That is SOOOO 2012!

That is SOOOOO 2012!

Here is the 2012 completion list that I am removing today from the blog:

Kelly Clark Drummer Boy

Corwin & Abbey Bride's Book

Melissa Shirley Chick Egg

Melissa Shirley Lamb Egg

Princess & Me Bridal Car Ornament

Princess & Me Bridal Cake Topper Ornament

Kelly Clark Camel for Creche

Melissa Shirley Pig Egg

Hagrid Owl

From Russia with Love #1

From Russia with Love #2

From Russia with Love #3

From Russia with Love #4

From Russia with Love #5

From Russia with Love #6

Wise Old Owl

Melissa Shirley Lollypop

Asa Cummerbund

Laury Nativity Stocking by Tapestry Tent

So, a heartfelt goodbye to the 2012 stitching projects and on to 2013!

Cheers!

T'was the Season!

The Grand Christmas Holiday 2012 has come and gone at our house.  As is our usual tradition, Richard opts to work on the 26th of December and when he gets home he drives up to the stripped tree in the front yard and the house totally de-Christmafied!  We do leave out the nativity sets so that we remember to celebrate the Epiphany in January.

While putting away the holiday decor for the year, I took a moment to look at the Christmas Stockings that my mother in law, Joan Butler, stitched for herself and for Richard many years ago.  She designed most of her canvasses and I especially love the one that she created for herself.  Richard's stocking has happy animals of all kinds and building blocks with his initials.  But, Joan's stocking is so great!  It has a Christmas Tree with a Fleur de lis and a Kappa Key.  Then there is the blue station wagon that she drove during the carpool years.  Below that is the needlepointed panels that she created for a screen in her home.  The were very oriental in style and lovely.  You see the needle and thread to the right of the panel depiction.  Then there is the backgammon board, the Dr. Pepper bottle and the playing cards on which she put the letters of her name.  I get these stockings out every year and I simply love them.  You can clearly see my Santa Pillow and the Edge of the Fa La La La La that Emma Grace stitched.

All this Needlepoint from days gone by has me thinking of all of the memories that are stitched into each piece.  Here we go, embarking on 2013 and another year of memories and stitching.  May the blessings of 2012 double for all of us in 2013!

'Tis the Season

'Tis the season for list making, right?  Well I am starting to consider my list of hopeful projects for 2013.  To premature to post it just yet, but I am contemplating the notion of not including the things that remain on my 2012 list.  Seems a tiny bit scandalous, but I just may scrap and come up with a new list....what is on the 2012 list anyway?  Without navigating back to the blog to see the list, I think I will start a preliminary list right now for 2013:

• Henry's Stocking ( faithful readers: I have actually started working on it again!)
• Brides book for Kathy's son and his bride
• at least one of the new Thanksgiving Series from Sandra Gilmore
• Ruth Chow Pumpkin
• Creche
• at least 2 of the 12 Day's of Christmas
• Shaw's Belt (after Spring Break)
• 4 Owls from the Raymond Crawford series
• Keep up with the new Tudors Series

Now, that is a mere 13 projects and only 2 of them are what I would consider "big".  I feel a little jealous/competitive/inspired by a woman on the Needlepoint Facebook page (who knew there was such a thing) that completed 42 projects in 2012....that would make my stash a totally acceptable level....well not quite, but close....really, i would have to do that two years in a row to get to a number that does not horrify me.  I am at 135 and would feel good about anything under 50.....YIKES!

I am working on the last From Russia with Love Egg and I ran out of pearls.  I needed to have more because I added three initials instead of one!

UPDATE on December 8th:  Complete!  Love it!

Will Stitch for Cash $?$

Is it true...have I turned my hobby into a job...NO...NEVER, but I did agree to stitch one of Nancy's Eggs from the From Russia with Love Series for a sample for Janet Burnet.  So, I finished it and I am delighted to have it out of the way.  Does it count toward the year end list?  I am just not sure.  I will not add it since it was not from my personal stash AND I was paid......but, not that I am counting or anything...that does make 19.....not really, but actually!  Here is a picture of the NON- numbered egg that I completed tonight!

New Lucky Number 18!

In Hebrew, each letter has a numeric value. The numeric value of chet is 8, and the numeric value of yud is 10; thus the numeric value of the world chai is 18. Because of this association between chai ('life') and the number, 18 has come to be seen as something of a lucky number.



Who knew that my favorite number (73) would be so quickly eclipsed in my heart by the # 18?  Here I am in November and I have completed 18 canvasses this year!  And, as you can see above, that is a lucky number!  I feel lucky!

Only November 15th and it has been a grand month for needlepoint.  I traveled to Memphis to see Amy & Jill and to meet Kirsten!  Laurie, Mary, Pam, & Rosanne and I had a great trip to Memphis and we even got some stitching done!  Loved meeting Kirsten at Amy's shop.  What a darling baby girl she had and I made every attempt to take her home......I almost went Rogue with Baby Rogue!

I worked on the Three Witches and my Kelly Clark Drummer Boy.  In the evenings, I worked on the Bride's Book and enjoyed the Memphis night life!

Aside from a reunion with Amanda at the Westin and interesting conversation with Justin Beiber Fans, there was stitching, eating, drinking, and Laughing!  The Laughing was the best part!

I came home all full of excitement to stitch and as of yesterday, I have finished the Bride's Book and the KC Drummer Boy.

Here are a few in process photos of the book and then the completed product along with the completed Drummer Boy!

All in all, that makes my total for 2012 18 canvasses.  I would love to finish two more to round it out, but, I can tell you that it will not happen at this point.  I really want to get back to the stocking and see if I can complete it by February......it is a goal anyway!

Get me to the church on time!

I have started with earnest on the new bride's book canvas for Abbey & Corwin's wedding.  I like it so much better than the first design.  I started late on Friday evening and now it is early Sunday evening.  I have put stitches in and pulled out....and now I think I am in a grove.  I consulted with Laurie and came up with a color pallet that I like and think that Abbey will enjoy for years to come.  At least I hope so!

Now, I need to GET IT DONE!!!!  Wish me luck!

Does Fort Worth ever Cross your Mind?

This is the age old question, right?  Well we are headed off to Cowtown tomorrow (not crazy about that nickname) for a funeral unfortunately!  My dear friend and in law, Betty Coleman, passed away and we will take the children to FW for her service tomorrow.  I could tell a million hilarious stories about times and conversations with Betty and I will forever hear her Texas drawl in my head saying, "Courrrrtenay"...she could take my long name and stretch it until I smiled!

Instead of waxing poetic (or morosely), I decided to chose a project for the car ride up and back (4.5 hours each way) that Betty would have liked!  She was forever sending my children fun Halloween Treats ~ as a matter of fact, when Emma Grace was born on October 15th I got a lovely gift from Betty and her husband, Roy.  Then a couple of days later I received the most adorable halloween gown for Emma Grace that had small pumpkins all over it for my new little pumpkin!

So, all that to say, criteria was small for the car and "on hand"in my stash!  So, I went for two Melissa Shirley Lollypops that I bought years ago!  They will be cute!  I saw some finishing that I liked and will try to have it replicated!

                              

Post Script: 9.25.12 : Striped Lollypop Completed....Dotted Lollypop back to stash!

Scattered!

I am happy to have finished the little chick egg and to complete the series of 4 Melissa Shirley Easter Eggs.  They are really cute and will make good additions to my Easter Eggs...I think I will have to officially retire from EGG stitching as I will have the From Russia with Love Series to display and these 4 eggs from Melissa Shirley to accompany the eggs that I already have!  Crazy, but I do love stitching them!!

For no reason at all, I pulled out the Little Drummer Boy that I bought to add to the Kelly Clark Nativity Series (apparently, 12 was not enough).  I have the background completed (except for parts that I left until I finish the center design).  Kelly was nice enough to paint over the cat and make a drum sitting next to the drummer boy....Thank you, Kelly.

So, I will now put him aside for the time being and pull something to take in the car for a quick trip to Fort Worth.  I thought a small piece that would be great to travel with would be the two Melissa Shirley Halloween Lollypops......should be able to use my stash threads (I hope) and finish them in the car!

All this to say....what about the stocking!  Have faith, I will get to it!

Just us Chicks!

I just completed my last Melissa Shirley Easter Egg.  I am disappointed in myself that I did not make the wing using the Picot Weaving Technique, however, I just did not have it in me to fight with that wire.  The wire that came in the kit was not strong enough to hold its shape while I am making the picot weaving wing, so I just went with a favorite adage of mine... "Get er dun!"  And, I did!

I am working on one of my Raymond Crawford owls now and the stocking still looms!  And the Bride's Book!  And the.........well, you get the picture!

Egg-cellent!

Laurie and I stitched together tonight and we both had great success!  I finished my 5th egg in the From Russia with Love Series (#9 in the series) and Laury finished one entire side of her Thanksgiving House roof...yes, her success represented more total hours, but I enjoyed my success as well!

Another egg from the Russia series.  I cannot wait to put them all out next year with my Easter decorations.  Obviously, you could leave them out all year long as they are not holiday specific, but somehow, I get a little extra excited when I put needlepoint away and then pull it back out seasonally, so that is what I will do with these.

I think we all know what this means.....I have to attack the stocking.  Honestly, should I actually chronicle (in this blog) my inability to get going on that project???  

Love my egg-cellent egg!

A big Birthday Thank you to Kathleen for my gift!  I love it and will try to do it justice with my stitching!!  Now, I must go and do as it says!  xoxo to my fave, K.Coghlan, W.A.L.

Blue @ Turquoise Place

We headed out for a trip to Orange Beach, Alabama (Gulf Shores) to stay in Turquoise Place.  We packed the Suburban with 5 children ( our + Morgan+ Finn + Normand) and loads of sunscreen!  And, a little bit of needlepoint!  I brought the memory belt that I bought for Shaw.  I finished the first block with his initials.  I can't wait to get this completed.  I plan to try to complete two squares per month so that Shaw will have it ready for high school!

Update (August 17th):  I can officially change my plan!  I have finished almost all of the belt now!  I love the basketweave of it all!  I will not do the square that I am saving for his high school until I know where he will attend.  I will leave the block next to that unstitched also so that the painter will not have to worry about getting paint on the stitched portion.

Here are some pictures of how it is going so far!

This is the first section.  Initials, Longhorn, LAX Stix (still need strings!)

Then, the Texas Flag (still needs the white stitched), the New Orleans Saints, and the image for the LSU Tigers

Orthodox Cross for AOS, our mother/son code!, State of Texas, and the only symbol for Houston that I could find...H-Town!

Hard to see the Boy Scout Shield, Tennis racket (needs strings), and Maltese Cross from Camp LaJunta

The next two blocks are a yellow lab (Gertie) and a blank section for his high school (T.B.D. in March 2013)

This project has been so much fun!  The other belt that I stitched was the same repeating image (Liz's Jumping Dolphins) and I got sick of it while stitching.  This one was so much fun because there was a new small space waiting for you after each completion!

I want to make one of these belts for Richard, but he is not sure that he is a NP Belt kind of guy.....oh well!

Great Project!

Update (August 18th)  Finished the parts that I can do so far.  Will hold off on the Dog since it is next to the part that will be painted for the high school after we find out where he will go to high school!  I feel the need to add this to the finished project list, but, alas, I cannot!

Uncle.....

I am totally hopeless.  I will never get back to the stocking.  I started the chick egg today!  Admitting the problem is the first step to recovery, right?  I am not sure what I am going to do with the wing yet.  I would like to do Picot Weaving, but I am not sure that I can keep the shape of the wing with all the pulling that you do with picot.  Will try tomorrow!  This is how far I got tonight!  I really like the feathers!

Mary has a little lamb...and now I do, too!

Melissa Shirley Lamb Egg.....DONE!  I really like the odd color combination on this egg.  As usual, I hesitated with the picot weaving and actually found a very helpful You Tube video that walked me through the steps!
I will not even begin to make an excuse for my failure to commit to the stocking....as Scarlett said, "Tomorrow is another day".

Off to the finisher with this little guy tomorrow!

Stitcher's Virus

Indecision!  I hardly ever pull out stitching on a canvas (or as some call it "reverse stitching")....but today it is practically all that I did!  I could not seem to like anything that I did on the Lamb.  Still, I think I can finish it tomorrow or Monday.  Please send the antidote for the virus that I am suffering from Indecisionoucious!

On your mark, get set...stitch!

We are headed out to San Antonio tonight to spend the night at Logan's and then off to Hunt, Texas to drop Emma Grace off at Camp Mystic for Girls.  I am taking the Melissa Shirley Lamb Egg to work on.  It is completely void of stitching, and I am going to see if I can get a lot of it completed even though I will be distracted with her sundries before we drop her off at camp.  I will return home on Thursday and put the lamb aside and start full tilt on the stocking for Henry....no distractions! (Please refrain from looking to see how many times I have said I am about to get going "great guns" on Henry's stocking!  I do not wish to be reminded!)

Now the doubts begin to creep in!  Can I actually complete Henry's stocking?  I am not sure that I can.  I will give it my all for the month of July and see where I stand.  Then, I will have August and September to keep on with it, but with all of the distractions that my regular life brings!  I think I can turn it in a little late to Pam, but with the prospect of shipping it to Australia in mind, I really do need to get it by December 1!  (I am thinking that this is not really in the realm of possibility!)  Keep thinking the good thoughts for me!

Post Script:  Finally decided on the Lamb and, what do you know, I did not touch it on my trip!  I decided to procrastinate, yet again, and have been working on it since I got home.  Adjusted goal...return to stocking after favorite son dropped at camp on Tuesday! (maybe I will finish lamb buy then! Sneak peak of progress below!)

Waiting for a bride!

I have loved this Princess & Me Bride & Groom ornament for many years!  My patience has finally paid off and, at last, I have a bride and groom for which to stitch it  now that Corwin & Abbey are "taking the plunge"!  I did not love the stitch guide, but I followed it with the exception of changing a few threads to reduce my stash!  

Now, I have no excuse not to start the stocking.  I do "need" a little project to keep handy when I cannot face the magnitude of the stocking!  Maybe one of the Melissa Shirley Eggs (lamb or chick) or maybe an owl?  Not sure!

Cheers to Abbey & Corwin!

A Wise Old Owl

A wise old owl lived in an oak

                                        The more he saw the less he spoke

The less he spoke the more he heard.

Why can't we all be like that wise old bird? 

I am not sure why this owl reminded me of one of the nursery rhymes I know learned when I was little.  (Words that I have failed to live by, incidentally!)  This is a really cute little fellow.  He is taking it all in with those big orbs of his and not saying a word!  The stitch guide calls for some beading on the feathers (see below), but I could not get the strings of beads to look even on top of the fluffy fleece.  I think I like it without, but will consider adding them before they go to finishing.  

We are headed to Marble Falls for a few days with the Bridgers ~ sans James :(  ..... he is still recovering from surgery and so we will have to take our show on the road to see him!  I am not sure what project to take.  The stocking is too big and complicated to take when I will be distracted with lots of visiting.....not sure what I will take.....thoughts. blog-o-shere?

Below are the photos of my owl as I began adding the fluffy fleece and the sample owl with the beading.....will continue thinking about it!  Feel free to add your suggestions, if you give a hoot!

TGIF

Just a quick chronicle of my stitching evening.  I am finished with all but the feathers and the beak of the owl that I just started.  I had a difficult day and my stitching calmed me down and I think I will sleep better for it!  Thank you stitching.....thank you Friday!

Slowly Getting Donna Summer's Message!

Remember the famous words of Disco Diva Legend....ENOUGH IS ENOUGH...?  Well, I am trying to incorporate those words in context with my stash collection.  You hear people laughingly say at Needle House, "She who dies with the biggest stash wins!"  I have subscribed to this thought process since I started my "collection".  Now, I am slightly depressed that I will never have time to finish all the things that I own and I love them!!!  Every time one of my canvasses catches my eye, I think, "That one is definitely next!".
Part of the reason that I started this blog was to track my progress on the needlepoint journey (whilst feeding my writing craving as well...you know the "two Birds" theory).  So far in 2012 I have completed 10 projects.  I am absolutely planning on finishing the Bride's Book for Abbey & Corwin as well as Henry's stocking.  I seem to be fitting in other projects in-between......this current trend must cease!
I plan to keep a rolling list of projects that are "next".
I really am not all that tempted by new projects except for the ones that I have already identified.  I am trying to add a "slideshow" to the blog of all of those items that I am still craving.  I think the list is as follows:
Nancy's (Needle House) Thanksgiving Series by Once in a Blue Moon : Sandra Gilmore including Miles, Priscilla, Turkey, Brave One, & Little Feather
8 of Melissa Shirley's Acorns
Ears of Corn (3D) that Nancy showed me (artist escapes me!)
That is not so bad, is it?

Separate from my plan to start reducing my STASH, or back stock, is my desire to drag my friends into joining me in several projects.  Currently, I am trying to talk Mary Jones into starting Raymond Crawford's owls.  Or at least some of them!  I realize that this is rather cruel of me to try to drag those that I enjoy into the my same predicament.  What can I say, I can only focus on correcting one vice at a time, right?

More Owling

I decided to start on another owl today.  I got the eyes in the little green sides in, but did not finish the red area (needs sequins and beads).  This is a really cute one!  Will order the thread tomorrow for the Brides Book for Abbey and Corwin.  I am so worried that she will not like it, but I had it painted as she described.  Fingers crossed!

Time to turn in ~ Good night!

Owling

Here is a sampling of the owls from Raymond Crawford that I have completed.  I still have 5 to complete ( I gave one to Lynn ...it was white and I did not really like it...she loved it! Lynn, if you are reading this...please post picture of owl that you are stitching from this series!)  These owls are named from the series, however, I would like to rename them.  I am currently accepting suggestions!

Dear Spider, Send Faith!

I feel I need the "Spider" to intervene to give me some faith to begin on the stocking project!  I think I am actually going to start on it tomorrow.  Tonight, I am starting on one of the Raymond Crawford owls.  Really just because it will be easy to start and then stop when I get the stocking set out upstairs.
I am very overwhelmed by the outrageous number of canvasses that I own.  I am getting a good number of them completed this year; however, I never seem to see the number in the stash go down.  I realize that is because I have jumped the gun and ordered the canvasses that I needed to complete the 12 days of Christmas.  I actually have decided to do them all in one year and then give them to Emma Grace when she moves into her first apartment .... one a day like the actual 12 Days of Christmas song!  Corny, I know, but she will then have 12 ornaments with which to decorate her first tree.  This is slightly odd since I do not use Needlepoint Ornaments on my own Christmas tree.  I like the ones that my grandmother and mother made and beaded and then glass ornaments that sparkle when the lights hit them!!!  So, I will inflict all of my latent needlepoint ornament desires onto my children!

Off to start the next owl....how will I finish them??  I want little stand ups, but what will I do with all of them???

Stitching Marathon

# 8 before I added the crystals...very fun to stitch!

The time was right, the projects were available, and I had a Saturday/Sunday stitching marathon!  Shaw and RIchard were out of town at a Lacrosse Tournament in Denver, so it was a girls weekend.  Indeed, I did drive Emma Grace around a bit during the daylight hours, but overall, I sat in my new stitching chair and completed two projects.  First, the Princess & Me Cake Topper that I stitched for Corwin & Abbey.  Then, this morning, I started the #8 Egg in the From Russia with Love Series at Needle House.  It is my favorite one yet and it is finished!  Will turn it in tomorrow.

Completed #8 Egg...Love it!

Sweet Confection!

Just finished the Princess & Me Cake Topper Ornament for Abbey & Corwin.  I will send it to be finished and then add it to a shower gift or a Christmas Gift.  It was FAST and fun to complete.  Of course, it was small enough to use threads from my stash, but I ended up buying some background colors...what a shock!  I will add a photo to this post tomorrow!

Epiphany!

I feel like it is January 6th and I am celebrating the Epiphany!  Why, you ask?  It is clearly June 8th (actually since it is 1:39 a.m., it is June 9th).  However, the camel has "arrived"!  He is ready to go off to finishing and then join his fellow nativity members.  I cannot at all remember when I started the Nativity Home Study with Amy Bunger, however, we can all safely assume that I did not complete one canvas a month like I set out to do from the beginning......it was much longer than that!

While Laurie and my stitching buddies will find this hard to believe, I actually enjoyed the process of this nativity project.  The stitch guides were amazingly detailed (no surprise), the threads were varied and interesting, the details are remarkable, and the learning curve was HIGH for me!  All of that said, my favorite thing about this "journey" has been stitching it "with " Laurie.  It was so incredibly helpful to me to have her as my personal nativity coach.  Thank you Laurie!

Here is a photo of the finished Camel....still on the stretchers:

I will trim the tassels and the red fringe later.  My scissors were not getting as clean of a cut as I wanted, so I still have that to do before finishing.  In this photo, the handler's face looks frightening....rest assured that he looks like a very nice camel handler in person.   I need some suggestions for his name!

I think you can pretty easily tell where I added to the painted canvas near the handler and the nose of the camel.  I just wanted to make sure that his nose was not "around the corner" after he is finished.  The line is pretty noticeable, but I do not think it will be after finishing....or at least I am crossing my fingers!!!

Will post names for both camel and handler when I decide on them!

Saturday in H-Town

First Saturday in June marks the Needle House annual sale!  I was there for a bit this morning and people were busy getting inspiration and new projects and tools!  Now I am about the embark on the stitching for the day.  Still working on the Camel.  How very optimistic I was to think that I would finish it the week of May 20th!  I certainly did not meet that goal! Currently working not he camel "hide" and then tassels, bridle and lead rope, one more blanket, stars in the sky....not too much, right?

I extended the left edge of the camel ask that I could see his entire face when he is stitching instead of having his nose turn the corner towards the seam.  It does not look perfect, but it looks good enough!  Hopefully, I will finish the camel proper today and then he blanket tomorrow!  Glass half full!

On a Journey with a Camel and his Handler!

Is it odd that I find myself very thirsty while stitching this camel?  I think it is odd, indeed.  The study weekend proved to be a great opportunity for stitching!  I completed all three of the bottom borders on the camel and all of the grid work no the background of the piece.   I am almost totally finished with the Handler and anxious to start no the camel proper!

I think if I am able to work on this a good amount of time this week, I will finish it.

Then, I think we can all agree that we know what must happen next.  I must dive in full throttle to the stocking for Henry.  I guess that I subscribe to the "if I say it enough times, it will become true".  As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that working' for ya?"  My results are less than impressive.

Children have finals all this week and I am going to be running around to get them to and from each day. Soon, I will be missing these days when they are off to college and beyond.  But, at this moment, conversion of a bedroom to a stitching room seems like a dream situation.  Why is it when we are busy, we ache for time to slow down (stitch), yet, when we have time, we are often feeling lonely.....I crave the perfect balance....it is as they say, "the human condition".

More stitching to be completed tonight.....back to the camel and handler!

Study Hall

As the proctor for study hall at 2133 Maroneal, I settled in for a long day of stitching while the rest of the house studied.  All of us applied ourselves to the task at hand!  I got quite a ways on the Kelly Clark Nativity Camel.  I finished all the grid work on the background.  The three bottom borders and much of the "handler".  I will sit with it a but more tonight, but I am amazed at how fast this one is going.  (even though I should be working no the stocking!)  At least I am making some progress on one project!  Here is a photo of the finished sample by Amy Bunger ~

Love this one.  The elephant was my favorite, but now I think it is this camel and friend!  One question, why does he have a gift?  His King has a gift in his hand so this seems redundant...oh well, makes for a beautiful canvas!
Back to the salt mines!!

Monday Night Stitching and Margaritas!

What could be better than stitching on a rainy night with great friends at Needle House?  Well, I can tell you what could be better....stitching on a rainy night at Needle House AND taking a break to go to Berryhill Tamales for Margaritas AND, then, coming back to Needle House to stitch some more!

I feel certain that if anyone is reading this (shout out to Famous Jen Reed), you are quite sick of me making excuses for the fact that I am not working on the stocking for Henry.  Well, Monday night I continued with my procrastinating ways and worked on the Kelly Clark Nativity Camel.  The Kelly Clark Nativity seems to be the gift that keeps on giving to me!  Apparently, it was not enough that I had 12 (TWELVE) pieces to complete, I simply had to indulge my affinity for the Little Drummer Boy and purchase the canvas of the young man to add to my TWELVE Nativity pieces.  I blame it all on the animated Little Drummer Boy which premiered a couple weeks before Christmas in 1968 and is still shown year after year.

Remember him?  Well, Kelly's Little Drummer Boy is much more handsome.  The only issue was that he had a cat sitting next to him and since my allergies to cats most likely extends to the painted cat as well, I asked a special favor of Kelly and she was sweet enough to paint the cat out and change it to a urn (maybe the cat jumped in there...either way, out of sight, out of mind!).  

Perhaps, you think that I would stop with THIRTEEN Kelly Clark Nativity canvasses.  Well, you might guess, that I did not.  I fell in love with the Creche that Amy Bunger stitched and created an incredible guide for as well.  I own it, but,of course.

So, a quick update on this project:  completed from this series is The Holy Family (Mary, Jesus, & Joseph), the three wisemen, the Angel of the Lord, the Shepherd, the sheep, the donkey, and the elephant.  The camel, the drummer boy, and the Creche are still to be stitched.  

So, now have I made you come to the dark side with me in the pit of procrastination?  Welcome, aboard!

I believe, when thinking about my procrastinating ways on Henry's stocking,  I will invoke the words of Scarlett O'Hara, " I can't think about that today, I'll simply go crazy if I do.  I will think about that tomorrow."

Thank you, Scarlett!

Clearing the Decks!

I have been trying to figure out why I am not diving into the stocking that I am stitching for Henry.  My first excuse was that I was waiting on my frame to arrive via post from Amy's after my visit to her shop!  Then it arrives.  And, still, the stocking sits.  Then I decided to finish up the couple of things that were close to being completed.  They are completed.  And, still, the stocking sits.  Friday, I decided that if I got some of the loose ends in my office wrapped up, I would be in a better mind set to tackle the large project.  So, it all began on Friday.  I started the task of REALLY tackling my office and all that that means.  I spent all day on Friday (from 8:10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday) working on the entire area.  I made great progress, but more work was left to be done.  I hit it hard on Saturday (with a few more interruptions, I admit) but I made a great deal more progress.  Ending the evening with a revamp of my Needlepoint storage areas (three drawers).  Now, admittedly, this does not include taking care of the things that are in my TO DO stack, it just means the cleaning and reorganizing of the desk itself and its drawers.  I am most pleased with the results!

I still need to take care of some odds & ends, but over all, it is a big change.  And, still the stocking sits.  I plan to attack the TO DO's today and tomorrow (but add in a little stitching tonight).

While I was cleaning I used the enormous screen to preview Amy's #2 Back to Basics DVD featuring Tony Mineri....somehow, it made me feel like I was achieving int he realm of Needlepoint as well!

I turned in my Melissa Shirley Pig Easter Egg.  I think it looks really cute.  I did something odd on the tail, but I like it.  I pulled a wire up and then doubled it and pushed the end back through.  Then, I did detached buttonhole all the way to the end of the doubled over wire.  I thought it ended up cute.  I had to wrangle the end of the wire around to keep the stitches from dropping off the end and to camouflage the end itself, but I used my fancy new wire tool kit from Needle House and got that done!  Judy Meyer laughed at me because I have been wanting the "fancy wire tool kit" and needed a reason to purchase it!

 My fancy new Pleatherette Wire tool Kit

Hagrid the Owl

 Melissa Shirley Pig Egg Completed! (I will cut the ribbon after finishing!)

This little piggy...has the cutest tail!