Done

 I finished all the stitching on the Amy Mitten tape measure. I laced it together this morning. 

I have the carrot pull stitched but I still need to sew it into a strawberry shape and attach it to the tape measure. 

I felt like I was ready to go back to stitching on Amy Mitten's queen borders. I'll show you tomorrow. 

I walked this morning. I'm thinking maybe I'll try walking just a bit farther tomorrow. 

My friend and I tried to go to Dunkin Donuts yesterday. The lobby was closed because of not enough staff. The line for drive through was really long, so we gave up that idea. Maybe I'll make a cake instead. 

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Tape Measure Progress

 I got the bottom to the tape measure of Amy Mitten's The Garden Thief done.

Then I started the carrot pull that goes on the end of the measuring tape. 

I started the side band that I'm stitching in strawberries.

Soon I'll be able to put this puppy together.

Going out to lunch today with a friend. Fun!

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To The Corner

 My goal was to work my way up to the corner of Come to the Garden by Teresa Kogut.

I did it!

I'm working on my third page of this chart. I really like this project. It is going faster than I expected. I thought it would take forever. 

I went looking for a shower curtain on the internet. There were 45 pages of them on Bed Bath and Beyond. I'm overwhelmed. I thought I'd better check to see if I had an extra one in the linen closet. Yep, I had two. They are not the kind I wanted but they will do. Whatever.

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Two Birds

 I now have two birds on Sewn in Friendship.

I'm not sure how far to stitch on the sides of this central motif. I want to make this into a drum. I wrapped this around a glass to get some idea if I have room for the words. In the upper right corner I put a pencil mark. I need to stitch at least that far.

I walked this morning. I skipped walking several times this week so I have to get in the habit again. We get to talk to the grandkids tomorrow. Yay!

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Happy Mail

 I spend too much time looking at stuff on the internet. Every once in a while I run across something sweet and order it. I found this Haven kit. It came from the UK. It had a postcard on top.

The kit was in a vellum envelope.

It is a small design meant to be a cover to a journal.

Nice selection of floss colors.

I watched a video from Claudia Squio this past weekend. It was National Cartonage day and she made a small notebook cover. It was easy. I can do this.

The weather has cooperated and I went walking this morning. 

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Top

 I started the second Garden Thief kit.  It consists of a tray, a bunny and a tape measure cover.

I started the tape measure cover and got the top stitched.

The band around the side of the tape measure is supposed to be stitched in carrots. I like the band that is around the pin disc which is stitched in strawberries so I'm doing the strawberries instead.

No walking today. It's raining. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I might not post.

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Bird

 I got one of the birds done on Sewn in Friendship. 

Love it! 

I went walking this morning and got rained on. It didn't rain that hard but I changed my top when I got home. 

I've been goofing around on the IPad way too long, I've got to get to work!

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Trailing

 I started a Wreath of Roses by Canby Robertson.

I was very much wanting to know how to do the writing.  It is a technique called "trailing". It is a whitework stitch. I have stitched for a very long time but I have never come across this stitch. I googled it and saw some videos on it. The directions in this kit are very good and I'm happy with how it is turning  out. The thread is silk. Trailing takes a while to do.

I'm not feeling like walking today. I was happy to see that there are some things on TV tonight that I want to see. I'm a Dancing with the Stars fan but I also enjoy The Voice. Of course they are on at the same time. So I'll switch back and forth.

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Two

 I got two new charts in the mail.

One is by Heartstring and one is by Plum Street. I tracked them down after seeing this on a facebook post.

That is the two charts stitched together and made into a drum. Cute.

I got out some sand Edinburgh 36 count and started it.

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Next

 I decided to go through a box by my stitching chair. I haven't gone through it for about six months and I wanted to see what was buried in there. I was looking for a piece of fabric that was for a couple of club charts that came in the mail. I didn't find it. I hate when I can't find stuff. I was also looking for a possible new start. I signed up for some classes last year but they were cancelled. So I wrote the designer and asked if I could buy the class kits. She said yes! I received those kits and want to start one. I've hooped up the pattern.

The directions say to put a piece of plastic over the design and cut a hole in the plastic so you can stitch and keep the rest of the design clean. Why am I afraid to start? If I were in class, I would start, no problem. 

I also pre-ordered a book from Inspirations. 12 designers were asked to design a pin cushion. Their designs are being put in a book. It will be available in October. This says volume 1, maybe there will be more volumes. The Inspirations Studios site shows the 12 pin cushion designs. 

 

After being lazy this week, I walked today. I was not happy with my brownies. It was a brownie mix but I used canola oil in it.  I can taste that oil and it is yucky.  Now I want to try my own homemade recipe. It calls for butter instead of oil. 

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Done!

 I managed to finish up the needlecase in this set. It isn't as neat as I would like it but I am struggling through chemo.

Amy Mitten even included needles for each section.

There is a second kit with three pieces, A rabbit holding a thimble. a tape measure and a tray with spools.
The questions is whether to start the second kit or start something new - or both!

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Not Much

 I didn't get much done yesterday. Hopefully I will get something done today. I edged the felt with wrapped hedebo stitch but since it is black on black, you can't see it very well. 

Then I edged the felt pieces that hold the needles and sewed them on.

 I sewed the pocket in. 

Now I am sewing on a large hook and eye to close the needlecase.

 Let's see if I can finish this off today. I went walking and I'm going to make brownies. Yum

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Time to Finish

 I went downstairs to the laundry area where my ironong board is.  I got all the pieces to The Garden Thief pressed. I ironed the printed freezer paper onto the felt. I'm ready to start putting this bad boy together.

First thing I have to do is the hedebo stitch on the top and bottom of the black felt. This is going to be so cute!

I slacked off today and didn't go walking. It is supposed to rain this afternoon. A flossTuber (Theresa Craig) that hasn't posted for 18 months posted today. It was so nice to hear how and what she is doing. It's like there is hope that things can get better. She is in Australia. 

Happy Tuesday!

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Monday

 I watched the U.S. Open finals this weekend. Very entertaining.  I got more done on the Come to my Garden sampler.

I worked my over to the right side, I wanted to see what the border looked like. Love the butterfly.

I got to FaceTime with the grandkids and Zoom a sampler guild meeting.  I also finished the stitching on the Garden Thief.  The next job is to put it together. 

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Nevermind

 I was going to write a post that starts out "I solemnly swear never to join another club where I commit to buying four cross stitch kits that I haven't even seen". I have been so disappointed this year. The last kit I got was a plain alphabet. No motifs. No cuteness or sweetness, not even any pretty colors. Nothing to recommend it. And it cost over a hundred dollars. Do I have "stupid" printed across my forehead? Evidently. I also paid fifty dollars for a scissors fob and a couple of small gadgets from another club.

Actually I have vowed never to sign up for another club in the past and did it anyway. Will I never learn?Probably not. I signed up for a stitch along yesterday. It wasn't so expensive except that I bought all the silk threads. There is a snippet of a corner that looked pretty interesting. But who knows what the rest will of the design will look like?  One of the questions asked when you join the SAL is what other of their designs have I stitched. None. So I looked through their designs. There were a few that I liked. We'll see if it works out well. 

I have to be careful as I've realized that I tend to want to go on a spending spree right after treatment. That's my excuse, chemo brain.

I finished the book I was reading, Hamnet. They are going to make a movie out of it. I enjoyed the book.

Walking is done. I'm ready to stitch (or eat?).

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Late

 I completely forgot to post something earlier. So here it goes. Here is my progress on the needlecase of The Garden Thief.

I'm working on the last piece and looking forward to putting it together, There is a mistake in the first row. I am one thread off about half way across. Do I fix it? Can you even notice the problem? I haven't decided yet. Right now I'm leaving it. I can go back and fix it if I can't live with it. It is 40 count over two. I'm pretty proud to have stitched this as I wasn't sure I could handle the 40 count.

This will be the little pocket for a rabbit shaped thread winder. that goes in the middle of the piece I'm working on.

I signed up for a SAL. I'll tell you about it tomorrow - if I remember!

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So Nice I Bought it Twice

 I started something new. It is Teresa Kogut's Come to the Garden. 

Then the other day I was going through a basket of stuff and ran across the same chart! Duh, I hate when I accidentaly buy the same chart twice.

The chart calls for 40 count linen but I am stitching it on 36 count.

The butterfly is my favorite motif. A couple of the colors are too close to each other (GA Flax and 422). I really like the design. 

I have an all day  appointment tomorrow and may not get a chance to post. 

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Checking on the Queen

 This is how the border for the Queen is going. 

It is looking better the more I get done. The gold is done and I am still working on the blackwork, sequins and seeding stitches. I think I would like to add a blackwork snail at the bottom of the scroll. I may have to add a little something at the top. We'll see.

I'm getting better at the plaited braid stitches (in gold). The left side border will look way better. 

It was a lovely walk this morning. Rain is coming this afternoon.

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Labor Day

 I got lazy on Saturday and didn't get around to posting. I have a finish! It is the Hastings Mackerel by Becky Hogg

I'm happy with how it turned out. I wasn't sure about putting it together with double sided tape. I think glue would have been better but we'll see. The pin on the back is also stuck on with double sided tape.

Here is a photo from my daily walk.

Yield to sunflowers!

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Another Book

 I got another book of blackwork patterns.

Lots of patterns to choose from. 

No walking today.

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Annual Ornament

 I got Rachael Kinnison's annual ornament. It's beautiful. 

I felt guilty ordering it as I haven't finished this one yet. I think it was her first annual ornament.

With the first ornament I tried following the directions but just couldn't stitch through the paper glued to the back. So I ordered more satin and tried again. Totally messed it up. Then I traced it again. But my dilema is the thread. I hate the thread. It is like stitching with a hair. The ornament has been sitting around for a while.

This year's coffer uses a different thread, Trame. It is supposed to be separated and yes, it is like stitching with a hair. I tried a little circle and it looks okay. But I hate stitching with a hair. So, do I find a thread I can stand? I think I have to or it will never get stitched. 

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Out Of Print

 I found an out of print chart that is scarce as hen's teeth. I was watching FlossTube and saw that Stitching in Sequins had acquired  things belonging to a stitcher who had passed away. One of the things she got was an out of print chart, Sarah Elliot.  I had admired this project for a long time.  I took a class from the designer of this project at Celebrations of Needlework some years ago. She was a bit quirky. I thought the chart had already been sold. I went looking on the internet for it. Nope, I found nothing. So then I went to Stitching in Sequins store, 1884 Stitchery. It was still for sale. I couldn't believe it! I grab it! I just got it in the mail a couple days ago. 

I love the box top. The box is no longer available. I want to stitch it but I'm not sure I want to stitch the words. It says "The man doomed to sail with the blast of the gale, through billows atlantic to steer, As he bends oer the waves, which may soon be his grave, Remembers his home with a tear".

Cool!

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