The Birth Announcement for my Granddaughter

I worked on the VS Birth Sampler tonight. I didn't have any white ribbon so I couldn't finish the heart. The ribbon fills in some areas around the heart. It not to easy to see the stitches in a photo. I mastered bouillon stitches! I used them around the roses. You can't see the Pearl Kreinik french knots in the photo. Sparkly. I like it though and that's what counts.

Busy Day yesterday

All went well with my stepmother. I kept having to redirect her thoughts as they tended to wander. She kept finding old letters and wanted to stop and read them again. Such a dear. I will be working on the Birth Sampler for my daughter's baby girl today. It is a VS and I am finding some of the stitches a challenge.

Not Stitching...

I say an interesting chart today - Long Dog Sampler "Plight of Fancy"

Today I am going to my stepmother's house and organize her bills. I'll create hanging folders and a file folder for each bill. She is getting old (85) and she has memory lose. She has invoices scattered all over the house and can't remember what she's paid. I'm going to set up automatic payment on her bills and I have to check and see if she is paying her property taxes. This will be all day.

CA Coming Along...

I worked on my CA. I'm ready to rotate my wip. I think I shouldn't concentrate on one design too long. I start to make mistakes and that drives me nuts!

Seahawks to the Superbowl

I'll have to show you what I got for my stash:
Rainbow Gallery Neon Rays
Waterlilies & Wildflowers
Patricia Ann Silver Frost
China Thimbles
Patricia Ann Twilight Star


I'm not really a sports fan but Seattle is celebrating their win. That's what the excitement is about tonight! I didn't sew this weekend. I was too busy celebrating my girl friend's birthday. We had a surprise party for her downtown at the Cheesecake Factory. There were about 10 friends. I told her that I was taking her out for dinner but I did that just to get her there. She was really surprised. Afterwards, we went to Gameworks and she played some video games. I spent the night at her house as I didn't feel up to driving back to my place. I had left plenty of food out for the kitties (2). But when I got home, they greeted me at the door and whined until I got their breakfast. I'm tired tonight so I'm just going to bed.

I've made progress on my CA - the hazel nuts and the blue diamonds but I'll post it later.

A Quick Photo before Bed

I was trying to stitch and watch "Lost" lol. Under normal circumstances, it is difficult! I love this design.

CA Progress

I worked a little on my Catherine Agnes. I am such a slow stitcher. I substituted Blue Lagoon with shades of blue and fushia for the Celadon Waterlily thread. I didn't like that look of lime green for a border. I frogged out some of the center that I didn't like. I will finish that later. All in all, I am really having fun with this one. It is so pretty. It's difficult to stitch on black at night but worth it.

Didn't Stitch

I was so tired last night, I was falling asleep sitting in my easy chair! So I called it a night and went to bed early. I think my blood sugar was high and when it is, I can't stay awake. So I'll stitch tonight. I am looking forward to it.

Came across a cute kitty pic...

Working on Catherine Agnes....

I want to thank everyone for the comments! Love them!!

Some asked about my Stokes Fauen - the last Ebay win. This tapestry was designed by noted Pre-Raphaelite artist Marianne Stokes (1855 - 1927). The name Ehret die frauen, meaning "Honour the women", was inspired by Friedrich von Schiller's 1796 poem Wurde der frauen (Woman's worth). Woven for Morris & Co by John Martin and Gorden Berry in 1912 it shows a group of figures representing (from left to right): Courage, Caring, Love, Wisdom and Fidelity.


I've been working on my Catherine Agnes. Love that design!

Ebay and Birth Sampler

Yes, I'm working on Catherine Agnes this weekend AND I will post a photo of my WIP but I had to tell you about my dual project. I am working on a birth sampler for my first granddaughter. (photo on blog) Sure her mother (my daughter) is not speaking to me and ignoring me for no reason. But I still want to make a sampler for her birthday. Maybe she will remember her grandmother. I'm using Victoria Sampler and changing it around to suit my needs. It is the one on the left and I'm using 28 ct Pink Monaco. I also won a couple things in Ebay again. Cat's Meow Afghan and Marianne Stokes chart.

Started Catherine Agnes

It difficult working on a black linen in the evening. I don't have one of those lap lights to make it easier. I put a lamp on the floor - and that helps. I think I'm going to LOVE this design. It is soooo striking on black. I will post progress pictures as I go this time - so expect one this weekend.

I want to thank Kali, Cathy, Christine and Von for all the nice compliments. As they said in the sixties, "a warm fuzzy" - oops dating myself. [smile]

A Happy Dance!

I have finally framed my 16th Century English Knot Garden by Liz Turner Diehl! I have to admit that I am lousy at taking photo of framed work - I get a flash spot every time! And--I had the wrong date set on my camera. I forgot to change it after I changed the batteries. But the main point is that I am able to proceed now to my next project! Hurray!!

Busy on Ebay

I bought some more supplies for my stash. It always cheers me up when I win a deal on ebay. I got 3 yards of needlepoint fabric 18 ct. and these cute birds - even though I'm not a bird person:

And a unusual pattern: Raspberry Parfait by Cindy Valentine - I might do it in pale blue Caron Waterlilies:

New Year

Ok, it wasn't the best year last year. I didn't want to post anything for awhile because I had to get over my depression. My twin daughters completely ignored me on Christmas. I had even turned down an invitation to a friend's house thinking that I would hear from them....dah! Why did I think THAT would happen? The only time I hear from them is when I am invited to a party with present in hand. I have tried to communicate with them, don't get me wrong. The least little thing sets them off. I found out about my granddaughter being born by email. No phone call. Then my ex called me to tell me the news and he kept yawning because he was so tired from spending the night at the hospital for the big event. I have finally accepted the fact that not all children are born equal. People talk about being born with the mother instinct. Well, my twins didn't have the instinct to bond well with their mother after they grew up. It was fine when they were children. I was a stay at home mother and cherished them. But now all I have are memories.

On a brighter note: I have finished my 16th Century English Garden - I will post a photo as soon as I frame it.