What I've been reading

I've gotten a little stitching done in the past few weeks but I think I've been doing more reading.  I tried to read, "The Art of Fielding" but just couldn't get through it.  My friend, Lee, gave it a good review so I thought I'd like it but I had a hard time liking the characters and to me the book dragged.

Then I read about a book titled, "The Dressmaker" by Kate Alcott.  So far, I'm having a good time reading this one.  It mixes the Titanic disaster and survivor, designer Lady Lucy Duff Gordon with Tess Collins, a fictional character who is also a survivor of the titanic and dreams of becoming a designer.  

And I just discovered that one of my favorite authors, Kate Morton,has a new book coming out, "The Secret Keeper". I'll be looking for that one.

This is the cross stitch I've been working on.

End of Summer

Classes began here at Carnegie Mellon on Monday.  To me, that signals the end of summer.  And I saw something that said it was only 119 days until Christmas!! Yikes!  Time to get busy on all those little, handmade gifts

Leaping Cat is at the framers and I didn't take a photo so I'll get one posted after it comes back from the framers. I want to start working on a few fall/Halloween projects next. 

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: New Gift Bags and a Great Fall Give away...hurry a...

 This is a pretty sweet giveaway and she has a nice blog. 

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: New Gift Bags and a Great Fall Give away...hurry a...: I was going to post this last week but got behind due to another health problem. I would say I'm up and running but actually I am on crutche...

Back in the Saddle

We've been back from our vacation in Germany for a few weeks now but I've been too busy (lazy?) to write anything.  The Olympics have come and gone (yea, Team USA!), I finished watching the entire season of "The Mentalist" and wonder of wonders, I finished stitching "Leaping Cat"!  I stitched in the car on our way to Wisconsin last week and a little bit at my sister-in-law's house.  Now it needs to be pressed and then framed.  I'll try to take a picture and post it tomorrow.

Auf Wiedersehen

Tomorrow Paul and I are off to Germany for a 10 day tour.  Looking forward to it very much.  I'm taking a few books but no stitching.  I have neither the time nor the inclination. I'll be too busy gawking at the beautiful scenery. The second book, (Shadow of Night) in Deborah Harkness's trilogy is out tomorrow so I'm downloading it to my tablet.

I did make good progress on "The Leaping Cat" while I was at my Dad's last week.  I finished the alphabet and all I  have to finish are a few embellishments and the border.   

Getting old ain't for sissies

Last night my oldest friend, Adele, called to tell me her mother, my "Aunt" Jeannine, had died.  Jeannine was my mother's best friend for almost 50 years and she died almost 6 months to day after my mother passed away. For many years now, I've been going home to Illinois twice a year to visit my Mother & Dad.  Always, my Mom and I would meet Aunt Jeannine and her daughter, Adele, in Princeton for a day of lunch, talking and a little shopping.  It was if we had never been apart and  the talking and laughter never stopped.  At the end of the day, there were hugs and kisses all around and plans made for the next visit.  That visit would have been this summer..  But Adele and I are both so mired in grief we've decided to cancel. And when we do get together it won't be the same - the two most important women in our lives are gone. And even though I'm almost 58 years old, I need and miss my Mom.

Fifty Shades

Okay, so I finished the Fifty Shades trilogy.  I have to admit the second and third books were slightly better than the first one.  Still poorly written and the use of British slang and some of her other word choices were terrible.  Beach reads all the way. In the event a movie does get made, I still think Ian Somerhalder is the best choice to play Christian.

I am in the middle of reading one of my favorite series, the Jane Whitefield books by Thomas Perry. The latest is called "Poison Flower".  I need to finish it before I leave for ALA.

Still haven't done much stitching.  I'm taking a project with me to California - I think I can get something done on a 5 hour flight!

Slacker

 Stitching Slacker!

That's me.  I've been a terrible slacker when it comes to stitching.  I've been finding lots of other things to do.  Going to the movies, reading books and watching my taped TV shows.  I'm trying to get through the rest of The Vampire Diaries and I have the entire season of  The Mentalist to watch.  But I keep ordering new cross stitch patterns.  I just received two Long Dog sampler patterns - who knows when I'll start those!

Yesterday.I signed up for two workshops at Bidelia's Beads, a new shop on Mt Nebo.  Like I need something else to do.

Tonight is stitch night and it's the last one I'll be able to get to until the end of July.

Needlework Exhibit

This past weekend I went with three other stitching ladies to Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria, VA to take in the 49th Needlework Exhibit.  It was SO awesome.  600 pieces of needlework were on view in this gorgeous old house. No photos as cameras aren't allowed.   And of course, In Stitches ( a local needlework shop) was only 1/4 mile down the road. We went there twice!!  Everyone was super helpful and nice.  The shop was a madhouse with all of these women from the needlework show, being inspired by the work they saw buying all kinds of good stuff.

I saw a lot of samplers and decided I would work on one.  I haven't decided what it will be yet but I gave myself a couple of choices.

Samplers and other thoughts on a Friday

I'd like to know why stitching samplers is such a big deal?  There is  no end to the number of sampler charts available for purchase, old samplers sell for millions of dollars, and I belong to a FB group which is exclusively about samplers.  Don't get me wrong, I think they're beautiful and I can certainly appreciate an antique sampler stitched hundreds of years ago by an 8 year old.  Her skills far outshine my own. But I don't have that urge to stitch every sampler I see.  My other question is why do samplers call for 30 - 40 count fabric?  I don't want to stitch on anything over 28 count even weave linen.

I hope someone can answer my questions.  Until then -- it's stitch night at the Panera in the Galleria!  Mary is bringing me my hardanger instruction books  - oh joy!  And tomorrow is a stitch retreat, I am so excited. We have such a good time. I haven't done any stitching all week and I'd like to get a lot more done on the "Leaping Cat."

This question is from my friend, Lake Stitcher: Our Stitching Bloggers Question is all about May Flowers. *What's your favorite floral piece that you've stitched? Do you prefer your flowers as the centerpiece of the design or as an accent?* 


I don't think I've ever stitched a floral piece! Oh yes I did! Several years ago I stitched a whole row of tulips in various colors.  It was an ambitious project for me and I was really happy at the way it turned out.  I'll try to find a picture and post it here. I  have some patterns in my stash which have flowers in them so I'm thinking I should stitch some flowers.  It is spring, after all!

I am very proud of myself for finishing my name tag for EGA - so at the next meeting I will be  wearing it.  I just gave myself a pat on the back. Ha Ha.

Book talking & stitching

So this past Friday night we're stitching away and my friend,CB, says she's reading, "50 Shades of Gray".  and then she says, "I'm sure you've already read it, Denise." And I'm like, "No I haven't". but as soon as I got home that night I downloaded it on to my Nook and I read it all weekend and finsihed Monday late afternoon.  It is not and I repeat, the book is not well written and I think the author should have stuck with fan fiction.  I have no idea how it got published.  and you know what is really sad?  she ends the book making you feel like you NEED to read the second volume.  Ick! So I put it on reserve at my public library. This is the piece I am currently working on.  I guess it counts as a Sampler!!

More time for stitching

It appears that there will be lots more time for stitching since the Penguins probably won't make it through the 1st round of the NHL playoffs.  Very sad.  But hey, there's always next year. I'm almost finished with my sister-in-law's birthday gift and my next project is Prairie Moon's "Three Amigas."  I am anxious  to start and will have an excellent opportunity this weekend when I go to Turtle Bay for a 4 day stitching retreat. How much fun is that!!?

And I am appalled that the Pulitzer committee did NOT select any book for the fiction award. What a bunch of snobs. 

Show & Tell tonight

Stitch Night at Panera today and I've got "show & tell".  Had two Halloween pieces framed last month.

 I haven't had time to do much stitching lately.  Spending too much time with the Penguins and major league baseball. Go Pens!

Trick or Treat by Heinzit

Jolly Jack by All Through the Night

Country Bunny for Mauricio

I finished the Country Bunny for my great-nephew, Mauricio. I'm really happy with the stitching and  I have some definite ideas on how I want it matted and framed.

Finished piece

I finished my version of Shakespeare Peddler's Antique Locks and Keys - the fabric is an aida from Hand Dyed Fibers as is the thread in a color called "Tiger Lily".   I haven't decided how to finish the piece.  What do you think?

Learning something new!

Today after work my husband taught me how to remove the little chip from the digital camera, plug it into the computer and load pictures onto the desktop of the computer.  Very easy.  Don't now why I didn't learn how sooner.  So I walked around my house taking pictures of some of my latest needlework.  A few pieces have already been framed so there is a bit of a glare.

My Mother & Dad made the box for the Easter piece.I really like the way it came out.

I'll add a few more pieces next time.

Daffodils are blooming and it's Friday!

Oh yes, the daffodils are blooming and it appears Spring has really arrived!  Time to get out in the yard and clean up old leaves and sticks.  Then try to carve out some time for needlework. Between yard work, basketball and hocky it's going to be tough!   

Basketball & Needlework - Bad Combo!

Yesterday I started my JBW Country Bunny while I watched Michigan State play OSU for the Big Ten championship.  I thought things were going very well until i stopped to count stitches and  found I had made a mistake.  Did I realize I couldn't watch basketball and stitch at the same time?  Oh no -- I had to tear out stitching 3 times before I decided it was either watch the game exclusively or move to another room and  stitch. I put my stitching away and watched the game.

Antique Locks & Keys is DONE!

I finished my Antique Locks & Keys project lst night at Stitch Night.  Yea!  Now I can move on to the birth announcement. And I took 2 completed Halloween projects to be framed this morning. 

Picked up a new book waiting for me at the library this morning, Cinder by Marissa Meyer.  It's aYoung Adult novel with a  sci fi take on the fairy tale Cinderella.  It's gotten very good reviews.  I'll let you know if I like it.

When I got home lst night I watched the end of the Pens game (YEA, they won!!)and a little of the Big 10 basketball tournament.  Too bad, Purdue lost to Ohio State. I've stitched a couple of Big Ten logos for some of the men in my family.

Stitch night!!

Friday is finally here and I am headed for the Panera in the Galleria to spend the evening stitching and hanging with my stitching buddies.I'm still not finished with Locks & Keys so that is my project tonight.  As soon as that is done, I'm starting little Mo's birth announcement.  I have all these new things I want to start!!

This weekend I have no appointments or other plans and I'd like to get a lot of stitching done.

Le Magnifique

Although I try to write about stitching and books, I'd like to take a minute to write something about another of my favorite activities - sports, mainly football and hockey.  Today was the unveiling of a sculpture in honor of Mario Lemieux #66, a GREAT hockey player and citizen of Pittsburgh.  That man has done more for Pittsburgh hockey than anyone else.  (In addition to being awfully good-looking). 

Thanks Mario for saving the Pens and hockey in Pittsburgh!

My Stitching

A friend asked me tonight if the pictures in the previous post were mine. Sorry to say no, they aren't. So I decided to post some of my own stitching.


Sampler I made for my Mother

Every Bunny Do The Hop

Wise Cat



This one speaks for itself

Shop Hop & a Bakery

We all met at 8:00 am to get ourselves into Colleen's SUV and head to Ohio.  The plan was to visit 3 needlework shops.  It was so nice to be in a brick and mortar shop -to look at patterns and see and feel fabric to decide what to buy.  I fell prey to my addiction and spent way too much money but it was so fun!  Some of the patterns I chose:

 We made a stop at a bakery, Michael Angelo's Bakery.  Glad it's a couple of hours from home.  Yummy!!  Only made it to 2 shops, the 3rd one was closed.  Just as well, I would have spent the rest of my paycheck.  I can't wait to start stitching!!

IT'S FRIDAY!!

Last night I finished The Rope by Nevada Barr, the latest in the series about Anna Pigeon, forest ranger.  Very good,- parts of it made me very claustrophobic.I recommend her books, they're good mysteries set in our National Parks.

Today I brought my NOOK Tablet to work for a show & tell session in the staff lounge. Interesting hour spent listening about and playing with mobile devices.  Still like my NOOK the best.

And it's Friday, tomorrow is a shop hop to three needlework shops in Ohio.  should be a fun day. 

Needing to leave work early today, I drove myself to Oakland and parked behind the library.  Know how many minutes a quarter will get you in the parking meters?  8 - that's right 8 minutes so I  had to insert 33 quarters in the meter.  Just doing my part to pay the pensions of the retired city of Pittsburgh workers !!!! 

Leap Day

Today is the last day of February which happens to be the 29th.  Wow! A whole extra day in the 2012 and I should get started on my staff performance evaluations. But it is a rainy, gloomy day I would rather be at home working on my latest needlework project.  Antique Locks and Keys by Shakespeare's Peddler:

I started it at the Villa Maria retreat and ran out of thread.  I ordered more and would like to finish it and begin something new. Oh well, another day, I guess. 

Off to Virginia

This afternoon we are driving to Virginia to spend the weekend with Paul's oldest daughter, Amy, her husband, Craig,  and our three grandchildren.  I'm thinking we'll have a good time - I have about 8 dozen sugar cookies that need frosting and sprinkles.  These are part of my grandsons' Christmas present.   

I'm taking stitching with me to work on while in the car - I finally have the thread to start my great-nephew's birth announcement.  It's a JBW design of a Bunny

Villa Maria

Last weekend I went to  a stitching retreat at Villa Maria,  an educational and spiritual center north of Pittsburgh.  I had the best time, stitching and gabbing with my friends.  It was a "no hassle" weekend with no cooking or any other chores.  All we had to do was show up for meals on time. I got a lot of stitching done. It was the happiest I've been since my Mom died last month.  

Lazy Blogger

Well, it's been some time since I posted anything to this blog.  I'd like to say I just forgot but I think most of what I do is boring.  I haven't even read any good books lately.  I am leaving for a stitching retreat this afternoon.  I've been looking forward to this for some time.  A whole weekend of stitching with my friends.  Priceless.