The Return of St. Basil Santa

Finally St. Basil Santa has returned. Actually I've had him for a few weeks but didn't want to post until I gave him to his new owner. I think he looks at home in a more whimsical setting, don't you? Thanks to Marie, the finisher, I think she did a nice job and I especially like the way she pleated the plaid moire fabric on the front of the pillow. What do you think? Much better than before? I think so. Glad this one is behind me.

Holidaytime surely.....

....separates the men from the boys. I don't know how my fellow blogmeister's do it. Keeping up with their blogs and preparing for all the trappings of the holidays; I didn't have time to read blogs, let alone post on my own. In fact I haven't been stitching either. I miss the blogs I follow and I am really missing stitching. But thanks to a wonderful friend reminding me that I had neglected my blog long enough and that Christmas was over with already, strongly suggesting "that was then, this is now!" and to get to gettin'! I'm finally back in the groove. Thank you Gloria!

See what I won on eBay. I let the first canvas listing get away from me and then the designer, Patt of Patt and Lee Designs, offered it again; this time on Interlock canvas instead of Deluxe Mono at a much reduced price. I hadn't planned on buying any more painted canvases for '09, but Jane of Chilly Hollow fame posted the eBay listing on her blog, which apparently is my hypnotic cue to check it out, I spied it and voila...MINE! Ya know, I've always heard she is the queen mother of enabler's and I do believe it to be true. Don't know what I'd do without all her good tips on what's available and where! Thank you Jane.

I am very anxious to get 2 Geisha Cats kitted up and placed on the queue. Not sure where it will land, but it's in for 2009. I don't think I've stitched on painted Interlock canvas before, it's definitely different from Deluxe Mono and the actual painting on the design seems much lighter. This is because the actual canvas threads are much thinner on Interlock, as explained by the artist. I'll give it a try and keep you posted on how it works up. I'm not sure if there will be any noticeable difference on the finished work, I hope not, or if I will choose my thread palette differently. These things will become apparent as I stitch, I'm sure. If any of you have any suggestions or experience with this I am most anxious to hear from you.

Currently I have 3 small projects I'm working on completing. One is a beautiful white on white biscornu and matching scissor fob created and taught by Janice Wood at my local ANG chapter. It's on linen, let's see where are my 5X magnifiers? The picture is of her finished piece, my in progress piece amounts to a needle on my needle minder ready and waiting. Then as a Holiday surprise, again by our local Chapter, we were presented with an ornament project designed by Caela Conn Tyler (scanned photo of her finished ornie at right). It's so delightful and is working up quickly. There is a hidden message in the design too! Thank you Caela and Mile High Chapter, ANG. Oh, and the third project from the Sept '06 issue of NeedlepointNow magazine. This very charming ornament, created by Pat Mazu, is quick and would already be finished had I not put it down to "do" Christmas!
Dare I say one of my New Year's resolutions is promising not to have a hick-up in my blogging; to plan ahead for such delays and always have something readable to publish. There, I've said it. Thank you to my readers for being patient with me, I will do my best to earn back your valuable time. Happy New Year everyone!

BBBBABY IT'S CCCCOLD OUTSIDE!

Okay, I'm the last one to complain about Winter weather, but another night of record low temps is beginning to impede progress. Eight below in Denver last night and I'm beginning to view the outside thermometer like it's the bathroom scales, avoiding all eye contact if possible. Here in Colorado if we have sunshine and there's snow on the ground, it doesn't last long. At our elevations 32 degrees and sunny is sweater/shorts weather. Well it was sunny all day yesterday, not a cloud in the sky and the snow we received over the weekend...still here, not a flake out of place. High here at the house, 9. A perfect day to stay in and stitch, you say? Ever try stitching with mittens?

Didn't sleep a wink either; my cat was apparently busy morphing itself into a turban. Well at least I'm safe, warm and have all the essential food groups covered: coffee, cream, chocolate, bread and soup. Alone all day, sequestered with my stash. What else could anyone ask for? Thawed needles.

Meet the newest fur bearing members of the family.

So one of the reasons I've not had time to stitch recently is because, like everyone else, I've been attending to many other activities related to the Holidays...or not. I think I heard that addictions run in three's. I can attest to the validity of that; having stitching, mahjongg and Holiday Art's and Crafts fairs in my repertoire of habits, no hobbies. Beginning in the Fall and ending just about now, we go every weekend looking for treasurers. Admittedly, some things just seem to summon my attention and then there are other's that say, run like the wind! You know, one man's art form is another man's butter tub pocketbook!

I'm usually on the hunt for something handmade, or hand painted, definitely unusual. A few weeks ago, we happened upon a menagerie of unusual colors and proportions. Two "brothers" in particular, Fergi and Emory, were just begging to go home with us, so we adopted them. They are quite the charmers although I really don't think they are real brothers. Fergi hasn't seen the likes of a comb in many many many moons and continually casts a glance at Tweetie. Whereas, Emory keeps his lovely mohair impeccably groomed and begs for carrots. I think Emory is a snowshoe rabbit and Fergi, with his propensity for mice, is most likely a tomcat. I saw his sister, Grizabella, in a Broadway show, "Cats." Both have faces that only a mother could love and therefore, like many proud parents, I'm always willing to share a few photos. I think they're keepers.

Ornie Exchange Arrived!

It's 2 degrees outside, I haven't stirred out of the house since Saturday.

Snowed off and on all day Sunday. Denver was 18 below breaking all records. Then suddenly my phone rings, it's UPS, they have presents waiting at the top of my driveway. Too snowy, icy, frigid to venture down to the house, can I pick them up? Yes, I'll get them. Too cold and far to snowshoe up, even if I had snowshoes, but I know there's a treasure I've been waiting for and it's heeerrrreee. Where there's a will there's a way. Isn't it darling? This is from an ornament exchange I joined just this year. Look at all the other goodies that arrived with it. Thank you Margaret and Meg for all the extras, I didn't know what to expect and I am so pleased. Thank you so much. Here it is already on the tree. Doesn't it look nice and it fits right in.

I love everything and am looking forward to next year's exchange. Many thanks for sending such a lovely ornie and for surprising me with the charts, thread, card and chocolate!

Too busy to

stitch! Honesty, I haven't picked up a needle in 2 weeks it seems. There has been a flurry of activity here since before Thanksgiving and I just haven't made stitching the priority it needs to be. My blog has also suffered as it has been easy lately to just check emails and then log off. I have missed reading the blogs that I follow, checking progress and just staying connected in general. I cannot say that things will get better in the near future either.

Today I am able to post here because I am snowed in. We had another 10 or so inches of snow last night and this morning. I haven't even looked to see if my driveway is passable to check mail, etc. The finisher has mailed back my St. Basil Santa pillow and I'm dying to see if it's been delivered at the top of the drive. UPS and USPS have permission not to come down the driveway under these conditions. So I'll eventually venture up there.

I'm decorated for the Holidays and will start my baking, wrapping and finish stitching one last ornie. I hope to post a picture or two very soon.

I don't think I reported to you how the EGA MAGIC show went. You recall that last year we pledged to finish up 3 UFO's or WIP's otherwise we'd have to pay into our Outreach coffers the amount we pledged if we didn't complete the projects. Well this was an excellent incentive program, very few, if any had to pay into the program. Nearly everyone finished the number of projects they pledged to do. That was great. I know I finished at least 8 projects which was more than I pledged to do. It was great fun especially seeing all of the finished pieces. Some dating back to the '70's! Great! You can email me if you want more specifics on how this works.

Better get out the sleigh for an adventure. Hope you're day is filled with joy as you are getting ready for your holiday. Thanks for stopping by today.