Bea's stitching

Trying to catch up...

2007-03-02T09:14:00.000+01:00

I seem not to have much time to do everything during these weeks...I'm reading all your blogs but I don't usually leave comments and I don't post on my own blog. :(

On Mondays I usually stitch my UFOs. After finishing September Flip-It Block by LK I decided to have a break and not to start immediately the left Flip-It (December one). I selected a new UFO and I resurrected Winter Peace by SBF.

I have already finished it because it is not a long pattern. It's quick and the snowman is so funny!

I also finished the monthly blocks of the tablecloth. Here is one of the pears I stitched.

I have another finish. It's a PS Santa (1999 Santa). I'm going to stitch six annual Santas for next Christmas. I decided to work on six Santas because they usually take me more time than other PS Santas.

After 1999 Santa (adorable with those gingerbreadmen), I'm going to stitch 1997 Santa.

I started my third DD pattern, Mary Heaton. This is the first progress.

I didn't forget my rotation. I'm till using it and I'm making small progresses on many patterns but I usually post a picture when I have a big progress so we have to wait a bit for viewing something new.

Reviewing goals...

February Goals:

- stitch twice Pear Thread Packs by LHN for my tablecloth
yes!!
- stitch three little patterns for my Advent calendar
yes!!
- finish 1999 Santa by PS
yes!!
- finish September Flip-It and start stitching the last one
I finished September Flip-It but I've not started the last one yet
- finish Abigail Winslow and her pillow and start the next DD block
yes!!

In addition I finished Season of rest by LHN and Winter Peace by SBF.

March Goals:
- stitch three times Apples Thread Packs by LHN for my tablecloth
- stitch three little patterns for my Advent calendar
- start stitching 1997 Santa by PS, December Flip-It and Season of Hope by LHN
- finish Mary Heaton and her pillow
- stitch a mail art envelope

This month will be pretty busy because I have to stitch three blocks for my tablecloth and I'm not sure to be able to finish all of them.

Small finishes

2007-02-22T09:28:00.000+01:00

On Mondays I usually stitch one of my UFOs.
During the past weeks I worked on September Flip-It block by Lizzie Kate. I should have finished all the 12 blocks last December but I couldn't stitch the September and the December ones.
Finally I finished the first and during the next weeks I'll start and stitch December Flip-It.

I'm also working on an Advent Calendar and I have to stitch at least three sachets for month. These are the sachets of February (naturally I have to sew them!).

I could finish the first pattern in the series "Season of..." by LHN.
The first I stitched is Season of rest.

Pictures and pictures

2007-02-14T09:20:00.000+01:00

During the past days I didn't have enough time to be often online and post on my blog.
Now I'm trying to catch up with the progress of the last week and I hope to forget nothing.

Progress on the first PS Santa I'm stitching for Christmas 2007.

Season of rest by LHN. This is out of my rotation but I'm trying to finish it during the week-ends.

I started two SAL, one with Carol and one with Veronica.

The first SAL is Dawn by PR and this is my start:

The second SAL is a pattern by Tina Wenke. The progress is so small that we can't see anything. I started stitching some flowers.

I also finished the second pillow of the DD series, the one that is with the pattern Abigail Winslow.
These pillows are really quick to stitch.

Yesterday was the day of my tablecloth. I started stitching the first block of this month and I finished the pear.

New goals, new SALS

2007-02-02T09:14:00.000+01:00

Thanks for your lovely comments on my tablecloth. You're really kind, ladies.

The first month in the year finished and it's time to review my goals.

January goals:
- stitch twice Watermelon Thread Packs by LHN for my tablecloth
yes!

- stitch four little patterns for my Advent calendar
I stitched three patterns but last month I made a mistake in the count and I have to stitch three sachets for month and not four, so three sachets are ok

- start stitching 1999 Santa by PS and Season of Rest by LHN
yes

- work on Celtic Summer, Terre de France and Forest Snowfall
Yes. I have not any picture for Celtic Summer but I'm working on her.

February goals:
- stitch twice Pear Thread Packs by LHN for my tablecloth
- stitch three little patterns for my Advent calendar
- finish 1999 Santa by PS
- finish September Flip-It and start stitching the last one
- finish Abigail Winslow and her pillow and start the next DD block

Yesterday I also started stitching Dawn by Passione Ricamo. This is a SAL with Carol and we're going to stitch her on Thurdays. I have not taken a picture yet but I hope to share it in the next days. I was really impatient to start this new project and now I'm happy because we have started it!

Today I'm starting another SAL with Veronica. We'll stitch a lovely pattern by Tina Wenke.

Naturally I'm till using my rotation and I'll not change it. I'll add this new projects to the other projects. I have so many WIPs but I'll try to work on all of them.

In the meantime this is the small progress for September Flip-It by LK.

I also finished Abigail Winslow by LHN. This is another lovely and funny pattern. I enjoyed stitching it and I'm impatient to start the next one.

The tablecloth

2007-01-30T09:11:00.000+01:00

One of the most important goals for 2007 is stitching my first tablecloth.
I'll have to stitch 27 blocks and the other blocks of the tablecloth will be empty. On the 27 blocks I'll stitch the TP Fruit by LHN using only DMC because it's a tablecloth and I'll have to wash it.
Every month I'll stitch two blocks repeating the same design twice. During three months instead I'll stitch three blocks with the same Fruit TP.
During January I had to stitch Watermelon twice and I've already finished both the blocks.
February will be the month of the Pear.

One block:

Both the blocks on the tablecloth:

LHN

2007-01-22T09:11:00.000+01:00

First of all, thanks for your adorable comments. I really appreciate them.

During the past week-end I stitched a bit because we had two days of shopping but I seem to have a big progress on my works.

Abigail Winslow by LHN is funny and quick. I should finish it and its pillow before 7th of February because this is the deadline that I decided with an Italian friend who is stitching this series with me.

On Fridays I stitch the Advent Calendar and these are three sachets I finished. I have to sew them but the stitches are ready.

The longest project in 2007 is the tablecloth with the LHN Fruit TP and this is my first picture of it. I'm stitching two blocks with Watermelon, the first release in this series.

The last progress is about Forest Snowfall by CCN. I'm really enjoying it but the threads Country Lane and Little House by CC are similar. My Country Lane is lighter than the one in the original design and I hope we can see the difference with Little House that is the thread I'm using for the house.

out of rotation

2007-01-19T09:37:00.000+01:00

I'm following my rotation but I'm also stitching something out of it.

I could start the second pattern in the DD series by LHN.
I'm stitching Abigail Winslow. This is a lot of fun because the pattern is quick and lovely.
My first progress:

I also started a new SAL with Veronica.
We'll stitch all the patterns about seasons by LHN. Yes, we're both big fans of LHN!
We started stitching Season of rest.

two weeks with rotation

2007-01-12T14:39:00.000+01:00

Two weeks of 2007 have quite passed and I've tryed my new rotation.

On Monday I work on my UFOs. They're a lot of UFOs but I decided to pull out the Flip-Its left to finish all the series Flip-It Blocks by LK.

On Tuesday I stitch the tablecloth with the Fruit TP by LHN. I'm finishing to prepare the subdivisions.
Then I'll start with Watermelon, the first TP released.

On Wednesday I work on Celtic Summer by L&L and exchanges/gifts. I stitched Celtic Summer but I haven't a pic because the progress is not so important. I also stitched a gift and this is my first finish for 2007. I can't share it because my friend has not had it yet.

Thursday is the day of Terre de France. I'm going to go on with this big project. I don't hope to finish it during 2007 but I would like to have a big progress for it.
I finished a block I had started during the past months.
Now I have to stitch other 10 blocks.

On Friday I work on my Advent Calendar but last Friday I couldn't stitch and I hope to catch up with it this evening.

During the week-end I usually stitch the Santas by PS. I started stitching the 1999 Santa.
This is a very small progress but I should finish him in two months.

I also worked on Forest Snowfall by CCN and this is my second picture.

welcome 2007!

2007-01-01T16:55:00.000+01:00

A new year arrived and I hope everyone will spend a wonderful 2007.

It's the right day to review my 2006 goals and to write the list of 2007 goals.

2006 goals

- Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace by Passione Ricamo SAL with Carol (starting next spring)
no, we haven't started stitching her yet

-12 Flip-it by Lizzie Kate SAL with an Italian friend. Every month we'll stitch the monthly Flip-it
I stitched only 10 Flip-Its, I have to stitch the September and December ones

- finish Terre de France by Annick Abrial, Christmas Elf Fairy by Mirabilia, Christian's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush, Be my love by Carriage House Samplings
I finished only Be my love by CHS but I worked on the other patterns

- work on Once upon a time by Passione Ricamo, Celtic Summer by Lavender&Lace, Little Kate's patterns by Margaret Sherry
yes, I specially worked on Celtic Summer during the most recent months

- finish the Mill Hill kit about Halloween
yes!

- The rose of Sharon by Mirabilia SAL with Carol (sometimes during the year)
no, we haven't started stitching her yet

- some ornaments for my Christmas tree
yes, I stitched 12 Santas by Prairie Schooler

-a needlecase for me
no

-start and finish some LHN designs (Coffee Menu, The bookshelf...)
yes! I stiched and finished Coffee Menu, The bookshelf, Elizabeth McGuire, Lavender Hill, Daisy Lane Cottage, Woodland Snowfall

All my 2006 finishes:
- 10 Flip It blocks by Lizzie Kate
- 12 Santas by Prairie Schooler to sew into Christmas ornaments for my tree
- 3 RR
- 1 scissor fob
- 6 envelopes for mail art
- 5 little Christmas ornaments as gifts
- 2 recipes books as gifts
- 2 charity patterns
- 3 gifts for my new cousin born in March
- 14 patterns: Elizabeth McGuire and Kindness pillow (LHN), Daisy Lane Cottage (LHN), The Tea Room (CCN), The bookshelf (LHN), Coffee Menu (LHN), Lavender Hill (LHN), Woodland Snowfall (LHN), Little Kate (Margaret Sherry), Be my love (CHS), Valentine Holiday (BOAF), The stitcher (Homespun Elegance), Cookin' up magic (Mill Hill), a kitchen pattern (Italian magazine)

My 2007 goals are:

- finish two Flip-It blocks left (LK)
- 7 Dear Diary patterns and 8 pillows (LHN)
- stitch 4 Seasons by LHN (Season of rest, of plenty, ecc...)
- stitch a tablecloth with 27 patterns (Thread Packs by LHN)
- stitch an Advent calendar using patterns by Lizzie Kate
- at least six Santas by PS as a SAL with PS Yahoo Group
- work on Terre de France, Little Kate by Margaret Sherry, HOHRH by CHS, Once Upon a time by Passione Ricamo, Celtic Summer by L&L
- finish Quaker Garden by BD, Pear Tree Inn by LHN, Forest Snowfall by CCN, Chrismas Elf by Mirabilia, Winter Peace by SBF, Christian's Stocking by SB
- stitch Christmas gifts
- start stitching Christmas Village by VS

I hope to have not forgotten anything. The list is very long and I hope to stitch many patterns!

Now it's time to review the monthly goals.

December goals were:

- finish all the Flip-It Blocks by LK (September, November and December left)
no, I stitched only the November one

- finish twelve Christmas ornaments (I've already stitched ten and I have to stitch two)
yes!

- stitch and sew the last envelope for the Italian mail art exchange
yes!

- stitch and sew some Christmas gifts
yes!

I also stitched Woodland Snowfall by LHN and Kindness pillow by Dear Diary series (LHN) and I sewed the charity doll for Unicef.

January goals are:

- stitch twice Watermelon Thread Packs by LHN for my tablecloth
- stitch four little patterns for my Advent calendar
- start stitching 1999 Santa by PS and Season of Rest by LHN
- work on Celtic Summer, Terre de France and Forest Snowfall

My new rotation is:

- Monday: stitch an UFO (I can choose and it may be a Flip It or one of the patterns I listed)
- Tuesday: stitch the Thread Packs by LHN for my tablecloth
- Wednesday: Celtic Summer and gifts/exchanges
- Thursday: Terre de France
- Friday: Advent calendar
- Saturday/Sunday: Santas by PS and what I want to stitch

During the past days I was busy organizing the dinner for the end of 2006 and putting in order something at home so I couldn't post my last finish for 2006.
Here is it:

Woodland Snowfall by Little House Needleworks (Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments 2004)
stitched on Lugana 32ct, Mocha, Silkweaver

I also forgot to share the pictures of my charity doll for Unicef.
I tried to sew a Russian doll, she has the fur hat and a scarf I knitted but she doesn't seem a Russian, I think.

I also started stitching Forest Snowfall by CCN as a SAL with the LHN and CCN Yahoo group.

My first progress:

A lot of pictures...

2006-12-28T09:24:00.000+01:00

I was so busy with Christmas holidays and Christmas gifts that I have not been posting for many days. Thanks for all your posts and mails, I really appreciated them.

I have a lot of pictures to share.

Before Christmas I sent the last envelope for my Italian mail art exchange. I used a lovely pattern by Little House Needleworks. I changed the pattern to stitch it on the envelope with the address of my friend. I used a white Aida that I hand-dyed with tea. The fabric inside is by Debbie Mumm. I really like how the envelope turned out.

Front side:

Back side:

Inside:

Finally I can share the gifts I worked on during the past weeks.
I stitched two patterns to sew on two different recipes books.

The first one is a pattern I found on an Italian magazine.

The second one is part of the pattern Madame Poule by Tralala!!!

I also prepared some biscuits and I gave them as gifts with some little ornaments.

I stitched this ornament that I saw on a new Italian magazine.

These ornaments are by Olde Ornaments I by Sisters & Best Friends. I stitched them using only DMC.

I also stitched a quick pattern. It's for my Dear Diary quilt and it's the second block I finished. The first block is the one of Elizabeth MCGuire. This is the pillow dedicated to kindness and it's in the pattern Elizabeth McGuire.

I think I finished more than the patterns I would have liked to stitch before another order so I've already put my next order.

The last Santa

2006-12-12T09:37:00.000+01:00

During the past week-end I started preparing my Christmas tree and I went on working on my Santas. I could finish the last Santa for this year. Now I have twelve Christmas ornaments, one for month. I have already sewed six of them and they're on my tree. In the next days I'm going to sew and finish the left Santas.
I'm pretty happy because I could stitch twelve Santas as I decided at the begininnig of the year. Surely one of my goals for the next year is stitching other PS Santas to add to the stitched ones. I noticed that the yearly Santas are longer than other patterns by PS so I'm going to stitch one yearly Santa for two months.

Now I can change my rotation. I finished the ornaments and the exchanges for 2006 so my next rotation will be:

Monday - Christian's stocking

Tuesday - Flip-It by Lizzie Kate, I have to stitch two to finish all the series Blocks

Wednesday - Celtic Summer (that was an UFO few weeks ago) and Christmas gifts

Thursday - sew Christmas gifts and the charity doll for Unicef

Friday - Christmas gifts

Saturday/Sunday - Terre de France and what I like

Ornaments

2006-12-09T15:53:00.000+01:00

First of all thanks everyone for your posts and comments about my ornaments. I really appreciated them!

Telling about my ornaments I worked hard on them in the past days too and I could start and finish another little Santa.
This one is by the new leaflet Good Saint Nick by Prairie Schooler.

I stitched him more quickly than the others because he is small.
I also started stitching my last Santa for this year and this is the progress:

This one is by the leaflet Kris Kringle by Prairie Schooler and I'm stitching him on linen.

I also finished an envelope for my Italian mail art exchange but I have to sew it and I can't show the result till my friend receive it.

It's time to come back stitching!

Have a nice week-end, ladies.

Finishes

2006-12-05T09:13:00.000+01:00

During the past week-end I decided to sew some ornaments.

I sewed two Christmas ornaments I had already stitched and two Flip-Its by Lizzie Kate.

I could stitch the November Flip-It too and this is another finish for my list.

I also stitched some Christmas gifts but I can't share any picture. They're four little gifts and I have to sew them. I decided to count them as only one finish because they're very small and they are stitched by the same pattern.

Last Sunday I had pulled out my sewing machine so I decided to sew something else. I sewed Christmas ornaments using a lovely fabric by Debbie Mumm. The picture don't justice to the wonderful designs. I'm really happy how they turned out. Those designs are wonderful!
The fabric is Winter Whismy - Label Panel Multi on Green.

Present and future goals

2006-12-01T15:01:00.000+01:00

Today I've not stitching pictures to share because yesterday I've not had enough time to stitch. Instead I decided to work on my kitchen curtains and I want to show a picture of them because they're the first curtains I sewed. I'm pretty happy how they turned out. They're not perfect and I could have done something better...but finally I have the curtains!

A new month arrived and it's time to review my past goals.

My November goals:

-stitch September and November Flip-It by LK

no, but I've quite finished November Flip-It

-stitch September, October and November ornaments

I stitched September and October ones

-finish a block of Terre de France

no, but I worked on it and I've quite finished the block

-finish the curtains for my kitchen

yes!!!

In addition I started and finished Elizabeth McGuire by LHN.

For the last month of the year I would like to finish some projects and exchanges.

- finish all the Flip-It Blocks by LK (September, November and December left)

- finish twelve Christmas ornaments (I've already stitched ten and I have to stitch two)

- stitch and sew the last envelope for the Italian mail art exchange

- stitch and sew some Christmas gifts

I hope to have not forgotten anything...

I'm also thinking about 2007 goals and I'm writing a list to pubblish at the end of this year. During the past months I fell in love with many patterns and to choose the ones I'll stitch in 2007 is not easy. Surely I want to stitch one of the following patterns. The first one was released last year and I immediately fell in love with it. The second one is the newest pattern by Victoria Sampler and I LOVE it! I imagine that they're long patterns to stitch and I would like to stitch one of them as a SAL. So I'm searching somebody who would like to start one of these patterns during the next year. Everyone is welcome! I have to purchase the pattern and the supplies yet so we've enough time to decide when we could start stitching it.

A good rotation!

2006-11-30T15:00:00.000+01:00

Have I already talked about my good rotation?
Yes, I have. I'm so happy how it's working that I'm wondering why I haven't ever decided a rotation before this month.

On Monday I usually stitch Christian's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush. I started stitching it last year and it became an UFO after Christmas. Some weeks ago I pulled out it and I made a little progress.

Last year:

Last Monday:

On Wednesday I usually stitch my Christmas ornaments and yesterday I finished a Santa by Kris Kringle (Prairie Schooler). This is my tenth ornament in 2006. I'll have to stitch two ornaments before Christmas because I want to use them for my tree.

I also stitched something else, not only the patterns in my rotation and this is the result!

I finished this lovely pattern by LHN, Elizabeth McGuire (Dear Diary series).
It was not one of my favourite patterns in this series and I decided to stitch it as first of the Dear Diary patterns. While I was stitching it I fell in love with it. I like very much the cabin and the lady.

Thank you, Carol

2006-11-24T14:34:00.000+01:00

This morning I received a beautiful gift by Carol. It's one of the most lovely gifts I've ever received. Thanks, Carol, you're so sweet.

In the package I found scissors and scissor-fob. These new scissors will be my favourite ones, they're the first ones somebody gave me as a present. The scissor-fob is a very great work and you can't appreciate it because my picture doesn't it justice. I really like it because Carol used a pattern of one of my favourite designers.

My first rotation seems to work and I'm really happy about it.
I worked on everything in the list but I can't post each progress because I'm working on some gifts and exchanges.

I'm uploading only the progress on November Flip-It.

I followed my plans but I also stitched something else.
I'm really enjoying Elizabeth McGuire by LHN. It's a relaxing and quick design.

My first rotation

2006-11-21T08:57:00.000+01:00

I've never tried to use a rotation and yesterday I decided to prepare my first one. I'll be busy stitching some Christmas gifts and finishing some of my goals for 2006 so a rotation looks a good idea to organize my works.

This is the rotation:

Monday - Christian's stocking (that was an UFO few days ago) and gifts for Christmas
Tuesday - Flip-It by Lizzie Kate, I have to stitch three to finish all the series Blocks
Wednesday - Celtic Summer (that was an UFO few weeks ago) and Christmas ornaments
Thursday - Christmas gifts/exchanges
Friday - Christmas ornaments
Saturday/Sunday - Terre de France and what I like

Yesterday I started using my rotation and I worked on Christian's stocking. I've not taken a picture yet. I also started stitching two ornaments but I can't post the pictures before Christmas.
My most recent progress is a progress on the Santa by PS.

I also stitched an envelope for my Italian mail art exchange. It was for Chiara. She has already received it and I can post the pictures.
I used some patterns by Lizzie Kate because she's one of her favourite designers. I tried to be more creative than usual...

Front side:

Back side:

Inside:

Some pictures

2006-11-17T09:28:00.000+01:00

I've not been writing for some days, so I have some pictures to share.

I'm trying to work on my monthly goals and I stitched November Flip-It by LK.
I love Autumn, so I'm enjoying this lovely colours.

I also decided to start stitching a new Christmas ornament. It should be the October one that I've not stitched yet.
I chose a Santa by Kris Kringle, leaflet by Prairie Schooler. He should be faster then the last one I stitched.

A little progress:

After an unlucky order that I put on Pawprint I received some fabrics I ordered more than two months ago. I'm very disappointed about this order. They didn't have the buttons I ordered and they let me wait for all the supplies. After two months they decided to send me the fabrics because they have not received the buttons yet. I think they should have sent me the fabrics at least a month ago...
At the end I received my fabrics. I needed them to start stitching a new big project. I'm going to stitch all the series Dear Diary by LHN and to sew the patterns into a quilt. As I received the fabrics some days ago I immediately started stitching the first pattern. I chose Elizabeth McGuire as first design.

I stitched it for two days and these are my progresses.

First day:

Second day:

I'm stitching it quickly because it's a lovely pattern and it's easy to stitch. I'm so happy about this new project!

You know I'm stitching a bit Celtic Summer every Wednesday.
After a month I've a progress to share. I'll post my last picture and the picture of my most recent progress. The progress is not so important, but I'm happy because this pattern became an UFO and I finally pulled out it.

May 2006:

November 2006

Finally...

2006-11-10T09:08:00.000+01:00

Finally I finished a Christmas ornament. It took me a very long time and I can't understand why. I started this ornament at the end of August and it had to be the ornament for September. I finished it in November!!! Now I have to catch up with two ornaments, the ones for October and November. I decided to choose two Santas in the leaflet Kris Kringle #62 by Prairie Schooler. Those Santas are smaller than the yearly ones!

1996 Schooler Santa by Prairie Schooler stitched on Belfast linen 32ct, Rock Quarry (Silkweaver)

Reading Anne's blog and especially this post, I decided to organize a personal challenge. I really admire Anne because she's taking part in this project with 50 patterns but I couldn't do so and I decided to stitch 10 patterns already kitted up before purchasing new supplies and kit up other patterns.
My challenge starts today and before putting a new order I'll have to count ten finished patterns.

Happy stitching!

Reviewing goals

2006-11-07T09:41:00.000+01:00

Finally I can post some pictures.
During the past days I didn't stitch a lot. I only finished the monthly Flip-It and I worked on the Christmas ornament. This one is taking me a long time, more than I thought. It's a Santa by Prairie Schooler and even if he's about 50wx70h he's a little busy project. My next Santas will be smaller because I want to finish twelve ornaments before the end of this year and I decided to choose other Santas by Prairie Schooler and not the yearly ones.

I received my third envelope. I'm taking part in an Italian mail art exchange and I'm really enjoying myself.
This is the lovely envelope that my partner sent me.

Front side:

Back side:

Inside:

It's time to review October goals.

- stitch August, September and October Flip-It by LK
I stitched only August and October

- stitch the monthly Christmas ornament and the September one
no! I only worked on the September one

- stitch a block of Terre de France
no!

- work on the pattern by Sisters and Best Friends started as a SAL with some Italian friends
only a bit

- work on Quaker Garden
yes, but I didn't post a picture because I found a big mistake and I had to unstitch and stitch again a part of the pattern

- finish a charity pattern I started last month
yes!!!

- work on Merry Christmas by Brightneedle (SAL with some French ladies)
no, I'm still waiting for my supplies

- finish the curtains for my kitchen
no :(

I also finished an UFO, Cookin' Up Magic by Mill Hill and I pulled out other two UFOs I'm working on. I have not pubblished pictures yet because the progresses are not so important but I'm really happy because I stitched them again. I also stitched an envelope for my third mail art exchange but I can't upload it because I have to sew and send it.

Now I'm writing my November goals. I decided to focus my work on few goals.

-stitch September and November Flip-It by LK
-stitch September, October and November ornaments
-finish a block of Terre de France
-finish the curtains for my kitchen

A finish

2006-10-26T15:37:00.000+02:00

Finally I received my package with the DMC threads and I could finish my charity project.
Here is the result:

It was a funny and quick pattern. I really enjoyed it and I'm happy that it's for Quilt America.

I stitched a bit also Pear Tree Inn by LHN. I'm stitching it slowly because I have other deadlines during this month and I usually stitch it as a relaxing pattern.

Yesterday was Wednesday so it was the day of my Celtic Summer. I stitched her but I'm working on her big skirt and after two weeks of work we can't see any progress yet. This is why I have not a picture of her.

Again UFOs

2006-10-24T09:44:00.000+02:00

After finishing an UFO I decided to review all my UFOs and I noticed they are too many.

Enchanted Alphabet by L&L
Celtic Summer by L&L
Once upon a time by Passione Ricamo
HOHR by Carriage House Samplings
Christian's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush
Little Kate by Margaret Sherry
Christmas Elf Fairy by Mirabilia
a towel I started stitching for a friend

I decided to dedicate a day for week to one of these UFOs and yesterday I started stitching again Christian's Stocking. I chose this one because I decided to stitch it for Lore last year. I had finished a stocking for me and I'd like to stitch one for Lore too.
I'm not posting my progress because we can't see it...I hope to post the progress next week.

Veronica and I decided to dedicate also an hour to our ladies by L&L. We stitch together every Wednesday. I added a very nice button she created for me. Again the progress is not so important and I will not post a picture.

During the past week I've quite finished my charity project. I should send it away during next days but I'm waiting for a package with DMC fibers and it has not arrived yet.

And my progress on the monthly Flip-It:

Autumn

2006-10-16T15:16:00.000+02:00

I love autumn's colours and everything talking about this season.
Yesterday we went to a wood in the country near Florence. We wanted to search some mushrooms but we met a snake at the beginning of the walk and we decided to walk following the path. At the end of the walk my basket for mushrooms was till empty. LOL!
Fortunately one of Lore's aunts gave us some mushrooms and we had a very autumnal dinner! Mushrooms and chestnuts!!!

Me and the (empty) basket

In the wood

Mushrooms and chestnuts for dinner

Lore cooked pasta with mushrooms

and mushrooms

We also played the guitar...well, Lore played the guitar, I played just one or two songs.

During the past days I also finished a kit by Mill Hill I started stitching last year. I fell in love with this funny kit and I immediately purchased. I worked hard on it but I couldn't finish before Halloween. I pulled it out last week because I was going to finish before Halloween (2006!). I worked on beading and this is the result:

I also changed my mini poll. Please, vote!
I'm going to work on my kitted up patterns and I've 31 patterns ready to stitch. I chose five of these and I'd like you to help me to decide the one I'll stitch in the next weeks. Thanks!

The old poll was about two WIPs. I finished both of them, so I closed it.
The votes were 34 and 20 were for The bookshelf by LHN and 14 for Tea Room by CCN.

Small projects

2006-10-13T08:45:00.000+02:00

During the past days I worked only on small projects.

Finally I finished a Flip-It by Lizzie Kate, the one dedicated to August. I don't like the colours in the picture but I had to use the flash. I hope to make a better picture when it will be finished into a little pillow.

I have also a progress on the charity project. I like the colours of these patterns. They're really brigth and I'm really enjoying stitching mine. It's the letter P by an alphabet I don't know. The leader of this project gave us the letter we chose at the beginning of the work. I chose the letter of my surname.

Do you see that it's a P?

I have never posted the second envelope I sent for an Italian mail art exchange.
We sent the second envelopes during the summer. I chose an angel by Joanne Elliott because she's the favourite designer of my second partner. Unfortunately I have not a pattern by Joanne Elliott about summer, so I thought to stitch a little scissor fob with marine themes to send together.

Front of my envelope for Cristina:

Back of my envelope for Cristina:

Inside of my envelope for Cristina and scissor fob:

I'm back...

2006-10-04T09:26:00.000+02:00

Finally I'm back.
I've not been writing for about a month.
September finished and it was a very sad month. This is why I didn't feel writing posts.
We were in mourning. Lore's father in law suddendly passed away and he left his wife, Lore's sister, and two children. It was a great loss to our family and we were really busy with a lot of things.
I would like to apologize for not taking part in your blogs with posts and not sending what I had to send.
-------
A new month arrived and it's time to speak again about cross stitch and goals.

My September goals were:
- stitch August and September Flip-It by LK no!

- stitch the monthly Christmas ornament no!

- finish The bookshelf YES!!

- finish Daisy Lane Cottage YES!!

- stitch a block of Terre de France no!

- start a pattern by Sisters and Best Friends as a SAL with some Italian friends YES!!

- work on Quaker Garden no...

Here are the October's goals:

- stitch August, September and October Flip-It by LK
- stitch the monthly Christmas ornament and the September one
- stitch a block of Terre de France
- work on the pattern by Sisters and Best Friends started as a SAL with some Italian friends
- work on Quaker Garden
- finish a charity pattern I started last month
- work on Merry Christmas by Brightneedle (SAL with some French ladies)

- finish the curtains for my kitchen (I worked on them during September and I'm pretty happy about the results)

Now we can see the pictures of my progresses during the past month.

I started Winter Peace, a pattern by Sisters and Best Friends that I'm stitching as a SAL with some Italian friends.

Yesterday I started stitching the Pear Tree Inn by Little House Needleworks as autumnal SAL with the ladies of the LHN group.

I started a charity pattern to take part in a project for Love Quilt America.

I worked on the August Flip-It by Lizzie Kate.

I finished The Bookshelf by LHN.

Stitched on Lugana 32ct, Hazelnut, Silkweaver.

And I finished the Daisy Lane Cottage by LHN.

Lists

2006-09-06T09:35:00.000+02:00

During the past days I didn't stitch as I would have liked but I could finish the Santa I had started stitching in July.

Now I can cut the fabric and sew the four ornaments I stitched on this piece.
I've already chosen the new Santa. He'll be the 1996 PS Santa. I stitched a bit and I started his hat.

I've also finished a block of Terre de France by Annick Abrial but it's not the block that is in my goals. I had quite finished this one before August and I didn't work a lot on it during the week-end. Now I'm going to start and finish a new block and this will be my September block.

I'm also impatient to see the new marquoir that Annick will publish in October. I loved Terre de France and I hope she'll create a new beautiful sampler to stitch. To tell the truth they're big works but I imagine how I'd be happy if I could finish one!

I've not uploaded my holidays pictures yet but I finished to upload the pictures of my kitted up patterns. I can't beleive they're so many! They will take me at least a whole year.
And my future projects' list is growing quickly. I've not finished it yet and I've already created a new one!!!

I'm back!

2006-08-30T15:10:00.000+02:00

I came back home few days ago but I was so busy that I couldn't write a post before today.
The holidays were really good and I hope to select some pictures as soon as possible. I've not had enough time yet.

Fortunately I have some pictures to share about cross stitch.

I could stitch during the holidays. I stitched only a bit, but I stitched and this is a surprise!
I worked on the Quaker Garden only when I was in Portugal and here is the progress:

When I came back home I pulled out my old projects and I stitched The bookshelf and Daisy Lane Cottage by LHN.

I'm working hard on these lovely patterns because I want to finish them and start stitching all the patterns of the Dear Diary series before the end of the year. I'll sew them into a quilt and it seems to be a big work. I imagine it will take me all the next year.

Otherwise I'm late with my monthly goals. I have to stitch the July's Christmas ornament because I couldn't finish it before August. I also have to stitch the August Flip-It by LK and this will be in my next goals.

Here is the progress on the Christmas ornament started in July. I have quite finished it, so I think it will not be in the goals of the next month.

So, here are my goals for September:

- stitch August and September Flip-It by LK
- stitch the monthly Christmas ornament
- finish The bookshelf
- finish Daisy Lane Cottage
- stitch a block for Terre de France
- start a pattern by Sisters and Best Friends as a SAL with some Italian friends
- work on Quaker Garden

I should add other goals such as
- prepare a fabric for a big SAL starting at the beginning of 2007 with an Italian friend
- sew two curtains for my kitchen
- ...

Well, I'm pretty busy.

Holidays

2006-07-30T13:04:00.000+02:00

This is probably my last post before holidays.
I was really busy during these days because I had to organize the journey and search so many hotels/bed&breakfast for our stay in Portugal.

We'll be on holidays till 22 August.

I've not had enough time to stitch. I only finished my monthly Flip-It. I decided to take some supplies with me but I imagine I'll not stitch a stitch during the holidays.
Here is the finish.

Happy holidays!

What a great start!

2006-07-24T09:14:00.000+02:00

Finally I'm in the SAL.
I have my supplies and I could start stitching Quaker Garden by Blackbird Designs. I can't beleive it! I had been waiting for my supplies for a long time.
Stitching this pattern is a lot of fun and the more I stitch it the more I'd like to stitch. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I'll be on holiday from 31th July to 22th August and I'll not be able to stitch during those days. I'll take designs and supplies with me but I imagine that I'll not stitch.

I hope to stitch a lot during this week.

Here is my progress on Quaker Garden (stitched on Lugana 32ct, Mocha by Silkweaver) and on Daisy Lane Cottage.

Happy dance!

2006-07-20T09:35:00.000+02:00

I've not been posting for some days so I've an important progress to share.
Finally I finished The Stitcher by Homespun Elegance. This design has been an UFO for a long time. I started stitching it last year as a SAL with an Italian friend, Veronica. We decided to use this pattern as fibers' experimentation. We changed all the colours called for this pattern and I used some of the threads I had received when I took part in the Fiber Fenzy by PawPrint.
This is the result:

I'm pretty happy how it turned out. It was not too easy to find some colours matching the Olde Willow I had chosen for the dress of the stitcher. It's Psychedelia and it's very variegated.

I also attached some lovely buttons I could find in Florence in September. I can't beleive I found them here in Italy, but I did. They are buttons by Dress It Up.

I've not received my supplies for the Quaker Garden yet. I'm really impatient. I saw the wonderful finish of Karen and I'm so happy to have decided to stitch it.

In the meantime I worked on my monthly Flip-It by Lizzie Kate and I started stitching Daisy Lane Cottage as a SAL with the LHN group. I also created an album for my 2006 finishes and I'm updating my future projects' album. I'm reviewing all my patterns and I'm adding them slowly.

A lot of pictures

2006-07-13T09:04:00.000+02:00

I'm trying to catch up with the pictures I should have uploaded during the past days.

During the past week-end I could sew some ornaments and a wall-hanging. I also framed two designs so I have some real finishes.

For the Christmas ornaments I chose an easy finish. I sewed them using only a fabric. The fabrics are by Meme's Quilt. Here are them:

I sewed a wall hanging using Be my love by Carriage House Samplings. I had found the right fabric several weeks ago and finally it's ready!

The framed works are Coffee Menu by LHN and The Tea Room by CCN. I went to the framer's shop and he prepared two frames. I'm happy how they turned out.

About other stitching news I started stitching my monthly Flip-It by Lizzie Kate. Here is my small progress:

Unfortunately I've not received my supplies for the Quaker Garden SAL organized by Karen. They are taking a lot of time and many of the other ladies have quite finished their samplers. I hope to receive my pattern in the next days, so I'll be able to start stitching it before my holidays in August.

Some weeks ago I had tried to prepare something using decoupage. Finally I took some pictures of it and here is the result:

Goals

2006-07-06T09:12:00.000+02:00

July has already arrived and it's time to review my June's goals.
Many stitchers have also reviewed this year's goals because half year passed. I'll do it too.

June's goals were:
- stitch the envelope for the second mail art exchange
worked on it, but not finished

- work on some UFOs
I pulled out only HOHRH

- stitch the June's Flip-it by Lizzie Kate
yes

- finish another Christmas ornament by Prairie Schooler
yes

- work on Celtic Summer or Once upon a time
no :(

- work on The bookshelf and The Tea Room
yes, I worked on The Bookshelf and I finished The Tea Room

My July's goals are:

- finish the envelope for my second exchange of mail art
- stitch July's Flip-It blocks by LK
- stitch the monthly Christmas ornament
- stitch a block of Terre de France
- work a bit on HOHRH by Carriage House Samplings
- work on The bookshelf
- start the Daisy Lane Cottage SAL (15th of July)
- start the Quacker Garden SAL (the SAL has already started but I'm till waiting for my pattern and fibers)

July looks a busy month...
I could find the post about my 2006 goals. Reviewing them:

-Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace by Passione Ricamo SAL with Carol
we've not started it yet

-12 Flip-it by Lizzie Kate SAL. Every month we'll stitch the monthly Flip-it
yes, I've stitched six Flip-Its during these six months

- finish Terre de France by Annick Abrial, Christmas Elf Fairy by Mirabilia, Christian's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush, Be my love by Carriage House Samplings
finished only Be my love by CHS

- work on Once upon a time by Passione Ricamo, Celtic Summer by Lavender&Lace, Little Kate's patterns by Margaret Sherry
I worked a bit on Once upon a time and Celtic Summer

-finish the Mill Hill kit about Halloween
no!

-The rose of Sharon by Mirabilia SAL with Carol (sometimes during the year)
we've not started it yet

- some ornaments for my Christmas tree
I stitched an ornament for month (to tell the truth they are seven ornaments because during August I'll not be able to stitch one and I've already finished that)

- a needlecase for me
no

- start and finish some LHN designs (Coffee Menu, The bookshelf...)
yes, I finished Coffee Menu and Lavender Hill, I started The bookshelf

Now I'm sharing my most recent progress on The bookshelf. I finished the top of the pattern but I've not stitched the golden parts because I have to decide what kind of fiber I'll use. I don't like the DMC one, I think I'll use a Rainbow Gallery one.

It's hot!

2006-07-02T18:13:00.000+02:00

It's so hot that stitching a lot is not possible.
I started stitching the last Santa of Old World Santas by Prairie Schooler. I've not decided the next series to use but the Santas will be bigger than these ones.

Here is the only progress I can share.

In the morning we went to Arezzo with two friends. Every month there is a big antiques' show in the streets and square of this Tuscan city. Our friends wanted to buy something and we decided to go with them. Unfortunately they didn't find anything but it was colder than in Florence so we spent a nice morning.

Now we're at home and it's so hot!

Some pictures of Arezzo's squares and streets.

UFO

2006-06-30T14:56:00.000+02:00

My HoHRH is back. I had decided to start stitching this design as a SAL with Carol. I worked on it only at the begininnig of the SAL, then I was busy with other projects and I have not been stitching it for many weeks. As I saw the good progresses of Danielle some days ago I decided to pull out it again. I stitched only a bit, just the words and the border with flowers. I also started the roof of the first house. It's not a good progress but it's a progress. My new goal is working on this pattern every month. I'm trying to reduce my UFOs.

Small finish

2006-06-28T09:57:00.000+02:00

During the past week-end we were busy, as always. Last Saturday we went to the church for the wedding of two friends, in the evening my best friend invited us for dinner and on Sunday we went to eat pizza with other friends.
So I didn't stitch as I hoped.
I could finish only my monthly Flip-It. The picture is not good. I'm having some problems to take pictures of the Flip-Its and I can't understand why this happens. I think it depends on the red colours.

I've also a progress on The bookshelf by LHN. It's a very small progress: I stitched only the words "The bookshelf".

By the way, on the 15th of July I'll start a new LHN SAL. We decided to stitch Daisy Lane Cottage and if you like joining us you can partecipate or take a look at the LHN group.

I'm also in a different SAL. I read about it on Karen's blog and I had to join it. It sounds great and we'll stitch Quacker Garden by Blackbird Designs. I've already put my order and I hope it'll arrive soon!

Yesterday I decided to create an album where we can see my future pojects. I started uploading some pictures and they'll grow quickly, I'm sure about it. I've been wanting to create one since I saw Carol's ones.

Busy days

2006-06-21T09:09:00.000+02:00

I've not been writing for a long time because the past days were very busy, I couldn't stitch a lot and I didn't feel motivated to write a post.

Last week I finished The Tea Room by Country Cottage Needlework. It was a joy to stitch this pattern. I loved the colours and the design, I also love tea, so this pattern became one of my recent favorite patterns.

Stitched on 32ct Lugana, Sand, by Silkweaver.

I also finished my monthly Christmas ornament. There is only a Santa left on the leaflet. I'm going to stitch this one during July, then I'll have to choose a new series of Santas but I'll stitch the new series during September, I suppose.

I'm a bit late with the monthly Flip-It. I only stitched the block on the left and I've quite finished the background of the block on the right. I love that colour (Aztec Red by WDW).

2006-06-13T08:34:00.000+02:00

During the past week-end I was pretty busy and I couldn't stitch a lot.
On Saturday we went to a party and I didn't stitch during the day because I had to prepare something to eat.
On Sunday we decided to put in some vases the plants we had bought in the morning. We want to try to grow chili pepper plants. We like chili pepper but we have never planted it yet.

I worked on my Christmas ornament and I've quite finished his dress.

I'm posting my progress on The bookshelf. I feel really motivated stitching it because Diane Williams, the designer of LHN, joined our LHN group and she talks with us. It's a joy to read her posts!

Some pictures

2006-06-08T08:19:00.000+02:00

I've not been writing for some days so I have many pictures to share.

First of all last 1st of June we started The Bookshelf by LHN as a SAL.
I decided to stitch it on a 32ct Lugana, Hazelnut by Silkweaver.
Here is my progress:

As a new month arrived I started stitching both the monthly designs I have in my goals' list: June's Flip-Its and a new Christmas ornament.

I worked on the first block of the Flip-Its and I've quite finished. I like it!

The Christmas ornament is the seventh one. In the Old World Santas leaflet there're 8 Santas so I'm choosing the next series of Santa to stitch in the next months.

Finally I've had good news about my envelopes. At the beginning of April I had sent my first envelope for a mail art exchange on the EMS Italian forum. It seemed to be lost but my parter wrote me some days ago and she told me that both the envelopes arrived! In fact I had stitched a second one because I wanted my partner to receive at least an envelope.

The first one has an Easter theme. I stitched an egg and a kitchen I found in two different patterns by Tralala! (French designer). I used a red over-dyed floss, Needle Necessities 1531. The words mean "Happy Easter".
I stitched both the envelopes on a piece of Aida that I dyed with tea. I òiked how the fabric turned out.

The front:

The back:

For the second envelope I decided to use a part of Lavender Hill pattern by LHN. I know my partner likes LHN patterns. I stitched the sheeps and some lavender. On the back side I attached two buttons that I made by myself.

The front:

The back:

Inside:

New finish, goals and UFO

2006-06-02T08:46:00.000+02:00

During the past days I forgot to post the May's Flip-It. I finished it and I like this one very much.

I also finished another Christmas ornament, the sixth one. I'm so happy because I'll not be able to stitch one during August. I'll have twelve ornaments at the end of the year all the same.

Here is my most recent progress on The Tea Room. It's a lovely pattern and it's a joy to stitch it. It has soft colours and it shouldn't take a long time.

Now I have to review my May's goals. They were:

- stitch the May's Flip-it by Lizzie Kate
yes

- finish the fifth Christmas ornament by Prairie Schooler
yes, I finished the fifth and I started stitching another that I have already finished

- work on Celtic Summer or Once upon a time
no :(

- finish the rings pillow for my friend
yes

- work on some UFOs
yes!! I pulled out the Terre de France at the beginning of the month and I also worked on The Stitcher by Homespun Elegance

- stitch an envelope for the second mail art exchange
I prepared everything but I had to stitch a second envelope for my first partner because we thought that the first one was lost

I think that I could stick to my goals' schedule. The secret is choosing quick and easy goals...so my June's goals are:

- stitch the envelope for the second mail art exchange
- work on some UFOs
- stitch the June's Flip-it by Lizzie Kate
- finish another Christmas ornament by Prairie Schooler
- work on Celtic Summer or Once upon a time
- work on The bookshelf and The Tea Room

About my UFOs I'm happy because during this month I worked on some of them a bit. I'm still motivated reading Danielle's blog. She pulled out all her UFOs and she wants to work on them, so I decided to make a list of my UFOs/WIPs too. I could be ispired by this list during June.

Little kate by Margaret Sherry - I want to stitch all the ten patterns to sew a quilt with these
Cookin' up magic, a kit by Mill Hill
Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender&Lace
Once upon a time by Passione Ricamo
Terre de France by Annick Abriail
The Stitcher by Homespun Elegance (SAL with Veronica)
Celtic Summer by Lavender&Lace
Christian's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush
Elf Christmas fairy by Mirabilia
Archie by Margaret Sherry - I'm stitching it on a towel that I would have liked to give as a gift to a friend but I've not finished it yet
The Houses of Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings
12 Flip-Its by Lizzie Kate (SAL with other Italian friends)
12 Christmas ornaments by Prairie Schooler (one for month)
The Tea Room by Country Cottage Needleworks
The bookshelf by Little House Needleworks (started SAL yesterday)

The list is long enough.

Today is a National holiday in Italy so we've a long weekend. I hope to change the poll on the right and add some new links.

By the way, here are the poll's results:

The bookshelf 29
Season of rest 8
Starlight Sampler 7
City Stitcher*Country Stitcher 7
Peace and plenty 6

Happy stitching, ladies!

New finish, new start...

2006-05-30T08:54:00.000+02:00

During the week-end I worked on the Christmas ornaments.
I finished the monthly one and I went on stitching the sixth. The sixth ornament should be the ornament of August. During that month we'll be off, I hope, and I will not be able to stitch a lot.

The finished one:

A good progress for the next one:

I'm happy because my Christmas goals are going on and during every month I could stitch at least one ornament but I'd like to stitch more and more to have a wonderful tree next December.

I also worked on The Stitcher by Homespun Elegance. I tried two different Needle Necessities to stitch the alphabet but I'm not sure about the result. They're the only good green colours that I have so I'll have to choose one of these even if I think that they're not right for my fabric.

Finally I started stitching my first pattern by Country Cottage Needleworks. I love these designs and I like The Tea Room very much. I started it last week and this is a good progress:

If you love CCN and LHN patterns you can join this group. My friend Veronica opened it for the stitchers loving this kind of designs and we'll start a SAL on the first of June. We're waiting for you!
(I'll take part in the SAL with The bookshelf that is the winner of my poll)

Week-end's pictures

2006-05-24T08:54:00.000+02:00

Last Saturday my best friend got married. She didn't get married in a church so we went to the town hall because she wanted to get married at the registry office. The town hall in Florence is Palazzo Vecchio, near the Uffizi.

Here are the Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio:

Here I'm in front of Palazzo Vecchio:

The ceremony was in a beautiful hall, called "the red hall". In fact the room was furnished with red velvet. It was the bedroom of Cosimo I dei Medici. Medici was an important family of Florence.

And this is the rings pillow I stitched and sewed for the wedding:

I decided to try silk ribbon and I used Victoria Clayton's silks. It's my first experiment and I'm quite happy how it turned out. She didn't want a cross stitch pillow and this is the idea I had for the pillow. I hope she liked it!

Sunday I could stitch and I decided to pull out an UFO. It's The Stitcher, a pattern by Homespun Elegance that I started stitching last year as SAL with Veronica, an Italian friend. We decided to change the original colours and threads of the pattern to try new and different fibers.
For example I decided to use some colours I had received by PawPrint when I was subscribed to the Fiber Fenzy Club.

Here is my progress:

I worked on the Flip-It too. I realized that I had used a wrong colour for the carrot's background, so I unstitched and I stitched it again.

I also decided to start stitching the sixth Christmas ornament of the year. June has not arrived yet but I think that I'll not be able to stitch the August ornament so I could stitch the August one during these months.

A very small progress:

A lot of cross stitch pictures

2006-05-15T09:27:00.000+02:00

First of all I'm late. I should have reviewed my April's goals and listed the May's ones but I've not done so yet.

My April's goals were:

- stitch the April's Flip-it by Lizzie Kate yes

- finish the third Christmas ornament and stitch the fourth yes

- stitch two small things for Emma, the baby of my cousin yes, I stitched a bib and I finished the nappies case. By the way I'm posting the picture now because I forgot it during the past weeks.

- start stitching a French kit that I bought some months ago no

- continue a big project like Celtic Summer or Once upon a time yes, I worked on Celtic Summer

- finish the first house in the pattern of Carriage House Samplings no

I didn't start the French kit and I didn't work on the CHS Houses but I stitched a pattern for charity (the French heart) and I started working on a rings pillow for my best friend. She'll get married next Saturday and she asked me for a rings pillow.

My May's goals are:

- stitch the May's Flip-it by Lizzie Kate

- finish the fifth Christmas ornament by Prairie Schooler

- work on Celtic Summer or Once upon a time

- finish the rings pillow for my friend

- work on some UFOs

- stitch an envelope for a mail art exchange

Now I'm posting the pictures.
This is the nappies case I stitched and sewed for Emma, my new little cousin.
I'm really happy how the nappies case turned out. The pattern is so cute!

About the mail art exchange I received the second envelope. I love it! An Italian friend sent it and she made a great work!

The front side:

The back side:

Inside:

During the past days I pulled Terre de France out. Finally I worked on it a bit and I finished a new block.

And these are my progresses on the Christmas ornament and the Flip-It.

I'm back...

2006-05-06T20:07:00.000+02:00

Finally I can write a new post. I was busy during the past days and I couldn't find the right moment to write something.

I came back home last Tuesday. We had another long weekend (the last one!). The first of May is a holiday here in Italy so we decided to spend some days in a beautiful island of the Tuscan. The island is Isola del Giglio and it's not so far from Florence. I went to this island eight years ago and I fell in love with it. I had been wanting to come back here since I saw it. Finally we came back and I loved it again. There were a lot of flowers, the sea was wonderful and I really enjoyed myself. We walked a lot and we visited the little towns of the island.
I'm posting some pictures but I'd like to show all the pictures I took.

About cross stitch I can post some pictures. There're progresses and finishes.

Before going to the sea I finished a pattern for charity. I had never posted its progresses because I thought to finish it in few hours but it took me more time.
It's a pattern by Passion Broderie for Savoir Faire Vailly. It's my first heart by Passion Broderie and I think that it turned out lovely. I'd like to stitch one for me too.

I also want to share the April progress on my Celtic Summer. During the past month I worked on the skirt with the blue colours.

During the past week-end I didn't stitch a lot but I've some pictures to share.

I started stitching the monthly Flip-It by Lizzie Kate. It's the May's one and I'm stitching the carrot.

I'm also stitching the monthly Christmas ornament. I changed the kind of fabric. I'll stitch the next four ornaments on linen. The fabric is a 28ct Cashel Linen, Purely Primitive by Silkweaver.

Finally I finished a little work for my kitchen.
I found the design on an Italian magazine. I've already used those designs for an apron that I had stitched last year.

The apron I had stitched last year:

Another long weekend

2006-04-26T21:58:00.000+02:00

I've not been writing for some days but they have been busy days. I had to go to the dentist and I'll have to come back next week. Sigh! I cheered up when I went shopping with Lore. I bought some clothes for next summer. Yesterday was a holiday here in Italy, so we had another long weekend and we could go for a trip. We went to San Gimignano, 60km far from Florence.
San Gimignano is the town where my grandfather lived and I used to go often when I was a child.

Here are some pictures of the trip in the Tuscan country and in San Gimignano. Unfortunately some pictures are dark...

And here is my purchase in San Gimignano. I fell in love with these hand-painted potteries. In the middle the design represents the Tuscan country.

I've two finishes to share.

I finished my monthly Flip-It.

I finished my monthly Christmas ornament too. I stitched four Santas from the leaflet Old World Santas by Prairie Schooler. I used a piece of Lugana 28ct, Lichen Moss by Silkweaver. I used the whole space, now I've to choose another kind of fabric because I'm going to stitch other Christmas ornaments.

Long weekend

2006-04-20T15:13:00.000+02:00

Easter passed and days go by very quickly. We had a long weekend in Italy but I could stitch only a bit. We spent most of the days with our families. Last Monday we tried to go out for a trip but there were too many queues on the roads near Florence so we came back home and we didn't visit the town we had decided to reach.
I hope our next long week-end will be better!

I'm posting the small progresses of the past days.

Finally I started stitching the monthly Christmas ornament. It's another Santa from Old World Santas by Prairie Schooler. I'm working on these ornaments because I'm thinking about my next Christmas tree but sometimes I don't feel to stitch Christmas patterns.

My monthly Flip-It is going on good.

I think to be boring during these months because I'm posting only pictures about my monthly projects and things for the little cousin. I hope to have enough time to work on some new projects or on my UFOs because I'm annoying myself too!

Bunnies

2006-04-13T14:53:00.000+02:00

During these days I worked on a small project for my new little cousin. I stitched a bib and I chose for it another pattern with a bunny. This design is on the same Italian magazine that I used for the bath towel.

I also started stitching my monthly Flip-It and I started working on the bunny. I love the April's Flip-It. I like the colours and the fibers are lovely. This is my progress.

Today I'm really happy because I received my first order on HoneySuckleCottage. I received some beautiful fabrics.

I'm thinking to use one of these fabrics to sew Be my love into a pillow or a wall hanging.

Goals

2006-04-09T15:47:00.000+02:00

I've not reviewed my March's goals yet. It was not a good month for my stitching. I was ill and when I don't feel well I can't stitch. And this is seems to be some excuse!

My March's goals were:
- stitch the March's Flip-it by Lizzie Kate
yes

- finish the second Christmas ornament and stitch the third
I finished the second and started stitching the third

- stitch and sew an envelope for an exchange of mail art on EMS forum
yes but I can't share the picture till my partner receives it

- stitch a little towel for the baby of one of my best friends
no!

- stitch three small things for the baby of my cousin who will born at the beginning of April
I stitched only the nappies case with Archie by Margaret Sherry

- finish Be my love by CHS
yes!!!

- continue a big project like Celtic Summer or Once upon a time
no

My April's goals are:

- stitch the April's Flip-it by Lizzie Kate
- finish the third Christmas ornament and stitch the fourth
- stitch two small things for Emma, the baby of my cousin
- start stitching a French kit that I bought some months ago
- continue a big project like Celtic Summer or Once upon a time
- finish the first house in the pattern of Carriage House Samplings

Now I'm posting the pictures of the progresses made during the past days.

I finished the third Christmas ornament by Prairie Schooler. It's strange to stitch a Santa during the spring but I think about my future tree and I want to go on with this project.

In few hours I started and finished a small bath towel for my little cousin.
I used a pattern that's in an Italian magazine. It's easy and quick.

A new baby!

2006-04-05T14:51:00.000+02:00

I've not been writing my blog since I came back online. During the past days we were really busy.
My cousin's baby was born and we went and visited her. She's fine and lovely. I'm so happy to have a new little cousin!
Then we went to the baptism of one of my friends baby. There was the party too and we spent the day with other friends who were at the party.
We really enjoyed but in the evening we were so tired that I didn't stitch.

I'd like to share some pictures.

This is my progress on the Santa I'm stitching for the March's Christmas ornament.
I took the picture some days ago but I couldn't post it before today.

Some days ago I finished Be my love by Carriage House Samplings. I'm happy how it turned out. I've already found a fabric that should match with it but I have to purchase it online. So I have to wait for it.

I'm posting other pictures. They're the pictures of two blankets for Emma, my cousin's baby. My grandmother and one of my aunts knitted and sewed the first one, my cousin knitted the second one.

closer:

closer:

I'm back!!!

2006-03-30T08:58:00.000+02:00

I'm back and I want to share some pictures.

Finally I remembered to take a picture of my new start.
I started stitching The Houses of Hawk Run Hollow from Carriage House Samplings.
I stitched only a bit but I started this beautiful project.

During these days I'm busy with some projects for the baby of my cousin and the baby of one of my best friends.
I was also involved in a charity project. Only one, fortunately.
I'm also stitching an envelope for a mail art exchange.
During the next month I hope to pull my projects out again. I'd like to go on with the HOHRH and other big patterns.

Last Sunday I could sew something.
I finished two Flip-Its, the January's and the February's ones.

I also started sewing the nappies' case for my cousin and a bag for me.
I can share the picture of the pattern I stitched for the nappies' case.
It's Archie by Margaret Sherry. I hope she likes it!

Some pictures

2006-03-21T22:11:00.000+01:00

First of all I want to let you know that I'll not be able to be online often during the next days. Unfortunately we had to change our contract for internet so I don't know when they will open our next contract. I really hope to come back and write often as soon as possible.

During the past weekend I would have liked to sew some things but a friend of Lore came and visited us, so I couldn't pull out my sewing machine. I should be able to sew during the next weekend. To tell the truth I must sew because I have to prepare a nappies case for the baby of my cousin. I've quite finished the pattern and I'll post the picture in the next days. Now I'm choosing a fabric to match with the pattern.

I'm posting the small happy dance of the weekend. I finished the March Flip-It by Lizzie Kate.

I've already started the third Christmas ornament. It's another Santas from the leaflet Old World Santas by Prairie Schooler.

The last pictures are about the envelope I received from Chiara. We organized a mail art exchange on the Italian EMS forum and my first secret partner was Chiara. She sent me a beautiful envelope. She was really kind because she sent also a nice fabric with hearts, a card and a GAST thread. Thank you again, Chiara.

The right side with my address:

The back side with Chiara's address:

Inside:

Again small projects

2006-03-18T15:30:00.000+01:00

I'm working on some small projects. I'm happy about them because I've already had many happy dances in this year.

And this is the happy dance of the week!

I finished my second Christmas ornament of the year. This is good for my Christmas tree: I hope to have a lot of ornaments ready at the end of December.

I'm working on the Flip-It by Lizzie Kate too. It's funny but I prefered the past ones. Instead the next one seems to be so cute and funny.

During the weekend I've a lot of things to do but I'm going to sew and finish something. Today could be the right day...

Goals

2006-03-14T19:46:00.000+01:00

I'm trying to catch up on my posts and I'm reading all the recent posts of my favourite blogs. I've not been reading some blogs for many days. I'd like to write some comments too so I hope to find enough time tomorrow.

Now I'm going to review my February's goals and write the March's ones.

My February's goals were:

- finish the roses in the pattern Once upon a time by Passione Ricamo and continue with it
yes, I finished the roses. I didn't continue it.

- stitch the February's Flip-it by Lizzie Kate
yes

- stitch two Christmas ornaments by Prairie Schooler
I stitched one of them and I started stitching the second.

- finish Coffee Menu and Lavender Hill by LHN
yes!

- finish Valentine Holidays by Carriage House Samplings
yes

My March's goals:

- stitch the March's Flip-it by Lizzie Kate

- finish the second Christmas ornament and stitch the third

- stitch and sew an envelope for an exchange of mail art on EMS forum

- stitch a little towel for the baby of one of my best friends

- stitch three small things for the baby of my cousin who will born at the beginning of April

- finish Be my love by CHS

- continue a big project like Celtic Summer or Once upon a time

I've just written the March's goals list and they seem to be a lot of goals.

Finally I pulled out Be my love by Carriage House Samplings and I stitched the dress of the woman and the bottom of the pattern.

I stitched the second Christmas ornament too and it's growing quickly. I decided to sew this ornament and the first one when I finish the third and the forth. In fact I'm stitching them on the same piece of fabric and I don't want to cut it till I finish the space.

I'm back!

2006-03-11T14:28:00.000+01:00

I'm back. I went to ski last week and I came back. Unfortunately when I was at home again I was ill. Today I feel better but I don't feel good, I've not gone out yet and I didn't start stitching again. I spent the past days in my bed and watching tv. :(
I've to share two pictures because I should have shown them at the begininnig of the week.

During my long week-end in Dolomiti I could stitch a bit and I went on with my second Christmas ornament:

I started stitching the monthly flip-it too. I'm using the first colour, Butternut Squash (GAST).

Now I don't feel to review my February goals and the March ones but I'm going to do so in my next post.
Have a nice weekend!

Small happy dances

2006-02-28T15:08:00.000+01:00

I would have liked to catch up on reading blogs and writing posts but I didn't spend much time online in the past week. But I could add some blogs between my links on the left of the blog.

Today I'm posting my progresses but I'll be off again because next Thursday we're going to ski. We'll be back next Sunday and I think I'll write again next Monday or tomorrow.

I finished my February Flip-it by Lizzie Kate. Linda asked me about the fibers. I used the GAST and WDW threads in the key of the pattern. There're also two DMC fibers.

I finished the first ornament as well. And I started the second one, another Santa from Old World Santas by Prairie Schooler.

A new kind of happy dance

2006-02-23T15:26:00.000+01:00

I'm stitching only a bit during these days. I'm busy with other things too... for example I've to iron a lot of clothes! But I've two progresses to share.
One is my Christmas ornament. It's going on slowly but I'm stitching it and I should be able to finish it before the end of the month.

The second and more important progress is on Once upon a time by Passione Ricamo. I can't beleive it: I finished the roses in the left part of the pattern. It's a kind of happy dance for me because the roses are really difficult in this pattern. There're seven different rose colours and four different green colours. I'm so happy to show this progress. I'm thrilled about this "happy dance" because I can start stitching the prince and the fairy and they seems to be more relaxing than all those roses.

Small projects

2006-02-21T22:44:00.000+01:00

During the past weekend I was so involved in watching the Olympic Games that I forgot to write my blog and I didn't devote myself to my usual hobbies.

I stitched a bit and I worked only on small projects. I've two progresses to share.

My February Flip - It by Lizzie Kate:

I like the colours in this pattern. They're lovely.

The first Christmas ornament in 2006 by Prairie Schooler:

One of my goals for this year is stitching 12 of these ornaments (one for month) but I've to catch up with them. I'm stitching the first and February is going away...

Yesterday I saw the preview of The Night, the new pattern by Passione Ricamo. It seems to be beautiful!

Happy, happy dance!

2006-02-15T23:00:00.000+01:00

A new happy dance.
Last night I stitched again the plant on the right and I could finally finish this pattern. I loved it and I'm very happy: it turned out lovely.

Coffee Menu by Little House Needleworks, stitched on Days gone by, linen by Silkweaver.

By the way this morning I received some fabrics from Silkweaver and I'm ready to start stitching Houses Of Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings. I decided to stitch it using the Vikki silks. I'm thrilled about this new project. I love patterns with houses.

Happy Dance!

2006-02-13T08:13:00.000+01:00

I finished Valentine Holiday by BOAF.

I stitched it on Opalescent Lugana 28ct, colour Shimmering Obsession, by Silkweaver. I used only hand-dyed fibers (GAST and WDW). I'm happy how it turned out. I've to choose a fabric and to sew a little pillow.

I worked on Coffee Menu by LHN too. Unfortunately yesterday I found a mistake. You can see it! I didn't stitch the right plant on the correct row so I decided to undo the whole plant. :( I was near another happy dance but I'll not be able to finish it tonight.

Thank you!

2006-02-10T09:26:00.000+01:00

Thank you for all your kind posts.

I worked a bit on Coffee Menu. It's so relaxing...

And I pulled out Celtic Summer. To tell the truth it was not a UFO. I've been working on it again since the beginning of the year but I usually stitch it only a bit every week. So my progresses are slow. I started stitching with the Petite Treasure.

Today Olympic games are opening in Torino, Italy. I'm really thrilled about them because I like skiing and I'm going to watch them.

Happy dance!

2006-02-08T22:28:00.000+01:00

I finished Lavender Hill by Little House Needleworks. It turned out lovely and I shall choose a nice frame. In fact I don't want to make a pillow or a wall hanging with this pattern. I'd like to buy a frame and paint it with a colour like lavender.

I've an important progress on Valentine Holidays by BOAF. It's growing quickly and I think it should be ready for Valentine's Day. Isabelle asked me how I'll finish it. I think it could be become a pillow. I've some fabrics and they could be right for it.

I've started stitching my monthly Flip-It by Lizzie Kate too. This pattern is really funny.

Many things

2006-02-05T15:33:00.000+01:00

Finally I'm writing.

Last night I pulled out Lavender Hill by LHN and this is my progress:

I finished the tree and the grass. It's a lovely design and I'm thinking about the frame. It's difficult to find a square frame and I'd like a square one.

Then I stitched and sewed an envelope. I'm organizing an Italian exchange of mail art on EMS Italian forum. I thought to prepare an Italian tutorial about mail art, so I sewed an envelope to show how we can sew one.
These are the pictures of my envelope. I decided to use that as a fibers' case. I stitched a pattern by Au Fil des Reves but I used a personal conversion for the fibers. The fibers I used are all Gentle Arts Sampler Threads.

Front:

Back:

Inside:

Some days ago Chiara tagged me.

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Ten years ago I was 20 and I used to go and dance almost every night. I attended a dancing school with a friend during the week and during the weekend we went to the discotheque.

Five snacks you enjoy.

Pizza
Chocolate
Ice cream
Tomato, oil and bread
Biscuits

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics off your head right now.

Battisti (ITA)- Balla Linda
REM-Loosing my religion
Litfiba (ITA)- Regina di cuori
Ligabue (ITA)- Piccola Stella Senza Cielo
U2- With or without you

Five things you would do if you had one million dollars.

Id buy a big house in the Tuscan country near Florence
I'd travel for many many days
I'd buy a lot of books
I'd do something for charity
I'd buy a lot of patterns, fibers, fabrics for cross stitch and patchwork

Five bad habits.

I'm fussy.
I spend too much money in cross stitch supplies.
I decide to iron only when we miss some clothes.
I don't organize my receipts.
I don't keep in order my wips.

Five things you like doing.

Reading books and comics
Cross-stitch
Patchwork
Cooking
Going to shopping

Five things you would never buy, wear or get new again.

I'd never wear clothes with designs like a leopard
I’d never wear a tattoo
I'd never wear a piercing
I'd never get a motorbike again
I'd never wear jeans again

Five favourite toys.

Barbie
Lego
Dolls
Fiammiferini
Monopoli

With the exception of your online stitching friends, do you have any other stitching buddies?

Many of my friends like cross stitch. My cousins and one of my aunts like cross stitch too, but they usually stitch only patterns by Italian magazines and they don't know all the patterns and designers we can find online and I can't share with them all the interesting things I read and find online.

Another coffee

2006-02-01T08:57:00.000+01:00

Good progress for Coffee Menu by Little House Needlework. I'm very happy about this progress. The pattern is growing quickly and I hope to finish it in February.

By the way I'm writing my February's goals. I've never written the monthly goals before today but it could be a trial.

My February's goals:

- finish the roses in the pattern Once upon a time by Passione Ricamo and continue with it
- stitch the February's Flip-it by Lizzie Kate
- stitch two Christmas ornaments by Prairie Schooler
- finish Coffee Menu and Lavender Hill by LHN
- finish Valentine Holidays by Carriage House Samplings

I think they're many goals...

New week

2006-01-30T08:58:00.000+01:00

I've not been writing for some days because I didn't feel motivate. I couldn't share my progress because I stitched some projects I can't show yet.

Anne, I'll let you know the sizes of my fabric for Terre de France. The colour is not a DMC one, but it's a Crescent Colours thread, Bandana.

Finally I've a progress. To tell the truth my weekend was busy and I could stitch only a bit. Here is the progress on Be my love by Carriage House Samplings.

Now I have some leaflets by Prairie Schooler and during the weekend I could start a new project too. I want to stitch at least 12 ornaments for my Christmas tree before the end of December. I would like to change my ornaments for the next Christmas and I thought to stitch an ornament every month. When Christmas arrives, I'll have 12 ornaments. Unfortunately my leaflets arrived late and my January ornament will be surely finished during February.

The first Santa is one of the Santas in the leaflet Old World Santas by Prarie Schooler.

The meme of Fours
I've been tagged by Isabelle. Thanks, Isabelle. It's funny and I was happy to read you'd like to come to Florence. I'm waiting for you! ;)

Four Jobs I Have Had in My Life
baby-sitter
mathematics teacher
CAD designer

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over Again
Non ci resta che piangere (an Italian film with Benigni)
Harry Potter series
The lord of the rings
Matrix

Four Places I Have Lived
Florence (I have been living here since I was born!)

Four TV Shows I Love to Watch
Markette an Italian show, the only one I watch

Four Places I Have Been on Vacation
Jordan
Santorini (Greece)
Paris (twice)
Ireland

Four Websites I Visit Daily
Bloglines
Stitching Bits and Bobs
my website
EMS forums

Four of My Favorite Foods
every kind of Italian pasta (spaghetti, lasagne...)
Pizza
Cheesecake
Florentine rare steak

Four Albums singers I Can't Live Without (I changed to "singers" cause it's better tuned to what I listen to)
Eros Ramazzotti (italian)
U2
Ligabue (italian)
Litfiba (italian)

Four Places I'd Rather Be
Spain
Australia
New York
Cuba

Four Bloggers I Am Tagging
Chiara
Laura
Svenja
Ulla

Weekend progress

2006-01-24T08:41:00.000+01:00

First of all thanks for all your posts about my Coffee Menu. I'm happy because you liked my choice of fabric. It's Days gone by, linen by Silkweaver.
During the week we moved the piece of forniture. It was hard work, but it's done. I couldn't stitch as I would have liked so I have a little progress to share.
This is Valentine Holiday. I hope to have it finished before Valentine day but it's so funny and quick to stitch that I should be able to sew it as well.
I finished the boy and some hearts.

I changed my poll and it's again about LHN designs. I really love them during this weeks. Yesterday I purchased Rose Cottage Pillow and The flower Shop by Country Cottage Needlework too. They should arrive soon and I've already ordered the threads...I have a lot of work!

Coffee again...

2006-01-21T17:59:00.000+01:00

I'm really tired. We worked hard today.
Tonight I hope to have a rest and stitch a bit. Seeing many new patterns during these days the stitches' wish grows and I want to catch up with some WIPs.

Last night I stitched Coffee Menu again. It's relaxing and I'm happy about my choice of fabric. It seems to be right.

A week with few stitches

2006-01-20T08:22:00.000+01:00

This week I stitched a bit and I think I'll not be able to stitch during the weekend. We have to move a piece of furniture at home and it will take a long time...
I don't want to think about it!

An Italian friend told me to share my fabric with Terre de France because she's stitching it too and it's funny to see the other stitchers' progress. Here is a picture of the sampler.

Last night I was tired and I decided to stitch an easy and funny pattern. Naturally I pulled out Be my love by CHS. I finished the leaves and I'm stitching the grass.

Yesterday I took a look at the new pattern of Little House Needlework and I fell in love...again...I have to stitch it! LHN is my favourite designer during these weeks. The patterns are all lovely.

Have you had a happy dance yet this year? If so, tell us about it!
(Or just point to the entry that talks about it.) If not, when do you
predict it will be?

Yes, I have. I have already had two happy dance but they are both little happy dance. In 2006 I'd like to stitch more patterns for me but I usually stitch big patterns so I decided to have more little pieces. And I have already finished two of these. I stitched January Flip-it Blocks by Lizzie Kate and the first of the ten patterns with Little Kate by Margaret Sherry.

a LITTLE happy dance...

2006-01-17T08:15:00.000+01:00

During the weekend I stitched only a bit because we decided to go shopping during the day and to watch Kill Bill and Kill Bill 2 during the night.
So I've not big progresses to share. But I have a little happy dance. I finished my first Little Kate by Margaret Sherry. I'm stitching all the ten patterns in the calendar with Little Kate. I'm going to use them in a quilt. It's a big project but I've not a deadline. The first pattern I stitched was easy but it took me a long time to make the backstitch. Margaret Sherry's backstitch is always difficult for me and I usually stitch her patterns on aida, so it's more difficult than on linen.

I started stitching the Coffee Menu by LHN and I'm enjoying. Unfortunately the picture is not good, but I couldn't do better yesterday.

The coffee is ready!

2006-01-13T08:57:00.000+01:00

Thanks for all your posts, ladies.
Ulla, I stitched the Flip-it of January with hand-dyed fibers (Gentle Art Sampler Threads and Weeks Dye Work). The fiber I'm using for my French sampler is Bandana by Crescent Colours.

I didn't stitch during the past nights but I organized my stash and I checked my 2006 goals again. I'm going to stitch something for my cousin's baby and I'm searching patterns for her. It's difficult to find small and cute patterns. I've a lot of patterns but I don't find what I would like.

I kitted Coffee Menu up: it's ready. I'm going to start and stitch it during the weekend. I know I should finish something elese before starting new projects but I fell in love with it when I saw it and I wanted to start it before Christmas.
Now I could stitch it...
I chose a fabric by Silkweaver, Days gone by Linen 32 ct. I hope it'll turn out good.

I'm back, it's back...

2006-01-11T08:50:00.000+01:00

Now my computer seems to work, so I'm back.
Today my website doesn't work and I'm a bit worried but I noticed the files are online and I can share in my blog the pictures I uploaded yesterday.

First of all I have the first finished work for 2006. It's small, but it's one work! It's the January Flip-it by Lizzie Kate that I stitched during a SAL. We're stitching one Flip-it every month. I'm going to finish every one into a little pillow.

Good progress for my Valentine pattern.

And it's back! The sampler Terre de France is back. I think I could call it UFO because I had not been stitching it for a long time. In the past days I pulled it out again and I finished a new block.

Pictures

2006-01-08T18:38:00.000+01:00

I have some problems with my computer. Finally I could write a post but I don't know when I'll be able to write again and read all my favourite blogs. :(

During these days I stitched and I'm pretty happy about my progresses.
I worked on a towel that I'm stitching for the baby of a friend but I can't share the picture. It must be a surprise.
But I can share other pictures.

About my Flip-it SAL I'm working on the January pattern and I'm finishing it. It could be my first finish in 2006.

Good progress for Be my love by CHS.
I can't stop stitching this pattern because I'm enjoying more and more.

A new start: Valentine Holiday by Birds of a feather, I saw the one stitched by Danielle and I fell in love with it. So I decided to stitch it and I hope to finish it before Valentine's Day.

2005 works

2006-01-03T14:33:00.000+01:00

I counted my 2005 works.
They're 44. A good number, even if there're many small projects.

RR and exchanges: 12
Gifts: 11
Charity: 11
For me:
Day dreams by Felicity Wishes DMC (pillow)
Atelier de Brodeuse by Au fil de reves (pillow)
Summer Row by Bent Creek (towels)
The scent of old roses by Mirabilia (framed)
A bookmark that I thought up using a French marquoir
A free by San Man Originals (potholder)
Signs of spring by Bent Creek (framed)
A pattern by an Italian magazine (apron)
Teri's stocking by Shepherd's Bush (NOT sewed)
Winter Topiary, FREE by Passione Ricamo (wall-hanging)

I'm pretty happy but I've just noticed that I stitched more for the others than for me. During 2006 I'm going to stitch a lot of patterns for me and I'll reduce my charity designs. They were many, especially they were all medium projects with about 20 hours of work for everyone.

I've a little progress to share on Be my love by Carriage House Samplings. I'm enjoying with it, I love the fabric I chose and the silks are funny to stitch.

Goals

2006-01-02T10:05:00.000+01:00

This post will be about my goals for 2006.
I've never got organized with goals because I'm not a rotation stitcher and I usually stitch the pattern that calls me every day. But I have been thinking about new projects for some days and I want to make a list. I'll try to make a short list...

Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace by Passione Ricamo SAL with Carol (starting next spring)
12 Flip-it by Lizzie Kate SAL with an Italian friend. Every month we'll stitch the monthly Flip-it
finish Terre de France by Annick Abrial, Christmas Elf Fairy by Mirabilia, Christian's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush, Be my love by Carriage House Samplings
work on Once upon a time by Passione Ricamo, Celtic Summer by Lavender&Lace, Little Kate's patterns by Margaret Sherry
finish the Mill Hill kit about Halloween
The rose of Sharon by Mirabilia SAL with Carol (sometimes during the year)
some ornaments for my Christmas tree
a needlecase for me
start and finish some LHN designs (Coffee Menu, The bookshelf...)

Well, the list is not so short but I hope I'll be able to reach some goals.

Yesterday I was really tired because our New Year's Eve dinner was long and we came back home at 4.30 a.m. We really enjoyed but I was sleepy for all the day. I stitched only a bit and I started my first Flip-it by LK. It's the January one.

2006 arrived...happy stitching new year!

Last stitches

2005-12-31T17:58:00.000+01:00

We're ready. Lore cooked the meat (roast-beef) and I prepared the cheesecake. We're going and having dinner with other 11 friends. I decided to change my hairstyle and I had my hair set. I'm waiting for looesening my hair and I hope to have not done anything wrong otherwise I'll be the clown of the night. Lol!

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. 2005 was wonderful, I really enjoyed with all the blogger stitchers and I hope our 2006 will be as this past year.
I look forward to starting the new year with my old projects and new ones.
I've a lot of projects in mind and I'd like to realize at least some of those.

I have the last stitches to share. Yesterday I worked a bit on the Carriage House Sampling design I chose to stitch with the Vikki's silks.
I stitched Celtic Summer by Lavender&Lace too but I've not an interesting progress to post.

Have a great night!

Snow in Florence

2005-12-29T15:28:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I worked on Lavender Hill by LHN again. I'm really enjoying myself with it and I should finish it soon. To tell the truth I have to stitch the stocking for Lore but I'm sure I'll not be able to have it ready at Epiphany. I'll fill with sweets and candies the old stockings I made for him in the past years.

Yesterday I was stitching Lavender Hill when Lore called me and said to me "Look at the window!". It was snowing but I have never seen snowing in Florence as yesterday it was snowing. I was so busy with the stitches that I didn't notice it...I stopped and stared at the snow.

snow during the night: snow in the morning:

My usual stitches

2005-12-28T09:22:00.000+01:00

I decided to start stitching my first Carriage House Samplings design, Be my love. I have been wanted to try Victoria Clayton's silks for a long time. They're gorgeous.
Here is the first picture of the pattern.

And I worked for a bit on the Lavender Hill by Little House Needleworks. Those designs are lovely. I like almost all of them and I saw the new one by Country Cottage Needlework. I fell in love with it and I have to have it soon. It's a beautiful pillow! You can see it here.
About my Lavender Hill the progress is good even if I didn't stitch it for a long time. The pattern is simple and little, but lovely and funny. During these days I need some little projects to have more happy dances.

Christmas gifts

2005-12-26T15:03:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we spent a really happy Christmas. We had lunch at my grandmother's home. We were 17: there were my uncles and aunts, my cousins, my father and my grandparents. We really enjoyed because my grandfather dressed up as Santa and he distributed the gifts. The gifts were in a big sacking. After lunch we talked and played, then we went and visited Lore's family. We had dinner with his parents, his brother, his sister and his nephews.

I'm near the big table

My grandparents dressed up as Santa

Naturally I counldn't stitch yesterday but I can share the pictures of my Christmas gifts.

These are the needlecases I stitched and sewed for my friends and cousins. The right side:

and the back side:

This is a stockings case for two of my friends. I sewed two of these. I stitched the words "Le calze". That means "stockings".

I sewed two identical potholders for my father. The design is by an Italian magazine. The fabric is a Debbie Mumm fabric (Le Petite Provence).

And I sewed six of these potholders. Two are for my kitchen, the others are for my two cousins. The fabrics are by Teresa Kogut (Wintertime Friends).

Today I can come back my usual stitching. I'm organizing my stash and my future projects. I kitted up one of my 2006 designs. I'm going to stitch my first Carriage House Samplings design. It's "Be my love" and I'll use a Cashel Linen from Zweigart Taupe 28ct. The threads are by Victoria Clayton.

I'd like to talk more about my future projects but I'll do so in another post. Later we'll visit our friends because we have to decide our dinner menu for the 31th of December. Now I want to stitch a bit!

Before Christmas

2005-12-23T22:17:00.000+01:00

I've not been stitching for some days but I didn't feel motivate. I had not pictures to share about my progresses. I'm working on Christmas gifts and I prefer to post these pictures after Christmas when all the gifts are opened.
Tonight I'm going to finish off some potholders for my cousins and my father. I have to sew a gift for a friend too. I think I should be ready tomorrow.
This morning I received my most recent order on SB&B. They're a lot of beautiful threads I need for some future projects. There are threads for some Little House Needleworks charts and threads for some Lizzie Kate flip-it. With an Italian friend I'll start stitching 12 Flip-it charts by Lizzie Kate. We'll stitch a chart every month and we'll start next January. Naturally we'll stitch the January flip-it. It's a kind of SAL and if anyone wants to join us, we'd be happy.
It's 10.20 pm here and I have to go and stitch. Christmas is really coming...

sewing...

2005-12-19T09:17:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I spent my free time sewing some Christmas gifts. I'm really happy because I have some finishes. To tell the truth I have to finish off the four needlecases for my friends but they will take me few minutes (I hope so...).
I've not finished my gifts yet but they're going on and this makes me optimistic.

I stitched a bit too, but just a tiny gift. It's for my grandmother and I'll join it to the present for her. We will spend our Christmas lunch with her, my grandfather, my father, my four cousins, my aunts and my uncles. I thought it would be nice to give her something stitched by me. I stitched a little pattern that I found on an Italian magazine.

Then I have two finishes I sewed for me. I prepared a little pillow with the Felicity Wishes design that I finished to stitch some days ago. I used a Mary Engelbreit fabric. I think it turned out cute.

And this is the PR free chart, Winter Topiary that I decided to sew as a wall hanging: I'm going to use it out of my door.

Stash and little progresses

2005-12-16T10:03:00.000+01:00

I'm working on my Christmas gifts but I have not any picture to share. I'm stitching other two needlecases and I hope to finish all of them tonight or tomorrow.

But I have two little progresses, one for the Christmas Elf Fairy by Mirabilia, one for the Christian's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush.

The stocking is for Lore but I'm sure I'll not be able to have it ready for Christmas. I think I could finish it for the 6th of January. In Italy it's the right day for the stockings. Kids beleive that a kind old woman brings children their presents and sweets and cookies in the stockings at the Epiphany. I don't know if it is only an Italian custom.

During these days I received two orders. One of my orders on Silkweaver is lost but I finally received the one I had made during their sale.
I purchased some fabrics I hope to use for some LHN projects.

Then my first Carriage House Sampling pattern is arrived. I think the leaflet is beautiful. It looks vintage and elegant, working with it will be funny. I had ordered it because I wanted to try the Victoria Clayton fibers and I chose this pattern because she made a very good conversion for it. I'm impatient to try her silks.

I've not been answering a SBQ for two weeks because my Internet connection was down. I'm answering this week's question. It's really interesting.

Take a minute to reflect on your blog reading habits and preferences. What do you prefer to read in stitching blogs? (Progress, tips, family life, experiences, etc.) How much do you think you are influenced by other stitching bloggers?

When I read blogs I love reading about stitching progresses and stash. It wonderful to see all the ladies' patterns and I take part in their delight when they have an happy dance or they receive something new. It's really funny. But I also like reading about the stitchers' life, their journeys or recipes (I love travelling and cooking!). I think it's very interesting to read about customs of so many countries because we're all over the world.

I'm completely influenced by the other stitchers' blogs. Every day I find something interesting in some blogs: ideas, new patterns, news, beautiful finishes. I must say thanks to everyone.
But...I have a problem. If I notice that somebody is stitching or has in her stash an interesting design and I like it too, I have to have it as well. The most recent example about it is my Mill Hill kit. I had seen it on Danielle's blog and I fell in love with it. I immediately purchased it! So my patterns list grows every day...

Pictures

2005-12-13T08:34:00.000+01:00

First of all, thank you for your posts. I missed you and your blogs. And I missed everyone during the past days again even if I was in Austria to ski.

I have some pictures to share. Here is my progress for the elf.

I didn't stitch much during my skiing days but I stitched.
I finished these Italian words and I'll use them to sew two gifts for my friends.

I stitched a bit the needlecases I have to prepare as gifts for other friend. I finished the first and I started stitching the second one.

Now I'm sharing some pictures of Solden.

I'm skiing.

Bea and the snow.

Solden by night.

I'm back...

2005-12-07T09:24:00.000+01:00

Finally I'm here. I was again without telephone and internet access for a week. So I couldn't post anything, I couldn't read your blogs and I couldn't answer any email. And I have to view all the web news: new patterns, new sales...

During these days I sewed the charity doll for Unicef, "Pigotta". Every year during December in Italy they sell dolls called Pigotta, an Italian name for a doll. Here is mine.

I decided to sew a witch to change kind of doll. I hope somebody will buy it. I will not present when they sell them because I'm going to Solden tomorrow.

I stitched the Christmas Elf Fairy. Here is my progress.

To tell the truth this is not my real progress, I stitched more but I have to take a good picture to share. I hope to upload it tomorrow in the morning. I stitched a needle case for a Christmas gift too. So I have another picture to share.
But I couldn't wait for post the pictures I had, so here is my daily post.

..... happy dance!!!

2005-11-29T14:59:00.000+01:00

It has already been announced. Here is my new finish.

I stitched the free chart by Passione Ricamo "Winter Topiary" as a SAL organized on EMS forum. Now we'll stitch the Spring Topiary. I've to choose the fabric, but I'm not going to start stitching it soon. I stitched the Winter Topiary on a Lemon Sparkle Lugana by Silkweaver and I liked the result. So I've two entries for the Showcase.

I stitched a bit The Christmas Elf Fairy by Mirabilia too. For the skirt I'm using Cupid and Pink Champagne. I love the Pink Champagne!

Last day I forgot to post the first picture of my new small project. An Italian friend gave "Lavender Hill" by LHN as a present. I couldn't wait for starting it. I had decided to stitch "Coffee Menu" as first LHN pattern but I'm waiting for the fabric and during these days I need a very small project. This is right for me! I finished the Topiary and the Felicity Wishes, so I have only medium or large projects.

I stitched the sheeps with DMC 3865.

Happy dance!

2005-11-28T08:17:00.000+01:00

During this weekend we went shopping but we didn't buy anything. I bought only the ribbon to sew my Christmas stocking. Then we stayed at home because it rained and I thought it was not a good idea to go and see Harry Potter and the globe of fire during his first weekend. There were a lot of persons.
So I stitched a bit and I finished my Felicity Wishes.
I'm very happy about the result. She's nice and the fabric is lovely. I stitched this design on Blue Fusion lugana 28ct. Now I'm ready to take part in the Silkweaver Showcase.

By the way I'm waiting for the second Medium Treat Bag from Silkweaver. Well, I was really lucky with my first bag but the second one seems to be lost. They sent it last 8 November and it has not arrived yet. :(

Yesterday I was finishing my Winter Topiary by Passione Ricamo when I noticed that I needed DMC 3706 and I have not it! Besides I didn't order it. So I want to go and buy it at my LNS today. This is because I have to stitch only 9 stitches to finish the topiary!

Charity quilt

2005-11-25T15:16:00.000+01:00

The quilt is ready and open. Last June I took part in a charity project with other 48 Italian stitchers. We stitched a block with a flower and a quilter sewed a quilt. Now we can buy the quilt here. The quilt can be shipped to worldwide. If you're interested you may read more at the link.

I've not pictures today because I've quite finished my Felicity Wishes and I'll post it when I finished the backstitch too.

It was funny. It seemed to snow worldwide. I read your blogs and you talk about snow. Last night it snowed in Florence too. This is strange because it doesn't usually snow here. Now it's raining.

I want to post this lovely test I saw in some blogs.

The Romantic Princess

You are absolutely in love with love! Charming,
romantic, and feminine are all words that
describe you. You are a huge flirt and know how
to use your feminine wiles to get your way. You
are always on the lookout for the guy who will
sweep you off your feet.

Role Models: Isolde, Juliet

You are most likely to: Free a cursed prince from a
terrible spell with a single kiss.

What Kind of Princess are You? - Beautiful Artwork (Original Music is BACK!!!)
brought to you by Quizilla

New works

2005-11-24T08:14:00.000+01:00

First of all I want to thank everyone for your comments. I have to catch up with reading your blogs and writing some comments because I spent another day without Internet access and telephone.

Now I'm here and I hope I'll not have other problems.

As I told last day I started stitching a new stocking. It's Christian's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush. These are my first stitches.

I have a long work to do with it but I'll try to finish it before Christmas.

I couldn't wait for starting The Christmas Elf Fairy too. I stitched a bit. I'm stitching the skirt.

Last week I forgot to answer and today I've two questions.

Do you always sign your projects? If not, why? If so, do you use your first name, initials or what?

No, I don't. I can't tell why but it depends on the kind of pattern. Sometimes I think a sign will turn out good, sometimes I don't like to sign a pattern. To tell the truth I would like to leave a sign on every works I do but it seems to "ruin" the design. I always sign a sampler because of the kind of pattern. A sampler can't be without a sign.

How do you feel about staying totally true to a pattern? Do you feel that you have to rip out stitches to fix a mistake or do you feel it's acceptable to incorporate a mistake into the design?

I think it's not acceptable to incorporate a mistake into the design. Even if the mistake is insignificant and I can't see it I know that there is a mistake and I can't put up with it. If it is possible, I usually unstitch and stitch again. Yes, I'm a fussy person.

Grrr!

2005-11-22T08:26:00.000+01:00

I'm back. Yesterday my Internet access and my phone didn't work so I couldn't post and I'm going to blog what I should have posted yesterday.

I decided that I've another happy dance. I finished my Teri's Stocking. To tell the truth it is not finished because I've to attach the embellishment and the ribbon and I'm waiting for the Rainbow Gallery Alpaca to do the french knots. Then I've to sew it. But I finished all the stitches and the backstitch, so I decided that there's another happy dance. I've already start stitching Christian's Stocking that will be for Lore. Later I'll prepare other pictures and I'll post them tonight or tomorrow.

Yesterday I sewed the Christmas Ornament for the EMS exchange but I'll share it when my secret partner receive it. I start sewing my charity doll for Unicef as well. I noticed that Christmas is really coming quickly. They'll sell the charity dolls during the weekend of the 8th of December. Before that weekend we'll go to Solden (Austria) to ski so there is no time to lose...

Finally...happy dance!

2005-11-17T08:30:00.000+01:00

Finally I have a finished work.
It took me a long time but it turned out lovely. It's my last charity project. I decided to take some time off. During this year I stitched for charity a lot of patterns. Now I want to stitch something for me, I've some patterns I'm going to start stitching and two SAL with Carol during next year. I'll not stop stitching for charity but I'll reduce the projects.

The stocking is my main pattern during these days. I've quite finished the stitches. Then I'll have to attach some embellishments and I'm waiting for an Alpaca thread to stitch the hair. I want to finish it as soon as possible because I'm going to start the other one and I noticed these stockings are not so quick to stitch.

I received something during the past days.
I fell in love with Victoria Calyton silks when they arrived last week so I had to purchase something else. I decided to start using her silks and stitching a pattern of Carriage House Sampling that has a good conversion to her silks. So I ordered new silks and I've already received them.

Finally yesterday my LHN patterns arrived. I'm so happy! I'm looking for the fabrics because I absolutely love "Coffe Menu" and I want to start stitching it soon. I received the GAST and Crescent Colours fibers I need for "Coffee Menu" and other future works.

Weekend

2005-11-14T08:49:00.000+01:00

I have not many things to tell.
During this weekend we stayed at home but I didn't stitch anything Saturday. We went out with our friends, we came back to our usual pizzeria. It's the oldest pizzeria in my town and we used to go there when we were about 14-15 years old. We really enjoyed because we met other friends and we recalled the past.

Yesterday I stitched all the day and I'm satisfied with my Felicity Wishes. She's going on and I think she'll be ready for the Silkweaver's Showcase. Good!

I've a progress for my stocking as well. Finally Lore noticed it and I think he's happy that I'm going to stitch another one for him.

New poll

2005-11-11T08:50:00.000+01:00

I changed my poll because I have already decided that my first LHN pattern will be "Coffee Menu". I'm waiting for the pattern and the threads, I have to choose the fabric. I puchased "The Bookshelf" too and surely I'm going to stitch "Daisy Lane Cottage" sooner or later because I fell in love when I saw it first time.

I'm writing the poll's votes:

Coffee Menu 7
The Friendship Tree 2
Peace and Plenty 1
The Bookshelf 7
Peach Tree Cottage 0
Daisy Lane Cottage 9

My new poll is about my WIPs. Which wip do you prefer?

I didn't enclose Dalmatian pattern because I'm finishing it.

By the way, during these days I worked a lot on it and it's quite finished. We can't see the progress because I stitched white (a lot of white!) on white aida. Finally I finished the white stitches.

My stocking is going on good but it's taking me more time than I thought. And I had planned to stitch another one... I finished the dress of the girl with DMC 712.

I received the Victoria Clayton silks. They're gorgeous. I don't know what I could stitch with them, but they're lovely and I'll stitch something.

When comparing large projects versus small projects, which do you get more excited about finishing?

I think I get equally excited even if I have different feelings. If I finish a small-medium project I'm excited because I think that I can stitch such patterns by the hundred. And I immediately start stitching a new one. If I finish a large project like a Mirabilia or a L&L I'm excited because I worked on that pattern a lot and I can't beleive to have finished it! I think that finishing is always wonderful!

No finish...

2005-11-09T08:13:00.000+01:00

I seem not to be able to finish a pattern. I've a lot of WIPs and they look still. I don't remember when I finished my last work...now I'm stitching a bit one and a bit another...so I've some pictures but any finish.

A very little progress on the dress of my Felicity Wishes.

And another little progress for my winter topiary. By the way, Laura showed us on her website something more of her nexts designs. The design on the right seems to be beautiful.

And a strange thing happened...an UFO arrived! Together with other Italian stitchers we decided to pull out one of our UFOs and to stitch it almost for a quarter every week. I've been stitching it again for three weeks and now I've a picture to share.

The UFO before:

And the UFO after:

I'm pretty happy!

And I received a kit of Le Bonheur des Dames. I've been wanting to purchase one for a long time. I couldn't decide what I'd like to stitch first. I like all the designs of the months. Finally I decided to purchase the June's one because I think I'll be able to stitch and finish it before next June.

They arrived!!!

2005-11-06T11:16:00.000+01:00

Yesterday there was the baptism of Lore's nephew so we were really busy. I couldn't stitch because we were out for all the day. I only stitched a bit when we came back home, but I have not a big progress. I stitched some green and gold stitches on my Winter Topiary.

But yesterday was a great day for stash. Finally they arrived. The Mirabilia's kit arrived and it has gorgeous Crescent Colours fibers. The pattern is not big and I'm thinking to start stitching it soon. Surely before starting it I'm going to finish something...

And my Medium Treat Bag from Silkweaver arrived! I was so happy about it that I decided to purchase another one. It seemed to be really cheap and interesting.

I received:

28 ct Shimmering Aqua Opalescent Lugana 9x13
32 ct Bo-Peep Pink Belfast Linen from Zweigart about 11x11
32 ct Romantic Interlude Lugana 13x18
32 ct Jubilation Belfast Linen 18x26
28 ct Taupe Cashel Linen from Zweigart about 11x11

I think I was lucky...I received some fabrics I can use for my next projects. I think that the Taupe Linen could be right for The Bookshelf of Little House Needlework.

Now I want to go and stitch!!!

Wait...

2005-11-04T15:10:00.000+01:00

I'm waiting for some parcels. I've not received anything yet and I'm a bit worried. I'm waiting for my Medium Treat Bag from Silkweaver, the new kit of Mirabilia and "Coffee Menu" from Stitching Bits Bobs. I hoped to receive my treat bag this morning, I've been waiting for it for several days...it didn't arrive...so I wanted to console myself with other shopping. Finally I decided to purchase some hand-dyed fibers. I've been wanted to purchase them on Victoria Clayton's website for a long time but I had never done before today. I purchased two different assortments of fibers and a silk ribbon to use in my Shepherd's Bush stotcking.

I've a little progress on the skirt of the Felicity Wishes' lady. I've quite finished the stitches with the DMC 347. Well done! I'm happy about this progess but I really need an happy dance. I don't remember my last finish...

Two questions and two answers.

Have you ever stitched something as a gift and later realized that receiver doesn't respect your stitched gift a bit (for example it's never on show, or you have other reason to suspect that it may even be nonexistent or at least placed in some dark storage room corner)? If so, what have you done? If you've been lucky enough to avoid such people what would you do if it'd happen to you?

I've been lucky enough because my friends were always happy to receive my gifts. This is what they said, but I beleive it. I usually prepare gifts for the friends those will be happy to receive them. Once I prepared a little quilt for the baby of a friend and she was so happy! She has always used and showed it. All my friends remember that quilt! If this sometimes doesn't happen I'll decide to prepare nothing else for this person.

If you have stitched for a while, can you usually pick out the DMC colors you need from memory when you go to your LNS? (For example, you know that 610 is a brown.)

oh, yes! I remember almost all the colours.

2005-11-02T08:29:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we stayed at home so I stitched a bit and I have some progresses to share.

I decided to go on with my Halloween project even if Halloween went away. As you told me I'll be ready for the next year! I hope my witches will not become an UFO...I stitched them but there are not many new stitches. I stitched the faces and the hands.

Finally I stitched again my Felicity Wishes pattern. It should be ready as soon as possible because I want to take part in the Silkweaver showcase.
Here is a good progress on the skirt of the lady.

And Christmas is the next important day so I went on with my Christmas stocking. I stitched the name on the stocking (mine!) and some flowers. I can't wait for seeing the stocking finished. I'm going to stitch another one for Lore...

Happy Halloween!

2005-10-31T15:16:00.000+01:00

First of all, Ulla, thank you for your posts but I couldn't find your blog. Have you got one?

I was busy during the past days. I decided to look after the house and I started to organize my recipes. I have a lot of them and I'm writing them again on cute recipe cards. I have to chose a cake to prepare for our friends. They're organizing a dinner for next Saturday and I want to try out a new cake.

During the weekend I had not time to stitch. We went to the cinema on Saturday and yesterday we went to S.Antimo and Montalcino. In S.Antimo there is a beautiful abbey, Montalcino is famous for the red wine, Brunello of Montalcino. Lore and I went to Montalcino during the spring but we came back with our friends because there was a festival in the town.
We really enjoyed our day but we were pretty tired when we came back home...

Tuscany's country

The abbey of S.Antimo

Montalcino

Tonight will be Halloween and my witches are not ready. I think I bored you with these witches. I've been talking about them since I started stitching and I've not finished the pattern yet...I'm sorry but I only stitched this pattern because I hoped to have it ready tonight. Well, I'm going to finish it this evening...

It' mine!!!

2005-10-26T15:23:00.000+02:00

I feel better but I'm till tired...I stitched a bit: I started beading but it's a long work! I'm sure I'll not be able to finish the MH kit before Halloween.

This morning I received my Christmas Ornaments. Finally I've it! I liked it and I saw some interesting ornaments. Some beads arrived too: they're for the Celtic Summer and Once upon a time of PR. By the way I'm till stitching the roses but I'm going to upload a picture soon. And there're some threads for my Terre de France.

At the end I decided to purchase the new Mirabilia's kit...it's mine! I can't beleive it!!! I can't wait for having it at home. And I purchased two of the LHN patterns you voted: I chose Coffee Menu and The bookshelf. Thank you for your voting, it was interisting. I'll change the poll in the next days. I'm kitting Coffee Menu because I'd like to start it as soon as possible.

Witches again

2005-10-24T15:56:00.000+02:00

I've not many thing to tell. I've not been feeling well for two days and I don't feel to do anything...
Because of this we stayed at home during the weekend and I could stitch a lot my Cookin' Up Magic of Mill Hill.
I've a big progress to share!!! It's turning out lovely and I'm enjoying myself. I have to start beading and I'm sure it'll take me a long time but I'm happy because I could finish it before Halloween...I hope so...

I'm also thinking about the new Mirabilia's kit. I love it and I want it!!! I don't know if I can be strong. I'm really tempted to purchase it...

Treats

2005-10-22T18:17:00.000+02:00

A lot of treats!!!

Yesterday I saw that Laura of Passione Ricamo decided to take part in the Silkweaver Showcase.
And I saw a beautiful new kit of Mirabilia. I love it, but I don't know if I buy it soon...it seems to be pretty expensive.
Another treat...this means that I purchased a Medium "Treat Bag" from the Spooktacular Sale of Silkweaver. It looks funny! I can't wait for receiving it...

And I couldn't wait for starting my Mill Hill kit for Halloween. I don't think I'll be able to finish it for Halloween but I'm trying... I'm really enjoying it! I hope to finish it...

Here is the kit.

I started stitching with DMC 310 and DMC 550. I'm stitching the central witch.

I stitched a bit my Shepherd's Bush stocking. Not a big progress, but a progress. I stitched two hearts and a part of the apron.

Do you mark or hi-lite your patterns or can you follow them without any markings? Do you make copies to mark up, or do you mark originals?

I've never marked an original pattern and I don't usually use a copy to stitch. Sometimes I used a copy if I wanted to enlarge the pattern but I didn't mark the copy because I always prefer to stitch then to mark the copy. I decided to make a copy for my Once upon a time of Passione Ricamo and I'm marking it because the part of pattern with the roses is very difficult and I prefer to waste time to mark then to make many mistakes...but it's my first marked copy.

Halloween?

2005-10-18T23:24:00.000+02:00

I'm really tired but I want to post something I received this morning.
What is there in this wonderful parcel? I received it from Silver Needle and it took only six days to arrive to Italy.

There are my Mill Hill kits!!! I'm so happy! They have already arrived and now I'm ready to start the one with the witches. It could be a good pattern for an Halloween ornament...I'm thinking about it...will I have enough time to finish it before Halloween? It doesn't seem simple, there are many colour changes...

I have a little progress for my Winter Topiary to share. And I went on with the Little Kate project. To tell the truth I shouldn't stitch it, it is not for Christmas, I don't need it before Christmas...but it's so cute and easy...

Autumn weekend

2005-10-17T19:37:00.000+02:00

First of all I'd like to thank you for your comments about my marquoir and my stocking. You're so kind, ladies. And I love that you're voting my poll. Thanks.

During the weekend I was pretty busy. We went shopping but we didn't buy anything...just some red felt that I hope to use for some Christmas ornaments...but I think I'll not have enough time to do everything.
Then we went for a walk neighbourhood of our house. Saturday was a sunny day and we enjoyed our walk. At home I decided to put in order my Italian cross stitch magazines and some threads. In the night we went to an Irish pub (to remember our beautiful holidays!) but they didn't have Guinness!!!
On Sunday we went to Vicchio, a little town not far from Florence, and we had an afternoon snack at La Casa del prosciutto that means "the ham house". They have wonderful sandwiches and "focaccia", a kind of pizza without tomato and mozzarella. Then we went to Vicchio's chestnut festival. Lore ate chestnuts and I bought chestnuts flour to make a chestnut cake. I also bought some orange green tea. I love tea!!!

Vicchio

The ham house

ham!!!

I went on with my Christmas quilt and I sewed 8 triangles like the one of the picture. And I sewed other little blocks.

I decided to take part in the Silkweaver Showcase. I'm going to stitch a small pattern because I have few time to do it. I chose a Felicity Wishes pattern. I like Felicity Wishes patterns very much: they're cute and funny. I started stitching Day Dreams and I'm using a 28ct Lugana Blue Fusion. Very few stitches!

Saturday was the start day for the Passione Ricamo Topiaries SAL. I couldn't stitch on Saturday but I had already chosen the fabric and printed the free pattern. I'm using another Silkweaver fabric, Lemon Sparkle. If I finish also this pattern before Christmas I'll take part in the Silkweaver Showcase with this one too.

Yesterday I started stitching my Winter Topiary from the middle of the pattern. I worked with some green and yellow colours. The pic is not good but we can see the opalescent fabric!!!

2005-10-13T11:43:00.000+02:00

You know I'm working on my Terre de France marquoir daily. I usually stitch it every day for a quarter because I want to catch up on the published blocks. A quarter is not enough time but I don't want to give up the sampler during these months. I'll be busy with Christmas projects but it must go on!!! So I have a new block.

Then I stitched my Teri's stocking. Today the progress is not important, but I also worked on a Christmas ornament that I can't share because it should be for my secret partner in the EMS exchange.

I stole an idea from Renee blog. I decided to add a mini poll. I'm going to purchase and stitch a LHN pattern. They are all lovely and I can't choose one.....so if you like you can vote your favourite one! I could choose just the one you voted...

How do you `non-hoopists' who use a rotation system handle it (as it seems to be lot easier if you are in good terms with hoop)? Do you have several scroll frames? Do you use Q-snaps or maybe something completely different? Or do you just have one or two big projects and others are small enough to be kept in hand while stitching?

Today my answer is simple. I don't use a rotation system even if I have a lot of WIPs and I usually stitch every kind of project keeping it in hand. I don't use Q-snaps or hoops.