Dawn is Back Again

It's about time - I pulled Dawn back out again today. And I just realized by my photo file that this is only the second appearance of Dawn in 2008. What a shame. I finished her other lower wing and a bit of the bottom of her dress. I hope to get more reliable with her again now that I realize how long it has been (January 11th, I think it said...).

Dawn is not the only thing that is back - my stomach bug from last Wednesday made a return today... I owe a ton of email replies but couldn't bring myself to sit at the computer much today - hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace **Mailed out HoE Biscornu Exchange replacement exchange today

Dawn's Wings

It has been easy to choose other projects over Dawn lately. It is the wings. The wings really are not fun (at least, not to me). But tonight I decided that it was time to take them on again. After all, I really want to finish this one relatively soon. Once I got going, it was OK. I have most of the lower wing on her left done now.

Stitched on today: Finished Winter Quaker Exchange, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

Dawn is Back

Thank you all so much for your well wishes! Some of you gave me some good ideas for easy ways to treat sinusitis, and I appreciate those. My sinuses do feel better today, but now I am struggling with general malaise - sore muscles, fatigue, sore throat... hmmm.... a virus? flu?? I was going to start an ornament tonight, but when I realized I needed to go upstairs and rummage around for floss for it, which could take about 20 minutes, I ditched the idea and grabbed something from my WIP drawer... Dawn :-) Here is more of the slooooow progress on her wings.

Snow, snow, snow - we have plenty coming tomorrow around the time of the evening commute, and then a whole ton more of it on Saturday night... all before the Winter Solstice has even arrived. Oh my.... Some more Christmas shopping is left for me to do - just hope I can find one snow free day left to get it done!

Stitched on today: Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace **Mailed out two gifts today

Eye of the Needle Exchange for Nancy

I heard tonight that Nancy has received the Eye of the Needle Exchange that I sent her last weekend. I had to take some guesses, as I could not get a good reading on Nancy's tastes. But according to her note, I did OK. Like many of us, she is also a Mary Garry fan. I figured I was safe with using a Mary Garry design :-) I am glad you are pleased Nancy!
Sew With Kindness Pinkeep
Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin
30 ct Natural Linen, GAST Floss

This time I also remembered to take a photo of the entire exchange before I packed it up. I sent bits of this and that, in hopes that some items would appeal to Nancy - she says I did very well with that - phew! I sent her hand dyed fabric by Sugar Maple Fabrics, a pair of Gingher stork scissors (classic design, seemed to suit the love of needlework theme for this exchange), a small kit by Victoria Sampler that will make a pretty pinkeep/pincushion/sachet(?), some pretty cotton fabric for finishing, an autumnal candle tart, and a copy of the chart (it is an old freebie, and I figured she would enjoy it). I am glad this exchange worked out well for Nancy :-)

Dawn was back out again tonight. Thanks for all of the wonderful comments about her. She truly is a beauty, and I am so happy that several of you are saying you feel inspired to stitch her! Tonight I finished the bottom half of her wing on the right side (except for some backstitching...), added a bit to other parts of her wings, and gave her the outline of her face/facial features and her arms. She is coming to life now! There is still quite a ways to go with her, though.

Oh.... and wait until you see! I received an amazing package from a wonderful stitcher today! It was already dark out (and rainy) when I got home today, so I will take a nice daylight photo of it tomorrow and share it with you then - this is something special, and I cannot wait to show you!

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, stitched on a gift, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

It's Dawn's turn again...

I noticed tonight that my current list of projects in my rotation is getting slim, mostly because I really need to finish gifts and exchanges. Also I figure it would be best to get as much done as I can on what I do currently have in my rotation. Make sense? I think so. So, I took Dawn out again tonight - worked on those wings! Oh, those wings! Lots of color changes in those :-)

I have found that I have a very increased work load right now, and I am again very far behind in blog commenting (I have been reading, though), as well as in email responding. I feel badly about that. Yet, I am in awe of those of you who visit regularly and even leave comments despite the fact that I only leave a few here and there, as I can... thank you. I appreciate your words so very much. And, I shall continue to try to visit yours as often as I can... and to comment. You are so wonderful.

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace **Mailed Deb's Neighborhood Round Robin to Nikki today

Autumn Exchange for Myrna & New Mirabilia Sighting

Myrna has received the Autumn Exchange that I made for her. Myrna is my partner in the Seasonal Exchangers group, a by invitation only group in which we send one exchange per season to one stitcher. I was not at all thrilled with how the cording came together on my box, but gracious Myrna tells me she is pleased. Isn't she sweet? I don't think I will choose these boxes that have an inset in them again. I prefer the flat top ones like the Wee Autumn one I made a week ago. It allows for wrapping the trim around the side of the box and not the top - better for finishing off the ends ;-) Myrna will have a photo in her blog in a day or two of the rest of the exchange that I sent to her...

Acorns and Owls Box
Blue Ribbon Designs
Silkweaver 36 ct French Vanilla Swirl Linen, GAST Floss

It was time to take Dawn out again tonight. I had to pull a bit of my stitching out though - I used the wrong color braid blended with DMC... a little messy to pull out. But there is at least some progress with her this week.

And... a Mirabilia sighting! I received the January 2008 issue of Cross-Stitch & Needlework Magazine today. This is usually a poor quality magazine. Despite their comeback a year or so ago, CS&N just doesn't hold up very well and lacks stylish designs, for the most part. But this issue is different! Nora Corbett has contributed an exclusive project called Victorian Christmas Eve. My scanner is down right now, or I would have a photo up for you. And CS&N doesn't show it on their website, although the issue you see in the link is the correct one. The design is very sweet - a little Christmas Victorian girl with her muff encircled in a pretty garland. Anyhow, Nora Corbett/Mirabilia lovers will want this issue. (Surprisingly, I like two other charts in this issue - how rare! - a seaside band sampler by Jane Greenoff and the peppermint candy snowflake ornament that can be seen in the magazine link).

Stitched on today: Eye of the Needle Exchange and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

Crazy Exchange for Veronique

Veronique has received the Crazy Exchange that I sent to her. It arrived in Belgium so quickly! Veronique's list of favorites were Margaret Sherry, Lizzie Kate and scissor fobs. I did not have a lot of Margaret Sherry charts, except for ones in the few UK magazines I have. Those were all rather large. As for Lizzie Kate, I also have some larger charts, and ones that feature holidays like Halloween and Christmas. Not knowing if Veronique likes or celebrates these holidays, I opted not to stitch those. I did find this one, though. I figure a good luck fob would work for anyone. She likes it, and says she needs the luck right now :-)

Luck to You! Fob
Lizzie Kate
40 ct Natural Linen, Weeks Dyes Works and GAST Floss

Since I enjoyed stitching on Dawn so much last night, I decided to pick it up again tonight. The dress is really getting there now!

Ava went to the vet today for her follow up. The vet is not sure she has rodent virus. She really could not say what it is yet. She says several syndromes look similar to each other. Right now, her bottom lip is very swollen and she looks like she is sticking her tongue out. And, it is clearly very sensitive. The upper lip ulcer/sore is completely gone, and inside her lips looks good thanks to the Clavamox. The vet gave her a very low dose of cortisone, since Ava is very small. She says to come back if it does not clear the swelling. They will then do a biopsy and see where to go from there... here's to praying the cortisone does the trick and this is a one time issue for her!

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

PIF for Heather

I received an email from Heather today letting me know that she received my PIF gift for her. She mentioned she has been having a difficult week, and that my gift arrived to her in a time when she needed cheer. I am very pleased about that! I can scratch another PIF off of my lengthy list now! I was still in a Halloween mood when I stitched her gift, and this is what she got:


Jack-O-Lantern Scissors Fob
Casey Buonaugurio
Silkweaver 32 ct Lugana Solo, DMC Floss

And Dawn... she is growing more again. Tonight the bottom of her dress got a lot of attention while I was watching the baseball game (Go Red Sox!!)...

Stitched on today: The Mermaid and the Sea, stitched on a gift, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

PIF from Karen!

I received this most fantastic PIF package from Karen today! She stitched me this beautiful ornament which she says is a quaker motif from an old magazine :-) And... she was super (overly) generous and also sent me this gorgeous Mirabilia chart and a package of pretty sticky notes! You are awesome Karen! Thank you!!!!

And speaking of mail, I have several items out in the post that I am hoping to show soon when they arrive at their destinations... one is taking forever to arrive... but! Great news! An finally received her Neighborhood Round Robin that Mike posted off to her two months ago! Yay! What a relief!!!! I was feeling so terribly about it being missing! A little update of Dawn tonight too :-) I will keep going with her, as I realize I have several large projects that can actually be finished by the end of the year now... Dawn, And A Forest Grew and Victoria's Quaker... I am going to go for it!

Stitched on today: Stitched a gift, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace **Mailed out a PIF gift today, and mailed out Leslie's daylily plant too :-)

Halloween Exchange for Donna

Donna received the SBEBB Halloween Exchange that I made for her today. She is so cute! She is so excited over her first exchange, and I am so glad she is so happy!!! To see a photo of the entire exchange, please visit her blog.... It was fun to stitch for Donna and to read her blog a lot to learn about her. I feel like I have gotten to know her now!



Scream Girls Fob
Just Nan
Natural Opalescent Cashel Linen, DMC Floss

And, Dawn came out to play again tonight. She worked on growing her wings tonight :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift (Isabelle's well overdue wedding gift, that is!!), and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace **Sent out USEBB Halloween Exchange today :-)

PS - thank you Cleveland Indians - well done! ;-)

Dawn is Back

I just couldn't resist. It has been five weeks (8/17/07) since I have worked on Dawn. I picked her up tonight and stitched a whole lot of the pearl Petite Treasure Braid. It was so nice to stitch on her again. I guess finishing Bine's RR is going to have to wait until the weekend :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on Autumn Quaker Exchange, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

More birthday gifts!

The mailman delivered some treasures today! Belated birthday gifts! Look at these - Debby sent me a gorgeous needle case that is made by her hubby! It is amazing! I have been admiring these on her blog and had been planning to buy one - now I have one! Oh, thank you Debby! Mike is really impressed too. It is so well made, please let him know I love it!! And, Leena sent me this pretty little humbug! Oh, I adore it!!! Leena caught on recently that I love lavender (oh, I sure do!!). The whole theme of the humbug is lavender, including the dried lavender inside! It is so fragrant and just wonderful! Thank you Leena!!! The humbug is being modeled on the special ebay purchase from Mike that I was telling you about - he got me a pair of Gingher Penelope 4" Scissors! Yay!!! They are so pretty!! They came a couple of days ago, and now the humbug gives me a great reason to remember to post them. He's watching for some other retired Ginghers for me too :-)
And... I spent a little time on Dawn tonight. Not much time, though. I was busy working on my Seasonal Exchangers project, as I really want to finish it and post it off soon. But anyhow, Dawn is growing - lots of work with the Petite Treasure Braid blended with DMC tonight... :-(

It's the weekend! How nice - hope everyone has a good one!

Stitched on today: Seasonal Exchangers project, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

My Framings Are Back!

Mike got the all important phone call today from the framer - "come pick them up!" So, right after I got home from work tonight, we went and got them! I love them!! As you can see, I just am not in a mood for mats right now. I didn't use them much last time I did a bulk framing job either. I really like how needlework looks just in a nice frame.. so, here they are (I photographed each leaning against the back of the sofa in the living room - sorry the Mermaids are so crooked - I didn't realize that until after I had put the plastic bag back on them - I have no idea yet where I plan to hang any of these):

Medieval Town Mandala
Chatelaine
Stitched 10/05 - 10/06

Paradigm Lost
Long Dog Samplers

Mermaids of the Deep Blue
Mirabilia

An Emblem of Love
With My Needle

Catch the Wind
Butternut Road
Stitched somewhere around ten years ago, maybe longer!

I received several more gifts today - and wow, they are just gorgeous! I will email the senders tonight to immediately thank them, and take photos tomorrow in the daylight, as I would like to show them to you the best that I can. By the time I got home from the framer's tonight, the light was not very good any longer. But, I can show you some stash that came in today from the extremely generous gift certificate from DSL that Sharon recently sent to me for my birthday. I love all of what I got - I have recently begun to love the new Praiseworthy Stitches/Crescent Colours thread packs. After seeing what the Birthday Birds actually look like stitched up, I fell in love! Thank you so much dear Sharon!!! I hope you approve of my choices :-)

Oh, and I did find some time to stitch tonight. I actually followed my rotation and chose to work on Dawn. I bet I could get her done really quickly if I focused only her for a week or so. But, I am in no rush! My next big framing binge probably won't be until Christmas anyhow - LOL!

Stitched on today: Started a gift, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

Dawn

It's Thursday, so it is Dawn day. She now has another new butterfly friend, and more of her wings and more of the bottom of her skirt :-)

I am so glad it is Thursday - I don't have to work tomorrow and look forward to a long weekend.

Stitched on today: Started a gift and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

Dawn is Back Again

Ah, finally - a chance to work on Dawn again! Here she is... growing :-)

There is a wonderful new freebie over at Blue Ribbon Designs! A Christmas ornament! If you have not already seen it, please check it out!

I just heard from Sue that she has received my birthday gift for her - the USPS gets kudos for getting this one out to her quickly - even before her birthday! Yes, I did another from Nature's Alphabet - who's surprised? Some of the letters in that design are just so perfect for fobs, but others, not so much so... J for Juniper - nope! Nature's Alphabet "S" Fob
Elizabeth's Designs
Silkweaver 32 ct Belfast Solo, DMC Floss

What a scorcher it is right now - I love it!!! And, Hideki Okajima, Red Sox pitcher, is going to the All Star Game next week! True confessions time - I spent a whole lot of time yesterday and today pounding the online voting to help to get him in! LOL!!

Stitched on today: Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

Dawn is Back!

After a brief, but necessary, hiatus, Dawn is back tonight!!! I really love stitching on this one!

There was a treat in my mailbox when I got home from work tonight :-) I received the Garden Theme Exchange from Judith today. She stitched me one of my favorite designs, which was so sweet of her! And... she sent a gorgeous package of stationery by Marjolein Bastin - another of my favorites! Thanks Judi!!

And, more good news! Karin let me know tonight that my little birthday gift for her has arrived safely :-) Karin loves color, so I really went for it with choosing something with wonderful colors. I am glad that she likes it, and it was such a pleasure to stitch this for her.

9 Carre's Fob

Tournicoton - chart found here

Antique White Cashel Linen, DMC floss

Stitched 6/2/07

I enjoyed your funny comments about Beau and my new chair :-) Beau let me have the chair tonight, no problems!! Some asked if my birthday is soon. No, not all that very soon. It is July 31. I think Mike is just in the birthday mood, and probably dropping me hints, as his birthday is next Friday, June 22 - LOL! No worries, he is getting a much coveted Apple iPhone (OK if he peeks here, since he is already tracking the phone down, which isn't released until June 29 anyhow... MEN!!)

Oh, and Kudos again to the post office! Mike posted Barbara's RR off to Annemarie in The Netherlands on Monday... and she received it today!

Stitched on today: Started a gift, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

A little bit of Dawn

Just a quickie post tonight - I finished up my Scissor Fob Exchange tonight, and now I am about to go and package it up with some goodies as I would like Mike to post it in the AM.... but in the middle of all of that, I did put a couple of hours into Dawn again tonight. I really don't mind stitching with Petite Treasure Braid at all... very easy... but once you blend it with a strand of DMC, it sure does seem to take on a whole new cranky nature - LOL! A little battling tonight :-)

Stitched on today: Finished Scissor Fob Exchange project, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

Dawn Again

After skipping her last week, I went back to working on Dawn again tonight - although, had a late start as I was busily finishing an exchange piece first. With that done, I was able to get a couple of hours or so in on Dawn. She grows so quickly!! I am excited that Sharon also recently started to stitch Dawn... it will be fun to watch her progress on her fairy too :-)

Thanks so much for all of the wonderful comments about the exchange I received yesterday - if you get a chance to pick up a pair of those scissors from Violarium, you will not be disappointed! I used them tonight, and I just love them!! They are a nice heavy scissor with nice fine points - sweet!!

Ah, this is the start of a four day weekend now.... lovely!

Stitched on today: Finished an exchange project, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

Early Weekend

I worked on Dawn tonight, following my rotation. I had skipped her last week in order to get something else done.... but I gave her plenty of time tonight. Her dress is really growing now. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find my SAL mate for this one since our SAL started a couple of months ago :-(

It's a long weekend for me. Yay. I have tomorrow off. What will I do? Well, the weather should be gorgeous and there is a lot of gardening to do... but I also hope to get the basting/gridding done on my Neighborhood Round Robin (Group 1) - oh, how dull that will be!! LOL!!

Country Music Fans:: This is funny if you love country music (I am a huge fan of the new country music that has hit the scene as of late) - this video is apparently taken by someone's camera phone. Country Stars Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler pulled a practical joke on Brad Paisley during his concert in Illinois last week - while singing his new hit, Ticks, they dressed up as ticks and swarmed him... and Jack Ingram came out and played the exterminator. Brad Paisley could barely keep from cracking up! (Trivia for you: Brad is married to Kimberly Williams-Paisley, the actress who plays Dana on According to Jim - very cute couple) -

TICKS


Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace

Dawn

Dawn is growing!

Beau, Lily and Ava have apparently found some place comfortable to sleep right now...

And, that's about it... just not enjoying this whole blogging thing lately.

Stitched on today: The Mermaid and the Sea, stitched on a gift, and Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace