Since it's too hot to garden.....

Hi,

Since it's too hot to garden, and I'm caught up on Game of Thrones and Hell on Wheels, I thought I would update my blog.  Here is a sampler that a French designer/stitcher graciously shared as a SAL last year - I have lost my notes so I can't give proper credit.  I used HDF silks, and used the blues and reds in different places than the designer intended:

This is a little ornament front from 2015 JCS Ornament issue.  It was my first time to use the dotted linen - it was not difficult once I learned to stab stitch rather than try to do a sewing stitch:

Here is another ornament front - this is Cherished Stitches Winter Garden.  I used the threads that came with the kit; but exchanged the linen for a 40 ct and used one strand.  The over one portion was done with Tudor silks (date).  It doesn't look as garish in real life.

I am also continuing to work on my sampler - I just finished part 8.  The rest of the stitchers are on Part 12, I believe.  Not sure why this picture keeps flipping 90 degrees.

I am also posting some pics of my yard.  These were taken in May.  The first is the front of the house - the decorative alliums and the koi pond:

One of my Itoh peony bushes (a Costco special):

 Siberian irises  in the side yard:

And DH with a fawn he found while mowing - the fawn had become trapped in our old garden space - the space was originally fenced to keep out the deer - but now we don't use the space - and it has been taken over by miscanthus (and deer apparently.)  DH turned the fawn loose in the edge of the woods in our back yard - we haven't seen it, so we assume its mom found it.

OK, better go and pack - we're off to Sydney, New South Wales next week - I get to see DS in a few days!

Happy stitching, everyone!

Snowy Day stitching

These are the ornament fronts that I stitched last month.  This is Hope, Joy and Love by Scissortail Designs.  They were a fun, quick stitch!

And here is a picture of part 3 of my sampler.  It is going to be lovely!

And I'll leave you with a picture of Valentine's Day flowers - the stock and roses smell so wonderful!  Can't wait for spring - wishing the blankety-blank snow would disappear!

A couple of weeks ago, DS headed out to Sydney Australia - to study at the University of Newcastle for a semester.  It's fun to hear his stories about exploring a new university in a foreign country! I am saving my pennies so I can visit here next summer.

Happy stitching!  Margaret

Amazing, but true - another post!

HI,

As incredible as it might seem, I am actually posting again while I can still recall what projects I worked on the last couple of weeks.  I didn't do much stitching - most of my time was spent traveling and visiting family - but it is all good.

Here is Part 2 of the SAL Folie that I am working on:

And here is my Valentine small for 2016.  It was a kit from Periwinkle Promises called Hearts and Flowers.  A fun stitch, although I ran out of the red silk ( as evidenced by the skimpy tassels) - reminding myself once again not to purchase kits unless I am sure I can get more thread.  

Well, that's all for this post.  Happy stitching, everyone!

2016 SAL

I've started a new SAL - Here is the first part completed:

I'm using HDF in Black Iris and 36 ct Vintage Country Mocha linen.  I'm loving this so far!

Right before Christmas, we visited Den Haag for a week and a half - we arrived home about 9 pm on December 23 - with our internal clocks in complete disarray - we had one day to frantically wrap presents, get groceries, etc, etc.  to be ready for Christmas.  We survived, but it was not particularly elaborate.

We found the Netherlands to be a fabulous place!  The people are friendly, the museums are great, and the food is excellent!  I would highly recommend it.  Here are some pics of our trip.

First up, here is the living room, dining room, sun room and kitchen area of the apartment we rented:

We visited Delft and the Royal Delft pottery place (after that visit, our bags were significantly heavier!)

We visited Van Kleef distillers in Den Haag (which put our bags right at the weight limit).  Their most famous client was Vincent Van Gogh.

We went to the Royal Christmas market.  I didn't get a lot of photos, but here is one of several groups of Christmas carolers that were performing:

And, of course, we took the obligatory photo in The Hague:

We also visited several other places:  the Louwman Car Museum, the Madurodam, the Peace Palace, Museum Mesdag, and the  Mauritshuis.

Happy stitching!  

Annual update!

My blog posts are turning into annual updates, rather than a way of keeping track progress on my projects.  I'm still stitching - many new starts and a (very) few completions.

First up are my 2015 additions to my ornament collection.  I did not get pictures of the lovely ornaments stitched by my dear friends Carol and Marie (Christmas was very rushed this year)- but I did get photos of the ones  finished by Claudia, finisher extraordinaire.

And, here's a few that are not so fancy, finished by me:

Finally, here is the iStitch annual SAL - I don't enjoy stitching with white (although I love the way it looks) and so I shamelessly copied Claudia (intending sincerest compliments) and used HDF Garnet thread:

My tree is beginning to have a respectable number of ornaments on it!

And here is my four-legged fur baby with her Christmas bone!

Next post, I will share my photos from travel this year.

Happy stitching everyone!

Christmas 2014

Hi,

Once again it's been much too long between posts, but I thought I would record a few things before my Christmas stuff gets packed away for a year.  Above is the iStitch 2014 Sew Advent.  I used the same fabric that I used for the 2013 version - 36 ct. Raw Edinburgh with HDF White silk and random red, green and brown silks.

 

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I also finish-finished a Just Nan satin box from 1999 - it was almost done, and only took about an hour to complete - the poor thing had been languishing in my drawer for years!

 

Here is the adorable ornament my stitching buddy Carol S.  made for me.  Her work is so beautiful and the finishing is just perfect!  The ornament looked lovely on my tree.

 

I see that blogger is still up to its old tricks of turning photos sideways :-(  This is the ornament dear Marie P.   stitched for me.  This little angel is just as sweet as it can be and looks so nice nestled near a companion angel.

 

 

These are the ornaments I made this year.  I stitched and finished the Flora McSample stockings from 2013 (?).  The finishing came out okay - at least I learned quite a bit so that the next batch should be better.  The little ornament is a small freebie that I stitched with leftover fabric and silks.

2014 was a good year.  I finally made it to Christmas in Williamsburg, and had a great time.  I had to leave early, so I did not get to do everything I wanted to, but I plan to go again next year.  I roomed with another avid stitcher, Shelly, who did not complain too badly about my snoring - so we have plans to go together to Salty Yarns next June for some Betsy Morgan classes.

Not stitching related, but in September we spent a week in Munich - such a lovely city.  I really liked the people, the food, and the beer.  It was very easy to get around using the trains, and everything was sparkling clean.  I would jump at the chance to go back.

I have been working steadily on And They Sinned - I am almost done with Page 3, and still loving it.  I took a few of my things to be framed at Total Framing in Fairfax VA  and got to meet the famous Sheri Burkman, who is also a stitcher and framer extraordinaire.  Paulette Stewart at Plum Street Samplers is always raving about the shop and Sheri.  Their work is top notch - and I have found them to be much more affordable than other places in Maryland and Virginia.  

Well, at the risk of rambling on and on, I will close and return to my stitching.  Happy New Year, and may you have limitless stitching time!