It's called a "Happy Dance"!!!

Finally, some eye candy around this place. I know, I know, it's been fairly boring what with no blog and when there was a blog not much on the picture front. I'm trying to do better, but there's this whole thing about actually getting things finished that's a problem. However, I managed to fix that this week by picking up a piece that I had framed and finishing another piece.

First, the one I had framed. This was the commemorative sampler from the now defunct "Spirit of Cross Stitch". If you look I started this around 1995, ok, in 1995. You'll notice I actually finished it last year in 2008. I'm not to proud to point out the fact that it took me 13 years to finish this lovely sampler. I can deal with the fact that I'm easily distracted by new samplers, or beads, or yarn, or anything sparkly. I am well aware of my issues, and I know they are many. But you see, I'm really proud of finishing this. The quote is one of my favorites, because I believe it's true. I also believe more of us need to believe that quote and start believing in our own dreams and going about making those dreams come true, but that's a subject for another post. It's not hanging up yet, but it's going to hang on the wall above this table, so I thought I'd take the picture here. I'm going to move some things around in what is supposed to be the living room, but is really "the room where my piano that I rarely play lives".

The second piece of eye candy is the actual finish from this week. I finished during the Daytona 500. I realize that my ability to stitch during "The All-American Race", which this year was more build-up then race, could be construed as a bit odd, but hey, that's me.
Here I give you "Little Green Acorns", designed by Eileen Bennett of The Sampler House. This was also a class piece from A Stitchers' Gathering in Oct. 2007. Not bad, just about 1 year and 3 1/2 months or so. That's not quite a record, but still not bad for me. This was a great piece to work on and I adore the colors. It was hard to get a good picture because it's not stretched and I had it on roller bars so it wants to roll back on itself. There are plenty of great specialty stitches, including a fair amount of colonial knots. I'm pretty sure I ended up doing them more as Moss knots, but that's just between you and me. Either way, it does look great. (For those who want to scrutinize my stitches and see if my threads lay side by side, you do know you can click on the picture and see it much larger. I mean MUCH LARGER.) I can't wait to take it to my framers and see what they suggest for framing.

That's it for the eye candy today, although in my way of thinking that's plenty. I don't want you folks to get used to having lots to look at around here. That might cause all kinds of craziness.

For those who were wondering, I still haven't seen the Rheumatologist. That doesn't happen until a week from today. Believe me, I'm in major countdown mode for that one. I've had some bad days the last couple of weeks and I am anxious to hear what she will say about treatment options.

Finally, I my heart is heavy tonight for my DF Jean and her husband Richard. Today their very special daschund, Oscar, crossed over the rainbow bridge and went to play where all dogs go in time. I know neither of them were ready for this day. None of us ever are ready to loose someone we love no matter how much we think we might be prepared. I also know that Oscar was a very lucky hound to have spent his life with these two wonderful people. He will be not be forgotten, either by them, or by those of us lucky enough to have been greeted at his home by "His Royal Lowness". Oscar, your loyal subjects hearts are heavy tonight, but we know you're enjoying all the chicken nuggets you can eat where you are now.

It's a big, BIG world

Well, actually this is about big stitching projects, but you get the idea. Since April is all about the LARGE projects I figured I wouldn't get much done. I'm notorious for starting large projects and then taking forever to finish them. It's nice to get some solid stitching time on them every once in awhile. So, after finishing Mr. Peacock's arbor, I decided to work on some other WIPs in my bag.

One of the boards I post on has a group devoted to UFOs. I consider Deer in the Woods a UFO since it got started and then has languished in my pile of other WIPs. I bought the pattern a couple of years ago when I went to AZ and we took a side trip to The Attic. (Lovely store that all stitchers should visit if in the area.) They had this completed and all the wall and I fell in love. I think the colors spoke to me, and probably the verse as well. So I bought the pattern and they mentioned that they had converted it to silk and gave me a copy of the conversion. So, here's what it looked like before Sampler Guild on Sunday...
Here's what it looked like after Wed. night when I put it away until next month...I'm very excited with how much I managed to get done. It's far from being finished, but that's about 1/2 a page, so maybe 1/8 done? I've decided I'll work on this each month for 3 days, and hopefully when I go to Sampler Guild. We'll see how far it progresses during the year.

Thursday is for a real UFO, and Traditional Elegance 2 fits that bill. Didn't think I'd get much done on it yesterday, but had some time during lunch to pull it out and then got home earlier then expected last night and was able to stitch a couple of hours. Thought you'd enjoy an updated picture.I had thought I'd work on the acorn in this band, but decided I was a bit tired for that. Still, that's quite a bit of progress. The end is actually in sight for this one, or at least I think it is.

Not much else going on. Teaching a crochet class tomorrow at my LYS, KnitWitz. Looking forward to that. It's a 2 part class, so should be fairly laid back. Otherwise, the weather is perfect today and life is not too bad.

A Great Big Happy Dance!

1995 Commemorative Sampler
Designed by Jean Farish Huls
forThe Spirit of Cross Stitch Festivals

I took this as a class in 1995. I think that was the first year I attended Spirit. Jean Farish actually taught the class, which I think was listed as an intermediate class. Mainly because of the pulled thread work on either side of the quote. It's hard to get a good picture of this, although this is pretty close to the colors. I didn't try to get close-ups of the pulled thread work, but if anyone wants to see it I'll give it a try and edit this post with them. I made a single change. After "In Celebration of" there is supposed to be a line that says "Spirt of Cross Stitch Festival". To be honest, I really didn't want that on my sampler. So, instead I took it out. Now it's just in celebration of...well life I guess, and stitching, and all the wonderful things that I've gotten from stitching over the years, like friends I've made because of it. So in reality, it's in celebration of all of you who I know through this blog and who have been my friends for years and who share my passion of all things made by hand.

I think I'll go work on something different from my stash in the spirit of March Madness. I've been so obsessed with finishing the commemorative sampler that I've not kept up with this month's theme. Must rectify that. I have a meeting tonight, so before I have to leave I think I'll stitch a little. Enjoy your Tuesday!

ETC: The year I took the class, as Jill pointed out it wasn't in 2005, but rather in 1995. Big difference.

Thursday already?

Not sure where the week went. I do know that I accomplished a few things, but don't really feel like it was all that much. And now tomorrow is Friday. Unbelievable.

I'm fairly certain everything is o.k. with my dad. Just to make sure I think I'll call the doctor's office tomorrow, but since we haven't had a frantic call from the good man, I'm not all that worried. (This is the same doctor that called, yes the DOCTOR called, to tell my dad he had to go to the hospital and then told me why when my dad tried to talk him out of it. My dad is nothing if not adverse to being ill.)

Last night I knitted on a small surprise I've been working on. I wish I could say more, but the recipient might actually read this, although I'm not sure she has internet service right now, but better safe then sorry. I've got another evening of knitting that that should be complete and I can get the square where it needs to go. Then I need to work on my sweater and some ornaments. Received an invitation to a holiday party the day after my aunt & uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. The party is at their house and is usually for all my uncles brothers and sisters, he has like 11 I think. Anyway, we'll be there, so I need to have an ornament for the exchange. Thought I'd knit one from stash. No one else will have one and it's kind of free so fits the $5 limit.

Tonight was UFO stitching night. I was good and pulled the sampler from 1995 back out. I now have about 1/2 of the last band complete. I'm estimating that 2 more Thursday nights of 8 - 11 PM t.v. viewing and I'll be ready to do the pulled work on this one. Since next week is Thanksgiving, I might get some extra stitching time and get it finished. That would be wonderful! I've pretty much decided to pull my "Winter Garden Gate" back out and work on it for UFO stitching. It's not as old, but it's fairly close to being completed, plus it is seasonal. Double dipping in a way, but hey, it works.

Finally, I refer you to Deanna Raybourn's blog. Her entry today is just wonderful and I agree totally with her. I'll give you a hint, it's about People's 50 Sexiest Men issue. Really you must go give it a read. Oh and if you don't know who Deanna Raybourn is you should check out her 1st book "Silent in the Grave". I loved it. Have it in hardback and it's one I won't sell at Chamblin's to support my reading habit. It's out in paperback, for those who don't like to wake up to a heavy book falling on your face. (These things happen and I'm not proud of it, but it's life and you learn to deal...mainly by taking your glasses off to read so you don't break them.)

I think that's all the news fit to write. I could tell you about my day yesterday that wasn't all that terrific, but I'm trying to put it behind me. Not to mention I have decided that some people just aren't going to change their minds because that might cause them to have to put forth additional effort, or, heaven forbid, it might mean "conflict" and we just can't have that. So, I will just wait and see and if things don't change I may decide it is time for me to make a change.