mainely stitching

Actually, I only pricked one thumb (the left one) but I did it a good many times …. I’ll spare you a picture of the poor little digit. I really should learn how to use a thimble. LOL.

Here’s my version of primitivebetty’s wonderful freebie. I knew I had to stitch this way back when she posted it on her blog, but it took me awhile to get around to it. This little darlin’ stays right here. It’s stitched over one on 32 ct lambswool with OWS Medallion Black. After I stitched it, I distressed it using coffee applied directly to the design side of the linen. The back is a gorgeous overdyed piece of silk that looks dyed-to-match the floss. And a bit of vintage lace finishes it off with a bit more flair than the average prim … but if something’s truly wicked, doesn’t it require a bit of luxury?

I’d like to thank both Betty and Tanya, while I’m at it, for not only being so generous with their freebies, but also for making them so accessible to those of us outside the US. I know that American (and perhaps Canadian?) LNSs offer freebies with purchases, but that’s just  not the case in other areas. So all those great La-D-Da and LHN (among others) freebies are impossible to obtain for the rest of us. It gets pretty frustrating, I’ll tell you! But don’t worry, I’ll get off my soap box now.

I hope your weekend involves a good amount of stitching as well as other happy-making activities. Mine’s been great so far. I actually ordered  new glasses (gasp!) – mine broke back in the early spring and since then I’ve been wearing a pair that dates back more than a decade. Tomorrow we’re off to visit a friend who was recently blessed with twin daughters. And hopefully I’ll soon be paying a visit on another good friend who just moved back to the Netherlands after several years abroad.

Just a tiny thing, but it’s the thought that counts, right? I’ve stuffed it with chamomile blossoms for a sweet scent and trimmed it with a bit of pretty vintage lace. I hope it brings a smile to a good friend.

Today’s been a busy one, but the weekend will be even busier. LOL. I was trying to think what I’d do this weekend if I could do anything I want. Stitching would obviously be my first choice, but stitching what?? I’ve had a strong urge to do Prairie Schooler’s Bremen Town Musicians but of course I already have so many projects going ….

Speaking of stitching, have you read about this? My stash budget (a totally fictitious entity, btw, but it makes it sound like less of a guilty pleasure, doesn’t it?) had gone toward my monthly fat halves of Vikki’s scrumptious linen, but now I’m left without a fix. This sure looks like a wonderful packet to receive every month in the mail. And for those who were wondering what to use when stitching over-one on high count linens – this is the stuff!

Not much else to add. I have a houseful of tired kiddoes to put to bed. Think I can pry this one away from his favorite TV-watching spot? LOL. Wishing one and all a wonderful weekend!

It was a funny coincidence that I received my end of the PS exchange on the same day that my partner received what I sent to her.

From Tracy, I received an amazingly detailed mattress-style pincushion that she weighted down with metal washers on the inside - she has cross stitched all six sides! It’s beautifully stitched and finished. Tracy, thank you so much – I’ll treasure it!

For Leena T. I used an excerpt from the old ‘97 Autumn Sampler leaflet and stitched it over one using the suggested DMC floss on 32 ct linen. Then I made a box (!) and covered it using some beautiful paper that I’d saved from Anna’s birthday gift to me. Because it seemed so sad to send an empty box, I filled it up with some vintage lace that I thought Leena would like. It was a joy to stitch for Leena because I’ve so enjoyed our contact in the past. It was also fun to try my hand at cartonnage – something I plan to try again in the very near future.

The wind is blowing up a gale – the kids were having so much fun running around in it when I brought them home from school for their lunch break; so much fun that watching them did wonders to lighten my own mood. Kids can be pretty terrific like that.

Have you ever made a selfish gift? I mean, something you know the recipient will like but also something that deep-down, you’d gladly receive, too? That’s what I was busy with last month, LOL. The Plum Street Designs freebie I stitched for Cathi is something I fully intend to stitch for myself. And the Five Birds (an old freebie from Kathy Barrick-Dieter) pincushion I stitched for Anna falls into the same category. I matched some HDF silks to the called-for DMC and stitched it on a piece of 35 ct HDF linen. It’s stuffed with wool rovings to keep her needles sharp & clean.

I stitched this some time ago for an exchange, as well, but that time I just used whatever colors struck my fancy. I finished it as a mattress-style pincushion that time – a finish that I really like, but find awfully fiddly. (The photo’s not the greatest quality, sorry.)

My limited stitching time has been seriously curtailed by the very sticky weather we’ve had. Today was 34 (that’s a bit over 93 F!) and I think I might be melting. But when Annemarie arrived today, we did manage to fit in a little bit of stitching as well as a great lot of chatting. I subjected her to some of my homemade ravioli and foccaccia bread, which she survived. It was great to see her and I hope to make the trek over to her neck of the woods in the near future.

Here’s hoping that whatever the weather where you are, that you’re sitting pretty!

Yesterday afternoon we were able to take the kids and dogs for a walk in the nearby community “forest” (okay, I’m from Maine and I just cannot call this a forest without cracking a grin). When we left the house, it was overcast and that helped a lot with the humidity, but while we were there the sun came out and it was sort of like a huge sauna. Hot stuff, baby. Anyway, in an ongoing attempt to figure out how to use my new camera better, I decided to take pictures only of special tiny things that came along during our walk. A sampling of tiny treasures.

On the stitching front, HOHRH has been put away for a couple of weeks so I can concentrate on some deadline stitching. Today I worked on our Quaker RR. Fingers crossed I won’t have the miscounting problems that I did with the last round! Dear friend Cathi let me know that her Independence Day gift has arrived – when I saw this freebie, I immediately thought of Cathi. I’m so glad she likes it. I’ve used HDF silks (the Be-series) on 35 ct HDF Bunny Brown linen. It’s backed with Moda fabrics and stuffed with wool rovings to make a humble pincushion. I just love how it came out and fully intend to stitch it again for myself … next year!

I hope your day is full of beauty, big or small!

You know how some foods just make you feel good – a friend of mine was wild for Welsh Rarebit when I was younger and that totally freaked me out till I found out it’s just cheese sauce over bread. LOL. I’m very fond of mac & cheese if my Mom or Sara is making it. If I have to do my own comfort cooking, I’d have to say that homemade pasta fills the bill. Last night I made a double recipe of pasta (=1 kilo of raw pasta dough) and used that to make 90 mouth-watering ravioli. It took me most of the afternoon, but it really was worth it.

On a food note, awhile ago Dianne asked me about roasted bell peppers (I believe we were having gazpacho, or maybe I was using the roasted peppers in another soup). It’s a simple thing – just cut your bell peppers into large chunks, put them skin-side up under your broiler, and … well, burn them. Once they cool off, peel the burnt skin off and use the pepper how you want. T’hey’re excellent cut into strips and used in salads & pasta, or puree them for use in a soup. Yum. I don’t like bell peppers very much unless they’re roasted.

Not to make too clumsy of a segue, but spending time with certain friends can be immensely comforting, too. Arden I were happy to spend the morning and early afternoon with Conny at her home. As is always the case, actual stitching never actually got done, but we had a wonderful time talking, showing each other projects, eating, and laughing. Because we’d both had a birthday since the last time we saw each other, some gift-giving was called for. I could finally give this little Marjorie Massey project to its real owner.

And Conny thrilled me to bits with this Brite Birds (an older freebie from Kathy Barrick-Dieter) project – how clever is she? This is so gorgeous! It’s hanging by my front door for all to see and admire. She also gave me a bag full of gorgeous floss, ribbon, and finishing fabric that I’ve neglected to photograph (shame on me!) as well as a fun game for the kids that she bought in China. Thank you for a great day, Conny!

Hoping that your day is graced by true friendship!

Sounds like a festival of Bacchus over here, doesn’t it?

I’ve heard from dear Su that she received the little seasonal exchange I sent her. Sadly, it’s our last. I really have enjoyed the seasonal exchanges – this year I had Su as a partner and last year I had Nicki. I have been terribly spoiled! Knowing that Su’s tastes are on the feminine side, but that she also enjoys primitives, I thought this Mary Garry design from Seasonal Mementoes was just perfect. I found a tiny wooden tea box that I sanded, painted pink, and sanded again, then inserted the cross stitched piece (with a little floral Moda border) after lacing it onto a piece of padded matboard. I had a lot of fun making this, Su, and I’ve really enjoyed our year of stitching for each other!

So that explains the flowers and wild-haired women. This little WIP will explain the leaves. And perhaps those other things are either berries or rose hips? Anyway, this is a Marjorie Massey design (Nos Amis les Bêtes) that I splurged on when Lili mentioned that a very good French shop was having a no-shipping-charges sale. I must admit that I was nervous when placing the order because I don’t speak or read French, and the online translator sometimes gives very strange translations. LOL! But it all worked out well, and this ONS would probably become a true favorite if only the language were not such a barrier. This is stitched on 35 ct Peach linen from Vikki Clayton using Irish Blues silk from the Thread Gatherer. It will be a gift, so you probably won’t see it again for awhile…

Thanks for bearing up under my little National Geographic presentation yesterday. Those birds just completely fascinated me. Today I noticed a blackbird going in and out of the section of hedge that had housed a dove, so I guess the doves have moved on. I’d hoped to catch a glimpse of the little ones, but it wasn’t meant to be.  Here’s a picture of the feline responsible for all the hoop-la.

Thanks also for all the super-nice things you said about my productive weekend. I wish they were all like that, but of course then I’d lose my sense of enjoyment and simply expect more. As for the kit so kindly gifted to me by my well-intentioned neighbor, that will hit the posts for Jennifer. Hopefully it’ll catch a strong tail wind and arrive in about 10 days.

Thank you for your kind & supportive comments. You guys are great. I’m keeping myself occupied, assuming that I’ll eventually feel more myself and in the meantime, I may as well get something done.

Max’s birthday gifts have been the ‘biggie’ – his birthday is a week from today, so I thought I better get cracking with the finishing. I’ve stitched him a needlecase/project pocket, a scissor fob (with some DMC scissors he’ll love), and a floss fob (which just cried out for his first experience with Vikki Clayton’s silks), and I found him a hand-carved wooden bead tray (and naturally started him off with some beads and charms). I hope to still stitch a pincushion, but at least these gifts are ready to go. Not pictured are some Silkweaver cuts and a journal for him to track his stitching projects (or whatever he wants to use it for). You’ll notice the bunny theme – the design styles are all over the place, but it was the bunnies that I was going for. Probably he’ll like the Helga Mandl designs (on the needlebook/project pocket) best, but I must say that I loved the floss fob from The Needle’s Content. The funky fob is a detail taken from a 1916 crochet pattern – on the back it says, “Happy 11th birthday, Max!”

There’s also been some Easter activity, both finishing of stitched goodies and a tiny bit of crafting. I have not finished Mary Garry’s Spring Cookies and although I plan to have it done, I’m not going to sweat it if I don’t finish it for this year.  Yesterday, I picked up Rowen’s birth sampler and worked on that for an hour or so instead of Mary Garry. Go where the Muse leads you, right?

And in closing, here’s an adorable (IMHO) picture of Arden enjoy some quality time in the garden with his Daddy after work yesterday.

Yay! I have a finishing pile! I’ve been trying to get enough done so that it could qualify as a “pile”. LOL! Thanks to my latest finish, French Bunnies from The Sampler Girl’s Companion Booklet 3, I think I can call this a pile. Albeit a rather small one. Hopefully Spring Cookies will join it by the end of the weekend.

I only ordered Tanya’s latest booklet last night, but when she sent me the PDF (lightening-fast, I might add!), I just had to start  French Bunnies immediately using the goodies that had come in the day’s mail from Vikki Clayton. So this is stitched on 35 ct Bunny Brown using Fagales Chocolate, Cocoa Bean, Haystacks, Spinach Delight, and Fish Pepperika. I like the vintage look it has.  And what a way to enjoy stash when it’s hot off the presses!

Happy weekend, everyone!!

Su’s exchange has reached her and she’s happy with it – hooray! I love having this year-long exchange with Su, but I’m always very insecure about my choices and finishes for her because she is so insanely talented and because I don’t have that ‘feminine flair’ that so elegantly marks her stitching. But my Prim Fem Sampler Bird, finished with vintage lace and floral backing, was a hit. And knowing that Su (like me) is a huge Brightneedle fan, Mama Bird was also well-received. (I didn’t follow the color scheme for this design, and I omitted the bottom-most part of the design.)

I also finished the Swirly Girls (freebie by Sharon Crescent, 2007) for a breast cancer quilt square. The lady who’ll receive this is wild about flowers, and I thought the blue and yellow color scheme was both restful and cheering. She is currently recovering from a grueling operation, and I can imagine both rest and cheer are important.

This has been a nice family weekend. We celebrated my father-in-law’s birthday with Niek’s siblings, nieces & nephews, aunts and uncles. I especially enjoyed watching Nick and Rowen playing with their cousins – but of course, I’d neglected to bring my camera and therefore have no pictures to share. Lola’s mom and dad were also there, which was kind of fun. Lola is bigger than her mama, and I do hope she’s reached her adult size now.  One big dog is enough – LOL!

Another busy week is looming and I wish you all a most wonderful one.
Thank you for visiting!