Ahead of Schedule

Good morning.....

got lots of rain from the storm that is running up the coast..... badly needed here -- haven't had any for over a month.....

the piece that came to the top of my rotation pile was on the small side, so it got finished a few days early..... 'The Book Store' by Nikki Leeman of Country Cottage Needleworks..... it was fun to stitch, so here's the picture.... I made one small change to the center of the middle flower at the bottom of the design.... made it into a heart -- I love hearts!!!   it took 21 and a half hours to stitch:

six days till the 'Challenge' begins..... talk to you again soon and have a happy and healthy New Year.....

be well, Claire

Meet Rebecca

Another beautiful day.... sunny and bright, but chilly.....

I finished up about half of my newest start - Rebecca by John Clayton..... her seven day rotation is up and I'd like you to meet her....     she is about half finished.... this first half took 37.75 hours....

you can meet all her friends in my Webshots album, if you'd like....

it is getting closer to my 'Up for a Challenge' start on January first 2011..... I have all my WIP's and projects that I want to get done in 2011..... here's my list:

Savannah Romance - Thomas Kincade

White Nights of St. Petersburg - Marina Weber-Rosenburg

Georgiana - John Clayton

Rebecca - John Clayton

Carol Singers Sampler - Victoria Sampler

Medieval Town Mandala - Martina Weber-Rosenburg

Lady Hera - Mirabilia

Family Sampler - Little House Needleworks

Hummingbird Garden - Martina Weber-Rosenburg

Flamenco Dancer - John Clayton

Babe's Honey Farm - Victoria Sampler

Liberty Lane - Country Cottage Needleworks

Picnic at Royal Roads - Charles White

Pumpkin Cottage - Country Cottage Needleworks
At Day's End - Charles White

Snowflake Serenade - Country Cottage Needleworks

Bayside Bungalows - Country Cottage Needleworks

Wish me luck!!

Be Well,   Claire

It Is Finished!!!

Good Morning!!

Peacock Garden is finished and beaded!!! it took a grand total of 431.50 hours and 12 stitchy months.....   it really sparkles, but this picture doesn't do it justice....

today I ironed it and rolled it into it's tube for it's journey to the framer..... I will post another picture when she comes back home.....

I just joined a new blog site -- 'up for a challenge'.... this is a group that is going to finish 15 wip's in 2011.... the rules are very flexible and this might just be the trigger that will help me get some projects done in 2011..... I will keep you updated here as to my progress.....

take care all and be well....

Ready for Beading

Hello again..... wanted to let you see my Peacock Garden Mystery progress..... stitching of part 12 is done.... just have to do the beads.... hoping to finish the beading in the next few days and then it's off to the framer.... here's the update:

talk to you all later,....

Back As Promised

hello again..... my latest 7 days are finished..... this is how far I got on my Medieval Town Mandala..... this design is by Martina Weber-Rosenburg..... this was a mystery several years ago and this picture shows parts one and two..... well almost.... *grin*

this part took me 47.25 hours to complete:

it was really hard to put this down because I was really getting into it, but I am really going to try to keep my rotation on track.... I think it might help me get more designs done in the coming months.....

see you next week.....

Another 7-Day Rotation Is Done

here is a picture of my progress on this latest rotation..... the seven days are done and here's the progress on the 'Carol Singers Sampler'..... this is a design by Victoria Sampler.... these are the first 6 bands of the sampler....

the next project in my 7-day rotation is 'Medieval Town Mandala' by Martina Weber (Chatelaine)..... just added this to my list, so I will be starting from scratch.... will see you this time next week to show the progress I make on this new project.....

Hummingbird Garden Center

I have several projects in a weekly rotation.... I stitch on each project for a week and then move on to the next..... right now I have 7 projects in my rotation..... I also have 2 SAL's and one monthly project going right now..... the monthly project has one more installment, so that will soon be crossed off my list....

here is a picture of the rotation project that I just finished off today.... there is still lots to go on this design, but now it's week in the sun is over..... it is the center portion of my Hummingbird Garden project.... it is a design by Martina Weber-Rosenburg....

just a note -- the hummers are stitched one over one...

A Framed Finish And An Update

the cooler weather is here.... this weekend we had to bring in the indoor potted plants that had been vacationing in the gardens over the summer..... it will be going down to 32 degrees tonight.....

the Spring Quaker SAL piece is back from the framer.... it's hard to see from this picture, but the inner edge of the frame is blue (matching the blue in the design) and the outer edge is black.....

here are 2 pictures of my Peacock Garden Mystery..... one is the full design -- part 11 is finished..... the other is a detail picture of part 11 meadows....

the last part of the design will be out December 1..... after I finish it, I will be doing the beads and crystals to finish it off.... and my year long project will be over...

Another St. Pete Update

got part of another side on my White Nights in St. Petersburg.... as you can see, I really don't like the yellow buildings, but I will be working on them next.... have to get them done or I'll never finish this..... *grin* I joined a Yuku group that is challenging each other to finish a Chatelaine design that we had put to the side..... I think this group might help me to get this done..... I think it came out as a mystery in 2007.....

White Nights in St. Petersburg

I decided to work on this project again..... it came out in 2007.... it is a design by Martina Weber-Rosenburg..... it was a mystery in 2007 but I got terribly behind and put it aside.... now there is a new Yuku group that is trying to get UFO's finished up..... I still have a ways to go, but at least each stitch I add will get me closer to the finish.....

One Finish and an Update

just have a minute but wanted to share another finish and an update.....

I got Brian and Sue's Anniversary Sampler back from the framer and wanted to share it before I box it up and send it off to them....   this is a design by Victoria Sampler and I used the thread pack that they suggested.....    I've done this twice before for my other 2 sons, Marty and Eva for their Anniversary and Doug and Arienne for their Wedding.....

The Family Sampler SAL by Little House Needleworks is the update.... this is a really neat design where you have to be creative and make it match your own family..... will update you in again soon, so you can see how it's coming along....

561, 562, 563 and Done!!

thot I'd share a picture of my Peacock Garden Mystery..... I finished the border, which is part 10..... would you believe there are 563 Rhodes stitches in this border..... it called for 1 strand of the variegated thread for the Rhodes stitches, but on my 28 count fabric they looked too thin, so I did them with 2 strands..... turned out much better......

2 more parts to come and the mystery will be finished..... then I have to do all the beading..... will upload another progress picture when part 11 is finished in November.....

Struck Out for the Edges

Hello again..... here's another update of my Hummingbird Garden by 'Chatelaine'..... since this isn't a mystery, I got the whole chart at once..... and having no discipline, have moved out to see what the edges will look like.... I know, I know, I have to get back to the center again, but..... *grin*

I've put this away till I get part 10 done of the Peacock Garden Mystery by Chatelaine finished..... will upload a picture of it as soon as it's done..... after this, just 2 installments left to go -- and then the beading.....

Another Feathered Friend

my first little hummer seemed so lonesome, so I stitched up a friend..... he seems a lot happier now.....

my next project is an anniversary sampler for my son, Brian and his wife, Susan..... will post my progress right here..... I have to have this done, framed and mailed, to be to their home by October 30, so I thot I'd better get stitching and put the hummers away for a week or so.....

talk to you again soon.....

Here Are a Few Updates

here are few pictures of things I haven't taken time to add here....

Spring Quaker SAL is done..... here's my finished piece..... it is out to the framer right now.... I changed the center and sprinkled the letters to the word 'Spring' around the design and added some other motifs where the center used to be.....

I started a new Chatelaine design -- 'Hummingbird Garden'..... this will take quite a while to complete.....

here is the update on Chatelaine 'Peacock Garden'..... there are 3 more installments to go.... and then I have to do all the beading....

I finished 'Rainbow Row' by Barbara and Cheryl.... it is framed and hanging in our master bedroom..... will take a framed picture in the next few days.....

this has caught up a few odds and ends..... will try to talk to you sooner the next time.....

The Family Sampler

It's been a while!!!

I keep saying that I'll keep this up, but I haven't done so well..... so I've decided to try again.... *grin*

I have started a SAL with the Little House Needlework group called 'The Family Sampler'..... I have stitched on it for eight and a half hours and have added the 2 day's work here.....

I am stitching this on 32 count lugana -- color = lemon whip....

this is the first day's stitching - 4 hours.....

this is the second day....   4.5 hours....    the colors on this aren't very good.....

in my next entry I'll put some pictures of the things I've finished and haven't added here yet.....

see you all later.....

Spring Quaker SAL Is One Page Closer

finished page 7 yesterday and have added it here for you to see.... waiting for another Friday to roll around so I can stitch page 8.... this project should be done sometime this summer.... and then what will I do....   *grin*

anyway.... here's the picture....

I don't think I ever mentioned any information about the fabric....    I am stitching this project one over one on 28 count, white Monaco....   I am running out of wall space and one over one cuts the size in half....

see you later.....

A few updates....

here are a few small projects that I wanted to share.... I finished 'Winter Thread Pal' thread holder..... the chart was designed by Little House Needleworks and the thread pouch by Impie, Hattie and Bea.... the picture came out rather dark, but you can get an idea....

the next finish is 'Needle and Thread Scissors Bed'.... the chart, again, is by Little House Needleworks and the bed by Impie, Hattie and Bea.... stitching the 'coverlet' to the bed was a challenge for me, but I did finally get it done.....

and last but not least..... the 6th Christmas Ornament from Little House Needleworks (do you see a trend here?? *grin* )..... it's called 'Snowy Pines..... this was stitched one over one on 28 count fabric..... these ornaments are coming out at about 2" x 2" and will fit on our little tree just right..... hopefully by Christmas, I will have them all finished and ready to hang.....

I'm working on the next ornament 'Red House in Winter' now and will show it off in a day or so.....

Page 6 is done

just a short entry to show you my progress on 'Spring Quaker SAL'.... last Friday page 6 was published.... this section finishes the top row of the design.... each Friday we have something to look forward to.... the next page!!! finished stitching it on Sunday and took this picture:

 now we have to wait another week for the next page....   the size of each page is very manageable, so I think I'll be able to keep up with the progress....

my next project is to do the 'blanket' for 'Needle and Thread' by Little House Needleworks....   this is then attached to the scissor bed and pin pillow from Impie, Hattie and Bea....    this is a cute little project and when it's done, of course, I'll add a picture here....

Finished a WIP!!

I was torn yesterday when page 6 of 'Spring Quaker SAL' was published.... I had picked up a WIP - 'Winter Thread Pal' by Little House Needleworks and Impie, Hattie and Bea, and was so close to finishing it.... this was started way back in 2009.....   it's a cute little project holder....    the chart is tucked into the pocket that the cross stitch design makes and the threads and the rest of the project are inside the little pouch.....    cranked up my will power and did finish this cute little project.....

tomorrow I'll be back on the SAL and will be sure to show you my progress in a day or so.... this page will finish the top row of the design....

Update Picture of Peacock Garden

I am really enjoying Chatelaine - Martina Weber's latest 12 month big mystery -- 'Peacock Garden Mystery'

here is a picture of parts 1 thru 4.....

this is a detail picture of part 5 added to part 4 above....

a new part of the mystery comes out the first of each month and now there are 7 months to go....    I am stitching this on 28 count, antique white, evenweave fabric....

Another Page Done

just finished page 5 of the 'Spring Quaker' SAL design I'm working on..... the pages come out every Friday, so now I have the rest of the week to work on my other projects.....



I think there is one more page to finish the top row of the design....

I guess I'll work on a Little House Needleworks or Country Cottage Needleworks design.... will let you know in the next day or so which it will be.... I have so many projects ready to start and so little time..... *grin*

Spring Quaker by Martina Dey

I've joined another SAL with a Martina Dey design..... this one is called 'Spring Quaker'.... so far there have been 4 pages published and the following pictures are my progress so far....










if you'd like to join us, here's the Spring Quaker link....

I'm Baaack!!!

I finally got a chance to get back here and start blogging again.... I have gotten quite a bit of stitching done since I was here last and will be adding pictures in the next few days....

it is beautiful here in Florida this time of year.... because of all the rain we got over the winter, the gardens are doing great.... here are a few pictures that show how beautiful they are this year....