Long Overdue Update

 Gosh, I can't believe the entire month of May has just flown by - I have had every intention of updating my blog - but I have kept putting it off - but here goes:

Above is Heart Note Alley complete through Part 10.  I am roughly halfway through.  The SAL ends in August - do you think I can finish it?

 Then here is Lavendar Blue -this piece is quite time consuming, but lovely, don't you think?

And here is my Flower Pot Sampler - stitched, but not finish-finished.  I stitched this at Celebrations using mystery HDF silk and some gorgeous PTP linen - such a fun, quick stitch.  

 This is project number 2 stitched at Celebrations - this is Sew Bunnies by iStitch, again using mystery HDF on PTP linen.

 And, for the finale, also stitched at Celebrations - this is Random Thoughts of Spring by Erika Michaels.  I shamelessly copied the color scheme from the Carolina Stitcher's blog.  I used mystery HDF and PTP linen.  I was pretty pleased to finish one project a day while at Celebrations!  I also got to spend some fun time with Carol S. and Marie P. and was able to reconnect with some lovely stitchers who had traveled all the way from Minnesota to attend Celebrations - such a great event!

Then, I finished my Spring SAL - I need to go in and insert some back stitching on the house features - in real life the features are subtle - but in the photo they are completely washed out.

So, now I'm off to stitch an ornament for an exchange and also to work on a couple of ornaments for my tree.   Happy stitching, everyone.

So Many Projects, so Little Time!

I can't seem to get focused on just a few projects - so I have only minimal progress to show here. But, here goes. This is Heart Note Alley through Part 8. I'm loving this piece - using up some of my stashed purples and greens - just picking threads as I go. Keep your fingers crossed that I have enough of the border green to finish the project!

I did stitch this little charmer. Surfing the net, I discovered the 2012 Year of Smalls blog, and of course decided that I *needed* to stitch the projects they are working on. With all my good intentions, I bought a lot of supplies - and actually finished one project. I also learned something about finishing with lace - you need to allow extra fullness in the corners so the lace does not do a folding number around the corners. This reminds me how much I LOVE Blackbird Designs.

So, with that in mind, I selected my March ornament - which is the Joy ornament from the 2011 Christmas JCS issue. I used the recommended silks for this project, and some stash rick rack. It is really not as wonky as it looks in this photo.

And, while surfing the net some more, I stumbled on this adorable SAL by a French Designer - this is the SAL Printemps by Marie Ravenelle. I've lost my link to her blog, and we correspond by e-mail - but in real life this is very elegant and spring-like.

I am beginning to count the days until I go to Celebrations - that is my opportunity to prop my feet up and do absolutely nothing but stitchy stuff for several days -

Heart Note Alley

I completed Parts 5 and 6 of Heart Note Alley. I am using up some of the variegated purple and green silks from my stash - which is good; however, I hope I don't run out of a thread before completing its band - keeping my fingers crossed.

There are tons of projects on my "to start soon" list. I've been spending more time planning than stitching.

Spring is officially here in Maryland. The daffodils, flowering plum, nectarines, peaches, Bradford pears, and camellias are all in full bloom. The dratted deer herd is having its way with my sprouting daylilies, sedum and liriope - while not touching the weeds - as if I did not already have enough reason to despise the creatures!

My 16 yr old DS is on spring break trip to France and Spain so I have a whole week of not having to do laundry or prepare meals. So this will be a staycation for me!!!

Happy stitching, everyone!

Margaret C

Lavender Blue Progress!

I have been fanatically stitching on Lavender Blue, and managed to finish Parts 3 and 4 today. So far, it's not very photogenic because only the bottom and the right hand side have been stitched. It takes me a long time to stitch each part, but the final effect is worth it - it's so pretty.

Not much else is going on. We're having spring weather here in Maryland - the early daffodils are blooming and the Lenten roses are just fabulous right now. We have some very obnoxious weeds that appear this time of year, and it's too wet to get out and get rid of them - so we just have to ignore them for now.

I was playing around with blog template - boy, did I mess it up. I finally had to get rid of all the codes, and just let it be plain until I get a chance or the inclination to play with it again. My level of tolerance for fiddling with computer stuff is very low....

Until next time, happy stitching! Margaret C

Still stitchin'!

I have been miserable for the last two weeks with an awful cold/flu/bronchitis - I have missed almost 5 days of work - finally I broke down and went to the doctor. After injesting about half a pharmacy over the last week, I am starting to feel human again! All this to say, there's not a lot of progress to show. I was able to complete Part 4 of Heart Note Alley.

I also have been working on some ornaments. This one is Yuletide by Plum Street Samplers - it is so charming! I broke down and bought the finishing kit for it - I am so very glad I did - I love the backing fabric, trim and the little bells.

And this is a freebie I printed from a French lady's blog - my printout did not list the designer's name or blog - so I cannot give credit, although I am very appreciative that this talented lady shared her design. I stitched this on mystery linen with mystery HDF threads - I can't wait to see it on my tree.

And, here is another of Laura Perrin's Mystery Monday smalls - I think this is the first one. I love these - so colorful and quick to stitch. Sadly, this one really highlights my lack of finishing skills. I think linen and silk thread is more forgiving than Congress cloth, Cotton Perle and lots of satin stitches. Maybe these are candidates for a professional finisher.

I need to go paw through my WIP pile, and decide what to work on next. I'm trying to be good and not start something new - but there are so many tempting projects out there - they are almost irresistable.

Until next time, happy stitching! Margaret C

Valentine's Stitching et.al.

I've been busy - tackling some Valentine's stitching - I'm so proud of myself that I actually stitched and finished something BEFORE the actual holiday - I'm on a roll. This is Be Mine by the Sisterhood - using HDF Zumaque and 36 ct. PTP Legacy linen.

And here's another: Endless Hearts by Threadwork Primitives, using Mystery HDF fibers on 36 ct PTP Legacy linen. I haven't yet decided whether to leave them as pillows, or to add a hanger.



This is Heart Note Alley, part 3, all finished. I am woefully behind on this project - but I have until August to finish it - I'm sure I'll be in a panic in late summer to complete this.

And here is a new project, Lavendar Blue, one of the 2012 SAL's led by Angie Designer (magicas puntadas). I'm using HDF Velvet Midnight andOil of Amber on a piece of Buttercream LL.

All else is pretty quiet - we're finally having a touch of winter - my camellias are just starting to show color - I hope this cold spell won't ruin the display. My dad in South Mississippi reported that their susanquas are just finishing; and the azaleas are starting to show color - I'm jealous of his year round garden.

Until next time, happy stitching! Margaret

All in a Day's Work

I have been a busy bee this afternoon - I finally tackled some of those projects in my stitched, but not finished pile. First off, I thought I should show you a picture of my helper - she keeps my stitching chair warm when I'm not in it. When I am stitching, she perches on the back of chair. Athena is posing with my January ornament, Evergreen by Elizabeth Foster. This is another of my all-time favorite designers. I used the recommended fibers, and a piece of LL Maritime White.

Here's a better photo:

Here is one of Laura Perin's Mystery Monday pieces - I think this is the second one. I was playing with color, and started with a Watercolor skein called Amethyst, and branched out with lilac and navy blue from there. It is backed with silk from Vikki Clayton in a rich purple - I think I like the back side as well as the front.

Here is Joy and Peace, by Little House Needleworks. I used the linen that came with the kit, supplemented by HDF silks.

Here is Peace by Homespun Sampler. I stitched this around Christmas time last year using HDF silks and a piece of scrap linen. It's a big piece, but charming nonetheless.

Here is Christmas Greetings, a freebie from iStitch. I think it is from 2010 - I don't know why I waited so long to stitch it. I used HDF silks and scrap linen.

I have also been working on Lavendar Blue, one of the 2012 SAL's by Angie at Magicas Putadas. Wow, there is a lot of stitching needed on that piece. I am almost done, and will post a picture here when I finish the first two parts.

We are having a fabulously warm winter here in Maryland. My camellias have big fat buds on them. I fear that they will have a rough time in February, only time will tell.

No other news to report. Happy stitching, everyone!

- Margaret