The Peacock's Feather

Out of the Loop

I've been very much out of the loop when it comes to the stitching world.  In the last year I've been lucky to post perhaps twice a month, and sometimes only once a month.  I expect I don't really have many regular readers anymore, though a few of you still kindly drop in now and then, which I can't say how much I appreciate it!  I'd like to get back into things, though at the moment my goal is to simply post here at least twice a week and try and get out more and visit blogs once again and see what everyone is up to.  I had been using Bloglines to keep up, but I hadn't gone in in months, and today when I did I had more than 500 posts accumulated.  I started going out and at least taking a peek at places I once read daily and was sad to see that I had been dropped from friend's blogrolls.  Actually I can't blame anyone as I am sure that it must have seemed that my own blog had gone defunct and I suspect that people like to keep tidy and up to date blogrolls.  Considering how infrequently I have been posting it may well have seemed that I had given things up.  I haven't, however, and I would love to get back into the swing of things.  I may still not have as much time to devote to stitching as I'd like, but I hate not keeping up with my virtual stitching friends.  I miss exchanges and bulletin boards (and I've been dropped from a few of those as well, but again I do understand why) and seeing new designs and getting new ideas and having finishes to share.  So, I will be switching over to Google Reader, which is what I use to keep up with other blog reading.  If you drop by here and comment and I don't have you on my blogroll (as I suspect there are new stitchers out there that I've not met during that interim I've been away), please let me know and I will duly add you.  I've also noticed that more than a few designers now have blogs themselves, so I will be searching them out, too.

So, for now I have an updated photo to share of "No Bees, No Honey".  The end is in sight, and I am going to be optimistic that I can finish it soon.  I'll be thinking about what to stitch next and perhaps be going through my bottomless pit of a UFO bin to find a small design to work on--perhaps start taking it to work with me again.  I only wish I was a faster stitcher and had more to share more often!  

One Side Down

I've actually made a bit more progress than this photo shows, but I'd like to at least finish stitching another side before I take another one.  I'm trying to be industrious as I have my eye on two new projects.  And then there is this design I'm tempted to buy and the new Hawk Run Hollow Christmas design (how will I ever be able to afford that one?  Will start with the chart first).

These are the two samplers I have sitting by my bedside all kitted up and ready to go.  I'm not sure which I will start next, though I've wanted to stitch the BOAF sampler for quite a while now.  I guess I should add at least one of the Hawk Run designs that is only partially stitched to my pile.  I'm never going to catch up with them all at the rate I'm moving...

Little Progress . . .

 

It's been ages since I posted anything, so here's a little update.  Alas, I've not made much progress because I've had very little stitching time in the last month.  Although it's hard to see I have filled in the diagonal lines on the bee skep.  I've started filling in flowers and bees in the inner part of the design.  Then it will just be the borders left.  I still want to finish it before the end of the year (long before then I hope), but at the rate I'm moving?!

 

I wanted to share this lovely bookmark that I found, too.  It's from Pomegranate.com.  They have the best bookmarks and I occasionally stock up on their new ones.  This detail is from Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Christine Lerolle Embroidering".   I've also bought a few new charts as well, but I will save them for a later post.  I decided not to order the Just Nan Kit I mentioned last time around.  While I can see why stitchers might like to get it, I have too many unstitched projects (many biscornus even) that I should work on first.  I don't mind an occasional splurge like that but it has to be for something I absolutely love and am dying to stitch (and most importantly don't have something similar in my stash already).  It's a pity the chart isn't being sold on its own as I would definitely get it and then kit it up myself with less expensive materials.  I'm sure I can find something equally as gorgeous on hand to work on!