"Hog Heaven"

I went to the library with our two youngest yesterday and checked out the most fabulous, yummy, creative needlework book. It's called "Needlework Masterpieces from Winterthur" by Hollis Greer Minor. It's been around for a while but I've been reading my way through some other sections of the building :)

I love the basic introduction to Winterthur, the du Pont family and basic embroidery. Makes you want to research in more depth. I want to try making the brick cover :)

Guess I'll have to put a trip to Delaware on my "to visit" list and the book on my "to buy" list.

http://www.winterthur.org/

The other book I checked out (to help me teach my youngest daughter) is "Cross-stitch For The First Time" by Donna Kooler. The featured designers are Barbara Baatz, Emie Bishop, Janelle Giese, Linda Gillum, Sandy Orton, Tina & Teri Richards, and Nancy Rossi. Love the projects and how the to do sections are broken down into easy follow along "how to ..." chapters

"I Love Snowmen" - finished at last :)

It only took a few minutes to sew each ornament together. I think the frayed edge is becoming one of my "marks" given the number of projects I've finished off this way. The rest of the pictures are on my side bar under Stitching Finishes 2009.

Juliet's project - an update.

Juliet has been working on her project every day either before heading out to work or after she gets home. She is currently working on the cat at the top and the blue ribbon at the bottom.

Pincushion Summer Swap 09

Martine in the Netherlands has received the package I sent her and is happy.

Her blog address is http://www.martinejannaas.web-log.nl if you want to visit her site to learn more about her. If you scroll down a bit you can see the blocks she is making for the Civil War Dairy Quilt. They look lovely.

Stitching issues

So for the first time I'm having problems with sweaty palms and needles rapidly losing their finish. I don't know if I'm heading into menopause and my body chemistry is changing again or if it is the heat and humidity :)

The humidity is turning my brain to mush, even with A/C, so no stitching has happened recently. I'm sooooo close to having 3 projects finished. Grumble, grumble, grumble.

If anyone has any solutions please feel free to tell me. I want to stitch.

Mini sampler

My very first mini sampler is now designed and finished. I made it into a mini pillow. I enjoyed the process and am looking forward to doing some more.

It was stitched on 28 ct. evenweave using cross stitch over 2 an 1, running stitch and weave through. At the corners are bronze seed beads. The alphabet was one of many freebies that can be found on-line. Floss colors - DMC 319 green, 300 brown, and Designs for Needles orange. The finished piece measures 51/2"x 61/2".

Angel of Mercy I

Mel recently had a giveaway on her blog at http://epicstitching.blogspot.com/ and I decided "what the heck, I'll enter it." I got on e-mail on Friday letting me know I had won ..... Lavender & Lace "Angel of Mercy" pattern.

Needless to say now that I am passed the initial shock I am delighted and looking forward to stitching my very first L&L. Go visit her blog and see what she is currently stitching ..... "Skull duggery" abounds :)

Pincushion Summer Swap 09

My pincushion pillow is finished. Woohoo :)

It measures 71/2"x51/2" and can be used as a pincushion or a decorative pillow. I adapted the May 2006/2007 freebie pattern from Ink Circles for the Celtic knot.

The background for the first picture is a major hint to what time period the recipient is interested in !!!!!

So 1 swap finished 3 to go but for now dear people I am off to do something else. All this 28 count stitching can make a girl's eyes cross waaaay too much :)

Juliet's project

My daughter Juliet likes to cross-stitch but does not have much time she can devote to it. This is the piece she is wanting to finish during her summer break from university.It's a heart and flower wreath with a cat sitting on top.

Exchange Heaven - Alphabet swap

Look what appeared in the mail yesterday. Came all the way from England courtesy of Michelle. According to her blog she was watching TV and managed to sew it to her shorts :)

The colors are a lot brighter in reality and since they are burgundy and green will look great in my front living room.

Not much....

... happening on the stitching front other than sewing clothes.

I've been putting antibiotic ointment in my eyes since last week so today was the first time I could focus on anything properly.

Now that my two youngest are gone for a few days I'm playing catch up with some of my exchanges. They are due next week and fortunately there is not much left to do on any of them.

Got to put new batteries in my camera so no photos till later next week.

Porlock Down

A few years ago my parents gave me the kit for Porlock Down, part of the Lilliput Lane collection by Anchor. I started it then life got super busy and it sat in a drawer for a few years. On occasion I would take it out and add a few more stitches.

At the beginning of last week I decided it was time to get this pretty piece finished and have been working on it every day. There's a lot of color changes involved so it has been slow going. At the moment I am taking a break from the cross stitches and doing some of the outline and detail stitches. I've been sewing the side of the house, the tree to the left, all the bushes and the retainer walls.