Will be a pretty needleroll one day : )

In My Garden

Stitched ALL AFTERNOON

I had a FANTASTIC day. I ran TWO errands & accepted a stitching invitation from GF Sue D (without blog ... oh darn). Arrived around 11am & put some stitches into this WIP. Was delighted that GF Deb L (also without blog ... double darn) visited Sue D. Wonderful to catch up on all the news & relax. Came home around 3pm & Tori had the house tidy & ran the sweeper. WOOT. I am the lucky one today.


C.2000 Teri Richards of Shepherd's Bush printworks. In My Garden Roll. I still have more to add ... isn't it pretty so far?

Since our refrigerator was full of left overs, I didn't cook a meal. Was able to stitch during the evening while DH & Boys watched Cheapter by the Dozen 2. (Tori had a 4-10 shift at Subway)

Enjoy the holiday week-end. Our weather looks like sunny, 80+ degree weather.

Shepherd's Bush WIP

c.2000 Teri Richards of Shepherd's Bush Printworks. In My Garden Fob.

I bought this pattern when it was released -- stitched the fob in 2003!! Changed the date to 2006 ... Now that will give me some motivation to FINISH it : )

No, not finished with my sampler ....

I've been cleaning & running errands in order to free up some time for stitching!!!

Today, while shopping, I picked up two new boxes of tea.

The Pear/White tea is delicious alone (3-min steep time) & with a lemon slice ... frankly, perfect. It is very mild. It contains caffeine.

The Rooibos Tea (caffeine free) is a pretty color & I'm not real crazy about the flavor alone, with lemon it is ok. I'll have to experiment with the 'steep' time.

The box says "He who forgives ends the argument." African Proverb.

When I got home, I noticed Celestial Seasonings is donating $1.00 to WomenHeart (National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease) if you mail in 3 Proof-of-purchase certificates. AND they mail you a Free Red Dress Pin.

thanx for asking ...

Yes, Nicholas has a job at retirement community. He is orientation this week & will have a real schedule after June 2nd. He works the dinner shift or lunch shift as a server/dishwasher & clean-up. There are some holiday benefits + college scholarships with tenure. Between Tori at Subway & Nick at Orientation, I'm 'on the road' too much. I'm not fond of driving. (sigh)

Lee gets the golden needle award this a.m. for making me laugh : ) After the past few days of 'goings-on' I didn't think cracking a smile was possible.

So check out her post called: The Anatomy of a Stitching Slump

AND, after I finish these floors, I hope to get my final border going on the Sanctuary. Logic should tell me that the OUTER borders take longer to stitch! I'm itching to get it completed & pick out a frame .... patience is a virtue .... I have zero patience this week.

SAL

Added the red house, lower right. My goal is to get one house stitched/Sunday. Once the houses are constructed, I'll work on the border! Check out the other stitchers: Cathy, Myrna, Nicole, Pam, & Sabine. I heard from Kay O (w/o blog) who says " I started mine in the upper left hand corner and have 5 houses stitched. It is going to take some time to finish this--not enough stitching time on the weekends or the evenings. "

The Sanctuary WIP

I have two more borders to add ...

Keeping our phone line OPEN

Not much blogging/computer time this past week. Waiting for 'call backs'

Tori transferred from the Subway (North Valpo) to the Subway near Rt 51 & Rt 6 (Hobart). She will also have some shifts at the Subway near St. Mary Med Cntr in Hobart. She is thinking to audition for Summer Theatre - 'E.R.', which I saw in Chicago many years ago.

Nick has a job interview on Monday @3:30pm, retirement home in Valpo -- we are going to the Barber Shop TODAY. He heard about another local job, setting up for parties & take down.

keeping the phone line open for 'call backs' and keeping my fingers crossed for Nick. A lot of the Summer jobs were snapped up already; however, Nick turned 16 in April which seems to be the magic age for Summer jobs.

I've been Spring Cleaning -- and reading ... and stitching borders on the Sanctuary. Have most of the poem stitched & half of the rapid stitch border stitched. Will finish the hemstiching & outside border REAL SOON. Looking forward to the Sunday DT Game Board SAL ...

Stitch well : ) Enjoy the week-end : )

Happy Mother's Day

I enjoyed this special day. Didn't get any stitches into the Game Board Sampler -- DH cooked burgers on the grill. Nicholas provided dessert -- smores! I am thankful for kind words, notes, cards, & gifts.

May is a busy month in our household (Drama Club awards, Academic Awards, Spring Choir Concert, Spring Band Concert). Saturday, the Music Contest went well. The Band received an Excellent & the Middle School Choir received a Good.

Nice to have Tori home -- she is in Summer School IUN & working at Subway. We share my car. Nicholas has a couple weeks of class & Final Exams. He said Chemistry is his hardest class & he raised his grade in Speech (at last!). Alexander is struggling with a power point presentation. On June 2nd, Alex has his last day of school, graduates 8th grade, and celebrates his 14th birthday.

Started reading The Name of the Rose during an oil change ... it is awesome. I wish I could curl up on the couch and read for the next 3 days !!! NOT

The Sanctuary WIP

I didn't get ALL the trees done in this border.

CORRECTION: Yes, my post was confusing ... sorry.
After I ironed shirts, I finished stitching the trees in this border --- the next border is the poem & I hope to work on it this afternoon/evening.

I need to put pink french knots on the garden gates, too.

FOUR more borders to go (poem, rapid stitch, hemstitch, floral border) ... think I'll get this finished for the fair?

Needlechat

Game Board SamplerSAL - I added the red house. Looking forward to seeing progress pictures from Bine, Cathy, Myrna, + Nicole.

Heard from Kay O (does not have a blog) & she has 3 houses done on the "left hand quarter". Melody? Have you worked on your sampler? (also without a blog)

I added tree trunks & garden gates to The Sanctuary. I would like to get tree tops added this week ...


Saturday, (6-May), I attended a workshop sponsored by Needle Artisans of Northwest Indiana, EGA chapter. CiCi Case, of CiCi Case Designs, taught Mail Art Envelope. I had a wonderful time learning how to put together an envelope with linen (and fabric lining). As you notice in the photograph, I'm just starting to stitch the motif on the envelope flap. As I get closer to mailing, I'll put up another photo.

The kit CiCi put together was fantastic. She had the linen, fabric for lining, perle coton, floss, basting thread, snaps, stamps, beads, a charm -- color photograph, background information on mail art, and pattern. The hands-on demonstrations, designing tips, hints, and teaching by CiCi were excellent. I learned so much!! CiCi had a scrapbook with photographs & brought along several mail art envelopes (stitched & gone thru the postal systems). What creative stitchers : )

I've enjoyed seeing photos of mail art on blogs & look forward to completing this kit.

Progress by Nicholas

"Fairy Dreams" designed by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum of Lavender & Lace (L&L 41)

Quiet time

I planned to rise at 6am, feed outdoor kitty & get biscuits in the oven by 6:15am, start coffee for DH (he rises by 6:35am), drive Alex to school by 6:45am (show choir rehearsal @7am), back home -- walk the dogs & get Nick going for the 7:15am bus. Routine is good. Surprised again. DH is NOT going to work - taking the WHOLE day off. He will be driving to Bloomington, IN this afternoon to bring DD home from college. Now what? My stitching is in the bedroom -- my Ian McEwan book is in the bedroom ... I cannot tear into Tori's room with the sweeper & make noise ... DH needs his rest ... what an excuse to read blogs this a.m. !!!

I'm not a creative writer - so, cannot locate the words to express how much I enjoy the fabulous blogs I visit on a regular basis. And, all the pearls to find!! Fun to read responses to the SBQ about over-dye fibers. Opinions, technique, cost, look & feel, stitchers -- you covered the topic well : )

In the past hour, I have enjoyed reading Linn's post about the Fibonacci Sequence; found a link to a free pincushion pattern from Sharon's blog; enjoyed peeking at Kimberly's shaker spool box come together; gobsmacked by Carol's progress photos. And, that my stitching friends, was four blogs in ONE HOUR. Who needs magazine subscriptions?

Yesterday, I visited House of Stitches in LaPorte, IN. I selected a frame for the canvas piece I finished. Purchased 40" linen banding for a Mary Garry pattern. Spotted a NEW pattern for bread cloths & had to buy it. Yeah, I know, not many fans of bread cloths; however, this would be so pretty in our bathroom. You see .... I have a basket of 'stuff' that would be far more attractive with a stitched cloth (LOL)

Well, DH's cell is ringing. The office found him. Gotta run -- lots to do in Tori's room & my quiet time is up. Looking forward to reading more blogs soon. Thanks for stopping by.

Update - Maria S.: Thanks for your comment/question. I wish you had a blog!! I bought linen banding for "A Present for Sewing Well". 47 stitches by 484 stitches. Long & Narrow. I don't know too many stores/shops who have Mary Garry patterns for sale.

If I understand your question - you are looking for "A Present for Sewing Well - fold". It is a design with quaker motifs & the pattern says "Keep your needlework supplies in this handy fold and Needle Case ..." Suggested using 18 count lambswool w/dmc floss (2 colors).

I am uncertain about this being available. You are welcome to contact House of Stitches at their toll-free number - or send them an e-mail. They have a couple patterns (I'm uncertain which ones). When I was looking for a chart called "Blessed Are the Peacemakers" the staff at House of Stitches located ONE copy of the chart for me.

Did you try the e-mail address on your pattern? mgarry6824@aol.com Or, if you have a needlework shop you frequent, ask & you just never know what they can find. Otherwise, e-bay.

Sampler Game Board SAL

Enjoyed the first two squares on Sampler Game Board by The Drawn Thread.

I'm looking forward to seeing progress pictures from Cathy, Sabine, and Myrna.

Update: Nicole, I'm using 32-count lambswool linen with DMC floss (2 strands) So far, so good : ) Nicole, please send me a link to your blog!

More trees ...

I added some of the garden gates & corner trees. Next, will add the trees on the upper half.