The Best of Intentions

I have had the best of intentions regarding my blogging, but, it just has not happened.  But, after several LONG months I am finally back!  I at least have a few things to show you for my long absense.  :-)
First I have two ornaments I stitched for my RR friends:

Designer:  The Prairie Schooler

Title:  St. Nicholas II (Book No. 36)

Fabric:  Stitched over 1 on a scrap of blueish gray 32 ct linen

Color changes: 

B5200 in place of white

304 in place of 221

758 in place of 356

754 in place of 407

367 in place of 501

369 in place of 503

739 in place of 738

839 in place of 844

630 in place of 869

Title:  Nordic Holiday (Book No. 191)

Designer:  The Prairie Schooler

Fabric:  Stitched over 1 on a scrap of white 32 ct linen

I also managed to get a few pieces "finished" that had been hanging in my back closet for quite some time.  

First up, 3 RR pieces:

2009 RR piece

Title:  Quaker Style Friendship Sampler

Designer:  Samplers and Such

Fabric:  32 ct Heather by Picture This Plus

Thread:  Aged Plum by Silk 'n Colors

Stitched with: Clare, Marti, Deb, Lynda & Sharyn

Finishing:  Pillow by my friend Sherri

2010 RR piece

Title:  The Hunt

Designer:  Homespun Samplar

Fabric:  coffee dyed 28 ct monaco

Threads:  Carrie's Creations 

Grid - Navy Blues

Medallions in Grid - Pacific Blue

Wreath - Sea Mist

Ribbon - Ocean Blue

Alphabet - Teal Mist

Diamonds Between Letters - Baja Blue

Initials & Year - Navy

Stitched with: Clare & Lynda

Finishing:  Pillow by my friend Sherri (I need to find larger pillow form for this)

2012 RR piece(2012-2014)

Title:  Beneath the Sunlit Sky

Designer:  Blackbird Designs - Loose Feathers

Fabric:  28 ct Celadon

The frame is a golden color (like the star bursts), but has blueish/gray in it as well.  

This did not photograph well.  It is much prettier in person.

Now, for a fun stitch that is not an RR piece:

Title:  Warm Water Wash

Designer:  Raise the Roof

Fabric:  28 ct Zephyr by Picture This Plus

Changes:  

• Several Color Changes (sand, basket, bucket, center of sun & clothesline)
• Made bucket & shovel smaller (shovel is stitched over one)
• Used a free pattern for the sandcastle (with a couple minor changes there)
• Added some different buttons & changed placement of others

What I am currently stitching on:

• Country Cottage Needleworks Santa's Village - doing 5 of these for stockings (they will be on the cuff of the stocking) for my niece and her family.  I am on the 2nd one of the 5.
• RR with my friend Clare - stitching Pumpkin Farm by Blackbird Designs. 
• First few stitches on Christmas Wishes by Mirabilia.  (my new big project)
• Thine is the Trick and the Treat SAL w/my friend Sharon.  Very little done on this.  

I have gone on a bit of a stash haul over the last year and am trying to put the brakes on that.  I don't know when I will ever have the time to stitch all that I have.  I think it is beyond time to weed out some very old patterns that I know I will never stitch.  That is on my To Do List for this summer/fall.  

I am WAY late doing this, but, here are my end of year movie thoughts from 2014:

Year End Movie Thoughts 2014:

Favorites:

• Hunger Games - Mockingjay - Part I
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Captain America: Winter Soldier
• Big Hero 6
• The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
• X-Men:  Days of Future Past
• The Amazing Spider-Man 2
• How to Train Your Dragon 2
• The Fault in Our Stars
• Unbroken

Honorable Mentions:

• Divergent
• If I Stay
• The Giver
• Planes: Fire & Rescue
• When The Game Stands Tall

Disappointments:

• Penguins of Madagascar

Movie thoughts thus far in 2015:

• Cinderella - I LOVED this movie!  I loved the colors, the costumes, the casting, the beauty of it,  just ALL of it!  Plus, I felt there were definite nods to the classic animated Cinderella as well.  I have already purchased Cinderella Sampler and will use colors from this movie as my inspiration on it.  
• Avengers: Age of Ultron - really enjoyed this!  If you enjoy the Marvel movies, then you will enjoy this one.  
• The Divergent Series: Insergent - I did not like this movie at all!!!  It was sooooooo different from the book.  I felt like there was a narrative being driven based on something the author posted after the last book that was completely different from the books themselves.  I already knew that I would not be seeing the last movie (movies, since they are dividing it in two) based on my dislike of the last book (not just the ending, but, the book as an entirety), but, this absolutely confirmed it.  
• The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - enjoyable.  I can't say I liked it as much as the first, but, I did really like it.  The ending was good, but, was sadder than I was expecting.

Movies I am looking forward to in the remainder of 2015:

• Jurassic World
• Inside Out
• Paper Towns
• Maze Runner:  The Scorch Trials
• Hotel Transylvania 2
• Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Until next time!

  

Summertime!

Well, here it is summertime and I haven't posted in months!  Where did the time go?!  I wish I could say I had tons of stitching to show you, but, I don't.  Sad, I know.

I have been busily slowly stitching on a birth sampler type piece for my niece's 2nd baby (she turns a year in August).  I am about 3/4 of the way through it and hope to have it done before long. Here is a pic of my progress:

Designer:  Passione Ricamo

Design:  Letter "A" (used to be a free chart, but, no longer on their website)

Fabric:  28 ct White linen

Thread:  Silk 'n Colors Fairy Rose (using 1 strand)

I did get back my RR piece (that I posted about in May of 2012) in December.  I only had to finish the side flower border and do the fan type flowers and I was done.  It took me a few months to get to it, but, here it is:  

Designer:  Blackbird Designs - Loose Feathers

Design:  Beneath the Sunlit Sky

Fabric:  28 ct Celadon 

Changes:   changed the area around the year a bit.  That's it, I think

This year seems to be full of obligation stitching.  That is not necessarily a complaint, but, I definitely look forward to getting back to more relaxing stitching for me.  I have already kitted up my next "big" project.  It is not as daunting as my train project, but, I will surprise you with the reveal at the beginning of next year.

Speaking of my train...it is being sent off to the fabulous Jill Rensel for framing this month.  I hope to have it back by Thanksgiving.  We have been in email communication and I am very excited about it.   I will be sending the aforementioned birth sampler with it, so I better get on a move on with that  project!

Recent Movie Thoughts

• Captain America:  The Winter Soldier - Loved it!!!  Enough said.
• The Amazing Spider Man 2 - Really enjoyed it.  I can't say I liked it as much as the 1st one, but, I love Peter and Gwen's relationship and just the tone, pacing and acting of these Spider Man movies better than the previous Tobey Maguire ones.  (though I enjoyed those as well)
• X-Men:  Days of Future Past - Loved it!  I have had a few say they got a little lost with the time travel and trying to match the consistency with the other movies, but, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  You just can't over analyze it all.  Thought the ending was great, we saw some old favorites.
• Divergent - I really enjoyed this and thought it was fairly faithful to the book.  However, having read the rest of the series and being very unhappy with the last book as a whole and the ending entirely, I am not sure if I will see the rest of the series.  Still debating on that.
• How to Train Your Dragon 2 - I loved this movie!  This is a great series.
• The Fault in Our Stars - this movie was so, so good!  I thought it was one of the best book to film adaptations.  Yes, there were a couple things left out and a minor change here or there, but, just fabulous book to movie adaptation here.  (that is not always easy to do, some things have to go)  I boo-hooed through this movie.  Like seriously! 

 So, that is what is happening in my corner of the world.  Hope to be back before too long.

A Little Late...

It looks like we are well into 2014 and I have been very late in welcoming in the new year.  2013 was a year full of stress and change and new beginnings.  2014, while off to a somewhat rough start, seems to hold the hope of good things ahead and new adventures.

I am also late in posting 3 ornaments that I finally "finished" just in time for Christmas.  I finished stitching all of them around 2008, but, they have long sat in my box of "finishing" and I had just never gotten around to the task of making them complete.  Finished just in time for Christmas!

Santa Claus

By:  Sekas & Co. (free design on back of an old needlework shop newsletter)

Used called for fabric & threads, ceramic train button and small blue beads for eyes

 Snow Bunny

By:  Hobb Nobb (no longer in business - loved their buttons & cute designs)

Stitched on Blue Heatherfield - cannot remember threads used

2004 Christmas Ornament

By:  Blackbird Designs

2004 Just Cross-stitch Christmas Ornament Issue

Stitched over 1 on scrap hand-dyed linen w/called for threads

Projects to work on/finish up this year (we'll see what gets finished):

• Birth Announcement for niece's 2nd daughter (born in Aug 2013, still not finished)
• SAL piece w/Sharon - Prairie Moon's Thine is the Trick and the Treat (very slow on progress here)
• RR piece w/Clare & Lynda - Blackbird's Beneath the Sunlit Sky (got it back, need to finish tiny bit of my stitching)
• Start new RR piece w/Clare & Lynda - Blackbird's Pumpkin Farm
• Alphabet Blocks by Carriage House Samplings - started by a friend and "gifted" to me
• Some random ornaments
• My Winter Olympic Project - Winter Snapperland by Bent Creek
• Nautical Fence by Raise the Roof

Year End Movie Thoughts:

Favorites of 2013:

• Hunger Games:  Catching Fire
• Iron Man 3
• Thor:  The Dark World
• The Hobbit:  The Desolation of Smaug (what great computer animation on the dragon!!!)
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• Now You See Me 
• Saving Mr Banks
• Frozen
• Monsters University
• Planes

Honorable Mentions:

• Safe Haven
• Warm Bodies
• Despicable Me 2
• The Wolverine

Worth Noting:

• The Host - was really surprised I liked this

Disappointments:

• Oz The Great and Powerful - while I somewhat enjoyed this movie, I left the theater with mixed feelings on it and felt ultimately disappointed
• The Lone Ranger - same comments as Oz
• The Incredible Burt Wonderstone - this was beyond a disaster, it was downright awful!

 Movies I am looking forward to in 2014:

• Divergent 
• Captain America:  The Winter Soldier
• The Amazing Spider-Man 2
• X-Men:  Days of Future Past
• The Fault in Our Stars (I'm packing tissues already!)
• How to Train Your Dragon 2
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• The Maze Runner
• Hunger Games:  Mockingjay, Part 1
• The Hobbit:  There and Back Again

My New RR - Beneath the Sunlit Sky

Designer:  Blackbird Designs - Loose Feathers

Design:  Beneath the Sunlit Sky

Fabric:  28 ct Celadon

Here is the start of my new RR piece I am doing with my stitching friends Lynda and Clare.  I love the way it has started out.  Clare will do the next part & then it will go to Lynda.  We decided this year to pick a piece out of our stash that could easily be divided into 3 parts.  I have had all the supplies for this piece for a couple years and knew I wanted it to be my chosen piece.  

I just started the piece Lynda has selected for hers and will post a picture of it once I all of my portion completed on it.

I also started a SAL with my friend Sharon.  We are stitching Prairie Moon's Thine is the Trick & the Treat.  I have not stitched much on my piece at all.  I have chosen to stitch my piece on WDW's Carrot using basic DMC 310.  I love the stark contrast of the orange and the black.  Very Halloween!!!  Sharon is stitching her's on a gorgeous blue fabric called Blue Moon Java using GAST Onyx.  It is gorgeous! 

The little stitch group that meets at my house once a month recently went on a Stitching Road Trip.  We had such a great time!  We went left early last Friday and drove to Ocean Springs, MS.  We had lunch at a great Italian place called Al Fresco.  After browsing in a couple little charming shops located nearby we then went to Thread Needle Street.  The last time I was at Thread Needle Street's shop it was in a smaller, much less charming location.  The new shop is much larger, has more light and has so much more charm.  After doing a little shopping we hit the road again and drove to Hattiesburg.  After checking into our hotel we had dinner at the Crescent City Grill.  The menu definitely had a Cajun twist and was wonderful.  Most of us had some gumbo, chowder or fried green tomatoes for an appetizer and then shrimp and grits for our main course.  After dinner we went back to the hotel and all gathered together for some stitching time.  The next morning we set off to Shakespeare's Peddler, the shop owned by Shakespeare's Peddler & Raise the Roof designer Theresa Venette.  Theresa was such a delightful woman!  Her little shop is jam packed with all her wonderful designs, all types of stitching accessories, and a wonderful selection of fabrics and threads.  After 2 1/2 hours of shopping we all left with our wallets stripped bare.  :-)  Needless to say, we are all wanting to head back to Theresa's shop again before long.  We could not have had a more fun weekend!!!

As you can see I somewhat seem to be coming out of my stitching funk.  My train project is still waiting in the wings.  The last bits of beading have been put on my niece's wedding piece (yes, I know it is a year late) and I am about half way through the sampler for my niece's new baby.  I also dusted off a couple other WIPs and hope to work on them this summer as well.  My main problem of late has been having the energy to stitch.  I have been so tired from working that I just seem to want to completely relax once I finally sit down (after dinner, housework, etc).  Not to mention that the main tv has been moved to a different room and the chairs in that room do not seem to be overly conducive to being comfortable for stitching.  I think they will not be staying in there long term, but, do not see different ones fitting in the budget anytime soon.  I will have to try and work something out. 

Well...that's it for now.  Hope to have some new stuff to show soon. 

It's already Spring!

I can't believe that winter has gone and that spring is here.  Where did the time go?!!

I have actually been a hair productive lately.  I finished my first box!  I think it turned out quite nicely for the first time.  I did this for a friend of mine who's mother passed away.  I made all the pins for the box top as well.

 Design:  Freebie pattern by Blackbird Designs

Fabric:  28 ct evenweave scrap in a very pale taupy pink
Thread:  Gentle Arts Sampler Thread - cannot find label for color name

 Inside of box 

Magnetic area on lid for pins

pocket inside bottom holds a stitch ruler

Scissor fob I made to go with it

I also have finished up my stitching for my new RR.  Will post pics of that next time.  

Recent Movie Thoughts:  

• The Vow - really enjoyed it - had seen interview about 10 yrs ago with the "real" couple this movie is based on.  Very interesting and thought it stayed true to what I remembered of the interview.
• The Woman in Black - Great little haunted house/ghost movie.  No gore, just scare!  Of course, it has been keeping me awake at night.
• The Descendants - hmmmmmm...not sure what to say here.  The movie was interesting, but, in a dull/daily life type way.  George Clooney gave a very understated performance that definitely fit the role, but, I can't say I thought it was Oscar worthy, nor did I think the movie was.  I thought the girl that played his daughter (Shailene Woodley) deserved more the Oscar credit than the movie or GC, but, again...can't overly say that she deserved a nomination either.
• The Hunger Games - Loved it!!!  These books swept me away fairly recently and it has become my second favorite series after Harry Potter.  I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and thought the did a great job with it.  If you have not read this series and you enjoyed HP, then go out and get these books and read them!!!

Oscar thoughts:

•  Was glad that Octavia Spencer won for Supporting Acress
•  While I like Meryl Streep and think she is a fine actress, I wanted Viola Davis to win Best Actress since I thought she was the true heart of The Help

Until next time.