Grandma's musings

Time for an Update

2012-01-26T13:09:00.007-06:00

Since I am not involved in the TUSAL this year, it seems that I forget to post as often as I should

Be that as it may, below is the finished part one of Ellen Maurer-Stroh's "Antique Sampler" (the one with NO ALPHABET, remember?I am waiting patiently (NOT) for the next set of charts to be released.

In the meantime, I have gone back to Isabelle Haccourt-Vautier's BAP, "Grand Marquoir", and it IS BIG! Anyway, I have run into a problem with it and if I may, I would like to pick your brains.

The above is the chart of the next square in the Grand Marquoir. I DO NOT like it at all. I'm not sure what it reminds me of, but it bugs me.

I found a few things that I think would fit in both size (40x40 or so), and theme, feeling, whatever, and I like some feedback if you would be so kind.

Thank you so much for your input. Sometimes I need all the help I can get.

Love ya...........Grandma

A new beginning!

2012-01-17T17:51:00.003-06:00

It looks like a lot of stitching (well it is, actually) but it is only the first of 12 installments of a piece called "Antique Sampler" designed as a SAL by Ellen Maurer-Stroh. (http://maurer-stroh.com). I only hope I can keep up with the installments and have it finished before the end of the year.

I'm it using for Becky-Bee's BAP contest (http://beckysc.blogspot.com ) The piece has to have not been started before 1/1/12, and must be completed by 12/31/12. It also has to meet certain size and other requirements. There are 36 colors in the piece and it seems there are no more than 4-5 stitches of any one color in a row. And they are all very close in color as well. I was first attracted to it because it is a Sampler, with NO ALPHABET! DH is getting really annoying about alphabets, and this one is to sort of humor him ;>

OOH--OOH Today is my baby's 42 birthday -- "Happy Birthday, Son". I'll leave you on that cheery note.

Love, Grandma

2012

2012-01-01T13:49:00.003-06:00

Here's wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy 2012!

Lots of stitches to take, books to read, kisses to receive, hugs to give, and whatever Happiness you can find in your travels.

Love you all,

Grandma

Merry Christmas / Happy Chanukah

2011-12-24T19:08:00.003-06:00

12th entry in the TUSAL for 2011.

Wishing all a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Cheery Kwanza and Happy Festivus.

Most importantly...BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

Grandma

November TUSAL

2011-11-25T15:02:00.005-06:00

As I said the other day...not a lot of stitching this month. And what there was was all in blue.

More soon........Grandma

Greetings

2011-11-23T11:10:00.003-06:00

No Stitching to show (I got an IPad for my birthday last month and have been reading, reading and more reading!)

However, there is a reason for this post. I want to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Don't eat too much! Grandma

Oct. TUSAL

2011-10-28T10:40:00.004-06:00

I'm not exactly sure if this is the date for this, but since we are away this weekend, I thought I'd post it today.

And, by the way, here's an idea I found on Pinterest for a Halloween lunch/dinner. Have a treat-filled Halloween and don't eat too much sugar. Being Hyper is NOT good for stitching.

Love......Grandma

Mojo Came home

2011-10-11T21:08:00.003-06:00

It worked! Going to my Stitch-In Group at my LNS (Stitches From the Heart in Evansville, IN) actually got me going again. I worked on "Grand Marquoir" by Isabel Hacourt-Vautier for about two hours this morning.

And that's not all.....I added to my stash, 'cause I really needed to, with the charts for two Historic Dutch Samplers, HGN 1833, on the left, and Min Letterdoek 1744-1817, on the right, both published by The Museum of Needleart in Wedde, Holland. Cool aren't they?
And if that wasn't enough, I fell for this gorgeous pair of Gingher scissors, 'cause I don't have enough of these either. This one is called Ella. I just couldn't resist the colors.

We'll be on the road for the next couple of days, and since I'm the driver, I can't exactly stitch in the car. However, I REALLY hope my inspiration stays with me this time. I'll let you know next week.

Take care..............Grandma

Oh Mojo...Where are you?

2011-10-10T11:03:00.002-06:00

I seem to have lost my stitching mojo...I haven't touched a needle since about the third week in September. What to do? What to do?

I will see my IN stitching group tomorrow morning, and maybe that will do it...I really hope so.

In the meantime I have read some fantastic books. Tana French is an Irish author of mysteries and I just about gobbled up her three novels In The Woods, The Likeness, and Faithful Place. They take place in Dublin and south east Ireland (the Wicklow mountains) and are chock full of memories for me (I LOVE IRELAND) and the lyrics to quite a few Irish songs.

I also read A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (before I realized it was part one of a Trilogy) and I cannot wait till part two is published next year.

Well, here's hoping I can get interested in my needle again....

Grandma

September New Moon

2011-09-28T21:44:00.003-06:00

September's entry for the SAL. A little less than usual, but there was a lot of driving this month, and since I am the driver, I really can't be stitchin on the road!

October is also a month with a lot of travel, but since some of it at least will be by air, some progress should be made.

Be well, and if it applies...Happy New Year!

Grandma

Flower of Hope, designed by Pat Mazu

2011-09-08T14:14:00.002-06:00

I will be teaching this Pat Mazu design, Flower of Hope to my Embroiderers' Guild (Manhattan) Chapter in November. I just finished stitching around the top of the little stocking to show its shape as I won't have it finished until after I teach it.Pat's original colorway for the piece is in pinks as she designed and stitched for a friend who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She also offered a blue variation. Both of these can be seen in the March/April issue of Needlepoint Now. Of course I couldn't leave well enough alone and decided to try another colorway, just to show my group that it can be done. I am rather pleased with the way it came out....what do you think?

For those of you in the Northeastern part of the US, try to stay dry, and for those of you in Texas, well, "how I wish it would rain."

Until next time...................................Grandma

Better late than Never!

2011-08-30T11:01:00.003-06:00

Sorry for the terrible image...my camera must have been drunk!

Anyway, here is my TUSAL for August. I also appologize for its tardiness. We had a wonderful family weekend with two of my grandchildren making their Bnai Mitzvah. Virtually all of my family was with us for this wonderful moment.

A Very Proud Grandma

As promised...

2011-08-02T10:59:00.003-06:00

Here are my entries in the Vanderburgh County (IN) Fair, with their ribbons. I'm pretty satisfied with my results. Now to start planning for next July!

I guess I happiest with the Blue for "Xena, Sampler Maker", one of Gay Ann Rogers' "Girls". She was a bit of a challenge for me, and I really had fun learning some new (for me) techniques.

Stay cool

Grandma

TUSAL for July 30

2011-07-30T11:02:00.005-06:00

It's that time again. Not too much in the way of orts this month, but I'm sure I'll have more for August.

Grandma

County Fair Results

2011-07-26T15:17:00.004-06:00

I guess I did okay...Xena, the Sampler Maker won a Blue (first) Ribbon. My four other pieces: the beach scene, Froth and Bubble, A Very Berry Sampler and the Angelina Pillow all took Red, or Second Place, Ribbons.

I'll post pictures of the pieces with their ribbons when I get them home next week.

I haven't been doing much stitching this past week. I've been feeling poorly, but all that should change soon, and I'll get back to my needles (stitching and knitting).

Stay cool and hydrated if you are affected by this heat wave or bubble or whatever it is they are calling it these days. I'll be back shortly with pics and my TUSAL for what it is worth this month.

Grandma

Pretty as a Pillow!

2011-07-21T14:21:00.003-06:00

Here is my latest finish -- My dd stitched up the pillow and I stuffed it. The salmon gingham draped across the corner is the backing fabric. It is the closest "pink" to the colors in the tutus.

Now that my next to youngest granddaughter is getting her own room, it will go in her crib and then on her bed.

I picked up my fair entries from the framer on Tuesday and will enter them at the fair on Sunday. I'll let you know how I do.

Till then.......try to keep cool, especially if you are in the eastern two thirds of the US.

Grandma

It's HOT!

2011-07-14T11:24:00.002-06:00

Pardon the post from yesterday...I received several updates from Microsoft for Windows, and since one of those updates, several months ago, played havoc with my ability to publish my blog entries. I just wanted to make sure it didn't happen again....It didn't....YAY!

Here is my progress so far on Quaker Diamonds. I'm loving this piece. The biggest drawback on it is being able to count correctly to place all the motifs sort of where they belong. Mostly I can, but now and again they just might be off a thread. It still seems to be working tho.

I've also started another scarf for the Seaman's Church Institute. Some members (obviously including me) of my EGA chapter are knitting these for the Institute to distribute to sailors and seamen in port in NYC on Christmas day. The pattern is on their website. There are 32 pattern repeats plus six rows of garter stitch at each end. Once I've established the pattern I can knit the scarf anywhere...on busses, subways, planes, etc. so it's a SUPER traveling project

I'm also getting several of my pieces framed and ready to enter in the Vanderburgh (IN) County Fair. I'll let you know how I do.

It's very hot here in my part of HOOSIERVILLE so it's not hard to stay in doors in the AC and stitch/knit away. Stay cool where you are...or warm if you are on the other side of the equator.

Love ya............Grandma

2011-07-13T20:44:00.000-06:00

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TUSAL and stitching update

2011-06-29T13:39:00.006-06:00

Blogger is giving me fits! For some reason, my computer (laptop) has decided that it is not interested in blogging....or letting ME blog either. I can write the entry, upload the pictures etc., but I CANNOT POST from this machine. I have to save it, go to DH's computer, pull the entry up, edit it and then post it. It is TOTALLY WEIRD!

Anyway, here is my TUSAL entry for July. It is a few days early, but we will be travelling to a grandson's birthday party (he was born on the Fourth of July!). After that we will be back on the road again on our way to the Moonlight on the Wabash, and our Indiana Home.

I have finally begun stitdhing on Quaker Diamonds (thanks Coni) and it is coming along nicely. I moved my own initials to where Karen had the K and S (her initials)....it is a more prominent location.

Finally, here is my progress on Isabelle Haccourt-Vautier's "Grand Marquoir". It should explain why my June TUSAL was all blue. This is most of part 5. I decided to keep going down, and will complete parts 4 and 6 when part 5 is done (I've done 6 of the 9 boxes). Sorry for the wrinkles, but no time to pull out the iron.

Hopefully my ds will be able to fix this computer's problems and I will be able to post more often during the weeks to come. Until then, keep cool, (or warm if it is winter in your area).

Grandma

It's that time again!

2011-05-31T14:48:00.005-06:00

And here is my June entry in Daffycat's TUSAL. It's mostly blue because I am working on a monocolored Sampler - Isabelle Haccourt-Vautier's "La grille Mystere du Grand Marquoir." The next one should be more colorful, but we shall see.

I have been having a bit of trouble with Blogger...I can't seem to publish as usual so I have to save the entry on one machine and then post my from another, so this may be a bit late.

Take care -- Grandma

Memorial Day

2011-05-29T21:06:00.004-06:00

Thank You!!

Update

2011-05-28T13:29:00.003-06:00

It's not that I'm not stitching/knitting/reading, it's just that I haven't taken any pictures lately, and I usually wait for pictures to post.

I finished Angelina Ballerina for granddaughter #6, but it needs framing or finishing. I'm thinking maybe a pillow for her crib/bed.

I also knitted two and a half scarves for the Seamen's Church Institute as part of my EGA chapter's OUTREACH Program. (Knitting is a great way to pass time on the bus/subway, or waiting in doctors' offices.) We are still working on those Soldier's Kiss Pillows for deploying troops.

I did read a pretty fantasic book too....Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks, who also wrote The People of the Book.

I plan on getting the old camera out this week, and I hope to up-load a couple of photos. The weather is turning summer-like here in the east, but city living doesn't lend itself to gardening or anything like that....I 'll have to wait till I get to the Midwest next month.

Stay cool...........Grandma

It's May third!

2011-05-03T09:28:00.005-06:00

Time to upload my TUSAL entry for this month. I promise you, even though they may look the same from month to month because I am using the same glass, after each picture, I empty the glass and begin again.

In this photo are the orts from my granddaughter's tallis bag, a few from a new Laura Perin piece, and several snippets from Angelina (remember her) which I have picked up again now that two the canvas pieces for the grandkids are finished.

I've been knitting too...my EGA chapter is knitting scarves for the Seamen's Church Institute as part of our Outreach Program. I finished knitting one scarf, but have to finish weaving in the ends of the yarn before I can say "it is done."

I've also sort of been glued to the television for at least a week, what with those terrible storms in the southern part of our country, the Royal Wedding in London (that dress was absolutley gorgeous!) and the brave Navy Seals in Pakistan. Whew, what a week! Need to relax with my needles again.

Take care.................Grandma

As promised...

2011-04-23T13:26:00.003-06:00

My Granddaughter's Tallit bag is finished! The bulk of the stitching was done in basket-weave with two tones of Silk and Ivory, and the two wavy stripes are stitched with my variation of a Smyrna Cross Stitch (only the first three stitches are done) in Planet Earth Fibres.

It is simple. but (to my eye, at least) attractive, and more over, what she selected.

Now to have both canvases made into bags for their prayer shawls which they will get at their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs in August. I think my timing on these was pretty good.

Next on the agenda is a Christmas stocking for my #2 grandson to replace the Winnie the Pooh stocking I made for him when he was a baby...he is now a pre-teen, and ready for something more grown-up. Also in the rotation is my new Laura Perrin class and some cross stitch pieces I have put aside in order to finish the bags.

Time for ME!

Grandma

We have a finish!

2011-04-22T14:22:00.004-06:00

No, not my granddaughter's Tallis bag...that should be finished tonight, and a picture posted tomorrow.

This is the piece from a fantastic class I took with Susan Goodman at the Metropolitan Region, EGA Seminar. It is entitled "Sampling the Seashore", and is stitching done on a piece of Congress Cloth on which a photo has been transferred.

The lower portion, the sandy beach, is stitched with "sampler" stitches, and the ocean, and jetty are stitched with embroidery stitches. The sky is an adaptation of Alicia's Lace. Since the stitching is done over the photograph, most of the threads are a single strand, to allow the photo to show through.

In addition to the actual stitching, we also learned how to apply our own photos, and how to add some painting to the photos (that's another piece I have not started on yet -- perhaps in the near future. We also learned how to form some collages from painted wonderunder and netting and chiffon, all applied to a photo-transferred piece of fabric/canvas.

What is REALLY amazing is that the Seminar was only two weeks ago, and not only is the piece stitched, it is framed and hanging in my living room.

All in all it was a WONDERFUL weekend Seminar!

Until tomorrow then....be well.

Grandma

TUSAL Update for April

2011-04-03T14:14:00.002-06:00

Here it is, April 3rd already. My TUSAL is certainly coming along nicely. These threads are mostly from the two Tallit Bags I am working on for the Grandkids who will have their B’Nai Mitzvot in August.

I hope to post an update on the girls this week…it is more than 1/2 finished.

Till then…..

Grandma

One down....one to go!

2011-03-16T15:50:00.002-06:00

I have just finished the stitching on grandson #1's Tallis bag. Each color is also a different stitch, and I fashioned the center of the Star of David to be significant to him.

I may have used too thick a thread for this canvas...it entailed a lot of pushing and pulling. I used two strands of the three that make up Trio for most of it. The metalic is #16 HL gold. The stitches include basketweave (white and metalic), diagonal mosaic (lightest blue), horizontal mosaic (next blue), a form of brick stitch (copen blue) and one I made up, a cross stitch over two with a vertical stitch over it...sort of like the first three stitches of a Smyrna Cross, for the darkest navy swirl.

I will blushingly admit that when he saw it a couple of weeks ago (not yet finished) his comment was "AWESOME". Now that's a LOT of praise from a 13 year old!

Now I have to begin stitching on his sister's Tallis bag as she will also get a Tallis for her Bat Mitzvah as well.

No time for any stitching for myself for a while (sigh).

Grandma

TUSAL for March

2011-03-01T15:23:00.003-06:00

I'm a day or two early, but as you can see, my "cup runneth over" or almost so. I need to empty it so more orts can be added for the month!

On the stitching front, work is continuing at a semi furious pace on #1 grandson's tallis bag. There are two reasons for this....I am enjoying it, and #2 (here's the pusher) I just found out that #1 granddaughter will also be needing one. Their B'nai Mitzvot - that's a joint Bar and Bat Mitzvah - is taking place in late summer, but I have to get both of the canvases stitched by the end of June so they can be finished into bags. My finisher vacations in mid July so this will be close.

I just ordered the canvas for her bag today, and as soon as it comes into the shop, I shall go back and select threads and/or stitches for it.

Busy, busy, busy. A Grandma's work is never done!

A Finish I am Proud of!

2011-02-11T20:47:00.003-06:00

Just finished the last petals on the center dogwood blossom on Laura J. Perin's cyberclass project, Corsage. The lighting isn't great, but the oranges and golds are really bright.

The most difficult part was counting the "frames"...after that, it was such fun. I'm even thinking that I need MORE of these collage pieces

Now back to some of my UFO pieces. More later.......

Grandma

A Quick (& I mean QUICK) Finish

2011-02-09T14:15:00.002-06:00

Went to my (Manhattan Chapter) EGA meeting this afternoon and the project was this Pierced Paper Heart. I finished it at the meeting! We had a pattern from which we pierced (hence the name) a piece of card stock with the design. Then, with fil d'or, we stitched a modified Jessica into those holes. When we were finished stitching, we adhered the red, stitched card stock onto another piece, this time white, of card stock and VOILA! we were done. I'm sure there are other designs (from coloring books, etc.) that could be adapted to this technique. Also, if you used white card stock, the heart could be stitched with some of the variagated/overdyed threads. That would be beautiful. I'm also going to try a shamrock either on green paper, or with green threads. Now to get those coloring books from the grandkids!

I think the weather is supposed to improve a bit by the weekend....here's hoping so. Until then stay cozy.............

Grandma

TUSAL 2011

2011-02-02T10:39:00.001-06:00

Forgot to tag this for the contest....Here it is.

Gound Hogs' Day

2011-02-02T10:17:00.002-06:00

Here is my Punxatawnee Phil (from the EGA National Seminar in Pittsburg a couple of years ago) looking for his shadow. I don't know whether he saw it or not, there is just too much snow and ice and gunk for me to tell. I guess we will have another six+ weeks of Winter, as Spring doesn't begin until March 20 this year. I SHOULD get a bunch of stitching done, but I've been spending time on my other passion -- reading. Just finished 'Fall of Giants' by Ken Follett. It is 985 pages, and is only the first volume of "The Century Trilogy". I enjoyed it very much.

I DID get some stitching done though, and below is my entry in the TUSAL for Feb 3.

The threads are from Angelina, the Tallis Bag and Laura J. Perin's Corsage which are in a sort of rotation -- I pick up what appeals to me at the moment.

Stay off the ice and be safe out there..................Grandma

And still the SNOWS come!

2011-01-27T00:03:00.004-06:00

Remember in my last post I said it wasn't a blizzard? Well, it wasn't. The BLIZZARD came tonight.

Check the picture of the cold pigeon...you can see buildings and street, etc. from my window. Well...tonight there is only a sheet of white with some lights shining through it.

I LIKE Winter. I really do, but it isn't even the end of January, and I'm getting tired of it!

Oh well. At least it's cozy inside, and I DO have stitching and books and food (didn't I say that last week?) so I will be OK for another several days.

Grandma

Tuesday Morning

2011-01-25T13:59:00.002-06:00

Just another snowy morning in the northeast! Not a blizzard, but still a mess. I guess this old pigeon was trying to keep warm and dry on my window sill. There were three of them there when I woke up, but trying to get them ready for their close-up proved a bit too much for the other two!

I started work on the Laura Perin cyberclass...not enough to show you yet, basically getting the framed areas framed up. Work also continues on the Talit Bag and Angelina. Photos will come shortly!

Keep warm in these frigid days.............Grandma

New Project

2011-01-18T11:02:00.002-06:00

Here is my latest start -- well actually three days into it. One of my DIL wanted this for her daughter. It's almost 1/2 finished -- there are six pictures of Angelina in her twirling leap across the stage. It's really disgusting, weather-wise here -- early morning snow, followed by sleet/ice, with a forcast of rain to follow this mess. Ran my errands this AM, now I'm gonna "go to the couch" (any old Dean Martin fans catch this reference?)

Stay warm and dry..........

Grandma

My last bubble has popped!

2011-01-13T14:05:00.003-06:00

I've finished it! The last stitches (my initials and the year) were put in this morning while waiting for the cable guy to hook up our new HDTV. We needed a new box, and since neither of us is that tech savy, I opted to have the service man bring and hook up the box and TV. Now we need to get new cables so we can plug in the disc/VCR player, but since nothing we have is in Blu-ray, it can wait. Anyhow...Here is the completed Sampler. It is stitched over two on 28 count linen with GAST as called for by the Long Dog Sampler designer. I loved working on this and am kind of sorry it is finished, but I know there are many other things, both WIP's and new unstitched pieces in my stash to keep me going for quite a while.

Let it snow, let it snow...

2011-01-07T11:36:00.002-06:00

But not when I'm trying to travel! Snow in Indiana...snow in New York...what's a flyer to do?

Oh well, I guess I'll unpack my stitching and get at it for the next couple of days. Perhaps then it will be clear enough for a plane trip.

Keep shoveling, but don't freeze your stitching fingers......

Grandma

TUSAL- 2011

2011-01-04T10:14:00.003-06:00

I joined Daffycat's TUSAL last month. Here (on the new moon) is my first entry. It's threads from "Froth and Bubble" and my grandson's tallis bag. More on this one next month.Keep warm..........Grandma

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T19:36:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year to one and all.

May 2011 bring you and yours peace, health and most of the little things you wish for!

Love...........Grandma

Holiday Wishes, and some stitching progress

2010-12-20T14:21:00.003-06:00

First order of business is to wish all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, and a very Happy, Healthy and Productive 2011!

Now on to reporting some progress. Below is Long Dog's "Froth and Bubble". Four of the floral bands are complete as are three of the lines of the verse.

Here is a close up of the third line of the verse and the fourth band. All that is left (she said laughing) is the fourth line, which reads, "Courage in your own." and my initials and date (guess it will be 2011...no way to finish before 12/31.) Also have to finish the last band which is mostly acorns and oak leaves, and then the triple row of blue for the bottom of the frame.

Also in the works is this Talit Bag for my grandson. He will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah in August so I should have plenty of time to get this stitched and finished as a bag.

The canvas is #13, and I am using Trio and Vineyard silk in addition to a metalic for the star.

Don't know if it is clear enough, but each color is stitched in a different small needlepoint stitch -- Mosaic, Diagonal Mosaic, Basketweave and Brick. I need to choose a fifth stitch for the dark navy (it looks black in the photo, but I will be using a dark navy).

Be safe during the Holiday Season. I will "see" you in the new year!

Grandma

So Bad

2010-12-07T12:27:00.002-06:00

I'm sorry that I seem so lax about posting here. In my defense, we have been doing a bit of traveling for birthdays and sporting events and the like.

"Froth and Buble" has been with me, and I have definitely made quite a lot of progress on it. As soon as we get back to NYC, (and my camera) I will show you how far I have gotten.

I've also been working on the Soldiers' Kiss Pillows -- they are small (about 5" square), and I can handle them easily on air planes and at basketball games, etc.

Keep warm.........Grandma

Happy Chanukkah

2010-12-01T11:53:00.002-06:00

Warm wishes to all for a light- filled Holiday week.

Working away on "Froth and Bubble" -- will upload pictures soon.

Grandma

Holiday Time

2010-11-24T17:46:00.003-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends, family and followers. I am very thankful for all of you!

After dinner I will sit down and be thankful for my stitching too!

As Promised....

2010-11-05T15:02:00.006-06:00

Some photos of what I have been working on since (and during) Xena.

First we have one of my older UFO's -- Barbara Rakowski's "Better Berry Sampler". (I think that is the name of the piece.) Anyway, I started this as a GCC a bunch of years ago, and finally pulled it out of my stash closet over the summer and "finished" it. I say that in quotes because there is supposed to be an inner border of cut threads, but I cut my silks and don't have the required 36" lengths to make the cord that 'weaves' through the cut threads.

I think it looks just fine as it is, and I consider it done and ready for framing!

The next WIP is Isabelle Vautier's "Grand Marquoir", a free-bee mystery sampler in 6 parts. As you can see, I've just about finished with parts 1 and 2.
I usually take this piece as a travel piece as it is only two colors (well, one color with metallic accents.)

Finally, we have the most colorful of my current rotation...Froth and Bubble by Long Dog Samplers. This one is almost 1/2 way done and a lot of fun. I stitch the "Raven" (black) "outlines" first, and then "color" them in; I'm stitching this one with GAST, and loving it.

In addition to these, I am also working on a painted canvas needlepoint Tallis (prayer shawl) bag for my eldest grandson. It's a #13 canvas, and I'm using "Trio", a silk and merino wool blend. His Bar Mitzvah will be in August, so while I have "some" time on it, I do have to give my finisher some time as well. It's going nicely so there should be no problems.

I also have to get back to my project from the design class I took at the ANG National Seminar...so many projects, but Fall is definitely here and the shorter days make for more stitching time for me. Don't forget to turn your clocks back this weekend!

Keep on stitching, and comment if you like -- I like hearing from you.

Grandma

Happy Birthday to ME!

2010-10-28T09:22:00.001-06:00

There, I said it!

Grandma

I hate when that happens

2010-10-26T10:03:00.002-06:00

I just finished a medium length blog explaining where I have been for the last month and when I got ready to "publish" I lost my wireless connection! GGGGRRRRRR!

Ok...I guess I'll try again. Since my last post I have been in Columbus OHIO for the ANG National Seminar where I took a great class on Landscape Design (you actually design a piece from your own photo -- choose the threads and stitches and everything!) The class was formulated by Lois Kershner and very able taught by Pat Rouch. More on that when I get back to NYC to work on it.

After driving home to NY, I got on a plane the next morning and flew back out to the midwest as we had a wedding to attend in Poseyville, IN (the couple for whom I made the pillow), and then I was off to do some grandchild watching (can't call it "baby sitting" when they are preteens!) and to attend a couple of middleschool football games.

Next week we are off to VA (via NYC) to visit with two other grandchildren and attend a flag football game.

The only stitching I have been doing is on "Froth and Bubble" but since I forgot the camera, no pictures (I hope to remedy that soon). When we finally get back to NYC for ore than a day, I will get back to my Seminar Project, and start on #1 grandson's Tallis Bag, and #2 grandson's new Christmas stocking (he's getting too old for his Winnie the Pooh stocking).

That's it for now...just a note to let you all know that I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth.

Be careful this weekend -- don't get too spooked. Happy Halloween!

Grandma

Xena, Sampler Maker

2010-09-07T19:10:00.003-06:00

Xena is finished!

I put in the last stitches on the "wallpaper" (it's hard to see in the photo as it is the palest green and white #4 Kreinik braid in a darning pattern, but it is there) that forms the background this evening and I am HAPPY DANCING! I am really impressed that she took me less than a year to finish. I started her in November of 2009 and finished her in 10 months. Of course, if you are a reader, you know that there was lots of other stitching that went on during those ten months as well.

Now comes the next problem...I don't know how to frame her. Should I bring the frame right up to the border around her, or leave some space. I don't use glass on my pieces so adding a mat is probably not an option. I welcome any and all suggestions.

We will be packing up for the trip to NYC in the next few days. How have I accumulated so much more stash than I had when we came out here? I know, too many trips to my LNS, but we have to keep them in business, right? I even stopped in today to pick up a few small charts. I don't have a good xs shop in NYC, so I do a lot of stach enhancement when we are out here in IN.

BTW, the red background on the blog was getting to be a bit much, so I have softened it to the light blue. It will probably go better with my photos.

Take care, and enjoy the cooler weather. I know I am.

Grandma

Mel - You are right!

2010-09-02T10:05:00.003-06:00

On Tuesday I posted a picture of the Wedding gift for Sara and Michael. Mel commented that it should be made up into a pillow, and (even before I saw the comment) I did make it up into an 11" X 11" pillow. Here is a picture of it on my comfy stitching couch. The second shot is of the back, a fabric which just seemed perfect for it.

Actually I was going to frame it, but since it needed a square frame, and the smallest I could find was 12 x 12, and black, it wouldn't work. Having it framed was out of the question as both Hobby Lobby and Joanne's couldn't have it done in a timely manner for me, so a pillow it became!

Those of you on the east coast, be careful........

Grandma

A Quick Finish

2010-08-31T17:13:00.003-06:00

My neighbor's son is getting married next month. He and his finance like simple, almost rustic things, and I thought this Sampler would fit in with their future decor. They have picked this date as the idea of "10-10-10" really appeals to them both. I did have to put in the "20" tho.

I haven't decided whether to frame the piece or make it up into an 11" x 11" throw pillow to go on their brown sofa.

Now back to other stitching....and I guess the heat is back! If you are on the east coast, be careful with Hurricane Earl.

Until next time.......Grandma

Changes

2010-08-28T12:45:00.001-06:00

Hi...thought I would try out a new layout for my Blog. What do you think? Should I keep this one or go back to the old one (if I can figure out what I did to get to this one)?

Let me know what you like/dislike about it.

Grandma

Vacation Days

2010-08-26T16:34:00.003-06:00

We're back from vacation! We were in St Paul, MN for six days. Most of the time we were at the Minnesota Irish Fair, but we did take some time to walk around downtown St. Paul.The State Capital Building is quite impressive, even though it is undergoing some renovations. See the scafolding around the dome. They have portraits of the Governors, and the one of Jesse Ventura is, shall we say, "interesting."

St Paul's Cathedral is the highest thing in St Paul. The interior of the church is lovely, with several rose windows, which I was not able to photograph with my cel phone.

From Minnestota we traveled down to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the biggest Irish Fest of them all! We had a blast listening to all the bands and visiting with great friends who we see, unfortunately, only once a year, but what a wonderful reunion the four day festival is.

After the Festival was over our wonderful friends, Maureen and Dave took us to lunch in Racine on the lake. While we were having lunch I noticed a light house not too far away, and I asked if we could visit it. What a glorious day it was!

When we got home there was an email from the wonderful lady who does some finishing for me. My Halloween guys were ready. Needless to say, I hopped, skipped, and jumped over to her house to pick them up! Don't they look sharp?

I have unpacked and put everything away, caught up on my email, and all the things we put on hold while we are away...now I will go back and pick up with Xena. I should have some more photos soon.

Stay well......

Grandma

Heading North!

2010-08-11T10:14:00.002-06:00

In an attempt to cool off (lol), we are heading up to Minnesota and Wisconsin for the next couple of weeks. Well, actually, we are headed to a couple of Irish Festivals.

The Minnesota Irish Festival is this weekend in St. Paul. We are looking forward to seeing great friends and enjoying the music.

The Milwuakee Irish Fest is the largest in America, if not the world. There will be four days/evenings of great Irish Music, Crafts, Education and though there is no Irish Beer per se there, there is still beer. Once again, we will be with fantastic friends and have a thoroughly glorious time.

I have been busy "pre-teen watching" (parents are at work, and kids not back in school yet) and finding a few moments to put in the odd stitch on Xena and Froth and Bubble. I will have pictures when we get back.

Be good for the next two weeks, and try to keep cool if you are in the northern hemisphere!

Grandma

Slogging away!

2010-07-30T10:40:00.003-06:00

It's a good thing that Gay Ann Rogers came up with her method of getting some of the boring parts of stitching done -- most often it's 12 stitches a day, everyday! It DOES work! And I usually force myself to do more than just the 12. As you can see, I am 1/4 of the way around the "frame" for Xena. It's tiresome, but so rewarding when progress is visable.

In the meantime, here is some additional progress on my rotation pieces: I've almost completed two motifs on the top band of "Froth and Bubble". It's very colorful and I am enjoying this one immensely.

and here is my progress to date on the Grand Marquoir.
Xena will have to go on "hold" for a few weeks as we head out on our annual Irish Festival travels. This year we will head north to Minnesota for the St. Paul Irish Festival, and then onto Milwaukee for the granddaddy of them all. Great music, good beer and Fantastic Friends. What more could one ask for?

Keep yourselves busy, and out of trouble till I get back. Hopefully Grand Marquoir will be "grander" as since it is only one color thread, it will make the journey with us.

Grandma

Flying fingers

2010-07-24T11:36:00.004-06:00

That's the only way to describe Xena these days. Why she has finished her third Sampler and already hung it up!

Here she is proudly showing off a close up.

Now she has to put up her wall-paper and finish framing herself in. About another week or three to go. In the mean time, I need to work on a wedding sampler for my good friend and neighbor's dear son and his fiancee, and do some catch up work on "Froth and Bubble."

Oh, wish me luck -- I am placing three pieces in the County Fair next week -- House in the Woods, Mary Wigham, and a needlepoint Iris pillow I did a while ago.

Fingers crossed now,

Grandma

Now there are two!

2010-07-18T08:19:00.003-06:00

"Xena" is stitching at a speedy pace. She has finished her second sampler for you all to see.

Below is a closer view of the sampler. I have changed some of Gay Ann's color suggestions and stitched the flowers in two shades of a salmony-gold to add some variety to all the greens. I also stitched the "E F" in a lighter shade of green in the second alphabet -- "E F" are my initials and I like the way they come together in the alphabet making it easy for me to "sign" my work without it being obvious.

I need to do some frogging, recounting and restitching on the frame for the third sampler --Hey, I was an English Major, and counting is NOT one of my strongest points!

Try to stay cool -- staying in my stitching "studio" is helping me get through all this heat and humidity. Till next time...

Grandma

Back Home Again!

2010-07-13T16:36:00.003-06:00

Well, we finally made it to Indiana! We celebrated a birthday in VA, then drove my MIL to TN so she could visit with two additional great-grandchildren, (and their parents). We took MIL to the airport on Sunday morning so she could fly back to FL, and then we drove north to southern Indiana.

Of course, Xena had to wait out this time, as she is hardly a "portable" piece to stitch on! Anyway...Tada...her first sampler is finished and ready for display.

Sorry the photo is tilted, but you can still see her sampler.

Yesterday was a trip to the framer with House in the Wood, Mary Wigham, Alla Turca, and Caitlin's birth Sampler. They said they would have the first two finished in less than two weeks so I can get them entered in the County Fair.

I went to the stitch-in at my lns this morning and kitted up the next piece to enter the rotation. I've decided to add "Froth and Bubble" by Long Dog Samplers. It is so colorful and will be a change from the Grand Marquoir by Isabelle Haccourt-Vautier that I am stitching in monotone.

While we were in TN I started to teach my granddaughter to stitch...she wanted a printed piece to begin with and we finally found a set of pillowcases with cross stitch butterflies. She decided she only wanted to use three colors -- neon green, purple and aquamarine, the colors of her bedroom. She began on Saturday afternoon, and by the time I left on Sunday morning, she had almost completed her first butterfly. When she comes for a visit later this month, we will work on the outline and daisy stitch she will need for the rest of the design. Right now she is totally excited about embroidery -- I really hope this lasts!

The hot weather is back, but I will relax in my stitching room and keep cool.

You do the same....

Grandma

On the Road

2010-06-30T08:04:00.004-06:00

Tomorrow we pile up the car and go on the road. Our first stop will be VA for a grandson's birthday on the Fourth of July! Sort of a family reunion there with two other sons and part of their families coming. I think 8 of the grandkids will be there.

The next leg will be to take MIL and drive out to TN to see two other of my grandkids.

Finally dh and I will head north to Southern Indiana and our Mid-West home.

In the car (in addition to the passengers and clothes) will be..."Xena and her Samplers" (I've begun the first of her three Samplers), Isabelle Haccourt-Vautier's Grand Marquoir - I'm on page two of six on this one, 2 Lois Kershner pieces, and the new start for my rotation, "Froth and Bubble" -- I have the fabric and will purchase the threads at Stitches from the Heart in Evansville. If these are not enough to keep me busy for the next two months or so, I'm sure I can find more at my LNS!

Of course I will also have the pieces I need to have framed: House in the Woods, Caitlin's Sampler, Mary Wigham, and the Halloween guys to be made up into stand-up figures.

Photos will be posted as I get the pieces back from the framers, and make more headway on the WIP's.

Stay cool this summer (I am thrilled that the Eastern seaboard heat wave has broken!)

Grandma

On to the Framer!

2010-06-23T11:12:00.003-06:00

Caitlin's sampler is finished! The next step is to get to the framers, and then get it to Caitlin and her family!

Now I can get back to "Xena" (Gay Ann Rogers) and the Isbelle Haccourt-Vautier's "Grand Marquoir" Sampler. And, of course, add something else to the rotation...perhaps "Dutch Beast" from Ink Circles, or the "Lettre 'E'" by Gigi. Or just maybe, a canvas piece; I have two Lois Kershners' that need finishing before the ANG Seminar (where I am taking another class with her). Decisions, decisions.

Stay cool, if you can,

Grandma

Just a note

2010-06-09T08:43:00.003-06:00

No photos this time, but a quick update on goings on around here.

I finally finished Mary Wigham! If you remember, I had to wait until our twelfth (that's right, #12) grandchild was born last month so I could include her (yes she's a girl) initials on the piece. While the Mary Wigham Quaker Ackworth School Sampler is a reproduction, I chose to use my own family initials instead of Mary's. Anyway, Caitlin was born May 11, and I was able to add her initials and the piece is finally finished and waiting til I can get it to the framers.

I'm rotating two pieces right now...Caitlin's birth sampler which is a lovely little fairy sitting on a yellow flower plus Caitlin's name and birthdate. I seem to be trending towards creating my own "designs" for such pieces these days rather than purchasing baby birth announcement charts. I don't actually draw the designs I use, so I won't say that I actually "design" them, but I DO take bits and pieces from various places and combine them to create a whole. I did that for Nathan, Jacob and Celia, and also for Erin, and Kelly. (The last two are 2 of Caitlin's sisters).

My other bit in the rotation is a large downloaded piece in 6 parts by Isabelle Haccourt-Vautier. It was offered as a mystery sampler, but I waited until all six parts were available. It is a monochromatic piece with metalic accents, and I've chosen DMC 3824, a blue, and Kreinik 025, a slate metalic. I work on this one more when my powers of concentration abandon me, which seems to happening more and more often these days.

Well, as I said, just a brief update for now...just so you know I am still around. I will post phoots soon.

For now, behave yourselves...

Grandma

An Early Halloween Treat

2010-05-19T13:00:00.007-06:00

Aren't these the cutest?

They will all be fashioned into individual standing figures for my daughter-in-law who absolutely adores Halloween.

They were stitched on 28 count cashel linen with GAST threads.

I really enjoyed seeing them come to "life."

There are seven in the set, but I guess I didn't space them out properly, so I only stitched 6 of them.

I am really looking forward to having them "finished"...
Now I have to begin thinking about another birth sampler! Baby Caitlin Theresa arrived last Tuesday - May 11. That's another Christmas Stocking too. Ah, a Grandma's work never ends!

Until next time................

Grandma

Finished!

2010-05-02T14:34:00.002-06:00

Can you believe it? I just put in the last stitches on Celia's Birth Sampler today. I think the whole piece took a little over a week to finish!

It is stitched on white 28 count linen with mostly DMC threads except for the writing which is an overdyed cotton floss from Catherine Jordan of VA. I bought several "pallets" as she calls them at an EGA Seminar a couple of years ago.

The writing is from a web site (sorry, don't remember which) where you type in what you want to say, and it charts it for you in whatever font you choose. The figures are from the Better Homes and Garderns 2001 Cross Stitch Designs. This volume is a "cannot be without" when I need small patterns to create unique designs, especially for kids' birth samplers. I also used it for Celia's brother, Nate. I stitched the girls pretty much as they were designed, but I did change the hair on the cheerleader to the browns (like the other girls) and made her sweater letter into a "C" for her parents' alma mater.

Now I think I will get back to working on "Xena", and will also look to start a simple (one color) design - don't know which one yet - as I expect to be called away from home very shortly when my dil gives birth to her fifth child -- I get to play "soccer mom" for the older kids.

That's it for today -- behave yourselves and be careful.

Grandma

Progress Report

2010-04-27T11:23:00.003-06:00

Wow...two updates in four days...I am impressed with myself!

Anyway, here is the latest progress report on Celia's birth Sampler. As you can see, we have her name, and birthday, and two of the four figures surrounding them. She's all girl so that's what I have chosen for her - ballerina, artist, cheerleader and just splashing in the rain. The writing is in an overdyed cotton that I purchased at a Seminar a couple of years ago. It just seems to work. The ground is white linen, altho it looks a little greyish in the photo. I'm getting ready to put in the city, and then onto the two other figures.

It's going rather quickly - should be finished in a week or so. Just in time too, as we are awaiting another little girl in the next couple of weeks (Celia's cousin).

Better get back to my stitchy couch. See you all later,

Grandma ELF

Proud of this!

2010-04-23T16:19:00.003-06:00

I know, it's been almost a month, but I've been stitching dilligently, and here is the result:

The name of the piece is House in the Woods, designed by Giulia Manfredini of Giulia Punti Antichi, and it was offered as a mystery sampler in The Gift of Stitching, an online magazine. The sampler came in six installments beginning in July of 2009, with the last part coming out in January of this year.

It's 161 x 391 stitches which comes out to 10" x 24 1/2" stitched on 32 count linen with Caron Waterlilies, Kreinik Silk Mori, andThe Thread Gatherer Silk and Colors. It is mostly cross stitch, but includes a few specialty stitches. This was the first time I stitched a piece entirely in silks, and the first time I ventured down to 32 count, but last year I purchased a Day Light clip on magnifier, and what a difference that made! I'm even thinking about trying a 'one over one' in the near future.

I started it in August, and put the last stitch in today. DD has already claimed it...she saw it in the works and declared that she "loved it!...it's one of the nicest you've done!" Well, she'll have to wait until after the Vanderburgh County (IN) Fair in July, but then I will present it to her.

I should have something else to show you in about a week. Till then, behave yourselves!

Grandma ELF

A Change of Pace

2010-03-24T10:44:00.004-06:00

Something a little different today. My EGA chapter (Manhattan) is taking part in two Outreach Programs - ways in which we, as stitchers, give back to our communities. The two items pictured are my contributions this month.

The bookmark is part of the new National Outreach Project, Needle and ThREAD, Stitching for Literacy. The bookmarks are donated to area libraries which then distribute them to readers as a way of increasing interest in books. "Books are Treasures. Reading is the Key."

The small pillow (4" square) is called a "Soldier's Kiss Pillow". The pillows are distributed to service personnel who are about to be deployed. They are either kissed by the soldier and left with his/her family, or kissed by family members and taken by the soldier on his/her deployment. The pillow top was designed by a chapter in Texas, and the pillows have been stitched in the thousands by EGA and ANG members; the design has been modified and stitched by Canadian members of EAC as well.

The second photo shows the back of the Kissing Pillow - a patriotic pattern, in this case the Statue of Liberty, in red.

The Bookmark took a bit more than an hour to complete. The embroidery on the pillow took about 2 1/2 hours and completing the piece took another hour or so. Not much when you consider how appreciated these little gifts are.

Grandma

Rogaine Works

2010-03-05T15:05:00.001-06:00

Ptui, ptui. Excuse me while I spit out the remnants of the bullets I bit before the starting the stemstitches that make up Xena’s hair! I was really nervous about this “surface” stitch on such an unforgiving medium as Congress cloth, but I finally got up my gumption and did it, and as you all said, it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I feared it would be. In fact, once I got the hang of it, it was really very rhythmic. Now I can stitch her samplers with a clear conscience!

It didn’t take me all this time though. In between my last post and today we took a trip to Virginia for one of our granddaughters’ sixth birthday. We even managed to avoid all the snow last weekend in the northeast as we left NYC on Wednesday afternoon and didn’t return until Monday evening. There was plenty of snow still in the DC area, but all the roadways were clear, as were all the roads back to NY on Monday.

We also celebrated another granddaughter’s 10th birthday in upstate New York on Wednesday.

Now I have some clear time to stitch on Xena and my other rotations pieces…House in the Wood by Giulla Manfredi and the birth sampler for the latest granddaughter (born in December).

Behave yourselves now….Grandma

Xena is Dressed

2010-02-11T19:20:00.001-06:00

She may still be bald, but her dress is finished. My next step will probably be Xena’s samplers as putting in her hair scares me a little…it’s surface embroidery on canvas (outline stitch in two or three colors of auburn). I am far more comfortable with counted stitching, but eventually I will bite the bullet and give the poor girl some hair!

Be well, and try to enjoy the snow if it has buried you!

Grandma

Mary Wigham

2010-01-28T22:25:00.001-06:00

Here she is!.. . completed except for initials. I will be using those of my own family. I’ll start with my parents and in-laws and include my brother and brother-in-law and sister-in-law and of course my children, their spouses and children (my grandkids). I intend to color-code by family so I have to plan that out.

I’ll be able to add all of them except for the newest grandbaby who will be born in May.

Meanwhile, Xena has the center of her skirt done, and I will begin the side panels tomorrow. What I finished so far is mostly white on white congress cloth and difficult to photograph.

I’ve planned out Celia’s birth sampler. so that will enter the rotation now that Mary is virtually done.

More soon…………..Grandma

Some stitching progress to show

2010-01-26T12:43:00.001-06:00

One of the things I’ve been working on this year is Gay Ann Rogers’ Xena, Sampler Maker. She’s my project in the year-long

“Stitch Gay Ann Stash” SAL going on in Gay Ann’s classroom with The Shining Needle Society.

So far, I have completed Xena’s face, the main outline, her vest and her sleeves and gloves, along with the frames for her samplers. The next “lesson” is the center panel of her skirt. I’d really like to finish that part this week…we’ll see.

I’m also almost finished with my Mary Wigham Reproduction Sampler from Needleprint. I’m just about ready to begin adding the initials…I’m using my own family initials for this, not Mary Wigham’s family. There is a small hitch to this is in that I cannot complete the project until May…we are expecting another granddaughter then, and I obviously don’t know what her name will be.

More posts soon…perhaps even a photo of Mary Wigham.

Be well…

Grandma

Still here...

2010-01-14T17:27:00.003-06:00

and plugging away at my Mary Wigham Reproduction Sampler. It is harder than it seems as I come around the bottom motifs and up the right side. Things are NOT always lining up straight which brings out that old frog and his "rippit, rippit" stitch.

Jeesh, I hate that frog!

Also working on Gay Ann Rogers' "Xena, Sampler Maker" and finding the pesky frog invading that stitching too! Again, because areas do not aline themselves correctly.

I've gotten a few ideas for new granddaughter's birth sampler, but I'm still coggitating about it.

House guests this weekend, so stitching has to be put up for a while. More next week, and I will try for photos then.

Grandma

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009-12-31T19:57:00.003-06:00

Just a brief note wishing all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year in 2010!

Grandma

Enlarging the Family

2009-12-26T12:12:00.003-06:00

My spawn have spawned again! We have a new granddaughter named Celia Elizabeth who entered the world on December 22 at 11:39 at night. She weighed in at 5 lbs 11 oz and joins two older brothers, Nathan and Jacob. She is the daughter of my eldest son and his wife.

We are thrilled with our latest addition!

Now that my "baby watch" is over (I stayed with the boys) I can begin to make plans and get back to my stitching in a serious way. Of course I have to add a new baby sampler to the rotation, and for me, coming up with the idea for it takes the longest. I don't actually design from scratch; I more or less "cut and paste" different motifs, alphabets and the like until I come up with a pleasing "whole". I like to use designs than can grow with the children and aren't too baby like - just my own personal thing. So now I am off to the research through my books and leaflets and sometimes even the internet. The stitching itself then goes pretty quickly.

I will keep you in the loop of my progress.

Happy Holidays to all!

Grandma

I'm Late...I know

2009-12-07T11:49:00.004-06:00

I know I'm late with the next post, and that I said that I would have a photo of Mary Wigham to show you, and I will...just not yet. We have been out of town for the past week, (we're due home this week) and although I have my stitching with me, I do NOT have the camera. As soon as we get back to NYC, I promise an update and a photo. Just wanted to let you all know that I am still here, and still stitching!

Grandma

A Day at Nursery School

2009-11-24T16:25:00.002-06:00

Today I got to to something I don't think I have ever done before (even with four kids of my own). I spent the morning as "Helping Grandma" at grandson#4's nursery school.

My basic "job" was to help the teachers with what ever they were doing and/or needed an extra hand for. I helped with the ingredients for the corn bread the kids made for tomorrow's special Play and Party for Thanksgiving; I did the clean-up of the bowls and utensils, and put all the ingredients away in the kitchen. Then I put the pans into the oven, watched the time and took the finished cornbreads out of the oven.

I wiped noses (a lot!) and ran the hand-washing before snack operation. I got to sit on the floor during the "meeting" about what we are Thankful For, and Music time and Story Time, and have one or another child crawl into my lap (NOT my own grandson of course, he's way too cool for that!).

I even got to see the "rehearsal" of the class' part of the show tomorrow which is a good thing as I won't be at the real party. I explained to GS that I have to cook for Thanksgiving, and that pleased him just fine. He, and his little brother and parents are coming to my house for Thanksgiving, so there should be food for that.

Obviously, there wasn't any stitching time today and probably won't be much this evening.
We have an Opera at the Metropolitan Opera House tonight. (While I stitch to music, the lighting just isn't there!)

We'll see how much I can get stitched on Mary Wigham this week. It's my only current WIP. I like its portability, and since we are on "Baby Watch" for this same family, I will keep to it so I can quickly throw it in my bag and go off to stay with these two grandsons while Mommy is in the hospital.

More after the Holiday....Enjoy,
Grandma

The Plugger

2009-11-20T18:48:00.003-06:00

Still plugging away at my Mary Wigham Reproduction Sampler (see http://needleprint.blogspot.com) It is coming along slowly; somedays I get to complete a motif and other days not so much. Will try to get it ready for a photo next time.

What is making this a bit difficult is that since it is a "reproduction" sampler, one should make all the mistakes the original (Mary) made. That means a lot of chart referral as what seems to be a mirror image of the left side stitched on the right side, often isn't the same. It could be a stitch is omitted, or an extra one is put in or whatever. It is a fun piece, but sometimes quite a frogging bother!

Had a minor personal plumbing scare this morning, so its off for my colonoscopy on Monday. I was going to schedule all my MD appointments for January and February - after Grandchild #11 makes his/her appearance, but this morning's wake-up call said "get this one done early" It's been six years since my last totally clean one, and the prep isn't the noxious "swamp water" but simply magnesium citrate, which I have had before, and as preps for this procedure go, is quite mild. Now that you have more information than you wanted, I will go back to MW and plug away!

By the way....Happy Turkey Day to all, no matter how or when you celebrate!

Grandma

Table Topper ready for Fringing.

2009-11-10T12:48:00.003-06:00

A day early this week for two reasons: an EGA chapter meeting tomorrow, and an embroidery finish today.Here is the Sabbath Table Topper from Dutch Treat Designs with the decorative stitching finished and ready for the "nuns' stitch" and fringing. There is a lot of nuns' stitching to do, but of course the actual fringing should take no time at all.

Pleased with my progress on finishing one piece in the rotation so I can get ready to add a large Gay Ann Rogers project. I have both Angie, Sampler Maker (needlepoint) and Xena, Sampler Maker (cross stitch). I'm leaning towards Xena first as there are NO Bullion Stitches in the piece, and I think I like her colors better.

Till next time....stay well,............Grandma

Santa's back from Finisher

2009-11-04T08:44:00.004-06:00

As promised...at least a weekly update.

Santa is home from the finsher...thanks to Pat Mazu of Newburgh, IN, he is now a "doll" who can join the many other Santa's on my son and DIL's couch.

There is a also semi-side view...Santa was finished as a box pillow so he has some depth. I think he looks just spiffy!

In other areas, I am trying to finish a Table Topper for another DIL so she too can have it for the holidays. I was able to stitch on this on the plane trip home from IN yesterday as it is on #18 Anne cloth over two; I call it my "Tired Eyes Project!"

Mary Wigham is coming along slowly, and my project (s) from the last two National EGA Seminars are also progressing. As if I didn't already have enough on my stitching plate, I am about to begin the year-long "Stitch Along with Gay Ann" [Rogers], and in addition to the new projects I ordered from her, I have brought "Angie and her Samplers" back from IN. I need to kit her up, and then I plan to get started on her as a BAP. (Big A*%^ Project.) I will keep you updated as I start to stitch her.

Until next week...............Grandma

Today's the Day!

2009-10-28T09:44:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday to ME!

It's official; I've joined the card carrying members of (excuse me) "Senior Citizens". I have my own Medicare card, and I can ride for 1/2 price on Public transportation, and shop on "Senior Days" at Kohls and other stores. WOW!

How did this happen? I still feel exactly the same as I did yesterday...even better in fact because yesterday, for some uncanny reason, I decided to scrub the stove, refridgerator, microwave, and all the cabinets in my kitchen. Then I washed the floor and while I could still stand up, I did three loads of laundry (all at the same time because there is a laundry room in my apartment building). Can you say exhausting? I still read a lot, stitch even more, baby sit, travel, attend EGA meetings and Seminars (Pittsburg was fabulous).

Today we are on our way to Indiana for a week -- business for DH, and probably more cleaning and some yard work for me! In between that is a football game on Saturday and a birthday party on Sunday. I'm still ticking!

About the only thing I've slowed down on is photographing my work and keeping up with this blog...two things I intend to remedy in the very near future.

Help me blow out the candles -- all 65 of them!

Grandma

Good Grief!

2009-09-30T21:32:00.003-06:00

I had no idea it had been so long since I posted!

I've been reading and stitching, but no photos today. I've been plugging away on Mary Wigham; I finally finished page 1 and am working on page 2 now. I really haven't done anything on House in the Woods, and the next installment should be out tomorrow. I am really WAY behind on that one.

I did add a new piece (well a UFO piece) to the rotation. It's a table topper for ddil, and it is really a "tired eyes project" on 18 count Anne cloth over two, stitched with #5 perle and Watercolours.Very different from the 32 count and 28 count linens of the other two pieces.

EGA Seminar in Pittsburg starts this weekend, and I am gathering my "usual stitching stuff" to take with me. I'm driving to Pitt, so there's no need to check baggage (the part I really detest about flying these days) and my roommate is also my passenger, so the fun will begin Saturday morning!

I will post pictures of what I have been working on and also some from Seminar when I get back next week. Well maybe in two weeks as dd and dgkids are coming for a week's visit when I get back.

In the meantime I've been following quite a few of your blogs and am awed by your progress!
Until next time....
Grandma

Good Grief!

2009-09-30T21:32:00.000-06:00

Santa's at the finisher

2009-08-28T10:35:00.003-06:00

I know it's been a long time but finally, I have something to blog about. Santa Sampler from Kirsten in OZ (the editer of The Gift of Stitching Magazine) is stitched and on his way to becoming a box pillow for my son, DIL and four grandkids in NY State.

He is stitched on cream 18 count Aida with Threadworx Flame, an overdyed red.

He has been travelling with me to Wisconsin, Indiana and NYC because since he is all one thread, he was easily managed on airplains and in airports.

He is roughly 5" x 7" and with the inch or so that Pat plans to leave around him, he will be a decent sized "throw" pillow to sit among the myriad of Santas that my DIL has on her love seat at Christmas time.

Now it's time to get back to Mary Wigham and the House in the Woods Samplers that I put aside in order to get Santa ready for the Holidays.

I'll post new photos of them as soon as I get the camera ready.

Take care...............Grandma

A Finish...and a new Beginning

2009-08-04T18:02:00.006-06:00

I have finished My version of Pelin Tezer's Alla Turca, a nine part SAL that was issued monthly except parts 8 & 9, which came together. The reason I call it "My" version is that I had to make a couple of adaptions because I cannot measure correctly and I started the piece too high on the fabric so I had to leave out the top motif in the center. Not only was it too high, the fabric wasn't long enough either, so I changed the center bottom design a bit and also evened off the two motifs on either side of the center. They were not designed that way, but it looked better to me.

I also put my initials in the two motifs on the sides of the middle...one thread over one, and the year, the same way.

Now that Alla Turca is ready for framing, it is, of course, time to begin a new piece, and I have, today. Here is the very beginning of the Mary Wigham sampler from the Ackworth Quaker School in England. Stitching this or I suppose any reproduction piece is as difficult as it was for me to "type" my kids' papers for school; I so want to correct the mistakes, but I know I shouldn't.

We are off to Wisconsin for a couple of Irish Festivals for the next two weeks...La Crosse and then the mother of them all, Milwaukee. What could be bad? Great music, great craic and great friends! Mary and the Santa are going with me, so will see how much I get done.

Behave yourselves til I get back.

Grandma

Rotation

2009-08-03T10:05:00.003-06:00

No photos today. I've been rotating the Santa Pillow, Alla Turca (I have the last two parts so that should be done in a day or so), and House in the Woods from The Gift of Stitching magazine.

As soon as I am finished with Alla Turca, I want to add Mary Wigham to the rotation. I have all the threads, just need to pick up a piece of 24 ' x24" linen or even weave. My street is closed today for resurfacing so I am pretty much stuck at home. I've already done some yard work - pruning bushes -- so now I will get back to stitching for the rest of the day.

We leave for a road trip at the end of this week so I have to decide which piece(s) to take with me.

Back with photo when I have some.

Grandma

Blue Ribbon Winners!

2009-07-26T11:44:00.002-06:00

Just picked up my entries from the Vanderburgh County (IN) 4 H Fair. I entered four items and won 4 Blue Ribbons! Not too shabby if I must say myself!

Garden Stars by Tracy of Ink Circles

"I'm So Stubborn" from the James Heriot Collection by Coats Crafts UK.

A Needlepoint Pillow - Painted Canvas from Hawaii

A golf AFGHAN I stitched for my son when they lived in Bermuda. - Each square depicts a famous hole from a famous golf course, ie the 12th at Augusta, Pinehurst 3, etc.

I'm dancing my Happy Dance over these!

Grandma

Back from the Framers

2009-07-26T10:25:00.004-06:00

Here are my two latest finishes back from the framers. He laces them beautifully and the frames I choose show off the needlework which is my purpose in the whole endeaver.

The first is Grande Abecedere, an SAL from Gazette 94. I made a few changes - in the box under the "DEF" I stitched a bee hive and pears instead of the fir tree and reindeer. (We don't do Christmas, we do Chanukah).

The second piece is called Swiss Topiary. It was a Mystery SAL from a shop in Europe. I began it last summer and finished it this past spring.

More pictures in a day or two.....Grandma

INDIANA!

2009-07-17T09:33:00.005-06:00

Well, we arrived in Indiana about 10 days ago. Other than relaxing and reading , I have been stitching!

The first piece is my newest start...House in the Wood by Gulia Manfredini. It is a six part Mystery SAL from The Gift of Stitching Magazine - an on line publication from Australia. I'm stitching this piece on 32 count (my maiden voyage on that count) with Caron Watercolours, The Thread Gatherer Silk & Colors, and Kreinik Silk Mori. The silks are wonderful! They just glide through the linen like a hot knife though ice cream. I'm only about 1/2 way through part one, and part three comes out August 1. Looks like I'd better hurry.

I have also finished part seven of Alla Turca by Pelin Teazer: another Mystery SAL. This one has nine parts total and is "sponsored" by the Stitchers Heaven Yahoo Group.

The last piece I am currently stitching is this interesting Santa Clause. It will be a boxed pillow, about 8" X 10" and is for my D-I-L who celebrates Christmas. I'm using Threadworx Flame on 18 count Aida. It's funny, but after stitching on linen and even weave for so long, I'm having a bit of trouble with the Aida...go figure! I'm using the cottons because (I hope) he will be well loved.

As you can see, only his hat and face are finished so far. He will probably be my "travel piece" this summer as there is only one thread to concern myself about, although the chart is a bit complicated.

Swiss Topiary and Gazette 94's Grand Abecedere are currently at the framers. I'll pick them up next week and re-photograph them finished.

Next week is also the Vanderburgh County Fair. I'm entering three pieces this year - the little girl on the horse, Garden Stars by Ink Circles, and a golf afghan I stitched several years ago for my son when he was living in Bermuda. Wish me luck!

Grandma

A Quick Finish

2009-06-30T11:11:00.003-06:00

Here is a quick little piece that I started on Sunday afternoon and have almost finished. The pink near the bottom needs to be filled in all the way across the design. My daughter saw this and we both felt it was very applicable to life in general, and particular as well.

We are off to Virginia tomorrow morning to attend the 8th birthday party of the third grandson. He is "a Yankee Doodle Dandy, born on the Fourth of July!" Can't believe how quickly they are "growing up".

From Virginia, we plan to drive out to our home in southern Indiana for the rest of the summer. I have lots of stitching time when we are there, and since I've heard that temperatures are hovering around the 90+ mark, I anticipate lots of time sitting in the air conditioned house in my stitching room getting a bunch of things started and finished! I have been packing for the past week...I want this piece, I don't want this one, etc. I will also get to attend a couple of stitch-ins at my LNS. Since I also like the framer out there, I am bringing several pieces to be framed, and possibly entered into the County Fair at the end of July.

More from Indiana.............Grandma

Stitching and Reading

2009-06-27T14:45:00.004-06:00

Good Grief, has it been that long since I posted? I have been busy; reading and stitching and just dealing with life in general. My two oldest grandsons "graduated" from fifth grade and are moving up to Middle School in the autumn. My oldest son kept me busy watching his two young sons (ages 3 years and 9 months) while he and my Daughter-in-law were house hunting. They finally decided to rent for another year (in a different apartment from the one they are currently in) so we will probably go through this again next year, only then there will be three children to watch!

But enough about my "life"...let's get to the stitching! The photo to the right is part 6 of Alla Turca, a nine part Mystery SAL by Pelin Tezer that I am stitching through the Stitcher's Heaven yahoo group. I had to change the top because I cut my fabric too short, or started stitching too high or something like that. Anyway, it will be slightly different from the way it was designed, but let's just call it an adaptation! After all, there are no real mistakes in stitching, just alterations, some-times major ones, and more often minor discrepencies.

I expect to put my initials in the two areas flanking the darker diamonds. I am using DMC 311 on white linen. Part 7 is due out in a couple of days...can't wait.

Gazette 94 designed the second piece and called it "Grand
Abecedere." It was also a Stitch-a-long, but not a mystery, in nine parts. I have posted part of this before, but I finished it today. Again there is an alteration in this piece. Since I do not celebrate Christmas, I eliminated the Christmas tree and reindeer in the section just below the "D E F" and stitched instead a bee hive and a couple of pears that I found in one of my French sampler resourse books. I used Sampler Threads in Pine (the darker green) and Shutter Green for the lighter areas.

This piece may be a gift for my Daughter and Son-in-law for their "new" home. These colors would go nicely with what they have.

I have also been reading. Don't miss The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson. I will admit, the first chapter is a little hard to get into, but after that it is fabulous. My daughter sent me Eat Pray Love which I totally enjoyed. I picked up an early Easy Rawlins book by Walter Mosely dealing with Easy as a very young man in Louisiana. I also found a remainder at Borders called A Woman in Jerusalem by Israeli author A. B. Yehoshua. This is NOT a religious book at all but a haunting tale of a victim of a suicide bombing at a market. I'll not divulge anymore, but it is a story that I really enjoyed. And ofcourse, Janet Evanovich's new Stephanie Plum mystery just came out and I am lost in Trenton again.

Enjoy the warm weather - although we are still having rain virtually every day here in the Northeast. And the Midwest, where we are headed next week is acting like a furnace. Oh well we can't change the weather, so I guess I will deal with the rain here, and the heat there when we get there.

Be well...............Grandma

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-09T20:20:00.002-06:00

Just a quick note to wish all of you a very Happy Mothers' Day. And remember, take some "ME" time to sit and stitch today!

Grandma

Some Sad News

2009-05-05T09:55:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I heard the sad news of the passing of Jean Hilton, one of counted Needlepoint's true stars. Many stitches we use today were invented or created by Jean. We will surely miss her contributions to our Art. Below is my version of the top three squares of Jean's GlenEagle.

Another sad note I received the other day was that The Scarlet Thread, a lovely shop in Falls Church, Virginia, very close to where I have family, is closing. The shop used to be in Vienna and moved to Falls Church a couple of years ago. This too is sad as Sara Leigh Murray carried many beautiful silk and overdyed threads as well as lovely charts and fabrics. I will miss it.

Not to leave you on such a downer, here is my progress on Gazette 94's ABECEDERE. I've been using it as a "travel piece" since there are only two colors in it. I don't think I want to use the fir tree and the reindeer that are supposed to go next to the "GHIJ" and under the "DEF" so I am going to leave that part empty for now until a brilliant idea somes to me, either from one of you or my own feeble brain.

Oh, I finally got the frame parts for the gymnast, so that is one of my projects to complete this week.

That's it for now.....behave yourselves. Grandma

Happy Dancing

2009-04-23T12:00:00.003-06:00

At last! I have finally finished stitching Swiss Topiary! It only took about six months, but of course, other things were stitched in between sesions with ST. Even though it is not very complicated...I used only one color of DMC, I think it still qualifies as a "BAP". The dimensions are 21" high by 15" wide. People who saw me working on it asked if it was a table cloth!

I also received a wonderful package the other day. Pat Mazu, a wonderful finisher in Newburgh, IN and the author of Finishing 101: A Workbook of Techniques and Encouragement, which is reviewed in the latest issue of NeedlePointers, returned "ERIN"S STOCKING".

The finishing, as usual is just perfect!

I really hope Erin will be happy with this stocking. I know I am.

The Gymnast is not framed yet...Haven't been able to get to one of the craft stores to get the strips to make my own frame. Hopefully that will get done next week sometime.

I'm off to the Metropolitan Region EGA Seminar tomorrow. Actually, I 'm not taking any classes, but will be running the bookstore. I've done this in the past, and it affords me lots of stitching time between rushes of customers. I'm bringing gazette 94's Abecedere (overdyed greens on linen), and a small canvas project so I can switch back and forth between them. Neither requires excessive light so I hope to get a lot done in the two and 1/2 days.

Ta ta until next week then......Grandma

I'm Still Around!

2009-04-17T14:55:00.003-06:00

Just wanted you to know that I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth. Actually, I have been busy stitching, mostly on Swiss Topiary - I am up to page twelve of twelve, so I am nearing completion of it. Because of its size, I think I will wait until it is finished and laundered before I post any more pictures of it.

The Gymnast I sitched for Granddaughter #1 is mounted (and laced) on an 8"x8" piece of foam-core, and as soon as I can get to a craft store, I will purchase two pair of 8" frame strips and assemble the frame and pop the embroidery into it.

"Erin's Stocking" has been finished by my friend, Pat Mazu in IN, and will be winging its way home to me in the next week, so, there will be much to photograph and post then.

Until then....I will keep on stitching.
Grandma

...and a New Finish!

2009-04-06T23:18:00.003-06:00

I took a day off from other responsibilities like house cleaning and laundry and the like. I spent almost the entire afternoon and evening finishing The Gymnast for my granddaughter. As I said in my last post, I altered the colors to reflect the color of her competition leotard and her hair color. The colors don't really show up that well, but her hair is red, and her leotard is stitched in Kreinik braid because the one she wore this year was all glitzy and sparkly!

I also misnamed the apparatus; it is not a "bar", but the Beam.

Now back to my SAL's.

Happy Holidays all......Grandma

An OOPS and Another Beginning

2009-04-04T23:24:00.004-06:00

I finally found a little time to stitch. I have been slowly working on Swiss Topiary, but not enough to show you yet. But, I did stitch part 4 of Alla Turca with a small modification. You know how they always say measure twice, cut once? Well guess who didn't measure correctly?

Bingo! You got it, ME! The needle with thread show the top of my piece of linen for Alla Turca...I don't think there is any way for me to add the top motif as it is more rows than I have.

It shouldn't be too much of a problem if part 5 (which goes to the left of center along the top is only as high as part 3 is, then the piece will still be balanced, I hope. However, I have to wait until May 1 to find out!

The other piece I started tonight is for Granddaughter #1, the former Equestrian now turned Gymnast. I have modified the design to reflect both her hair color and the colors in her competition leotard. The gymnast is doing a balancing split.

I only have the bar and sleeve of her leotard done, but I think it is quite a lot for one evening.

I'll post more photos of this piece as I stitch her.

Grandma

New Stash

2009-03-24T22:12:00.003-06:00

Remember late last month when I told you I was going to a stitching store? Well I visited the Scarlet Thread in Virginia and bought some linen. The top piece is a "fat" 1/2 yard of Cashel linen in Flax, and the lower piece is a full yard of Silvery Moon, also a Cashel linen. Both are 28 count, which is what I am most comfortable with right now. These are two charts I picked up as well, because I need more stuff! Obviously one is by Long Dog Samplers, and the other is by Lynn Skinner for the Pomegranate Guild. The center section (in green in the photo) is Assissi work, but not with x's...The stitches are like little squares surrounding the voided area, and that kind of fascinated me.

This past weekend, there was a multi-family "garage sale" at the church across the street, which I only found out about just before they were closing. Anyway, I found these three spools of thread (or yarn, as I found out it was called) for $1 each! The thread is called "Slinky" and it is made by the Silk Company of New Jersey, located in Paterson, NJ. It is called a perle yarn because it is made for machine knitting, but I thought I could use it for needlework!
I tried to determine a size for it and the nearest I can come up with is #5 perle. The blue on top is #5, and the red and antique bronze threads are the Slinky. The lighter blue on the bottom is #8

As for my stitching this past week it has mostly been on Swiss Topiary as I was baby sitting a couple of days. Another week before part 4 of Alla Turca comes out.

I'll try to get back soon with photos of my work.

Grandma

Happy St Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T12:08:00.003-06:00

And to honor Patrick I am stitching something Green! I have finally begun Gazette 94's Mystery Stitch Along (SAL) called Grand Abecedere. I am using GAST Pine and Shutter Green. I think that the more subtle color difference is very calming. This is only part one which I just finished. There are four parts available as of today.But it is not the only SAL I am currintly working on. Below is Swiss Topiary, a Mystery SAL from last year. For come reason, I waited until I had 8/12 parts. I am stitching on parts 7 and 8 right now.And not to be omitted, is Pelin Tezer's Alla Turca. Three parts have been released so far and I have finished all three...have to wait for April 1 for the next installment.

The three pieces are rotated by where I am and the date....on the first of the month I pick up Alla Turca, when on the road, Swiss Topiary is the order of the day, and when home, like now, I will work on Grand Abecedere until I catch up.

Back to stitching!

Grandma

A Problem

2009-03-11T17:04:00.002-06:00

I attended my EGA chapter meeting today and we had our Region Director as a guest. She just came back from a National Board Meeting in KY and had several things to discuss. The primary problem EGA (The Embroiderer's Guild of America, Inc.) as well as other stitching guilds - ANG, among others seems to have is an aging and declining membership. We all want to know where are the younger stitchers? Why aren't they joining the guilds? When I joined my chapter, the membership was around 130 members and there were waiting lists for Workshop Classes. Today, our membership has dwindled to 28 by last count and Workshops and Professional Teachers are a thing of the past, mostly due to the fact that related expenses shared by so few members become quite costly per person.

I know there is so much here on the internet...teachers, patterns, forums, blogs and message boards for communicating ideas, but there is one huge thing that is missing! The actual face to face interaction available at a guild meeting. I can look at what Jane of Chilly Hollow or Anne from the Cape, or Coni in IN is stitching, and comment on it, but I am really only seeing an image of the piece. When you actually attend a meeting, and have the show and tell of other stitchers, it is the real deal you are seeing, and oftentimes, the colors and intricasies of the stitching are even more awe inspiring in person.

Those of you who are relatively near a chapter...EGA, ANG, FCT, or any other stitching group, try attending a meeting and see what I mean. All these organizations depend on their members and they need YOU!
Off my Soapbox for now!
Grandma

LIfe and stuff

2009-03-11T15:34:00.005-06:00

Yes, gang, we did make it back up north. That snow only held us up for a day, but things have been a little hectic for the last week. First off, I decided that I really needed to clean my apartment. We live in a big city with lots and lots of dust and soot, mostly from heating systems and automobile traffic. I almost always have windows open and therefore the outside city grime becomes the inside city grime. Anyway, I really scrubbed down areas of the kitchen and bathrooms that really needed it (I mean in addition to the normal wiping down of stove, toilets, etc.) Then I tackled the bedroom where a lot of my stash is kept -- books, charts, some threads and fabric -- and gave it a really good dusting, vaccuuming, and shake out.

All this crazy cleaning had to be done because company was coming -- isn't that the reason we have company? To make us clean up our nests?

Anyway, the first of my company was #2 grandson who was coming to spend the night while his sister had a sleepover party at his house with 13 girls aged three (youngest sister) to nine, the age of the birthday girl. We took him to the Planetarium and Museum of Natural History which he requested, and then had Pizza for dinner -- also his request.

The next day (Sunday) two of my sons decided to have a party for their Dad and their own offspring who share a birthday on 3/3 (Dad's is 3/4). Okay, but they decided to have it at my apartment (hence all that cleaning and, I forgot to mention, food shopping.) That's 10 adults and 6 children ranging in age from 6 months to 10&3/4 years....in my four room apartment!.

But -- I have survived, and even finished part three of Alla Turca. I really like this Mystery SAL by Pelin Teaser. There are six more parts to go, each one published on the first of the month, however, now I have to wait until April 1 for the next part.

That's about all for now. I'll try to write more often.

Grandma

Stuck in the Snow

2009-03-02T15:09:00.002-06:00

We were all set to drive back to NYC today, but Mother Nature had other plans. The DC area was pelted with 5 to 7" of snow and we heard it was worse as one went up the eastern seaboard. In his wisdom DH decided to book our hotel for another night and we are staying until tomorrow.

The only stitching I have with me is Swiss Topiary, but I am making good use of the "snow day" to do laundry and stitch on it. Hope to be back tomorrow.

Grandma

Finishing things

2009-02-25T17:19:00.003-06:00

Well, the Christmas Stocking is off to my favorite finisher in Indiana. The Baby Sampler has been framed and delivered to its dedicatee, and I have even had Gay Ann Rogers' Mystery in a Square framed and ready to be delivered to DS and DIL in VA this weekend. Theri bedroom is in these colors -- Eggplant and greens. The mat echos the green metalic in the piece.

The next things to be done are SAL's -- 4 of them. I've only started Alla Turca and the Swiss Topiary (from last year) but while in VA this weekend I get to go to the Scarlet Thread and select some fabric for the two others.

I have to keep myself in check here; we are not going to VA so I can shop, but to attend a birthday party for #4 granddaughter. That is what I have to remember, but I'm going to a stitchy store!!!!!

Tell you all about it when we get back, next week. Behave yourselves till I get home.

Grandma

Whoo Hoo!

2009-02-21T21:00:00.002-06:00

I did it! I finished the Christmas stocking and there is still a whole week to go in this month!
I can't wait to send it off to my finisher so I can show you her wonderful work as well.

Now I have to put away all the supplies that have been sitting in my stitching basket for this project and I get to stitch on something else! Of course there is my Swiss Topiary that I carry around with me, and my ddil asked for a bib for the youngest grandson, so perhaps one of those. Part 3 of Alla Turca will be out at the end of the week, and I just may start another SAL...Gazette' s Grand Abecedere which is already up to part 3. I'm WAY behind on that one. I love it when I have so many decisions to make about what to stitch!

Baby-sitting today while #1 son and his wife go house hunting--can only find limited time for any stitching in between playing "Thomas" or blocks or coloring with the 3 year old, or feeding the 5 month old. But it's my job, right? I'm Grandma.

More later..............