Can't Sleep and Reminder About Giveaway

It's 3:30 am and I can't sleep.  I went to bed early but woke up wide awake.  Is this the "energy" burst you get during the second trimester? If that's the case, I'm not a big fan of it.  I like my sleep!! Give me energy during the day not when I'm sleeping!!

Okay, rant over.  Thank you all so much for your well wishes, hugs and hurrahs.  I mean to respond to everyone once reports are over, which I will be this weekend. We are thrilled about little bean and everything seems to be fine except this waking up early bit.  So as I was transferring over photos onto my computer, I realized I forgot to do a post about my little Victoria trip a few weeks back, for my sister's convocation at the University of Victoria.  The last time I had been in Victoria was when I was 12 so it was nice to revisit the city again.  We stayed in a charming B & B and wandered through the downtown, which I fell in love with.  Victoria has amazing old buildings and the most charming little shops, including a knitting and stitching store!!!! I hadn't been to a local needleshop since the one in Prince George closed when I was 11! I was in heaven, and did a lot of damage too...hehee.

Buttons Knitting Needleshop

Loved all of the framed stitching on the walls!

Carriage House Samplings...forgot to even look at the ribbons

Birds of a Feather Sampler Sarah Emery

 I felt sort of rushed since my auntie and sister's boyfriend don't really have an interest in stitching, so I completely bypassed the beautiful wools and ribbons, forgot that they were there until I saw the photo, and sort of in an elevated state, ran to the fabrics, threads and charts.  It was so nice to see and FEEL the linens! I bought a few.  Couldn't help myself, plus I saw the beautiful Sarah Emery on the wall and realized I have that chart, so I bought the linen and threads to stitch it with.  

I also found a Good Huswife chart and a cute PS Santa that I am going to make for hubby this Christmas.  My sister, who didn't want to come in at all...lol, came in and ended up buying the same Good Huswife chart, linens and threads to stitch it.  Here she is stitching on the ferry.  I got her started.

I took a lot of other photos of Victoria but it was getting dark already at 4 so not many photos turned out that well.  We visited the Empress Hotel and wow, is that an amazing hotel! I felt like I was transported back to 1882.  The Parliament building was all lit up but again, photos turned out crappy.

Cool little alley

A door from old China town

A really cool Irish Pub I want to visit when I can drink again

Parliament all lit up

The tea room where High Tea is $50

Next time I visit Victoria, I will have more time to explore and revisit the stitching store with ample time to peruse. Very charming city if anyone is interested in visiting.

Well, I have done a smidgen of stitching, but mostly crochet.  I have been stitching snowflakes like crazy and you never know, some of them may float into your home soon! I started a baby blanket but changed the pattern since the bamboo cotton I got is very fine and doesn't work well with crocheting from the back stitches.  Those who crochet will know what I'm talking about.  

I actually finished the vase on Sarah Chapple but the lighting right now is pretty dim so I'll post an older photo.  

I stitched a bit on the PS Santa and started Sarah Emery.

Low 3:30am lighting

Last but not least, I guess I forgot but I ordered two more charts and some black lugana  awhile back.  One of the charts is Beggar's Christmas and I want to pull the threads and stitch that one to add to our Christmas ornaments this year.  

Reminder!! My giveaway ends on the 30th so there's still time to enter! Click on the right side bar under the header Giveaways and it'll pop you over to the post.  Good luck to all who entered!

Hugs to all...maybe I can get another hour of sleep in?!

Anne

BBD SAL Finish and Stitching

Part Two of the August 1st posts.  

Onto stitching! On our last Porpoise Bay trip, I put in the last few stitches in the BBD SAL sampler.  I was pleased to finish it and proud that I stuck with the eyelets! It took me awhile, but I certainly have become quite the expert with eyelet stitching! Here's the original photo from the campsite.

Outdoor photo of my finish

Some ironed, close-up photos.

 

It was a wonderful SAL to be part of.  Thank you Barb and Alma for releasing this lovely SAL!!

I made some progress on Sarah Chapple.  She is such a pleasure to stitch.  I just can't believe how large she really is!! I always choose massive projects but I need to keep at them and make progress!!

Love the little satin stitched pot under the chained fence!

Little pots and birds still to be added!

I'm so glad to say that my little stitched box gift I made for the lovely Carol, from Stitching Dreams, arrived and she was happy to receive it.  It took me awhile to get it finished since for some reason, none of the stores I visited, had boxes that would fit the design I stitched for her.  Thankfully, one dollar store had a box the right size, so I was able to finish it off and mail it to her.  We have developed a lovely relationship over the years, like so many of you, and I was happy to make it for her.  I hope to make more little gifts for others in the next little while!! 

BBD design stitched on 36 ct. Abecedarian linen with GAST threads

I also made a bit of a belated birthday gift for dear Vickie.  It was a little tea cup cozy, some tea and a pink thread, since she loves pink so much! I had to laugh when she said that her daughter took the tea cozy and put it around little Henry's neck! I never thought of it like a dog collar, but that girl has got something there! Maybe I should make some crocheted dog collars instead of teaching!! Probably would do better than I am now! LOL!! I had to borrow Vickie's photo from her blog since I forgot to upload one of mine.

Stupidly, while we were on strike and not making money, I had ordered some stash....seriously stupid me.  Why I did this, I don't know.  Not sure if we will be working in September so I probably have to start looking for a new job.  Really not sure of what the outcome will be.  But look at what I got! Even though I can't afford it, it's really pretty.  I got a bunch of new cottons to make some new cozies and mats to possibly sell at a craft fair from Loveknitting.  Such great service and free shipping over $50 for Canada!! Can't beat that!

On our Porpoise Bay trip, we went to Carolanne's Quilt shop in Gibsons and I got a few little fat quarters for cheap.  Nice for finishing!

Then Needlecraft Corner had and anniversary sale..uh oh! So I ordered a bunch of threads for a sampler, some linens and some mystery NPI silks that I don't know what design they are for.  I can't remember why I got them.  I had copied and pasted the list from 123stitch so I know it was for a chart...it's a mystery for me. 

Two of those charts are from Brenda Gervais' With Thy Needle and Thread.  I might save these for next year once I'm done Sarah and JCS, but I need to devote more time to stitching every day, not once in awhile!! 

So I'm done for stash for a LONNNNNGGGG time! I don't need anymore at all, unless it's the odd thread or so, but it's so hard to resist those new charts that come out!! 

Here's a little photo of my dear stashaholic Titus, owning the threads.  He loves it when mom pulls out the stash!!

I've haven't caught up with blogs and feel uber guilty about it...so I hope to spend some time tomorrow morning visiting people since I miss you all!! 

Hugs to you all!!

Anne

Titus the Stashaholic and TUSAL

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last post.  I have been horribly behind on catching up with blogs, and I feel as though I will never catch up.  I'm looking into purchasing a Samsung Galaxy which I can use while I'm traveling and I hope I can use my long commute to catch up on emails, blogs and reading!! I think it will be a useful tool and it's a lot cheaper than an ipad!! 

Last week I received my giveaway win from Pat, the Southpaw Stitcher, and I am amazed at what she sent! She was so generous and sent me an assortment of ornie fabrics, a cute little ort catcher and of course the PSS chart with the threads and linen.  Thank you again Pat for the beautiful stash!

I had to include the photo of Titus on top of my giveaway wins.  When I opened the package the other night, he sauntered in and laid on top of everything!! He sniffed everything very gently. I had to take some photos to show his love of stash.  He's really addicted!!

Luckily he is a gentle cat and doesn't dare to use his claws on my stitching! As you can see I had fun with the collage feature! 

On the weekend, I stitched a bit on Knotgarden, Hannah and I finally finished Baked Goods.  I looked for some fabric to match Baked Goods and I found one, but I'm not overly sold on the match.  I may have to take a trip to Fabricland to see what other fabric would work.

I also started the lovely BBD chart that Carolyn gifted me.  I decided to work with the 40 ct. Vintage Light Exemplar.  It's slightly peachy in colour and I think it works well with the threads.  The photo shows it as grey which isn't the case.  I need to find some pretty vintage buttons to go along the side there.  Just where I can find some, who knows.  This city is lacking in the vintage button department!

Here's my collection of orts for February's TUSAL.  I took the photo on a beautiful silver salmon platter that my Nana gave to me.  There's lots of orts this month from all the stitching I managed to do!

Now that one of my RAK's was received, I can show you what I stitched for Mouse. I chose Nancy's Christmas freebie to stitch.  I used a mulberry Silk thread and ribbon from HDF.  I'm glad Mouse loves her RAK/Bday gift.  

So there's just a few more things to share.  I finally received my birthday order from Needlecraft Corner.  It was a gift from my mom and I'm so excited to stitch some of the designs I chose!! I feel a wee bit overwhelmed now with all the stash I have acquired! I think I'll lay off from getting anymore until I've used what I have!! Thank you Mom!!

Charts from BBD, Carriage House, and PS

Beautiful threads from CC, GAST and Dinky Dyes Silk

I hope you enjoyed this post.  I'll leave you with a photo of some pretty tulips I bought.  I can hardly wait for more flowers to bloom here.  It's been rather cold out and I only see the snowdrops poking out.  Very late for Vancouver!

Happy Stitching!

Anne

Epic Finish: Jane Philpott!!!

Oh how I've missed blogging and all my stitchy friends!! It's been three weeks since I've done an update and boy do I have a lot to show you!!

Last night, at exactly 7 pm, I put the final knot in a bird's eye on Jane Philpott!! I started this big beautiful gal in January for Becky's BAP Challenge, and I'm so happy I've finished her yet sad at the same time.  It's a malaise of sorts.  I'm sure others feel this way too once you've completed such an epic design.  As I said to my husband, she's been with me for so long I don't know what to do with myself now.  He was amazed and pleased about Jane, but then he asked "When are you going to work on that Tea Fairy?" Sigh!! Anywho, here's Jane and the wonky, satin-stitched snake.  He's sort of kinky....lol!!!

HAPPY DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jane Philpott started January 2012
Finished November 11th, 2012
Stitched on 36 count linen
Vicki Clayton Silks

The kinky snake..he needs to eat something to help out that  smallish part

The 1 over 1 stitching took an age to do!!

I hope to get her framed before Christmas because I want her displayed right away!! Goodbye dear Jane, I loved every minute stitching you!!

I have some other stitching updates to share with you.  I haven't finished anything Christmasy yet, however, I have started two designs.  One is barely started so not worth showing you. It is from the new JCS magazine, which I'm finding a lot of cute designs to stitch.  The other design is a freebie from 123 citrouille that I've been wanting to stitch for awhile now. I am using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe's Nan's Red on some unknown linen.  I'm loving how quick this is stitching up!

I already have the fabric and trims ready for a finish! After this one is completed, I have a few more lined up ready to go.  I'm hoping after November 23rd (when reports are due), I will have more time for stitching and preparing for Christmas.  Watch this space because I may have a few things to give away too!!

So after my husband mentioned Tea Bath Fairy, I decided to pull her out and start working on her again.  Might as well get another BAP WIP finished right?!! Here's where I'm at with her.

Knotgarden has been coming along nicely too.  I can't wait to get to some of the specialty stitches!!

I also added some more patterns and fabrics to my stash...like I need to right?!!! What's a girl to do when there's sales and stuff on? So I finally found my gray fabric!! YAY!! Thank you to everyone who gave me tips.  I can't believe I didn't know about the DMC colour equivalent on 123stitch.com.  It was very useful! Along with buying some gray fabric, I couldn't help myself to purchase LHN's Baked Goods.  I've seen this little ornie stitched a lot on many blogs and have always loved it.  Can't wait to get this one going too!!

Some more samplers to be stitched at one point in the future.  Much to my husband's chagrin, I will have a sampler wall!! He really winced when I said that last night! Lol!! He actually said "We can't have all our pictures on the walls full of your stitching!"  Okay...we will see about that!

This one I've admired on Melissa's blog for awhile now. 

I love the massive flowers.

Marly from Samplers and Santas inspired me to purchase Sarah. She stitches a lot of samplers in this style. I love the simplicity of Sarah Pelham. 

Wait...not done! HAED had a massive 50% off sale last weekend, so I took advantage of it and bought two patterns that I probably won't get to for years, but whatevs!! I've always loved William Morris's tapestry designs and think this will be amazing stitched up! 

This little QS I'm thinking of stitching for my mom at some point.  I think it's beautiful and we'll see how "quick" it is to stitch!!

So there you go! A "wee" update on what's been going on with me.  I hope to catch up with blog reading once my reports are done.  I should be working on them right now....oh I'll get to them later on today.  

Big hugs to you all! I'll leave you with a cool crow picture I took on one of our Autumn walks.

Titus says good bye!!