A Needle Puller's Tale

Oh My Goodness....has it been that long?

2008-03-01T16:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess I have been busy stitching. I guess that is good...but not completely the truth. I have been really busy for one reason or another. I am just getting back on my feet. I am still stitching Pretty in Pink by Lorri Birmingham and Goldenwood by Ruth Sanderson/HAED. Both of which are coming along nicely. I have turned Celestial Dragon & Rocky Mountain Christmas into UFOs. I just stalled on those two.

I am going to be starting three or four SAL's too. Over at the board on Yuku called the Stitchalong. You should come by and take a look. I just started the Spring Fling Stitchalong. That is my Silver Lining chart Peace. Next to go is the Quaker Virtues by By Gone Stitches and a Prairie Schooler design called Farmer's Alphabet. THEN we should be starting another My Big Toe Designs SAL. I will be doing Gordian Knot. Hopefully this one will not start until next year....possibly January.

I am focusing on Goldenwood & Peace for right now. My sister wants Goldenwood for my nieces graduation party in July. She wants to show it off. At least I know she appreciates it.

Well, that is all for now. Hope to come back really soon.

Peaceful Stitching Everyone
Denise.

Oh No! New Releases At Wyndham Needleworks!

2007-03-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

I promised myself I would not buy anything new for a little while but four items at Wyndham are not making that very easy to adhere to! First is from Sampler Cover...Thriller! Absolutely gorgeous! The second is from Permin and called Blue Sampler. The third is from Sampler Company called Scottish House Sampler AND another (I am so sorry but I forgot what the designers name is but it contains a Mermaid....and man oh man....Whoa! It is absolutely stunning...a dragon...a mermaid...an old man....fab-u-lous!

My Sister shamed me on Sunday. I am again working on Goldenwood. She said it was too wonderful to put down. (Sigh) She acts like it is for HER! She will have to pry it from my cold dead hands if she wants it! LOL This one is for me. I love it so. I just needed a rest from earth tones.

I will try and put an update on Celestial Dragon in my album this weekend. It is just two corners of the border though. And hopefully, I will have an update for Goldenwood. We will see.

Well, that is all for now. Talk Soon and Peaceful Stitching.

Decisions...Decisions

2007-03-09T09:42:00.000-08:00

I am still working on Celestial Dragon by Teresa Wentzler. I have finished one complete corner with backstitching. I am now working on another corner. The border is enjoyable to stitch. I am saving the dragon for later. I do not know if I will wait for the entire border to be finished but for right now, that is the plan.

This weekend I hope to finish up the cross stitching portion of the White/Blue Biscornu. We will see if I get the urge.

I must also put some time into Rocky Mountain Christmas, Goldenwood and Pretty in Pink, however they are just not screaming at this time. I don't know who coined the phrase but I now refer to my style of rotation to a "Screaming Rotation". That means I work on what screams to be loudest.

I have decided not to purchase any other charts until I finish these things and three more items I want to start. Which ohttp://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u84/Bluesnjazz4me/nes you might ask (as my mind changes minute by minute)? Well, I think I have decided on Cottontail Lodge by Marty Bell (have the fabric and everything), Cheryl's Bouquet (need a piece of Buttermilk Jobelan, as I have decided to do it yellow and white) and Peace by Silver Lining (need a piece of Bay Leaf Jobelan and the Anchor floss yet). I also reserve the right to purchase Teresa Wentzlers new book, Fantasy II.

You know what they say about "the best laid plans of mice and men"......

Here is the address for my stitching album. I thought you might like to see what I have left, after all these years of stitching. I know where I can get picture of three other of my works too. However, everything else is gone.

http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u84/Bluesnjazz4me/

I hope you enjoy looking.

Someone else's blog asked the question, how do you remove the unwanted stitches from you piece? Scissors? Needle? Ripper & Tweezers? All of the above. It depends on what size fabric I am using...over 1 or over two and how confident I feel.

Someone else asked what your favorite little stitching tool is....some say lap stand....Mageyes.....dololly.... Mine is my John James Petites....#28. I absolutely love these. I love the length and the size. Everytime I order something, I tack on a package.

Someone else asked about your favorite fabric? Mine is Jobelan. I like Lugana too but Jobelan feels softer. I am not huge on linen. I love the look but I am not huge on the texture or feel. Eventhough I nearly never use Aida any longer, I would like to try some of the Country French Aida (not sure about actual name). People say it is extremely soft.

I did not post anything for sale or trade but I will get to it. You could not even imagine the things I have accumulated over the years. You should see the number of Ellen Maurer Stroh animal babies I had amassed while they were free. Anyone want to trade for them?

Hope to talk again soon.......maybe after the weekend. Take care. Peaceful Stitching.

Another Update

2007-03-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

First and foremost, I read many, many blogs. Thank you to all the other bloggers for keeping us updated on your progresses and additions. I find it so much fun to read them. Stitching blogs take some of the stress from my oh so stressful days. I appreciate you all and the effort you put forth to keep your blogs going.

Now...on to MY life. Oh...where to begin. Well.....Goldenwood is still a work in progress. So is Pretty in Pink and Rocky Mountain Christmas. I have now started Celestial Dragon by Teresa Wentzler. I will soon be adding Peace by Silver Lining and Cheryl's Bouquet. I am seriously contemplating adding Hunter's House by Pegasus Originals too. However I must first get the chart. I have Cottontail Lodge and want to do that one too. Let's face it. I have about a million others and they are all large projects.

I still have a blue and white biscornu to finish...well to finish cross stitching. My mom will do the finishing, as that is her forte. I finished another biscornu but she has not finished the finishing.

I hope to write more tomorrow...post my photo album link....and maybe even post things I have to sell. I have a LOT!

Talk soon. Take care. And Peaceful Stitching

It has been a long time....the holidays are over and..

2007-01-17T09:26:00.000-08:00

My life is finally getting back to normal. After some major dental work and the Holidays, I can finally settle back into a "normal" routine. I have not actually stitched too much. However, I finally started picking things up again.

I am working on Pretty in Pink, Goldenwood and Rocky Mountain Christmas. I still want to start more, however I want to finish up at least one more. Right now, Pretty in Pink is striking my fancy. I would like to get it half finished and then switch.

OH...OH...OH....did you see Teresa Wentzler has a NEW "Fantasy Collection" book out by Leisure Arts? OH it is definitely a must have for me! Soon and I promise only this and maybe a couple of new charts this year....NOTHING major. I would like to get a nice sampler, a table topper and maybe some silks too. We will see.

I am also going to be involved a round robin of sorts. This is my first one. I have stitched a quilt block before but nothing to do with stitching on the same piece. I am kind of excited but also a little intimidated, as I know everyone else is much more proficient than I.

Well, hopefully I will get caught up on the latest and greatest and have something else to say here soon.

You all take care until next time.

I finally finished something!

2006-10-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend I made some progress on my stitching. As you all know I was off for a while. I just didn't feel it. Well, I finished not one but two pieces. Fortunate Traveller has been back stitched and beaded! AND Tulip Time has been backstitched! WOO HOO! Major happy dances for me!

I have decided I spend way too much time on the boards. I am neglecting my stitching and other things too. I am going to limit my online time. And it could be I am just burning out on the nonsense and bickering. At any rate, I am definitely staying away more often.

I still have Goldenwood, Pretty in Pink and Rocky Mountain Christmas on the go. PLUS I started a small Halloween project. It is about 50% complete. I am trying a small (well, smaller than my standard) to see if it works for me, as so many others. They say finishing smalls inbetween the large finishes, helps keeping one focused. We will see.

This week I am going to put tiles behind my bathroom sink. I had to take off a back splash that was warping terribly. I also have to make a pot of Chicken Soup for a potluck at work on Friday. I want to spend a little more time with my kids too. Even the older one seems to want more if my time. I felt really good when he told me that. And I want to start taking the dog for a walk after work. I need the exercise and so does he. I want to take my mother too.

I have made a new resolution. I know it is not the New Year but I want to start positive things in my life. So each day, I am going to try and say something positive about my life, the world or someone else. I am going to try and stop thinking about the negative.

Todays Positive Thought: I have made a few good friends on the internet. I am thankful for each of them.

I have had some progress....

2006-10-11T09:42:00.000-07:00

I finished one side of my biscornu. Now tonight, I hope to finish the other. But that was just about it on the stitching front.

This weekend is apple picking. I am looking forward to that. We are not going to go until the afternoon though, as people have committments to their jobs that make morning impossible. I will then bring some Steak & Cheese Breads and some chicken soup for dinner. We will also be celebrating my niece's 17th birthday.

I heard through the grapevine that the Chicago GTG went smashingly! EVERYONE had a great time. My hat is off to Genie and Eva. They did an incredible job! I am sooooooo depressed that I was not there! Next year.....I WILL BE THERE! I have to thing of something incredible to do too!

Well, I am a little pressed for time right now. You all take care.

Peaceful Stitching
Denise

I can feel the urge welling up again.

2006-10-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

As you know, I have not been stitching much lately. I just did not have the urge. However, today I feel I'd like to stitch later. I would like to finish the two pieces for my biscornu tonight. We will see. I also have the desire to do more on Pretty in Pink and Goldenwood. OH that backstitching on Fortunate Traveller and Tulip Time is really lagging. I must do something about that too. (Sigh)

I have been thinking about my next project. I do believe I will do Celestial Dragon by Teresa Wentzler. I promise to back stitch as I go this time. I WILL NOT forget! I am in a mood for somethingn totally different from what I have going right now.

Well they have taken the garbage off the boards to their respective blogs. However, the garbage is still there. I guess that is better though. If you don't want to hear the garbage, you just stay away from the blogs. However, I WANT people to read mine. So maybe that will hinder readers from checking out new blogs? We will see, right? Just a ponderance by the way, why allow comments but screen them before they are published? That means they can choose not to publish the comments. Or for that matter, why not allow comments at all? If you are putting this stuff out there for the public to read, why not allow people to comment? Sounds to me like people are goading people but will not allow them to fight back! LOLOLOL

And have you all seen the WIP on the HAED board? It is by Ink Circles, entitled Cirque de Cercles? Someone is doing it entirely in beads! It is absolutely awesome! I have seen quite a few new designs by different designers that really call to me. I am sooooooooo dead!

Again, nothing much else to say. You all take care.

Peaceful Stitching
Denise

What is happening on the boards?

2006-10-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

I frequent several message boards. It appears there are wars brewing everywhere! I do not understand. How can such a genteel hobby draw such mean and spiteful people. Now I am not naive enough to think there are no differences in opinions. I am not dumb enough to think just one person has all the answers. And I am not ignorant enough to say one person is more lily white than someone else. This has gotten ridiculous already!

I don't care who sleeps with who (whom?)! If it is not my significant other, I DO NOT CARE! I don't ask people about their private lives. IT IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS! If they treat me well, I will do the same. Screw me, and look out! I don't care that someone does not spell well! I don't like mean, crass people! I don't like bullies! I don't like pseudo-intellectuals! I don't like these same ignorant people that look down on others and harrass them because they feel they are "smarter"! Do not kid yourselves. People DO see you for what you are. AND then you have the nerve to ask other people to stick up for YOU when people fight back! For everyone that judges others, several wise sayings come to mind...judge not lest, etc........ people in glass houses, etc.......the meek shall inherit..etc.!

This is the most ludicrous display I have ever seen. It is EVERYWHERE! These are message boards people! We are supposed to be sharing commonalities! We are supposed to be having fun! I can't believe that someone in Podunk is fighting with someone is Poughkeepsie! I for one am tired of reading this crap! Take it to the emails people! Why air your laundry in public? Hey? What about this? If you want to have a bitch board...Make it public! Make it a forum for all! You are all so brave to spew privately...make your boards open so people can face their accusors! And if you want to fight with someone from another board, call them out to the "Collesium" for a good old fashioned fight! That way the people can come and see it. And the people who don't, can be blissfully ignorant! How about this? How about everyone that frequents the stitching boards each gives $1.00. This will open up a new board...gold for no ads...and it will be a boxing arena! No holds barred! Each match...er...ummmm debate will be titled with the two opposers. No one else can jump in. Just the two that are on the "card". That way people are not bullied! And people get their stuff settled! Oh I bet NO one will like this idea.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL Ok...enough! I had to get it out and now I feel better!

Stitching! I have really had no chance to stitch. However, I started something small. I know. I know. I said no new starts but.......... I started a biscornu. I always wanted to do one. And since the GTG in Chicago is doing one, I am doing one on my own.

Everything else stays the same though. I hope you all have a great night.

Peaceful Stitching
Denise

Interesting things to look for your home town.

2006-09-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

Tuesday was my mother's Birthday. My sister came to take her to lunch. She took her to Tea Parlour about 20 minutes away. My mother loves this type of thing. However when she returned, I definitely found out exactly how much she loves this type of thing! She gushed for hours. She had a cranberry/orange scone with devonshire cream and lemon curd. AWESOME! She also had tiny tea sandwiches. Equally awesome! They ordered two pots of tea, to try two different kinds. They had white tea with water lily undertones and a cherry tea with spice! They could not drink it all.....soooooooooooo.....they brought the rest home for me! Woo Hoo! It was wonderful I love tea and these were outragious! I am definitely going to buy some!

THEN they brought home a flier. And in the middle of October, they are holding a special tea on a Saturday...7:00 P.M. They are charging $25.00 a head but they are having a guest speaker too. The guest speaker is the author of Weird Ohio and Ohio Ghosts. You see, they feel the tea shop is haunted. On a couple of ocassions, the owner (owned for 4 years now) has seen the skirt of Victorian dress, plainly.....only to dissipate. And when someone is downstairs in the basement and no one else is in the building, they hear footsteps down there with them. Now if someone else is there, no footsteps. Evidently the author is coming to check it out and will be doing a spot for them too. This whole are burned down in the 1800's. Many lives were lost. I truly think I will attend. I love the paranormal and I love tea! Win...Win!

I haven't stitched too much lately. I have been a little off. Tonight, I plan on going home and eating a light supper and then setting in front of the T.V. with my stitching. Most Haunted and Haunted Places are running on the Travel Channel. My kind of night...chilly...haunted shows....stitching.....(sigh)...lovely.

And a little tidbit....did you know Needle Necessities has a line of thread using Krienik braids? Yep! And they are gorgeous overdyed ones too! Oh I have so many ideas now! Lovely Autumn colors for a mermaid's bodice...not only overdyed but sparkly too! And what about the hem, neckline or sash to a gown...now looks brocade! We have alternates to Wisper! It would look lovely done in needlepoint things too! How about using it for Hardanger? It is more expensive but use it just for accenting! WOW! If you haven't checked it out, please go look at Needle Necessities!

It is chilly today. It brough to mind Clambakes! mmmmmmm I would love some clams right now! How about some lovely icy cold Apple Cider? Double yum! OH I LOVE AUTUMN! I may even take a nice walk tomorrow. We will see.

Well, I guess that is all for today. You all have a wonderful weekend!

Peaceful Stitching
Denise

The Message Boards are really quiet right now.

2006-09-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Not too much news on my end to report, about stitching. I have been in a little slump right now. However, I can feel myself working out of it. Still no progress to report.

I am getting geared up for my annual family apple picking day. I started this when my kids were little. We have gone picking every year for the past 10 years. We all pile into our car and drive over to my sister's house. We have a nice breakfast of bagels, muffins, scrambled eggs, juice, coffee and hot chocolate and then we head out together....me and my two sisters, my mom and her sister too. Now the kids are older....mine are 20, 18 & 14 and my niece is 16. THEY STILL LOOK FORWARD TO IT. Since they are not little any longer we have added my cousin's two daughters....2 & 4 and my sister's husband's niece (4). We all pile into the vans and we are off.

We sing little songs like Thumbelina, The Wheels on the Bus....you know the drill....over to the pumpkin patch. We pick up pumpkins for the little guys and some corn stalks and pumpkins for our own homes. After that it is to the orchard. We pick apples...pick up some wonderful cider...some candied nuts....some kettle corn and we all go back to my sister's. Crock pots are turned on and our potluck dinner is started to heat through for later. We then set to pealing apples for pies. Some apples are quartered for applesauce. After the applesauce is done...it is on to pies. While we eat our dinner, the pies bake. Now we can have them for desert or we can take them home....we normally take them home. This exercise is done to teach the children. Their parents were taught but some do not choose to do these things any longer. I think it is important to expose our children to the old ways. It is up to them if they choose to continue them. My children and my niece all would be very disappointed if we did not do this any longer. The bring friends, dates.....you name them....we have taken them....even neighbors has asked to be invited.

I make up mixes for everyone to take home and make something fresh from the their apples. I make apple fritter mix, apple streusel muffin mix and apple cake mix too.

By the time everything is cleaned up....including the kids....it is time to head back, kids konk out in the back seat and are ready to be plunked into their beds once they are home! A great time is had by all.

Do you have any family traditions you would like to share? I love this type of thing.

I am the Proverbial Stitcher!

2006-09-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here with more stash that I could hope to complete in a lifetime, many WIP's, planning my next projects and looking for more! This is how bad it has become. I searched websites for Fantasy Art. And OMG there are so many talented....TALENTED....artists are there out there! I found Ursula Vernon...(GULP)...... Laura Law....(sigh) and Mark Ivan Cole...(WOW) and thought....wouldn't these look terrific charted and stitched!

I have submitted these names to Heaven and Earth Designs. Hopefully, Michele and Bob can get these people lined up too! I am such a masochist!Now onto my progresses.....I am working on Lorri Birmingham's Pretty in Pink. I am nearly 50% complete on the Kloster blocks. I have no desire to switch yet either. Fortunate Traveller stays at a standstill....just some back stitching and beading to go. And then Tulip Time has not been picked up nor Goldenwood or Rocky Mountain Christmas either. When I tire of this project I will move on. This is now my new "screaming" rotation....whatever screams the loudest.

Hopefully, I will have at least gotten to the definitive 50% complete mark on the Table Topper, Pretty in Pink. I am also thinking of doing it monochromatic instead of stitching the vines and butterflies in color. I am just toying with the idea but feel confident it will look lovely.I have also seen some "regular" embroidery done completely in white and then some blue flowers. That appeals to me too. I saw then on one of the bulletin boards I frequent. They are simply stunning. I also want to fool around with Brazillian Embroidery too! This is not to mention Needlepoint also! WHEN will I get to all of this? I want to try it all. I want to become proficient at it all. Does anyone know where I can get a robot, that way she can come to work and I can sit and stitch all day?

I think I will give another stab at sketching too. I used to love doing that. I also have a great idea for a vampire novel. Oh man! What am I thinking? Is this a normal thought process for a middle aged woman?Well, I guess that is all for today.

Remember to treat each other with kindness and understanding. There seems to be a real lack of these things these days.Peaceful StitchingDenise
posted

Just another weekend....

2006-09-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

I finished the week at work on a low note. I went home in a terrible mood. This made my weekend less than pleasant. And barely even remember being off. This morning I woke with a headache. I WOKE UP WITH ONE! Not such a great way to start.

I did do some stitching though. I did not stitch on Fortunate Traveller. I stitched on the Lorri Birmingham table topper instead. I am now exactly 25% complete on the kloster blocks...... And about 12% complete on the eyelets.....And about 12% complete on the button hole stitches. Not exactly what I had hoped for though.

Tonight I must go home and prune my bushes. Then I can possibly get some more stitching in. I have a lot I can work on.

Well that is all for today.

Peaceful Stitching
Denise

I am moving right along now.

2006-09-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

So far I have resisted all temptations to work on something else or start something else. (Bravo, me!) As I stated the other day, I finished the Table Topper. I have been doing the backstitching on Fortunate Traveller. I have now completed the back stitching on the fire breathing dragon... Stretch. I am working on the outer border and backstitching it. Then I will put in the back stitches in for the flower stems on the vines. Then the dreaded remainder of the over one wording. Bleccchhhhh. THEN the beading. I actually do not mind the beading part.

Right now, Pretty in Pink (my other hardanger table topper) is calling me loudly. I refuse to listen until Fortunate Traveller is done. My youngest (who the piece is for) is laughing his butt off. He thinks it is so funny. I am acting about this project like he acts about his homework. LOL All of you parents can relate, I am sure.

Well, that is it for today. See you all soon

Peaceful Stitching
Denise

An Icon and legend, Steve Erwin, as passed on.

2006-09-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

The world famous Crocodile Hunter, Steve Erwin has passed away. It was killed by a stingray....very freak accident. He was a staunch conversationist, wildlife lover and teacher. My entire family and circle of friends are all deeply saddened. It is with teary eyes that I bid him farewell. He will never be forgotten. He will never be duplicated. His children have quite a legacy and will grow up very proud in the fact, he was their father.

Now on to a lighter topic. I DID finish my Table Topper. Eventhough, I was not enthralled with the subject matter I was stitching, it turned out well. My mother was overjoyed with it. Before she puts it out on her table, she is going to get some plastic for over it. We are not the type of people who save everything or cover our furniture in plastic....we LIVE in our homes...however she does not want anything to happen to it. That was really quite flattering.

I then started the backstitching on Fortunate Traveller. I had finished the entire center picture before. I am now working on "Stretch" on the bottom. Then it is just the border and outlining the entire thing. I hope to be finished by the end of THIS weekend. Here's hoping.

WIP list now is:

1.) Fortunate Traveller - just backstitching remaining.
2.) Tulip Time- just backstitching remaining.
3.) Pretty in Pink- approximately 15% complete.
4.) Goldenwood- approximately 30% complete.
5.) Rocky Mountian Christmas- approximately 20% complete.

It is getting smaller. Once Fortunate Traveller is done, I will go back to Pretty in Pink, then Goldenwood. I definitely will not feel like more backstitching for a while. And I am just not feeling Rocky Mountain Christmas right now. However, no more new starts for a while. I must finish some of these. I guess I am a On At A Time girl at heart.

Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful day.

Peaceful Stitching
Denise

A Long Weekend Ahead

2006-09-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

I hope to relax and get a lot of stitching done. I have a few works in progress. I would like to get one or two....possibly three items finished.

1.) Dandelion Table Topper - this is a table topper designed by Rico. It is being done on the yellow and white windowpane topper. My mother saw the Dandelions and wanted them. I can't say I was too enthralled with her choice but I did it anyway. I had laid it down for a long time. I am about 90% complete now.

2.) Fortunate Traveller - this is design done by Teresa Wentzler. It is of a dragon and a man, with a verse telling about their meeting below. If you know Teresa Wentzler, you know she is Queen of the Blended Threads. It was a large project but very satisfying. This one is for my youngest son. I only have some back stitching to go. (Did I ever mention, I HATE BACKSTITCHING?)

3.) Tulip Time- this is a rather complete Tudor home scene done from a painting by Marty Bell. It is put out by Pegasus Originals. It is really intricate and extremely beautiful...all of them are. I just have some back stitching on this one too. (Ditto above statement regarding backstitching)

4.) Goldenwood- this is a very large (VERY should be in capitals) design done from a painting by Ruth Sanderson, It is put out by Heaven and Earth Designs. The detail on these pieces is just amazing. This one is of several maidens walking through an illuminated path in the forest. All of them have gorgeous medieval gowns on. It is mostly done in the colors of autumn. There is no back stitching, no fractional or specialty stitches. It is coming along gorgeously. I love working on this one. I am about 30% complete.

5.) Pretty in Pink- this is a hardanger table topper designed by Lorri Birmingham. It is absolutely a show stopper. I am about 25% done with the stitching. Not only does this contain hardanger (involving cutting) but it has cross stitch on it too. I have not touched the cross stitch (I haven't even chosen my colors yet) or the cutting. It will definitely be an heirloom. I love working on it too. It is fabulous. I changed the colors though. I am doing it on 28ct Jobelan - Beige with Ecru Perle Cotton. I want to use autumn colors for the cross stitch portion. I seem to like those colors the best. I love green....dark and rich...same with reds in the shade of very dark garnet.

6.) Rocky Mountain Christmas- this is an old Victorian home set in the snowy Rocky Mountains, all decorated for Christmas. It is done from another painting by Marty Bell. And again, put out by Pegasus Originals. I am about 20% complete on this one. I started this as a Stitch A Long, but got side tracked over and over. I hope to get back to it soon. You should see Nancy and Eva's pieces so far! WOW! They are stunning! I would like to finish this for Christmas but I do not think it will be THIS Christmas.

I want to post some pictures but I have not gotten a new camera yet. I will see if my niece will let me borrow her camera. I am sure she will but one must ask first.

Oh I want so many more things. I already have too many things to stitch and yet the desire for more is so strong. I want several from Scarlet Quince and Heaven and Earth Designs. I also want some samplers....Long Dog Samplers (Paradigm Lost...Bagatelle), Anagram Diffusion (Renaissance Sampler, Ink Circles (Garden Stars), Moira Blackburn(Growning Like a Tree, Beehive Sampler), Mary Beal (A Memorable Tea), ....OH Spainish Rouge by Sampler Cove.....aaahhhhhhhh! I am have a new love and its name is Samplers. I LOVE THEM.

Well, I promised myself as soon as I finish the first three items....Fortunate Traveller, Table Topper and Tulip Time, I would seriously try to finish Pretty in Pink. But after that one is finished, I will allow myself to start something else. Goldenwood will take a very long time to finish and I cannot explain it but Rocky Mountain Christmas is not calling me.

I want to save my pennies for 4 new charts. That is what I will allow myself for the rest of the year. I want Paradigm Lost, Garden Stars, Beehive Sampler and Spainish Rouge. And actually if I wanted to be really tight, I would choose Beehive Sampler and Spainsh Rouge.....but alas I have no will power!

Well, I think I will back cookies this weekend. It will be cool and rainy. My kids have been bugging me for chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies for a long time. My niece love peanut butter too. Oh I almost forgot, my mother is in dire need of Anise Biscotti. This may be a looonnnnggggg weekend. LOL I also have a taste for something spicy. I might make chili or possibly something new. We will see.

I think that is about as much as I have to say today. Hopefully my weekend is fruitful. Wish me luck for my three finishes. I will go home, eat some dinner, stitch and wait for Most Haunted to come on. When it is over, I will be ready for bed. Tomorrow it is grocery shopping and baking....stitching later in the night. Sunday will be cooking something tasty and stitching later. And Monday...they can all forget my name because I will be on strike...I AM STITCHING!

You all take care. I hope to write something next week.

Peaceful Stitching
Denise

It has been a little while now but.....

2006-08-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

I really have been busy....honestly! I have been diligently stitching on Goldenwood. I finished another complete page. I also started a little Halloween thing but I was not really feeling it. I then went back to Goldenwood. I have not picked up Rocky Mountain Christmas, my table topper, Fortunate Traveller or Tulip Time. I am truly getting on with this Goldenwood project.

Of course I visit many message boards.....Stitch A Long on EZboards.....Legacy on EZboards....Aion on EZboards....... and 123 Stitch. People (Genie & Ina) have opened my eyes to yet another TWO designers. I now crave their work! I am talking about Ink Circles....They are simply glorious. In particular I love Cerque des Cercles and Garden Stars....(faint)! And drum roll please........ Jan Houtman! His are truly awe inspiring. Again, in particular, Friendship Sampler, Life Tree Sampler, Rose Sampler, Tulip Sampler, Initials 1991 Sampler and one that has not come out yet, 30 Years Embroidery Sampler! (Thud) I have to quit that. The bruises are getting harder to explain.

Did I tell you HAED has released even more Josephine Wall designs for cross stitch? I know many, many people love her art. Well, you should see the charts!

I am turning into a chart collector. I don't really want to do that. I want to get only the designs I actually plan to stitch. I must clear out some of my stash. I think I will make a stash album and have it hanging around my signature on the boards, that way if someone sees something they like, they can just ask. I am running out of room for all this stuff. I

have taken a turn toward samplers now. I must get about 10 to 20 Sampler Charts and then I will have enough to feel I have will not run out! LOL Once I get rid of the things I will not stitch (I must be brutally honest with myself) I will have room for more fabric and floss...not to mention the 20 Sampler Charts. LOL

Has anyone looked on the Told in a Garden website. She has a direct link to the stitching stand. Does anyone have one? How do you like it? About how much do they run?

Oh how I wish I was home stitching right now. First make some lunch...some nice soup and some iced tea.....then stitch, stitch, stitch. However, the need for pesky little things like food, heat and shelter get in the way.....one must work you know!

Does anyone do Crewel? I love the way it looks. How hard is it? It appears to be old fashioned embroidery.....satin stitch....stem stitch.....etc. How close is it?

Well, I think that is enough for right now.

Just some rambling.

2006-08-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

I have heard of many people who don't like certain types of stitching. I have types of stitching I do not find appealing to me, TO STITCH. However, when looking at others projects, I can find the beauty in it and the skill it took to stitch it. As Needle Artisans I do believe we should all be able to do that, even it is not our cup of tea. And I do believe that we all do, for the most part.

I am still working on Goldenwood by Ruth Sanderson (Heaven and Earth Designs). I love working with the warm Autumn colors...earth tones. It is very peaceful and relaxing. The finished product will be awesome. I am going to use the (approx. 15" X 29") piece in a quilt. I will have my mother use it as a center and make me something lovely for my bed. I am doing it on 28ct Jobelan, 2 over 2.

I love doing Table Toppers too. Rico has some lovely fabric and designs. I am doing a Dandelion design. I am about half way finished. I am not fond of the Dandelions but my mom is. I am doing it for her. I really should get back to it. I am in the mood to work with fine fibers, not 4 strands of floss in a fat needle. It would be a satisfying finish though.

I hate backstitching. I know it makes the details on a project become more vivid. I have procrastinated on two projects because of it. I am done but still must backstitch. Those would really not take too long either. Fortunate Traveller by Teresa Wentzler and Tulip Time by Marty Bell/Pegasus Originals. (Sigh) I love them but I must get up the gumption to backstitch.

I took a lloooooonnnnnggggggg walk through Wyndham Samplers today. I am dead in the water. I am now a Sampler Junkie. I only want a mere couple hundred new charts! Well, it gives me something to shoot for. But I want so many, I am getting confused. When I get confused I do not purchase anything. I then settle into my stitching and give it hell. My hat is off to all the designers. You create such fantastic projects for us. Thank you all!

I am also working on a lovely Hardanger Table Topper by Lorri Birmingham. It is done on 28ct Jobelan. I am doing it on beige with ecru perles. There is also some embroidery in the center. I have not chosen my colors yet. We will see. It is actually called Pretty in Pink....original done on Baby Lotion Pink, 28ct Jobelan with white threads. It is very intricate and detailed. There is a tremendous amount of stitching and cutting on this one. And just about every Hardanger Specialty stitch is being used. It is something to see. (Not my stitching, just the project itself)

Oh how I wish I could win the lottery and stitch all day...purchase all the charts, fabric and threads I want....build a stitching room.....(sigh).....can you tell what I'd do without about $50,000.00 of that money? Shopping Spree! Furniture, stitching stuff, renovation of the house! That is what I would do...RIGHT OFF THE TOP!

Well, enough for today. You all be careful out there!

Second Voyage.....

2006-07-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

I must first apologize for all of the typing errors in the last post. I promise to spell check and grammar check from now on. (Right....sure) And I must add the Rosewood Manor chart on my list of favorites was supposed to be "And a Forest Grew". I love it.

Eventhough I am not a huge Prairie Schooler fan, the new Autumn and Winter samplers are fantastic. And the new Mirabilia, "Autumn in My Garden", lovely. I just may have to buy that one. And did I mention I love Dutch Beauty by Permin and Renaissance by Anagram Diffusion? Well I do! And those too are on my "have to have" list.

I was daydreaming on my lunch today. I was picturing me stitching, in my favorite place. It was a semi stressful morning and I needed a little escape. Do you want to know where I was? I was sitting in my backyard...under the shade of my huge Silver Maple. The sky was blue with fluffy white clouds skattered here and there. Wonderful jazz was playing in the background...maybe opera but something soothing. My dog was curled up on one of the chairs. Of course I was beginning a brand new HUGE stitching project....Dutch Beauty by Permin. My stitching things lay strategically placed around me. Now let us not forget I was hungry at the time, so I envisioned some fresh lemonade, a cob salad, tiny finger sandwiches, ice cold watermelon and delicious cranberry/orange muffins and cannoli. My dear stitching friends surrounded the table. That would be some feat, as they are strewn all over the world, however they were there. We were eating, stitching, laughing, stitching, laughing, drinking, stitching, laughing....see a pattern here? Then lunch was over and I was back to reality.

Yukon Viv mentioned, in the comments, that we are creating history too. It is soooooo true. I was really glad someone else thinks that way too. I truly feel that way. I also stated I feel connected to my stitching sisters and our ancestors. Sometimes I actually think "Hundreds of years ago, someone was sitting and stitching much this same way....maybe in a castle....maybe a log cabin....maybe above a tiny shop in Paris or London" I guess I am a little unique....strange....NUTS! However, I honestly feel the connection.

I purchased a raised embroidery book. I was thinking about trying my hand at Brazilian Embroidery. anyone ever tried it? It is stunning! It is done exclusively with Rayon Floss. There are several different thicknesses and textures to use. It truly is 3D and has a tremendous about of visual and textural interest.I am going to rent Reign of Fire, Merlin and something else tonight. I am going to have an all day stitch with my mom tomorrow. Won't that be fun. She will either embroider or quilt, while I cross stitch. We like these kinds of movies. Well I guess that is it for today. You all take care.

And In the Beginning......

2006-07-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

I recently started to read everyone's blogs. They are all amazing. My hat is off to my fellow artisans, as your work is incomparable! Most of the blogs are quite entertaining and charming. I started this blog for peace of mind and for a place to share knowledge collected over the years. I hope to get input from all who read it. I'd love it to become a symposium of sorts, where stitching and music and discussed at length. I hope to learn from some, as well as to instruct others.

You do understand that what we do is not merely a hobby....a diversion.....a folksy craft. What we do is a form of art. We paint with our needles. This is evident through the number of needleworkers that change fabric, color, floss type or even portions of the original chart. This makes us all artists. It is our artistic eye or voice that makes us alter the existing composition.

Also, some of our fellow artisans have blogs. Many are humorous, some are created to post vents and/or debates, some are used as diaries to be read by the public and commented on. And some are also written by people that use flowery prose, quotes from "Wordmasters" and filled with delightful insights. Faor all these reasons, I feel bloggers are their own kind of wordsmiths. They are artists in their own right.

Bloggers and stitchers, you are my muses. You inspired me to begin my own written saga, so to speak. I hope to have much interaction. Let us pretend we meet daily at a little sidewalk Italian Restorante, a bistro in Paris or a wonderful cafe in Cobh, Ireland, to discuss our mutal passions. Join me, please.

Perhaps a introduction would be in order. I am a 47 year old woman from the Cleveland, Ohio area. I have children, a home, a dog and a loving, gregarious and spiritual family. I work. I am educated. I am well traveled. I love to do mnay forms of needlework such as hardanger, crocheting, cross stitch, crewel, needlepoint, black work, petit pointe and embroidery. I am even teaching myself to knit....slllllooooooowwwwwllllllyyyyyy.

I love to cook. I love music (all kinds but mostly swing, classical, jazz and blues). I love reading too. I love the classics, Bleak House, Shakespeare (all),Don Quixote, A Christmas Carol, Les Miserables, War & Peace, and many modern writers as Anne Rice, J.R.R. Tolkein, Terry Brooks, Stephen King...just to name a few. I love to sketch. I love to travel. And I absolutely love gardening.

I hope to get a loom one day. That way I can weave my own fabrics. I would also like to learn the art of Batik. I love the art of canning and preserving. It is a very satisfying hobby. I love the see the jewel colored jars of jams and jellys lining the shelves.

Right now I am working on several projects. I must complete a few before I start any more.

I am working on:
Goldenwood by Ruth Sanderson, created by Heaven and Earth Designs.
Rico Table Topper with Dandelions.
Pretty in Pink by Lorri Birmingham - hardanger table topper.
Rocky Mountain Christmas by Marty Bell, created by Pegasus Originals.
AND I have to back stitch Fortunate Traveller by Teresa Wentzler and Tulip Time by Marty Bell.

And can someone please explain to me why I hate to back stitch but I love blackwork? Go Figure!

I love John James Petite Needles - #28. I also love Piecemakers too. I love 28 ct Jobelan fabric. I want a complete set of Vicki Clayton Silks. I have a complete set of DMC cotton and their variegated. I almost have a complete set of Six Strand Sweets. Some people are fabric junkies but I am a floss junky. My goal in life is to own a complete set of all of the different fibers (metallics, silks, perles and blending filaments) made. I LOVE FIBERS!

I have a stitching stand, scroll rods, hoops (both wooden & plastic) and q snaps. I love my plastic 6" hoop. I know. I know. But I don't stitch on linen, therefore it is not an issue. I love scissors but only have 3 pairs. I want a few more styles yet. I love my laying tool. It fits in hand, however I want the one that fits on the tip of my finger. I just hope I don't poke my eye out, not thinking. LOL

I do not railroad my stitches. Again, I know....but I just don't see any difference. I use a laying tool when I use silk. I only use Thread Heaven occasionally and actually I could live without it. I LICK MY FLOSS!

My favorite charts comes from Heaven and Earth Designs, Mystic Stitch, Pegasus Originals (Marty Bell), Chatelaine, My Big Toe Designs, Long Dog Samplers, Anagram Diffusion, Permin, Teresa Wentzler, Scarlet Quince, Golden Kite, Moira Blackburn and Eva Rosentand. Have you seen her beautiful Table Clothes? To die for! However at over $300.00 for the entire kit, it again will have to wait.

I have picked out a chart that I think will be my opus, once I retire...another 20 years. LOL As of today, I think it will be the chart done my Golden Kite. The artist is Thomas Moran and it titled Autumnal Woods. It is simply glorious. However at $70.00 for the chart, it will wait a little while longer. The most I have every spent on a single chart was $30.00. It was for Namesake Sampler by My Big Toe Designs. It was done as a tribute to my Great Grandmother, Maria Dinicolantio. It was done in black cotton floss and red, gold, green and blue rayon floss. It also utilized gold and red seed beads. It is complete but not framed yet.

Well, that is all for today. I hope to come back and post again tomorrow. Hello and welcome to you all. I hope to hear from you.