tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51421559464085703812024-03-13T23:45:35.276-07:00Kathy's Stitching BlogKathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-79425519390639230342013-01-02T22:33:00.000-08:002013-01-02T22:33:06.819-08:00Well, a few days late, but it was a holiday again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0JugLjxS57Q/UOUiLLhlYaI/AAAAAAAACCk/RnA-LYJFP3Q/s1600/100_1395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0JugLjxS57Q/UOUiLLhlYaI/AAAAAAAACCk/RnA-LYJFP3Q/s320/100_1395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I was actually almost done with this block when I took the picture of the other one, so I'm not as fast as it may seem. This one has been done for a while, just hadn't done the "photo op" of it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTtSQTxm7r0/UOUh0QgKACI/AAAAAAAACCc/gfb29CbO3kM/s1600/100_1393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTtSQTxm7r0/UOUh0QgKACI/AAAAAAAACCc/gfb29CbO3kM/s320/100_1393.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The next finish was Ice Queen - I changed the lettering from white to light blue because the white didn't show up enough against the fabric. It may not look like it in this picture, but the blue is more visible than it looks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zaACfi1jQhM/UOUhfK5trSI/AAAAAAAACCU/ePDcojNPatI/s1600/100_1388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zaACfi1jQhM/UOUhfK5trSI/AAAAAAAACCU/ePDcojNPatI/s320/100_1388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Finally, an overall picture of where it stands right now.<br />
<br />
I know the last time I talked about it, I mentioned a stitch count error on Snow Queen. There is definitely a stitch count error on the individual pattern (it's 49 across, not 50, and one of the blocks is only 9 stitches across). I e-mailed Lizzie Kate, but no one got back to me. The good news is that the overall layout if you're combining all of them is laid out correctly - they only allowed 49 stitches across for that block, so no adjustment was needed.<br />
<br />
Thanks for checking out my blog!<br />
<br />
Next up - maybe in a week or so (Martin Luther King Day? Valentines Day? LOL) I will have another page of my Chicago HAED.<br />
<br />
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years.....I am looking forward to 2013! I actually got some stitchy gifts from my Dad - we draw names for Christmas (way too many people in our family!) and he got my name. He gave me a Dimensions kit that is similar in style to one I stitched before (it's a winter scene), another funny one that says "If it's true a woman's work is never done, why bother starting", and one of the British cross stitch magazines. When he asked me if I had any suggestions, I had just said a gift card, but he didn't want to take the easy way out. I like what he picked out!Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-11889185403139757682012-11-28T22:46:00.001-08:002012-11-28T22:46:16.995-08:00Finished another page of my Quaker <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvE8S3BKPag/ULcDyaq8U_I/AAAAAAAACB8/Hdfdg7gBiOc/s1600/100_1376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvE8S3BKPag/ULcDyaq8U_I/AAAAAAAACB8/Hdfdg7gBiOc/s320/100_1376.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The nice thing about the long four day weekend with very little planned was that I was a stitching MACHINE! I finished another page of my "Love Quaker Style"- it's actually a page and part of the next page. As I stitch, I finish off any motif that crosses over onto another page so that I don't stop in the middle of a motif. The flower motif and the top right hand motif both bled onto the page after the one I was finishing.<br />
<br />
This is a fun stitch - only three colors, and very little of the red or the gold. It's the first Quaker design I've stitched and I REALLY like it!Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-7564810653206681862012-11-25T17:31:00.002-08:002012-11-25T17:31:29.042-08:00Finished one of the Snow Belles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuj72Lxtdro/ULLFg4SUjKI/AAAAAAAACBk/w_2wJv136p8/s1600/100_1374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuj72Lxtdro/ULLFg4SUjKI/AAAAAAAACBk/w_2wJv136p8/s320/100_1374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Well, this first of the six Snow Belles has been finished other than three stitches for quite a while...<br />
<br />
When I started the Snow Belles, I just grabbed my threads from stitching Six Fat Men, since the colors were the same. I was fine except for the three stitches on her cheek - she is wearing a little blush on her cheeks, and the Six Fat Men didn't use that color! Since this is my travel project, I kept forgetting to pull that thread to finish off. So, I finally remembered to bring my stitching bag upstairs, make the three silly little X's, and take a picture. <br />
<br />
Assuming I don't fall down on the job, there should be another update soon since I'm probably 3/4 of the way done with the SECOND Snow Belle.<br />
<br />
Thanks for checking out my blog.<br />
<br />Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-78861614664650494922012-11-24T09:22:00.001-08:002012-11-24T09:22:41.611-08:00Finished Page 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WHrhorDAPb0/ULD_rTdLsSI/AAAAAAAACBI/TsGmyXYlVBs/s1600/100_1362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WHrhorDAPb0/ULD_rTdLsSI/AAAAAAAACBI/TsGmyXYlVBs/s320/100_1362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's what I have stitched so far - it's 4 pages out of 35. It's slow going, and this will be a VERY long term project, but I am loving it. It's called "Boulevard of Dreams" and it's a Heaven and Earth Designs pattern. It's a Las Vegas sky line. By the time I get to page 7 (the top right corner) there will be the very top of a building (It's the top of the Stratosphere, for those of you who know Las Vegas! LOL)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1X87-UtnaU/ULEACitoFdI/AAAAAAAACBQ/i2Nhbc1vZr4/s1600/100_1364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1X87-UtnaU/ULEACitoFdI/AAAAAAAACBQ/i2Nhbc1vZr4/s320/100_1364.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is where I am in the whole thing. It's 7 pages wide by 5 pages tall, but the 7th page in each row is not a full page, and the 5th row of pages is not a full page.<br />
<br />
Here are my statistics on the project so far.....I keep an Excel spreadsheet to track my time (doing that for this one and my other HAED I have in progress).<br />
<br />
<br />
Page 4:<br />
<br />
Started - 7/12/12<br />
Finished - 11/23/12<br />Days Stitched - 35 Days<br />
Time Stitched (Page 4 only) - 57 Hours<br />
Time Stitched (Project to date) - 243 Hours<br />
Stitches (Page 2 only) - 7,546<br />
Stitches (Total Project so far) - 30,478<br />
Percent Completed - 14.51% <br />
<br />
Thanks for checking it out!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-50388943994668651392012-10-23T22:12:00.001-07:002012-10-23T22:12:15.542-07:00Finished a fun design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JPov94c1A6s/UId2mQvc1AI/AAAAAAAACAw/MReYDjwoYGE/s1600/100_1352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JPov94c1A6s/UId2mQvc1AI/AAAAAAAACAw/MReYDjwoYGE/s320/100_1352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Well, I finished a travel project I was working on.....this was SO much fun to stitch. I made some changes to the pattern - it called for the lettering and the border to all be stitched in a subtly variegated blue, and the flowers were more subdued colors. I started it stitching it the DMC equivalents, and made a counting mistake that. By the time I discovered it, I was too far gone to frog, so I decided to start over. When I was going to start over, I decided to use some opalescent fabric that I had bought from Silkweavers (their Facebook sale) and then when I was at a new LNS I decided to look at their overdyeds. I found this really awesome one from Threadworx called Bradley's Balloons.....variegated with all all these fun bright colors!<br />
<br />
So then I converted the flower colors to bolder colors (to try to match the colors in the variegated floss) and made the border a solid color because I felt it would be too busy if it was multi-colored as well. I am happy with how it turned out....<br />
<br />
Oh, and by the way, the pattern is from My Big Toe Designs, and it's called "Normal Family". It cracks me up because My Big Toe seems to focus on more religious themed designs, and this seemed rather sarcastic for them.<br />
<br />
Thanks for checking out my blog.....Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-83345701382408568682012-10-07T21:25:00.000-07:002012-10-07T21:25:25.218-07:00It is one of those "kind of" a holiday holidays! LOL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So - inadvertently following my "if it's a holiday, it must be time to post" I have a blog update today! (For those who don't know - tomorrow is Columbus Day. I'm not off work, but some people are and the post office and banks are closed - hence my description of "kind of" a holiday).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My local stitching group got together yesterday at our "list Mom's" house. Some people actually went to a quilting show first - I opted to just meet them for the stitching portion of the day because most of my day today was going to be taken up with football. I worked on "Six Fat Men" and got so close to finishing it, I decided to continue stitching on it last night and this morning at home (even though it's usually my "travel" project). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FOE0fuYjXxw/UHJRwlJhJII/AAAAAAAACAM/EvCD9dilWdI/s1600/100_1342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FOE0fuYjXxw/UHJRwlJhJII/AAAAAAAACAM/EvCD9dilWdI/s320/100_1342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
For those who don't know the pattern, it's a Lizzie Kate - the six patterns are sold separately, and could certainly stand alone, but Lizzie Kate puts together the layout, the addition of the bird house, and the wording across the top and it's available on their website. Each square has a small snowflake button for embellishment. In a couple of cases the embellishment is just one more snowflake, but in other squares it's a doorknob, a bunny's tail, a knot in a scarf, or an extra flower on a hat. This one was a fun stitch. I changed up a few colors in the lettering - "Snow Day" and the wording at the very top (Snowmen Melt my Heart) were both supposed to be in white - but there wasn't enough difference between my tan fabric and the white. Even though the snow and the snowflakes show up okay, the lettering didn't. I am waiting for the six "Snow Belles" patterns to come out - I already have a matching piece of fabric to stitch those on!<br />
<br />
And while I was stitching a lot of white snow on that as a travel project, at home I was stitching mostly black.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p9NJ-EvwcW0/UHJSG9y_XKI/AAAAAAAACAU/LP3lNMm0TDA/s1600/100_1350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p9NJ-EvwcW0/UHJSG9y_XKI/AAAAAAAACAU/LP3lNMm0TDA/s320/100_1350.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here is my progress so far on "Love, Quaker Style" - it's an Aury TM Design. It's stitched on 30 count white linen and I really am liking the contrast. It's the first Quaker design I've ever done. I've been trying to complete one page at a time, but also complete full motifs if they crossed over onto other pages. However, it was kind of time to quit one night, and I just didn't feel like pulling out another project in my rotation, so I violated my own rule. I would say this is somewhere between 1/4 and a 1/6th of the whole project - I forgot to look how many pages it was total! LOL</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway - thanks for checking things out. It will be interesting to see how my travel projects go the next few weeks. I work two jobs (one M/W/F and one T/Th) and my travel project gets worked on during lunch at the two jobs. This coming Wednesday is my last day at my CURRENT M/W/F job, and then the following Wednesday is my first day at a new one. I'm not sure what my lunches will be like at that job to know whether I'll be able to stitch....time will tell!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thanks for checking out my blog - I do appreciate it!</div>
Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-8425603770999766342012-09-03T13:11:00.003-07:002012-09-03T13:12:44.332-07:00Another Holiday, Another Blog Post!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
First - an overall picture of where I am as of now on "6 Fat Men". This one is fun to stitch - blocks of color, no fractionals, no backstitching to speak of (there are a couple of straight stitches - still to be done - on the windows on the house to create panes), and only a couple of French knots (the owls eyes - not done yet).</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-69XW1FrtZiY/UEUI4xtRK2I/AAAAAAAAB-4/FaKcdzW09YI/s1600/100_1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-69XW1FrtZiY/UEUI4xtRK2I/AAAAAAAAB-4/FaKcdzW09YI/s320/100_1264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here is one of the two blocks I most recently finished - I think I finished this one either Tuesday or Wednesday.</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jCmkuwfrLUw/UEUJa6yBiHI/AAAAAAAAB_E/_lp-Z3XEK1o/s1600/100_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jCmkuwfrLUw/UEUJa6yBiHI/AAAAAAAAB_E/_lp-Z3XEK1o/s320/100_1272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
This one I finished a couple of weeks ago - just hadn't gotten around to taking and posting a picture! The owl will get black beads (in place of French knots) for his eyes so he won't look quite so possessed!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tq6Z8yP0-Lg/UEULUEmKWII/AAAAAAAAB_c/mU3Ug2DWzcs/s1600/100_1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tq6Z8yP0-Lg/UEULUEmKWII/AAAAAAAAB_c/mU3Ug2DWzcs/s320/100_1274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have another "finish" - this time it's page 1 of my second HAED (both of which are WIPs) - this one is called "Wonders of Chicago" and is all landmarks from my FAVORITE city in the US! This time I'm stitching tent stitches - 2 over 1 on 25 count. The coverage (at least to me) seems about the same as full X's over 1 with 1 strand. But the stitching goes MUCH faster! LOL</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dqZ4hH47LX4/UEUJ-i3OdjI/AAAAAAAAB_M/rx6qudCg0Sg/s1600/100_1240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dqZ4hH47LX4/UEUJ-i3OdjI/AAAAAAAAB_M/rx6qudCg0Sg/s320/100_1240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here is Page 1 in perspective in the whole project - page 1 of 24 pages.</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYNL-dQ6R1E/UEUKbPOS0VI/AAAAAAAAB_U/5T-1xunrs1U/s1600/100_1249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYNL-dQ6R1E/UEUKbPOS0VI/AAAAAAAAB_U/5T-1xunrs1U/s320/100_1249.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
And finally - my new start! It's a Big Toe Design - it says "Remember - as far as anyone knows we are a nice normal family". I was looking for a variegated blue to do the lettering, and while at my LNS for a stitching day yesterday I found this really fun thread (well, I think it's fun) that has bright shades of all different colors. I figured for a kind of tongue in cheek pattern, the thread would be fun. My next step with it is to change out the colors for the flowers that go with it. The original pattern has the flowers stitched in rather subdued colors, which just won't match up with the colors in this thread. So I'm going to try to pull DMC colors that match each of the colors in this thread and use them for the flowers.</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g86v4AMjKz8/UEUImMmfnCI/AAAAAAAAB-w/3O_yj17wqtM/s1600/100_1253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g86v4AMjKz8/UEUImMmfnCI/AAAAAAAAB-w/3O_yj17wqtM/s320/100_1253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sorry this is so long - been two months so lots to show you! Thanks for checking it out!</div>
Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-44824721645510186352012-07-04T20:04:00.001-07:002012-07-04T20:04:26.557-07:00Finished first of 6 Fat Men<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UPXZZI9jRoo/T_UDRqCzalI/AAAAAAAAB9E/6UiWe67SjGc/s1600/100_1174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" sca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UPXZZI9jRoo/T_UDRqCzalI/AAAAAAAAB9E/6UiWe67SjGc/s320/100_1174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is my first of Lizzie Kate's Six Fat Men. It's been my travel project (which means lunch hours at work, plus the occasional outside stitching session). I didn't run out of thread on the vertical block, there is a snowflake that crosses over the line at that point. The other square with the scalloped edges is only partially done - it was a time when I need some mindless stitching.<br />
<br />
I'm going to put it aside for a little bit just because I have another project I've been DYING to start as well - it's a My Big Toe design that says something like "Remember, as far as anyone knows we're a nice normal family".....it just seemed SO appropriate for my family.<br />
<br />
Thanks for looking!Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-52516216743508077012012-07-01T19:05:00.002-07:002012-07-04T20:05:09.698-07:00Started Love, Quaker Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWTkZicS_fk/T_EATYwb0NI/AAAAAAAAB84/inHJSiaBf20/s1600/100_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWTkZicS_fk/T_EATYwb0NI/AAAAAAAAB84/inHJSiaBf20/s320/100_1167.JPG" vca="true" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
For some reason, I've felt drawn to Quaker designs lately. I found this pattern when I was in Las Vegas the last time, and decided to give it a shot. It's almost monochromatic (mostly black) with a few splashes of gold and red in different spots. It's an Aury TM Design. I have finished page 1 plus a little - basically any motif that had any part of it on page 1, I finished off, even if it overflowed to the page to the right or the page down below (or both! LOL). I even started another motif on Page 2 before the week ran out.<br />
<br />
I'm also working on Lizzie Kate's 6 Fat Men - had a stitching get-together yesterday and got a lot done on it. I'm almost done with the first square - when I'm done with it, which should be in the next couple of days, I'll post a picture of it as well.<br />
<br />
Thanks for checking it out!Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-35083143247950520072012-06-23T08:49:00.002-07:002012-07-04T20:05:49.749-07:00Queen of the Needle is done!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here is the full picture of Queen of the Needle by Just Nan - finished attaching the beads last night. It was hard to get a good picture of the whole thing, so I've also posted some close ups of some of the details.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RSQcM-R-s5A/T-XcFTFDwrI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/gCopu6vCjYs/s1600/100_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RSQcM-R-s5A/T-XcFTFDwrI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/gCopu6vCjYs/s320/100_1106.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A close up of the verse on the picture. The white line is a fan vault stitch, and the hearts are a darning stitch.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iz_EoHG47Y0/T-XccJnZo7I/AAAAAAAAB7g/6ce3x0vy6gs/s1600/100_1108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iz_EoHG47Y0/T-XccJnZo7I/AAAAAAAAB7g/6ce3x0vy6gs/s320/100_1108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A close up of the white flowers with a floral satin stitch and some beading, along with the purple flowers with the eyelet stitch in the middle.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4pIg2rViak/T-XcxiniBWI/AAAAAAAAB7o/4lP36nCyeMg/s1600/100_1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4pIg2rViak/T-XcxiniBWI/AAAAAAAAB7o/4lP36nCyeMg/s320/100_1113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A close up of the beading in the white "lacy" area at the bottom of the picture. There are pink "pearly" beads and some tiny white beads.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOJYH_yiF9k/T-XdK3UxEGI/AAAAAAAAB70/AI7R3A2acfI/s1600/100_1115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOJYH_yiF9k/T-XdK3UxEGI/AAAAAAAAB70/AI7R3A2acfI/s320/100_1115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
These were some unique stitches to make flowers that look like roses....they were interesting! Also some satin stitches for the pale pink divider, and some daisy satin stitches to make the white flowers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyd3wsnCjbo/T-XjHGhMDFI/AAAAAAAAB8g/5KkA41cVIxI/s1600/100_1118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyd3wsnCjbo/T-XjHGhMDFI/AAAAAAAAB8g/5KkA41cVIxI/s320/100_1118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Just some beads as the centers of the flowers, and the blue line is something called a cashmere stitch.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SJecUecJufg/T-XjcmtoHeI/AAAAAAAAB8o/jcIYB6eRP18/s1600/100_1120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SJecUecJufg/T-XjcmtoHeI/AAAAAAAAB8o/jcIYB6eRP18/s320/100_1120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="left">
</div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-44314001707220651532012-06-09T20:30:00.001-07:002012-07-04T20:10:19.610-07:00First Ever Tuck Pillow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, I made my first ever tuck pillow - it's not perfect, but I was pretty proud of it! A friend of mine tried to make one for me, but when I got it, the part where you tuck the stitching into wasn't deep enough. So, I decided to try it myself. I found the instructions on Cyber Stitchers. The fabric has yellow dots in the middle of the flowers that are hard to see in this picture, and the Letter S is a yellow background with blue flowers with white centers, so it's kind of the inverse of the letter S. I even found a daisy button to stitch on the top of it (I played with a couple of options - my first thought was a button on each corner, but that looked too busy, so I went with the top center button. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nbFoZUZBLLk/T9QTTShQtoI/AAAAAAAAB7A/SaiVTaVCwQc/s1600/100_1009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nbFoZUZBLLk/T9QTTShQtoI/AAAAAAAAB7A/SaiVTaVCwQc/s320/100_1009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And here is my niece at her graduation party after she opened it. I didn't get a good picture of it after she took it out of the plastic bag! Oh well!!! She seemed pleased with it - I liked it because it wasn't stuffy like a lot of graduation patterns are.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8wNz845Q_aU/T9QTkYvGRGI/AAAAAAAAB7M/430ZuzVJsbU/s1600/100_1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8wNz845Q_aU/T9QTkYvGRGI/AAAAAAAAB7M/430ZuzVJsbU/s320/100_1044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="left">
</div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-39817039415660162172012-05-28T09:28:00.001-07:002012-07-04T20:10:40.364-07:00Finished my Spanish Geometric Sampler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTlpzUROUAQ/T8Oh1CRI8CI/AAAAAAAAB58/PxtC1w33uwM/s1600/100_0994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTlpzUROUAQ/T8Oh1CRI8CI/AAAAAAAAB58/PxtC1w33uwM/s320/100_0994.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I have a finish! The pattern is called "Spanish Geometric Sampler" and it is by "The Needle's Content". It's hard to tell in the full picture, but it has a lot of purple and green beads (well, not purple and green beads...purple beads AND green beads). It called for two packages of each color....as I was going along, I was REALLY worried I was going to run out of the purple beads. So I called my LNS (which isn't SUPER local - it's about a 30 - 40 minute drive) to see if they had them, and then a friend who lives right near there....she picked them up for me because we were meeting halfway between our houses for dinner that night. When I finished stitching, I had about 50 purple beads left out of the original two packages, so I worried for nothing! LOL<br />
<br />
Here are some closeups of the beading....it worked out really well because one of my online stitching groups (the same one who was doign the "blue" theme last month) was doing a purple theme this month. So I worked on the beading all month long, and finished it last night.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rku__ldiN3U/T8OnaZybD0I/AAAAAAAAB60/pwqRgNVtTIg/s1600/100_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rku__ldiN3U/T8OnaZybD0I/AAAAAAAAB60/pwqRgNVtTIg/s320/100_1005.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRGrWhA4NRQ/T8Om5SaVniI/AAAAAAAAB6s/OaNI0q06sLo/s1600/100_1004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRGrWhA4NRQ/T8Om5SaVniI/AAAAAAAAB6s/OaNI0q06sLo/s320/100_1004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mKAr5Jwmuhg/T8Ojb6i9xbI/AAAAAAAAB6M/RB26gpeZu88/s1600/100_1000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mKAr5Jwmuhg/T8Ojb6i9xbI/AAAAAAAAB6M/RB26gpeZu88/s320/100_1000.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HV5rjcAz1Lc/T8OjKmSY3wI/AAAAAAAAB6E/CLzkNOUxHcY/s1600/100_0999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HV5rjcAz1Lc/T8OjKmSY3wI/AAAAAAAAB6E/CLzkNOUxHcY/s320/100_0999.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mlJPE2VGiwA/T8Ol6DtfoJI/AAAAAAAAB6c/sFv5euAeLcY/s1600/100_1001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mlJPE2VGiwA/T8Ol6DtfoJI/AAAAAAAAB6c/sFv5euAeLcY/s320/100_1001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_91yLpA2O8c/T8OmQc-SaPI/AAAAAAAAB6k/l1C7njG6Ho8/s1600/100_1002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_91yLpA2O8c/T8OmQc-SaPI/AAAAAAAAB6k/l1C7njG6Ho8/s320/100_1002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
If you've made it thru all these pictures - thanks for checking it out!Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-47221077184076150502012-04-30T22:46:00.002-07:002012-07-04T20:11:27.481-07:00A month of BLUE stitching!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--TmKCXOJC3U/T592oIcOfZI/AAAAAAAAB4w/f51ZCbbe1tg/s1600/100_0953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--TmKCXOJC3U/T592oIcOfZI/AAAAAAAAB4w/f51ZCbbe1tg/s320/100_0953.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So.....one of my stitching groups is doing a monthly "theme". And the theme for April was "blue" - the thought was you could interpret it anyway you wanted to. In my case, it lent itself perfectly to stitching on my HAED pattern. The pattern is "Boulevard of Dreams" and right now it's a BOATLOAD of blue! So, even though I normally would have put it away after I finished page 2, I kept it out and stitched on it all thru the month of April. I had finished Page 2 on 3/20, and got the better part of Page 3 done by the end of the month.<br />
<br />
The month of May's theme is "purple". Again, I have a project tailor made for it - I'm working on the beading for my Spanish Geometric Sampler, and the beads are purple and green. Every time I say that, it sounds funny - the beads are not purple and green. There are purple beads, and there are green beads! LOL<br />
<br />
Anyway, thanks for checking it out......<br />
<br />
And oh yeah, I also finished a "travel" project - my Halloween Lizzie Kate "Velcome". Here's a picture of THAT (I don't think I posted one before...LOL)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8uL1nJChY4/T594iajVe2I/AAAAAAAAB44/f4cfXVvc9Wo/s1600/100_0939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8uL1nJChY4/T594iajVe2I/AAAAAAAAB44/f4cfXVvc9Wo/s320/100_0939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-18970348739471866142012-03-20T21:28:00.002-07:002012-07-04T20:08:25.095-07:00Another "Finish"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HsWy0dI-ZCA/T2lWOqKTcII/AAAAAAAAB4g/4rgm_6lm8C0/s1600/100_0895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HsWy0dI-ZCA/T2lWOqKTcII/AAAAAAAAB4g/4rgm_6lm8C0/s320/100_0895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, I finished page 2 of Boulevard of Dreams, my first ever HAED - I've been tracking some statistics just because I'm a geek that way:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Some statistics (probably only interesting to me, but.....LOL)<br />
<br />
Page 2:<br />
Started - 7/8/11<br />
Finished - 3/18/12<br />
Days Stitched - 29 Days<br />
Time Stitched (Page 2 only) - 61 Hours<br />
Time Stitched (Project to date) - 140 Hours<br />
Stitches (Page 2 only) - 7,546<br />
Stitches (Total Project so far) - 15,386<br />
Percent Completed - 7.33% <br />
<br />
I don't normally keep track of my stitching time, but for this particular project I have an Excel spreadsheet that I open up each time I start stitching and track it. I know when I'm done, people will ask, and I will want to know, how long it took me to stitch it! LOL<br />
<br />
And - by way of comparison - here is how much is done in relation to the whole project - YIKES!!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4N1WjG0oOjo/T2lWpQjxQqI/AAAAAAAAB4o/GwIR87Ls_hs/s1600/100_0898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4N1WjG0oOjo/T2lWpQjxQqI/AAAAAAAAB4o/GwIR87Ls_hs/s320/100_0898.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-63143315698405897582012-03-17T20:17:00.002-07:002012-07-04T20:08:47.911-07:00A Quick Finish for my Niece<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JG9p9TgQ1sM/T2VSch2Qn8I/AAAAAAAAB4Y/cDQR6fVCOIU/s1600/100_0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JG9p9TgQ1sM/T2VSch2Qn8I/AAAAAAAAB4Y/cDQR6fVCOIU/s320/100_0874.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I stitched this up for my niece who is graduating from high school this year (obviously! LOL). It's a Bobbie G Designs pattern called, shockingly enough "Congrats".<br />
<br />
It was a fun quick stitch - colorful, fun, and easy. I think I finished it up in about 2 weeks or so. I made a couple of changes (so what's new). The pattern didn't call for outlining all of the letters (just some of them - which didn't make a lot of sense to me). I outlined all of them, and also outlined the mortarboard and the stars. To me, without any backstitching, the stars looked like blobs! LOL<br />
<br />
The pattern also didn't allow for the personalization - but I figured without it, there's no way of knowing it was made especially for her! <br />
<br />
My plan is to go to Joanne's and find some fun whimsical fabric that matches some of the colors in the picture (which shouldn't be hard - there are a BUNCH of colors in there, all fun colors!) and then a friend of mine is going to make me a tuck pillow to put it in. I figured that way it can go on her bed or on a shelf. I'm hoping she'll take it with her when she leaves for college in the fall - she's off to Brigham Young! <br />
<br />
Obviously, the actual project has her last name and the name of her school, I just hate to post that much info on the internet.<br />
<br />
Thanks for checking it out - once the pillow is done I will post pictures of that as well.Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-64822838384040346472012-03-03T21:54:00.000-08:002012-07-04T20:14:48.964-07:00Finished a Lizzie Kate Christmas Project<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IgNYRaj-Dyw/T1MDm_jFoXI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/M9dqtdiYGjQ/s1600/100_0750.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IgNYRaj-Dyw/T1MDm_jFoXI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/M9dqtdiYGjQ/s320/100_0750.JPG" /></a> </div>
<br />
This was a really fun project to stitch. It was a travel project, so I worked on it at lunch time at work as well as at a stitching get together a couple of weeks ago. I did make one mistake - the bottom border is off one row. It sould have been even with the last little spot where things stick out on the side borders. I realized it when I got all the way across, but I didn't want to rip it out. First off, I didn't think it would REALLY make a difference (in fact it gave me room to put my name and the year - otherwise there would have only been one row in between the cardinal block and the bottom border), but more importantly, the red is a Crescent Colors red, and it's not colorfast. I was afraid if I took it out I would leave red color where I frogged. So I left it - and I'm okay with that!<br />
<br />
Now I'm working on another Lizzie Kate - it's a Halloween design that says "Velcome" and has Frankenstein, Dracula and (I think) a ghost.....I'm not looking at it, so I'm not sure! LOL<br />
<br />
Thanks for checking out my blog!<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-48531375160970603512012-02-19T17:02:00.000-08:002012-07-04T20:12:04.757-07:00Halfway Done with Frederick<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNJclcJDswA/T0GbpvgQZ2I/AAAAAAAAB4E/yLC5zuAh2NQ/s1600/100_0660.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNJclcJDswA/T0GbpvgQZ2I/AAAAAAAAB4E/yLC5zuAh2NQ/s320/100_0660.JPG" /></a> </div>
Well, the top shelf of Frederick is done......still have the second shelf (and the backstitching) to do. This one is a pretty easy stitch except for the stitching on black issue! LOL<br />
<br />
Now I think I'll pull out my Heaven and Earth Designs Vegas picture......that one I may be still working on 10 years from now! LOL<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-73338917507653250012012-02-12T21:34:00.000-08:002012-07-04T20:12:46.432-07:00Finished Letters, Leprechauns, & Luck<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MSfC3yodWL4/TzihD0TBkBI/AAAAAAAAB34/qZObFqr66to/s1600/100_0653.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MSfC3yodWL4/TzihD0TBkBI/AAAAAAAAB34/qZObFqr66to/s320/100_0653.JPG" /></a> </div>
Well, when my stitching group got together yesterday I "finshed" this one - it was a Blue Ribbon Designs pattern called "Letters, Leprechauns, and Luck".<br />
<br />
I made a few minor changes to the pattern, and one major one! LOL<br />
<br />
I used the DMC conversions on the chart, and changed (1) the flags on the top and bottom (subbed what was a reddish color and changed it to a more "orange" color), (2) the pots of gold on the top and bottom (made the bottom row of black one stitch smaller on each side so it looked like a pot), (3) made the J shorter (for some reason, it was taller than the other letters), (4) filled in the Celtic not (the pattern JUST had it outlined - it's between the O and the P), and finally, as usual, I subbed beads for the French Knots (on the snake - his eyes, and on the house - the door knob).<br />
<br />
The big change I made was that the pattern called for the border to be filled in with a "checker" stitch. I tried it out, and I didn't like the coverage. I think the problem might have been that I stitched on 28 count and the model was stiched on 40 count. But I'm happy with the "open" look of not filling it in. <br />
<br />
So I needed to figure out another travel project. I have my Lizzie Kate Christmas one I'm working on "Christmas is Forever" and I also kitted up another Lizzie Kate pattern - this one is a Halloween pattern called "Velcome" It has Dracula, a Ghost, and Frankenstein on it - but cute versons of them! LOL<br />
<br />
Anyway, thanks for looking!<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-58607685028109276632012-01-29T19:52:00.000-08:002012-07-04T20:13:17.360-07:00Spanish Geometric Sampler<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hRn3rzBOfv8/TyYTmUtRJtI/AAAAAAAAB3U/mr4pJrw_WE4/s1600/100_0636.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hRn3rzBOfv8/TyYTmUtRJtI/AAAAAAAAB3U/mr4pJrw_WE4/s320/100_0636.JPG" /></a> </div>
This is the whole picture - you can't see the beads very well - I have beaded the top most band and the two left most bands. They don't show up very well in the picture.<br />
<br />
I tried to take a closer picture, but I don't know that it's a whole lot better. I will try to do some better close up pictures when I do my next photo op. I did discover (when looking at the picture) that I have a couple things I have to fix - I'm missing some green stitches next to the purple motif in the top row, and there are supposed to be purple beads in the center of each of the purple motifs in that row. But, alas, my beading patience has run out for a while! LOL <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSLyNuxlwSI/TyYTms3TbUI/AAAAAAAAB3c/jbaPi4YyexU/s1600/100_0645.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSLyNuxlwSI/TyYTms3TbUI/AAAAAAAAB3c/jbaPi4YyexU/s320/100_0645.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">
This whole beading process has given me a whole new appreciation for those of you who stitch in hand. I am an avid Q-Snap user, but I can't really put this back on the Q-Snaps to bead it for fear that I will crush the beads. So I've been attaching the beads "in hand" and it's a challenge! But - there's no deadline for it, so I will do it as I can, and it will get done when it gets done! Now....on to something else - probably Frederick, depending on what jumps out at me when I open my WIP box (which is a really bad phrase to use when I'm watching Hoarders on TV - because in that case, things really do jump out of boxes! LOL)</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-70117424653522904702012-01-22T23:12:00.000-08:002012-07-04T20:13:41.026-07:00Queen of the Needle<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4XniD__R_OQ/Tx0IiQrV9rI/AAAAAAAAB3I/I_Z3Dfa-ztE/s1600/100_0621.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4XniD__R_OQ/Tx0IiQrV9rI/AAAAAAAAB3I/I_Z3Dfa-ztE/s320/100_0621.JPG" /></a> </div>
Here's the progress I've made this week on Queen of the Needle. It's a fun stitch, with some specialty stitches. The only thing I've changed (so far) is that the pattern called for Perle Cotton for some of the white, but I didn't like trying to stitch with it (mostly struggled with even just threading the needle! LOL). The roses (the pink flowers) are a funny little stitch, and the hearts are stitchined with kind of a satin stitch. The white row under the hearts is a "fan" stitch. In between the two sets of pansies there is a charm that gets attached, and there are also some other beads to attach. Obviously, I'll leave all of those for last.<br />
<br />
Thanks for checking it out!<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-76683195730855877562012-01-15T19:37:00.000-08:002012-07-04T20:14:29.949-07:00I'm BBBAAACCCKKK!!!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
So - it has been a ridiculously long time since I've posted in here. Part of it was just being busy, and part of it was that I had lost my stitching mojo for a while. But - I seem to have it back! (And, by the way, thank you to those who were concerned that I hadn't posted for a while - it does make you feel good when people "miss" you!).</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway - when I resurrected my stitching mojo, I stitched a little bit more on my Vegas picture - but I'm not posting a picture until I finish the page I'm on. But as a reward for finishing a row of blocks, I started a new project! (That's a way to jump start mojo right - start something new!).</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
The something new I started is a Lizzie Kate - always a fun easy stitch. I found it when I organized my stash over New Years - I knew I had the pattern, but I didn't realize that the pattern came with the fabric and the threads - so no work to kit it up!</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
The pattern is a 2008 Special Edition called "Christmas is Forever". Here is my progress so far:</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XjnG7_D4Bhk/TxOWPH1fpXI/AAAAAAAAB20/dEbeFNwHo1c/s1600/100_0602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XjnG7_D4Bhk/TxOWPH1fpXI/AAAAAAAAB20/dEbeFNwHo1c/s320/100_0602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
And here is the sideways picture of what it will look like what it's finished! LOL (I can't figure out how to rotate the picture on here, but you get the general idea.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3hHhifVYf4/TxOWfMGJXdI/AAAAAAAAB28/391Qjclu7gs/s1600/100_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3hHhifVYf4/TxOWfMGJXdI/AAAAAAAAB28/391Qjclu7gs/s320/100_0608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
As is always the case with a Lizzie Kate pattern, it's been a fun stitch so far.</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
My Southern California Stitchers group had a LOVELY get together yesterday. Six of us descended on one the home of a very generous group member, and settled in for about 6 hours of stitching, talking, laughing...and oh yeah, lunch! We had a great time, and that's where I got a lot of time in on this project. </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm hoping to get back into a rhythm of rotating my projects AND updating my blog! Wish me luck (I think I vow to be a better "blogger" every year! LOL)</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-3664896579986551142011-09-25T15:03:00.000-07:002012-07-04T20:15:23.143-07:00Finished the Cross Stitching....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mk-luTnWey0/Tn-kZLdMxOI/AAAAAAAAB2w/CCmJbtuF1vQ/s1600/100_0457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mk-luTnWey0/Tn-kZLdMxOI/AAAAAAAAB2w/CCmJbtuF1vQ/s320/100_0457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So I finished the cross stitching on Spanish Geometric Sampler, now it's time to do the beading. I've started it a little bit last night - the beads are purple and green. (Well, not purple and green - purple beads, and green beads).<br />
<br />
I've finished some other things, but they're for gifts and I'm not sure if the recipients read my blog or not, so to be safe, I won't post them here. Once the giving occasion(s) go by, I will post pictures here (and I will look really prolific!).<br />
<br />
Anyway, thanks for checking it out.Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-81659257720405566762011-08-13T21:33:00.001-07:002012-07-04T20:16:00.418-07:00Boulevard of Dreams Progress<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ELgAqdGbHY4/TkdQbcmA1iI/AAAAAAAAB2s/89dYymF7OGE/s1600/100_0366.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ELgAqdGbHY4/TkdQbcmA1iI/AAAAAAAAB2s/89dYymF7OGE/s320/100_0366.JPG" /></a> </div>
Well, after another couple of weeks of stitching, I made a LITTLE more progress on my HAED. This was actually taken last Sunday, but I never got around to posting it. <br />
<br />
It seems like I go in spurts with my blog....I'm either writing LONG entries and posting pictures faithfully every week, or I'm viewing it as a chore to update. Since I cross stitch for fun (my two jobs are enough work - I don't need more!), when it feels like a chore, I just don't do it! LOL <br />
<br />
I also have a few little finishes - however, they are gifts for people who may or may not read my blog...so I don't want to post them here. I think I can safely post them on some of my stitching groups (selectively) and not ruin any surprises. My best guess is that most of you know me from a Yahoo group (or two!) so you can check there to see my pictures..... <br />
<br />
Thank you all for sticking with me - whether I'm posting like crazy or posting sporadically! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-74837572911945696222011-07-30T22:50:00.000-07:002012-07-04T20:16:26.762-07:00Spanish Geometric Sampler<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IDJNQm_zajE/TjTtg3p9pFI/AAAAAAAAB2k/-kzJs8e7eHc/s1600/100_0359.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IDJNQm_zajE/TjTtg3p9pFI/AAAAAAAAB2k/-kzJs8e7eHc/s320/100_0359.JPG" /></a> </div>
<br />
Well, I finished the third page on the Spanish Geometric Sampler. The fourth page is the smallest of the four pages (the pattern's not evenly divided). This is a fun travel project! After the stitching is done, then it gets a bunch of green and purple beads - that's green beads and purple beads, not green and purple on the same bead! LOL<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142155946408570381.post-16240591117908718952011-07-30T22:46:00.000-07:002012-07-04T20:17:25.542-07:00<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrfGNLaFtOw/TjTshZOjXCI/AAAAAAAAB2c/jRSrHLtEp_M/s1600/100_0318.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrfGNLaFtOw/TjTshZOjXCI/AAAAAAAAB2c/jRSrHLtEp_M/s320/100_0318.JPG" /></a> </div>
<br />
Okay - going to try this posting again. I thought I had it, but alas, the picture didn't work! I found that out when Gabi and Julie sent me messages and said "Nope, didn't work!"<br />
<br />
So, I thought I would try it a second time. I can't pull pictures into my blog from blogger, but I can seem to "push" them from Picasa, so that's how I'm doing it. We'll see if it posts better this time!<br />
<br />
Anyway, AS I ALREADY TYPED ONCE....LOL.....I've been remiss. This picture was taken on July 12th, two days after my "Page 1 is done" picture. It was the progress I made from the time I took that picture until the time I took my HAED out of my rotations for a couple of weeks. I was working on a couple of little things, but they're gifts for people who sometimes check out my blog, so....can't post them here. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I've been BUSY the last couple of weekends. Two weeks ago was my sister's 50th birthday party with the family. We went to a lake near my parents' house, and had a nice day. My other sister and I had made her a poster with pictures of her, and we all bought her gift certificates to pamper herself - a massage, and a manicure / pedicure. So hopefully she'll take advantage of it!<br />
<br />
Then last weekend (Friday) we went to a free concert in the park with that same sister to see a Rod Stewart tribute band. It was a nice evening - people bring chairs, blankets, food, and drinks and hang out and listen to the music. They even had a dance floor. Saturday I had a reunion with some former co-workers from a job that I worked at from 1989 - 1999. There were about 30 of us there, and it was an awesome day. We were at the beach (always rough! NOT!) and had beautiful weather. Then on Sunday I had tickets with friends to see Mary Poppins (the stage version). I LOVED IT!!! I think I enjoyed it more than my friends 7 1/2 year old daughter, and I'm proud to say so. Mary Poppins is my favorite Disney movie. <br />
<br />
Then last night we went to our county fair. I like to go look at the arts and crafts stuff, and the fine arts stuff (photography and painting). I was a little disappointed in the stitchery....it seems like every year there is less and less. And I hadn't been last year (and I don't remember if I went the year before) but they've changed how they display the stitched stuff. It used to be that in various sections there would kind of be themes....and there might be quilts, china paintings, knitting, crocheting, sewing AND stitched stuff that fit that theme (Christmas, Halloween, Babies, Patriotic, Weddings). Now they have a spot for cross-stitching, a spot for knitting, a spot for crocheting, etc. I liked the old way better because people who might be looking at the knitting might see something cross-stitched and become interested. Now unless you're already interested, you're not going to see the stitched stuff. The stuff that was there was pretty, but there just wasn't enough of it!<br />
<br />
Anyway - this is a LONG post - I sure hope the picture works this time.<br />
<br />
And in a minute, I'm going to try to post a picture of my Spanish Geometric Sampler.....<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kathy in Orange County Californiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082585013273080430noreply@blogger.com2