Pattern to give away - LHN's Holly and Berries

I meant to post this ages ago. If there is anyone reading who would like my used copy of LHN's Holly and Berries design leave me a comment and I'll pull a name out of a hat. It is such a cute pattern and I really, really like the box ornament way that I finished it. I may even still have a copy of those directions kicking around. (No promises on that though LOL, not with my organizational skillz.........) I'll wait a week before choosing someone. so...... that would be next Tuesday, June 8th.

1st Finish of 2010!

I finished the stitching for LHN's Holly and Berries on Friday night. Then on Saturday I finished it into a box ornament.

It was a satisfyingly quick stitch.

Back to reality tomorrow - school for Hooligan #1 and work for me. Blah humbug.

I've been reading again, feels like slipping on a favourite pair of old slippers - for those who follow Crazy Aunt Purl's website, I just finished reading her first book, "Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair" If you enjoy reading her blog, you'll lurve her book even more. Also just finished "Julie and Julia" - didn't enjoy quite as much, great premise though and I did enjoy the foodie bits. Two different L.Hill's (Book of Negroes - awesome book) are on the pile to be read next as well as M.J Fox's newest - yay for Canadians!

Good night all,

C

Happy New Year's

So begins a new year - fresh starts and new resolve. I wish everyone a Happy New Year!

I have been stitching a lot - mostly on Makhi - I had a ton to rip out due to a mistake. I was not happy about that. I had thought that I would leave it in a closet somewhere, but actually, just kept working away at it.

I hope to finish up LHN's Holly and Berries tonight:

Santa was very good to me this year - lots of new stash and a new pair of Gingher scissors (my very first pair!) Plans tonight include lots of stitching and a movie, though not sure yet which one.

Chirp, chirp.. there are crickets in the corner...

Well - it is official - I am really talking to myself. So - I guess the first person to tell me they want the PA Design gets it.

Here's Makhi - for some reason I'm loving working with the aida though it's been years since I've touched the stuff. It really works well with these designs. I'm almost halfway done!

I have been wanting to stitch this next one for a while. My husband will be away for most of this month and I've been feeling a bit blue about that. As a pick me up, I've got the floss and linen ready to go. I'll be stitching all three designs together within one border which is given as an option within the pattern.

So. My nemesis. This damn red house I have now stitched three times. It will not be done again :shaking my fist in the air: Perhaps I'll even leave it with a crumbling wall as a final "screw you".

So - there you have it. It'll be nice to get back into the stitching groove this month.

An older finish

My projects are so large that sometimes I need to remind myself that I do actually finish things. This is Landmark's Kazakh that I finished about 6 months ago. There are 12 patterns in this series and I have 10 of the patterns. Makhi is the second one that I'm working on. They are easy to stitch and really beautiful. As they are a set, I'd really like to match their frames, so it'll be awhile before that happens!

Update on my LHN - I salvaged the roof as it was two squares short in the right direction if you know what I mean. So, I added two more rows to the left side and ripped out the red and windows. Sadly I was using a really nice WDW in "Brick" - and I didn't think I'd have enough to re-do the house, so I switched out to the DMC which I don't like as much but it'll do. 

Ode to the Red House two squares too far to the right

My fingers were flying I thought I was fine

That's when I noticed something amiss with the line

The stitches were even, the colour divine

Yet something was wrong still with my design

Oh no thought I, it can't be, what to do?

My time is so short, my free moments so few

My babes need feeding, bathing and more 

The paperwork glares at me there through the door

What a waste, what to do?

Will anyone notice if I just fudge a few? 

Yes, I will notice it, for sure most true

Now my language turns the air blue.

So tonight my dear friends I join in the group 

My scissors in hand to make right my kafloop

Poop.

Strumpety behaviour

Well, yet again I find myself unable to stick with any one project - so thought I would post an update of the 4 projects that I seem to be going between.

I started the Primitive Needle - Of Female Arts a month ago - love this fabric, and stitching it one over one makes it teeny tiny.

My LHN design is growing, but I'm not sure I'll make my mid- June deadline (OK, so I know I won;t make it to be honest...)  The roof on my third house seemed to take forever.

I've put a few stitches in Makhi - love it, love it, love it.......

Lastly, my HAED which is causing me to dream about DMC 809. Blurg.

DH will be home again tonight for the weekend - what a relief! It's been a difficult week with my DS who had a mild reaction from his MMR shot last week. Totally normal, but made my normally sunny little boy a cranky pile of fussiness. Fortunately my DD (8) was great all week.

An update on the swallows - still nesting and her mate is pooping all over my porch furniture. Oh well - babies are a messy business. Happy Friday to all.

Hurray for Friday!

Oh, weekend - how I've missed you. My DH will be home for a few nights so we all look forward to spending time with him. It was a crazy weather day here yesterday - massive thunderstorms all day - I think we're in for the same today.

Because there is no sunshine and she is up in a dark corner - it is almost impossible to get a clear picture of the swallow through my window. This one was the best of the (bad) lot and you can just make out how tall she has built her nest. She is sitting on it now and her mate is never far away.

Today is Friday so it's time for a little work on LHN's Neighbourhood - my goal is to finish this mid- June. When I actually put the time into it, it is a very quick stitch compared to some of my other big projects.

Let me out mum!

Enjoy your weekend!

Is it Tuesday already?

We had a great weekend filled with a birthday party, friends and family. Mother's Day was very relaxing and my kids were great. I spent babe's nap yesterday mowing the lawn, so I'm pretty chuffed with the fact that it looks great, but know damn full well that it'll need to be done again in a few days....
Stitching was as usual all over the map - I just am simply unable to focus on one project at a time..... LHN's Neighbourhood did get the most attention however and the top third is almost complete. I think I'll post a list of WIP's tomorrow, including knitting projects. I feel like I need to get a bit more comfortable here - I'm never sure how much to share? Do I want this to be just a stitching blog? Or should I incorporate more of life in general - such as the never ending struggle to find balance with everything in my life? Kids, husband, weight issues etc... Would anyone even care?

What to work on?

I have way too many projects on the go - I made a decision that something needs to be finished before I start anything else new. I belong to the blog "Let's Stitch" and tonight is the Friday night SAL. I think I'll focus on LHN's Neighbourhood on Fridays until it's done. Many of my other projects are much denser stitch count so this should be a fairly quick finish. Famous last words.

This is an older picture - since this snap I've finished the house in the middle and some of the tree on the right.