side of the sampler tonight. I only managed to finish it because I stayed up late watching the baseball playoff game. I hope Jo is enjoying this sampler as much as I am. I hope she brings hers up to Celebrations in May so we can look at them together - they should be close to finished then :-) Julia Line really has some lovely geometry in her imagination! I know it won't be long after I finish this sampler before I start either The Token or Mouline Rouge.
I heard some meowing this evening and went to investigate. Here is what I found - Ava taking over Mike's computer chair. I think she was meowing just to brag!It's New DVD Release Tuesday, of course - this week Click - Mike and I had watched this movie at the hotel in Hershey and loved it! Now I can watch it again sometime when I am not so exhausted from travelling!
Daylily: Big Wine - this daylily's bloom is as large as a dinner plate.Stitched on today: Blessings Be Thine at work, another new gift - there are a lot of stitching birthdays right now, so I cannot share it yet... and Paradigm Lost
Monday, October 09, 2006
Columbus Day Holiday
How nice it was to have the day off from work. It was in the 80's F here, and probably the last time for several months. It was nice! And, I worked a bit more tonight on An Emblem of Love. The swan is finally stitched :-)
I received two RAK's in the past week (or more) and forgot to share them. Becky sent me this beautiful Truly Thine chart, one of the retired Loose Feathers Club designs from Blackbird Designs. And, Karen sent me a stunning custom cut of Days Gone By belfast by Silkweaver for Jeannette Douglas's My Stitching Treasures! What lovely gifts, thank you!!!!
Daylily: Swedish GirlStitched on today: An Emblem of Love
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Still working on the pool
Nope, I didn't finish the corner pool. I spent several hours today stitching a gift - which I finished, yay! - but, of course, I cannot show it until it is received. But after that, I did find some time to work on Mystery IX... so, here is some of what the corner pool looks like. I will definitely have to revise my goals and my schedule this month if I am going to finish Part 10 before the end of the month. Those who know me well, which is most of you, know that my OCD is not going to let me not finish this unless some kind of dire circumstances arose. So, time to rethink my goals/schedule. I will keep up with my SALs, though.I am really struggling right now with the onset of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) - this is by no means a major depression, but with the season changing now and the quality of the light we get each day is diminished, my brain chemistry is acting up and leaving me feeling dull and lifeless (sounds like a hair product commercial). So, I hope this will resolve pretty soon! I am pretty tired of feeling so yucky.
I am getting pretty concerned about a package Mike posted for me to Karen two weeks ago last Friday. It should have arrived in the UK several days ago, but there is no sign of it. Mike doesn't recall what service he used, but I always write "Air Mail" on packages, and he says he goes by that. (Mike sends a lot of packages daily for his business, so remembering this one package is close to impossible for him, although he knows he sent it because he has seen the gift - a baby gift for Riley that I stitched up). I really, really hope it arrives soon! I have never lost a package going overseas before, so this is a bit alarming. If it is lost, I will restitch it for her.
Daylily: Night Beacon (I think it was Barbara who asked this a few days ago - yes, Mike did take all of the garden photos himself - he is pretty good with a camera, so very unlike his wife - LOL)Stitched on today: A gift I cannot share yet, and Mystery IX
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Double Header Day
I had some time to stitch earlier today while we were waiting for a call to pick up Mike's car, which was in for some service. I didn't feel like getting M9 out that early and going through the laborious process of getting it set up on the Q-Snaps, only to have to dismantle it when the call came in. I dug through my WIP bag for something small that was not already committed to a certain day... and ended up with Women of the Mayflower :-) I realized today that I need to get more serious about finishing this since I already put the date on the sampler. It is October already - gulp - must get moving on it! 
Later, I did get back to M9. I finished the top pool (minus the beads and center crystal) and stitched the green hedge... I hope that tomorrow while I watch football I can do the corner pool by the hedge. Then, after all of this work, I will be only 1/4 finished with Part 10. I do love how this looks now. It is getting that nice look of finally coming together now, and the colors are just amazing!
I had recently sent a DVD off to Missy - an extra in my collection, and she volunteered to adopt it. Today I got a surprise package from her - she crocheted this sweet dish cloth for me, sent along some pretty threads and a nice variety of tea bags! You may notice the Vanilla Nut Creme Decaf is opened. I drank it right away! There is an autumn chill in the air, and when I was bringing in the mail, I was thinking of making some coffee to warm up. Instead I drank the lovely tea - thanks Missy! You guessed right, I do love tea! My prayers to Missy during this sad time in her life as well - she is such a sweetie :-)I stayed up last night and read the rest of the article on the Haverhill Claw Hammer Murder. Mrs. Ellis did not pass away until March 7, 1931. However, she never regained consciousness in the hospital. It was discovered that one item was missing from the home after the murder - a wrist watch belonging to the victim. A 17-year-old high school student, who was also a paperboy, brought it to the police station. As they interrogated him, his stories kept changing. Initially he said he found it in a snow bank near the home. Not sure how his story changed, but he was charged and convicted with the murder. Very sad. And, that is pretty much what I learned about the murder that took place in my office building some 75 years ago.
Daylily: Mae GrahamStitched on today: Women of the Mayflower and Mystery IX
Friday, October 06, 2006
Working on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
Although I thought for a while today that I would have liked to have used my time tonight on Mystery IX (considering I just cannot see getting Part 10 done easily this month - if at all). But, working on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow as a SAL with Becky on Fridays is meaningful to me. So, I stuck with HOHRH :-) I managed to finally fill in all of the house on Block 3, and started the post for the birdhouse on the left. Hopefully next week I can finish this block and then will get to decide which block to work on next. SALing this with Becky on Fridays is such a good thing - I started HOHRH in January of 2005 and am just approaching 1/3 done - this SAL is keeping me focused on getting this done :-) I will try to figure out other times to get Part 10 of Mystery 9 done instead.OK, I got more info on the "Haverhill Claw Hammer Murder" today. I caught up with my landlords and they gave me a huge file of info on the house and the murder for me to look through and copy. The details of the murder were in there in a very old issue of "True Detective Mysteries." I want to see if I can find this issue on ebay - all I have, though, is that it is a December issue. The magazine, oddly, did not show the year anywhere. It is from the 1930's though. And, I do know what the cover looks like, so I can at least go by that!
I still have to read all of the info I copied, but so far I know this. The victim was Mrs. Clara E.C. Ellis, a society woman who, it turns out, is related to Lucy, my landlady, somehow. The murder was committed on February 26, 1931. It was first considered to have been a suicide. Mrs. Ellis was not yet dead when she was found by one of her servants. She died at the hospital (thus, the house likely is not haunted - at least that is my theory). Figuring out who committed the murder was difficult for the detectives... and that is the part I am up to now, so I will update you as I get more info. I got a lot of emails about this, so I will keep you informed. I plan to read the literature this weekend :-) Oh, the house was also part of the Underground Railroad! This is a seperate bit of history, but was also in the folder. The house was built around 1840, and I have photocopies of several photos of the house during various time periods... the murder, the Underground Railroad era and more recently. It's kind of fun to learn such things about my new office building. Oh, and it appears from what I have read so far that the murderer may have gotten into the house through the door to the sunporch - that door is directly behind my back when I sit at my desk - shiver!!!
Daylily: Bess RossWe are likely to get our first frost tonight... sigh... my geraniums, begonias and nasturtiums will soon die. I dislike this time of year for its killing properties in the garden.
My Kingdom Sampler is back from the framer now - it came out so nice. Mike was too tired to take a good photo of it tonight, so I will ask him to do so tomorrow and will then post it. And, I enjoyed a nice visit with Sue this afternoon too.
Stitched on today: Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
Thursday, October 05, 2006
New SAL with Katrina: Earth Threads' Violet and Lace Sampler
Tonight I started a new project :-) I don't feel badly about this - I managed to stitch the first 10 of only 21 bands just in the one sitting. I figure it will be such a quick stitch that it should not interfere with my huge list of WIPS, right?? I am stitching Violet and Lace Sampler as a SAL with Katrina, and we had decided to do this one together several months ago. Now we finally started it! I don't know how to pace myself with this one as I have not yet seen Katrina's progress. But, knowing her turbo needles, we are probably at about the same point - LOL!! The sampler is being stitched on olive green belfast, but the scanner makes it look more like natural or summer khaki belfast. The colors in this sampler are amazing. I know this has been in my stash since at least 1998. When it came out, TG Silk 'n Colors were not easy to find in shops - and the internet was not a great place for needlework shopping yet. So, I had written to Betsy Stinner, the designer, asking her for help with finding a resource to buy the silks. She sent me plenty of two of the colors for the sampler - I guess I had been able to find a skein of one of the colors before I wrote to her. How sweet is she?? (I adore Betsy and have taken three classes with her at Celebration of Needlework in Nashua, NH - I am sure I will take more, as long as Betsy keeps teaching). The postmark on the envelope with the silks is March 23, 1998. I guess it really is finally time that I stitched this sampler!I found out something interesting yesterday. My landlady at my new office in Haverhill, MA was talking to me, and I made a comment about how lovely the reception area is in the building. The building is a beautiful old blue Victorian house - a huge, huge house that was clearly built for a rich family. Lucy, my landlady, made some comment about the gorgeous spiral staircase outside of my office, and said, "that leads up to the bedroom suite where she was killed." My jaw dropped - "What??" Apparently, there was some relatively famous (at least for the area) murder in the room above my office at some point. My client arrived and I couldn't get more details from Lucy. I hope to get more from her when I go there tomorrow. She said it was the "Haverhill Claw Hammer Murder," but I couldn't find anything on the internet... help Lucy, I am dying to know more!
Daylily: Tom WiseStitched on today: Blessings Be Thine (finally making progress now, but am about to run out of GAST Dried Thyme - the chart calls for one skein, but the project really calls for very close to two skeins - will have to pick up another this weekend at the LNS!!) and Violet and Lace Sampler (second sampler down on the website)
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Starting Part 10 of Mystery IX
Part 10 is huge! I am a bit skeptical right now as to whether or not I can get Part 10 finished this month. Tonight I was able to stitch only part of one of the pools - this one is at top center. It still needs water and some gold before it is finished... then three more of these along the sides, and then four larger pools - one in each corner... and that is not all! Then we also have to stitch a hedge all the way around the border connecting all of these pools... lots and lots of stitching, the inevitable huge part that Martina always adds to her online projects. I hope I can get a bit done on it this weekend, and then maybe that will give me some idea of how this will move along. The pools will be pretty, though. I will certainly do my best to finish this part this month - don't really want to break my long standing record of meeting each monthly goal with Chatelaine projects :-)
Daylily: Mokan BouquetStitched on today: Mystery IX
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Thank You :-) and Paradigm Lost
Thanks for all the sweet words about Mermaids of the Deep Blue! I highly recommend this one as a very fun stitch! What a breeze they were, and the beading... not so bad as it looks! The hardest part about the whole entire project was choosing the right linen! I had to send two fabrics back to Silkweaver and tried a few from Sugar Maple Fabrics before I ended up finding the right one all the way around the world in Australia, at Stitches & Spice :-) I love seeing the fabrics others are using too - all are great! Anyhow - thank you - I love my blogger friends!
It's Paradigm Lost night again. Time to get to work...stitching...again with Jo! I went back to work on that huge, huge motif in the upper right. Maybe next week I will take a break from it and go back to the left side for a bit... I have been working on that big motif for three weeks now - may be time for a break :-)
It's New DVD Release Tuesday again! And Mike has already settled in with a bag of Oreos to watch X-Men: The Last Stand! No, I am nowhere near those Oreos!!
Daylily: Land of Cotton
***The high school many of my teen clients attend is under some kind of "Columbine-like threat" for Thursday! What with the incident in Colorado last week and then the one in Amish Country earlier this week, I guess it is our turn for at least a threat. I know the police are on this, but... Please pray for my kids! Thank you!
Stitched on today: Blessings Be Thine (why is this one taking me so long?? I am lucky if I can even get one leaf stitched when I pick it up each time) and Paradigm Lost
It's Paradigm Lost night again. Time to get to It's New DVD Release Tuesday again! And Mike has already settled in with a bag of Oreos to watch X-Men: The Last Stand! No, I am nowhere near those Oreos!!
Daylily: Land of Cotton***The high school many of my teen clients attend is under some kind of "Columbine-like threat" for Thursday! What with the incident in Colorado last week and then the one in Amish Country earlier this week, I guess it is our turn for at least a threat. I know the police are on this, but... Please pray for my kids! Thank you!
Stitched on today: Blessings Be Thine (why is this one taking me so long?? I am lucky if I can even get one leaf stitched when I pick it up each time) and Paradigm Lost
Monday, October 02, 2006
Mermaids of the Deep Blue is Finished
Since I did not have to work today, I sat myself down, watched some syndicated sitcoms like What I Like About You, Reba, According to Jim, My Wife And Kids, and such... and got all the rest of that beading done. They are done!!!!! This was a fun stitch! Mike took this photo with his digital camera and he captured the color of the linen much better than mine ever has.
So... then I really didn't have a whole lot of time left over to work on An Emblem of Love, so the swan is not stitched yet. Everything in the medallion around the swan is finished, plus another little pinkish heart to the right of the medallion - next week, I really hope to stitch the swan :-) I still adore this project!
I finally took a photo of this incredibly adorable scissor fob that Su made for me. Isn't it cute? My photo is blurry! And, I thought I had done a good job! This fob got some nice compliments at CATS :-) Su also sent me the chart from Shepherd's Bush's St. Peter's Fair, which she must have seen on my Wish List - thanks again Su! (The fob says, "roses grow in a sweet little row" - Su knows me so well!
And, another giftie - Becky must have seen a comment I left somewhere saying that I feel like Charlie Brown since I owned zero needlerolls - she took care of that and sent me this sweet little Halloween one! Now, at last, I do own a needleroll! I need to go and buy a basket for it - it will look a bit lonely in there, but I do believe these are to be displayed in baskets - LOL! Thank you Becky and Su - you are both sooo sweet!Now, I don't want to panic anyone about yesterday's comment about my concerns over two friends suffering losses. I got some very concerned emails - nobody has passed away, nobody is ill, everyone's children are safe... I am just feeling sad over other losses my friends are experiencing. I did not mean to alarm anyone. Sorry about that!!
Stitched on today: Mermaids of the Deep Blue and An Emblem of Love
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Even Sparklier Mermaids...And Goal Review
I beaded for a long, long time today - while watching NASCAR, the New England Patriots, the Red Sox... even Friday's episode of Men in Trees (love that show!) on the DVR... but still not done. I am now down to beading the flippers on their tails and then I will be done! But I have to bead those in hand - the project outgrew my big Q-Snap, and it is too wide to use my Q-Snap with the extenders. I have found beading in hand to take much longer than with the Q-Snap, and they beads do not fall in line as well either. So, it is going to take me a bit of time still to finish. It is the first of the month, so time for my goal review :-)
September Goals:
1. Finish Medieval Town Mandala - yes
2. Finish Part 9 of Mystery IX - yes
3. Work on Paradigm Lost SAL with Jo - yes
4. Work on Mermaids of the Deep Blue - yes
5. Work on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow - yes
6. Work on Bordeaux Sampler SAL with Anne - yes
7. Work on Blessings Be Thine - yes
8. Work on Emblem of Love SAL with Karen - yes
9. Start Violet and Lace Sampler SAL with Katrina - no, we decided to wait until October
10. Work on Women of the Mayflower SAL - yes
11. Finish Veronica's Neighborhood RR and post to Annemarie by the 9/15 posting date - yes, it is safe in The Netherlands now
12. Work on Mermaid Heaven - yes
**Also attended CATS and took 17th C. German Garden class with Liz Turner Diehl, and I revived another UFO - Mermaid and the Sea
October Goals:
1. Finish Part 10 of Mystery IX
2. Finish Mermaids of the Deep Blue
3. Work on Paradigm Lost SAL with Jo
4. Work on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
5. Work on Bordeaux Sampler SAL with Anne
6. Work on Blessings Be Thine
7. Work on Emblem of Love SAL with Karen
8. Start Violet and Lace Sampler SAL with Katrina
9. Work on Women of the Mayflower SAL
10. Work on Dianne's Neighborhood RR - pick charts
11. Work on Mermaid Heaven
12. Work on Angel of Love
13. Work on Mermaid and the Sea
This may be a bit of a tall order for October, as Part 10 of Mystery IX is rather large this month. But it looks like it will be pretty - we get to add some pools to the garden now :-) And speaking of Martina, I think it is wonderful that she submitted a new little mandala garden, Lavender Garden, to this month's issue of The Gift of Stitching Magazine! Not only is it a pretty garden that I now want to stitch, but it is also a wonderful way for stitchers who have been attracted to her designs to get a chance to try a small one out and see how they like it! Great idea! (The whole issue of The Gift of Stitching is wonderful this month - I also love the design from Rosewood Manor!).
It is a bit of a sad day today - I have been praying for two different stitching friends who are dealing now with some losses. I am worried about them both, they are very special to me and two of my friends are very sad tonight, and will be for a while. I am here for them, and I hope that they know it! ;-)
I am two weeks behind on SBQ, have to take a photo of the cute gift from Su, and also of a special RAK from Becky - I will try to get to those SBQ's, and I hope it isn't raining tomorrow so I can go outside and get relatively decent photos of my gifties to share!
Daylily: Indy Waltz TimeStitched on today: Mermaids of the Deep Blue
**********I don't know about the rest of you, but my Blogrolling is virtually empty - I figured folks were being quiet - turns out I have been missing out on a lot of good posts by my friends! Sorry I have been absent - Blogrolling tricked me!!!!
