Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Losing spring and Finding Friends

Look at what I woke up to today! What happened to spring? This is quite a snow storm. Enough for the kids to go sledding in! Thankfully, it is spring, and it will melt soon. Also, we really need the snow for the water, so I guess I can see the bright side of this situation. Another bright side...I can stitch today, instead of working in the yard!

Birds of a Feather Friendship Sampler
Stitched on 35 count linen with Weeks and Gentle Art Colors
One strand over two linen threads


Recently, I was the recipient of a most wonderful surprise. I am feeling so grateful for kindred friends I have met while blogging. Teri, is one such special friend. Last Fall, She posted a sampler on her blog that she had stitched with her friend Julie. After it was finished, I commented on how much more special this sampler would be, knowing your stitching friend had stitched part of it. She totally surprised me with a wonderful package! This sampler was part of it. I promised I wouldn't blog about it, but I just can't help myself! I have to share my feelings of appreciation to her.
I have been stitching away on this wonderful sampler, and loving every second of it. It has 3 different over dyed blues for the lettering, which makes me go a little slower, but the effect is wonderful! When she comes to visit in the Fall, (She and her friend Julie are trying to get into the Shepherd's Bush retreat), she will stitch one of the little girls. I hope I'll have the rest of it finished by then! Thanks from the bottom of my heart Terri. Your gift was more than I could ever ask for!

Alphabet Village by Cross My Heart
Stitched on Cream Lugana 32 count
2 strands of DMC over 2 threads

I have been marathon stitching away on my alphabet village. This is my oldest UFO. I have been working on it all weekend. Only one more row to go after I finish this one!
It seems to be going fairly fast. I made a goal to finish 2 houses a month, but...you know how that goes! I seem to have a never ending interest in buying new projects.

Ah' Tis Spring by Notforgotten Farm
Kitted up with Gentle Art, Weeks, and DMC Linen thread (My own conversion)
Stitched on 32 count Lugana Evenweave


I've been watching another dear stitching friend, Jane, stitch away on this cute design. I decided to kit this project up. I would love to work on this, but I'm trying to stay focused on my other projects. (A difficult task, for someone like me, that suffers from stitcher startitis!)

Speaking of new projects, when my stitch group met last week, we started talking about Carriage House going out of business. This news sickened all of us, as we, especially me, adore her designs!! What are we going to do without her? Well, we all decided we better start acquiring her charts. I already have all of the Hawk Run Hollow designs, and a few smaller ones as well. I went ahead and ordered another 19 charts! A huge early birthday present to myself! I can't wait to get my package, and I will share with you when it comes!

Have a great week, and thank you so much for your sweet comments. Oh, how they make my day!

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Loraine! How wonderful to see all the fabulous things you have been working on. Do I dare tell you it will be 91 degrees here-nah, I won't do that to you.

Great work on your alphabet - I bet your husband is so happy.

Kathy made us all very sad - I have ordered a few of her charts myself. Nineteen, holy cow! I can't wait to see what you got.

Enjoy your week.

Ranae said...

I love that BOAF design and how very special to have a friend stitch on it too.
I seen that bunny one too and have beening trying to get it kitted up, for next year, lol
Good Luck on ther UFO, it looks great
I can't wait to see you CHS stash.

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

I think your Village Alphabet is wonderful, I love houses.
And what a sweet thing for Teri to do! That's wonderful!
I'm with you on Kathy retiring. I've loaded up and filled in holes myself :)

Margaret said...

I can't believe you got more snow! Ack! Good stitching weather at least! I love all your stitching projects -- so pretty, all of them! I want to stitch some of them too. lol!

Sharlotte said...

I am so sorry about the snow! Goodness! The weather will be nice there before you know it!:) Lucky for you that you get to stock up on those CHS charts.I myself can't spend like that for a very very long time. Too bad to as I wanted to stitched HofHRH and VofHRH, but I will just have to admire everyone else's :( Love how your stitching is coming along! Looks great!

Melissa said...

OMG, Loraine, look at all that snow! And here I am complaining about rain! yeesh, the weather is crazy!

I love your start on Friendship. And Terri is a wonderful friend too!

Good for you for ordering those CHS charts! We must guard ourselves against the oop syndrome! ;-)

Jen said...

I enjoy stitching myself. I have done numerous projects which I give away as gifts. I don't think I have kept any of them. Time is my problem...finding time.
We in Illinois have no snow, only lots of rain.....and it has been in the 70's. It has been like this for a week now, I am glad to get rid of winter. :)

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

Uh-oh, Loraine! You're not a very good secret keeper, are you?
What am I going to do with you? LOL!
I will be honored to stitch the little brown haired
Girl when we get there.
You're house alpha sampler is really something!
You'll have to bring it so I can see
It in person. Your new stash is
Vey sweet! Has your stitch group started the CHS ABC's
Yet?
I can't get over that snow! I hope ther's
None of that in September! Sorry for
Any typos - working from my blackberry
Tonight. Big hugs to you sweet Loraine!

Cari said...

I love all of your pics Loraine...can't believe the snow and I used to live in Utah. It's so nice here but will be warming up way too soon! I love the BOAF sampler. I need to get mine started / finished. So much to stitch ...I truly hope I live long enough. Have a wonderful week and I'll be wishing you a warm spring!!

Maggie said...

Your working on some lovely things Loraine :-)

I'll have to get around to ordering some CHS charts before they all get taken up, bit of a shame especially as i have only recently been aquainted with them.

Can't beleive your still having snow!! we are having a smattering of sun here and there now, although tonight is a bit colder.

Heather said...

Look at that snow, holy cow! It’s been a crazy few weeks here for us too. It needs to mellow out. So the sampler is really pretty, I love the colors. Good job working on the alphabet houses, way to stick it out!

woolwoman said...

That Terri is a sweetie isn't she. Love that sampler - I had never seen it before she did it and I love it! The NFF bunny is wonderful - it is offered as a rug canvas and I have been SO tempted to order it - instead I was good and started the Easter Blessings that Paulette designed and we transferred to rug canvas. SNOW - WOW - it's already in the mid 80's here in NE FL - If we are lucky - we'll have nice weather thru April. YGG on your village -it's awesome ! Mel

Siobhán said...

Wow, what beautiful WIPs, Loraine! I love that Friendship Sampler... it is going to be extra special having Terri stitch on it.

19 CHS charts--YGG!

Enjoy your weekend--I hope spring returns!

Jan said...

Howdy Loraine!! That was super sweet and special of Terri to do and you will certainly cherish that sampler when done. Boy oh boy that house alpha sampler is going to be ever so special! Lots of stitching in that baby!!

Can't wait to see what you ordered from Kathy, gotta have those special projects before they are out of our reach. It is tough when we can't get ahold of something that we want to stitch!

Have a great weekend!

Tammy said...

Oh, don't you love that bunny??!! She is adorable! It's been very warm in VA--in the 90's this week, lol. But looking at that Spring snow makes me realize that I don't want any more of it!