Spring Ride SAL

It is Spring Ride SAL night again. I just saw that Karen and her little tyke, Riley, are both not feeling well at all, so she did not stitch tonight. No worries, Karen! I hope you both feel better soon! I did a bit more white Marlitt and some minimal shading tonight...

Stitched on today: Started a gift, and stitched on Spring Ride SAL

HOHRH is back

I am surely not going to finish this sampler this year. Not at this pace. It helps if I actually pick it up and work on it... started it in 2005... will finish it in...??? Anyhow, I worked on shooting stars tonight, but with this Hand-Dyed Fibers conversion it is a bit tough to make out the star in there... one more star to go, but a darker one, at least...

Stitched on today: Stitched a PIF gift, and stitched on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow **Mailed off a PIF gift today

Summer House Exchange for Cathy

I heard from Cathy today that she has already received the SBEBB Summer House Exchange that I put together for her. I have been wanting to stitch this little Drawn Thread design for years now, and was thrilled to have a great opportunity to stitch it for a friend. This is the project that I made using some of the linen that Joke sent to me recently - the piece I needed so badly and serendipity brought it right to my door at just the right time ;-)
Summer Scene Mattress Pincushion
The Drawn Thread - in Just Cross Stitch, August 2000
32 ct Confederate Gray Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

... And the rest of the goodies for Cathy....

Off to do secret exchange stitching for the night - and so glad there is finally baseball on to watch again tonight!

Stitched on today: Finished a PIF gift, and stitched on HoE Summer Quaker Exchange **Mailed out a new CE Exchange today

Back in the neighborhood

I don't have a lot to share or say tonight - just really tired, as I have not quite caught up yet from staying up Tuesday night to 1:45 AM watching the end of the MLB All-Star Game.... Here is a little more of Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin. So glad I have tomorrow off ;-)

Stitched on today: Finished a CE Exchange, and stitched on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin

PIF for Melissa

Well, I keep working away on my PIF list. It is taking me a while, but I am getting through them all. If you signed up with me, don't worry - I am getting them done :-) I heard today that Melissa has received the PIF that I sent to her...

Tree of Life Scissors Fob
Jeannette Douglas
28 ct Vintage Country Mocha Cashel Linen, Thread Gatherer Silk 'n Colors, DMC Floss

I am planning to go to a town Planning Board meeting in a little bit... someone wants to re-open and expand a junk yard right up against our property line. Disgusting. I am going to go listen to what they have to say and see how our town is reacting to this vile plan... so I am just going to drop in this blog entry - that will leave me time to exercise and work on my HoE Summer Quaker Exchange when I get home...

Have a great night!

Stitched on today: Stitched on a CE Exchange, and stitched on HoE Summer Quaker Exchange **Mailed my SBEBB Summer House Exchange today

Little Things To Share

I have a couple of little things that I recently stitched, mailed out and have been received... and then I will sneak off to watch the MLB All-Star Game and start my HoE Summer Quaker Exchange.

I heard from Staci this morning that she has received my ornament for a private Christmas Ornament Swap that I am participating in (this month we all send to Staci). My ornament is tiny and delicate, but I am glad that Staci likes it.

Bell Ornament
Jeannette Douglas
Chart in JCS Christmas Ornament Preview Issue, August 2008
32 ct Natural Belfast Linen, DMC Floss & DMC #12 Perle Cotton

And I just discovered that Janaina received a new Crazy Exchange that I mailed out to her on June 30th. I am always worried about mailing anything to Brazil. They don't allow insured packages there, so you need to take your chances. I mailed something to Janaina months ago that never arrived... but June 30th to July 15th isn't too bad for International Priority Mail (??!!)... Anyhow, I think she likes it...
Tiny Toad Fob
The Cricket Collection
Silkweaver 36 ct French Vanilla Swirl Edinburgh Linen, Thread Gatherer Silk 'n Colors, and DMC Floss

....OK, the MLB Parade is ending soon and then game time :-) I am off to start something fun for the Summer Quaker exchange... have a great night, see ya tomorrow! Go American League!!

Stitched on today: Stitched on a Crazy Exchange, finished SBEBB Summer House Exchange and started HoE Summer Quaker Exchange

Started Leslie's Neighborhood RR

I started Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin tonight. It is another one that due to miscommunication months ago in the RR group, ended up arriving late to me. If I can finish it up in two weeks, I can keep it on schedule. As you can imagine, that is my plan. Leslie's RR is really pretty - has great colors in it. The partially stitched block in the upper left is a bit of a mystery. I sure hope the stitcher who didn't finish still plans to do so.... I chose to stitch Willow House by Blackbird Designs down in the bottom center. I pulled all the Weeks Dye Works floss for it and could not resist the colors. Leslie's RR doesn't have a theme, so I figure I will go for it. I just love her 40 ct R&R Reproductions linen - nice!! I think I can meet the August 1 mailing date, as what I did tonight already moved along quite quickly.

I was recently involved in a Stitcher's Lottery over in a small stitching group. I don't think I will be participating much with this group any longer. The communication between the members there is poor. I was in a biscornu exchange over there earlier this year and I felt the same way. By now, the winner shall have received my prize, and I really doubt she even knows where my blog is, let alone read it, so I shall show what I sent now... I hope she liked it.

No Frogs Allowed Pinkeep
Helga Mandl Designs in The Gift of Stitching Magazine, June 2008
28 ct Vintage Country Mocha Cashel Linen, DMC Floss & DMC Color Variations

Stitched on today: Started a CE Exchange, stitched on SBEBB Summer House Exchange, and started Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin **Mailed off a gift today

Spring Ride

I sure didn't want Karen to think that I had forgotten about our SAL, and I dug Spring Ride out again tonight. I didn't realize how much I missed it. My work tonight was all in white Marlitt and DMC 746, but I think you can tell that she is growing...

Many of my blogging friends have been having significant losses in the past couple of weeks. I feel so badly for them all, and I just wanted to say how much I care. It is easiest to post it here, as I have so little time to hit each and every blog... let alone comment... but you are all in my thoughts....

Stitched on today: Stitched on SBEBB Summer House Exchange and Spring Ride

A little Serenity

I need a little Serenity tonight. I wanted to work on this sampler tonight. It has been about a month, and I was missing it. I did finish the outer part of the next motif, but I cannot focus and had to put it down. I was working on my SBEBB Summer House Exchange earlier, and I realized that one sizeable motif is off by a thread and needs to be ripped out. I just need to go and do that now and get it off my mind...

Stitched on today: Stitched the first part of my Spring Exchange for Cathy, stitched on SBEBB Summer House Exchange and Serenity **Mailed my Halloween RR off to Edgar today

Beautiful Exchange from Joke

I just received this lovely return exchange (Crazy Exchange group) from the wonderful Joke today. Very recently, I started an exchange with her... and she has already sent me a return gift. Amazing!

Aren't these lovely? Joke stitched me a pinpillow with a matching fob by Carriage House Samplings (a favorite of mine!). She wrote of her doubts about her finishing, and I don't understand that at all. Her finishing and her stitching are nothing at all short of perfect! She also sent me a pack of John James needles, some purple Madeira silk and a cut of 32 ct Confederate Grey belfast. This is the best and most unbelievable (to me) part - I actually was at the LNS today (how rare, as it is quite a distance with the current fuel costs) looking for just such a piece of linen for an exchange that is due to be mailed on July 21. I didn't find what I wanted and figured I would have to go home and either substitute the fabric or choose something else to stitch... and there was the absolutely perfect piece in my mailbox! Thank you so much Joke! I hope you are enjoying your holiday - hurry back soon so I can thank you!!

Yesterday was Neila's birthday, and she has emailed me to let me know that my little gift for her arrived in time. Whew! I must tell you, Neila is very special to me. Many (many, many) years ago, I met Neila through stitching on round robins. We communicated by US mail and a little bit of email back then... what was a blog back then?? A year or more ago, I blogged about wondering where some of my old round robins friends might be... and at some point Neila's daughter happened to google Neila's name and found my entry... and now Neila and I are back to being active stitching pals again. I think that is soooo cool! I stitched her this wee token of my friendship:

Garden Alphabet "N" Fob
Prairie Schooler
Silkweaver 32 ct Heritage Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Now I will run away and hide from the internet... I am busily working on an overdue gift and getting quite close to finished... so back to it!

TGIF Everyone!!!

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, and started SBEBB Summer House Exchange

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

Halloween in July

I had Christmas in July a couple of days ago, and now I am having Halloween in July. I put some more time in tonight on my Halloween Round Robin. I like how these overdyed threads show on this linen.

This is Beau's response to the Red Sox losing in extra innings tonight :-(

Stitched on today: Stitched a PIF, and stitched on my Halloween Round Robin

Two Exchanges in One Day

Big mail day today - two exchanges arrived this morning...

First is the Christmas in July Exchange from Amy. Amy stitched me this great ornament... and hit my wish list too. Not only did she send me a chart I wanted, she also sent me the linen and the silk to stitch it. Thanks so much Amy!

Today I also received the Feathered Friends Exchange from the SBEBB. My sender was Lynn. Lynn stitched me a Valerie Pfeiffer pinkeep, and also sent me a Valerie Pfeiffer kit. I really like her birds quite a lot. She also sent me other fun treats like ribbon, DMC floss, Kreinik braid and pretty lilac finishing fabric. Thanks Lynn.

Oh, and I finally started my Halloween Neighborhood RR for the Witching for Stitching RR - sorry about the really up close photo, but I really didn't get much done on this tonight. I was going to use a neutral fabric, but then saw this Stormy Night Belfast by Enchanted Fabrics in my stash. It is from their FOTM and so I figured I would give it a try... it is a rather bold fabric, so I hope it will work out OK!

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, started my Halloween RR **Mailed Michelle's Neighborhood RR to An today, and mailed Scissor Pocket for MAW Exchange to Terry today

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July to all of my US friends - and American born friends too :-)

I settled in to watch Rascal Flatts/The Boston Pops/Boston Harbor Fireworks tonight along with A Quaker Christmas... I hope everyone else had as lovely an evening too.

... Funny video, poor quality though. This is two of the Boston Red Sox's relief pitchers - Jonathan Papelbon and Manny DelCarmen remaking Milli Vanilli's "Blame it on the Rain." They made this to show on the jumbotron during rain delays at Fenway Park :-) It's worth a peek... (the video was shot by a fan at the park... and he/she got distracted by someone going onto the field... but still captures it pretty well).

Stitched on today: Finished Scissor Pocket for MAW Exchange, stitched on A Quaker Christmas

Finished Michelle's Halloween Neighborhood

I managed to finish my portion of Michelle's spooky Halloween Neighborhood Round Robin tonight :-) I know this photo is a little out of focus - but it is late and I don't feel like unpacking her fabric and taking another one.

And here is how it looks in its entirety now. Pretty great, isn't it? An, the PO is closed tomorrow, but I will pop this in the mail to you on Saturday.

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, started scissor pocket for MAW Exchange for Terry, and finished Michelle's Neighborhood Round Robin

For Vonna

Vonna has received my birthday parcel that I sent off to her - and now that she has opened it, I can share what I stitched for her... she might show the rest of her gifts form me in her blog. I have found myself to be on a Brightneedle kick right now... I have kitted up quite a few and am anxious to start them. This came on after taking a class with Ann Pettit at Celebrations in May. I chose this design for Vonna for many reasons, not the least of which is the little school girl in the autumn square reminded me of a first day of school photo she shared a few months back... looked a little like her Katie to me ;-)
Season Petites Pinkeep
Brightneedle
Silkweaver 28 ct Dusk Lugana, DMC Floss, Kreinik #4 Braid
Stitched one-over-one

And here is Michelle's RR.... yep, still showing you this one! Almost there now. I just need to finish the soil around the pumpkins below the house, and I expect that this will go out in the post to An on Saturday (Post Office not open, of course, on Friday in observance of Independence Day in the US... anyone have fun plans??)

A little excitement at work today. We had a severe weather alert. And while in session with a young boy and his aunt, we heard a very loud crack of lightning. I saw the light flash across the face of the little boy, reflecting from my window, and we knew it was close. It sure was! Lightning hit the top floor apartment two buildings over! My landlord talked to the tenant - all appeared to be pretty much OK. Boy did the town send a lot of firetrucks out! When his session had ended, I must admit that the boy, his aunt and I did take off up the street to check out the scene. There has been a lot of lightning and even a death right in Haverhill from a lightning strike only 1-2 weeks ago.

Stitched on today: Started a gift, and stitched on Michelle's Neighborhood Round Robin

The verdict is in...

Michelle said yes - multiple moons are OK with her ;-) So, I stitched mine tonight. I have at least a couple more nights still to go....

Goal Review Time:
June Goals:
1. Continue to work on Serenity - yes
2. Continue to work on A Quaker Christmas - yes
3. Continue to work on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow - yes
4. Start Michelle’s Neighborhood Round Robin - yes
5. Continue to stitch on Spring Ride SAL - yes
6. Stitch one or two ornaments -yes, I stitched two
7. Finish and send Spring Exchange to Myrna - yes, and Myrna has received it
8. Stitch some gifts - yes, I stitched one gift this month
9. Finish Acorn Sampler - no, did not finish yet
10. Stitch and send ABC Exchange by 6/15 - yes, and Joan has received it
11. Stitch and send Patriotic Exchange by 6/21 - yes, and Jill has received it
12. Stitch and send HoE LHN Exchange by 6/28 - yes, and Annemiek has received it
13. Stitch and send scissor pocket for MAW exchange to Terry - no, not yet
14. Stitch ornament for Christmas in July exchange, ready to send by 7/1 - yes, and Verona has received it
15. Stitch Stitcher’s Lottery item, ready for 7/4 - yes, it is ready
16. Stitch and send new Crazy Exchange - yes, and Joke has received it – also stitched a second one and it is in the post now

July Goals:
1. Continue to stitch on A Quaker Christmas
2. Continue to stitch on Serenity
3. Continue to stitch on A Spring Ride SAL
4. Continue to stitch on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
5. Finish Acorn Sampler
6. Stitch some gifts
7. Finish Michelle’s NRR and mail to An by 7/15
8. Start my Halloween RR and have it ready to mail to Edgar by 7/15
9. Stitch and send new CE Exchange
10. Stitch one or two Christmas ornaments
11. Stitch a Christmas Ornament for Staci (Christmas Ornament Exchange) and mail it to her by 7/31
12. Stitch a scissor pocket for Terry (MAW Exchange) and mail it to her by 7/31
13. Start mattress pincushion for Simone (MAW Exchange) and have it ready to mail to her by 8/4
14. Stitch SBEBB Summer House Exchange and mail by 7/21
15. Start Redwork Exchange and have ready to mail by 8/4
16. Stitch and send Leslie’s NRR to Nicole by 8/1
17. Stitch and be ready to send HoE Summer Quaker Exchange by 8/1
18. Stitch and send at least one PIF gift

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and stitched on Michelle's Neighborhood Round Robin