December 29, 2013

Calm Sea, Prosperous Voyage (With Apologies to Mendelssohn)

Belated Christmas greetings, all! I have been reading but not posting. It's been busy, and now things have quieted down just a bit, so there's finally time to do a semi-coherent post. I haven't been stitching tons either, but I did make a little progress on Peaceful Paradise. I have been sticking to it like grim death; I so want this sucker OFF my q-snaps so I can move onto other things. And yes, I started the Shark Sampler (which is what I will call it from now on, although it's officially Mary Johnson 1806 by Queenstown Sampler Designs) on Christmas day, but I don't have much in the way of progress to show, so I'll wait a bit to debut her.
Here's another potential finish for 2014: "Whale Hunting" by Elizabeth Talledo/Dames of the Needle. I'm stitching it on 32 count Americana (I think) using one or two threads over two (as charted) using WDW and GAST.
Since we're speaking of ships, this may be the year for ship themes for me. I'd like to stitch the new "Three Ships" by Shepherd's Bush, and this one too, a recent ebay win for me by Kathy Barrick.
I did my usual pre-Christmas walkabout of Fredericksburg's quaint main street, Caroline Street. There are wonderful antique and gift stores and they decorate their windows for Christmas. Seen in the window of an antique shop is this spool cabinet. Not sure how authentic. The price tag is $268, if I recall correctly.
These feathered hanging lamps were in the window of Commonwealth Lighting. I love them, however impractical they might be.
There is a wonderful toy store in town called the Rocking Horse Gallery. They feature dolls and stuffed toys, as well as artist bears and other handmade items. I'm not sure if they do so now, but in the past, they offered bear-making classes. Tempting when you see these!
I'm off to the Cape on the 1st for a long weekend with my dad, since we didn't get to go at Christmas. I've got my fingers crossed that I don't encounter snow, since I'll be driving. When the traffic's not too bad, I actually like the peacefulness of the passing landscape, the radio playing, and the time with my thoughts. Happy New Year to all of you, from me, the bunnies, and the cats. Pink and Peaches, passing a long winter evening with a little kiss.

11 comments:

Margaret said...

Love both your WIPs. You are so close on both of them! Love the window shopping too. Those squirrels are fantastic! Safe travels to the Cape. Glad you're leaving on the 1st -- sounds like a possible storm Thursday into Friday. Bleagh.

RG said...

Peace, Quiet, Good Music, Dads, Bunnies, Stitching .... I don't think you left much out - some tasty warm chicken soup maybe!!!

Happy New Year and I look to another year of being kept in stitches ... hee hee

Melissa said...

Lots of lovely stitching! I hope you get Peaceful Paradise finished soon - you are so close and it's such a pretty piece. I like the pops of orange showing up.

Have a safe journey and a good visit with your dad! Happy New Year!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Oh! I love your walk about town and taking us along :) Those lights are strangely beautiful! Thread chest, lovely!
And your stitching...GORGEOUS! SO CLOSE!!!

Mouse said...

coooooo thats an awful lot of stitching you have done there my girl :) that cabinet I wanttttt ...lol
love the peace and quiet bit ... and awwwww the wee bunnies :)
wishing you a wonderful stitchy new year :) love mouse xxxxx

barbara said...

I love the year of ships idea, and that near-finish has long been a favorite of mine. Bunny kisses to Pink and Peaches. :)

Giovanna said...

Lovely WIPs - happy stitching in 2014.

Cari said...

I so love reading your blog. Your stitching is simply FABULOUS. And thanks for taking me on that walk through town. It was lovely…and saved me a ton of $$$ 'cause I surely would have purchased just about everything to photographed. Love the darling squirrels…darling because they're already stuffed and not hogging all the bird seed from my feeders!! Have a wonderful vacation and a Happy New Year !!

Unknown said...

Happy New Year, Glenna. I've missed reading your blog - your stitching always inspires me!

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Goethe's two ballads' titles are not synonymous: in the prior days steam, a thoroughly quiet ocean was reason for alert; it is just when the wind finally rises that the boat can proceed on its voyage. Mendelssohn's variant finishes up with a ballyhoo of trumpets proposing in thesis writing service the ship's last landing in its port of destination.