Beautiful Day for Stitching

Yes, it was a beautiful day for stitching. We received our first significant snowfall today; somewhere between six and ten inches. I think we can count on having a White Christmas!


Today I worked a little bit on a class piece - Gathering for Winter from Betsy Morgan. I did a lot of the stitching on it earlier in the year, but now I need to complete some of the over one and specialty stitches for the acorn designs in this section. Today, I finished the black work band at the bottom and the very small over one acorn motif in the bottom right corner. Maybe I can do a little bit every night and then before long it will be finished!


I'm going to finish out my evening by working more on the border for Never Let You Go.

Hope you have a good week!

Bad Blogger

My mother sent me an email this afternoon with the message, "Boy, that blog really has been suffering." I haven't been a very good blogger lately. Too much traveling for work. And I've been having a hard time settling on my next stitching project.

Just before Thanksgiving I started another large sampler. I think I posted a clue back on November 17. I finished the vine portion of the border and stopped. I needed to make a trip to my LNS for the other threads that I needed. This new start is His Eye is on the Sparrow from Heartstring Samplery. I originally started stitching it on 45 count but I stitch in hand and I
Iike to sew (I don't poke/stab). I found it difficult to sew on the 45 count so I started over on 40 count Lakeside Linen Vintage Pecan Butter. I will return to stitching on this one soon.







The weekend after Thanksgiving I had the urge to start the following Goode Huswife design. It's been in my stash forever! I had a piece of unknown 40 count linen in my stash that I thought would work perfectly. I picked up the NPI silks at my LNS during their Black Friday sale. May I present With My Needle...







Finally, I got the itch last night to start this next sampler. There's a story with this one. Last year I stitched about a third of it and decided I didn't like the way it was turning out. I was stitching with two threads over two on 36 count. The stitches were too thick and I wasn't enjoying it, so I set it aside. I've started over on 40 count Vintage Country Mocha using one thread over two with the recommended GAST and Weeks threads. I'm much happier and don't mind one bit that I've started over. This is Never Let You Go from Heartstring Samplery.



I should really be working on some a Christmas ornaments but it has never worked well for me to stitch on things that I "should" be stitching. I have to stitch on a design that I "want" to stitch on.

Thought you might enjoy seeing a recent photo of the Mad Tatter. She had a table at our church's Christmas boutique last weekend. She is having carpal tunnel surgery this week on her left hand. It should go fine, but please keep her in your thoughts and prayers anyway.




That's all I've got right now! Glad to be home stitching tonight because it's freezing cold outside and we're expecting a couple of inches of snow. Thanks for stopping by!

Needle Minders

I've been spending too much time on Flosstube. Yes, the stitchers love their hand dyed fabrics and their needle minders. Look at these cool needle minders from The Cottage Needle on Etsy. I've always been crazy about Beatrix Potter!

Oops I Did It Again

Started another one. That's all I'm sharing for now!

All Creatures Great and Small

It's finished! This was an enjoyable stitch from start to finish!



All Creatures Great and Small
Barbara Ana
40 ct Vintage Country Mocha
Anchor threads as charted

Seeing Green

Construction of the hill is underway!

Need to Find My Dancing Shoes

Leaves are in, working on the Rosebud's now. The end is near.

Fresh Coat of Paint

I painted a house tonight....

Getting Closer

It was kind of bittersweet when I stitched the last animal this afternoon. The house and the hill still need to be filled in and the center medallion personalized. I'm going to finish up the border first I think.

Needlework is not Dead

So often, I hear the question, "How do we get young people interested in Needlework?" Very few young people come to our local guild meetings . There might be one or two thirty year-olds at our annual retreat, but the average age is probably closer to 60.

We'll, trust me, cross stitch is not dead and there are lots of young needleworkers out there! Guess where they are? They are on Flosstube!

I decided to check out Flosstube a few weeks ago after reading about it on some of my favorite blogs. I've been watching Flosstube for the past couple of weeks. All age groups are represented; I watched a video ("vlog") today that was recorded by a 70-year old! I must say though, I've been pleased to see many young stitchers in their 30's and 40's.

These stitchers are on Facebook participating in groups and in SALs that start a new project every day for one month or commit to finishing 15 - 20 WIPs over the next month. Some are "stitching dark" during the month of October. Others are participating in Hogwarts themed stitching groups. These stitchers are dyeing their own fabric and purchasing floss from vendors I've never heard of. They are very brave and are not afraid to swap floss colors and stitch something different than the designer intended. They are very respectful of copyright. In lieu of stitching get together they Skype with each other. They are excited about needlework as evidenced by their "haul" which they proudly share.

I am encouraged by what I have seen. This is a different approach to stitching than what I am used to, but it is so refreshing. I am glad to know that needlework is alive and well!

Here's where I am at with All Creatures Great and Small:



Hope you have a great week. Thanks for stopping by.

Building a Lake

It doesn't look like much right now, but give me another night or two.

Reunited

The chicken family is complete!

An Update

Weekend in Indy Part 2

Our second class with Sherri was "A Gift by Hand Conferred."




During the class we worked on the bodkin holder.




And started the finishing on the walnut shell pincushion.




All good things must come to an end and tomorrow I return to work. Before doing so I squeezed in a few minutes tonight with All Creatures Great and Small.

An Afternoon Leisure Basket

Today we had a delightful class with Sherri Jones. The project was An Afternoon Leisure Basket. Love this little basket!




Progress made on All Creatures Great and Small.




More tomorrow!

Indianapolis or Bust

We made the obligatory stop at you know where...



Enjoyed a delicious open-faced pork sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy.

We passed on pie. Later on though we found another treat which we enjoyed in our hotel room tonight.




We have been stitching away and will head to bed soon. Here's an update on All Creatures Great and Small. Top right corner is now done.







Signing off from somewhere between the Twin Cities and Indianapolis!

For the Mad Tatter

Pictures from our drive along the Mississippi River.

The World's Largest Boot in Red Wing, MN:







The American Queen was docked in Red Wing:




Lake Pepin in Lake City, MN:










Pepin Heights Apple stop: (pumpkins too!)







National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN:








Wabasha was all decked out in fall colors and decorations. This lady reminded me of Auntie Betty.







A few more "old folks!"







Sophie's first trip to Wisconsin....




We didn't stop at the Laura Ingalls museum, but we did stop for a photo on this oversized tricycle in Pepin, WI:







Final stop....Stockholm. No, not Sweden silly, Stockholm, WI!













Final look at the Mighty Mississippi and the bluffs overlooking the river.










It was a great autumn day!