A Confession and a New Start

I have to confess, I didn't actually start my new start on Sunday this week.  It took me until Tuesday to sit down and chose a project pull the threads and pick linen for my new piece.  I really wanted to start something for my mom.  She is an accomplished seamstress, I always remember her sewing clothes when I was growing up but she doesn't stitch.  She prefers to collect my stitching for her walls.  I haven't given her anything in quite a while.  Don't think I am a bad daughter, she seriously has as much of my stitching in her house as I do in mine ;-).  Here's my evidence and this is just one wall, she has pieces I've stitched for her over the years in almost every room (Maria P. Oliver, several Paula Vaughan's, Betsy Stinner, a couple more Blackbird pieces, and at least 5 or 6 others I can think of...).

  

The last piece I gave her was Blackbird Design Willow House as an anniversary sampler for her and my father.  I hesitate to actually include my dad in the gift giving because when I show up with a framed piece he normally walks around muttering about holes in the wall, LOL.  

I decided to stitch the bonus piece from the last Loose Feather chart for her.  I am going to put either my grandmother's or great-grandmother's name on it.

I didn't get a lot done because I've been stitching on a fundraiser for the Sampler Guild I belong too.  It's too cute but everything is secret until it's revealed to the guild :-).  I hope I can get back to the sampler for my mom soon.  

I thought I'd share a picture of my sweet puppies, Chloe and Sophie, just because I haven't in a while and I think they are just too cute, LOL.

So one more new start this weekend.  I have it kitted and ready to go, hopefully I will make lots of progress on it.  I really want to get back to a few other things in the next couple weeks.  Elizabeth is calling my name rather loudly :-). 

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my blog!!!!!

Happy Stitches,

Katrina

The Attic and New Starts

Attic Needlework Sampler Symposium Projects (Catherine Theron  piece missing, I didn't get a good picture of it)

What a fun weekend!!!!  I was blessed to spend the last few days with good friends, I so needed some girl time.  I haven't laughed that much in forever.  The Sampler Symposium was wonderful and I enjoyed all the workshops. Every morning and the occasional afternoon I made a Starbucks run.  It was a necessity for me, we all stayed up late and got up early, LOL.  I shopped at the Attic, went to the Symposium and had such a good time.  One of the highlights of the trip was going to Tanya's house.  She has finished the most gorgeous pieces, I left her beautiful home just wanting to stitch, stitch, stitch so I can cover my walls in samplers :-).  The Attic Needlework is a sampler lover's dream.  It's just wall to wall eye candy everywhere you look!!!!  

Paulette took this picture of me, she thought it was hilarious that I could drink my coffee and concentrate on stitching and shopping.  I feel the need to add that she went with me every morning to Starbucks ;-), LOL.  If you'd like to see more pictures of the shop, she has posted some on her blog.  

It goes without saying my stash was greatly enhanced!!!  I won't bore you with a list of what I added to my collection but there are few special finds I'd like to share.  When I saw Jean's model, I knew I had to stitch my Blackbird Designs Peacock Pinkeep just like hers, isn't it gorgeous???

I also added The Traveling Stitcher, E. Bloeser to my stash and much to Tanya's delight I decided to get 45 count linen for it.  Jean suggested I try Ball Pt. Bead Embroidery needles with a tapestry point.  They make stitching on the higher counts so much easier.  This piece is so special to me because all my friends stitched a few stitches on it.

Finally, I've been wanting to journal my stitching time so I got Needlework Press Book of Days 2012 to keep track of what I am working on.

Besides starting E. Bloeser at the symposium I also started my new piece for my January Challenge with Laurie, Plum Street Sampler's Eulalie Long.  I just love the colors, they are so bright.  

I only added a few stitches, Elizabeth is still my number one girl especially after seeing the model at the Attic and Jen's piece in person.  I am just in love with Miss Sheffield.

Attic Needlework's Elizabeth Sheffield Model

I am so grateful I was able to spend the weekend with friends I love and who are all so special to me!!!  I hope that everyone is finding lots and lots of time to stitch :-)!!!  Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog.

Happy Stitches,

Katrina

Margaret and Elizabeth

I am from good British stock, my maternal grandmother was born in Northern Ireland.  She lived there until she married my grandfather, who was from Oxford.  My mother left England when she married my father.  On my dad's side of the family my grandmother was born a Wallace and married a Brown :-).  I think because of my heritage I love old-fashioned English names, Margaret, Elizabeth, so my projects for this week are very dear to my heart.

My second January Sunday start was Margaret Cottam.  I am doing a January challenge with Laurie, we are starting a new project every Sunday this month.  I worked just a tiny bit on Margaret at my Sampler Guild meeting.

Margaret Cottam, started 8 January on 35 count WDW Cocoa with WDW threads

 Besides having a super busy weekend, I didn't get much done on Margaret because I am completely smitten with Elizabeth.  She's just gorgeous and I absolutely love her!!!  I wish I had more time this week to work on her but I did at least get my big green bird stitched and I am fast headed to the over one blue bird :-).

Scarlet Letter's Elizabeth Sheffield on R&R Straw stitched with Attic's Needlework's conversion

I will be back next week with my third January start and an update on the Attic Needlework's Sampler Symposium.  I can't wait!!!!  I've told my DH if he gets sick while I am gone I will smother him with a pillow, LOL.  Seriously, he is feeling great otherwise I wouldn't go.  Thank you all for the sweet comments on my last post.  I hope everyone is having a great 2012 and finding lots of time to stitch.

Happy Stitches, 
Katrina