En Francaise

While I am trying to figure out what I am going to do with 'Cottage Garden', I decided to start a new project. I knew I had some DMC Impressions printed fabric that I got at Joann's a bit ago, and I came across a free gift design that I knew would be perfect for it. (Found here: http://novalee02.over-blog.com/article-6934514.html)

Here are my notes and the what I stitched since last night:

Design: Tour Eiffel (http://novalee02.over-blog.com/article-6934514.html)

Designer: Novalee

Fabric: DMC Impressions DC27R-rose

Fibers: DMC 310

Started: Monday, March 30, 2009

I am toying with adding either a Fleur de Lis or maybe an impression of a lip print. (Saucy!) Not sure which as of yet, but I think I will decide that when the main design gets stitched.


Well, I am off to catalog all of the stuff I am going to be selling on Ebay. I went through all of my stash and there is stuff I will never, EVER get to, so it's past time to let that go.

Hope everyone is having a good day! :)


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Respectfully submitted,

C.

Frog Happens

When I was stitching merrily along on Cottage Garden, I happened to notice that the wording was off by a block and a half. Now, since this piece has a border, this means that Yours Truly has to rip all of the wording and start all over again on it.

Ok, don't have an issue with that. As any stitcher of any length of time will tell you, Frogs Happen (rip it, rip it). What I have an issue with is accidentally cutting the FABRIC. This will cause me to swear like a sailor on a three day pass in Hong Kong, particularly when it involves hand dyed threads and/or expensive fabric that I cannot repair or (God forbid) replace.

This actually happened when I was removing the miscounted lettering. I managed to take a pretty chunk out of the letter 'A' in Garden, whilst merrily snipping away.

Crap.

/sigh.


Just as panic begins to settle in, and I am frantically trying to figure out how to cover this up and praying that I won't have to rip everything out, I get the bright idea of just stitching the lettering again, and seeing if I can cover up the 'whoops!' with a charm or button.

Yes, it pays to have stash.

*YAY*.



I actually found some brass charms that were bought with another chart, so I will replace them if I ever get around to stitching the other chart.

The only other annoyance is that I seem to have run out of the Weeks Dye Works Pecan. I have a few more sections I have to stitch using it, only money is a bit tight right now, and I can't get any until Friday at least.


Here is my progress so far:




Design: Cottage Garden

Designer: Nikki Lehman of Country Cottage Needleworks

Source: August 2006 Just Cross Stitch Magazine

Fabric: 28 count white Monaco

Fibers: DMC 153, 155, 156, 157. Weeks Dye Works thread in Pecan. Crescent Colours Joshua Tree, Tomatillo  Purple Pansy and Summer Spray.

I am not sure about the Purple Pansy border, so comments pro or con are much appreciated. :)


I have more chores to do around the house, so I will close for now. 




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Respectfully submitted,

C.

Cottage Garden Update

Here is the update as of last night:

Design: Cottage Garden

Designer: Nikki Lehman of Country Cottage Needleworks

Source: August 2006 Just Cross Stitch Magazine

Fabric: 28 count white Monaco

Fibers: DMC 153, 155, 156, 157. Weeks Dye Works thread in Pecan. Crescent Colours Joshua Tree, Tomatillio and Summer Spray.

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



I chose to change the colors of the wording, as I thought the original had too much green in it for my taste. "Cottage" was stitched in CC Summer Spray and "Garden" was stitched in CC Joshua Tree.




Here is what the original is supposed to look like:

Please post comments if you like or even hate the changes I've made. :)




Hope everyone is having a good day!


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Respectfully submitted,

C.

Finish and a new WIP

One way or another, I got off count on the bunneh I was stitching and I was off by one block. Couldn't figure out where and I struggled trying to get the gazebo to line up correctly, so I just tanked the gazebo stitching and just extended the checkerboard 'grass' out a bit further on the right and called it done. I haven't been feeling well the last 2 weeks so rather than struggle with trying to make it work, I just did what I could and moved on. :P

Stitchy notes:

Design: Easter Chocolate Boxes

Designer: Erica Michaels

Fabric: 28 count hand painted by MrsDeb from the SMO boards. I like to call it 'Spring'.

Fibers: Anchor 382 for the Bunneh, Kreinik Blending Filament 092 and #4 Very Fine Braid #3214, DMC B5200, 605, 954 and 910.

Began: Monday, March 2, 2009.

Finished: Sunday, March 22, 2009.



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



I'm actually toying with the idea of making the checkerboard 'grass' go all the way around the bunneh in a square, but for now, it's done. :D


Right after I finished the Bunneh, I pulled the mats for my next start. It's by CCN and it's a fast stitch so far. I have promised myself that right after this one, I will pull out one of my older WIPs and work on it until it is completed. I seem to be one of those who cannot have a rotation of any sort, other than something like this:

1. Start a new project.

2. Get bored/off track/hate it

3. Put it away for a while.

4. Start something else.

5. Finish the new one.

6. Feel guilty and get the old one out and try and finish it.

7. Repeat ad nauseum.


Anyhoo.... here is my latest start with subsequent stitchy notes:


Design: Cottage Garden

Designer: Nikki Lehman of Country Cottage Needleworks

Source: August 2006 Just Cross Stitch Magazine

Fabric: 28 count white Monaco

Fibers: DMC 153, 155, 156, 157. Weeks Dye Works thread in Pecan. Crescent Colours Joshua Tree, Tomatillio.

I am toying with using CC Pansy Purple for the border and a different thread for the wording. The wording in the original is done in green, but I think it's too much green in the piece. Here is what I have so far:






Here is what it will (sort of) look like when it's completed:




And of course, I will close this post with a kitteh pic. Miss Ushi, havin a lounge on the shelving of my desk:





Hope everyone is having a good day today! :)


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Respectfully submitted,

C.

Numbers 552 and 702 with a bunneh

Here is my latest update on the Easter Chocolate Box. I am not sure if I want to continue stitching the white, but I may as well, since I cannot seem to find another suitable color for the trellis. (Although a pale yellow may show up better.)


Design: Easter Chocolate Boxes

Designer: Erica Michaels

Fabric: 28 count hand painted by MrsDeb from the SMO boards. I like to call it 'Spring'.

Fibers: Anchor 382 for the Bunneh, Kreinik Blending Filament 092 and #4 Very Fine Braid #3214, DMC B5200, 605, 954 and 910.

Began: Monday, March 2, 2009.

I haven't stitched much the last 2 days as I seem to be getting sick. I think it's seasonal allergies, but /shrug. Who knows?



In other news, Martin Brodeur received his 552 career win Tuesday night and Patrick Elias scored his 702nd goal. Grats to both men on a job well done!

Stats for Marty:

Except as noted, these records include performance through the end of the 2007-08 season. Statistics for the current (2008–09) season will be updated upon its completion.

* Most regular season wins (achieved in 2008-09 season)
* 2nd place, Most shutouts (96)
* Most combined shutouts (118, both regular season and playoffs)
* Most overtime wins (45)
* Most consecutive 30-win seasons (12)
* Most consecutive 35-win seasons (11)
* Most 40-win seasons (7)
* Only NHL goalie to score a game-winning goal
* One of two NHL goalies (Ron Hextall) to score a goal in both the regular season and the playoffs

Regular season

* Most wins in a single season (48, in 2006–07)
* Most minutes played in a single season (4697, in 2006–07)

Playoffs

* Most shutouts in a playoff (7, in 2002–03)
* 2nd place: 22 Shutouts
* Most shutouts in a Stanley Cup final (3, in 2002–03)

Tied with Toronto Maple Leafs' Frank McCool.

* 2nd place: 94 Wins
* 3rd goaltender to win the Stanley Cup with a Game-7 shutout in 2002–03.
* 1st goaltender in history to have 3 shutouts in two different playoff series. (1995 against Boston in the Conference Quarterfinals, 2003 against Anaheim in the Stanley Cup final.)

Awards

* Calder Memorial Trophy — 1994
* NHL 1st All-Star Team — 2003, 2004, 2007
* NHL 2nd All-Star Team — 1997, 1998, 2006, 2008
* NHL All-Rookie Team — 1994
* NHL All-Star Game — 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
* Olympic gold medal — 2002
* Primus World'Stars Challenge Bowl — 2004
* QMJHL 2nd All-Star Team — 1992
* QMJHL All-Rookie Team — 1990
* Stanley Cup — 1995, 2000, 2003
* Vezina Trophy — 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
* William M. Jennings Trophy — 1997 (with Mike Dunham), 1998, 2003 (tied Roman Čechmánek & Robert Esche), 2004
* World Cup of Hockey championship — 2004



Stats for Patrick:



Awards

* 1997–98: NHL All-Rookie team
* 1999–00: Stanley Cup champion, New Jersey Devils
* 1999–00: NHL All-Star Game participant
* 2000–01: NHL First All-Star team
* 2000–01: NHL Bud Light Plus/Minus Award (shared with Joe Sakic)
* 2001–02: NHL All-Star Game participant
* 2002–03: Stanley Cup champion, New Jersey Devils
* 2006: Olympic Bronze medal, Czech Republic

Records

* Eliáš is the only NHL player to be awarded two penalty shots in overtime. Both occurred in separate games versus the New York Islanders, and in both cases, Eliáš missed the penalty shot.
* Most Overtime Goals in a season, 4.
* Most Overtime Winners, 15 (tied with Mats Sundin and Jaromír Jágr)
* New Jersey Devils record for most points in one season, 96.
* New Jersey Devils record for most points in a playoff season, 23.
* New Jersey Devils all-time leader in playoff goals (39), assists (71), and points (110).
* New Jersey Devils record for hat tricks, 6 (tied with John MacLean).
* New Jersey Devils record for all time assists, 365.
* New Jersey Devils record for all-time scoring in goals (293) and total points (702), ahead of John MacLean
* New Jersey Devils record for game winning goals (60).


Annnnnd.... to cap things off...here is Ushi being, well...Ushi again. :)





Hope everyone is having a good day! :)


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Respectfully submitted,

C.

C'est magnifique!

Congrats to my all time favorite hockey player, Martin Brodeur, for the Devils winning 3-1 last night over the Habs, in Montreal. The win gave him 551 career wins, making him the second goalie to do so. (Patrick Roy being the first.).

Congrats also to Patrick Elias on tying John MacLean as the franchise's all-time scoring leader with 701 points last night. With all the hubub over Marty, I don't want to forget and make light of that accomplishment (and he's a cute little bugger to boot! :P). Congrats, Patrick!

551 and 701 is one hell of a birthday present! :D

I still haven't stitched anything in a while, but I will hopefully get to stitch some today. We shall see! :P

Had a birthday yesterday, and didn't do a whole lot. Went out to dinner at Memphis Championship BBQ, then DH and I went to the Red Rock Hotel and Casino for a few drinks and some light gambling. We were on the guest list to go see Paul Oakenfold play at Rain last night, but bypassed it, because he had worked all day and I was getting tired.


Sucks to be getting old. :P


Hope everyone is having a good weekend.


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Respectfully submitted,

C.

RIP Beau Beau (May 5, 1994-March 6, 2009)

I have done bupkus for stitching, but have done a lot of other things IRL, so this blog is filled with 'off topic' subjects.


First on the subject of Beau Beau. While I was in Florida, moving my Mom to Las Vegas, my first ever kitteh, the Beau Beau, up and passed away in her sleep on me. She would have been 15 this year, which is very old for kittehz, I'm told. Her health had not been good and it was painful to see her deteriorate in that way. I've pretty much stopped wandering around the house looking for her. For 2 days, whenever I go around doing a kitteh head count, I think I've been missing one. It then dawns on me that I am not missing one, she's just not there.


My DH found a pet cemetery and they had a lovely service for her. (http://www.craigroadpetcemetery.org/). We had her cremated and put in an urn, which is on my bookshelf now. She loved books, and as a kitten would often crawl into the bookcase and sleep on my books.






Here is the last ever picture that I took of her, dated 03.06.09:

RIP Beau Beau. I miss you so much.



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In other news, got some new stitchy stuff and since this is the season for Peeps, got my Peep fix on. Newest JCS mag and the UK CrossStitcher #210. The mini kit came with the UK mag. Peeps sold separately.










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In other news, a huge 'CONGRATS!!!" to Martin Brodeur of my beloved NJ Devils, who got his 550th win over the Phoenix Coyotes last night. If the Devils win, that will mean he ties the great Patrick Roy's record of 551 and it will be on my birthday too! WOOHOO!!! GO, MARTY!!! (Wiki on THE MAN: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Brodeur)










And finally, here's a pic of Ushi being....well...Ushi.






Hope everyone is having a good day.


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Respectfully submitted,


C.

It's so hard to say goodbye

Just a quick post before bed.

On the road in Mobile, Alabama, ATM bringing my mom from Florida to Las Vegas. Got a call on the night of the 6th from my DH telling me that my first ever cat, Beau Beau, had passed away in her sleep some time during the night. He woke up the morning of the 6th to find her next to my bookshelf, where she had apparently died in her sleep.


Rest in peace, my little one. 15 years is a long time for a kitteh, and you have been through so much with me. I will miss you horribly.


My love always,


Arch

Chocolate Bunneh

Pulled the mats for my latest WIP. I am using a variety of fibers and a hand painted fabric by one of the SMO members. I've had it forever, and never found anything to stitch on it until I did my massive clean out the other day. (Go figure!)


Anyway, stitchy notes first, then the pics. :)


Design: Easter Chocolate Boxes

Designer: Erica Michaels

Fabric: 28 count hand painted by MrsDeb from the SMO boards. I like to call it 'Spring'.

Fibers: Anchor 382 for the Bunneh, Kreinik Blending Filament 092 and #4 Very Fine Braid #3214, DMC B5200, 605, 954 and 910 (maybe). I am still messing around with the green colors, so those may or may not change.

Began: Monday, March 2, 2009.

Hope everyone is having a good day today. :)


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Respectfully submitted,

C.

YAY!!! Go me!

Managed to get two finishes in last night. One was changing the first wedding sampler's date, the second was Brittercup Designs 'Love Cats'.


Here is a pic of both of them together:





And here are pics of each one individually, with the subsequent stitchy notes :D

SanMan Originals 'June' monthly member only pattern (Please note that this design A~ Was 'tweaked' from the original in order to accommodate the bride's taste (that would be me!) and B~ THIS IS NOT FOR RESALE NOR WILL I SHARE THIS PATTERN IN ANY WAY!)

Design: June

Designer: SanMan Originals


Fabric:28 count opalescent Jobelan.

Threads: DMC Threads in B5200, 310, 321, 796. Heart in Crescent Colours Pink Champagne. Honor, cherish, and wedding date backstitching in Anchor 102, flowers in Crescent Colours Pink Champagne, leaves stitched in Anchor 218.





This was actually finished April of last year, but I had to change the date on it (for obvious reasons) and I had to frame it. (Editor's note: The dove on the left hand side really isn't that wonky. He just decided not to cooperate this morning, as is my luck. :P)


Now for the second one:


Design: Love Cats

Designer: Brittercup Designs

Fabric: 28 count light raspberry jobelan

Fibers: DMC 310, Crescent Colours Cupid and Lunar Eclipse

Script: Font taken from JCS June 2004 issue (Wedding Herbs).


Began: Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Finished: Sunday March 1, 2009



I will post pics once I get this one framed or what have you. I tried in vain to come up with and/or find a suitable numerical font for the wedding date, however, all of my attempts didn't match and/or didn't look right, so after an hour and a half, I just gave up.


Finally, congratulations to Martin Brodeur of my beloved New Jersey Devils for shutout number 100! WOOHOO!!!!

Brodeur's second shutout in three games was the 100th of his career, moving him within three of Terry Sawchuk's NHL record (103). He has allowed two goals in three games since returning Thursday from elbow surgery.

With 547 career victories, Brodeur needs four to match Patrick Roy's all-time mark of 551.

GO GO, MARTY!!!!




Hope everyone is having a good day. I will be trying to pull threads for my next project. Yes, ANOTHER start. There is nothing wrong with me!! :P


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Respectfully submitted,

C.

Cherry blossoms and CoCo Chanel

Instead of stitching today, I have been on a mad spring cleaning spree. A lady on the SMO board had requested a free chart I was *sure* that I had. While I was looking, I decided to weed out what I was not ever going to stitch.


I am going to have to have a contest or something over on the SMO board. Some of the freebie gifts are one of a kinds that have never seen the light of the intarwebz. Some of the designs are ones that have been ripped out of magazines, both US and British.


Then I get the bright idea that the rest of my stitching area needed a good clean out. All I can say is 'oy'. Just......*OY!*





The two piles that you are seeing represent leaflets and kits that I will never get around to stitching. I will probably offer these up for sale and/or trade. Some of the kits are from UK magazines, one is a Shepherd's Bush full kit, and the rest are things I will just never, ever get around to stitching.


Sad part is.... I have *yet* to get to the magazines, which will be next on the list. I have been collecting for about 15 years, so this will be a job and a half. /sigh.


OH.


MAH.


GAWD.



I probably won't get around to stitching until later tonight, if not tomorrow. Dealing with family issues takes a toll on me, as I am not one who thrives on constant drama.

I live about five minutes (by car) from Chinatown, and I love this area, because of the influences to the surrounding areas.

Case in point:

I was outside getting some air, when I was yanked out of my funk by someone playing a Chinese bamboo flute. It was then that I also noticed this blooming in the backyard:





It is a cherry blossom tree. It made me realize that things do bloom, in their own time, even in the desert.


A little while ago, I came across this quote, attributed to CoCo Chanel. Whether it is true or not, (sources via the intarwebz varies), however, I find this to be true, particularly in light of recent events:

Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.


How true that is.....





Hope everyone is having a good weekend.


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Respectfully submitted,


C.