Sampler Game Board WIP

C.A. Zittel - The Drawn Thread - c.2003 Sampler Game Board I added a few motifs and another house in the lower right corner

15 houses
18 motifs

33 Total squares stitched ... 31 squares to go!!!

some progress pix

The Drawn Thread: Sampler Game BoardI added the Lower Right 2 squares -- house and lamb
I replaced the square with initials & date with a lamb from Generosity, Drawn Thread, c.1997
14 Houses
15 Motifs
29 Squares Stitched

I started the Spring Floral Tabletopper this week.designed by Claudia Dutcher, c.2000 Dutch Treat Designs

This 40-count linen is a challenge. I did get the buttonhole edge around both sides
I will work on the finishing a little at a time. Next step is to sew the front & back together using some sort of chain stitch.This is from SAN-Q, Spring 2001One challenge is counting by three threads instead of two!

Today is the FIRST DAY OF SPRING ... and we have 4" to 9" of snow in the forecast for Friday & Saturday. Hello, Mother Nature, it is SPRING now ... would you please cancel the snow? Until Winter? Thx in advance

Gameboard & Buddy

OK, Pam, proof that I got my gameboard out!!!I hope to re-do this corner. I want to change the square with initials to a lamb motif from the Drawn Thread pattern, Generosity
Our Buddy injured his ear this morning. He was walking on leash, and somehow sliced thru his ear in a couple places. The vet fixed his ear & I take him back in on Monday or Tuesday
He is still drowsy from the medications -- I feel so sorry for him

27 Squares

I added the square with two trees & the house next to it.



13 houses
14 motifs

25 Squares

I added more squares!

12 houses
13 motifs

I added the & dragonfly & blue flower (row 3) + red flower (row 5)

As for February stitching ...

1) continue 2 squares/week with the DT SAL
2) participate in the orn SAL
3) New Project: I'd like to get my Shep Bush kit out. It is called Heart Blooms. c.1996. I won the kit a few years ago. There are five hearts in the sampler with a beautiful border - stitched on 32-count Antique White linen with AVAS & Caron Waterlilies Silk.
4) WIP: Add a square to my afghan or tabletopper. Winter months are perfect for this!!

TGIF

Myspace Graphics

I was not able to get this picture on my blog ... this is LAST weeks progress on the gameboard. I added the house & cherry motif at the top.

I was tagged to reveal six wierd things about me. And, quite frankley, I had a difficult time narrowing down all my wierdness into SIX.

1) I have banned imitation foods from the house (ie Velveeta, Cool Whip)

2) I do not follow sports, which includes school, professional, & Olympics. I do not play board games, card games, computer games, yard games ... even tho I grew up in a household of people who loved them!

3) I'm more of a 'straighten-up'er than a neat/clean freak.

4) I can live with out tv & movies, tho admit I do enjoy an occasional pbs program [i.e. Magic Flute, Masterpiece Theatre]

5) I love the radio, music, CDs, -- of all styles & miss listening to new 'tunes' with Tori when she lived at home. I do not own an ipod. Yet ...

6) I never eat gravy or ketchup

And my head congestion is improved, my coughing is worse, my throat is on fire, and I have no voice. YUK. I'm going to try to finish up the laundry & attempt the ironing before I get back to my game board sampler ...

Everyone, enjoy the week-end. We have a cold blast coming with wind chills. I have a good book & stitching. Don't need much else!!!

20 Squares

I removed the 'blue flower' motif. Added the lamb at the top. Added the acorn + moon/star motif. Now, back to house construction : )

{updated} Response to questions:
Everyone is welcome to join the SAL
There are 64 squares.
I'm using 32-count lambswool linen, my linen is apx 18" by 18".
Project is 192 stitches wide x 192 stitches long.
Pattern calls for 15 DMC floss colors. I don't know how many skeins are needed of each color b/c I am not finished with the stitching.
The pattern is $8 at House of Stitches
One stitcher in the SAL is going to use overdye fibers AND Chart Corrections are listed on the Drawn Thread Sampler Game Board SAL Blog

18 Squares ...

18 17 Squares.

UPDATE: Thanks Melissa for sharing the chart corrections on the Game Board Sampler. Seems I need to 'flip' the Blue Flower motif around.

All stitchers are welcome to grab their fibers, pattern, etc & join the SAL. I know one stitcher plans to start Feb 1st. I think there are a dozen stitchers w/blogs (+ two friends w/o blogs] stitching up this Drawn Thread project.

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Yesterday ... three more motifs added:



I added the tree on the top row, the floral & bird on the 2nd row. This project is very nice to stitch!

DT Game Board SAL Blog has more photos from other stitchers.

Barbara: I understand. Once you are committed to 'deadline' stitching, you follow thru. It is one reason I decided for 2007 - only two SALs. Last year I had too many deadlines!

It is 4 degrees. Most of the storm passed North of us. There is lake effect snow in our forecast - with possibly 4-6" of snow. In nearby LaPorte & Michigan City -- they are zonked with ice and snow.

15 squares!

11 houses
04 motifs

15 squares stitched

Last week I added the house next to the mouse ... the lion & crown.

More progress pictures can be viewed at the Game Board Sampler Blog

DT Web Page Updated

Sampler of Stitches (Part II)

If you have not checked out Drawn Thread news for 1/7/2007 .... go there! I like the next Toccata, but the sampler of stitches really catches my eye.

Per the web site: "Sampler of Stitches is a series of 9 small samplers which can be worked alone or combined on one cut of linen to form a large single sampler.
We are pleased to offer Part One and Part Two of this series..."


10 homes stitched - 2 motifs stitched

Here is a progress pic of my Game Board. I am trying to fill in the spaces inbetween the houses. It ia a lot of fun. To check out the other SALers ... see Game Board Sampler SAL Blog.

Thank you very much for your kind birthday wishes. It was a great day - tho I wish I could turn back time 10 or 20 years : )

What's Up?

Current photo of my creativity corner ... not any stitching going on!

Yesterday, I cleared off the desk so I could work on my 'shopping list' for House of Stitches New Year sale. I have a ride tomorrow morning (while Tori & Alex sleep late) & look forward to seeing my stitching pals & the sale items. Oh, and if any of you are going to shop -- you better beat us there, when we leave, there will be nothing left!! ha ha ... just kidding.

I'm looking forward to a couple SALs in 2007, too. I've joined the Christmas Ornament SAL, hosted by Nicki to make one ornament per month.

I'll be getting out my Sampler Game Board WIP by Drawn Thread, too. I'm not sure how many stitchers will be SALing. Is that a word, SALing?? Stitching-a-long. Check out the new Game Board Sampler blog, hosted by Cathy B!

I keep looking at the photograph of the completed project. I would like to get mine done, too. The Game Board SAL will be starting up next week - to stitch TWO squares per week. I've been stitching one house at a time - I think I'll be doing a house and one of the motif squares per week.

Have a Happy New Year. I'll be cooking while the boys watch football on t.v. Tori returns to college on the 1st of January (which makes me sad already).

DT Gameboard SAL & MIOM

I heard from Cathy that she was setting the gameboard aside until after the holidays.

Also from Kay (without blog): "Well, so much for the Drawn Thread game board. I ALMOST finished half way--got 16 houses finished, the border around the top- except for the side where the year and initials are suppose to be sewn, and the little squares between the houses--then last night--I started on the second half--goofed up the pattern--had to cut out half a house--and decided to put it away for a while. Want to work on some little-quick-no brainer things."

OK, so, I put it aside to work on a holiday ornament for my Mom. I think working on some holiday stitching is in order :D I'll pick up the DT sampler in January!!

- - - - -

As for Move It Out Monday ... I still have Country Garden to finish.

I read on Karen's Blog that she was going to start A Stitch in Pine this week. Wanting to launch this ... I spent most of my Monday -- moving my stash around! I did find everything & was happy to start this sampler. Didn't get much accomplished ... just the outside border. If you go to Karen's Blog, you will see the trees just GREW right on her linen!! She is so far along. She may finish it by Friday ... yikes.

One problem I HAD, was the button. I couldn't find it (never mind I bought this pattern, floss, button back in 1998). Lucky me, Tina had charts for button substitutes. Tina has a picture on her blog of "A Stitch in Pine".

As I was working my way thru 'stash', I came across this chart. I pulled out the floss the chart called for (301, 400, 610, 829, 832, 3031) There were Needlepoint Silks listed, too. I thought the floss colors I had in my hand didn't really look like the colors in the photograph -- I was thinking the floss colors looked brighter in the picture. I tried to match floss to the photograph. This will be my next 'Monday' project. And, if the colors I pulled out don't look right -- I can always do it again in the suggested colors. It is 74W x 93H

Now, after working on WIP after WIP, it is really fun to get out THREE new projects to stitch.

Photo added:
See the difference? These are the floss colors the pattern calls for.

Hip to be Square

My progress. Sampler Game Board C.A. Zittel - The Drawn Thread - c.2003


Just added the white house at the bottom

9th block

I finished the striped house with blue roof on Sunay's SAL. I picked another house to stitch this Sunday. Once the houses are complete-- the block inbetween shouldn't take too long. I was thinking to work on the border LAST :D

Sunday SAL

Finished the house on the lower left -- hope to finish the one on the right by the end of the day ...

OK, as you asked ...

Yes - when I need a magnifier I use a clip-on. For over-one linen thread stitching, I use a magnifer constantly. I have a magnifier on a base which I frequently use while 'finishing' needlework.


After stitching, I fold the frame flat -- If I plan to work on another project, I change the scroll bars [top and bottom]. The base can be adjusted to fit the scroll bars. Lastly, I put everything into pillowcases & store in my wardrobe. My MIL bought me 20 pillowcases at a resale shop [no, I'm not kidding] which I use all the time.

setting up my Sunday SAL ...

Turned my back to pull out the pattern I wanted to stitch ...


Heard a slight noise, turned & saw her getting comfy. What a honey bunny.

I'm so lucky, not only was Mystery on tonight [while I ironed shirts] Train is on PBS tonight. Nice music to stitch by

Sunday SAL

Sampler Game Board by Drawn Thread. Construction completed on another house ... what a delightful pattern!!

SALing with: Bine in Germany & Cathy With Needle + Thread & Myrna Still Living in Wonderland & Nicole Autumn Sway & Pam at Pam's Place

Didn't hear from Kay O this past week. Melody (w/o blog) sent an e-mail: "I've been stitching on the Game Board (Yeah!!) but of course I started on the boring stuff -- the alpha border and inside border. I figured if I could tackle that then the rest would be a breeze. I stitched one whole side of the inside border over the weekend and realized it was stitched with the wrong color floss -- DRAT!! Here comes the Frog---------- rippit-rippit! "

Any more stitchers joining in????

SAL: Sampler Game Board

Progress Pic: Drawn Thread/Sampler Game Board. I added the TWO houses on the top row. And, may add another one tomorrow. I have the 12 Houses Sampler by Drawn Thread & I am not sure if I have linen, know I have the cotton floss : ) What is it with houses these days? I think this is my first project with houses -- I have patterns with houses ... just never stitched any of them.

I am enjoying the kids being home. When they are in class, things are quiet around here. The other day, I talked to Nicholas over an hour. He seems to be enjoying his new job - P.M. Server at a nearby Retirement Community. The extra driving is just wackie. I'm not much for driving around -- with Tori & Nick taking shifts, I'm in the car a lot. Wish I could stitch & drive at the same time!!!NOT!!!

I plan to go back to 'finishing' for fair entries. I made a list of several things needing to be finished. If I can manage to get them looking good, I'll enter them ALL. Gesh. Lofty goal!

The Summer Reading Program (public library) started June 5th for adults. Grand Prize is a $50.00 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. I have SEVEN awesome titles:
Death in the Garden - mystery - by Elizabeth Ironside (thanx Daniellefor this review);
Forever by Judy Blume - from the American Library Assoc Banned/Challenged list;
L'America by martha McPhee - read an review on the NYTimes web site;
Charming Billy by Alice McDermott - wanted to read this for years!;
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood;
TWO by Annie Proulx -- postcards & Close Range short stories (including Brokeback Mountain).

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. "