Blackwork Project

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and Good Pesach. Sadly, after an ugly chocolate binge, my pants and I are currently estranged. We hope to reconcile soon.

At the April EGA meeting, one of the women (Joan) had a great blackwork project for us. She came equipped with perfect instructions and blackwork patters, which was good as I had never worked with it before. I choose this cute owl and may plaster it to the side of an eco-friendly shopping bag (which I have yet to sew, so that may have to wait for a bit).

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the much awaited warm weather!

Wishing You All A Happy Easter and Good Pesach

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.

Spring Is Here!

It's official, I have started my seeds, prepped the garden and enjoyed a sixty degree day! Oh Spring, how I've missed you!

Russian Crane

I have another quick finish, it's a Russian crane pattern. It's stitched one over one on 28 count ivory linen. The site is really good, you should check it out - lots of patterns. This one comes with a border, but I think I'll leave it as is. I found a set of four fable patterns that have a similar look, I might work this one in with them. Click title for patter. Enjoy!

That is a lovely house

While out and about today I decided to take pictures of some of the beautiful houses in the area. Sadly the trees were conspiring against me, but I thought better of getting out of the car and skulking about front yards to take better pics. I will one day make a sampler out of them... some day. I hope you all enjoy what's left of the weekend!

West Virginia Sampler Complete!

Well, seven months later and I have finally completed the WV sampler! I needed a break from Dutch Beauty. I stitched two over one on 18 count coffee stained aida. It's a 2005 Hands To Work pattern. Ugh, now I just have to figure out how to set the date/time on the camera. Hope everyone had a good day.

Poppies and Cornflowers

I have a few flowers to share that I picked up at the library. They are from "Counted Cross Stitch Designs for the Home" by Jana Hauschild Lindberg. I found a few of the poppy colors and the greenery a bit strong and changed some of them, so you may want to play with the colors.

And a fuzzy picture of the end result. It's 18 count two over one.

I haven't stitched this one yet, but I think it will be really beautiful.

Cook, wasn't he a pirate?

I have had an odd sort of compulsion to cook lately. I know that others enjoy this, but it was always stressful and disastrous for me. So who knows what has come over me, but I have been using that big hot thing in the kitchen, and some of it even turns out edible (ringing endorsement, no?). With that said... I have a great recipe for you! As it is me cooking it, it is easy, quick and inexpensive.

Thai Chicken
1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast cubed
5 cloves garlic chopped
2-3" ginger chopped I go heavy on the ginger (turns out that it is best to peal it - live and learn)
3 Tbsp fish sauce (easy to find at the grocery store, in the Asian section)
3 Tbsp soy sauce (my ankles require that I use low sodium soy)
5 ish Tbsp sweet chili sauce (I like it hot, so use to taste)
1-2 Tbsp lime juice
1 each small zucchini chopped (green and yellow - for color)
1 small head broccoli chopped into large florets* (I often use frozen veggies thawed)

I put a little olive oil in bottom of a large skillet and cook the chicken, ginger and garlic on med heat about 10 minutes-ish, until the chicken is just about cooked through. Mix the rest of the wet ingredients in a small bowl and add with the veggies to the chicken. Cover and cook on med/low for about another ten minutes, stirring occasionally. If you want the sauce to cook down more, remove the chicken and veggies and cook uncovered at a low boil for a few minutes. I serve over sushi rice.

I hope you try and enjoy it!

Stall, and redirect their attention...

It's fighting me, that Dutch Beauty. I was happily stitching along and paused to review my progress thus far, and that was when it happened... (room darkens, ominous music plays in the background). I noticed that the brown floss in the first two thirds of my stitching was a warmer brown than the last third. I must have placed leftover floss in the wrong floss bag! WHY, why do I do these things to myself! So with shoulders slumped and defeat snatched from the jaws of victory, I begin the ubiquitous frogging. I have pulled (and cursed) all but the tree and deer antlers. Sadly I am a perfectionist, and the correct brown does looks better, so it must be done. Though I have decided to finish the frogging later and continue stitching.

So... in lieu of a progress pic, I'll slip in a freebie called Lion King.

Stalking Nature

There is a beautiful oak right outside the the back door, the perfect spot for the Mourning Doves to keep an eye on the wee bits.

The Cardinals are soo skittish (perhaps bright red isn't the best camouflage), I was lucky to get a shot off. I have decided to forgive the deer for ravaging my poor roses over the summer, and have left some good bits in the snow for them. I have stocked up on 'Invisible Fence' in preparation for the spring. If there is anyone who hasn't heard of this stuff, it's a spray that when applied to plants it keeps the deer at bay for weeks. There is one unfortunate downside though, for the first 10 - 15 minutes it smells like a foul poo / rotting corpse combo, however, once dry it no longer smells. Oh how the neighbors love me...

I have a rather weak Dutch Beauty update, after a week I am little further ahead. Yep this is going to be an endurance piece. Wendy, the stitch count is 330 x 630, it's going to be a monster. Glenna, I'm sorry to hear about your MIA stitchery. I ordered/received this and a few others from Criss Cross Row at least a year or so ago. I'll check your site for a wish list and see if I have anything you might like.

I hope you all enjoy what's left of the weekend!

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.

Valentine Freebie

This was a quick one, it's a Valentine freebie. I think the tricolor will be prettier (next time). It is stitched on white aida 18 ct, two over one using DMC 311.

EGA Valentine

Our EGA chapter is assembling a gift basket for seminar, to be auctioned off (or raffled, I can't remember). Our baskets theme is "holiday time", and we are to contribute to the basket with a project and holiday of our choosing. I decided on Valentines day and here is my bookmark. I jotted it down on a grid, sampling from several patterns. It is stitched on ivory 28 ct. linen one over one, using 817 and 3779 DMC floss. I have a book that I am going to put the book, mark in that will help bulk up the basket. I got a beautiful alphabet from this book and thought I'd add it to the post, I will probably make it into a pillow. Enjoy!

Home Pics

I recently got a new camera and thought I would post a couple of my recent pics. This is an amazing sunset we had a few weeks ago. I still have to download the cameras software, and will hopefully be able to clean up the pics a bit, this just doesn't do the actual sunset justice.

Then we had an ice storm, just enough to make the roads a bit nasty and coat the trees. Regrettably the mid-west bore the brunt of the storm, there are still parts without power.

EGA Mini Home Sampler

Cathy, one of the amazing women at the EGA has come up with a project for us. She requested we stitch a mini home sampler for some of the Habitat for Humanity homeowners. I went through my stash to find a house that would resemble one of the homes we are working on. I regret not leaving enough room for a border, however, with a limit of a five by seven frame I didn't want the house to be too small. I am wavering on the bushes though, I'll have to see if she has any suggestions.

I have been working with Habitat for just over a year now, and can't say enough about the people that I have met there. On our last work day we were told that all of the houses built have increased the towns property value by a little more than seven million! The town is looking better than ever, and new business are being drawn in. Regrettably I now see all the improvements this house needs - ugh.

Picking Daffodils

This is a Janet Powers design from the "Children of Southern Roots" booklet. My sister Vikki sent me the pattern, and I have done a wonderful job of erasing most the CD. If anyone wants the pattern, let me know and I'll have her re-send it and post it. This is going to be a bookmark for my best friend who recently got engaged. It's 28 count linen one over one using DMC floss.

Coeur Pur

Another freebie finish! This is such a pretty french valentine, and it's hard to tell that I flubbed my way through half of it (I miss count more often than not!).
I stitched one over one on linen using DMC 30321 floss. Click the title for the pattern.

I wish you all a safe and happy New Year

Happy Holidays To All

Reindeer ornament

Here is the final ornament for the year. Click the title for the link to the pattern , I used 30321 and E3821 DMC on 28 count evenweave. Happy Holidays!

Prairie Schooler 98 Santa

So I am in a mad dash to get this done, it's the 1998 Santa by Prairie Schooler. I think it will make a perfect ornament, I'm making it for Eve and the kids.

And here is the after. I over stuffed it with balsam fir shavings, so that if she doesn't want it on the tree, she can use it in the car as an air freshener.

Noel

This is a lovely little french pattern, that I think will make a wonderful ornament. It's stitched on 28 count evenweave with 1 over 1 for most of it, some of the needles are 2 over 1. Click title for the link to the pattern.

Stocking

This is a stocking that I thought I would add to the Christmas tree, it's 18 count aida 2 over 1.

Welcome Winter

St. Nick

I have finished another Prairie Schooler, St. Nick. It's on 14 count Aida, and was a PS freebie. They nolonger have it posted on the site, so I'll post a copy below - enjoy!

Two By Two

I think the Prairie Schooler has some of my favorite patterns, they have the best colors and subjects. I think I am going to use several to create my tree hanging. I stitched this on 14 count beige aida.

Flight of the Fairy Reindeer

This is a cute freebie that I picked up (click on title for link to pattern). I love the look of the little reindeer, they are all screwy! I stitched this on 14 count blue aida. Well, I'm on to more Christmas patterns for the tree...

Sapin de Noël

I’ve just now begun my Christmas stitching, I stitched this on 28 count linen. I am hoping to get enough done before Christmas that I can assemble them into a tree shape. Click on the title for the pattern.

Enjoy Fall

This is one of my favorite parks. If you are ever in the New Paltz NY area, you owe it to yourself to pay Minnewaska a visit.

Ornament

I recently joined the Embroiderers’ Guild of America and the December project is to make two mitten ornaments, one to keep and one to give away. This is the first ornament that I’ve made, and I think it looks good for a first attempt. I will hopefully have worked out all of the kinks when I make the second one. The patterns are from The Prairie Schooler Twelve Days of Christmas series.

I decided to put the Two Turtle Doves on the back. I added a small satchel inside with some balsam sticks, and I am craving winter now. I added a small patch of velcro to keep the balsam inside.