And A Forest Grew is Finished

And here it is... This was a really fun stitch, and I know I will miss it next week when Saturday rolls around again. Now it goes to the framing pile. (Click for larger picture)...

And A Forest Grew
Rosewood Manor
Lakeside Linens 40 ct Navy Bean Linen, DMC Floss
Stitched 12/29/06 - 10/27/07

I heard today that Marika has received the little birthday gift that I sent off to her:

Nature's Alphabet "M" Fob
Elizabeth's Designs
Silkweaver Belfast Solo Linen, DMC Floss

I was busy doing some finishing work today - it was actually a very productive day for me, thanks to rain (not a good day to go outside and rake leaves) - along with And A Forest Grew, I also finished my Harvest Time Exchange and a PIF gift... While working on the finishing of one of those (not telling which! - both recipients read my blog regularly, so I don't want to tip them off with these materials in the photo), Lily decided she would help me out. She spent our time together lying on the batting material. I got this photo of her while I was cleaning up, so she sat up... aw, thanks for the help, Lily!!

***If any of you are still looking for Gingher Bianca scissors, it turns out Mike was the first to get any Biancas up on ebay and they sold out - mostly by one buyer :-( He has another order in and they will be here in about a week. Special low prices for any size (4", 5" or 8") if you order directly through my blog. Just email me to let me know what you want. I just want to doublecheck the prices with Mike. The Biancas are so pretty - peach with colorful flowers :-)

Stitched on today: Finished Harvest Time Exchange, finished a PIF gift, and finished And A Forest Grew

Plenty to show....

I finally have some things to show today, other than And A Forest Grew or Victoria's Quaker :-) Annemarie received a parcel that I sent off to her on Monday (she is well, by the way, and I am sure will be blogging again quite soon). Inside the parcel were a few items. Her birthday is next week, and I stitched this for her: (***the chart for this needleroll is now available for adoption by the first stitcher who leaves a comment requesting it) ADOPTED -
November Birthday Needleroll
Victoria Sampler
28 ct White Evenweave, DMC Floss, DMC Perle Cotton, Kreinik #4 Braids

And, also in her package, along with Erin's Round Robin, were my Fair and Square blocks for her. An has more coffee than blood running in her veins, so I could not resist stitching these:

Coffee Crazy!!
Lizzie Kate
Antique White Belfast, Weeks Dye Works Floss

And, oh my gosh! I just realized that I was so tired from watching the World Series last night when I blogged that I totally forgot to post this photo of this sweet Crazy Exchange return exchange that I received from Sherry yesterday. Isn't it adorable?? I just love it - thanks Sherry! (And I am so sorry I was so braindead last night that I forgot to put up a photo!!). And finally, I do have another update of And A Forest Grew... I think I have one more night left on it (yep, that should be tomorrow) - just one more big tree, two tiny trees, two backstitched bird outlines and my initials and year are left! I have really loved working on this one! And I love seeing how many other ones are being stitched in the blogosphere :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on PIF gift, stitched on Harvest Time Exchange, and And A Forest Grew

Staying with the forest...and want Gingher Biancas??

I stayed with the forest tonight. Thank you all for the wonderful encouragement to keep with it. That motivated me, and I was excited to pick it up again tonight. The broad leafed tree took a lot longer than I thought it would. The rest that is left looks like smooth sailing!

Is anyone interested in the new Gingher Bianca scissors? Mike has the 4", 5" and 8" ones now. Let me know!!

Stitched on today: Started a PIF gift, stitched on Harvest Time Exchange, and And A Forest Grew

Almost a forest now

Almost there... while watching baseball tonight, I decided to work on And A Forest Grew again instead of starting Deb's round robin. Wow, it is really getting close now! I feel motivated to pick it up often now and just get it done! Someone asked recently if I am using one strand or two of floss. I don't recall who and think it was someone who did not leave an email. I am using 40 ct linen, and therefore am using only one strand of DMC :-)

Thanks for all the well wishes! So far, I think my choice was correct ;-)

Stitched on today: Harvest Time Exchange project, and And A Forest Grew

Crazy Exchanges

Wow, Simone has already received the return gift that I sent to her for the Crazy Exchange! I finished off one of the Christmas ornaments I had stitched earlier in the year, as Simone noted that she likes Christmas ornaments in traditional red, white and green... and also sent her some holiday fibers too. After all, the season is quickly approaching!!
Merry Christmas
Glory Bee
28 ct Natural Quaker Linen, GAST Floss

And, today I received this sweet little frog Altoid tin as an exchange gift from Cynthia! Aw, thanks Cynthia :-)

This week's update of And A Forest Grew now brings me to the very last page! Very exciting!!!

Ava's lip is a bit less swollen today :-)

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, started Fair & Square for An, and And A Forest Grew

PIF for Jenna, and a sick kitty...

I heard from Jenna that she has received the PIF that I sent to her earlier in the week :-) I am finally trying to catch up on all of my backed up PIF gifts, and Jenna is from my original PIF list that goes back some months now... what a relief to have hers done, mailed and received now! I have another one out in the mail, and will do my very best to catch up on them all soon! I have been in a Halloween mood lately, and was glad to learn that Jenna seems to like Halloween enough to even decorate her cubicle at work - LOL!

The Spooks Are Out! Pinkeep
Waxing Moon Designs
32 ct Driftwood Linen, Weeks Dye Works Floss

Tonight was a hectic night at our house. We discovered that our little cat, Ava, age 4 (as of 10/1, which I had totally forgotten until yesterday!), has a sore/ulcer on her upper lip in the center below her nose, and it has spread a little inside her lip as well...

...So,after researching this online, Mike and I got concerned and I took her to the emergency vet: the same place I got to know so well when Angus was so very ill last Christmas. The diagnosis I found online was the one the vet gave her. Ava has rodent virus , which sounds so terrible but actually has nothing at all to do with rodents - I would type its medical term if I could spell it.... Anyhow, Ava has been very talkative lately and we thought she might be in heat. Wrong, she was in pain. Poor baby. I discovered it when I went to brush her teeth tonight (she woke me up this morning with the most terrible breath in my face...). The vet gave her antibiotics and pain killers, but Ava will now need to see her regular vet this coming week for follow up. This can be an annoying, stubborn, repetitive issue for her. So far, we do not see any signs of it in our other five cats (whew!!). She will probably need cortisone in order to heal. She was very anxious at the vet. She growled the entire time she was there. I had never even heard her growl before, and none of my cats have ever growled at the vet. Since she got home, she has been clinging to me, curled up against me in my stitching chair while I tried to stitch. I just took this photo, taken in my stitching chair still. She was super hard to photograph, but in this shot you can see the red bump on her upper lip. My poor baby, she is miserable, but I think the pain killer drops we had to put under her tongue are kicking in a little now.

Here is what I did manage to get done on And A Forest Grew tonight... really getting there now :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and And A Forest Grew

Halloween Exchange from Chris

I received the USEBB Halloween Exchange from Chris today :-)
Chris stitched me this really neat cube using a Hinzeit design. I love how it is so elegant and delicate... yet is still Halloween and still says Boo! She did a lovely job on it!!

And here are all the wonderful goodies she sent me - so generous! Chris sent me some adorable fabric, some spooky ribbon, some Halloweeny Weeks Dye Works floss, a cute ghost button, a sweet porcelain ghost and some whimsical ghost notepaper... all packed into a super cute felt jack-o-lantern tote! Thank you Chris, I love it all!!! This is the second exchange I have received from Chris in as many months. She has totally spoiled me, and I hope to get her name for an exchange so that I can spoil her back!

And, tonight's forest progress is... four birds, a tree, a rabbit and a bee!

I haven't been blogging about this, as it is not my style to - but since I am getting so many "where are you, how are you?" emails, I will share that I am just a bit under the weather with what looks like a virus - bad headaches, very sore throat, sinus pressure and nausea (which is abating). I have been stitching, but barely on the internet/computer at all. I am feeling a bit better today, so hopefully I will be in touch again soon! Thanks for all the sweet emails!

Stitched on today: Finished Crazy Exchange project, and And A Forest Grew

Autumn Quaker Exchange from Becky

I was absolutely spoiled today! The mailman delivered my USEBB Autumn Quaker Exchange, and it was from dear Becky!! Becky stitched me two really beautiful items - a pinkeep and trinket box! They are so beautiful and so perfect! My bedroom is decorated in autumn tones, and both are in there now on my bureau, looking just fantastic! And... Becky sent me The Proper Stitch off of my Wish List! I am speechless. I don't even know how to thank her properly for her generosity! I had it on my wishlist figuring that my DH might one day order it for me. I never expected to receive it in an exchange! Oh gosh! And, she sent me a trousse pattern she knew I adored, plus two really adorable Halloween tuck pillows! I have already emailed Becky privately, but again say, Oh thank you Becky!!
And, in the exchange package, Becky also put in my Neighborhood Round Robin! isn't it just beautiful? Next week I will be posting it off to Rachael, to stitch the last block. I will add either a rose garden or another design in the middle to tie it all together when it comes home for the last time :-)


While watching the baseball playoffs begin tonight, I decided to work on And A Forest Grew again... it brought me one night closer to the finish :-)

Stitched on today: Finished USEBB Halloween Exchange project, and And A Forest Grew

Update Pic of my RR :-)

I received this photo a little while back, and I keep forgetting to post it! This is the block that Becky stitched for me this month on my original Neighborhood Round Robin. She volunteered to stitch the block that was left vacant when one of the stitchers in the group had dropped out. Isn't it sweet?? Thanks Becky! One last stitcher to go now!

Back to the forest tonight... wow, I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel with this one now! I am going to stay up a bit longer, but decided just to post this progress for now as I feel like starting my USEBB Halloween Exchange project before I go to bed.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Stitched on today: Finished SBEBB Halloween Exchange project, And A Forest Grew, and started USEBB Halloween Exchange project **Sent off Autumn Quaker Exchange today **Sent Bine's RR to Nikki today

Crazy Exchange for Cynthia

I heard the good news today that Cynthia has received my little Crazy Exchange - this is a fun little group that runs differently from most of the other blogger exchanges.... and is always open to new members if you want to join... I sent this little fob to Cynthia, a group member who lives a mere 20-30 minutes away from me - I couldn't resist choosing my neighbor as my next exchange person! Since Autumn has just started here in the northern hemisphere, I chose this for her:

Fall Fob
Trail Creek Farm
Dirty Belfast Linen, GAST, Weeks Dye Works Floss

I spent a while today starting my return exchange for Susan, who sent me a sweet quilted needlebook for Crazy Exchange (see August 27, 2007 entry in my blog). Then I found time to do what I always do on Saturdays - add some more to the forest (And A Forest Grew). I was able to add a few smaller motifs and another good sized tree (maybe a peach or grapefruit tree?). I also think I may have found a motif or two on this tonight that I can add to the landscaping on Bine's RR :-) I am getting closer and closer now to that right side edge, which is the end of the sampler!

There have been a few questions of late asking how Angus is doing. He appears to continue to do well! He was able to eat a bit of dry kibble tonight (the other cats whine for it, so sometimes we give in and put a little out, despite the fact that the vet does not want Angus eating it - he adores it so much!!). We do try to keep that to an extreme minimum, but as a result, he is a happy cat right now. Here is he is resting, as usual, with his catnip bag nearby. He is right here by my computer just now as I took the photo.

Stitched on today: Started return exchange project for Susan (Crazy Exchange) and And A Forest Grew

AAFG

Just a quick entry tonight to show the little bit (well, four motifs is not so little) that I did on And A Forest Grew tonight. I was good today and finished all of my "homework" that I brought home, and stitched 3/4 of my Grateful Hearts exchange project too :-)

Thanks for all the comments - yes, Bine's RR layout is wonderful! I might do that someday too, if I can find a piece of linen long enough :-)

Oh, and here is a cute Halloween Freebie link for you from The Cricket Collection - enjoy!

Stitched on today: Started Grateful Hearts Exchange project, and And A Forest Grew

Finally... a new update for the Forest

Finally, I have finished the tree to the right of the big tree - lots of starting and stopping on those leaves :-) I am well into Section 12 now, and just peeked and saw there are only 14 sections in total. Wow, I am really near the end. Only a couple of medium/big trees left now.

I am keeping this short. My right hand is so cramped up. Typing is uncomfortable. I think this is from doing so much paperwork at the office lately ;-)

Thank you Becky and Vonna for the lovely email chats today. You two are such good friends and you are both very REAL, which I just love!

Stitched on today: Fair & Square blocks, and And A Forest Grew

Pretty Ginghers... and Goals

I got some pretty new Ginghers today! Meet Ashley! Ashley is Joann Fabrics' latest Gingher exclusive. I was in Joann's today just to buy a patch for a pair of jeans, and there they were... and on sale :-) Aren't they pretty? They are similar to Julias but in a lilac/purple/rose range :-)

Stitching wise, really not a lot to share. I had to rip out the leaves on the tree I started when I realized that what I thought was one symbol was really two different ones. Oh well, will fix that next week!

Goals Review!!
August Goals:
1. Continue to work on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow -yes
2. Continue to work on Victoria's Quaker -yes
3. Continue to work on Mermaid Heaven -no
4. Continue to work on Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace -yes
5. Finish Annemarie's Neighborhood Round Robin and send it home to her -yes
6. Continue to work on And A Forest Grew -yes
7. Continue to work on Spring Ride SAL -yes
8. Stitch and post What's The Buzz? Exchange (SBEBB) by August 31 -yes, and Becky has received it
9. Stitch and post Redwork Exchange (USEBB) by August 31 -yes, and Amy has received it
10. Stitch and be ready to post Quaker Alphabet Exchange (SBEBB) by Sept 1 -yes
11. Stitch some gifts -yes, I stitched six gifts this month
12. Stitch an ornament for the Christmas Ornament SAL -no
13. Stitch and send off Summer Seasonal Exchange -yes, and Myrna has received it
14. Stitch and send off Fair and Square to Wendy B. -no, not yet
15. Work on Cathy's Neighborhood RR (Group 3) -yes

September Goals:
1. Continue to work on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
2. Continue to work on Victoria's Quaker
3. Continue to work on Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace
4. Continue to work on And A Forest Grew
5. Continue to work on Spring Ride
6. Finish Cathy's Neighborhood RR (Group 3) and send it to An by 9/15
7. Finish Sabine's Neighborhood RR (Group 1) and send it to Nikki by 10/1
8. Stitch some gifts, including at least one PIF
9. Stitch return exchange for Susan (crazy exchange)
10. Stitch and send off Harvest House Exchange by 9/15
11. Stitch and send off Grateful Hearts Exchange by 9/24
12. Stitch and send off Fair and Square to Wendy by 9/7

What a joy it was to watch Clay Buchholz of the Boston Red Sox throw a no-hitter tonight - age 22 and only his second start in the major league. No matter what team you cheer for, or whether you don't even follow or like baseball, it is hard to ignore that that is some feat! Very cool!!

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and And a Forest Grew

A Big Tree

I reached a milestone tonight on And A Forest Grew. I finished up the big center tree and all of the verse. Now it is downhill, or rather, smooth sailing, from here!

I have been asked if 18th C. Band Sampler, aka Long Dog Mystery Sampler, is still in my rotation. Yes, in a sense, it is. However, round robins are eating up a lot of time right now, as are exchanges and gifts... so I have not been able to fit it in for a while now... but I have not quit on it, that's for sure :-)

Stitched on today: Finished Crazy Exchange project, and And A Forest Grew

AAFG

It's a busy weekend, but I did find time tonight to work for a bit on And A Forest Grew :-) Now, to find time to catch up on blogs... sigh...

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! The weather is so beautiful here!

Stitched on today: Started Seasonal Exchangers project, and And A Forest Grew

Congratulations Isabelle and Sebastien!

Like many of you, my thoughts have been with Isabelle and Sebastien today! I cannot wait to see wedding photos :-) I am so happy for them and wish them a long and joyful marriage.
I received a beautiful package from my dear friend Sonya today. She stitched me this amazing little pillow, and sent me some small cuts of some really pretty fabrics, some bellpull hardware (nice!!) and a skein of WDW. She stitches so beautifully - thank you Sonya!! And the Serenity sampler behind the gifts is from Margaret. Margaret and I have grown to be such good friends through our annual trips to Celebration each May :-) She sent me a chart I have wanted for the longest time - and sent the fibers too! I adore it, thank you Margaret! I hope to stitch this one up once Victoria's Quaker is finished! I also received a chart off of my wishlist from Leslie a couple of days ago, but since I blog so late at night, I often forget important things - and I sure did this time! Thank you so much Leslie!!! I love it! **If you have not visited Leslie's blog lately, there is a treat there for you - a pregnant photo! Leslie looks so cute!
And, of course, an update of And A Forest Grew. I didn't realize until I was almost done with the tree I stitched tonight that it is the apple tree from Eden with the snake twisting up the trunk. How cool is that?? Not much to show tonight - we went to my MIL's for brunch today and spent time with her and Mike's uncle who is quite ill from cancer right now :-( Later in the day, I finished a little gift (sadly, not Isabelle's yet!!) and then found time for AAFG... Even with brief stitching time on it tonight, that was further reduced by three visits from Gig tonight demanding lap time!
Rocket City

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, and And A Forest Grew

Overwhelmed

I am now officially feeling overwhelmed by the generous outpouring from my dear stitching friends. I don't even know what to say, my chin keeps dropping to the floor. I say thank you to each of you... I am used to being a giver, and now it is time to receive a bit, and I just don't know how to handle the emotion. The mailman brought more lovely parcels today. Above is a parcel from Michelle :-) Michelle stitched this beautiful needleminder for me using a portion of Sarah Moon! Isn't it gorgeous?? She also sent me the PR fairy chart too! Thank you Michelle! I already have put this pretty needleminder to use - and thank you too for telling me how to use it - LOL!!

And, Kajsa sent me Beaded Rose, a Just Nan chartpack that I actually didn't already own! Yay! I love the design - thank you Kajsa!!! (The answer to the riddle on the card is... Mice Crispies!!) Cute!!

The outpouring of generosity surely did not stop there, as I also received this adorable little pillow stitched by Amy! I am just so impressed by this. For those who do not know Amy, she is only 8 years old. How cool is this? Thanks Amy - you are a little doll!

Today started off rainy and I figured this would be a wonderful day to get some real stitching time! But, the rain did not last long. After a brief thunderstorm, the skies cleared and the temps soared again. Off we went on errands and such... and stitching did not happen until this evening. But when it did, I was able to manage some decent time again on And A Forest Grew. I have now completed all of the full motifs in Section 10, and onward next week to Section 11!!

I will end with a cheerful daylily. This photo was taken in my garden earlier in the week. It is called Love Those Eyes.

Stitched on today: And A Forest Grew

And A Forest Grew...and Thank You Claudia!!!

It is another Saturday, and another And A Forest Grew update! I am getting pretty close to the bottom center now!!!

Thank you Claudia! I received a total surprise, and a real treat, in my mailbox today! Claudia recently stitched LHN/CC's Pineapples, saw it in my wishlist and sent me her chart and left over floss! Oh, you are so sweet!!! Thank you!!

I did bring several pieces in for framing today... but the list is a bit different from what I posted last night... in about two weeks, I should have them. Mike is doing this as part of my birthday gift... I dropped off Paradigm Lost, An Emblem of Love, Mermaids of the Deep Blue, Medieval Town Mandala and Catch the Wind (I stitched Catch the Wind close to ten years ago - and finally, it is getting framed!!). Now the challenge will be to figure out where I want to hang each of these!!

Stitched on today: Finished my needleroll for the Needleroll Exchange, and And A Forest Grew ***and, posted Karen's Neighborhood Round Robin off to Nicole this morning :-)

The Forest is Growing

I enjoyed some time with And A Forest Grew again tonight. I was on Section 9 for really the longest time, and I officially have completed that page as of tonight and made a good dent in Section 10! I also decided on something from And A Forest Grew that I wanted to add to Karen's Neighborhood Round Robin, and I took the time to do that tonight too - I might add some more soon ;-)

I took another very large number of garden photos today, however am just too tired to download them all tonight. I will do that soon and share a few :-)

Stitched on today: And A Forest Grew, and Karen's Neighborhood Round Robin

The Forest

I feel like I have been working this same corner of And A Forest Grew for some time now. But then again, I have not stitched on this since June 16th - that surprised me! I am glad to have it going again and I made some good progress. As you can see, that tree no longer looks like a coat rack at all!

I am really excited about this!! In the summer of 2001, when we bought this house, Mike planted some grapes. They have grown strong and healthy every year, but have never produced fruit. Today, during my garden stroll, I came across this... our first signs of fruit!

And... while also in the garden, I took many photos. Here is a small sampling. The first daylily is Always Afternoon. The other two, I really cannot recall...

Stitched on today: Finished Freebie Exchange project, and And A Forest Grew