Here it is......

I had so much fun with family last week!!!!! Even though I had to work some of the days. We relaxed by the pool and went out at night and they were able to do their own thing as well. It was so very sad to say good bye to them but I know they will be back!!!! I had a great shopping day with my SIL a real girls day!!!!! We did a lot...she got to visit a scrapbooking store as well as the framing shop and my LNS and of course the Premium Outlet Shops....where she became the proud owner of a new Coach bag!!!! She also met my friends at SP since we went at stitching group time!!!! Now on too the main reason for this post. Yes I was able to pick up Miraculous Birth Sampler by Stoney Creek!!!!! I was amazed at how beautiful it was and I stitched it!!!! Here goes... and another view . Thanks for looking! I really am proud of this piece!!!! My SIL will give it to her cousin Lynn the tuesday before Mother's day and she promises details on her reaction!!!!!! I am happy to have been able to complete it for the visit and they were able to bring it home with them!!!

Now I may be crazy but I fell in love with this HAED pattern!!!! It will take longer than forever to stitch but I ordered it !!!!!! It has so many elements in it that I just love and she is sitting and stitching then there's the castle and the swords and let's not forget the dragon's head and the seashells.............A definite must have for me!!!!!! I know I've gone over the edge.......but happily!


I am grateful for stitching and quiet time.....

Where should I be??

Hi everyone!!! I hope your day is as peaceful as mine. I have company from NY...my DH's brother, wife and nephew. We are having so very much fun. I've said this before but I'll say it again she truly is more like a sister to me!!!! Their visit came at a perfect time since I was feeling so homesick!!!! They wanted to do all the touristy things and so they went to Hoover Dam today and I am staying home. I really thought about going but felt I needed to rest since we are going out to dinner tonight at my all time favorite restaurant...Olives at The Bellagio and last night it was dinner at Nora's and sightseeing and a bit of shopping at Caesars!!!! It is fun being a tourist with them. DH was a bit upset I stayed home but my SIL understood since I still tire easily and wasn't able to get the whole week off from work for their visit. So I am working thursday and friday this week. Tomorrow my SIL and I are going shopping by ourselves and I am so looking forward to it!!!! In addition we are picking up Miraculous Birth Sampler from the framers during the day. This way she will be able to take it home with her and give it her cousin for Mother's day!!!! I didn't even realize it but it worked out perfect!!!!!! I will take a picture of the final framed piece and post it next week!!! I'm off to stitch and finish the pecan pie I'm baking!!!

But first here's a picture of my Red Thread which is up to date for April......

Oh and I keep forgetting to post that I won a contest over at the Mirabilia Stitchers board last month or so. I won hand dyed fabric and 5 skeins from Sparklies . I'll be sure to post them when they arrive since she is putting them in the mail tomorrow!!!!!!

I am grateful for family.....

Done done done!!!

Well here I am posting again..... I put my mind to finishing Miraculous Birth sampler by Stoney Creek and even after goofing off on saturday I was able to finish the little backstitching and the beading in one day!!!! I have to say I am so proud of this piece and all it means and will mean for the mother. I did it as a memorial for my SIL's cousin who is a sweetheart and no one should suffer the lose of a child the way she did!!!!! This is for you Lynn! And now I can take it with my SIL to my framers and we can pick out a frame together especially since she knows her decor and tastes. I took several pictures and then took some more...to make it stand out I needed to put it on a white pillowcase otherwise the picture was just washed out. So without any further delays here they are.... and and and and finally . I really had a lot of fun with this piece especially learning two new stitches the Eyelet Variation and the Braided Heart and of course relearning the Satin Stitch. Also working with Glissengloss Japanese silks and other threads was fun!!!! I can now say I'm still not sure why it took so long to finish but my SIL's visit next week was the the push I needed to finish!!!!

I am also contemplating another new start... I know I have too many as is but I having been dreaming of Fairy Moon but Mirabilia . Maybe after my SIL's visit ...if I can hold out that long. The obsessing has begun.....

I am grateful for finishes and friends...

Does any one remember .............

Once again I've been lax in posting. But this post has been running around in my head for days!!!! I started this one last year as a gift for my SIL's cousin. It's Miracle Birth Sampler by Stoney Creek. I had a hard time getting this picture but once finished I will get a better picture. And it almost done ...my goal is by next weekend since my SIL and family are visiting and then we can take it to the frame shop together and pick a perfect frame for it. I'm not sure what was holding me up on it but I started thinking or rather obsessing about it 2 weeks ago. I picked it up and feel like I haven't put it down. I mastered the Eyelet Variation stitch as well as the Braided Heart stitch. Once I started stitching them I just followed the diagram and it went smoothly!! Not as hard as I thought....It's done with japanese silks and beads!!! I am down to just a little backstitching and the beads. I see it being finished this weekend actually since I'm off all weekend! I felt I had to stitch this for her from my heart! It's a long story but basically she had twins on my birthday 2 years ago after a difficult pregnancy and all was going well when suddenly the boy passed away. It was a total shock and I managed to find this perfect piece!!!! I think she will love it!!!! I wish I could see her face but my SIL will be giving it to her when the time is right!

I really need to be stitching and getting the house ready for my SIL and family visit next sunday but I have a week and I am good under pressure. We will be opening the pool as well for their visit. I can't wait to get in and swim and let's not forget the hottub! Oh well I'm off to stitch but first I must go to Jo-Ann's and get the new gingher's Emma!!!!! I can honestly say my scissor collection is growing......will post a picture soon!!! Have a great weekend everyone!!!!

And to answer Vonna's question from my last post I am getting a nice monthly discount on my Pilates classes!!! Let me just say I love Pilates. It has made me quite flexible and I can now touch my toes and even put my hands palm down on the floor without bending my knees!!!! Something I've never been able too do!!!!! So happy!!!!

I am grateful for days off and long weekends!!!!!

Monday so far....

I wish I had stitched more yesterday but I had a wonderful day just reading and hanging by the pool. I am truly enjoying the pool and started doing my version of laps. You see I never learned to swim...float and doggy paddle yes but swim no. So hubby is helping me along. I of course had to stop after each length of the pool but soon I won't have. And I have Pilates 3 times this week since I have to make up for missing last week. I am re-reading Harry Potter 1 and another small book along with my magazine reading. Then I thought I'd take a short nap and woke up at about 1 am and you guessed it I stitched to 6am.....It was actually so nice the quiet and just stitching. I am stitching on "Sweet Sweet Babe" by SamSarah designs for a friend back east.They just had a baby well actually in February but it took a while to find something just right.... here it is and again I tweaked the photo to get a truer color representation. I am doing it on PTPlus 28ct Heritage linen with all hand dyed specialty threads. So far I am loving it.

I was thrilled on Saturday morning when they cancelled me at work! It meant I could get to the framer's 2 days earlier than originally planned! I brought in Fern, Alphabet Heart and Fairy Celebration!!! And she didn't seem to think that Fern would pose a problem to frame. I was thrilled to say the least since I was a bit concerned that I was only left with an inch at the top and bottom of her. I will have them back after the 11th and will post a picture of them all. I went without matting on all 3 I really liked the look!!! And I got all of my errands done that day as well including a surprise visit to SP if only I had brought my stitching with me.. since the stitching group meets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I may have to start taking Saturdays off and work sunday so I can go 2 days a week...Oh well. I picked up material for a new project that I have been dreaming about...more on that next post. And I really must take out my remembrance piece for my SIL's cousin that I started a wee bit back! Maybe by writing it here that will motivate me to start it up again. Her cousin isn't aware that I'm stitching it and I think she'll appreciate it whenever but I'd really like to get it done...Here it is as of last picture taken.... Actually I think there's a bit more done on it but I can't seem to locate the right picture.....but it is in my sidebar.

And on the car front it's been 2 weeks and finally there may be an end in sight. The insurance company and body shop finally agreed on exactly what was to be done .....only after hubby got involved and requested a new adjustor. So maybe I'll have it back by next week. I really miss my car!!!

I am grateful for sunny relaxing days.....

Two SBQ's

Today's post is the last two SBQ's that I fell behind on. And then it's dinner and stitching ..... I have to break this stitching slump right in half! If it is the current piece which is Miraculous Birth Sampler then I am going to put it down for a bit and do a small piece I've been thinking of ... What does everyone think of that?? I really appreciate your opinions so please comment freely!

Today's SBQ is:Do you use your needle, a seam ripper, or something else when you haveto frog stitches? Why do you use the method that you do?
The permalink to this post is: http://blondelibrarian.net/stitching/archives/2007/03/sbq-rip-rip
I generally just use my needle and very gently pull/tug the stitches out. I can generally frog them this way but occasionally if this doesn't work I will use the very tip of my scissors to snip and frog...being ever so careful not to snip the material! I will not re-use the pulled thread though I just feel it's lost it's "shine".

Today's SBQ was suggested Danielle and is:If you had $500 to spend on stitching-related items, what would you buy?
The permalink to this post is: http://blondelibrarian.net/stitching/archives/2007/03/sbq-shopping-spree

Wow ! I thought long about this one..... I initially always wanted an Ott-lite but hubby got me one for Christmas this past year. So I'd have to say at this moment it would have to be ......every color that PTPlus fabric makes in linen and crystal 32ct of course....1/4 yd 1/2 yd!!!! And if I had anything left over Crescent Colors hand dyed floss in every color! I can dream it's my fantasy after all!!!!!

I am grateful for Pilates and good workouts

As promised...........

As you can see from the photos I made some progress on my current project! On the left is the most current and below is where it was a few weeks ago. It reaally is fun to work on but I am so not used to working on samplers and really have to stay focused even more simply because of the light colored threads! It uses japanese silk threads blended with rainbow glissen gloss..... But as I said my lap frame is really helping to get into a rhythm. I had a migraine the past 2 days so no stitching just napping and sleeping really so I could get some relief. Because tonight is Phantom of the Opera!!!! I am so excited!!!! And the migraine is gone. I only have to go buy our dear dog Storm some dog food and then it's get ready for dinner and the show!!!! Okay where did the other picture go..... I have more pictures to show as well...... Let end here and do the other pictures in another post...