Photo Hunt #89 "Light"

I love how the sunlight comes through my friendship ball. Isn't it beautiful?

Well I'm getting that much closer to the finish line on model #2! I've started the border, its simple with two colorus... one of them more evil DMC metallic. Then the final step will be some beads and I'll be dancing!

Some Stitching I Can Show!

Over the last little while I've actually put in some time on one of my little projects. Not at home, but as you know lately I've had a few appointments and I don't like to pull out an involved project when I know at any moment my name could be called and I have to shove it in a bag. No way to treat a model.

So I have actually put in some time with Mini Cottages 5, here's where it stands as of tonight. I worked on it at my Mum's this evening (not the best lighting). Ahhh that's nice being able to share some stitching!

I'm hoping by the start of the weekend I'll have finished my model!

SBQ : January 23rd

Q : Have you had a happy dance yet this year? If so, tell us about it! (Or just point to the entry that mentions it.) If not, when do you predict it will be?

A : Yes, my first HD for this year has been a Mill Hill Ornament. Here's where you can check it out.

I had yet another migraine this afternoon. Urgh! It got pretty bad, when I got home from work I had to take some meds and lie down for a few hours. I have tried to stitch on model #2 tonight (and yes I'll be able to share it once its released) but between two lengthy phone calls and some frogging I'm afraid to say I didn't get too far!

Photo (SLR) : Rustbucket amongst the trees. I spotted this sitting back in the bush while out for a walk on Sunday, I never would of seen it in the summer.

Cool Gift & Stash!

Earlier this week I got the bestest ever e-mail from my good friend Chrisanne! I was actually at work when I read it so I'm afraid to say I disturbed any of the students studying/working in my library that day with a squeal of excitement! Chrisanne the awesome person that she is... she got me for my birthday (its not until March 27th by the way) a ticket to go see Lenny Kravitz with her at the Scotia Bank Place on March 24th! Even better she managed to score us seats on the floor, 6th row! Wahootie! I'm very excited. March is going to be a great month because the week before the Lenny concert (March 19th), Christin and I will be going to see The Foo Fighters, yet again we're going to be on the floor too! So March will be a-rockin' !!!

Also this week my stash for the Lizzie Kate Double Flip-its came in! Gosh I sooo can't wait to finish my model so I can stitch them up! I can't wait, its all organized ready to go.

Today I had a fantastic visit with Kathy! We went out for breakfast and stitched into the afternoon. It wasn't a long enough visit Kathy and its going to be a long time until the end of April!

Sorry I've not been blogging much I've either been stitching or sleeping! I don't know why, but my body seems to need sleep lately. I took a 5 hour nap on Saturday!

Photo (point & shoot) : grey squirril on tree

You Make Me Smile Award

Today I got from Witchypoo a You Make Me Smile Award. Sorry no cool icon for this but it was so nice to be singled out! I got to meet Zoe for the first time a few years ago when she was visiting Canada from the UK. I hope we'll sometime get to meet again be it if she gets to my side of the pond or I get to hers.

The rules are that I have to Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times. [Never a truer word has been added]

I think my top blogs that make me smile are my stitching friends (in no particular order)!

Christin - Christin's Ramblings

Kathy - Kathy's Sit N' Stitch

Beatrice - Stitching With a View

Chrisanne

Ann - Knowledge & Needles

Rebecca - Rebel In Ontario

Jennifer - Dragon Musings

Claire - Blarney And Grits

Lynn - Kearnel's Korner

"MissBehavin" - Who unfortunately doesn't want her blog out there but I enjoy it none the less.

Just to let you all know I've been plugging away at my second model, I just am focusing on stitching instead of blogging. Of course since I can't share it that lessens the interest level of my posts!

On Model Stitching

Jen wanted to know how did I get into model stitching?

Gosh I can't exactly remember when I started model stitching...years ago. I've checked back and my first model was in 2003. Its really quite simple actually, how I got into model stitching. Through a couple of classes with Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams (and I'm sure many e-mails inbetween) we came to be on familiar terms (now I'd like to say we're friends). So one day I e-mailed Jennifer and asked her if she was looking for model stitchers. Jennifer didn't make any promises or hinted, but she asked me to stitch one of her gemstone dragons (they were freebies at the time) on linen and to keep track of how long it took me. I was then next to send her the sample of my stitching (which she infromed me up front I wouldn't be getting it back), informing her of how long it took me. From there, the rest was history, I stitched my first model for her Noah's Alphabet and I've been model stitching on and off from there.

Some jobs I've gone out looking for, such as the two models I did for The Silver Lining. Again I got in touch with the designer and sent a sample of my work. The other people I have stitched for : Misty Stitches, Changing Tides, Great Bear Canada, and A Needle Pulling Thread have actually all gotten in touch with me. I think that's the highest compliment out there, to have people asking me to stitch for them (I was also invited to join Ghost Stitchers at one point but I had too much on my plate!). Most of my recent work has been for A Neelde Pulling Thread, and I hope they will continue to be happy with my work and continue to request my services.

What is the key to model stitching? Being quick, accurate, neat and observant! You have to be a good stitcher, have a neat front and back, also not afraid of new techniques. Accurate : you need to reproduce the piece as charted. Observant : you have to be able to notice what is or may be a mistake, to not be afraid to check with the designer to see if its intenional or a mistake. Also I always read through all the directions if they are provided with the chart, and report anything that is worded wierd, spelt wrong, etc. I tend to imagine I'm proof reading not only the design but the entire package. Communication with the designer while model stitching really makes for a smooth experience and I have often felt that my input is apprecaited!

Model stitching isn't consistant work (but then you'd never get your own projects finished), it can be stressful with tight deadlines, and it'll never make you rich. However, I still love seeing my work on the cover of a chart, or in a magazine!

Thank you to everyone out there who has been confident in my skill as a stitcher to let me work for you!

Model #1 DONE!

Yay I finished model #1 for A Needle Pulling Thread today! I'm so happy to have this one done, and I've started the second. Honestly, I can't wait to get back to my own stitching. Also stitching I can share with you. Its very hard to be enthusiastic about something when you can share... unless its a project that's super cool. Unfortunately these models don't fall into that category for me, but its work and I'm happy to do it!

Photo (point & shoot) : Palm tree at the San Diego Zoo. It is cold out there today and I sooooo wish I was somewhere sunny & warm!