Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

Do you collect charts by one particular designer, yet have neverstitched anything by that designer? If so, which designer and why do you collect the charts but have not yet stitched any of them?
Ashamed to admit this, but yes, I do collect Mirabilias and have never completed one. I've started "Scent of Old Roses," and I've been thinking I should put everything else aside and do it. I just get sidetracked by other obligations and "must do's" that take priority and Scent of Old Roses gets put on the back burner, though I love her and the other Miras I've collected. I really enjoy just looking at my collection. I think primarily my Miras have never been done because they're for me; I'm a slow stitcher; and I tend to put my family before myself, though right now, I'm not sure why. I'd like to give my family away at the moment. I MUST start putting myself first cuz no one else does, LOL!

Great question, Carol!

OK, So This Is the Thing...

I failed miserably when it came to all my good intentions of a rotation. I've decided to keep it real simple---going to do what I want when I want. It's supposed to be fun, right? Here's a little stitched thing that was fun and totally unlike me. Who would think a corn-fed girl from the fertile flat plains of IL would be stitching something Art Nouveau? This card is just that. I loved the look of it! The dark gray and purple used only one thread to give some lighter dimension, which, in turn, makes the other colors (two-ply) look like velvet, especially the leaves.

Since doing this little design, I've found several others that are similar "must-do's."

I'm also dying to do the two Michael Powell designs I have. They're quite a variance from the usual for me too, but how I love their distinctive looks.

This Is Unbelievable!

Two years ago, I was so excited to join my first RR. There were only four of us, and I wanted mine to be the Prairie Schooler "Prairie Seasons." I sent the leaflet, now OOP, after doing my first design, which you see stitched here---Winter. I made it as easy as I thought it could be. The 2nd girl was to do Spring in the basted slot next to Winter. Below, you can see where I had basted slots for Summer and Autumn. Pay no attention to the pink/purple color on the fabric. My scanner likes to do her own thing, and purple is her favorite color. Not the date on my Winter---2004. That's right---two years ago. I hounded this girl about just sending mine back to me; that I would find someone to take her place. But I needed my piece and the leaflet. She said stitching over one was a challenge for her, but I can tell not one stitch was put in. I got real crappy with her when being nice and begging didn't work because I had given up by now. I got this squishy package with her return address on it, and it was better than getting new stash in the mail. I have since found out that this person is famous for being this way, and she actually wanted me to send the only one I had done for a girl in Oz to her. No way!!! I'm going to send hers back to her with my design on it, and she'll be as thrilled as I am. I know both the girls in Oz really well, and they'll hold up their end of the RR. We just need a reliable 4th person, and I'll rely on Samantha from Oz to find one. She does tons of RR's.

Actually, I have some stitches to do over because RR's are a bit of a challenge for me, as I stitch from \\\ to ///, and I adjust that to fit the majority of stitchers, but it certainly doesn't keep me from putting in even one stitch, then lying about it. So where mine are crossed wrong or sloppy in a few spots, I'll correct that before sending Sam's home to her and sending mine on to Australia to my other RR friend there. I don't like sending sloppy work out, and you can bet I'll find out more about a person before I invest in a RR again. Receiving this was like a miracle from heaven, and I couldn't be more pleased, but she has been reported as a Tricky Trader.

I'm ready to try another RR again, now that I have mine back home safe and sound. I know I've heard of some that never reappear.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

What is your favorite specialty stitch? Which one is your least favorite? Why?


My favorite would have to be knot stitches, like French knots or colonial knots, simply because they're fast and easy for me to do. My least favorite (that I have tried) would be dove's eyes. I have trouble making the opening uniform in size when making more than one.

A Designer Exclusive---Finished

I adore this design! It's just so sweet, with such soft, pretty colors. It's "Spring Friends" by Brittercup.

A Tiny Slip

Though I had already announced that I would continue buying the Little House Needlework "Dear Diary" series, I went to my LNS to pick up the latest release, I caved to a small sin and cheated. I bought the two small designs by the same company, "Acorns and Pines," and "Blossoms and Blackbirds."

I guess I won't beat myself up over such a small thing.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

Lately, it seems that many stitching bloggers have experienced a lossof their stitching mojo. Have you ever lost your stitching mojo? Ifso, how did you get it back and how long did it take?

I've been plagued by this before. I think everyone goes through dry periods. I've had periods of several months when I was too depressed with life circumstances to even think of stitching. When things started back on an even keel; however, it helped to go visit my LNS. These days of the Internet, it helps to visit blogs and check out what's new on ONS.' One thing is certain---I always come back to stitching.

Mother's Day

First of all, I hope everyone's Mother's Day was a nice one, even it meant just peace and quiet, which I love. Richard ordered me the new pink Razr cell phone at a bargain price for renewing with Verizon for another two years. I've struggled with the freebie we got when first signing up with them, and it was high time for a better phone.

I took my mother her Mother's Day gift which just delighted her. It was signed Kenneth Lane bangle bracelets in safari animal prints, with which she has become enamored of late. They open up easily for her hands, which are crippled with RA, and when I saw them on QVC, I couldn't resist. It was Today's Special Value, and the set of two had her name on them. I don't order much from QVC, but this was was perfect for her.

My daughter and granddaughter came to visit with cards and their own poems and apolized for no gifts, for lack of funds, but I treasure their love and thoughts more than anything money can buy. I cried when I read the poems. They're treasures to me.

Small Finish

I stitched this for the Friends Gather BB's 24 Hour Challenge for May. This was the last one I had to stitch. Lizzie Kate put out this one, a strawberry scissor case for sping/summer, and one for Christmas/winter.

This one was a gift from an online friend, Faith, who gave me this along with some other wonderful stash items. At the moment, I'm using my strawberry case for my scissors, but I'll be glad to have this one to change to when the weather turns crisp. All her scissor cases had some "over one" stitching. This one's little purple swirlies and the word "Autumn" are over one.

Follow the Trail of the Da Vinci Code: Plan Your Own Tour - MSN Travel Articles

With the upcoming movie, I thought this was quite interesting.

What Type of Weather I Am

You Are Lightning

Beautiful yet dangerousPeople will stop and watch you when you appearEven though you're capable of random violence You are best known for: your power Your dominant state: performing

What Type of Weather Are You?

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

When you stitch from a kit and use the supplied floss do you have leftovers? If so, how much and what do you do with them? If not, do you usually have just enough or do you have to dig into your stash to finish?

I usually have leftovers, depending on how generous the company is, but it's usually more of one color than the rest (do they even measure?). There have been a couple of times I had to dig for more of a color (again, do they even measure?) or write the company to get more. I always save any significant leftovers and the chart for anyone who loves the finished design. Vikki Gable sent me the leftovers of a kit I loved, and I've never forgotten the kindness. Leftovers can alway get a person started if they can match the threads, which, of course, should be checked before starting.

Go For Broke

OK, I'm tired of hiding all my sins, so let's get 'em out in the open. I've proclaimed myself to be on a tighter budget. therefore on a stash diet, but I do want to make myself perfectly clear. I'm not going to quit buying Little House Needleworks "Dear Diary" series till it runs out, which I think is 8 designs, of which I already have the first two. Then, I need to make another thing clear too, and that is that I have to finish the series of 4 Spring Snapperland designs, of which I have the first two also. Trouble is, there is also a Winter and a Barnyard Snapper series, so you just know all the seasons will be done, and hard telling what else. This is part of an order from SB&B. In this picture, you will see one of Kelmsmott's needle minders, of which I have a nice collection, and a couple I have given as gifts. Also is a darling chart by Sheepish Designs, "Kitty's 115th Exemplary" and Blackbird Designs, "When This You See."
This was my last order from Shirley, and I do love her site, prices, and service. Top to bottom, left to right, are my treasures from M Designs, "Beehive Sampler" and "Short Term Rental." And Blackbird Designs' gorgeous "Quaker Sampler," with 2 skeins of WDW Palomino color for the sampler. The bottom two are from the Spring Snapperland series.
This was the last Stash of the Month shipment from Silkweaver, and I'm so glad. It was pretty weak and looks to be leftover junk. I'm not thrilled with Silkweaver since they decided to move and carry so little in the way of fabrics. No more Lakeside Linens, which I love, and no more undyed fabrics.
These three designs were another part of the above order from SB&B. Val's Stuff "Seasons," Prairie Schooler's "Country Wise," and La-D-Da's "Merry Sunshine."

As you can see, everything is just wonderful, cute, sweet, beautiful, primitive, gorgeous, or whatever adjectives fit each design that I just had to have, which of course were OK to buy because of the sale prices. Most of all, though, is that each and every thing you see here, in addition to all my stash purchases on this whole blog, were totally unnecessary. Who cares???

Wasting Time

Just haven't been in the mood to blog in the last few days, and I really need to get caught up reading others' blogs and take an interest in what others are doing. I know how important it is to find comments on one's blog, and I owe you all my interest by commenting. Life has been so busy, with grandkids' sports, wedding shower for my newphew's fiance' (I was called into service), and helping out my daughter with the kids.

I still have more stash that I haven't yet taken pix of, mainly because I'm a bit embarrassed at the excess. I guess since I couldn't do much of anything else at the time of my demise (badly broken leg, for those who didn't know), I spent on stash like a drunken sailor, knowing full well I couldn't possibly stitch what I already had, let alone all the new stuff. I'm glad I'm able to show restraint on such an addictive activity, but finances have helped that.

Been on the computer all day long, catching up with Yahoo Group digests and "window shopping" online at new cross stitch designs (is there no end? - sure would help me!). Have an appointment at the rheumatologist in Champaign tomorrow, along with my mother. She has rheumatoid arthritis; I have lupus. Bummer!

I started a SAL with my unlisted Yahoo Group, which has leaders of various SALs, and we choose SALs of our choice from which we're given monthly assignments, which, as I think of it, is like Martina Weber does with her mysteries. My eyes were bigger than my stitching speed, and I signed up several months ago for TIAG Family Treasures III and Drawn Thread's Sanctuary. I'm behind in both. Then, I signed up for Moira Blackburn's Peaceful Garden and got all the supplies, along with my first order of Vikki Clayton's silk, her conversion for that particular design. They are delightful to work with! We got our first assignment May 1, and I hope to have this completed in a couple of days, then use the rest of the month to catch up the former SALs, which have been going on for several months. Sanctuary shouldn't be too difficult, but Family Treasure III involves tons of color changes (not my favorite thing), and I'm further behind in that one. I guess I should formally make those my goals for the month of May.

Stash For SALs

My granddaughter went back home Sunday evening, and all is well. I think she was glad to get home. It's always nice to get away but even better to get back home. I'm back to taking the grandkids to school and busy with their sports, and I love every minute.

We took my brother to catch his flight back to Richmond at the airport just south of Champaign IL on Tuesday. It was so hard to see him leave, but I know he was anxious to get back to his home and family also. I just wish they had located nearer when he went into his Internal Medicine practice. They do love Richmond though, and the boys have never lived anywhere else.

To be honest, though I enjoyed having both beloved members of my family with me, I was tired and ready to get back to some form of normalcy, though I'm not sure of what's normal anymore, lol.

The two mags you see above are what I bought at Borders in Champaign when we took my brother there. The UK magazines are always a treat for me when I get up there to buy them. The fabbies you see were ordered from Silkweaver in custom sizes when I was laid up back in February. I also ordered my first Vikki Clayton silks (in the packages on the fabrics they go with). I'm quite anxious to try them, as I've heard so many good things about them, and she had the conversions of her silks for both the SALs I joined. I eventually want to get her silks for Houses of Hollow Hawk Run. I bought the pattern, and I've been watching progress on several stitchers' blogs, using VC silks. Very nice! However, since I'm on a tighter budget and have gone on a stash diet, I'm saving my dimes for that conversion, which is quite pricey because there are so many colors.

I actually got to stitch today for the first time in a while, and did a bit of cleaning too. Tomorrow, I will actually start one of the SALs of which I spoke of previously. It actually started May 1, but there was no way I could start then. I'm looking forward to using the Lakeside Linens Vintage Navy Bean and trying the VC silks. Even though, of course, I have a lot of business starting something new ;-) OH WELL.....

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

Do you or have you stitched with over-dyed threads? (Weeks Dye Works,The Gentle Art Sampler Threads, Six Strand Sweets, etc.) If so, what is your opinion concerning them? If not, why not?
Oh my goodness... is there any of us stitching lovers who has not used these wonderful fibers? I can't imagaine stitching wtihout them now. They give a whole different dimension to using uniformly-dyed threads, and depending on one's stitching placement, one can create different effects. The only drawback I can see is that it's a risk to wash hand-dyes, so great care is in order when using them.

I've been very busy with family, and as soon as I get caught up with everything, I'll share what has been going on in my life.