QS tuxedo cat eyes

Well, it was the HAED SAL this weekend so I picked up QS Tuxedo Cat Eyes again and got to work (Chart by Heaven and Earth Designs, art by Carrie Hawks). I did pretty well considering I had an unusually social weekend with engagements on both days. I really like the one eye I have already stitched – it’s just mesmerizing!

I see my brother in law has taken some more pictures of our dear Cate. They can all be seen here. There’s even one of the proud daddy. I’m loving being a new aunt again – thank you all for the congratulations!

Edited to add, hey have you seen the new Bent Creek, Change of Seasons Row?  Love it!  Also I am really liking how the Big Zipper is turning out. I may have to make an investment there (Changing out the fabby – I don’t think I would like stitching on 18 count linen).

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HAED SAL Weekend – Such progress!

Here’s the photo I promised last week of the cute little fob Mel sent with the chart for Beekeeper’s Cottage – I love it. I used these scissors all weekend and loved looking at the fob while I was trimming the end of threads – something I did a lot as I was working on my HAED SAL piece, QS Tuxedo Cat Eyes. I worked on him fairly obsessively this weekend and there is quite a lot of progress there. Here’s a link to my Feb progress picture so you can see the change. I’m really pleased with him.

I received news from the very lovely Becky that my Easter Exchange for her made it safely to the US. I forgot to take photos of this package, so to have a look please follow this link. It’s JBW’s French Country Bunny (over one DMC variations thread, Lentil Lakeside Belfast, finished as a fob) and Rabbit (over two, same DMC variations thread (sorry not sure which one) same fabby, finished as a bourse). Once I had finally chosen a design to stitch (one false start) I had a lovely time putting this package together.

I’ve been working on Mary Thompson a bit lately too, I hope I’ll have a new picture of my progress on her to share in my next update.

Mary Thompson and Mogadon

Here’s an update on my Mary Thompson Quaker (from the inside jacket of Quaker Schoolgirl Samplers). I’m really enjoying working on this one. We had a stitch-in at one of my friend’s houses on Saturday and I started the second motif there. It was lovely to see everyone again.
These photos are clickable thumbnails.

Here’s my new HAED start: QS Tuxedo Cat Eyes (artwork: Carrie Hawks). Not much to see there yet (though that is 1100 stitches). I already love it! I can tell I’ll be looking forward my HAED SAL weekends this year. I had a cat just like this one whilst I was growing up. His name was Mogadon (yes, after the painkiller – Mum was a nurse) he was a sweet old boy who always looked a bit like he was recovering from a headache and with two young girls in the house, he probably had good reason! Mogs was a very gentle boy. The only time I ever received a little nip from him was a day when I was practicing my flute. I can’t really remember what happened but I suspect I must have been giving the upper register a bit of a workout. One moment he was sitting quietly on the piano stool, the next he was down by my ankle giving me a little bite (still gentle – he didn’t draw blood). It was time to put my flute away. I still smile whenever I think of him.

Stitching highs and lows…

Winter ACEO (art by Sara Butcher) charted by Heaven and Earth Designs
Stitched on 25ct luguna (colour unknown) one thread over one.

First up, the highs: I finished Winter ACEO on Sunday!! 🙂 I’m really pleased with her, she is such a beautiful piece. She needs a bath and an iron and then I will add her to the framing pile. It was a fun process stitching this piece. I started her on January 4th 2006 and for most of last year I stitched on her on Wednesday nights joining the QS stitch along on the HAED Bulletin board. During this time I finished a first page and about 30% of a second. Then this year the board began a Monthly weekend SAL and I joined them each month, I seem to have found my stitching stride and made fabulous progress, finishing the second page and the other 4 (2 of those were very small). I’ve got plans to start QS Tuxedo Cat eyes by Carrie Hawks next. This is a much smaller piece so I hope to finish it a bit quicker.

Now the lows, I’ve just heard from Goldie, my seasonal exchange partner – that my Autumn Exchange arrived minus the stitched gift and the cute “Aussie” Christmas Ornaments that I sent. I’m soo disappointed. 😦 I had stitched Little pumpkin in the patch by Heart in Hand and finished it as a flat-fold. I forgot to take a picture of it before I posted it off so you will have to accept my assurances that it was quite sweet when I was finished with it. I’ve already started on a replacement gifty as I know I will not get any joy from Australia Post (my last experience with trying to claim on their insurance was not covered with success).

A Winter ACEO update.

Well, it was the HAED SAL weekend on the HAED BB this weekend and lo, here is my progress.

Isn’t she looking splendid! I’m so proud of her.

Now, I know you are all dying to hear about my class on Friday, I had such a fabulous time! Janie is a fantastic teacher. I haven’t yet finished my stitcher’s roll (have been working on Winter and I have exchanges to work on till mid December) but I am confident that when I get to the finishing I shouldn’t have to many problems. We finished the strawberry on Friday – it’s soo cute (and my best strawberry so far!) I haven’t got a pic of it at the moment and as it has been 41 degrees Celsius today (ie hot!!) I’m sure you will forgive my lazy mood. I will share one soon. Janie has put some pictures of our day on her website here (you will need to scroll down – I’m the “lady” in black in the front and to the right in the first picture).