New Year's Eve

 Here we are at the end of a very long year. I'm not expecting a big change to how things are going any time soon. But I am enough of an optimist to forsee improvements coming in 2021.

Here's one last project for 2020. I may have started this in January this year. I really should be stitching several of these santas every year if I'm ever going to stitch all that I have. Trust me, I have a lot.

Tomorrow I am going to start one new sampler. It's a small one and it seems rather appropriate. 

See you back here in 2021.

Christmas Stitching

 I wasn't sure what to stitch next. But I was perusing my smalls that are kitted and this Fern Ridge project spoke to me.

I had about ten stitches in when I picked it up. I'm not enjoying the offset four-sided stitch so we'll see if I stick with it.

And a Christmas gift that I finished yesterday. Only started this back in 2006 or 2007 while stitching at the Scarlet Thread. 

It's a Wrap

 Catherine Agnes is done. Finished right before dinner.

Approaching the Finish Line

I haven't given up. Today I reached the final steps for Catherine Agnes. And I had no choice but to begin cutting threads. Two boxes down, two to go. The wrapping of the bars should be a fairly quick process. Who knows? I might be done by Christmas.

Sticking with It

 I continue to be fascinated with Catherine Agnes.

All my spot motifs are finished except for the acorns. And the reticello corners. I've got one more band on the left. Then borders, corners, and letters. So much enjoyment here. 

Steady Progress

 Finished my upper right corner. Started my woven spider webs motif. Enjoying most every second of this. Except bullion knots number one and fifteen. Those two just about pushed me over the edge.

Catherine Agnes Again

 Just a little update. Added some bands. Started the alphabet. 

Catherine Agnes Progress

 Completed some spot motifs. Did a band. Established my limits on the upper right.

She's so pretty! 

UFO Alert

 Catherine Agnes. She's been occupying space in my head since 2005.

And for some reason this morning she surfaced in my thoughts. 

I knew right where she was. Safe in her project box along with needles, Q-snaps, and the threads I had picked.

I bought her via mail order in 2005. Received the chart. And started collecting the threads. Promptly fell into a funk because the called for threads were so much paler than the photograph.

Took me forever to collect threads that met my approval. And I started this wonderful Indigo Rose design. 

But I put her down maybe 10+ years ago.

And now I know so much more. When I started this, half these stitches were new to me. Now, detached buttonhole, buttonhole bars, it's all familiar. I guess she was just waiting for me to catch up. 

So I put in some stitching on her today and she's now a WIP again and not a UFO! 

Halloween Eve

 Here we are at the end of October. Holy time warp, Batman, where did the month go?

 I was looking for something else in my studio and found my chart and threads for Amy Mitten's Scottish design for Around the World. 

Phew. I was afraid it had fallen behind the bookcase. 

Note to self:  be careful of what you put on top of bookcases. 

Figure that this is the closest I'm going to get to traveling for a while. 

And besides, Amy has the best thread color names. Corpse, Dirty Rat, Venom. If you ever have the opportunity to take an in person class with Amy, jump on it. She's so much fun! 

Weekend Update

 In the before times, this past weekend would have our Mid-Atlantic Region meeting in Wilmington, DE. But of course nothing is as it should be. And thus, yesterday morning we had our meeting, virtually. And then in the afternoon Orna Willis taught our class, The Flower Cuff, virtually.

This is my start. We all received our kits weeks ago. Canvas, beads, threads, finishing supplies and instructions. Three colors of Neon Rays and four  colors of variegated DMC floss.

During the morning meeting, I made some progress on Frank. His smile is now a frown. 

And a little progress on my scissor case. 

That's enough stitching. 

Scissor Case in Canvas

 Tonight was a delayed chapter project via Zoom. We had originally planned to do it in the spring. It had been a while since I looked at the supply list.

So yesterday I printed it out. And realized that there's bare canvas showing. Which meant as I was trying to fall asleep last night, I was wishing I had painted my canvas. 

And that meant, I woke up this morning and decided to make time to paint my canvas. 

And I had white ribbon. But as I had the paint already, I painted the ribbon, too!

So an hour and a half of stitching, and I have the beginning of a new scissor Case! 

Frank & Beach Dance

 Saturday brought a little but of progress. Stitched on Beach Dance during the Loudoun Sampler Guild Zoom meeting.

I've got two birds! 

I love this pair. One foot, a few flowers, ground, and a border to go. 

Started

Started on Frank's shirt. Put in something not shown here that has to come out. 

He'll match up with the Bride eventually. 

Frank's Pants

 It's so lovely to stitch outside, 75 degrees, sunny, a slight breeze. My idea of how to spend an afternoon.

Frank now has pants. Stitch is from the Lonestar Chapter's Grab n Go book. And the Rainbow Tweed is fab. Too bad this color is discontinued. But I've got enough to work another ornament. 

Spooky Season

Today I realized what was missing from October.

Stitching the season. Here we are in spooky season and me with a ton of Halloween projects. 

A quick stop by the studio and here's Frank to brighten my day.

I've barely started his pants and already I'm smiling. I stitched the Bride of Frankenstein a few years ago - a Labors of Love canvas. And I made a castle wall behind her. Thus the pencil lines behind him. 

I found Frank in a sale bin at Stitch in Louisville in 2018. He's by Liz. And I like him as match to my Bride because he's taller! I will be wiping the smile off his face because Frank is kind of a morose, sometimes angry guy who doesn't fit in. 

October 2nd

Symposium time! I have often wanted to, but never attended the embroidery conference at Winterthur, but I am right now.

Not the neatest work space... 

September 30th

End of the month and yes I blogged every day!

So yay me.

I went to lunch with friends for the first time since winter. 

Saw some large bugs. 

Enjoyed a bamboo forest 

Contemplated a new project 

Made a friend 

Finally saw the Natural Bridge 

Enjoyed a farm visit 

Played some pinball. 

Stitched a lot! 

Thanks for visiting and I promise to continue. But probably not every day. 

September 29th

 I'm mentally tired. But I'm here.

Making progress. One week of stitching. 

September 28th

 Things to look forward to in October:

I'm signed up for the Winterthur needlework symposium. I've never been in person. And I think it's great that I can attend virtually this year. 

And then there's this! 

An Orna Willis bracelet class. 

She would been our in person teacher at the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Embroiderers' Guild fall meeting. We our fortunate that she was willing to pivot and go virtual. 

September 27th

A Zoom Sunday afternoon spent stitching with friends.

Sometimes I take black and white photos. Ugh. Not a lot of contrast between the body color and the linen. 

In reality it's grayer than the color photo. But this bird is done except for the eye and other foot. 

September 26th

Today was taken up with a morning meeting. Then shopping for a new bed. Then some organizing.

And then it was time for dinner. 

Put in a couple of threads on Beach Dance so I could say that I stitched today. 

And to keep up the visual interest, here's a small canvas I stitched in the spring. Just some threads from my stash. Still need to do the finishing. 

September 25th

Just a regular Friday. Quick trip to the grocery for meat and vegetables. Ate some leftovers for lunch. Stitched with my Friday friends via Zoom. 

Put some work in on Fandango then pivoted back to the birds. Because I can. That's a Fern Ridge scissor fob, Salty Halloween, which I made two years ago. Put the green stem in because I needed to see another color. 

And I ordered this canvas back in May. From Danji. Oh this will be fun! 

September 24th

Oh. Look at me go. Twenty four days in a row.

Today was a work day. And when I got there I realized that Silk & Ivory had arrived. Today I touched 500 skeins of Silk & Ivory.

Lots of lovely thread. Filled a few special orders which is always a huzzah! And a couple of tho orders were months old so it feels good to clear them.

So when I was finished, we already had a couple of holes. Sigh. Will we ever have all the threads? 

September 23rd

 Got some progress in on Beach Dance. Kind of looks like she's holding a lightsaber. 

September 22nd

What's your favorite project? The next one!

I've kitted up Lindy Stitches "Beach Dance" and made a start. Substituted two of the overdyed cottons for colors I had in my stash. And I'm working on 32ct Quicksilver from Lakeside Linens. I've had the fabric so long, I have no idea if they still dye this color.

Lindy Stitches is a new designer to me, but when I saw these blue footed boobys (or is it boobies?) I knew I had to stitch them. Great design. 

September 21st

 Three weeks of blogging. Yay! I can do this.

New shades of gray for Vineyard silk and wool. 

We love new colors in the shop. Because then we have more options! 

Today was a busy day. Three thread orders arrived! Just a small taste of the fun. 

September 20th

Pre-pandemic I belonged to 3 informal stitching groups. Amidst the pandemic, I still stitch with all 3 groups.

All my groups pivoted to Zoom right away. We stitch and chat just like we always did. We complain, adjust, offer advice, and joke. We're just not breathing the same air. 

Not sure what I'd do without my friends. It sure helps to have them there when I decide to stitch with black Neon Rays. What was I thinking?