Category Archives: cross stitch

May26

Sean’s graduation is looming!

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So much to do in less than two weeks. I am making a few things for Sean as gifts. One is the mortarboard cross stitched piece. That is finished and I need to sew the tassel on it. I have a lovely frame, but the mat is all wrong. I have to go to the office/art supply store and get an uncut mat. I managed to locate a mat cutter on eBay-not a real expensive one, but one that looks like I can use it. That shouldn’t be that bad to finish up. I will have his announcement on one side and his mortarboard on the other.
I am also working on a memory storyboard. It’s not a photo album, but an accordian pleated board he can close up after his graduation hoopla is over. I was going through photos yesterday for it, now I need to go through some of his papers. I want to add some quotes to the pages too. This is going to be a hard one to finish up as he is off for the next 4 days starting tomorrow. I have the poster board all taped together. After lunch I’ll go through papers. It’s just a fun thing so he can see what we have seen-our little boy growing up into a fine young man.
Speaking of graduation, Sean got his yearbook yesterday and his blue cap and gown the day before. It’s a nice book, but the senior photos are really small-about 3″ (or less) tall. I got misty-eyed when I read his blurb thanking his dad and me for helping him reach this milestone in his life. Wow, what a kid. : )

May19

I think I have Medial epicondylitis

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This is a fancy name for ‘tennis elbow’. It’s my right elbow that is sore. I have a ‘Well Patch’ and Ace bandage on it right now. Not sure if it’s from using the computer mouse or banging my elbow a few times in the past that is causing the pain. It’s not terrible, but I notice it more when I want to lay on my right side in bed. I was trying to stitch a little this morning and it was too uncomfortable. I am glad I didn’t hurt my left hand when I took a spill off my little wheeled garden stool a few days ago. I don’t use my right arm that much as it is-just when I’m on the computer. Brian thinks I hold my arm funny when I stitch too. I haven’t been stitching a lot lately. I did lift a few heavy groceries and flower pots yesterday though.
I found a website with exercises, so I’ll give them a try.

Stitching blogger question-I like to use 2 strands of floss when I stitch. Over 2 strands makes the piece look bulky to me. 2 seems to be popular with many designers.

May14

Stitching Blogger question

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Sorry, I’ve been a little lax with these. Here’s the latest though:
Q. Given the option, would you rather buy a chart and get the material and floss together yourself, or buy a pre-packed kit?
I do both. I find that some kits and their directions are hard to follow. Sometimes the kits where you have to separate the floss are tricky too. I know most of my colors, so I usually do okay with separating them unless they are too close to call sometimes. I have this one kit that had the chart on one side and the symbols on the flip side of the chart. Are they that cheap that they couldn’t give us stitchers two pieces of paper so we wouldn’t lose our spot all the time? I gave up on that one. I need to go to the office supply store to get an oversized copy made one of these days.
I have so many charts and most of the floss colors, that I don’t mind kitting up designs myself. I’d say that is the best as you can chose the fabric that most appeals to you.

May2

May stitching goals

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Thanks to Mindy for reminding me!
So I have to finish Sean’s graduation present.
I am almost done the mortar board and need to make the tassel and do the lettering. I found a frame at the thrift shop, but was waiting to buy it as it was too expensive. I’ll probably end up buying one at Michaels or AC Moore because it won’t be there next time I go.
Love Quilts square- Robin Fledgings
Need to get the fabric out and put a few stitches in it though it’s not due until September.
Walk in the Woods-
I am loving this. I’ve done about three of the fancy letters and am on my second motif.
Smaller projects-
PS Santa (taking on trip): Swan(fixed it and am working on it a little at a time); herb garden on linen-that is a bugger, but I am almost half way finished it.
My mom wanted to draw a picture of an English Sheepdog for a friend, but I happen to have a cross stitch pattern for a doggie tag and will start that and maybe she can finish it up.

Apr24

Links to Charity stitching

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I just want to get up on my soapbox and give my little ‘why don’t you do some charity stitching’ speech!
Here’s a great link:
CyberStitchers Cross-Stitch Picture Galleries:Calling All Stitchers!
I am pleased to say that I have contributed to 3 of the 7 charities listed. I see that St. Jude’s would like cross stitched bookmarks! I like to stitch them myself, so I plan to make some in the future. How easy are bookmarks?
I love to make kids happy and charity stitching is perfect. I get to stitch and I get to contribute my work to a needy cause. Enough said. : )

Apr4

Stitching Blogger’s question

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How has your stitching evolved since you first started stitching?
The logicial answer is probably to say I went from less complicated designs to more elaborate and detailed designs and I can surely say I have tried a few harder projects. I guess it’s evolved in a way that I am not just stitching for myself and family. I am stitching for people I don’t even know because of my charity stitching. Plus, back in the late 70s there wasn’t a heck of a lot of designs out there like there is today.
I have always admired The Prairie Schooler and The Cross-eyed Cricket (I just finished up the girl in my side bar and she’s a CC and I started a CC nature sampler). I have most of these leaflets though I know I won’t stitch them all. My stash is huge! I really need to get serious about what I am going to do and what I need to get rid of. Whole other subject.

I was thinking about my stitching goals for April:

1). Finish up Sean’s graduation gift-a blue mortar board sampler that includes his name and school. I think I will try and make a tassel and get some metal numbers as not to use the real tassel he will be getting.

2). Get all the colors I need for my new big project ‘A Walk in the Woods’ by Cross-eyed Cricket. I am a little peeved as the fabric is only giving me an inch border on all sides. I machine sewed the edge and used fray check.

3). Work on the little linen herbal sampler by Shepherd’s Bush that has been a devil of a design to start.

4). Finish a Prairie Schooler Santa I started a few months ago.

5). Get another UFO out of the way, maybe the small swan on lily pad.

6). Get the charity quilt design ‘The Fledgings’ bluebird babies kitted up.

7). Start some Christmas ornaments to sell at Church bazaar in the fall.

Mar26

‘Finger Food’ and Skunks

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The last few days have provided enough ‘gross out’ for everyone concerning the digit found in the chili. We were discussing how it got in the chili in the first place. I think it was planted there by a disgruntled employee who may have been in a gang. Someone else said maybe the woman who had it in her food is a weirdo and planted it to sue Wendy’s. I know how they make the chili-the burger comes from ‘leftover’ patties that were probably cooked too long. Someone who was an employee at the chain years ago ‘enlightened’ us about how it is made.
Tonight I was sorting through my cross stitch stuff (sitting on the floor) looking for another project and it started to get really stinky in here. Brian happen to be sitting next to me in the lounge chair. I was blaming his feet! But then it dawned on it that it was more of a skunky aroma. So we opened the front door and it was like 100 skunks had lifted their butts to our house! We can’t understand why it’s smelling so much in here, all the windows are shut. Maybe it sprayed on one of the basement windows, or I hope it didn’t stumble in the window well outside one of them! I was actually wearing a painter’s mask for a while. Phew!

Mar24

Two Stitching Blog questions…

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The first question dealt with how many hours a week do I stitch. I usually stitch 1-4 hours in the evening, but it depends on what I am stitching or if I am in a hurry to finish something. So multiply that by 7 and that’s 7-28 hours a week. I’d say the average is exactly what it figures out here-14 hours a week. Sometimes I just can’t sit more than 2 hours at a time and need to get up and move around and change my position.

What are your thoughts on craft and/or needlework shows? Have you been to one or are you planning on going to one this year?
I’ve been to a couple of them-The Heart of Cross Stitch. It was held in Valley Forge and Lancaster, two areas accessible to me. This is a defunct show now. The other show (CATS) is in Hershey and that’s more of a drive for me. I did enjoy going and meeting the different designers like Teresa Wentzler, Dale Burnett, Terrence Nolan and a few others. Loved seeing them actually working on their projects. Shows are definitely stimulation overload-so much to look at, so much you want! If you love cross stitching, you have to go to at least a few shows.

Sep30

One big ache

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Darn I hurt when I woke up today (the 29th). Felt like I was run over by an out of control VW bug or something. Every joint hurt that was being overused lately-elbows and knees the worst. I had stuff to do, but put off food shopping until the evening. Sean said there’s some bug going around school and a few teachers are sick. He had a stuffed up head for a few days. I usually get something in Sept. or Oct. like clockwork. Betcha I will get it from being rundown. Brian went to the store with me and I felt so weird I didn’t really ‘get into’ it and basically threw stuff in the cart and we were home in 1/2 hour,$117 poorer. The cost of meat is making me want to switch to be a vegetarian! No way and I blowing most of my budget on two little pieces of steak & a pork tenderloin. I could go on.
I got home and out came the deep heat rub, took a Tylenol and settled in to watch tv (Lost, The Bachelor and Wife Swap) and stitch on an emergency cross stitch project. I am taking a chart and switching it around. The young lady loves flying pigs (when pigs fly) and I am taking a 3 Little Pig chart and making one of the houses a ‘wing shack’ and the pigs are lined up to get their wings. Try to picture this please. I will make a sign for the shack or whatever I call it.
Speaking of pigs, Brian ‘hogged’ the computer updating windows-it took 4 hours and at first it wouldn’t work, but now it seems to be of course when I am on here.
I still haven’t gotten my beloved plastic boxes. Maybe tomorrow. The ‘leftovers’ in the family room need to be out of sight so I can enjoy the changes in the room.