TA-DA!!!!! Village-Block 1

I finished Block 1 of VOHRH earlier this evening. What a relief to get this first one done. Even though there may be more stitching in the next few blocks, I think it will go faster than this one. Too many color changes and tie-offs between letters and leaves. I really like the way it looks and stitching with Vikki Clayton silks is wonderful. Better than any other silks I have stitched with.

Since I am done with Block 1 before the 1st of October, I will spend some extra time on other stitching. including the Sunflower Seed design model, Christmas present #2 and other WIPs. I picked of "Best of Blessing" by Hands to Work and put in several stitches. Have not done anything on it for several weeks. Tomorrow is my Wednesday afternoon stitch therapy session at the LNS. Probably will stitch on my Quaker Odds and Evens Sampler. I am on the last motif for this design. Would like to count it as a completed project soon.

Monday night was my other stitch therapy session. We had a few good laughs. We always have such a good time stitching together. I recently heard an advertisement on TV showing little kids laughing saying that laughter adds 8 years to your life. We decided we need to laugh a lot to add all the extra years we can, in order to get all the stitching done that we want to in our lifetime. Went to the shop early, on Monday afternoon to help out some. Had worked on Saturday and was busy the entire time and did not get everything done that I usually get done. Business has been especially good the last week or so, that we needed to order a lot of stuff to restock. That is a good thing. I love being able to help out.

It is getting late and I have a couple blogs to read before I head off to bed. Carol, I always have to read yours everyday or the day is not complete. I got behind in reading blogs when I was gone to NY and I hate to get behind. I love to travel, but don't like to be in catch up mode when I get back.

Later, Stitching Friends.

Village Progress and Other Stitching

Now that I have my magnifier light back, I have been able to stitch on VOHRH. Here is the progress I have made. I really enjoy stitching on it, but it seems like slow going. One of the gals in my Monday night stitch group is almost half done with hers on 36-ct. Her comment was that "there is a lot going on in that little stream." And there is. You do a lot of color changes combined with some solid stitching for the stream and the grass.

The plan was to stitch one block a month, but I am not sure that I am going to be able to keep up with the plan. I started Block 1 on August 16th, but then went 12 days without my light, so now I figure that I have until the end of September to finish this block. The rest of my SAL mates on this project were starting September 1st, so that gets us all on about the same rotation. A couple of them already have their block done.

Last night I did have a finish on a Christmas present. No pictures until after Christmas, since most of the people I am stitching for read my blog regularly. Am pleased I have one done and ready for framing. Now only 3 more to do. I got a little start on one of them last night. It should be a quick stitch, but we say that about a lot of things that don't turn out that way.

Still am working on a design model for The Sunflower Seed. Try to rotate my stitching between the VOHRH, Christmas Presents and the design model. Never boring that way. Worked at LNS last Thursday. Was busy most of the day so did not get any stitching done there. However, there were lots of football games over the weekend so I stitched and watched/listened. Most of Saturday was taken up going to Kansas State football game. Was able to stitch a few stitches on the ride over.

So far this week have been doing preparation for hosting my church ladies circle on Wednesday. Making BBQ beef sandwiches and pineapple angel food cake dessert. Another lady is making a couple of salads. It is a nice little group and they always enjoy getting together for our lesson and we are an eating group, so always have to have food. Such fun. Also have some more wonderful Colorado peaches that I must work up into something. Seems like there is always something to take me away for my stitching.

Thanks to all that stop by an visit and leave comments. Recently, I have been doing a lot of reading, but not always commenting. I need to get better at that. I know how much I enjoy the comments I receive, should remember that when reading other blogs.

Hope everyone is having a good stitching week.

Happy Dance

Today I am doing the happy dance. My replacement Daylight Magnifier Light came yesterday. I got it installed back on my stand tonight. Now I can go back to my VOHRH SAL. The head of the lamp is completely different than my other one. Maybe this one will not crack. We had quite a laugh to day at the LNS today. The packing slip showed no charges with the explanation "cracked head". First time I have been told I had a cracked head or am a crack head. LOL

Went for my annual physical today. I hate those. I was anticipating that she would not be happy with my weight. I was supposed to be losing some of it. Hard for me to do. Her comment was that it was good that I had not gained since last year. That was a good thing since most people at this stage in their life gain almost every year. My blood pressure was good, too. Always afraid it will be going up. High blood pressure problems run in the family. No problems, just go for mammogram an bone density in about 6 weeks. Her comments made me do my happy dance too.

Spent the afternoon at the LNS with our Wednesday afternoon stitch therapy group. We had a real nice group today. I am working tomorrow at the LNS. Will be putting together some her patterns for sale and whatever else comes up. If I get everything done and have no customers then it is time to stitch. Stitched on VOHRH mostly today. Light at the LNS is good enough to stitch with my magnifier glasses, but coming home to my light is the best. Should have a picture of the Village progress with my next post.

Thanks everyone for your comments and visiting my blog. Been trying to keep up with reading, but don't always take the time to comment. Everyone does such nice stitching is quite an inspiration to me to do more stitching. Wish there was more time.

Have a good week. Happy stitching.

Game Day and other Trivia Things

Surprise!! Surprise!! I am doing my blog at a normal hour instead of late at night. Plans were to do a post last night and I just didn't have the energy to download the a picture that I wanted to include.

Stitching has been at a premium this week. I was able to do quite a bit over the Labor Day weekend. However on Monday, we went to a new shopping area for part of the day. My significant other thought it would be too boring to sit at home on a holiday. It was a successful trip for me. There was a Clark shoe outlet store there and I bought two pairs of shoes. That is a good thing. As I have said before pictures of stitching progress are going to be limited since I am stitching Christmas presents and a Sunflower Seed design model. My VOHRH is sort of on hold until my magnifier light is returned from the manufacturer.

For three days last week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I worked in the LNS while the owner is on vacation. Things were rather slow on Tuesday, but there was plenty of work in the shop to keep me busy. The other days were basically busy so I had very little time to do stitching while I was there. I should not really call it work, because I enjoy it so much that it does not seem like work. She had several orders from Hoffman for patterns that I got prepared and mailed off. Her sister covered the store yesterday and is doing it today.

Here is a photo of a piece stitched for me for my birthday by one of my stitching friends locally. We met many years ago at a different LNS stitching group. Found out we lived close to each other (and still do) and became fast friends. We and a couple of others have had many stitch vacations in various places for stitching festivals and stitch camps. She stitched the design and I had it framed at our local frame shop. My original idea was to mat it and have snowflakes cut into the mat. Well, that did not work out. the mat would have had to be real wide to get the snowflakes in it and combined with the frame I had chosen it was overpowering. We settled for a double frame instead. I ask her the other day whose design it was and she said it was an old one and the name was Francis and Me and the title of the design is "In the Meadow". Had a copyright date of 1990. I love snowmen and this fits right in. Thank you Sandi for stitching this for me.

Going to have to end this so I can get on the road to the football game. My alma mater, Kansas State is playing at home today against San Jose State. I live about an hour away and have season tickets. Have made brownies this morning for the tailgate and taking some home grown grape tomatoes to share also. Before I meet my friends to go to the game, will make a stop by the LNS to make sure everything is going OK this morning.

Have also been dog sitting for the LNS owner for Betsy, the shop dog. She has been good, but I know she misses her Momma. She is like my shadow and goes everywhere I go in the house. Right now she is laying on the floor behind me snoozing away, but the minute I get up she will be right with me where ever I go in the house.

Gotta go, hope everyone has a good weekend.