Blue Skies are Smiling

Hello --
Do you ever have one of those days when you just stay home and putz around the house and enjoy changing things around and just doing a whole lot of nothing? Well today was one of those days for me and I loved it. I got out a few of my spring things and changed some things around and just had a great day. I think just having the SUN out made a big difference. Of course I also got stitching in so that always makes me smile:)

The first picture is my January Sampler by Little House Needleworks. I hope to have it done by the end of this week and move on to February. I think March and April are out at my LNS now too. Today, I also pulled out some old punch needle projects that I did quite a while ago. I think I will make them into little door hangers. Nothing fancy since finishing isn't my thing. This little bunny is by Lizzie Kate.

The Spring house is also by Lizzie Kate.

This last picture is of a quilt that my very good friend Bonnie made for us when we moved into our house over 14 years ago. I just LOVE this little quilt!

Well, I hope all of you have had a fantastic weekend and had lots of time to enjoy doing what you love to do. Until next time -- Happy Stitching!

BrendaS

Gray and Dreary Weekend

Well it's been a very rainy, dreary weekend here in the Chicagoland area. I hate this time of year. It's all dirty outside with the snow melting and our 2 puppies who love to play in the yard and get as dirty as possible. Oh well at least my stitching is cheerful. The picture above is Fiona (wheaton) and Bailee (black) our 6 month old scottie pups.

I continued to work on the class piece that I'm teaching at Welcome Stitchery. I try to do at least a couple of bands in morning before going to work. It's a Shepherd's Bush piece titled Cranberry Pinafore. I didn't take a picture again since it's tone on tone right now and won't show up very well.

I did pull out the Blackbird monthly stocking designs. This one is from July. These are nice quick stitches to do in the evening after work. I am stitching them on the recommended fabric with recommended fibers. I don't know if I will finish them myself or possibly send them to Vonna at the Twisted Stitcher.

Today, I felt like starting something new so I pulled out the Little House Needleworks monthly Samplers and started January. They are about 5" square. I saw one finished already and it was mounted in a small black tray. Very nice and you could switch it out each month.
Thanks for visiting and your nice comments. Hope you get lots of stitching done in the next week.

BrendaS

WIP and some Hardanger

Good Evening --
Another busy week at work has passed by and I didn't get as much stitching done in the evening as I would like. Sometimes I'm just too tired to stitch by the time I get home, make dinner and then do any little chores that need doing. Oh well, it's tax season and it will be over by April 15th. YEAH!

The first picture tonight is one of the first hardanger pieces I did. This is called Quilter's Garden by Emmie Bishop. I completed this in September of 2007.

The next picture is called Dreams and is also by Emmie Bishop. I completed this in May of 2009. This was probably one of the hardest hardanger pieces I've done. Last by not least is my progress on Husbandry in Honour Sampler by The Sampler Company. Not as much progress as I would like, but something is better than nothing.

I started the class project that I'm teaching at Welcome Stitchery http://www.welcomestitchery.com in March. I did 3 bands but it is all tone on tone so I don't think the picture would show up very well. Maybe next time.

Hope everyone has a great week and gets lots of stitching done.

Brenda

Sunday Update

Hello --
I thought I would start this post with a picture I finished last summer and just got back from the framer's a couple of weeks ago. This design is by Little House Needleworks and is stitched with the recommended linen and fibers. I hung it on my stitching room door. The next picture is a sampler I stitched 1/1 on 25 ct cream Lugana. The design is by The Sampler Company. I think it's titled Town House Sampler. I picked it up yesterday and hung it in my family room.

The last picture is my progress on Husbandry in Honour Sampler by The Sampler Company. I've been doing a lot of stitching today while watching football. I've got a big pot of chili in the crock pot so dinner will be super easy tonight.

Bonnie -- thank you very much for the tip on loading the picture first before typing. It worked like a charm!

Busy week ahead at work but I try to stitch each morning before work and for a little while in the evening. I am teaching a class at Welcome Stitchery in March so I need to start that. It's called Cranberry Pinafore by Shepherds Bush. It's a narrow band sampler so it should be a lot of fun to stitch.

Have a good week and hope you get lots of stitching in.

BrendaS

More Stitching Room Pics & Current Stitching update

First off -- thank you for the nice comments on my first post. This is all new to me and my picture taking ability leaves a little to be desired. I hope to get better as I go along.

The first picture is the small progress I've made on the Husbandry in Honour Sampler designed by The Sampler Company. I am stitching 1/1 on 25 ct Mushroom Lugana using DMC.

The next couple of pictures are from my stitching room.

The top picture is the desk that belonged to my Mom. The next picture is where I stitch. It is the most comfortable chair and there is plenty of room for me and my 2 cats, Howard and Zoe. The dogs aren't allowed downstairs so the cats think I share this room with them.

I wish I could stay home all day and stitch but then I wouldn't be able to afford any new stash so that keeps me motivated to keep the job!

Next post, I will start sharing pictures of some of my finished pieces.

Thanks for dropping by and keep stitching!

BrendaS

New Year and New Possibilities

After being a "lurker" for a couple of years, I've decided that it's time I took the plunge and started my own blog. I've loved reading what everyone is stitching and finally decided that now is the time to join the fun.

I like to see where stitchers do their best stitching and have decided to show a couple pictures of my stitching room. My oldest daughter moved out in May of last year and I moved all my stuff in and have made what my husband calls a "woman cave". I absolutely love being in there surrounded by all my stash and stitching.







The first picture is what hangs on the door. Vonna from The Twisted Stitcher did the gorgeous finishing on this.

The next picture is of my thread storage and the last picture is a cabinet where I keep some of my charts.

On New Year's Day I started stitching the Husbandary in Honour Sampler by the Sampler Company. I'm doing this over 1 on 25 count Mushroom Lugana. I haven't gotten very far so I will wait to show a picture.

Looking forward to being a part of this wonderful stitching community and sharing more of my stitching. (also learning how to post the pictures with the words in the right place!)

Keep Stitching!
BrendaS