A Tree

It is supposed to be 40 degrees today.  Wow that's a heat wave!  The walking is done and the bills are paid so I'm on to other things.  Yesterday I got the tree all done on Eleonora's Box.  It took all day, ugh.  Now the goal is to finish stitching the back.  The last side will be easy (hopefully not tedious).

I was trying to finish the flower on the "v" but didn't quite make it last night.  So today, I'll finish the flower.

I've been looking at the things coming out at the Nashville market.  There are a bunch of GPA things that I want.  Not need, just want.  But on the other hand I am encouraged to start working on my casket.  Rachael (http://ladysrepositorymuseum.blogspot.com/) has inspired me.  She put a music box in her casket.  I love it.  She told us the place to get one.  Now I have a source for a very nice music box.  But first I'm going to put hand marblized paper on the bottom and trays of the casket. I found a place on Etsy that has the paper I like.  I requested the Etsy person to make the paper design in blue but I haven't heard from her yet.  Rachael also put mirrors around the inside of her casket.  I think I'd like to do that too.  I used to get mirrors at the hardware store but it's gone.  So I'll have to see if another local store cuts mirrors for a reasonable (cheap!) price.
I love a day when the sun is shining!
A

Found

I kept looking for that alphabet so I could stitch my great-niece-to-be's name.  So I went back to where I thought it was in the first place.  And I found it!  She will have just a three letter name so it should be easy to stitch.  Then I'll either make it into a pillow or frame it.  I hope it won't look too "old ladyish" to my niece.  I started the middle letter.

I worked my way over to the other side of the back of Eleonora's Box.  Today my goal is to get the tree Elly is sitting under all done.

I got my first initial stitched on Friesland.

The weather is going to be warmer this weekend.  Yeah!
A

Looking

I'm going to be a Great Aunt again in April.  That means I need to make a stitched gift.  They have decided on a name already.  So I wanted to stitch her name (yes, it's a girl!).  So I went looking for the alphabet I used to stitch "Sophia".  It was a kit from Sweden or somewhere.  Can I find it?  Not yet.  I went through all the places that I thought I might have put it.  In the process of looking I found some other stuff.  I started digging in the laundry basket of shame and found many things that I had forgotten about.  I found a completed Nostalgic Needle design that is reminiscent of a William Morris design called strawberry thief.  I was reminded how much I like this design.  I should finish it off so I can enjoy it.  So I did.

 I had some William Morris fabric that I just love so I put that on the back.  It is very sweet.

I worked out the face on Eleonora's Box.

I just left out about three stitches on her profile and added a few stitches at her neck.  I'm happy she doesn't look like Ernest Borgnine.  I did get the back half finished.  So today I will work on the other half of the back.

I want to get the ribbon farther along on Friesland.

 I should work on some of the over one motifs on Amy Mitten's Quaker Bag too.
A

Almost Half

I am almost half done with the back of Eleonora's Box.  I have to tackle her profile today.  It always slows me down when I have to alter something.  Trial and error plays a part too.  Here is where I am:

I got a couple of things in the mail.  The pre-stitching for the Betsy Morgan class, Can't See the Forest, that I am taking in March.  The stitching was very easy and quick.  I added a couple of things.

Then I ordered the sampler designed by members of the Loudoun Sampler Guild of which Betsy Morgan is a member.  This is a big band sampler.

 The sale of the sampler is funding the Betty Whiting Flemming Grant Fund that supports the preservation of needlework.  What is so interesting is that there are six versions of the sampler stitched in various ways and colors and sizes.  You can pick the bands you like and just stitch them.


We got a little more snow and it is snowing now.  UGH.  Enough already!
A

One Swan a Swimming

I got the swan fixed on the back of Eleonora's Box.  I can't count, that is the problem.  Anyway my goal today is to get the back fully half done (or more!).

The mailman was able to come yesterday in spite of too much snow.  I was able to go to the Y in the afternoon and get my steps in.  I got two USA Todays this morning.  Things are getting back to normal.  We are expecting three more inches of snow tonight.  How many days till spring?  Too many.

I started couching the Pearl Purl down on the easy UK kit, the star.

  My thread broke twice so I decided to use some beading thread instead.  Maybe I'm not doing something right.

I saw on Jackie DuPlessis's facebook page that someone had completed her September Morning project from Williamsburg.  That makes me want to work on mine.  I'll have to find it first.  Now which purple bag is it?
A

Monday, Monday

No school today.  We got too much snow.

 Fifteen inches with lots of drifting.  It is only 2 degrees with a wind chill of -14.  UGH.  It is a day to stay inside.  The bathrooms got cleaned in record time.  I am registering for a retreat today so I hope the mailman can make it through to take my registration and check to the Post Office.  My USA Today didn't make it or at least we couldn't find it in the snow.

I had a great time stitching yesterday.  I worked  on the back side of Eleonora's Box.

 There is a mistake somewhere.  The swan isn't quite where the chart says she should be so I have to sort that out.  Let's hope I don't have to rip any stitching out.

I got a bit more done on Friesland.  I could happily just work on this alone.  I love seeing it develop.

I put a few more stitches in the Quaker Sewing Bag.  It is slow going over one.

I should get a couple more WIP's done.  So I can get them off the floor!
There just isn't enough time,
A

One More Side

I'm making progress on Eleonora's Box.  One more side is done!  Yeah!

I started on the picture side which is the back.  It will be more interesting than all those diamond shapes.  Poor Elly has a Roman nose.  I'm going to have to change that.  I'm not sure how, but I'm going to give her a cute nose.

I am a very bad girl.  I put two pieces of linen in the washing machine and dryer.  I just wanted to see what would happen.  Did it get the starch out?  You betcha.  I would not ever put linen in the dryer again.  I went back and read Amy Mitten's directions and she said to more or less iron it dry.  I ironed the linen using spray starch to get the wrinkles out.  It turned out pretty well.  There is a light line across the darker linen where it was folded but only on one side.

Then the lighter linen has a rusty stain, I don't know where that came from.  It could have come from my iron.  I can work around it.  The linen is still usable.  I wanted to try out some new colors on the light linen.

 
I love my Friesland design.  I got a corner done.

I love the ribbon looking strip around the design.
We are getting a ton of snow today.  Ten to fourteen inches.  So I am a sloth today, no walking.  I'll just stitch.
A