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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