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? 

September 19th

Basting done and a start made on Fandango, a punto antico table runner designed by Barbara Kershaw. This is currently a Group Correspondence Course for the Embroiderers Guild of America.

Yes. This is going to be a bear and I will be wrestling with it. 

September 18th

  A work in progress

I am devastated by her loss

September 17th

 Let's talk about flair. No. Not the fancy buttons on your shirt. Flair, the tubular nylon thread made by Rainbow Gallery. There's about 100 colors in this line which means you can usually find a color that works.

This cloud is stitched with white flair. It has a shine to it that's different from metallic shine. Not sure how well it photographs, but it's doing exactly what I want on this piece. A bright thing in the flat sky. No shading because this isn't a realistic canvas. 

These jelly beans in the roof are also Flair. About three horizontal stitches underneath the slanted satin stitches gives enough padding to create a slightly rounded shape. I'm good without the white glint because of the shine to the thread. 

And in a pinch, you can make Barbie doll panty hose from Flair. 

September 16

 I'm just a girl who can't say no. Except I did. And it kinda felt good. I had a wonderful opportunity presented to me, but it would involve projects and money. And I really have enough projects.

And I'm feeling called to work on more original stuff. 

But first.

Someone needs an assist with some beading. I got half done today and I'll finish up on Friday. 

And this. In which I learn a little bit about Ukrainian whitework. 

There's always something stitching at my house! 

September 15th

Everything I just wrote has disappeared.

Let's just say that I wish I was back on the farm. 

September 14th

Under regular circumstances, the needlepoint world has a market twice a year. This is a to-the-trade event, that is the public isn't allowed. Of course, March and September's events have been canceled this year. But that hasn't stopped Rainbow Gallery from introducing new threads.

Right on schedule. 

New colors! More choices! I love it. 

I especially love those four Neon bright shades of Glisten, a wool with a a metalized polyester. 

September 13th

Another catch up posting day. Soon I have to shower, pack, and neaten up here in our farm cottage.

So back to May we go. 

I have this cross stitch chart. And decided to turn into a painted canvas. Then I realized it needed a border. 

The filling stitches are my choices. The crazy quilt stitches are straight from the pattern or slightly modified to work on canvas. 

And soon my spider has a new home. 

This took me two stitching sessions and it felt good to work out something creative. 

And, yes. It's in the to be finished pile. 

September 12th

 In which we play pinball. For those who know us well, know that our idea of a date night long ago was a drive to an arcade and an evening spent playing pinball and video games. I'm still quite good at Galaga whenever we find a machine. Today was all pinball and I'm not sure I will even be able to stitch tonight.

But never fear. There's still pandemic stitching to catch up with. Like these birthday presents I did in August. Some people already have most of the things they want. And right now purchasing experiences isn't the best idea. 

I peyote stitched a bracelet for my boss. There's a mistake or two in it. But I'm happy I remembered how to. 

And I cross stitched a bunny to match a needle minder. Because someone loves bunnies even more than me! 

September 11th

Is there any thing better than a new project? I love starting something new. Even when it's not the project I'm dying to start - I'm looking at you, blue footed boobies from Lindy Stitches.

I got this petit Ukrainian whitework piece started today even while driving to Appomattox to visit the place where Lee surrendered to Grant. 

The village at Appomattox Court House is miraculously here. Given that the courthouse burned and the McLean House where the surrender happened was dismantled for fifty years. 

September 10th

 Just finished my Hands on Design flamingos. Outside, under a maple tree. Looking at the Peaks of Otter.

Sitting here listening to the occasional cow. And sometimes a horse snorts. And plenty of birds are singing. Wishing there was more of a breeze. 

September 9th

I should be able to finish You Had Me at Flamingo today. Two birds and a bit of border. Hands on Designs released Christmas flamingos yesterday. I'll be acquiring that soon.

How did I forget to pack toothpaste? 

September 8th

Yes. I know I'm a day late. Travel delay. Completely shed all our cares on a drive south in Virginia. We're at a farm cottage in the country for a few days. 

My views for stitching. Occasionally one of the horses will snort. Right now I'm enjoying coffee and donuts outside listening to the birds.