Oink!

Yay a small HD for me! I've finished off the Lanarte Pig that I started at the beginning of the month. I've worked on him a little here and a little there. Now out of the series all I have left is the goat which I plan to start once I've done the Ornament RR that I have in my possession right now.

So here's the details :

Pig, a kit from Lanarte by James Hearne stitched on 27ct linen with cotton floss, over one using tent stitch.

Week 4 Progress

I think in the last week I've really not felt like stitching at all. Every time I sat down with it I was kinda like in a "ugh not this again" frame of mind. However my goal was to get the left side of the border completed (minus beads), and that's the goal I've managed to meet.

Here's a full view of Teresa Wentzler's Wedding Sampler , I'm still not happy with the photo every time I try to photograph this piece it looks really washed out.


Now here's a closeup of the border section (colours are more true) :


My stitching goal for this week to finish the top portion of the border... at least.

Wow... I've Been Knocked on my A$$ ..... Again!

Its barely February and its been of year of surprises, and I received another one tonight. So far since Christmas, my best friend has gotten engaged and I'm to be one of the bridesmaids! In the New Year I was asked if I could take up administration of the Needle and Thread Bulletin Board for stitchers.

Well today it just took a phone call to do it this time. I was called by the past president of my needlework guild. I am being asked if I would like to take on the position of VICE PRESIDENT!!! Oh My Gosh!!!! Every time things like this happen it takes me by surprise. I had no idea I was thought of enough in the gild to be approached for a position like this. Its a serious decision I have to make, and it will take some time. In our guild each term is 2 years and after being VP you become President. A heavy decision indeed.

I'll let you all know when I make up your mind. If any of you out there have ever been on your guild's executive I'd love to hear about your experiences. Please leave a comment or e-mail me at tkd_chick at hotmail dot com

Another Nice Day!

And I'm not only talking about the weather (sunny and -6c you know its been a long cold winter when you're excited about it being warmer than -10c!!!). Today I met up with a some of the ladies for work for breakfast at one co-worker's house nearby. After a nice leisurely breakfast and a chat (something we don't have time to do since we work in a non-stop environment) we all packed into the car and drove up to Perth for some shopping. Our first stop was the outlet shoe, store, hard to find if you didn't know about it. I made out like a bandit!!! I got a new pair of black leather winter boots, very nice for 39.00 and a pair of brown leather shoes for work and to wear about when the snow is gone also for What a novel idea having boots, I haven't had winter boots in a coon's age!

We then went shop hopping down the main drag. I bought some very cool fantasy cards which were blank inside. I can't wait to use them! We then had a light lunch and whoila it was 3pm! We did a quick stop in a fabric shop where I found a fat quarter with lighthouses for my friend Hannelore and back home.

I came home to find my other half in the car waiting for me with the car running... he had asked me to be home for 4pm... I got back at 4:30 (ooops!). So I hopped out of one car and into another and off we went for dinner with the in-laws at Red Lobster. I don't eat seafood, so for me it wasn't a big occasion. But all the seafood lovers, their plates were practically licked clean.

So now I'm back home. I'm catching up with my BB's since I wasn't able to get into them yesterday or this morning. Then I'm going to settle down with some stitching, my Lanarte Pig for a change (I need a wee break from TW's Wedding Sampler) and watch some movies. I think we're going to order Bourne Supremacy off of the dish, we loved Bourne Identity when it came out. If you haven't read Bourne Identity but seen the movie, I urge you to pick up the novel... totally different (the movie just has the same basic plot) but excellent as well! Someday I plan to read the entire series.

I have a lot of books that are "somedays". This week I've been picking up a couple of quick reads from work... they're novels that someone like me can read in an hour to two hours. The series is called "Orca Soundings" they're what we call in the library business a Hi-Lo reader ... high interest low vocabulary. These books are gauged at teens with hard hitting-true to life plots that will attract the reluctant reader. As an adult and advanced reader these books are also keeping my attention.

Now as my serious read for myself I'm reading "requiem for the sun" by Elizabeth Haydon its the latest paperback in the "Symphony of Ages" series (fantasy). I've read all the other books in this series so far : "Rhapsody : child of blood", "Prophecy : child of earth", "Destiy : child of the sky" They're all fairly thick books, 500-700 pages.

Found A New Question of the Week

Well I found out awhile ago Stitching Question of the week was gone :( Now I've found a blog that offers one, it may be infrequent. At least it gives me something to blog about when I feel like I don't have anything interesting or worth while to tell you so here's the Question :

Do you frame your cross stitch yourself or do you take it to a professional framer? Why?In your opinion, what are the advantages and/or disadvantages of putting your workbehind glass when you frame it? (from Stitched With Love and Cat hair)

As of one year ago I started to frame my needlework myself. Why? Because I was sick and tired of paying 200+ to have small pieces framed with a simple frame and no mat. In other words while the quality was great I felt like I was being ripped off. Boy was I right! Once I took my framing course I found out its really not that expensive in terms of supplies. Yes there is that initial investment in tools and the course, but I think by now they have paid for themselves! Now as for the glass debate! I do not put my needlework behind glass. Why you may wonder, I've framed my earlier pieces under glass and you totally loose that feeling of needlework. To me it just becomes another picture on the wall. When there's no glass the light can work on the different fibers and textures, metallics and beads can sparkle!!! Now if a piece is going into a smoker's home, yes I do put it under glass because I don't want the piece to become nicotine stained.

Now how is my TW progress coming along... not bad this week! On Monday I finished all the cross stitch on the left hand side of the border, last night and once I'm done here tonight I will continue with backstitching. I've got the ribbons BS'ed and more than 1/2 done with the leaves. Once the BS has been done on that section I will put in the rayon satin stitches and the left side of the border will be done! I think I'll have quite a bit of stitching time this weekend. Of course by saying this I've probably just jinxed myself!

Teresa Wentzler's Wedding Sampler, Week 3 Progress

Well if there was such a thing as cross stitch neglect, I would of been arrested for it this past week. I only managed to stitch on it yesterday.

I've chased my approach to stitching the border. I was going to stitch it one colour at a time all the way around but I'm finding the confetti a wee bit of a challenge. So now I'm going to completely stitch each section of foliage between each ribbon section. I already can see my progress when I started doing this last night. I also completely finished the corner motifs.



This picture is a little dark but only because I photographed it on a black surface.

Man, I had a killer migraine today, I feel like its knocked the stuffing right out of me! But my meds seemed to have taken care of the pain so I should be able to get a nice stretch of stitching in this evening.

Call The Cross Stitch Abuse Police!!!

*SIGH* its been one of those weeks! Since finishing the latest part on Mini Mystery H I've not had a chance to touch my stitching AT ALL! My poor wedding sampler is suffering from neglect!

Now I haven't touched it because I don't want to... I'd love to get some more progress to share with you! I just haven't had the time! The last three evenings by the time I've gotten home and settled down its been after 10:30pm. If you've ever stitched a design by Teresa Wentzler you know not to even bother picking it up if you're not focused enough! Who could be focused when you're at work for 7:30 and then not getting home until after 10pm!

Wednesday night was my usual teaching night at TKD. Afterwards a couple of us went for coffee. Next thing I knew it was 9:30pm and I really should get home! Because of the snow we were having it was after 10pm when I got in the door!

Thursday night was my night to go train at TKD, class is from 8-9pm on Thursdays. I had to stay behind for a bit to chat with the head instructor at the school. Once again home after 10pm!

Tonight I had to go all the way to the East end, Orleans... might as well be China as far as I'm concerned. I am attending an Instructor's seminar being held by Master Lu. Tonight it ran from 6:30pm to 9:30 it was more like 10 pm since things never start or finish on time! The drive home was almost an hour. I'm going back tomorrow for the rest of the seminar 1-5pm followed by dinner. Bye bye weekend! Bye bye stitching time. Somewhere in all of this I've got to get the groceries done as well (usually part of my Friday night routine!)

Wish me luck maybe I will get some stitches in before Sunday.

Yay Mini Mystery H part 1b!!!

Finally! Part 1b of Mini Mystery H by Chatelaine was released on Saturday and I've only been able to work on it a little bit here and a little bit there. Normally I would of had it done within a day! But its now Tuesday and its done! Its quite pretty but this scan just doesn't capture it at all.


For the rest of the evening I'm going to work on the border for Celtic Banner by Butternut Road. My brain is too fried for a TW!!!

Small Happy Dance and Week 2 Progress Pic

Okay first the boring stuff, my week 2 progress picture of Teresa Wentzler's Wedding Sampler. This border is slow going but I know it will be gorgeous when its done!



Next the fun stuff! Today was "Dragon Dreams Sunday" over at my bulletin board, Needle and Thread. On the third Sunday of each month a bunch of us dedicate the day to stitching on a design from Dragon Dreams. I started and finished today "What Me... Stitch Over 2" c2003 Dragon Dreams which was a class piece from the CSNF in 2003. So here's my little ballerina dragon stitched on 32ct linen, Classics Special Edition from Silkweavers. I replaced the two black stitches for the eyes with a bead for each eye.


I will have to go through my Dragon Dreams charts to decide what I will stitch during the February SAL date.

If I have any time before bed tonight I will work on part 1b of Chatelaine's Mini Mystery H if not I will save that for tomorrow.

Another Great Day!

Today I spent the day out with my Mum. I picked her up around 9am and we drove to Kingston where we checked out a bead shop. We spent about an hour there and spent a bit of money. I got some more nice beads and charms to make some scissor fobs. After the bead shop we went out for lunch at a pub that claimed their fish and chips was better than The Glen's (its the pub we frequent when we get that hankering". The food was good, but I still think prefer The Glen's fish and chips. Our final stop in Kingston was Michael's I find the shop there much nicer than the one in Ottawa. Mum picked up some fimo and discounted Christmas stuff. I picked up a bunch of nice fabric Christmas ribbons for 90% off!!! I bought 10.00 worth of ribbon! Then it was time for the 2 hour drive home. A very nice day.

This morning I picked up the mail from Friday, I received one of the two orders I placed over the New Year with neeldework stores. I was a little irked with this order because I got dinged by customs. I don't mind paying my GST, really I don't what really pisses me off is the 5.00 service charge to pay that tax! My 26.00 USD parcel now cost 10.12 more because of customs! In this parcel I received 3 pieces fo 28ct Lugana, hand dyed colorscapes from Picture This Plus. The colours I got were Sterling, Pansy, and French Lilac. All pretty, but I'm a little bitter over it all because of the extra 10.00 I ended up paying. I won't be ordering from that shop again.

Ahhh... That Was Nice

Tonight I did something nice that I hadn't done in a long time. After work I met up with my friend Christin and we did our grocery shopping together like we normally do. Then we met up with Vicki for dinner mmmm fajitas! We followed dinner with a move and went to see Blade Trinity. Oooh that movie was fun. But heck I like anything with some cool martial arts!

So it was nice to just go out and relax with some friends.

I Feel Like...

I'm getting no stitching done! Argh! Its been a busy week so far and I've not had an evening at home yet. Monday I had a massage... yes I know a huge treat for me. If you've never had one oooohhh go treat yourself now! Tuesday I was a good girl and went to Taekwon-Do, tonight was my teaching night at TKD. So stitching time has been at a premium lately.

As for the Wedding Sampler its coming along slowly, I've been working on the same shade of green since Sunday. I think I may be able to finally finish that colour up tonight... I hope! Of course if I'm going to do that I need to get off of this computer. But first I'll go catch up at the Teresa Wentzler bulletin Board then I'll head over to Needle and Thread the bulletin Board that I run (please come and check us out!)

Later folks!

Wedding Sampler Progress

I suppose I'm happy with this week's progress. I was hoping to at least get as far as getting all the colours done in the corner motifs but that didn't happen. Also two frogging sessions on that bottom section of border didn't help. Why is it always something in green that I always end up frogging?

Anyhow here's my week 1 progress pic.... Teresa Wentzler's Wedding Sampler cLiesure Arts

I'm not very happy with the pic I took but hey its midnight and I have work in the morning.

Learnt Something New!

Today I took a wrapped/twisted wire jewelry making class today that I signed up for back in November... I think. Well it was a long time ago.

Anyhow what a neat class! It was a full day and we worked in brass wire... I originally wanted to use silver but the order hadn't arrived in time. Today I made a beautiful pair of earrings accented with Swarofski Crystals a ring and bracelet accented with the same crystals. Its a simply beautiful set of jewelry I can wear! The crystals give it an elegant quality. I tried to photograph the pieces but just couldn't get them in focus and catch the detail as well.

I signed up for another class next month, King's Bracelet which is made entirely with jump rings. This I will be doing in silver.

Pressies!! Stash!! And Stash Sorting!!!

Oooh I think I've been in the presence of three of my favorite things tonight! My friend Christin and I exchanged late Christmas presents this evening. Boy did she get me some GREAT stash! I got another Dragon Dreams chart, two skiens of Caron Waterlillies, 3 NPI silks, The Teresa Wentzler Best of Christmas Book, A bunch of Silkweaver hand dyed small cuts, and a pack of needles! Oh yeah and a pack of floss-a-way bags!

Finally now that I have the floss-a-way bags I've been able to package and organize my silks and other specialty fibers! I've been spending the evening typing up labels for each baggie, putting the silks in the baggie and putting it on the appropriate ring. There's nothing as soothing as going through and sorting stash!

Now in terms of stitching progress for what time I've been able to find this week I've been doing fairly well on Teresa Wentzler's (TW) Wedding Sampler. I have the border all outlined and now I'm starting the slow process of stitching the corner flower motifs then the ribbon wrapped foliage! I'll have a progress scan on Sunday night.

Its Started

Last night I got Claire's Wedding Sampler (Teresa Wentzler's) kitted up and started! So far its a couple of lines for the border, but hey its a start! I'll post a progress pic on Sunday.

Come Visit My Stitching bulletin Board

Well last night I got a very surprising e-mail from the owner/administrator of the Needle and Thread bulletin Board. She has been unable to keep up with running the Needle and Thread BB and asked me if I'd like to take over. I was a little leery at taking over someone's baby so I suggested a co-ownership of the BB be it if I do all the work or not. It just seemed more fair that way.

So if you don't do so already drop by and visit the Needle and Thread BB we've got all kinds of forums for all kinds of designers and we'd be happy to see you there!

Sigh, so I have two new toys to play with tonight... this BB and checking out all the settings and access I have. Also I'm kitted up and ready to go on TW's Wedding Sampler for Claire (except 1 pkg of beads and 2 skiens of DMC Rayon!). Oh what to do... what to do!

Last Minutes of Freedom

Well its almost bedtime for me, and in the morning its back to the penitentiary... I mean work! I had such a productive Christmas Break! I got a lot done and a lot of stitching done. I finish this year's Christmas Break on a positive note!

This morning I started the latest installment of the Wee Beasties Round Robin I'm in... I finished it 20 minutes ago! So may I present to you Terrance Nolan's c2003 Jeweled Scarab stitched on 32ct Autumn Fields Belfast.

Tomorrow I can start kitting up TW's Wedding Sampler.

January Chores

Well shortly I'll be able to sit and stitch guilt free for the rest of the day! I've done my start of the year chores. I've backed up files onto CD, my web page is completely up to date for 2004 and I've started my 2005 section and updated my WIPs.

I also scanned my progress of Celtic Banner by Butternut Road this morning and here it is stitched on 30ct Heritage Linen from Sugar Maple Fabrics:


Once I'm done here on the computer I'm going to sit down and work on Terrance Nolan's Jeweled Scarab.

January 2005 Goals

Okay its that time of the month again... goal time where I review how I did the previous month and what I intend to get done for the current month!!!!

December Review :

1. Finish Mini G by Chatelaine - DONE
2. Stitch 1 Christmas Ornament - DONE
3. Finish Dragon's Tea Party by Dragon Dreams - DONE
4. Finish Lanarte Cow - DONE
5. Work on Ottawa Sampler by Jeannette Douglas - YES and FINISHED

January Goals :

1. Stitch Mini Mystery H part 1a & 1b by Chatelaine
2. Stitch 1 Ornament
3. Stitch Wee Beasties RR
4. Work On Celtic Banner by Butternut Road
5. Start Wedding Sampler by Teresa Wentzler

First Finishes for 2005!

Well these aren't large finishes and one isn't exactly a finish but I've got 2005 off to a good start!!!!

This morning I started and finished Chatelaine's Mini Mystery H (Amethyst) part 1a, we'll be receiving 1b on the 15th of this month. I'm not sure if I like this one yet or not since there's quite a bit of green for it being an Amethyst theme.


Next this evening I finished my next ornament in the Ornament RR group 7. You can see the piece here at this LINK. Since we're keeping the designs in this RR a surprise I can't post a pic directly in my blog nor give details. If you'd like the exact details of the piece feel free to e-mail me.

This year I stitched in the New Year with my stitching friend Chrisanne I picked Celtic Banner by Butternut Road back up for the first time since New Years '04. It was nice to get to work on it again.

My next piece will be Terrance Nolan's jeweled Scarab for the Wee Beasties RR I'm in. Then its time to look towards kitting up and starting Teresa Wentzler's Wedding Sampler for Claire.

Ottawa Sampler Happy Dance!

Finally, here's the scan you've been waiting for of Jeannette Douglas's Ottawa Sampler c2004. This was designed specifically for the Cross Stitch Cupboard Fall Retreat which I attended in October, a class taught by the designer. It is for sale exclusively at the Cupboard for the next year.

This was a great design to stitch with all kinds of new and fun stitches and fibers! Used in this design is : DMC cotton, GAST, WDW, Gloriana silks, Kreinik braid and BF Mill Hill Beads and buttons from Just Another Button Co. It was stitched on 32ct Zweigart Vintage Belfast Linen - Autumn Field (gorgeous colour!)