Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening to you where ever you may be today.  I haven't posted for a few days... 1. Because I always want to show you progress on whatever I'm working on... 2. Because it's been a little busy... 3. I feel a bit down... hmmm... now, I don't know that any of those are good excuses, but it's what I've got... Today, however... I have progress to share... I'm at home at the moment... and I feel ummm... somewhat better... 
I know that by now you've all probably heard about Lisa at The Primitive Needle... I don't really know what else to say that hasn't been said... I didn't know Lisa.  I do have some of her charts, she was a very talented designer.  My prayers are for her family and friends... and all of the stitching community who will greatly miss her. I guess it just really hit me how fragile life is and how we should really make the most of our time here.
I watched the news yesterday morning and as I looked outside at the snow falling somewhat heavily and all the snow that we have I had a very hard time picturing the wild fires in Texas and Florida.  70 homes lost last I heard... The flooding in Ohio that took Lisa... Earthquakes, storms, fires... We see pictures of unrest in the Middle East, unrest in our states capitols', unrest all over the world. Celebrities making themselves look like idiots... how out of touch is Hollywood???  It seems that the world is literally falling apart around us...  That is a bit unsettling.  It saddens me... makes me feel heavy at heart.  Partially because I feel as if I'm not doing enough to make a difference.  At the same time... I feel at peace... does that sound strange to you?  To say it out loud it sounds a bit to me... but I know the LORD and I believe that HE has a plan for us and that HE loves us.  I know the picture that we see is only a part of the masterpiece... and that puts my heart at peace, even when it's troubled... so... there you go...
Anyhooo.... Progress to report... what have I been working on??? Well, a few things.
I have done just a little on Quaker Christmas from Bygone Stitches. 

I have been working on Resurrection by EftH.  This is really a lovely sampler! I'm at that point that I want to stitch more and more of it!

Remember I told you that I'm working Mondays at my lqs... how much fun! The girls are all just wonderful and they have fun... you always hear someone laughing.  You can work anywhere doing anything if you like and enjoy the people you work with... what a bonus to work with wonderful people and enjoy the job too! (lol... but I digress) ok, so I'm doing a store sample... another Bird Brain Design called Eggs on Parade...  (check out their free patterns... great tea towel embroidery designs!)

How CUTE!!! I love wool and wool projects... I have one more egg to embroider and then stitch them to my background... it was really an easy project.  I'm going to be teaching a class on it at the shop.  I'm also going to take a class at the shop... Renee is going to teach us how to make the loveliest mohair teddy bear! 

I can't even picture me making this cute little guy... 


Well, so this is a pretty long post... thanks for taking the time to read... I hope for the best for you and whatever is happening in your day.
Stay warm!
KimV

Well, it seems my fingers have wanted to stitch on QC this last couple of days!  Here's a little progress, I'm pretty much done with page 1 on the chart... I have a few little motifs left but I've progressed to the next page to the right and the page below to finish motifs that are charted on both.  I'm liking it quite a bit. 

Don't you just love that linen??? (for anyone wanting to know  colors, linen or stitch count... look up in the left had corner in the sidebar... I have them listed.    

 I'm not a 100% on the heart scale motif... wondering if I should have kept it solid... I may end up pulling it later if I don't like the whole look.  We'll see.  What are your thoughts?

Sally asked about the designer of the little stitch on the Valentine's box.  It was designed by Kathy Cadilek of The Monkey Works.  It was a little freebie that I got in a newsletter through our local guild.  It says that its a free chart.  So, here it is.  I don't know if you'll be able to print or not... I'm a little computer illiterate... but I think you will.  

Thanks for all the looks and comments!  It's much appreciated.  Enjoy your day!

KimV

WIP Updates

A little bit of progress...

Another online give away...

Check out Jan at Belfonte Notes... she has an awesome giveaway!!! 
http://belfontenotes.blogspot.com/2011/01/two-year-blogoversary-giveaway.html


my colors for Quaker Christmas... are: Gloriana Silk Luminescence: Black Cherry, Forest, Antique Gold and Midnight.

February 1 ~ another GIVE AWAY and another new start...

This is Adam & Eve by the Marking Samplar... it's in a special series called Remember the Ladies.  It includes chart picture, some info on the designer and sampler if it is a reproduction and Kreinik Milkpaint silk threads.  This is the second that I have done, the first was called Blessed are the Needleworkers.  I know I didn't need a new start and I know I have 2 other SALs that I'm supposed to start... but I started anyways... 

I'm stitching on 40ct R&R Sheep Straw... I steam ironed and sprayed with water and got this nice old stained look... which I like I'm stitching 1 over 2.  This is my first A&E chart but I've been collecting them... I was inspired by Siobhan http://bluehenhollow.blogspot.com/ who has an amazing collection!   

Here is the very small amount of progress on Quaker Christmas... I can't wait to be done with this medallion... 

Speaking of Remember the Ladies series... this is Blessed are the Needleworkers... I have the chart and the left over silks... I will give this away, if your interested... please post a comment.  I will draw a name next Monday the 7th.  (I'm getting into this give away stuff... what else am I saving these charts for???) lol

Works In Progress: Revisited.  Well, good morning All!  I have been on but haven't posted because I want you to see progress... sometimes it doesn't look like much! lol  I started ByGone Stitches Quaker Christmas sometime ago.  I was doing pretty good and then tragedy... well, maybe not tragedy but... see the medallion not finished?  I had stitched all the way around almost to a close when again... I'm off 1 thread... ARRRRGGGGG! so long story short... I pulled it out and put Quaker Christmas down for a season... lol  I picked it up Saturday... and now I'm working on that medallion again... but it's going a little smoother!  I'm stitching on 32ct Days Gone By 1/1 using Gloriana Silks.

Also continuing on with EftH Resurrection.  I am making some progress here also, I started the cross. I am extending my sides so that I might scroll my linen up.  I get all excited... then I look at the picture of the finished work and realize, yeah... you have a long, long, long way to go! :)

Also, I have finished stitching my secret valentine... I just need to decide what I'm going to make with it... should it be a box, a needle book, a pillow, a pin cushion...??? what do you think??? if you were getting a secret valentine in the mail... what would you want???  Have a glorious day!

KimVDR