The Peacock's Feather

A Most Noble Pursuit

I was very happy to get my copy of "A Most Noble Pursuit" in the mail today!  I am quite pleased with it.  I decided to only purchase the chart at the moment until I decide how I would like to stitch it.  The chart itself is nicely done--booklet style with each designer having a separate page.  I think rather than stitching it as one large sampler, I am going to stitch them individually.  Knowing how slow I am completing large designs, I think it will be more practical this way for me!  I also need to concentrate on the WIPs that I have going including "The Houses of Hawk Run Hollow", which I have neglected quite seriously for some time now! 

In case you are curious about each design--from left to right/top to bottom they are as follows:

• Workbasket: Inmost Calm
• Praiseworthy Stitches: Virtue Triumphs
• A Stitch and a Prayer: A Virtuous Woman
• Primitive Traditions: Plenty and Grace
• With My Needle (Ellen Chester): House on the Hill
• Hands to Work: Forget Not Thy Friend
• Patricia Ann Designs: Blue Birds for Happiness
• Carriage House Samplings: A Lady's Dream
• Brightneedle: The Needle's Excellency (and if you were worried it is no all over one--only the words are stitched over one!)
• La-D-Da: And a Peacock

I really like all the designs both individually and as a group.  Now I have to choose which one to stitch first.  At the moment I am stuck between "Plenty and Grace" and "House on the Hill".  I would love to see this stitched--up close--I am sure it must be gorgeous!

Finished...Finally!!!

Okay, here it is!  It took me long enough, but I finally completed my John Foster Sampler!  Sorry the photo is a tad bit grainy--I needed to set the camera to make a finer photo, but it is late, and I just wanted to get this posted.  I think I have gotten all the motifs in, but I will take a better look tomorrow.  Now to get it framed--hopefully I won't have to wait too long to get it up on the wall. 

I think I will be starting Just Nan's "Winter in the Square" next.  I know I have plenty WIPs to pull out and stitch on, but of course I want to start something new, and it is not a huge project (finished I think it will measure about 4-1/2" square).  I looked today at my goal list today, and had a bit of a chuckle as this is the only thing so far I can cross off it!  That's okay--this is a continuing process and I am just happy to spend time stitching.  It is certainly a bonus to complete something, though!

A Lovely Fob and Bookmark!!

Another wonderful birthday package came in the mail today.  Laura in my stitching group sent a gorgeous fob and bookmark.  The little fob is stitched on very small count fabric (perhaps 40 count?), and on the back is stitched over one (in tent stitch!!): "Flowers of friendship florish in kind heartedness from the stitching basket of LPM to DMT 2006".  Yes--all that over one, and the fob doesn't measure much more than (and maybe even a little less than) 2" wide and across!  The bookmark reads: "Hope is the anchor of the soul".  Another lovely bookmark to add to my collection!  She also sent the February Sampler Accent kit from Periwinkle Promises.  I have a few of these kits now, and I must (must, must!!!) pull one out and work on it soon.  I love those little kits and have seen them stitched up, and they are quite nice all finished!  Many thanks to Laura!!  The ladies in this group stitch such lovely, exquisite things--and I am so pleased to add them to my stitching collection!

I am nearly finished with John Foster!  I know I should have gotten him done ages ago.  I only have a few little leaves, one bird, and about half of one side of the border.  I did not manage my time well at all tonight, so I won't get it completed this evening.  Maybe tomorrow I can share a final photo!  The new designs by Just Nan are up.  I will have to get Spring in the Square!  I really love those little charms that she is using on her smaller pieces.  So much temptation, but I have not yet even ordered anything!  That won't last long, I am sure!  Off to put in a few stitches on JF!

New Market Favorites?

Now that Market has come and gone, are there any new favorite designs you can't live without?  I am happy to see that Birds of a Feather has three new designs coming out.  I wasn't sure at first what I thought of them, but they have really been growing on me and they will definitely be on my "must buy" list.  If you click on the link, you can also see their new website design.  It is much brighter and cheery, which also seems to be reflected in the new charts.   I see that they are also expanding out to knitting as well this summer.  As long as they continue with their cross stitch charts, I will be happy.  Along with BOAF Summer Garden (which I grabbed from the Hoffman website--you can see all three designs there), I like Spring Garden and L'Automne as well (which I know is a series--I have one of those designs in my stash). 

My other favorites: Indigo Rose: Mary's Pin Pillow, Bee Charmer Kit, and Peek-a-Boo Cushion, Bent Creek: Sleigh Ride (though I am soooo far behind in stitching this series)--the next Winter Snapperland chart, and The Littles - Snowman (too cute), Hands to Work: The Littles, and More Primitive Stitching Bags, With My Needle: Petit Carnet de Ouvrages I, Cherished Stitches: Emblems of Innocence, Prairie Schooler:  all her new charts! (glad to see she is designing some samplers again), and of course Carriage House Samplings: my favorites are Prudence Welcome, Tavern Signs and Tavern Signs too.  I should be getting A Most Noble Pursuit anytime--I have heard shops have them in now.  And there were a few other little charts that I can't seem to find scans of like Britty Kitties IV by Brittercup Designs.  There might be some other designs that I have just not seen, but these are on my "wishlist"!  Now to decide which ones I have to have now and which ones can wait! 

An International Mail Day!!!

Today I received several wonderful packages in the mail from several places around the globe for my birthday (which is on Monday the 20th!).  Two are from the ladies in the Yahoo group I belong to (for our birthday exchange), and the last is from a stitching friend.  Veronica in Canada sent a lovely china teacup with a gorgeous design on it!  I love gardening themes and this one has flowers and ladybugs on it.  She also sent along some coffee and dark chocolate (my favorite) made in Canada!  Thanks very much Veronica!!  And the teacup even arrived in pristine condition!

Patry in Italy, also in my Yahoo Group, sent along very lovely things as well!  She stitched a gorgeous bag for me!  It is lined and finished perfectly!  I believe the design must be by Little House Needleworks, but I will have to check with her.  She also sent along Italian linen in a variety of counts and colors, which will come in very handy as well as silk perle in three different colors.  She must know I love to read as she sent a wonderful little book of quotes called Woolly Wisdom (with lots of photos of cute sheepies), a beautiful silver rose bookmark (to add to my collection!), a lovely wooden Italian pen that has its own box, and finally a chart by A Mon Ami Pierre called Quaker Book Amap 2.  I have nothing by this designer though I have heard of them.  It is a gorgeous Quaker design!! And it all came wrapped in the fabric I have everything laying on.  Grazie Patry!!

And finally, I am sure many of you probably know Vero in France.  She has also sent me a lovely birthday gift.  She made me a wonderful little Hornbook which is designed by Merry Cox.  I have heard so much lately about Hornbooks--I am so excited to have one in my little stitching collection!  She has also sent along a very cool book of alphabets called, Les Marquoirs d'Ecole by Muriel Brunet, a beautiful little French engagement calendar (with little drawings in it) and a sweet little chart called L'R de Rien by Gwen R. Creation.  Perhaps I will stitch this on a piece of my new Italian linen! Merci beaucoup Vero!!

I feel very, very spoiled by all these lovely gifts!  Once again many thanks ladies!!!  Coming home to such wonderful packages almost makes me happy to be having another birthday!  LOL. 

One More Valentine!

 

Okay, one more Valentine's Day finish.  I heard from my friend, Laurence in France, today, so it is safe to share my other project.  This is another design by Blue Ribbon Designs.  This is a freebie that you can print off from their site.  I finished it as a little pillow.  I have to say that the over one stitching was much easier on this one than the second cushion I made.    Now I just have the finishing to do on a birthday gift (I already have that started, so just need to finish it up tonight).  Finally I think this will catch me up on exchanges and gifts until April!  I am very behind on my other stitching, so I am looking forward to getting back to my regular projects!

May Your Heart Be Filled With Beauty

Here is the Valentine's Day project you have heard so much about!!  I heard from the lady I stitched it for, and she received it and seemed pleased with it.  I am happy with how it turned out, though it was a challenge on some of the over one stitching.  I think the beads really make it looks nice.  I would eventually like to stitch this one for myself or one of the other designs from the chart.  The chart is by Blue Ribbon Designs and is called Valentine's Wishes.  I mailed one other Valentine's gift out on the 1st of the month.  It was travelling all the way to France, and I have not yet heard from the lady I made it for.  I hope it arrives tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest.  I had hoped that I would get it there in time, but you can never tell with the mail when it will actually arrive!

Is anyone else watching the Torino Olympics?  I am not really into sports in general, but I do love watching the Olympics, and the Winter games are my favorite.  I think I could pretty much watch any of the sports and be quite happy!  Are there any Italian stitchers who will get to go and watch the games in person?  I would love to be able to go sometime!

Birthday Surprises

Remember I mentioned that I had a package that I was saving to open for my birthday?  Well, I broke down and opened it!  These are from my friend Jodi (whose dad made the heart shaped floss keeper!).  She mentioned I might want to open it before Valentine's Day.  Aren't these lovely??!!  I plan on hanging them both up, but not just for Valentine's Day.  I think they can easily stay up all year.  The heart design is the very first wall hanging of the sort that I have ever received!  Jodi is an excellent stitcher, but she prefers not to do the finishing part.  There is another lady in my Yahoo group who is an excellent finisher, and I think she does a lot of finishing for my friend. Jodi also sent along a bunch of charts that I think I shared here a while back as well!

Kathy is the finisher.  As she was sending along the gifts from Jodi, she also sent along her gift for me.  One of the exchanges we are doing in this group is a yearlong birthday exchange.  There are about 9-10 of us participating.  For each stitcher's birthday we each make a little something, or send along a gift to the birthday girl!  I have recived a combination of birthday and Valentine's gifts lately, so I am feeling particularly spoiled.  Kathy also sent along other goodies such as fabric, floss, needles and her lovely dragonfly cushion.  I case you can't see it clearly, the cushion is made up of hardanger in the middle.  It is really delicate looking and I love the colors.

This last gift is from Jennifer, who also made the Valentine's Day gift I posted a photo of yesterday.  She included her brithday gift as well.  She knows I love Prairie Schooler designs, and she stitched me this lovely A Stitch in Time pincushion.  I have this chart, and I have often admired these little stitching accessories.  I have thought of stitching them as a little set.  Perhaps this will give me the impetus now to stitch and finish the others (okay...well, eventually...as I am working on a few other things first!  LOL).  These are all so gorgeous and seeing them in a photo just doesn't do them justice!  Another lady in the group shares a birthday with me, so I hope to finish up the little project for her this weekend and get it in the mail on Monday!   Never a dull stitching moment, eh!!

A Valentine's Day Gift!

Look what came for me in the mail today!!  I didn't even bother to pretend I would wait until next Tuesday--I just ripped open the box!  I *love* the gift Jennifer from my Yahoo stitching group sent.  Prairie Schooler is one of my most favorite designers, and this is a lovely ornament!!  It is one I have seen but never stitched or received.  Excellent choice for me!  The linen color is a bit browner than in the photo--very nice contrast to the red and green colors.  I will have to find a nice place to display it--now I am glad I opened it, so I can enjoy it before the 14th! She also sent along a lovely frame--I will have to find a nice photo for it and put it on my mantle, and a bagful of chocolate goodies!  It has my favorite dark chocolate, as well as a mini assorted box and a heart shaped Altoid tin (which I have not noticed in the stores this year).  As I always do when I get something from another stitcher--I feel very spoiled tonight!!  Many thanks to Jennifer!!

Halle's Heart

Here is a quick, easy finish.  I stitched up the latest Essy's Friends design by Sampler Cover called Halle's Heart yesterday.  Tonight I did the finishing.  It is nice to have some quick little designs--instant gratification.  I will have to slip the other Essy's Friends designs in here and there and get them all done as I mentioned before.  Now it is back to John Foster.  I am looking forward to finishing him up finally!