Wednesday 29 November 2017

Nov 29/17

Well, it is back to work tomorrow for me, fingers crossed. Today is the best that I have felt in weeks.

I had felt great on Monday so I started my Christmas stitching for my co-workers. My tradition for many years now has been to give my co-workers a stitched ornament. There are several stitched ornaments in a bag upstairs in the craft room, but finishing may not be happening before Christmas this year. Fortunately, I found these cute little Charlescraft stockings that I bought several years ago while visiting New England where I stop into every Joann's that I can find to check out their sales. I used this pattern from pinterest to do the lettering which looks super cute on these stockings. To finish off the gift, I will add miniature candy canes so that the stockings will have a little gift in them.

Front:


Back:


Happy stitching!

Sunday 26 November 2017

Nov 26/17

There are some signs of life out of me. We went to the grocery store this afternoon because the cupboards were bare and the fella' did not want to brave the grocery store on his own for a long list of items. I took forever to go from aisle to aisle and the fella' had most of the groceries packed in the car by the time I made it from the store. The small victories can mean so much.

Here is a photo of our new puppy with Maggie in the background. This was taken last week when getting out of bed was akin to climbing a mountain. The easiest way to supervise Tillie, the puppy, was to keep her in bed with me. She is a mutt although we strongly suspect that Australian shepherd may be her breed. She has two speeds: a million miles a minute and stone cold asleep. We are constantly trying to find new games for her to keep her busy and to stop her from chewing on things that we would prefer she not chew like my phone charging cords.



I picked up my needle the other day and started to stitch during the moments when I was out of bed and feeling energetic enough to stitch. Here is the second version of this cardinal kit. I can usually make 2-3 versions of the Dimensions kits with the leftover threads from the kit, adding in threads from previous Dimensions kits when needed. The fabric is 28 count Monaco from my stash.


While watching a movie this evening, I closed up the backs of the CADPAT bibs as one of them needs to go into the mail soon. After two weeks on not being able to do anything beyond walk to the back door to let the dogs out to pee, getting even the littlest thing accomplished feels awesome. I still have a long way to go as I learned when I went upstairs to fold the four loads of laundry that had piled up. Walking up a flight of stairs and folding sheets should not have left me winded.

Enough whining from me. I hope that you all are well and are happily stitching away as the holiday season arrives!


Friday 24 November 2017

Nov 24/17

Pneumonia.
That is what is happening in this house. This is the first time in over a week that I have even opened this laptop. No stitching whatsoever.

I hope that the rest of you are faring better during this holiday season!

Sunday 12 November 2017

Nov 12/17


The fella' was watching the Leafs play the Bruins on Hockey Night in Canada last night when I came back from a chilly walk with the dog so I pulled out this piece to put in a few more back stitches. All the remains now is the brown that frames the cardinal and the french knots.

Just a short update today as we are leaving a few minutes to go pick up our newest member of our household, the cutest little miss Tillie!

Happy Sunday!

Wednesday 8 November 2017

Nov 8/17

Hold the presses! There has been some back stitching done on this piece. Only a few strands have been stitched but it is back stitching nonetheless.


From what I have read on the various facebook groups about cross stitch, it would appear that back stitching is either greatly disliked or greatly loved by those who post in those groups. Me, I love back stitching as I love watching the piece grow and become more alive under my fingers. I have never been good with a paintbrush and paint so I view cross stitch as my painting with back stitching being the last bits of shading and definition.

Well, it is off to bed for me as I need to be up a few minutes earlier so that I can get a flu shot from my doctor before I start my work day.

Happy stitching!

Monday 6 November 2017

Nov 6/17

The progress on this piece mimicks my return to health.....super slow! I am still coughing two months later and my energy levels are low. It is frustrating because I can barely get anything done around the house before I have to stop and recharge. The fella' is not one to notice when the house is disgusting and grungy and he has been quite sick as well so our house is barely presentable.

Anyhow, enough complaining about something that will eventually pass. Here is the update on the Dimensions hanger that is taking forever to stitch:


The back stitching and french knots should be done a few days after Christmas, at this rate.

In other news, we are adopting a puppy. While we were crashed out in bed while on vacation, a friend posted photos of puppies that she is fostering for a rescue group. Long story short, we met the puppies, introduced our Maggie to the puppies, filled out the application and paid the fee for little miss Tillie who will be coming home to us on Sunday, November 12. Never a dull moment around this house with two cats, a dog and now a puppy!

Happy stitching and good health to you all!