I didn't have time to do any holiday stitching for the Fourth, but I dug around in my bin that contains pieces I've already stitched but never actually finished into anything and pulled out a couple of older designs I worked on years ago. Both are by a designer called Bent Creek, which are easy designs that stitch up quickly. I didn't have much in the way of fabric that would work, but I tried to be creative with how I sewed them. They actually turned out pretty well, though my iron died on me halfway through. I usually press my fabrics and the linen, so they are nice and flat, but they look okay here. (Lucky you can't pick them up and look too closely and see how lumpy they actually are!).
Here's "Pop" close up.
And here's "Freedom" (looking very lumpy, as I mentioned!). It's been a washout here--raining off and on most the the day, so I've only been puttering around, trying to get a decent photo of my work when there is no sunshine.
On a bookish note, I bought a nice plastic bin this weekend to keep all my Morland Dynasty books in one handy place, as I have no room on my shelves for them to sit together. They were in a box under my bed, but as I have been adding each new book as it is published (better not wait as I fear they are going out of print as the author has lost her publisher), they were getting crammed and the box was starting to fall apart. I've got 31 books and I believe there are still a few more forthcoming. To be honest, though, I am only on something like book #6, The Long Shadow. I've dragged my feet on reading it, as the Restoration is not my most favorite part of English history. I'm envious of Teresa who is already at book #20, and Katherine who is also far ahead of me as well. I need to just bite the bullet and start reading. I have a feeling once I get into the story and wrapped up in the lives of the characters I'll enjoy it more than I think I will.
I've also been trying this weekend to get caught up on blog visiting. I've been a lurker too long and hate only reading posts from Google Reader without being able to leave a comment. How do other people manage it? Visiting and leaving comments that is. I know I tend to be a very sporadic visitor and I am trying to improve things as time allows. By the way I am always very appreciative and grateful of all the comments that are left here. It's always a dreary day when I come home to find I've had very few visitors (this week has been pretty dismal actually), but I'm trying to keep in mind it's smack dab in the middle of summer holidays! One day of vacation left--why does "free time" go so quickly? Now I'm off to read.