Sunday, January 24, 2010

One More Finish and SAL Updates

I wanted to post an update tonight because once again, my computer must go into the shop.  Late last week, the DVD/CD drive stopped working.  The light on it goes on, DVD/CD spins, but won't do anything.  The computer says the drive 'cannot start - Error 10' or some such nonsense.  Tried updating the driver; it tells me that the driver is up-to-date.  I'm at a loss on how to fix whatever it's malfunction is.  Grrr!  So, this will be my last post for at least a few days.

A NEW FINISH IS FRAMED

I finished LHN Heart & Home Sampler last week, but was waiting on the beads for the berries to arrive.  I got those sewn on yesterday and got it framed in a little Mill Hill frame.  Not sure of the final destination of this one yet. 


Also, this LHN project is my January finish for the Bride's Tree SAL. 

SAL UPDATES

HAED Storykeep Dragon Luck SAL

I got started on this one on Friday, January 22.  Boy, stitching 2 over 1 on 25 ct is a bit of a challenge for me.  Now that I'm started, wish I had tried using just one strand of floss instead of two.  This is antique white fabric (must be the fault of the cummy photographer - me!)

25 ct Antique White Lugana, DMC floss 2 over 1

Victorian Christmas Stocking SAL - Stitcher's Studio

I finally got a bit of a start on this one; worked on it last evening and also a while today.  This one has been a fun stitch so far!  I started at the very top left corner of the stocking (that seems to be my current favorite starting point in a chart).

 
25 ct Mushroom Lugana - DMC Floss

Here's what it will look like when it's finished someday.



As I was browsing blogs today, I came across another SAL I just HAD to join.  This one requires you to find a see-through container.  You then collect all your 'stitching throw aways' - regular ORTS (thread ends), broken needles, stray beads, labels from floss skeins, etc.  Once a month on the date of the New Moon, you post a progress photo of your Totally Useless SAL on your blog.  Check it out for yourself; it's not too late to join.

Here's my barely-started collection of 'stiching throw aways' for this year's SAL:



This an old jar candle container; the black you see in the bottom is the little metal thing that held the end of the wick.  I've done everything I can think of to get that out, but not luck.  I think I'm going to come up with some sort of stitched topper for the jar at some point.


I didn't get as much stitching in this weekend as I would have liked.  Saturday was the monthly CQC meeting.  It was in the Denver area this year, so about an hour's drive from us.  We went with a friend from our local quilt guild.  The speaker was Annie Smith.  Her talk was "Help!  My Fabric Stash is Growing and I Can't Make It Stop!' 

This meeting was jammed with people--250 members and 30 guests in attendance!  A fellow quilter/cross stitcher from ILCS, Joan, is also a CQC member.  We had agreed to look for each other during the break.  No such luck.  There were just too many people!  So, next month we'll plan a specific spot to meet and hopefully we'll find each other and can have a chance to talk for at least a few minutes.

THE WEEK AHEAD

It will be a very busy week at work.  Tomorrow is a full day meeting with the insurance managing underwriter who is here from Texas to work on our renewal for the student health insurance I manage.  Tuesday, I'll be staffing a table for an event from 5:00-8:00 pm to talk to prospective students and their parents.  So, I plan to do my Tuesday UFO stitching on Monday this week (Everyone Needs Their Own Space). 

I'm really hoping to get my new glasses early this week.  I am so tired of constantly switching readers for the computer or for reading.  It is a pain!

Think that's it for now.  While I sure hope my computer is not out of commission for long, I will get more stitching done while it's away.  :)

Happy Stitching!

Vicki in CO

22 comments:

Nancy M said...

Good luck with the new HAED, but I need to correct you, you are doing 2 over 1. Not one over one. I just use 22 ct and then I don't have to decide what to use! LOL I love the stocking and if I was doing one for me that is the one I would pick. I've loved it since it was released. Hopefully your computer is done being sick for awhile and you get it back soon!

Carolyn NC said...

Finish looks great - good luck with the new stitches. Hope your computer is up and ready soon!

JessB said...

I really like your finish. Keep working with that over-1. You go, girl! I hope your computer gets fixed up.

silentsgirl said...

That's a busy week! Sorry about the computer (again). I joined the TUSAL; that looks like fun.

GoldenAngelsWorks said...

Stitching looks wonderful.
Congratulations on your finish.... LOVE IT!

Emily in NC said...

Stocking SAL looks nice, like the colors on that one. The HAED Dragon, well he is dark isn't he. Your finish is cute.

Kathy said...

You have been busy. I like your LHN finish. It turned out adorable. And those are some pretty ambitious wips. But will be gorgeous when they are finished. Especially the stocking.

I hope you get your computer fixed and it stays fixed for a long, long while. :)

Sandy In Montana said...

Wonderful finish, Vicki. Congratulations !

Carol's Stitching said...

Love the LHN finish! The stocking should be really nice when completed. I keep saying I need to stitch a stocking for each of my kids but I'm worried about the finishing. Hopefully the computer will be as good as new soon. We'll miss reading your blog updates!

Mel said...

So glad to see your start on Dragon!

Your finish is very cute and all the others look great.

staci said...

Very pretty stitching! Love the frame color of your LHN finish...perfect :)

Meari said...

Computers are great when they work right, aren't they? Sorry to hear yours is going back to the shop after you just got it back.

Your finish looks great!

Yoyo said...

Hi Vicki, Just popping in to WELCOME you to the Totally Useless SAL, thanks for joining us. Will you please pop over to the blog, or send me an e-mail, and tell me a little closer geographic location than the entire state of CO -- I am keeping a map and need to know generally where to put your pin.

Just FYI, I started my first HAED last year which was also a storykeep. It's on 25 ct fabric with 2 threads and while I wasn't happy with it I kept on going...it only got worse!! I hate my storykeep and it is not finished yet because of it. It's just too tight and bulky, it drives me mad every time I pick it up. A couple of months later I started a large HAED piece on 25ct fabric with only one thread and that piece is moving along so smoothly, it's a joy to work on....but that little tiny storykeep may never get finished. Just my opinon, but I've been stitching a long time and never really disliked a piece as much as this darned storykeep and I think it's because I was too stubborn to take it out and start over.

Mylene said...

I like your LHN finish, it turned out lovely!
Hope your computer get fix very soon.

Gabi said...

Cute finish!! Congrats.
What a nice piece you have chosen for your HAED SAL. However, if you're not happy with 2 over 1, then you might try out 1 over 1, or a different fabric, or whatever, because a HAED is quite a bit work (even the quick stitches are) and you want to be happy with it while you're working on it.
The Christmas stocking will look beautiful.
Good luck with all the events at work.

Anonymous said...

Very nice finish and hope you get back your computer soon.

Marl

Shelley said...

Great LHN finish. Your WIPs are lookin' good.

Charlene ♥ NC said...

Ah, so we are! Thanks for visiting my blog, and I'll add you to my list, too. You've got some other great projects going on, too, and I'll look forward to watching your progress. Hope the computer gets well soon :-).

SnowySticher said...

Love the stocking you are doing and I find the idea of saving the stitching scraps in a see through jar very intriguing. Hope you computer problems are minor

Rene la Frog said...

I LOVE the LHN piece! You have enabled me for a change, I'll have to look for that one since I've become addicted to their charts.

Terri said...

As always Vicki your stitching is wonderful.

Tricia T said...

Hi Vicki, I just came over from the LHN list to look around. :-) Lovely blog! I would be interested in knowing if that victorian Christmas stocking sal is still open to join. I'm working on that stocking for my dd and I could definitely use some motivation!! :-)

tjtrax at yahoo dot com