A Slight Detour..................

Which is just really another way of me saying that I started something new!! It's really cute how some of the stitching ladies on the various boards giggle and tsk tsk me when I post about a new start.........they really make me glad I'm a serial starter who is relatively free from guilt.

I say relatively because I am supposed to be working on Angel of Healing, but for some reason or other, I just can't concentrate on her the last few days. I did get all the PT braid in on the bottom and all the gold and coral beading done........oh my she does sparkle and glint, just gives me pure delight! I've also filled in alot of those 'missed' stitches that were here and there which was time consuming and just a tad tedious. Now I'm at the stage where I have to make that decision about the hands.

Right now that feels like work........and since I hate stitching to be work, I decided to start an ornie for a dear friend for Christmas. Got the Dimensions kit at the Toronto Craft show last Friday knowing she would just LOVE it! She has 5 cats and this one is a picture of a kitty staring out the window looking at a bunch of birds in the snow eating seeds. The cat's got such a cute expression......even a doggie person like me couldn't resist. LOL

Now the chart is fairly easy to read, but my goodness, I wish they would find a better way of sorting floss (like maybe putting the numbers actually on the darned stuff!!!). What they call light blue green, I call light sage and it can get pretty confusing......if it wasn't for the colored picture on the front, this would be one weird looking ornament!!! But it is coming along nicely so I'll quit vetching and be thankful that I started it early enough to be able to get it finished BEFORE Christmas!!! ROFL Every year I have such high hopes of stitching all my relatives 'a little something'..........which usually turns into a whole lot of nothing! (blush) Still, I live in hope that someday I might actually make it while they (and I) are still breathing. Ahhhh the joys of carrying the prestigeous crown of Queen Startitis. Yet, I wouldn't want it any other way......it just wouldn't be the therapy I need each day. (Though DH probably would recommend a professional, but stitching is still soooooo much cheaper.)

The only kink in my schedule is some very minor alterations I have to make to Catherine's pumpkin costume and getting Sabrina's costume laundered. Otherwise, we're good to go for both the school parade and The Big Night!!! Weatherman says rain and I hope they are wrong.......nothing worse than soggy goblins and ghouls. Still, I've yet to see it totally dampen the toothy smiles on those little faces when they are shouting Trick or Treat and holding out that pumpkin or pillowcase for a handful of goodies. Heck, makes me glad I'm there to see it and I secretly think I have more fun than they do. LOL

My stitching chair beckons and my little munchkins are tucked safely in bed, so best answer the call while the coast is clear. Thank goodness it's the weekend, I can stay up as late as I want......or as long as my eyelids will cooperate.

Angel of Healing receiving some needed attention...

This has to be one of the most ornate pieces I have ever done. Between the Petite Treasure Braids and the beads, she sparkles like crazy even in dimmed light! LOL Since completing my little ornie, I have logged just over 25 hours on her in the past 2 weeks. She is still missing her hands as I haven't quite decided if I want to go with the charted over 2 or do them over 1. Right now I have enough beading and braid yet to put in on the right side of the lower dress panel to keep me busy and the ribbon hanging down at the bottom yet to do.......I don't have to make the decision right now. Even in stitching, my procrastination tendencies peek out! LOL Not for long though, as I really would like to finish her this month, send her to be framed and in the hands of the recipients for December.

Since the death of my 2 sisters in the car accident of November 2003, finding something to concentrate on and to turn into a 'visible' reminder of their time here on earth became not only a driving force, but a journey of healing. Angel of Healing and Angel of Dreams have been and continue to be a way, for me at any rate, of celebrating the times we've shared together. Both were active in their churches. Their faith, though often sorely tested, never failed. At first I was concerned that I would not be able to let these pieces go when they were completed.......yet as I draw near to the end of Angel of Healing, I realize that it has come to symbolize a closure for me that would otherwise not be. I truly do look forward to the day when my angels will "fly".

A Merry little Happy Dance...............

This poor fella is part of a set of 3 designed by Pam Kellogg. Twice I've ripped his face out trying to find my counting error. Gave up, put him away and promised myself to get to him. Always managed to find a way to avoid him. Well, this Challenge has given me the final motivation I needed to get it sorted out and finished. Took me 15 hours including ripping out the hat (which is where the TRUE mistake laid in hiding) but he's finally done. Now he will begin his sojourn down to my sewing machine with his brothers to be ornamentized (if this isn't a word, it is NOW!!!LOL).

Merry is stitched 2 over 2 on Silkweaver's Jazlyn 28-count bone colored fabric.


Hi, ho, hi, ho, off to my UFO pile I go.........

Enchanted Finish....................

This is my personalization of Lavender & Lace's Enchanted Alphabet. I actually started this on a whim....okay, okay, I'm a dedicated Serial Starter. LOL But I am so glad I did. I think my niece, Andrea, is going to love it.....I already know she loves bunnies.

There were some major adjustments in the back of the dress as the original pattern had alphabet letters worked into it, and some into the bunny (but he was easy to 'fudge'). The letters of her name are done in Caron Waterlillies silk called Orchid (#185) and the fabric is from Silkweaver, 32-count Jobelan in Twilight Blue. It's a bit more bluer than the monitor shows, but just a touch. All in all I am really pleased with this. The ribbon gave me a bit of a hassle as I didn't have any fabric kind, just that stuff for parcels. So I split it and it really works pretty good.

Originally I had planned to do this design using white Silk Mori from Kreinik but I just couldn't wait to start it, so opted for DMC B5200. I am going to do this design again (at least twice) for each of my girls and let them pick out the silk for their letters....that'll give me a jump on birthday presents for next year! LOL

I am really enjoying this challenge....that's 2 large ones that would probably not have gotten finished anytime soon. It's like I have a new lease on my stitching hobby and I have Cherylann to thank for it......her inspiration (mutterings she calls it) really touched something inside me. Even my kids are getting in on the act and going through my stash for new projects and lining up the ones they want to see finished. As excited as I am about this finish, I'm more excited about the reaction my girls will have when they see it. Just lifts my heart right into my throat!!! Okay, enough of this sappy stuff, back to the needle.

A dream is a wish your heart makes.................

to which my dream, well one of them, has come to fruition...........Sleeping Beauty now is completed!!! I cannot tell you how happy I was to put the last of that backstitching in. Normally I don't mind it but when it is nearing the end, it seems to take forever. The only one more impatient than I was Catherine. Now you try telling a 4-year old it will be a few more minutes and see just how long they can wait!!! (this is where my eyes roll, my ears tune out the whine that invades my daughter's speech pattern and I wish I was on an island with a big tall Pina Colada)

Without further ado, here is the lady with the 3 names (for you non-Disney fans: Sleeping Beauty, Arora, and Briar Rose)

We now have the First of 50 done!!!!!