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.

Village SAL and Misc.

Here is my progress on Village of Hawk Run Hallow. It sure seems like it is slow going. Doing this as SAL with Marie P and Jane. I am using 32-ct R&R Lt. Cappuccino with Vicki Clayton silks. Our start date was to be September 1st, but I got the itch to start sooner. We also are planning to try to do one block a month. Progress on this might be a little slow for a couple of weeks or so. I had to send my Daylight magnifier light in to the company today. I did not realize how much the light on it helped, until I don't have it. I can make other magnification arrangements with my Magnavision glasses, but light is still an issue. The plastic around the magnifier and over the light up next to the part that allows you to adjust it near where it hooks onto the swing arm had begun to crack. I had taped it up to keep it together. One little piece of plastic fell off the other night. Another issue I had with it was that out of the clear blue it would dump this very fine black powder on the top of the light, on my hands, on my clothes and one on a stitch project. It is kinda oily too. I can wipe it off the light and wash my hands. It does not wash totally out of my clothes, so glad they were not anything but grubbies that I wear around home. The stitch project was something that I could wash. I got most of it out, but I can still see where it was. Most other people cannot see it. I e-mailed the Daylight Company and told them about my problems and the next day I had a response telling me to send it back to the company and they would replace it at no charge. I was impressed.

Continue to stitch on things that I cannot show you here. The one Christmas present is about half done and the design model is about 1/4 done. When I get frustrated or make a mistake and have to frog, then I switch to another project. I guess you could say that was my rotation. With football season starting, I will be in front of the TV watching football and stitching. I have season tickets for Kansas State football, so will spending a few Saturdays attending those games. They are fun, but it cuts into the stitching time.

Next week, I will be helping cover the LNS while the owner takes a vacation. It is the first one she has had in 2 years. She deserves it. It is a good week, since Monday is a holiday and she will not be open. I will work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Her sister is going to work Friday and Saturday. I will go in and help her close on Friday, but I have a home football game on Saturday so will be gone that day. Probably will go in on the following Monday and open for her. Not sure what time they get home that Sunday. Also, I will be dogsitting the shop dog Betsy. She and my Boston just tolerate each other, but there will not be a problem. She is a sweet dog and she likes me. She not so crazy about men, especially the UPS man. By the time she had been here several days last time, she decided that my significant other was not so bad. He was the one to take her for walks and out to get the paper in the morning.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and for all your comments. They are very much appreciated.

Have a great holiday weekend. Keep those needles hot.

USO - Unidentified Stitching Objects

Just a quick post to let you know this has been a relatively good stitching week. It was hot a lot of the week, so I did not go much of anywhere and got in a lot of stitching. However, all the stitching has been on things that I cannot show pictures of the progress. Hence the USO name.

• Finished a design model for The Sunflower Seed. Frame is ordered and once framed it will be available.
• Started a Christmas present for one of my friends, but don't want to show pictures, since she may read my blog from time to time. It is going well. Getting close to being half done. Will post pictures after Christmas. Have plans for 3 other projects as Christmas presents.
• Picked up and started another Sunflower Seed design model. Just beginning. Have the border around about one-fourth of it.

Also I got some significant stitching done on my BAP, Village of Hawk Run Hallow while watching a baseball game and the NASCAR race last night. I love that piece. Really like stitching on it. Plans are being made to turn this into a SAL with Marie P and Jane. Marie is waiting on fabric, and she is stressing that she is going to be behind. I doubt that. With all the things I am stitching on at one time, I won't get too far ahead of her. Will try to post a photo next time.

One morning last week I made some Fresh Tomato Salsa. We have had lots of tomatoes, but not enough to go to the trouble of making a big batch for canning. Have been keeping a couple of other people supplied with tomatoes.

Now I have some Colorado peaches that came in on a truck last week that I need to do something with. Not sure how I will take care of them. When it is hot, I don't like to work against the a/c by making cobblers and pies. It is supposed to get hot here again for the first part of the week. Temps up in the 90's with heat index above 100.

Here's hoping everyone has a good week. I am going to do some more work on the computer and then do a little stitching before bed. I am a night owl, so I still have about 2 hours more.

Stitching, Stashing, Working (not really).....

It seems like forever since I did a post. My plan was to do it yesterday evening, but when I went to do pictures the battery was low on the camera. They are rechargeable and I thought it would only take an hour or so, well it did not happen before bedtime. And my bedtime is very late.

The big news is that when I went to the LNS on Wednesday afternoon for my afternoon stitching therapy, I found out my fabric was in for Villages of Hawk Run Hallow. So since I needed to work at the LNS on Thursday, I got to cut my own piece for the Village. I had trouble sleeping Wednesday night knowing that I might be able to take a few stitches on that BAP on Thursday. The morning at the shop was fairly steady with one customer at a time. I was partially through cutting my fabric and had to stop and wait on customers. I make that sound like a bad thing. It is not. Now that I have been in the shop off and on for 3 years, many of those that come in are now my friends too. Another enjoyable thing about working in the "candy store". There were several things I needed to do before starting on the Village. Priced all the new Lizzie*Kate designs, limited edition Christmas design kit, 2007 Santa, and the last of this years Flip-it Series. Cute stuff. At long last I was able to actually take a few stitches on the Village piece. Below is my progress so far.

Village of Hawk Run Hallow
by Carriage House Samplings
32 ct. R&R Lt. Cappuccino
Vikki Clayton Silks

My plan is to do one block a month. Since I started on August 16th, my month will run from the 16th of one month to the 15th of the next. I have been communicating with a couple of gals regarding doing a Village SAL. When I was back in the LNS on Friday to show Anita (owner/designer) my progress on one of her designs and to check colors that I was not sure of, she mentioned she would like to do the Village also. Maybe she will join me on a SAL. We already have one regular stitcher that is working on Block 5. For awhile it is going to be hard to keep me focused on stitching design models and Christmas presents instead of the Village.

Give Me A Home

28-ct Tea Dyed Irish Linen

Sampler Threads

Speaking of Anita, the designer, aka The Sunflower Seed, I can now show you pictures of the designs that I have recently stitched for her. The first one is "Give me a Home". We are waiting for it to come back from the framer. Frame is just laying on it for photo purposes. This is the one I finished about 3 weeks ago. It is easy to tell Anita's background. Born and raised in Kansas. She was the Friday Feature on Hoffman Distributing a week ago, if you would like to learn more about her and her designs.

Here is the 2007 edition of Kansas Xmas, that Anita has going. I stitched this one for her.

Kansas Xmas VI

32 ct Lambswool Linen

Weeks and Sampler Threads

Both designs should be available from your LNS very soon. If not you can contact, ww.thesunflowerseed.com. I am currently working on another design model for release soon. There are two other relatively new designs on that web site also. I ended up working at the shop again yesterday. Business was fairly steady with at least one person in the shop most of the time. I was working on assembling patterns for the design "Tequila and Salt". Ready to mail off to the distributor. About the time I had things going so I could sit down and take a couple of stitches, I had more customers. That is a good thing.

During last week, I made 2 trips to JoAnn's Fabrics. I can go weeks, if not months without stopping there and it is only 2 doors down from the LNS. Anita told me that had these nice rolling totes for portable sewing machines. She got one and used her 40% coupon. So Wednesday I went over and came back with this one. I have a very old Singer portable and I have carried it a lot of places, put it is really heavy. This will be perfect.

Also decided it will be just the thing to take to cross stitch camp when I go go Oklahoma City in October with my sister and a couple of my stitching buddies. Just the thing to carry all my many projects that I just have to take with me. Lot easier than carrying a bag over your shoulder.

Then yesterday after I closed the LNS I went over to JoAnn because they had Christmas and Halloween fabric 50% off for the weekend. Here is what I got for less than $20. I got a yard of everything, but the skeletons. It was the end of the bolt and ended up with 1 1/2 yards.

The skeletons are sparkly. I am sure that I will find a use for these as time goes by, either as part of a finish of a cross stitch piece or in some quilting project.

My intention was to get this done, by the time the NASCAR race started. Had a couple of glitches that took longer than I thought. Now the NASCAR race has been cancelled til tomorrow. I will catch it then. Went in my stitching room to straighten out one thing and it has led to a totally different thing to straighten and clean -up. Need to see about finishing that up and off to stitch on the design model, Christmas presents or the Village.

Hope everyone has had a good weekend. Stitching and doing whatever helps you relax and get retooled for another busy week. I know many of you have been struggling with hot temps like we have, stay cool. Thanks for taking time to read my ramblings. Your comments and interest is greatly appreciated.

Keep on stitching.