January's finishes:
Reading:
1. Steampunk by Ann VanderMeer
2. Hana Kimi manga volumes 1-23 by Hisaya Nakajo
3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
4. Spice and Wolf by Isuna Hasekura
5. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
6. The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
7. Mairelon the Magician by Patricia Wrede
8. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
9. Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
10. The Hound of Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
11. The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle
Stitching:
1. 4 Saisons - Block 1 and 2 - by Anagram Diffusions
2. French Country - Amour by JBW Designs
3. French Country - Flower Basket by JBW Designs
4. Be Mine freebie by The Sampler Girl
I hope to continue to get more reading done during February and start stitching on some LHN designs that I have in my stash.
Until next time ^___^
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Be Mine
Hi, again! I started and finished this design while watching Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters on DVD this afternoon.
Designer: Be Mine freebie by The Sampler Girl
Threads: DMC 3608
Fabric: 28ct antique white Zweigart
Start/Finish: 1/30/2010
I think this little freebie by The Sampler Girl is lovely! I don't know how I'm going to finish this one. Maybe a pillow or pinkeep.
Until next time ^___^
Designer: Be Mine freebie by The Sampler Girl
Threads: DMC 3608
Fabric: 28ct antique white Zweigart
Start/Finish: 1/30/2010
I think this little freebie by The Sampler Girl is lovely! I don't know how I'm going to finish this one. Maybe a pillow or pinkeep.
Until next time ^___^
Well, blast!!
I decided that I would spend the day stitching on Loving and Faithful. I happened to look down at it a few moments ago and realized that I am running out of fabric to stitch on and I'm only at the 'faithful' lettering.
I looked at the chart and the arrows for marking the center are at the bottom of the friend block since underneath it is an alphabet to personalize it?!?! I didn't even realize it until now!!! (sigh) So I'm going to have to pull out all my stitching or start over completely on a new bit of linen. I think I might have to order some more Petticoat Blue thread since I was using it to stitch the lettering and flowers.
LOL My stitching is also hampered by a couch stealer!
Sneaky little devil! He was sitting beside me while I was stitching and soon as I got up to post this rambling, he stole my spot on the couch!!
(sigh) I don't know what I want to do now. I absolutely hate having to start something over! It drives me nuts. I think I'll put Loving and Faithful aside and start something else until I have the patience to deal with my mistake O_o"
Until next time!
I looked at the chart and the arrows for marking the center are at the bottom of the friend block since underneath it is an alphabet to personalize it?!?! I didn't even realize it until now!!! (sigh) So I'm going to have to pull out all my stitching or start over completely on a new bit of linen. I think I might have to order some more Petticoat Blue thread since I was using it to stitch the lettering and flowers.
LOL My stitching is also hampered by a couch stealer!
Sneaky little devil! He was sitting beside me while I was stitching and soon as I got up to post this rambling, he stole my spot on the couch!!
(sigh) I don't know what I want to do now. I absolutely hate having to start something over! It drives me nuts. I think I'll put Loving and Faithful aside and start something else until I have the patience to deal with my mistake O_o"
Until next time!
Friday, January 29, 2010
A fun trip and new stash
Hi, everyone! My friend and I have gotten back in town from our trip to Huntsville to see the Paintings from the Reign of Victoria: The Royal Holloway Collection, London exhibition.
Our adventures with driving through Huntsville were plentiful. We arrived around 10:30am and spent the next fifteen minutes searching for public parking for the museum. After driving around in circles and asking for directions, we finally found some parking and walked to the museum from there.
The exhibition featured gorgeous examples of Victorian art that were purchased by Thomas Holloway, the founder of Royal Holloway, University of London in Egham, Surrey to decorate the walls of the Founders' Building on campus.
While at Royal Holloway, I never got the chance to see the university's collection of oil paintings with enough time to truly appreciate them. I was ecstatic when I found out that RHUL had decided to plan an exhibition that would showcase their collection while traveling to museums in the U.S. and Canada.
Some of my favorites in the exhibition were:
1. Edwin Longsden Long's The Babylonian Marriage Market (1875) with its exquisite detail and ornate frame which featured Assyrian numerals and the 'tree of life' motif.
2. Sir John Everett Millais' The Princes in the Tower (1878) showing the final moments of Edward and Richard, the only sons of Edward IV, who were imprisoned by their uncle Richard III in the Tower of London.
3. William Powell Frith's The Railway Station (1862), a beautiful example of the meshing of the upper and middle classes who are waiting at Paddington station.
There were many other paintings featured in the exhibition that were beautiful and full of little details of social history of the Victorian period.
The exhibition ends this Sunday (January 31st). If you are in the area, please stop by and enjoy the exhibition!
After viewing the exhibition, my friend and I had lunch at the museum's restaurant, Pane e Vino. The restaurant serves handmade pizza, calzones, and pasta. Yum!
With time to spare, my friend and I drove to Patches and Stitches, a lovely cross-stitch and quilting shop a few minutes away from the HMOA.
I came away with the following additions to my stash: ^___^
Lovely, soft threads by Crescent Colors for a LHN design that I plan on starting in the future!
The newest issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework magazine, Blue Ribbon Designs' Hugs and Kisses pattern, and 28ct cream cashel linen!
I can't wait to read through the magazine! I've always wanted to purchase this magazine, but it isn't available at my local bookstores or needlework shop! Of course, the BRD pattern is perfect for Valentine's designs!! Woohoo ;)
Checking into the hotel, my friend and I watched a few episodes of a new Korean drama before eating dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. LOL My fortune: "You are heading in the right direction" which was hilarious since my friend and I were just talking about the craziness that is her GPS!
After dinner, I taught my friend how to stitch on linen using free scrapes of linen that we picked up at the cross stitch shop.
All in all, it was a fun trip!!
Until next time ^____^
Our adventures with driving through Huntsville were plentiful. We arrived around 10:30am and spent the next fifteen minutes searching for public parking for the museum. After driving around in circles and asking for directions, we finally found some parking and walked to the museum from there.
The exhibition featured gorgeous examples of Victorian art that were purchased by Thomas Holloway, the founder of Royal Holloway, University of London in Egham, Surrey to decorate the walls of the Founders' Building on campus.
While at Royal Holloway, I never got the chance to see the university's collection of oil paintings with enough time to truly appreciate them. I was ecstatic when I found out that RHUL had decided to plan an exhibition that would showcase their collection while traveling to museums in the U.S. and Canada.
Some of my favorites in the exhibition were:
1. Edwin Longsden Long's The Babylonian Marriage Market (1875) with its exquisite detail and ornate frame which featured Assyrian numerals and the 'tree of life' motif.
2. Sir John Everett Millais' The Princes in the Tower (1878) showing the final moments of Edward and Richard, the only sons of Edward IV, who were imprisoned by their uncle Richard III in the Tower of London.
3. William Powell Frith's The Railway Station (1862), a beautiful example of the meshing of the upper and middle classes who are waiting at Paddington station.
There were many other paintings featured in the exhibition that were beautiful and full of little details of social history of the Victorian period.
The exhibition ends this Sunday (January 31st). If you are in the area, please stop by and enjoy the exhibition!
After viewing the exhibition, my friend and I had lunch at the museum's restaurant, Pane e Vino. The restaurant serves handmade pizza, calzones, and pasta. Yum!
With time to spare, my friend and I drove to Patches and Stitches, a lovely cross-stitch and quilting shop a few minutes away from the HMOA.
I came away with the following additions to my stash: ^___^
Lovely, soft threads by Crescent Colors for a LHN design that I plan on starting in the future!
The newest issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework magazine, Blue Ribbon Designs' Hugs and Kisses pattern, and 28ct cream cashel linen!
I can't wait to read through the magazine! I've always wanted to purchase this magazine, but it isn't available at my local bookstores or needlework shop! Of course, the BRD pattern is perfect for Valentine's designs!! Woohoo ;)
Checking into the hotel, my friend and I watched a few episodes of a new Korean drama before eating dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. LOL My fortune: "You are heading in the right direction" which was hilarious since my friend and I were just talking about the craziness that is her GPS!
After dinner, I taught my friend how to stitch on linen using free scrapes of linen that we picked up at the cross stitch shop.
All in all, it was a fun trip!!
Until next time ^____^
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Friendly Start!
Hi! I started this LHN design today after I came home from work.
Designer: LHN Loving and Faithful
Threads: Crescent Colour threads
Fabric: 28ct antique white Zweigart
Start: 1/27/2010
To me, this design is perfect for Valentine's Day as true friends are a part of our hearts as much as family and loved ones are.
A dear friend and I are going on a trip to Huntsville tomorrow. We are going to see an exhibition at the HMOA. If the museum allows photography, I'll have some pics to share! I hope to stitch a bit at the hotel later in the day :) I will at least have this design finished by Friday (hopefully!).
I haven't decided on how I'm going to finish this design. I think I might make it into a tin or pinkeep.
Until next time ^____^
P.S. Sorry for the dark photo!
Designer: LHN Loving and Faithful
Threads: Crescent Colour threads
Fabric: 28ct antique white Zweigart
Start: 1/27/2010
To me, this design is perfect for Valentine's Day as true friends are a part of our hearts as much as family and loved ones are.
A dear friend and I are going on a trip to Huntsville tomorrow. We are going to see an exhibition at the HMOA. If the museum allows photography, I'll have some pics to share! I hope to stitch a bit at the hotel later in the day :) I will at least have this design finished by Friday (hopefully!).
I haven't decided on how I'm going to finish this design. I think I might make it into a tin or pinkeep.
Until next time ^____^
P.S. Sorry for the dark photo!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Beautiful Flowers
Hi! I managed to start and finish another small design today. I have been digging through my stash looking for designs that are Valentine-themed. What do you think of this one?
Designer: French Country - Flower Basket by JBW Designs
Threads: DMC 3326
Fabric: 28ct evenweave antique white by M.C.G. Textiles
Start/Finish: 1/26/2010
The design actually called for DMC 3328, but I thought it was too dark so I chose DMC 3326, which is a lovely soft pink.
Sorry for the dark photo. I just finished ironing the fabric so it is still damp.
I'll let you know if I start something else this week!
Until next time ^___^
Designer: French Country - Flower Basket by JBW Designs
Threads: DMC 3326
Fabric: 28ct evenweave antique white by M.C.G. Textiles
Start/Finish: 1/26/2010
The design actually called for DMC 3328, but I thought it was too dark so I chose DMC 3326, which is a lovely soft pink.
Sorry for the dark photo. I just finished ironing the fabric so it is still damp.
I'll let you know if I start something else this week!
Until next time ^___^
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Amour finish
Hi, everyone! I started and finished this design tonight while waiting for Masterpiece Theatre to come on. We are watching it now, but I think I'll watch it again tomorrow online as the sound is quite poor. Are we the only state who is having problems with their local PBS channel? This is the third Sunday in the row that something has gone wrong.
Designer: French Country - Amour by JBW Designs
Threads: DMC 3350
Fabric: 28ct evenweave antique white by M.C.G. Textiles
Start/Finish: 1/24/2010
I hope to start another JBW design sometime this week.
Wishing everyone a great work week!! Until next time ^____^
Designer: French Country - Amour by JBW Designs
Threads: DMC 3350
Fabric: 28ct evenweave antique white by M.C.G. Textiles
Start/Finish: 1/24/2010
I hope to start another JBW design sometime this week.
Wishing everyone a great work week!! Until next time ^____^
Block 2 finished - half a happy dance!
Design: 4 Saisons by Anagram Diffusion
Fabric: 32ct olive green Belfast linen
Threads: DMC 498 and B5200
Finish: Block 2 - eight days total
I was able to stitch the last of Block 2 this afternoon. I was also able to finish reading The Hound of Baskervilles. I hope to start Valley of Fear later today or tomorrow at the latest.
What do I plan on stitching next? You might suggest Block 3, but I think I'll leave my WIP for now and start something else. I'll let you know later if I see something in my stash that strikes my fancy.
Until next time!!
P.S. Masterpiece Theatre is airing the newest adaptation of Emma tonight! Be sure to watch it. I'm hoping our local PBS channel is working correctly tonight. Last Sunday, the volume was all wonky.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Stitching, reading, and future trip ;)
Hi, everyone! I've spent the day stitching on my WIP 4 Saisons. I am almost finished with Block 2. I am working on the ornate letter D, which is the last bit in the block. I should be done with it tomorrow. I hope to have pictures of the complete block by then.
In other news, I am currently reading The Hound of Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. There is one more novel and two selections of Sherlock Holmes' adventures to read before I have finished all the stories written about him.
I have not decided on what to read next. I'll have to look on my shelf of 'to read' books and see what jumps into my hands ;)
Next week, my friend and I are taking a trip to Huntsville to see the Paintings from the Reign of Victoria: The Royal Holloway Collection, London exhibition at the Huntsville Museum of Art. I can't wait to see it!!
There is also a very good cross stitch store in Huntsville called Patches and Stitches. I hope to persuade my friend to take a detour there while we are in the city!
Until next time!!
In other news, I am currently reading The Hound of Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. There is one more novel and two selections of Sherlock Holmes' adventures to read before I have finished all the stories written about him.
I have not decided on what to read next. I'll have to look on my shelf of 'to read' books and see what jumps into my hands ;)
Next week, my friend and I are taking a trip to Huntsville to see the Paintings from the Reign of Victoria: The Royal Holloway Collection, London exhibition at the Huntsville Museum of Art. I can't wait to see it!!
There is also a very good cross stitch store in Huntsville called Patches and Stitches. I hope to persuade my friend to take a detour there while we are in the city!
Until next time!!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Marielon the Magician
Marielon the Magician written by Patricia Wrede in 1991 is a delightful read set in the imaginary world of a magical Regency England. Our heroine, Kim is a young girl posing as a boy in order to survive the grim world of a street urchin in 19th century London. Kim has been given the task of obtaining information about the whereabouts of the silver bowl that might be in the possession of a traveling magician named Marielon. Little does she know that her encounter with this man will change her life completely.
While in pursuit of the silver bowl, Kim is caught by Marielon and his servant Hunch. Much to her surprise, Marielon realizes that she is a girl and decides to keep her in his employ for her skills in thievery. In exchange for teaching him how to pick locks, he promises to teach Kim how to read and write in addition to learning various tricks in his magical act.
When asked about the importance of the silver bowl, Marielon reveals his part in the story surrounding it. The silver bowl is one of a group of magical objects called the Saltash set, which when grouped together allows the owner to cast a powerful truth spell. It was given to the Royal College of Wizardry at the request of the previous owner. There is remained until it was stolen. Unfortunately, all the evidence points to Marielon as the thief. He flees to France, changes his name to Marielon, and starts a traveling magic show with the sole object of retrieving all the Saltash objects and clearing his name.
Without ruining the entire story for those of you who would like to read it, Marielon, Hunch, and Kim travel to Essex to discover the location of the Saltash platter, which is rumored to be in the possession of the Sons of the New Dawn, a druid group.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves Regency-era England with a twist. I was hoping to find a copy of the sequel Magician’s Ward at my local library, but my luck ran out! There are very few Patricia Wrede titles at my local libraries. I will have to search on eBay or Amazon for a copy!
Until next time ^___^
While in pursuit of the silver bowl, Kim is caught by Marielon and his servant Hunch. Much to her surprise, Marielon realizes that she is a girl and decides to keep her in his employ for her skills in thievery. In exchange for teaching him how to pick locks, he promises to teach Kim how to read and write in addition to learning various tricks in his magical act.
When asked about the importance of the silver bowl, Marielon reveals his part in the story surrounding it. The silver bowl is one of a group of magical objects called the Saltash set, which when grouped together allows the owner to cast a powerful truth spell. It was given to the Royal College of Wizardry at the request of the previous owner. There is remained until it was stolen. Unfortunately, all the evidence points to Marielon as the thief. He flees to France, changes his name to Marielon, and starts a traveling magic show with the sole object of retrieving all the Saltash objects and clearing his name.
Without ruining the entire story for those of you who would like to read it, Marielon, Hunch, and Kim travel to Essex to discover the location of the Saltash platter, which is rumored to be in the possession of the Sons of the New Dawn, a druid group.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves Regency-era England with a twist. I was hoping to find a copy of the sequel Magician’s Ward at my local library, but my luck ran out! There are very few Patricia Wrede titles at my local libraries. I will have to search on eBay or Amazon for a copy!
Until next time ^___^
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