As of Friday (July 9) I still wasn’t feeling well, so I went back to the doctor. After another exam and a chest x-ray, I learned that it had developed into an upper respiratory infection. The doctor was concerned it might turn into pneumonia, so I was put on a stronger antibiotic with a steroid pack booster. I actually felt a LOT worse on Saturday, but I think it was my body finally just trying to get all the crap out of my lungs. Each subsequent day has been a bit better, so I’m hoping by mid-week that I’ll be back to my normal self again free of the hacking cough.

So, what’s the good side to all this illness? I’ve gotten in quite a bit of stitching time. I participated in the July Weekend Stitch-A-Long on Facebook. I decided to pull out my Plum Blossom Kimono to work on it. This was a class I took last summer at my LNS from local designer/teacher, Margaret Bendig. I haven’t worked on it in quite some time, so I thought this SAL would be a good time to give it some attention. Here are my before & after pics showing the progress I made this weekend:

Before (as of Saturday morning):

After (as of Sunday night):

I’m so excited to have all of the outlining done! Doing that much pearl cotton outlining on Congress Cloth is pretty boring, but I made it through. Now I’m really for the fun part which is filling in all those little boxes with lots of pretty silks.

Of course, the whole weekend wasn’t spent just stitching. There was a lot of studying that happened as well. My college classes started on July 1, so I’m back into the world of having to study. It hasn’t been very fun given I’ve been sick, but I’m doing OK since it’s mostly been a lot of reading so far. I might not have felt the same way if I had been sick and was trying to write papers, too.

I’m currently in the process of studying for the CompTIA A+ certification exams. I have to obtain this certification for my job per a DoD requirement by the end of the year. The nice thing is I can kill two birds with one stone because I can use the A+ certification to knock out two of my college courses as well (IT Fundamentals II & III). It’s basically an entry-level IT certification, but it’s been long enough since I’ve done basic hardware/software troubleshooting that I’m definitely having to study to brush up on all the various beep codes, printer error codes, etc.

In other personal news, as if I didn’t have enough going on already, I’ve decided to move. I’ve been living in a one-bedroom apartment since my divorce six years ago. I finally decided I’ve had enough of being so cramped and will be moving into a two-bedroom apartment. Not only will I have a larger living room/dining room area, but I’ll finally have a craft room again, too!

Until next time …

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Here is the progress I’ve made between my most recent update (July 1) and today (July 6):

I can’t believe I’ve made so much progress! I’m doubly amazed when I take into account that I’ve finished two other small pieces during that same time frame. This is absolutely not my usual stitching speed. Go me!

I am a bit perplexed over one aspect of this design. My colors definitely look much different than the model photo, even though I am usually the recommended fabric and fibers. I’ve gone back and double & triple-checked to ensure I used the proper colors in the proper places, and I did. The only elements that really look the same to me are the peacock and the tree on the right side of the design. Some portions of the border are almost completely lost into the linen in my piece.

This is one of my greatest annoyances about model photos. The finished product just doesn’t always look the same. Even though I still love the design, the colors of mine just don’t pop nearly as much as in the model which is what attracted me to the design in the first place. Oh well, what’s a stitcher to do?

Until next time …

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As you can tell, the new year has also brought a new theme for my blog. After years of blogging, I finally found what I believe to be the perfect theme for my blog. This is so “me” that it’s unbelievable. What you think?

As I’ve been reading everyone’s blogs over the past couple of days, I’ve been seeing lots of people posting a recap of their 2009 goals and setting new goals for 2010. This left me wondering if I actually set any goals for 2009. It’s probably not a good sign that I didn’t even actually remember, eh?

As it turns out, it looks like I only set one stitching-related goal for 2009 which is a little surprising. Unfortunately, I didn’t even meet the one. Oops! The goal was to keep my WIP list down to 15 or less, but it’s currently sitting at 19. Maybe this year.

2009 Recap:

*As far as projects moved to UFO, I borrowed a concept from Annette. If I haven’t worked on a project in the preceding 12 months, I’m no longer considering it a WIP (work in progress), and will move it to UFO (unfinished object) status instead. This doesn’t mean that I won’t eventually finish it, but if I haven’t worked on it in over a year, I just can’t justify in my head calling it a WIP any longer.

Here is a list of all the finishes I had during 2009:

1. Snowman’s Quaker Christmas (Midnight Stitching) – Completed 1 Feb 2009
2. NEEDLE heART (Margaret Bendig) – Stitching cruise piece – Completed 8 Feb 2009
3. Christmas Joy (Little by Little Design Co.) – Completed 25 April 2009
4. Rosemarkie (Long Dog Samplers) – Completed 29 April 2009
5. Rudolph (The Stitcherhood) – Completed 2 May 2009
6. Boo (The Stitcherhood) – Completed 3 May 2009
7. Letters from Nora – Madeline Melissa (Nora Corbett) – Completed 27 May 2009
8. Ink Circles May 2007 freebie – Completed 7 June 2009
9. Spooky Treats (Part 1 of 6 of Lizzie Kate’s Boo Club) – Completed 11 June 2009
10. Anonymous RAK – Completed 25 June 2009
11. Patriotic Quaker Heart – Completed 27 July 2009
12. Multiplicity – Completed 14 August 2009
13. Hagatha’s Slipper (part 1) – Completed 11 September 2009
14. Boo to You House (Fair & Square exchange) – Completed 10 October 2009
15. West Coast (Sea to Shining Sea series) – Completed 19 October 2009
16. Moon Witch – Completed 4 November 2009
17. Noel Naturally – Completed 5 November 2009
18. Joyful Night- Completed 14 November 2009
19. Indian Summer – Completed 25 November 2009

2010 Goals:

1. StRIP (Stash Reduction Implementation Plan)

This is the year that I really want to get my WIP list under some semblance of control. I know that I give this goal a bit of lip service every year, but I’ve never really followed through on it. This year is going to be different!

How am I going to accomplish this task you ask? My rule for 2010 is that I can’t start a new project until I complete at least three existing projects. I do have a few exceptions to this rule:

1. Little House Needleworks ornament of the month series
2. Exchanges
3. Class projects (probably only the Shepherd’s Bush retreat this year)
4. Guilt-free January (GFJ)

For those who aren’t active on stitching message boards, the concept of GFJ is that one is allowed to start as many new projects as they like, free of any guilt about existing WIPs or UFOs, during the month of January. I have decided to slightly modify GFJ and only allow myself this caveat during this first weekend of the new year. If it’s not started by 11:59pm on Sunday, January 3, then I can’t start it until after I have completed three other finishes.

The downside to this StRIP plan is that most of my current WIPs are BAPs (big ass projects), including several samplers. The upside is that now I’ll probably get some of them actually finished.

Once I have my WIPs under control, then I’ll work on coming up with a plan for the UFOs. I’m not even going to worry about them until I have my WIPs down to single digits.

2. Little House Needleworks Ornament of the Month series

I signed up with Drema for the automatics on this series a couple of months ago when Diane first announced it on the Little House Needleworks website. Since these are ornaments, they should be pretty quick stitches. My goal is to stay caught up on stitching this series throughout the year as they are released.

3. Stash Stitching

Along with trying to get my WIPs under control, I definitely want to get back to stitching from my stash again for my new starts. I have so many gorgeous pieces already, with probably about 40 already kitted even. I am always so tempted by the new pretties that come out that I end up buying more and more and then never get around to stitching them.

My goal for this year is that 80% of my new starts, excluding the LHN series and any class pieces, will come from my existing stash. Given my first goal, it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to have more than 5 or 6 new starts this year. By making the goal 80%, it does give me a little wiggle room for something that might be released that just screams at me to stitch it right away. ;)

As you can see, I have my work cut out for me this year with my goals. Wish me luck because I know I’ll definitely need it. I’m weak!

Until next time …

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Last year was actually very easy for me. I picked up a really nice one when I was on vacation in Hawai’i last October with Terri and Tracy. It was full of vintage travel poster inspired artwork from artist Kerne Erickson. I have thoroughly enjoyed it throughout the year, and it has often brought back wonderful memories of my vacation.

I have to admit, this year’s selection was also very easy for a change. Those of you who know me well know that I’m a major fan of the work of artist Anne Taintor. If you aren’t familiar with her work, you MUST check it out. Go … now … I’ll wait.

Ok, welcome back. Anyway, I’d never even thought of seeing if she had calendars. Naturally, she does! Once I discovered this, I immediately ordered one which arrived today. I’m just really bummed that I missed out on getting what would have been the perfect holiday card for me to send. ;)

Here is a pic of the cover of the calendar followed by my favorite image. Unfortunately, I won’t get to see it until next December.

I’ve actually been doing a bit of stitching as well. I’m working on the Fa-La-La ornament of the month from Little House Needleworks. It’s stitching up very quickly, so I’m hoping to finish it tomorrow at the monthly all-day stitch at my LNS.

Now, for something completely different. Although, for those who are readers of Missy Ann’s blog, it may well remind you of the weekly manicure pics she used to post. (I miss those, Missy Ann!) I went and got my nails done today.

I just have to say that even after wearing it this color for a couple of years now, Vodka & Caviar by OPI is still my favorite nail color. That is followed closed by their I’m Not Really a Waitress color. I so want one of the Dell laptops in that color.

Speaking of OPI, has anyone tried their new Nicole line? If so, how are they? I noticed them the other day at Target, but didn’t have time to stop and really look at the colors. I want to try and get by there this weekend to check them out more.

Ok, that’s it for now. Until next time …

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In stitching news, I did get in another finish for the year. I finished this piece on Wednesday night and love how it all came together. The design is a freebie I found on Brenda’s blog. She designs under the name With Thy Needle & Thread and runs Country Stitches. I love Halloween & Autumnal designs, especially samplers, so this one was a must stitch for me as soon as I saw it. Pardon the wrinkles, I haven’t ironed it yet.

Design: Indian Summer
Designer: With Thy Needle & Thread
Fabric: 40-count Maple Sugar Lakeside Linen
Fibers: Various over-dyed cottons
Finished November 25, 2009
Stitched 1 over 2

I also couldn’t resist a new start. It’s one of the designs from my recent stash haul that I posted about earlier in the week. I did make a couple of color substitutions. Instead of using red & pink for the dress and flowers, I opted to go for Indigo for the dress and Spring Violets for the flowers. Everything else, including the fabric, is as charted.

Design: One of Those Days
Designer: Miss Crescent’s Crowne
Fabric: 36-count Strawflower Lakeside Linen
Fibers: Belle Soie silks
Progress as of November 26, 2009
Stitched 1 over 2

That’s it for now. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Until next time …

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As of Sunday evening:

As of Tuesday evening:

As of Wednesday evening (colors are off in this pic – taken with my iPhone):

Thanks for the compliments about the additional fibers I picked up for my Mary Wigham sampler. In addition to the comments posted, I also received a few emails from people asking for my conversion. I’m still playing around with the fibers I picked up this weekend to see which will work and which won’t. Once I have it all worked out (hopefully by Saturday), I’ll post the full conversion.

Also, I’m aware that I still haven’t posted my Blogiversary giveaway information yet. I have taken the picture of what I plan to giveaway, but I haven’t had time to type up the names & find links for a various charts. That’s another thing I have on my To Do list for this weekend. Since I’m closing in really quickly on my 1000th blog post, I’ve decided to make it a joint blog candy giveaway in honor of both events.

Until next time …

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I’m so very pleased to see how much this SAL has taken off thus far. Jacqueline Holdsworth has done a wonderful job of organizing things on the Needleprint blog. There are coordinators in place for several countries, and many of them have set up sub-blogs so that the stitchers of the various countries can interact more and get to know one another better. The coordinator for those of us living in the United States is Shari. She has set up a blog for the U.S. stitchers which can be found here.

In related news, I was speaking with the owner of the LNS tonight and mentioned I was starting a new Quaker sampler. She immediately chuckled and asked if it was 24″ square. I told it was and then looked at her rather quizzically wondering how she knew. She told me that I was the third person she spoke with today who is stitching this sampler. The other two stitchers had been in the shop today purchasing the fabric & fibers to get started on it as well.

As for the rest of my day, I had a really nice evening with friends. It started out with dinner at a local Mexican restaurant after my physical therapy appointment. After dinner, we all headed over to the aforementioned LNS for an evening of stitching. As always, I had a blast! There’s nothing better than good food, good friends, and time to stitch.

While at the LNS, a couple of us who are taking an upcoming counted canvas class (Plum Blossom Kimono by local designer Margaret Bendig) picked out our fibers since we wanted an alternate colorway. My kimono will be done primarily in shades of green (to match my stitching chair) with burgundy, blue, and gold accent colors. I’m hoping to pick up my kit on Saturday during the monthly all-day stitch at the shop so I can start the homework stitching soon.

I also have to admit that I also succumbed to a brief lapse of willpower in my 25 project challenge. The shop currently has a Lizzie Kate trunk show going on, and all the LK charts are on sale. I ended up purchasing two charts (Fall Crazy and Just Text Me). I’m hopping right back on my no-stash train though! I won’t be purchasing anything else until I have completed my challenge. Promise!

Until next time …

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Design: Letters from Nora – Madeline Melissa
Designer: Nora Corbett
Fabric: 32-count Waterlily
Fibers: Crescent Colors, Treasure Braid
Stitched 2 over 2 except braid which is 1 over 2
Completed May 27, 2009

I did make several changes from the original chart. If anyone is interested in seeing those, just leave me a comment and I’ll post them.

This puts me at 5 completed projects in my 25 Project Challenge. My focus will now shift to finishing up my squares for Claudia as part of round 13 of the Fair & Square exchange. I have the main square about halfway finished already. It’s due to be mailed by June 15, so I’ve still got a couple of weeks to finish them up.

That’s it for now. Until next time …

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I started out using the beads called for in the chart, but they just seemed too large and bulky to me. So, big surprise, I changed them. I found some Sundance beads that I thought matched the color of her dress quite nicely. I used size 11 beads which would be the size of Mill Hill petite seed beads.

I’m getting so close to having her finished, that I hope I can get it done tonight. I hope to post a finish pic tomorrow.

Until next time …

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Original:

My version:

Letters from Nora – Madeline Melissa
Designer: Nora Corbett
Fabric: 32-count Waterlily
Fibers: Crescent Colors, Treasure Braid
Stitched 2 over 2 except braid which is 1 over 2
Progress as of May 25, 2009

As you can see, I definitely made a few modifications. I changed her from a brunette to a red head. I also lightened the skin tone. The original chart called for Cobbled Peach (CC), but it just seemed so orange to me, especially after making the decision to made her a red head. It looks far more orange in person that it looks in the original model photo. I used Creamy Peach (CC) instead.

Another modification I made was making her wings sparkly. When I think of fairies, I just think their wings to to sparkle. I tried to get a close-up shot to show off her wings a bit better. The wings themselves are a bit out of focus in this shot, but that was the best way I found to capture the sparkle.

For the white part of the wings, instead of using Cloud (CC) as is called for in the chart, I substituted some Rainbow Gallery Petite Treasure Braid (PB10). For the purple part, I still used the Vintage Violet (CC) called for, but only used 1 strand of it and then 1 strand of Kreinik 032 blending filament.

In retrospect, if I were to do this again, I might stick with the Cloud and just use the blending filament with it as well. It would definitely make the wings a bit more prominent. Although, I do kind of like the transparency feel they have with the Treasure Braid.

I also wanted to take a minute to show off my latest ort collection. I’m doing this as part of the Totally Useless SAL. The SAL consists of starting a new ort collection beginning from the time you sign up to participate. Each month thereafter around the time of the new moon, you post a picture of your current ort collection. Since I only signed up for the SAL on April 29, this month’s installment is not quite a full month’s worth. These are my orts from April 29 through May 24 (date of the new moon).

In closing, I also wanted to point out a new feature on my blog. I’ve added a new rating system. So, for those times when you might not feel like leaving a comment, you now have the option of just adding a rating to a particular post. The rating scale is 1 to 5 stars with 5 being the highest. All you have to do to rate the post is just click on the desired star. You will find the stars immediately below the title on each post.

Well, that’s it for now. I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Until next time …

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