Being productive

My last post on August 20th I mentioned that I would share Peace House by La D Da with you and well, I completely forgot!
Here it is,

Sorry for the wonky picture!  I used the called for WDW colors along with 40ct Pecan Butter from Lakeside.  It was a fast and relaxing stitch.
The time continues to fly by but almost 2 weeks ago my friend and I went to one of the best quilt shops in town and decided to do a quilt together.  Great idea!  She suggested we each pick out the needed charm pack and build our quilt from there.  OK!  Off we went to select our favorite colors and this is what I came up with

 

We settled on this pattern and I chose Blackbird Designs Field Notes.  This is my 4th quilt and I am not always sure what the terms are.  Like what is sashing?  LOL.   It was great fun to pick and choose and walk around the shop looking around for the perfect charm pack.  I felt the hunt was on!!  In record speed we both came up with gorgeous fabrics and I am looking forward to seeing her progress soon.  I couldnt wait however I wanted to start right away, but I had a few other priorities to get out of the way first.  I was so eager to start it!!!!!

After coming home and showing my husband what I had chose, we both agreed this quilt would be perfect for our bed.  But, with only 1 charm pack, it would be too small.  So darn it, we had to go back to the quilt shop!!!  With record speed, I went back Friday morning.  This past week Tuesday, I cut the sashing, squares and sewed them together. Wednesday the strips were sewn together and I realized even with the 2nd charm pack, I was still short 9 squares to make the size I wanted.  So, I went stash diving and chose another pattern that worked perfectly and ta-da!  Friday I sewed all the strips together and now I had 1 piece to move around instead of all the rows, numbered and organized.  I added the 1 inch border on Saturday afternoon and this past Monday night, added the final floral border.

I am so excited with the way it turned out, and I am interested in adding another border just to make it a tad bigger to drape more on the bed, but I have to choose the color.  Perhaps the same as the 1 inch, the grey color.  We shall see!  As for now, it is folded and ready to go to the quilter.  I have even chosen the backing already.
Whats next?!
I started working on Notforgotten Farm Weep Not.  I love these 3 Lori came out with and they are all a must-- but I had to make some adjustments from DMC.  I think the colors needed to be more murky and dirty and drab for the content of the piece, after all she is in a coffin!!!!!!  LOL.  I chose some awesome WDW threads and a lakeside linen.  I have the top floral done and I have to take a picture for you all to see how fantastic it is!!!
Until next time,

Happy Stitching!!

Few more to share with you!!

What another fast summer we are having! Why do they go so fast, and winters so slow?  The weather has been great and I have been enjoying each and every day.  All sorts of fun activities have been going on.
I have a few more framed pieces to share with you that I havent had time to post.
First is Sarah Brown from Milady's Needle:

and her sister Margaret Brown:

Close up of the frame, which has a similar feel to the sampler border

I chose to stitch both samplers of Vintage Pear with silk threads, choosing similar colors to the originals.  I just love the subtle differences and no, I didn't find it tedious stitching both of them.  I found them relaxing to stitch on and was a bit sad when they were complete.   Don't you just love how delicate they are? 

Next up is a classic Goode Huswife piece- The Flowers of Lebanon (OOP):

 I chose the same frame for flowers as The Black Forest (OOP) piece I did of hers a few years back.  I added the below pic for a refresher, but I didnt have the framed one handy.

The colors on the black!!!!  LOVE!!!  Both stitched on 32ct burlap linen with NPI.  Both funky in their own ways :)

Last but not least- the piece de resistance:

Stitching my Dutch Beauty in record time on 45ct lakeside Maritime White with overdyed silks I am OVER THE MOON WITH EXCITEMENT.  Looking at it, its hard to believe its even mine!!!  It is by far the largest sampler I have ever stitched and each and every time I look at it, I find something else I just love.   Countless hours were spent on choosing the color placement just perfectly.  WOW, what a piece of work!!!! 

 A close up of the frame I chose to use a dark teal blue fillet to offset the color in the sampler.  Just a hint of color, but nothing too bright.  I cant wait to find the perfect place to hang it.  An accomplishment like no other for me.  I love the larger samplers, I might complain a bit in the middle, but this one is a masterpiece.

I finished Peace House from La D Da, which I will share with you later this week.  What is next to pick up and work on?  I have to get BBD Wild Berries done, I started it with such a bang, but got distracted.  HaHa!  That is not something new is it?!!  Speaking of new, anyone see some must haves for St. Charles market?  I love the new BBD and the Plum Street pieces shown so far, I have been soooo excited for Yuletide since she teased showed us last year from the retreat at Shepherds Bush.  But I cant wait to see the others!  Of course the With thy Needle and Thread Ltd. Kit.  What else so far am I missing?!!!!!  LOL.

Looking forward to a great week, and I hope all of you have one as well!!  Happy stitching :)

2 Things

A while ago I dropped off and picked up some pieces at the framers and I wanted to share 2 of them with you today.
I am thrilled of course with the results (as always) and feel like each frame fits each piece.
First up is Lizzie Kate -Green, this was my Olympic project from last year, and it is not a typical piece I would do, which I think is great.  I am trying to peek my head out of the box, and look around, but mostly feel most comfortable on the bottom of it.  LOL.  I am not the only one I am sure :)

The simple frame chosen is mossy brown, hint of green and perfect to accent the piece.  I stitched this Green piece on Vintage Pear, I know, you can hardly tell, but you will just have to take my word for it!  Haha.  The trouble with getting the shading right, sometimes it is and sometimes it isnt.
The next piece up is Little House Needleworks - Nantucket.

I couldn't be more pleased with the look of this frame with this design!!  I love the weathered look and the bead with both the brown and black coloring.  It really pops the colors I chose with the Vintage Meadow Rue.

Until next post with a few more pics to share.  I am hoping to finish La D Da Peace House, with fingers crossed, maybe tonight.
Thanks for stopping by and have a super day :)

A small start

Another great weekend was had and I wanted to share my small start.   Sunday afternoon I began La D Da Peace House, with the called for cotton-- yes :)  but I did switch the linen.  I was really excited about how dark the colors were when I saw over at Maude and Mozart, if you go to her great blog, you will see that she has it all done and framed in a fantastic frame.  I saw it originally on her blog sometime ago when she was sharing her stash enhancement she got from a wonderful stitching weekend.  So, at that time I ordered it from my LNS.  I have had it now in the stash for a bit, but when seeing her finish, I had to get going on it!

I didnt really get far the first day, because something about counting with a bunch of people around you chatting, doesnt really go hand in hand, so I opted to wait.  Yesterday I got quite far and I am still excited with the colors.   Weeks dye Works are the cottons used and I chose Lakeside Linen 40ct Pecan.  I debated whether to use 45ct since it would be sooo stinkin cute finished stitch size 4" x 6 ", but I like the color of the 40ct linen better.  So Peace House will still be very cute 5" x 7" :)  I know, crazy.........
I am still working on the other multitude of WIPs, but at this point, have nothing further to update you on, it is sad right?  Well, maybe in a few days.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Its going to fast

My adorable nephew is already a month old and today the announcement of the royal baby, along with so many exciting things happening.  Well, the cross country trip went off without a hitch and we saw a tremendous amount of great things.  So many things have taken place over the last month, it is almost too much for me to think about.  (This post is picture heavy!)
Starting out in NY, ending in OR.

 

Vanderbilt mansion in Hyde Park, NY.  One of several mansions owned by the Vanderbilt family.  I have been on a tour in this magnificent home on the Hudson river years ago but this time, we passed.  It is well worth it if you have time.

 We stopped at the Heart of Ohio Antique Mall, which I believe is the largest in the country.... being 116,000 square feet (yes, there are that many zeros!) and I was afraid we might have to spend a week there.  But, we often antique, so we know what we are looking for, and know how to look fast.  There are 8 wings if you will to this massive compound, and all but 1 was good, being antique items.  The 1 that wasnt, was all that crap--repros, or yankee candle booths, etc., etc., etc.  VHS tapes are not antiques, and neither are things made in China last year.  It does bother me that these dealers are allowed in these places.  If you want that crap, go to a flea market.  I did run into this scale, no, I didnt buy it, but I thought it was hilarious.  My husband said those were popular in the 70s.  I wonder how many of you had one!!!!  LOL... and did they come in different colors??!!!!  This dealer wanted 50 bucks for it :)

 This thimble display would be perfect for my friend, but with a firm price of $1895.00 it isnt that perfect for her--- Sorry!! But it is very cool to see.

Love this gorgeous coverlet, and I am not sure if it is a good price at 1200.00, (too much for me) but it was near mint.  Rich navy and creme and love the bird detail around the border.

We did run into an amazing amount of storms and watching the front come in on this one was awesome.  Feeling the wind pick up, and the dust blowing, then an amazing amount of water streaming down the streets.  Before you know it, it is over and dried up.  Love summer storms, you almost dont believe they exist!

 Stopping in Watertown, WI and had to see the famous Octagon House.  I think there is something like 57 rooms in this place.  8 sided, 5 floors built in the 1850s of solid brick.  I am not sure how long it would take to clean this place, but it would be a fun place to stitch right??!!! No, we didnt tour this either, just the grounds because the last tour had just started.  So much for timing!! 

If you look close at the above pic, there are 2 racoons peeking their heads out of the tree.  Not sure if this was a good thing or bad thing to see them during the day, but I thought it was great fun anyway.

What do you think of this gorgeous rooster??  Stunning red and shades of grey make this bird very handsome :)  Friends of ours own him and 2 hens...... Free range eggs are delicious!!!!!

 

There were 2 stops planned for Minnesota, one being the Mall of America, which is beyond me in size for a mall and this amusement park in the center of it, but more importantly,

Stitchville USA!

This is the newest location for Stitchville USA and wowza is all I can say.  It is a must stop for anyone who loves stitching and needlepoint.  So many things to look at you might need a week just to look at all the stash on hand!!!! 

Have you ever seen or been to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota??  Each and every year the entire palace made of corn is stripped of its shell and replaced with fresh corn.  It is a famous place, however one would be surprised to find inside the palace, a gymnasium?!  I sure was!!

Driving out and about in the middle of no where, is very peaceful.  Growing up in a cement city as I am told often, it is hard to imagine the beauty that does exist in our country.  Although, you are often enamored by things you dont see everyday, so seeing cows grazing next to wind turbines is pretty cool!  I am often told I do not get out much :)  I have been more appreciative of the things we see in life, as you get older, things you thought were once corny when you were 15, are pretty cool at ??.  LOL.

It is hard to imagine this is Sturgis, South Dakota.  Being famous for its annual motorcycle rally and to see no one on main street is strange.  But, its only a matter of time before this small town is hopping with bikers from all around the world, cruising the streets with their motorcycles.

My hope is not to bore you with these scenic pictures that I have posted here, but only to give you a better sense of what we saw for miles and miles.  Amazing beauty was to be seen everywhere.  I love the contrast of the bright blue sky to the bright reddish rock, to the sharp edges of the mountain.  To the beautiful lakes.
My last trip pic to share is of Multnomah Falls in OR.  One of the highlights on the Columbia river drive.

The 620 foot cascade of water is the 5th highest waterfall in the US.  Impressive right?  There is a bridge near the bottom you can stand on and of course, take more pics, but to see it from afar is also amazing.  It was definitely worth the stop.

So all good things must come to an end :)  My grandfather would always say, "Home again James".

And by now I hope you know that there wasn't much time for stitching on this road trip I was on!!  LOL.. Nope, you guessed it.  Not much took place but I did work a bit on Jane's border.....

  I have started the words as well on the top right.  Stopping at another great stitching shop in Portland, called Acorns and Threads---also an amazing cross stitch shop and a must stop for any stitcher!!!!  Super friendly staff too!!! Sorry, no pics but I did get the newest Blackbird designs Wild Berries and here is my progress

And, I chose to stitch this series in the called for cottons.  Yes, pick yourself up from the floor.  Close your mouth that has hit the desk.  YES, cottons.  LOL!!!!!  After talking with a few of the ladies, converting these small beauties into silk wasn't a practical option.  I did change the linen, choosing a 40ct Lakeside Linen makes this Wild Berry a mere 4" square.  Super cute right?  I think choosing a different color linen for each piece is going to be my agenda for this Loose Feathers collection.  I am also thinking these are great fill in pieces in between my samplers, and no, I will not hang them all together.  Terrific pieces overall though!!

So, enough of a novel today, but better going to see about stitching more BBD tonight.  Thank you for going on my cross country trip and I hope you enjoyed it :)

Enjoy your week, and happy stitching!!!!