For Good Measure

I got the second row of the multi-color alphabet done and started the third.  My reward when I get the alphabets and numbers done is to get to stitch a bird and a strawberry and then a couple of bunnies.  It is good to have goals to work toward.

I made a Father's Day card for my mother's husband.

 It was fun.  I used some Stampin' Up stuff and made a decent card.  I have to get the card done early as I'm leaving next Wednesday for the June retreat in Phoenix.  It will be a fun time with friends.  We are planning visits to The Fractured Prune and The Attic.

I stitched the tag that goes on the end of the tape measure.

 I love the cherry "o's".  I made a mistake and stitched the nun stitch around the edge first when I was supposed to do it after and attach a lining.  So I'm having to figure out how I want to back the tag and have it still look nice.  We'll see what happens.  I really want to stitch the little bag next.  I love the sprig of cherries on the front.  I should finish the Just Nan mouse though.  Which one usually wins when you have a "should" and a "want"?
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Monday

I try to finish cleaning the bathrooms by 10:30.  I did that!  So now on to more fun stuff.
I measured how much I have done on Mistress L.  I have doubled what I had done from 1 3/4 inches to nearly 4.  Yeah progress.  I got the first line of the multi-color alphabet done.  I'm not quite to the point of having some momentum but I'm getting there.

I had a mini keurig and it died.  I probably killed it.  I didn't use filtered water.  Now I am reformed.  I bought a new one and I'm going to keep it as long as I can and not use tap water.  I love having a cup of coffee so quickly and easily.  I'm spoiled.

jhm you are no reply but your question is interesting.  It is a dilemma for many stitchers.  What to do with charts you are done with?

 Sometimes I stick them between two cabinets in my sewing room or on the bed in the computer room ready to be put on Ebay (they have been there for at least a year or two).

There is the politically correct answer.  There is the Ebay answer.  There is the friends answer.  I have actually taken a sack full of used charts to a shop for anyone that wants them.  They tend to pile up but are too valuable to throw away.  What do you do with your used charts?
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Ricardo

Thank you for the comments yesterday.  Your thoughts help me sort things out.  I do get more done just because I want to be able to show stitching that I have done.  I think I need to not worry when I feel overwhelmed with things to stitch.  I should just remember that I am darn lucky to have so many things to make.  Making things is my greatest joy in life, well, next to seeing my grandchildren that is.  My regular life is pretty isolated so blogging is my way of connecting with other people.  I am flabbergasted when I run into people from half way around the world (New Zealand!) that know me from this humble blog.  (Hi Maree and Cheryl and Margaret)

I bought this chart last year when I was at a retreat with Cynthia Zittel of Drawn Thread.  I loved the story behind it.

I was happy to finally get it done yesterday.  Ta-Dah!

I don't know what I will do with it.  It could be a zippered pouch of some kind.  I'll have to think about it.  This chart made me do lots of stitches I don't normally do.

I am working on band 11 of 53 on Mistress L.

I thought I would just concentrate on this project but I found that I need to work on something else after a few hours.  I decided that I'm not a Forest Glade kind of girl.  I'm more of a Pacific Blue.  So I tried changing the colors a bit.  After this row is a multi-color alphabet.  I would love to see this hanging in my house when I get it done.  (Notice I said "when" and not "if"!)
It is a beautiful day outside.  I'll go up to the Farmer's Market at noon.  Later I'll Facetime with Claire and Evan.  Sundays are great days.
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Cute

I just love how this little band that goes around a tape measure turned out.

I was a bit wary of using double stick tape but it all worked out fine.  I scrounged around and found a nice pearl for the closure.  I did a hedebo with black pearl cotton and wasn't happy with it.  I think the size of the pearl cotton was too large,  it was a 5 or an 8.  So I grabbed some premium Vickie Clayton green varigated floss to try.  Much better.

 There is a pattern for a tag that is attached to the other end of the tape measure that says "for good measure".  I may start that.

Sometimes I worry that I just stitch for blogging.  Do I work on stuff so that I will have something to show you?  I really just want to stitch what is important to me and enjoyable to make.  I want to work on my caskets but I know my progress will be very slow.  After seeing some of Lauren's projects I was reminded how much I want to stitch a couple of her samplers (Mistress L and Sleeping Beauty Awakened).  So I went back to Mistress L and stitched band 9 (out of 53) last night.   I am in a quandary on what to work on.  There is also guilt stitching.  If I spent the money to buy a project, I should stitch it, right?  Whether I like it or not?  Do you know that I have one casket keepsake that is not finished?  Anyway, I think I want to tackle a big project like Mistress L.  Maybe.
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Angel Mouse

My little Just Nan Angel Mouse is all finished!

She will join her friends and fellow mice in the Curio #2.

I should have kept going and worked on the Reindeer Mouse.  But I didn't.  I was itching to start this accessories kit I got in Ohio.

I just love all the little pieces.  I started the piece that fits on the end of a tape measure.

It is almost done and then I have to do the back side.  I think I'll go to the fabric store and get a nice new tape measure to put it on.

I got lots of photos of the stocks blooming along my walking route.  They bloom for a relatively short time so I was glad to get pictures of them.  I'll save them for making Son#1's calendar for Christmas.

I can't believe it is Friday again already.
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Something Old

Since I have been confessing to the stash I have acquired, there is one more thing to admit to.   I  signed up for the latest Amy Mitten tutorial to come out in July.  I asked Amy Mitten last October about the Diligence Casket Keepsake and she told me it would have a bee theme.  I totally forgot about Diligence especially when I heard she is designing a Flemish pillow with compartments inside based on an antique she has.  So I was delighted to see her new tutorial and signed up even before I got the email on it.  Can't wait!

Since I had two of the  Just Nan mice all kitted up, that's what I started yesterday.  You have to be prepared to change threads many times in Just Nan projects.  They aren't for the faint of heart.  But these little mice go quickly.
I just have to add the beads to the Angel mouse and I can put her together.

I have a bit of a start on the second one.  This is the Reindeer mouse.  (I still have the Groom Mouse to stitch.)

It is a warm day and the stocks are blooming.  I'll take a picture tomorrow when I go walking so you can see.
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Feast or Famine

Last night on TV I had three options.  Usually, there isn't much I'm interested in watching.  The final for Dancing with the Stars (two hours until they tell you the results) is one of my favorite shows. The final of The Voice where the last minute of the show, you find out who won. Thirdly, the last episode of The Night Manager was on.  I have watched most of the previous 5 (4?) episodes and I really wanted to see how it ended.  This show is hard for me to watch as sometimes scenes are too scary or gruesome.  So I went back and forth on the channels but mostly watched The Night Manager.  It ends after 11 (my bedtime).  I watched until 11:07 and then saw that everything was going to be alright.  I'll go back and see the last few minutes later today.  Everything turned out well.  I agreed with the winners chosen on Dancing and The Voice.

I have a finish! This is called the Traveler's Companion and was the secondary project for the retreat in Ohio.   I want to iron it again so everything lays flat and looks nice and neat.
Front:

Back:

Inside:

Don't you just love that cherry fabric lining?
I corrupted the design.  There is no inside pocket, inside the pocket.  One design has been left out.  Two designs have been moved.  But I'm happy with it.  There is only one part I'm not sure about.  To make the design long enough on the front there is a space under the square I would like to do something with.  Like thread a ribbon or stitch something to fill up the space.  I have an adorable little glass cherry that could be added somewhere.  I'm just not sure where.  I don't want to cover up my initial.
Now the dilemma is what to work on next?
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Mail

I got the prestitching done for my June retreat.  Yeah!  I just have to iron on some interfacing and I'm good to go.

I ordered the new Just Nan charts from Silver Needle and got them in the mail yesterday.

They sent the linen cuts for them also.  That's fine.  But what they didn't send was the bill.  I guess it will be what it will be.  I serged the edges of the linen.

When I find the floss colors, I'll be ready to begin.  (Like I should start something new!)  I have bags of leftover floss from Just Nan projects laying around.  Actually I kitted up two of her mouse patterns before I left for the retreat in Ohio.  I didn't get around to stitching either one.  Since Just Nan tends to use the same floss colors, it shouldn't be hard to locate floss.  I could have a stitch Just Nan week (month!) if I wanted.

I sewed up the Pyns pin cushion.  The consensus was to use the darkest color of overdyed velvet, so I did.

Does this need some twisted cording on the edge?  The edges looked pretty good so I didn't put anything on them.

It is supposed to get hot today, in the eighties.  I wore shorts to walk in this morning.  Maybe it is finally summer.  This is the best time of year.
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Italian Charts

When I was in class in Ohio a lady at our table was talking about her LNS.  She said it is called The Strawberry Sampler.  I wondered if it was near Winterthur.  Maybe I could go there when I'm at the needlework conference in October?  So I googled it.  Yes, I think I could.  I was looking at Strawberry Sampler's website and found some charts that looked interesting.  They are by an Italian designer.  I've never seen any at the needlework stores I've been to.
I was tired.
It was at night.
I was tempted.
I ordered three.
I have a thing for flowers.  DH says every top I own has flowers on it.  Not true.
They came in the mail pretty quickly.

I have so much to stitch, I shouldn't have ordered more.  I shouldn't be allowed to buy anything online after 8 p.m.  But I think they are very sweet.
I am so bad.  I have a couple more things coming in the mail today.

The bathrooms are clean.  It is warm and sunny outside.  I am going to work on my prestitching for my next retreat.
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Temptation

Just after the Nashville Market, I was looking at the Attic Newsletter.  It gets me into trouble by showing me stuff other stitchers are working on.  In this issue from sometime in March, I saw three things I liked.  One was a Mermaid Box:

By the same designer was a small sampler:

Then there was a Periwinkle Promises kit.  This isn't it but I couldn't find the exact one on the Periwinkle Promises website.  I contacted Barbara Rakosnik. She said it could be ordered through a shop.  The newsletter called it the Vintage Sampler.

So I contacted Stitching Bits and Bobs and they were kind enough to order these three things for me.  They warned me it might take a while.  Last week I got them!  This isn't the sampler I wanted but it is close and will be a challenge to do.  It is done on 29 count Glenshee linen.
I'm a bit overwhelmed by all this additional stuff I have to stitch.  More to show tomorrow.
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Saturday

Back to my real life.  I am now recovered from my adventures in Ohio.  Can you believe I totally forgot what I was working on before I left?  To justify my purchases at Lolly's I sewed up the little footstool pin cushion.  I used some fabric I bought for a different purpose (I was going to make this bag) but have since changed my mind.

 I was looking for something the other day and ran across these Moda Roue Indienne fabrics.  I had just seen BFF#2's footstool and thought what a lovely footstool these fabrics would make.  Then when I found the pin cushion kit, bingo!  These were the fabrics I wanted to use.
I had to trace 15 pattern pieces onto muslin and cut them out.  Then I had to cut matching fabrics for each muslin piece.  I sewed these all together with only a few glitches.  I like how the fabrics look together.

 Isn't it great that Moda has fabric collections that all go toether.  It would be a nightmare trying to put fabrics together otherwise.

I went down to Home Depot and picked out the drawer pulls for the feet.

I think they are a bit big but they will do.  I like the color and style I chose.  I thought about going to Michael's to see if they had anything that would work but that was too much trouble.

Without my glasses I can't read anything.  It is sad but that's what happens when you are older.  So in the bathroom l decided to try out my new toothpaste.

 I couldn't read the directions as I didn't have any glasses on.  See how small that print is?

So I just dipped my toothbrush in a got some on my brush and then brushed my teeth.  Whoo-ee!  That stuff is strong.  I would use about half as much next time.  It takes some getting used to.  It has essential oils of spearmint, peppermint, eucalyptus, clove and wintergreen as well as mustard seed and oregano.  Good heavens!  However it is gluten free and vegan.  My regular toothpaste is the kind with Barbie on the label.
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A Weekend in the Country 4

Now it is Saturday and we have class all day. It is raining when I get up so no walking today.  It is also freezing.  How can it be so cold in May?

 I have skipped ahead just a bit and started the first row of bargello.  It is hard to get the first row of bargello in correctly and I did a lot of ripping.  Then I find out the the teacher did hers over six rather than the over four that is in the directions.  That's what I get for trying to be ahead of the game.  But no worries.  I compare what I've done to the teacher and decide I like the over four version and will continue.  I may even change a few colors along the way.  We got a cute little bin of finishing supplies and another chart.

We ate lunch at the restaurant.  Whenever you walk by the restaurant there is a strong smell of fried chicken.  This place seems to be very popular with older people.  They have a big salad bar.  But I decide to get the sliders.  (Sinful!)  I eat them all, groan.
Then we go back to the class room.  Anna's mother is in the hospital and we are going to leave after class.  I want to see the projects the teacher is going to teach in November.  Near the end of the class time she shows us the two projects.  Oh, I'm in trouble.  I love them.  I didn't think I would but I do. Photos don't do justice to these samplers.   I'm not sure I can come back in November but we'll see.

Our trip home goes pretty well.  We try to stop every hour and stretch our legs.  We make it back just fine.

This was a very nice retreat.  I love the projects.  The area we stayed at in Ohio was beautiful and interesting.  The shopping was fun.  It was so great to spend time with my friends who are just the best people in the world.  I'm a very lucky girl.  And I have a big bag of chocolates.
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A Weekend in the Country 3

It is very unusual to have a day off in the middle of a retreat.  But we did!  Friday we had to day off to do whatever we wanted.  We wanted to shop.  There were quilt shops we wanted to visit.  I wanted to go to a chocolate shop.  Then BFF#2 wanted to visit Lehman's.  So we set out on Friday morning to go to Lehman's.

Here is a millstone on display outside Lehman's door:

It is an everything store.  If you need a new seat for your tractor they have them.  If you want all the supplies to make cheese, Lehman's is your place.  If you want magnets to put in the tank of your toilet to prevent lime build-up, yes, they have those too.  Lehman's is quite a large store.  It is fun to see all the stuff they have.  You would not believe the stuff they have.  Near the door when we went in is a booth that has fudge.  So I asked the girl, what is the most unusual flavor of fudge that you have?  She said rootbeer!  Yes, rootbeer.

 You know I had to have some of that.  BFF got some sugar cookie flavor fudge.  Then I found some interesting toothpaste in a jar.  Spearmint flavor.

 I found my sister a birthday card.  I got some great hand lotion.

 That place is very busy, lots of people shopping.

Then it was on to the chocolate shop.  What a nice large store.

  I got some chocolate scissors.

They had both milk and dark chocolate covered orange peel.  I had so much fun.

BFF#2 found chocolate mustaches.

Then we went out to a quilt shop in the middle of nowhere.  Truly.  BFF found some Downton Abbey fabric and even shared some with me so I could finish my second needle book for Betsy's Bristol Bag.

By the middle of the afternoon, we were hungry.  Where to eat?  We decided on a craft brewery.  BFF told us how much fun it is to have a meal of appetizers.  That is what we did.  Everybody ordered and shared.  I loved it.
We let Waze direct us back to the hotel.  It was crazy.  Berlin has a lot of construction and evidently Waze was leading us around that.  We went up and down huge hills out in the country.  The hills were scary.  That is a reoccurring nightmare of mine from childhood, coming to a hill that is too steep to drive up.  Luckily for everybody, I was not driving!  We made it back to the hotel.  What adventures we had today!  We got together in the evening to stitch and made another Amish Deli stop.
Great day!
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