Around the World Blog Hop

Hello everyone!

Today is my day for the Around the World Blog Hop.  I was invited to do this post by Brigitte, from At Brigitte's Place. Thanks Brigitte for inviting me to participate in this blog hop.   I hope I don't disappoint!

So there are a few questions that we are to answer.  I can choose to answer them all or one, it's up to me. I'm going to answer 3.

1. What am I working on.  Well, there a number of BAP's I am working along with 1 small design that is in my rotation.  Currently, I have been working on Sarah Chapple but have had backwards success with her this weekend.  I thought I miscounted the border and began ripping out about 3 hours of work when last night, I realized I was looking at the wrong darn page! So in fact, I didn't make a mistake at all!! So 3 hours of stitching that I needlessly frogged and am trying to restitch.  

Here are a series of Sarah photos plus two photos of my other BAP's I alternately work on.

Before frogging

Unnecessary frogging

JCS 1707

Tea Cup Fairy in it's current state

2.  Why do I create what I do.  I've always loved needlework and textiles since I was a young girl.  I have a deep respect for women in the past who have used needlework to tell their story and be creative when there weren't many outlets for women to do so.  My love of history and all things old, coupled with needlework, drew me to stitch samplers, of which I wish I could produce more than one per year.  The process of stitching or crocheting is therapeutic and anchors me when things in life feel rocky or uncertain.  I do a lot of thinking, daydreaming and praying when I stitch so it's a meditation of sorts but with a tangible outcome in the end.  I love to make little gifts for people too, particularly my family, who are always thrilled to received something handmade from me...even to the point now where they are requesting things!

3. How does my creative process work?  Hmmm, When it comes to choosing a sampler, I often am drawn to the colours, motifs and details that are in a sampler.  It's hard to choose a favourite because I have yet to stitch a sampler from each century and country.  Each one has it's charm and intrigue.  As for smalls, I am drawn to designs that uses nature in a sweet way.  Prim, whimsical, antique, any kind of design I enjoy stitching.  Sometimes I stitch a design and think of a finish while I'm stitching, or I'll have a finish in mind, find a design and make it.  When stitching for someone, I often think of the end product first and use a theme or colour scheme and then find a pattern that will fit.  I don't have a precise process, I just like to stitch whatever calls to me!

Now for the second part of the blog hop.  I invited three people, one of which already did the blog hop, oops, and I forgot to chose another person in lieu of.  Only one responded and that is Sarah!! From Sarah in Stitches. Sarah lives in Dubai, UAE and teaches too like me.  She creates lovely biscornus, of which I have one, and other lovely stitchy creations.  Please do hop over to her blog for her blog post on October 27th.

Fall is here...it's such a beautiful time of the year.

A quick thank you to all those who commented on last post.  I haven't got around to responding to all of them yet.  I have my blogoversary giveaway in mind for next weekend and another surprise to share with you all.

Hugs to you all!!

Anne

Purely About Stitching

Hello everyone!

I promised a post dedicated to stitching, so here it is.  With the world as it is, in turmoil, and our provincial government piercing the hearts of teachers, I try to find a bit of solace in stitching. Although I have enough BAP's to work on, I started a new design I had kitted up some time ago.  Also, I added some finishing touches to my pillow finishes and worked on JCS 1707 since it was calling to be stitched.  Funny how some projects are like that...calling from my WIP pile: "Work on me! Work on me!!" So without further ado, enjoy a smattering of stitchy photos.

La-D-Da's O Birdy finished with chenille trim

Primitive Hare's Litha freebie as a prim finish

JCS 1707 Progress

Birds of a Feather's Bitter Flower Sampler started

Tea Bath Fairy cup...kreinik filling in...a little each day!

Did I title the post "Purely About Stitching?" Yes I did, but forgive me for I just have to show you these lovely photos of some late summer flowers, two of my favourite people (my mom, dad, sister and brother are too!), and my fluffball.

Gorgeous pink dahlias

Sunflower ripe with seeds

My two favourite people, Nana and Hubby

Furball Titus giving me morning love eyes although they are a bit googly

Some things are on my mind that I feel I need to say.  My blogoversary is coming up September 12th and I wanted to do a giveaway.  However, with the strike as it is, I cannot afford to send anything right now.  All of my husband's pay chq is going to rent, food and bills.  That's it.  Nothing left for anything else.  When the strike has ended, and we get a contract, I thought about celebrating with a giveaway then.  How about that? I've so enjoyed blogging over the past 4 years and getting to know so many of you.  Our little blogging community provides us the opportunity to stitch together worldwide, share our passion for crafts, and best of all, supporting each other through the good and bad times in our lives.  I thank each and everyone of you who have sent me an encouraging word, prayer, good thought through everything in my life, whether it be stitching related or not.  It's a great solace to know people care and have big hearts, particularly when the world looks so bleak.  Please accept my deepest gratitude for you, especially those who take time out of their day to comment and to those who enjoy reading my posts.

Hug to you all

Anne

First Prim Finish

Hello everyone!

There is finally a finish to share with all of you.  My very first Prim finish!! I had a freebie chart from Primitive Bettys from some time ago and finally stitched it up during our anniversary camping trip (more on that in another post!).  I am pleased with the finish and worked messy stitches around the border to give it that prim look.  

I stitched it on Old Salem linen with WDW threads charcoal and olive, which I used for the key and the "flowers" on the word Crow.  Stitching it made me feel like Autumn is around the corner, which it is! The days are still warm here but with that fall scent in the air.  

I have 3 other finishes I am still working on, adding trims and what not, so I will post photos of that shortly.  Here's a sneak peak to the backs.

As for stitching, Sarah Chapple has been a wonderful sampler to work on.  I probably have said this a lot! Well, she has been a pleasure to stitch so why do anything else right?! So I finished adding some fancy birds and am currently "painting" in the red on the house.  It's great to work on in the evenings when we watch a show as I don't have to count or concentrate that much.  

Before our anniversary trip, I met up with Melissa from Words and Blooms.  We had a lovely time together and she showed me the most wonderful sewing store, Spools of Thread, where I had to get a few pieces of the delicious fabrics just because! Melissa has been on a sewing kick and is making really beautiful tops and tunics.  She started another blog called A Closet Full of Posies, great name by the way Melissa!  Do check it out and see the fantastic clothing she is making!  I love meeting up with Melissa, having a good chat and poking about Vancouver. 

Spy the Titus fluff?

I managed to sneak in the same cat fabric but on white for Melissa as a little gift for her.  She gave me an OTT light as she had an extra lying around and I've been using it to stitch at night.  Wow does it make a difference in seeing what I'm doing!! Thank you so much my dear!!!

Who here remembers an old HAED pattern I started stitching a few years back? Tea Bath Fairy! Well, I dusted her off an added in a bunch more pink to the cup, leaving the metallic threads to fill in later.  

Since I'm on a buying fabric kick (for no apparent reason), I bought some fabric from Terri, Dixie Sampler.  She shipped it so quickly and sent a sweet little card along with the package. She has been dyeing some lovely linens to purchase too, although they are all sold out since many of the members from the facebook Prim Society group have been buying them up like hotcakes!! Hopefully next time I can get my hands on some of her linen!!

Watch for a post on our Ruckle Beach anniversary trip! I thought I'd devote a post to that instead of making this a super long post.  

Happy stitching, knitting, crocheting, making, sewing, everything!!

Anne

We Survived!

Well, it was a crazy, cold camping trip but we did it! My hubby wanted to stay another night but on the second night, I woke up mumbling/complaining about the cold and he heard me so we left the next day.  It was definitely an experience I'll remember...being freezing! I was like a lizard during the day following the sun, trying to get warm.  There was also no water there, which we didn't know about.  Luckily for us, there were some older campers who were very kind and gave us water from their warm motor homes. On the last day though, we had to use creek water, boiled of course, to sustain us until we got back into Sechelt.  The water was very clear and crisp yet one can't take risks and should always boil water in case of parasites.  I managed to get a fire going on the second night which is a small feat considering the damp woods all around us.  I found dry kindling and we sprinkled some fuel to get it going.  I was very proud of my spring fire! We made a good choice in leaving that day for the very next, the coast had a downpour of cold rain.  Phew!! 

The trip over to the Sunshine coast

Sunset at Porpoise Bay

Morning sun at the Estuary

Rising sun

Frosted seaweed

Sea Snake!!

Hairy trees

I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do since my hands were so cold!! Very thankful for warmth now :D

Stitching Stuff and Conundrums    

Since I've been back, I made some progress on my projects however, I'm feeling stuck on my granny stripe.  When reading the instructions for the granny stripe, I found another post of Lucy's stating that it would be good to make the chain loose or use a larger gauge for the starting chain. Hummmmm....that's not what I did and so now, my granny stripe has a slight curve from the chain.  I'm not sure what to do.  Do I rip all my progress out or hold onto hope that the curve will "straighten" itself out?  Calling all crocheters for help!!  It's hard to tell in the photo but there is a definite curve.

I think ripping it out would have to happen now instead of adding more then deciding to rip....it's just so hard to think about counting 240 chains again!! That gave me a headache!

Quilting conundrums...I pulled out my quilt and measured, cut, pinned and sewed the first border the other day.  The second border, which was going to be 4 inches, is now going to be larger in order to cover our bed.  I think I have enough fabric for the border and the back but even if I don't, I'll improvise.  My conundrum is whether to hand quilt or machine quilt.  Machine quilting would mean I could only go in straight lines, which would be okay, but boring.  Hand quilting would allow me to be more creative and do swirls and things....yet it would take an age especially with all my other projects on the go.  I know I'll make the right choice for me in the end however, I can't visualize it at this moment!! The putting the quilt together part is still a bit of a mystery to me...hopefully when I get to that point the mystery will be revealed!

The brown border

The red fabric which will be the border and the back

Stitching, oh how I love you! If problems arise, I always (usually!) know what to do.  Thankfully, with stitching, I haven't had any conundrums...just pure, wonderful stitching.  I am happy to say that all of my little packages arrived to their owners.  I crocheted a little mug cozy for Mouse as a thank you for the 123stitch GC.  These little cozies are so easy to hook up and send on their merry way.  

Photo borrowed from  Mouse!

The little BBD pincushion I stitched for Shirlee arrived safely too.  I stitched it on 40 ct. Linen using a mix of DMC and GAST threads.  It's from the Agnes Platt's Strawberry Sampler book.  It was a fun one to stitch with some specialty stitches sprinkled in for variety.

Photo borrowed from Shirlee although my watermark showed up??

My spring biscornu made it all the way to the UAE!! Sarah loved the package and we both enjoyed doing this private exchange together.  Again I had to borrow photos from her to show you...sigh...next time I'll remember!!

The biscornu design is a spring biscornu freebie from Ancsanaplo.  I used 28ct Baby blue lugana with a mixture of WDW, Dinky Dyes Silk and Carrie's Creations threads. I chose the colours to represent the beautiful tulips of spring. 

Before I sign off, I wanted to show the progress I've made on Knotgarden and...wait for it....TEA BATH FAIRY!! My hubby again said "Why don't you give her some love and stitch on her tonight?"  So I did.  I pulled her out and am slowly filling in all the baby pink in the cup before I complete it with that wonderful stuff called Kreinik...Not!!! You can probably barely tell any difference but there has been about 2-3 hours put in filling in that pink!

Oh, and I got my love birds finally framed.  It's not the best DIY framing job, but it will do.

I feel like I have more to say...I'm sorry if it's been too long of a post! 

I just want to say to all of those who have joined my blog, and to those that I wish to join their blogs...that I CAN'T.  Google/Blogger are at odds and so am I.  For whatever reason, I can no longer join blogs and this is actually a problem for a few people.  You can read about it here. I also don't have any blogs on my reader list for some reason.  When I click on the settings, all of you are there, but not in the feed part.  Feedly is back to working for me so I can add people there...just can't be an actual follower on blogs...very sad and irritating.  

Take care everyone and thank you for taking the time to read this post! I know it's a long one!!


Hugs

Anne

Pascha, Flowers, TUSAL and Stitching Update

Christ is Risen!! 

Христос воскрес!! (Khristos voskres)

Pascha has come and gone too quickly.  It was a glorious feast! Our service was so lovely and full of joy, I didn't want it to end.  I spent the weekend at my Nana's and my mother was in from Prince George for Pascha.  The weather has been so hot, as though it was summer.  Thankfully, it is still with us and I'm having a hard time staying indoors.  Needless to say, I have been behind on the finishing front of things.  My blackbird box is coming together slowly.  The paint has dried and I hope to complete it this weekend.  

Enjoy all the photos!

My favourite photo of cherry blossoms.  The lighting was perfect and captures the delicate blossoms perfectly

Syrnypascha

The beautiful dogwood tree

Camelias

 Now my stitching progress.  I picked up Tea Bath Fairy and haven't put her down.  I know I was supposed to work solely on Hannah, but Annette encouraged me to pick her up again! Thanks Annette!!

I purchased some new hoops from Michael's.  I love how taut the fabric is in the frame.  

Here's Hannah and her leopard.

Only one leg has been stitched.  I need to get a move on with him!

Love this little bird!

Finally completed the second garden in Knotgarden!

My orts in Mouse's burse.  I have been attempting to figure out how to crochet granny squares.  I've been practicing and practicing and hope to show you one completed square soon!

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my framed Jane.  I am looking forward to visiting all of your blogs this weekend.  

Also if you could say some prayers for me.  There are some lay offs in the district and I may be one of those laid off.  However, I may be rehired right away since I have a specialty position.  I am trying not to panic and trust in God that things will work out for the best.

Take care!

Hugs to all....

Anne