New Project

I decided there is no way I'm giving my Blackstone away for the auction at my son's school (even though I've had at least two parents suggest I do so). I did decide to do a cross stitch project or two though.

Yesterday I went out very early in the day (as soon as the store opened) and went through the racks at Joann's ETC to see what they had which would be nice but also a quick stitch. I already had in mind that I'd like to do the Donna Dewberry "Rosebud Wreath". I've done this in the past and I'm kicking myself because I couldn't find the pattern in my "STUFF".

When I was at Joann's I did find a kit by Jiffy. It is Footprints, thought this would be a very appropriate design for a Catholic school.

I'm including a photo of the front of the kit (it isn't the best).




Here is my progress for yesterday.



I prepared the material, threads, etc while the photocopier was running at my daughter's school (I volunteer doing copying for the teachers of her grade so they don't have to spend that time away from the kids). Then while I was overseeing "rest time" at my son's school, I started stitching. I then stitched while he was at gymnastics and then after dinner. I'm amazed at how quickly this is coming together.

Hopefully, this will continue to be a quick stitch and the old brain will start firing on all the right cylinders and remember where that other pattern is. If it all works out maybe I'll have two pieces for the auction at the end of May.

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!!

DON'T Join the Inkcircles Yahoo group

I've been a "member" of the inkcircle yahoo group while doing BoInk. I love doing Tracy's designs and will continue to do so but I have now dropped this group. Towards the end of doing the Book of Ink Circles I was reprimanded by a person for "requesting" one of the final installements. I responded to her "reprimand" and was immediately SLAMMED by the moderators for doing so. Come to find out the moderator is friends with the "person" in question. I even received a reply from Tracy, herself, letting me know she wasn't offended in the least for requesting the installment be posted.

I've noticed as of late that it has been taking forever and sometimes days for my posts to show up on the webpage, so I asked one of the moderators if I was on moderation for some reason or had there been problems so everyone was on moderation?

I just received a reply to this email and here is what it said, " You are on moderation because of your recent rudeness on list during the "kerfuffle". Also you don't trim your posts consistently. You will be taken off moderation when ALL the mods review and decide you are sorry for your on list behaviour and remember to trim consistently."

I unsubscribed because of this attitude...I'll continue to do Tracy's designs because I so love them but who needs to be bossed around by a bunch of catty hens that worry themselves over such nonsense?? Not me!!

Now that I've blown off steam, I'm back to doing my data entry so I can get back to working on my Blackstone Fantasy Garden!!

Night everyone!!

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...

Elk Snout- Needs Help

Today I started the "loop" section of blackwork with the Elk Snout from Carrie's Threads that was recommended for Blackstone Fantasy Garden and it just disappears into the fabric. When I did the floss toss after getting the threads from my LNS they all worked well but I guess the Elk Snout worked as long as it was a large bunch but with the single thread it is just blending into the tone of the fabric.


I'm looking for ideas of what to either a) switch the Elk Snout with or b) what to blend with it to make it stand out more...

Spoke too soon!!

Well so much for spring being here...



This morning dawned gray and cool with rain. As the day has progressed the rain has changed to sleet and now snow (all within about an hour's time period).

Not sure if you can see it in this picture but the snow is coming down like crazy. I've already had one mom call to see if our Girl Scout meeting this afternoon is on or not...it is as far as I'm concerned...

I've also got a little update on BFG. The blackwork is coming along quite quickly...

Until the next time, happy stitching!!

Spring has Sprung in CT?!?!?!

This photo shows what it looked like out our front window after last Monday's storm.

And here are my kids this morning!!



They are crazy but they are mine!!



Facial anyone???




Yes, they went out with boots on!! I blame this on my dh's family, none of them like wearing shoes either!! LOL


Yesterday the temperature hit about 65º and today at 11:40am(EDST) it is already 67º. Of course the weathermen are saying we are supposed to be cloudy and only get as warm as 57º and I just told you what my thermometer is reading and it is BRIGHT and SUNNY!!!

My children are loving this weather, can you tell...

I also have a stitching update for this blog!! I have finished filling in the knots on Blackstone Fantasy Garden and started doing the "black work"...I'm not doing it as proper black work in that I was trying but got so totally lost and confused and it looked so horrible that I pulled it out and I'm doing it now as backstitching...


I'm loving the way it is coming out and am so excited about this piece...I even showed it to my sil who isn't crafty at all (and I mean she doesn't even OWN a needle- she gives me all of her clothes to be mended- hemmed, buttons, etc- because she can't handle it!!) and she loves it and was even hinting that it would be a lovely house warming gift (she and her dh are looking to buy a house)...

And here is a little bit of the blackwork I've done so far...



Thanks for looking and see you soon...

So Close, Yet So Far!!

I've almost (ALMOST) completed the insides of the knots on Blackstone Fantasy Garden.



I have probably two to three more strands of floss to complete the final green knot.



I get to work on this primarily in the morning while having some coffee and before the kids get up, in the afternoon while I'm waiting for my son to get out of school and occasionally in the evening if the eyes are cooperating. I also get to work on it while my son is at swimming lessons and at gymnastics.

If I'm lucky I'll get the knots finished either tonight or tomorrow while son is swimming and then I get to work on the black work!! I can't wait for that and as I've promised myself I wouldn't start that until the cross stitching was done it has been good motivation for myself to keep at it.

Well, speaking of my son, it is time to run to school to get him...

Have a great weekend everyone and happy stitching!!

Framed and hung!!

Sorry for the glare on this one...that is the one problem with glass...



Well, BoInk is truly complete as of 8:30 this morning!! I was able to find a frame at AC Moore that was a perfect match for the cat corners and it was on SALE to boot!! So other than having to buy a gizmo to put the points in the back to hold the piece in, it only cost me $20 to frame this piece. I had taken it to AC Moore to have it "professionally" framed and even with the 50% off coupon I had it was going to cost well over $200 to frame this with NO MAT... I should see if they need framers at AC Moore or Michaels or JoAnn's ETC because I seem to be framing more and more of my own pieces and think I do a great job (if I do say so myself!! LOL)

I've also been working like crazy on Blackstone Fantasy Garden. I've finished the inner work of the center knot (pinky colored one) and now working on the outer knots (the ones in green/purples). I've still kept to my word of not working on the blackwork until I've completed the cross-stitching knots...





This first one shows the "pink" knot almost complete...



This one is showing the "pink" knot complete and one of the three "green/purple" knots complete...

Thanks for looking...

Pictures of BoInk

Here it is February 25th and I'm posting my pictures of BoInk. If you'd like to see more beautiful examples of this design by Tracy Horner go to www.inkcircles.com She has posted many beautiful versions including mine!!



I will post one more picture of this as soon as I have it framed. I've purchased a frame for it and now I just have to press it and mount it in the frame.



I replace the "20" in the pattern with my initials...

Thanks for watching my progress on this wonderful design...

First Finish of 2009 and BSFG Update

Well I have my first finish of 2009 and I can't show a picture of it!!! Tracy Horner of Ink Circles was kind enough yesterday to offer to those of us that were up to date on BoInk (Book of Ink Circles) to get the final piece early. I took her up on the offer but every offer comes with some restrictions LOL!!!

Tracy asked that if we requested the last piece that we follow a few simple rules...

" If you are caught up AND
you want the last piece early AND
you are willing to not post pictures until Feb 24 AND
you won't get mad if you ask at midnight my time and I don't mail you
anything until the next morning AND
you believe in karma"

So I will abide by her request and not post pictures of it until the 24th. This came out as a beautiful piece and now I just have to frame it up!!

In some ways I also have a finish on Blackstone Fantasy Garden too!! No, I haven't completed the entire piece yet but I have completed the outlines of the knots. The dang frogs FINALLY left me alone so I could complete the outlines in peace.



I've now promised myself to complete the "filling" of the knots before I start doing any of the blackwork in the open areas.

The family and I seem to be finished with whatever the "bug" was we were passing around although my poor ds is still suffering with the cough and has been put on an inhaler for it...hopefully we'll be able to start weening him from that soon though.

Of Frogs, Bugs and kids...

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted...

The first thing to report on is my BoInk...I finished the next installment within a day of receiving it and have only one more piece to go before completing this lovely piece from Tracy Horner of InkCircles.





In that time I've had many frogs visit me.


They started off as tadpoles and only a stitch or two here and there and now today I think it is a whole entire family of frogs including grandparents, aunts, uncles and long lost nephews!!! All of the critters attacked my Blackstone Fantasy Garden.


I've finished the "brown" knot outline with no problem (well, haven't found a problem yet!!) and was beginning to progress on the lower right portion of the "green" knot and it seemed to be going fairly well until I noticed a problem with the lowest swirl in the bottom right corner. Ripped/frogged that out and thought I was set and was again happily stitching along when I realized that the inner swirl and the "boxes" leading up to it were off by ONE STITCH...



I've spent the better part of today ripping out and recounting and trying to find the ends of threads so as to rip out...



and here is where I'm at now...time to re-stitch and hopefully not see anymore frogs for awhile...

And on top of all these frogs a bug has come to visit my house!!

I truly think it was the flu for my dh and I. He started not feeling well on Sunday 2/8. I started feeling "off" on Monday and by Tuesday we were both in a total fog (which is probably when the frogs saw their opportunity to join my stitching projects. Well, dh and I both were on the mend by Friday when ds started with his "cough". He's had this cough in the past and it is so frightening to hear him. It is a croupy cough that just won't stop and he can barely catch his breath, so I picked him up from school and off to the pediatrician we went and got his usual prescription for it. He's still hacking up a lung but you can tell he feels better because he wants to go outside and play.

We thought for sure that dd had some how avoided getting the "DISEASE"...we thought too soon...on Saturday, 2/14 she decided she didn't want to go to gymnastics. This is never a good sign because she loves going. It was a good thing we didn't push her though. By the time her class would have been underway she had spiked a fever of 102º and was a pile of mush on the couch alternating between hot and cold periods.

Hopefully Sunday 2/15 will be a better day and we'll all be on the mend soon... I can't wait until Spring is officially here and the weather warms up so we can open doors and windows to air out the bugs and the frogs...

Finally another Blog post...

Well it's been a bit since I last did a post...in fact the last time I posted about Blackstone Fantasy Garden was back on January 14th.

As you can see from these pictures I have progressed some since then.

I have almost completed the outline of the "knots" on the first three pages and some done on the next three pages...and I also have a good portion of the filling of the knots done on the first three pages (the first page is actually complete with a small piece yet to go on the second and I'm working on the third also)...

This past weekend we were busy with getting the kids here, there and every where and then on Sunday we went with my husband to Western Massachusetts for another snow shoe race.

Once the race started I kicked the kids out of the car to play which gave me about 45 minutes of quiet time to stitch.

From the sounds of the weather reports, I may get quite a bit of stitching time tomorrow...it is being predicted that we are going to get 4-10 inches of snow, changing to sleet and freezing rain and then back to snow...I'm almost 100% sure the kids will be home from school tomorrow.

and before I sign off I'd like to thank Sadie for this "award" she bestowed upon me last week...and to think people are actually looking at my blog?!?!?!





As part of the award, I am supposed to list 5 of my addictions and then name 5 bloggers who I think are "Fabby". So, here are my 5 addictions:

1. My husband's Coffee (he's better at making it than I am!!)
   


2. My kids smiles
   


3. Cross stitch


4. Lost & The Biggest Loser
   


5. Reading blogs

Now for the 5 blogs I am going to nominate.

1. Beth
2. Staci
3. Judith
4. Kathy
5. Eliza

Have a great day everyone...

Waiting for February 3rd!!

Well I finally finished the latest release of BoInk and now I get to go back to working on Blackstone Fantasy Garden until Tracy from InkCircles(http://www.inkcircles.com/) releases the next piece on February 3rd with the final piece to be released on February 24. So this piece should be complete by mid-March (depending on how long it takes me to do the final two releases).

I'm showing you an up close picture of the latest piece as well a picture of the whole piece. The February 3rd piece is to go in the center spot with the final piece going into the spot on the right hand border.

Enjoy...