Happy Easter, A finish and a Start...

Happy Easter to those that celebrate!! My family will be getting together with the others from the family later today for a late lunch/ early dinner. So far this morning, my kids have attacked their baskets left by the Bunny and found all the eggs they dyed last night which the "Bunny" hid before leaving their baskets.



Here the kids are dyeing their eggs last night.

This "quiet" morning has meant some stitching time for me this morning and with this being a holiday weekend meant we weren't running around all day with the kids so I was able to get in a fairly good chunk of time stitching yesterday also.



All this time meant I was able to finish "Footprints" and start another quick (at least I hope quick) project to also donate to my son's school's auction at the end of May.



It is a kit by Donna Dewberry called Rosebud Wreath. I made this design for my dh's grandmother a few years ago and it is the kit that I was searching for to originally do for the auction before I found "Footprints".



I started this last night and have worked on it for a short period this morning. This is the progress I've made so far on this project. It does seem to be working up quickly so far but I'm getting tired of greens and browns already...can't wait to get to some of the pinks and purples.

Seeing as I've been working on these two "quick" kits I haven't done a single stitch in Blackstone Fantasy Garden, although it is still traveling in my canvas bag, just in case I get bored working on these quickies and need something different to do for a stitch or two. I'm hoping to maybe have the wreath done this week or early next week and then get back to BFG. I have read on some other blogs that people feel they move quicker on their BAPs after working on a "little" project that was quickly finished. We'll see if that happens with my stitching.

Till next time...thanks for looking at my progress on my projects and following my crazy family...

Cars, stitching and TGIF...

Today I got to spend the better part of the day sitting at the car repair shop getting the van looked at and fixed. Yesterday the "check engine" light went on and that's NEVER a good thing I've found in this van. The first time it happened it was the EGR valve (of course went in at least twice for this before the complete fix was found!!). After that when it came on it was time for a new transmission (thankfully it was still just barely under warranty so no cost just headaches getting it done that time.) Today come to find out it was time for a new catalytic converter.

I've been finding if you leave it for them to work on when they get to it, you are looking at not getting it back until the evening. With me sitting there I got it back before noon today. I went in at 8:30 (after having to get it jumped seeing as the lights got left on last night and the battery was DOA this morning- just to add fun to the day!!) and was out three hours later...

So I had plenty of time to work on stitching.



I worked on a 15 sided biscornu I started the other day. It is a free design from Solaria which I've slightly modified. It was supposed to have tulips in the center of each section but the material I chose (which was a scrap in my stash) was too small and the tulips weren't coming out correctly (they looked warped).



I'm planning on doing this in 15 different old DMC variegated and new DMC Variations threads...

I also worked on Blackstone Fantasy Garden for a break from the light green I was using on the biscornu...


I can't believe I'm almost half way done with the black work!!





Here is a close up of the area I'm working on now...

A parent at my son's parochial school saw me working on this out in the parking lot while waiting to pick him up after dismissal one day and she commented on how perfect this would be for the auction in May... I loved the compliment but not sure if I'll do that...I'm loving doing it for myself but not sure if I'd love to do it again for myself after donating the first...

At this point I'm so glad it is Friday and the day is almost over...no more running kids to school (although Saturday's around here are pretty nuts with gymnastics and swimming lessons). It is a beautiful SPRING day out (just a teaser from the sounds of this weekends weather forecast- RAIN), so I'm now going to go outside and see what damage the boy (my son who gets into EVERYTHING) and the dog have been creating...

Spring and Blackstone Updates

It is beginning to look a little like spring outside here...doesn't feel like it (the temp now at 11:30 in the morning with bright sun is only at 30º and the weatherman just said normal temp for today should be about 50º!!) I was out looking around the yard while my daughter was waiting to get on the bus and I found these definite signs of spring...


This first one is of tulips in the front garden just starting to peek through the mulch.


Some daffodils that have survived the road salt through the winter next to the telephone pole by the post box...

And last but in no means least the one that actually got me looking closer for signs of spring...the pretty crocus that I never planted. Not sure if previous owners of our house planted or if a critter left it behind...

Now here's the Blackstone Fantasy Garden update...been working on it when I get a few minutes (while waiting for son to be dismissed from school, in the morning before the kids get up, in the evening after dinner and before my eyes bug out for the night)...I'm amazed at how fast it is coming together


This photo was taken on 3/17 (Happy St Paddy's Day!!)


Now this one was taken this morning and shows the entire project and the following are upclose photos so you can see the detail better.


and I'm definitely liking the addition of the DMC to the Elk Snout- it is definitely helping the ES and not overpowering the other colors (it is in the "tear drop" areas that "point" toward the center square and it will also be used in the center square).







and it is hard to believe I'm almost half way done with the black work!!

Well, until my next entry, get out and enjoy this cold but sunny weather!!

All Opinions Welcome and Appreciated

I've been playing with different colors tonight trying to figure out what to do with my Elk Snout dilemma on Blackstone Fantasy Garden...

At first I tried adding the coffee that is used in the borders of the knots but that was TOO much and completely obliterated any sign of the Elk Snout.

I then pulled out my handy dandy DMC color card and brought the spreadsheet I have listing my stash of floss up on the computer and I sat there and pondered my next move.

I tried #632 that I had just used in BoInk but it too was too dark and obliterated the ES (Elk Snout). I then pulled #'s 869, 610, 611 and 167. #167 seems to be very close to ES, so I veto that one. I then tried the #611.

This is plain Elk Snout


This is Elk Snout with #611 added to it

I think this works.

As usual I'd love to have some comments and suggestions as to what you think...

Thanks to Suzie she gave me some comments on my post earlier today which got me thinking along these lines...

By the way here is an update of how all the black work is looking so far...