Not a large update, update

Haven't gotten a whole hell of a lot done here lately. Next to zero motivation and I woke up today with a horrid sinus headache and felt like I am coming down with a cough. Ugh. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to stitch some and exercise more. But, ya neva know.

Anyhoo....pic of the update:

Nora Corbett's Trick or Treat Fairy from September 2008 Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine. 32 count overdyed linen from Picture This Plus in 'Fog'. DMC Threads. Frame by Q-Snap. John James platinum needle, size #26. Kitteh by God :). Began Monday, September 22, 2008, 1 PM PST. 

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Respectfully submitted,

Arch

Stitcheh Kittehz

We have 4 felines in the house, of various ages and sizes. They sometimes 'help' me out while I am stitching, other times, they just want to be in the same room napping. Sometimes, it's just the lone kitteh, other times, I have to take roll call. So, here they are, mah stitcheh kittehz:


Beau-Beau. The oldest of the bunch at age 14. She's my first ever kitteh, and my old lady. I got her when she was 5 weeks old and she was really way too young to be separated from her natural mother. I named her after Beau Brummel as I thought she was a boy kitteh, but after a visit to the vet when she was old enough, the neuter became a spay. :O





Ushi. My most recent kitteh. Also got her when she was 5 weeks old. (PEOPLE!! STOP GIVING AWAY KITTEHZ THAT YOUNG!! THEY NEED MOM FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 5 WEEKS!). The work 'ushi' is the Japanese word for 'cow'. Because of her coloring, she reminded me of Jersey (dairy) cows. Ushi is pronounced like sushi, but no 's'.





Ozzie. Not mah kitteh. Belongs to the FH (future husband). Ozzie was procured in Big Bear Lake, CA. Used to be an outdoor kitteh there, but since moving to Las Vegas, he stays indoors. He contents himself with sleeping on the stitching cabinets and occasionally meowing to be let out.





Mandy. The juvenile delinquent of the bunch. He is approximately a year old and another one who was rescued too young. He is a cootie and he loves to run off with my floss.






Well, that's my gang. Hopefully, I will have updated pics of the Trick or Treat fairy tomorrow.

Hope everyone is having a good day out there in cyberland! :)


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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

New WIP update

Good afternoon, all!

Got all my chores completed this morning, so I am getting my fairy back out after lunch to work on her some more. Not much done, but I will try and post a pic soon. She got delayed in starting, because I had bought all new floss, but the skein of 3371 got so tangled up and knotted when I tried to put it on the DMC StitchBow floss holder, I had to go to Michael's yesterday and get 2 new ones. I have NEVER had that happen with either the DMC or using the floss holders, so I guess I just got a bad skein. /shrug.

Anyhoo..... here is what I have so far. Nora Corbett's Trick or Treat Fairy from September 2008 Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine. 32 count overdyed linen from Picture This Plus in 'Fog'. DMC Threads. Frame by Q-Snap. John James platinum needle, size #26. Stitcheh Kitteh by God. :)

Here is a pic of the original fairy:

I am hoping I get her done by time time Halloween rolls around, but yanevaknow....

Hope everyone is having a good day today out there in cyberland. And remember: keep that sense of humor. It's critical!

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

An Autumnal Equinox update

Finally got around to hanging stuff up in my stitchy area. This past weekend, I've been straightening out that area and tossing stuff that needed to be tossed out a million years ago, such has scraps of batting that were too tiny to do anything with, glass from frames, etc. It took quite a bit of time, but I feel like I accomplished something and it needed to be done. I told myself I could not start Nora Corbett 2008 Trick or Treat fairy until it was all cleaned up and organized.  (I cannot stand disorganization and crap just piled up willy nilly. It makes my teeth ache and i find it slovenly and disrespectful of the things I have worked so hard to obtain. But, as Alton Brown says: That's another show. )

Here are pics of my stitchy area all spic and span cleaned and decorated for the fall/halloween holidays. Hope you enjoy them. :)

Overview of the whole area:

My SanMan Originals wall:

Seasonal side of the main wall:

Overview of main wall. There is a blank spot on the right where I am going to put my wedding sampler, however, I am still searching for the

perfect frame for it.:

I am off to get breakfast and start on my fairy. I hope everyone has a good day today!

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

Stash Acquisition

Been busy the last few days, so I haven't stitched any, however, I have procured new goodies. Cleaned up more of my stash area, got that more organized. I just need to get up off my fat butt and start hanging stuff up and making room for other stuff. That may be my project for later on today as I really do need to organize that area a bit more. 

Anyhoo....let's get this show on the road, shall we?

Notepad and tin with my initial on them. Tin will be used for leftover threads during stitching. 50 cents each at Michael's yesterday. 

Martha Stewart October 2008 issue and 2008 JCS Ornament issue.

Fabric and new DMC flosses for Nora Corbett's Trick or Treat Fairy. Floss from Michael's, overdyed linen from Stitcher's Paradise, Las Vegas. Fabric is 32 count overdyed linen 'Crystal Fog'. 

Close-up of this stunningly gorgeous fabric:

Time for a nap I think. I went to bed at 1 AM and was up at 6:30 AM. I have no idea why, but I think I need a nap. :P

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

Newest WIP

inally got around to pulling the threads and fabric for my newest WIP. I've been busy trying to keep up with chores and do some projects that were on the back burner, but put off because of jobs/laziness/doing other things. I managed to get some of my freebies stored on my computer organized. I still have a ways to go. This should not be surprising as I have five and a half GIGS worth of freebies stored on my computer. Yes, It's all backed up, but I really needed to re-organize it and get it to where I can actually find things. (Imagine the concept! :D). I think I am about halfway done, but it's better than nothing.

Anyhoo.... here is my latest WIP. Not much done, but I've been stitching when I can. Halloween 2008 ornament by Spongebob (Lorraine Niesto) for SanMan Originals message board members only for the 2008 Spooky Tuesday night. (NOT FOR RESALE OR SHARING!!!). Needle Necessities 1441 Witch's Brew, Crescent Colours Lavender Louise. 28 count natural pearl linen. Frame by Q-Snap. Size 26 John James Platinum needle. Began 09.17.08 2:05 PM PST.

I have some errands to run today, but hopefully I can get more stitching done today. Hope everyone has a good weekend!

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Respectfully submitted,

C.

Needlework Chores

For the last day or so, I have been doing needlework related chores. Last night it was straightening up my fabric tub, separating the aida from the evenweave. After that, I took 3 pieces of fabric that had designs on them that would never be stitched on ever again and frogged them to remove the unfinished work. (Frogging = rip it, rip it. The mere mention of this word is enough to send shudders through any needleworker, regardless of skill and/or years of experience. It is never a pleasant thing to do, but just like life, you can go back and correct mistakes.). The frogging took me about an hour and a half to do, but it was well worth is, as I now have 3 'new' pieces of fabric to stitch other things on. 

Today, it was organizing my needlework project box on my desk and finally getting around to finishing up the needle minder I made for my FMIL. Stitchy notes: 

Le Letter C from SAL Toutti Frouti (http://sunflowers.canalblog.com/archives/sal_touti_frouti/index.html). Access Commodities Soie d'Alger 1345 (royal purple). Kreinik 002 8 Fine Braid. DMC printed aida in 14 count DC27T-arab2. John James platinum tapestry needle in size 26. Frame by Q-snap in 8x8. Began Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 10:00 PM PST. Finished Wednesday, September 9, 2008 8 PM PST.

Front:

Back: In keeping with my theme of using only what you have, the fabric that was used to back this came from a pillowcase from the Martha Stewart Collection from K-Mart that I had no intention of ever using and has been pretty much collecting dust since the sheets were bought months ago. I am not really jazzed with it, but it's presentable and finishing has never been my forte. 

I have yet to find and update my hard copy of my XS journal. I really do need to do that. I will have to go back through my blogs and pics and what all,

but oh, well. This will suck up some more free time.

I started a new project just a while ago, but I've put all of 3 stitches in it, so it's hardly worth showing. Maybe some pics tomorrow. It's the 2008 Halloween ornament by Spongebob,

from the SMO message boards for yesterday's Spooky Tuesday day. It's a member only gift. It's soooooooo cute. As soon as I finish that one, the Happy Halloween Square that Sandy designed will be next.

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

No pic update

I have been running ragged since 7 AM this morning and have YET to even pull threads for my next XS project. (An SMO Members Only gift, 'Cup of Autumn'.) I am so tired, I can hardly hold my head up, and I have yet to help get dinner ready for my FH's birthday, do the cake and ice cream thing, presents, etc. Let alone pull threads and fabric for YET ANOTHER START). 

Here are all of the tasks I have completed so far:

1. Instructed the live in children to clean rooms, take out trash, clean up kitchen. 

2. Herded a cat to the tile before kitteh hurled up breakfast.

3. 6 hours of laundry.

4. Cleaned master BR and bathroom thoroughly. 

5. Herded same cat BACK onto tile, as kitteh apparently now thinks litter boxes are a suggestion and not for actual use. 

6. Price checked local vets for said kitteh. 

7. Made up bed with clean laundry.

8. Updated my MySpace blog.

9. Complained to my Maid of Honor about the no work, no mon-ay situation, I'm being driven insane by kittehz and kidlets, and if men aren't the silliest things on the planet. 

10. Dusted master BR and master bathroom. 

11. Worked on my RR Neighborhood. I am at least pleased that I can work in my SanMan Originals designs and I think I am going to even be able to work in some Dragon Dreams as well. WuWu!!

12. Acted as Counselor to various friends in need of everything from just a pat on the back to dude, you need to do let go of that which no longer serves. (I never said it wouldn't suck, I'm just sayin'.....)

13. Called up one of my oldest friends to sing the worst rendition of the Beatles' 'Birthday Song' ever in all of mankind's history, because she turned 27 today. Yay, Amber!!

14. Updated this blog. 

Now..... onto the stitchy related parts, as this blog is SUPPOSED to be about, iuno....*stitching*. 

As I had indicated in #11 on today's 'Tasks Completed' list, I got a fair amount done on the actual planning of it. All I can say is, I have NO frickin' clue how designers do this day in and day out. No, really. I think I have been through about 5 revisions of just even the initial idea, and I haven't even gotten to the meat and potatoes of it yet. OY!  

How do they do this year after year, and not go stark insane? I am not even sure I can even pull this off. I don't mind the actual stitching part of it, as it will enable me to stitch up designs I have been wanting to stitch for forever and three days, but the actual plotting and planning has me doubting I can successfully do this. This will be my biggest BAP to date, with a metric f-ton of time, money, and energy put into it. I just hope it looks good. I am not only going to be mixing threads by different companies, but designer's styles as well. I think I have chosen a fairly cohesive selection, but time will only tell. 

Firstly, my Town is laid out in a gigantic Square. Like, a big f-off one. Here is the basic layout:

Spring right side of square

Summer bottom of square

Fall left side of square

Winter top of square. 

Here is what I have so far:

Seasonal Village (working title, most assuredly!) 

In the center: Little House Needleworks, 'Queen Bee' (representative of me and how everything on the peripheral influences me throughout the year). 

In the four corners: SanMan Originals '4 Seasons Square' gift design. The design is a flower that is in four parts, to make up the whole flower. Each section of flower will be put into its prospective seasonal corner. There will be a border around the whole thing, uniting all of the seasons and elements. 30 x 30.

In between the four corners:  LHN Mini Season Samplers. Motifs are 67 w x 26h. 

Buildings in Town:  Most are from Country Cottage Needleworks, however, the Inn, the Coffee House, and the Chocolate Shoppe will be taken from LHN. Elements within the individual designs will be changed to reflect the season they happen to reside in (see Notes below).

The Bakery will be located in the Spring side of the Town Square. 

The Flower Shop will be located on the Summer side of the Town Square.  

The Needlework Shop will be located on the Fall side of the Town Square.

The Gingerbread Cottage will either be the Boutique or it will be an Inn. I am still waffling on this one, so hang on to your hats. :P

Regardless, it will be on the Winter side of town. 

I am also planning another Inn, a Coffee shop, a Chocolate Shoppe, and maybe even a toy store, if I can wing it. 

Townsfolk's' Homes:  House design taken from SanMan Originals 'The Perfect Tree' and minor elements will be changed to reflect the seasons. 

Town Griffons: I am going to do my damnedest to get 'Griffon Welcome' by Dragon Dreams incorporated into this design. I have met Jennifer Aikman-Smith, and it would be such a shame to leave out the wonderful designs she's created. I am thinking of placing the Griffons in either the four corners to 'prop' up the flower elements in the four corners by SMO, or do them over one over the 'Queen Bee' design and stitch the banner as well, with the name of the Town. Iuno yet. I know I have a metric boatload of her tiny dragon freebie gifts that I have collected over the years. I bet I could sneak some in, because my town at least needs a dragon or four! LOL!

That's what I have so far. I am envisioning a LOT of changes on the fly, at LEAST a yard of fabric, revisions, and frogging of biblical proportions. I need to stitch up that Frog-B-Gone design idea I had kicked around with Ashley of Stitchertigger fame, before I begin this. I've a feeling I am going to be buying stock in the company! :P

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

Same day start and finish

Before I post a picture of this same day start and finish, I would like to add this caveat:

THIS DESIGN IS NOT FOR RESALE NOR WILL I MAKE A COPY FOR YOU IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, AND/OR FORM. 

Please refer to this posting http://archangeldecker.blogspot.com/2008/09/rules-of-engagement.html concerning my thoughts about copyrights and folks who think the rules do not apply to them. 

Got lots to do today, so I gotta make this as quick as this design I stitched up in one day. It's a San Man Originals 2006 Secret Shop design. 'Autumn' in Soie d'Alger #4145. Top row of stitches in DMC #111. Bottom row of stitches in Crescent Colours 'Cupid'. Leaf accouterments by 'Dress It Up' and attached with invisible thread. Frame by Q-Snap. Stitched with John James platinum needle in size #26. Began and ended on Friday, September 12, 2008. 

I have another SMO that I will be hopefully starting soon. My FH promised to take me to Stitcher's Paradise for fabric for it and the Trick or Treat fairy in the CSN 09.08 issue. Woohoo! Yay for FH! :D

Hope everyone has a good weekend. I'm off to go get ready to go to an Italian food festival. Go go me! :D

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

Not much of a update, update

Not much of an update as yesterday I had some personal issues wearing on my last nerve and I had one hell of a killer headache to boot. Needless to say, this left me quite cranky and irritable, and in no mood to stitch at all. 

I managed to put in a bit of time on Wednesday (09.10.08) on my Country Cottage Needleworks 'Daisy Sampler'. (Unknown green 28 ct jobelan fabric. Crescent Colours and Weeks Dye Works flosses used. WDW 'Holly' for alphabet. Began 04.30.08)

I'm putting it aside to work on a SanMan Originals. I have not stitched an SMO since I did my wedding sampler. (An old Secret Shop Members Only pattern was used and I changed it to suit the wedding.First a wee bit of history:

My fiancée and I have had the devil's own time trying to find a suitable cross stitch piece to commemorate our wedding. We are not 'frilly' people (for lack of a better term) and 99% of any xs that is wedding related contains way too many flowers/ribbons/etc for our more tailored and streamlined tastes.

One day I was looking through my considerable stash and came across a San Man Originals 2005 Secret Shop design that I purchased way back when God was a child.



I got really excited and showed it to my fiancée and discussed with him the changes I could make. We both agreed that this was 'THE design' and we are both excited and happy that we found something nice to commemorate our wedding day.

Here are the changes that I made with related stitchy notes. I hope you guys like it! :)


Colors were changes to reflect the colors of our wedding. (Toronto Maple Leaf blue for his side, and New Jersey Devil red for mine). Where 'love' and 'cherish' is backstitched on the right side, 'love' will be changed to 'honor'. Flowers will be in the CC Pink Champagne and leaves will be in Anchor 218. 'Forever' will be replaced with the date of the wedding. This will be backstitched in a probable Anchor 102, with one strand (although I am not firm on this).

The Cake is stitching in DMC B5200 with the last row in DMC 321, to reflect what we have picked out for our wedding cake. (Marble cake with white buttercream frosting and a red satin ribbon round the cake.) I will leave the beading per the original, although the ruffles at the bottom tier won't be added due to the red 'ribbon' that will be stitched there.

Here's the finish:

I need to change the date, as we moved the wedding to April of 2009. One more thing for the 'to do' list.

I finally made up my mind about the RR Neighborhood. It will be done in the LHN/CCN style. I had wanted to do it in the SMO style, but I am barely talented enough to map out what all I have to map out now, let alone make up an entire village based upon another designers designs. I am probably taking the path of least resistance, however, due to time and ability constraints, I think I will leave it at the LHN/CCN and stitch my beloved SanMans in between.

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

Le Lettre C Finish

Finished this last night at around 8 PM PST. Happy danced all of 30 seconds before I picked up a WIP (CCN's Daisy Sampler) :P.  I'll post pics of the Daisy Sampler tomorrow, once I get some more done. 

Got about half my to do list done yesterday. Didn't get around to working on my RR Neighborhood any. Didn't feel up to it, watched 'Good Eats' and 'Ace of Cakes' instead. (I like Duff, really, I do...but does EVERY cake have to have non edible elements to it? Can you imagine trying to cut into the cake and getting styrofoam instead? Yuck! And a note to Duff: Please do not say how you LOOOOOOOOOVE it when 'everyone just comes together to pitch in' and this is said while you are asking your staff to drop what it is they are doing to help you out. That is not 'pitching in and coming together'. That is doing what the boss asked you to do in order to keep your job).



Anywhooo..... here's a pic of the finish. I need to make it up into the needlebook, but that requires a trip to Joanne's or Michael's and I'm feeling lazy today.

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

To do lists & WIP update

Letter C from SAL Toutti Frouti (http://sunflowers.canalblog.com/archives/sal_touti_frouti/index.html). Access Commodities Soie d'Alger #1345 (royal purple). Kreinik #002 #8 Fine Braid. DMC printed aida in 14 count #DC27T-arab2. John James platinum tapestry needle in size #26. Frame by Q-snap in 8x8. Began Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 10:00 PM PST. 

(Progress picture removed from Webshots 12.01.2012 and no copy found in records)

Got my stitch area cleaned up, so I am getting there slowly but surely. Maybe after lunch I'll tackle the RR.

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

Not tonight, dear

Wasn't in the mood to stitch yesterday, so I do not have an update other than I quit smoking (don't ask) and caffeine all in the same day. It rained yesterday, so on top of that, I had to deal with all the dust that gets stirred up in the Mohave desert. I had a massive headache which caused me to be in bed half the day. I have absolutely NO desire to ever be 21 ever again, but I must say that I would not mind being able to recover like that again. /sigh

I will try and get some stitching in today, and post a pic later. I am almost done with the Lettre C I am doing for a needlebook.  I am still debating on doing a design I found on the back, but we shall see.

Stitchy To Do list for today:

1. Finish up Le Lettre C. 

2. Take pics of finish.

3. Decide how needlecase will have stitched back or not. 

4. Work on MMAIRR. Decide on which designer, if nothing else. 

5. Clean up stitching area. 

Well, I better get to it. 

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Respectfully submitted,

C.

Le Lettre C from SAL Toutti Frouti Update 09.07.08

Letter C from SAL Toutti Frouti (http://sunflowers.canalblog.com/archives/sal_touti_frouti/index.html). Access Commodities Soie d'Alger #1345 (royal purple). Kreinik #002 #8 Fine Braid. DMC printed aida in 14 count #DC27T-arab2. John James platinum tapestry needle in size #26. Frame by Q-snap in 8x8. Began Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 10:00 PM PST. 

(Progress picture removed from Webshots 12.01.2012 and no copy found in records)

Hope everyone is enjoying their lazy, hazy Sunday. I know I am trying to despite a rabid headache.

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch

Me, Myself, and I Round Robin (Group #2)

I am not sure where I saw this, probably whilst mucking about the 'net on one of my infamous 'walkabouts', when I found this blog: 

http://memyselfandirrs.blogspot.com/

Now, round robins are usually funny things. I have never participated in one, simply because I have heard *WAY* too many horror stories of people making off with the finished piece, stuff lost in the mail, etc. This one caught my eye because of the banner like 'ad' on the right hand side of the blog:

YOUR OWN UTOPIAN SOCIETY!

Have you ever wanted to join a Neighborhood RR but you had these problems:

- didn't have connections
- wasn't asked
- worried that it would get lost or held hostage
- the stitching would be sub-standard
- themes, colors weren't what you wanted
- the cost of mailing
- the deadlines

Well then the "Me, Myself and I Round Robins #2" is the place for you! Build your own Neighborhood by stitching it yourself!Create your own Utopian Society free from stress, free from worry, free from obligations, free from deadlines. Stitch when, where and how YOU want to! Be the Mayor of your own town!Check out all the details listed here in the sidebar and if you remain interested - contact the head contractor to get your seat saved in the Building Association!

I'm like....well, heck. If I don't have to depend on other people to follow through or what have you, I'm all for it. It was originally for only 100 people, but it was so successful, a second group was added, which I managed to get into the group that time. 

The 'rules' are kinda neat too:

START DATE:

Shall be December 31, 2008

This is the only rule to the Me, Myself and I Round Robins: Please do not start building your actual houses or towns PRIOR to Dec. 31, 2008.
- Blueprints may be drawn up
- Fabric should be purchased
- Flosses should be gathered up
- Borders may be stitched
- Stitching Baste Lines may be stitched in
But no homes or landscaping should be stitched prior to Dec. 31, 2008.
So there is still plenty of time to get your permits, blueprints and waivers needed to begin construction on your neighborhood.

Once you have your theme determined e-mail the Head Contractor so that you can get your Neighborhood under the Themes Title in the sidebar!

CONSTRUCTING YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD HELP:

If you are interested, follow these steps to planning and building your own neighborhood:
1.) Choose your theme - what shall YOUR neighborhood be? - a "dream" neighborhood, a group of forest cottages, lakeside village, Christmas Town, Winter Village, Country Farm Estates, Fantasy, Castles, Antique Sampler Townes - whatever you want it is YOUR decision

2.) After you've decided the "theme" of your Neighborhood - find patterns in your stash, on the web, in your LNS and set them aside for use.

3.) How big do you want your neighborhood to be? Do you want the houses "stacked" in rows or one long single street? How will you finish it? Where do you want it to be in your home? All of these questions need to be asked prior to the stitching. Look through your patterns that you've set aside this will help you decide the size and shape of your town.

4.) Pick your fabric - it's all up to you what you stitch on! You can stitch on Aida/Linen/Evenweave. Plainly colored, bright colored - any color of the rainbow can be in your neighborhood! Just make sure you get enough to house your plans!

5.) Got your fabric? Then I would suggest basting a 3 inch line all around the perimeter of your fabric so that you know you can't go past this line! You need that much for framing or finishing!5.) Borders...what sort of border would you like? Plain? Elaborate? Don't even want one? Look through the Neighborhood photo links to make a decision.

6.) To baste grids or not to baste grids - that IS the question! Usually on Round Robins stitching "grids" or "squares" are basted onto the stitching "field" so that each individual stitcher gets their own stitching "space". Since this is not a Round Robin....it is up to you whether you will stitch a grid or not. If you want a neat orderly neighborhood with yards that are distinct from their neighbor's yard...then you may want to stitch grids. If you want your neighborhood to flow from one home to another then maybe you don't want to stitch the grids....all of this is left up to you. (grids on RR's are usually 50 -100 stitches square)

7.) Get you layouts all "designed". Stitch the border and bast any grids if you are going to have them....then put your Neighborhoods away until: Dec. 31, 2008 - that's when the contractors and landscapers are being called in! The town councils are going to be REAL busy I have a feeling :)
HAVE FUN!

Now, I just have to figure out what kind of 'neighborhood' I want to do. I think I am leaning towards the LNH/CCN designs, but I am not sure. I will look soon and see what all I have and how much this is going to set me back. I am really looking forward to it, and I can feel the creative juices already getting going!

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch