Rock You Like a Hurricaine!

Guess what?  I'm a HURRICANE, I've quickly upgraded from a category 3 to a category 4 overnight!

Do you see a resemblance?

Art Deco Spirits Update

I was hoping to have the "Earth" section of Art Deco Spirits finished this week but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.  Life got busy this week and I can probably count the number of hours I've found to stitch on one hand.  I really only have myself to blame I got myself busy, probably worked out/ran a little too much.  I'm feeling a bit burnt out, and just need to try to slow down and relax a little... which I could do if I had the time to sit and stitch... or take a nice long nap!

I think she'll really pop once I get the backstitching in!  I'm down to the last two metallic thread colours on this block and then I can BS and move onto the next block.  The pattern calls for DMC metallic thread, which in my opinion is the worst stuff ever so I've changed it to Rainbow Galleries Petite Treasure Braid PB01.

I have a busy weekend ahead so I don't see much stitching in the near future!

Quick Run for the Cure update : the run is in 38 days and I've raised $195 out of the $1000 I hope to raise this year.  Click here if you'd like to support me in my efforts to fundraise for Breast Cancer research.

Knowledge & Needles Annual Open House 2010

This past Friday morning, Christin and I hit the road our first stop was Kingston for a visit with her parents over night.  Then Saturday morning it was back into the car to Knowledge and Needles in Brighton for Ann's annual open house, I think this was my 9th year in attendance.  This year, Ann had her highest numbers ever, 45 stitchers came by throughout the day.  We stitched, we ate, we shopped it was heaven!

I got to see some of my great friends some I only see a few times a year!

Here are some of my shots from the day!

Paddie was so hoping that Heather would drop some of her cupcake!

Kathy and I showing off our Mirabilias

Sun room full of stitchers

Dining Room, full of stitchers

The garage, you got it... full of stitchers

The aftermath from lunch!

2010 Stitcher's gallery

2010 Stitcher's Gallery

2010 Stitcher's Gallery

2010 Stitcher's Gallery

2010 Stitcher's Gallery

Claire & Beatrice experimenting on 55ct fabric!  Crazy!

Bonnie and I hamming it up for the camera!

Kathy gifted me with this scissor fob for stitching one of the lighthouses on her round robin

Stash from the weekend : 32ct charcoal lugana, and assorted overdyed threads

I'd Like To Raise $1000 This Year! Please Help

Some of my long -time readers may remember the breast cancer scare I had back in April of 2007.

I am one of the lucky people the lump in my breast turned out not to be cancer. Since then I've wanted to be able to do something to give back.

For the third year in a row I'll be participating in CIBC's Run for the Cure (5K charity run) on Sunday October 3rd. I would like to surpass last year's effort of $955.00 and raise at least $1000.  If you wish to sponsor me and make an online donation click HERE to go to my personal fundraising page and make a donation (anyone from anywhere in the world can donate).

I'll also be out and about with sponsorship forms on me at almost all times.  So if you live in my area or at a stitching get together with me and wish to donate using cash or cheque, just let me know!

Please let me know if the link doesn't work.





Thank you for your support and best wishes!

Biscornus, Ornaments and Fobs Oh My!

It was a busy evening creativity wise!

I came home and immediately sat down to make two scissor fobs.  A stitcher I know asked me to make a pair as gifts for her.

Then I finished up 'Tis Green #2 into a lovely biscornu

Finally just before bedtime, I finished up my ornament too!

Love

cR&P

Stitched on : 40ct linen

Stitched with: DMC 115

Dreary Sundays Are Great Stitching Days

After such a long, busy day yesterday (I was home for all of 30 minutes between 9am and 11:30PM) it was nice to be "stuck" in the house by rain and thunderstorms.  This way I wasn't tempted to do anything else but watch TV (Christin has lent me all the seasons of Stargate SG1 to watch) and stitch.

'Tis Green

c2010 La-D-Da Just Cross Stitch Ornament Preview Issue

Stitched on 32ct Queen Ann's Lace Joblean

Stitched with Caron Waterlillies Winter Wheat

I started out by finishing "Tis Green" for a second time.  This time its not an ornament but a gift for someone special.  I just have to stop procrastinating and get the finishing done before the week is out!  I also have a few other things I need to get done before the annual Knowledge and Needles Open House on Saturday the 21st.  I look forward to seeing so many of my stitching friends that day!

\

After finishing "Tis Green" I really wanted to get back to one of my bigger projects like "The Accolade" or "Art Deco Spirits" but I was disciplined and made myself start my August ornament since "Tis Green mark 1" was my July ornament.  This is by an Italian designer, part of a series, I stitched the first one back in June.

Another Small Finish

As I've mentioned in past entries this year, my desire is to finish the things I have started!  Projects that are sitting in my stitching basket, some for a very long time!

First up my small finish!  I can't remember when I started this, I know it was sometime this year.  For some reason with this piece I just kept dragging my feet!  Well I buckled down this week and got it finished!

Welcome Freebie

c Prarie Schooler

Stitched over one on 32ct Queen Ann's Lace Joblean

Stitched with DMC

So what am I working on next?  I liked 'Tis Green so much... I started it again!  This time in a different shade of Caron Waterlillies, Winter Wheat.

Not only have I had the desire to stitch 'Tis Green again, I've wanted to work on a piece I started back in 2006.  I worked on this piece very briefly when I started it, but lately I've been getting the urge to do more over one!  This is The Accolade a design from Gitta's.  I'm stitching it one over one on 25ct lugana.  Doesn't look like much does it?

Some Smaller Finishes & Goals

Since coming home, an finishing up Celestial Dragon I have worked on a few smaller things.  I admit its been nice to work on some smaller, more manageable and quickly finished pieces!

First up I stitched my ornament from July which I never got to... Celestial Dragon just took too long!

'Tis Green

c2010 La-D-Da Just Cross Stitch Ornament Preview Issue

Stitched on 32ct Queen Ann's Lace Joblean

Stitched with Caron Waterlillies Royal Jewels

(picture could be better)

Next I started this on Saturday and finished it just before bed last night.  Its my friend Beatrice's Mirabilia RR that she's sending out amongst her friends.

Christmas Elegance

c2004 Mirablia

Stitched with DMC & Mill Hill Beads

Beatrice's RR To Date

July Goals - Review
Finish Celestial Dragon - Just in the nick of time!

Stitch an Ornament - Celestial Dragon monopolized all my time
Start Beatrice's RR - See above
Start 2 Smalls - See above

August Goals
Stitch 2 Ornaments
Stitch Beatrice's RR
Work on Art Deco Spirits

Last Day in Quebec City

Sorry I haven't blogged again sooner, I've actually been back home since Thursday evening!  Friday turned out to be very busy and well this weekend I stitched!  But I'll save the stitchy stuff for my next post.

On Wednesday, our last full day in Quebec City my Mum and I did a few things outside of the city.  First that day we went to the Montmerency Falls, very spectacular!  The are not as wide as Niagara Falls but they are taller.

From the park entrance you can either ride up in a cable car or...

Walk up the stairs!  I chose to ride up in the cable car and walk down the stairs.

The Manor at the top of the falls.  There is also a restaurant and bistro where you can have a meal.  Quite expensive!

Mum admiring the falls from a lookout point

Me, at the same lookout point

The top of the falls and the suspension bridge above

The view from behind the suspension bridge and the river above the falls

A view of the falls from the opposite side, coming down the stairs

After a few hours at the falls we hopped in the car and drove around Ile d'Orleans its almost like stepping back in time, very pretty and quaint.

One of the many old churches on the island.

This must be one of the original homes on the island

One of the many stunning views out over the St. Lawrence River, that's Sainte Anne de Beaupre in the distance

I just had to stop when we came across this field of sunflowers!  I think one more week and they would of been absolutely magnificent!

At the tail end of our day, and I think we were both too tired to appreciate it we went to the Basilica at Saint Anne de Beaupre.

The basilica and fountain in front.  It was just about to start raining!

On Thursday we made our way home, and at a rest stop just past Trois-Riviers look what I found!

Yes!  Its the General Lee!

Parked beside it, a cop car from Hazard County!  Too funny!

Vieux Quebec At A Glance

Yesterday my Mum and I spent the whole day in Vieux Quebec (the old part of the city), here it is at a glance!

Charming old buildings in close quarters

One of the most photographed hotels in the world, the Chateau Frontenac

Goldman!  He was a riot to watch.

Sculptures in surprising places

Every building is fantastically decked out!

On the caleche ride (horse and carriage) our driver was very amusing

Mum and I in the caleche

Cowering in the cover from the rain!

The lower city from above

It was a long, but nice day... unfortunately in the late afternoon/early evening the rain moved in and we didn't get to explore the lower city.