HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CARMEN
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
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HIP HIP HOORAY IT'S CARMEN'S BIRTHDAY TODAY
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JCS July Progress
Hello everyone!
We are in a serious heat wave here in BC. I find it hard to stitch when it's so hot! The past month had been a difficult month for me but now things have settled down and I can enjoy the days going to farmer's markets, cycling, hiking and visiting friends and family. I did manage to add in a few stitches onto JCS. I found the vine part quite tricky as I kept making little mistakes. I don't think anyone can notice though so I kept a few in. Here is a photo of my slow progress.
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Loads of little flowers, fruits and birds to fill in and around the vines. I think this area will be the trickiest part of the design. Can't wait to get to stitching the Adam and Eve!!
Hope everyone's week will be full of sunshine and stitching!
Hugs
Anne
We are in a serious heat wave here in BC. I find it hard to stitch when it's so hot! The past month had been a difficult month for me but now things have settled down and I can enjoy the days going to farmer's markets, cycling, hiking and visiting friends and family. I did manage to add in a few stitches onto JCS. I found the vine part quite tricky as I kept making little mistakes. I don't think anyone can notice though so I kept a few in. Here is a photo of my slow progress.
Hope everyone's week will be full of sunshine and stitching!
Hugs
Anne
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Parrot, Leopard,Lion
Dear Fellow Stitchers
It is a long time since my last post! And I'm sad to say I have been jumping around from project to project and that, with long work hours, hasn't helped my progress on anything! There are just so many wonderful projects and classes, and with very limited stitching time, I find my perception of how much stitching I can actually accomplish is very skewed.
So.... I decided it was time to sort myself out. So out came Parrot, Leopard, lion which I have not stitched on for a year (really?! Has it been that long!).
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This is my progress to date. I am stitching this on 35 count with AVAS silks in tent stitch. The only problem is that I can't see the over one stitching at night so progress is fairly slow. But it is the most unbelievably relaxing stitching.
I am so enjoying seeing everyone's progress and finishing. They are very inspirational.
Happy stitching
Joanne
New Zealand
It is a long time since my last post! And I'm sad to say I have been jumping around from project to project and that, with long work hours, hasn't helped my progress on anything! There are just so many wonderful projects and classes, and with very limited stitching time, I find my perception of how much stitching I can actually accomplish is very skewed.
So.... I decided it was time to sort myself out. So out came Parrot, Leopard, lion which I have not stitched on for a year (really?! Has it been that long!).
This is my progress to date. I am stitching this on 35 count with AVAS silks in tent stitch. The only problem is that I can't see the over one stitching at night so progress is fairly slow. But it is the most unbelievably relaxing stitching.
I am so enjoying seeing everyone's progress and finishing. They are very inspirational.
Happy stitching
Joanne
New Zealand
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Monthly Draw - we have a winner !
Well done Vera your name has been pulled out of the hat for the monthly draw. You have won a gorgeous half yard of R & R in Expresso and a notebook from Needlework Press a truly lovely prize donated by Carmen.
A big THANK YOU to Carmen for her generosity in sponsoring this month prize and next month's prize too - Sullivan Scissors with a note pad from Needlework Press.
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Stitchers - for your name to be entered into the draw for next month's prize you need to post your progress, every post will give you an entry.
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IT'S EVALINA'S 60TH BIRTHDAY TODAY !!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR EVALINA
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
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Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
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A little more progress on Miss Cox
I have given into temptation and jumped down to the bottom section justifying to myself that I would infil the leaves on Wednesdays at my craft group.
Well today is Wednesday - did I do any infill - NO !! I could not draw myself away from this area. Unfortunately I have made a booboo with numbers (dyslexia is the bane of my life) and managed to stitch the bottom of the gazebo in the wrong colour.
I am going to leave it in for now but may unpick and restitch if it looks wrong as the panel develops. I chose to change the colour of the little section of the dome from dark topaz to a slightly darker shade of green.
I am really enjoying Elizabeth, will she take Ann Medd's place as my all time favourite?
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Help!
I was busy stitching on Margaret Randolph (on a hoop) when I realised there was blood on the linen. I didn't feel any needle going in to my skin. As you can imagine I am horrified. I have put salt on the affected part and rubbed this in which has got rid of most of it. There seems to be a little bit left - I was doing the bottom border. Any hints or tips appreciated. At least I am not stitching with AVAS which I understand might run.
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I think I got away with it!
I think I managed to get the blood stain out. I can sort of see a slightly darker patch but I don't think it will be noticed. Fingers crossed? Thank you for al your help and advice - much appreciated. Here is a photo. The scissors point to the affected area.
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MANY HAPPY RETURNS MARGARET
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MARGARET
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
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Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
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Gift, Progress, a Visitor
Hi Everyone,
Friday when I arrived home from work a package was on the kitchen table for me. The fabric (gorgeous) and notebook (love it) from Carmen had arrived. And, she included two packs of needles. Thank you again Carmen! What a perfect ending to a less-than-perfect work week. I already have a SL project in mind for the fabric, but I need/want to work on Dona Dorothea for now. Lovely to plan ahead though.
I managed to do a bit of stitching on Dona Dorothea last week…unfortunately no stitching this weekend. Errands and chores got in the way and then just extreme tiredness/laziness. I didn’t sleep well Saturday night due to the neighbors having a rowdy party that went on till after midnight. What I should have done was close the bedroom windows and turn the air on, but we were having one of those gloriously cool summer evenings and I prefer fresh air to air conditioning…so I didn’t. And, thus, no sleep. My own fault. But, here is where Dona Dorothea stands for now. Not sure if any stitching will be done tonight…but maybe…
Yesterday my husband and I were sitting on the patio with beverages before dinner when we heard a little splash. This gentleman (or lady?) had hopped into a little pool of water we have by our patio and then hopped out onto the mulch beside it. So tiny and so cute, BUT, as I told Fletch, when he is in the water with his head sticking out his/her head suspiciously looks like a snake head – YIKES!!
Fletch saw him/her again this evening, but when I looked he/she was in hiding. So far Tyg hasn’t seen him (luckily).
Hard to believe that we are already past the middle of July. The summer is flying by. We are looking forward to our son and his girlfriend coming home over Labor Day weekend – can’t wait for that!
Have a great week!
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Hanna Katerina - a new chart
I get so excited when a new sampler becomes available - Hanna Katerina - don't you just love the detail and colour of this.
http://www.scarlet-letter.com/samplers/katerina.php
Marsha has done another amazing job on charting Hanna.
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Jesus Wept.....
I am SOOOOO GLAD that the chart Jesus Wept has been reprinted! I saw it long ago and wanted to stitch it but it wasn't available.
Now that it has been reprinted, The Attic was having it as their July Sampler of the Month. I could not wait to get it! I bought the chart, fabric and some Au Ver A Soie #1436 (dark blue) silk to stitch it in. I was soooo excited about getting it started but after stitching "Shall I presume to ventur near", I didn't like the thickness of the silk on my 40ct Vintage Light Examplar fabric. So when I went back to the Attic for Sampler Sunday there, I chose some Needlepoint Silk color 749 (a darker blue than I was using). I liked it much better because it didn't seem as think on the fabric. Everyone else thought I was nuts for ripping out what I already had stitched in but I just didn't like the look of it.
Here is where I have restitched it back in using the NPI color 749.
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Now that it has been reprinted, The Attic was having it as their July Sampler of the Month. I could not wait to get it! I bought the chart, fabric and some Au Ver A Soie #1436 (dark blue) silk to stitch it in. I was soooo excited about getting it started but after stitching "Shall I presume to ventur near", I didn't like the thickness of the silk on my 40ct Vintage Light Examplar fabric. So when I went back to the Attic for Sampler Sunday there, I chose some Needlepoint Silk color 749 (a darker blue than I was using). I liked it much better because it didn't seem as think on the fabric. Everyone else thought I was nuts for ripping out what I already had stitched in but I just didn't like the look of it.
Here is where I have restitched it back in using the NPI color 749.
Yes......I am taking this along with me on our move so HOPEFULLY I will feel up to stitching on it late at night. We'll see. I wouldn't want to mess up and have to rip it out.
Happy Stitching!
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3 rows done!
I'm happy to be at the point where it's time to roll the fabric to the next level. Here's my Hornbook Bestiary. First a pic with a dime, just for size.
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And here's my progress so far.
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You'll notice I've made the kitten look like my cat Mia. I just had to put her in, like I did with AAWFAA.
I'm holding my breath for Marsha's next releases. Have to start saving money!
And here's my progress so far.
You'll notice I've made the kitten look like my cat Mia. I just had to put her in, like I did with AAWFAA.
I'm holding my breath for Marsha's next releases. Have to start saving money!
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ITS THERESA'S SPECIAL DAY !!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR THERESA
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
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HIP HIP HOORAY ITS BETHANY BIRTHDAY TODAY !!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BETHANY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
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MANY HAPPY RETURNS KATE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR KATE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
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ITS BRENDA'S SPECIAL DAY !!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BRENDA
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
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MANY HAPPY RETURNS JENNY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JENNY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
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Beyond the Little X - an Interview with Karen!
For our August interview with we sit down with Karen to learn about her stitching story. I have been in awe watching Karen's stitching over the past couple years. She is a lover of samplers of all sizes, especially BIG samplers, many to admire and aspire towards!
Karen, how old were you when you first picked up a needle and who taught you to stitch?
Not sure exactly how old I was when I started. I do remember being very young - maybe 7 or so - when my mother taught me how to knit. I remember my stitches being so tight that even she could hardly get them off the needle. I got very good at making squares. A little later I learned how to do Huck Weaving and remember my grandmothers and aunts all received towels that year for Christmas. I did do some stamped cross stitch but as a young girl that didn't stick with me very much. I did not like how the stitches did not line up so for many years I stuck with knitting.
In 1972 when I was working at a State Hospital a co-worker introduced me to counted cross stitch. She brought some 22 ct hardanger fabric to work one day and said "you should try this" So that is where my love of stitching began.. On 22 ct fabric over 1 I stitched charts of the four seasons that was in a Good Housekeeping magazine. I did cross stitch for many years and gave most of my work away.
Then in the late '80's I opened a shop in my home. I took some classes with TNNA (The National NeedleArts Association) in counted thread embroidery. I had to design a sampler as part of the course and for that I was awarded their silver thimble Merit Award. Unfortunately, for several reasons, I had to close the shop in the early 90's and go back to working as an R.N. but my love of needlework continued. I mainly did hardanger for many years before coming back to the world of cross stitch.
What was the first sampler that you stitched?
I stitched my first sampler sometime in the early '80's.. have no idea anymore what the name of it was but here is the picture…
What is your favorite time of day to stitch?
My favorite time to stitch -- In a word – ANYTIME! Since I retired last year it has been a total joy to stitch whenever the mood strikes and let me say that is most of the time :)
That is why one of my favorite sayings is:
"The only place housework comes before needlework is in the dictionary!"
Do you sit in a set place?
I have 2 places that I sit to stitch. One is in the living room…
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| Quaker Sampler Wall with Ann Grimshaw (top row 2nd from right) |
and the other is here…
If you can pick just one, which is your favorite sampler that you stitched? And why?
Wow! this is a tough question.. I have so many favorites. I love Jane Atkinson - love that border and it was such fun to stitch and I stitched it as a SAL with my stitching Buddy – Donna. All of those that we stitched together are special to me.
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| Sampler wall with Jane Atkinson in center |
Mette Putfarken - holds a special place in my heart because when it was finished I sent it to Sabine Taterra of European Reproduction Samplers and it was displayed in the Textile Show in Berlin.
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| Mette Putfarken |
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| Vierlande Sampler Wall |
And the Sampler that I am most proud of is one of my own design.. I was working in a long term care facility at the time. The President/CEO of the facility passed away from Ovarian Cancer. The community center was renamed in her honor and I designed and stitched a memorial sampler that still hangs there.
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| Memorial Sampler |
What Scarlet Letter sampler are you currently working on now? What do you most enjoy about it?
My current projects by Scarlet Letter are Ann Medd - She was the project that brought me to the Scarlet Letter year challenge - she was put aside for a time till I decided how I wanted to do that last section and thanks to Nicola and Deb I decided on stitching it over 2 rather than in the called for tent stitch.. yikes! Then I found I had a mistake and was off by several stitches after having a lot of that bottom section stitched.. so she did not see the light of day for a while again.. now I have found the mistakes.. ripped most of the verses on the right side and restitched them and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.. hope to finish in the next few weeks.. I just love everything about this sampler. I will post a pic as soon as she is finished.
Manifesto is another in progress.. I started it on 40 ct over 2.. had it about half finished...then..... wondered what it would look like over 1 .. so I stitched a test.. loved it much better than the over 2.. AS a result my over 2 version has found a new home and I am now stitching it over 1 on 28 ct and loving it.
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| Manifesto in progress |
Also have a small start on Hannah Carter .. but she is going to be waiting in the wings for a while..love the colors in Hannah... I think that green background really makes the picture.
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| Hannah Carter in progress |
What other hobbies or interests do you enjoy?
I enjoy listening to audio books when stitching.. right now I am listening to "The Way of Kings" by Brandon Sanderson.
Karen has also had some beautiful finishes during the Scarlet Letter Year Challenge…
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| Dear Aunt |
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| Matilda Charles |
And, more recently, the now finished, stunning Ann Medd!
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| Ann Medd |
Thank you so very much for sharing your journey and beautiful samplers with us, Karen!! How amazing to have your work displayed half way around the world in Berlin! Your love of samplers is a joy to see and an inspiration to us all!!
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Hannah Carter and Manifesto
Just wanted to take this opportunity to say Thank you for all the kind comments... It was fun doing the interview and sharing with all of you.... Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to spend some time with me.
Time sure does fly when your having fun stitching... did not realize it has been so long since I posted here.... so what have I been up to.... My last post here was my finish of Ann Medd... She is at the framers as we speak... hope to get a call any day now that she is ready to come home...Since then I have had a few non-SL finished... Francis Poole and Isabella Fox.... I also stitched a sampler for my grandsons birth...ISL by Ute Scheer and adapted it to include is birthday, parents with their birthdays and wedding date, grandparents with all the same information.. love the way it turned out and it too is at the framers. These have taken up my time from March till the end of July.
So now I am back to working on my SL projects....I am mainly concentrating on Hannah Carter but have also put some time in on Manifesto.. so here are my updates...
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Both are being stitched on 28 ct Lugana over 1. with DMC ... They are such fun to stitch... gonna be a long time till I see a finish of these two but enjoying every minute of my time with them. And Yes!.. I used the wrong color on the moth.. that green should be another shade of the red...I misread the symbol and used the color for the y rather than the Y.......but.....not frogging it.. I rather like it the way it is and ofcourse we all know the trials of frogging over 1...so green it shall stay.
Once again Thank you to Nicola and Krista for the interview and Thank you to each and every one of you for taking time out of you day and spending some time with me!!
Happy Stitching
Karen
Time sure does fly when your having fun stitching... did not realize it has been so long since I posted here.... so what have I been up to.... My last post here was my finish of Ann Medd... She is at the framers as we speak... hope to get a call any day now that she is ready to come home...Since then I have had a few non-SL finished... Francis Poole and Isabella Fox.... I also stitched a sampler for my grandsons birth...ISL by Ute Scheer and adapted it to include is birthday, parents with their birthdays and wedding date, grandparents with all the same information.. love the way it turned out and it too is at the framers. These have taken up my time from March till the end of July.
So now I am back to working on my SL projects....I am mainly concentrating on Hannah Carter but have also put some time in on Manifesto.. so here are my updates...
Once again Thank you to Nicola and Krista for the interview and Thank you to each and every one of you for taking time out of you day and spending some time with me!!
Happy Stitching
Karen
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