Two finishes

I promised pictures of my recent finishes, Wool Needlebook and Fob. I've taken the pictures but have to confess, the needlebook has no button on it, and the fob has no cording or loop to attach to scissors. I have the perfect scissors to attach to it, just not sure I want to part with the Belle Soie for cording. I should have just stitched the pieces with the recommended threads but no, I had to do them in Belle Soie. I think it turned out well, the silk will hold up to use, but to waste all that lovely silk on cording? I cringe at the thought. Or put cotton floss as cording on it? I don't think so. Perhaps I could make just a top loop and not put the cording around the outside, and not make a pretty tassel--that would make it more rustic looking, right? Any ideas would be appreciated, fellow stitchers.

My second finish is one I am most proud of. Brave Hearts by LHN. This one was charted for Belle Soie and that is what I stitched it with. And its not my stitching that I'm proud of but who the stitching is meant for. My BIL George. This man I am so proud of, so proud that he is part of our family. Let me tell you a little about him.

George is married to my middle sister Patti. He served as a Marine for 16 years; in Beirut, in Quantico, all over the world. He's a home town hero, a soldier, a family man. Not long after retiring from the Marines, he had an accident at home--one of those dreaded accidents that left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair. He went from standing tall to sitting in a chair all the time. A situation that would have devastated many a strong person just made him a stronger man. He is my hero. He works, he travels, he even danced Patti around the dance floor at the wedding of their eldest son, in his chair. Their love grows stronger every day, as they depend on each other, and on their GOD to sustain them. He didn't let a little thing like a wheelchair stop him. Brave Hearts is for him.

I'll save my stash room update for another day. Thanks for reading.

Messes, and more

I had planned an update to the SAL that Nicole and I were doing. Yes, I have finished the stitching and most of the finishing for the Wool Needle book and Fob--still have to find a button, and put cording around the fob. Went back to work on LHN's Brave Hearts and I've finished the wording, and started work on the sheep--but pictures will have to wait for another day. Just too much needs doing right now.

The ladies of our Yahoo group have been comparing stash "messes". You know, when you walk into the room where you store your stash, and can't find anything because you pulled something out (many, many times) and didn't put it back in the right place, and all around you are piles of wonderful fibers and linens, charts and kits just begging to be worked on--and you feel you need a guide dog to lead you out of the room--that's the kind of mess I mean. Here is mine.

This picture was taken standing out in the hallway and that green cabinet is in the middle of the room. I had to move things around a bit to get my new hutch in here. But, you can see the general disorder of the place. Isn't it pathetic?

And this is the bed--or can't you see the bed under the pile of general "stuff"? Yes, there is a bed under all of that.

OH, my, there are the pillows, and a peek at my new hutch. And see, more "stuff" in bags on the floor. This is a very tiny room, not even a closet to hide anything in.

This is my sewing table. It's a library desk, very old, but sturdy enough to hold my sewing machine and serger, which you can't see because that nine drawer mini chest is in the way. And is that a "little Mermaid" purse of my granddaughter's? Yes, indeed, and she's now 7 and way too old for it. So, why is it still in this room?

This is the foot of the bed. I finally got the cabinet moved up against the wall so I can walk in the room. I'm thinking the best idea for me is to take everything that is piled up all over, out of the room, stack it on the dining room table and go from there. I did that last week, and did get a lot of things put away, and organized, but then the weekend came rolling in, we needed the table to eat at, so hence, the mess on the bed again. ARGGGG!

I did get a small start on making my room look a bit better, and that was the hutch hubby bought me for storage. We found it on clearance at K Marts last weekend, DS1 helped me put it together and we got it put in here. I just love it. I can use a bit of the area on top for "show and tell" and the rest for fabrics, yarns, finishing fabrics, and all sorts of things. It's 6 feet of lovely and usable storage. Want to see a picture of it?

I think its gorgeous. Those two little drawers are perfect for holding new items, thread drops, new overdyes, small things that haven't found their own space. The two bottom doors are hiding a ton of yarn, but there is still half the space waiting to be filled. Still some space on top. Those baskets are holding linens, and see on the top shelf? There is my Little Traveler for taking my stitching on the road, a few pretties that were made for me, and my hand finishing box of supplies. On the very top of the cabinet is a basket of SB kits, that didn't fit into the huge basket I have for them. Guess I need to get stitching. Up there is also my other stitching bag, it's one of those messenger type bags, and holds a lot of supplies.

So, there you have it. I'll be cleaning and taking update pictures so as to encourage myself and others to get your stash organized. After this is done, it's on to my stitching area in the living room. And next time, I will have pictures and updates from the SAL and my Brave Hearts. Until then, Happy Stitching!

More Progress Reports

Its about time to give you all another progress report on my projects. I started a SAL with Nicole, on Wool Needlebook and Fob by LHN last night. So the picture has two evenings work on it. Its coming along really well. I think I like it so much because of the sheep on it.

Hope I can keep the pictures straight in my post. Next up is Brave Hearts. I'm more than 1/3 the way done. Its so much fun and looking pretty good, if I do say so myself. When its done, I'll tell you all why I decided to stitch this piece and who will be getting it as a gift.

Next is my progress on Honor Thy Needle which I'm doing as a SAL with my yahoo group, Friends in Thread. I did NOT get much done on it last Sunday. All day long, I kept heading towards my stitching chair and have company arrive. I think I was able to get all of an hour in on it.

And last but not least, a few finishing finishes. I've had the tiny pail stitching done for years--found it when I was cleaning out a project box. The Nantucket basket pincushion I stitched the other day, and decided to do the finishing on it when I did the tiny pail. The tiny pail was a kit that my friend Beth brought me back from a vacation to Florida.

I appreciate all the comments you are leaving. They have brought me comfort in difficult times, and made me feel not quite so alone here. You guys give me the warm fuzzies--there! I said it.

For those that have asked about the pincushions, the designers are: tiny pail, Hillside Samplings, and Pins and Needles, Olde Colonial.