A Finish, Adam, Eve, the Serpent, and a Phobia

I have to start with a story about my childhood to explain my snake phobia. My father is the youngest of six children who all had children, in some cases several children, which makes me the third youngest of 19 grandchildren. My grandmother loved nothing more than have all her children and grandchildren visit her in her little pink house :-). Picture 13 adults, 19 kids with only about 8 years between the youngest and oldest, and you can start to envision the craziness of all of us in one tiny house together. Some of my fondest memories growing up center around my grandmother's home, picking and eating berries, cucumbers and tomatoes from the garden, playing hide and seek, flashlight tag and kick the can with my cousins. My boy cousins, and there were lots of them, 12 of the 19 kids, chased us with garter snakes. Which funnily enough didn't actually cause my snake phobia.

My grandmother had a chicken coop and I loved to go collect the eggs. The nests had these plastic coverings over them with a small hole that expanded to let the chicken in and out and I would just reach in and get the eggs. I went to collect the eggs one afternoon and reached in to grab eggs and found a large black snake instead. To say it scared me would be a huge understatement, I was petrified. I ran screaming to my grandmother who, being the country woman she was, grabbed the hoe and killed the snake. And the love hate relationship with snakes, i.e., serpents was born, LOL.

I am the girl sitting on the side of the swing set, the toddler is my sister, and three of my cousins are sitting on the swing.

All of this makes my fascination with Adam and Eve and the Serpent a bit difficult to understand. But there you go, I love to stitch the snake coiled around the tree. It's almost therapeutic :-). I finished Goode Huswife's Sarah Seifer today. I have loved this sampler for so long and I am so happy to have her stitched.

The handpainted pieces were done by Tanya

Thanks to the bad influence of my friend Tanya and my quest for all things A&E, I ordered this plate from Eldreth Pottery. Isn't it gorgeous? I told my DH it was my Mother's Day present, along with two plates from Ginger Cazan :-). He asked if he was generous, I told him I thought so, LOL. I think this plate will make a great companion for Sarah.

In keeping with my theme, one of my other very favorite pieces is Earth Sampler by The Primitive Needle. Jill Rensel framed it for me and even added an extra snake on the mat :-).

Finally, I love Paulette's big blue snake on Paradise Lost, add to that Eve looks like Betty Rubble and Adam has man boobs, perfect :-). It's just the most gorgeous piece.

Thanks for taking the time to read my rambling, memory filled post :-). I hope everyone is happy, healthy and getting lots of stitching time!

Anniversaries and Mail

Finally! I promised my mom and dad a stitched piece for their anniversary, ummmm over 2 years ago. I finished it yesterday :-). I put the year they married and their initials on it and tomorrow I will take it to my LNS for framing. My parents are going to be so surprised it's done, my mom's been dropping big hints for the last several months, LOL. I love this piece, it's Blackbird Designs Willow House.

I also signed up for my Sampler Guild's mailart exchange. I used Carriage House Samplings 1803 Pennsylvania House for my piece. I changed the colors a lot because I did things a bit backwards by chosing the lining fabric first :-). I hope the recipient loves it as much as I do.

Hope this finds everyone stitching and creating :-). I am going to get Paradise Lost out again and try to stitch a few more stockings. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment on my blog, I so appreciate it!

Finishes and Framing

Wow, has it been that long since I posted? Hope this note finds you all happy, healthy and stitching ;-). I've been busy, we had two birthdays, Easter, and company. Not to mention my guild is doing a mail art exchange so I've been working on that. I am dying to get back to Paradise Lost and Blackbird Designs Anniversaries of the Heart. I've decided to stitch them all on one piece of linen.

I did get the Blackbird Designs Summer Harvest class pieces stitched and sent off to Deb for finishing. They are so gorgeous, I could never finish them as beautifully as she does. I put my mom's initials and the year she was born on the needlecase. I can't say enough good things about Alma and Barbara's classes, they are wonderful ladies.

Here's a close-up of the needlecase.

These are my Blackbird Designs stockings. Of course, Deb finished these too :-).

I decided to use all Blackbird Designs fabrics as the backing for them. It just seemed appropriate. I only have another 20 something other's I want to stitch, LOL.

I got my TitD framed at my LNS too. I absolutely love the molding, it's so perfect for the piece.


This is a close-up of the molding.

I also decided it was time to redecorate my blog! I owe a big thank you to Heather for putting together the collage in my header. I absolutely love it. As always thanks for taking the time to read and post comments. It's so much fun to hear what you all think :-).

Stockings and This is the Day!!!

Woohoo, finally some finishes and a long overdue post! I had good intentions of posting more often this year but then time gets away from me. I also have the angst of "if I stitch for another night or two, I will have a picture with more progress", LOL. I definitely don't want to bore anyone :-). I would promise to post every week or two, but who wants to make a liar out of themselves. So I will leave it at "I really do want to post more often" and we will see how it goes.

I do actually have a few finishes to show off. I finally sat myself down and finished the filling in on This is the Day so it is ready to be framed :-). For those of you who have asked, TitD is in the January/February 2009 issue of Just Cross Stitch and the designer is Hands to Work. I should also say I used Jan's conversion with a tiny bit of tweaking to suit myself. If you want to see the piece in the colors it was charted for, which BTW are gorgeous too, have a look at Siobhan's blog.

This picture is actually truer to the colors I used and the linen, R&R 40 count American Chestnut, GAST Pumpkin Pie ~ GAST Cidermill Brown, except for the sun, I used CC Finley Gold and Schneckey. GAST Roasted Marshmallow ~ Bamboo , GAST Picnic Basket ~ Crescent Colours Cocoa Bean, GAST Tomato ~ Crescent Colours Wild Berry, GAST Old Brick ~ WDW Red Pear CC Just Rust ~ Crescent Colours Red Currant, CC Colonial Copper ~ Weeks Whiskey, CC Camouflage ~ WDW Kudzu, CC Black Coffee ~ CC Blackbird, Weeks Conch ~ WDW Fawn.

I also finished the 2010 Shepherd's Bush scissor fob. I ended up finishing it by whipstitching the backstitched edges. Chloe and Sophie are tiny little four legged thieves who love skeins of thread, scissor fobs and coasters. I think the ribbon edging while gorgeous, would not stand up to the wear and tear of the occasional trip to the backyard :-).

I've also been having lots of fun with the Blackbird Designs Stockings. They are such quick stitches and the colors are gorgeous. I've made a couple of substitutions in the linen colors, I was trying to use what I had on hand :-). I am stitching all of them on 30 count linen and I've ordered several cuts of Blackbird Design fabric for backing. Of course, there's no way I am doing the finishing myself. They will be winging their way to Deb shortly :-).

Deer in the Meadow Stocking, December

Be Mine Stocking, February

Happy Birthday Stocking, with my Dad's initials and birthday, January

Winter Carnations, January

On the home front, my happy news is I've quit my part time job at the church. It was time, things have changed a lot for us over the last couple years, my parents moved out here, my DH retired from the military and took a position as a contractor, and we are on the verge of being empty nesters :-). I'd like more time for my parents and I want to do some projects around the house. I've been wanting to make this change for a while so I am very excited. So I have a huge list of things I want to do around the house and lots of stitching projects.

I've committed myself to finishing a few pieces over the next month or so before I start anything new. Paradise Lost has been loudly calling my name, I've been working on BBD Willow House for my parents and I want to finish my Blackbird project from the Dyeing to Stitch Retreat before the Shepherd's Bush Retreat in September. I thought it would be good to have at least one project done before I go to another retreat, LOL.

It's a gorgeous needlecase and pin cushion and I am going to try and figure out a cute motif from the design for a scissor fob. Maybe the vase with the flowers over one? There's also a place for initials and I am going to use my mom's for this piece.

I hope this post finds everyone happy, with lots of stitching time :-). Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment on my blog!

Happy New Year!!!

I can't believe it's 2010! I am sure at the beginning of every year, I post the same thing but I love fresh starts :-). I think my stitching slump is over, my new problem is I am skipping about too much, LOL. There are just too many things calling my name and some of them are huge projects, And They Sinned, Scarlet Letter's And All was for an Appil, Village of Hawk Run Hollow, Mary Wigham and of course I am still working on Paradise Lost. I started them all, I know I am crazy.

Here's my progress on Paradise Lost, I love this project. The colors are wonderful and it's such a joy to stitch.

On the small project front, I am trying to finish TitD. I was madly stitching to have it done for the new year, I had already dated it '09 and I didn't want to frog the over one on 40 count date. As you can see I gave up the quest and unpicked and restitched it with '10 instead. My DH didn't understand why it mattered what the piece was dated, LOL. Does he know me at all? I mean he's lived with me over half his life I would hope he's figured out I am a tiny bit OCD and a perfectionist. Don't worry, he knows, he just likes to tease me ;-). I am hoping to have it finished this weekend but we'll see.

I also pulled out an old UFO, A Stitcher's Prayer by Carriage House Sampling. I am ridiculously close to finishing this one too. I'd love to have two or three projects to send off to Jill Rensel for framing.

On the short list for smaller projects: Bunches of the BBD Stockings, ornaments, Sarah Tobias, Sarah Salter, Sarah Seifer, lot of Sarahs aren't there, Stories to Live by: Eve and I'd like to get back to Miss Lila's house. Keeping in mind there's a market coming, Autumn in the Hollow, two new loose feathers, a few more stockings, a whole new series of Loose Feathers... There is just not enough time in the day :-).

My goals for the new year is to be a bit healthier, lose some weight, exercise more, I'd like to be more deliberate about how I spend my time. I actually have a lot of free time, I just need to spend a bit less time on the computer and a bit more time with needle in hand :-). I think I'd have to lot to show next December if I did that. And finally, no promises about stash diets or spending but I would like to cut back some, I have stash to last me a lifetime so new pieces will have to be the ones I can't wait to start, not pieces that will go in my stash for someday.

I will leave you with a picture of my sweeties, Chloe and Sophie. They are my constant companions, when I am gone according to my DD and DH they wait and watch at the front window for me to get home :-). My DH says they only know he's around when he has a treat for them, LOL. It's not quite that bad but he is third on their list after me and their grandma, my mom.

Hugs and happy new year to all! I hope everyone's year is filled with health, happiness and lots of stitching time!!!!

Paradise Found

I am way overdue updating my blog. I have promised Siobhan every day for the last week today I will post a picture of Paradise Lost. Then the day gets away from me and it doesn't happen.

I am happy to say, I found my stitching mojo and it is paradise! Seriously, Plum Street Sampler's Paradise Lost is such a pleasure to stitch. I love the colors, the theme, all the animals and Adam's man boobs ;-). I am working a page of the chart at a time, I was hoping to be on page 3 by now but I haven't had as much stitching time as I would like. I am stitching it with the NPI and Gloriana silks on 40 count light examplar.

The Dyeing to Stitch retreat was wonderful. Karin and I had so much fun. We took the Blackbird Designs and Jeanette Douglas classes, they were great. We were allowed to purchase the kits for the other track and of course I got the Shepherd's Bush kit. I knew I would love it.

My friend Tanya paints gorgeous needlework sets. Since I am obsessed with Adam and Eve, of course I wanted her to paint mine with an A&E theme. Aren't they sweet? I love the snakes too :-).


I always wonder at my friends with kids that have left home that keep their rooms for them. Seriously, I love my DS more than life but his car wasn't out of the driveway before my DD and I started rearranging. We moved her into her older brother's old room, he had the bigger room and the bigger closet. Meggie's old room has become my stitching room. I love having my own room. My DH has his man cave in the basement, please don't feel sorry for him because he's underground :-). It's garden level, completely finished and is very high tech, surround sound, huge TV, big man desk, leather furniture and all the latest game systems and no throw pillows or flowers so he's good. Anyways, I thought you might enjoy seeing my stitching room, it's small but very comfy thanks to my parents who gave me the bookshelves and the couch :-). My mom also gave me the jewelry box were I keep all my embellishments, buttons, beads, and thread. Those necklace holders are wonderful for hanging the threads. Now I just need to do lots of stitching so I have more pieces hanging on the walls. Even though it's still a work in progress, I am very happy with it and it's so nice having a place for all my stitching stuff and books.

I hope this little post finds you all well and happy and getting lots of stitching done! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on my blog. Hugs to all!

Just a Few More Ornaments

Deb posted pictures of a few more ornaments I stitched! I am sure I've mentioned it before but my friend Karin and I decided to do an ornament swap this year. We each chose 12 ornaments and stitched them twice. It's just easier to stitch the same thing twice, less kitting and and things go faster the second time. Believe me, after stitching it four times I could do the border on the BOAF ornaments without looking at the chart, LOL. And yes we both took the easy way out and sent all our ornaments to Deb :-).

Little By Little Angel JCS Magazine

Blackbird Design Christmas Strawberry JCS Magazine

La-D-Da Snowbird JCS Magazine

Thanks so much for taking the time to read and leave comments on my blog! Hope you all had a great weekend with lots of stitching time :-).

A New Look and Rambling

Okay I admit it, I am blog horse, as opposed to being a clothes horse, LOL. I love changing the look of my blog. It's like putting on a new outfit. I get that same feeling of excitement I got as girl when I got to wear my new school clothes. My mom, my sister and I always went school shopping for school clothes weeks ahead of time. We were not allowed to wear any of our new clothes until the first day of school. I would spend hours thinking about which outfit I most wanted to wear. It's that feeling, I can't describe it but it takes me back, LOL. I've developed an obsession with Adam and Eve charts so I really wanted a blog background with a tree. I love my new look!

Speaking of Adam and Eve, have you all seen Paulette's Paradise Lost and Garden of Eerie. I've already put Paradise Lost in my WIP pics in my sidebar. I can't wait to start this piece. I've got several A&E charts kitted and ready to go. I have visions of a wall :-).

Bear with me, I feel the need to ramble, I have a confession to make. I am in a bit of a stitching slump, truth be told it is really a big slump. I think about stitching all the time but I don't actually stitch very much. It's not about not having the time to stitch, I actually have lots of free time. I just don't always use my time as well as I could. The biggest issue for me is there are so, so many pieces I want to finish it's almost overwhelming. Deciding what I want to work is sometimes impossible so I end up not doing anything. How sad is that? I am very type A, results oriented, and making a bit of progress on a lot of different things just doesn't always do it for me. All this brings me back to Paradise Lost. It's the design that is going to break the cycle. I LOVE this piece, there's something about it that just screams "stitch me"! I haven't thought about much else since I saw the picture. I think the stars have aligned to get me out of my slump :-). I have the project that is calling my name and the Dyeing to Stitch Retreat next week. It's always so inspiring to be around other stitchers and designers. So there it is, my rambling confession.

Just a side note, if you've never had a class with Barb and Alma from Blackbird Designs and you get the opportunity to take one, do it! They are awesome, they have so, so many great ideas you can't help but want to pick up your needle.

Now I feel the need to prove I am not a non-stitcher, LOL. Deb has posted pictures of all my ornaments she's finished for me. I have shamelessly snitched her pictures and posted them on my blog as proof that I do indeed still on occasion stitch ;-).

Goode Huswife Angel of Tulips

BOAF White Christmas

La-D-Da Yule Flower

Theron Traditions Berry Bird

I hope you all have a great week, with lots of stitching time, no slumps and special moments. Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog!

I'm Back!!!!

I've been gone way longer than I intended. It's funny how life gets in the way. I alway end up a lot busier than I plan on being. The highlight of the summer was getting all my framed pieces back from Jill Rensel. She is just an amazing artist :-). Sophie and Chloe were all about helping me take pictures to share with everyone, LOL. They wanted to be in every picture, if you look closely you will see a stray paw here and there.

This is Simply Live by Lisa at Primitive Needle. I just love her designs and feel lucky to count her as one of my friends :-).

I also got Lisa's Earth Sampler framed! Isn't the the snake on the mat fun. Siobhan has me hooked on the whole Adam and Eve, serpent theme. I've been madly collect A&E charts.

Finally I got Shepherd's Bush Love Letter's Framed. What a great piece and the mats are wonderful.

I won a contest too! Jan at Belfonte Notes is designing now under the name Tree of Life Samplings. She had a give away of her first design, Rare Treasures, and I won! I was so excited. Isn't it just the prettiest piece?

I have no pictures to share right now but I've done a fair bit of stitching this summer. I stitched several Christmas ornaments and they are all with Deb for finishing. I am still working on Hands to Work This is the Day, the Sheperd's Bush Sail Away Stitchalong, and my friend Karin and I are working on Shepherd's Bush Finch Song on Fridays. I've also finished a couple extra blocks for the Welcome to our Neighborhood round robin. I stitched for Jane and Georgie and they are both going to do an extra block for me :-). I set Mary Wigham aside, my Sampler Guild is doing a stitchalong this year so I decided to wait for our first meeting to start.

I've got several pieces kitted and waiting in the wings, Sarah Siefer, Stories to Live by: Eve, Primitive Needle's Hornbook Sampler and Carriage House Samplings Adam and Eve, do you detect a theme, LOL. I also need to finish just a few more Christmas ornaments. Of course Market could change the list, I'll have to wait and see.

I hope everyone is well and getting lots of stitching time! I am looking forward to the Dyeing to Stitch Retreat next month. I will get to spend time with Karin which is always nice and take some fun classes :-). Until next time!

Life Gets in the Way...

7 July: Just a tiny note, I've updated my sale list, added some items and reduced some prices!

I can't believe I haven't updated my blog in almost 3 months. I decided I need to spruce it up a bit so I've changed my template and the picture in the header. It's so much fun to be able to just switch things around. There are so many great sites with free templates.

Life has been crazy busy for us of late. We've had lots of company, I did all my spring cleaning and on top of everything else I had to have two emergency root canals and crowns. Thankfully things seem to be settling down. We are enjoying a relatively cool summer, the high today was 69 degrees. We've decided we need to escape to the heat for a couple weeks so in August we are going to take the puppies and head off to Kentucky lake.

When our friends were visiting from Germany, we decided to take a little road trip to Utah. I got to visit the Shepherd's Bush shop and I dropped off several pieces at Jill Rensel's studio. I can't wait to get them back. I also got to drag everyone to Roosters for dinner. It's my favorite place to eat when I go to the retreats.

My friend Karin and I are going to the Dying to Stitch retreat in October. We try to do a stitching trip every year. I lived in Hampton for several years and my FIL and his wife live in Chesapeake so I know the area very well. I am excited to be able to show Karin around and take her to all my favorite places. We are both taking the Jeanette Douglas/Blackbird Designs track and I've already sent my order in for the Shepherd's Bush kit.

I've spent the last week or two going through all my stash. I have come to the realization I would need to live at least 3 lifetimes to finish everything I have accumulated over the years. I've created a sale blog so that I can de-stash a bit. I think after this I may be down to two lifetimes, LOL.

I am also participating in the Mary Wigham stitchalong. I tend to like more muted subtle colors so I did my own conversion. I had started Mary on a pretty piece of 32 count R&R but it just seemed so bulky to me stitching with two threads that I decided to start over. I had a gorgeous piece of 40 count Lakeside Examplar that was perfect. I ended up tweaking my colors a bit, my original conversion is posted on the Legacy board and Nicole and Mel both have it posted on their blogs.

I've also worked a bit more on This is the Day. I am hoping to finish it in the next week or two. It's such a pretty piece too.

I got several pieces back from Deb. She is the most amazing finisher, everything is absolutely perfect. I've sent several more ornaments to her, La D Da Yule Flower, BBD Strawberry Ornament, Little by Little The View From Above, and Theron Traditions Berry Bird.

I hope this post finds you all happy, healthy and stitching to your heart's content! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment on my blog. I so appreciate it.