Acorn Sampler

Acorn Sampler is back out again tonight. For a while tonight I was getting a bit skeptical that there was enough of the cream colored silk in the kit... those three bands so far took up almost a whole skein. Further inspection of the chart reveals that the fairly large group of quidlobet stitches in the bottom area is done with one strand of the silk, so I think it will actually work out OK ;-)

Stitched on today: Started a new CE exchange, stitched on SBEBB ABC Exchange, and Acorn Sampler **Mailed Spring Exchange to Myrna today

Spring Ride Returns

It's been two months, but now Spring Ride is back :-) Karen has let me know that she is ready to return to our SAL again. Admittedly, I was a bit distracted with watching the Celtics - Lakers game tonight, but I did get a bunch of the shading done on her dress. Most of my stitching today, though, was for an exchange....shhh, secret :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on SBEBB ABC Exchange, and Spring Ride

Fobs

The European postal carriers have been busy today - I heard that two different fobs that I had sent out reached their destinations safe and sound :-)

First, Hazel received the wee little birthday gift that I stitched up and sent off to her. It arrived a couple of days late, but this time I expected that as I was rushing to get it done last month. I am so glad that she likes it! Some may recognize this fob... I stitched the same one for Heather last year. I couldn't resist - I love the little bird and birdhouse on this design.
Garden Alphabet "H" Fob
Prairie Schooler
Unknown 32 ct Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Also, Simone received a wee little fob that I stitched for her as well. Simone had sent me a pretty pillow ornament for the Crazy Exchange about a month or so ago. In return, I needed to stitch something for her. Knowing Simone's love of birds, I chose to use the Prairie Birds chart that Veronica recently gifted me with in an HoE Exchange. I figured I would stitch one of the birds over one for her to make a sweet little fob. I almost fell of my chair when halfway through the process I saw on SBEBB that Cathy had stitched an almost identical one for her for a bird themed exchange ;-) Luckily, Cathy had selected the chickadee block, and not the goldfinch block. I figured that mine was already half done, so I forged ahead. Simone seems to like it :-)
Goldfinch Fob
Prairie Schooler
Stitched 1-over-1
30 ct Natural Linen, DMC Floss

Good to know they both arrived safely, and now I am off to do more secret exchange stitching....

Stitched on today: Finished the rest of Spring Exchange for Myrna, and started the ABC Exchange

Birthday Gift for Barbara

Barbara has let me know that she has received the little birthday gift that I had sent to her. Sorry it is late, Barbara! There is no accounting for how much time the postal service is going to take any longer... I had hoped this would not have been late, but it sure was, by about 5 days...

Love Pinkeep
The Workbasket - chart found here
Silkweaver 40 ct Newcastle Solo Linen, HDF Konini Silk

And that is what I am going to share with you for today... as I have a lot of exchange stitching that I must go sneak off to do now!

Stitched on today: Stitched on Spring Exchange for Myrna

Spring Exchange from Sharon

Yesterday I received the final round of the seasonal exchange from Sharon. She stitched me this really beautiful pinkeep using a design from Les Grilles de Maryse. I just adore it!

And, Sharon just really, really spoiled me yet again! Along with the stunning pinkeep, she sent me the L*K Double Flips so I can stitch that gorgeous project now for my therapy office! And... lots of pretty fibers and fantastic note paper! Oh Sharon, thank you! I so loved receiving treats from you all year! I will miss it :-)

And look at the cute cat ornament my friend Ann sent me - cute! She also sent me some L*K flips - they are already tucked away up in my stash drawers - ready to get started! She sent me the Meow flip that I have wanted for ages - thanks Ann :-)

None of my stitching to show tonight. I never do that - I always show something. But tonight I have to buckle down and work on the second project for my own Spring Exchange partner, Myrna. It is almost summer and I am still stitching.... so I am gone - off to work on it more! I will get it done, I will get it done, I will get it done...

Stitched on today: Stitched on Spring Exchange project for Myrna

Driven to Distraction

Driven to Distraction... it's not just the title of a rather excellent manual on treating ADHD that I do use often with my clients and parents of clients, but rather it was how my night went relating to my stitching. I was distracted by the book I am reading (The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory - it is just getting too good right now to put down), by trying to get HoE polished up a bit, by DH's needs.... sigh... finally, late in the evening I was able to get a wee bit done on A Quaker Christmas. Where is the progress, you ask? Oh, down under the K there.... I told you it was wee! LOL This is my personal daily stitching journal that other people just happen to read, so I am not ashamed to show only wee progress ;-)

As soon as I got up tonight from stitching, my chair was taken over! Ava, on the left, was there on her side of the chair all evening... but Lily joined in as soon as she could. Sorry about her eye glare. This photo shows the huge difference between my two calicos. Ava is a calico - true red, black and white (she is actually show quality), while Lily is a dilute calico - cream, blue and white.... they have the same father, different moms. Anyhow... Wendy asked what breed these babies are. All of my cats are persians. Four of the six, including these two girls shown, are considered to be "exotics" - their heads are bigger, bodies a bit more big boned... all except for Beau are from the same breeder. Beau and Angus are standard persians (Angus' father is a seal point Himalayan, but that does not alter Angus' status as a persian since, well, Himalayan refers only to markings). Enough of that. Someone also commented that Ava appears to be small. You know, all six of my cats are small... quite small... from 6 lbs to 10 lbs.... small!!

Oh, I received lovely mail today! I received the Spring Exchange from Sharon today, and a box of gifts from my friend Ann. I cannot wait to show you, but it was so dark and rainy here today that I could not get good photos. I will try again tomorrow.

Stitched on today: Stitched on Spring Exchange for Myrna, and stitched on A Quaker Christmas **Gayle, DH mailed your fabrics today via Priority Mail with tracking :-)

Not at this rate!

I worked on the border of Serenity for quite some time tonight. I then put it down at the end, looked at it, didn't think it looked like I got much done, and all I could think was: I am not going to get this done anytime soon - not at this rate! At this rate, I would guess more like 2012! Oh, I will keep plugging away!

My littlest one, Ava, helped out tonight while I was taking the picture of Serenity ;-) She is rewarded with her photo in my blog tonight. She has been clingy all night long :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on Spring Exchange for Myrna, and stitched on Serenity

Hand-Dyed Fabrics for Sale!

I am liquidating again. I have such a large stash of hand dyed fabrics.... and as much as I love each of these, I have no stitching plans for them. So, email me if you want any of these - my email is carolsutcliffe @ comcast.net (delete spaces, of course). PayPal is preferred. If you are in the US, I also accept check, money order or US cash. Shipping will be calculated when you contact me. I charge only the cost of the padded mailer plus postage. Here you go - I hope I have the fabric you have been looking for ;-)

Top Row, left to right:
Picture This Plus 28 ct Carnival Cashel Linen, 18” x 27”, $23
Silkweaver 32 ct Blue Fusion Belfast Linen, 18” x 26”, $21
Sugar Maple Fabrics 28 ct Blueberry Cheesecake Lugana, 18” x 27”, $21
Silkweaver 28 ct Solo Opalescent Cashel Linen, 20” x 20”, $18
Silkweaver 28 ct Solo Cashel Linen, 18” x26”, $21
Bottow Row, left to right:
Silkweaver 32 ct Mountain Rose Belfast Linen, 18” x 26”, $21
Silkweaver 28 ct Blue Dynasty Cashel Linen, 18” x 26”, $21
Silkweaver 28 ct Rock-A-Bye Opalescent Lugana, 18” x 26”, $21
Sugar Maple Fabrics 28 ct Sun-Dappled Glade Jubilee, 18” x27”, $21
Dyeing4U 32 ct FOTM Exclusive Belfast Linen (aqua with cloud effect – nice!!), 18” x 26”, $21

Today I received my HoE Freebie Design Exchange from Joan - and she spoiled me completely. She stitched me a cute needlebook using a freebie I do not recognize... she also stitched me a pretty pendant, made me a project bag and two different thread holders - one of which is decorated by her DIL - .... she made me the cutest little chicken pincushion that now sits right here next to my stitching chair.... and a chart off of my wishlist and some mints! Wow, thank you Joan!
...And I stitched for a while on A Quaker Christmas tonight too :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on Spring Exchange for Myrna, and A Quaker Christmas **Mailed CE return exchange to Simone today

Is it really June already?

I worked on Acorn Sampler again tonight, but I am not completely happy with it. I do not care for how the two strands of brown silk cover on the cashel linen for the acorns. Next time up, I am pulling them out and restitching with three strands...

I can't believe it is June already! Goal review time :-)

May 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 – finish House 10 and start another block - yes, and I started House 9
4. Continue to work on Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace - no
5. Start Kathy’s Neighborhood Round Robin - yes, and mailed it to An
6. Stitch at least one PIF - yes, I did two – Nic and Linda have received them
7. Continue to stitch on Spring Ride SAL - no
8. Stitch one or two ornaments - yes, I stitched two
9. Stitch and mail SBEBB Feathered Friends Exchange by 5/15 - yes, and Nancy has received it
10. Stitch and mail Spring Exchange to Myrna - I am stitching two things – I finished the first
11. Stitch and send return CE Exchange to Simone - yes, finished Saturday and will mail to her on Monday, 6/2
12. Stitch and send HoE Freebie Exchange by 5/31 - yes, and Olga has received it
13. Stitch some gifts - yes, I stitched four gifts
14. Finish House Samplings/start a new small to medium project - yes – finished House Samplings and started Acorn Sampler
15. Meet the Finishing Challenge – Biscornu - yes
16. Stitch and send Glenna’s Neighborhood Round Robin to Nicole by 6/1 - yes! – mailed it to Nicole on 5/31

June Goals:
1. Continue to work on Serenity
2. Continue to work on A Quaker Christmas
3. Continue to work on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
4. Start Michelle’s Neighborhood Round Robin
5. Continue to stitch on Spring Ride SAL
6. Stitch one or two ornaments
7. Finish and send Spring Exchange to Myrna
8. Stitch some gifts
9. Finish Acorn Sampler
10. Stitch and send ABC Exchange by 6/15
11. Stitch and send Patriotic Exchange by 6/21
12. Stitch and send HoE LHN Exchange by 6/28
13. Stitch and send scissor pocket for MAW exchange to Terry
14. Stitch ornament for Christmas in July exchange, ready to send by 7/1
15. Stitch Stitcher’s Lottery item, ready for 7/4
16. Stitch and send new Crazy Exchange

Stitched on today: Started second half of Spring exchange for Myrna, and stitched on Acorn Sampler

A Beautiful Gift from Gill

I received a lovely surprise gift in the mail today. Gill read my recent post about how disheartening it is to work with low income people during these very difficult economical times. She wanted to cheer me up, and she stitched me this perfect little needlebook with the most cheerful little frogs. The back of the book features the other half of this Casey Buonaugurio design, which just happens to be one of my favorites (I received a lovely biscornu stitched from this design in a recent exchange - I am so blessed). Gill's work is so perfect and exquisite - I plan to study this little needlebook as I love her finishing technique. Thank you so much, Gill, for this little gift. It was so unnecessary, but so very sweet of you! Tonight was HOHRH night for me. I finally finished the tall house in the 10th block. That was a bit of a mini-milestone for me. It seemed to take me forever... but now I am on to the next one as I started the outer border for the 9th block too...

I am going to be pulling some more hand-dyed fabrics for sale and will post them soon - probably on Monday. If you are interested, keep an eye out! I just have so many right now...

Congratulations Manny Ramirez! Welcome to the 500 Club!! And he did it off of a former Red Sox pitcher too ;-) ...This happened tonight while I was stitching on HOHRH....

Stitched on today: Finished CE return exchange for Simone, and stitched on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow **Mailed Glenna's Neighborhood Round Robin to Nicole, and mailed a gift

Phew!

I made the deadline :-) Glenna's Neighborhood Round Robin is ready to mail to Nicole tomorrow. Those willow trees took me forever, but I love how they add so much to the house. The top of my square does look a little empty. I wanted to start my house on the same line as the one in the bottom left (Carissa's). I think a bird would look good in the sky, but I couldn't find a good enough one in time to be able to mail this on time... I hope Glenna doesn't mind, she can add one at the end if she prefers.... The chart I used is called No Ewe 2 by Finger Work.


Congratulations to the Boston Celtics - Eastern Conference Champs! (Photo from sportsillustrated.com)

Stitched on today: Finished Glenna's Neighborhood Round Robin, and finished a gift

Landscaping

With only two days and counting left to get this RR off to its next destination, I started the landscaping on Glenna's neighborhood tonight. The willow trees are taking longer than I had expected, but if I keep my nose to the grindstone, I can get it done and off in time!

Maria... the floss I sent to Olga is Polstitches Dragon Floss and the color is Calm Dawn.

And... Joanne... Women of the Mayflower is by Olde Willow Design Group and in an old, retired issue of Fine Lines Magazine, Spring 2004.

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

Another ornament finished

As I mentioned yesterday, I stitched up another ornament, and here it is (dark photo - I forgot to take the picture until it was already after dinner time):

Noel Ornament
Shepherd's Bush - chart found here
32 ct Dirty Belfast Linen, GAST and WDW Floss (modified from the Caron fibers in the chart)

And, with June 1st fast approaching, and even though I only just received this RR... I need to finish up and mail it off quickly, quickly, quickly! More work on Glenna's RR... a bit of landscaping to do :-)

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

HoE Freebie Design Exchange for Olga

Olga has received my HoE Freebie Design Exchange for her today. I was intrigued when I received her name for this exchange. I did not know Olga at all, and I really enjoyed becoming a regular reader of her blog, and was tickled that she and I love pretty much the same designers. That made choosing for her to be easy! Here is what I chose:

Martina's Roses Biscornu
Chatelaine
28 ct Black Jobelan, DMC Floss, Kreinik #4 Braid, Mill Hill Beads

And the rest of the goodies for her... I figured she would enjoy some fun items for finishing, and some girly stuff too :-)

I think I got a better photo of my latest ornament this afternoon - a little less overexposed than last night's attempt... and here are the details:

Homespun Christmas Ornament
Heart in Hand
R&R Reproductions 35 ct Sheeps Straw Linen, GAST and WDW Floss

Stitched on today: Stitched (and finished) Noel Ornament by Shepherd's Bush (photo tomorrow) **Mailed out a gift today

Happy Memorial Day

Not a lot of energy for stitching today, but I did finish my ornament for the SAL :-) I will take a better photo tomorrow morning in the daylight and share that later - I used R&R Reproductions 35 ct Sheeps Straw linen, and none of my photos show it well yet...

This photo is for Veronica - Veronica sent me a packet of sunflower seeds in the HoE Pinkeep Exchange, and here they are - they really took off! I hope they don't turn into deer food when we finally put them in the garden. The germination rate was wonderful. I started them under grow lights.

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, finished Homespun Christmas Ornament, and stitched on Crazy Exchange return exchange for Simone

Irises and Christmas?

Holiday or not, it is still Christmas Ornament SAL weekend... so... here is mine. I started it last night, and if I am lucky, I will get the finishing done tomorrow ;-)

And, just to prove that it is not actually Christmas time, and that it truly is spring here... well, it is still early for my zone 5 garden to truly be in bloom, here are a few I found abloom today:





Happy Memorial Day to my US friends!

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and on Homespun Christmas

A little more house

It's Memorial Day weekend here, and thus, not much of a day for stitching. But I did get a little in here and there. Glenna's house is growing (if not photographing well)... and I started a Christmas ornament as it is SAL weekend... not a whole lot done there either!

I hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend!

Stitched on today: Started a Christmas ornament, and stitched on Glenna's Neighborhood Round Robin