Monday, February 28, 2011

february 28 - mysteries solved, what's lost is found, and a few photos too

It has been way too long since I have updated this blog...sorry for those of you who are followers. I was actually very busy stitching in my spare time, and have very little "leisure" computer time at work since we have been busy getting our budget ready for next fiscal year. Time consuming, but it is finally done and we are very happy!

Did you ever wonder why you lose followers on your blogs? I often wonder if I have said something to offend anyone, or if it is just that I have nothing much of interest to say most of the time. But the last time I tried to add myself as a follower to a blog that was new to me, I was told that I was already following the maximum number of blogs and would have to delete one to add another. I didn't realize that there was a limit, but I guess there is. So someone lost a follower because someone else was gaining one. So now when I see my list fluctuate up and down by one or two, I choose to think that that is the reason!

My daughter and her new beau are coming to visit this week and I have been trying to make some sense of my stitching room (actually my stitching storage room, since I rarely do any actual stitching in there!) because that is where the spare pull-out bed/couch is. I was going through some file drawers and came upon Papillon Creations' Love with a Capital L. I started this design long ago...I don't even remember exactly when...and I had the fabric and thread with my meager amount of stitching in a trunk in the living room. But I could not find the pattern anywhere. I had finally decided to just go ahead and purchase another copy because I really love the design, but I hadn't got around to it yet. Anyway, there it was, stuck in a folder with some freebies! I was so thrilled to find it! I really thought it was gone forever. Makes me wonder what other treasures are hiding somewhere in our house....

I do have a few photos to share. The first is my progress on a SAL that we are doing over at Friendly Stitchers. Each month Val (one of the mods) is posting instructions for two more specialty stitches that we are to add to the band sampler. I hadn't even made a start, but was able to get the first four bands done last week. The fabric is actually more of an antique white, and the thread is a Threadworks color that I had in my stash. I really don't do many specialty stitches in my pieces...I'm pretty much a plain cross-stitch kind of stitcher, so this is a fun SAL for me.


This next photo is my Heart in Hand square for the monthly exchange with the Stitcher's Timeout group. It is called Wee Joy. I used a piece of scrap evenweave ( I think the color may be bone) and DMC. I also changed some of the colors and didn't add the specialty stitches to this one.


I am trying to stitch and finish an ornament each month this year, and this is the one I chose for February. It is a design from Sharon Bennett (daffycat) and can be found on her blog. It is called Mistletoe Reindeer, and is stitched on a scrap piece of linen with DMC. I used red beads instead of white. This is the second of her reindeer ornaments that I have stitched and i think there is one more. I think these designs are so cute!


Lastly, I was the lucky recipient of this adorable little pillow from Becky. It is a beehive design from Little House Needleworks. I am always in awe of Becky's stitching and finishing. She comes up with the cutest finishes for her projects and her stitching is always beautiful. Thanks again Becky for such a lovely gift!


And finally, I said that I had been doing a lot of stitching this month, and the end result is that I have finally finished Three Things Sampler by Moira Blackburn! I started this in February 2005, so it took me six years off and on to stitch, but I love the finished project. I haven't had a chance to press it yet, but as soon as I do I will post a photo here because I really am proud of this one!

And now I am off to blow my nose and sneeze some more, because yes, I am getting yet another cold/sore throat thing. And it is raining so hard here today too. Maybe my boss will take pity on my and send me home early to a nice warm fire and a cup of hot cocoa. One can always hope!

Thanks for visiting!

15 comments:

  1. Congrats on your Three Things Sampler finish!

    I wonder how many blogs is the limit....I follow a lot of them. Weird that there would be a limit.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My blog recently came up short one and I'm so glad I read your post today. Now I feel much better about losing a friend to someone else!

    I need to look up what this Three Things Sampler is. It sounds beautiful already!

    The gift from Becky is beautiful and you are a lucky girl to have received it.

    Hope you feel better soon. It's a yucky day in KY today...big storms!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. OHMIGOSH!!! I just looked that sampler up and it's a beauty. Now I REALLY can't wait to see yours!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your finish on the reindeer ornament. Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  5. OOO Lynda well done on the finish .. hope you are feeling better soon (hugs) and ooo it was you who won that gorgeous little pillow :)and you have answered my question on here ..lol .. love the threadworks threads:) love mouse xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, Lynda! Thank you for stitching my little reindeer design! I love the colors you used and your finishing is lovely.

    Lucky you receiving that little beauty from Becky!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That band sampler is really going to be gorgeous. I love the floss you are using. I am going to have to get those reindeer charts from Daffycat, this one is darling! Congrats on winning one of Becky's giveaways. She always has such cute things.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Liking your sampler band - i'm not taking part as i'm a bit like you and like my plain old cross stitching, not too keen on the speciality stitches.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely finishes as always Lynda. Look forward to seeing what you have to show us next. Have fun with your daughter. Hugs, Ally xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the stitching. I didn't know there was a limit to those you can follow - interesting.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Lynda! I'm so behind on reading and commenting, but trying to catch up. I am happy about your Three Things finish...you know, don't you, that I added the initials of all our buddies who stitched along on that one? Your initials are there too :)
    hugs,
    babs

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hope you feel better soon. The 'bug' is going thru our library staff as well...thus far I've escaped. I'm hoping my luck will hold.

    I recently started a blog, would love to have you visit.

    bookwoman stitches.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Some great stitching has been going on at your house. Major congratulations on finishing Three Things!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Not again! It's not fair, that you get sick again and again! Get well soon. I am glad you were able to finish the Three Things sampler.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting and thanks for your comments!