The Peacock's Feather

House Number Three

It's been a little quiet around here for the last few days because I somehow managed to wrench a muscle in my back.  I think it was due to a combination of carrying a heavy bookbag to work (I walk to and from the bus stop, which is about a twenty minute walk and I usually have a book or two tucked away along with gym clothes, lunch, water bottle and other necessities--meaning it's really too heavy), being a little too enthusiastic on the weight machines at the gym and leaning back in my chair at work and stretching just the wrong way.  I felt something go and that was that.  I am beginning to feel better, but it's amazing how awful you can feel and how hard it is to sleep or sit in front of a computer or look down at stitching when something is off kilter in your back!

I was hoping I would have lots more to share on my Hawk Run house, but at least I have more words added and a very few more stitches added to the bottom.  I was watching movies on the weekend and I had hoped to do lots of filling in on the bottom as I watched, but that's the way it goes sometimes.  The squares are really not all that big, but with a small count of linen it seems to go so slowly (for me anyway).  I keep thinking I could start on the square next to this one or below it for a little variety, but I think I really need to finish what I'm doing rather than bouncing all over the place!

I'm contemplating taking a day off work and making my weekend a three day weekend.  I wonder if I could finish what I have left to stitch on my Sampler Farm?  I'm really itching to finish something!

Another One!

Another one!  And I've not finished either the first or the second.  But will I buy it?  Probably.  I think I might invest only in the chart and wait to buy supplies until I think I might actually stitch it (maybe I could finish the first two???).  I do like the design, though!  You can see the list for supplies here.

A Few More Letters

Another bird and a few more letters.  This project is going along very slowly so far.  Why is it that it looks like I have stitched so much on my Just Nan project and this one hardly nothing at all?  To be honest, this square is pretty boring.  I had thought of moving on to the square next to it, but I think it is better to finish each square as I go rather than hop around.  So letters and more letters until I get to the grassy area on the bottom! 

Despite all the recent photos I have shared lately of new designs that I would love to have, I have not yet ordered anything.  Either I am just too lazy at the moment (I think this is the case!), or I am slacking off adding much to my stash.  I am waiting on an order from Elegant Stitch that will have fabric and floss for a Halloween design, the new Prairie Schooler charts, and supplies for one of the birthdays that is later in the year.  Usually Lois gets orders right out, but I am not sure what the hold up is as I ordered this weeks and weeks ago!   I did buy floss for the two Just Nan charts that my mom bought while she was on vacation--the Halloween and Christmas charts.  I  just need to go through my linen and choose some fabric.  I am trying to be economical and use what I already have on hand.  I would love to use the called for silks, but who can afford to kit up the new JN projects with silks?  I hate to spend that kind of money on such little designs.  I do have to say, that although JN uses expensive supplies, she at least gives conversions, which is always appreciated!  I guess after this week of stitching what I like, it will be back to obligation stitching to get going on those last birthday gifts!

Miscellanea

This was meant to be a Merry Cox post, but unfortunately I can't seem to upload the photo!  Nataliejo has completed stitching on her "Shaker Spool Box"--Brava!!  She only needs to assemble it.  She sent a photo via email, but for some reason Typepad absolutely will no recognize it as a jpeg or gif!  I know it was saved as a jpeg, but I can't get it to load.  Aarrggh.  So please take my word--Nataliejo did an exceptional job stitching it!!  I will try to figure out a way to share a photo of it!  I have not worked on mine, so I can't share any progress photos of it (surprised?!--LOL).  So this post is going to be a bit of a mishmash.

Way back I signed up for  an Elegant Stitch class to round out my Queen Bee projects!  Yes, those projects that all sit half started!  I have another one to add to the pile!  I should not have signed up, I think, but I couldn't resist.  This one is also by Jackie du Plessis (It's Fine-ally Finished).  I am not sure when I am going to fit this one in, but you never know!  First things first--I will have to take a look at the instructions!  Anyone else signed up for this?  Anyone else also behind in stitching these pieces?  Anyone else actually finished stitching the first two sets?

I managed to finish the little fob for my friend, and it and the other little goodies I bought for her are in the mail as I type!!  Yahoo!  I still need to finish the other accessory.  But at least she has everything else and I don't feel like such a naughty person for being so late!

Since I worked on the gift over the weekend, today I pulled out "VoHRH"--yay--and added a few stitches to it.  I may work on it for a few days as a little break!  And now, I am off to walk on the treadmill---I can put it off no longer.  Ugh.  Too hot to walk....but sweating is good for you, right?!

Must get back to work...

The squares on "The Village of Hawk Run Hollow" are really pretty small--only about 4-1/2" square.  You would think they would be fast to stitch really.  This is as far as I have gotten, though.  I hope to get back to it this weekend.  First I will be finishing a fob for a friend.  I have her package ready to go otherwise.  So I will make this short tonight, so I can get in some stitching time!   

A Few More Stitches

When I have time to stitch I am very drawn to my "Village of Hawk Run Hollow" project.  As you can see I haven't had a lot of free time to stitch, but I have added a few letters since last time.  There are several lines of words in the first square, so that is about all you are going to see for a while.  I have decided I am saving the dreaded french knots that are called for in this square until later (much later!).  I'm afraid if I try to make them now, they will get squished and pulled out long before I ever finish this design.  I am looking forward to using another color, too.  So far only green and brown! I may just have to work on this tomorrow as well.

I have decided that I need to spend less time on the computer in the evenings, as I have discovered that twice now I have sleepwalked!  I have never done this before, and I think (though of course am not sure) that I am doing it now due to a combination of stress and physical fatigue.  It is my fault as I know I go to bed too late.  My husband gets up and 4:50, and this inevitably wakes me up.  I am able to sleep a tad bit longer as I don't have to get up for another 40 minutes or so.  But when I go to bed late, and after a few days of this, I think it wears on the body!  Last night I wanted to finish a book that I was reading (it was an Agatha Christie mystery, so how can you put it down with two chapter to go, I ask you)!?  LOL.  But I am feeling tired and lethargic lately.  My husband is always on my case to sleep earlier, and I am beginning to think he is right.  As for how I know I was sleepwalking?  On the first occasion I took two tubes of toothpaste frm the bathtub and brought them into the bedroom.  Last night I took a brush and a comb and put them on my bedside table!   I have no recollection of doing this either time.  It is sort of spooky.  Has anyone else ever done this? I guess I should be off to bed now, too!