Waldorff Complete

I don't know who I have become, but I have spent the past two weeks working on one project. And finished it!

Waldorff

Homespun Sampler

Called for colors and fabric

January 8, 2015-April 5, 2020

Not sure where I'll head next, but you'll get the report when I decide!

Hope you are staying well and keeping your wits about you.

Ortilda, The Spectacular Finish

I have spent so much time on the couch nursing this cough, that my first three day rotation produced results! May I present Ortilda the Witch?

That's a dye mark, not a wrinkle, bisecting the fabric. I think she's terrific!

Details: 

Twisted Threads kit (from 1998!)
Sampler Threads for stitching

Thread Gatherer "Wild Hairs" for her orange perm
R&R reproductions linen 30 count Over the Hill Purple
Based on original art by Emerson Quillen Designs

Finished!

The stockings for my sister's family arrived home from the finisher today! I couldn't wait to share them with you. But first I had to take a nap. (I am so old and tired and the dog woke me up early and then has been a pain in the bum. We went on a hike and she's still been in and out, in and out, because she is bored and at loose ends and still can't go to daycare because she is coughing. St Francis help us, amen.)

 I sent them to our friend Faye. And she did a great job! I love that they have miniwale corduroy backing--matches the ones I did for my cousin. And the colors she chose are perfect matches. I feel so relieved! Let's imagine I tried to do this myself...first getting myself to the store for fabric. Going to every store in the greater Philadelphia area to get matches. Then clearing off enough of the sewing table to cut and sew and then the piping. I could have gone nuts.

Instead, now they are done. Done and beautiful and I am so so very happy!

A FINISH!

I finished something! Woohoo!

I thought this was going to be my last finish of 2016. Instead it is my first finish of 2017...Yes, I realize it's August. Yet, here we are.

This is Wabbit's Wonder by Sheepish Designs. Stitched with the called-for fibers on some kind of cranberry fabric (not the called for fabric). Fun little bunny.

I'm back y'all.

Recovering

I caught a horrible virus when I was at the end of my trip in Britain. I started with a sore throat and ended with a horrible racking cough. Our first weekend home was spent on the couch. Fortunately, that worked out well for Stella. She's been recovering too. On Thursday she had a small tumor removed from her neck. It is cancerous, but they are fairly sure that the surgery will be a cure. I'll know more later this week. She is taking in stride the five pills twice a day and the compresses four times daily that are part of her recovery. We, however, are having quite the time keeping our frankendog calm. (She has a four inch scar on the back of her neck that looks like it's holding her head on, so she has a new nickname.)

The upside is that I finished this year's anniversary sampler!

Mosey n Me
Ties that Bind
Called-for materials

Anniversary Sampler Complete!

This was quite a weekend in America with not only our birthday celebration (or, as dogs know it, "The Worst Day of the Year") but also a giant win for the American women's national soccer team. (I will also take this time to say, "hooray, Title IX!" because you don't get to be that good at sports without money and encouragement. Just sayin'.)

I was also able to finish the dude's anniversary sampler. As you can see, I went with initials and XIV for the 14 years we've been married. This, it turns out, is how I've done many of the others, so it seemed only right.

I started back in on SamSarah's Shining Star, which I started during Christmas in July 2013. More on that at WIP Wednesday.

New Year's Day Flashback

Yesterday, I started--and finished!--my first project for Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge, in memory of our friend Debbie. That makes two finishes yesterday! This is Bee Keeper, a freebie from Drawn Thread. Indeed it is very small, but they say you should "start as you mean to go on" and I do want to finish more things this year, so I thought it couldn't hurt to start small!

I started another new project, but I am going to keep working on it today since we have a friend coming over for dinner and I've been cleaning all day. (Must call cleaners!) I'll show you that new start tomorrow.

 I did promise also to share with you some interesting nineteenth century ideas about the new year. We were perhaps wondering where all the presents were on Christmas...but we find them instead on New Year's Day.

On New Year's Day not only the children, but ladies, young and old, receive presents, not only from their relatives and friends, but from all their acquaintances. And these presents are not merely fanciful trifles, but articles proportioned to the wealth, refinement and taste of the persons who receive them. They vary from Brussels' lace and Cashmere shawls to a simple but elegant bonbonniere--a beautiful paper box, filled with sugar plums. "That is a matter of a few cents," think some of my readers; but they are mistaken. They cannot buy a decent thing of the kind under a Napoleon--and some costs as high as a hundred francs... 

The day is nevertheless a great gala, and serves to rekindle many a feeling that lay dormant during the year, and would have died entirely but for their resurrection le jour de l'an. Friends and acquaintances remember each other, and shake hands; women are pleased to look with complaisance on those who make them presents and men are made aware, (if they forgot it during the year,) that women are dear creatures, who expect to be made happy at our hands...The French, like all southern people, are eminently a people of the senses; their impressions are vivid, and received directly from nature or the things that immediately surround them, without passing through the magnifying lens of the imagination. The northern people of Europe may keep Christmas eve, and feast the living and the dead; the French have "a happy New Year." They express their wishes to each other in direct language, shake hands, kiss, embrace, and make merry for the rest of the evening.  "Christmas and New Year in France and Germany," Francis J. Grund. Godeys' Magazine and Lady's Book. January 1848; 36 p 8

I Made It Monday...and Posted on Tuesday

I finished the Thistle Sampler this weekend! This felt like such a throwback to work on, but it is certainly appropriate to celebrate my Scottish MIL's birthday (belatedly).

You will notice however that I have not posted this on Monday. Yesterday was busy as all get-out. First, I am slammed with work with two big reports due in the next two months. Second, the silent auction is Saturday (and I'm still getting items! So much to do!). And yesterday was cookbook club. I made winter squash soup from Ina Garten's Barefoot in Paris. It was easy and delicious, and I made it between getting home and leaving for the meeting. (In case you're keeping track, the dude made mango sorbet.)


Sunday was no better. I finished up the stitching, ironed it, photographed it. Then had to rush out the door to pick up my mother at the airport and bring her to my sister's. My mother is making good on her promise of visiting monthly to help out. And there was the matter of my birthday celebration; there were presents and key lime pie and gassy babies. Now I am boringly old on a Tuesday. Phhht. (However, a big round number birthday is coming and it will be on Friday!)

Back to the sampler which is what you come here for. I love the texture in this with the different flosses and stitches. The ecru and lavender knot may be my favorite. Or is it the small thistles (below)? (Just don't look too closely at the pulled work.)

I felt so good to have finished something this year that wasn't a small! Of course it wasn't that big, either. But done is good, and this is quite lovely. Charland Designs, Thistle Sampler, 1997.

And a Finish!

I'm missing my doggy while I am down here with my dad. But I was able to finish my version of Boris, which is has been translated to look a little more like Stella.

Yesterday I popped over to Needlepoint Ivy in town to replace my missing scissors. (I am really hoping I've left them behind.) And got a cute pair of Emily Gingher's. I also picked up a Mill Hill Buttons and Beads kit and one of those magnetic wands. I think my dad really liked that one, so I'll have to keep it in mind for Christmas. (He's super hard to buy for.)

Camp Conclusions

I finished stitching the birthday sampler on Sunday.

I can't wait for my father's 70th birthday in June. I am so bringing this to the party to put at his place! Funnily enough, the next three birthdays are my cousin's husband, my dad's, and the dude's. I'm sure they're going to love having this one as their dinner place card!

Speaking of my father's 70th birthday, I need a gift. I was thinking of making a scrapbook like I did for my fil's 70th. I was also thinking of doing one of the projects I bought in Vegas lo these many moons ago. I could do the Las Vegas Welcome sign as a keepsake box or I could do the M Designs "Las Vegas tree" (you know those trees--words written sideways, mirror images) and have it framed.

If I can finish it in the next few weeks I can take it to the Strawberry Sampler framing sale.

Let's make a poll.

I completed the stitching on the quaker heart from camp as well. Now to get to the finishing.

Post the Third

Last Monday, I finished "Thing 6" from my ill-fated Thing-a-Day foray.

Crescent Colours, "Swirlygirls."
GAST Shutter Green and Apple Green and some kind of WDW purple.
Fabric unknown.

I had to undo that one swirl not once or twice but three times. Just the one. But you know how we crafters can't count!

Stairway to Heaven

This weekend, I got tired of seeing my three newly framed pieces sitting in the chair.

New frames lounging.

So, I gathered up all of pieces I had and I put them on the wall.

Well, first I had to attend to the three pieces that had been laced but not actually put in their frames. I got out my point driver and drove them into the frames but good. Then I applied the backing paper and hanging wires.

Just in case you've never seen backing paper and hanging wire.

Then, I started hanging. After I had hung about four pictures, I thought it might be a good idea to put them on the wall in a less permanent way in case I was screwing up. So I cut out kraft paper squares to match the picture sizes. Then I put the stand-ins on the wall with repositionable scrapbook adhesive and played with the layout for a while. I might be a slow learner, but at least I get there in the end.

New gallery

I have been basking in reflected glory...or something like that. I feel quite accomplished. Not that I was any less accomplished when they weren't hanging on the wall. But the pictures sort of remind me (almost constantly) that they exist.

Looking up as you enter the house.

Top down.

It reminds me of when I was writing my dissertation. I had been in the program so long I was growing moldy. But then I started keeping track of how I was doing--how many chapters complete and approved, how many pages in progress. Every time I started writing, I would open that document first as a little reminder. Suddenly, instead of lamenting how long I had been working on the project and how much was left to do, I had some kind of grip on reality. I was, say, 2/3 of the way through chapter four and had outlined chapter one while chapters two, three, and five were done and dusted. (Chapters 2, 3, and 5 really were done first. Chapter 1 was dead last.) I could see the light at the end of the tunnel--and it was rapidly moving closer.

Suddenly, all I want to do is stitch--I haven't been stitching so much you might have noticed. I want more things on that wall. And I think a few of them should be a bit bigger. I feel so focused! Let this be a lesson to me.

Anna's Bird was really the inspiration to all this. One of the places the dude and I discussed hanging her was right where she is now. Because she leads you into the dining room.

Anna's Bird, leading you into the dining room.

Year in Review

This year I had very few goals:

• finish-finish two projects a month: My original intent was to finish-finish things that were in the pile rather than new things. And I did mean *I* would do them, but I am going to count everything that got finished. I finished 23 pieces--10 of them to give away. Thirteen came out of the finishing pile and 10 were new stitches. I think I should be more specific next year.
• hang Toy Gatherer in my house this Christmas: It was so. (There it is hanging where the mola usually goes.)
  
• stitch a lot of things for myself: 13 of 29, I don't think that was more than usual.
• I also said I'd like to start these projects: some I did, they're italicized; some I finished, they're struck through:

Hillside Samplings, Folk Art Threadkeep

Heart in Hand, Monthly Mania

4 My Boys, Pumpkins Three for Thee

Sisters &BF, Button Borders: Pumpkins

Mirabilia, Emerald Mermaid (SAL)

BOAF, Spring Garden

Raise the Roof, Off the Deep End

Blackbird Designs, Flea Market Souvenir

Little House, Curly Q Ewe

Lilybet, Spots II

Cricket Collection, Skeleton Crew

Little by Little, Star Light, Star Bright

Fancy Work, Sampler Scissors Box

Liberty Street, Rose Bunnie [sic]

2008 Finishes

1. Heart in Hand, Monthly Mania February
2. Heart in Hand, Monthly Mania April
3. Heart in Hand, Monthly Mania May
4. Heart in Hand, Monthly Mania June
5. Heart in Hand, Monthly Mania July
6. Fancy Work, Sampler Scissors Box
7. Liberty Street Designs, Rose Bunnie
8. Liberty Street Designs, In the Tall Flowers
9. Sue Hillis, Why Men Fish
10. Quaker fob
11. Quaker scissor pocket
12. Quaker biscornu
13. Heart in Hand, Mother's Day Roundabout
14. E&E&F, Heart Fob for Stephanie's birthday
15. Waxing Moon, My Needle and My Floss
16. Heart in Hand, 2001 Collector's Heart
17. LHN, Willow Tree Inn Edgar's Neighborhood RR
18. Heinzit, Family Matters
19. Quaker stitching set prize
20. S&BF Pumpkin
21. S&BF, Leaf
22. EE&F, flower fob
23. CCN, JCS ornament preview for Melita
24. JBW, Silver Needle Freebie, blue
25. JBW, Silver Needle Freebie, red
26. LHN, Dog House Sampler
27. Shepherds Bush, Toy Gatherer
28. Yankee Stitcher, By the Sea
29. Lizzie Kate, Home for the Holidays for Paula D.
30. LHN, The Angels Sang
31. LHN, Curly Q Ewe

Edited to add my last finish of 2008.

Curly Q Ewe
c Little House Needleworks
stitched with the called for DMC and Crescent Colours Floss
18-count Waterlily

Most of these were small pieces, but Toy Gatherer, which I can't stop yammering about, feels like a majestic triumph. Now to think about what I hope to accomplish in 2009...

Focus!

I went to pick up my mom's Christmas present. Voila!

The shabby frame is perfect. I love how this came out! I saw many lovely things at the Strawberry Sampler, including some fabulous colored fabric. I kept looking and putting things back because I have so much to do. I need focus. It was my mantra. Focus, focus, focus.

I needed a fabric marker so that I can make another naughty apron. So I made the mistake went to Joann's. Something came over me and I was wandering around and around. The next thing I knew I was walking out with about $50 worth of stuff. Including this to make more cowls. Not sure for what or whom...apparently I lost my focus.

The good news is that I managed to send off two pieces that have been hanging over my head.

Okay, gotta run. My parents just arrived at my sister's. Ahhh, a week of family fun!

picture gallery

The Strawberry Sampler called on Saturday to say the pieces I brought in during their May framing sale were ready. Yay! I hopped right in the car so not another minute would go by without these lovelies in my house.

Trio of Hearts
Twisted Threads
Completed June 2004

You Are My Sunshine
La D Da
Completed June 30, 2006
Gift to the dude for our 5th anniversary

My Whole Heart
SamSarah Designs
Completed July 7, 2007
anniversary gift, 6th anniversary

And presenting, my favorite and yours
In the Tall Flowers
Liberty Street Designs
Completed February 21, 2008

Now I have about ten framed pieces for my stairway gallery. I need my mom to come help me hang. She has a way with these things.

Happily I have filled my second "discount card" at the store and will get 20% off. I have about 60 more pieces that need to be finished, mostly framed...

Many Finishes, Few Photos

Thanks, everyone, for your uplifting comments and compliments on my front path area. You should see it--now with more daffodils.

I had to go to a college* near my house to do some research for work today. Research always takes longer than you think. I was there for over three hours, and I could go back for more. I drove right to sewing class from there. I finished my Amy Butler Stash and Dash bag but I was ravenous when I got home so I ate instead of taking photos by the dimming light.

What I do have to show you is the completed stitching on what will become my scissor keep from camp. A lot of people used one really large motif on theirs, but I thought it would be fun to stitch a bunch of random motifs and see how it works out. I'm trying to decide which way to orient it--I'm pretty sure the orientation pictured here is not the one--but we'll all find out when I sew it (this weekend?). I finish-finished the fob and the biscornu but I have no photos tonight. I'll have lots to show tomorrow.

And WOOT! I am next in line to stitch the Traveling Pattern. I am part of a sorority! Yeah, that's funny to me too.

* A Quaker college, go figure!

List #24: Photos from My Cousin's House

Yesterday, the failed Catholics, an athiest, some pagans, and a former Quaker got together and celebrated Easter. I know some people think its crazy that people who don't believe in God celebrate Christmas, but even I agree that the unbelievers celebrating Easter is nuts. Sissy almost got into the spirit. She called my cousin to find out when the church in near her was holding masses, and my cousin called around to find the answer for her. She got back to Sissy who responded, "Jesus... I was hoping for something a little later." So you can see this religion thing is really working out for her. Anyway, we managed to hide the 54 eggs for the kids only once. (I'm pretty sure two years ago we hid them one trillion times.) And only uncle dude had to go looking for them after Yay-o had hidden them. At least he was indoors. I froze my butt off "hiding" the eggs.

So, I kept my promise of bringing the camera with me, though a few things went unrecorded.

The wedding sampler (discussed here) that led to the blog name. I tried to get a close up of all those color changes, but failed. Some days I swore that each square was a different color. Of course all those HAED stitchers will think I'm just a pussy.


The finishing on the pillow for my niece. My cousin ended up cutting off the trim because someone was pulling at it and little bits of fluff were ending up everywhere. My cousin is a neat freak. It's probably for the best because it wasn't sewn on evenly.


The dragonfly tin topper. Discussed here. Very sparkly in real life.


The birth sampler that I designed to fit into the bear frame. You can see the bee table in the background--there are matching chairs and bureau too. It was quite a cute room.

Hot Dog!

Dolly Mama's: Poodle Freebie
Finished: 2/17/2007
Finished as a pillow: 3/17/2007
Fabric from Hancock's of Paducah

Tell Me Something Bad about Tulsa

Here are the photos that accompany the camp report. Sorry it took me so long to get them up; I've got no excuse.

This is the Samsarah patriotic heart. It's stitched with overdyed pearl cotton. The blue was stitched one stitch at a time, but the red was stiched in rows because I didn't realize the red was overdyed too. You can see the differences that result when you stitch overdyes both ways.

This is the altered Prairie Grove Peddlar stitched with those luscious Crescent Colors silks in the WhimZi frame.

This needlebook was designed by the staff and stitched with Medici wool. I have to add the trim. This project also came with the cutest pair of little scissors.

The Photo You've Been Clamoring For

WindowGarden Designs
"Pumpkin Sampler"
Started: September 4
EDITED! Completed: September 7 Lee's right! I'm not that speedy
September 10

I love the colors--they're so 70s. Harvest gold and avocado green anyone?

I wonder what happened to this designer.