Bits and pieces

I've managed to get some stitching done the last little while but I haven't been organized enough to get them on the blog.  So, here they all are in no order at all

Forest walk

JWB Lamb - part of baby sampler

Plum Pudding

Bee's Knees Ink Circles - the African daisy fabric didn't want to photograph

Taking a walk

The week has gotten away from me.  I'm not even sure how, but here it is already Thursday.

I have managed to do a little stitching since I finished Peacock.  I decided I would do something different.   Over one on 25 count dragon seemed to fit the bill.

It's been ages since I worked on it so I took a before picture:

And here it is as of tonight:

I'm not 100% sure what project I am going to be working on next, I know I am behind on a couple of ornaments so I may try and do those next.

Brush off the dust: Olive

The next project collecting dust in the stitching bag I thought needed a catch-up on is Olive.  

This is a large piece, over one on 25ct and it needed a fat half of fabric.  I'm on the first half of the first page.

First up - Forest walk by Heaven and Earth Designs

Last seen: February

Chance of being seen in the next few months: High -  hopefully by the end of the month

Productive Weekend

Weekend's over, it's still cold out.

It was a fairly good weekend stitching wise, didn't get a lot of other things done that are on my to do list.

Here is the progress:

Olive

Tour (I'm trying to get my confetti filled in so I can get going on this in a more productive method, getting close now)

And Plum Pudding

And now back to stitching

The Blob Growth

I hate time change - it has has had me feeling off all day.

I've been puttering around the apartment getting some odds and ends done, the to do list doesn't seem to be getting any shorter though.

I did some work on Olive that I can share - still very much a blob though.





I've put her away for now and am on the hunt for a skein of floss I put somewhere so I could use it this weekend.... this may result in me having to finish organizing the stash area (scary).

And the kitchen sink

Oh where to start....

Progress on current pieces

There's winter (edging closer to being 1/4 done)

Tour des Marques (working on wall confetti, yuck)

Olive (more blobs)

New starts

I decided to start the black outline on Summer

And was bad and started Plum Pudding (hee)

And the done

I finished another ornament

Christmas lace

Ink Circles

Gift of Stitching Vol. 23 December 2007

32 ct white something, DMC threads

I picked up the 2012 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue... this may be bad seeing I seem to be on an ornament kick right now.

Finally! Stitching!

I have stitching progress to share!

I pulled out Cirque des Cercles again

and Tour des Marques

I have trees!  I spent Sunday afternoon doing all the confetti in the trees

and Winter

still filling in

and Olive

Today we cleared the last of the stuff out of the library.  It's been a long week and now I guess I get to unpack my office (joy - not).

Eat, Stitch, Laugh

This weekend was the Annual Knowledge and Needles Open House/ Stitching Day.

Friday morning Dani and headed to Brighton to spend the weekend stitching, eat and stitching.  It was lovely seeing everyone and having a chance to relax. 

Saturday (the actually Stitching Day), was filled with lots of laughter, food, stitching, some shopping and more then a little enabling.  We had a crowd of about 35 come and go through the day and I'm pretty sure everyone had a good time.

I didn't take any pictures of stitchers but did get some pictures of the amazing finished projects that were on display. 

I picked up a little stash while there - I wanted to pick up a few pieces of standard fabrics, and then a few things jumped in my basket. 

My birthday present from Dani and her other half had also arrived so I got that too (I'm so spoiled).  In case you can't tell it's Plum Pudding from Glendon Place and the specialty fibres and beads.  I have the fabric on order - in fact it should be here shortly.

I got some stitching done:

I pulled out Cirque des Cercles (Ink Circles):

and Olive for some more green and brown blob work:

The next couple of weeks are going to be very crazy at work, we are moving our offices on the 5th and then the collection.  I expect that there won't be a blog post until after that as I work on getting everything ready and then organize my new office.

The Cat Days Of Summer

My apologies to those that read this blog.  I have been a bad blogger and I hang my head in shame.

It has been a very hot and dry summer so far, the apartment is hot - the cat has been hiding in the bathroom and refuses to even come to bed with me.  We are in desperate need of rain but the forecast is calling for more hot and dry.  At this point I'd be happy for fall weather.

At the beginning of July, the National Arts Centre presented The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring with choir and orchestra.

Bonnie, her other half Blair, Dani and I went to see it.  While the movie was playing they played every bit of music as we watched, down to the score during the credits!  It was so impressive.  Fingers crossed they'll eventually do The Two Towers and Return of the King!

Yes, my precious.

Also July brings Bluesfest to Ottawa.  Now I'm not sure WHY they still call it Bluesfest when most of the main stage acts aren't blues.  But Dani and I went anyways.  Monday the 9th we went and saw My Darkest Days, ignored I, Mother Earth, Shinedown and Nickelback.  Yes I know lots of people hate Nickelback and I don't care. I went and had a great time despite the fact it was hot out.

Friday night we went to see Our Lady Peace.  Supper hot out. Luckily a bit of a breeze picked up.  Enjoyed that and ran before Blue Rodeo played.  Also- I must share for no reason that a guy hit on my with the opening line - "So you here to see Our Lady Peace?" Ten minutes before they were suppose to start.  Why me?

I have also been to a few movies: The Avengers (awesome loved it.  Not sure if I enjoyed Iron Man or Hawkeye more), Snow White and the Huntsman (was hoping for more) and today The Dark Knight Rises (enjoyed that, music was a little much.  Side note: Deepest sympathies to the victims of the awful shooting in Colorado)

Looking forward to Bourne Legacy in a few weeks and may try and see Total Recall.

I have managed a little stitching, not as much as I was hoping for:

Here is Olive the blob.  Am enjoying this despite it being huge and over one on 25ct.

And I finished the black on Winter and have started filling it in

I hope to pull some ornaments to start soon and work out a stitch plan for the rest of the year.

Some of you know the last year or so work has been crazy busy with a HUGE project.  I'm partly in charge of it and the work has been going well and on schedule despite changing objectives. The unfortunate side effect of this is that I'm exhausted when I get home, and don't feel like doing much.  Hoping it gets better soon, also for some vacation when it's done.

This week I'm excited for Friday night: I'm meeting up with an old high school friend for a drink and catch up - we haven't seen each other in about ten years. Now I feel old

Soggy Get Together Weekend

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to visit Shelia at Georgian Bay.  Packed up the car and headed off Thursday after work and stayed until just afternoon on Sunday.

I enjoyed lovely company, good food, lots of stitching and horrible weather.  Eww rain and cool.

Forest Walk, aka Olive

Tour des Marques

Winter

We were having such a great time I really didn't take any pictures.

It was a wonderful time, thank you to our wonderful host.

March Retreat Report

This weekend was the Knowledge and Needles Spring Retreat.  Three days of stitching, eating and sleeping.  Dani and I loaded into the car Friday morning, went for a nice breakfast and then the back roads to Kingston where we stopped briefly before hitting the 401 for the rest of the trip.

Along the way there were some gorgeous views.  I took this one with my phone.

 I decided not to do people shots this year.  Here is a sampling of the finished stitching that was on display. 

 

Saturday we were treated to a wonderful lunch by Dan:

We had a visitor who decided he would get lunch from the bird feeder.  Bad squirrel.

Here is my stitching progress from the weekend. There was a lot of black, and for a change, dark brown.

Forest walk - also to be called Olive the dragon

Winter

 We stitched to a lovely fire

before sadly having to pack up Sunday morning for the trip home.

Thank you Ann and Dan and everyone for a lovely weekend.  Til next year :)

Oh and Kathy:  when I got home I pulled out PL and did a little.  

Before                            After