Today I can do a slight happy dance! I finished the next to the last section of a MSAL that I began last October time frame. This wonderful design is by Tonia Papillon of OakHavenDesigns and is titled "Language of a Cross Stitcher".
I have thoroughly enjoyed working on it and will be my first finished Sampler and is my first work on linen ever. The colors are very lovely and the colors of the design, so I can't really take credit for them...lol. But they will look very nice in my bedroom when I get it finished, pressed and framed...lol.



I am currently also working on more smalls through weekend chats with Tonia and the group at OakhavenDesigns. It has been wonderful getting to know alot of the wonderful girls from the group during these chats.
The current series is teacups for the seasons. These will be made into a small bell pull to hang on a narrow wall space in my kitchen. They will go great with my teapot collection....lol.

Forgot to insert this challenge button and link to the beginning of this challenge.
http://thewrittenword.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/introducing-the-everything-austen-challenge-with-prizes/ One of these days my head might get screwed on right.....but then again where would the fun be in that...lol.

Everything Austen Challenge!

this will be so much fun. Between today and January 1, 2010 I need to complete 6 things related to Jane Austen....so many to choose from. These could be simply watching six of the novels made into movies.....watching 6 different versions of the same one or reading Jane's novels or the many Austenish books that have followed. Others from the yahoogroup TheJaneAustenStitchingGroup are also incorporating stitching Jane Austen inspired designs into this.

My challenges will be: 1. Reading Pride and Prejudice (again),
2. Watching two of the different versions of Pride and Prejudice to make a report of the differences and similarities (basically a book report...lol)
3. Reading Jane and the Barque Fraility by Stephanie Barron
4. Stitching a Jane Austen inspired Sampler
5. completing another stitching small project already started
6. Preparing a Jane Austen inspired Tea

Finally some stitching!

Although it has been a little while since I've posted; computer and internet issues, not to mention life getting in the way, I have been busy with my stitching. Over the past few weeks I have worked on several projects and am happy to say that two small charts from online Chats SALs are just waiting to be made into something. Spring and Summer Itsy Bitsys....









I have also worked on 4 other projects which most are coming along nicely: The first is pages 9, 10 and 11 of the OakhavenDesigns Aug MSAL from last year. Only 4 more pages to go on this one....yippee!



I also worked on A Quaker Christmas and managed to get more of pages 2 and 5 done. I will have to post a photo of this later after I get it downloaded from my camera. My other project is a secret project that is almost completed and will be a present for someone in the next few weeks.....so hush please. As soon as this person recieves it I will be happy to share with everyone else....so stay tuned.

Oh yeah, I have also tried to work on another piece that has been in progress for a while now, but have just had to frog the same section for a second time......maybe one of these days my Book of Ink Circles will get finished....lol.

MIA!

I cannot believe it has been so long since I last posted. Things have been slightly crazy around here. We received our non-temporary storage shipment last week and I had so much fun going through things we haven't seen in 9 years.
Of course with that I have spent lots of time trying to inject some TLC into the wood furniture that was in the storage. Obviously it felt very neglected and has lost alot of luster...more treatments with lemon oil will help with that though.

I have recently also been doing lots of yard work along side of Bill and Rick; we had to sod the part of the front out by the curb, have planted two arbor type trees into planters by the front porch, impatients by the mailbox, and two gardenia trees into pots for the back patio.
Needless to say this month my muscles have gotten a bit of a workout...lol.

I have also revisited my WIPS and planned out a rotation to get a few things done. The rest of this month I plan to complete a victorian angel ornament barely started last year. Then starting the 1st of June I will be following a rotation. The first week of the month I will work on OHD Aug MSAL (I'm close to finishing page 9 of 15 pages); the second week I will work on A Quaker Christmas which I have about half finished; the third week will be for working on my Book Of InkCircles; and the fourth week will be for working on my quaker Carnation Sampler. This will go until I complete these with the 5th weeks of months and to finish off a week when another project is completed for working on small items such as the Family and Around the World Ornaments.
I also have several WIPs lined up to then move into the rotation and a couple of kitted up projects; believe me I won't run out of things to stitch...lol.
Here is a photo of The Christmas Angel 1988 that I'm working on currently.

I plan to outline the wings with gold to help them stand out from the off white background. I'm really anxious to complete this and plan to make into an ornament for my small victorian tree this year.

Spring is in the Air

What a cutie she is and such a delight

The weather has gone back and forth lately and even reached summer time heat for 4 days. Our family has been busy with returning to mowing the yard and trying to get more boxes unpacked and sorted.
We have been enjoying the yard and all the room for the dogs to run, but mostly watching Jaiden enjoy her playhouse, swimming pool and the neighbor girls...

Even though the water was freezing, she just couldn't get enough of the splashing. This was taken on the 25th of April, and was a the first of our 4 days of 90 + degree weather. A perfect way to end the day. Bill, Rick, Jaiden and I participated in the local March for Babies 5 mile walk. What a rewarding, but grueling experience. I wasn't sure I was going to make it several times...lol.

this was early on in the walk...don't we look optimistic here? I kept trying to get Jaiden to scoot over and share the stroller with Oma, but she was having none of it....lol. She even had a bottle and a short nap during the walk.


I also have started another SAL, Yes I am addicted...lol. This is another one from the OakhavenDesigns@yahoogroups.com ; a 2 parter and I'm happy to say I have completed the first part. I look forward to completing this design and then will have to decide what room to put it in as will color wise go into 4 rooms. Decisions, decisions...

Isn't it pretty!

I was awarded this Blogger Buddy Award from Teresa at http://8thingsaboutme.blogspot.com/ Isn't it pretty.

I have been so bad about not posting lately...in part due to no new crafting...lol.

Hopefully that will change soon.

I now need to send this to 3 people. I will send this soon....so watch out it might be you!