More stitching, no puppies

The puppies left last weekend and my house got much quieter and kind of boring without them.  But I have gotten some stitching done.  I worked on 2 more of my Crazy 15.  The first is the Sampler Girls' Jane Austen In The Kitchen:

The colors are so awful because my flash didn't go off -- I must have changed the settings somehow.  It isn't actually finished because I haven't attached the charm or signed and dated it yet.  In case you are familar with the pattern, I rearranged, changed and deleted some elements from the original design.   This is the second time I stitched this one, the first was for a friend.  This one is for me.

The second Crazy 15 is A Ghost's Alphabet by Primrose Needleworks:

You probably don't remember (why would you) but I started this on different fabric and when I picked it back up last weekend, I decided I didn't like it ===>

<=== So I changed the fabric to a 14 count golden-colored aida (again crappy lighting makes for crappy colors) and I like it better.  I should be able to finish this over the weekend and when I take the next picture, I'll be sure to get the flash to work.

This third project is almost finished also -- Friendship Heart SAL from my Sticklounge group:

I need to decide how I'm going to finish this. I'm not a big fan of heart shapes in frames because of all that empty space at the bottom.  A throw pillow is not a good idea with my dogs, unless I keep it off the furniture and display it on my shelves.  One of the ladies in the group found a heart shaped box that fit her stitched piece perfectly -- what are the chances of that happening for me??  Another thought was to finish it as a heart-shaped wall hanging -- ugh! sewing.  Oh well, I'll come up with something -- any suggestions?

I forgot to take a picture of this guy last week:

He is my third hardanger snowman -- the first two were given away as gifts.  This one will be mine and serves as the model for my EGA group's Christmas in July class (which I am teaching).  As you can see, he needs a few finishing touches -- mainly a face.  All three snowmen are from the same pattern but they're all different (due to threads, material and counting errors).  Here are the other two as comparison:

I think that's about it on the stitching front.  Have a good weekend!

Entertaining house guests .....

I had the cutest house guests the last 2 weeks -- 3 little boy beagle pups:

So needless to say, I haven't really gotten much done in the way of stitching, house work or gardening.

I did manage to get one of my Crazy January Challenge pieces finished -- yay -- Jane Austen On Weather by the Sampler Girl:

Plus I spent some time on StickLounge SAL's:

Friendship Heart

Purple Garden

Have a good Monday!

Crazy for samplers

HELP!!

I fear I have Samplermania! 

I'm becoming obsessed with stitching samplers.  Of my wips, almost all of them are samplers, the few that aren't are holiday ornaments.  When I first started cross stitching, I did mostly nature things, critters and flowers and such, with the occassional human-form (a stately lady and a few angels) tossed in for variety.  I think the reason I love doing samplers so much is that I can pick and choose my own colors just to see how they work together.

One of the first samplers I did was from Country Cross Stitching magazine (I think) from the 1990's.  I love this sampler -- the verse, the border, the little critters, etc.  What I do not like, even to this day, are the colors.  If I was stitching this sampler now, I would definitely change some, if not all, the colors.

Today, I'm older, maybe a little wiser and more experienced.  Today I have three pretty samplers all in a row (with colors chosen by me):

The first pretty sampler is Star Sampler by Lady Periphaeria

The next pretty sampler is Heart Note Alley by Gracewood Stitches

And the last (but not least) pretty sampler is Old European Sampler by Steve Rousseau

Isn't color fun?  You gotta try it!

Good news about my knotted dogs -- I received them last week.  Unfortuately, the pattern was sooo tiny, I had to get it enlarged before I could even begin to see what needed to go where.  And when I did get it enlarged, I noticed each dog only has 3 paws.  This bothers me a little, especially since all my dogs have four.  But I'm getting over it and hope to begin stitching this week.

Later ......



More on Heart Note Alley ....

I finished part 1 of Heart Note Alley SAL yesterday -- I love the colors I picked -- the threads go wonderfully with the rose-colored fabric:

The Sudoko project also received some attention this morning:

Though, technically, it isn't sudoko any more because I have the 2nd set of 9 squares the wrong way.  The top horizontal row should be the first vertical row,  the middle horizontal row should be the second vertical row and the bottom horizontal row should be the third vertical row.  I do not plan on changing this mistake, ergo, no sudoko.  But it still looks okay to me.

Have a nice weekend!



What the ...... !?

Another start ????

Welllll, I thought I would take a break from the blues of Old European Sampler last night to begin Heart Note Alley by Gracewood Designs.   Naturally, I decided to change the colors ......

Woah there now!  ... says you ...  you don't have another WIP that's not blues??  Sheeesh!

Well  .... says I with a sheepish grin ....  this one needed to be started -- it was calling to me and I couldn't resist it anymore.

lol!  Have a good one .....


Pssstttt .... my knotted dogs are on their way from Washington state.  Yippee!

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.

More starts ? ! ?

Yikes -- I must be totally nuts.  I have 3 more starts (with more to begin soon).  This first one is a class taught at my local EGA chapter.  It's a photo on canvas that will be embelished with embroidery.  The designer's name is Susan Goodman.  The first class involved the border stitching.  There are 2 layers for the border, the first is scotch stitch and the second is basketweave stitch.  I'm almost finished with the first layer.   I have until May 16th to complete the 2 borders.

I took a class from Susan Goodman a couple years ago at a seminar.  This piece is called The Red Window and it involved transfering other stuff to a printed canvas before embroidering over it:

 My garden has more flowers than the designer's, if memory serves me correctly, her garden was mostly greenery.  I thoroughly enjoyed stitching my Red Window garden.  This is a fun technique and I look forward the our second class on the Lily Pond.

My second new start is a lovely sampler by Lady Periphaeira called Star Sampler.  The original pattern calls for 2 colors but I decided to add a couple colors and some specialty stitches.  If you are interested, this is a SAL and you can still stitch along if you are so inclined.  We are up to part 3 so there is still plenty of time to join.

 

And the third and final start (as of today) is a patchwork heart I'm making for a friend.  I drew the heart on the fabric with one of those pens that has water-erasible ink in it, added some patches and started to stitch. 

The last stitchy pic is the Tam's Creations piece called Odds and Ends.  This SAL in on part 12 out of 13.  Hopefully, I can finish this part over the weekend, get the final piece and finish stitching this one next week.  Wellllll, that's the plan as of this minute. 

The next couple pics have nothing to do with stitching. Shasta is about a week away from delivering and I just had to take some pics of her belly. Tomorrow she goes to my friend's house (the expert puppy midwife) to have her pups. I'm going to miss her and cannot wait to see the babes. Shasta looks bigger to me than last time ...... she seems more restless / uncomfortable than the last pregnancy ..... the poor dear.

Later ......

I'm baaack ....

It's been awhile but things are finally settling down and getting back to normal at work -- hooray!  

Now if the weather would only settle down.  We are getting more rain today -- yuck!  The back yard is a big puddle that the dogs refuse to go out into to do their biznez BUT have no problem charging through to chase that elusive squirrel or crow.  Sigh.  And in addition to my dogs, I have a couple house guests for the week.  Happy is old and not so interested in being outside much but Moose is young and full of himself.  He loves to run around the yard, picking up as many sticks and pine needles as possible in his long, lovely Papillion hair.  What a sight!  The first time I let him out he came back a total mess.  Hehehe -- so much for the bath his mom gave him before his visit.  Let's see, today's Tuesday ..... we're supposed to get rain every day this week ..... soooo, by Friday, he should have all the sticks in my yard cleaned up and I'll be hosing him down to get the mud off.

Mind you, my beagles are just as guilty when it comes to getting dirty but not nearly as useful when it comes to yard cleanup.  Willow had mud splashed all over her face the other day, in addition to most other parts of her body.  She, Meadow and Moose had a grand romp through the yard.  When I suggested they spend some time in the kitchen to dry, instead of immediately jumping onto the couch for a nice rub and roll, Willow's feelings were hurt, Meadow didn't get the point and Moose wanted to go back out for another romp. 


Speaking of beagles :)  Shasta is making some beautiful puppies, even as we speak.  Check out that belly -- and that's not from eating too much .....

I'm getting a little long winded here but before I go on to some stitching, I have to tell you about her 'baby'.  A couple weeks before she came in season, Shasta started carrying around this little red bear.  She would take it everywhere with her and protect it if anyone(dog) got too close to it.  The purple bear is her third 'baby'.  The other ones were stolen and de-stuffed by Meadow.  Once de-stuffed, Shasta seems to loose interest in it.  Unfortunately, I only had the 2 until a couple weekends ago when Stormy won 3 more at an agility trial.  Yea Stormy!  Shasta was so happy to get a new 'baby', she almost took my fingers with it.

Okay stitching update ....

I finished this fun Easter SAL from Carol -- and totally enjoyed every minute of it.  Don't you just love the bunnies nibbling on the carrot tops?  Too cute.

Homage to Japan has one more part before it's finished.  Sorry it's laying side-ways, I forgot to change the orientation when in Photoshop.

My "Purple" Garden is coming along nicely.  When I picked the colors, I was thinking "Spring" Garden but everytime I look at it now, I think summer and watermelon.

And last but not least, I have started a new project (can you believe it?  I must be bonkers) called Friendship Heart.  This is the left top lobe of the heart and only part 1.  The photo colors came out kinda sucky -- the fabric is totally off.  In reality it's more a blue-green color, not grey.

Ummm, as to my crazy 15 challenge .... not much happening there but I hope to get back on them now that I have more free time.  

Take care everyone --- stay dry and mud free!