Frogging

So - is frogging a skill or just a necessary evil?
That pretty much sums up my afternoon and pretty well takes care of most of my progress for the whole past weekend.

Sniff. Sniff.

ISR part 4 still - Again!

I know this looks suspiciously like the photo in my last post - but its not! First, I did actually get some stitching done on this. But, as for the photo, I finally found out what some of those buttons on my camera are for - at least sort of. My camera is at about four years old. It usually just takes pictures of the kids as they zoom from one activity to another. It has lots of settings that I've never used - and I vaguely remember thinking "I'll never use that" as I was reading the manual (4 years ago). I always knew that my photos of my stitching were awful but I always had a scanner to fall back on for the really important pics. But when I look at some of the beautiful pics in stitcher's blogs, I started to think that I need to sign up for remedial photography classes.

It turns out that the remedial photography class doesn't start until April. I thought I should have a clue about my own camera before I go to this class and started trying out all the various buttons and dials - and lo and behold - some of them actually do wonders for my pics.

For the last two days I have chased around my kids and various squirrels taking their pictures. Today, we're having a bit of an ice storm so I can't wait for the sun to come out afterwards so I can take a picture of the sun hitting the ice on the trees. I don't think I have ever looked forward to an ice storm before.

Of course, the other positive aspect of an ice storm is some uninterrupted stitching time!

Have a great weekend everyone. Start cleaning out some space in your stash area - the Nashville Needlework Show is next weekend and the designers have already been showing off some wonderful new designs and products!

ISR part 4 - still

Still working on this beautiful design. I really love it, but I don't seem to get nearly enough time on it. I'm trying to decide if doing the beading on this now instead of waiting until the stitching is done will keep me a little more focused on finishing this design. I already have three other Chatelaine mandalas kitted up and ready to go.

But, in my defense, I have finished one more square for the afghan.

Hoping for a major snowstorm in the near future. I am even prepared with movies for the kids, food in the freezer, a stack of seed and flower catalogs about 2 feet high - and a very full stitching bag! (Just not the weekend of the Nashville Needlework Show!)

Snow! Snow! Snow! and resolutions

Lots and lots of snow! Sorry for the long time between posts. Now that the holidays are over and inventory is done, I'll have more time to stitch and keep up with online friends.

Shop News first - our next sale will be for Valentine's Day. The sale will start on Valentine's Day and continue through the weekend. (This will be right after Nashville, so there should be lots of great new stuff available).

I didn't get much cross-stitching done over the last few weeks but I still kept busy. I finally tried punchneedle. It was cute and my son really liked it but I think my primary stitching focus will remain cross stitch. I have spent lots of time knitting since my son wanted an afghan for Christmas. It was a VERY small afghan for Christmas, but it is knit in squares and I'll add more squares as they are complete.

I was lucky to receive a new computer for me- personally, not business - for Christmas. Thank you hubby. I have been busy setting it up over the last week. In my past life I was a system developer and architect. Over the last few years, I have had no contact with the programming world besides some limited website development. I can't believe how much my brain has slipped! It was so frustrating having to concentrate so hard on tasks that I could have done on autopilot just a few years ago. So, first New Year's resolution: Sharpen the Sword as they say. I feel that I need to keep up on emerging technology much better than I have in recent years (and no, the Wii does not count).

Second resolution - no starting new projects if my "To Be Finished" drawer has more than six projects awaiting framing, or other finishing. I have seen some the most wonderful finishing techniques lately - especially little stitching books. I really want to commit to trying them out instead of just ooohing and aaaahing over other people's blogs.

Third resolution - teach three new stitchers all the way through a project this year. There is a lengthy thread on the Mirabilia bulletin board about the scarcity of materials available since so many LNS have closed and the large chain stores have stopped carrying cross stitch supplies. Much of this is due to the decreased demand for supplies. This is not entirely due to online shopping. It is also due in part to former stitchers switching to new forms of creativity like knitting and scrapbooking and in part due to a lack of time for activities like stitching. The more we share our passion for stitching, the more we can increase interest. The more interest we create in cross stitching, the better we can support designers and manufacturers of the products we love to use. So, consider finding local community groups that are looking for new acitivities to offer, or a son, daughter, niece or nephew, or neighbor, and teach them to create something wonderful. You never know, you could find your best new stitching buddy. (stepping down off my soapbox now).

New starts this month -
Exchange piece
Barnabee's Quest
Thank you gift

Impatiently awaiting -
New biscornu series from The Sweetheart Tree

Happy New Year everyone!

Merry Christmas

Here's wishing everyone health, happiness and enough peace and joy of the Christmas season to last the year. Merry Christmas!

Ornaments finished

It has rained and snowed and iced. Mostly rain and ice. The kids still had school - except for the sniffly one. But yesterday and today were pretty productive.

I ended up finishing my Golfing Chick as an ornament as well as the 'Chris' name tree. They both came out pretty well. Lacing is not fun on funny shapes.

My younger boy has asked for a knitted afghan for Christmas. Here's my start on block number 2 of the Great American Afan Afghan. I finished block 1 last week but I really don't like it at all. Its not like I have tons of time before Christmas, but I won't be using my first block unless it becomes absolutely necessary (and it probably will).

Also, I finally found a way to finish the ends of my braid so that they don't look crummy and they don't continue to unravel. Remembering back to my mother's macrame planters and such, they usually had this knot at the top where all of the cords were wrapped. I tried this on the ends of the cut braids with Kreinik braid and it worked out pretty well. I can't seem to get a good picture of them. It kind of looks like a sparkly version of the doodads on the end of shoelaces.

Golfing Chick

Finishing weekend! Lots of ornaments to finish. Especially now that we have a tree to put them on!

Here's my Golfing Chick again. Slightly better picture this time. I wasn't sure exactly what to do with it since the recipient doesn't usually have a Christmas tree big enough to hang ornaments (she's usually gone for the holidays). I needed to get something done with it so I decided to lace it - who doesn't need practice lacing? Now I can decide what to do next - flat fold, frame, box, something.

Still have to finish off 3 name trees, 2 teenie tweenie kits, and 2 tins. Busy Sunday ahead for me. Then it will snow/ice or something into Monday - might get another finishing day on Monday!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone!

An addition to the flock

Here's a new chickadee for my flock. This is the Golfer Chick from Valerie Pfeiffer. Kinda cute, isn't she? She'll be part of a Christmas present for my favorite "golfing chick". Not a great picture (actually an awful picture) but she's really adorable in real life.


I decided to work on one of Brooke's Books Gingerbaby ornaments. These are stitched on perforated paper and really cute. My son has decided to give it a try too (lots of early release from school days this week). Hopefully I'll be able to finish one or two of these and use them as gift tags/ornaments for some of the younger kids in the family.

I hope everyone is getting a chance to enjoy the season.

And Happy Hannukah!

My snowman collection

I am so excited. Sometime ago, BeckySC had a drawing for a snowman box that she had finished - and I won the drawing! Her box has arrived just in time for my Christmas decorating. Its wonderful. She does such a fantastic job stitching and finishing. Here's a pic with some of my little snowmen.

Thanks so much Becky!

Black Friday sale!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is surviving this big shopping day. So, when you've come home and hidden your purchases and have your nice cuppa, relax and shop for your favorite stitcher. We have a couple of hundred items on sale including fabrics and designs from a number of favorite designers (including some discontinued designs). Be sure to stop by and have a wonderful weekend!

Black Friday Sale at Needlearts Gallery

'Tis the Season

No stitching pics. Not much stitching this weekend either.

Getting ready for Thanksgiving - cleaning, planning the menu - re-planning the menu - un-planning the menu. I think I'm just going to wing it. As long as there's turkey - I've done my job.

On the shop front:
I'm not known for being patient. I've been searching the "leaked" Black Friday ads for weeks so that I can make sure that I plan accordingly. Once I got my whole plan down, I realized that I don't have any Black Friday planning to do this week. Somehow, I felt a void there - so - - I thought, Let's have our own Black Friday sale. ('Cuz heaven knows that we wouldn't want any time to relax during Thanksgiving week - that would break with tradition)

The outcome is our Black Friday sale - which, given how impatient I am, starts now rather than Friday. I have a few really great deals that won't be available until Friday. I also have some limited quantity items on the list - some of the Out of Print Mirabilia Designs. You'll want to stop by early if you're interested in those.

So stop by the shop and stock up on those designs you've wanted this year - or pass your wish list on to your nearest little Santa. Black Friday sale at NeedleartsGallery.com

Giggles Wall-hanging

Here is my finished Giggles in the Snow wallhanging. I think it came out pretty well and I have the perfect place to hang it.

This design is one of the discontinued designs from Nora Corbett of Mirabilia Designs. It is one of very few cute 'boy' designs around. I wish Nora would do a few more boy designs - before my boys grow up. She does a beautiful job with them. My next big Mirabilia will be Seaside Kingdom - also discontinued. I've seen a WIP of this piece where the stitcher converted the girl into a boy as well and I will try to do that as well.

Off to stitch some more Valerie Pfeiffer chicks!

Isn't this gorgeous!

This is a design called Brandon from Stitchin'spiration. It is a beautiful blackwork piece created by Sally Rudkin. I wish I could really show you how intricate and detailed it is. Guess I'll just have to stitch it! Be sure to click on the pic so you can see the larger version. In the larger version you can see the little pineapples and urns around the perimeter of the garden and the intricate fills of each section of the garden.

This is one of the designers who exhibited at the Online Needlework show. We'll be adding her designs to our website as well as those from Cindy Valentine, Twisted Oaks (remember the cute box with the otter?), Haberdashery Designs, With My Needle, and Whispered By the Wind.

In case you need to kit this one up right away - the model was stitched on 32 count Waterlily Linen with 2 skeins of #153 Distant Hills Waterliles silk from Caron Collection. I'll be starting this one as soon as I can - my first Blackwork piece.

Isn't he cute!

Isn't he cute! This is Valerie Pfeiffer's Christmas Chick. I knew I liked him (I'm pretty sure he's a him and not a her). But he came out really nicely. I like him better than the other Valerie Pfeiffer chicks because there's more color here. I still have to stitch the Golfing Chick for a gift.

Next starts will be an ornament from the Just Cross Stitch ornaments issue and either Dasher or Donner from Nora Corbett. We know there will be eight reindeer designs and can assume that they will all be about the same size, but I can't decide how I want to do them - all on a large piece fabric or each individual reindeer on its own square of fabric. I suppose if I choose one way, I can always stitch them again if I change my mind later. Here are Dasher and Donner if you would like to start your own.

New Christmas Designs

Just a very quick update to let you know about some wonderful new Christmas designs that have been released. The Nativity is the second in a series from Glendon Place. (Remember the We Three Kings Design?)

There is also a beautiful new design from Victoria Sampler - Heirloom Nativity Sampler with lots of beautiful threads and specialty stitches.


Be sure to stop by Needlearts Gallery to see more new releases.

Giggles done

I should have known that feeling like stitching something that normally would drive me crazy didn't bode well. While the beginning of my beading day last week started with quiet beading time, the next part was for sleeping. I just couldn't keep my eyes open. That's a problem when the kids are wide awake! It was the beginning of a nasty cold - the kind that slowly gets passed around the entire family.

So for the last few days, I've had sleepy little ones curled up on my lap while I finished beading. My Giggles in the Snow Boy from Mirabilia Designs is done. I found some nice blue fabric for a backing and I will finish it into a wall hanging this week. He came out nicely I think - but it will be a while before I start the girl.

I have a bunch of ornaments to get stitched and finished in the next few weeks. I have some Valerie Pfeiffer chicks - specifically Christmas Chick and Golfer Chick. Then I saw a Mirabilia fairies Round Robin on another blog this weekend (I'll add the link when I remember which blog it was). The blogger had stitched Lilly's head on her pillow and she looked great. So, now I'm checking out each of the Mirabilia ladies to determine which heads are suitable for ornaments. I also need to do one more of the Kreinik freebie snowmen.

And I just received my Christmas Eve Couriers charts! Must start them too!

What a day!

For some reason, I woke up this morning feeling far more patient than usual (might be related to last night's baseball game - or it might not). So, to take advantage of this unusual event, I decided to sit down and bead Giggles in the Snow - the parts that I would normally dread - all those little beads spread far apart from all the rest of the stitching. So - I did complete half of the beading. I wonder when I'll wake up in that mood again?

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day. It still hasn't gotten cold here - which is unusual. I'm still pulling veggies - tomatoes, green beans, eggplant and carrots from the garden. My roses are even blooming! Since it hasn't been cold, even at night, it took a whole lot longer for the leaves to change and we didn't get as wide a range of colors as usual. But they did finally change - I think it was overnight somewhere between last Thursday and Friday. Its supposed to rain and be windy tomorrow so I wanted to get out there and see the leaves before they're gone. Here's our backyard and then a more distant picture of the ridge where we live.

I love Fall!!

Christmas Eve Couriers

Christmas Eve Couriers is the new series from Nora Corbett - the designer of Mirabilia Designs. Nora has released two designs for her new series - Dasher and Donner. She has also released two more designs for her Pixie Couture Design series - Rose and Violet. The reindeer designs are really cute and they're small - nice quick stitches. I can't wait to stitch the reindeer. There's a pretty interesting discussion going on about Nora's new designs on the Mirabilia bulletin board if anyone is interested in contributing (plus the board always provides lots of inspiration).

Here are links to the new reindeer designs -

Dasher	Donner

Another ornament stitched

I finished the stitching on my 'Daniel' name tree. I still need to add a star and beads and then I'll finish both of them into ornament/gift tags. I wish I had noticed that the Daniel ornament is significantly larger than the Chris ornament. At least now I'll be careful to check the sizes when stitching other name trees. Unfortunately, this is a pretty pitiful picture. I'll try to get a better one when the sun is out.


On the baby stitchable front - I still have a few bibs and sippy cups left. Please email me if you're interested!

On the store front - new Mirabilia and Nora Corbett designs will be going up tonight. They're so cute - you have to check them out!

Baby stuff

I've been reading a whole bunch of stitching blogs - and there are a whole lot of babies on the way. Which made me think about all the baby stitchables I acquired while waiting for my boys to arrive. Most of it is still waiting to be stitched. For the most part, the ones that were stitched were stitched for other babies (nieces and nephews and friends). I have tons of baby stuff. So, given the number of babies on the way - I have decided to give it away to other stitchers who can make better use of it than I can. I have booties, bibs, caps, bonnets - and tons of charts for baby designs - Alma Lynne, Stoney Creek and a bunch more. So, for anyone who is interested please send me an email - let me know if this is a boy or girl or unknown and the type of item in which you're interested and we'll put something together! I'll feel so much better having these things in the hands of someone who will use them!

Thanks!



Edited to add pics