Barnabee's Quest is Finished

All finished now - added the beads and charms this afternoon (it's my 26th finish of the year, but only the first that I am keeping for myself - I think...):

Barnabee's Quest
Just Nan
White Cashel linen, DMC floss, Kreinik #4 braids
Stitched 2/1/07 - 3/26/07

I am continuing to do my best to devote my Monday evenings to Houses of Hawk Run Hollow, and tonight I finished up House Block 2, and started House Block 1. Now I need to print out another page of graph paper off of the internet and graph out the personalization that goes on the next line. My name is much longer than the name on the chart, plus 2007 (or 2008 or even 2009) will be wider than 1831, the date on the chart. So I will need to leave room for the wider year as well.

I heard from Cindy today that a wee little birthday gift that I made for her arrived - you're welcome Cindy, I loved stitching this fancy little C for you:

Deco Alphabet "C" Fob
Passione Ricamo
40 ct lambswool linen
DMC Color Variations #4210, Radiant Ruby
Stitched 3/21/07 - 3/22/07

Stitched on today: Barnabee's Quest, Houses of Hawk Run Hollow, and stitched on an exchange project

Christmas Ornament SAL Weekend

I realized this morning that this is Christmas Ornament SAL weekend already! So... I did this...

ABC Santa
Prairie Schooler
32 ct Sage Jobelan
DMC floss
Stitched 3/25/07

And... I finished up the stitching on Barnabee's Quest tonight. As I recently mentioned, I really want to finish so I can start a new SAL (although, that feels like it is up in the air right now, we'll see...).... I just have the beading and charms to add, and I will probably do that tomorrow.

I am so far behind in reading blogs right now - I am so sorry if I have not commented in your blog lately - I will catch up :-)

Stitched on today: ABC Santa, and Barnabee's Quest

Barnabee Update

This portion of Barnabee's Quest moved along rather quickly tonight, and now I am thinking that I would really like to finish it up quickly so that I can start Lanarte's Spring Ride SAL with Karen C. as soon as possible. I have enjoyed every minute of this SAL, but will also be glad to finish it and finally start Spring Ride. I am so frustrated with myself, though, for starting too low on my fabric. I will have to give some real thought to how I will be able to finish this off. I think I can technically still get it framed, but I am not used to leaving such a small margin at the bottom.

I forgot to mention yesterday that I received my confirmation from Celebration for the Catherine Strickler class and for my membership for this year. Good to have that finalized now :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on an exchange project, and Barnabee's Quest

Little Ducks & Big News for Newman

Ryan Newman is on the pole for the race in Atlanta on Sunday!!! First time in 21 tries - is my driver finally making a comeback? I can hope! (As a big Red Sox fan, one might think I would be a big Roush-Fenway fan, but no - it is all Newman for me!)

Barnabee's Quest has now outgrown my scanner. I worked away on it for quite a bit tonight. I made a mistake though. When I put this down last Friday, I had stitched up through the first caterpillar and left a needle threaded with DMC 520 in the fabric. Tonight, I started with caterpillar two, a bit distracted by watching NASCAR Qualifying, and I forgot that the middle caterpillar is supposed to be stitched in DMC 522. I am not going to fix this mistake. I don't think it makes any consequence to the finished effect, and it makes it my own, right? Also, an uh-oh. I started further down on my linen than I should have. I think the whole sampler will fit, but not with the allowance at the bottom that I had wanted. Can't say this is the first time I have ever done that!

I heard from Julie today that she received my birthday gift for her. Julie has been so good to me, and is such a lovely woman. Her birthday is early next week, and I am so happy she likes this wee tiny little fob - which counts as freebie #3 for the Freebie Challenge on the FGBB as well:

A Bee C Fob

Glory Bee

40 ct Lambswool Linen

Gentle Art Sampler Threads

Stitched 3/12/07

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It's snowing, as was forecasted. Plenty of it, sigh... where is spring??....I hope to finish up Rachael's Neighborhood RR tomorrow and get it off to Annemarie in Monday's mail - I am never late mailing RR's, but I miscalculated with this one - I had no idea the blocks were so big and would take so long to fill.

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Stitched on today: Finished a gift, and Barnabee's Quest

On To Part III

Ooops! Crooked! Sorry! This is, I think, Week 6 of the Barnabee's Quest SAL. I moved on to Part III tonight. Caterpillars time! It was a super busy night here at our house (the car sale, getting it prepared for its trip to Iceland... so much to do!) - my stitching time was a bit more limited, but here is where I am at now...

Thank you for all of the nice comments on the biscornu yesterday - I agree, its lacy, not "old ladyish" :-)

Ah, finally the weekend and finally some warmer temps are due in here starting tomorrow! This has been quite a week of arctic temps around here. And, can you believe Daylight Savings Time actually starts on Sunday here??

I hope all of my friends are feeling well ;-) I am thinking of you!

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and Barnabee's Quest

Barnabee Update

It's Friday - Barnabee's Quest night. I love the rabbit that I got to stitch tonight. Not sure about the ants though - how many times does a stitcher stitch ants in her/his lifetime, right? These might be my first :-) Anyhow, almost through Part II now.

I heard from Nicki today that she has received and opened up my little birthday gift for her - I am so glad that you like it Nicki, because I really had fun stitching this for you. I stitched it a lot at work, and many of my clients really enjoyed commenting on this one:

Too Tiny Too Fob

The Drawn Thread

40 ct lambswool linen

DMC floss

Stitched 2/19/07 - 2/23/07

************************************************************** Barbara - I will post a photo of The Mermaid and the Sea for you tomorrow :-)*************************************

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and Barnabee's Quest

Barnabee's Quest Update

Here is this week's progress on Barnabee's Quest... violets (over one, but over one stitching is fun on 28 ct, unlike on 40 ct - LOL), lilies and irises... this sampler has me longing for my garden to start coming up... another month or so before the daffodils will begin to emerge, I believe. Depends on the weather, I suppose. I think I made it to about the half way point on Barnabee tonight. I would like to have this done in time to start a new SAL at the start of April (Spring Ride with Karen C.).

Today was Jenn's birthday - I figure she has opened her gifts by now. I haven't heard from her, but I know she received my package a few days ago. I sent her a pretty pair of Gingher Amanda Designer Scissors, a chart with embellishments off of her wishlist, and my first ever needlebook (which I am pretty proud of - it gave me its share of stress while putting it together, though that was just my self doubts). I know Jenn likes Irish things, so I chose this design:

Front of the needlebook... back is below....

Irish Blessing Needlebooke

The Sampler Girl

Sugar Maple Fabric Loch Cashel Linen

DMC floss

Stitched 2/11/07 - 2/14/07

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Stitched on today: Finished a gift, and Barnabee's Quest

Barnabee Part 1 is finished

Tonight was week three of the Barnabee's Quest SAL. I finished up Part 1 and made a start on Part 2. I love the colors in this sampler, and Nan went as far as to do a fun description of what Barnabee is doing in each band, so she keeps us entertained a bit. I felt like I could have stitched for a little bit longer tonight, but now I am up to over one stitching and backstitching with fractional stitches... so, put the pencils down and close the test booklets... done for the night! Will get to those next week, am too tired tonight for over one stitching.

Let the weekend begin! Let's try to melt some snow now!

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, Barnabee's Quest

Barnabee's Quest, Week 2

I've chosen Friday nights now to stitch on the Barnabee's Quest SAL. I think I have more time on Friday nights than on most nights, and tonight I got almost to Part 2 (key word, almost) - it's fun, and hard to put down!

****Neighborhood Round Robin Group 3: I will be organizing this one this weekend! It was a hectic work week, and now that the weekend is finally here, I will make time to do the headcount and email all of you with some details - thanks for your patience!

Also, thank you to the 4 ladies who signed up for my PIF :-) There is one more opening if anyone wants it, or I will just RAK some unsuspecting person instead :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and Barnabee's Quest

New SAL: Barnabee's Quest

With the start of a new month, there is also the start of a brand new SAL. This one is Just Nan's Barnabee's Quest, and if I remember correctly the participants are Michelle, Jenna, Leslie, Nicole and Andrea :-) Here is bands 1-3, plus some of the outer border. Nan's instructions say to stitch the outer border first. However, I could not find any technical reason why this was necessary. I started with the specialty stitch band at the top instead and eventually added in some of the border. I thought just doing the border for a while might get boring - but it turns out that this border is quick and easy, not boring anyhow. Also, I noticed after the fact that Nan says not to cross the quarter stitches atop the beeskep. I crossed mine. I didn't care for how they looked uncrossed - they just looked "wrong" to me. It was hard to put this one down tonight. Nan's samplers are always such fun to stitch. It was also great to start a project that has been in my stash for a long time now... 2001. I won't be able to stick to doing this one on Thursdays, though. I have another SAL starting tomorrow and will be doing that one Thursdays as of next week. I don't know if any of the ladies in this SAL want to join me in stitching this on another day - I have Monday and Friday open.

Goal Review Time:
January Goals:
1. Work on And A Forest Grew -yes
2. Start Long Dog Mystery Sampler -yes
3. Work on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow -yes
4. Stitch some gifts -yes, stitched five
5. Work on Paradigm Lost SAL with Jo -yes
6. Work on Bordeaux Sampler SAL with Anne and Leslie -yes
7. Stitch and post Dianne's Neighborhood RR -yes, it is safe with Annemarie now
***I also worked on The Mermaid and the Sea, resurrected Gathering Eggs and stitched an ornament for the new Christmas Ornament SAL***

February Goals:
1. Start Barnabee's Quest SAL
2. Start Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace SAL
3. Work on And A Forest Grew
4. Work on 18th Century Band Sampler
5. Work on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
6. Stitch some gifts
7. Work on Paradigm Lost SAL
8. Work on Bordeaux Sampler SAL
9. Work on Rachael's Neighborhood RR
10. Stitch an ornament for the Ornament SAL
11. Work on The Mermaid and the Sea
12. Work on Gathering Eggs

Stitched on today: The Mermaid and the Sea, Barnabee's Quest