Happy Spring

Sure doesn't feel like spring yet when you still have to wear your winter coat, keep the furnace going, and worry about frost/snow. The weekend before Easter I got to spend time with dear friends up in Door County, WI. It was a fun time to visit, eat, and shop. On the way up my DH let me stop at a stitching store that I have heard about and what fun it was to look around. Course, he kept picking out projects that he liked and I had to say I have that one already. So, you know the next question, "Where is it, I don't remember seeing it done". Okay, so my stash is still growing instead of getting less.

From a really neat LNS I got the following Cricket Collection.

My kitchen is all done in Sunflowers, so I will be adding this sunflower pattern to my collection and maybe to my blog. I cannot believe that this design is back from 1994. I think it is fun to find older patterns that still can get you excited to stitch.

My other favorite type of designs is Halloween. So, when I saw this one I just couldn't pass it up.

I have been working on a project that I am not sure I can share at this time. I was lucky to take a class recently from Shepherd's Bush and I have been making myself work hard at getting this class project done. You can look at their blog to see their pictures from the class. Anytime you can take a class from Tina and Terry do it. It is so much fun and their projects are wonderful.

Well, I am going to sign off and run to the couch so I can get at least an hour of stitching in before calling it a night. Time is flying by just way to fast for me. Can you believe that we are halfway into April. Where is the warm weather?????

Goodnight stitching buddies where ever you are.

Finish

This past weekend all I did instead of my chores was sit and enjoy my stitching hobby. So, with that let me present my completed project.

This was done on a 28 count Lavender Bliss. This was a quick photo of this project so I could at least post this update for my BFF's to see. We are trying to stitch Blackbird designs on Sunday's as way to stitch together but from our remote locations. I really need to get them to learn to blog so that they can share their projects with all of us.... Right Ellen and Terry.....

Well, off to finish up things around that house that did not get done during stitching time. Hey, if you get a chance look at my competition at Spinster Stitcher. I am so excited to beat her on completion of a project. Sorry lady....

Something Neat

This is a really neat virtual village to see. Click on this link and explore.

Blackbird Progress Update

Well, the weekend progress continues on "Beyond My Heart". I am working quickly to get done before Spinster Stitcher completes hers. Well, I think I am neck and neck with her. Kind of fun to challenge myself this way. I guess that helps to spur my progress along. Here is what I have done so far. As soon as this one is done I will be starting "Two Hearts" which is the latest pattern in the Loose Feather's club. I am going to do it on a 32 count linen called Cupid's Blend. Stay tune for progress next week on that one.

Sorry that the quality is not the greatest tonight. But when you are trying to update your blog with someone wanting attention from you it is kind of hard to do.

Brinkley (4 months old) is a handful. I cannot wait for the puppy time to be over. He is constantly finding ways to get into things. If it wasn't for his big sister pointing him out when he is bad he would be getting away with a lot more. All I can say is "Thank You Josie for Watching"..... Love Mommy...

Slow Progress

Okay, progress is going slow between the two projects I have going. During the week it seems that I am running out of energy early in the evening which means my stitching doesn't get picked up. My best effort has been a few stolen hours over the weekend. Here is my progress shots of Flying Geese and Chicken Feet....

Also, Sunday's are dedicated to Blackbird designs SAL with my BFFs. Here is my latest progress on "Beyond My Heart".

Husband's.... I am being called back into the family room to spend time with him and the doggies. Well, I guess that cuts my blogging time off early. Sorry, stayed tuned for future updates. If I am lucky it will still be this month. Where does time go.

HELP

I am in need of some advice. The picture at the top of my blog is a valentine pattern from Hinzeit that I did several years ago. I did not put glass on it since I have had issues in the past with other ones in which the charms have moved and I cannot get them back in place due to the glass. Well, the charms on this have tarnished and I am not sure what to do to clean them without having to take this framed piece apart. So, if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear about them.

No stitching done this past weekend. What a drag. Between cleaning, visiting, and taking care of sick puppy this was not a stitchy weekend. I hope to make that up quickly.

January Updates

As time slips by so does my ability to update the blog. What can I say.... Okay, a 12 week old puppy can keep you busy, keep you from sleeping, and drive you insane. Yes, Brinkley has been a handful and the only time I can get some stitching done is when I make it nap time or leave him with DH. I have to admit, we went to puppy class tonight for the first time and what a shock. He sat in my lap and watched all of the other puppies going nuts and amazed me that he wasn't. Course, wait and see what next week brings. I think he was just in shock.

I recently made trip out to visit one of my BFFs. What was amazing is that we found a local shop close to her home to visit and what a selection of patterns, material, and fibers. So, we had to make the most of our trip and find a few patterns that we had to add to our stashes. I had planned to only work on UFOs in 2009 and cut down the new additions but that went out the window as soon as we walked into the store. How can we explore a new local shop and not walk out with huge smiles on our faces.

I picked up the most amazing pattern called "Flying Geese and Chicken Feet" by Brenda Kocher. It incorporates patterns from four different quilts. It uses many different kinds of fibers and in the store they had it done in my most favorite color combinations. Green and purples.

I picked up the pattern and fibers and decided to do it on congress cloth. The store gave me a listing of the colors they used but after I got home I just couldn't figure out what was used where. So, when Monday rolled around I called the shop and they were so wonderful to take a picture of their finished sample and e-mail it to me. A two hour drive in the snow to their shop was out of the question. Here is the pattern book and a picture of their finished piece. Don't you just love it...... I do......

Course, this wasn't my only purchase. I also got the following pattern "Winter Blooms" by Hands to Work. This will have to be added to my stash and hopefully it will be finished before 2009 ends.

Spending the day with my BFFs was so much fun. With our busy lives and the distances apart we decided that since we cannot get together very often to stitch we would try something else. We have created our own SAL. Each Sunday we are to find time to sit and stitch on any Blackbird design in our stash. This is a great idea since I have a huge collection, okay I have the total collection of Loose Feathers club patterns which include fabric and fibers. So for the past two Sundays I have been able to steal away a couple of hours in the morning and late evening to work on started projects. As of Sunday I completed Loose Feathers Pattern 31 - Blessings & Kind Wishes. I did this on 28 count Sand Dune. Off to the framer it will go....

For next Sunday I will be picking up Loose Feathers Pattern 32 - Beyond My Heart. I will be doing this on 28 count Lavender Bliss. Here is what I had started and stashed.

Before I forget I did do one resolution so far for 2009. La-D-Da's Bushel & A Peck. Course, this project has not been in my stash that long but I had hoped to finish it for a gift during the holidays but that did not happen. I hope to get some help in getting it finished and I think it will make a special Valentine gift for someone special in my family. Stay tuned, I have ideas.

Hey not to bad for the last two weeks. Okay, not too good on getting the house cleaned but I did get the Christmas tree down and took advantage of how many naps a new puppy needs. Until next time and you know how bad I am, have fun stitching and stay tuned. The saga continues between which will come first, puppies and/or stitching.