Monthly Update

Gee, I thought I was in the habit of updating weekly - but it's been more like a month since I have posted any pics. So here goes big update:




First up is Part 5 of Quaker Star with the Sticklounge group. I just love this project. The blue I selected is certainly non-traditional, but it makes me very happy. And no, I am not trying to get fancy with my photography - this is just how this picture came out!!!!

And now I'm presenting Wayward Garden by Cynthia Zittel (the Drawn Thread). She is one of my favorite designers. I have had this project kitted up since it was first published. It is stitching up like a dream! Plus it is in keeping with my projects with a "garden" theme.

And here is a finish - this was a Noel Banner SAL by a very talented and generous designer - Angie.
Despite the language barrier, she was very nice in including me in her SAL group.

And here is my September ornament - this is 'Tis Green from the JCS Christmas Ornament preview issue. I used the recommended fibers with linen from my scraps. This is one of the few patterns that I am seriously considering stitching several times more in separate colorways - can't you just see purple, green and gold for Mardi Gras?

I was thinking that my finishing skills were improving - but then I visited my LNS, the Stitching Post in Catonsville, MD, and saw some of the professionally finished projects - what a difference! But, so expensive! I intended to just go there and drop off two pieces to be framed - YEA, right - I walked out of there with a ton of stuff! I think I'm better off just ordering from my other ONS/LNS, Needlecraft Corner in Baltimore.

And from the oldie bag - I finally finished this box lid. I started this project in 1997. The designer is Amaryllis Artworks. Back then, the use of silks and overdyes was new to me; and I was soooooo nervous about messing it up and wasting my thread.

I also completed an exchange for the Hooked on Exchanging Halloween exchange. I am getting nervous because I mailed it on October 2; and I haven't heard from the recipient yet. Please, Mr. Postman, don't let us down!

That's all for now. Happy stitching, Margaret

Joyeux Noel SAL and August Ornie

Here is my ornament for August - Red House in Winter. It is one of the All Dolled Up ornament series by Little House Needleworks. I used the recommended fiber for the house and the recommended linen. After that I was tired of fighting the knotty thread and stiff linen; so I stitched the rest of it in HDF premium silk. What a relief!

Here is the first part of a new SAL that I joined - it is titled Joyeux Noël Bannière by Angie Designer . I have been admiring her projects and this is the first one I've signed up for. I am using a piece of Light Cappucino Cashel linen and HDF Premium silk in the Enchanter Rose, Luteous Green, and Oil of Amber series. This piece has a lot of specialty stitches, which I love.

During the last two weeks, we have been on vacation. We traveled to Moscow, Russia. We hit many of the "tourist spots" - the Kremlin, Red Square, Pushkin Museum, Gum, etc. The language barrier was a struggle; but we found many restaurants that had menus in English, and many of the younger generation of Russians could speak English (certainly their command of English is much stronger than my command of Russian). I have been struggling with an awful head cold since we returned. In fact, I missed two days of work because I just could not function. I will post some pictures from vacation once I start feeling better.

LA left a comment on a previous post, asking about the Sticklounge group on Yahoo. The address of the group is Sticklounge; and the e-mail address is Sticklounge@yahoogroups.de. I need to get stitching on my Quaker Star - I think the next part comes out soon.

I hope everyone in the States has a relaxing Labor Day!

- Margaret