American Beauty

Another WIP done and under the belt.  I finished this cute little design from Sheepish Designs called American Beauty a few nights ago and havent had time to get onto the computer, let alone post on my blog.  Of course, not knowing the specific name to this fabulous charcoal 32ct linen, isnt the end of the world right?!  This tiny pattern called for Silk n Colors..... now I am not one to EVER complain about using silks, but I didnt have most of the called for colors, so I thought it would be fun to convert the cover picture to overdyed COTTON.  Yes, you read correct.

I am excited to cross off another WIP from the crazy January challenge.  One stitch at time, they will all get done.......eventually :)  I am working now on Carriage House Samplings Quaker Study.   I had started this ?????  and look forward to getting it done as well.  I will take some progress pics and share those with you soon.  It is another easy stitch, dont know why it has taken so long to get'er done!

There are a couple I am eager to get finished, and with Double Dee on the warmer, (NOT on the back burner) it is nice to free up the WIP basket.   So many options..........so little time :)

Live in Harmony

Last night while watching 'Dragonfly' with Kevin Costner (which was really good) I finished up Live in Harmony by Homespun Elegance and I am glad to have another WIP under my belt. 

Ta-Da!  The colors are not as bad, now that the whole thing is stitched up.  I used NPI with 40ct Examplar from Lakeside.  The linen is gorgeous, I dont use that color often, so it was a nice change :)

The next WIP I am working on, Sheepish Designs American Beauty.  I am working on this one on 32ct linen, not sure of the color---- but it is a dark charcoal.  I switched the colors to a variety of overdyed cottons, and I am pleased with the results so far. 

About halfway done, I forget how much thread you really go through on the larger counts!! WOW!!!  I do like using 2 threads when using 36, 32 and 28 cts (which I rarely use these days) so it is nice to actually be using some of this great stash I have.  It is very strange working on 32ct burlap linen, but.........it will be worth it, the colors are fabulous.

An update from last weeks flooding pics, I thought it would be nice to share what a difference a week makes.

The water has receeded and is passing just under the bridge (it has a long way to go though) and the Chicken place is no longer under water.  The road is clear.  But there is alot of mud that is been replaced onto their parking lot!!!
And last but not least, I was able to get a ton of shots of deer, feeding one morning at my mothers house.  We saw them in the yard, I quick grabbed my camera and walked outside.  Slowly I made my way to the end of the driveway, where I sat on the tail end of my car and took these pics.  They didnt seem to be too alarmed.  My mom said her friend has them eating out of her hand!  How cool is that?!  They are so beautiful, we watched them for close to 15 minutes before they moved on.  Funny hearing them eating acorns :)

Arent those spots so super cute?!  My parents have these guys in their yard daily-- fun to see them for myself!  Until next time......thanks for visiting, it is always great to read your comments......one of the best things about blogging- that and being enabled by you :)

A New Week

It has been a very long time since I updated this stitching blog with some stitching.  I have no real good excuses, so I wont bother any of you with them!  In the last few weeks, I have mulled over this project and that....but no real good progress to really share.  My friend asked me yesterday if I had anything to share, and I said sure, I will see what I can do :)

So up first is my progress on Live in Harmony from Homespun Elegance.  Of course, I did some crazy color conversion, that in person, is not really me at all, that is what you get-- haste makes waste.  I had started it in the January crazy start challenge, and the colors were pastel, and I didnt really think I liked it.  So the other day, I sat with my NPI and changed them up a bit, made the colors still brighter then usual, but now they are almost too bright.  AARRGG.  My husband thinks the colors are great, I think they are OK.  But, they will do, I am not ripping them out now.  The pattern is cute, next time I will take more time :)  And of course, I made my birds dark charcoal.........

Double Dee is coming along nicely, I am enjoying stitching these small animals each night, while we are watching classic Paul Newman movies.  It is horrible the color these pics are--- the lighting isnt working with me today.  The v. meadow rue--- is so gorgeous and the silk is unbelievable, here looks like grey, blah.

The movies we have been enjoying are Cat on a hot tin roof (love Elizabeth too-- she is just fabulous-- and those clothes!!!!  I want a creme dress!!!!!), The Hustler, The color of money, The Road to Perdition just to name a few.  I wonder what will be on tonights big screen!!

Last week I was able to see some of the massive flooding that was going on in the NE from all the storms and it was unbelievable.  One town the river crested at 14 feet, the record was 9ft.  The entire town was flooded and the ruble was everywhere.
I heard that another town supplied dumpsters for their residents, to help clear out the basements instead of waiting for the local trash day.  Sidewalks were lined up with wet, moldy crap as far as the eye could see.

Others got their own dumpsters to remove the ruble out of their own basements. 

Pics I took of a river cresting, simply amazing, the day before it was clearing the bridge about 1 foot below.  The next day, looked like this

It is classic, the KNC building says FOR RENT on the front building.  We joked, said the next sign should say-- 'Will build DOCK to suit'  NICE :)  Isnt it something?!  This river is usually VERY low, so low, it is more like a stream, you can see the bottom most of the time and the rocks are like stepping stones.  I have never seen this river so fast moving.  This flooding has backed up the area for days, the rain has been unbelievable, but this week has receded.   Traffic was incredible.  These pics were not from IRENE, but from a later storm.  IRENE, the street we were driving on to take these above pics, was flooded also from the river, and the detours were far worse.
Glad to see things are calming down, and business is back to usual.  The bridge is no longer over-flowing, but it is still high.  Everything is drying out.  Too bad we couldnt have moved the storm to Texas-- they could have made great use of all this water........

This is a new week, and it has been nice and clear.  Back to work, back to stitching.  Hopefully!!!  LOL.

Ten Years

I was fortunate enough to be in New York this week, and even was able to catch up with a friend on Friday night.  So, my husband and I went in to the city earlier in the evening.  I drove us downtown to see 1 WTC that is being built as we speak, it is going to be a beautiful addition to our forever changed New York skyline.   

I parked a block away, leaving my husband in the car (so we didn't pick up any souvenirs from the NYPD) and I walked around a bit.  Immediately listening to my surroundings and paying attention to all the new buildings, watching the people, the police activity, there was the most amazing sound-- like angels singing--- a choir was practicing for today's memorial service, and the feeling of peace was among all of the busyness.  We stopped. Listened.  Tears filled my eyes and chills ran down my spine.  A cool breeze ran across the back of my neck.  You couldn't see them, only hearing their voices echoing among all of the construction, all of the ciaos.  There was a sense of calmness, a pure sense of peace.  This feeling of course 10 years ago early in the morning was not the case.  Of course like it was 5 minutes ago, we all remember, some knowing folks there, some loosing loved ones, others just reaching out in anyway possible.  I will never forget that horrific day, most never will.

I was unable to see the actual memorial, the dedication was today, and tomorrow will be open to the public-- people from all over the world will walk the memorial, reading names of loved ones lost.  We owe alot to those who have been doing their parts over the last 10 years, and those that will continue to do so.  This is a great city.  We have a lot of work to do still, and it will continue to be an ever changing place.

What is taking place there now today, after 10 years, more people then I have seen in a long time, I know alot were visitors, but you can tell the difference.  The locals are moving back in.  Terrific new restaurants, new businesses, new life being born again.   This is a great city.   We are determined people, you may kick us down, but we will rise up.

Visit http://www.911memorial.org for more information.  It is amazing the growth in lower Manhattan.  Simply incredible. 

We will always remember.
Gone, but not forgotten.