More tweaking

Okay, I couldn't stand it. I changed the fish. Couldn't stand the darker blue fins which I originally thought would look better than an even lighter shade of blue than the main body blue . I WAS WRONG. They looked like they had happy faces painted on their sides and a patch over one eye. Had to go. And Faye reminded me that I had left off the stripes on the eel. So I had to go back to block 2 anyway. Not that it was all that far away. But in my head, it was complete. I told you I am a very serial stitcher. When something is done, it should be DONE. Now I'm about 30% done with block 5...lots of black and gray. Saving all the white for last. I hate stitching with white. It always looks like crap until it is washed and pressed. I'll probably drive myself crazy fiddling with individual stitches, but I'm determined to "enjoy the process". Remind me I said that when I start bitchin' about it later.

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Tweaking

Well, I'm done with block two of "Shores of Hawk Run Hollow". It would have been done sooner, but a little tweaking of floss colors was required.

I'm sure you know how difficult it is to make conversions from one brand of fiber to another and maintain the original look of the project, not to mention your sanity. As I mentioned previously, I changed not only the floss, but the fabric also. So I'm having to exercise the right side of my brain and be a little creative. Unfortunately, that means frog stitching from time to time because what I thought would work, doesn't. I'm finding that the conversion made for color "x" may work in one motif, but not another, so I'm adjusting as I go along. All in all, it's working out, but taking a little more time than I'd like. I just have to tell myself to enjoy the process. And I am, except when I flick the needle across the room while frog stitching.

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Stitching Wish List

I've been meaning to post this for a while, but it kinda slipped my mind. Some time ago a Facebook friend of mine posted a photo album containing pics of the projects on her stitching wish list. I thought it was a great idea and I decided to share some of mine with you.

Now the "wish list" is not to be confused with the "IN basket", which consists of projects I actually have a plan to do within the near future. Some are even kitted up. Now I know some of you are saying, "So what?". Well, I don't kit my projects up until I'm ready to work on them. I hate to duplicate materials (floss) and I really hate to go looking through kitted projects for something I need right now. Hence the pile of charts in the "IN basket" ready to be kitted. Do I sound really anal? How very perceptive of you.

The wish list consists of designs that I fully intend to do sometime in my ever shortening life, but for which I have no immediate plan. Some of you may not recognize some of these charts because you may not have been born when I bought them, but some of my favorite designs are classics. (Laura, you know which ones I'm talking about.) I will try to be as complete as I can (off the top of my head) with details about titles and designers, but I am not currently sitting in my library. So bear with me. Oh, and these are in no particular order.

"Virtue Outshines the Stars"

Needles of Prayse

Darlene O'Steen "Le Jardin de Plaisir"

Long Dog Samplers"Spanish Bleu"

Sampler Cove"Read Between the Lines"

Blue Ribbon Designs

"Altengamme"
Wiehenburg

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A New Start

Happy Monday morning to ya. I can say that now that I've had my pot of coffee and it's almost noon. I am not a morning person. In fact, if I had my druthers, I'd shift my schedule about 3 hours later than normal.

Last night I got on a roll, stitching-wise, and told DH not to wait for me to come to bed. I actually finished the first block of "Shores of Hawk Run Hollow", hereafter referred to as SoHRH.

As you can see, I changed the fabric. I'm using 40 count "Lucky Penny" from R&R. I'm also using Anchor floss. As I mentioned last week, I spent the better part of a morning making then floss conversion, but so far, I think it's working. I may decide to backstitch the lighthouse at some later date, but I'm going to wait until I get more blocks done to see if I really need to. I detest backstitching.

I slept in til 8:10 this morning and have already done more productive stuff than I have in a week. So, at least until Christmas, I'll probably do the night owl thing. I am sooooooo in the Christmas stitching panic.

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Fabulous Friday

Well, it's Friday again...already. Where does the week go?

I have been stitching on my new project, "Shores of Hawk Run Hollow", but don't have much done yet. So no pics. But I thought I'd share some more of my Etsy favorites with you. And in case these are enough for you, I have more on my Etsy Favs mini on the right side of my blog. Just keep scrolling til you see it. I find great new stuff all the time.

I love the colors in this Ink dyed Domino Pendant Necklace from paintingfromtheheart

This hot and cold pack Mouse Keyboard support from theferriswheels is just what all us computer junkies need!

And finally, for those who REALLY spoil their pups, Pumpkin flavored dog cookies from BuckarooBones

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Ta Da!

Band Sampler I by Pat Taff of Golden Thread Designs is FINI! Woohoo! And I must say, I do love it. I x'd out the recipient's name, just in case she sees this post. I hope she likes it as much as I do. Not really worried though. We tend to have the same taste in needlework. By the way, I found the original design date on this sampler...1992. So if you're looking for it, you may have to dig pretty deeply.
And now, I 'm on to a new project. I spent the morning adjusting thread colors since I changed the fabric color. But I'm optimistic that there won't be many mid-stream changes. So, until next time...enjoy.

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RAKs

Back in early August I told you about meeting an on-line friend in person. We hit it off like we'd known each other for years. Sharing a passion for needlework tends to do that.

Well, Faye came to my stitching group for a couple of weeks while she was in the area on vacation. And to my surprise, she presented me with a precious little sampler that she stitched "over the weekend". I was so surprised I almost cried. It was a true random act of kindness from someone I'd only known for a week. I was truly touched. But she probably thinks I'm an ungrateful wench because I didn't show it off to all of you right away. I had a good reason...really. I wanted to show it to you after I'd decided how to utilize it. And since finishing is something I really have to psyche myself up for, it's taken almost 6 weeks to complete the project.

I decided to made a stitcher's pocket or pouch or whatever you want to call it. I found a beautiful batik and a companion fabric in my LNS, Angelwing Needlearts and I went to work. Now, you have to understand that when I use my sewing machine for anything other than zigzagging the edge of my linen I generally do at least one thing backwards. This was no exception. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that bad words were uttered and blood was shed. But it turned out almost perfect.

I attached the sampler to the outside back as a pocket and button hole stitched around the edge, but it's not as clean as I'd like it. So I made take it off and redo it (not today). There are also two inside pockets. It folds into thirds. The little sampler on the front flap is actually painted on a small chip of wood and has a pin back on it. I've had it for years and finally found a way to show it off too. The button loop is buttonhole stitches done in black pearl cotton. I purposely made it a little big because I have a habit of over-stuffing these little pouches.

So, now I have a constant reminder of Faye and that instant friendship IS possible. Thank you, Faye.

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