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!!

New Start on My First Ever HAED!!

Hello all!!

I have to give a big warm thank you to all who commented on my Tanglewood as well as those who have given me their condolences on Lucy's passing.  It has meant a lot to me to receive hugs, thoughts and prayers from all of you, so MERCI BEAUCOUP MES AMIES! I am still trolling around looking for frames for Tanglewood, but I may have to take it in to a framer to make a frame for me, then I'll do the framing myself.  Perhaps.  I don't know.  On such an epic piece of stitching, I don't want to make any mistakes!!! My indecisiveness can get the better of me. 

Also a big hello to my new followers!! I have been trying to add people who join my blog, but sometimes I don't know where their blog is.  If you want people to know about your blog, you can link your blog to your profile page:    1.Click on your "Edit Profile", which is beside your picture
                      2. Click "select blogs to display" button
                      3. Add your blog! 
Voila! Now I can find your blog and become a follower! There have been some blogs that has taken me almost a year to find and add myself as a follower. Now some people may not want to do this, and this is fine, but I thought I might give out a helpful tip to those who may not know about this feature.

Alright, onto stitching news.  After finishing Tanglewood, I began a new big project, or BAP, which I think means Big Ass? Project.  I can't think of anything to substitute the A for other than that word, so now its stuck in my head when I see BAP. Now that I think about it, maybe it means Art?  Anywho, I began Tea Bath Fairy. Wow.  Loads of confetti.  Tiny stitches.  Endless pages. My eyes hurt.  Needle is bending.  My husband shakes head.  Whew, what did I get myself into?!! That aside, I kind of enjoy the pain of the project.  I think I made it more difficult on myself by choosing to do 1over 1 on 28 ct. Evenweave.  I fiddled around with different counts and ways of stitching, and settled on 1 over 1.  Now I'm deep into it and I can't go back! To top it off, I was looking at starting the Jane Philpott Sampler and thinking of buying 40 ct linen!! I'm mad!! PS, this sampler with the threads and fabric is pricey...may have to save up for it for awhile.

ACK!

A few more thoughts to add here. My auntie was cleaning out her basement and found a never used sewing basket, and guess who she gave it to? ME! I was elated to have this basket as it looks just like my mom's and my Nana's.  Yesterday I spent a lot of time organizing the basket and loved that my stash was no longer hanging by the wayside on my sewing desk. I also was given my grandma's retro cigarette bowls, which I use for decoration of course! I love the bright orange colours!!

So beautiful!

Look at it all neat and tidy!

 

As for the autumn pattern, I found the designer!! Yay!! Its from With Thy Needle and Thread, and I think I'm allowed to post a link to her website.  I may have to edit the last post and take off the picture because I'm not really sure about this comment: IMPORTANT ~ this chart is for your own personel use. Chart may not be printed and sold, shared electronically via email, websites or blogs, or used as a free hand out.  Hmm.  Can someone clarify that for me because I just wanted to find out who the designer was and I don't want to be doing something illegal.  I never take a pattern that isn't posted as a freebie from the designer, and I always send a picture of the finished work to the designer, because, well they ask for it and I like to show them what I did with their design.

Some stash I've been meaning to post.  Thinking about a quaker design with the threads.

The Jane Philpott 1837 Sampler

I think I have stitching ADD.

Cheers and Hugs!!

Anne

Happy Dance! Tanglewood Completed! Great IHSW Weedkend!

The epic journey of Tanglewood has been completed as of today.  With the IHSW weekend, I managed to finish the clouds off and think about what to do with the stain.  So today, I added my name and year to the bottom, and stitched a butterfly to cover the stain.  I tinkered with my initials over it but the stain would not have been covered very well, hence why I chose the wee lil' butterfly to float into my Tangelwood! The stain will be a fond reminder of my darling Lucy and not at all a blemish to the piece.  I remember all the trials and tribulations I had whilst stitching Tanglewood, and I can hardly wait to find the perfect frame for my first major project!

HAPPY DANCE!!

Started February 2011, Finished August 22, 2011

Stitched on 32 Sandstone Linen with Carrie's Threads

Not only did I complete Tanglewood on Sunday, but I also worked on the Queen's Sampler.  The Queen is nearly complete and I only have a few more motifs to add and it too will be finished!

My brain is already over flowing with ideas for new smalls for this autumn and winter.  Along with Chatelaine's Tiny Rose Mandala, HAED's Tea Bath Fairy, I think I will start on a cute autumn pumpkin and crow pattern that is a freebie (from where I don't know and if you do let me know!), and start on Shepherd's Bush Tiny Garden. With a massive finish like I had today, I feel the need to tackle more!!

Take care!

Anne