I Can Stitch...When Traveling @ 70 MPH

I had pretty much given up trying to stitch while riding in the car. Then about a year and a half ago, I came across a little Bent Creek zipper kit in my stash and decided to take it along while my DH and I took a drive. And I discovered stitching with #5 Pearl Cotton on 18 ct Cork linen is Michigan roads friendly! What a relief, no more "pin the tail on the donkey" type stitching (that's where you struggle for about five minutes trying to get the needle in the right hole). I can now actually stitch and enjoy the drive, too.

Here's a pic of a couple of my first Cork projects: "Made in the USA" kit, Bent Creek (center), in the lower right corner, Trail Creek Farm's "USA" freebie. On the left is "Land That I Love" from Lizzie Kate which is stitched on 32 ct raw Belfast.



We haven't been traveling much over the last year but I have managed to stitch or finish stitching the little grouping below:

Trail Creek Farm "Summer" freebie, Birds of a Feather "Halloween Costume" freebie, and The Gift Of Stitching, "Cupcake Doily" motifs with added buttons.

So now I have a little travel case packed and ready to go with some #5 pearl cottons, 3 or 4 smaller cuts of Cork linen, a few smaller, Cork appropriate patterns, a package of #22 needles, and a pair of travel scissors that I clip to my seat belt.

And then this past weekend, I made another discovery. We took a little camping trip and on the way, I pulled out an exchange piece that I am stitching on a piece of mystery 28 ct linen and found it surprising easy to work on. That is until we hit a nasty, bumpy stretch of highway and then it was back to the Cork. So now I have another travel option. Let's see, what do I want to stitch on 28? I really wish I could share a picture of my stitchy progress on the exchange piece but I don't want to spoil the surprise. I'll just say that it is very cute and such a clever idea from one of my new to me favorite designers. I just wish I had enough of the linen left to make one for me too!

I'm ready for a road trip, how about you?

Happy stitching! Thanks for stopping by my little neck in the woods.

Glory, Glory, Halleluiah!

I finally have a few finishes to share. I haven't had much time to stitch over the last several months. I won't go into it all now, but it involves a job, extreme stress, long hours, and finally a decision to move on. So last week, DH and I went camping, that is, we took our travel trailer and camped in a lovely KOA campground  near Petoskey Michigan. We relaxed and I tried to regain my sanity. (Note: I'm still working on it.) In the meantime, I stitched.

On the left is "Spring Glory" from Sisters & Best Friends. Stitched in honor of one of my favorite flowers. I stitched it on a piece of pale pink 32 ct linen that I had on my stash and used DMC and overdyes. I changed some of the recommended colors and stitched the letters randomly with a few coordinating overdyes. I must say I am pleased with the changes I made. 

On the right is a sweet little pattern from a new to me designer, Jardin Prive. It is called "Ronde de Fluers Pinkeep". I stitched in on 36 ct white linen with DMC. I just love it and I plan to make it into a pinkeep using  purple head pins (like the one in the picture).

Check out the object in the upper middle. Yes it is a little flower frog. It's about 3 1/2" wide. A few weeks ago my sister and I went on one of our sister's getaways and along the way we stopped at a few antique/second hand stores and I found not one, not two, but three flower frogs. Unfortunately, they are all small and only my tiny scissors fit in them. I did see a few of the larger ones but opted for the small ones as I didn't take into regard that scissors actually have to fit in the holes. Duh! Oh well, live and learn. Next time, I'll be on the look out for one of the larger versions. 

I tried to upload a few more pictures but Blogger is being obstinate and is giving me a "failed" message so I will take that as a hint to say goodnight.

Thanks for stopping by my little blog. 

Hippety, Hoppity, Here Comes An Easter Finish....

Last weekend I found time to dust off my sewing machine and stitch-up the "Hoppin' Along Sampler", With Thy Needle & Thread's sweet little Easter bunny pillow design.  It went from this...

To this... Uh...not quite what I envisioned. Looks more like something called Lumpy.

But with some shaping, the addition of ears, ribbon, whiskers, embroidered nose and even a little blush, my little bunny is looking much better.  Even Zoe thinks so.

 

All set for Easter decorating!

Of course, Zissou, Zoe's twin was not impressed.

Thanks for visiting. Sending best wishes for a blessed Easter and Passover.

Coffee to Dye For...

I did it! I coffee dyed my "Hoppin' Along Sampler" bunny-to-be linen. (Pattern from Country Stitches/With They Needle & Thread.) After seeing Deb's finished model adorning her blog, I just had to get over the apprehension I was feeling about the coffe thing. It turned out a little darker than I anticipated but I like it. Here's the before and after pictures.


Before Coffee:

After Coffee:

I bought a sheet of clear plastic template that I found in the quilting department at JoAnn's to trace the pattern. The instructions say to use a disappearing ink pen to trace the stitching line onto the fabric, but I'm leery about that since I won't be washing the linen afterwards. Instead, I'll trace the cutting line and use the guide on my sewing machine to stitch. Anyhoo, I plan to spend some time constructing the little bunny this weekend.  

In my travels through blogland this week, I came across a couple of noteworthy giveaways. Click on the ladies names to link to their respective blogs.

Pat is giving away another of her beautiful totebags. This one is in honor of her birthday, which is today, Saturday. Her drawing is this evening at 7:30 EST. Pat is my neighbor and a good friend and she does beautiful quiltwork (is that a word?). I was the lucky recipient of one of her previous totebag giveaways and I can vouch for the quality of her work.

Terrie is having a Jenny Bean Humble Servant Sampler giveaway and she is even including the floss pack as well. Terrie owns a cross stitch shop in Georgia called The Stitch Store and from the pictures she shows on her blog, I'd LOVE to visit. She also likes cats. What's not to love? Stitching and cats, sound like my kind of place!

Better get crackin' on the usual Saturday errands and tasks. I'll be working on my bunny this weekend and deciding which project(s) to place within reaching distance of my stitchy chair. Stay tuned...

Enjoy the weekend, whether it's cold, damp and snowy like mid-Michigan today or someplace that really feels like it is "spring"!

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world today!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the most you wish for

Be the least you get.

May the best times you've had

Be the worst you'll ever see.

Old Celtic Blessing

Shamrock Heart - The Sweetheart Tree

Hope you were lucky enough to put a few stitches in today!