Progress? or Shearing Season Hits Needlepoint Row

We do this because it is fun, right?  We aim for accomplishful relaxation, correct?  Well, last night my "progress" was un-accomplishing this sheep on Ethel --

I know it is all my fault.  I made bad choices.  So Spot (why exactly did we paint a giant eye on this sheep??????) went from that, through this.....

... to this.   Now he has to wait until I find flosses to match the Silk and Ivories to stitch his face in.

Hence I moved on from Spot to some flowers, and I learned a vital lesson in the process --

-- that Thread Gatherer ribbons are a pain the the ba@@ket.  I used short lengths, treated them gently, and the edges frayed like crazy within 4 stitches.  Good thing a French knot bouquet will hide that. Memo to self, must find better ribbons--- any suggestions?

As a lucky accomplishment that I had nothing to do with other than to enjoy the fruits of the mail service -- check out the totally awesome squares that Jennifer of Sweet Pea Stitches made me for the latest round of Fair and Square--

And she even included this special goodie -- a fob she made herself!

How pretty are these little floral beads?!

The first thing they made me think of were Mindy canvases -- you know all those tiny little precision dots and swirls she does.

Then I thought of this little mosaic broach my Grandma wore for special church occasions.   Hmmm, I think I have that.  I need to hunt it up.

I'll close with my tiny little bit of progress on the Mega Mini October event being hosted by Pull the Other Thread  I'm really rather liking working on this little thing.  I've spent my year 90% committed to giant projects and I forgot how I relied on little pieces to buoy my enthusiasm.

Back to that disaster that is my desk......   Have a wonderful day!

I smiled

So just now as I opened my little ole online sett (badger homes/dens are called setts for those of you uninitiated into the wonderful world that is the life of my favorite critters who look remarkably like  a ferocious dust mops) and the quote that popped up on the sidebar was:

“Tomorrow may be hell, but today was a good writing day, 

and on the good writing days nothing else matters.” —Neil Gaiman

Immediately I thought that it's almost right -- in my world that would be

"Tomorrow may be hell, but today is a good reading and stitching day,

and on good reading and stitching days nothing else matters."  -- Me 

It works for me and makes me smile.  I bet it works for you too,  Can I hear an Amen?

On the happy front, look who started her Mega Mini thingy --

That's a start on the little purple and peach house in this pic:

I know it is early days yet, but I'll get there.

Oh, there was fun yesterday in the Fortune 500.  There was a Rivals Rally for a Kure event-- rival local teams getting together to raise money for cancer research.    My beloved Bruins showed valiantly versus the dreaded cross town scoundrels,,,, who brought their blooming horse!

Of course, in the name of cancer research, yours truly bought the shirt --

If one of these events pops up in your city, go -- it's fun and friendly and for a good cause.

Happy stitching and reading to all and to all a good morning!

Smugly proud and eager

Dearest Gentle Reader -- A happy Monday to you and yours.  (Why, yes, I'm hanging on to my perky with both hands this morning.  How could you tell?)  After an utter slugfest of a weekend I am proud to show some actual accomplishments off for my time.  It feels like I get so little done-- do you get that too?   You know you were doing things all weened/evening and yet for the life of you it seems unclear what they were when you look around or try and explain to the officemates on Monday morning.  Or even more vexing to me is the periods spent doing absolutely nothing when I could have been doing something (ie. stitching and reading.... ok, ok.  Maybe even *gasp* cleaning.).

Anyway, today I can show true progress.

First off my Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fundraising piece is done -- complete now with Swarski crystal flowers -- which I must say really did finish it off nicely.  It was supposed to look like the pic on the left and I thing it made it.

And, as if that isn't glory enough, Ethel's festival-going ladies are all now fully clothed (assuming hats don't count)

And now for the Eager Alert (aka-- the Uh-Oh-She's-Getting-In-Trouble-Again Alert).  I singed for Pull the Other Thread's Mega Mini Month Maddess.  Do one small piece each week for October.   Now normal people should be able to do this.  "Normal" being the key word.  I need to acknowledge that my stitching moods are not normal, and therefore it is highly unlikely I will stay on task for this as well as keep up everything else I need to get done.  But what the heck, it sounds like fun.

The first order of business is of course selecting my alleged 5 minis.  First I thought of my lingering friends, LK's Flip-Its.  They've been waiting for me to finish them for years.  I pulled these 5 out as the top of the pile to get done:

Then I started thinking (always a sure sign that trouble is about to befall us) about all those cute little Christmas patterns languishing around Chez Hovel, and a few post-its later these popped to the fore:

You have to admit he's a lovely goose.

 And those 4 houses are certainly mini and downright darling.

And what about this scamp one over one?

I've always thought this jay looked particularly fetching.

 Who can resist a snowy lighthouse?

Christmas bells always make me smile.

I can see some color adjusting making this winter scene simply perfect for me.

And, well, he's just cool.

So there we have it -- my 15 possibilities for the Mega Mini adventure.  Yup, insane as charged.   Anyone else want to join the insanity?  Aww, come on.  It'll be fun.

Good and Bad and Fridays

Hello world --- And a happy Friday unto you and yours.  Today I'm going to be accomplishful dang it  --- even if it kills someone.  Probably not me, probably today will be most likely fatal for a member of the corporate IT staff.  Don't worry, it will be justifiable.

In the happy world, here is my nearly done piece.  She needs some flowers (mostly likely will be floral sequins) to be completely done.   Oh happy days!   The sun rays are, for the record, alternating strings of beads -- yellow, orange, and red.

I was awash in near-done happiness so I unearthed my old Prairie Moon friend and got a little more lake put in and started a new building:

Then I felt the urge for something really new --- stop me before complete idiocy sets in!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm sorry;  I couldn't stop myself.  It was like an alien took over my body.--- yeah, that's it.  It wasn't me, officer, it was that alien who started yet another needle project despite there being dozens of languishing ones in the vicinity.

And I fear the insanity will continue.....    I kitted this up:

 Sigh.   It will never stop will it?   Is there a class on controlling my startitis I can take to help?


Oh, but check out this guilt-free bit of happiness--   My buddy Jenn (who I should by rights be annoyed with because after all this whole needlepoint distraction if entirely her fault!!!!!) brought this  lovely magnet back for me from ANG.  It really is cool and I'm very lucky she tolerates my fussing at her for the needlepoint addiction.

Oh Lord -- you don't think I'll get addicted to magnets now do you?  Argh

Ok, I'm going to sally forth and conquer my desk.  The first idiot that wanders p with another plan for my day is toast!  Have a great Friday and a fabulous weekend!

Isn't that always the way?

Surely this is a thing all of us share.   You're nearing the finishing line-- you can taste the sweetness of completing a project and getting it out of the UFO/WIP pile --- and what happens?  You run out of thread. [and the swearing commences.....]

This weekend I was pet sitting and I got to here (below) on my Leukemia and Lymphoma fundraising piece (the right to have a custom ornament was auctioned off at a corporate fundraiser and the woman that won wanted me to do a cube commemorating both her daughter's art and her new home):

and I'm out of Flair (the skinny, zig-zag, veritcal-ish rows).  I had another card with me and ready, but seriously?  Twenty-five stitches from the end I need to start a fresh card?  Sure.   lol

On other fronts--  check out the cool needle minder my shop owner brought me from the Dallas Cash and Carry.  She's very blingy isn't she?  I'm calling her Katye after my great aunt Kayte who would certainly have worn this with pride on her "out to dinner" coat.

And, I want a round of applause for my latest finish.   Here are my "nature" inspired squares for our friend Sweet Pea in the FandS exchange--

They are modified from a pattern in Kooler's 555 Timeless Cross-Stitch Patterns and done in a combo of DMC and Belle Soie on a blue linen.  For the record, I know you are supposed to use neutrals for F&S, but I got Sweet Pea's permission to go blue.

Oh, since I mentioned the pet sitting gig I thought I'd share one of my charges unique approach to resting--

Honest and true this is his favored resting position regardless of locale -- hardwood floor, carpet, chair, doggy bed.  I have yet to understand how he can do this on the hardwood floor because he'll be sound asleep with all 4 feet in the air.  I don't get how he doesn't roll over and wake himself up.  Silly dog.

Ok, dear peeps,  I have to run... it's not that I don't love you.  It's that my desk looks like this:

Happy Stitching!

Being Lucky, Being "Productive," and Being Bad....

Hello world.  Yes, I should have been here sooner.  I'm sorry.  I've been... involved.  I'll explain soon I expect.  in the meantime I hope this finds you and yours well and happy -- with blue skies, puffy clouds, and frog-free stitching.

I can report, as the title for this post indicates, that I have been supremely lucky of late.  My "Country Club" stitching buddy, Kathy, gifted me with this lovely canvas that she has decided no longer calls to her.

She even gave me the collection of threads that were pulled to finish the piece.  Now, I need help.  I need you all to keep me from getting all entranced and ignoring my IP pieces in favor of this new beauty.  My strategy in this regard I believe is quite brilliant. You see I like my canvases very taught -- this one I brought home without restretching.  lol  I do what I can to control my baser instincts (and my growing list of UFOs)

As for being "productive" all I can say is I have made progress on various fronts -- not much progress though.  Sigh.

Ester has more clothing on the ladies, and more feathers on farm animals, and even some flowers in the grass --

 

Now the Esther debate rages over handling the baskets and dealing with those brown spots int he grass -- I'm sure they are supposed to be mushrooms, but with all those farm animals around all I keep thinking is, well, you know.   And I steadfastly refuse to stitch that!

I've made progress on my Leukemia and Lymphoma fundraising piece.   Planet done, and actually, part of the background is in too- though that got stalled when I put one row in incorrectly 3 times.  Three tiems is apparently not my charm.

My Tsunami Sampler came out for a bit last night.  Let's face it, I am a sucker for colorful pieces and this one is so handy for those moments when I need s little mindless color.  I'm doing her in a melange of Vicki Claytons, Waterlilies, Belle Soies, Splendors, and Silk n Colors.

And I have a new start.  Isn't it lovely?  LOL  It's my F&S Round #33 offering for our friend Jennifer of  
Sweet Pea Stitching.

Sorry for the fuzzy quality, but what ever possessed you to think I'd show you what was up for her in advance?

Now, as for being bad.  Well, I can't seem to help myself.

Some days it feels like I have 6 million books and yet I brought these home this weekend --

Mind you, I have yet to find a place selling more reading time.

And then I was also bad in the stitching arena.   You see it all started at TNNA this year where I spent a long time chuckling at the Annie Lane canvases.  Then maybe a month ago A Full-bodied Birdeaux arrived on the shop wall -- 

 And then a couple weeks after that there was an error in the shop's order for Annie Lane canvases and we got an extra one of these --

Well?  What do you expect.  I had to.  I just had to.  It makes me smile.

Now, sally forth and have a lovely day -- don't be bad like me... unless it makes you smile.

Merry Independence Season

Happy day-before to my 4th of July friends!  I hope the holiday weekend (if you get it) treats you well.  Here's to successful Wimbledon matches, a great British Grand Prix, patriotic orchestras, and grand fireworks......   yup, that kinda encapsulates my weekend.  What about yours?   (Yes, So Many Books, I know that there will also be unpacking and sorting, and putting away... never fear! --- Are friend, So, has retired and I promised to help her figure out where all the stuff she used to keep at work would fit in her house--- which will be great fun AND she has air conditioning which I do not... a real bonus on a hot weekend!)

I think my very patriotic buddy here can represent my holiday spirit --

The stitch guide for this guy just came in, and I have to admit that I'm divided on it -- it's cool, but annoying too.  We will discuss later when I have it on hand for referencing purposes.

More important than my to-be-started eagle is the arrival of my F&S exchange from Toni!    Check it out, my friends -- do I hear pangs of jealousy?  I believe I do.  I've known Toni for a number of years -- we met through Cross Stitch Pals -- so when the assignment letters were sent out for this round I think we both did a giggle when we saw we been matched by Jill.   And I, for one, have been having fun stitching for Toni.  Mind you I have obviously not bee stitching as fast as she has since she's done and mailed, and I'm still stitching.  lol

Toni sent my squares in this awesome "envelope"-- Toni -- you're the best!   How patriotically cool is this?!

On my own fronts, I've been working on this piece -- it is a needlepoint I'm doing based on a picture as a fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  I took part in a silent auction offering up a custom needlepoint ornie, but the woman that won the bidding asked me to turn it into something to commemorate the start of a new life for her in a new home-- the picture is like ones her daughter draws for her.  Eventually it is going to be a standing cube finish with a ribbon trim and  little ball feet.

 One last wave for the 4th -- this is a class piece by a friend -- me personally, I struggle to pick a favorite square.  I think I have it and then another one catches my eye.  Go ahead, see if you can name just one!

Have a peaceful holiday.  

P.S.  Sad news went out today via Facebook and The Guardian that Sir Terry Pratchett has had to cancel attendance at the International Discworld Convention because of his Alzheimers.  Positive vibes in his direction would be appreciated by the reading public in general and me in particular.