BBD Finish, Shepherd's Bush Start, and a WIP

Hello my lovelies!!

Yay! I am back at home and reunited with my hubby!!!  Sitting on a pug was fun but I felt it was time to let him go.  Seriously though, everything went fine,the pug was fairly good, except the excessive snoring and the leaping up onto me giving me bruises!! I'm just really happy to be at home, with my own stuff, my own computer and of course my man. 

Hamish

Once I got home, I decided it was time to start Shepherd's Bush's Tiny Garden.  Teresa had sent me the chart and Joyce had given me some lovely light bluish grey 25 ct. lugana to use, and since my thread order came, I was more than eager to start.  It was such a PLEASURE to stitch on lower count after I have been peering over my HAED WIP stitching 1 over 1.  As I was close to finishing one side of the Tiny Garden, I realized I forgot to order 1 Weeks Dye Works thread!! URGH! How frustrating is that?!!! So I laid down my stitching and off I went to 123stitch.com to add that one thread. I then decided to look around at the other threads they have, particularly the Valdani Threads and Dinky Dyes silks. I spent a REALLY long time browsing through all their threads, until 1 am.  Oops! I haven't order anything YET, but when I do..hehe...I am going to be adding some Valdani and Dinky Dyes silks just for the heck of it!! I also ended up adding BBD A Schoolgirl's Work to my wishlist cause I am hoping that either my mom or my hubby will get that for me for Christmas. I hope my hubby doesn't read this post because he would state "You have enough threads! You don't need anymore!" This is always his response. Like he knows anything!!

Anywho, stash stalking aside, I ended up finishing BBD's freebie design "Now I know my ABC's".  A lovely quick stitch that I am thinking of either framing or finding some sort of box to put it on.

 Yesterday before I headed home, I purchased the new Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments Issue and am pretty excited about making a couple of their ornaments.  Though I really need to focus on what I have going on now, so I probably won't make anything until the end of October.  There is definitely not enough time in the day to make all the projects I want to make!!!

Here are some photos of the Queen all framed and another pretty blue glass object I found at a designer store closing out sale.

Don't forget about the giveaway draw tomorrow! I'm pretty excited to see who the winner will be and what colours I will be using!!!

With Hugs and Pugs!

Anne

Pug Sitting

Yes, that is what I am doing! Just so all of you know, I am unable to upload any pictures of my progress because I am not at home.  My aunt has a fancy MAC and I have no clue how to go about uploading pictures.  I don't think my USB gadget even works with a MAC, so you will all have to wait until Thursday for an update unfortunately.

Thank you to all who have entered my giveaway! It's been fun to read everyone's favourite colours and teas!!!!

Happy Stitching!

Anne

ISHW and Update on Gray Cat

Hey all!

Thanks to all who joined my blog and entered my giveaway.  It was fun reading all your colour choices and what teas you like to drink.  For those who don't like tea, I can throw in some cocoa or whatever you like to drink!! I added a link to the side of my blog so people can still join by clicking on the picture labeled "My Giveaway".  Good luck to all and thanks again for joining in on the fun!!

Okay, onto stitching news.  I managed to get some stitching done.  I started on Friday night and watched, for some reason, the Notebook again.  This movie makes me cry like a baby.  I think it's because it makes me think of my grandparents, and their undying love for each other.  About 7 years ago, my beloved grandfather, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  He was a professor of economics and the most loving, humble man in the world.  Now that he is in a home, my Nana visits him daily, making sure he gets his fruit and sees that he is  being properly looked after.  Her dedication to him is unfailing and I know it pains her to see her husband fade away.  So you can see why this movie moves me to tears, especially in the end. 

Honestly, this weekend should be called, for me anyways, The International Frog Weekend!! I worked on Tiny Rose Mandala, and I think I did more frogging than stitching!! For some reason, I find Chatelaine designs really difficult to follow and I ALWAYS make mistakes!! Not sure why, but maybe it's the symbols and symmetry of the piece that my brain just doesn't get.  I still love her designs, but am worried about trying one of her bigger pieces.  They are pricey, way out of my range, and involves an inordinate amount of time. If I started frogging those silks and specialty stitches, I would cry!!

 After working on Tiny Rose, I moved onto the Tea Bath Fairy.  Guess what I started working with? Kreiniks!! Yay!! Super sarcasm here.  It actually wasn't that bad, but it is a slow process so I didn't get as much done as I wanted. It is such a cool design though and I really love how the picture is coming together.  Can't wait to start working on the fairy!!

Late last night, I decided to start another small, an easy one!! It's the BBD freebie design "Now I know my ABC's" and it has been one that I wanted to stitch for awhile.  I really love stitching the alphabet and making mini samplers. I chose 32ct. Belfast Platinum linen with DMC threads.  This is such a soft linen and I wish I had more of it!!

Growly Gray Cat Update

Um, so on Saturday night, as I was a bit tipsy from a night of dancing with my GF, I was walking, in my heels, towards my apartment, when the fellow who lives across from us was going outside for his smoke.  I decided to ask him if he has seen the big fat gray cat and if he belongs to anyone.  He said "Ya, he belongs to a lady in the building next to us.  She works for the SPCA." I replied "Aw that's too bad because we were thinking of taking him." So there you have it.  He is someone's cat.  I have to say I'm a bit sad about this, because after some thought, I really wanted this cat.  He's pretty cool and his growling is the best. 

I'll leave you with a few photos of some great thrift finds I bought awhile back.

Blue wine glass to add to my blue collection, found for $1

Hand painted Russian bowl found for $1.00!!

Take care and happy stitching!!


Anne

100 Followers/1st Year Blogoversary Giveaway!!!

'Allo!!

Okay, I've finally figured out what I'm going to do for my 100th follower/blogoversary giveaway.  I'm actually at 112 followers, so a big thank you to those who have joined my blog!!! I've been trying to go through all of your photos and add myself to your blogs, but sometimes your blog isn't linked.  Check out my post about how to do this here: blogging help.

Before I go headlong into the giveaway, here's a pic of my not so "small" pillow.  It may look small but it isn't, and it's not really big enough to be an actual pillow.

My husband thinks the length is a bit strange but what does he know!! I kind of like it: all oblong like and odd! I'm glad I made use of some of Denise's lace trims that I won awhile back.  Thanks again Denise!

Okay....drunk roll (typo and I'm keeping it....not drunk at all by the way!)....

Oof, sorry about the photos.  They looked so much better on my cell than up here! Alas, what can I do?
Anywho, I chose 3 fabrics:  27 ct. natural linen, 28 ct. beige linen, unknown count evenweave from my mother's old stash.  Both my sister, me and now you will have a piece of this really soft evenweave, perfect for smalls! Assorted DMC threads that I seem to have doubles/triples of and won't use in the near future.  Some left over Carrie's Threads from Tanglewood that is somewhat substantial compared to the remaining threads that I have leftover.  The colours are: Mud Pie, Double Fudge Brownie, and Blue Dreams. Some pretty lace, cord and pins for finishing. Plus the TBA pincushion and tea!!


Giveaway!!! Rules, yes there are. I'm a teacher so I like me some rules!

1. Be a follower

2. Comment on this post

3. Tell me your favourite colour or colour combo, i.e. blue/green, purple/red, etc.

4. What kind of tea you like to drink, i.e., black, green, herbal, etc.

That's it! No need to post anywhere, just enjoy my blog and spread the love!!

The reason I need your fav colour and tea is because I will be contacting the winner and showing him/her three or four designs to choose from to make a pin cushion that will be in this style: pincushion.  Just scroll down a bit and you will see what I mean.  It will be faster for me to stitch and sew something simple yet elegant.  My friend loves hers and uses it to stick her pins in when she's sewing.  I also want to add a super yummy tea to the mix from my favourite Canadian tea store, David's Tea.  Take a look through the website when you can and let me know which one you would love to try.

Okay there you have it, my giveaway.  I will have this open for two weeks, so you can join until September 30th at midnight.  I will do the draw on Saturday morning.  I will have my hubby draw for me.  Last time it was my darling Lucy who pulled out Joyce's name by her wee wet paw. I guess my man will have to do.

Good luck to all and I will be happily stitching tonight and a wee bit tomorrow before I go off dancing with my gf's!!

Ciao!

Growly Gray Cat, Hums and Haws

Hello everyone!

Thank you to all who voted and joined my blog!  Just before I sat down to type this out, I spent over an hour looking through my stuff trying to decide what was worthy and what wasn't.  I have a hard time making decisions, but I think it will be a good one in the end.  In regards to the pincushion, since it won the most votes, I will try and make it personalized and have the winner decide from two or three designs I could quickly make.  I will give more details next week or earlier when I post the giveaway.  Getting to a 100 followers might take awhile so I'm not going to have all of you wait too much longer.  Just let me gather a couple more bits and bobs and away we go!!

Onto the tales of the Growly Gray cat. So about a week or so ago, when my brother came into the city, there was this Gray FAT cat that tried to "sneak" into our building.  Seriously, could he even try to sneak being that large??? I tried picking him up to take him back out, but he just plopped onto my hand...and boy was he heavy! Like a small child! Anywho, I managed to finally pick him up, without breaking my back, and put him gently outside, giving him a few pats.  About 5 minutes later, as we were getting into the car, Mr. Growly Gray started to pick a fight with a familiar Slim Orange Stripey cat.  The two went at it, much to my horror, so I jumped out and yelled and clapped my hands, telling them both off for not settling their disagreements like adults...but do adults settle amicably? Needless to say, they took their fight elsewhere, out of my reach and into the dark.

Fast forward to two days ago.  I went downstairs to do some laundry and I noticed Growly Gray lurking around the basement.  I said "What are you doing inside again? Do you belong to anyone?" Of course he turned on his charm and rubbed my leg.  Again, I pick him up...was he getting heavier?...and put him outside.  Then another tenant came out and we had a chat about who's cat he could be and why are people letting him into or out of the building. (We had flee problems in the building awhile back from people letting their cats in and out.  Since then, our landlord outlawed outdoor cats). It seems to me that he is someone's cat because this cat just seems far too familiar with the building. 

Alright now the good part. Last night, as my husband put out a spider in the hallway (we couldn't kill it), Growly Gray sauntered, like no one would notice into our apartment.  Seriously this cat thinks he's all stealth-like and sneaky. HA!  He walked around our kitchen smelling everything, and growling, literally like a dog.  I think he could still smell Lucy because along with the growls, he started to hiss randomly!! We were laughing so hard I think I pulled a tummy muscle! His growls were the best thing in the world! So of course my husband looks at me and asks "Can we keep him? It's fate he walked into our apartment! This must be the cat for us!" I had to tell him no.  Reasons why, well, again, we don't know if he belongs to anyone, he's sooooo big and it wouldn't be fair to contain him to an apartment.  I seriously don't know what to do.  I'm thinking of putting up some posters around the neighbourhood and hopefully someone will respond.  If not then I have to call the SPCA and have someone pick him up.  Now I know I want to foster a cat, and it does seem like fate, but I really don't know anything about this Growly Gray guy and it would be too much for him, and for us, to be indoors.  He needs open space to hunt.  He's a mini mountain lion!!  Story to be continued.....

Onto stitching news.  I've gotten really far on my Tea Bath Fairy and finished my Autumn Crow.  I pulled some fabric from Fabricland and am now humming and hawing about how to finish it as a pillow.  It's sort of too big to be ornamental, and too small to be a pillow.  I can't decide what to do!!

I think I'll go ahead and sew it and just deal with it.

Stay tuned for the giveaway details.  I may get organized enough to work it out for the weekend. 

PS: Joyce is hosting the ISHW again!! Go and join in the fun!!!

Cheers

Anne

The Queen's Finished and She Looks Good!

The Queen's Sampler is complete! I really enjoyed stitching this design by Plum Street Samplers.  The silks were dreamy and the 40 ct linen wasn't too bad to count on!! I actually really like 40 ct. now and can't wait to stitch on it some more! Here she is in all her finery.

Started March 2011

Finished September 2011

Stitched on 40 ct. Vintage Examplar Lakeside Linen

Used NPI silks

The Queen's Sampler by Plum Street Samplers

What do you think of the frame? It is an old frame I bought when I was a teen down in Gastown, Vancouver.  I might want a wooden frame, but since I already have this one and it fits perfectly, why not right?

After finishing Elizabeth, I motored onto With Thy Needle and Threads freebie and am loving how this is coming along!! The stitches just pop out of the fabric and it's a really nice break to stitch on 32ct.  The piece of linen I'm using was gifted to me by a VERY generous friend! Thank you so much for the linens!! 

I tried to email Brenda, but since there is no email attached to her profile, I will thank her here. Thank you for the lovely pattern!! 

Now I am thinking of restitching the letters and making them a bit darker, more in the brown tones.  I am finding that the colours are far too close to the leaves, and I really want to make the letters pop, especially of mine and my husband's initials.

I also have been slowly working on Tiny Rose Mandala, but I often need a break from the stiff fabby.  It's pretty but hard to work with!

Soooo, I'm nearly at 100 followers and it's close to my blogoversary.  I'm thinking that when I hit 100 followers, I might as well combine the two.  The problem is, I can't decide what to give away. I have a couple pieces of linen and aida that I could give away, some DMC threads (not many specialty threads that haven't already been used), and some lace bits.  So what do you think? Shall I add those plus a pincushion to the mix? I've added a poll to the side.  You can choose all, 1, or however many you think would be good.

I'll close the poll a week from today and hopefully I'll be at 100 followers.  Psst, pass it on!!!

Take care and happy stitching!!

PS: Going to a union meeting tomorrow, so we will see what happens with the strike.  Maybe it will clear up some of my questions!!

Upcoming Blogoversary and a Smattering of Stitching.

September is here, and I feel the slight change in the weather already.  Usually in September, I tend to feel very excited for the upcoming school year. Although I am still a bit excited, I am also a bit worried and perplexed as to what to do. Our teachers in my province are beginning the phase 1 of our strike.  I have mixed emotions about this.  On one hand I fully stand by the union, however, I also am not in any position to not work.  I was just applying to various school districts today, when I realized, hey, we can't communicate with vp's or principals, so why am I even bothering to apply?!? I know I need to clarify this with our union rep, but it's filling me with some anxiety.  I shouldn't get into this here for it's very complicated. 

Aside from school and searching for full time work, I have had a very busy couple of days.  My sister and my brother, with their significant others, stayed with me for a few days although not at the same time.  I had a lovely time with them both, and enjoyed the time spent with my younger siblings.  Now I am a bit tired and eager to get to stitching, since I neglected it for a few days!

Also, I realized my first blogoversary is coming up!! Wow, a year in blogging! I have come far in the bonny land of stitching blogs and have loved meeting new and fascinating people over the year.  I am thinking of a giveaway, but I need to mull over what to giveaway and what to make for the winner.  Let me think on it for a bit, and I will post in a couple of days.  This maybe a belated giveaway, but I will have one!!

Thank you again for all your lovely comments and exclamations of "YOU ARE CRAZY TO DO 1 OVER 1!!!" Indeed I am, but it will pay off in the end when I can stand back and think "I WAS OUT OF MY MIND!!" yet being pleased as punch that I was nuts!!! 

Cat card from Teresa

The cat card came from Teresa the other day and it really made my day.  It was so thoughtful of her to send me a little card and some of the beads for Shepherds Bush's Tiny Garden Fob.  I love it! I've ordered the threads for the chart, so hopefully it will come soon!!


Happy Stitching!!