Never enough time

I have decided to set up a rotation in hopes that I will finally finish SOMETHING!!! My tastes seem to go to large projects; the amount of time I have seems better suited to tiny projects. Here's the plan:

1. Stitch the Retro RR ornament as soon as the supplies arrive.

2. Monday - Celtic Winter

3. Tuesday - Mystery VIII

4. Wednesday - Band of Many Colors Sampler

5. Thursday - choice of projects

6. Friday - archived project of choice

7. Saturday - Celtic Winter

8. Sunday - Mystery VIII

I have been working on my Celtic Winter; the picture is not very interesting yet; right now I am working on the swirls at the bottom of the skirt - I don't like working with metallics (although I adore the way they look), so I am trying to get this out of the way early.

This past weekend, my stamping buddy from Charlotte NC came up to spend the weekend. We discovered a fabulous stamping/scrapbooking store and stamp club. Now I am hoping my inky fingers don't discolor my linen. We also painted one wall in the garage while my friend was here - not everybody you know is willing to help you paint your garage!!!!! She has my undying gratitude.

Oh, my Expressions linen Silkweaver Fabric of the Month arrived today. It is gorgeous. I couldn't be more pleased. It is the only stash I will be getting for a while. I have to save up for Chatelaine Mystery IX and Sampler Mystery II and Pearl Lights and Smalls (the list is endless!!!)

Well, that's all for now. Happy stitching, Margaret

Quick update

I don't have progress pics right now - but I will try to post some tomorrow. I finished my little dragon for the JCS Retro ornie RR - he is just adorable. I guess I was being cranky in my last post, when I was complaining about him. Anyway, I restitched him on Mocha Cashel, and am happy with the results. Thank goodness I had only used the DMC floss on my first attempt when I discovered my error - and I had plenty of floss to restitch him.

I started my Celtic Ladies SAL. I selected Celtic Winter and am using 28 ct. opalescent Lugana, Winter Skye, by Silkweaver. I am working on the right hand side border - so that I have something to count against when I do the dress. Two other reasons - I was concerned that the border would be boring because it is repetitive, and I need to get it done while I am enthusiastic about the project; and also I haven't decided whether to go with grays for the dress, or move more to blues. So far I am loving the project.

I decided to go with Silkweavers FOTM for the next six months as my prize for the Summer Fun Event. I just love the hand dyed fabrics, and can't get enough of them.

It has rained and rained this weekend. We certainly needed it; but I have 300 daffodil bulbs in my garage waiting to be planted. I wish they were in the ground!!! This afternoon while DH and DS are footballing I am going to the nursery and buy some mums - I just can't resist any longer. I may get some pansies also. Then tomorrow (a holiday) I am going to visit a LNS (the first since moving to Maryland). I have been in mourning because I miss the Stitch N Frame Shop (Rock Hill SC) since my move - I am now over that!!!

Happy stitching, Margaret

Time to Start Over

Gosh darn it!!! I miscounted on my ornament for the JCS Retro RR. My little dragon's tail is practically at his nose; and his arm and leg are not aligned. So, now, I can choose between the lovely options of unstitching about half of the little guy or starting over. Well, time is valuable, and a little floss and lugana are not hard to come by, so I think today I will start over.

I am still working to integrate my CATS purchases with my stash. I will have to go and get a plastic storage box for some of the older kits I guess.

That's all for now, Happy stitching, Margaret

Just Too Much Fun

Once again I have been busy and let the time go by without updating my blog.

I have fabulous news!!!! I was the lucky winner of the Silkweaver Summer Fun Event!!! I found out about it right before I left to go to Hershey for CATS. I was just too excited!!! I am still deciding between some large fabrics or the FOTM for six months. What a dilema!!!

CATS was great fun. I bought way too much stuff; and took 8 classes. Then my DH and DS came up to join me and we visited Choclate World and toured Amish country. Thank goodness we have friends in Hershey that let me stay with them!!!!

I also received my first ornament pack from my JCS Retro RR. I started it this evening. It looks like it will be adorable.

Still don't have my fabric for my LL Celtic Lady SAL. I will be starting out way behind everyone else - well, some things can't be helped.

That's all for now, happy stitching, Margaret

Where does the time go?

I cannot believe that it has been so long since I last posted. I do so admire people like Carol that update everyday without fail.

This is my favorite time of year - football season, perfect for stitching. I have been working on my Bands of Many Colors. It is part of a SAL that goes through the end of the year. I am finding it maddening - the right margin is not consistent (although this is typical of old samplers) and furthermore some motifs that I think should be centered are not. Of course I would never check something like that out BEFORE I stitch it - and now I've stitched the darn thing over one - and the debate is raging about whether to leave it as charted or re-do. I'll never let on what I decide. One more complaint and I'll move on - my chart does not contain one set of alphabet letters that is used in the chart. I've tried to chart my own, but it's not great. oh, one more thing - I don't mean this as negative towards the designer - I have taken several classes with Eileen Bennett - and have thoroughly enjoyed them and learned a lot. I'm thinking that it is just this one chart that I don't get along with. I will post pics soon. I stitch in hand, and so if I took in progress pictures they would look awful because of the wrinkles.

Yesterday I attended an EGA Class for this project - Strauss by Dakota Rogers. I am really starting to enjoy canvas work - it goes so quickly.


I also discovered a great web site for blackwork - Stitchin'spiration.. This is a fabulous web site that combines two of my favorite things - blackwork and gardens. They also have a Katrina charity sampler that I just got. It is on the short list of new projects.

I have not yet started my Celtic Lady. I am having trouble finding that perfect fabric. I plan to look in Hershey this weekend. I will be starting out behind everybody else - but that can't be helped at this point.

Well, I'm back to my stitching chair. Happy stitching, Margaret

Christmas Ornament and Greeting Cards

This is the ornament I stitched for the Retro JCS Ornament Exchange on the Ornie RR ezboard. The title is Poinsettia by Amaryllis Artworks. This is another chance to practice my finishing techniques. I do have a good excuse to put off finishing this, however. I have enrolled in a finishing class at the upcoming CATS in Hershey, PA, so it just makes sense to wait until after the class to tackle this project. It's not often that a really good excuse presents itself!!!!
Poinsettia by Amaryllis Artworks 
Here is a photo of the Pleated Card I made at Stamp Club yesterday. I don't think the photo does it justice. Yesterday I also stitched a quick card for a friend. This is called embroidery on paper, and it is quick and easy!!!!





While I was suring the web this morning, I came across another project by Martina Weber that I simply must do - the Persian iris garden. I truly fit the description of a Chatelaine addict. Now I really am going to work on Mystery VIII this evening. Happy stitching, Margaret

Here is a photo of a Christmas ornament that I stitched yesterday. It is a Genny Morrow design titled Holiday Charm I. I signed up for a cyberclass because I am not familiar with stitching on canvas. It was a quick and easy project, and didn't turn out too bad; but I didn't get any stitching done on Mystery VIII yesterday. I am a relative novice at finishing (and it shows), but this will be a good practice project.

Holiday Charm I 

This morning I discovered links to some charts that the designers have designated as being dedicated to Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts. Basically, the designer will either donate some of their profits, or send you a free chart after you have donated to one of the major charities. YEA!!!! I signed up for them right away. Here is one link I found at Stitching Bits and Blobs. Of course, it's not like I need more projects to do, but this is for a good cause.

Well, I'm off to get my stuff ready for stamp club this afternoon. I will publish photos of some of my stamping projects soon. I think they are great because you get almost instant gratification, especially as compared to year long stitching projects; not to mention that paper and ink is relatively inexpensive compared to linen and silk!!!!

Tonight I plan to select my fabric for the Celtic Ladies SAL that I am starting this month.

Happy stitching, Margaret

Hi! I am now back home after spending the last week at a training session in Denver, CO. It is a gorgeous part of the country - much different than the highly populated suburban Maryland that I live in.

All the time that I was not in class, I spent glued to the television to get news of Katrina. My father and his wife live very near Picayune, MS. They actually evacuated to Jackson, MS during the passage of the storm. My father called me on Tuesday to let me know he was fine. He then called later in the week to say that they had returned home; their house is basically intact, but has a few trees on it. They have no power and no telepones or cell phones - that is why I have not been able to reach them. They had to cut brush away in order to get to their house. He last called me from Baton Rouge, where he had gone to try to get gasoline for his generator. My uncle's house, which is nearby, similarly did not get major damage. My father said other areas nearby are just devastated. Our family has a happy story - The good Lord was looking after them.

Words are not adequate to express how overwhelming the whole situation is; or how my heart goes out to all of those affected. It is so incredible that in this day and age, our country, with all its wealth and resources at its disposal, still has difficulty providing the needed assistance in a crisis situation. It certainly puts our minor annoyances in perspective. Maybe I'll be in a cheerier mood tomorrow. Margaret

Here is my third Silkweaver Summer Fun Pack post. I think the pattern is gorgeous, but I'm not crazy about the thread/fabric/pattern combination - Oh well, live and learn. It only took two of my son's soccer practices to finish, so I didn't invest a lot of time in it.

Now, I have to go cut my fabric for the Retro JCS Round Robin.

I am going to be out of town on business all next week, but will try to update my blog next weekend.


Coeur Romantique 

Here is another project that I did for Silkweaver's Summer Fun Pack program. This was one of my first attempts at changing colors to suit the threads I already owned.


berry basket sampler 

Here is one of my projects that I did as part of Silkweaver's Summer Fun Packs. It is much different than what I usually stitch, but it was quick and fun!!!!


Checkers 

Well, it doesn't look like a daily update is possible; instead I will shoot for a weekly update. Perhaps once summer is over and school is back in session, I can get on a better schedule.

The next few weeks are going to be quite busy by my standards. A friend of mine from Charlotte (my long distance rubber stamping buddy) is coming to spend this weekend with me. It is her birthday, and so for a treat we are going to attend this rubber stamp class for an altered board book.

Then next weekend, a friend who is currently living in Amaty, Kazakstan, is coming to visit. We are pampering ourselves with a day at a day spa. We also will be doing some power shopping!!!

After that we are going on vacation at Painter's Lodge in British Columbia for some salmon fishing for the DH an 10 yr old DS.

Then the following weekend, DH's aunt and uncle are coming for a visit. They live in West Palm Beach, FL, so we don't get to see them very often, so this visit will also be a treat.

On the down side, not much time for stitching!!!

I am still plugging along on Chatelaine's Mystery VIII. I am still not having luck getting good pictures of my stitching projects. I stitch in hand, and so the linen is wrinkled. If there is anyone out there who has an easy solution for making WIP pictures presentable, please let me know. I am quite intrigued by Chatelaine's upcoming Pearl Lights Sampler. I am thinking that may be the next large project I start.

In the meantime, here are some of my garden lovelies. My daylily blooms are sparse this year - we have a herd of venison (er, I mean Bambies) that regularly pillage the daylily buds. However, I did manage to save a few blooms by faithfully spraying deer repellant.

Now, back to stitching.

Hi! This is my first post in my blog. I have been inspired by reading other stitcher's posts, in particular, Carol's Stitching Blog. I am a cross-stitcher and gardener, assisted by my loyal furballs (Labrador retriever, inside kitty and outside cat). My DH has just set up this blog for me, and is tutoring me along the way.

My current cross stitch projects are Martina Weber's Mystery VIII, Celtic Quilt Mystery, and Midi Mystery I. I am also stitching Just Nan's Peacock Sampler and Eileen Bennett's Band of Many Colors. (I couldn't begin to list all of my UFO's or projects in my stash.) If all goes well, I will start posting progress pictures for my stitching projects.


I am also a rubber stamper. I started stamping so that I would always have a greeting card available to fit the occasion because I could make it myself, and also to beat the high cost of ready made greeting cards. What a way to kid myself!!! This afternoon is Stamp Club, so not much time to work on this blog.

I have lived in Maryland for two years, and am slowly adjusting my gardens to fit the mid-Atlantic climate. I am in zone denial - nursing along camellias and wisteria. I have given up on crinums, gardenias, Confederate roses, and all the wondrous fragrances of the southeast. Oh well, the ability to have lilacs and peonies almost make up for it!


Please leave me comments!!!

Until next time, Margo and assistant, kittychernoff