Sunday, April 27, 2014

Pascha and Beginnings

Christ is Risen!!

This is what we say for a few weeks after Pascha.  We had a good Pascha last week although both my husband and I got sick. I even had to take a day off of work which I never do!  For Pascha, we had our late night service and the hymns were beautiful.  So uplifting for the soul.  We broke the fast afterwards and ate some kulich and syrny pascha (sweet cheese dish).  The next day, my mom came briefly from Edmonton, flying back to Prince George.  I suppose they don't have direct flights from PG to Edmonton, so they have to come through Vancouver.  It was so good to see her for an hour! We ate roast beef rather quickly and chatted very fast too.  Then she was gone. 

Yummy kulich

Pascha breakfast
My beautiful mother and me

My sweet hubby and mom
 As for crocheting and stitching, I managed to make a few new starts.  Why I start on more projects, I don't know.  I'm becoming a serial starter! I know I should just focus on what I have but I couldn't help it! This weekend, I started Sarah Chapple.  I got the recommended fabric, 35 ct Rook and found it so dark and stiff.  So I washed and ironed it to get rid of the sort of rusty stripes I found on the fabric.  The rusty stripes are still there but much more muted.  Then I started the sampler with 2 strands of silk over 2.  I made a lot of progress but then thought, 1 strand provides just as much coverage, might as well save the silk, so I ripped out my progress and began again.  Here she is so far.


I would have bought new linen for Sarah, but my hubby found out the cost of the linen and said "Heck no! You are stitching on that and are going to be happy with it!"  So I guess I'll have to make do!

I also started a sweet little design, La-D-Da's O Birdy which was loaned to me by the lovely Carol.  I'm using 40 count flax linen with GAST and AVAS threads.  I'm loving it so far!


I added a few more motifs to JCS 1707. It's coming along nicely. I know I have to tackle the lion/griffon creature at some point but right now, I'm loving the motifs.


My granny stripe has grown a bit.  I added a stripe on the skytrain on the way to work one day.  It's the perfect traveling project, IF I get a seat!

Blue stripe on Pascha


Nothing else much to report. I'm still waiting for Meari's mailart to arrive.  It's taking a surprisingly long time to get there. I also am stitching a little something for a friend so I can't show that yet.  

Thank you all for your lovely comments on the last post.  I'm glad it uplifted people! It's nice to hear that I can create a nice post every once in awhile!! 

Of course I shouldn't leave Titus out of this post.  Here he is "helping" me iron my stitching.  I "love" how he flops onto it and gets all his fluff embedded in my linen.  So much fun....


Hugs

Anne


29 comments:

Purple Pixie Dust said...

Did you not know that you can't be a cross stitcher if you don't have atleast a half dozen projects on the go at once. It's the rule so don't feel bad that you started another one just make sure you try to finish them all. hugs Lynda love your stitching

gracie said...

lovely stitching...the colors of your afghan are so pretty...

KimM said...

Your stitching is so lovely. And the pictures of the food made my stomach growl!! Keep those projects going - I enjoy seeing your progress. xxx

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

All lovely projects,try as I may I cannot get back to stitching one or two two designs at a time,there are too many lovely designs out there,i love seeing all your projects:-)
Great picture of Titus.

cucki said...

Aww yummy
Lovely stitching..beautiful colors
Hugs x

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Linen has jumped greatly in price Anne, when I think of the projects that I have lying unfinished I feel quite ashamed. Poppy and Rosa say hello to Titus. The La d Da piece is very neat.

Melissa said...

Hello, Serial Starter Anne! :-)

Love your start on Sarah! I will look forward to your progress. I hope I will stitch Sarah this year but who knows? My eyes are bigger than my fingers allow. The LDD piece is so cute and you are making good progress on JCS.

It's great that you got to see your mom even if it was just for a short stopover!

geeky Heather said...

And we always respond, "The Lord is risen indeed!" =)

Lovely stitching...I also am a serial starter...the only cute I've found is to have so many things in progress that it feels like a new start when you pick one up again, LOL!

Mouse said...

ooo your breakfast looks yummy and the photos of you and your mum etc are lovely ....you look so like her too :)
well done on the stitching front and shame on DH for not letting you buy another piece ...lol mind you it is rather pricey isn't it ... and awwww Titus you look gorgeous :) love mouse xxxxx

Anonymous said...

beautiful stitching ♥

Annette-California said...

Wonderful stitching and such pretty colors! love Annette

Sarah in Stitches said...

Glad you had a lovely Pascha! I don't think the linen color is too dark. I do feel your pain though - those linens can be expensive! I am in love with the color combinations on your granny stripe :D

Vickie said...

Your Kulich are so tall! Tell me about the pan/mold for them please. I was thinking of baking some of my own next year. Maybe.
I am so happy you both saw your Mom.

Julie said...

A wonderful pic of you and your mum and hubby and mum too.
Fabulous stitching, lots of lovely things to see in this post.

Kaisievic said...

Beautiful stitching, Anne and lovely photos of your mum. Love your crocheting, too.

Southpaw Stitcher said...

Love your new starts and also the peacock piece! Your crochet looks like it's coming along nicely. Glad you were able to visit with your mom, albeit briefly. Titus, as always, is a handsome devil!

Angela said...

Serial starter or not, all of your projects are beautiful :)

diamondc said...

Beautiful stitching, some day I will learn to crochet and knit, the pictures of your Mother are lovely, she is beautiful.
Handsom Husband too.

Catherine

♥ Nia said...

All your projects look very pretty :)
Only one hour with your mum?! I'm sure you really enjoyed the time, even if it was short.
Hugs&smiles to you :)

Margaret said...

Sorry you and DH got sick. Hope you are all better. How nice to spend the holidays with your mom! Love your stitching!!!! Love the crochet too!

Woolwoman said...

Your JCS is looking really great, the peacock is amazing. I admit I can't wait to see the gryphon creature. Loved all,the floral shots from the prior post. Love your bright crochet, hope it's full speed ahead now. Hope the sickness is past and you are able to enjoy Spring. Cheers Mel

Valma said...

that's not possible !!! she's not your mum...she's your sister :D
beautiful pictures sweetie
One hour is really better than nothing ;)
I hope you're feeling better now
Very beautiful stitches here again
I really love the 3 pieces !
big big hugs
xxx

Shirlee said...

A beautiful Pascha my friend : ) Your mother is indeed beautiful, as are you. That's a lovely photo of the two of you together : ) Sweet hubby is a good-looker too : ) Your starts on Sarah & Oh Birdy look great. Oh Birdy is in my stash waiting for me to stop stitching Christmas things : ) Wonderful progress on your granny stripe! I've yet to take mine back out of the bag since last year. Great photo of Titus! So sorry you & your DH were sick. I trust all is well now.

Meari said...

Nice to see the progress on all your projects.

You look like your Mom :)

Hope you're having a great week.

Carol said...

I'm so glad you got to see your mom, Anne, even if it was just for a short time. There is nothing like a hug from mom, is there? Your kulich looks amazing and your Pascha sounds very special. I am sorry to read that you and your DH both got sick, though... Was it the rich food after fasting?

Ha ha--more new starts!! As a one-at-a-time stitcher I admire all of you who can juggle multiple projects so well. Glad you're enjoying the little O Birdy design. I need to get mine framed soon!

Give little Titus a big hug from me--he is just so pretty (well, handsome!).

Happy May, Anne!

Annette said...

Beautifull pic's of you and your mother, a hour is short, but I can imagine you got teh best out of it!

beautifull Wip progress update's
Love your Granny stripe!!!
I hope you get a seat often, so you can finish it.. can't wait wich colors you will use more!!

Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!!

Karoline said...

Gorgeous new starts and great progress on your other projects.

Lovely photos with your Mother

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Great progress on all your projects, I like the smaller motifs on Peacock. They make you feel like your are making more progress.

There should be "Crafting Priority" seats on trains and buses for us.

Brigitte said...

So nice for you that you could see your mother, although it was only for a short while. But that's better than nothing. Good to know that you had a great hour together.

Isn't it great to start something new? I always love that feeling when the threads are all chosen and I can put in my first stitches on a new project. Just wonderful. I love your three WIPs.