Edgar's Halloween RR is Home At Last!

Edgar emailed me this afternoon to let me know that his Halloween RR that I just sent to him on Monday is now safely in his hands, so I can finally, at long last, show something that I myself have stitched ;-) I stitched the coffin with the skeleton, snakes and rats that is kind of near the center of the sampler. This is from the bottom portion of BOAF's Remember Me On Halloween. I was a little nervous about this one. The space left for me by the other stitchers to stitch in was rather large... and this one being Edgar's meant that I really want to do something special. After considerable deliberation, I added this large bit of stitching... held my breath, and whew! He likes it! Yay! I did not want to overwhelm, but I have to admit, it does look pretty good there and his sampler is really stunning (I think). I wish my photo showed the true beauty of his linen. It is much brighter, deeper and has a topaz like jewel coloring to it.

GREAT book offers here!!:

Stitched on lately: Stitching on HoE By the Sea Exchange

Finished Terry's Halloween RR

I finished up Terry's Halloween RR tonight, just in time for the next mailing date, which is Tuesday. I apologize that my photos do not show her fabric off well - in real life, her Silkweaver belfast solo is very vibrant. I took this photo under lights in my finished basement without using my flash, and the end result is that her fabric looks gray/lavender rather than lilac/peach/gray... Anyhow, her RR was starting to look a lot like a Halloween neighborhood to me, with a resident witch, so I chose to continue that theme and stick with the same colors the other stitchers have been using (the design I originally planned to use was far too bright). So, I chose this:
Happy Halloween
Shepherd's Bush - in All Through The Year, 1996
Silkeaver 32 ct Solo Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Here is how Terry's RR is looking as of tonight - it goes off to Edgar in the morning. I sure hope Terry likes my addition - I had great fun stitching this little design.

Stitched on today: Finished Terry's Halloween RR

Finished Hannah's Halloween RR

Last night I was able to stitch up Hannah's Halloween Round Robin - which should have been stitched and mailed by Feb 24th... four days late... She did not specify Prairie Schooler designs, just Halloween designs. But I noticed everyone else had been using little PS motifs and I thought they looked good, nicely balanced. And her colors matched so well this way, so I added the little jack-o-lantern from Pumpkin Patch. I hope Hannah likes it. I will mail this to Edgar tomorrow (unless the snowstorm they are forecasting is as bad as they say it might be - if so, it will go out on Tuesday).

Goal Review Time:
February Goals:
1. Continue to stitch on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow - yes
2. Start a unique project that I haved planned - no, I haven't quite figured out my starting point
3. Stitch and send Hannah's Halloween RR to Edgar - yes, finished and ready to mail
4. Stitch some Christmas ornaments - yes, one
5. Stitch some gifts - yes, I stitched some gifts
6. Start working on Autumn Exchange for Cathy K. - no, not yet

March Goals:
1. Continue to stitch on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
2. Start a unique project that I have planned
3. Stitch some Christmas ornaments
4. Stitch some gifts
5. Stitch and send Autumn Exchange to Cathy K.
6. Stitch and send HoE Winter Quaker Exchange by 3/12
7. Stitch and send a Christmas ornament to Jill for the Christmas Ornament Swap
8. Stitch and send Drawn Thread Exchange by 3/16

Finished Vonna's Halloween RR

I finished up Vonna's RR tonight! Anyone recognize it yet?

Scaredy Cats
Waxing Moon Desings - in Black Cats' Halloween
32 ct Belfast Linen Hand Dyed by Vonna, GAST in Raven

One of our lady cats, Lily, has been in heat for a few days now. This is pretty much how she laid on DH all afternoon! She put herself in this position. She is driving him insane!! LOL

Oh! And just look at what happened this morning right near my house! 59 cars and trucks involved in a massive pileup on the Interstate due to poor road conditions, uncleared snow! This is my commute home from work... a really, really bad road, as you can see! Ugh! Glad I was still sleeping when this happened.

Stitched on today: Finished Vonna's Halloween RR

Tiny RR Update

I've not much to show tonight. I stitched my HoE Lizzie Kate Exchange today, watched football, did errands and such with DH and am deep in a novel... but... I can show my wee progress on Vonna's RR from last night... moving on from the jack-o-lantern now... :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched HoE Lizzie Kate Exchange

How Sweet It Is!

Have I told you how much I love Paper Back Swap?? Look at this treasure trove of paperbacks that arrived in my mailbox today! I am swooning and am in heaven! You just gotta come and join me in this!

I spent most of my stitching time tonight finishing a gift, but then I did grab up Vonna's Halloween RR again - had to rip out a mistake, but now you can tell the bottom half sure is a jack-o-lantern... maybe the design will reveal itself soon??

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, and stitched on Vonna's Halloween Round Robin

A peek at Vonna's Halloween RR

I worked on a gift today which I obviously cannot show yet, but I figured that maybe it would be a little fun to give a peek at what I have started on dear Vonna's Halloween RR. I really love hers - she is using Belfast linen she dyed herself, and it is yummy. So far, very few colors have been used, so I decided to do a design that is all in GAST Raven... can anyone tell yet what it is??

We still have power ;-) Thanks for the good thoughts on that.

Stitched on today: Started a gift

Finished Donna's RR

I finished up Donna's Witching for Stitching RR tonight. I used Bone Appetit by Lizzie Kate, and was encouraged by Donna's comment in yesterday's entry letting me know she likes Lizzie Kate. So... this is off to Edgar tomorrow ;-)

Stitched on today: Finished Donna's Witching for Stitching RR **Mailed Christmas Ornament Exchange (Meg's Group) today

Started Donna's Witching for Stitching RR

I didn't have a lot of time for stitching at all tonight, but I did find a few moments to start Donna's Halloween Round Robin. She asked each of us to put something that celebrates Halloween in one of the rooms of her house. After searching high and low for something that I liked that fit her blocks, I chose a Lizzie Kate design... I hope that Donna will like it.

Stitched on today: Started Donna's Halloween Round Robin

Ulla's Pumpkins RR

With the mailing date fast approaching, last night I was able to sit down with DH in front of DVDs and stitch up Ulla's Witching for Stitching round robin. Ulla has asked for pumpkins, whether autumnal or Halloween style... so I dug around and figured I would stitch this sweet freebie that I have actually wanted to stitch for a while now...

Pumpkin Feast
Praiseworthy Stitches
32 ct Amber Linen, GAST Floss

Here is how Ulla's whole RR is looking right now. Ulla has sent two pieces of linen with four blocks on each, indicating in her note that she wants to make pillows out of them. I think hers looks very sweet so far. I put it out for DH to mail to Edgar today... but he was in a rush and totally overlooked it and the rest of my outgoing mail today, so I have to wait now until Monday to mail this out... will still get out before the deadline, though ;-)

Goal Review Time:
October Goals:
1. Finish SBEBB Autumn House Exchange and send by 10/6 - yes, and Jill has received it
2. Stitch and send Halloween Exchange to Becky by 10/10 - yes, and Becky has received it
3. Stitch and send SBEBB Halloween Exchange by 10/10 - yes, and Ulla has received it
4. Stitch and send Mattress Pincushion to Andrea for MAW Exchange by 10/14 - yes, and Andrea has received it
5. Stitch and send HoE Mattress Pincushion Exchange by 10/15 - yes, and Laura has received it
6. Stitch and send SBEBB Pumpkin Patch Exchange by 10/27 - yes, and Michelle has received it
7. Stitch and send new CE Exchange - yes, and Katrien has received it
8. Stitch some gifts - yes, I stitched one and Jill has received it
9. Stitch and send CE return exchange to Laurie - yes, and Laurie has received it
10. Start HoE Floss Ring Tag Exchange and have ready to send for 11/3 - yes, and I mailed it out on 10/28/08
11. Continue to stitch on A Quaker Christmas - yes, and I finished it
12. Start An's Neighborhood Round Robin to send by 11/15 - no, have not started quite yet
13. Start Ulla's Halloween Round Robin and be ready to send by 11/4 - yes, I finished it and DH will mail it to Edgar on Monday, 11/3
14. Stitch a Christmas ornament for SAL - yes, I stitched one

November Goals:
1. Finish Ulla’s Halloween Round Robin and mail to Edgar by 11/4
2. Stitch and send SBEBB Harvest Time Exchange by 11/10
3. Stitch and send An’s Neighborhood Round Robin home to her by 11/15
4. Mail out CE Christmas Ornament Exchange by 11/15
5. Stitch and send private Thanksgiving Exchange by 11/15
6. Send out HoE Christmas Ornament Exchange by 11/17
7. Stitch and send some gifts
8. Send Christmas Ornament Exchange (Meg’s Group) by 11/20
9. Stitch Nicole’s Neighborhood RR and send it home to her by 12/1 – if I receive it in time, as of today I do not have it yet
10. Stitch and be able to send SBEBB Reindeer Games Exchange by 12/1
11. Have Dragon Lottery item ready to go by 12/1
12. Start Glorie Du Matin SAL with Margaret
13. Stitch on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
14. Attend Celebration of Needlework Fall Event on 11/8 with Cynthia Zittel and Catherine Strickler
15. Start Summer Exchange for Cathy K.
16. Stitch some Christmas Ornaments
17. Stitch and send final PIF for Chris H.
18. Stitch and send new CE exchange
19. Stitch and send Christmas Ornament to Carolyn for Christmas Ornament Swap


Stitched on today: Started SBEBB Harvest Time Exchange

Poking Along

Just poking along with Halloween Fairy tonight. I am so used to my Ott-Lite now, that when I don't have it I can really feel the difference. My eyes feel a little strained, working with browns and greys on dark brown linen... she is worth it, though ;-) And some good news for me today. I got the notice that my bulbs have been shipped. I hope they arrive soon.

Beau... not as impressed as I was to see two Americans take gold and silver in gymnastics tonight.

Stitched on today: Stitched on Halloween Fairy **Mailed Shelley's Halloween Round Robin to Edgar today

Finished Shelley's Halloween Round Robin

I finished up Shelley's Halloween Round Robin tonight while watching a very exciting Red Sox game! I need to read her instruction letter again tomorrow and see if she wants us each to sign our blocks in any way before I mail it along, but otherwise... NOW she is finished :-) Hope you like it Shelley!

Colorful Witch
Barbara Ana Designs
Silkweaver 28 ct Solo Lugana, DMC Floss
Stitched for Shelley for Witching for Stitching Round Robin

Stitched on today: Finished a new CE Exchange, and finished Shelley's Halloween Round Robin

No Ott- Lite!

What a bad day!! I switched on my Ott-Lite floor lamp this afternoon, in preparation of finishing my biscornu for the SBEBB Biscornu Exchange, and the bulb was dead. Well, it had to happen sometime. I run the thing every single day!! We buzzed off to A.C. Moore, but they are discontinuing the bulbs and only had small sized ones in stock. So I had to order a couple from Joann Fabrics' online store... so... gotta wait 5-10 days. But, then when I settled in to stitch, it was not so terribly awful :-)

I went back to work on Shelley's Halloween Round Robin. It is funny, I got so many comments on the witch calling it my "finish," but there is still a bit more to go. The witch has some friends now - a bat and a ghost, as well as her magical wand!

Stitched on today: Finished SBEBB Biscornu Exchange, and stitched on Shelley's Halloween Round Robin **Mailed out a gift today

A Witch is Born

Finished the witch on Shelley's Halloween Round Robin - is it any surprise why Barbara Ana calls this chart "Colorful Witch." Witchie has several friends and I will stitch them soon too. I was glad to hear from Shelley today that she likes the start to her RR :-)

Well, I have things to show that I can't - well, I can... but I don't have photos. We are in a rainy pattern here and I just can't get good photos, but I will somehow do it tomorrow so that I can show some lovely gifts I received from Edda and Joan, as well as three framings that Mike picked up yesterday. He had them done as part of my birthday gift ;-)

No word on my little client. I tried reaching her mother today, but I think they are busy dealing with the injury... thank you for all of the well wishes. This little girl both needs and deserves them.

Oh, I can show this! I sent a little RAK to An and she has now received it. I was doodling around with this little freebie and I know how much she likes Bent Creek...

Hare Lines Floss Ring Tag
Bent Creek
32 ct Dirty Belfast Linen, Weeks Dye Works Floss

Stitched on today: Stitched a gift and stitched on Shelley's Halloween Round Robin

More Witchiness

I decided to keep going with Shelley's Halloween RR tonight... not chatty at all, though. One of my young clients had a terrible accident two minutes after she left my office this morning and I am really worried and exhausted... not even sure how she is doing right now...

Stitched on today: Shelley's Halloween Round Robin

Witchy Boots

I had an urge to work on Shelley's Halloween Round Robin tonight. I am the first to stitch on this fabric, and Shelley writes that she plans to stitch part of either BOAF's Remember Me or Erica Michaels' Toil and Trouble in her large center section. She asks that we each choose a Halloweeny design that will work with those designs. So, I chose to use Barbara Ana's Colorful Witch. It looks so much like the style and colors of Toil and Trouble, and it is going to fit the block almost exactly... so tonight we see... witchy boots :-)

I am over the moon with the new issue of Just Cross Stitch. I saw the cover of it a day or two ago on Down Sunshine Lane's website, and knew mine was on its way... and it came today. I love this! They did a collection of Halloween Ornaments. I can't decide where to start... the designers are top notch - Just Nan, The Sweetheart Tree, Mosey 'N Me, monsterbubbles, Brittercup Designs, Homespun Elegance, Charland Designs, Elizabeth's Designs (I ordered my bat Mill Hill Treasures for this one already tonight - along with Erica Michaels' Toil and Trouble - LOL), Raise the Roof Designs, Jeannette Douglas, Prairie Schooler, La-D-Da (more witchy boots!!) and SamSarah Design Studio... plus... a sampler - Tombstone Angel by Carriage House Samplings! There are other great designs and a wonderful feature on My Mark Designs... like I said, where to start?? This issue (Sept/Oct 2008) is well worth its money! Oh good, photos are here!

I received a couple of lovely birthday gifts today that I will try to post up tomorrow. It was really rainy and dark here today - not good weather to take photos!

Stitched on today: Stitched on a CE exchange, and stitched on Shelley's Halloween Round Robin **Mailed out Seasonal (Spring) Exchange to Cathy K. today

MAW Exchanges

It's kismet! Today I received my first exchange from the Make A Wish Exchange Board... and my first one sent was also received by its new recipient. I am very excited!

I placed a wish for a Christmas Ornament. I just love handmade ornaments on the tree, but I really only have a very small handful of them. The lovely Marie quickly volunteered to fulfill my wish, and today I received this gorgeous ornament. Marie more than fulfilled my wish! She stitched me M Designs' Peace Tree Ornament in a pretty red and green variegated floss, over one, and so perfectly finished. Thank you so much Marie!

I certainly will always cherish this ornament.

And, Terry received my wish fulfillment today too :-) Terry had made a wish for a scissor pocket of any kind. I was eager to scoop that wish right up. She let me know that she liked purple, as well as a couple of other colors... and I stitched her this:
Red Desert Scissor Pocket
The Cat's Whiskers Design Studio
28 ct Lilac Cashel Linen, Victorian Motto Sampler Thread - Purple Heather A

I am so glad that you like it Terry - I really enjoyed stitching this for you.

Here it is! The end of my portion of my Halloween Round Robin - or as I call it, My Haunted Neighborhood Round Robin. I really like the striped effect of the pumpkins on the tree. They are stitched using Needle Necessities in Copper Pennies (147), and I like this color quite a lot. Tomorrow I will write up my introduction and instruction letter... and mail it out on Saturday, on time :-)

Stitched on today: Started a gift, and finished my Halloween Round Robin

Yep, more of this

Oh yes, I am still doing this. But my part is almost done now, which is good because the first mailing date is July 15th. Just the tree trunk, some leaves and some pumpkins (yep, it is a pumpkin tree!) left to stitch... then off in time for the mailing date ;-)

Jenn asked what chart I am using - this is from Halloween House Sampler by The Drawn Thread, c. 1998.

Stitched on today: Stitched on my Halloween Round Robin **Mailed off my ornament to Staci for the Christmas Ornament Swap today

Gasp! My house is haunted!

OK, so I thought I was glimpsing little ghosts in the windows of the house... and now it is obvious - my house is haunted! :-) Yep, showing more of my Haunted Halloween Neighborhood RR again tonight... I have many other things to show you, but all are in the post and just have not arrived anywhere, so I can't yet ;-)

Stitched on today: Finished Christmas Ornament Swap for Staci, and stitched on my Halloween Round Robin **Mailed SL gift to Vanessa today

Now that's some kind of green house!

Wow, that green (Needle Necessities 142- Grecian Olive) sure makes for quite a green house :-) I love it! I have been super busy stitching wise, thus a poor email responder and blog commenter... but of it all, this is all I can show tonight ;-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on my Halloween RR, and started Christmas Ornament Swap for Staci **Mailed out a gift and a PIF today