Dog Days of Summer and Dog Days of Stitching

Let me just start with the bad news.    Not bad-bad,  just a big fat bummer bad.   And this is a big one……in more ways than one.  The French Alphabet.     Two vertical threads where the border will be at the very bottom right, are “broken” ??  How?  I don’t know.   I have contemplated using Fray Check - but decided 

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against it.  I have thought about a super light-weight interfacing on the back.   I tried to re-weave it using a thread from the salvage but I couldn’t see it well enough - even with magnification - when done, it looked like a tangled mess on the back like when your bobbin is wrong with the sewing machine.  For now, I am staying away from that area,   I am not happy with this piece at all right now but I am going to soldier on.  

To add insult to injury, I had a day of frogging the previous day's stitching.    I now have adopted stitching two lengths of thread a day approach on days that I stitch. (?)  Shouldn’t that be every day?   IDK. Life gets in the way some days.  Next goal to complete the top border and then the top row of the alphabet.   Come heck or high water, I will get it done.  

The glasses are for prospective on the size of what I call my tablecloth piece.  

Better news, the Shakespeare’s Peddler Retreat was great, great, great.  Theresa runs a very organized event.   Every detail was planned and covered.   Her humor and fun little announcements and games were great.   It was also so great to see many of my needlework friends who I only see at retreats.   And to meet some new friends.  There were some Floss Tubers there too.   And a blogger or two as well.  It is funny since we invite Floss Tubers into our living room we think we know them.   The overall theme was “neighborhood” and our tables were named  like “DMC Drive”, “Smyrna Crossing”, “WIP-poorwill Way”.  The table gifts everyone gave were awesome -  I need to step it up some.   There was no class - just stitching.  Theresa had a trunk show and gave us a stunning kit.  (below)  And there was a rummage sale of charts that others brought in.   Alas, some jumped into my bag.     

I would definitely attend and recommend any of her events 100%.   Here I am being an enabler.  Isn’t this needlework community just beyond great.

The Show ‘n Tell was beyond fabulous.  

Look at the teeny tiny animal crackers in this stitcher’s sewing kit.

Clara, 1876 was about an inch and a half tall!!!  So that gives you a perspective of the size of the Animal Crackers.

As you can see, someone celebrated one of those milestone birthdays during the retreat.   Stacy, my travel and stitching buddy, really went all out to make it a very special day for me.  

Home I came and the purging of everything craft-y-like started.   When I made the choice to finally do it, I really wanted to jump right in but I put the brakes on.  I told myself I didn’t need any more  half-a$$ projects on the list.   Starting with the guest bedroom closet, the blankets, pillows and other bedding not/never to be used were donated.   This gave me room to put my paper crafts on the shelves in plastic see-thru bins I bought.   I mean, how many sets of colored pencils does one person need?   Extras boxed up  with some to the grands and others to donate.   

Everything out of the closet.  .

I ‘hope’ I have found all the paint brushes and have them in one place.   A zip lock bag of at least half of them has been packed away in the donation box.

Everything that needs to find a ‘family’ has landed in the room I use for crafting.  Things you can’t see that are sorted are the three boxes of small frames that were reduced to two boxes.    All the paper mache finishing boxes are now all in the same bin.  I found 5 bags of polyfil.   Two were opened and I have reduced it down to 4 bags.   I found 13 pillow forms - all now together in the blanket chest.  Each of the above were in different under the bed boxes, different shelves in the closet, different closets in different rooms.   Argh!  I just about have the guest room done and I think I will need a week more to thoroughly and completely do the craft room.  No pain no gain.

I have done little cross stitching  or at least it seems that way when I look at my progress.   Both WIPGO assignments were completred.   I did finish the stitching for  the HOD Rocking Horse but did not fully finish it.       

I did not finish the July Gingerbread house yet.   Operative word - yet.   I think the new pattern comes out the 5th of the month so I better get on it.  Cathy H from HOD always does the best color combinations.

New numbers were called today for WIPGO and I need to look up what they are. 

I did work on Harvest Friends a little.

I got myself one of those Bird cameras.  Actually my husband treated me for my birthday.  I am not having much luck.   The first location was too much foot traffic and no birds but the goonie  birds pix of my husband and myself.    I dumped all the food, filled it with newly purchased feed even spreading some on the ground below it.   No birds.   Next location was besieged by every ant in a the back yard stopping in for a visit.  Somehow an alarm was activated in this location and any time you got in range you heard  “Alert - leave this area - recording in progress.”  It was kind of like “Danger,  Danger Will Robinson!”   Moved again to an area minus the over abundant ant population and I wait.     No more alert but no birds either   I researched it and it says it may two weeks up to a month for birds to get comfortable to visit.   So I start the clock again.

For August, my WIPGO pieces will probably be the only ones I work on.   I have some stitchy gifts to make and I will need to concentrating on them.  I have a lot of deadheading in the gardens to do.  

So that’s  update from my corner of the planet.  Thanks for stopping by.  Stay safe, be kind, be happy…..and keep in stitching and making.

The heat is on……July

Has it been hot enough for you?  My back yard pegged at 107.6 at 2:54 on July 2.    I stopped looking at it after that.    And the last few days, has it been wet enough?   All I know is the weatherman better not say were are still in a drought!   Thank heavens for AC.   I feel for those in Europe who do not have AC.   

What about the FIFA games!  Those Norwegians (my ancestors!) sure are having fun with their Viking Row and what fun the Scots had with the traffic cones on all the statues.  Just good harmless fun.  Everyone is becoming fans.   And imagine having the claim to the fame of drinking not only a plane dry but also the city of Boston who needed emergency beer deliveries.   I feel like FIFA sure has been a goodwill event.  This could come down to England against Norway - my ancestors against my husbands.   

I finished the scrapbook.  Once I started it went smoothly.  I starting by sitting to review where I was and got back into what my thought process was.  I never respect the invisible pressure that is lifted once a job is completed.   And I never respect the time things take to do.  It is done and soon to be delivered.  

 I finished Liberty Inn from Chessie & Me.  It was one of  my WIPGO calls for July.  I recently saw a similar stitch finished on a paper book-like box and I think that is what I will do.  While I have a few Chessie & Me kits, I think this is the first I have stitch.   Such lovely threads and a good variety of stitches.     

My other WIPGO  call was Harvest Friendship.   I met the goal of 5 hours and then some.  Win win.  Somehow, side by side, it doesn’t look like much.  Any forward progress is good.

 

I got the floss I needed but have not yet finished June Merry Moments ornament from HOD.  I haven’t started the July ornament yet, the Quilt Gingerbread house.   Since I have been focused so far with these, I will make sure I get them done by the end of the month to keep my record ‘perfect’.

I put a lot of time in my French Alphabet.   

 

Most important - the border meets!   

I am looking forward to attending the Shakespeare’s Peddler event in Allentown, PA at the end of the week.    Hopefully I will keep a tight reign on the purse strings.    I plan to work on the outer border of the French Alphabet and have more progress to share next time.  

I am now ready to start an all-out 100% craft sort and purge at the end of the month.  I have been laying out a plan (in my bird brain) of where to start, what to eliminate.  I have bought some (Amazon!) storage bins and I am ready.   I am going into this knowing it will get worse before it gets better.    I acknowledge that there are things - while good things - that I will never use.   I know of a craft resale store and they are going to get a boatload when I am done.  I am hoping some young crafter with a limited budget and the desire to craft will find bargains.

Thanks for stopping by, stay safe in the heat - hydrate, don’t drown - go around high water, be kind because kindness matters and keep on stitching/crafting/creating!

June Bugging

I have just been ‘bugging’ myself to remain true to my word of the year: diligent. I saw someone post that they review where they are on their stitching goals at the end of June and then decide what the rest of their stitching year will be.   Sounds good to me.   Whenever I set a list of projects, surely unexpected ones always filter in.   See a new chart,  see someone else’s finish and Bam! the squirrel in me comes out.

So far for WIPGO, I am batting 1000!   Each month’s assignment has been completed.  Only two WIPs completely stitched so far.  I am thinking, come fall there will be more finishes after some come up for the third time in the rotation.  

I have also managed to stay on top of the HOD Patreon Ornaments and fully finished as well.  How’s that for a bit of diligence!  This would  be finished except I ran out of #937.   It has been ordered and is on its way from Floss & Flame. 










I have been very diligent on other fronts.   I had a ‘gap’  last year with my yard work.  I really lost my mojo and thought I was just over gardening.   But new year and new energy and I have again fallen in love with it.   I think I stayed out of the yard as the heat built up last year and then when I started to work outside it was too oppressive.   I have been outside as much as possible so far this season.  I am so enjoying the fruits of my labors over many (many!! many!!!) years.  I am at a point with my gardens that I only need to maintain and tweek here and there.   Deadhead, weeding and trimming is about it.    Good thing, because gone are the days from sun up to sundown doing yard work.  It is more like I work  2 to 3 hours, rest an hour and (a.) decide to continue another hour; or (b) decide to shower and quit for the day!  

My yard work  includes working on what I call my Back 40 Project.  So what is this so called Back 40 that I speak of?   Our back yard backs up to 100 feet  deep of undergrowth and trees between us and the Senior Citizens Complex.   (Boo hiss!  Not on the Seniors as I am one).  For the first 30 years we lived here it was an empty 10 acre parcel where we flew kites, pulled sleds, climbed trees, built forts and had golf cart trails and paths.   And then came the complex.     I digress.    For years I would  throw extra plants, extra bulbs and cuttings -  Hostas, Daffodils, Black Eyed Susan’s, Iris, Coral Belles, Lilies.  You name it, if  I had too many, toss them I did.   So in the summer of 2020, I had this brilliant idea of creating a nature path type garden on this landlocked piece of property that would never be developed.  I had years earlier cleared about 25 feet by 100 across the entire back property line making my back yard larger.   It is all nicely planted with grass, there is a gravel area with a fire pit,    In 2020 I choose to clear about another 40 feet back.   This time only about 40 feet wide and not the 100 foot width of my lot.    This vision came about when the big oak tree was felled from high winds.    My neighbor thought it was a good idea to bring over his  chain saw over and cut the massive oak into pieces.   At first I thought well that was nice but now what?   Then the fantasy started.   It took all of the Summer of 2020 and some of 2021 to clear the ivy, saplings, sticker vines and debris.   The only rule I have is that I put no money into it because technically it is not my property.  Although I guess I have eminent domain at this point.   

I laid a path of reclaimed bricks, stone, and the odd extra pavers.  I love the burst of color I see from my deck and not just from the flowers but the butterflies and birds as well.  I do have a bit more sweat equity to put in it.   I did  break my rule this summer and bought some stone to finish the pathway.   I need about 12 more  bags to be completely done.     

 Here is a product of my “tossing”.   Rose Campions, a favorite of mine.   I love their deep magenta flowers contrasting with their silvery gray foliage.   These would not grow where they were planted in my garden and got tossed back here some time ago.   Of course they decide to pop up between scrap ends of trex decking that I used to make up a section of the path.  

I have transplanted them and I think they are going to make it.   With luck, next summer there will be a good showing of their flowers and foliage.

Here is the same pathway AFTER the rose campion was moved and the trex was reset and stone added.

This whole thing  is my folly.  It is just whimsy.  Mr. W just shakes his head and asks me how I just seem to create jobs where there are none to be had.   I guess I am just a putzer that likes my hands in the dirt.  

The neighbor’s cat and I take turns sitting on this discarded bench.   It is always in the shade and gives a good place for a brief respite.

I actually fear where my yard energies will be focused when I complete this Back 40 project.   I worry Mr. W might hide my garden tools.   Yikes!

Part of  ‘applying’ diligence was to tackle tasks I kept putting off.  I keep delaying the finishing of  a scrapbook I started for my daughter’s 50th birthday last year.   This is not an uncommon thing for me - things take longer than my great idea is executed in my mind.  Anyway, I had the concept, I had the photos printed,  gave myself  two weeks and a good old college try.  Alas, I am not a college graduate.  I ran out of time with it only half done.   In my mind, I was going to finish it right away, then I told myself by Christmas, then I thought by Easter would be a good time……and now I vow a solemn promise to myself  to be done before her birthday comes around again in July.   Why do I do this to myself?   Ugh!  I know once I get started it will go well.   It is just that first step being the hardest.  

 Another long languishing project idea, a jewelry box sewing box.   I have long been wanting to make one of the jewelry box sewing kits.   Seeing all the lovely stitchy boxes at recent retreats, I was bound and determined to do mine.   I had the jewelry box.  I had the fabric picked out.  I had a boot (!) box full of trinkets and things to include.   That is where I got stymed.  First step was to sit down and sort the items.  I ripped the jewelry box apart and started to reassemble and decorate.  It took all of two days work to be done.   I then picked the perfect piece to stitch and put on the top.   That took more than two days.   But really, why did I put it off?  Cleaning up loose ends feels good.  I have enough doo-dads to make a travel themed box and a Red-White-Blue one but neither is on my agenda ….yet.

I treated myself to this list cutie at a recent antique shop stop.   Do you know what it is? 

It is a hair receiver.   It is from Victorian times from a lady’s dressing table.     Look what I am using it for.   Orts!    Part of my surround myself with pretty things movement.  I actually bought it thinking I could put it in my stitchy jewelry box and but that did not work.

OMGosh each month I pledge to attack the Civil War quilt…….no more progress to share right now.  Scrapbook to be finished, jewelry box redo done, and need to do some retreat gifts THEN  hopefully the civil war quilt comes back on my list.  

I did complete a second small wool project.   Not fully finished but I know what I will do.  And remember, fully finishing is a different hobby.   I need to either ‘beef’ up the eye or add a matte black bead for the eye.

Diligent with reading - with the earphones and yard work, I am going through some books.  Right now I have one audio book I am listening to, one electronic book I am reading and one hard cover book I am reading.   Good thing they are all completely different because if they were all the same time in history I would have the wrong people in the wrong countries with the wrong lovers and families in the wrong wars.    I set my reading goal in Goodreads’s at 30 books for the year and I am already at 27!!!

I did put some diligence into purging my cross stitch charts.  I think I eliminated 70 charts.   I pulled many I liked but admit I will never stitch.   I have several charts that were so similar that I could pass one on and keep one.   My Thursday stitch group will be happy to peruse my bag o’ charts!  The whole craft room is a major must do.   It is time to get rid of the stamping supplies that I will never use again.  Perhaps if I could task myself with this I may find that perfect place that I put my light box.  Hmm.

There you have it, my mid-year review.  I am feeling pretty good about my progress with a couple of exceptions.    I need to get back to working on the French Alphabet Sampler.   I think I should adopt that one thread a day method.  I know I will see progress.   I do enjoy seeing progress on this piece   Here’s to being more diligence the second half of 2026 on this.  .  

I had thought I might reward myself with a new start come July 1st but I am going to hold off.   I have a long range plan for when my WIPs are fewer and that is the carrot dangling in front of me.   More importantly, instead of a new cross stitch project, I need to concentrate on my Civil War Quilt.   I need to get the scrapbook off the list, and get the final stones in my Back 40……I laugh at myself!

Thanks for stopping by.   Keep you and yours safe.   Enjoy the journey and keep on stitching.  Happy Birthday America!  

Ohio, Part 3 - Retreat and Home Again, Home Again Jiggedy Jig

The Western Reserve Sampler Guild Retreat was wonderful.   So nice to meet in person the people I have been seeing on Zoom the last few years.    The stitchers were all as excited as I was to see each other.   We received several little gifts for attending as well as some great table gifts from fellow stitchers.   Like me, many made goodies for all attending not just their table.   Easy enough since there were only 39 attending.  

 Table and Retreat Gifts.   Oh boy!  I think I need to step mine up a bit.  At least for a retreat like this one.  I missed the ‘memo’ that it was a patriotic themed event.  I don’t know how since it was called “Stars and Stripes Forever”!

I won this door prize which  was kizmit!  I have been following Avelea Designs and the folk embroidery designs for about a year and I have wanted to place an order but I kept telling myself - you have too many projects ahead of yet another new one.  

She uses a 30 count European linen that I an anxious to try.   

Fortunately/Unfortunately, I am not putting this on my radar…yet.  

Sylvia Steckler, Running with Needles and Scissors, is a WRSG member.  She taught a class and had a pop-up shop.   I couldn’t resist these charts.   I really fell in love with the big old house.   Yikes!

There were some serious issues with the hotel but once in the stitching room no one could tell.  Renovations were in progress and elevators were out of order requiring many to make last minute hotel changes.  But as I said, once we were set up in our stitching room there was nary a problem or worry, just fun to be had.  

I did get a bit of stitching completed.   I worked on one of my WIPGO calls, 2025 Commemorative Heart/Heart in Hand.   My task was 5 hours of stitching and I am guessing I doubled that.     Before, left and after on the right - obviously!

I also did a wool appliqué piece.   Not a total rookie with this but definitely a novice.   I have done bits and pieces along the way but with little knowledge of what I was doing.   I sat with Barb and Monica when I was in Gettysburg earlier in May and was fascinated with their work and how this type of stitching is the easiest retreat work you can do.    I reached out to Barb and got hints from her before the weekend.   I was able to cut and iron all my pieces in place ahead of time.  It was EZ PZ to stitch the pieces in place that we already held in place using Heat and Bond.   No need to follow a pattern place.    I need to neaten up my stitches and try my hand at some variation of stitches.  I am on my way to attacking the dozen or so wool appliqué kits and patterns I have in stash.

So, not to have you bored, I had a crazy pit stop on the way home.   Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium in Orrtanna, PA.   I kid you not.  

There was a QR code on this mural that gave you the history of Mr. Ed and his elephant journey.   Someone gave he and his wife an elephant figurine as a wedding gift as it was to bring good luck.  The journey started there.  

The grounds and gardens were a lovely place to walk around.   Each corner turning up a different elephant or perhaps one of the 7 Dwarfs hiding in the undergrowth!

I think we all need a little bit of whimsy in our lives.  How about a flower bed full of bowling ball lady and other bugs?   Hmmmm….I have a couple of old bowling balls in the closet….

Just think, a long car ride with the kiddoes…..what a great place to stop and stretch your legs with them. 

There was a Tea Pot House filled with hundreds of teapots of every kind, even elephant teapots!

I was truly captivated by the over the top concept and execution of this entire place.  

And then we went inside!   There was part of candy store that was sectioned off as the museum.

Thousands and thousands of elephants on display!

By this point, I was elephanted-out and didn’t even take pictures of ALL the candy.   Tubs and tubs of penny (probably not a penny anymore) candy from root beer barrels to Mary Janes to Sugar Daddy’s.   Homemade fudge and of course, fresh roasted peanuts which I bought for Mr. W.    Dag nabbit!  This being on a diet is hard some days but I somehow made it out with only the peanuts.

All in all in it was a great trip.   Except for the long drive.   No issues at all along the way, it just makes for a loooonnnnggg day.   

Thanks for traveling along.   Remember take the road less traveled and you may come across an Elephant Museum.   Back to real life for me.

Keep on stitching……