Ice Ice Baby

We're having a lovely long ice storm here in Virginia today, so today was a cozy stitching day. The house is warm and I'm making a pot roast using hard cider as the braising liquid (Angry Orchard--a sip for me, a glug for the pan).

I've been going through some slides from my dad's house. I bought a rudimentary little hand scanner at Best Buy. Put the slide in, push it under the light, hit the save button and it saves to an SD card. This picture is of me, circa 1958. We lived in Vermont at the time, and the fire department would spray down the football field of the school across the street. There would be a huge bonfire, and they'd turn on the night game lights and everyone would skate, even the little kids since no one was going to fall through the ice and drown. Here I'm modeling strap-on double-runner blades over my red boots.

I was also sick last week and missed a couple days of work, so this project has seen a lot of stitching action lately: Jane Clarkson. She's a bit more than half-way done.

I'd like to finish some large things this year and have tried not to get too excited about Market. There are a few things I want to buy, of course. The ladies from In Stitches are on their way back with a truck load of stuff, literally. And if you haven't seen it, go to the Essamplaire and take a look at Phebe Kreibel (2nd page of "This Year"). My stars, what a project. I've also had some nice ebay wins of charts I've been wanting to stitch forever, so it looks as if I'm going to be plenty busy this year, doesn't it?

I've finished block number four of Sampler Tendresse.

One more letter ("Y") to go in the left column. I love the way this looks, so I'm being patient with it, but those squiggles around the border of each letter will be the death of me.

Here's something new, by Renato Parolin, "Villagio." It's stitched on mystery 32 count fabric from my stash using the called-for DMC. I'd like to do all four houses and two Christmas trees. They're quick and easy, and a nice break from stitching big samplers.

Here's a close-up of the little houses.

And the whole project.

Peaches is taking a moment away from cuddling with Pink to say, "Happy winter Sunday!"

Starting Anew

Happy New Year, all! I haven't really disappeared from the blog world; if you read In Stitches' blog, I post there more or less regularly--although I haven't made it to the shop as much as I'd like lately, what with one thing and another, including holidays, head colds, weather and plain old-fashioned laziness. I have not been stitching as much either, but I do have a few things to show, which is why I thought I'd update here, in part because my stitching pals frequently will ask, "so how many WIPs DO you have?" In truth, I really don't know. Maybe we should get them out and review their progress, hmmm? I finished this little ornament. It's part of a design from Cricket Designs which has been around for a while. (Forgive the photos' quality; I took them after dark, with a flash and lamplight, which is not ideal.)

I pick up Jane Clarkson on and off. I stitch like crazy, then get sick of her and put her aside. Note to you folks who choose one project and then stitch, stitch, stitch until you're finished. I respect you for it, but it's just not me. If I don't have 8 or 10 projects stashed in every room, I'm not happy. I travel to work with 4 projects in my bag: what if I should open my bag at lunch and not like the one-and-only project I've brought? I can eat the same lunch every day (soup, multi-grain toast and a tangerine), but I definitely can't stitch the same thing every day.

"The Calico Cat" by Carriage House--almost done.

Also by Carriage House, "Sampler Stocking" which I started a week ago and is about half done (more progress since I took this photo).

OK, so this is the dividing line between the normal, above, where I show you things I've finished or are nearly finished. Nice normal things. Below is the crazy, not all of which I'm showing here. I've borrowed this shot from the Heaven and Earth Designs site: I've started it, and I'm about 1/3 of the way through the first page. Of 43. (Not shown because the fabric is stark white, and I couldn't get it to cooperate with the flash. Some other time I'll show you the 3 large Santa designs I bought to go along with it. I've started one. I don't know what it is about HAED designs. Is it the sheer size? The fact that as you stitch, the details of the design are revealed? I don't know, but I find them soothing and addictive.

And for something a bit different, I ordered this wool applique kit from Winterberry Cabin (I've linked to their website, but it will be down for maintenance on 1/12).

Pink: "Why don't they have a project called 'Rabbit Crazy?'" I don't know, Pink, but I'm thinking it's time to get back to the shop and buy some Easter projects. I saw some cute ones the last time I was there....

Night, all!