Reading

I am still filling my free time with reading. I have not stitched since spring. I was hoping new glasses would help. I got them this past summer. But even with the new glasses... I find cross stitching difficult. I don't know but maybe cross stitch is in my past now. It's just to hard to see, even with my new glasses.
I started this blog for a stitch-along. Now I find I can't stitch anymore:(

I am still a poor blogger

I don't post much on my blog, had a long summer... I have not stitched since the spring...
But have been reading lots! I am a big fan of Diana Gabaldon's books. I can't read them to many times.
I pre-ordered her new book that came out Sept 21 from amazon. I HOPE I get it soon!
Well school started, temps have fell and two more family Birthdays to go... We have 5 family B-days in July, August, Sept and the last on Oct 2nd... With my little girl turning 17 Sept 23, the first day of fall. I should have called her Autumn. She loves that her B-Day comes on the first day of fall, lol.

We have color on the trees and fall in the air! I am still reading, but after I get some Autumn house cleaning done I hope to start stitching again. I hope my new glasses help! If the glasses don't it will very much limit what I stitch :(

I am such a poor blogger...

Ok, I know it. I am just bad at blogging. I don't take the time to post like I should. I come to my blog every day, I just don't post. I just hop about looking at others post...
I should try to post on my own blog more often.

I am still reading a lot. And I have done some tilling in my garden. I don't have my garden in yet. But I am in zone 2 and we can have frost till May 31st. So I never get my garden planted till the first week of June anyway. It still gets as low as 28 to 33 at nights here.
I have been stitching more since the last time I posted then I had all winter, I am happy to say! Just no pictures as of right now.

I have received the Traveling chart "Simply Live" I am involved with and almost done! I need to get some pic of it! It's been a lot of fun to stitch!

And the other big news is I found this very RED background, I just love it! Maybe I will blog more with an nice new color! I do love the color red!

Well I will try to get a few pic together to post with.

MIA for the past 10 months or so

So I have not blogged much for some time now... The worst part was I have not stitched much ether. I did get to some knitting this winter. I spent over a month with my parents to care for my mother.

Oh, I did do a lot of reading!

In the past 6 or 7 months I found a bunch of nice cheap books from e-bay and amazon books to add to all my other books! I got some books for my kids and myself. I even found two books on cross-stitch and one on quilts.

Here are most of my e-bay and amazon books. Wow! Looks like a lot when in a photo!

I have picked up my stitching a little in the past few weeks. I hope to do more this spring!

Spring in northern MN

Its spring time here in the north west of MN. Were we get floods from snow melt and rain. Were one day it is water and sun and the next snowing and ice. I live not far from the Red River of the north. The same river that gets in the news this time of year... that floods Fargo and Grand Forks ND. The thing about spring here is, we may have some snow melting going on right now (yes we still HAVE snow from this past winter to melt). But we can and do still get snow storms up into April and even May. We could even still get a blizzard this time of year! We had a very bad blizzard in 1996 in April.

Well here are a few pics from my yard and down the road of our snow and water we took this weekend. The water was up higher last week but I never got any photos then.

Hope your spring is going well!

Mom, red white & blue and Mary

I did a few things in red white and blue last week. I found my yarn that I got last winter and did some dish cloths. Ya, the granny has more holes then you might want for a dish cloth. But I wanted to see how that yarn would look in a granny.

I also did Aury's 4th of July Quaker Styler. I just love the design! Thanks Aury! http://aurytm.com/blog/

I also stitched up primitivebettys little flower design into a pin thingy for my mom. I think it turned out kind'a cute.

I did not get much done with Beatrix. But I did get a little done on MAry. I think the two will take me a very long time to compleate... Happy 4th!

Eliza

On my way with new SAL

Alright then...

I received my fabric for Mary Wigham and Beatrix Potter last week, June 18th. The fabric, Lugana 32 count Ivory 55 in wide. I ordered 25 in that I cut in half. Gave one half to each, Beatrix and Mary.

I started Beatrix Potter the same night I got the fabric June 18. I started Mary the next night after I gave it a tea dye.

The thread for Beatrix is Tide Pools by ThreadworX. For Mary I plan to use the DMC list of colors. But may change a color or two as I go.

I have not made much head way over the weekend, but I hope to get going good this week.

But I am so happy I got them both started!

Totally Useless SAL update

I know I just posted my May update last week. But today is the new moon, so here is my June update.

The Totally Useless SAL is hosted at http://dragonmyneedle.blogspot.com/

Till next time in July... Eliza

my TU SAL

I did not post a pic for the TU SAL for May. So sorry!!!

Here it is!

That last post in yellow was a bad idea...

So here it is again. I hope you can read this better! lol

Were in the world has May and June gone? 2009 is half over...
It's way past time for an update from me.
I have been stitching and doing yard work. Finely warm weather! But my garden is way behind. Just last week we still had temps in the mid 30s to low 40s. I don't think my garden will do very well this summer.
Have not done much on my Grand ABC (only on part 3) or Alla Turca SALs (working on part 6).
I have worked on some little things. I started some biscornus. And did the Black Bird freebie Souvenir de France and a little bird pin keep. I filled them with the recommend finely ground walnut shell lizard litter. It works great for pin keeps! Gives pin keeps a very nice feel. But 10 lb will last me a life time! lol

I also worked on my Marquoir Story. I did parts 1, 2, 3 and 5. I just love this design and my floss for it!

I have plans to start the Mary Wigham and Beatrix Potter samplers from needleprint designs. I have the floss for Mary W, the DMC list and charts. I received the eChart for Beatrix Potter from needleprints... All I now need is the fabric for both and thread for Beatrix. I will be using ThreadworX Floss, Tide Pools (blue) for Beatrix.
I had a hard time making up my mind about fabric, but I ended up making an order for 32 count Ivory Lugana for both. I called to fine out that the fabric and floss will be sent today or tomorrow!
I have only been stitching a lot since last fall. And have only been using Aida. So this fabric for Mary and Beatrix will be new for me. To get ready I have been stitching on a little sampler on some DMC linen I had on hand. That has been going great! Not as difficult as I thought it would be.
Eliza

Mid June.... already!

Were in the world has May and June gone? 2009 is half over...

It's way past time for an update from me.

I have been stitching and doing yard work. Finely warm weather! But my garden is way behind. Just last week we still had temps in the mid 30s to low 40s. I don't think my garden will do very well this summer.

Have not done much on my Grand ABC (only on part 3) or Alla Turca SALs (working on part 6).

I have worked on some little things. I started some biscornus. And did the Black Bird freebie Souvenir de France and a little bird pin keep. I filled them with the recommend finely ground walnut shell lizard litter. It works great for pin keeps! Gives pin keeps a very nice feel. But 10 lb will last me a life time! lol

I also worked on my Marquoir Story. I did parts 1, 2, 3 and 5. I just love this design and my floss for it!

I have plans to start the Mary Wigham and Beatrix Potter samplers from needleprint designs. I have the floss for Mary W, the DMC list and charts. I received the eChart for Beatrix Potter from needleprints... All I now need is the fabric for both and thread for Beatrix. I will be using ThreadworX Floss, Tide Pools (blue) for Beatrix.

I had a hard time making up my mind about fabric, but I ended up making an order for 32 count Ivory Lugana for both. I called to fine out that the fabric and floss will be sent today or tomorrow!

I have only been stitching a lot since last fall. And have only been using Aida. So this fabric for Mary and Beatrix will be new for me. To get ready I have been stitching on a little sampler on some DMC linen I had on hand. That has been going great! Not as difficult as I thought it would be.

Eliza

mid May update

I have not been stitching much in the past few weeks, but on the Marquoir Story. I just LOVE this design so much!!! She gives much freedom to the stitcher to add things and take away.

This is great for me, because I can't follow a chart 100% to save my life... I seem to always run off down some rabbit hole or another doing my own thing... Even when I TRY to go by a chart completely, I end up changing something up... I am hopeless!

I guess thats why I love Marquoir Story. The designer almost encourages you to take artistic liberties....



Other news is I ordered the needleprint Beatrix Potter Sampler. I got it thro an "eChart". The chart is out of print now. But if you email needleprint you can still get over the net in a pdf kind'a eChart.



Well I am just crazy for the design and other Quaker type samplers!



The only other wip I have been doing the past few weeks is a old crochet, I started back in the 1980s.

It's a granny type afghan I would like finish someday.





Thats it for now, I must get some work done in the garden!

Here is a pix of my Marquoir Story.

SG1 ~ Bookmarks

Last night I found a blog with a Stargate ~ gate address symbol cross stitch the person had designed. It was an older blog, last posted a year ago.

Link to Blended Leg by Julia http://juliael.blogspot.com/

But loving all sci-fi since I was a teen in the 70s I took a copy of her design. It's small. She made it to fit a bookmark.

I stitched up three. All bookmarks. Gave one to each of my girls.

Yes my girls are into sci-fi too. Just like my hubby and I.

But the girls also like Super Heroes, just like dad. Not me. I am not into super heroes.

Anyway, the girls like the new bookmarks.

Thanks Julia!

Eliza

Thank You and Grandma and Grandpa

Thank You Blackbird Designs for the cross stitch card I won! I love it! Cool part is it is a cross stitch postcard!

I collect and swap postcards.

Well I use to swap. I have not made many postcard swaps in the past year/year and a half.

Thank You!

And I have a 2nd stitch done. I could not stitch one for my Grandma (my other pink one) without doing one for Grandpa!

This one is done in blue, green and bronze for Grandpa.

He was a story teller. The little boat is for his stories. And smoked a pipe as he told my brothers and I his stories as we sat at his feet.

The bird is a little Rooster in a little garden. He had chickens and a cute garden. As a child it was like a fairy garden.

The snapshot is the last one I took of them back around 1979 or 1980. They both pasted away in the early 80's

updates on my cross stitch

With Quaker A' 6 Mains and the Easter Egg Tree done I started I few things.

I started both the Grand ABC ( gazette94's grand abécédaire SAL ) and Isabelle Vautier's older SAL ~Marquoir Story ( this SAL has been around for year. This is not her current one.

The Grand Abécédaire. I am only at part two. I wish I had more done! Started April 10th.

You can find it here http://gazette94.blogspot.com/search/label/grand%20ab%C3%A9c%C3%A9daire

Here is my Marquoir Story. Started April 15th. I LOVE this design!! I fell in love with it when I first seen it and knew I would some day do it!

You can find the SAL here http://pagesperso-orange.fr/passion.broderie/

With my April order to Nordic Needle I got my thread for it! Threadworx overdyed Spanish Olives ~ Tide Pools ~ and Lucky Day ( I just LOVE them!!!). Along with Gentle Arts Cherry Wine.

I just LOVE all my threads for this now!!!

I had a hard time finding the right red. At first to only red I could see on line that I liked was a #8 Pearl cotton... I like the color but the feel of the #8 pearl was just not right.

So I went back on line to Nordic Needle and found the Gentle Arts Cherry Wine. When it came in the mail, at first I just did not think it was the right red.

I love the color red and knew what I wanted. But I found it hard to find the right colors over the net...

Well I had just spent $17 for that red thread ( I ordered 9 at $1.90 each) and I made up my mind I was just going to use it!

I ordered it! I better use at that price!

Well ~ LOL ~ guess what?

I LOVE my red now!!! And the blue ~ yellow ~ and green!!

I found my red Cherry Wine to be perfect!

The fabric is an off white Aida I tea dyed.

I use Aida cross stitch for everything I do.

I hope one day to learn how to cross stitch on linen!

I am going to try my hand a Needle Book. I am not going by a pattern. I am going to wing it as I go. Here are the cross stitch parts I started in April.

I started Alla Turca in March. Here is an update. Due to the fact my fabric was to short... I have modified the design a bit... :0)

In April I made some orders to Nordic Needle and got the Blackstone Fantasy Garden and the thread pack. I don't know but it just don't look like the thread pack has enough floss... I still need to get some fabric for BFG.

Also ordered the Quackworth 07 and Croakworth 08 charts. :0)

Ma's quilts and wall hangings

I had been asked if I had any pix of my mothers quilts... So here are some of the quilts she made for my children and some wall hangings.


Here are my two daughters baby quilts, my mother made for each of them.

One daughter's twin size quilt.

My son's baby quilt.

Here are the girls wall hangings and doll quilts.

And some more wall hangings.

This Log cabin is one of my favorites!


I hope you all liked my Mother's little quilt show!

I have more~ but some are in a trunk and my biggest wall hanging is hung up but I just noted when taking photos it was very dusty and needs a cleaning! So maybe I will have another quilt show this summer. After I get my big wall hinging washed and my other quilts out for airing. I was going to air them this summer anyway. It's been a few years since I took them out to get some air and to see how they are doing...

Ok... ya... my mother told me this winter that I better get them out of that trunk and get some air or wash them this spring or summer! lol

She wants me to look them over to make sure no mice have gotten to them. I told her we only had that one mouse two years ago and the quilts were in the trunk. But she still wants me to check them... Lol

The reason I don't have any on my bed?

My husband is very ruff on our bedding and I don't want him to hurt the quilts.

So my bed just has bedding on it I have from Target or Wal-mart. lol

Have a nice week

Eliza

New Moon TUSAL update and new finish

Here is my TUSAL update! This is my past months orts and stuff from stitching. To join in this fun go to Dragon my needle to have Yoyo sign you up :0) http://dragonmyneedle.blogspot.com/2009/01/progress-and-new-sal.html

Here is a little that Yoyo has said about The Totally Useless SAL ~~~

"include:
regular Orts (thread ends)
little snips of fabric
broken buttons you were going to use on that little Lizzy Kate flip it
a bead or two from your Mirabilia design
worn out needles
the labels from used up floss skeins
whatever you like, as long as it is, or rather, was (LOL) going to be part of a stitching project currently underway.
you may include orts from any type of stitching project: cross stitch, knitting, crochet, whatever, but please do not include other craft leftovers such as paper crafts, rubber stamping, etc.
This must be a new collection not an ort container you have already been collecting.
Each month, on the date of the New Moon, or very shortly thereafter, you will post progress pictures of your Totally Useless SAL on your blog. You may or may not describe a few of the interesting new items in your container. (If you do not have a blog you may send your pictures to me and I will post them for you.)
Now as the organizer of this Totally Useless SAL I have to do all the real work...ha ha..."~Yoyo

On to my new finish...
This is the little free chart from Blackbird designs at http://blackbird-designs.blogspot.com/
It is called Petites Letters Rouges. It's a fun little stitch I started yesterday and finished today.
You add a family name to it. So I added my Grandma and her maiden name and birth year. I was named after her and she was on my mind and in my heart as I stitched it up. She was a stitcher, as was her mother and Grandmother, her MIL and SILs. And her sisters and daughters, granddaughters and even greatgrands... Along with Aunts and neices... Did I leave anyone out? lol
I guess I come from a long line of stitcher's. lol
Not just cross stitch but many kinds of needle work. Both my mom and grandma have been hand quilters. Grandma has passed away but my Mother still quilts by hand.
I had gone many years without picking up a needle for any thing. I am so happy I started cross stitching again this past winter. I have been so enjoying it!

Hope you have a nice weekend!

Quaker A' 6 Mains done and gone...

I have this done now. I made it into a wall hanging like I did with the Easter Egg Tree. Easy to send that way... But I did not want to mess up the very edge like I did with the Easter Egg Tree.
I was sending this to my Mother and Father anyway, since I made it for their Anniversary. But mom will just need to finish the edge.
I asked her if she would finish something for me, I never said what it was. lol She said yes and would have fixed the Easter Egg Tree too. lol
Here are the only pics I took of it before I sent it away with UPS. All small and close-ups. I never took a pic of the hole thing, lol.