May 23, 2010

Summer

Phew! Almost didn't manage a post today. It's been a busy weekend, and while I am normally quite the homebody, I was a social butterfly this weekend. Now I'm exhausted, and the work week starts in something less than 12 hours! Because I was in Northern Virginia Saturday, I stopped by In Stitches to pick up a couple of things I ordered and came across this little gem by Cross-eyed Cricket: "Summer." It's charted for DMC on a pale purple R&R Reproductions "Ann-tique Hydrangea." I may stitch it on a Lakeside or PTP fabric though.

This week saw a little bit of work on "Catharine McNeal." I have decided to skip all the satin stitching though and substitute regular cross stitch. It was everywhere: every 2nd set of thistles, the roof of the house, some of the large trees. I don't enjoy doing it, and it's a bit more fragile. The effect is nice, but I'd rather move ahead instead of fiddling with why one strand of a group won't lie flat.

Poor Audrey--I've been too busy with work to go out at lunch and show her the town and take photographs. I'm going to be sending her along to Bunnygirl this week, who's planning to take Audrey with her on vacation. Maybe Audrey can come back when I have something more interesting to show than the inside of my tote bag, although Audrey did enjoy riding the commuter bus. And Hef's Mom: thank you so much for the Craisins and the cat toy and the chocolates which came along with Audrey. The bunnies loved the craisins (and I put a handful in a pilaf I made for the 2-foots too).

Pink is enjoying a cat scratching lounger here. I am enjoying seeing Pink wrestle this and hearing Peaches chew on this instead of the wall!

Happy week ahead!

16 comments:

Margaret said...

Glenna, you're not helping here. I've been trying to resist those new Cricket Collection pieces, and now you've picked one of them up and you're going to start showing me progress pictures. Sigh. Somehow I think we have very similar tastes in stitching. lol! Love Catharine McNeal! If you can't stand the satin stitch, I think you made a wise decision. You'll enjoy Catharine much more, and who will know the difference? No one but you! Have a good week! (I know the feeling. Not much stitching or relaxing time this weekend here either. Sigh.)

Tanya Willis Anderson said...

Oh WOW - that Summer pattern is lovely!!

Tanya

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Oh, Glenna. Don't you worry. How about I send Audrey back after her little vacation in New Mexico and Colorado? You can show her some of the sights, and then send her to California to visit Fiona and Lando, Fidget, and the Bunnies4.

Hef's Mom said...

Your very welcome! Audrey can be a joy and a guilt at the same time, but its all good fun!

Katrina said...

Catharine is gorgeous, she may have to come out of my stitching bag :-).

Hope Audrey has a nice vacation, LOL.

Unknown said...

I'm with Margaret, the new CC pieces are too cute but I don't need anything - want, definitely but don't need.

I just love Catharine and you are making such great progress on her. Margaret's right, no one will know you left out the satin stitches.

Enjoy your week.

The Scarlett House said...

Hey Glenna, what more can I say about Catharine that I haven't already said? I fall more in love with her with each stitch you do. I'm caving...I also don't blame you one bit about the satin stitches. Do what you enjoy. I'm the same way with those darn queen stitches.

Anna van Schurman said...

I love Catharine McNeal--the colors are so great!

Nancy said...

The more you stitch on Catherine the more beautiful it becomes!

I hope you enjoy stitching Summer! The Cricket Collection has some wonderful charts.

MyLifesAStitch said...

Great progress on Catherine! And good for you on choosing to sub in regular cross stitches for the specialty stitches! :) Really. Thank you... now I won't feel quite so guilty the next time I do that, lol!!

Audrey is very cute - even "just" in your tote bag.

Have a great week!

The Bunns said...

Hi Pink!!! Hi Audrey!!! Have a nice trip. When you eventually get to California watch out - it can be addicting.

RG says if your yard slopes - try those raised beds with about two layers of 2 x 10 boards. His are usually 4 feet wide and 10 feet long. That way you can make them level and fix up some nice dirt in there without being a huge chore or busting the bank. He takes out the sod and uses it somewhere else, and then clears out the rocks from the remaining dirt and mixes in some peat moss and some steer manure and more nice dirt if needed to fill the bed up. Water, plant and enjoy - bunny greens in 1/2, people stuff in the other!

Deb said...

Is Audrey kind of like Where's Waldo? My kids did something like that or was it Flat Stanley? Anyway, we had a stuffed animal that we sent around the country and everyone who got him took pictures of it - surfing in California, etc. It was fun.

Love seeing your progress on Catherine McNeal. I don't blame you for subbing out those satin stitches. It's your sampler, right?

And don't show those CC pieces, please no!! I love those charts, but I'm going to try to resist. I bought Catherine after you posted it and still haven't started it yet.

mainely stitching said...

Oh that's a brilliant idea for the cat scratcher thingie! And I love your progress. Satin stitching used to drive me batty, then suddenly something in me clicked and I enjoy it now. LOL.

Loraine said...

Love your little Summer pattern. Your sampler is just gorgeous! I can understand about the substitution. I think over time the cross stitches will last longer.
Have a great week!

Siobhán said...

I've never seen that Cricket Collection piece before--cute! A perfect stitch for the lazy days of summer. :) Love the progress on Catherine! I agree, go for the 'regular' stitch when you feel the urge. Satin is nice but sometimes it's just too fiddly.

Michelle said...

Love that Summer pattern!! It would be really pretty on a PTP. Catherine looks lovely too. I hate satin stitching as well, I can never get the threads to cover right and lay flat. Ugh!