Singing the Blues

It was not my intention to be silent for so long.  We have been struggling to keep my husband's cancer under control, trying to figure out what his next treatment should be, researching, talking, praying, seeing doctors.  It has been difficult to do much else.

But once again, I have a pile of pictures to blog about, so while I can, I will try to blog about them.  First up is another UFO.   I think I unstitched the border on this one at least four times before I finally got it right!

Singing the Blues

Little House Needleworks

Oh, no!  I just realized that I missed stitching a red heart to the right of the bird's belly!  I guess I was so excited to have finally stitched the border correctly that I completely missed it on the chart.  No wonder the cat kept pawing at the bag the piece was in, she knew something was missing.

I stitched this on (what else) 28 count evenweave.  I think the color is Khaki.  I used the suggested Crescent Colors.  As for finish-finishing, I think I will look through my collection of boxes and see if I have one this will fit on.

Simple Joys

When I had to decide which cross stitch project to start next, I originally pulled out a Brightneedle Design, but quickly changed my mind in favor of another Little House Needleworks one.  This time I chose Simple Joys, which I am stitching 1/2 on 28 count Monaco evenweave in Antique White.  I have already made one mistake, and am not going to frog to correct it, so I am correcting for it as I go along.  It will be our (very public) secret.

I started working on some Christmas stitching when Sarah and I got together with my friend this past Wednesday, but that will have to remain a secret for a long time!

Singing the Blues

My card making has been put aside for a while so I can work on some cross stitch.  I love settling down on the couch in the evenings, finding an old movie or TV show to instantly stream via Netflix, and pulling out my stitching.  Although I had intended to sit on the front porch to stitch this summer, it has been too warm for me to do so comfortably, especially since the porch faces west and gets the intense afternoon and evening sun, so I instead sit in the air conditioned living room. 

I completed Singing the Blues by Little House Needleworks a while ago.  Or, I should say, I almost completed it.  I started to stitch the border, and as I got to the bottom left, I realized my count was off.  I fail to understand how I could have made two mistakes that canceled each other out, especially since I was carefully moving a Post-It Note from line to line as I stitched.  I am not sure what to do.  Should I frog the border and leave it off completely?  Should I somehow adjust the border to make it fit?  I do like the design - that zigzag seems to make the entire design pop.  So perhaps I just answered my own question.  I will have to contemplate the matter further.

I stitched this on 28 count "Mushroom" Monaco evenweave using the recommended Crescent Colors threads.  The Tartan color (blue) is one of the most variegated I have worked with, and I loved the effect.

New Projects

When we went to the lake last Saturday, I wanted to take a cross stitch project with me, but didn't want to deal with a magnifying glass or my lap stand.  So I pulled out The Sampler Lady by Little House Needleworks.  I had done a tiny bit of work on her, but concentrated on her blouse.

 

I didn't accomplish a lot, but seeing how windy it was, and the fact that I felt as if I were chasing my thread, any progress was good!

I have also started another project.  Unfortunately, I can't tell you what it is, as it's a gift.  

 

Perhaps someone will recognize what this is?