tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57628362024-03-18T17:41:32.912-04:00needleworker not in paradiseDonnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.comBlogger2585125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-85165243287117930952024-03-12T17:32:00.002-04:002024-03-12T19:10:55.581-04:00Another Oldie Loudoun Sampler Guild is currently working on Mary Wigham. I decided that I didn't need another Quaker. What I need is to finish one that is in progress.Started at the beginning of 2008 as the design was published in the fall of 2007 in Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly. I changed the called for colors from silks to a selection of overdyed cottons in Crescent Colors and Gentle Arts. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-19743980968268554592024-03-07T21:00:00.002-05:002024-03-07T21:00:16.440-05:00What's in the Bag Today let's play a round of what's in my stitching bag.A flamingo eyeglass case. Nearly complete. This has been my carry around project for nearly a year. I work on it at the nail salon while getting pedicures. And any other place without ideal lighting for stitching. My Gayla Elliot stitching girl. Slowly renovating the kitchen. I undyed her hair. She used to be a blonde. Still Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-7732831171980485572024-02-25T15:43:00.005-05:002024-02-25T15:43:48.477-05:00Thread Keep From the September 2022 issue of Needle Arts. This was not difficult. I'm encouraged to continue stitching these projects.I picked this one to teach for my chapter because I had difficulty doing the colonial knot. I've got them mastered now. I just eyeballed the initials. It works. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-12839977348873099232024-02-21T17:59:00.000-05:002024-02-21T17:59:04.152-05:00Sugar, Honey, Iced Tea Good intentions blown. Here it is nearly the end of February. Which means I can play catch up. Or just move on. Let's see. I've got some photos from Camp Wannastitch. First, very happy to have attended and not suffered from the Covid plague. Remarkably a healthy start to the new year. And being with over 160 people for days didn't change that. My roommate and I like to arrive Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-53261397304598906812024-01-07T20:42:00.003-05:002024-01-07T20:42:56.056-05:00First Finish of 2024 I was hoping this would be my last finish of 2023, but I was busy working extra days. So it's my first of 2024.MacSanta from Yarn Tree. I forgot which year. Late 90s.One more down. Dozens to go. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-74379899668072879322023-12-25T15:02:00.000-05:002023-12-25T15:02:10.098-05:00Merry Christmas In 20 years of married life in the Army, my husband and I were never apart on Christmas Day. Welcome to 2023 when for the first time ever, we are apart. He’s with our daughter at our son’s house. And I stayed home to keep the peace with the cats. So far, it’s working. No disasters, no fights. And when I finish up here, I’ll go cook myself a little prime rib roast. Yesterday’s activity Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-53234852512810176462023-12-10T15:38:00.003-05:002023-12-10T15:38:23.998-05:00Documenting the Santas Papa NavidadGreens keeper SantaEquine SantaWilderness Santa completed 2023Artic SantaTerrestrial SantaPioneer Santa Prairie SantaSecond Santa I stitched - the Black Forest Santa. Old World Heirloom Santas - the first one I stitched in the late 1980s - Pere Noel. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-91182901283704880332023-10-24T14:49:00.005-04:002023-10-24T14:49:57.186-04:00Square Head Color could be better. It's a really bright orange.I designed this after stitching Marilyn Owen's Halloween collage piece. She had an obviously white ghost on a purple background. It's byzantine stitch that carries thru the black stitching. Harder than it should be to figure out how to do it. Time to go pack for retreat. Hmm. What should I take? Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-3193539618964697932023-10-23T18:47:00.003-04:002023-10-23T18:47:38.457-04:00All the BeadsI still do want a large canvas all in beads. To see if it's practical I stitched this ornament a few years ago. I think I have at least three types of beading on here. A word of advice to anyone who wants to do this, always finish the edge with two rows of thread.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-22835203194657316752023-10-21T19:47:00.005-04:002023-10-21T19:47:57.451-04:00The Classic Corn, pumpkin, spiders, green, orange, black. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-11541639692289121852023-10-19T13:29:00.001-04:002023-10-19T13:29:20.407-04:00The Bright Is there anything better than electric blue?I can't wear it. I don't decorate with it. But just a touch here and there. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-55089440364216360652023-10-17T17:11:00.003-04:002023-10-17T17:11:40.494-04:00Warning Splat. Don't drink and drive. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-86685535204991525412023-10-16T22:16:00.001-04:002023-10-16T22:16:05.198-04:00Colors of Fall I have always loved October. And I really love an October color palette. All of them. The bright, the neon, the subdued, the plaid, the non-traditional. I can't pick a favorite.So last year when I went on an October retreat, I had many projects to choose from but I basically stitched only on a Mill Hill kit and a Lindy Stitches vulture. And I stitched them from start to finish. I've Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-1436297366500857932023-10-08T12:32:00.001-04:002023-10-08T12:32:58.466-04:00Frustrated Pretty much lost the entire month of September to covid. Came home from Seminar a day early with it. Not the only one.But enough about that. I took Gail Stafford's one day class, Sunrise.This is Gail's. Interesting journey from photo to marquetry to stitched piece. I have worked on mine, but the studio is a wreck and I can't figure where it is to take a photo. Also took Chris Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-11215136638684669152023-09-10T17:27:00.002-04:002023-09-10T17:27:38.104-04:00An Entire Month Well I will be back. Currently under the covid curse.A fabulous color study by painter Thomas Cole. One of the fun things we did in August. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-91020730419060020962023-07-28T22:32:00.001-04:002023-07-28T22:32:31.784-04:00This Is It Here we are. The night before our 40th Anniversary Luncheon and once again July literally takes the cake. Could it be any hotter tomorrow? Yes. It could be by a couple of degrees. But it's going to be pretty miserable and I've got a ton of stuff to carry in. Whatever. Let's party! Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-44771216184817195772023-07-17T07:49:00.001-04:002023-07-17T07:49:24.762-04:00Mid-month Madness Here it is. The middle of July. Certain things still need doing and remain undone.But I did finish two projects yesterday. First, Ruffled Feathers from Lindy Stitches. Next weekend, time for finishing. And in needlepoint, I finished creating a wall behind the Monster. This is a Liz canvas I found to pair with the Bride by Labors of Love. Happy to finally clear this from the Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-38507404123532173442023-07-15T22:22:00.001-04:002023-07-15T22:46:43.993-04:00Zoom DayToday was my first class thru CyberStitchers, the online chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America. It was Lettering for Surface Embroidery with Canby Robertson. A lovely way to spend the day. Though the cats couldn't quite wrap their kitty brains around me sitting at the dining room table all day. They kept checking to see if I wouldn't give them some treats. Which I did at lunch.First Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-20661490360456908622023-07-03T16:10:00.001-04:002023-07-03T16:10:22.236-04:00Value your Joys I think I started this sampler back 2020 after I had finished Catherine Agnes. This is the Wee Bit Sampler #3 by Scholehouse for the Needle. Copyright 2008. Anyway I put it down because I couldn't handle the over one stitching. At least not without a magnifier.I'm resigned to using magnification. And I love this little piece. Changed the overdyed cottons to Gloriana. Made the fabric a touchDonnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-85020539064772139282023-07-02T13:03:00.001-04:002023-07-02T13:03:21.344-04:00Patriotic Samplers From 2003. I believe this is a Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin chart. I added an extra letter "L" to tranquility, but didn't notice until after it was framed. Makes me laugh. From 2005. And I've completely forgotten the designer.And a Little House piece. I changed the date to when my hometown was incorporated. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-86930734927976967392023-06-18T20:07:00.001-04:002023-06-18T20:07:15.005-04:00Love Me Some Lindy Stitches We did our first foray back into stitching in public on Tuesday. We're meeting at our Wegmans. But we have a new Barnes & Noble that may also work. So I started my rework for Ruffled Feathers from Lindy Stitches. Pretty colors. I've got till mid-July to stitch this. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-79590931264402111092023-06-10T21:26:00.001-04:002023-06-10T21:26:34.035-04:00Letters From Europe I am doing some virtual traveling this summer (and beyond because I have some obligation stitching) courtesy of Nicole Parkman and Hands Across the Sea.Yes, I bought one of the 600 boxes. Love the thought, planning, and execution of this whole enterprise.I started the first sample, Aglaia Shina, the Greek sampler on Tuesday, June 6th. I'm using one of precious pieces of Glenshee linen and Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-43835338136318708702023-05-14T20:55:00.004-04:002023-05-14T20:55:41.696-04:00Wool Felt FunLook! we made grape hyacinths. I also have carrots that I'm making into a wreath. These were two classes through the Loudoun Sampler Guild at Primitive Homespuns Wool and Needlework in Frederick, MD.What a charming shop! I even bought myself a piece of Jamestown glass to add to my collection of blue and teal glass. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-36094006849631338992023-05-07T14:37:00.000-04:002023-05-07T14:37:02.740-04:00Spring Meeting and a Finish Last week was the Friends of the Library book sale and because I am a Friend I went to the preview sale which is nuts. So many idiots scanning books looking for the special ones that are worth more money in the resale market.But I still found my special bargain. I never even knew about this book. Don't know I missed it. Published in 1998. And it just so happened that this weekend I wasDonnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762836.post-73362689318766149342023-04-26T17:45:00.004-04:002023-04-26T17:45:44.122-04:00The Rule of Three If you do something for one granddaughter, you must do two more. Christmas ornaments for 2023 are stitched. These are Susan Roberts designs. Silk Lame and Kreinik worked for the t-stitch to fill in the snow globe. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16590452473318118140noreply@blogger.com1