Progress made

Progress has been made of sorts with stitching this week. Block 2 is finished and I've started outlining block 3.

This is the first time I've tried using my iPad to post. I just got blog press installed.

Seems to be working ok.

Hope you're all having a good week. The weekend is almost here. No long weekend for me. I am working on Saturday and even though the library is closed on Monday I have to go in and install software updates on the circulation computers. But it shouldn't take too long, providing it goes smoothly.

Happy stitching everyone!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy Valentine's Day

Progress on BAP Shores of Hawks Run Hollow

Hello Stitchy Friends.

I want to post my progress on the Shores of Hawks Run Hollow.  I've managed some stitching time since my last post.  I think this block with the fish is going to be one of my favorites.

I don't have too much left to stitch on this one before it will be finished.  Just a few little blue fish in top left corner, and some more of the lighter green on the big seaweed. 

Here is how both of the blocks look together.  So far I am not bored with stitching this project.  Sometimes I get really bored with a big piece and want to stop and do some other smaller things that grab my attention.  But usually, I stick with one project at a time until it's done.  There are a few exceptions of course....

Last week I made a trip to Welcome Stitchery in Crystal Lake.  I did a small amount of stash purchasing...  It's hard to go without coming home with something.... 

I picked up a new zippered mesh bag.  Those are so handy to keep a project in.  I just love them.  I don't have to worry about curious cats pawing in my stitching bag, or someone spilling a can of pop on my stitching bag.  Both events have happened in the past...

As you can see I picked up two of the new Prairie Schooler charts, August and Bunnies.  Then I picked up an older PS chart, Santa & Friends.  I didn't pick up the January chart, I felt it was so similar to others they have done in the past.  I have the February monthly PS sampler done, but not framed.  Same is true with March.  I need to get busy and look through my frame stash to see if anything is going to work. 

I have received some beautiful pink roses today from Mike for Valentine's day, also some dove chocolates.... what a nice surprise it was.

Yesterday we went over to Lock and Dam 14 on the Mississippi River to see if there were any eagles around.  There weren't any there so we drove on up to Lock and Dam 13 at Fulton and found this

There must have been 50 eagles or more in the trees on the island near the dam.  The only problem was that they were too far away to get any better pictures.  But we were amazed to see so many.  It was a really cold afternoon, so after leaving here we went back to our first stop and found several eagles had shown up ready to put on a show diving in the river for fish.  So we had fun taking photos there for quite awhile. 

I wasn't as quick getting the action shots of the eagles swooping down to the river to catch the fish, but my husband got some good ones.  It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, but really cold.  After a little while standing outside doing this, I decided I'd had enough and retreated to the car to warm up and watch them from there.  Luckily I'm always prepared with my stitching bag... :)  so I was able to fit in some stitching time on a photo outing...gotta love that.

I've got a yummy supper in the crockpot for tonight, and have invited our son and his girlfriend to join us.  I've even made Valentine cupcakes.  So, our family will celebrate Valentine's Day tonight. 

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you and Happy Stitching!

I appreciate your visit to my blog and your comments.

And the winner is.....

Hello Stitching Friends!

The names of the entrants were carefully copied..and one was drawn from the group.  Congratulations to Moonbeam!  Please email me your name and address and I will mail the Bent Creek kit to you.  Thanks to all of you that entered. 

The weekend goes by much too quickly...  I did make it to Stitching and Stuff in Clinton, Iowa on Saturday with my California stitching relative that is here in Illinois for a week long visit.  Barb and I always have a good time together.  We like the same movies, books and enjoy stitching together. 

We went to the movies the other night to see One for the Money.  We both have enjoyed the Evanovich books.  I was a little hesitant to see the movie, since I usually like the books better than the movies...  But, all in all we both enjoyed it.  I thought Morelli and Ranger could have been 'hotter', but it was a fun movie.  If you haven't read the books, you should. 

I have done a little stitching since the last post.  I have been entwined in the seaweed on block #2...  I resorted to using a highlighter to track where I was on the chart.  After I started doing that it went much easier. 

Sorry for the messy picture, but I wanted to get this post done tonight, and didn't take the time to arrange a better picture.  But, as you can see a good portion of the seaweed is done.  I think this will be one of my favorite blocks.

The family has gathered this afternoon to watch the superbowl together.  We fixed the favorite snacks...vegetable pizza, wings, cocktail weanies, chili cheese dip and brownies...  Now that the game has ended the food is about all gone as well.  So, all in all it was a success. 

Well, thanks for hanging in to the end of this post.  Hope your weekend was an enjoyable one and you found time for some stitching.  The weather was beautiful here in central Illinois.  Sunny and unseasonably warm for February. 

Happy stitching!

Block #1 finished...

Hello dear stitchy friends.

I have been reading blogs and have become inspired yet again by the talented group of stitchers out there.  Yes, you.  I've seen samplers I have drooled over, and admired stitching/crafting rooms.  I just have to say I'm impressed..

I haven't had much time for stitching since Monday night.  I did get block #1 for Shores finished at our stitch group.  So, time to move on to block#2.

I have spent my spare time in the last couple of days helping our daughter with her bedroom.  Painting, cleaning, sorting....  She got a new bed for her room today..so prior to the delivery of the furniture we've been busy.  She decided it was time for a new color in her room, so off to the home improvement store for paint etc.  There are still details to be finished but she is happy with the progress.  She chose gray for three walls and a kind of bright pink for the fourth wall.  Then, pink sheets for the new bed. 

Needless to say the cats have helped through it all.  So much so, that when the painting was in progress they were banished outside. 

We were at the Mississippi river in Iowa at Lock and Dam 14 on Sunday hoping to find some eagles to photograph.  We were please to find these beauties.

With our interest in the eagles this year, I am regretting not purchasing the Soar sampler from With Thy Needle and Thread last year.  :(

If any of you stitchers out there are finished with the pattern and would be willing to part with it..just let me know.

Remember to sign up for my blogoversary drawing in the previous post before Saturday!

Happy Stitching...

Blogoversary!

Hello Stitchy Friends!

I've been writing this post in my head for at least a week....  It seems like something always seem to interrupt me from sitting down to write it. 

I checked awhile back and was surprised to see my first anniversary of my blog will be tomorrow....January 31.  I didn't get as many posts written over the year as I would have liked, but have enjoyed blogging.  The comments from all of you out there make it worthwhile.

I want to offer a giveaway.  So, I would like to have you become a follower of my blog to enter.  Repost it on your blog if you like.  I will keep the drawing open until Saturday, February 4.  I will draw a winner that morning.  Leave your email address in your comment so I will be able to contact you.

This Bent Creek Home in the Globe kit will be what I will be giving away.  So, if you are interested, please leave a comment on this post.  I will contact the winner on Saturday.

I have been stitching away on Shores of Hawks Run Hollow, I am nearing the finish line for the first block.

I am leaving for stitching night soon.  It will be fun as always to get together with my stitching friends.  I will try to remember to take my camera and get some pictures of what everyone is working on.  I hope to finish the waves on the water in my Shores block.

Happy Stitching!

Not the New Year's Start I'd Planned....

Hello Friends.

Well, my ambitious stitchy start to 2012 was a flop.  I did finish up Winter Wonderland by LHN.  Success. 

Then on to my first new start of the New Year....  Well I read the chart, measured my linen, and cut it to the size on the back of the chart...  Much to my dismay, I should have double checked the stitch dimensions and not just looked at the cut fabric size.  There is a misprint on the cut fabric size on my chart... only off by at least 5" in the vertical measurement....  So, my nice big beautiful piece of linen is cut too small for the piece now. 

I was so mad at myself.  I haven't had the heart to look at any stitching since then.  I will have to go to my nearest needlework shop and re purchase a hunk of linen for Shores of Hawks Run Hollow, and start again.  The original piece of linen that I cut too small for it, was purchased at the shop in Galena, when it was going out of business, and the shop owner sold me a larger piece than what I needed...so that is why I was cutting it down to size....

Well, I guess I will just find other uses for my cutting mistake.

Onto other business...  Thanks to all of you sharp eyed stitchers out there, the source of the Snowman freebie has been found.  For those of you that are interested in obtaining the chart, see the comments from my last post that Carol made.  She has kindly posted the address for you to find the snowman freebie.

http://gazette94.blogspot.com/2011/01/bonhomme-de-neige-2011.html

So, thanks Carol for finding the link for the chart for everyone.

Well, I guess I will let you know when I gather my stitching mojo to move ahead.

Hope your stitchy start to 2012 was better than mine.