Stayed up last night watching the last of season 2 Heroes, so I'm ready for season 3, and finished the paperweight kit.
As I mentioned I did not like the over 2 cross stitches on the pattern for the vines, flowers, and vases, so I did some adjustments and made it all over 1. It is a little thing, only 1 inch wide and 2 inches long. I am pretty happy with it, I think my finishing skillz are getting better.
Now back to THE LIST.
I can stitch the Bell Ornament by Jeanette Douglas, which was in the JCS Ornament Preview issue . I did this so I could see some progress on something.
I have stopped stitching the Blackbird sampler, I think that is heading into a drawer for some rest (sometimes my projects need beauty sleep). and I was working on that kit I told you I bought at Keepsake Needlearts in NH, It is an Old Colonial Designs kit, Mimi's Desktop Weight
and I am doing some redesign on it...I decided the over 2 looked weird with the over 1 right next to it.
So I did this ornament just as it was called for....OKOK so I didn't have the pearl floss in 719, so I used white. And I did not have 3858, so I used 2772. Big deal. It still came out nice and got DONE!!
So I mentioned I got to go to vegas right? Heres how it played out:
Last Tuesday the 12th I fly to Pgh, PA with Annabeth. I meet my mom, have lunch, then turn around and catch a different flight to Las Vegas.(different airline, but just a carryon, no luggage). Meanwhile my husband boards a flight from home to Las Vegas. I land in the airport and wait all of 5 minutes for him to arrive. NO delays or complications!
We catch a prepaid shuttle to the Hilton where we have a room for the night, then decide to head out and see the sites. We utilized the monorail to get to the strip. We got to see up close how crowded and icky the place is ...People, the city smells like hot garbage. Only one other time have I been that grossed out in a city ...New Orleans. Seriously not even New York is this bad. No wonder there is so much neon...it is to keep your eyes up off the ground. Got to see the Bellagio water show, but could not find the canopy of lights on Fremont St. (later we found out it is not on the Strip, it is downtown...miles away.) The city blocks are huge, and I guess i didn't expect the casinos to be so large. We only made it 2 blocks in 2 hours. We walked till about midnight (4am eastern time) then headed back to sleep.
Next day we discovered that nothing opens till 10 so we took advantage to go out and walk some more of the city...saw Luxor/Excalibur. and just so we are clear: 104 degrees is not ok because it is "dry" heat. I can't breathe in that kind of air...give me humidity anyday.
outside in the Dry heat
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
We finally got into ST when it opened...rode both rides, (The Klingon one was way better than the Borg one. ) Went on a backstage tour, and tried to buy souviners...but the convention the previous week and the fact they were closing in 2 weeks meant that the selection was PITIFUL. Any one know where i can get a lousy T-shirt that says " I was the last tourist at Star Trek the Experience"?
my favorite Enterprise D
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
So I had laid out dozens of potential shops to visit on the trip, but like I said I only managed 4. The first on was Accompishments Needlework in Charlottsville, VA. I was greeted at the door by the owners 2 dogs (see then on the website) and was allowed to browse while she (Moira the owner) worked with some needleworkers in the back. She popped out to see that I had picked up Quaker Turtles by With My Needle, and said, "oh, would you like the kit for it?" . Lucky for her I had lots of money (this being the first day of vacation) and said sure, The kit was very reasonable, and included everything , fabric, felt, thread, and finishing fabric too. I also got the Stuffed Stand up instruction book by Judy Odell. I give it a 4 out of 5 skein score.
The second shop was The Stitchers Stash in Fairfax, VA This place was nice (but not as big as it looks online, they must have used a wide angle lens). But the sales ladies on duty were a bit on the frosty side. There was a obnoxious customer demanding most of their attention (2 of them). but she seemed like a regular so I got ignored quite a bit...The selection was top notch and with a framers next store who specialize in needlework, I don't think you could go wrong if you swing by. I got The Lark by JBW and Ladybug Ladybug by Little House needleworks. 3 1/2 skeins
the third is a favorite of mine in Hyde Park, NY by my inlaws, Deer Hill Farm Cross Stitch. This time I was the only customer, so I was able to monopolize the owners time into cutting be alot of size specific fabrics I had listed before I left for projects on my list. I also picked up some beautiful skeins of the discontinued Needlwork necessities thread on sale and just one chart, Little Sam by Bent Creek. oh and a needle minder! I love this place, she has a great selection of charts...but my wish list is getting almost to picky for the brick and mortar shops. Only one compaint..she used to have a frequent customer card, if you spend $100 you go $10 free, and she said she was losing money on those so she upped them to spend $200 get $10 free. I love this lady give her 5 skeins.
I attempted to go to Hunter's needlework in Merideth, NH. It was closed due to illness. This was on the door, not on the phone message. I don't think this one will be there much longer. The sign on the door indicated fewer open hours then was on the answering machine, and that listed fewer that was listed in the Needlecrafter companion book I was using to find these stores. Not a good sign.
Finally I tried Keepsake Needlearts in Center Harbor, NH. If you are a Quilter...your mecca is next store in Keepsake Quilting. I had my doubts about this place because the catalog I recieve from there is only kits...and sure enough...lots and lots of Aida kits. no fabric, no charts, no thread. Sigh. I did find a small paperwight kit on sale, a Jeannette Douglas bracelet kit and I also picked up a book: 200 braids to twist,knot, loop, or weave byJacqui Carey. At that point I ran out of $$ and went home. 2 skeins
Annabeth here is at a friends 1st birthday party...she had more hair that any of the 1 year olds there!
OK I will be back soon
I am about to leave on a 2 week family vacation. I am bringing a bit of stitching, (blackbird sampler, and a christmas ornament or two) but not being too optimistic about it.. Before I go, I thought you would like to see the framing I picked up last week.
Here is Quaker Diamond, Hillside samplings. And Rose Hearts by Just Nan.
I will not be posting alot in the coming few, but I will be twittering a bit.
I am a Star Trek fan. More of a trekker than a trekkie, but here you can judge for yourself: I started watching the original series in syndication in the late 80's. I looked forward to the New Generation in the 90's every week. I like Voyager, do not like DS9, and am still unsure of that Enterprise show (I catch it only occasionally, and have serious trouble with Sam Beckett as the captain). I have been to exactly 2 conventions in my life (one in Pgh, PA and one in Tulsa, OK). But that is mainly because they just don't come to the east coast that much anymore. And I don't dress up (OK ok once I was Spock for halloween).
At this point you may be wondering why I am rambling on like this...well because 15 hours ago I was informed (by Wil Wheaton , of course) that after 11 years Star Trek: the Experience in Las Vegas will be closing in 6 weeks. And I have been racking my brain on how to get out there before Sept 1st, with my husband (also a fan), but without my 1 year old, before school starts, with both a 2 week vacation/reunion in NH (that has been planned for years), and a bridal shower (which involves a 1 week trip to PA) to attend before then.
I had only heard of The Experience a couple of years ago, and I naively asumed it would exist till I saw it. I have been going thru the 5 stages of grief repeatedly. Denial: How can they close it if i haven't been there yet? Anger: Why didn't anyone tell me sooner? I could of gone in June, I had plenty of time last month! Bargaining: Why can't they keep it open for another few months? Can I go to Vegas and return in one day? Depression: Ian's vacation time is all used up. No one has the time to watch the baby for us. And finally Acceptance: It was just a show, and just a ride, maybe someday the opportunity will appear again.
The above photo is a poster I bought in 1999 at the convention in Tulsa. Marina Sirtis is the only signature I have so far, but I thought I lost it years ago in our moves...Ian found it last week in the garage. Micheal Dorn and Brent Spiner will be in Vegas for a convention in August. Coincidences? I think not.
I have begun Blackbird sampler by Blackbird Designs (not to be confused with the freebie of the same name). But I am having some design issues. The first one I fixed already, I started it on 28 ct over 2 but it was coming out way to big for my taste, so now it is over one. But then the name. I think BK Adams name is there because she wrote the phrase, and there is no alphabet included with the chart to personalize it myself. So should I... A) shrink the box and leave out the last line, or B) chart out my own name and year? The other problem is sorta with the phrase myself. I like the idea of it, but in reality blackbird is not a symbol of creativity. (or not that i can find on the internets.) But a bowerbird is. I haven't charted it out yet but should I C) change it to bowerbird, or D) leave it as is cause it would mess up the balance?
Any opinions?
I know I haven't been stitching alot, Besides lots of people visiting this summer, I have been concentrating on catching up on my scrapbooking a bit. I was able to finish a first year album for A. kinda a highlights thing. I am pretty happy about that.
I did this quick little stitch, it was a kit rom Bucilla, Mary Engelbreit's Santa's Shop. I removed the aida, and substituted some linen, I want to finish it into a little scissor fob, but I am not sure if I want to find some cute fabric or stitch something else on the back.
The party was fantastic. The weather was perfect (a bit humid but not deadly). and A. was in a very good mood for most of it. I was running around a bit too much to enjoy it my self but I think everyone had a good time.
A. did not smash her cake. she was very delicate with it, picking off each blob of icing individually, so we had to smash it a bit so she could try the cake part. I think she liked it. 
Birthday cake
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
she is now 18 lb 2 oz, and 30 inches long. and she eats like a horse
The big news... Yesterday she figured out how to be mobile. She can now push herself backwards on her butt, in small circles. I am trying to figure out how to post some video of this development.
My inlaws left yesterday, and now we have about 2 weeks of no visitors, but then my mom visits again for a few days. It looks like between now and then, I will finally get to experience the joy of babyproofing the house.
I have not cross stitched a thing in days, I have been reading! First , "Odd Thomas" by Dean Koontz, I have always loved Dean, so I figure if he puts out 4 books on the same character maybe I should start reading them (good but not his best). Then "things I learned about my dad (in therapy)" a group of essays by bloggers and writers edited by my favorite mommy blogger, Dooce (Heather Armstrong). I liked this book, but am unsure if I want Ian to read it as it seems a source for lots of reasons why you should never have more than one kid. And speaking of ex-Mormons now I am reading "Under the Banner of Heaven" by Jon Krakhauer. I am fascinated and horrified by the story of the LDS church, both mainstream and fundamentalist, of which I only had a vague notion prior to this book. But this is not a religious blog so I will leave it at that.
Back to cross stitching. I was almost finished with the Winter block, but realized that i was all out of 3023, so I need to go buy that, in the meantime, have started the last block, spring, but it is nothing to show yet just a blob of red.
Hey I am back. I finished the Summer ornament block, and got alot done on the winter one;
Winter ornament so far
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
My child is facinated by thread. If you look carefully in the photo you can see her toys all around her, but playing with a piece of 3051 she found on the floor. Don't worry I make sure she doesn't eat it.
I am off for the weekend to Sue Hillis' Memorial Day Weekend Stitch In in Richmond, VA. nothing but stitching for 3 days! Ill come back with lots of finishes and lots of starts. See you all soon. I will twitter anything interesting (in the sidebar).
I have 4 (FOUR!) finished cross stitched projects for you to see. The first is the above one For the Birds by the Drawn Thread. I used all the called for threads, but I don't have the charms for it. This one seemed to be a chore for me. I mean for it to be a gift but I am still unsure about how to finish it.
The next ones I have been working on for the past couple of weeks are all smalls by Prairie Schooler, I started working on the four seasonal ornaments Here is autumn:
Still not signing, crawling, standing, or walking but isn't she cute!
As my classes wind down (I am done with Phys labs, have one more Anat. Lab, and 2 more Bio lectures) my schedule is clearing up. So yesterday Ian and I dropped A. at daycare and went on a daytrip together, we had breakfast, traveled to his RC hobby shop (30 min away) my LNS hobby shop (1 hour away in the cutest town ever! Salisbury, NC) and finished at a Dave and Busters (1 hour 30 minaway) for fun and games. This was our Anniversary celebration. We have been married 5 yrs as of the 26th.
Not to leave A completely out of the loop, we picked her up and took her out to dinner at a hibachi place...dinner and entertainment!
The whole point of this entry though is to show you what I picked up at the framers, Olde Shaker Tune, and View to a Spring Garden. The photos look a bit off color due to lank of flash, or the angle so it would not reflect. While I was there I decided to drop of 2 more for framing, and no I did not pick anything new up...I found myself with plenty to do right now, and nothing has appealed to me lately.
Here is my second flatfold , I found the perfect fabric for it called "flying flags". You ALL probably recognize this Liberty Sampler pattern it was on the cover of a the prolific premire issue of Cross Stitch Quick, back in 85? I swear everytime I get together with stitchers and they bring their extra stuff to trade, there is always this issue in pile. I finished stitching this guy in 05. Anyone remember that?
My regular stitching is on hold for a bit, I am bored with For the Birds, but I am not interested in starting anything else now. I have a couple of non cross stitchng project that have my attention right now, but can't share them with you my readers yet. and I am wrappping up the semester, grades are due in 2 weeks!
Pretty cool huh ;) I was excited about how they have turned out. I'll let you know how they hold up, but I am totally ordering a couple of extra squares to replace the ones that get really dirty.
For the Birds, by The Drawn Thread
I did not find my camera cord, but i did find my memory card reader...hence the photos.
Here is Quaker Diamond, by Hillside samplings I did it in brown and yellow silk thread. (model was black and yellow) I think I am going to have this professionally framed and hang it in my kitchen.
I just stitched it...I had no knowledge that it was supposed to be hard. I just followed the directions. It was only years later that I learned how many folks struggle with kloster blocks and clipping their linen. It certainly isn't perfect, the blocks are a bit loose, and you can see some traveling threads, but I guess that just goes to show what you can do without preconceived notions. This thing even had diamonds and stuff in the blocks that is advanced. I have not done a lot of hardanger since then...It just isn't that attractive to me. I do have a heart pattern I may attempt someday.
I have a finish for you all to post soon...If I could just find that damn camera cord!
Todays blog entry is brought to you by my current project, Quaker Diamond by Hillside Samplings. I started this one using DMC 310. I did not like the color so I decided to do a dark brown instead, and since I was at the store . I splurged and bought a couple of skeins of silk that the pattern called for originally. I have never used silks...no wait, I have, yes it's coming back to me now...on a couple of christmas ornaments. Every time I work with them I expect to be impressed because of all the ravings about silk threads that you see on the internets. I mean there are whole boards and chatrooms where people spend alot of time trashing "inferior" threads and effusing about how fabulous silk is. Yes I will admit it feels nicer in hand , but I think it has the same coverage and look that cotton floss does once it is stitched, maybe I am missing something?
Now on to the real reason for this entry. Yesterday Ian and I took our daughter to the neurologist. I have mentioned to you all before that I was concerned about her lack of advancement in the gross motor skills arena, while everything else is chugging along quite nicely (object permanance right on schedule). And of course I kinda expected him to say what every one else has been saying, all together now, "Babies all develop differently, she will get there in her own time". Which I might add is kinda frustrating. but he did not say that! THERE IS A REASON SHE IS NOT DEVELOPING WITH HER PEERS! Yeah, I cannot tell you how redeemed I feel. I knew something was up!
Oh you want to know what it is? ....congenital ligamentous laxity or joint hypermobility, or as it is better known, being double jointed. Her ankles, hips, and elbows are the most loose, which explains why she can still bring her foot to her mouth from any position.
Annabeth has got too much slack in her ligaments, and her muscles are not strong enough to compensate. But the reflexes are there and once her bones grow somemore and lengthen her ligaments, we should be right on track. Doctor says she may not walk till she is 18 months, but till then it is just a waiting game. ~10% of kids have this and most grow right out of most of it. The doctor said he sees babies like this about once a month.
She got this from me and my moms side....it explains so much
So I got this chart from a friend to do as a gift for someone yet unnamed, and I decide that the floss used in the model is not my color (Needle Necessities MacAulvey Manor, it is too yellow/ too green), and I couldn't see it on the internet, since they are now out of business. But I do want something that is tricolored overdyed as ahown in the model. So I head to the local shop, spend 20 minutes mulling over the colors and finally pick out a georgous NN skein that is Mauve/Blue/and Gold. It has no name just a # 127. I head home pick out 4 DMCs that match the skein for the stripes, and start stitching. About halfway through I notice that my DMC color choices are just one or two shades off the model #'s. I go to look up the # of the MacAulvey Manor....#127!
So long story short I stitched this with the colors called for (even though I had no Idea I was at the time). on 17 count fabric.
Hmmm that story was way more interesting as it was going on.
My sister is the self proclaimed tree-huggin-save-the-earth-hippy in the family. Don't get me wrong, we were both raised to recycle, reduce and reuse by my my just-missed-the-freelovin-60's-but-got-the-point-of-it mom but my sister is right now trying to put together a "green" wedding for her 150 closest friends/family/future inlaws. This is not as easy as you may at first think. It is way easier to trash the earth on limited funds, being carbon conscious is expensive.
So no, this is not for her wedding, this is mine for my office (I AM a biology teacher),. It is Four Trees By Bent Creek. I believe it is an older pattern that is now OOP. I used the called for threads in Anchor/DMC/and GAST on 28 ct linen. Stitched it over spring break, and framed it yesterday but I have to wait for a sunny day to take a decent picture for you. This morning's light didn't cut it.
Anna, thanks for the advice on attaching trim, I'll try that next time and let you know how it goes.
Ok this one is not as impressive. If you are a long time reader of my blog, you may remember Miss Little Angel in the Clouds. long story short: She was supposed to fit in this frame, the stitch count on the pattern was wrong, I specifically bought 36ct fabric to compensate, then the wings blended with the fabric! So as typical with me, when the going gets tough, the tough sits in a box for 6 to 12 months..till I can stand to look at it again.
So I finished the wings, and decided to backstitch them. took 2 hours.
Another finish tomorrow.....staytuned
I have not posted this past week because it was spring break and My mom came to visit from the great white north to care for A. while I did stuff to make me happy, like stitch, shop, and clean. No seriously that DOES make me happy. One of the things on my list was finishing 2 years worth of stitched christmas ornaments. I stitched all of these (except the PS on the lower right, I recieved that in a tuck pillow as a christmas gift). So I measured and sewed and twisted cord, and sewed some more, and swore at those people who make finishing look so easy and perfect. (note that I did not show a close up photo of these 8 ornaments
Question of the day from a frustrated ornament finisher: How do you attach twisted cord? If you glue it it looks like a first grader did it (unless there is some fancy glue out there I am unaware of), If you stitch it do you go over the cord or through it? I tried it both ways and it STILL looks like a first grader did it, ok ok maybe a third grader. I can't seem to do it where the attaching thread is well hidden and doesn't distort the cording.
I was going to post a photo of this one almost done yesterday, but I ended up finishing all of the backstitching last night. It went really fast once I got back into it (I didn't rip anything out) and the dog only took one night. The fabric is Crossed Wing collections own 28 count Snow Squall, with the called for DMC threads. I don't usually use overdyed fabric, but I thought that this went perfectly with the pattern, and so I bought both at the same time. I am in debate over what to do with this now. I think I might finish it into a folding stand up thingy.
Oh and as for A. appts. dontchallworrynone, they are 2 months from now, (specialists!) so if her eye clears up and we start catching up with our peers, maybe no doctor appt will be necessary!
As promised, a baby update post. Miss Annabeth is now 9 months old and saw the doctor for a checkup today. We are still a skinny minnie at 15 lbs 8 oz, but middle of the road in height (27 and 3/4 inches), and head circ (17 1/2 in).
We did get 2 referrals for her today, one for an optomologist, her right eye has not been draining correctly since she was born, and one for a neurologist, because she is very slow in the gross development skills area, stil showing no signs of rolling over onto her stomach or even wanting to be mobile. She just started progressing toward sitting without support over the past few weeks. She can sit now for minutes at a time with out mommy there, but there has to be a pillow behind her as she kinda FLINGS herself back without warning
She is eating everything in sight , table foods are starting to be more common, and she can even feed herself with small finger foods. our first tooth just started in a couple of weeks ago and seened to offer no pain.
I also wanted to thank everyone for their kind comments while I was down, I am doing much better now, and can see how she fits into my life much clearly now.
Here it is, Old Shaker Tune by Homespun Elegance completed 2/24/08. It is on 28 ct linen, and in DMC threads that it called for. I plan on getting it framed professionally, but my car just needed a big tune up and I need to save up some funds.
Next I plan on working on an Old WIP, Mitten Games, by Crossed Wing Collection which is almost 2 years old:
Mitten Games WIP
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
2 posts in 2 days...no you are not hallucinating.
Here is my current WIP, Old Shaker Tune by Homespun Elegance. I have been working on this for about a month or more. This one is for me and A. I have always loved this hymn, and find it easy to recall when I sing to her. I changed the words a bit to reflect my version (which is closer to the original, and how it is printed in my UU church hymnbook). And I also changed the title "Old Shaker Tune", to the title of the hymn, Simple Gifts
I chose to work on this one instead of my WIPs for a few reasons, 1) all the backstitching of the words would help me see progress very quickly, and that momentum would help me finish it and 2) I thought it would help me see how I can stitch as a reflection of my experience as a mom, and not in exclusion of it.
Hmm, that is not worded quite right, but those of you who are moms should be able to figure it out
Most of the cross stitching I was able to get done at a Tarheel GTG last saturday. I messed up a bit on some placement of the bottom trees and houses, but instead of ripping and moving everything, I am just going to change the vines/flowers a bit. I hope to have it done by the end of the month.
I joined a new exchange group this year and this is the first item I made for Janina in Brazil, click to see everything I sent to her. The fob was a pattern from a french site (If I can find it I'll post it for you here), where I found a ton of fun patterns, and I made it into a biscornu. I used Six Strand Sweets thread (Blackberry) and little white MillHill Beads to accent it.
photobucket 004
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.
The fob I recieved was from Suzanne in Australia, it is beautifully simple pattern, that was wonderfully finished with my initial on the other side:
I added up the finishes of 2007, I did 25 projects, about 10 of those were gifts or round robins. Not bad, just down from about 30 project average in the past few years
Yesterday I cleaned out my cross stitch patterns and pulled 25 things to do for this year, I will be listing those for you soon (cause I know you are dying to know!). If you are interested in buying any of my cleaned out patterns, I have a new link in the sidebar. Email me if you find anything you like;)
This year I have done 2 things so far (both for others) the first is this, January Needleroll by The Victoria Sampler. This was a gift for my mother in law, her birthday was on the 3rd of January. I think she got it last week, oh well.
