Dream Trip Part one

 

 G'day mates!  It's been a week since I returned from New Zealand and Australia.  It seems like only yesterday that we started planning it, and now it's over.  I think we would all agree that it was a wonderful time, well worth the two grueling travel days that included more than thirty hours combined in air time.  I wasn't sure if I would survive the 14 hour straight flights, but watching several movies, the occasional cat nap, and a few glasses of wine helped.  I have so many photos to share, so I'll do it in several posts.  Here we are at the very top of our ship, the Celebrity Solstice.  We flew from LA to Auckland, and met up with our two week home on the Pacific and Indian Oceans, plus the Tasman Sea.  Yes, that is a grass lawn at the top deck of the ship.  Lawn games took place there, along with a glass blowing exhibit.  In this photo, we were all a bit frazzled, sleepy, and a bit grumpy (me), but still looking forward to the adventure ahead.

 

 If you look to the right of the big X, and about halfway up from the middle tender boat, you can see our balcony.  We were anchored off the Bay of Islands, NZ here.  Our rooms were fab.  We had a little sitting area to stitch, of course.  I got quite used to having breakfast delivered, not to mention the chocolates on my turned down bed.  Even though we were a day ahead with the time difference, we watched all the football playoff games.  My friend, Patti below is a die hard 49'er fan.  I'm sure they could hear her yelling all over the ship.

 

 We were on the tender boat, on our way to explore and shop.  Not sure if Patti was flashing gang signals or not :)  Actually, I believe that was for day 2.

 

 Beautiful Bay of Islands.   I've never seen so many boats in one place.  The crystal blue water often matched the sky.  The sea water did nothing for my hair, however!

 

 This photo needs no explanation.  It was the first happy hour on the ship.  We played musical trivia every afternoon in the lounge.  We did so well, and ended up getting first place several times.  It will be one of my favorite memories.

 

Until next time, I will leave you with a look at what I do best...  Be back soon with more to share that will include meeting up with a couple of very special friends.  I had my very own welcoming committee in Australia. 

Sleigh Rides and Snowflakes

Greetings on a gloomy, overcast day from AZ.  I love these days.  We feel like we're experiencing fall weather like the rest of the country, but it will be 77 degrees this afternoon, so maybe not so much. 

 

 

First of, I'd like to show you a new design called, Sleigh Rides and Snowflakes.  I stitched the model on 40ct, vintage Pearled Barley from Lakeside.  I need to stress that my fabric was very grey, it does not have as much pink as the norm.  I have the luxury of being able to see linen in person, but I realize that not everyone does, and dye lots are often not the same.  I would suggest that if you can't find similar Pearled Barley, a natural linen would work great.  Threads needed are all from The Gentle Art:  Dried Thyme, Forest Glade, Country Redwood, Wood smoke, Tin Bucket, Chalk, Picnic Basket, Wood Trail, Deep Forest, and Espresso Bean. 

Please let this proud grandma brag a little about granddaughter, Quinn.  Over the weekend, she became the AZ state champion on bars for Level 2, Child D Group.  She also took 2nd place on beam and vault, and 4th on floor.  In the All-Around, she took 2nd place.  The team is the Level 2 state champions.  Way to go, girls!

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

A Colonial Gathering

One to show, one in the works, and six adorables

 

 Here is the one to show.  Ann Topley 1802 is heading to shops.  The antique was stitched on a coarse natural linen, but I thought it would be fun to do something different, so I went with 36ct. Double Dyed Black Forest from Lakeside.  I kept the thread colors true to the original, but opted to use sampler threads from The Gentle Art.  I love, love, love how the colors stand out.  The stitch count is 122 X 181,  and the GAST's needed are:  Claret, Old Brick, Terra Cotta, Pebble, Soot, Old Red Paint, Sarsaparilla, Chamomile, Pomegranate, Mustard Seed, Old Hickory, Roasted Marshmallow, and Picnic Basket.  It is all over two with the exception of the word sin, which is over one.  An eyelet stitch over four is used for a row of letters and the checkered band below that.

 

 I'm trying to get the model done for my next release, but life keeps getting in the way.  It will be done this month at some point, and will be called Sleigh Rides and Snowflakes. 

The grand kids were all decked out and ready for treats last night.  Above are Kai, Olivia, and Remy.

 

Here are Rowan, Quinn, and Sawyer hiding behind the mask.  I hope they save some chocolate for Grandma.

Snippets

 Hello everyone!  It's hard to believe that we are into October already.  The weather is slowly turning cooler with a nip in the morning air, and sunny beautiful days.  We have uncovered the patio furniture, spruced up the yard, and started planning what to plant in the way of flowers.  I hope to enjoy many hours stitching outside.  Like my title says, I have snippets to show.  I have many things in progress.  Most of my focus has centered around charting lately.  Mary Ann Ibbotson is about 1/2 way done.  I appreciate the emails of encouragement and enthusiasm for her.  I especially get a kick out of a certain couple of gals who make me laugh with their tag teaming me.  I had to step away from her for a bit.  I was getting frustrated, so I tackled three others.  One has TWO red houses, and is really spectacularly pretty. We got away for a long weekend last week in the RV, and maybe it was the mountain air or smell of pines, because I got a lot done.  In between that, I get a little more accomplished on things like this:

Ellennor Whitehouse is from the latest SANQ.  The antique belongs to Vickie of Needle Work Press, and is on display at the Attic.  I'm using the 50 something count in Meadow Rue and Tudor Silks.  It's a bit of a challenge, but I love the look and size.  My eyes do get tired, but I will feel a sense of accomplishment when I finish it.  The motifs I love doing, it's the lettering that gets to me, but I feel that way with any count.  The Tudor Silks are wonderful.

 

This is Charlotte Clayton.  Oh, how I love this sampler!  Mine is on 45ct. Buttercream.  The folk artiness of it just screams "stitch me!".  I don't have much free time to stitch for myself these days, so I'm slowly working my way through those must stitch samplers on my list.

 

Lastly, here is my start on an upcoming release.  I can here the hissing about the black linen from here, but I am using 36ct.  As I was charting her, and choosing colors, I kept thinking how the colors would "pop' on a darker color.  It is such a primitive sampler with fun motifs.  The antique is dated 1802, and I would guess that Ann was a very young girl when she stitched it.  She chose bright colors and quirky motifs, but the simple verse, Love God And Hate Sin is profound nonetheless.

Until next time...

It must be Friday the 13th,

because you're hearing from me again so soon.  Here is my second release for this month.  Her name is Mary Ann Louisa Boston.  Yes, there has been a lot of Mary Ann's lately, and still another Mary Ann is about to get charted.  It must have been a very popular name back then.  I don't usually buy antique samplers like this, but I couldn't resist the little motifs at the bottom, especially the tiny dogs.  They are about 1/4 an inch stitched on the 40ct. Legacy linen from Picture This Plus that I used.  It is charted for Needlepoint Silks and a conversion to DMC is provided.  There is a fair amount of over one on it, sorry.  Please don't hate me!  It's Mary Ann Louisa's fault.

 

The beautiful frame is from Valley House Primitives.  Thank you, Janet!

 

 

My friend, Sandy has already stitched Button Eyed Cat, and finished it in such a clever way.  I love the blanket stitch around the "31".  Thanks for the great idea, and for allowing me to share it.  I think you just gave me an idea for Christmas!

Have a great weekend everyone!

If fall won't come to me...

I am always very, very anxious to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall.  Obviously, our heat gets old after several months of 100 plus degrees, but I just love all things about this season.  I can't wait to uncover the patio wicker and enjoy my morning coffee outside.  I like putting out a few decorations, and spent some time today doing just that.  So, even though the calendar and weather tell me that fall is still around the corner, I'm jumping the gun.  Here's a few photos:

 

I bought this wall cabinet years ago in MN, and it's one of my favorite places to dress up for the holidays.

 

 

If you've visited my blog in the past, much of this will be old news.  I pretty much stick with the same old stuff that I like.  I get a kick out of all the glittery pumpkins in odd colors, they are fun to look at in the stores, but not for me.  Each year I find myself simplifying, which means more natural things like gourds and bittersweet. 

 

 

A simple little display like this is more my style.

 

 

 I have been experimenting a little with moving some samplers around.  I know someone will be curious about the large one in the center.  It is an antique.  Ellen Strick was her name, and she stitched her sampler in 1849 when she was 9.  It will be reproduced at some point.

 

 

Last year I finally got around to finishing Halloween Queen from Notforgotten Farm.  I just love her!  This year, I found the black and white checked pumpkin at Home Goods.  I'd like to make some velvet ones just like it.  Maybe next year...

 

 

This is a new design that will be ready to ship later in the week.  It's called Button Eyed Cat.  I used 40ct. Cedar Plank from Lakeside, and Tomato, Raven, Oatmeal, and Gold Leaf sampler threads from The Gentle Art.  The orange border is rice stitched over four, but can be done in cross.  I wanted buttons for the eyes, but they are also charted to look like buttons if you'd rather stitch them.  For the fob, I used black rick rack, and sewed a button on the back for a simple finish.