One Stitch At A Thyme

Well this was a very slow week and a half getting this small section done. Guess I’m starting to reach a mini burn-out again when it comes to stitching. Well at least I accomplished my goal for this project. I’ve decided to rotate it in between the other projects on my list; at least that way it won’t get turned into a UFO.

I thought I’d try something a little different this time in displaying the picture. I drew a box around the actual section that’s new and grayed out the rest of the picture to show just how much and where the progress was on the fabric. If you click on the picture link you’ll get to see a bigger snap.





As for what I’m going to work on next, I’ve got “Camelot Sampler” set up on the scroll frame cradle. But I’m also thinking about “Musical Bell Pull” I haven’t worked on that since February 2001. Whichever one I work on next will be awhile, as I’ve been neglecting my growing collection of romance novels. They’ve been collecting dust on my headboard so I plan to get some reading done until the beginning of August and then get back to stitching.

And speaking of books, I was thinking of moving all my book related things – goodreads reviews, widgets, etc. – over to my Live Journal Blog. That’s if I can ever figure out how to put my author banners and goodreads widgets in the side panels that is. I need to start posting to it or one of these days LJ may decided to up and nuke it. I’ll be sure to post a notice and have a link in my side panel so you can look at it if you want, when I get around to it that is.

Well that’s it for this blog blurb……

All rightie, I’ve got a finish and an update to share for this week. Sunday the 1st I finished the birthday present for my friend (towel and potholder) and managed to get it into the mail on Monday. They said it would take from 5-10 days to get to England, and since her birthday is this Saturday I’m hoping that the package is only a couple of days late. I was really pleased with the kitchen towel, not so with the potholder and that’s my fault I’m afraid. I took the thing apart so it would be easier to stitch, unfortunately I couldn’t seem to get it back together so it looked right. I ended up taking it completely apart and re-sewing the trim back on and somehow I didn’t have enough trim to make the loop at the top. I’m not very happy but there’s not much I can do about it.

The update is just a little mention. A couple of posts back I said I was going to catch up with replacing the french knots with glass seed beads for Il était une fois (once upon a time). Well I did that last night with part 4. So now all the sections that needed beads are up to date. I’ve posted a update picture of the 5 sections I’ve done so far.

Now I’m turning my attention back to the dreaded Christmas Sampler 2003 with the determined goal to get it finished this month. There’s only parts 5 & 6 to sew along with finishing it as a bell pull. Then I’ll have to figure out what to use for the hardware to hang it with.

Be sure to click on the pictures to get a better look.

Name: BlueBerries Kitchen Towel & Potholder
Type: Counted Cross Stitch
Finished Chart Size: Towel: 3.75" x 5.25" (9.6cm x 13.4cm) Potholder: 3.64" x 3.64" (9.25cm x 9.25cm)
Leaflet/Kit #: Fruit Tarts & Towels Book 244
Designer/Publisher: Stoney Creek Collection, Inc. © 1999
Finished: Towel: May 04, '08 Potholder: May 31, '08
Misc. Info. : The gold diamond backstitching is Glissen Gloss Spectrim




And here's Il était une fois (Once Upon a Time):



Well that's it for this Blog Blurb.....

I hope everyone had a hassle free Thanksgiving yesterday, I did. The family (me, mom, dad, sister – kids & husband + mother in-law) all went out to Old Country Buffet for dinner.

On the stitching front I finally manage to finish part 5 of “Il était une fois”. After much debate I decided to go back and frog out the french knots for parts 1 and 4. French knots on 18ct aida looked really suck-y so I replaced them with Mill Hill petite seed beads #42012 Royal Plum. I think it gives the project just that little bit of “Bling” that was missing. That and no more making french knots with a single strand of thread….YEA!!!



Anyway, I’m starting to get bored with this so it’s time to move on to the next project on my WiPs list. That being Camelot Sampler. I just now took a look at my website and I can’t believe it; but it’s been 2 years this month since I worked on it last. Looks like I need to put some serious work into getting that over-1 section of the jousting scene finished. It’s either that or I finish the twisted rope border around the top half of the chart. Hummmm….. decisions, decisions…..

In other news: I went and got myself a very early christmas present. A black Zune 30 gig digital media player with docking port. I was a little over whelmed by it at first trying to figure out the computer software interface. But once I figured out how to rip my audio books and set them up in a play list under the music folder I was a happy camper. That’s what I plan to use it for mostly, that and maybe two dozen of my favorite music albums. It also has folders for pictures, videos, and an FM radio. It also has a built-in wireless connection to link up to other Zune devices, but since I’m a little paranoid about viruses I turned that feature off. I don’t like the idea of riding on the transit bus and suddenly getting a pop-up message from a stranger in the vicinity.

Well that’s it for this blog blurb……

Well I finally managed to finish part 4 after many weeks of delay, plodding along, and being called back to work, just for a week. I discovered that Aion NeedleCrafts message board is now gone. So I’ve signed up on a different message board called “A Crafty Natter” in the hopes that I can generate interest in this stitch-along mystery. Well a week and a half went by and only 2 other people said they’d look at the chart, so I guess that’s a bust there. O well, guess I’ll just plod along by myself then.

Here's what it looks like so far....

Remember to click on the pictures for bigger images.

And now to catch up with the Stitching Blogger's Questions......

SBQ - November 8, 2007

This week's SBQ was suggested by Renée and is:

When you have to frog out stitches, do you reuse that thread or do you
start over with a new strand?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/11/sbq-recycling/

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You know I could have sworn I answered this same question before in the SBQ. But I can’t seem to find it in my blog archives. So…

It depends on how much I have to frog and what condition the floss is in once I have pulled out the stitches. Also if I find it immediately or if it’s found a section later. It also depends on if it’s back stitching or regular 2-strand stitching. If I don’t have to frog more than half a dozen stitches or so, I just trim the ends, re-thread my needle, and continue on unless the floss is too short or too frayed. If, on the other hand, it’s back stitching I’ll usually just snip it out and start over with new thread. If metallic thread is involved it’s a definite snip it out and start over with new thread.



SBQ - October 31, 2007

Today's SBQ was suggested by Ternezia and is:

If you were a cross stitch designer, what would your design style be?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-designing/

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Wow, tough call there. I’ve always loved Teresa Wentzler’s designs so Fantasy/Mythical would one, another would be a combo of Pagan/Wiccan/Celtic design styles. Celtic knot work has always fascinated me.




SBQ - October 24, 2007

This week's SBQ was suggested by Renée and is:

Do you railroad?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-working-on-the-railroad/

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YES! In fact I was doing it long before I knew that was the official technical term for it.




SBQ - October 17, 2007

This week's SBQ was suggested by Jennifer and is:

What proportion of your stitching is for your own personal use versus
gifts?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-gift-giving/

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For the last 15 years or so it seems I’ve been doing, for the most part, projects for family members. But as of this year I’m putting my foot down and “Just saying NO!”. I have to start thinking about myself for once, and sometimes I got the feeling that my stitching was more or less expected and not appreciated for the work and time I put in on it. So from now on I stitch just for me!

Well here it is as promised.


(click on the pics for a bigger image)


And the whole thing so far…..



Even though part 4 is now up on Annick’s site, I’ll be printing out a copy and putting the project on the bottom of the WiP pile. It’s time to concentrate on “To Love and Cherish” until I get it finished hopefully before this coming June for my sister.

S.E.X. NEWS: Got a package in the mail from Nordic Needle yesterday with a whole yard of Zweigart’s 28 count “White” Cashel Linen, 4 pkgs of Anchor gold-plated 26 tapestry needles and 2 sets of blue Handy Magnets. I saw Shay Pendray using these magnets on her show “NeedleArts Studio” and they work great.

The floss set collecting for J & P Coats embroidery thread is still going slow but steady. I’ve run across three colors so far that have been discontinued and I’m hoping to find an OLNS on the east coast that still might have them in their old stock.

Last night before I went to bed I ordered a couple of items from the Shakespeare's Peddler :

10 skeins of “Coastal Fog” Gentle Art’s Sampler Thread Limited Edition cotton floss and a fat quarter of Zweigart’s 28 count “Deep Teal Green” Jazlyn fabric. I have a special project that I’m saving it for, something that I designed myself.


WORK NEWS: The stockroom work load has slowed down to the point where there’s nothing for me to do, so I’ve been told to stay home next week until business picks up. Which means I’ll get to stitch all day for a whole week!! Wahoo!!!

Well that it for today’s blog blurb.

Finished part two Friday night while watching the extended version of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” on TV. I only made a slight change in the chart. The DMC B5200 (bright white) seemed to disappear on the fiddler’s light fabric so I outlined it with one strand of DMC 169 (light pewter). [Click on the picture for a bigger, clearer image]



If anyone is interested in chatting, EZBoard's Aion NeedleCrafts has a Le Marquoir Stitchalong forum.

I’ll be working on “Pegasus and Butterflies” until part 3 shows up on Annick’s webpage on Saturday hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

Now that I’m working full time again, and standing on bare cement floors for 7 hours, I’m rather exhausted by the time I get home. I only have an hour free to stitch before it’s time for bed at 9pm. So progress on all my WiPs will be a bit on the slow side from now on.

That’s all for weeks blog blurb.

Get out the wet noodle and slap me silly. I’ve gone and started another project. Even after I swore on my considerable stack of bobbin floss boxes that I wouldn’t start another one. I couldn’t help myself, the temptation was too great. First, it’s a free on-line multi part mystery chart. Second, it’s totally in French and I can’t read a single word. Hence the challenge – well some what of a challenge, Google does make a lame attempt at translating.

Anyway, it’s called Le Marquoir - Il était une fois ( Le Marquoir - Once Upon A Time... ) and is designed by Annick Abrial. It’s a 16 part mystery, the link to the chart page is in my side-bar Wips section if you want to join in.

And here is part 1 finished with the beginning of part 2 started.



Good news on the Job front !!!

Manufacturing Services called me today at 10AM. They want me to work Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Work will be on a week-to-week basis until they get up and moving again with work orders. They wanted me to come in for half-a-day today but I had to decline. Being up to 3AM stitching and waking up at 9:30AM with aching eyes and less then 6 hours sleep doesn’t work for being coordinated on the job.

Anyway, that’s all for today’s blog blurb.