Ann Pegg 1877

A couple of more days and Ann will be finished.  I bought this chart because so many of my samplers are relatively the same size meaning large.  

However in stitching her, I find that I am not a big fan of samplers with mirror images and those that only use a few colors.  Diversity is my friend. Otherwise I feel bored with the project, but I have started it and I will finish it.

I reading last week's post I realized I forgot to post a finished picture of Isabella Gray.

 Love her!

Not sure what's next but I also have to begin knitting.  December will be here before I know it.  Until next week happy stitching.

Ann Pegg 1877 - Take along project

Ann Pegg 1877 by Scarlett House, 

36 ct. Vintage Maritime White by Lakeside Linens. Gentle Arts Thread. This is my take along project that I started a few weeks ago.  I bit the bullet and attached it to my floor only because I didn't want to start another large project.  

Right now I am juggling a lot of projects other than cross stitch and those need my attention too.  So it's easier just to sit down when I have a few moments and put a few stitches in here and there.

First other project I have going is making slip covers for the love seat and couch.  I keeping looking at the drop cloth draped over the love seat and feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the extra material.  On top of that I didn't like the way it was draping over the seat cushions, so I bought some upholstery fabric on clearance just to cover the seat cushions. I by no means am a great sewer. And I am sewing seat covers without a pattern.  

Not great, but acceptable. I don't know why I am obsessing over these when it's gonna go in a town house lived in by 3 guys.  And their beige!  Almost cream for that matter.  They be covered with food, beer and who knows what else. One down, 4 more to go!

Then if that isn't enough on my plate, my niece is having her first baby.  They found out last week it's gonna be a boy. So I promptly went looking for yarn to knit a baby blanket.  I couldn't decide which yarn, so I bought both.

And....we had a lot of drama going on last year.  Because of that, I didn't follow through on getting additional tests done that someone my age should have.  I decided that this year I was going to take care of my health. I already had a mammogram, my lab appointment is Thursday, and on Saturday I had my eyes checked and ordered new glasses.  Today I received the referrals from Tricare to make appointments for a colonoscopy and to check out my girl parts.

That's about all for this week happy stitching!

Isabella Gray 1838 - week 4

Another project I thought I would have finished by now.  And just maybe I would have, if I hadn't had to rip out the border (flowers and all) on the bottom and half way up the right side when it wouldn't match up.  All fixed now and back on track!

One or two more stitching days and I should be finished. I will stitch for an hour more tonight and probably most of tomorrow.

All the kids were here for the 4th of July. So I have a valid excuse to stitch as I wash all the bedding and towels from the kids visits.  Plus I my hubby and mine laundry is backed up because the youngest child finally ran out of clean clothes.  Which forced him to do his laundry and tied up the washer and dryer for a few days.  

A few years ago I bought both my sons Manassa t-shirts from the local museum. Thinking I was doing something great and thoughtful. It is now a joke between the two boys, who are constantly gifting their Manassas t-shirt to each other. Or shoving it in their suitcases when one of them leaves.  I was quite happy to see my youngest in his Manassas T-shirt thinking it finally grew on him to the point he actually liked it.  Until he explained at the dinner table it was the only clean shirt he had left. 

Meanwhile my daughter brought a puppy  home.  Don't think she should have. But I'm only the mother! What do I know about the time and commitment and costs for caring for another living being.

The 4th I came down in the morning and stepped in something that was sorta slimey. I start looking around the kitchen and there's more spots like that.  A closer inspection made me recognize what it was and I'll just say it falls into the parasite family that often accompanies pets.  Here she's all dressed for work and I made her clean it up.  She was totally grossed out and I took great delight in pointing out to her that she is the one that wanted a dog.

Now all the dogs must ( I have 2) have their stool samples taken to the vet. Why oh why can't you get the dog(s) go when you want them too? My hubby says he'll do it tomorrow for the 2 that were being uncooperative, since the dirty deed must be no older than 8 hours old. Oh geez! Never a dull moment here!  I'm pretty sure her puppy is the culprit and when she has to stay outside with him while the medicine takes effect, she'll be rethinking this whole dog ownership thing.

Meanwhile I ordered some empty Altoids cans off of Etsy.  They should arrive this week. The cinnamon ones aren't so available and I don't feel like driving all over the place to find them.  Plus I would feel obligated to eat all those mints. It was easier just to buy empty ones and be done with it!

I am finally sending off my application to the Loudoun County Sampler Guild.  Especially when it's good for a discount when I purchase anything at my LNS. Hopefully I will save more than $30 over a year, which is the cost of the membership fee.

I have also been working on my take along project as time permits. No picture to share this time.

Since I'm so close to finishing Isabella, my next sampler will be Mexican School Girl Practice c.1830 by Samplers Remembered. Just loved the motifs!

Guess that's all for now. Till next week, happy stitching!

Isabella Gray - 1838 -week 3

Am making progress on Isabella!  She's so pretty!  The greens, the pinks, the corals!  Ok there's other colors in there too but some of them just jump out at you.

 I have been skipping around on stitching the large letters and also the motifs. Hopefully I won't leave any out.  But I do need to finish out the remainder of the big letters (done in satin stitch) just so I can move my scroll rods.

The most recent Attic Needleworks newsletter finally came out.  My picture of my Rhoda Hastings sampler is featured on page 30. 

I have been doing a lot of waiting and this I have managed to add a few stitches to Ann Pegg 1877.  I tried to take it with me when we took the boat out on Sun.  As long as we were on the Occoquan no problem.  Once we hit the Potomac, forget it. 

I finally got the couage and intestinal fortitude to haul out my brand new Brother 1034-D out of the box and use it.

Setting it up, easy!  Threading it?  Not so much.  The illustrations were horrible!  Thank God for You Tube.  There was a lady that posted a very helpful video which help me get my machine up and running. 

    This was practice. Now I'll be able to finish all my linen edges with my serger.

Wow guess I'll have to start planning on what's next.  Until next week- happy stitching!

Take along project

The week in the Outer Banks went flying right by.  Always makes me feel sad as the good Lord is the only one who truly knows when my three kids will be in the same place at the same time.  The trip back to Manassas was horrendous! A trip that took us 4 1/3 hours to get there, took us 7 hours to get back.  Traffic on 64, 295 and 95 would try the patience of Job.

But we made it safe and sound. But since I drove both ways, I was exhausted.  Slept like a rock Sun. night and took a nap on Mon. Feeling much more "with it" today!

While in the Outer Banks my take along project was Ann Pegg 1877 by The Scarlett House. I'm stitching Ann in 36 ct. Vintage Maritime White by Lakeside Linens.  The chart calls for Gentle Arts Threads which I'm using but does have a conversion for DMC.

While I worked on Ann almost every night I find that when I use a smaller linen count it takes me longer to stitch. 

Meanwhile the lovely Isabella was awaiting my return.  While doing laundry from our trip I managed to stitch on her a bit so she doesn't feel totally left out.  If you are wondering about the large gap in letters, it's because the second row is done on satin stitches.  Trying to figure out the best way to make them look really good.  Sort of wished I had used an even weave as linen with its variation in the threads isn't always conducive to smooth satin stitches. 

While on vacation we had our mail held.  I had some wonderful goodies awaiting me upon my return! I ordered a couple DVD's (Center Stage & Band of Brothers).  Being a child of the 50's I so enjoy a good western or war picture. 

I also received some fabric 40 ct. piece for Mexican Schoolgirl practice sampler. And a chart for a Tin Topper by Samplers and Such (Rebecca Dorrie design). All eBay purchases.

When I was packing supples for our vacation I was looking around for something that could hold extra needles, tweezers, needle threader and scissors.  Whala the larger Altoid can is just the perfect size!

Evidently I was behind in figuring this out! Seems Rebecca has a whole series of tin topper charts.  Plus Piinterest has instructions how to finish them.  I'm kicking myself now for all the tins I tossed when empty.

Here is some of the designs for tin toppers.

If you like this idea charts can be purchased as noted below. I was just lucky to find the one I wanted on eBay.

There are lots of designs still available - right now the models are all down at Needleworker's Delight in Colonia, NJ - this is one of 2 frames of my tin models she has.

Guess that's it for this post.  Happy stitching!

Isabella Gray 1838 -week 2

A little late in posting to my blog this week.  It's because I spent 4 1/2 hours in the car making the trek from Manassas to Southern Shores, NC on Sunday.  By Sunday evening I was exhausted and in bed before 11 pm.  

On top of that, the home we rent for the week is awesome.  Has a pool, 2 blocks from the beach.  Close to shopping.  But cell phone service and Internet is not the greatest.  Although cell coverage has improved slightly from last year since they erected a cell phone tower within view of the house.  But it's the weirdest cell phone tower I've ever seen.  Looks like a humongous flag pole.  

Back to Isabella.  Not quite sure what pages in the chart I'm in, since I left her home in Manassas.  She's getting a vacation too.  I did manage to finish all the small letters, and have started on the large.  First row of large letters is all Algerion Eye stitches. The second row of large letters are Satin stitches.  Nice when you get to mix it up a bit. This is a. Picture of where I left off.

This is a picture earlier in the week before I was able to move my scroll rods a bit.

During this week I managed to make a trip to In Stitches in Alexandria, Va.  Was waited on by the lively Patricia Eaton. Of course I couldn't leave empty handed.

In the meantime I have been working on  Ann Pegg by Scarlet House.  Using 36 ct. Lakeside Linen 36 ct. Vintage Maritime White.  Gentle Arts threads.

Sorry for the shadow but the lighting is bad too.  Thankful for my travel Ott light.

I was pleased to be contacted by someone who works for Attic Needleworks in Mesa, Az, requesting permission to use my picture of Rhoda Hastings  sampler in one of their upcoming newsletters.  Attic Needleworks has such a renewed interest in the Rhoda Hastings sampler, that they contacted Rebecca Dorrie and requested she print more copies.  Ms. Dorrie is reproducing 18 additional charts as she only has enough of the needlepoint yarn for 18 more charts. 

Whew this has been a long entry!  When I'm not stitching I will be here with my iPod and a romance novel.  No need to worry bout sharks here!

Until next week Happy Stitching! 

Isabella Gray 1838 - week one

Rhoda Hastings was barely finished when I broke down my floor stand to start another project.

Had to change out lots of parts and pieces to go back to a smaller project since Rhoda was such a large piece.

Here is Isabella Gray 1838 by Samplers Revisited. I'm stitching her on light Exampler linen in 32 ct.  Using DMC threads.

The chart calls for cross stitch, Algerion eye stitches and some satin stitching.  You can tell it's a Scottish Sampler from the style and layout.  Isabella was 10 when she stitched this.  The colors are awesome and I have enjoyed working on her.  Takes me a bit longer when I'm working on a smaller count linen.

I also think I picked out the next 2 or 3 samplers I will be tackling when this one is complete. Trying to stitch charts that I've had in my stash for awhile.

Little hint that someone might find useful.

I keep a note on my note application in my phone titled DMC. If I'm running low on a particular thread color I under it my phone so the next time I'm out and near a store that carries the thread I can pick up some more.

We also keep a white board on our fridge to write down stuff for things we need from the grocery store.  I take a picture of it before I leave the house and can refer to it when I get to the store so I don't forget anything.  Then delete the photo once I've shopped.