~ ONE HUNDRED SIXTY STITCHES ~

Hi there Dear Friends! 

Oh no, not me again, I must really get out more~lol!  Please won't you meet our old red painted cupboard, sits on the floor in the living room, next to a chair, DH uses it for his filing cabinet.  The plants love it, but the bare top was screaming for attention.

So, I added a perfect sized black stool I had around (weird I know but I'm tryin to expand my decorating deficient pea brain) and put back the plants, a few days pass... still screaming at me. 

The other morning I woke with a wild hair and simply had to have something on the bare top.  I'm not very crafty, can sew well and stitch basic cross stitch, but really enjoy trying new to me needle skills, so I pulled out a piece of wool felt, cut it to size and finished the edge with blanket stitches ~ 160 of them!  I've done this stitch before on plant coasters, they were ok.  Yeah I know, this mat is very crude, no backing or pretty pennies or colorful applique or fine embroidery, just plain, but it serves its' purpose, for now...

The stitches kind of look like they've been stitched by a serious finisher don't they, even the corners aren't too bad ~ thanks to this handy measuring gauge from Michaels quilting dept., does dual duty, the flip side also has measurements, what a super tool!  Anyone else have one of these babies?

Thankfully that wild hair is gone, here's my results ~ the mat, a little grouping, on top of the cupboard, under the stool with plants, whew ~ lol.

I'm itching I tell you, itchin to try a longish narrow penny rug for a window sill that needs some prettying up, something soft, pale and creamy colored...

Can I also please add I've been trying to make contact with *Bluejean Primitives* who hand crafts the most exquisite prim penny rugs and mats, just want to know if she is still selling and where I can see her goodies.  Sadly, I can't reach her.  Jean if you're out there, can you please give me a holler?

Thx for indulging my teeny tiny wee little triumph, Sweet Stitchin to You!

Tootles, Sue

~ IT FINALLY... HAPPENED ~

100 Followers TODAY ~ HOT DAMN!  Warm thanks to TeresaM of Teresa's Primitive Treasures HERE who stepped up and got the job done to become my 100th Follower!  Nice to meet you Teresa:)

From my sweet little heart to yours I humbly thank each of you for hanging in there with me since Feb. 2009, it's been a lovely sojourn.  I've truly enjoyed blogging, devouring your inspiring and talented blogs and new designs, learning new stitchy tips and making very sweet and dear friends:)  Stitchers are the BESTEST!

Please leave a comment if you think a Giveaway might be a good idea:)  I've no idea what to do, but I'll come up with something sweet and post again in a few for the Giveaway!

Tootles, Sue

~ A SMALL FOR FALL ~

Hi There Dear Friends! My sweet and sincere heartfelt thanks for your kind comments on my recent Quaker framing.  What a wonderful week this has been, making new friends and discovering new blogs:)


I stitched this small a while ago and finished it up last night cause Mr. Singer was still languishing on the table.

 Heart in Hand ~ Little Pumpkin in the Patch

32 ct antique white linen

DMC floss as charted, one over two

Back finished with overdyed wool, jute hanger

If you've ever visited the Finger Lakes Region, you already know it's simply heaven on earth, and even more exquisite in the summer.  Small cities, rural countrysides, many working farms and good shopping too.  We're fortunate to have excellent fiber resources around the Finger Lakes, so yesterday I carved out some me time and drove to Canandaigua Lake, always a relaxing, close to home treat!  I visited with the always delightful Suzanne at The Liberty Cottage (same place I purchase silk for stitchin), picked up some wool roving and the most sumptuous overdyed wools one could ask for.  Then, I went right next door to visit with Lori at Expressions in Needlearts, picked up some GAST *Wood Trail*, a drab green, but I like it fine:)  My fingers are itchin to get into this yummy wool and do something a 'lil different!

Thx for poppin in and please have a lovely, long and relaxing summer weekend one and all!

Tootles, Sue

PS:  Gentle Reminder ~ always remember to spell check, as I've just discovered (yikes) that I thanked you all for poopin in ~ lol!

~ A SWEET WELCOME TO OUR HOME ... ~

.... wishing every dear reader and friend a sweet, slooooooow and bountiful Summer ~ enjoy each day, come what may:)

~ LA DA DA FRAMED ~

Hi there Dear Friends!

Thanks for your kinship and following along here:)  I've loved following each and every blog in my reader, all of them!  I wonder how many of you are like me and have done away with flipping magazine pages to spend more time following stitchy blogs...

So, none of the custom mouldings I toiled over seemed to give this design the period look I was striving for.  My heart sank as I sadly resigned myself to the fact that this piece would remain (heavy sigh)... unframed.  As a last ditch effort I started pawing through the frames at Michaels, my heart stopped as I noticed this 8x10  ready made beauty perched on the highest shelf at Michaels.  I think I actually gasped quite loud, right there in the store - lol.

Pics are clickable.

 Frame stands upright, plain rails and upper shelf moulding...

Sweet little period feet ~ lovely design element don't you think...

 

La D Da ~ Quaker Alphabet 2007

WDW 35 ct linen ~ Straw

Floss ~ WDW Palomino, 2 over 2, approx 6 skeins

Stitch Count 110 x 138 

Initials and year inserted lower right corner of design

 

After all my obsessing about linen and floss and framing, she became exactly as I envisioned, the perfect combination of design, fiber and finish, couldn't have asked for more.  She'll rest on our harvest table, where one can gaze at her and gather inspiration for another project to capture ones' heart...

 

Ok, I'd better skedaddle before I start weeping ~ and no one laugh at me please, cause I know you've all been there before ~ lol:)

 

Thanks for popping in today!

 

Tootles, Sue

 

~ UNEXPECTED HOUSE GUESTS ~

Don't ya just love 'em!  Last time they showed up uninvited we counted 21.  There I was working at the sink, looked up and... well ~ you can image how startled I was.  And no, dinner wasn't them, at least not tonight, hee hee...

Remember Green Acres way back when?  DH and I, he's Eddie Albert, I'm Eva Gabor, sadly... minus the diamonds.  An ordinary day in the country, living amongst the splendor of nature, waiting patiently for the chickens or pheasants or fox or coyote or deer or bunnies or the neighbors' mule or donkeys or cow or goats or sheep or horses to finish crossing the driveway (watch out for the poop!), waking up long long long before dawn compliments of Mr. Cock A Doodle Do!, stuff like that, every day, day after day.  Most days it feels like we're living on Noah's Ark, I'd say it's Heaven (except for the Doodle part) ~ but then someone might pinch me...

Oh, and I started a new sweet WIP, it's over in my toolbar, if you want to check it out!

Sweet Stitchin all, or should I say "please pass the gravy"...

Tootles, Sue

~ I REALLY NEED THAT! ~

Hi there dear friends!

Can I plz share a sweet tech tip?

Did you every notice the standard Windows clock in your taskbar (lower tray) lacks brightness/clarity?

Maybe one or two of you are like me and experiencing weakening reading vision due to growing more beautiful:)

Ever wish you could find the Date/Time ~and~ Day of Week on your puter, all in the same place, in a font size that's easy for you to read? 

TCLOCKEX loads in your taskbar (lower tray) on start up, is customizable, very user friendly and FREE!  I installed this freeware a long~long~long time ago, love it and thought it might be a useful to others.

Taken directly from TClockEx site: " TClockEx enhances the standard Windows taskbar clock, adding the ability to display the date, time and lots of other information in any format you like. TClockEx is highly customizable, from the format to the font and color, and even the tooltip information. Many people have wondered why this wasn't built into the standard clock to begin with. "

If you want to check it out, go HERE .

Wishing you each a wonderful weekend filled with sunny days and sweet stitches.

Tootles, Sue

MY FIRST QUAKER: LA~D~DA QUAKER ALPHABET

Hi there dear friends!  Thanks for your on and off blog input on the topic of hoops, scroll frames and Q-snaps, I'm enjoying muddling my way through the options.
 
Since the summer sun is beaming it's picture time.  Even as adults we all have *Firsts* in our lives don't we ~ lol!   Here's a quick reveal of one of my firsts, still need to add initials/year, will frame it shortly.  I feel like a kid saying this, but it's so true:)  Was hoping for a faded, easy on the eye, old timey feeling with this color palette, will be a nice addition to our home.

La D Da ~ Quaker Alphabet 2007

WDW 35 ct linen ~ Straw

Floss ~ WDW Palomino, 2 over 2, approx 6 skeins

Stitch Count 110 x 138

Start  5-4-10

Finish 6-6-10

  

Very warm thanks to Gale in N.C. over at 123 who graciously offered a skein of older floss, stitchers are the most compassionate souls...

Oh, I started a new small, take a gander at my sidebar if you like (there's a new section for WIP).

FYI ~ Did anyone notice HDF has introduced a new line of silk flosses called *Primitive Barn*, luscious red, rust, blue, green and brown, it's only a few colors but they're nice and prim ~ they're on her home page!

On another note, I'm kind of unexpectedly surprised and delighted.  I picked up *Thread Heaven* which I've heard about, but always pooh-poohed it cause I didn't want an additive on my floss ~ thinking the old way is always the best way.  But... I find it keeps stitches from excessive fuzzing and adds a richer appearance to the floss (at least to me), the stitches just look more pleasing with Thread Heaven.  I like it (so far).  I've not yet tried it on silk floss, only cotton.  Anyone have any thoughts to share about Thread Heaven? 

It's been swell of you to stop in, plz do come again when you can stay for cheesecake:)

Tootles, Sue

~ BLUEBERRY... ~

... cheesecake, a splendid summer day, stitchin and sweet friends, what more could a girl want:)

Wishing you a lovely summer Sunday...

Tootles, Sue

~ THE BLUES AND STASH ~

Hi there dear friends, thanks for your kind comments about Pamela's Pin Pillow on my last post, it's nice to have reassurance from like minded spirits and make a new friend every so often:)  Thanks to those of you who are new followers, it's really nice to meet you!

So... to be completely honest ~ I've had the stitchy blues the last week or so, which is a first for me, ever!  I'd become forlorn about my stitches being crushed by my hoop on my La D Da WIP, sniff~sniff:(

With a helping hand from Nicole of Nicole's Needlework HERE , I decided to try a scroll frame for the first time.  Nicole's stitches are always so very pristine that it's hard to believe a human hand laid them.  I hoped there was a better way for me to tackle this new stitchy hurdle, but felt completely lost on how to proceed.  As Nicole suggested, I used a 40% off coupon off at Michaels, brought this scroll frame home and loaded her up.  As you can see, this project is near completion, and I now have more confidence to happily anticipate my next few projects.  I think I'll even name my new frame *Fanny*, cause the rods and side rails have little slits in them ~ LOL!  Plus, I always fancied the name Fanny:)  If you're reading this Nicole, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for your kindness!

La D Da Quaker Alphabet

WDW 35 ct. linen ~ Straw 

WDW Palomino, 2 over 2

Another dear blogger Barbara in Orlando HERE RAOK little old me with beautiful floss I've never tried.  We both have an uncontrollable and unexplainable penchant for red, every red, all the reds, LOVE THE REDS!!!  A lovely skein of DMC Floche (new to me), it's very very silky.  The Mandarin Bamboo floss I've seen but was afraid to touch/try, it's oh so soft and vewy vewy  tempting.  It's a miracle we stitchers ever get anything done with so many wonderful fiber choices.  Barbara, your gracious generosity exceeds your fine needle and finishing skills, your gift of friendship couldn't have come at a better time to lift me from the stitchy blues ~ THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

So there we have it, two examples of gracious and advanced stitchers who may not even realize that they're mentors to some of the rest of us...

There, I feel better now, think I'll go make a cheesecake, baking always soothes my rattled nerves:)

If you've ever had the stitchy blues, do share ~ why and what brought you out of your funk?

Tootles, Sue