Quick Post Before College Girls Weekend

This will be a quick post because I am pooped.  I had a long work day.  It was extra long because I won't be back until August 12th. Boy that sounds like a long time!  I have plans for my staycation.

This weekend is my Annual College Girls Weekend.  We are starting a day early this year.  I don't know how much Mary Beth and Jan work during the summer.  Micky works like I do.

We always scrapbook pictures from the previous year and do some other craft projects.  This year we will  be there for the arts and crafts fair.  I have a pile of stuff to bring.  It seems like it gets nearly out of control.

Of course, I must bring stitching!

I finished Homespun Elegance Summer.  I will frame it next week.  I have a pile of pieces I plan on finishing next week, along with some chores

 Above is with the flash and below isn't.  The angled view with the flash was over exposed.

  I'm sure I will have a much longer post on Sunday or Monday.  I just got to remember to take pictures.

Hope you have a great weekend!  Thanks for the wonderful comments.
Keep on stitching!
Monica

I Think I Found the Picnic Basket Pattern

I get email from the French Needle.  They recently had a sale.  I had to check it out.  I found this that I thought would make a brilliant cover for the picnic basket I got Memorial Day weekend.  I will need to do it on 40 count to get it to fit.  I really like it.  It is only six colors.  

 I may do it in Needlepoint Silk.  The only problem is that the orangey color does not convert to NPS.
It is all in Latin.  

Pardon the wrinkles....I have been working on Summer by Homespun Elegance.  I did Spring this year. 

I have done Autumn.  I don't have Winter but, will eventually get it.  I like to do things that will fit in the same  frame.  This is very cute.  My favorite sheep are in it.  

 I have been working on this since I took the picture yesterday and have the flag nearly done.

I have my girls weekend next weekend.  I have been picking up beads for a bracelet project.  Then they also  wanted me to bring the Kumihimo looms.  I had to get the ends for those too but, they were given a list for seed beads.  I will have plenty of pictures next week.

Hope you had a splendid weekend.  We were grilling bratwurst last night, sitting on the back porch.  You could see your breath it was that cold.  I had to turn the heat on this morning to take the damp chill out.

Have a great week!
Thank you for the wonderful comments.
Keep on Stitching
Monica

Bob and Monica's Most Excellent Adventure

We sort of live in the wilds of the Upper Peninsula of  Michigan... The U.P.  We have a Walmart, a JC Penney's a public library etc.  It is about 15,000.  You get a little way out and you are in the "Country" or "Woods."  You never know what you are going to find once you start driving out.

Yesterday, Bob said, "Let's go to Goodman (WI)."  There really isn't a whole heck of a lot in Goodman.  The biggest employer is Goodman Veneer and Lumber.  They make hardwood veneer.  There is a really good "junk" store in an old ranger station.  I went there last fall and found some treasures.  We stopped yesterday and I spent $15 and got some dandies!

I found a Longaberger basket that is very sweet.  I wouldn't have paid for what it was new but, I got it for $4.50.  I couldn't pass it up.  It was in pristine shape.  I think I could but some pin keeps in it no problem.

 I'm always now on the look out for things that I could put stitching on.  I down loaded a freebie not too long ago from Lori at Notforgotten Farm that may just fit around this.  This is something new, but "Made in China."  I wouldn't feel too bad covering this with a bit of stitching.

I am always now looking for CHEAP, tin stars.  I wasn't disappointment.  I spotted a rather large one yesterday and it was $5.  I don't ever want to spend more than $5 on a star.  I am just having Bob put them up on the shed.  

I had bought some more stars last fall but, hadn't hung them yet.  We got them all up yesterday....pictures to follow.  We drove around Goodman's downtown, which takes a minute. We were getting a little peckish so, decided we needed to find some lunch.  On to Richard's Supper Club in Dunbar, WI.   I'm not exactly sure what a Supper Club is but, it is something quite popular in Northern Wisconsin and the U.P.  I had a BLT and the most amazing homemade potato chips made fresh.  

After lunch we continued on our way and saw the sign for 12 foot falls.  We drove a few miles down a really bad gravel road.  The signs changed to 18 foot falls.  How did that happen?  We were going to go and look but were deterred.  

Need I say more. 

As we were leaving to head back to the highway, we saw signs for an art show.  We decided to stop.  I wish I had taken more pictures.  The art was mostly photography, metal art and concrete leaves.  The metal sculptures were things like giant dragon flies and other whimsical things.  A sun caught my eye and figured it might go well with the stars.  I got one and we hung it on the shed.   The artist's name is David Heritsch.  He had been a Sports Illustrated Photographer.  Now rusty metal.  In my next life.... 

He makes me smile!

The start of the collection.

 I hope to find more of the celestial things to plunk on the shed.  I think it will look cool.  We did head home after we went to the art show.  That was really fun.  It was a majorily fun day.  Got home and needed a nap.

I finished my Primitive Threads.  Now I have to "finish" it.  I have been working on things this weekend as part of the finishing process. 

I will post when I get them done.  

Hope you had an adventurous weekend!

Thanks for the wonderful comments.  Katy was reading them all today and said, "You have the nicest people following your blog."  

Have a great week.  

Keep on stitching

Monica

How Do YOU Tell Right From Wrong

So how do you tell the right from the wrong side of fabric?  I know there is a way.

But with the fabric for my Ladies Prim Society, I picked the dirtier side

Unfortunately, you can't tell from these pictures.  

You can see the progress I'm making.  

My sister got her birthday box.  I can show the pictures. 

I saw this pattern stitched up at the yarn store.  It is made of two yarns:  Pebbles and Mohair.  

The picture really doesn't do it justice.  You can't see the glitz in it.  

I had enough mohair left, I bought another skein of the Pebbles to make myself one.   

Katy and I then went through our beads and picked out some beads that matched the colors in the scarf.  

She made the bracelet.  

 Then she had this super cute tissue paper that matched everything.  

It was amazing!

Different background to see if it would stand out better.  

The bracelet was really cute.  

 Took the time today to start painting the box to finish Strawberry Hill.  

Expect to see some pictures in the not too distant future.  

I'm really enjoying the Primitive Threads Wynter Peacocks Sewing Pouch.  

I love the colors especially Mountain Mist.  

One more day of work and it will be busy.  

Hooray for friday!

Keep on Stitching

Monica

CRISIS!!!....CRISIS AVERTED...whew.

I was getting somethings ready to stitch.  I saw on another blog PS August and September.  

I have those.  I go digging through my patterns.

Got 'em

Go digging through the fabric....32 count Lambswool

OH CRAP!!!

All I have is an 8x11 piece not enough.  

Head directly to 123-stitch

Fabric

NPI silks for My Name is Lydia

and the 2013 JCS Halloween Collector's Issue

I heard Lori Brechlin from Notforgotten Farms has a design in there.  

Crisis Averted

Keep on Stitching

Monica

I Just Didn't Have it in Me

I just didn't have it in me to blog yesterday.  Here I am today but, fading fast.  As usual, it was a busy weekend.  I don't know why I have the need to cram so much in.  One of the things we did this weekend was go to the movies.  We saw World War Z.  I do like action/scifi movies and this was highly entertaining.  Both Bob and Ed liked it too.  It was really cold in the theater and really hot outside.

I did finish my LHN Virtues Faith.  I did do the little sheep in fuzzy Wisper Thread.  Once I iron the piece, I will fluff him up with my bunco brush.  I am finally going to get started on my first Threadworks Primitive kit from the Ladies Prim Society.  I am excited about that.

 I did get my Stacy Nash book My Name is Lydia.  Talk about some sensational patterns.  Katy has asked me not to give this one away.  I may even succumb to purchasing the NPI thread.

There is also some really great finishing directions like using the walnut shell dye to age the piece.  

I have some of that stuff so I'm already rarin' to go.  

I will hopefully be posting pictures of my sister's birthday pressie soon.  I'l  be shipping it out tomorrow.  

Thanks for the great comments.  I just love hearing from you all.  

Hope you are keeping cool.  Thank goodness for AC!

Keep on Stitching

Monica

Friday I'm in Love

Whew!  Good to sit down.  I had the day off today.  

They usually are eventful days.  

I started with having to take the super Shih Tzu to the groomers at 8 am.

Then on to do battle at Walmart.  I find Walmart a necessary evil.  I do try and go infrequently.

I needed to pick up a picture frame along with stuff I know is cheaper at Walmart.  

I don't buy their hype that they have the lowest prices on everything.  

They did have some quilt fabric on sale.  I bought this to finish stitching projects.

I like having stash on hand.  It was $3 a yard.  I got half yards.  

 The colors will come in handy.

After Walmart, had breakfast, picked Buster up, cleaned went out to lunch with Katy

and took a nap....awww nap!

 I did get a 5 x 7 frame for the Chessie and Me piece.  I did cheat to take the picture.  

I haven't laced up the back yet but, wanted to get the picture.  

 I have been working on the LHN Virtues - Faith.

At stitching group last night, I worked on my sister's birthday present.  

I can't show that yet.  

I do want it to be a surprise.  

I am going to do the sheep in the brown Wisper Thread I have.  

It really is the right color compared to the DMC the pattern calls for.

Doing some celebrating this weekend.  Monday is our 25th Wedding Anniversary.  Ed will be home and we are going out for dinner on Saturday.  We are planning a long weekend somewhere fun this fall since the summer is just too busy for Bob to take time off from work.

To quote the Cure "Friday I'm in Love"......youtube video:  The Cure
Thanks for the great comments.  Have a spectacular weekend!
Keep on Stitching!
Monica
I almost forgot, I won a autograft pattern from Norden Crafts Needle Bling Designs.  It is cute!

Grande Olde Flag Sampler Finish

First, a big thank you to Cathy at CraftyCat for talking me down off the Bloglovin' ledge.  

I got my Bloglovin' button to work.  WooHoo!!

I finished my Chessie and Me Grande Olde Flag Sampler.  

 The original thread used was Belle Soie and Gloriana Silks.  

I used mostly Weeks over dyed thread in place.  

I was just as happy with the results.  

I had all the thread on hand.  

 Like I said in a previous post, I did it on 40 count over two linen.

  I wanted it to fit in a 5x7 frame.  I thought I had one on hand.  

I couldn't find one in my box o'frames. 

I have a Walmart one later this week.  I'll pick up one then. 

 The crows, cat, urn and letters are all done over one thread.  

Talking about challenging the old eyes but, it worked.  In these instances, I did just half an "x".  

Had I done a full "x", I think it would have been too bulky.  

I plan to get started on LHN Virtues Faith.  I have kept all the threads segregated in a floss box so I don't have to go looking for them.  The thread colors have been pretty consistent only varying one  to two colors.  I think the sheep in this one is black or dark brown.  I have some Wisper thread I may sub for it.

Very busy week coming up.  I can't believe how the summer is flying by.  I just moved all the June receipts from the folder to a envelop to be filed.  It never ceases to amaze me how fast a month shoots by.

Have a great week.  Thanks for the great comments and stopping by today.
Keep on Stitching
Monica

4th of July...A Day Late

Hope Everyone had a great 4th of July!

I did, I stitched!

I took a break from the Chessie and Me to work on these.

 I picked up a copy of Cross Stitch and Needlework  for the above star.  

 Then you could go online and download the companion.  

I stitched them in Weeks Gold and Brick.  

A very quick stitch.  I did one in about an hour.  

 I still had time then to to the machine sewing on them and the Threadworks Primitives I just finished.  

 I used the same homespun plaid, hand dyed ric rac and mother of pearl buttons I had ordered from Brenda Gervais' online store to jazz them up just a bit.  I comtemplated using the rough side of the button.  

 I think they turned out rather adorbs.  

 The table runner is one my mom made me a while ago.  It was a thangles pattern.  

 There are sitting in my little Longerberger basket.  

Worked on some paint swatches today to see what color I want to paint a box.  I really need to finish the Strawberry Hill sewing set.  I think I plan to leave the box then on my sewing table to keep pins, needles and scissors in.  I will have to Briwax later to see what color looks the best with the wax and next to the stitched pieces.  I did them on tongue depressors.  Should be interesting.

I worked on switching things over to Bloglovin'.  I still can't figure out how to get the button to work, really just to get it on my blog.  I think that Blogspot just doesn't want to cooperate with me at times.  If anyone has any helpful hints....please pass them on.  Must be having a "Duh"  moment.

I really need a weekend that is quiet.  I have a busy week ahead at work since one of the therapists will be on vacation and I need to pick up some extra work.  Thinks have been so busy, I have not really had much time for stitching.  I have fallen behind on my LHN Virtues.  I got the latest Simplicity and was surprised to get it.  That's when you know you are way too busy when stash catches you by surprise.

Have a great weekend.
Keep on Stitching.