On The Road Again

Leaving on a roadtrip in the morning to help daughter relocate from Ohio to Louisiana. Of course, gotta drive from VA first. Won't get much stitching done until we arrive in Shreveport later in the week. As promised, here's what I've completed on the Aquarius piece. She's gonna be a beautiful piece. Have decided not to do the windchime thing as outlined in the book - so I started her on a round doilie. Had hoped to be sooooo much further along but got the urge to knit so I'm whipping up a quick scarf & hat just to satisfy the craving to hear the click-click of needles. Swear I must have ADD - can't seem to stay focused on a single project lately. Or maybe I'm really just a crafting junkie at heart. Will check in next week. Hopefully, to showcase some finished items!!!

Work, Travel, Stitching

That's the order of things these last few weeks. Went down to New Orleans for biz travel for about a week and then on up to Ohio to visit my oldest daughter for the July 4th holiday. This is the piece I worked on in the airports and on planes. It's a kit named "Pansies" from Designs for the Needle. The chart has "Friends are Flowers in the Garden of Life" stitched in the center but, I'm revising it as a wedding sampler for a friend that got married a little while ago. Knowing my track record, it will be done just in time for the first anniversary. One more flower in the right bottom corner, then on to the names & date in the center. I also took along this chart from Julie Hasler's Fantasy Cross Stitch book I found on eBay. It's an unusual Aquarius zodiac sign design. A fantastic piece but lots of color changes so I only worked on it in the hotel & daughter's apartment. Promise to post WIP pics very soon.

This Is Cool

Ran across this while surfing the web. Now I can visit all the LNS while I'm traveling.

MapMuse.com has added a nationwide map of needlepoint and crossstitch shops to its services. There are presently over 550 stitchshops located on the MapMuse.com maps.The idea is for stitch enthusiasts to build upon what's started by adding information about their local needlepoint andcross stitch shops to the maps. The following information can be provided for each shop- the name of the shop, descriptive text, aphoto, contact information, and a link to a website. It's the most comprehensive and descriptive map for stitchers to locate cross stitch and needlepoint shops at home, and on their travels. Once a visitor suggests a change,it is reviewed for appropriateness and then posted within a few hours. This service constitutes free advertising for the stitchshops. The following is a link to the Needlepoint and Cross Stitch ShopsMap:

New Stash Arrived

It's here - it's here. The mailman left me a nice package today. I ordered a yard of raw linen aida & a few odds & ends from one of my favorite online sites - In Stitches. They also had a Janet Powers chart from her Heritage Collection called "Birth Samplers". Mind you - I don't know anybody that's pregnant right now so I'll just have to stitch the sampler without the name. Those lil brown babies are adorable.

I'm Back

This should have been me for the past couple of weeks but I've been sidetracked. Took a mini vacation to Atlantic City, then it was right back to work, work, work. I love summer, but that means yardwork added to the housework. Awaiting delivery of 2 charts and a yard of linen and hope to make a sidetrip this week to my LNS to purchase a couple of Mirabilia charts I saw online. Wanna take bets on whether I'll only purchase what I need? No way!! Almost forgot - Happy Dad's Day to all.

Spring Stitching Fever

Got the urge to do something quick so I started this decorative pot holder last night. Hope to finish by the end of the week. Sat at work all day thinking about finishing it.......... must be spring stitching fever.

On A Clear Day

This is another one of my favorites - "On a Clear Day I Can Shop Forever" by Twisted Threads. I love their whimsical charts. I usually do them on cocoa aida or evenweave to give them the sistah-feel. I've also done her on a pillow cover.

Favorite Pieces

These are a few of my favorite pieces. "Gospel Singer" is one of the few charts that I've done multiple times. The first one was a gift for my mom. This one I did without the Bible in her hand to make it a little different - the evenweave fabric had gold & silver thread borders that made the stitching really stand out. "Portrait in Gold" was done for my Aunt's gift store in Ohio. It was stitched on crochet-edge aida. The handtowels were included in a wedding gift. It was the first time I created a chart....... so much fun. It's so difficult to find charts with ethnic images - I'd like to someday create my own line licensed from leading artists.

My WIPs

Like all obsessed stitchers - I'm always working on more than one project. "Spiritual" is being done on a Charles Craft pillow cover I found in Walmart's craft department for a very reasonable price - so of course, I bought all they had in stock for my "stash". The stitch area is perfect for this portrait. "Mother & Child is being stitched on a large crocheted-edge doilie. This pattern reminds me so much of my DD & grandson, I had to do it. Now if I would just finish it.........

New Blogger On Board!!

Hi, I'm Deb and this is my DD#2 when she was about 8. I've chosen her image as my post-retirement-biz logo. I've been crafting & cross stitching for over 15 years & since I love it so much it will become the bedrock of an arts and crafts business after I retire in a few years.