Alert

SSomeone thinks he hears reindeer hoofbeats, but he's a little bit early. Elvis is in a state of high alert.

In the Vault I Go

Normally at this time of year we've been to the US Botanical Gardens to view the amazing displays. Due to scheduling this year, we're taking a pass. That and I've got an infected toe that's making walking less than pleasant. (Don't worry. Been to doctors - have antibiotics - and they have some serious warnings on the side that scare me. Am taking my probiotics hoping to ward off the dire predictions.) But the Botanical Gardens recreate D.C. landmarks with all natural materials. And they add to their display every years with trains and plants galore.

So much of my stitching right now, I can't show here. Thus I went diving back into photos from years gone by. I cherry picked a few that I like a lot.

I stitched this little beauty for my sister the year she turned fifty. She started a Red Hat chapter. Which unfortunately fell apart after a year or two. But I loved stitching with red and purple. It was a Just Nan. I think I gave this pattern away. And I had no desire to stitch one for myself two years ago.
 

Here's another piece in my sister's possession. It's the Pine Tree Cottage by Elizabeth's Needlework Designs. I stitched this for my sister's 25th anniversary. This year they are at year 38. Sometimes I'm still amazed she hasn't done him in. LOL (Just to be clear here - this is a joke.) 

 



Speaking of diving into the past - this is a Goode Huswife, if my memory is correct. I think this had four different shades of white or near white. It is sitting in my unframed, but finished drawer. Maybe this year I'll delve into that drawer. Because I am still in love with this one.

And this time of year, nothing is more fun than watching our cat, Elvis.

Any day involving paper strewn across the floor is a bonanza for him! 
 

These photos are from 2005 as his parents don't put bows on his head, but his human siblings do! 

I'll be traveling soon and am unsure how much posting will be accomplished. Merry Christmas to all! 

Monday Update

Busy, busy, busy. So many things to do and not enough time to do them all. 

But I keep trying. And mostly I try not to take on the stress. What gets done, is what gets done. Feeling badly the entire month of November meant that nothing got done in November. So if any members of my beloved family don't get their presents until January, that's just the way it has to be. 

As for stitching, I graphed and stitched this weekend. How could I have forgotten what I meant to do for a certain someone? Fortunately, it's not big and things came together quickly. Now if I can replicate this process one more time...I can't show what I am doing here now. 

Started my Scarlet Letter progress. In fact, I washed and ironed 3 pieces of linen last week all from Scarlet Letter. Let's talk about this process one more time. 

All 3 pieces of linen were from SL kits. So I soaked them individually in room temperature water. There wasn't any bleeding of the dye, not even on the dark green piece. Then I hold up the linen and let it drip. Then I roll it in a clean white towel and pop it in the freezer. If I knew I wasn't going to iron it the next day, I would put it in a plastic bag before freezing. 

The next day I remove this from the freezer and very carefully unroll and separate the linen from the towel. And iron it frozen. The wrinkles, even the fold lines from linen that has been folded for 26 years, iron right out. 

I believe I once read something trying to scientifically break down this process. Something about going from ice to steam. But I've never been able to find what I think I once read. If anyone else knows more about this, please share with us.



 

There Are No Words

Phew Still Catching Up

I have this amazing stitching friend. Her name is E.B. and she turned 85 at the end of October. She only does crewel. She's tried to do cross stitch, but we no longer let her. It only ends in tears and frustration. LOL - things are so much better when she doesn't have to count. This is one of her recent finishes. She's been accomplishing so much as she has goals like wedding samplers for grandchildren and other gifts for family members.

She's a definite role model for me. I had another role model like her in my life. My husband's great Aunt whom we called Auntie. Before she had cataract surgery she had been reduced to stitching on plastic canvas, but once she got her bionic eyes, she stitched fine work including making dresden wedding plate quilted pillows for her "grandchildren" well into her 90s. I think of her often with fondness especially at Christmas time when I bring out some of the decorations she made for us. 

In other stitching news: 

Yes. I did sign up for Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year - link here.


I'll be writing about my plans as soon as I receive a certain shipment in the mail...

And I finished this Grab N Go kit. Started it Tuesday evening. Finished early Thursday. Maybe 5 hours tops? It's wool felt blanket stitched applique, otherwise known as penny rugs.

My peppermints are not lined up too well. If I had given this any thought I'd have made a pentagon template to mark my placement. But as I plan on having a candle sit on them, I'm not too concerned. To see more Grab N Go kits, look here. This truly is grab and go. My kit had a glue stick instead of pins and even a small pair of scissors for cutting my floss. I might have some more of these in my stash...

Catching Up

I have been bad about blogging. I've even been bad about reading blogs. I'm sorry. 

Lots of things happening and I'll catch up here on a few things. 

Went with a group of ladies from the Washington D.C. EGA Chapter to the National Cathedral for the Angel Tour and Tea. I did the Needlework Tour here a few years ago. And have also done the Stained Glass Tour with my family. I can recommend all their tours, though right now the Stained Glass Tour might not be at it's best. Keep reading and you'll see why.

The August 2011 earthquake in Virginia caused some damage to the Cathedral. Chunks of stone fell off. Like these pieces displayed in front of the Cathedral.

 

Inside there are protective nets placed below the clerestory windows to catch anything that may fall while the Cathedral is being repaired. The netting seriously detracts from viewing the windows.
 

And while our tour guide was talking about angels, I was busy snapping more photos of needlepoint. These are kneelers from the Children's Chapel. 
 

Don't think I haven't been stitching. I have. But not a lot. I've been having some arthritis issues with my right hand. 

But I do the finishing on this Little House Needleworks piece (which I finished stitching last year.) Look closely. It's crooked. I didn't realize until I was taking to demonstrate finishing for some friends. This piece should have been blocked. This is as straight as I could make it. Lucky me, though. The finishing is reversible. So after the New Year, I will take this off the tree. Take it all apart and see what I can do about making it straight. 

Here's another one I finished. This was stitched a few (how many???) years ago, but I never finished it. I'm no longer in possession of this one as it was given in an ornament exchange last week. I think I still have the pattern somewhere in my stash - I believe it was a Caron publication. Stitched with Waterlilies Passion and gold beads.
 

I've got more. But will save it for later.