RED KITTY!

Red Kitty is home! I am very pleased with the framing and matting. It's such a whimsical piece I posed it along with other whimsical finds. The framing is not quite as stark white as it appears in the first photo, but not as golden as the second shot. Anyway it will reside in my daughter's red, white and black guest bedroom. Fun.

GAY ANN ROGERS' RED KITTY SAMPLER

A little progress

made today on Red Kitty. Actually since this photo was taken, a few more rows have been stitched. Red Kitty, the invention of Gay Ann Rogers, is stitched with floss and perle coton. It's a very different project for me as I usually gravitate toward painted canvas. I am thoroughly enjoying the relaxation and rhythm of the counted work. I have a few Laura J. Perin (and other's) charts waiting in the wings and believe it is the perfect balance shifting between counted and painted project.

Well I didn't make it out of my drive yesterday in time to participate in the 2-day pilot class. My neighbor took pity and plowed the drive mid-afternoon. It took about an hour and a half, twice as long as usual, because of the depth and heaviness of the snow. I was beginning to get cabin fever.

For some unknown and illogical reason, I didn't want to get started on a new project, even if they were all shouting at me. Actually, I had my mind set on the pilot and wasn't accepting the fact that the class had come and gone...without me! At that point, if I had a tail it would be between my legs and if I had any stress tabs (M&M's) I'd have a bowl full of those too. But instead I ended up pulling out an older UFO (although if it's still on the stretcher, it's officially a WIP, at least in my mind), GAR's Red Kitty.

I love this sampler and don't know why I put it down some months ago. But I was able to make some progress and soon my self talk turned from poor me to OMG, I'll have this completed in no time and another finished project for 2009. What's that they say about life giving you lemons? Oh, now I remember, "When life gives you lemons, put them in your bra." :) Or something like that.

Thanks for visiting on this sunny morning in Colorado.

FLORAL PROGRESS

I'm back from Seminar and enjoyed every minute of my stay in Denver. Even though I'm local I decided to stay at the hotel; was afraid I might miss something! Along with packing up the kitchen sink, I also brought along my cat, Tbear, aka, Half White Face or One Pink Toe. (Taken with camera phone in room, already claiming table)

Nothing like trying to duplicate the creature comforts of home. This is why I don't like to fly to my stitching events. And with the airlines charging for baggage, ugh. My compliments to those that fly with all their stitching paraphernalia, stands, lights, stash, oh and luggage, for they are brave and honorable souls. I also felt it necessary to bring my own 4-cup coffee maker. This hotel uses those coffee pod things in the room.....I think those are really meant for tea drinkers. There was a fridge for my half & half, making for a leisurely breakfast waiting for class to start. I love to stitch while on vacation. Time away from home, the bills, the daily grind allows for stitching well into the night and up before dawn to stitch before class...before breakfast! All in all it was a delightful 4 days.
Now on to project progress. As usual I stitched as much as I ripped out and someone happily pointed out that only good stitchers rip out. Oh? Well that's a relief, if that is the litmus test then I must be an expert. Although I do get their point and agree. The first day I worked on the Elsa William's floral. I have completed the basket and am pleased with the use of the Burden Stitch. I used 3 strands of Amy's Burmilana wool blend in two colors to cover the 14 ct. canvas. I also used 2 Burmilana and 1 strand Soy Silk to help shade and texture. I also used Medici wool for the flowers and NN Overdye for the long leaf. I am researching a stitch to do the oak leaf and the large tulip next. Any suggestions?

Thanks for stopping by today.

So I haven't picked up a needle in a week.....

that's right, had visitors here in cool Colorado from the ovens of Arizona. We usually get a lot of visitors during the Summer which is wonderful. So not only was my stitching interrupted but also I didn't have any "Stress Tabs" aka M&M's, on hand to get me through. Since I went on the sugar wagon about 3 years ago there's nothing in this house to rely upon anymore, sniff, sniff. But I did survive the stitching drought and am very anxious to get back to my Lite Stitches project and finish up Gay Ann Roger's Red Kitty Sampler (you didn't know about this, first mention) which is about half way done. Will try to get a picture up in the next day or so and then I need to get to stitching a few obligatory canvases.

It seems I never stitch anything for myself. Is this the same for you? I have a few things I want to do, but gifts, requests and classes seem to keep me busy all the time. Not to mention the fabulous enabling publication, "needlepointNOW" that has 3 projects calling to me in just one issue. It's ridiculous really, there oughta be a law, or rule or etiquette guidelines in place about putting so many fabulous projects in one place. No affiliation, just a great fan. Those wonderful Kimono ornaments on the front cover nearly stopped all progress on anything else. Thankfully I didn't have everything I needed to start the first one. Whew, that was a close call to deepening my UFO pile.

I guess I should get to gettin' if I'm going to stitch this afternoon. Hope you're working on something that brings you joy. Take care til next time.