Very Stitchy Update

Wow, I'm amazed at how much stitching I accomplished when my computer was in the shop!  Now that it's back home and I have most of my software up and running again, I've been trying madly to catch up with everyone's posts and blogs.  Whew!  You all talk SOO much; how on earth do you get so much stitching accomplished?  It is a total mystery to me.

The other thing I decided, something I should have realized a long time ago, if I don't enjoy what I'm stitching, then why am I stitching it?  The projects I'm working on right now are all so much fun, and that is truly what this hobby should be about.  Artistic expression, no matter the medium, should be about the enjoyment of the process, not about how fast you finish, or even necessarily about the finished project.  This seemed like a revelation to me.

THREE FINISHES!

But, I digress.  Up first, Elvis is finally finished and framed, altho not on the wall as of yet.  It's close to a month late, since it was to be a Christmas gift for DH, but what can I say?  Surgery definitely got in the way.

Normally I don't use glass on my framed items, but with our fur babies, I figured it wouldn't hurt on this one since it is all black stitching.  The photo doesn't do it justice; it is a double mat and a flat black frame.

I finished a long-standing UFO, Ascot Albert Wizzer ornament.  The first photo is how he looked on 8/17/07, when I last worked on him!  I love Rene's idea of having a theme tree during the year, so I'm thinking various snowmen would be great for January.  So, I have one (pretty bare tree)!  :)

Here he is finished.  Yes, our little tabletop tree is still out; I'm waiting on DH to bring up the plastic tubs from downstairs so I can take the Christmas decorations down.

I have one more small finish, actually for a SAL, but won't show it until it is framed.  I'm actually waiting on some beads from 123 Stitch, which should arrive tomorrow.

SAL PROJECTS

Heaven help me, I have joined so many SALS this year, I think I need to give up sleeping to have a prayer at keeping up!

Bouquet for Cheryl

This one is a pure pleasure to stitch!  I could easily keep on stitching and stiching, but I'm trying to do a sort of rotation with the various projects I have going.  I tried photographing this in several different room, and even outside, but the lavendar fabric just refuses to look right on the computer.

My chosen fabric is a Silkweaver Solo, 28 ct. Jobelan. It is a lightly marbled lavender.The threads I'm using are Carrie's Creation 'Lumière de Cheryl.' This floss was dyed by Carrie's Creations especially for Cheryl Miller. I purchased it a while back, with the intention of using it for this free chart, but just hadn't gotten around to stitching it. This SAL makes that possible!

Rose Garden Mandala by Chatelaine - Martina Weber

A very small start on this one.  I admit I'm a bit intimidated with all the beads and directions on this one!  I love how the mandalas look; just hope I'm up to the stitching!  This beautiful design was in the September 2009 issue of the wonderful online stitching magazine, The Gift of Stitching.

Everyone Needs Their Own Space by KustomKrafts

I started on this a couple years ago as a SAL on KustomKrafts list.  This was my progress as of 3/10/07.  I pulled this one out again and am working on it on Tuesdays as my SAL with the ILCS list and also as my UFO SAL on the KustomKrafts list.  It is such a beautiful design; sure would be nice if I could get it finished by the end of 2010!

Silkweaver 28 ct Jobelan - Spring Garden, DMC Floss

This is my progress as of today.  I've finished a section and will soon be ready to work down the left side of the design. Woo Hoo!

This is what the finished product will look like someday.  Isn't is awesome?

Other SALS - HAED

Alas, I have several other SALS for the new year that I have kitted up but have yet to put a stitch in! 

One is my very first try at a HAED design.  You signed up and chose one of four storykeep designs to stitch.  During the SAL, you have to post at least three progress photos.  It doesn't matter how far you get in the project, it is the fact that you do post three and make some progress each time.  At the end of the SAL, you recieve the other three designs.  How cool is that; four HAED storykeep designs for free? 

Since this is my first HAED design, I thought it was good to start with something fairly small.  The one I choose--Dragon Luck, is 50w x 178H.  I'll be using Antique White 25 ct Lugana and DMC floss, and stitching 1 over 1.  I'll post progress photos once I actually get started on this.

Other SALS - Victorian Christmas Stocking

Rae, from one of the lists I'm on, is hosting a SAL to stitch a Victorian Christmas Stocking.  The original designs were from a magazine called Cross Stitch & Country Crafts.  They also appeared in a book compilation.  I was looking for something else a while back and found a pile of these magazines (I'm guessing one of my eBay purchases a while back).  There they were; the issues with the various designs!  I'm planning to stitch the one called 'Stitcher's Studio' from the July/Aug 1989 issue.  This will be on 25 ct Mushroom Lugana.  I hope to get a start on this one in the next couple days as well.

Still Another SAL - LHN Monthly Ornament Stitch-Along Too

I really like the charts by Little House Needleworks, and in the spirit of creating lots and lots of new ornaments, I joined this SAL to stitch the new monthly ornament series they are putting out.  I have the first two charts and that's as far as that has gone so far!

And Still More - Bride's Tree SAL

The Bride's Tree is a German tradition.  It's believed that a couple's Christmas tree needs twelve specific ornaments for happiness in their life yourney together.  This SAL gives you the theme for the month and you choose the design to stitch.  It doesn't have to be finished into an ornament.  January is a house, which symbolizes shelter.  I have the stitching on this one done, but don't want to show it yet because I need to finish it.  This one will not be an ornament. 

Yep, Another One - Mary Wigham USA SAL

This great sampler is available for FREE download from Needleprint. This is an idea of what it will look like when it's finished, although my colors won't be exactly the same.

I've made a VERY small start on this one so far; not enough to post. 

Last One (I Think) - Brooke's Books - Stitcher's Alphabet SAL

These FREE designs are just adorable; each block is 31 x 36 stitches.  Right now, A-O are available for download.  I haven't started this yet, but I just love the possibilities for these cute designs.  At the very least, I will be collecting all of these for stitching at a later date.

Whew!  If you read all the way to the end, I commend you!  And, putting it all down in writing, I know for sure that I need a SERIOUS 12-Step Program for this SAL addiction!!  But, what a lot of great stitching!

Just for staying with me for all of this, I'll leave you with an updated photo of our dumpster rescue kitty---Lucky aka 'Little Squirt.' 

Happy Stitching!!

Vicki in CO

Lucky, The Newest Member of Our Family

Some of you know about our new fur baby, Lucky.  He was featured on the front page of our local newspaper on Tuesday; he and his five litter-mates were rescued from a trash dumpster and taken in by a local animal rescue group.  You can read the story here. 

Seeing that little furry face, that looks SO much like my Oreo Cookie (aka 'Helping Kitty,' 'Tacky Oreo' and other names not suitable for all audiences), in my heart, I just KNEW he was meant to become part of our family.

Fairly early the next day, I called my DH from work and said, "How much do you love your wife?"  Having been married for 38 years next month, he knows me pretty well and replies, "What did you buy now?"  A bit indignant, I replied, "Nothing.  BUT, I do have something I want YOU to buy." 

I went on to tell him I'd spoken to the rescue group, and the kittens we'd talked about at dinner the night before would be available for adoption at noon that day.  I told him I REALLY hoped he'd go and get one of these kittens.

He was second in line to choose one of the kittens at noon!  The lady who was first in line choose one with an all black face.  DH said he choose the one he felt looked the most like Oreo, and turns out he chose the one who was featured in the newspaper. 

When DH brought our new fur baby to my office to show him off, one of my staff suggested we name him Lucky, since he was lucky to be alive after being in the dumpster without food or water for who knows how long.  That seemed to fit just fine, so Lucky it is.

This is Lucky taking a catnap during his first evening in his new home.  Isn't he adorable?  He has the loudest purr for such a tiny kitty!

He is giving me that "WHY are you taking my picture over and over?" look.

At first, Oreo Cookie felt obligated to hiss at him, and he obligingly returned the hiss.  However, it wasn't long before Oreo was sneaking over to him to give him a couple of grooming licks and a sniff or two, then letting out a half-hearted hiss.  Isn't Lucky the spitting image of his new mom?!

Today, the hissing is all over and Oreo has taken over her role as Lucky's adopted mom, grooming him patiently and lovingly, just as I knew she would! 

I have a suspicion from his early fame, he just MIGHT be a bit of a ham.  What do you think?

One last photo of the little sweetie...

OK, I think that's the update on Lucky and Oreo for the moment.  Expect more photos and stories of his escapades in the future.

Till Then, Happy Stitching!

Vicki in CO

Halloween Time!

Another work week is over--yeah!!  I hope to get some stitching time in this weekend.  Below is the top of my lateral file cabinet at work.  I change the artificial flowers, depending on the holiday.  The blocks are changed on a regular basis, depending on the season and/or holiday. 

When I was looking for something in a downstairs closet a week ago, I found a large shopping bag I'd completely forgotten about.  Inside was an applique wall hanging I made last year to hang in my office behind my desk.  So, it is now on the wall in my office for the Halloween season.  Here's a photo:

Since I'm a cat (as well as dog) lover, wouldn't it figure I'd do a black cat for Halloween?

LOTS of updates for the past week or two, so I may have several posts in the next few days.

Happy Stitching!

Vicki in CO