Autumn, Stitching and Stash

It is November and in two months it will be a new year.  Anyone started their Christmas shopping? Not me. I am one of the weird people who likes the crowds and shopping in decorated stores.  One of my favorite things for Christmas.  Funny thing is I will be stitching Halloween for the next few months.

I did finish page 4 on the Fright Night Friends and on page 5.  I just finish the sign last night, all Kreinik thread.  Kreinik and I are just barely getting along, and as soon as I am done, the next time using the Kreinik again will be too soon.  I hate DMC Light effects more than Kreinik.  I have another sign to put on under the shoes and the E will stitched next week. I know I will finish it this year.  I want to do the Christmas banner too, but I think I will wait a couple months before starting that one.

I am doing this lovely sampler from a French designer, Jardin Prive.  I didn't show the first part so the above picture is part 1.  I am stitching it on a  6 inch stitch band.  It is a little tricky  to stitch on it by the edges.  I love the color of it but I notice under the lights in my kitchen, where I sometimes stitch, parts of the band gives a "dirty" look, like car grease was spilled on it through out the band. I know it is the lightening.

Last night, I finished part 2, just in time, since part 3 came out this morning.  I have decided to redo the hearts and flowers. The pinks are very light and almost whitish color.  I had order the threads this morning and when they come in, I will frog and restitch them.  There are mistakes on this section too, but they are spacing mistakes and I can't tell the difference.

 I got some lovely new stash this past month.  My friend, Karin, rak'd me these lovely gifts, Christmas mittens ornaments, a Christmas card magazine and some variegated threads.  I love the  gifts and I know I will be stitching from a couple patterns soon. Thank you Karin!

 I had signed up for the Kustom Krafts Stitch A Long and I am stitching Autumn Encounter.  I admit I haven't touch it in a couple weeks (no update) but will be working on it this weekend.  I was one of the winners in last months raffle and I was allow to pick a pattern from their site.  I fell in love with this tiger, called Blue Eyes. I am not sure when I will get to it, but it will be gorgeous when I do finish him.

Last June, I had participated a online retreat with one of my Yahoo groups.  I had won a prize was told I could pick 2 patterns from the X'x & Oh's site.  I picked Big Trouble and Shall We Dance.  It was the perfect treat for this stitcher on Halloween.  Thank you Vickie!

On the 15th every month, Nora Corbett releases at least one new pattern . The Mirabilia Minions (which they like to be called), stay up late to 1 am to see the new pattern.  Then the next few days, the talk is about what is the perfect fabric and who can get the pattern first, etc.  If I am awake around 1 am, I will check out the new patterns, but I usually don't go out right away to buy it.  When this mermaid, named Azure, came out, I said it was pretty but I can wait. so I thought,and when a friend, who model stitched Azure, showed some close ups of the model.  What I saw were beads and bling which I didn't see when seeing the whole picture.  My heart literally fell in love with her.  I actually had a physical feeling of my heart falling.  Needless to say, I brought the pattern and beads but will be getting the threads and fabric in a couple weeks.  I know when the rest of the stuff comes in, I will be stopping the rest of my stitching, because I want her on my wall.
 I will leave it here for now and leave you with some more Autumn scenes in Southeast Connecticut.

 This one was taken from the highway we were driving on.  My aunt stopped on the side for a minute and I snapped a few pictures.  We actually felt the bridge sway as the cars were whizzing by.

 This one is when the sun was blazing on the trees at sunset.

Love the blue sky!

Have a great week!
Until next time,
Vicky

Stitching and Stash

I am in Virginia visiting my friends.  I came here straight from Tulsa, OK.  I will tell you about my trip in the next post when I get home.  I did have a good time in Colorado Springs and got to meet a couple new stitchers.  In Tulsa, I saw my nephew and he has grown so much.  He is now 5 feet, 8 inches and wears a size 12 shoe.  When I told my sister, she texted me "Holy crap!", lol.
I finished LHN Chocolate Shoppe the other day.  There is one mistake but I am keeping it in.  The side bars are one stitch short and if you notice, the bottom of the 'p's' are touching the cross stitched line,and there is suppose to be a space.  Since it is for me, I am leaving it in.  It was stitched on Sassy Fabbys Sugared Cream 28 count lugana.  I think I will be framing it and put in my kitchen.

This is my fourth visit to Newport News and I finally got a chance to go toVirginia Beach, the home of Dyeing To Stitch.  It is about an hour away.  I took a picture of my new stash I got at Dyeing To Stitch and I spend $54  in the store.  The blue fabric is for Lizzie Kate 6 Fat Men, which is going towards to a RR I just joined.  I have to put the boarders on before I send it, but I have a few weeks.  The white fabric is for Big Toe Designs Hope building block.  I got the pattern at my retreat and plan to stitch it for my aunt.  I just found out recently "Hope" is her word.  It will make a great Christmas gift. The threads is for the pattern. Crescent colors Sugar&Spice (the main color) and Plum Paisley.

We had went for breakfast before heading to Virginia Beach and were talking about cheesecakes.  I said you have to try mine.  We end up going to Walmart first because we were too early for the LNS.  I picked up a spring form pan and called my aunt to send me the recipe.  I baked the cake and had it sit in the refridge over night.  Here is a picture of the beautiful cake.  It came out very yummy.  It sure does not help my diet. Which reminds me, I had went to get weigh in the other day at Weight Watchers and I lost another 6 pounds.  I was so surprise because I really thought I might have gained.  I am one pound away from my 5% weight loss. I haven't been walking because it has been so hot, in the triple digits and humid.

I am now stitching CCN Star Spangled Garden.  This is my progress so far as of today.  I changed the blue and the red threads to DMC 312 and 498.  The Crescent Colors I got did not go very well with the fabric I am using.  There is already a mistake but I am fudging it. I can't seem to count correctly lately.

The following pictures are the new stash I got at my retreat:

I hope you are trying to stay cool.  I will be home on July 19.  My next post will be shortly after that. 

Hugs, Vicky

Stash Mail!

WOW!!!
Around 12 noon, my front doorbell rang. I am thinking who was at the door, and it was the UPS man. He had a huge box for me from Port Orange, Florida. I knew immediately it was from my friend. He works for a Goodwill store and he came across a pile of cross stitch stash. I was in stash heaven this afternoon. There were patterns, mostly teddy bears and couple Paula Vaughn, and material, a couple good size pieces. However, there was a sweat shirt and a sweater with started patterns. The patterns were not in the box. I have no idea what to do with them. I might try to take out the stitches of one of them but the other is pretty huge and look like it was almost done. I never took out stitching with a waste canvas before. Any hints how to do it will be helpful.
My aunt and uncle from Cape Cod was in Connecticut this past week. They took me out for dinner for my birthday. We went to The Olive Garden. Since I am trying to keep my sugar levels down, I got a diet coke and a water. My aunts order a Raspberry Creme soda which I took a sip, oh my god, it was to die for, but I stayed with my diet soda. They also gave me a $50.00 debit gift card. Do I hear more stash calling to me?