May 16, 2017

Radiance

The Sweetheart Tree

84 x 84

This is one of the prettiest designs I own. I love everything about it! So really I'm just showing off something gorgeous from my stash. This came as a chart pack. It included the fabric, beads and charm. I just need to add floss and it's ready to go. It's just DMC floss, too, so I have no excuse other than laziness. The design isn't that big and the directions are great. It's time to pull the floss and get
busy!

Laura :)

May 15, 2017

Sheep in the Meadow

Country Cottage Needleworks 

173 x 75

Another cutie from CCN. The little sheep are so sweet! I like this pattern but I don't think it's one I'm hurrying to get into my WIP pile. At this point it's more of  a someday project. 

I've had a long day working both jobs so I'm off to bed. 

Laura :)

May 14, 2017

Strawberry Plant

Filigram

137 x 101

Isn't this a sweet little chart? I bought this for my sister. She kept it for several years and tried to love it. It just didn't work so she gave it back to me. Now I get to try to get it into the WIP pile. 

Speaking of the WIP pile, it's now one project smaller! Today I finished Hope of Spring by Chessie &  Me. It's my ninth finish of the year. That definitely keeps me on pace to complete twenty projects this year. So, here it is!

That's it for me today. It was a lovely Mothers Day!

Laura :)

May 13, 2017

Needleworker

Little House Needleworks

227 x 58

This chart was gifted to me by my sister. Nancy has stitched it and has it hanging on her wall. I still haven't started it. I'm going through the usual debate with myself. I will probably change the fabric, but to what color? I want to change the lettering colors, but again, to what colors? Will I change a all the colors? What color should the bird be if I change the lettering colors? 

Isn't it crazy what I do to myself for a new project? Do you understand why I don't enjoy starting new ones? Sheesh! I think I'll go work on a WIP!

Laura :)

May 12, 2017

Tuscan Sunrise

Just Nan

78 x 38

I really liked this pattern pack when it came out. I looked at it over and over when I visited the LNS. It just didn't make it home with me. Then, I was fortunate enough to find it years later. Now it has been sitting in my stash for a couple more years. It's another matter of getting it into the WIP pile and getting it stitched! This seems to be a constant refrain with me. I'm happy to be taking steps to move things along. I feel I've made good progress in finishing projects this year. Hopefully the trend will continue!

Laura :)

May 11, 2017

The Strawberry Season

Heartstrings - The Artists Collection

174 x 33

I really like this sweet pattern. I have already stitched The Bittersweet Season which features a black cat atop a gorgeous pumpkin. I stitched it during a summer of doctor visits with my mom. This series features several interesting bands and simple but beautiful colors. I'm thinking of using a soft fabric color to complement the pretty floss colors. 

Laura :)

May 10, 2017

This is the Day

The Sunflower Seed

120 x 120

Some sad news today. Anita Boatright, owner and designer of the Sunflower Seed, succumbed to multiple myeloma today. She was such a dear, sweet woman, so generous with her time and talents. She had a lovely shop and I enjoyed visiting with her whenever I was there. I will miss her. 

I really like this design. It's different. I like the beautiful picture that goes with the verse. I'll have to think of what color fabric I should use. I'd normally choose blue but I'm not sure it would work well with the other elements. 

Laura :)

May 9, 2017

Friends Gather Here

The Sunflower Seed

48 x 209

I miss going to the Sunflower Seed. Anita and her staff were always so friendly and helpful when we went in. The fact that she designed such great charts was a bonus! 

This chart called to me because of the combination of the cute border with the cool lettering. AND, the lettering is purple. What more could I ask for? It's another case of needing to find the time to get it into my WIP pile. 

That's it for today!

Laura :)

May 8, 2017

Amazing Grace 

4 My Boys

51 x 135

Happy Monday! I'm needing a pick-me-up today. It's close to the end of the school year and things are happening that are beyond any semblance of control. Add to that state-mandated testing and the frustration level is through the roof. 

So, I feel like a little in need of some grace. I've had this in my stash since it came out. That was in 2002. I don't know why I haven't stitched this wonderful reminder that our lives are filled with Amazing Grace. It should be fairly simple. It's only 3 colors and fairly small stitch count. Sounds like time to choose some favorites and get stitching!

Laura :)

May 7, 2017

Eagles' Wings

La~D~Da

99 x 161

Lori always seems to create really great charts. This has long been a favorite song for me. The only thing I don't really like about the chart is the colors. They feel drab to me. There are *8* different colors and I still don't feel that it's colorful. Not that everything has to be bright and colorful, I just feel this is too far the other way. This might be another pattern that would be pretty on a checked piece of fabric. I think it would have to be faded to keep a soft feel. 

We're working a little on the table for my craft room today. I'm hoping that it will be ready soon for me to move my sewing machine onto it. I've been thinking about starting a craft business from home and I definitely need my sewing machine to get things going. Think good thoughts for me!

Laura :)

May 6, 2017

Raspberry Patch

Country Cottage Needleworks

166 x 102

I love this cute chart! At first I thought it would be a small project but the dimensions are actually bigger than I thought. The model is stitched on 28ct Natural Raw linen. I'm thinking a pale blue or a soft, sunny yellow would be really nice. OR, one of those adorable checked fabrics! This one would be perfect on the checks. Now I just need to go shopping. Oh darn the bad luck! Oh Nancy...I'm sure it will break her heart to go shopping as well. LOL

This chart is really singing loudly to me. There may be a new start in my near future -- but not before I have another finish!

Laura :)

May 5, 2017

Here Comes Treble/Alto Gether Now/First Bass

Ink Circles

60 x 61/58 x 62/60 x 59

Happy Cinco de Mayo! We dutifully had Mexican food at home tonight. LOL 

Aren't these the best charts? I was gifted these by Mel. She sent charts and floss. I only needed to choose fabric and stitch. But, I managed to get into my head and haven't been able to get past it and stitch! My dilemma? I can't figure out if I should stitch them individually, horizontally or vertically. There are pros and cons to each idea. Individually stitched and finished I could display them however I'd like. Also, I'd be able to display the first one without waiting for the other two to be stitched. Knowing my track record, this might not be a bad idea! 

I've loved music for as long as I can remember. I've been singing since I was old enough to open my mouth. Lately I haven't been able to sing. I have nodes on my vocal chords which have prevented me from singing. I burst out coughing any time I try to sing for any length of time. I haven't been able to figure out a way to sing around the nodes, to train my voice to work without causing irritation. It has been such an integral part of my life that it's really difficult to be forced to stop. I'm ever hopeful that the doctors will be able to come up with a workable solution. 

I'm so happy it's the weekend! School will be out in 3 more weeks. We're so close to the end of the year!

Have a great weekend!!

Laura :)

May 4, 2017

Shepherd's Spring

Shepherd's Bush Printworks

40 x 128

May the Fourth be with you! Happy Star Wars day. 

I've finally run into a different designer. I really like Shepherd's Bush kits. They always have lovely materials and interesting stitches. This is part of a seasonal series of kits. They're very skinny but still manage to have a lot of detail. It will be fun to stitch this one. 

Poppy is doing well. She actually let Tiger walk by tonight without hissing at him! Major progress for her. 

Laura :)

May 3, 2017

Summer House

Blackbird Designs

127 x 100

I don't have many summer themed patterns in my stash. This one is lovely. I like the soft, swirly feeling of the vines, flowers and birds. They make a gentle wind impression. I would really like to get this one, out of all the BD patterns, started this year. It would be wonderful to have it stitched and hanging on the wall. 

Laura :)

Top 5 Tuesdays - Top 5 Books On Your Must Read List

Oh my goodness! What a challenging topic from Kate of http://suddenlykateshow.blogspot.com/ . I have so many things I want to read I just don't quite know where to start. I think I'll just list what's calling to me most right now. Of course, that means my list has 10 books on it. It's a mishmash of genres. I read what calls to me. 

1.Having totally loved the Jane Austen books, I am intrigued where this diary series will go.  

2. Truly one of my favorite authors. I've really enjoyed everything I've read by her so far. She makes me laugh, cry, be so angry and scared I can hardly stand it! I'm sure this book will another favorite. 

3. A mystery novel. Mysteries are one of my favorite genres. This will be an interesting read, I'm sure

4. I enjoyed the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr so I'm looking forward to reading this book.  

5. This sounds like a book I'll need tissue boxes nearby every time I'm reading.


6, Okay, so I'll admit that a lot of my reading is influenced by my daughter. This is a book that was on her to-read list and after reading the description got added to mine as well.
 

7. I read Stardust by Neil Gaiman long before the movie came out. I've read other Gaiman books and found them interesting as well.
 

8. Another Katie-influenced pick.


9. Okay, so this just sounds like a fun, sassy read. Can't wait!
 

10. I've read most of the books in this series. I'd like to read them all again and finish the entire series.

So, that's it! 10 books from the list of hundreds on my Goodreads account. If you're on Goodreads, link up with me there!

Laura :)

May 2, 2017

Beneath the Sunlit Sky

Blackbird Designs

116 x 171

I have loved this pattern since it came out in 2007. I don't know what drew me in so quickly, but I still really love it. It calls for Sea Fog linen from R & R Reproductions. That is a gorgeous linen color and one I don't think shows to it's full advantage on the pattern. I really need to buy the fabric and floss and get busy! This is such an unusual pattern for me to want stitched and on my walls, but it needs to be there!

Do you have any charts that just don't fit the norm in your stash? 

Laura :)

May 1, 2017

Garland Fair

Blackbird Designs

82 x 117

Happy May Day! Did you receive flowers for May Day? I didn't. ::sigh:: It was a good day, though, because I got cuddled by our new kitty. She's making herself right at home and we love it. The hissies are diminishing. Quite a good sign for only a few days in. 

Today's pattern has a great verse. I like the elements of this design. I'm just not sure I like the color. I think this pattern would be a great one to choose a floss I love and stitch. Even though it's full of leaves, they would be pretty in most any color. I'll have to play with different fabric/floss combinations and see what works best. 

Laura :)