Hate It When Life Messes Up My Schedule

I fully intended to finish this Lily Sampler last Friday. It was a no brainer! Then the FLU took over my life for the four longest and most physically miserable days of the past two decades! Maybe I just don't remember being this sick or maybe I'm just getting old and can't handle it, but that fever wiped me out. I was a zombie. So I didn't finish the last band and personalization band until Tuesday night. The photos were taken before I added the recipient's name, just in case she's watching!

Working this piece by Amaryllis Artworks has been a joy. I found a couple of new stitches, at least one of which, I will not voluntarily repeat. But I figure that's all part of the process. You'll never know what you like and don't like until you try it. (That's what Mom told me about brussel sprouts. Guess which way I fell on that one!)

Now I'm onto something else. Don't know what yet, but you'll know as soon as I do.

Tweet

Ready for a Stitching Binge!

Oh, boy! I'm getting close. I always get excited when I'm nearing the completion of a project. Maybe because I work on one at a time and I know it's almost time to start something new. Anyway, The Lily Sampler is almost done. Only a couple more bands.

And I don't post a lot of recipes, but yesterday I tried this Portobello chili in my slow cooker. One of the best things about using a slow cooker is the wonderful aromas that fill your house as the day goes on. This was no exception. My mouth was watering waaaaay before supper was ready.  It was delicious and I promised some folks I'd share the recipe. So here it is. Now being the carnivore that I am, I will probably go half and half with the mushrooms and some Italian sausage next time.

Tweet

At Least I'm Stitching

 I may not be very good at blogging, but at least I'm stitching. The Lily Sampler is slowly coming along. Some of these stitches are a bit much for 40 count, but at least I don't have to worry about coverage. LOL.

For instance, these flowers are done in cross stitch and arrowhead stitch, which has 3 legs so they're pretty dense. And that last dividing band is more of the French stitch that I complained about before...except this time there is a THIRD row! Every time I think I have it down and try to stitch without the magnifier I end up frogging! So back to the Dazor. Finally finished that band last night. I'm afraid to look ahead and see if there is any more. 

Tweet

It Pays to Read Ahead

Okay, I know, you look at this picture and think: "She hasn't blogged in a week and this is all she's manged to get done!" 

I stitched absolutely nothing while visiting my mom last weekend. And frankly, I'm happy to be this far! You know how I love to stitch on 36 and 40 count. So I changed the fabric on this piece to 40 count Pear from Lakeside Linens. (See, I finally remembered.) However, I should have studied the pattern a little before making this change.

You see that pink dividing band that looks like a zigzag? Well, that is French stitch. Not a particularly common stitch and not really difficult either. It's kinda like a Queen stitch in that each vertical leg over 4 threads is tacked down horizontally in the middle. But the stitches are done in pairs and are verically offset by 2 threads, hence the zigzag look. I love Queen stitches, even on 40 count, but somehow this little band took three nights for me to complete!!! And I had to use the magnifier for the whole thing. Very easy to misplace the couching stitches. Plus, since it's a hand dyed it's already been wet and dryed so shrinkage has already occurred. So the weave is tighter and harder to see. Again, not usually a problem for me, but this was a bugger! I love the effect and since Tuesday night, I've completed the alphabet and almost finished the next dividing band of Bosnia stitch (the dark green one). What a difference. Bosnia is so quick and easy that you're done almost before you start!

I'd love to be able to stitch more during the day, but I'm staying busy make fobs and counting pins and stitch markers, etc. for several new needlework shops. And here's my shameless plug, feel free to tell your LNS about my needlework bling and direct them to my Etsy shop or they can contact me about having some in their shops!

Tweet

Pulling from My Stash!

I'm claiming a finish since I decided to consider each band on Margret Gatis 1711 a distinct project. Sunday afternoon while watching the third horriblly played NFL playoff game of the weekend, I finally found all the little things I'd missed and filled them in. It's quite an eclectic band of stitches, motifs and colors. Quite interesting, as a matter of fact. Therefore, you'd think I would move on to another start with some reluctance. NOT.  Of course, if I continue this way, I won't be done for eons! This isn't even one third of the complete sampler!

 

 "The Lily Sampler" by Amaryllis Artworks, not to be confused with the equally lovely "Lily Sampler" by Pat Rogers Collection is next on my list.  I've had it for close to 20 years and have always loved it. And this is the year I decided to stitch it for reasons that will become clear later.



I'm using the Anchor floss colors that the model was stitched with, but I did change the fabric. I chose a 40 count hand dyed linen from my stash. I believe it is from Lakeside Linens, but I cannot remember the color name. If I figure it out later, I'll let you know. It's a pretty medium green that I think gives the piece a more vintage look and will enhance the floss colors. The finished size on 40 count is approximately 8" x 12.5".  I haven't made a lot of progress yet, but here's the start.

 

Tweet