A finish and a shocker

Good Saturday afternoon to all my fellow stitchers.  I hope you are doing better than I am.  I woke up yesterday with another case of bronchitis.  This is twice this fall and I am never this sick so often.  Old age will kill you!

My finish is a project bag celebrating the fall season.  It has a machine embroidered pumpkin with lots of curly cues and the fabric has blackbirds.  Now how can you go wrong with that combination?  It turned out about 10 x 12 and is lined in a black checked primitive cotton fabric and is padded with Warm and Natural cotton batting.  If you are interested, you'll find this in my store of Finished Project Bags for Sale.

This past week was Little John's first trip to the dentist.  I'm telling you this little boy continues to shock us 24/7.  He sat in that big chair like he owned it and wasn't afraid and did everything the Dentist asked him to do.  He wasn't even afraid of the pick instrument that they jab you with.  Here's our big boy in the chair.  The sunglasses are so the light doesn't hurt their eyes.

I thought I'd give you an update on Belle.  They discovered that she is allergic to chicken protein and that's why she was breaking out in little pimples.  Since going on a special diet, her coat is beautiful and here's her and Little John taking a nap on her bed.

Then there's my little brat... Vallie.  I've left her coat grow a little longer with winter coming and she's so fluffy!!!

That's all for now.  Between the sore throat and the body aches....bed is calling my name.  I hope all of you are doing well and continue thru the season of flu.

Blessings, Barbara

A New Start

Hello my fellow stitcher's.  Here it is Sunday afternoon and we are enjoying a peaceful afternoon after a chaotic morning.  Today we celebrated Little John's second birthday....a few days early.  Here are 2 pictures of our big boy blowing out his candle on his dinosaur cupcake.  He was really quite proud of himself.

It was a houseful over at Peyton's and John's and we had a lot of fun helping him celebrate.  He's becoming such a big boy it's funny calling him "Little John".

I made a Halloween display for him over at our house of my fall and Halloween creations.  He loves looking at it when he comes over.  Halloween is such a fun time of year.

I started two new projects.  One is a shawl for myself out of the softest yarn I have ever worked with.  It's alpaca, cashmere and silk and it is yummy.  The color is a beautiful silver that will go with anything.  I have 4 skeins of this beautiful yarn and I plan on using it all on this shawl.  I want it big so I can snuggle in it.   That's 1,740 yards so I know I'll be working on this for a while but it will be worth it.  As you can see, Vallie agrees with me about how soft the yarn is.  If I put it down, she's on it immediately.

The other start is a SAL by Lizzie Kate called "Spirit of Christmas".  I'm chugging right along on it and so far so good.  Since it's a mystery sal, I don't want to give away what the finish project looks like but I think it's okay to show you what I have done so far.  I was going to change the colors (Weeks Dye Works) to more primitive colors, but now I'm glad I didn't.  Loving them!

Well that's what I've been up to this week.  I hope yours has been just as enjoyable.  You all have a great week.

Blessings, Barbara

And old finish

First off I want to thank everyone who entered my last giveaway and was sweet enough to leave comments about what stitching has meant to you.  I loved all of your answers and wasn't surprised to find out that they mirrored mine.  For years it was like I was a closet stitcher because no one else in my family stitched and none of my friends did either.  I felt very alone but not discouraged.  Now it seems that the needlework world has opened up and all of us closet stitchers no longer have to stitch alone.  We can go to our LNS or open up our computer and there is always someone there just waiting to talk with you about what you're working on.  For myself, it has given me the chance to try new things that I would of never seen or done otherwise.  Who knew there was such a thing as a Quaker sampler that you could stitch in one color....or all the different types and colors of threads.....or that there was such a thing as hand dyed linen that has more than one color in it.  I am still amazed about how our world has grown when it comes to needlework.

I'm working on Fallen Roses but I thought I would share something with you that I stitched more than 20 years ago.  It is a Carol Costello design called Shalimar and it is stitched on moss green 18ct. needlepoint canvas using a multitude of different fibers.  For example, I used DMC pearl cotton in all the fancy stitches in cream but the center square has silk, wool and cotton.  I have all of Carol's books and I'm not sure if they are still in print but if you ever get a chance to try one of her designs, you will love it.  

 Below is a close up of the center square and some of the specialty stitches used in the design.

Now I've said that sweet Vallie was going to a different groomer.....well today was the day.  She's a little put out with me as you can tell from the photos but she sure looks better.

I think in the above picture, she shows that she's really not back to feeling 100% better.  It's been raining here for days and we haven't been able to take as many walks as she would like so maybe that's got her a little depressed.  

I will post pictures of Fallen Roses soon and show you what I have gotten done.  I'm also working on a cowl for my daughter, Jenn which is just beautiful.  I love the yarn I'm using.  Also, yesterday I discovered a new yarn shop here in Orlando and I went nuts.  I will post pictures of the beautiful silks and wools I purchased.  

So many projects.....not enough time......

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Two finishes and unfortunately....a birthday

First off I want to welcome my new followers and to say thank you to all of you that sent me well wishes for my baby, Vallie.  She gets her stitches out on Thursday and I'm sure she can't wait.  She hasn't been herself for several days now and I can tell she's super depressed.  Nothing really interests her....not even food.....I'm worried.

I want to say first off that I absolutely loved stitching these two designs.  The first one is from LHN and I stitched it on 28ct. tan Jobelan using the required Crescent Colors floss.  For some reason I just couldn't get the hand of how she finished the rick rack around the outside, so I just attached it without the gathers.  I think it looks fine and lets face it.....nobody has to look at it but me. :o)

 This second design by Shakespeare Peddler I stitched on star sapphire 28ct. Jobelan using the required Crescent Colors floss.  Because I stitched my two designs on 28ct. I was concerned about running out of floss...which I did of the green.  It called for the buttons to be stitched so instead of doing that, I used real mother of pearl buttons.  Personally, I like this much better.

 As you can see, the stitching goes all around the little pillow.  I also didn't finish this the way the designer called for.  I just didn't like how she finished it so instead I sewed a tube of a pretty coordinating fabric with draw strings at each end.  I stuffed the tube and then sewed the cross stitch piece onto it and then attached some of the green rick rack.  

Now about that birthday.  It's tomorrow .... the 19th....and I absolutely hate the fact that I will be 60 years old.  Where or where did the years go?  Also, it's dawned on me that I have very little time to finish all the hundreds of designs I have planned to do.  LOL   I've purchased a Kindle Fire and I'm still getting the hang of it.  The resolution is fantastic on it and it's very quick on the web.  This was my bday gift to myself and so far I'm loving it.  I'll let you know more after I've had it for awhile.

I hope all of you are having a fantastic Sunday and that you've been able to get some stitchie time in.  I'm planning on having a giveaway starting this week so keep watching.  I have to get everything together....and that's all I'm saying for now.  :o)

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Vallie pics and a Fallen Roses Update

I did get lots of this finished this week and I am now officially at the half way mark.  Blue is my favorite color but after stitching this I might have to change my mind. :o)  At the top you will see mother of pearl rose colored heart buttons.  I am planning on using these instead of stitching the hearts in.  I don't like the stitched ones and I'm not real thrilled with these rose colored ones either.  I've checked all my local stores....Joann, Michaels and Hobby Lobby and haven't seen anything I like better.  If anyone has a suggestion on what I might do there instead of the buttons, please post a comment and let me know what it is.  I'm hoping to have all the swag finished this weekend and then I can start the lady which will give me something new to stitch instead of just blue.  I haven't stitched on anything else this past week and I don't plan on it for the upcoming week.  If I am diligent I think I'll be able to finish it next week.....fingers crossed.

 It has been awhile since I posted any pictures of our little lady, Vallie, so here she is in all her glory.  She needs a trim and that will happen next week sometime hopefully.  She is actually pretty good for the girls at Petsmart where I take her to get trimmed.  The only thing she really hates is getting the hairs pulled out of her ears.  Apparently Maltese are known for hairs growing on the inside of their ears and these must be pulled out.  Can't say I blame her for not liking that being done to her.  I wouldn't either.

Vallie hopes everyone has a wonderful weekend and that you get some good stitching time and napping time also.  :o)

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Update

Okay as I promised, here is the first update on the Paris Mandala.  The dark thread around the outside is a DMC floss - 934 and the other three shades are all overdyed silks.  This is the very center of the chart and on the fabric I'm stitching it on - 36ct - it's turning out about 3.5 inches across.   I was hoping to have more finished, but I was sidetracked on some other things.  

Poor little Vallie had to get clipped pretty short last time she was at the groomers because of matting.  Well it's been getting pretty chilly down here so I decided to crochet her a sweater.  I had this wool/acrylic yarn in the prettiest shade of pink and I thought...perfect.  It only took a few hours to make but unfortunately for Vallie, after I got this on her, I couldn't get it off.  She's such a fragile little thing I was afraid of breaking one of her legs so I did the only thing I could.....I cut it off of her.  :o(  Well I've learned my lesson and the next one will have buttons going down her back or on her stomach to make getting on and off easier.  I don't have enough of the pink yarn left so the next one is going to be red.  I'm going to work on this tomorrow and when it's finished and she has decided to model it, I will post a picture.

Everyone having a stitchie day.....I hope!!!!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Vallie has had a haircut and made a decision...

Yesterday Vallie had her day at the doggie spa and she looks and feels so much better.  It took 3 hours but I think the girl did a marvelous job.  She cut her hair down till it's only about 2 inches long on her back and then trimmed her legs, feet and face to match that length.  She even had her nails done.....no not painted but ground down so they aren't so sharp.

 I printed off the names of you ladies who offered your opinion on this and folded them into small pieces.  Now you can see above how much trouble this gave Vallie.  She just wasn't sure which one to choose.  After much prompting on my part.....she just jumped in.....as you can see in the picture below.

When it was all said an done, the one she picked was Parsley.  I have emailed her to let her know of her winning the little JBW French Country Wreath pattern shown below.

 Vallie sometimes falls asleep in the strangest positions as you can see but I'm glad she waited until picking the winner.  I hope each and every one of you have a fantastic weekend with lots and lots of stitchie time.  

I'm working on a little design that was in the latest issue of GOS.  It's a little fall scene in monotone and I think I'll finish it into a needle case or pincushion.  

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Haircut or no haircut????

 I think all of you have met Vallie and know that she's a Maltese....but did you know that a Maltese's hair can get up to 8 inches long!!!  She is so soft and cuddly with her hair long and it just falls into ringlets....so girly ya know.....but to brush her is a major undertaking.  She absolutely hates her ears brushed so we had to get them shaved they were so matted that I'm afraid she's gonna get these mats all over.  She will sit still for a few minutes and let me brush her but she's got this thing about no one touching her belly....weird right???  She's definitely not one of these dogs who lays on her back just waiting for a belly scratch.  No way!!!

As you can see by the above picture, her hair is getting quite long.  We did have her hair cut when she was about 4 months old but it's been growing ever since.  I love her hair long and the one good thing about a Maltese....they don't shed!!!  So my question is should I get her hair cut down to about 2 inches long?? I can't make up my mind so you ladies are going to make it up for me.  LOL  Let me know your suggestions  and at the end of one week, I'll put all the suggestions in a hat and have Vallie pull one and that person will get a surprise in the mail.  No it won't be the clippings from her, but something to do with cross stitch.  LOL

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend,

Barbara