What's a Girl to Do?

Today is my DS's 28th birthday! Happy Birthday - you own my heart!

These occassions make me wonder how parents and children can age so, yet I stay about the same. It's that old question of why we don't really 'feel' the age we are. When does that begin? Around 30? I'm 55, but in my heart and mind don't really seem that old. Think back to your elementary teachers... One was 'young' so I imagine she was around 22-25. The others were 'ancient' so they were probably 40-50. But remember how they looked? That gray, blue, or pinkish waved perm? The blouse with lace buttoned up the neck? The skirt, full and down to near the ankle? The black or brown shoe with an inch or two heel, both hight and width. Mrs. Hutchinson was bold and brazen - she had a bone color!! Now, think about your grandkids teacher! Doesn't she look 15 with her jean capris and flip flops? I could go off to another place here, but I won't. So now that I'm thinking of letting the color grow off my hair to see exactly what color it really is, I wonder -- will I look like Mrs. Hutchinson? Na... I don't have any bone 'sturdy' shoes!!

On to what I've been stitching. One of the things I love about the ASAW project from Abi and Val at the Friendly Stitchers' group is the weekly projects are small, and when you can't make up your mind which project you want to start ... you can do a few of these -- especially when you started late and are behind like me -- they've issued week 29; I've done 14 ). Here's an update for you of where I am now.

The grids for these little gems are 20 x 20, so to show a bit of perspective of how tiny they really are...

A close up of a few...

Tulips


Frog pond


Flower vase

Blue Bird House

I have now decided on which project to begin next. I know, this isn't one I've mentioned before, but I've been admiring it from other stitchers' work and you know how easily I'm tempted... It's Little House Needlework's, "The Sampler Lady". I'm following the suggestions for fabric and fibers, using 28 ct Light Examplar Linen from Lakeside Linens and Crescent Colours and DMC fibers. This is where I am, stitching for two evenings.

And finally today, Michelle has awarded me the One Lovely Blog Award. I don't know how in the world she selected me with all the beautifully crafted blogs out there, but I am honored! Thank you, Michelle. With this award comes the daunting task of passing it along to seven others. Wow, how does one choose? I guess you just go for it, so...

There's Lody, who creates wonderful designs for The Gift of Stitching on-line magazine, which is owned by Kirsten.

I frequently visit the busy Dani's blog, and she has recently updated it - even her photo so I almost didn't recognize her!

I love, love to visit Barb Adams and Alma Allen's blog, Blackbird Designs - such glorious photos of stitching and other lovelies.

Plum Street Samplers is another blog I enjoy - not only wonderful designs, but her love of family and photos, too! Paulette will be having an anniversary giveway beginning on Sunday, so hop over for a visit to enter!

I enjoy visiting my "neighbor" in NC, Carolyn's blog. She and her stitching group recently took a European trip, and she's been sharing the wonderful sights with us recently!

Now there's my talented friend, Gerry. I met Gerry on a Crazy Quilt group, and she doesn't cross stitch, but her talents are many!

Thanks for visiting today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and Come back again!!

Happy Independence Day

I hope everyone is having a great holiday!

Here's the update to my Friendly Stitchers ASAW Garden Sampler.

Photo sharing TEST

I saw this option on Stephanie's blog, and wanted to try it out. Seems like a neat way to share lots of pics - like those in the previous posting...

Click on the stack of photos to move along to the next...



These are the same photos as in the previous posting, but in the Stack layout. What do you think? They take up less space, but there are no closeups - which may be good in some cases! :-)

ASAW - Update

This week I've been working on the Friendly Stitchers ASAW Stitch Along, trying to get caught up. So far 25 weekly charts have been shared, and I've just completed seven... But that's what catching up is all about; right? It's been fun experiementing with different stitches and techniques. As the charts are shared, Abi or Val give us some suggestions about stitches or techniques we may want to try, but it's up to us whether or not we use any of them. Typically they don't suggest fibers or colors, so there is a lot of variety in how the Gardens are completed.

This is the first row of my Garden

And some closeup shots...

Snowman

I couldn't get in focus AND show the sparkle of Mr. Snow...

Owl

Catrails

Cottage

Snowdrops

Snowflake

Same issue with the snowflake...


Robin


Garden Joy

Stitching and Such

I've had a few days off work, and it was time for some clearing and organizing. I'm still in the midst of all that, but thought I'd share (see why I'm still in the midst?) my grandpuppy, Kilo, with you. Her dad, my DS, has been working out of town for the last three weeks, so she stays with Pixie and me during the week. He finished early and got home on Thursday this week, but will be going to another location next week. She's just relaxing on the couch here, showing her dainty little paws (not). Then she was just about ready to have the photo shoot over - nap time!



This is some of what I've been up to the last little while on the stitching front. I'm attempting to catch up to the ASAW stitch along over at the Friendly Stitchers' Group on Yahoo. They're about 20x20, but they do have some detail, so it may take longer than I thought, but they are fun to work on! I'm not quite finished with the Robin or the Cottage, but here they are...

We also had a Floss Tag Swap, and this was my first. In hindsight, I probably should have kept this one and made another for Rebecca, but was so excited to get it out to her. I also made my first Humbug, and sent it along to her as well. It was such and afterthought that they don't match, but they won't necessarily be used together... Along with the floss tag we were to send floss, so I got a few pink shades of overdyed GAST (Gentle Arts Sampler Threads) and a silk HDF from Vikki Clayton. I hope she like them!



Thanks for dropping by -- come back soon!

ASAW Grid Done

I finished the grid that will contain each of the ASAW charts offered by Friendly Stitchers group. I can hardly believe it took a week to do it... but it did! Used Carolina Linen, 28 count evenweave in Sand with DMC 4050 Variations. I'm ready to do the center piece, then I'll press... not that it needs it!!

First Biscornu

I'm a member of the Friendly Stitchers yahoo group, and Abi gave us a friendly competition of the Serenity chart to "finish the chart 'your way'." I decided to make my first biscornu, and thus ... front



... and back


It is stitched on a leftover piece of nice soft, ivory using DMC 4200 Variations. As you can tell, it is far from perfect, but do like the way it turned out and plan to do it again - practice makes better next time.

From Friendly Stitchers there is also ASAW Stitch Along going on. It started before I joined, but I'm planning to catch up. It is an English Garden with a small motif for each week - you can see a sample here. I'm using Carolina Linen, 28 count evenweave in Sand. The outside grid will be DMC 4050 Variations. Maybe I'll get that started this weekend!

I'm still working on the Crazy Quilt piece, and it's so much fun!




And speaking of fun - do you ever start a piece that you loved, then decide it's not as much fun to stitch as you thought it would be? That's how I'm feeling with Quaker Blues. I've got a good bit done, but there is SO much more to do, and I'm simply not enjoying stitching it. My first thought was to just scrap it, but when I took this photo and remembered how much IS already done, I may finish and 'save' that part and scrap the rest... How do you cope with this situation? Would you ever stop something you've started, or do you just stitch on?

Thanks for dropping by today, and wishing for you a lovely and joy-filled weekend!

PS:
I finished reading Mariah Stewart's Dead Even. For me it was a little slow starting, but it went along better. I will try another to see if that's just this one, or her general style.