Christmas in July

I finished this pretty little lady a few days ago.  Because I inadvertently made her 2 columns thinner (who would complain about that?) and 2 rows shorter (bummer!) I adjusted the border a bit.

There is a new Christmas ornie SAL starting in August which I've joined.  Since I am already stitching some Christmas ornies this year, it seemed the perfect SAL to join.  The subject for August is Santa and happily, Santa was on my list for next month ... doubly perfect.

It has finally stopped raining in Pennsylvania (hooray!) and the beags took time to catch some well deserved rays.

 

 

 

Summer has finally arrived!

 

 

 

 



October WIPocalypse

Unfortunately, I didn't get as much done this month as I had hoped.  Poor Adriana, which I wanted to have done by this update, didn't get anymore stitches added.  Nor did the Sticklounge Advent Calender or the Old European Sampler.  Sigh.

Instead, I spent an enjoyable month on Halloween and Exchanges (one of which is still a secret):

I did finally finish Something Wicked by La-D-Da.  It only needed the spiders added but had fallen to the bottom of my pile and was hidden -- until now:

I can't remember when I started this one but it was at least a year ago, maybe more (time flies when you're having fun).  I doubt it'll get 'ornamentized' before tomorrow but at least it's ready for the process.

 
The last piece I stitched on was the Christmas SAL from Carole and I'm happy to report it is up to date:

Carole's original design called for lots of white thread but the white doesn't show up well on my tea stained fabric (at least not stitched 1 over 1, it doesn't).  So I picked a light brown for the snow instead -- hmmm, better than yellow, don't you think?

I'm not signing up for any more exchanges or SAL's until after the new year.  I need to get more Christmas gifts stitched and will be spending most of my stitching time getting them done. 

And I really want to get Adriana finished before the world ends.

My IHSW was a good one

I got bunches of great quality stitching time in (hurray!) amongst household chores (blecchht!).

The first thing I worked on had lots and lots and lots (and omg! lots) of little black cross stitches that looked something like this:

Unfortunately, since it's a surprise for a friend, I can't show you the whole shapely thing but suffice it to say, there is lots (and lots and lots) more blackness than pictured above.  By the time I finished all the black -- I needed some

 * C O L O R *

sooo, I switched to the Tulip Sampler and finished all the green blocks (granted, most of the time I was stitching with one color, ie, green -- but at least it was a change from black --  it's the little things that make life exciting, don't you agree?)

And then my last IHSW piece for the weekend was a new start -- the Christmas SAL from Carole.  I didn't get much finished on it and I'm already behind (because I just found out about it last week) but I think it's going to be a fun little sampler (as her SAL's usually are):

I switched out the colors and am going for a different look than the traditional Christmas one.  So far, so good.  If you want to participate in Carole's SAL, I think you have until the end of the month to join.

Have a good one! 


Oh . . . .  and thanks for all the comments on Eek!  Those guys really crack me up!  I may have to stitch them for myself as well.

My first (and probably last) painted canvas

This week is Christmas Design SAL week. I worked on my project Monday evening and after much thinking, stitching and tearing out, I went to bed with the intention of doing something else for this SAL. After all, I have that old hardanger tree that needs to be finished. I like hardanger. This painted canvas stuff, not so much.

After a reasonably good night's sleep, I woke up determined to finish the thing. If I don't like it, that's ok. I can give it to someone as a Christmas present and never have to see it again.

Anyway, here it is:

I plan on stitching on it all this week, hoping that I can get lots done on it this month.  Sigh .... I have no idea what to do with the snowman.  Here's hoping something comes to me.  I don't think I'm a painted-canvas-type-of -stitcher.   It's probably because the painted areas are distracting.

Stitching with agility

Well it's 2010 -- woohoo -- another year down the drain.  Oh well.

I did manage to get some stitching done over the holiday, not as much as I wanted but that's ok. 



Harvest Angel is almost finished. She needs eyes, some beads, a spider web and the date and she will be done. Hopefully this week will see her completed and to the framer's.

I changed her wings from butterfly-type to more bird-like wings and filled them with a pulled thread stitch.  I like them better this way. 

There is a goof in her dress at one point ..... but I'll never tell where it is. 








I began the Christmas Design SAL on January 1st.  I didn't get much done but I did start it.  At least I got over the first hump.  I probably won't do any more on it until next month now.  Or maybe I'll finish the brown squares at the top before calling it done for the month.

And last but not least is See the Star.

I was visited by some froggies here -- ripit -- ripit!!  Froggies and over 1 stitching are not pleasant creatures.  Hopefully, they are gone and will not return.  With luck I can get this part finished tonight or tomorrow.

On Sunday, the dogs and I went to a CPE agility trial.  My scardy boy River did wonderfully.  He was happy and not stressed for his run.  Stormy is officially off the injured reserve list.  He ran fast and without any problems -- he is back to his ol' bouncy self.  Whew!  And Willow ran beautifully also.  I screwed up her Snooker run because I wasn't in the right place but her Colors was perfect.  Out of a total of 4 runs, the dogs and I Q'd 3 times.  Not to shabby!