Gentle Readers and Dear Friends we had such a nice weekend - nothing traumatic, nothing crazy - just smooth sailing and two lovely days of bright warm weather. Out here our Fall season in the city are usually warm and beautiful and the past two days have lived up to that!! In fact we cooked a couple of steaks on the grill and sat by the "cement pond" (pool) for a long time yesterday afternoon........
The pool heater is broken so the water temps are in the low 60's so no swimming - but the breeze was warm a delicious and the sun was shinning!! It is supposed to be nice for the next couple of days so I see more "pool" sitting in our future!!
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I have some stitching stuff to share - on Saturday after a quick and quite tasty challah/bacon/schmear and a cup of coffee at Noah's we headed over to Alameda and to my LNS "Needle in a Haystack."
I know I have posted some snaps of the inside before but here are some I took on Saturday....
Just as you walk in the front door is a great Hallowe'en tree with lots of cute ornaments!!!
Then there are all the lovely colours.....
and the gorgeous silks.....
and more silks...
and all the racks of great stash.....
I was very good and only worked from a list of things I wanted/needed/wanted - so my stash acquisition was on the small side!! Isn't the Peach cute - she has to check everything out that hits the floor!! I have two projects in mind that I want to do so that was my focus. Both are Christmas themed pieces - the first is -
- from the Blackbird Designs Joyeux Noel Book they released last year or the year before - "Tis the Season" - a great red bird piece I have wanted to do for along time. I finally picked up the 36ct LL "Pear" linen for it - it has a green cast that I think will make the Belle Soie Silks really pop. I had all the silks in my stash except for the Vanilla one so I also picked that up. The second project is -
This Christmas Alphabet - I have had this chart for a few years and just never got a piece of linen I liked for actually stitching it up on - it is an odd size 15" x 15' and the chart calls for "Natural" - whatever that means - the picture of the piece on the front looks blue to me!! So I picked up a piece of 36 ct LL Meadow Rue that I think will look nice. I had a hard time deciding on this as one of the colours is a sort of off ecru and bled into most of the pale beige linens I was pulling - this has enough contrast to make even the ecru stand out. I am doing this in the recommended DMC as that is the only reference for floss. I may switch it all to HDF silks, but for now I have the DMC kitted up. Have a month to make a final decision.
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I did some actual stitching also this weekend - I finished up part 4 of Carol's mystery sampler -
I added little touches of Blueberry Soup and changed the heart to be a bit more open. This great little piece is really coming along!! I also worked some on "Shores" - here is how it stands now...
I was very happy to get the rocks finished and get started on the little house.
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I think I will leave off on that for today. I still have some other snaps and a baked goodie to talk about, but I'll chat about that tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by, do come again!!
Take care,
edgar
Sounds like you had a "perfect" weekend! Your new projects look great. I can't wait to see your progress on the BBD piece! Nice progress on your WIP's too:))
ReplyDeleteHave a good Monday!
Sounds like a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI've been to NIAH a few times but not since they've moved. I hope to get to go back again next time we visit the Bay area.
Thanks for the 'tour' of Needle in a Haystack. I buy online from there but how I would love to visit IRL!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! love the new stash and look forward to the new projects.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a wonderful shop!! I wish Seattle had one like that. I have always like the BBD Christmas piece. I'll enjoy watching you stitch it.
ReplyDeleteYour kitted projects look like great things to start. I have J.N. by BBD kitted to - have had for a year and haven't put needle to thread on that one. I love it!
ReplyDeleteFrom the post, you had a perfect weekend all around - weather, food, company, stitching and shopping.
Have a good weekend.
The Shores of HRH is coming along very nicely indeed. I also like the mystery sampler, particularly the colors ... they are so very rich and elegant looking.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous weekend you had Edgar! That LNS is massive!! I wouldn't know what to do in there other than spending hours and hours looking at everything. It's wise to go in with a list!! I love that BBD piece and have seen a few people stitch it and it is so lovely. I also really like that cute alphabet pattern. Looks French, which J'adore! Great progress on both pieces!!
ReplyDeleteYou're so fortunate to have a LNS nearby - especially one that is so wonderful! You got some great goodies - Tis the Season is on my to do list too.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous stash and new starts. I love the BBD one. Shores is looking great. I have yet to start mine. x
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great LNS! Some of my friends order from there; I don't know that I ever have. Can't imagine how it would be to shop there in person. A real budget buster, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteYou have been very busy.
Bobbi
Sounds like a perfectly lovely weekend to me, Edgar! Love your new stash and the WIP update. And your LNS is awesome...wow ;o)
ReplyDeleteI was able to FINALLY get your goodies in the mail last Tuesday...so, if you haven't received them by now, it should be any day!! I hope you enjoy the win...
Terri
P.S. the Peach is looking especially lovely in the snap :o)
Gah! I am just not ready for Autumn! Each time I think I am, I feel a desperate "Summer, come back!" twinge.
ReplyDeleteLovely pics from a great weekend; thanks for sharing that great stash, too!
Thanks for sharing your weekend! Not sure how mine ended up being so hectic as I didn't leave the yard! Grat stash. I have "Tis the Season" in my to-stitch-pile and am thinking of starting it so that I can officially work on it during WIPocalypse next year (as if I don't enough WIPs...)
ReplyDelete.
Your MSAL is looking good! I am drooling over the pics of your local LNS, such a wonderful looking store! Love your two Christmas projects! Sounds like you had a perfect weekend!
ReplyDeleteI could pitch a tent and spend the week in that shop.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a nice weekend! Must be fun to have the pool there when you're in the mood. Love the pics of your LNS --one of these days I'd like to visit that one. Love your new stash and projects. Your Shores is looking lovely, as is the SAL piece too.
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOODNESS! I have "Tis the Season" kitted up and ready to roll. It has been sitting in my 'must stitch' pile for 2 years. Just last night I ran across one framed by Jill Rensel. Be still my heart. http://renselstudio.blogspot.com/p/work-im-proud-of.html
ReplyDeleteNow that you have it, I am taking that as an omen. Time to pull that puppy out and get going. Thanks for the jumpstart. Can't wait to see your progress.
Oh, what stitching fun you're having! I love your use of two floss shades on the stitch-a-long, and Tis the Season is something I really want to stitch, also. Maybe you'll be my inspiration to get it started - thanks!
ReplyDeleteNIAH as your LNS-Wow! Love the pictures of all the beautiful threads. Tis the Season is so pretty, and I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. Peach looks like she is smiling for the camera:)
ReplyDeleteYour new projects are great! I have loved the 'joyeux noel' chart from blackbird designs also for some time. I have not purchased it yet tho. I will be happy to see your progress on it, then I know I will just want it more...lol.
ReplyDeleteI do have the fabric and chart for Shores in my basket. I haven't started it as yet. I also love the autumn hawks run hollow piece. Are you thinking of doing that one? I've done the Village and Christmas hawks run pieces.
I always enjoy your posts even tho I don't comment very often.
NIAH looks like a fabulous shop and you are lucky enough to be able to shop in person. It is so annoying when the picture of a piece and the called for linen look nothing alike. I have no right to complain since I can't take pictures that look true to color either! Your wip's are looking great and I look forward to the new starts.
ReplyDeleteooohhhhh am droooling with all that silk and stash and silks and stash ...... love the projects you are doing .. I love the red bird one every time I see it stitched I think must do it ..lol :)hope you enjoy your warm days and look forward to your yummies :) love mouse xxxx
ReplyDeleteThe store looks great, and can't wait to see the Blackbird design when done.
ReplyDeleteThe rocks in Shores are so nice! I really like them!! I know what you mean about sitting in the sun while it is there! Lived in the Sunset with lots of fog! If it got to 80 degrees it was a heat wave! Looking forward to seeing progress on your new starts, especially the BBD piece that is also in my stash... Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI admire your willpower Edgar, to march into a LNS and not go overboard!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing some new starts from you! Have a good afternoon!
Sounds like a super weekend, Edgar. That Christmas alphabet is so nice. Can't wait to see your progress.Shores is looking great too! Hugs, Nancy D.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous....great LNS! I love reading your blog btw....I always feel inspired not to mention that, like my hubby, you seem to enjoy the small things in life....it truly lifts my spirits!!!
ReplyDeleteYour LNS is amazing!! I was drooling over all those silks! I would love to be able to just walk into a shop and buy what I need rather than order everything online. It's so hard when choosing colours of floss and fabric.
ReplyDeleteI also have that BBD. It's a favourite of mine but I have to save for the silks.
The mystery sampler looks really great. I love how you've tweaked it some.
What a perfectly "grand" weekend!
ReplyDeleteI've recently posted on our blog about gathering up the last of the supplies I need for starting 'Tis the Season. Not sure how soon that will be, but at least I'm all prepared now for when that moment arises :^)
WOW, llooovvee the craft store pics. Really wish we had something like that in India. What shots of the silks, awesome
ReplyDeleteSAL is really coming along well. Love the blue touch you are giving it, goes very well with the deep red. Great progress on shores too
Thanks for the pic of your LNS would love to see all the beautiful threads in person. When I was little my Grandma let me buy floss even if I had no idea what I was going to do with it,LOL! She drew the line at earrings I would stand there longing for a pair of pierced ones (my ears weren't pierced then) because my Great grandma had them. My favorite threads are varigated even to this day! My dream is to travel to different shops, Catholic churches and B&B's someday. Love your work!
ReplyDeleteI'm getting behind on blog reading again-- your WIP look wonderful! And I am green w/envy at Needle in a Haystack- my not-so-LNS in Raleigh has closed down in the last year or two- I didn't get there often but when I did it was so fun! I don't know where the nearest LNS is now.. besides a tiny one about 20 min. from me that rarely has new things.. sorry to ramble! lol
ReplyDeleteThat Halloween tree is just too cool! And your puppy pics makes me waht to hit the pet-store on my way home from work... :-)
ReplyDeleteWow oh wow, all those yummy threads hanging there. Droooool...
ReplyDeleteYour new projects look interesting. Look forward to seeing WiP pics :)
I like your open heart in Carol's SAL. Makes it stand out that much more. Your shores is coming along beautifully too. Never realize there are so many colours in the rocks.
I love the pics of you LNS - all those threads!
ReplyDeleteYour WIPS are coming along well.
I've always wanted to visit Needle in a Haystack, but haven't had the chance to (I haven't been to California in over 20 years!); I sent my mother there when she visited San Francisco earlier this year, on her return to Australia after visiting me in Texas.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing pictures of the store!