Dutch Beauty update

I have checked in on some of my favorite blogs and am happy to see all of the new projects. I have a Dutch Beauty progress pic to share. The wonderful women at the EGA (especially Nancy) have been so helpful and encouraging on this piece. I have been too long idle in my stitching (and blogging) and am determined to get this thing done and framed.

I hope you all have had a great weekend and are ready for yet another work week (or as I like to call it, another opportunity to stitch without getting caught and fired).

Hello Friday, my old friend

Is everyone ready for the weekend? I hope you'll be able to enjoy better weather than we are expecting, it looks like TS Danny is going to wash us out for the whole weekend - ugh! This comes on the heals of Bill who was also determined to wash us out. My poor basement is going to flood, I can just feel it!

Okay, on to my Dutch Beauty update. I have another page under my belt and am beginning page nine now. I can't believe how much work goes into these samplers, I am truly in awe of those who have walls filled with them.

At the last EGA meeting we held a pattern swap and I was able to score "In Her House" by The Goode Huswife. I think this will be my next between project. I just love the colors and the duel scene. I really like looking at your blogs to see what projects you're working on, and making a list (a long, long list) of what patterns I want to pick up next.

Well, I'm off to add to my list. I hope you all have a wonderful and dry weekend.

One more page!

I hope everyone had a relaxing Memorial weekend with their family and friends. I had a wonderful barbecue with family in Suffern on Sunday, then another here on Monday. I will never eat again (leftovers don't really count).
On a stitching note: I've completed page six and only have one more page until I finish the top row! I don't know how you all do it, I am quickly losing my religion stitching this thing, I've never made so many mistakes. I have nightmares that herds of frogs are chasing and mocking me - ugh.
I received an unexpected gift in the mail Friday. I was admiring a piece that a fellow EGA member had been stitching at a previous meeting. I finally remembered to ask her the name of the pattern. She hadn't brought the piece to this meeting and said she'd e-mail it to me. To my delight, Elaine was generous enough to mail me a copy of House Samplings from Hillside Samplings. I have met so many wonderful women at the EGA and am so glad that I decided to join.
I have a busy week ahead so I will wish you all a good weekend and happy stitching now.

Dutch Beauty update

I have gotten back to stitching Dutch Beauty and have finished page four, it barely fit on the scanner! Only three more pages to complete the top row. I have a new found respect for all of those who post pics of walls covered in samplers that they have stitched. I'm not sure I will have the heart to tackle another one any time soon.

I have been prepping the garden and cleaning up the yard on the few nice days that we have had and managed to get a few spots of poison ivy - ugh! I came across a wonderful tip that I would like to pass on to you. There is a plant that you may or may not know, called Jewelweed (sometimes referred to as Touch Me Not, when it is ready to spread seeds, they will fly out of the pods then they are touched - watch your eyes!). If you accidentally touch poison ivy just break off a piece of the Jewelweed stem and rub the juice on the affected area, you shouldn't get the dreaded ivy rash. It’s also good to for warts, bruises, and fungal skin infections such as athletes foot and ringworm. It's is also helpful for nettle stings, minor burns, cuts, eczema, acne, sores, and any skin irritations. It also has either beautiful orange or yellow flowers, and can get upwards of five feet tall. It grow wild around here, but you can order seeds, plants or even soaps online.
I wish you all a good week and hope to have another update soon.

Dutch Beauty

As soon as I saw this (on Criss Cross Row), I had to have it. It's called "Dutch Beauty" and isn't it just amazing! The deer and swans were all I could see, and can't wait to get to stitch them. I'll post the pattern once I'm done, sorry not before as it will kill me to see everyone else stitch it so much faster than me! How sad is that - ugh!
I started this about three or four months ago, and just picked it up again the other day. I am only on page 2 of 21. I am up to date on my other projects, so I should have some time to make a real dent in it. I'm using DMC floss on 28 ct. ivory evenweave stitching one over one. Once again I couldn't wait to properly start it and used the largest piece of fabric that I had. I should have waited to get a slightly darker linen, ahh, I'll never learn. Still, the patten is pretty enough to pull it off.