A Stitchinaddiction

Just a Quickie

Dear Heavens, it’s been busy around here and the blog has suffered!  Dad is all moved it and it’s been a work in progress, let me tell ya.  The stuff I had to get rid of!  3 years ago we moved him from his house to an apartment, then a month ago moved him from the apartment to our home.  I donated and gave away what I could, but so much had to be thrown out.

Anyway, for the most part, he’s settled in and we’re all adjusting.  His swearing, which is nothing but a bad habit, is causing the most distress, because even though I’m on the liberal side, hubby is very religious and the swearing deeply offends him.  We’ve been trying our best to get dad’s bad habit corrected.  How successful we’ll be is another matter, lol.

 We moved dad in three weeks ago, and for the first two weekends I was still cleaning out his stuff.  Last weekend was spent with the son spreading 7 1/2 tons of gravel, extending the driveway.  As a result, barely any stitching got done and I still haven’t framed Sweet Treats.  I have a frame ordered for Wicked which should be here in about 2 weeks or so – the framer is super busy this time of year.  I also ordered materials for an L&L angel that was my mom’s.  She had it framed about 15 years ago and I noticed some warpage on the top edge.  I took it apart to discover that her framer had masking taped the needlework to a piece of poster board and stuck it in the frame!!!  It was truly a disgrace and I know that my mum paid a decent price back then to have proper framing done.  Needless to say, I took it apart and marched off to the LNS where I ordered a suede mat, fillet, and a new frame.  I will be framing this myself, properly this time, lol.

Started LK 2005 (I think that’s the correct year) Santa:

Lizzie Kate 2005 Santa

Something Wicked

Sorry that I haven’t blogged in quite awhile – I’m determined not to ignore my blog this time around – but life has been somewhat overwhelming this month. I went back to work on the 6th – we’re not gonna talk about that, lol. And the addition (for dad) has been giving me fits. The driveway is still a mess – why didn’t I insist on a dumpster? We’re down to the wire as dad is moving in on the 26th and I’m obsessing about all of the last minute details. The carpeting was ordered a week ago, and we discovered that it had to be ordered and wouldn’t be in for a week and a half. So they could be installing at the last minute or……..we could be moving dad into my living room. Needless to say, I’m quite pissed at my contractor. It should have been ordered sooner. Add to that the little nitpicking details I’ve had to crab to him about including the fact that the carpenters still need to finish my deck along with some other minor detail finishing, the interior woodwork feels rough (duh, how about some sandpaper or some steel wool), the wrong hardware was put on the main door, the plunger in the bathroom sink was put on backwards (the work DELTA should face forward and the contractor thinks I’m being unnecessarily evil about that one). Duh, for $35,000 I have the right to be as particular as I want, right?

Anyway, stitchy news. I’m almost done with Something Wicked by La-D-Da!  I haven’t decided yet how I’m going to finish this, but am leaning towards a pillow.

Something totally unexpected happened when I ironed this in prep for it’s picture.  It’s stitched on 29ct. Glenshee Linen in “Muffin”.  Now I have never worked with this fabric before (it is lovely!!), but never thought about it’s washability.  I sprinkled it with water before ironing to get the wrinkles out, and discovered watery blotches as I ironed.  Am I upset????  Heck, no.  It took on a distressed look that I am absolutely loving!!  They’re kind of hard to see in the picture but when I press this off again when completed I’ll be throwing more water on it, lol.

I received the frame for Sweet Treats 3 weeks ago, but still haven’t gotten around to framing it.  I put the piece on my nightstand so that I will be sure to stitch the buttons on tonight, and I’ll have it framed this week … promise.  I love the frame.  I tried other colors, I tried mats, but when it came down to it the white frame by itself really made the white trim around each block pop.

The box in upper left hand corner is an especially treasured piece.  It’s a miniature cedar chest made by Lane that was given away free upon purchase of a regular sized cedar chest.  It’s probably 50 years old or more and belonged to my mom, who is gone.  She used it as a jewelry box, and I use it as a stitchy box.  It holds my scissors, needles, needle keeps, Thread Heaven, etc. and I think of my mom every time I open it.

I also just received the Kelmscott Hardwick scissors shown in the picture.  They’re hefty in weight, but cut beautifully and are a bargain for $11.00.  Just love them!

What am I going to do next?  Not quite sure, but definitely something Christmasy or wintery.  I have a Lizzie Kate pattern, and a couple of Shepherd Bushes, so a choice will be made soon.  Haha, if I have time after Dad moves in.  This should definitely be interesting.

Hallowscornu

I really, really had to stitch this piece this year so everything got set aside so that I could get it done.  I just think it’s the cutest thing.  It’s only my second biscornu, but I love these things and will be doing more to display in a basket.  I did a beaded edging on this one and love it.  I did substitute some threads and used 28 ct Silkweaver Cashel in Frenzy.

Barbara Ana Designs Hallowscornu

Murky and EEK

First I want to say God Bless to those who are suffering the effects of Ike.  My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Finally a nice sunny day here after three days of rain though the rain was much needed.  My grass was starting to crunch when I walked on it, lol.  And it did make a mess outside where construction on the addition continues.  Do you know how messy these guys are???  Wood and nails and siding everywhere.  And I don’t have gutters/downspouts installed on it yet, so the overflow from the roof made watery ditches on the front and sides.  The insulation/plasterer guy is supposed to come this week and George says they move fast, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I’ve been sort of depressed and bored lately.  Not typically me and I know that my solution is to try to keep busy.  Especially when I’m thinking I need to go back to work!!!!!!!  Yesterday I made a batch of soap using an all veggie recipe that I haven’t made for awhile.  I remember that it’s a wonderful lathering recipe though the bars won’t be as hard and as long lasting as my tallow bars because of it being all veggie oils.  I scented it Lavender/Peppermint using essential oils as it’s my favorite.  Son asked for some manly scented soap so I ordered Gucci and Green Irish Tweed from my favorite online soaping supplier.  When they come in later this week (hopefully), I’ll make him some “manly” smelling soap.

I also made a batch of cookies yesterday – Oatmeal Scotchies!  Haven’t made those in a while either and they turned out scrumptious.  Today I’m going to stuff a chicken for dinner, so goodies abound.  Fall is in the air and I’ll be craving pumpkin pie soon.

I’m sure getting my fill of Halloween/Autumn stitching.  Barbara Ana Designs sent out a newsletter this week, offering 4 Halloween ornie designs for purchase at $1.00 ea.  I ordered all four and when received via email I immediately set to stitching this one that I turned into a floss ring tag:

Spider by Barbara Ana Designs

It was difficult to choose which one to do right away because one was just as cute as the other.  There are witchs’s boots, a pumpkin, a spider, and witch’s brew.

And here’s my progress on Murky Manor by Glendon Place.  I’m totally enjoying stitching this.  The witch profile in the belfry is done one over one and even though I know it won’t be completed this year in time for Halloween, stitching it really puts me in the mood for fall.

Murky Manor by Glendon Place

I received my solo from Silkweaver which is as gorgeous as the pic.  No plans for it just yet but I’m sure I’ll find a use for it soon.  For now, it’s residing in the 10 gallon fabric stash basket, lol.  I also received my candles from www.candlestomydoor.com  and here’s the proof:

Losing My Mind

I thought of some more things that I wanted to blog about and instead of editing my last post, I just thought I’d write a new one.

Has anyone ever been able to scoop up any Silkweaver’s Solos on the day they’re posted?  I haven’t been able to score one yet, until last week.  At 12:02 I was on the site, and selected a lovely piece of 28ct Cashel that I HAD TO HAVE  wanted.  12:02 and the damn thing was gone!  I swear somebody gets over there and does a mass “select” and then just weeds out their cart.  Anyway, I click off the site in disgust.  On Thursday I’m back over there buying some Frenzy for Hallowscornu and thought I’d try a small piece of Days Gone By too.  Just for the heck of it, I click on the Solos and lo and behold, my piece is there and is available.  WOOHOO!  Is this not beautious????

Silkweaver Solo - MINE

Now a question for you all.  Do any of you have any reaaaaalllly old DMC?  Some of my DMC dates back to the 70’s when I first started stitching.  When my mom passed away 11 years ago, I acquired all of her DMC which is also from the 70’s and 80’s.  I interspersed hers with mine in my bobbin boxes but I can tell which are hers from her writing and how neatly her bobbins are wound.  I know that sometime in the past, DMC changed their dyes and I’m wondering how the old compares with the new.  And maybe it’s my imagination, but I swear the older stuff is as soft as silk!

And oh yeah, Yankee Candles has a new Halloween fragrance this year called Boo-Nilla!  I just ordered a jar of it and my fave Sparking Vanilla from www.candlestomydoor.com today.

New Stash and a Couple of Finishes

Saturday Stash

Saturday was stash mail day. Ah, there isn’t a better feeling when you’re a stitcher.  I took advantage of Anita’s special and ordered the new PS Santas and Snowmen along with the 2008 PS Santa and a fat quarter of 28ct Opal Raw Cashel.  From Down Sunshine Lane I received Barbara Ana’s Hallowscornu, Winter Biscornu and the 2008 issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework with Nora’s Fairy.  I’ll be stitching the Hallowscornu as soon as my Frenzy fabbie arrives from Silkweaver.  It shipped today so I should have it by Wednesday.  I notice that the chart calls for 2 DMC Variations that I don’t have, so I’ll be substituting.  One of them is Bonfire for the pumpkin which is easy to substitute for, and the other is called Roaming Pastures for the swirly dodads around the pumpkin.  I’m sure I can find something appropriate in my stash.  I saw a freebie from Barbara Ana on Ranae’s blog called Halloween A Sudden Boo that I absolutely adore.  I need to find out how to get the freebie.  I left a comment on her blog and I signed up for BA’s newsletter so hopefully I’ll get a clue soon.  EDITED TO ADD that Ranae already responded and provided the link.  Thank you, Ranae!! 

And would you believe that I still haven’t received the PTP fabric from Stitching Bits and Bobs?  Glad I wasn’t holding my breath on this one.  We’re into the start of the seventh week which is a far cry from the 2 – 4 weeks posted on the site.

I spend a very lazy Saturday afternoon stitching this up:

Pine Mountain Trick or Treat

And today I finally put Shepherd Bush’s Be A Witch together.  All I need to do is sew up the bottom.

Shepherd Bush

I love how it turned out and might go shopping online soon to get a couple more of the Be Attitudes for my bedroom. 

Work on Murky Manor continues – I’ll post a pic with my next post.

The knee gets better every day though I’m not happy with the knee I had done in May.  The dr. says it’s probably the arthritis and he plans to inject it when I go back on the 23rd.  I’ve been sleeping really well, but my appetite is not good at all.  Since my May surgery, I’ve lost 13 lbs which is a good thing, lol, since I can more than afford to lose a few, but I like having an appetite.  What if it doesn’t come back?????  I want to swoon when I eat my chocolate!!

Needlework Copyright Infringement

Recently, one of my favorite needlework designers expressed dismay when she discovered her works available as free downloads on the internet.  I wished to show my support for this designer and all needlework designers who work hard to supply us with wonderful designs for our stitching pleasure.   It is not acceptable to post designers’ copyrighted work on the internet for download and it is not okay to steal these designs by downloading them for free instead of purchasing them.  This activity is illiegal and some designers have stopped designing because of it. Please show your support by spreading the word.

Carol

Busier than a one armed paperhanger

Well, not entirely true, since I’m recuperating still, but it sure seems like I’m busier than a one armed paperhanger, lol.  Progress was commencing quite nicely on Murky Manor, however I needed a change-up from the darker colors so I started LHN’s Garden Girl which will go quite nicely in my newly painted bedroom. 

Glendon Place

LHN

I seriously doubt that Murky Manor will be completed in time for Halloween so I’m not going to drive myself nuts hurrying.  It’ll get done sooner or later.  Garden Girl looks like a quick stitch and I should have it done in two weeks or so.  I still haven’t made it to the shop to select mats and a frame for Sweet Treats – perhaps next week one day.  I have only just been able to tolerate sitting in the car for any length of time.  There just isn’t enough room to stretch or move around my legs when they start to ache but that’s slowly improving.  

I just now ordered the new Prairie Schooler 2008 Santa and Santas and Snowmen from Anita at Little Stitches.  She has a special on both charts and a fat quarter of Opalescent 28 ct Raw Cashel for $20.30.  I have never stitched PS, but have been noticing them on some blogs lately and they’ve kinda captured my interest.  And I love Santa and Snowmen so I took the plunge.  Looking forward to getting these – Anita says it’ll ship tomorrow.  And speaking of shipping, would you believe that I still haven’t received the PTP fabric from SB&B that I ordered on 07/25?  I did check the PTP page on her site and it says two to four weeks.  NOT!  And even though I ordered the fabric elsewhere from a shop that had it in stock, I’m still quite pissed and will probably never order fabric again from SB&B.  I love Bobbie’s sales, but God forbid if something isn’t in stock and every time I place an order something is on backorder – a chart, floss, etc.     I feel if you have an online shop, you should stock what you sell.  I’d forgive an occasional backorder, but this happens every time I order and is frustrating enough for me to reconsider using them any longer.

It took me four days to paint the bedroom – when my leg started aching, I’d stop and rest.  I wasn’t in any hurry and I only have left a portion around the ceiling fan and some woodwork to paint yet.  I chose a soft country blue for the walls and Raffia Creme for the doors, ceiling, and woodwork.  The paint brand is Behr and let me tell ya, I’ve never used a nicer paint.  Excellent coverage and no splattering whatsoever.  Other paints left my painting arm coated in paint dots – with this paint I had none.  And the colors are just gorgeous.  Got a new ceiling fan too.  The motor in the old one finally bit the dust.  With this small cosmetic improvements I feel like I have a whole new room!   

I am acquiring all of my mum’s cross stitched pieces since Dad is moving over here.  He wouldn’t part with them when he moved from the house to the apartment but now that he’s moving here, I’ll be getting them all.  And since he is moving from an apartment to a room, hehe, he won’t have the wall space to display them all.  I went over last evening to change a dressing on his back.  He had a cyst removed, it was infected, and when he got home the dressing was so soaked that it fell off.  Yuck.  Anyway whilst I was there I decided that we can start transferring some things over to my places, so I picked off my favorite L & L angels from the walls, lol.  One now resides in my living room, the other in my bedroom.  I’m so happy to have these pieces finally!  They were my mum’s pride and joy – she loved Marilyn’s angels.  The one below has a suede mat and gold fillet and is my favorite of all the angels she did.

L & L angel in the dining room

Work commences on the addition.  The carpenter is almost finished, just some siding left to install and some other minor things.  The electrician is here now, and will be here again tomorrow.  The plumber has been here to rough in the plumbing and I suppose I should be seeing the fella who’s doing the inside finishing early next week.  Things are definitely moving along and so far I’m very pleased with the looks of it.  It blends in very well with the rest of the house and the deck.  I’m really pleased with my choice of the door opening onto the deck.  It has beveled glass and is very rich looking.  I selected polished brass hardware for the door handle and deadbolt which will pick up the gold channelling in the stained glass.

I choose a Sage Green for his walls and still need to select carpeting.  I’m considering a nice warm beige/tan.  Here’s a view of the room from the deck side.  Ignore the deck railing propped against the side – they still need to reposition my steps and the railing.

I go back to the dr. on the 23rd for my second post op re-evaluation.  Hope he gives me another week or two off work beyond that!

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

Sorry to have been away for so long but my surgery was last Wednesday and today is the first day that I’ve felt somewhat human.  The surgery went well, but for those of you who have had surgeries, you know that the first two – three days are pure misery.  Not to mention that the pain meds upset my stomach.  Ugh.  It’s over with now and I have therapy to undergo, the first session of which is today.

For obvious reasons I haven’t made it to the shop to pick out a frame and mats for my Sweet Treats but I think I’ll be able to do that next week.  I have been stitching though and here’s the proof:

Glendon Place

The ghost will show up better after it’s backstitched and has it’s beaded eyes and mouth.  The moon is done in Caron Wildflowers Buttercup which was my first use of Wildflowers and I wasn’t sure that I liked at first.  You only use one strand and when you’re used to the thinner flowing strands of DMC, this felt like rope at first.  The plus is that because you’re only using one strand you don’t need to railroad threads and I got quite used to using it and even liking it after a bit.  The graph for this design is huge and I have to fold it into sections to make it manageable, so I guess before I start loosing symbols on the creases I need to go find some tape.  Not sure if this will be done by October 1st, but I’m going to plug along anyway and finish it even if it doesn’t get displayed this year.  Thank God I found the fabric in stock elsewhere because Stitching Bits and Bobs still hasn’t sent me the piece I ordered from them on July 25th!

The addition is coming along quite well.  The framing-in is done, and today they’re setting in the door and hopefully the window.  Then the siding will get finished and then I guess the inside finishing starts.  Wish it was done!

A Week of Drama

Tuesday morning at work, I was travelling up the hallway at work to deliver some invoices to Missy, my coworker.  About half way there, I heard and felt a snapping noise in my knee.  I was unable to put any weight on it, and stood there clinging to the wall and moaning.  Becky and Kevin, a couple of other coworkers saw me and after we determined that I couldn’t walk, Kevin ran and got my chair and they wheeled me over to my desk.  I called my ortho dr. who told me to come in ASAP.  I was able to get to my car and get over there and the dr. ascertained that a piece of meniscus in my knee had broken away and gotten lodged where it wasn’t supposed to.  Needless to say, he put me off work until my scheduled surgery on Wednesday.  So I’ve been hobbling around, and even more so because I can’t take any meds this week, and let me tell ya, I never knew how good Celebrex was until I quit taking it for about 4 days.  OUCH.  And believe it or not, the knee I previously had surgery on in May, hurts almost as much as the other one.  It’s stiff and sore, I can’t go down the steps normally, and it aches unless I prop it up for awhile.  I’m suspecting that mechanically the dr. fixed what he could and what I’m experiencing are continued healing issues and some arthritis.  After this upcoming surgery is done, I think I’m going to get on MSM, glucosamine, chondrotin and see if that helps.

Good news is that because I was off work and sorta incapacitated I was able to finish Sweet Treats!!  Yay!  I’m going to stitch on the buttons tonight and hopefully I’ll be able to get to the frame shop tomorrow and pick out a frame and mats (yes, I decided to mat it). 

Country Cottage Needleworks - Sweet Treats - 28 ct. Vintage Lentil by Lakeside Linens and Crescent Threads