My Blackbird sampler

stitched 1 over 1 on Belfast platinum linen
Thread Gatherer silk, color In the Burgundy

Last Friday, I got the urge to stitch up the little Blackbird Designs sampler. Instead of working in the yard like I was supposed to this past weekend, I used most of my free time bent over my stitching.

And I was also in the mood for a little 1 over 1. I made a few mistakes along the way, but left them. I think that was the original character of this pattern anyway. Claire is my soon to be 18 year old daughter. The bird is kind of wonky, but I didn't plan this chart very well and was left with little room to work with.

This tiny piece is only 2 x 3 1/2" and I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet. I was determined to get this stitched by the April 27th deadline, so at 11:30pm I had put the last stitch in and emailed my photo off to Blackbird shortly before midnight. That meant only getting about 4 1/2 hours of sleep last night, so I know for sure that I am certifiable.

Having a deadline for stitching is exactly why I don't do exchanges. I know myself well enough that it would only cause stress and I would be burning the midnight oil to get things ready to send. I also haven't done well getting gifts stitched on time. Shoot, my SIL was divorced by the time I finished her wedding gift!

The attic beckoned

A lovely 60 degrees here today and where was I? In the attic! My friend and I are having a garage sale in a month and I wanted to work up there before it starts to get too hot to be up there. Bit by bit I am able to weed out stuff. Sometimes it takes years to decide to get rid of something.

I wish it was totally clean up there but I just can't bear to get rid of the Legos, K'nex, American Girl and Barbie dolls (and all the associated paraphernalia). If I have any advice for new parents, it is to not buy so much stuff!

We also have a lot of old stuff from my husband's parent's home. Lots of old Tonka trucks that are too precious to even think about selling. Every time DH comes back from out east, he has old army stuff, snowshoes and backpacks. I can only imagine how hard it is for his aunt who is trying to move and for his brother, who had to clear out the attic and basement of his mother's home. They never threw away anything!

DH doesn't like to throw stuff out either...I don't like clutter and I certainly don't want anyone else to have to deal with my detritus after I am gone.

No stitchy pictures today, but I am making good progress on Spring Has Come and will spend a couple of hours tonight working on it. I've been thinking about the BBD contest and may stitch that up next if I think I can get it done in time.

I'm off to another great place to be on a perfect day. The gym (yuck).

Spring is here

I had the day off today and started the day my favorite way. Lots of coffee and some free stitching time! The problem is tearing myself away to get some chores done.

I was a good girl and did make some phone calls I had been putting off...calling the gas company, playing with numbers to see if we should refinance our home, calling a landscape company about some much needed work, financial aid stuff for college. I made no progress on any of this, but at least I got some information.

Prairie Schooler "Spring Has Come"

As you can see, I hop around a lot when I'm stitching. I hope I can get this done within a week because I need to make my April ornie and I want to get started on a gift for my mom. I've had a few problems with the frogs and I just noticed that the larger bird is off by one stitch and that his beak will hit the border if I don't redo him. Drat and double drat! I always tell myself that I will count twice and stitch once, but it never fails that I will add or miss a stitch and set the whole thing off.

I know you all can relate to this!

a LNS visit

It's a very gray and rainy day here in OH. I don't feel inspired to do much of anything except to stitch but I will get going on some housework and other need to be done things.

I was very happy to visit a needlework shop yesterday. It's been years since I actually set foot in a bricks and mortar store and as soon as I stepped inside, it felt like home. The shop is Blueberry Hill Stitchery in Akron, OH. DD and I had gone out of town to drop off her prom dress to be altered at the place of purchase and this shop was nearby. She was pretty patient with me while I went through all the charts and admired the needlework. They had a lovely exhibit of Primitive Traditions needlework including these items. I was in awe.

Fortunately I didn't have time to buy much (thank you DD!) but I have plenty of stash to suit me right now. I did pick up some nice remnants of linen and 1 little BBD chart and a Quaker Medallion chart by Carriage House Samplings.

I hope I'll be able to visit this nice shop on a regular basis. It was a real treat.

another ornament finish

I've been MIA from this blog lately, but I've been blogging in my mind. I was trying to get some stitching done so I would have something to show, and I finally have something!

Thanks so much for putting up with my rant in my last post. I really really appreciate all of your kind comments. I was wishing I had stuck with my old career job mainly because of money, but in truth, that job was often not satisfying and there was a lot of pressure. When I wanted to go part time, my boss still wanted me to do all the work I had been doing full time! I have never had a lot of confidence when it comes to working and often settle for the easy way out. At the tender age of 56, I don't see that changing :)

Here's my new ornament finish! I tell ya, this thing gave me fits! It called for using Wisper for the white cuff on the hat, but I could not and would not use this stuff. The thread kept breaking or knotting and I couldn't see where I was stitching. Then I decided to make a pillow ornament out of it, but mind me, working with the the lugana was a pain. By the time I was done sewing it up, the fabric was so unraveled that it unraveled me! So I sewed the little bands of the backing fabric around the edges. I really like the metallic lugana for ornaments, but I'll have to think of a better way to finish it next time.

A Merry Kitty Klaus by Val's Stuff
2007 JCS ornament issue
20 ct. metallic lugana
Crescent Colors floss

I used the Crescent Colors because I had never used it before and wanted to try it. The colors are nice and vibrant, but really not necessary for this little piece. DMC would have been just as good.

Congratulations to Lee's daughter who just decided to attend the College of Wooster, here in the town where I live. It is so exciting (and a tad bit scary) to see one's child get ready to go off to college. There's just a feeling of promise in the air and a hope for a good future for them. I was reading Lee's blog and saw that COW was one of the schools they were looking at and we chatted about the town and the school. Now we have a chance to meet IRL!