Football weekend stitching!

 Hiya,  I stitched the O Tannebaum ornament from the 2013 JCS Ornament issue while waiting for/watching the much-anticipated Alabama/Auburn football game.  It was a sad day for the Crimson Tide - but at least I have this charming ornament.  I used the pretty blue fabric called for in the design - but my picture does not capture the loveliness of this piece.

I also finished up on my Antique Evergreens by Elizabeth Designs.  This piece is just charming - it was a very enjoyable stitch - quick and easy.  There are two others in this series - Antique Flowers and Antique Birds (?) - I may work on them soon.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving - great turkey, homemade cranberry sauce with pears and ginger, sage and sausage cornbread dressing, gravy, green beans with spiced pecans, sweet potato casserole, homemade rolls - and saving the best for last - Karo pecan pie and sweet potato pie.  The pie recipes are the ones that I remember from childhood - they have only improved with age.

My DS headed back to Missouri  S&T this morning - after spending about four days catching up on his sleep.  He will return home in mid-December after finals - so once again I am counting the days.

So, now I'm off to watch the Chiefs - my DH grew up in Kansas City and is a loyal Chiefs fan.

Happy stitching, everyone!

2013 catch up entry

Hi ,

I'm using this post to catch up on the pieces that I have stitched on so far in 2013:


First up, here is Antique Evergreens by Elizabeth Designs using called for threads and mystery 36 ct Lakeside linen.  I have stitched on this during marathon sessions of Hell on Wheels, the AMC series:

 This is a small sampler ES by With My Needle - it is done on 40 ct Porcelain Lakeside linen, using NPI silks - the colors are gorgeous!

 

 

I also finished the Spanish Mystery Sampler by Shakespeare's Peddler - it's a giant piece, and took forever to stitch - I love the browns and blues in this piece.

 Here is my sad little pile of Christmas ornaments, waiting for the finishing fairy to come along and rescue them from the drawer of almost done projects!

 

And here is the lovely Ann Bowers, which was a SAL with Attic Needlework for 2013.  The colors in this piece are stunning - it's quite an unusual combination of colors - but they work together very well.  This is one of the few SALs that I managed to keep up with!

 

 

So much has happened this year, it's impossible to catch up - DS graduated from high school, we moved him from Maryland to Missouri to college, DH and I spent 10 days in Paris (managed to visit two cross stitch shops while there, consumed massive amounts of wine, bread, cheese and pastries), DH and I traveled back to Missouri S&T for Homecoming (saw a lot of people I haven't seen in years!); I traveled to Phoenix to take three classes with Jackie du Plessis.  That was a fabulous trip - I met so many nice stitchers and was in awe of the Attic Needlework store - their stitched samplers are just amazing!

We will pick up DS at the Baltimore airport tomorrow evening, and he will be here through Thanksgiving.  There's one Labrador Retriever that will be delighted when he walks through the door!!!!

Happy stitching and Happy Thanksgiving!

- Margaret

Update

To kick off this post, here is the adorable Santa's Flight that Jayne stitched for me in the Shepherd's Bush ornament exchange on Hooked on Exchanging.  I love this piece - it is so tiny and lovely in every way.  The stitching and finishing are just superb.

I just love reproduction samplers, and so this year, I decided to focus on stitching them.  Below is a picture of my progress on the Ann Bowers Sampler from the Examplarery s2 - 1740's.  This is a SAL through the Attic Needlework shop in Arizona.  I have worked on it about 20 days, averaging one hour per day.

And below is A Maryland Sampler.  I am using NPI and the recommended 36 ct Lt Examplar linen.  This linen is more "vintagey" than what you can purchase - it spent a short period of time in the mouth of the Labrador puppy - and I did not want to start completely over, so I am learning to love the quirks in the linen.   LOL

I have also stitched on this for about 20 hours.  The borders on this one go very slowly with all the leaves, flowers and berries.

We are plunging into spring around here - the daffodils are poking their heads up.  the Lenten Roses are in full bloom.  I am starting to think about what annuals I want to plant in my pots around the pool.  I'm also thinking of how to convert my flower beds to flowers and shrubs that deer don't eat, which significantly limits my choices.

Happy stitching, Margaret

Catch-Up Post

Just like many other stitchers out in blogland, I think this year is just flying by.  I can hardly believe that this is my first post this year!  I have a lot of catching up to do.

First up are some pictures of some fabulous finishes by Claudia.  I sent these to her right before the holidays; and she sent them back to me in mid-January.  These pieces are just gorgeous!  I don't remember the names of many of these designs, but I will add details as I can.

This one is from the 2012 JCS Ornament issue.  It is Pomegranate Joy by Homespun Elegance.  I used the recommended fibers and some 36 ct. mystery linen.

This one is Paper Whites by Little House Needleworks.  I used HDF silk and 40 ct Porcelain Lakeside Linens.

This is Happy Holidays from County Cottage Needleworks.  I used the recommended fibers on a piece of 36 ct mystery linen.  I love the oval finishing and the twisted cord trim made from perle cotton.

This is Poinsettia House from Little House Needleworks, using the recommended fibers and some mystery 36 ct. linen.  I shamelessly copied the idea to change the words to "Tis the season" from a blogger.  Now I can't find the blog that was my inspiration, and so I can't thank the stitcher appropriately.  If she sees this, I hope she is flattered by the imitation.

 I am still working on the SAL, A Year in Cross Stitch.  This shows the design for the January block.

 Here is my January ornament.  It is the 2012 freebie from iStitch.  I used some HDF mystery floss and 36 ct. mystery linen.  Note the plain Jane finishing that I did myself.

 Here is my 2013 Valentine project.  It is the Tempting Tangles Quaker Valentine 2013 from the Wichelt site.  I used HDF Enchantress floss and some mystery linen.  I think I will make this into a small pillow.

Lastly, here is the Soweth Sampler by Birds of a Feather.  My stitching buddy Carol was kind enough to send this pattern to me  I used the recommended fibers and some 36 ct.mystery linen.

I also have been stitching on a couple of reproduction samplers - but will wait and take pictures next week.

We are still having cold weather - yet the daffodils are 3 -4 " tall and the camellia buds are fat.  I would say that I walk through the yard, eagerly looking for signs of spring; but around here it's more like slogging through the mud.  LOL

All else is quiet.  I am eagerly watching the Celebrations web site - they are posting pictures of classes.  I can hardly wait - it is my week of pure indulgence - I can just stitch to my heart's content.  This year I am also planning a trip to Paris in early April - can't wait!

Happy stitching, Margaret