Sunday Update

It's Sunday so that can only mean one thing. It's time for another update. I'm really pleased with the progress I'm making on the poppies. It's stitching up much faster that I could have imagined. And the Lizzie Kate is turning our really well. I should be able to finish it on Wednesday. This is one that I will take and have framed right away instead of stashing it and letting it become a fuppie. So I think I'll be starting another Lizzie Kate next week. I've also decided to add in Sherrie's graduation sampler one day a week. I talked to her about and and she decided that since her diploma will have a December date on it, then so should the graduation sampler. So I have some time before it has to be done but I want to start on it now so it's not hanging over my head in November. After looking at a selection of samplers, I've decided to stick with the Stoney Creek one I started for high school. But that's a subject for a whole 'nother blog entry.

Another Weekend Update!

Well, it's Sunday night and that can only mean one thing. It's time for another update. I really feel like I made a lot of progress this week. I love the way the Lizzie Kate looks. Like it's right out of the 60's. And I really love the way the poppies look. Just stitching on them makes me happy. I have to be sure and get a good picture of them once they're framed and before they go away. As much as I love them, I'll have no problem giving them to Don. He's seen the pictures and can't wait to get them.

The Holy Grail of Patterns

Does anyone else have what I would call the Holy Grail of Patterns? You know the ones I mean. They're the ones that are now out of print or limited editions and end up just plain hard to find. Maybe you passed up a chance to get it when it first came out. Now you decide that you really would like that pattern and it's nowhere to be found. Yeah, I know. That's how I ended up with an entire file cabinet full of patterns. I just couldn't pass them up because maybe someday I might want to stitch them. I think the quest is half the fun of of S.E.X. Several years ago I saw a floral picture on the back of a Jeanette Crews booklet and fell in love with the design. I waited and waited but it never came out. Finally I called the company and was told yes we own the license but no we have no idea when, if ever, it's coming out. So I kind of gave up on that pattern, even though every time I saw it, I coveted it. Then one day while casually flipping through the Stitchery catalog, I saw it. My Holy Grail. But I didn't want it in a kit form. I only wanted it as a chart. I noticed the designer's name was listed. I did a search for Fiona Judd and found her in Australia. She had a website and sold to the public. To make a long story short, the pattern ended up in my hot, little hands. Now I haven't stitched it yet but it's mine and I know that when I decide to, it will be waiting for me. But the strange thing was that as soon as I found it, I realized that I now had another pattern that I had to have. Dale Burdett did a series of Wannabe Bears. I bought all of the series but one. I had a chance to buy it at the other shop I worked at but for some reason, I passed on it. About a year ago I decided I had to have it. But it was out of print and very hard to find. I could find the other 3 no problem but not the one I wanted. So I gave up. Every once in a while, I'd check but had no luck. Then about a week ago, I checked and I found it. In New Zealand of all places. After a few emails back and forth, I have it here once again in my hot, little hands. Now I have both of my charts and I only had to get them from half way around the world. But I enjoyed the search and I will probably keep both sources in mind when looking for something.

Another Update!

Well, it's that time of the week again. Time for another update. I made quite a bit of progress on the Live Simply. I thought I had made more on the poppies but looking at it now, it doesn't look like so much. But as Dani commented on last week'e entry, any progress is progress so I won't complain.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this wonderful hobby of ours. As soon as I get my thoughts and ideas lined up, I'll post more of some of the "wisdom" I have come up with. Ok, it's not wisdom, more like questions and answers I'm groping for.

Weekly Update

It's time for another weekly update. I didn't get as much done on the poppies that I would have liked to. It seems like every time I sat down to stitch something else always caught my attention. I couldn't stitch while Lost was on. I'm too afraid I'll miss something important to the show if I'm not watching it every minute. I know, can you say obsessed? Then I wanted to finish the book I was reading. And of course, there were the Super Bowl commercials. I didn't think there were so many good ones this year. But I loved the Doritos dog. I am pleased with the progress of the Lizzie Kate. If I can make good progress on it this week, I may just keep stitching on it till it's finished. I'm trying to flexible in my schedule. Being rigid is no fun.

S.E.X.y Monday!

I had a wonderful day on Monday. One of the local needlework clubs took a field trip to a couple of shops in the east valley. I'm not a member of the club (I don't live in the area) but was invited to go by a member. We went to The Attic over in Mesa, a very nice cross stitch shop. I bought a couple of samplers and 3 pieces of Lakeside Linen. The gray piece is going to be for the pastoral piece. The other 2 pieces are just because I like them. After lunch, we went to another shop in Phoenix called Family Arts.. I love going there because it's non-profit with all it's profits going to women's and children's organizations. I found the 2 totes there (for half off) as well as the cat needlepoint canvas (also half off). The teal tote will be for Sherrie when she starts teaching. It has an area for your needlework and I found a nice quote from Plato that I plan on charting and stitching for the tote. The other will be for me along with the needlepoint canvas. Now I don't need any more stash but sometimes things are just too good to pass up.