SBQ for 04/30/08

Gee, I just answered last weeks! (I was late!) Oh, well here goes...

This week's SBQ, suggested by Jennifer is: Do you have any pieces that you would like passed on to future generations as family heirlooms?

Not really...perhaps Peacock Tapestry; if I ever get it finished! I would like to think most stitching gets saved anyway, especially those pieces given as gifts.

SBQ for 04/23/08

The SBQ this week is -
How do you handle blended threads? Do you kit the blends up before you start a piece, or do you grab what colors you need and blend when the need arises? If you kit up the blends beforehand, how do you store them? Do you have another option for blends to share?

I use LoRan project cards for my blends. The blends are marked with the symbol and thread numbers and looped in the proper hole. I store my base threads in floss bags (with an index card to make it stand up) and these get filed in order in index card drawers. Before I stitch, I check the current area of the chart for the blends I'll be using and make sure there are enough threads kitted for a few days.

Stitching meme

1.) How do you hold your fabric? I stitch in hand. No hoop, frame or q-snaps for me. I roll up the top and bottom of the fabric.
2.) Floss licker? Yes, why not? Floss tastes great! :o)
3.) How do you thread your needle? I spittie on the end and pokey it though the hole.
4.) What needle do you like best? I like John James 28 petites.
5.) Are you a needle loser? No, never. That would freak me out! I have magnetic needle minders everywhere.
6.) What fabric do you prefer to stitch on? I prefer plainweave. Count depends on my design.
7.) Bobbins or floss bags? Floss bags.
8.) Are you a scissors collector? Not really. Every now and again one will catch my eye and I must-haves it.
9.) Do you do your own framing, and if so, do you lace or pin? On small projects, usually; I lace.
10.) Are you a floss floozy? Guess so. I can't resist floss!
11.) Silk? Love it. Can't use it. Alas, I am ALLERGIC to it!
12.) Railroader? Always. I am so used to railroading I attempt to do it when stitching one over one!
13.) Are you a pattern or designer snob? Not sure what that means... but I do have favorites.
14.) Do you get antsy when you give someone a stitched gift? Not antsy really, but excited.
15.) Have you reached S.A.B.L.E.? Oh my, yes! I've enough stash for several lifetimes.
16.) Do you wash your projects? Almost always. The only time I don't is if I'm using non-colorfast materials.

Busy weekend

I had such a busy weekend! On Saturday, I cleaned out my closet and clothes drawers. I took out everything I didn't/couldn't wear. I now have an empty closet! I seriously have nothing left! I hate clothes shopping with a passion and will put it off as long as possible. I guess I need to go shopping but I'd rather buy stash instead...

Saturday afternoon we went to Tulsa and did a little home-shopping. I bought new drapes for the living room. (I don't mind shopping for other stuff!) There was an ascot valance over blinds but it was so annoying to watch TV during the daytime with the glare from the window. Fixed now, I spent all Sunday morning cleaning the blinds and Rick moved the curtain rod to hang the drapes. We can see the TV if the sun is out; yippee!

After curtain shopping we had a bite to eat and headed over to see the Talons whip the Yard Dawgz. We beat them handily but I've forgotten the score. This puts the Talons at 4 & 0! I ate an entire bag of peanuts during the game and that after I'd just had dinner...no wonder I have no clothes! :o)

Sunday was window cleaning. It took me forever to wash those filthy blinds! But you can't hang new curtains over a dirty window. Here is a photo of the new drapes closed... And this is what they look like open. Pretend you don't see the dog bites and broken slats on the blinds. We used to have a couch that sat against this window and when Sheba was younger she'd sit and watch outside all day. She would get so upset when we left the house she'd bite the blinds in frustration. I forgive her; I can count on one hand the number of things she has "messed up" in her life. A friend of ours came to the door one day when we were not at home. He said Sheba nearly went through the window after him when he rang the bell! All this nonsense stopped after we moved the couch. Although...Sheba is still quite ferocious when someone rings the bell.I think the new drapes look very nice. Plus, I can see the TV! Here is a pic of the vicious blind-biter herself. She is too cute to be so fierce!

I did almost no stitching this weekend. :o( I did place an order for a bit of stash and planned a few things out in my head. The drawers under my stitching area desperately need to be sorted as I cannot find some charms I know I have...

Thank you, everyone, for the nice comments you leave. I am so blessed with many wonderful friends. Your kindness and encouragement always cheers me up!

It's Spring for sure

I've seen robins and bluebirds; heard the oriole singing but still not spotted him on the feeder yet. Here is a picture of the weather in Oklahoma lately:

This is another Mouseloft design...I stitched this (and several others) last year at the coin laundry when the washer was on the fritz. Silly!

I had mail

Yes, I had mail waiting on the front porch but didn't find it until we happened to go out the front door! We usually use the garage entry. What a great surprise, even though I knew it was coming.

It was my order from Amazon; Johnny Depp's Sweeney Todd DVD (for Jess) and Cross-Stitch Designs from India by Carol Phillipson (for me). I have gift certificates from Amazon so I decided to treat myself...and it's got PEACOCKS! The book is at a strange angle because it's all shiny and new and it's too dark to take good photos indoors. My only grouch is the book is charted only for Anchor floss and I use DMC. But it does have some really lovely designs and some fun ones mixed in. Now if we could get Amazon to carry Sweetheart Tree or Shepherd's Bush or...

I've been stitching away at Peacock Tapestry and have the top border 3/4 finished. I am thinking to rotate soon to the counting sheep or Cypher or starting another small project but haven't really decided. I want (need) to stop stitching PT while I am interested so I look forward to stitching it again. The last thing I want to do is get burnt out!

Holly has a really fun story on her blog about how she got started cross stitching. Does it sound familiar to you? Take a look here at her post and see what you think.

Tufting

I bought new bath towels last Friday. Here is a photo of Taco tufting in the bag the towels came in. Cats love bags. Cats are so weird.

Hard at work

I'm posting a little update to PT. This is my progress from the last two weeks. First, I worked a bit in the bottom right area; adding a few more eyes. From a distance, I'm starting to see the tree, grass and tail form~encouraging!

Then, I decided I needed some mindless stitching so I worked on the top border. Before, this was only the gold outlines. Now, there is quite a bit filled in. I'm itching to do some of the eyelets. Should I or not? Maybe I should wait and do them all at once? Help, I can't decide!!!
I'm rather happy with my progress since I started the SAL; this is the most stitching the bird has seen since he was started. I think I'm beginning to get into a rhythm on this and that is very nice! I also like rotating my WIP's although I've only been working the two peacocks of late. I'll need to work on my counting sheep soon or they might get lonely!

I did post a picture of PT completely unfolded on my main blog in case you'd like to see the entire monster! ***This post imported from my other blog***

WIP Update!

Here is a little update to my Peacock Tapestry. I haven't unfolded it completely in a while! It is nice to see I've made fairly good progress on it in 2008. I'll post more pictures of it on the SAL blog soon.

Other news: The Talons remain undefeated...3 games, 3 wins. Last Friday we played the Arkansas Twisters and it was a nail biter! We did actually pull off a win against them...finally! AND at their house! I was beginning to think there was some voodoo curse working against our Talons... We play the Yard Dawgs (Oklahoma City) next weekend...always a great game to attend.

Struggling

I'm having a hard time today. I'm back on PT after working on Cypher and finding it frustrating. For example; I have just finished 12 stitches and changed colors three times! On this project I think I start and end threads more than I actually stitch...

I need to stop counting.

I like to gripe too.

***This post imported from my other blog***