Ye Olde European Sampler

is slooowly coming along.  I got more done on it over the long weekend but unfortunately, I didn't have much time for stitching.  Needless to say, I've changed the colors a bit.  I don't know whether I like the dark brown in the corner knot .... or not.  But it can just stay there for awhile as I decide.   In case you are curious, here is the original sampler.

The dark blue outside border is sucking down the thread, so on the way home from work today, I plan to get some more.  The thread for this piece was bought recently so there shouldn't be a problem with dye lots.  I may tea stain this project after it's all stitched.  This would be a first for me but I'm thinking it would make this piece actually look like 'ye olde sampler' if I stain it. 

As for the puppies ... they are doing well.  Their eyes and ears are open and they are mobile.

Have a good week!

Puppy update ... with some stitching thrown in.

Here they are at 2 weeks and just opening their eyes:

The boys are healthy, vigorus little dudes and growing like weeds.  Aren't they adorable?
Check out the little beauty mark on flashy Nash's hip -- he's quite the looker right now.   Keep those fingers crossed that all 6 balls drop -- lol!

Okay, on to stitching ......

Unfortunately, I don't seem to be getting much done.  I'm not exactly sure why this is so but I suspect it's because I have too many projects started.  This seems to bother me more than I thought it would when I began the crazy January challenge.  I haven't been able to work on those projects for awhile now and they're starting to nag at me.  I think I need to stop starting projects and get some finished.  Starting new projects is fun but apparently, I'm the type that needs to finish them also.  Having said that ......

My EGA group has started an ANG project called Sudoko.  Since most of us are members of both organizations, we decided to stitch this fun project.  It's based on the game Sudoko (of which I have limited knowledge since I don't play).  I haven't gotten very far on mine but already I'm not following the actual Sudoko chart thingee.  I'm just kind of putting whatever stitch/color I want wherever I put it.  How organized is that???

I got some more pads done on the Waterlilies and even finished the flower on your right:

I don't know if I like this project and I think the reason is that the pond is too static for my tastes.  It needs more life -- some bugs or a frog or something.  Maybe when I put the water in, the sparkle from that thread will liven the piece up a bit.  I thought about dropping this project (especially since I have so many other projects going I just love to stitch) but since it's a good one to work on at lunchtime, I'm not going to do that.

My final stitching update is Old European Sampler by Steve Rousseau -- this is another Sticklounge SAL that I'm just beginning (sigh). 

I'm trying something different with this one.  If you enlarge the pic, you will notice on the lower left part of the blue and brown knotted section that the half stitches are going in the opposite direction.  This is intentional -- I want to see what effect the crosses going in different directions will have on this section.  So far, the effect seems subtle but noticable. 

I hope everyone has a good time this weekend -- get plenty of stitching, gardening, picnicing, or whatever done.

Oh, in case you are wondering --- I haven't gotten my knotted dogs pattern yet --- waa!

Hoooray!

I am soooo excited ... but first a little background .....

A couple years ago I began a Celtic Sampler only to get stuck on the yucky, depressing, dying bird sentiment that came next.  I looked for a saying a bit more upbeat but couldn't find something that fit in with the whole Celtic sampler look.  What can I say ..... I'm picky.  Then I thought the perfect thing to go next would be knotted hounds -- you know, since I love dogs and have a pack of them?  Well, back to the internet I went searching, searching and .... grrrrrr!  Nothing.

Isn't it cool?

So I rolled up my sampler and put it away.  And every once in awhile I get it out, confirm to myself that I really hate that dying bird saying, sigh a little sigh, roll it back up and put it away again.

And then yesterday I found it!  It's perfect -- a row of knotted hounds!  Can you believe it?!?  I bought it immediately and am patiently (not!) waiting for it to come in the mail.  SQUEAL!  I am sooo excited!  WooHoo!  Yippee!  Hooray!  Happy dancing time!  

Woah.

Stop ..... breathe ...... again ...... and again ..... breathe one more time .....

Okay .... okay ..... I'm calmer now .......  On to the regular, less exciting stitchy stuff.

First I want to show you the Friendship Heart.   Don't you just love that beautiful, scrolly 'A'?  I'm a little bummed that I can't get the fabric color accurate in the photos of this piece.  It's such a pretty color in real life and kind of blah-looking in my pics.  Oh well.  The quotation to the left of the 'A' is Hindi -- how cool is that?

We had our second class on the Water Lily piece at the EGA meeting on Monday.  Here's where I am so far:

I've got 3 of the lily pads done and most of the border stitched.  There isn't much stitching to do because, with this technique, you want the photograph to show through the threads.  The idea is to enhance the picture with your stitching.  The flowers will be long straight stitches with a few french knots and the water will be a darning stitch with sparkly thread.   I'm working on this during lunchtime at work, so it will probably be awhile before it's finished.

As for the puppies -- they're getting fatter and cuter each day.  Momma has lots of milk and her babies definitely know how to find it.

Have a good one .....


Yippee!  I found it!   WooHoooooo ..........

Puppies!!! and a little stitching

Aren't they adorable?  Three boys born May 7th.  We call them Crosby, Stills and Nash -- here's hoping they can sing as well as their namesakes -- gggg.

Puppies always make me smile -- doesn't little Nash look like a guinea pig from the backside?  Too cute.

Anyway, I don't seem to be able to get much stitching done but here's what I've managed to squeeze in:

Homage to Japan by Remy Lawler (a SAL from the Sticklounge) is finished.  I plan to make it into a bell pull.

My pink Odds & Ends by Tams Creations is almost finished -- only one more part to go.  This has been lots of fun to stitch.  The original is all cross stitch but I decided to use it as a specialty stitch sampler of the different shapes.  Honestly, I'll be glad when it's finished -- it's becoming more difficult to think of different color and stitch combos -- my poor brain is getting tired.

I've stitched on some other things but don't have pics of them - duh! - so I guess I'll leave it at this.  Have a good day.