Stitch 'N Time

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T20:44:00.008-05:00

Just dropping by to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year!

I'm still around, but 2011 was more about work and family than free time for crafting. Years have "themes" like that, don't they? My heartfelt "thanks" to those of you who visited my blog last year and left such kind comments about the restored needlework. I'm also very thankful for those of you who continue to blog and share your life and creative work. You are such an inspiration!

A friend's first grand baby has inspired a baby afghan, so that's the only project I have to share at the moment. I'm just a "wee" bit behind, as baby arrived right on time in November. No surprise to anyone who knows me that the timing has worked this way. I'm thankful for family and friends who love me anyway. Here's just one pic for the proof that I've at least been working on something creative!

I'm enjoying the basket weave, but I've only found time to work on this one while out of town. Now that it's January, I'm going to have to learn to stay home and knit!

As for new year's resolutions, I'll make just one as far as this little corner of my world is concerned: to post twice as many times in 2012 as I did in 2011. Almost there!

Again, hugs and a "Happy New Year" to all. May 2012 bring love and peace.

It's a New Year!

2011-01-23T17:40:00.012-05:00

Not only is it a new year, but it's going to be a new month if I don't get busy and finally post something! Hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season. As for me, my winter decorations are still up from last year! Nothing like staying ahead of the game. Still, all has been well on my end, and I've had plenty of fun and travel to make up for the lack of crafting and posting.

However, I did have my rescued cross-stitched piece framed last summer, so I wanted to share the finished piece here.

Most of my framed cross stitch hangs in my dining room, so that's where this piece landed as well. I like the vintage look, the natural linen, and the black design, mat, and frame. The next picture is not the best in terms of angle, etc., but you get a better idea of what the restored piece looks like.

I think it's an improvement over the damaged original.

Here's a detail shot of the simple black frame and mat.

If my memory serves, this is the first piece of cross stitch that I've rescued. But it's not my last! I found another piece in an antique mall over the Christmas holidays. That piece has a couple of stories to tell, so I'll share pictures and those tales in another post. And, who knows, I may be on to something here. More shopping and rescuing may lead to less crafting on my end, but more pictures and postings here!

Enjoy the rest of January 2011 while it lasts!

She Squandered Millions

2010-08-21T10:26:00.013-04:00

I took my stitched carriage couple piece apart and took it to the framers (say that 10 times fast). Here's a behind the scenes look with at least one clue to the time period.

The age around the mat is easy to see once I removed the frame.

As expected, the linen was laid flat.

I had wondered about the dark color peeking through the lace openings. There was a partial label in the center that indicated an 8"x10" opening. Looks like this came with the frame, but it's a very thin, slick piece. Not sure what this layer is made of. Not paper. About the thickness of carbon paper. Any ideas?

The best clue, though, was awaiting. I had to laugh when I got to this final layer. This colorful piece was the back piece of cardboard.

I was so impressed and surprised by how beautiful and well-preserved this final layer is. The colors are so pretty. Looks like this backing was cut from a larger movie (?) poster. Any ideas? It was certainly fun to peel back time and end with such a surprise. But more importantly...

I laughed out loud when I read the text. Was the original framer the cross stitcher? The cross stitcher's husband? Was the humor intentional? Regardless, the message certainly endures across the years!

I've Not Been Stitching, But...

2010-07-03T08:53:00.014-04:00

I have a confession to make. I've not been stitching, but I have been shopping!

Each year, my sister and I meet in Springfield, OH for a BIG antique show and flea market. I say "big," because out of all the years we've been going, I've only made it to all the vendor areas once - and that's over a three-day period! This year, I got lucky and found an affordable cross-stitched piece that was looking for a good home.

I've seen a number of similar pieces, but none completed on a piece of linen like this with what reminds me of Battenburg lace around its edges.

This looks to have been a stamped design. The stitching is fairly well executed compared to the other pieces I've seen. But I didn't notice the faint marks of a stamped design until I imported my photos. The other stitched pieces I've seen of this nature have a similar horse and carriage theme, and they've all been completed with black floss. I did a quick Google search to see if I could locate any information on the pattern or the time period. Do you know anything about these designs? What do you think - something from the 1950s or '60s? I'd be interested in finding out more.

There is a bit of water damage on the bottom of the mat. And the frame is literally falling apart.

You can see the linen peaking out from the back edges, so I'm guessing the fabric was just laid flat in the frame.

This one will be going to the framers so that it can be properly conserved. After that, I have just the place for it!

And, "what," you may ask, "does a long day/weekend at the Springfield show look like?" Like this closing photo of course!

I certainly don't know where the days go, but here's to a fun summer and a great holiday weekend!

Love Springs

2010-02-14T08:06:00.008-05:00

I know we've all heard that "love springs eternal," but for those of us surrounded by snow, sometimes we need a reminder. I spent yesterday at a conservatory and was reminded that spring is on its way.

Happy Valentine's Day!

An Itsy Bit of Etsy

2010-01-31T13:29:00.012-05:00

Now that I'm "caught up" on my weaving posts, I'll return to the stitching front.

Last week I noticed that Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery had posted a new design to her Etsy shop. I fell in love with the border patterns and the sentiment. Such a perfect design for this time of the year! I love the touch of red in the hearts.
I also noticed that Kathy Barrick had also added a number of "old" patterns to her Etsy shop that I needed to add to my collection.

I ordered patterns on the same day, and they all arrived on the same day just a few days later. Fast service! I certainly have new motivation to keep stitching!

As for the little bit of stitching I've done of late, I have just one little motif, in progress, to show from the Mary Wigham sampler. It's been awhile since I've worked on white linen, so I've had to take my time on this one and rip out a few atitches along the way. That's ok. I enjoy the process as much as anything, so the slow go is fine by me.

Hope you are staying warm wherever you may be and enjoying the day!

I Know It's 2010, But...

2010-01-23T09:56:00.024-05:00

First off, let me wish everyone a "Happy New Year!" while it's still January! Yes, I know it's 2010, but I'm still "in" October and wanted to share with you how the rest of the week went for my weaving class. I know. Weaving is not the only thing I'm "slow" at!

Once I got through my second full day of class, changed my attitude, and decided that whatever I got accomplished was "good enough," then all went well.

My goal for my sampler was to try every possible weave combination that my instructor and I could come up with. So, I took meticulous notes. Aimed for symmetry. And here are the results!

A little bit of basket weave.

Playing with color and pattern.

Attempting a symmetrical ending.

Cutting the warp. Would you believe that I was the last person to take a project off the loom?!?

One of the things that's really cool about the folk school is that all the classes participate in a final exhibit. Thus, the wonderful finishes from our class:

Talk about a group of talented folks and what they were able to do in a week's time!

Beautiful and colorful hand towels.

Lovely samplers, scarves, and even a shawl!

I would love to show you detail shots from every single project we worked on, but you will just have to trust me when I say how beautiful everyone's choices were and what a great group of folks we had in our class.

Maybe one of these days (or years!) I'll show you a few more pattern shots from my project and the "final" finish. 'Till then, I'm digging out at home as the new year begins.

Thanks for the continued inspiration to those of you who blog and post so faithfully. I've done a pretty good job of staying up-t0-date of late, and just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your pictures, projects, and posts. Till next time...happy crafting!

A Week of Weaving: Day Two

2009-12-06T07:20:00.015-05:00

When I woke up on Tuesday, our second full day of class, I woke up with a new attitude. I had gone to bed feeling discouraged about my feeble attempts and slow progress the day before - especially when I compared myself to others in the class. Many of them were ready to start weaving Tuesday morning. I still had threading and tie up to look forward to. But for whatever reason, I woke up thinking that I was here to learn as much as possible and enjoy the process. I had not "enjoyed" the day before; and that's a feeling I'm not used to and don't like. I decided then and there that I was going to take my time, not worry about how much I got "done" or how quickly, and that if I only completed one project instead of two, then that was good enough.

So on Tuesday, I took my time and spent most of my day threading the heddles. Our instructor, Pam, wanted us to play with twill, so she insisted that we "come up with" our own draft design. I understood only the basic ideas behind a draft, and even though I really, really wanted to follow someone else's pattern, I came up with a threading pattern that was at least symmetrical and started threading. I didn't take the time to even think about what the weave structure might look like; I was just ready to get started and learn as I go.

I was in the right frame of mind on Tuesday, so Ruth (my loom) and I got along just fine. The threading was tedious, as was getting all those threads through the reed, but it was a much easier process for me. By late afternoon, I was ready to weave!

By the end of day two, I had completed several inches of plain weave. I was on my way!

A Week of Weaving: Day One

2009-11-01T08:50:00.027-05:00

What have you always wanted to do? Me? I always wanted to learn how to spin and weave. When I first got out of college (and I'm talking just weeks after graduation!), I took a two-week spinning course offered through the School of Homestead Living and Rio Grande College in Ohio. Over twenty years later, I finally took a beginning weaving class at the John C. Campbell Folk School. I learned more than I ever imagined I could learn in a week's time thanks to instructors Pam Howard and Dianne Totten.

The course I signed up for, "Weaving - Beginning and Beyond," was a course on four-harness loom weaving that covered everything from preparing a warp, weaving a sampler, and completing a finished project. Pam, the resident weaver at the school, began our class on a Sunday evening with introductions and an overview of what we were in for during the week ahead. She warned us that Monday would be the most "difficult" day, but asked us to trust her and the process.

Monday morning came, and Pam wasn't kidding about that day being the most difficult. Pam introduced us to the warping board after we had picked out yarn and planned our first project, a sampler.

Pam made preparing the warp look easy.

But all that over, under, up, around, over, down, really messed with me! My DH always said that he was amazed that I had ever learned to tie my shoes, because when it comes to challenges like tying a knot, putting a strap on a camera, or wrapping warp, I have problems: big problems. I think Pam thought I was kidding when I was struggling with just following basic directions, but she soon learned I wasn't. Thanks to her and Diane's patience and direction, I finally managed to get all my threads aligned in the right direction.

By the time we were ready to "dress" the loom that day, I think Pam was the only one smiling!

When I went to lunch on Monday, a friend took one look at me and said, "Oh no." I was close to tears and feeling pretty stupid. I didn't expect weaving to be easy, but I also didn't expect to have SO many problems day one. Everyone else in the class seemed to be following along without any problems. Not me.

I went back to class after lunch, nonetheless, and somehow managed to go from the warping board to warp on a loom. Amazing!

By the end of the day on Monday, I was ready to spend the week with Ruth, an 8-harness, 32" Macomber loom. Ruth: my new best friend, or enemy in disguise? Only time would tell.

By supper Monday evening, the weaving fantasy had ended. Reality began.

The John C. Campbell Folk School

2009-10-25T12:38:00.015-04:00

In case you think I've been slacking in the crafting department because I've not been very good about posting of late, I'm here to let you in on a little secret about where I've been: the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC.

When I first learned about the folk school a couple of years ago, I began making plans to go. The school was founded in 1925 by Olive Dame Campbell and Marguerite Butler and is named in honor of Olive's husband, John, who passed away in 1919. Both John and Olive studied Appalachian life and culture during the early 1900s. The school was modeled after Danish folk schools as a way to preserve that culture. Then, as now, the community of Brasstown welcomes visitors and supports the school's mission.

Today, the school offers classes in everything from blacksmithing to woodworking, and all in a noncompetitive and inspiring environment.

I had only a week at the school, but I'm ready to go back. I'm not going to get into the details of the class I took all in this post, since I have plenty to share. But I will leave you with a couple of hints as to what I've been up to. I spent the majority of my time at the Pittman Fiber Arts studio, seen here.

Falling in love with fiber that began here.

Much more to show and tell later. I hope your fall crafting adventures have been fabulous!

Mary and Me

2009-07-12T16:10:00.006-04:00

I've tossed the floss for Mary Wigham and have decided to join the SAL.

This project will be a "first" for me, as I've never selected my own colors before. I was surprised by how easy it was (I'll say that now before the stitching begins!) to stand in front of all the DMC offerings and select the soft colors I was going for with this sampler. I selected the colors and then quickly settled on a 32 ct. antique white linen by Permin. Now to get started!

I'm still working on Jenny Bean's church, but there's not been enough progress since last time to share another photo.

Instead, I'll leave you with a photo from yesterday that captured the essence of the summer day along a garden wall. Have an enjoyable week!

Is it Still Spring?

2009-06-14T13:08:00.014-04:00

I figured I'd better get busy posting my spring stitching progress (I can hear you laughing with me now!) before summer is upon us.

Proof....

Just a wee bit of stitching on Jenny Bean's church. It's not that I've lost my desire to stitch, I've just not sat still long enough! Instead, I've been out enjoying the spring season and taking advantage of photo ops.

I have engaged in a bit of spring stashing, though. I fell in love with Tyler's Lion by Long Dog Samplers as soon as I saw it. My photo is not the best, but you get the idea of what a lovely design this happens to be.

If you, or someone you know, is working on Tyler's Lion, please let me know. There's so much possibility with this design!

As for other random thoughts...check out the gorgeous just-completed sampler at the Sampler Lover's blog. And, for those sampler lovers out there, the new (at least new to me) Needleprint blog is a must see and read.

I'll leave you with one more random spring photo from Parke County, IN and a not-so-random wish that you are all enjoying your spring stitching and non-stitching adventures!

Back at It!

2009-03-15T09:04:00.010-04:00

Thank you for the kind words and warm wishes. I'm waiting for the "it gets easier" part to begin, but I'm doing well and thankful for every day.

The last few weekends have felt pretty "normal." I've been visiting blogs, admiring everyone's work, and I've picked up the needle again. Yeah! Remember the little kitten ornament I started during the Olympics? Well, I completed the stitching,...

and I finished the back stitching.

I'll admit that back stitching is not my favorite part of the process, but it certainly makes a difference. I'll hold off on really "finishing" this little guy until the other kittens are stitched and ready (so who knows what decade that will be). For now, though, I'm back at it!

In Loving Memory

2009-02-05T10:58:00.008-05:00

Rick Nevels

6/21/52-1/26/09

Loved and Missed

When I started blogging a little over a year ago, I never intended to post a personal picture or to write about my personal life. In fact, when I first "discovered" blogs, I was too afraid to even leave a comment on anyone else's site. My how a year changes things.

My husband, Rick, passed away unexpectedly a little over a week ago. Rick was a talented and passionate photographer and had gone up to Covington, KY on Friday, 1/23, to attend a Photoshop workshop with a friend of ours. He grew ill after lunch, was taken to a local hospital, and by Monday evening he was gone. Because his condition deteriorated so quickly, the hospital performed an autopsy that showed the "worst case" of pancreatitis they had ever seen. The pancreatitis was caused by "sludge" in the gallbladder getting trapped in the duct leading into the pancreas, and the pancreatic enzymes backing up into the pancreas. It was a quick and devastating process.

I share this information with you in hopes that it may help prevent the death of someone you love. Rick had been having severe abdominal pain for about a month, and had gone to see his doctor on Thursday. Even though his blood work from Thursday was within normal ranges, his doctor had set him up for an ultrasound to look for gallstones on the Monday he actually passed away. The episode that sent him to the hospital on that Friday was "attack" number five. According to the doctor who performed the autopsy, Rick was already exhibiting signs of pancreatitis when he began seeking medical attention for the stomach pain. The only thing that could have prevented his death is if he would have had his gallbladder out long before this past month.

Words cannot express how much I will miss him, nor what a wonderful relationship we shared. Our love of photography and the outdoors is what brought us together. In fact, the reason I started blogging is that Rick started a blog at the same time (a story I will share sometime). You can see some of his work on his blog, Photography in the Bluegrass. I will do my best to continue his work and to honor his memory and my love for him through our photography and his website.

Now that I've moved from the impersonal to the personal, please know that my intention is to continue this blog as a way to share my love for needlework and to not dwell on the personal. Circumstances, however, have a way of making life and relationships all the more meaningful. Rick and I have been blessed by the love of many here in the Louisville area. I know, too, that the online community cares as well. Please don't let someone you love die from a stomach ache.

Rick & Teri

It's Been a Year

2009-01-21T06:50:00.002-05:00

I started this blog one year ago today. And I'm still here. Wow. Happy! Happy!!

Knitting and Stitching

2009-01-18T15:32:00.008-05:00

Not too much going on during this cold, cold January except a little knitting and stitching. Not a bad way, though, to spend a cold, gray day.

First of all, thanks for all the kind comments on Jenny Bean's contributions to my MMIRR! As you can see, the church is framed and under roof, and the bricks and windows are going in. I'm really needing a lot of good light, however, for this linen. My DH has loaned me his desk lamp, so that has helped quite a bit. I'm thinking I may also need a stronger pair of reading glasses, though!

On the knitting front, I pulled out a scarf that I had started awhile ago; it's the "Flying V Scarf" by Iris Schreier in Exquisite Little Knits. The yarn is Moda Dea's Cache, a bulky 75% wool, 22% acrylic, and 3% polyester blend. I like the colorway and the pattern, but I'd select a softer and lighter weight yarn if I make another. I love having a project on the needles during the winter months.

Hope you are all staying warm and enjoying your January projects as well. Until next time, happy stitching and knitting!

A New Year and a New Project

2009-01-01T16:10:00.018-05:00

Happy New Year! I must say I love having a couple of days off work!! I'm catching up with blogs, and this post will make my 3rd post in two days. Truly amazing. I guarantee all will be back to "normal" soon! In the meantime, it's been so nice to relax and focus on a few creative endeavors.

Many of you already know that New Year's eve marked the official groundbreaking for the Me, Myself, and I Neighborhood Round Robins. I've not broken ground yet - will be doing so this evening - but I spent part of yesterday finalizing my plans. I'll not repeat my initial plans I wrote about here. Instead, consider this post my first "progress" report!

I had a frame in mind that I purchased earlier this year that I thought would be perfect for my neighborhood. It has an opening of 21" x 24". However, when I sat down to place my designs and pick a starting point, it didn't take long for me to realize that I didn't have near enough room for the neighborhood I envisioned. So...I've placed the "big" project on hold, and instead I'm taking a very pragmatic approach to my neighborhood: I'll be finishing and framing each of my historical houses, so the end result will be a repositionable wall community.

Please meet the first residents: the local clergy and his dog, a female neighbor, and another neighbor's cow.

This scene is from Jenny Bean's 1794 sampler.

The pattern is from the Scarlet Letter, an excellent source of sampler reproductions and adaptations.

The floss and 29 count linen in the first picture make up the construction materials. Design size is 10" x 6". The history lessons will begin soon!

Christmas Past

2008-12-31T12:06:00.019-05:00

Can you believe Christmas is past, and here we are looking at New Year's eve??? Unbelievable! We were fortunate enough to spend Christmas in Ohio with my family, so I'll share a few pictures of my Mom's tree (which I love) and some of the cross-stitched ornaments I've made for her in Christmases past.

Mom's tree is filled primarily with snowman and cardinal ornaments. It's always fun to search for something new for her tree.

The ornament, above, was the first cardinal ornament I made for her. My finishing skills are not very good, but the pale blue fabric and the egg shape at least related to the subject matter!

The year I made the wreath ornaments, Mom got one too. It's not one that I would have picked out for her, but I wrapped all my ornaments that year, and let folks select, at random, their gift.

My favorite, though, is the cardinal on the mailbox. This is one I'd like to have hanging on my tree as well!

Finally, I'll share a photo of a stitched piece I made for Mom and Dad back in the late 80s/early 90s.

Mom had moved the location of this P. Buckley Moss design for the first time, and I was able to get close enough to take a shot. The photo is not so hot, but this is still one of my favorite finishes. When I purchased the pattern, my plans were to make one for my parents, and one for me. After hours and hours of working with white floss on white 36 count linen, and ripping out an entire lower section of the snow because I had messed up, I decided that this finish was going to be my one and only for this particular design. I love P. Buckley Moss's work, though, and have several other cross stitch patterns of her prints that may get worked up if I live to be an old, old woman!

One last look...
and a wish to all of you checking in for a healthy, happy, and peaceful New Year!

Binding Off

2008-12-31T11:32:00.015-05:00

From the title of this post, you may be able to infer there's a happy ending for my sister's Christmas scarf. Christmas day, however, began like this:

My sister's comment: "Do you remember...when you gave me my afghan...and you still had it on the needles?!?" Yes. I remember, and so does my family! In my own defense, I was in college; she was graduating from high school, and I was almost finished with a soft, beautiful, feather-stitched afghan.

Two days after Christmas, though, her new scarf was off the needles...

and around her neck....

Needless to say, she was happy that I had taken the hint and used the yarn she had fawned over. Merry Christmas sis!

'Tis the Season

2008-12-21T08:56:00.019-05:00

I love the holiday season, the decorations, and all the handmade ornaments. Please enjoy a few pictures from my holiday cross stitch projects from Christmas past.

Remember these? These are the first four Prairie Schooler Santa cards, stitched and framed in the 80s. They were my first laced and framed projects, so I was pretty pleased with the results. I still love them! Here's a closer look.

And two more....

One Christmas past, I stitched and finished wreath ornaments for others and saved one for my tree....

And finally, one Christmas trip from the past I spent stitching the mini ornaments, below, that still hang on a small table tree....

Mrs. Claus, her animal friends...

Two of my favorites...

And Santa himself....

Happy holidays...from me...to you!

Casting On (Again)

2008-11-23T19:40:00.016-05:00

Or...why not to take knitting advice from your husband, when your husband doesn't knit. Here's why.

Last night's conversation:

Me: "What do you think?"

DH: "It's not wide enough."

Me: "Hmm. This is about how wide I've made my other scarfs. How's this?"

DH: "It's not wide enough."

Me: "You really think so?"

DH: "Yes. It's not wide enough."

Me: "OK. How's this?"

DH: "Much better."

Fast forward to this morning's conversation:

DH: "What are you doing?"

Me: "I'm starting over. This scarf is too wide."

DH: "Yeah. It looks too wide."

Me: "Humph."

DH: "I don't know why you listened to me in the first place. I don't know the first thing about knitting!"

Please meet my newest (1) afghan square, (2) table mat, or (3) head warmer for DH (sorry, no picture for that option!).

The scarf is back on the needles and will be a Christmas gift for my sister. She saw the yarn and dropped a big hint, so if you're reading sis, at least let me know you know, so I can wear it in and save myself the wrapping!

The yarn is Bernat's Soft Boucle. It's indeed soft and working up well on the larger needles. This is the first project I've posted on Ravelry. If you are a knitter or crocheter and have not gotten an account on Raverly, do so. The site recently celebrated its first year, and it's a wonderful free resource for yarns, projects, patterns, etc. and offers wonderful organizational tools for your projects. If you are already on Ravelry, I'd love to hear about your work!

And while I'm on a scarf kick tonight, I'll share a picture of the scarves I've made over the last few years. To say I like fiber is an understatement. With so much yarn out there, a quick knit is always an easy, fun, and practical way to enjoy some of the choices available!

And one last look at all that color, glorious color!

Best wishes for a warm week ahead and a Happy Thanksgiving!

All Roads Lead To...

2008-11-09T10:50:00.014-05:00

...a new craft project! At least that's been the case for me this fall. It's hard to believe that September and October are behind us, but I was able to spend most of my favorite season on the go. My husband and I vacationed in West Virginia and Virginia, and I spent several weekends in Ohio with my sister for two major events: the Country Living Fair in Columbus, and the Springfield Antique Show Extravaganza. Talk about two fun-filled weekends and a week's worth of beautiful mountain scenery! I could go on and on about our travels, but I'll stick to the crafty bits that followed me home.

Now that the projects can be seen in one place at one time, it doesn't look as bad as I had imagined. Lord knows I don't need another project, but I'm not one to resist temptation when it comes to the fun stuff! One of the booths at the Country Living Fair showcased finished quilts and punchneedle designs, so I bought my first punchneedle kit: the two Christmas sheep in the center of the photo above. Prior to this kit, I had admired the small designs, but I just hadn't found one that I liked well enough to buy. This one definitely caught my attention as did two others.

As for the latch hook kits, it has been many years since I've worked one of those, but these two already hold sentimental value. My niece made me a latch hooked kitty pillow when she was 9 (she's now 19) that looked like the cat I had at that time: a little black and white tuxedo cat. We now have two cats we adopted almost two years ago: another little tuxedo and a big yellow fellow. Now how could I resist?

Finally, I'm still stitching away on the kitty ornament. I'm almost ready to begin the backstitching! This little cross stitch project has seen a lot of miles this fall, but not once did I find time to stitch on any of my fall romps.

Now that it's darker earlier, perhaps there will be more time for all these projects. And, yes, there's a Christmas project (not saying for what year) in the project photo above thanks to one of my sister's not-so-subtle hints. It definitely pays to hang out together during this time of the year! What new projects have caught your eye this fall? Hope you are all having fun with whatever you are working on!

Me Too

2008-09-07T08:19:00.009-04:00

I know I'm not alone when I say I joined the Me, Myself, and I Round Robin that Vonna has opened. Not like I need another project, but this one was too enticing to resist! Like a lot of others who are participating, I've spent the past week thinking A LOT about my neighborhood. Last weekend I went through all of my cross stitch patterns thinking about the possibilities. Thank goodness it was a long holiday weekend! I finally decided to use design elements from reproductions of historical samplers.

Last night I sat down and started pulling out the houses to see what my options are and how large of a building lot I might need. I'm already concerned about size, but that's another issue altogether. So far, I have five house options out of the charts I pulled.

I'm so glad we have time to plan this project. Putting all the ideas together will be a challenge. I'm looking for a few specific elements from historical samplers that I don't have, such as a church, so I get to continue my research and see what else I can find. Seriously, this planning part is just downright fun!

On the stitching front, my "Olympic kitty" is still in training. I'll blame my early bedtime and too much Olympic event watching for my lack of stitching progress! My husband just asked me this morning if I was going to finish this cat before I start my next project. He always makes me smile. Bless his heart!

Fair Inspiration

2008-08-31T08:39:00.020-04:00

It's always a sign that summer is drawing to a close when the State Fair comes and goes. Last weekend was our last weekend for the Kentucky State Fair. Have I mentioned that I love the fair??? All fairs bring back such fond memories of 4-H exhibits (yes, snickerdoodles were the first thing I ever entered in a fair), parade routes (I played a squeaky clarinet), muddy shoes and wet clothes (it never rains on the Barlow Fair), and running around the Ohio State Fair with my sister and squealing with delight over moldy food in one building and air conditioning in the Senior Citizens' building. Yep. I love the fair!

Nowadays, I look forward to the annual events - for lots and lots of reasons - and for the inspiration. Here are pictures of a few of the items that caught my eye during this year's Kentucky State Fair. None of this work is mine, but I sure do find it inspiring!

Let's begin with some incredible quilts....

The color is what really caught my eye with all of these quilts. The appliqué on the one above is beautiful, as is each and every block in the design.

And I never would have thought to combine the blues and browns with all that beautiful coral in the one above!

As for the barnyard filled with chickens and roosters...too cute. Some even had sparkles and sequins to accent their feathers.

And I couldn't resist the colors and whimsy of each of these houses.

Even the Cat in the Hat was in the neighborhood!

As for these last two quilts, they are amazing! I love the garden design in the one above. And each and every wildflower in the one below has incredible texture and stitching that brings them to life.

One of the things that I've noticed over the years is that the quilt displays stay about the same in terms of the number of entries. There are always rows upon rows upon rows of beautiful quilts to wander through. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about needlework entries, and cross stitch entires in particular.

When I first moved to Kentucky and started attending the State Fair, the entire back wall of one of the convention halls would be covered with cross stitch. And that back wall wasn't all! Each year, the exhibit area gets smaller and smaller. It's sad to see the number of entries dwindle each year. Nevertheless, here are a couple of items that I spent time admiring.

I love Marjolein Bastin's artwork, so I really enjoyed seeing one of her designs in a larger scale. This particular piece was worked on what looked to be fabric for an afghan. I loved the overall look.

I also came across one of the most spectacular Christmas stockings I've seen. Not only is this a beautiful design, but check out the workmanship and the great details below. I love it!

I hope you've enjoyed seeing some of the great work that was on display this year. I hope, too, that those quilters, needleworkers, and fiber artists out there will continue to exhibit their work each year. What incredible inspiration!

Opening Ceremonies

2008-08-10T09:31:00.007-04:00

While I watched the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics Friday night, which were spectacular, I participated in my own "opening ceremonies," of sorts. I had opened the kit for my kitten ornaments awhile ago, prepared the fabric, and had started sorting the floss. So Friday night, I sorted the remainder of the floss (a task itself!) and started on my first "olympic" kitty.

I'll admit that I paid more attention to the TV than I did the cross stitching, because this little kitty already deviates from the pattern. I ripped out one section where I had miscounted, but when I noticed that I had been using the wrong color all along, I didn't have the heart to rip it out. Of course, if I can't stand the way it looks as I make more progress, I'll reconsider. Until then, this little one will have its own unique look. Now which one might he be?

Just a Little Something

2008-08-03T19:52:00.006-04:00

I have just a little something to show that I'm still around, and I've still been stitching. I've just not been stitching or doing much crafty this past month for lots of fun and not-so-fun reasons. Still, there's always a project close by! My sister saw the other alphabet blocks that I've stitched and said, "I like those!" Little does she know.... I hope you all enjoy August and the many county and state fairs!

Hooking Complete

2008-06-22T07:59:00.004-04:00

The border is done; the hooking is complete, and my first rug hooking project is out of the hoop!

Yep. I'm excited. I went to the rug shop yesterday, asked for coaching on the next steps, and bought the supplies I needed to bind my project. In addition, I picked up enough linen to make four mug rugs from my leftover wool. I'm looking forward to starting another hooking project soon. Like cross stitch, I'm thinking I may need two hooking projects going at the same time. So many great options, and so little time! I hope you all have an enjoyable and productive week. I know what I'll be working on!

Planning Ahead

2008-06-15T15:41:00.009-04:00

I've learned two things from last week's challenge. If I don't make myself do something creative everyday, I won't. I've spent a good deal of time in the weeds - oops, I meant flower beds, this week, so the week has certainly not been a loss. But, I've not picked the cross stitch or rug hooking back up since last week either. Hmmm. Connection? I think so!

The other thing that I learned from last week's challenge is that I have too many big projects and not enough "little" ones to make me feel like I'm getting more accomplished. So, this afternoon I spent some time planning ahead for a few more portable projects.

Case in point: out came two projects I've posted about before, along with the scissors and fray check.

I cut the fabric for the six kitten ornaments as well as linen for another alphabet block, and I edged them with fray check. Once these dry, they'll be good to go.

My other crafty find for the week was three skirts from a local thrift shop. The 75% off sign at the door caught my attention, but even then I picked three winter items that weren't on sale - in June! The skirts were still very affordable, though, and the money goes to a good cause.

This was my first trip to the thrift store since I started hooking to look for wool items. Two of the skirts are 100% wool. The red plaid did not have a fabric label, but it was dry clean only, felt like wool, and should yield lots of usable material with all the pleats. I figured it was definitely worth the try. I washed and dried these as soon as I brought them in the door, so they are ready to store away for a winter evening when I'm in the mood to take them apart.

I love the colors - especially the red tartan and the plaid with the browns, rusts, and blue. I foresee some kind of rug hooking "sampler" project or notebook in my future just for the fun of keeping track of the various fabrics and how they work up. Oh, the fun!

No challenges for me this week, but I will try to be more conscious about making time for continued creative endeavors. I hope you enjoy your creative plans as well!

Challenge Complete

2008-06-08T21:39:00.003-04:00

This past Monday I challenged myself to do something creative every day and to document the event. Tonight I declare "challenge complete."

To those of you who blog daily or several days a week, I don't know how you do it! You are certainly more productive and creative than I am, but that's why I enjoy reading about and seeing all that you do - for the motivation and the inspiration. And to Kim, who commented through all of my not-so-interesting posts and pictures this week, a big "thank you!"

Tonight's creative endeavor is to enjoy a little down time and some knitting inspiration.

Hope you all have a happy and creative week ahead!

Friday's Hooking and Saturday's Whimsey

2008-06-07T21:30:00.010-04:00

Last night I completed row four of my rug hooking project.

Hopefully, the next time I post a picture of this project it will be out of the hoop and waiting for its finishing touches.

My husband and I, along with several other photographers, spent the day engaged in another type of creative pursuit at Hidden Hill Nursery in Utica, IN. If you are in the area and have never been, it's worth the trip if you enjoy interesting gardens and magic around every turn. Today was our second trip in the last two years just to photograph the place. Bob and Janet Hill are gracious hosts, and their plant selections are very good. I came home with three new types of perennials that I've not had before, so tomorrow's "creative" project may very well be planting these new garden members!

To give you a taste of today's creative pursuits, here's a bit of garden whimsey until tomorrow.

Thursday's Progress and Friday's Plan

2008-06-06T19:38:00.005-04:00

Here are a couple of pictures of last night's progress on row four of the border.

There are areas where row four seems to cover the background nicely, and other areas in need of a row five. If I had any experience, I'd have a better idea of how to handle this last challenge: squish another row of hooking in, whether the area needs it or not, or just hook a fifth row in areas where needed. I'm at least getting the experience now. And I have to admit, I enjoy working on this project.

Tonight is What Not to Wear night, so I'll be inappropriately dressed and hooking away. I can't think of a better way to spend the evening.

Wednesday's Progress: Another Night with Renoir

2008-06-05T20:19:00.005-04:00

I stitched last night until I ran out of areas to stitch with my 676. Afterwards, I moved on to a nice olive green and put in all the stitches I could with that color. Here's the photo and the proof.

Exciting, eh? To compensate, here's a shot of one of the roses.

And a photo of the big picture. I started panel 2 of 9 in January, so this project's going to take just a few more evenings of stitching!

I'm going to watch a little t.v. this evening, so back to the rug hooking for tonight. I can't promise an exciting photo tomorrow, but I will give Renoir a rest tonight.

Tuesday's Progress and Wednesday's Project

2008-06-04T18:36:00.007-04:00

Prepare yourself. The pictures I have for tonight are about as exciting as can be. I have been working on the large Renoir piece that I first wrote about here, but as you can see, a progress post is not all that exciting.

Last night, I spent longer than I'd like to admit stitching with one color: DMC 676. And tonight, I'll still be stitching with the same color.

The other thing that I did was to get out the macro lens for tonight's photos. I probably won't do that again. Still, here's a photo of one of the leaves in the pattern, and an all-too-close look at my stitching. Oh well. If you can point me in the direction of any "photos for blog" tutorials, I'm in need of one, or at least all the tips you can send my way! Some of the photos out there on other sites are amazing!

Next time I challenge myself to do something creative every day, I'll think twice about posting the progress! Happy crafting to all!

Monday's Progress and Tuesday's Plan

2008-06-03T18:52:00.005-04:00

I turned the corner last night (two corners in fact), and row four is underway! If you look closely, however, in at least one area it appears as if row four should be the final row. How in the world could such a thing happen, when there's clearly room for a row five in other places???

Well...do you remember when I said that my instructor assured us that we would be able to tell the difference between the first area we hooked and our last area? She was right. My case in point. Look closely.

OK. Not that close! And, you're right, you don't have to look closely to see what went wrong. Here, for all to see, my first right angle. At the time, I was pretty darn pleased that I had made the turn after multiple attempts. In fact, when my instructor said it looked like a "trucker's turn," I took that as a compliment. Truckers make wide turns. Right? Nevertheless, getting off course is what happens when you make wide turns in rug hooking. Now I know. When row five comes around, I'll either detour around the area or see how much more I can squish into the area. Fortunately, that's not a decision I'm going to make tonight.

Instead, reality has set in, and I have to fix supper and do at least one load of laundry before I can pull out the cross stitch for tonight's creative endeavor.

Sunday's Progress and Monday's Needs

2008-06-02T18:01:00.006-04:00

How often do you feel that physical and mental need to do something creative - in spite of the piles of laundry, the dirty dishes, and the weeds in the flower beds? That's how I'm feeling today. I'm home from work; the evening hours are limited, and we already have plans for dinner out and an errand. Still, I must find time to do something creative. It's one of those urges, and "yes," it's that bad!

So here's my challenge to myself for this week: do something creative every day and document the event.

The creative urge started creeping in yesterday, so today I submit a couple of pictures for Sunday's progress. I'm ashamed to say that this evening is the first time I've had my rug hooking outside during daylight hours. I can actually see the three shades of black in the border. Imagine that! And, I've discovered that my project is the perfect size to cover a flower pot some future cool and frosty eve.

Are you feeling that same creative pull that I'm feeling? If so, join me, and document your endeavors as well this week!

Evidence

2008-05-18T08:36:00.011-04:00

I'm not posting as regularly as I'd like to, but I will submit evidence that I am still working on my rug hooking project. I started on the border weeks ago, but my progress is slow. I'll blame the spring fever that I've had.

You can see that I'm on row three of what looks like five to complete the border. Every time I take the project out of the hoop to reposition it, it looks so much smaller--and thicker. My instructor has promised that blocking will make all the difference, so I look forward to seeing what happens next.

While catching up with other blogs, I came across pictures of Andrea's Adam and Eve samplers on her site, Deep Fried Cupcake. I've linked to her April 13 post, but if you are interested, check out the other A&E samplers on her April 19 and May 2 posts. Gorgeous!

My only contribution is the photo above of an Adam and Eve sampler I finished in 1988. I certainly like the genre. Now that I've seen Andrea's pieces, I want a collection! If there were only more hours in the day for cross stitch!

Portable Projects and An Excuse

2008-04-27T20:50:00.002-04:00

There's only one problem with traveling and a portable project: finding time to open it! I'm guilty.

I was out of town for work for a week, came home, put the taxes in the mail, and immediately headed out of town for vacation. I'm always prepared for "down" time, but there never seems to be any when I travel--for whatever reason. In fact, I've had more rest since I came back to work earlier this week than when I was away on "vacation." But here's my excuse . . .

Photography. Just one other thing I like to do in my "free" time. In fact, my husband and I love to be outdoors and shoot so much, there's no cross stitch, rug hooking, or rest while on vacation. We are out the door before sunrise, on the go until well after dark, and taking advantage of every photo op at every turn. We are s-l-o-w. In fact, part of our vacation was spent in the Smoky Mountains. We spent one day on a trail brimming with wildflowers and 6 hours going the first 2.5 miles.

But here's part of the pleasure and the payoff. We ended our vacation at Cumberland Falls State Park for their Nature Photography Weekend. My husband has been attending and competing in the photo competition off and on since the 1980s. You have a little over 24 hours to shoot for the competition, and six photographs to select for six different categories. I've only competed for the last three years--first shooting slides and now shooting digital. Out of approximately 80 competitors, we both came away with two of the first place awards: my husband for wildflowers and mine for a "wet and wild" shot of a cascades that I converted to a black and white. We always enjoy the weekend, the nightly programs, and seeing the work of other photographers. We were both tickled and validated by the recognition. Now if I could only learn how to photograph my craft projects!

So . . . no project updates to share this week. Thanks, though, for your feedback on the Hannah Lancaster sampler. I will leave her as is. I have so much catching up to do with your blogs, and I hope you have had a more productive spring than I've had thus far. It's difficult tearing myself away from the outdoors. Happy spring and happy stitching!

What Happened to Hannah?

2008-03-30T10:16:00.009-04:00

Once upon a time, I worked on one cross stitch project at a time. Then two things happened: (1) I began taking small "portable" projects along on vacations and family holidays. The further I had to travel, and especially if I had to go by air, the more portable my projects became, and (2) Hannah Lancaster.

Hannah has been in hiding for a long . . . long . . . long time. I'm embarrassed to tell you just how long. Suffice it to say, Hannah is my oldest unfinished cross stitch project. I don't hate Hannah. In fact, I love Hannah. But she had not seen the light of day until earlier this morning.

It was never my intention to turn Hannah into a UFO. But something happened. A different dye lot happened. I've always worked from my floss box on any project at hand, but while completing Hannah's dress, however, I noticed the dye lot had changed. I was about half-way complete on her dress, so instead of pulling all the stitches out, I finished her frock. About this same time, I also noticed the dye lot had changed on some of the leaves I was working. I continued on; my reason being that if Hannah had run out of a color, or the color had shifted, would she have stopped stitching the area? Probably not.

Every time I took Hannah out, though, I saw the color change in her dress. And finally, sadly, I stopped working on Hannah. I loved her so much, that I didn't have the heart to rip her apart.

I still think of Hannah, so this morning I unrolled her to see what kind of shape she was in. My eyes went immediately to her dress. I cannot see the color change that I know is there. Are my eyes that bad? The lighting? Has she mellowed with age? Was it the roof on the house and not the dress? Beats me. I was going to ask for advice as to what to do - rip it or leave it - but now I can't even see it! Can you?

I'm still shaking my head and have no explanation as to why Hannah now looks perfectly fine. I certainly hope that I'm not disappointed the next time I take her out. And when I do, I'll share more of her story.

Happy stitching!

Border Crossing Coming Soon

2008-03-23T08:58:00.001-04:00

I spent most of yesterday with a cat and a hoop on my lap. And finally, I completed my center blocks!

I didn't know until I was ready to hook the last row what color I would end on. The choice was made for me, since I had only enough of one of the reds to complete all four squares and still keep the piece as symmetrical as possible.

I definitely like the colors, and I love hooking with the plaids. The combination of solids, plaids, and tweeds adds to the visual texture. I'm already thinking about hooking a couple of mug rugs if I have enough wool left over. Oh, the possibilities!

Here's to future projects!

Weaving and Cross Stitching

2008-03-16T17:30:00.000-04:00

I love a trip to a used bookstore. Earlier this week, I came across a copy of Weaving a Legacy: The Don and Jean Stuck Coverlet Collection by Clarita S. Anderson (1995).
The book details 356 nineteenth-century handwoven coverlets in the Don and Jean Stuck Coverlet Collection at the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio. This collection is the largest public collection in the U.S. Have I mentioned, yet, that books like this one make me drool? The photos are fantastic, and the historical details provide background information that bring the weaver and the work alive.

I've been fascinated with textiles for as long as I can remember. And I recall seeing my first loom at the Smithsonian while in grade school and on a family trip to D.C. My response is still the same. How can single strands of thread create such a beautiful work of art?

The only weaving I have done, besides the requisite potholders (which I loved to make!), was a small tapestry piece of a landscape. Believe it or not, I can recall buying the kit at our local JC Penney's when I was in high school. I wonder if Mom and Dad still have that around? I'm fortunate enough to currently live in an area with an active weaving studio, so one of these days . . . !

For now, the "fix" is cross stitch.
I bought the pattern for Blue Ribbon Designs' Red Velvet Building Blocks prior to Christmas last year. The coverlet look and feel is what attracted me to it. I loved the overall design, as one of my cross-stitch fantasies (do you have those too???) is to have a collection of alphabet samplers. Yes, I have samplers with alphabets, but I've always imagined an area in my home with just cross-stitched alphabets. But I also loved the design because I envisioned small alphabet blocks either framed or made into hanging sachets.

So . . . last Christmas season I began with a couple of small blocks.
These are worked on 28-ct linen, and the small motif is worked over one. The coverlet design is actually comprised of at least four hidden alphabet letters. Pretty cool. I've enjoyed the design so much, that this is one chart that may very well become the chart that brings my alphabet fantasy to life!
Here's to fiber fantasies and a week of happy stitching, hooking, weaving . . . !

Tagged

2008-03-09T13:57:00.000-04:00

I have little progress to report on the stitching or hooking fronts. I'm still working on both projects, but nothing big to show this week. We enjoyed a lot of snow yesterday, so I was able to stay in and catch up on some of your blogs. Lots of great projects out there and some wonderful new charts! I love the new Prairie Schooler designs.

Michele tagged me, so instead of progress pics here are the rules and a few weird or random facts about me.

The Rules:

1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

The Facts:

1. Like many of you, I'm an avid reader. When I was in grade school I was determined to read every book ever written starting with every book in our school's library. By the time I was in 7th grade, I realized I wasn't going to be able to read every book in our library, so my new goal was to read all the "important" books in our library. I made it through all the Nancy Drews, the "secret" books (not in our library) like Go Ask Alice that we pushed to the back of our desks, anything else that looked interesting, plus what I thought was the most "important" book in our library: Homer's the Iliad and the Odyssey. My grade school pick? The Nancy Drews.

2. My first needlework project was a piece of crewel embroidery with colorful wildflowers. I practiced all my stitches on one of my dad's white hankies.

3. I taught myself to knit when I was 10, thanks to a neighbor's garage sale, an old Columbia "Teach Yourself to Knit" book, size 10 needles, and a skein of white acrylic yarn.

4. My middle name is "go." My parents never had any trouble getting me to put my coat and shoes on when I was little; I was always ready for the next adventure. Still am.

5. I have one husband, one step-son, one sister, one niece, and two cats. Speaking of which . . .

6. I love cats. If I could have a litter of kittens, I would.

7. Even though my sister and I live hundreds of miles apart, we buy identical items even when we are not shopping together: clothes, shoes, purses, and even eyeglasses. Go figure. Gift shopping for my sister is a breeze: one for you . . . one for me.

The Tags:

Since I'm new to blogging, but many of you are not, I'm going to tag/recognize some of the sites that I enjoy visiting. So, if you've been tagged before, I understand. I'm also interested in learning more about those of you who do have new sites. Thanks, again, Michele!

1. Rachel. Rachel's site was the first cross stitch blog I visited a little over a year ago. What a great starting point!

2. Lelia. I've enjoyed all the info on Lelia's site about needlework and needlework exhibits.

3. Carol. What great finishing!

4. Yuko. I love Yuko's photos and finishes.

5. Edgar. I know very little about the Quaker-inspired pieces many of you are working on, but I'm certainly inspired by what I'm seeing. Plus, I'm not a movie buff, but I enjoy reading about everything Edgar is watching!

6. Kim. New blogger and cross stitcher who already has a list of finished projects. Way to go!

7. Staci. New blogger but not a new stitcher. Already a beautiful site!

Thanks, again, for all the inspiration out there!

Quick Progress Pic

2008-03-02T10:12:00.001-05:00

I didn't complete my project on time for our last class on finishing. Sigh. No one else did either. I furiously took notes, but knew I'd be back to the shop when I have everything hooked and ready to go. The others in my class have so many beautiful projects near completion. I hope we all show up on the same day for our next "lesson." Until then, I'm still hooking!

Stash Happens

2008-02-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

I had no intention of acquiring rug hooking stash. But as we all know . . . stash happens.

My rug hooking class has been moving right along. The first week, we started our projects. The second week, we learned about color theory. And this past week, we learned how to dye. We learned how to over dye. We learned how to spot dye. And we learned how to dip dye. Much to my surprise, we all got to keep the pieces we dip dyed. So now we all have stash! Smart instructor. Very smart instructor.

Of course, I've been thinking about my "next" rug hooking project, but I'm not planning on starting anything until this current project is complete.

We have one more class on finishing. We all started out with the goal of having our various projects (all the same size) complete for the last class. I don't see that happening for me.

I'm pleased with the progress I'm making, but hooking certainly takes more time than I would have expected. Plus, I'm fighting to keep my blocks square, so that has been a bit of a challenge. Still, I'm enjoying the process; loved the dye class, and I will start another project. Speaking of which . . .

This one found its way to me yesterday. Honestly! We spent several hours yesterday morning photographing the old state capitol in Frankfort. After lunch, we walked down to the Kentucky History Museum, and I made my first stop the gift shop. I picked up a few things and paid for my purchase. I asked the clerk about several cross stitch samplers that were on display, and we started talking about traditional crafts. She told me they had one rug hooking kit and asked if I had seen it. I had not, so she took me to a back corner of the shop, and there, underneath a table, in the darkest corner of the store was a bag. And the last kit. On sale. Say no more. Please meet my next project.

Inspiration from Gee's Bend

2008-02-16T22:20:00.000-05:00

The Speed Art Museum has a special exhibit of quilts from Gee's Bend, Alabama and has been fortunate enough to have many of the Gee's Bend quilters in town for the weekend. I spent the afternoon at the museum speaking with them, watching them work, and admiring the quilts on display.

For such an isolated community of quilters, I found the variety and non-traditional nature of their work inspiring. I've said before that I like precision, but there is freedom in the non-precise nature of these pieces.

And there is life still in the quilts made from the worn clothes of loved ones.

So here's to the quilters of Gee's Bend and to all of us seeking life in our art.

May we experience and share life and love . . . one stitch at a time.

It's a Start!

2008-02-10T12:45:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to share with you the labors of my first two hours of rug hooking class.

Impressive, isn't it? I didn't think so either! At this point, I'm not so sure about the "happy hooking" part. Instead, I spent two hours with my shoulders up to my ears and my toes curled tight. Yes, I was tense. Just a wee bit tense. While learning how to hold the hook, pull the wool to the top , and set the loop, my strips of wool began disintegrating before my very eyes. Time after time I was left with single strands of fiber. Floss! Now there's something I could relate to!! I have to admit that about that time I began counting all the advantages of cross stitch: the single strands of fiber, the pattern, the evenweave, the clearly identifiable places to start and stop my stitch, the precision. Yes. That was it. The precision!

So far, there has been no precision in my rug hooking. I like precision. I like the exactness of cross stitch.

My homework assignment was to complete one of the blocks before my next class. I looked at my instructor with alarm. "But the symmetry! What about the symmetry??? How can I complete one block at a time and keep my colors and work symmetrical?"

Fortunately, I now have an alternate and additional assignment: a glass of wine before the next class. Here's to more relaxed hooking!

Something New . . .

2008-02-02T13:40:00.000-05:00

What gets in the way of completing an old project? A new project, of course!

Meet my newest blank canvas and the wool colors I've selected for my first attempt at traditional rug hooking.

Classes begin in a few days. I'm looking forward to learning something new. This is only the third time I've taken a craft/fiber-related class. I'm sure I will be able to benefit from learning how to do something "right" from the start! My instructor assures me that I will be able to see the difference between the first areas I work and the last. Just what I wanted to hear! Here's to happy hooking!!

Something Old . . .

2008-01-26T10:06:00.000-05:00

I mentioned that I had been motivated to pull out some old projects, and I wasn't kidding. How about a work in progress (and I use the term "progress" lightly) from 1998! Any guesses on what this little square could be?
This is one panel out of nine on a chart for Renoir's Roses and Jasmine in a Delft Vase, 1880-81. Have I mentioned that I have a tendency to select big projects?! Uncharted Territory has a beautiful selection of charts for big projects.
I'm stitching this piece on 14-count Aida, since the entire piece is worked in cross stitch. The stitch count is 14 1/4" w x 17 3/4" h, and there are 97 gorgeous colors in the pattern. Unfortunately, I get this piece out about twice a year, stitch on it for a few days, and then life gets in the way. Yes, it's been ten years in the stitching. This time, I'm hoping it won't be another ten years to completion.

That's all for today. I'm happy to see that I've been able to create a link, post and move around a couple of pictures (the "moving" was a bit of a challenge), but I apologize for the sideways image. I haven't figured out how to correct that problem, as the original shot is a vertical. If you have any suggestion on how to correct, please let me know. Happy stitching!

Hello

2008-01-21T11:20:00.000-05:00

Hello to all! I am brand new to setting up a blog, so please bear with me as I learn how to use this new technology--at least "new" to me. Guess "technology" is what happens when you don't grow up with computers or the Internet! Even so, not knowing how to do something has never stopped me from trying to learn something new.

I "discovered" blogs a little over a year ago, and I have been enjoying several of your sites ever since. I'm particularly interested in the gorgeous cross stitch, knitting, and needlework many of you graciously share on your sites. Thank you! You have motivated and inspired me to pull out some old projects and attempt to carve out time to enjoy more of life's simple pleasures.

As I learn how to add links, post pictures, and navigate this new landscape, I'll share some of my creative endeavors. For now, I'm just happy to be here!