The Peacock's Feather

It's Hard to Be Good!

It is really hard to be good when you are trying to not buy stash!  In order to avoid the many temptations, I have not been visiting my favorite online stores much lately.  I have also not been spending too much time on my favorite bulletin boards (notoriously full of stitching enablers...).  However, I needed to post a question, which meant I had to look over the various posts.  And what do I see?  This is an upcoming Brightneedle class at Elegant Stitch (infortunately sold out)!  Now at $100, it was out of my budget anyway, but darn this is a cute design and I would love to stitch it!!!  Of course there are new designs at Carriage House Samplings, and I want the Hope, Love, Charity, and Honor charts!  I suspect I will eventually break down and order a couple of the newer Just Nan designs--at least the charts (maybe not the supplies yet).  I have avoided ordering Just Nan's Queen of the Needle class piece, which is a Silver Needle exclusive.  Not seeing the design up front has made that one easier.  I hate not getting anything in the mail to be honest.  But at least I have not been using my credit card like a madwoman!!  I am hitting the little cross stitch shop by my home tomorrow after work.  Now I am planning on just buying some floss and maybe a little chart or two to add to a gift.  Fingers crossed I won't break down like I did last time I visited there and leave with a bag of stash for myself.  I think I might just take a peek at the Just Nan bin...

To help me resist purchasing more stash, I did pull out my Shepherds Bush kits.  I have a plethora of needleroll kits, and I should really start one of those soon (after I finish my "Busy" sheep), but I might just start one of these other kits as well.  They are (starting at top left): "Old Glory", "French Heart", "Bee Garden" and "Tiny Flag".  Any one of them would be perfect to work on with summer coming.  See, no need for new stash!

Cute Little Sheep

Here is a progress photo of my Shepherds Bush "Busy" sheep!  The linen is actually Light Sand, but the flash has bleached it out (I am never patient enough to wait for the proper outside light).  He is really pretty quick to stitch as well as very enjoyable.  I have been working on my next gift, however, so "Busy" will have to wait a few days.  Hopefully I can share photos of the last two things I mailed out, since they should be arrving at their destinations soon!  I have been pondering the possibility of pulling out another SB kit to stitch on once this is finished.  I have several in my stash.  I love working with one ply of silk, and it is nice to have all the materials ready to go.  Perhaps I will take a peek through my SB kits this week....

When life gets in the way of stitching...

Sorry no update today, and no stitching tonight as well.  A friend is in the hospital, so a group of us went to visit her.  I am not very good about doctors and even less so with hospitals.  I tend to be emotional (easily so--this is one thing in particular I wish I could change about myself--I feel so wimpy in these situatiuons!), so it was hard to see my friend come out of surgery.  She had actually been in recovery for several hours, but her room was not ready, so we had to sit and wait in the waiting room for a while.  I didn't even think to bring any stitching, and I thought a book might appear rude (I am never sure what the protocol is in these sorts of situations).  My friend was still rather groggy and feeling the effects of the anesthesia still, so we didn't stay long.  Are all hospital rooms that small?  She shares with another lady, which made it even more crowded, and doctors and nurses were in and out getting her vital signs and such.  Originally she was meant to only be in overnight, but I think she may have to stay several days.  Hopefully the stay will not be long and she can go home to recuperate.  Fingers crossed and good wishes are going her way that she is better soon!

Merry Cox Update

I am happy to share an updated photo of Cindy's "Shaker Spool Holder".  Cindy is trying to add a few flowers each day, has started the scissor sheath, as well as the tiny Emery covers!  Unforunately I don't have one to share of mine--as I have made no progress!!  I plan on working on it again this week, however, so maybe next Monday I can show some progress.  Aren't the flowers lovely?  Natalie has also been making progress--please go take a peek there as well!  Wonderful job ladies!  I will have to do the rounds and see how everyone else is progressing!

Back to Work

Thanks for all the nice comments that were left on my last post.  I think this is the most I have ever gotten! I totally understand how limited computer time might be.  There are so many things we need to put our attention to, that it is hard to juggle everything!  I also try and limit my computer time, so I can work on other projects (and am the same way with TV).  I am glad that people are at least stopping by and taking a peek--and of course you are always welcome to just say hi! 

I decided I needed to pull out my Prairie Schooler "April" ornament and do a little work on it, so that it is not completely forgotten.  There is not much to finish on it, so maybe I can move on to "May" soon.  Though to be honest I am not overly excited with this design.  I was trying to think of new ways to finish and was a bit stumped for May (April is meant to be a plain old cushion).  I noticed that Aniza finished a PS design for Jo as a little pocket.  I wonder how hard it would be for me to finish "May" this way?  It seems to be similar to mail art finishing perhaps?   Does anyone know of any finishing instructions for something like this?  Now I just need to get the materials together!

Last night my family celebrated Mother's Day.  We had to do it a bit early as work schedules made Sunday too difficult to plan for.  I did get to start on the Shepherds Bush "Busy" sheep kit when I got home, though.  I haven't finished much, but I will share a photo as soon as there is something to see.  This week it is time to get back to those other two gifts that need to be stitched this month.  I mailed off my eight corner pillow yesterday morning, so it was nice to get that out of the way.  It was a huge sigh of relief for the rest of the weekend to not have to worry about getting something in the mail right away!

Where Are You Dear Reader?

Today for the first day in a long time I started to go through my list of blogs, and I am trying to leave a little message (so you know I have not disappeared).  I feel terribly out of the stitching loop.  I have really not had much interaction with anyone lately--particularly with my stitching friends.  I hope you have not forgotten me (?) and are just very busy (like I have been).  I haven't been visiting any bulletin boards lately either.  Hopefully things are going to settle down on my end and I can chat more with everyone, as I do miss it terribly!  Please don't hesitate to leave a message (or just say hello), as that would make me feel so much better!  Okay, enough groveling and attention seeking!!

I do have an accomplishment to share, though it is not stitching related.  I finished reading George Eliot's Middlemarch.  It is considered by some, one of the greatest novels written in English (and by a woman thank you!).  It was not easy going (all 799!!! pages), but I persevered and today I turned the last page finishing it!  It is a rich, intricate novel and well worth all the hard work of reading it.  I think it is one that deserves to be read again, though not too soon!

And one last little stitching note--I should be completing my eight corner pincushion tonight and dropping it in the mail in the morning (yay).  I decided that since I completed two exchange/gift projects that I can have a little splurge and start a little project for me.  I need to get to work on my Shepherds Bush Sheep kits.  They are nice little seasonal charts, and "Busy" with the little beehive and bee seems like the perfect design for spring.  It is small, so I hope to complete it this weekend!  Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Silently Stitching

Sorry for the lack of exciting posts as of late.  I haven't even been buying anything exciting (good job, actually!), to share.  But I am really, truly stitching!  One gift (Happy Birthday to Patry today!!--sorry my gift is late!!), is winging its way to Italy.  I will share a photo of it soon.  I was very pleased with how it turned out.  I am working on the back of my eight corner pinchushion for my SBEBB exchange.  It should go in the mail on Saturday morning.  I was complaining earlier about it and was ready to switch to another design, but I am very happy I did not do that.  I really love the way it has turned out.  I am using a freebie design, and it is hard sometimes to visualize what it will actually look like finished.  Now that the top is done, I am really happy I stuck with it.  I must remember this in the future when I am ready to give up on a project.   I think it is going to work well with this type of finishing! 

I think that since I have been so good with exchanges, I will spend a little time this weekend on something of my own, and can finally share a progress photo.  It will most likely be either the Merry Cox SAL design or the "Elegant Accessories" by Beardie Design.  Maybe I will work on both!  I am itching to stitch at home (haven't been able to during the work week evenings--blah!), but I will definitely find some time to squeeze it in this weekend.  I feel like I am going into withdrawal--LOL. 

Since I have no stitching to share, I will leave you with a photo of my cat trying to be a helpful little worker...

Wishful Thinking

Yes, wishful thinking as I look through the newest Nordic Needle catalog, as I know I can't afford to order any of the designs I am drooling over.  For example I love the Blackwork design (the larger design on the left) on the cover.  Though I have never attempted Blackwork, I do like this one.  I think these heart Hardanger ornaments would look gorgeous on my Christmas tree (or just hanging year round), though I have not attempted any serious Hardanger yet.  I would be quite happy with nearly any of these Papillon Creations charts!  I am particularly fond of The Quaker Game Board and Mary Queen of Scots!  Luckily the Spring catalog is not as large as the Winter one!  Sigh.  Back to my exchange project.  If I start feeling too bad, I will go to my stash bins and remember what I have yet to even start working on...

Merry Cox SAL Update

This lovely "Shaker Spool Holder" was not stitched by me, but by Cindy Carter, one of our SAL members.  As she does not have a blog, I thought it would be nice to share her progress here.  I was too busy working on a gift, so I didn't get in many stitches on mine this past week.  So far I only have part of the top (one of the long sides) stitched.  I finished one flower only to discover that I stitched it one thread off.  I am not sure whether I will frog it or just leave it and hope no one notices!  I am not the only SAL-er not to get as far as Cindy.  It seems like many of us have other commitments at the moment.  I wish I could work faster on mine, but as long as I stick with it, I will be happy!  Lovely work, Cindy!  I am looking forward to working on mine, too!   

My Growing Redwork Collection

With the addition of the biscornu that Ash made for me, I now have a lovely little collection of redwork.  Everything that I have are gifts either for my birthday or from exchanges.  I have only made a few things, and those I have given all away.  I think that redwork is so elegant.  I would love to have a stitching room and really be able to display everything I have received or stitched and finished myself.  I  hate having to rotate things onto my shelf and then back into my plastic bins.  But I guess you work with what you have. 

A little update on my stitching: one gift (for Patry) is finished, minus tassles, which I will be adding as soon as I finish here.  As always, it takes me at least twice as long to stitch and finish anything I make plans for!  That was my one project this weekend.  Now I have to finish my biscornu for my exchange.  I will be concentrating on that this week (really I am nearly finished with it, so there shouldn't be too much pressure there).  The next two gifts are just in the beginning phases (and there is Mother's Day to think about next weekend), so I am not sure when those will be mailed out.  Unfortunately I am not very far in my "Shaker Spool Holder" project.  I will be checking in on the other SAl-ers tomorrow.  Hopefully they have all had more time to spend working on it!  Now I am off to attach tassles!