Another Weekend On The Road

This past weekend we (Christin and I) were off to Brighton, via Kingston. We spent Friday night in Kingston, she with her parents, me with our good stitching friend Beth. I got a little stitching done that night, but I was pretty tired.

Saturday Beth and I both woke up pretty tired and found it hard to get going! The gloomy weather I'm sure had a part in that but so did all my running around over the last couple of months! The three of us piled into my car (you wouldn't believe the mileage I have on my 2002 Hyundai Accent... 155,000 KM) and went off to Ann's (owner of Knowledge and Needles) to meet up with some of the local ladies for our annual Ornamentification Get Together. Since I was all caught up with my ornament making, I taught a little class... how to make Cube-Its. I think I must of done a good job stitching, my 4 students all produced beautiful cubes!



My Cube - Teresa Wentzler's Tole Heart


Beatrice Decorating Her Cube

Ann received a pleasant surprised while we were visiting... her quilt using the prairie Schooler alphabet charts was coming home! Ann had done part of the blocks as an RR, stitched the rest her self and did all the quilting too. She had a local lady put on the binding and a pocket in the back so she could hang it on the wall. Ann did a beautiful job, it looks amazing Ann!



The rest of the afternoon was left for stitching! I honestly didn't really get any done. I was so pooped I spent most of the time listening to the chatter while I rested my eyes or started off into the distance. I was exhausted! Before leaving I made a small purchase at Ann's shop, A fat quarter of 28ct white Jazlyn and a skein of Waterlillies needed for my Sweetheart Tree RR. Before we knew it, it was time to head back to Kingston.

When I got back to Beth's I had to lie down for about an hour before dinner! I was struggling to stay awake! We were treated to stew for dinner put together by Beth's husband, according to her this is a rare treat! The rest of the evening was spent stitching. I worked on my Needlecase Guardian and Beth worked on Rosemarkie. I finally made noticeable progress too!

Sunday, it was time to go home...

I spent a couple of hours doing some more finishing... I put together my Celestial Fob by Teresa Wentzler and Jennifer Aikman-Smith. For a change I did the finishing by hand so that I could put beads all around the edge. I'm so happy with how this turned out. Do you think this deserves a tutorial???







Tonight I enhanced my stash a little more. First I received a wonderful surprise in the mail from my friend Kathy. She sent me The Dragon Dreams Dragonlet Birt Sampler! Thank you Kathy that's so kind of you! I also did a little shopping tonight online at Traditional Stitches. Nothing special really... just a bunch of perle cottons, Needle necessities and one Waterlillies all needed for the Sweetheart Tree RR.

Back to work on that Needlecase Guardian.

Yes! Its an HD!!!

I think with age I'm getting a little *stupider* Tongiht I got Celestial Sun stitched up as far as I could get without that colour I ran out of. So I packed that away and started working on Teresa Wentzler's Guardian Needlecase.

Then I had a lightbulb moment. Hmmm I wonder if Teresa used the same metallics in the Needlecase. Whoila! A baggie full of 095 #4 Kreinik! Eureka! I don't have to wait until sometime Friday night to finish it!

So here it is... Terea's half of the fob

Celestial Sun c2006
Teresa Wentzler

Celstial Sun/Celestial Moon c2006
Teresa Wentzler/Jennifer Aikman Smith

Unfortuantely I won't have time to "fobify" it as tomorrow after work I'm off to do some ornament finishing with a bunch of stitching friends for the weekend! Can't wait!

Arrrgh! The Scream Heard Around the World...

Tonight I ran out of floss... so there won't be a Celestial Sun Happy Dance until at least late Friday. Now that's being hopeful, Christin brags to have a complete set of Krenik #4 metallics so I'm hoping she can raid her stash for the one I ran out of... with only 4 stitches left in that colour.

I suppose in the meantime I can put in the specialty stitches and backstitching. That'll at least keep me busy.

Photo : Chives in flower on my property.

A Mish-Mash of Pictures

First... I'll start with the hard pictures to see. Holly, my sister sent me a nice e-mail yesterday, which included photos from her car accident last week. It's still upsetting to think about it.

Now for some happier photos...

This past weekend I received a lovely gift from a fellow TWBB'er whose in my TWRR... Ruth made this stunning scissor fob wish swarovski crystals! I just love it. Of course I had to get a new pair of scissors for it, better yet they're a pair of Dinky-Dyes with their funky coloured handles!

Next the photos you've all been waiting for... my Viper Scale Chain Bracelet that I made this weekend. I just love it!


Finally my first stitching HD from this weekend's classes. Here's the Celestial Moon portion of the scissor fob this half is designed by Jennifer Aikman-Smith, the second half is the Sun by Teresa Wentzler. I'm a good portion into that one too!

I'm getting ready to hit the road again. This Friday after work, Christin and I are off to spend the night in Kingston. Saturday we're getting together with some stitching friends of ours four our annual Ornamentification day in Brighton!

Re-charging My Batteries

First of all I want to thank EVERYONE for their good vibes, kind comments and prayers last week. My family and I really needed them!

I had the opportunity this weekend to step away from everything, to re-charge my batteries, emotionally and artistically. I was lucky enough to get together with a BUNCH of stitchers this weekend and take classes from Jennifer Aikman-Smith and Teresa Wentzler. My first class was a progressive workshop that featured Jennifer, Teresa, and Doug Kreinik. We were divided into three stations, taking turns with each teacher. Teresa taught us everything we needed to know to stitch her Celestial Sun scissor fob. The reverse side of the fob was a Celestial Moon designed by Jennifer. I had a lot of fun at Doug Kreinik's station. He taught us how to make cording, using multiple colours to get different effects. This activity would be a great ice-breaker at a stitching retreat or guild meeting.

My next class was with Teresa, Mini Autumn Sampler. I can't wait to get that stitched up to share with you its to DIE for! She's got quite a few specialty stitches, over one and over two stitching. Also some drawn thread... which is a first for me!

My third class was also with Teresa, this time it was a Dragon Needle Case! Once I get my moon and sun fob stitched up I'll get this one done. Its a dragon with a lot of attitude! This one will be so fun to stitch! I had an awesome opportunity in this class... to teach Teresa something! I have pictures of it too! I taught Teresa how to make colonial knots! This is my goal in life... LOL to teach everyone how to do the colonial knots instead of french knots.


My fourth class wasn't related to stitching at all, I took a chain maille class with Marilyn Gardiner. I learnt how to make the Viper Scale Bracelet. Boy... that was tricky at first but its so beautiful! I will take a picture of it in the next couple of days.

I also splurged and bought myself a new sewing machine! A Huskuvana Viking Emerald, its a nice basic machine for my finishing.

Some of my highlights from the last two days was going out to dinner with 20 other stitchers and Jennifer and Teresa. That is always so fun! I also got to catch up with my friend Dayuma who I haven't seen in a couple of years. But the best had to be when there was a knock at my room's door last night and coming by for a visit was... Jennifer Aikman-Smith and Teresa Wentzler! Oh my gosh! That was so nice for them to stop by for a visit!

Anyhow I'm feeling better, learned some cool stuff and got to hang out with a lot of my stitching friends!

Today Was The Shits

Today was not a great day.

I got into work this morning and there were signs all over the place... Staff Meeting 7:50am I had a very good idea what it was about but none the less, it was hard.

One of the teachers at work was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer back in December. We were told this morning she passed away last night. I knew this was coming, I actually expected it to happen last weekend. Still it didn't make it any easier.

Rest in Peace Tanya, you're no longer in pain.

Cancer has really had a toll on those around me this year, and I find its getting harder to face it all with out bursting into tears. This year alone I've lost 3 co-workers/former co-workers that I was quite friendly with to cancer. We also lost Todd's Aunt earlier this year, that was very close to home.

Then after lunch there was a message on my voicemail at work (which really annoys me, if you try to reach me through the directory it goes direct to voicemail... if you want the phone to ring... you have to call a different extension). It was my Mum, she needed me to call her. Now my Mum doesn't call me for just any reason... so I knew that wasn't good.

My sister was in a serious car accident today. She was "okay" (nothing broken, ruptured, no trauma, etc), but they saw something with her back they didn't like. So off she was taken to a hospital in the city for a CAT scan. That took all day. We finally heard from her at 8pm tonight. There's no damage, but she's really bruised and off of work for the next two weeks.

So like the title says... today was the shits and I've not stitched a bit.

Its a Page Dance!

Wahootie! I met one of my major October goals last night! I finished another page on Noah's Sub! I got a small start on the next page, but I had a migraine last night so I headed for bed instead of staying up stitching.

Also I've made a little progress on Mini Cottages 4

A Morning of Finishing

Well I couldn't procrastinate any longer... so this morning as soon as I got up it was into the craft room for me! Of course part of the problem for me not finishing these items was the fact that I was just never home to do it! Today I'm having a lovely Saturday at home just puttering around... might even take a nap soon!

First my friend Chrisanne made up three versions of her nametag... so I finished all three for her! They all have penguin fabric on the back too! I think I like the last one the best!

Also I hope my massage therapist doesn't read my blog... because Monday I have an appointment with her and she happened to mention it was her birthday! So I finished up Brittercup's Portrait of a Cat and Portrait of a Dog as pillows for her. They're so cute!

Once I'm done online... it'll be back to Noah's Sub... I can see a page happy dance in the near future!

SBQ

Q :As we all know, stitching in the winter can really be rough on the hands. What do you do to treat your hands well in the cold winter months? Do you have any suggestions for creams or soaps? Or perhaps a special regimen that you would like to share?

A : No real regime here... I just use hand cream frequently while I'm at work.

Not much progress on Noah's Sub ... I'm tired!

Today's picture : another picture of the grounds at Manoir D'Youville.

Progress, and More Progress!

Alright... stright to the point, as promised, progress spictrues!

Noah's Submarine from Stoney Creek

The Accolade Timeless Designs

Mini Cottages 4 by Michael Powell

Sweetheart Tree RR - Round 2

As I'm sure I said earlier this week I received the next installment of the SHTRR on Tuesday. Right then and there I started on it... I didn't want to have a last minute scrabble like I did with my own and my last TWRR! I worked on it every spare minute I could find this past week. I managed to finish it while I was visiting with my stitching friend Kathy this weekend!

Here's an adaptation of some of the bands from the sampler Fleuressence c1996

Jennifer's layout is very interesting, she's turning it into some kind of book! I'm anxious to see it when she's done the finishing on it... of course it'll be awhile this is a rather large RR with 8 stitchers (the average is 6).

Here's the area where she asked us to stitch our names... why they're upside down I have no clue but there's a reason!

While visiting with Kathy this weekend I've made amazing progress on several of my current projects! Noah's Sub has grown in leaps and bounds! Michael Powell's Mini Cottages 4 no longer looks like white and grey blobs. And I've worked on the Accolade as well. I'll be sharing progress pictures of all of these with you tonight after another full day of stitching!

Greetings From the Shores of Lake Ontario

Since Friday night, I've been here on the shore of Lake Ontario outside of Brighton. I'm having a little weekend visit with my stitching friend Kathy before she does her snowbird thing for the winter! (lucky lady!) I've had a nice visit so far down here, hanging with Kathy in her beautiful home bare meters from the water. I've gotten so see a couple of friends in the area, and oh boy I've stitched a lot! Makes up for the month of almost no stitching I think!

I've finished the first installment of the Sweetheart Tree RR. I've worked on my Michael Powell Mini Cottages 4 and I've put in time on Noah's Sub! All of these will deserve photos here on my blog when I get back home Sunday afternoon!

Till then!

P.S... Christin is it done yet?

No Rest For The Wicked!

Well I had one night of Noah's Sub ... before my next round robin showed up in the mail! So today I started on Jennifer's Sweetheart Tree RR.

I think I should be able to have that done in the next day or two, then I can go back to "The Sub"... that's if the last installment of the TWRR doesn't show up first!

This picture is from the grounds at Manoir D'Youville in Quebec.

Chili Peppers, Cute Furry Purries, An HD and Goals

Well life still hasn't slowed down for me yet! I think its about to... maybe?



Friday night after work I hooked up with Christin and Chrisanne in Chapters. After resisting any purchases (who can deny a new book?) we grabbed a bite to eat. Good thing too, we got to the Scotia Bank Place in time to catch the last two songs by the opening band for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mars Volta. They were sooo loud I couldn't stand to go find our seats! While wandering the concourse, after buying my concert shirt I ran into someone I didn't expect! You can ask Christin, no matter where I go I seem to be able to run into someone I know! Anyhow I had to double check when I spotted this person... my nephew Nick with his Dad! How cool is that, my 11 year old nephew going to the Chili Peppers concert! He even had better seats than we did, we were in the nose bleeds off to one side. Poor Christin and Chrianne had a bit of a run in with a couple of fans during the show you can read about it here at Christin's blog she can tell it better than I can! Anyhow it was a great show, and I got some pictures! (well the best I could do considering our seats!).

This weekend has been spent at the OVGS booth at Fibrefest, demonstrating/promoting the guild. Which I have to say I enjoy doing since you get to talk to so many people about my favorite hobby! The only down side is I spend all weekend there, and once again away from the house. It is a challenge to make good progress on a project when you're starting and stopping... and some frogging had to be done now and again on my Sweetheart Tree RR that goes in the mail on Monday.

Saturday morning, Hunter was being super cute and of course I've captured the moment! The sun was shining bright, and he decided to go between the blinds and the window in our bedroom. So I captured his shilloutette. I tried to get a picture of his eys by lifting up one slat of the blinds... but you can see this very quickly turned into a game! Oh he was so cute!




This evening I just finished my Sweetheart Tree RR! . So here it is :

Blueberry Heart

c 1996 Sweetheart Tree

28ct White Jubilee

DMC threads, substitute Mill Hill beads for Delica DB-27 Metallic Green AB

Hopefully I'll have at least a week before my last TWRR shows up and my first SHTRR and I'll get some stitching in on Noah's Sub, and I can share my progress with you... I don't think I've touched it at all this month!!!

Now here's my September Goal Review :

Stitch TWRR - Yes, done just in time!
Work on Noah's Sub - an ity bit!
Stitch an Ornament - never got one done
Stitch a freebie - didn't have the time
Plan Sweetheart Tree RR - Yes, just in time!
Plan Ornament RR - The organizer has let this fall apart :-(


October Goals :

Finish TWRR
Stitch Sweetheart Tree RR
Work on Noah's Sub
Stitch an Ornament
Stitch a freebie