So many projects...so many problems!

I can't believe that my summer break is almost over. It seems that the summers get shorter every year. I have one more week off, and then school starts back full force. I am not looking forward to it. Don't get me wrong...I am very thankful to have employment, especially in these tough times when so many are losing their jobs. I just really love my time at home, with very little routine and low stress. One school starts back, things get busy and hectic--not only with my job, but also with Jake's homework and little league football, and with Michael's football season. He is a varsity coach who LIVES football from July to December. I feel like a single parent for six months out of the year. I think he has been coaching for eighteen years. I have been with him for at least fourteen of those seasons...the novelty of it wore off for me a long time ago. LOL! But I digress...

Enough school talk...on to stitching!!

I have run into a couple of roadblocks this week. I finally broke down and bought all the silks for Shores of Hawk Run Hollow. I have been admiring this on so many blogs lately...like Siobhan's and Debbie's. The silks came in the mail this week, but I was determined to finish Bird in the Bower first. You can see how far I got before I ran out of one of the NPIs...grrrr!!

I have an "e", a small flower, and "2009" to add, and it will be finished. I am placing an order with Needlecraft Corner today.

So when I ran out of silk, I started Shores... I have had the pattern and the fabric for some time. However, when I ordered fabric, I mistakenly ordered the 36 ct. instead of the 40 ct. I forged ahead with the 36 ct. I am stitching it with one thread over two, and I am not sure if I am going to like the coverage. I contacted Needlecraft Corner to see about getting the 40 ct. She responded that she didn't have it in stock, and she could order it, but the last time she ordered it for someone it took 3 months to get it. Sheesh. I don't really want to wait that long... so either I am going to have to be happy with the coverage of one thread, or frog what I have done and use two threads (and I really don't want to buy double the amount of silk for this), or try to find someone who has the 40 ct. and start over. I am thinking I am going to be happy with the 36 ct. with one thread and be done. After putting it away in frustration two nights ago, I pulled it back out again today, and it seems better to me now than it did then. Any thoughts/opinions?

While wallowing in my frustration over both of these projects, I pulled out Rosewood Manor's Quakers and Quilts, and I have stitched almost all of the first page. This is the first time I have used Valdani threads, and I really like them. I like the subtle variation and the rich colors.

I think Picture This Plus is having a sale on fabrics today. I am off to check that out, fix Jake some lunch, and hope to get a little stitching in before my niece's birthday party this afternoon. I am either going to work on Q&Q or pull out Molly (who has been calling loudly the last day or so). Still trying to make a decision on Shores before I put any more stitches in it.

Hope that all of you have a lovely weekend with lots of stitching!

Kellie

Edited to add: I meant to write this in my original post, but forgot...I had told Jan that I would post about her giveaway at her blog. Forgive me, Jan, for being remiss.

If you have not done so already, please check out Jan's fabulous giveaway at her blog, Belfonte Notes that she is doing in celebration of her new baby granddaughter. What a wonderful way to celebrate a new life. :)

Some progress...

I have made a couple of new starts that I don't think I have shared here yet. One of them is Bent Creek's Big Zipper. Wow, is this thing big. I had no idea how big. The fabric is a whopping 24" x 24". I have yet to find a way to comfortably stitch it. I have been stitching it in hand. I have tried Q-snaps in several configurations and have decided that in hand is more comfortable than the Q-snaps. I thought about using scroll rods, but I have never used them, and I hate to invest in something I may not like for one project. I love the design. I love the great big stitches (it is an 18 ct. stitched over 2). And I am going to love it when it is finished. It is just one that I will have to work on a little at a time.

Please excuse all the wrinkles in my photos today. I am too lazy to iron them today.

I have also started stitching Plum Street Sampler's Bird in the Bower. I am really having fun stitching this. I love everything about it...the funky trees, the bird, the saltbox house, the bunny, the tulips, the NPI threads, and the fabric I chose. I am stitching it on 32 ct. Vintage Autumn Fields by Zwiegart. I have not used this linen before, but I can quickly see it becoming a favorite. Unfortunately, I am having a very hard time finding it. Most of the ONS and LNS that I have been to do not have it in stock and they are not having any luck getting it from Zwiegart. I lucked in to a couple of pieces from Drema at Needlecraft Corner, but have not been able to find anymore. I am going to try to contact Zwiegart and see if I can get some help there.

(whew...I will iron next time...these look terrible!)

I am off to check on DS. He's in another room watching TV. He slipped in the dining room today and hit his back on the dining chair. I think he is okay, but I am keeping an eye on it. He is going to have a pretty big bruise, I think.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Happy Stitching,

Kellie

Another Giveaway to check out

Paulette at Plum Street Samplers is having a great giveaway at her blog. She is going to give 5 charts of choice to the lucky winner. I personally love her designs. Hurry over, read the "rules" and sign up. :)

Have a great Sunday!

Stay tuned...later today I am going to post again. I have been busy stitching, and have a few progress pictures to show.

Check out this giveaway...

at Jolene's blog called Dip Diddly Designs. This is a new blog to me, but one that I will definitely be returning to. She is having a fabulous giveaway of the new La-D-Da design and everything you need to stitch it. WOW!!!

Some updates...

Long time, no post. Things have been really busy around here lately. My college roommate/best friend came to visit earlier this week. She lives in North Carolina. While we keep in touch on a continuous basis, we only see each other every few years. It was great to visit with her and her two children, who are just precious. I took them along with Jake to Mammoth Cave. The kids loved it.

We celebrated the 4th with pizza and a few sparklers with BIL and SIL and kids. It was cold and rainy here on the 4th. I have to say, I don't think I have ever celebrated such a cold 4th. Most everyone had on sweatshirts, and it was downright chilly. Not complaining...I am loving this mild July weather in this part of the world.

I finished a couple of patriotic pieces right before the 4th...

American Log by Primitive Traditions

Unknown fabric

Recommended WDW and GAST fibers

Started June 20, 2009

Finished July 3, 2009

I also stitched the 4th of July Quaker Heart freebie that has been floating around on the internet and several blogs... The freebie can be found here.

Started and finished July 3, 2009

Unknown blue fabric

DMC 311, 321, and B5200

I have picked up Mirabilia's Shimmering Mermaid again. I go through Mirabilia phases...love the designs, but have a hard time stitching one from start to finish (okay, I have a hard time stitching ANY design start to finish...who am I trying to kid?!).

I have also started ByGone Stitches Eloquent Christmas. I have had this chart for a long time, and had even started it about a year ago. However, I did not like my thread and fabric choices. When I was in that LNS in Nashville, the owner had it beautifully stitched and framed. It took me about 10 seconds to get the exact same fabric and silk threads. I am stitching it on PTP Crystal Legacy 28 ct. Cashel with Dark Forest Silk N' Colors. I am picturing this with a silver beaded star on the top and the beaded ornaments on all different colors...just like our tree. :) My sister-in-law has seen me working on this and has went crazy over it. She has hinted more than once that I should make her one. I think I will surprise her with one at Thanksgiving. She doesn't read my blog that I am aware of, so no surprises spoiled. This is a really fun stitch. It's one that I am loving every single stitch.

Lot of pictures in this post, but that is the kind of posts that I love to read...I hope you do too. :)

I will leave with one last photo of some flowers that my husband brought in for me. He is not one to buy flowers (He knows I would much rather have cross-stitch supplies if he wants to do something special. LOL!) However, he has a wonderful green thumb. He grows flowers for me. My favorite flower is the stargazer lilly, and we have these coming up everywhere right now. I also love gladiolas.

We are off to spend the night at my parents and then on to Berea tomorrow. It is an arts and crafts community here in Kentucky. I have never been, but I am looking very forward to it. I think I will take Merry Christmas and some crocheting to work on tonight at their house. I am also planning to put a few stitches into Jake's Tall Sundae. I will post pics of it when I have more progress to show.

Hope you are having a good week!!

Happy Stitching,

Kellie