Fire Up the Grill

Don't know why, but I've got a desire for hot dogs. At least I went to Wegman's and bought the good ones. 

Somehow that trip for new tires turned into a brake job also, nearly doubling the price. I'm not surprised. We bought this car last summer with 42,000 miles on it. It's possible it has never had a brake job. We don't know. Now if number 1 son can ease up a bit, maybe we can avoid having to buy a new clutch till next year. Aren't I the optimist? He drives this Mazda Protege5 just like zoom, zoom. 

I did finish another motif on my Quaker sampler while waiting for the car. And then started in on the over one stitching. But those seats were very uncomfortable, otherwise I might have gotten more stitched. I kept having to get up and walk around and squirming in my chair.

Prostate Cancer Foundation Teams Up With Legendary Athletes to Ask: Why ...

I can identify Rosy Grier and Vida Blue, but don't know who the others are. 


Like Anna, I have misgivings when I see something like this. Stereotypes can be such ugly things. Or just plain frustrating. Not sure why I'm more willing to give this ad a pass, but I am. Maybe it's because Rosy is knitting awkwardly and that the scarf he is knitting seems to say something about bacon...


I notice they had Betty White stitching with an embroidery hoop on Saturday Night Live. She looked very uncomfortable with that hoop.

More Books

There is an interesting category in needlework books - the celebrity author. And by celebrity I mean someone well-known in an area outside of needlework. The only other type of book where I think this happens is cooking. 

Off the top of my head, I know and love Mary Martin's needlepoint book. Loretta Swit also did a needlepoint book. Rosey Grier's book was titled Needlepoint for Men. Funny how I can't think of any counted technique books or surface embroidery books written by celebrities. 

My latest acquisition in this category is the wonderful Sylvia Sydney Needlepoint Book. Some of you may not recognize the name. She was a stage, film and television actress. You may have seen her guest starring on WKRP or thirtysomething in the 1980s. Or in Mars Attacks! or Beetlejuice.  Can you see this photo here? Is she glamorous or what? 


Like the Mary Martin book, you get needlework mixed together with show biz anecdotes, a terrific cocktail in my opinion. More color photos than most needlework books published in the 1960s. She drew many of her own designs and wasn't afraid of being irreverent. I can recommend this book as a fun way to spend a few hours. 


One of the newer books that I've found recently is Terrific Tassels and Fabulous Fringe.  Lots of inspiring photos and the directions are clearly written. I don't have much call for tassels and fringe in my life, but when I do, I'll be prepared. 

I stumbled across a signed copy of Jane Greenoff's Treasures in Cross-Stitch which was published in 1996. Just a generic "best wishes" with Jane signed with a huge letter J. Did you know that there are twenty books listed on the Amazon Jane Greenoff page? That's a lot of stitching. I think this book is a fabulous find as the subtitle is 50 projects inspired by antique needlework. And that's exactly what it is. Obviously there are samplers in here, but there are also cross stitch versions of quilts and surface embroidery and tapestries. And the projects make up things like bags, clocks, picture frames, as well as framed pieces. 

Well. This is making my stack of books slowly disappear. I might not tell you about all of them as I think I've purchased over two dozen books in the past two months. Funny how if the price is $1.40 I will buy it whether or not I consider it useful. But if the price is $14.00 I will carefully consider whether or not to add it to my collection. 

Quaker Update and Books

My current progress on Live and Love Happy. Nice photo, but I wish you culd see it person. The blue just pops right off that Mello linen by PTP. Took me two weeks to get this far, but in fairness I was working on other things also. 

And I have told the designer of this piece, Pam Darney, that as soon as she's ready to start selling her designs commercially (other than through classes) I will let the world know. 

P

Prospero's in Manassas, VA is one of those places where I find my used needlework books. We went there on Sunday - the sky looked forbidding, but we'd already had all the rain we were going to get that day. 

Which brings us to delving into the book pile. 

Back in March I found a copy of Stitching a Legacy, a joint project book by Piecework magazine and the Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts. Published by Interweave Press in 2001, this book contains projects and stories of stories of the pieces that inspired the projects. The photos are gorgeous. And the projects range from samplers to chatelaines to christening gowns. In all techniques. I wouldn't say it's a must have for a needlework library, but it's pretty and inspiring.

I was overjoyed to find a copy of the Margaret Boyles Bargello Workbook. Mostly because this book, though it was published in 1976, is in color. This is a terrific reference book from which you could easily teach yourself bargello. I don't know anything about who Margaret Boyles is/was, but I have several of her books and she knows/knew her needlework! Anyone got any info on her to enlighten me?


I believe that Kreinik's Metallic Thread Embroidery is still in print. I know I just saw a copy of this book for sale at a needlework store. They did release it in softcover eventually, but I found the hardcover 2000 edition. In this book we have some history of the Kreinik company, info about the threads, techniques and tips for working with metallics, stitches, and projects. This is a good solid reference book and I'm happy to have a copy of my own. 


I'm thinking three books at a time are enough. Don't worry. I've got enough to last all week and those are just my latest acquisitions. Yes. I need more shelf space.

Apologies!

Wow. Three days without posting. What have I been doing? Obviously not following my usual schedule. I haven't been on the desktop since Thursday - I've been using the laptop at odd times because I've been assisting my sister in writing an arts grant proposal. We've been sending it back and forth and exchanging ideas. This would be an easier process in person. But alas, there is that matter of five hundred plus miles between us. 

So when the sun comes out, and it had better because I'm beginning to feel like I live in some tropical jungle, I will take a photo of my current Quaker sampler. 

And when I do, you will all be in love with it as much as I am! 

Meanwhile, there is a pile of stuff that has been growing on my desk here at my right elbow. Let's see what's in it:

Okay. First, the French/English dictionary can go back to the bookshelf. I got curious about how to say acorn in French and wasn't satisfied with what I found on line. 

Second:  Issue number 64 of Stitch magazine from the UK. This one has the brightest stumpwork design that I have ever seen on the cover. And a beaded peacock bag on the inside along with the usual compliment of wonderful projects. Also in this layer of the dig, Issue number 204 of Mary Hickmott's New Stitches.  I bought this one for the gorgeous blackwork band sampler on the cover. 

Third:  Three issues of the Food Network magazine. I've been casting around for a new food magazine as I don't like what they've been doing to Cooking Light. The last straw was when the moved the index. I'm not renewing. And though I appreciate Cook's Illustrated for what it is, what it's not is up on the latest trends and the new and inspiring. I tried Food and Wine and Bon Appetit, but honestly, the Food Network mag seemed more accessible and has the variety that I'm craving.

Fourth:  Notes from the my last EGA board meeting. Normal stuff.

Fifth:  Two crochet books that I brought to a stitch group for a friend to look at. I can recommend both of these. Creepy Cute Crochet  I got this thinking about my college age children and how they'd think these things were, well, cute.   Googling this book led me to this blog - NeedleNoodles.com which I marked so I can back and browse. Interesting. Second book - Tasty Crochet - I simply fell in love with. It's not that I need a crochet version of bacon and eggs. It is just nice to know that I have a pattern if I want to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich out of yarn. Oh, and the author has a blog here.  I may have to investigate her yarn organization tips!


Now we come to the true meat of my archaeological dig. A stack of books from the used bookstores I visit on my travels. Wait, it appears there are some other things mixed in. And given that I purchased a few more yesterday that are still upstairs, I know that I have run out of room on my needlework bookshelves. I may have to consider donating some of these to our EGA chapter library. 

I'm not ready to write about these books today. Maybe tomorrow? And will someone please make the rain stop. My poor pot of hanging petunias is about to drown. Aqua lock hanging baskets seemed like a good idea, but now there too much water.

I Need a Massage

I knew I was on the verge of having that familiar neck/shoulder pain thing attack me again. And here it is. All it took was bending down to pick something up off the floor. Heavy doses of IB coming up. Here's hoping that's enough to tamp down the pain so I can stitch today.

Meanwhile, I checked my bargello design to see if it holds up. And I'm happy with it. Not quite finished with the design, but I should be starting this soon.

And I'm in such Quaker love. It's not funny. Once I start on one of these, it is all I want to stitch. Fortunately the "Love and Live Happy" sampler isn't large so even if this is all I do (ignoring all those other projects that demand attention), it won't take me long to stitch the entire thing. 

Off to stitching group. I hope the pain abates soon or at least goes down in intensity.

Wednesday is Food Day?

I've always thought the term Hump Day was ridiculous. In the rhythm of my week, Wednesday is Food Day. For two reasons:  1) those old Prince spaghetti commercials - it's Wednesday in the North End of Boston - Anthony! For the unintiated-

2) I have been a newspaper reader for more than just my adult life. It's how I start my mornings. And Wednesday is food section day in the paper. New recipes = inspiration.

Not that I wasn't inspired yesterday. Day three of gray, gloomy, and some rain. So I made a beef strew and French bread and then we went to see Iron Man 2 because Tuesday is evening bargain night at the theater. 

Started motif #3 on my current Quaker sampler. I'm feeling very inspired by having a finish and want to finish everything right now! If only I had the time. 

We Have Acorns!

First we have Stars progress, which admittedly isn't much. On Sunday I finished the bargello bit, did the pink triangles in between them, stitched the first of four triangles that are couched Trebizond and stitched the brown triangle.

Love the bargello bits. And I love how the pink triangle looks, just hated the process of creating it. The brown triangle needs to evacuate this piece. It's supposed to be Pebbly Perle and Grandeur and my colors are too close to together and I forgot to strand the Pebbly Perle. There will be some changes to this bit and I feel I might diving into the thread stash. 

Et, voila! Acorns! I finished this last night at 8:50 p.m. while watching the Monday night CBS comedies. I would have finished earlier in the day, but I spent time working on my mystery SAL. Kind of got sidetracked figuring out if what I wanted to stitch would work (and it will! Success.)

I am totally in love with this little sampler by Eileen Bennett. But I think it does not photograph well. The threads are all DMC on 30ct linen. 

My changes to this piece:

No crown in the top band. The letter "L" took too much space. In the second alphabet band, I substituted two over one crowns and the letters "LSG" for the Loudoun Sampler Guild for the word "mine" plus initials. And finally in band twenty-three, I did not stitch those acorn caps as colonial knots. I used the called for threads and just did cross stitch. (Sue me. I think this looks better on the 30ct linen.)

Whatever. I love, love, love it. And it was two months from start to finish with a lot of other stitching in between.  

Goal - Denied

I am unsurprised to not meet my ambitious goal of finishing "Little Green Acorns" yesterday. 

But as of this morning all I have to do is the colonial knots for the tops of six acorns and the satin stitch that is the body of said acorns. Everything else is finished. Of course I have been considering changing those colonial knots...who knows what will happen.

And as I picked this up this morning I was working on the double running band that is band 24 and when I got to the end of that row, I had added an extra stitch. I consider leaving my mistake in. But instead I frogged it and restitched. Violated my own cardinal rules of checking carefully about where I stop and start. These things happen from time to time. And I should know better. Only lost about 30 minutes of progress. 


This will get finished today. Meanwhile, where is the cable guy that was supposed to be here by 11 a.m?

My World is All Acorns All the Time

I'm on band twenty-three! After that only two more to go!

And while I would love to work on this all day long, it's that time of the month to bring out Stars as we are meeting this afternoon. I had great intentions of stitching on this in the past month, but they were all abandoned. 

Maybe I can finish band twenty-three this morning. Work on Clark Gable this afternoon and finish up the last two bands tonight???

That's ambitious!

Little Green Acorns

I finished the big band - is that number twenty or twenty-one last night while watching the Bruins lose after blowing a 3-0 series lead, they blew a 3-0 game. Well, at least they didn't go out in the first round...and I am willing celebrate the Flyers hero, James  van Riemsdyk, a 21 year old rookie who used to play for my beloved UNH Wildcats. Maybe next year?

This means that I only have like five bands to go and these ones are easy. With luck I'll finish this weekend. Then it's off to the framers with you, my little acorn friends. And I've decided to not change the squirrel. At this point I think that darn little squirrel built out of colonial knots is going to make me smile every time I look at and think of Ignatz Mouse from the Crazy Cat cartoons.  

Challenges

Why is that I can't resist a challenge? When we took Eileen Bennett's "Little Green Acorns" class my friend, Kathy, couldn't resist challenging me to see who could finish this first. We see each other every couple of weeks and compare who is where. And then another friend, Anne, who also cannot resist a challenge, jumped into our little game. And of course she upped the pace a bit. Now in my original plan for this week, I should be working on Tony M.'s "Stars." But I'm totally sucked into finishing the acorns. Because I cannot resist. Anne will most  likely beat me. But I will have the joy of a finished piece, and thus, I guess I'm a winner, too!


I guess that's why SALs and GCCs work for me. If I've got other people to compare progress with, it provides inspiration.

I wonder if there is any way to apply this to other areas of my life??? 

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Even though she doesn't read this, I'd like to send birthday wishes to my mother. I hope she's having a lovely day. 

T

Look at this! Isn't it just darling? This was yesterday's class at the D.C. Chapter meeting. It's a design called "Highland Lady" by Doreen Arnold. And for those of you who belong to the EGA, it is now a petite project available to all. 

I decided to stitch mine on 22ct Congress cloth over one. I've pulled the called for DMC threads, but have thrown in some Kreinik for bling. And I might add some beads, too. But this one will have to simmer on the back burner for just a bit.

Because. I'm still plugging away at "Little Green Acorns." And someone just passed me yesterday. The question. Do I try to compete? or should I just give in to the love that is my current Quaker project? 

I'd write more, but it's late and I must be off to Thursday morning stitching.

Just Catching Up

Once again I will reiterate the importance of counting when doing counted work. LOL Yup. Again I found myself ripping, just a little bit. But because this was the first motif, I didn't really have anything to match it up against. 

Reminder to self:

You cannot just sit and stitch merrily away. Occasionally you must stop and count the chart. And count your work! Do not make assumptions. 

Fortunately my little detour didn't last long. But it was a rookie mistake made while watching Monday night comedies on CBS.  All fixed now, but I could be further along if I hadn't had to go backwards. 


From comments:  Kathryn - I, too, love OPI! Right now I've Dancing in the Aisles on my fingers. Though I kind of chipped it yesterday while weeding. I love this product not just for the colors, but also for the names. My favorite red is Cha-Ching Cherry. But that's because they stopped producing the Waitress one. 


And C in DC - we spent years hoping to return to Europe courtesy of the US Army as both children were born in Germany. But, the wall fell and with it went all hope of our returning. Now they will just have to get there on their own!  


That's it. We've seen the last of the sun for today. Soon it will be raining. And it's cold. Yeah. Of course. Because I put my winter wardrobe away...

 

Behind the Red Door

For Mother's Day I treated myself to my first ever pedicure. I'm sure some of you are thinking what kind of idiot am I for waiting so long. Let's just say I have very touchy feet and have nearly knocked my hubby out for trespassing on the feet - he knows the deal, but every now and then likes to live dangerously. 

But it wonderful and melty and all things good. And I even started my P. Darney sampler, "Live and Love Happy," while soaking my toes, and got about four threads worth stitched before retreating the quiet and calm of the dimly lit room.  

No more pedicure anxiety for me. Thought it was funny that a woman who came in after me apparently has the same problem and she nearly kicked her pedicurist. I am officially hooked. And my toes are pink and happy. The color is Persephony - um, isn't Persephone the Queen of the Underworld?  Whatever.


I was so thrilled with myself when I got home that I finally put the winter wardrobe away, leaving out just enough to cope with this strange spring weather we've been having. Even organized my nightstand drawers while catching up on watching Lost - we've got a mal-functioning DVR and the remote doesn't work on it. (It's not the remote, it's the DVR.) So I cannot skip commercials. That problem will be solved soon, but meanwhile I'm adaptable. 
And I *heart* Hugo. But then again, Everyone Loves Hugo.

Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday was our Sampler Guild meeting and I had a terrific time chatting and stitching with my friends. Tanya Anderson of the Sampler Girl had a lovely trunk show for us and I did purchase two more of her President's wives samplers. You can read her version of the day here on her blog.  
 

This week I've picked up Little Green Acorns again and stitched my way past the halfway point. I've decided to make a change to the empty spot at the end of the alphabet. The original has the word "mine" and initials of the stitcher. I've decided instead to use the initials LSG for the Loudoun Sampler Guild set off by acorn motifs. 

My friend, Anne, has finished Pam Darney sampler that was an EGA class in Fredericksburg in March. It's lovely and makes me want to put down my Acorns and start mine. I admit to not starting it yet. Because I need to finish something else first. 


I have at least repainted my box from Catherine Jordan's class that I took that same weekend in March. I originally tried to decoupage paper to my box, but being paper mache that did not go well. I purchased a new box and sponge painted it. Thanks to Susan for such a great idea - I've seen two of these boxes sponge painted and it suits the project. 


Happy Day to all the mothers past, present, and future.

Last Dance

Today was our last stitching day with Schelley who will soon be driving south to Florida with her hubby. We'll miss you!

And it was also our last day stitching with our friend, E.B., who will soon be flying west to the coast and then on to Australia. We'll miss her as she's going to be gone for months, but expect many wonderful stories upon her return. 

After twenty years as an Army wife, I am very used to people coming and going, and to frequently being the one that's going. Seems kind of strange to me that in July we will have been in this one place for five years! Every day we set a new record as a family for remaining in one house. 

While at my Thursday morning group, I managed to complete another band in my "Little Green Acorns" sampler. I'll get a progress photo up soon as I am at the halfway point. And I believe the bottom half will move fairly quickly. But as per usual I have overloaded my plate with stitching. Always better to have too much than not enough. 

My idea that maybe I'd have this sampler finished before Saturday's Sampler Guild meeting kind of vanished in the ether. And speaking of the LSG meeting - we're going to have a lovely time. I'll tell you all about it on Sunday or Monday.

Stitching Bloggers' Question

First a thanks to Lee, The Lake Stitcher, for bringing this back. I think these questions inspired me to write to plenty of posts when I might otherwise have foundered.

Suppose we say that there are two types of stitchers.  
There are those who enjoy the “process” of stitching.  They stitch for stitching’s sake and if something gets finished, so much the better, but it’s not necessarily the end goal.   Primarily, it’s the application of needle and thread to cloth that makes them happiest.
Then there are those who are “project” stitchers.  They move steadily through their projects, certainly enjoying their stitching time, but finding their greatest joy in the completed stitching. 
If you had to pick one to describe yourself, which type of stitcher would you be?  I imagine that we could all say that we fall somewhere in between, but really think hard about this and try to pick just one.  And once you’ve decided whether you’re a Process or Project stitcher, tell us if your recognize that approach in other parts of your life.

When this question first surfaced on Anna's blog, my initial thought was that I'm a process stitcher all the way. I love the process of starting a new project - "finding" the project and gathering the materials. Sometimes I will amble through my collection of kitted projects just to admire what is possible with no intention of adding anything to my current stitching queue. Needle and thread and fabric and the act of creation. 


But then I read Lee's response to the question this morning, and I can see the project side of me, too. I frequently take breaks just to admire what I have created thus far. And when I finish something I will leave it out and walk past it and admire it for days on end. I will stand amazed while looking at what I have created.

But which part of this makes me happiest? I think it is the process. And this may be part of the explanation of the multiple UFOs. Finishing something makes me happy, but starting something makes me happier!

In Which We Explain the Queen Stitch As We the Queen of This Particular Kingdom See It

Queen Stitch, or Rococo Stitch, or sometimes even Renaissance Stitch, is a counted thread stitch. It can be used to make solid motifs, bands, and borders. 
I think I first encountered it on a band sampler that I stitched thirteen or fourteen years ago. And since then my main encounters with it have been on reproduction samplers stitched on linen. 

Here is a fine example of how Queen stitch looks as a solid motif. This is a Sharon Cohen of the Nostalgic Needle piece called The Queen Stitch Ornament.

I just created a stitch diagram for the Queen Stitch and find I cannot upload that file type here as it is unsupported. I suggest if you're interested in seeing how it is stitched, you google search images for the Queen Stitch. There are plenty of examples out there.

I know I stated that this stitch is my nemesis and now I'll explain why, in the hopes that I can correct my behavior. 

Part of my problem is just the fiddley nature of this stitch. You are taking four vertical stitches and anchoring them down with a single stitch over one vertical thread. It's just tiny stuff. I believe with proper lighting and most importantly good tension, I can conquer this. And maybe even come to love this stitch as some of my friends have.

Newest Project - Tudor Details

Yesterday morning when I checked my e-mail I was excited to see my I had my username and password for the Thistle Thread's Tudor and Stuart Gold Master Class.

I immediately began printing my pages, and fortunately was able to locate some photo printing paper, not a lot, but just enough. 

We are beginning a spot sampler and I am here to tell that officially I will be facing my own personal demon - the Queen Stitch. 

If this doesn't make me an expert on the Queen Stitch, nothing will. 

I ran off later in the day to my local office supply store and purchased a notebook for these printouts, more photo paper, and page protectors. And then I stopped by my local bookstore and found the current issue of Victoria magazine which has the article about the Plimoth Jacket in it. Right away, I know one of these photos will be inserted on the cover of my class notebook that I am creating to provide me with inspiration!


I have my materials, my inspiration, and my marching orders. Now I just need to locate the courage to commence.
 

Yesterday's Finish, Part II

Yesterday morning after playing exercising on my new Wii Fit Plus, I gathered all my supplies to make a beaded cabochon. Last November this was a class I took at one of my EGA chapters and I finished my cab in a total of four hours. Before the month was over, I had visited three different bead stores gathering supplies to make more of these. I even briefly had the thought that I could make several for Christmas presents. HA! Like that was going to happen.

I found my directions from the class, my book, "Beading with Cabochons ,"my beads, my beading supplies, my ultra-suede, and my skirtex. Few. Amazingly I was able to locate all of it within a short amount of time and by noon I was sitting at the table attaching my base row of beads. 

Turns out that I had not necessarily picked my beads well back in November. And I just willy nilly worked things out with the sizes I had. By four hours, I was approaching the end of my beading. At least I know how long this takes me. I took a break and watched an episode of the Tudors to make my eyes focus on something far away. And then went back to the table to contemplate making a beaded necklace for this pendant I had created. I have these beautiful carnelian beads and after a bit of trial and error I had something long enough to hang where I wanted it. So holding it together at the back, I slipped it over my head and went to the mirror. Wow. First thing I notice is that this thing I have created is heavy. Maybe too heavy. And then when I look in the mirror, I realize that the pendant and the beads do not work well together. Oh. And I don't have enough of the delicas to string those to make a necklace. Out it all comes. Now I have a lovely pendant and a day to figure out what to do. 

This is a crazy lace agate. And you'll have to trust me that the beads and the cabochon didn't look right together. The color is truer in the bottom photo.

Yesterday's Finish

S

 Sweet!

This is a Laura Perin freebie from her website - Laura J. Perin Designs.  

Was happy to finish this yesterday while toggling back and forth between Top Gear and the build-up to the Kentucky Derby. Oh, yeah. The name is Summer Flower Boxes. Materials - Watercolours Lilac, which is #39, I believe and I will edit in the rest later. 

This is going into a Sudberry House box and will be in the mail to my Mother tomorrow. Who will open it as soon as she receives it. Because that's what she does.

 Here it is with its companion. I've also got a blue and white version for me. I may rethink that. I believe I had it kitted to stitch on white canvas, but I think I might like something else better. 

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend, everyone!

New: For Your Online Shopping Pleasure

Today the former bricks and mortar store, the Scarlet Thread, was resurrected as an online store.

Go here to see:  The Scarlet Thread!

It Was Late

Yesterday I took my LJP freebie, Summer Flower Boxes, with me to stitching and happily worked away on it. Apparently without paying much attention to details. 

Last night I had to remove some of what I had stitched earlier in the day and by the time I finished stitching last night the Red Sox game that had gone into extra innings was over and we had lost. 

But everything is stitched except the part that calls for 1/16 Kreinik ribbon. For some reason when I kitted this last year, I must have just used my stash. Because I had planned on substituting Neon Rays. Well, in looking at my finished version (see previous post), I now feel that this piece needs the bling of a metallic. 

The funny thing is that just this week I had reorganized my Kreinik. And of course I have absolutely nothing that works. I really don't have a huge Kreinik stash except for blending filament. So I'm off to remedy my problem and then I can pop this in the mail on Monday.