Some Framed Stitchin'

Gentle Friends I picked up the three other framed pieces I had out - and here they are.....

... this was a great stitch-a-long from a few years ago - I am pretty sure it was called "A La Belle Etoile" as that was one of the labels I have used in the past.... I chose a white washed frame, since nothing to me really worked as well with the over dyed floss used.....

The next two pieces are more recent........

..... my version of "Elizabeth Shepard" - I chose a black frame (although it looks like there is some colour, it is black) I like the way that black frames really set off these repro Quaker pieces....  and the last piece...... my version of the "Mary Ann Hutton" sampler......

... sorry about the reflections, this is a charcoal coloured frame with a light beige line detail that matches the linen I used - since I used my conversion of Belle Soie for the stitching and shifted in my initials, and stitched the grass on the diagonal for a little interest - I didn't feel constrained to pick a more traditional frame.   I took these snaps with the pieces propped up and not hung.   Still stitching away on "Feast", I'll try and get a better snap of it up in a day or two.

Thanks for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

First Finish of 2013... and a Little Nutty Weekend!!

Gentle Friends, for some reason I couldn't get onto Blogger yesterday so that I could leave a Post.  It was quite frustrating!!!

Over the weekend I finished up Miss Mary, so I finally can start something else without all the guilt of the WIP basket looming there next to my stitching chair!!!  So here's a snaperoo of this really super sampler...

"Mary Ann Hutton 1801 - Christmas Sampler"

36ct Days Gone By - my conversion to Belle Soie

I am not sure why but for some reason it looks all green on my monitor, trust me it is not on a green ground, but a lovely mottled tan.  As you can see I decided to stitch my initials and date instead of going full repro - since I deviated so far from repro-ville I figured why not.  I stitched that number  "3" a couple of times and am still not too happy with it, I may go back and re-do it again.  This was a super piece to work on, now I am thinking of what my next SL piece will be, there are so many I have already in my stash the decision will take a little while, but I think I know what I want to start.

Over the weekend I really didn't do too much.  A really good Friend of mine in North Carolina sent us some raw red peanuts, you just can not get them out here in the far west...

 he knows one of our favorite things is candied or sugar peanuts...  so I got out the old skillet

 and made a big ole batch of them.  It is a wonder how the miracle of sugar, water and the peanut can make such a delicious treat!!!

They are easy to make and so good!!!!!

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That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

A Quick Stitchity Update.....

Gentle Friends, I didn't want a Monday to pass without a Post of some sort...  so I will show a quick snaperoo of Miss Mary Hutton....

I finished up the grass and the triple line of dirt, so the ground is done.  The border is really all that's left and I will try and wrap that up this week.

Thanks for stopping by - do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

A Post About the Weekend

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends the weekend was very nice and relaxing!! As the week wound down the weather heated up and by Saturday we were in the upper 80's and for out here that's a scorcher!!  But, Friday evening the winds died down and the sun set with this glorious sky...

Taken from our balcony looking North East across Noe Valley towards downtown SF.

.... and the old saying - red at night sailors delight... held true, as the weather was dry and lovely Saturday and Sunday - if not a bit hot Saturday.  Sunday early morning the winds picked up and the cool/cold Pacific breezes blew in and we had a perfect SF day - cold and clear most of the day, then the fog rolled in and Summer in the city was back in full force.

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One of the things I accomplished was to finally wind up and organize my DMC.  For the longest time this project has sat bagged up and forlorn...

..... I finally got it together to get the skeins of floss on bobbins and in order!!

Now, I have all the colours in order and handy - I felt Like I had killed a bear when I finished.  I was amazed at how may duplicate bobbins and skeins I have - some colours I must have bought a dozen times!!  That at least will not happen again, I hope!

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On the stitching front I worked some on Mary Ann....  just lots of grass stitching...

Sorry about the wrinkles.  I am stitching the grass diagonally to add some visual interest.  Since there are three rows of colour I am stitching the two narrow rows leaning left and the fat middle row leaning right, it sure gets tedious after a while!!  I also worked some on the Cottages...

I converted all of May's recommended DMC's to over dyed floss and I'm really pleased with the outcome.  I am very behind on this piece and I plan on playing catch up this week.

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Yesterday after Mass and a quick breakfast at Eddie's Cafe, we made it to the Grove Street Farmers Market.  The summer fruits and flowers were just great....

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That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

A Stitchity Post

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I really missed my daily Blog "fix."  Although sometimes I think I drone on and on about practically everything - I find it cathartic to sort out my thoughts and put many of them here.  Don't get me wrong, not every thought gets out and on the Web, but quite a few do!!  :)

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I think today I will devote to some stitching stuff - since that is what binds us to each other - those thin gossamer threads of silk and cotton.

There are three pieces I wanted to talk about....  first up would have to be the surprise waiting for me when I came in the office yesterday.  There was a big box from the Sweetheart Company waiting for me.  Here's a little background- a while back Dena had posted that she was looking for a completed "Christmas Rules" by Lizzie Kate to create a frame - I had my finished piece and it wasn't framed so I agreed to let her do her magic and work up a frame and use it as a model for her site (her site is just darling by the way).  Here is a snap of the wonderful job she did on my piece....

If you remember I stitched mine on 36ct linen so there is tad more "white" space than would be when using the recommended 32ct linen - but what a stupendous job she did!!  All hand done and just too cute!!  Here is a close up shot to show some of the detail...

I couldn't be happier with the finished piece and will treasure it for years to come!!!  Thank you so very much Dena. On the Sweetheart Company site it is in the "New Releases" area.

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Another framed piece I wanted to show is a piece I gave my Mom for Christmas.  It is the LHN's "Sampler Months" - here is a snap...

The frame she picked out is a great blue coloured painted one that fits really well with the piece. My Mom was super happy with the framed piece and that's what counts!!

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The last piece I wanted to talk about today is the ongoing stitching on Mary Ann Hutton....  It was one of the two projects I took with me last week, but it was the only one I got a chance to work on -  here is a snap of how it stands at the moment...

.... it is just bee-bopping along not very fast but steadily.  I am not sure how I am going to handle the name and date - as I don't usually stitch the original stitchers names and dates when I stitch an historic sampler, but with this one  - it's like a banner across the lower part so it will be hard to loose it or stitch something else in it's place....  I have lots of time and quite a bit of border before I need to make a decision, so I won't worry about that at the moment.

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That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks again for all your kind comments and for stopping by, do stop again!

Take care,

edgar

Some Stitching and Marketing

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thank you all so very much for the many kind comments and emails - it is so nice of you all to think of us and our "little man." 

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Over the weekend I also got some more stitching done on Mary Ann... 

here is an updated snap of her...

It doesn't look like much was accomplished but the triple line surrounding everything was just never ending - or so it seemed... and I was determined to get that part finished.

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With all the summer fruits and vegetables coming in from the Valley we made a point of getting to our little Farmers Market on Grove Street in the Western addition.....  I got some snaps..

 The tomatoes were just beautiful..

 We picked up both peaches and some of the gorgeous early cherries....

and our flower lady had these great purple and gold bunches of flowers.....  ECU colours...  GO Pirates!!!

That's about it for today sports fans - thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!!

take care,

edgar

Weekend Stuff

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends sorry to not have gotten a post up on Friday, but after trying twice to Post one - I just gave up - Blogger was bugging out for some reason and kept deleting my Posts.....  I just didn't have the time or energy to fight with it so I didn't!! 

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I think the high point for the entire weekend was the eclipse yesterday afternoon - not that it got dark at all - just the lighting changed to a very odd grey cast - and I could see the change from a seated position and that meant I didn't have to move - I like the not moving aspect of that!!!!  

We did our usual running around Saturday, starting off with the early run out to breakfast and then on to the weekly grocery shopping......  after stopping off at home to drop off the haul from the store - I grabbed the Estate Sale list and we were off again.  There where four Sales this weekend that I wanted to hit - they were all mostly a Bust!!  Along with the Sales and hitting the usual Thrift/Consignment Stores - I found few things...

I found the large "Indian Tree" platter at a Goodwill, I have a medium one already.  I really like the Johnson Bros interpretation of this old pattern, and will pick it up whenever I see some, I found the little "oyster" shaped Japanese? dish at a Thrift Shop.  Here is a close of it....

and the backside...

It fits in my hand and is the size of an oyster shell, the gold is still in great condition as is the rest of the hand work, but what could it have been used for???  We also stopped off at Amoeba records and DVDs and that's where I picked up the 1st Season of "All in the Family" a show I have always enjoyed.

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Baking yesterday I had a hankering for some Brownies ....

I used my go to recipe I got off of Allrecipes, I have posted it before  - They are Called "Best Brownies" and where originally posted by Angie - simply the best!!!!  The two changes I make is to prepare the pan by buttering and then using cocoa powder instead of flour, to keep them from sticking - and - a teaspoon of Powdered espresso to the batter to kick up the chocolate.

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On the stitching front I finishedup my Exchange piece - and it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.  Once it reaches its final Home I'll post a snaperoo.  I also worked on Mary Ann and finished up the wonky "vine" that encircles the verse....

Now, to start to work on the flower/strawberry bits....

I had an email from a reader about a older RR piece I worked on - I get more emails about this piece from the Header Shot - so I got it out and took a good look - and a snap - and think I should fill it in as there is quite a bit of "white" space still left....  any suggestions??????  here is a snap for a memory jogger....

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That's about it for today sports fans - thanks for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

It's a Cold Tuesday Morning

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thanks so very much for warming up my morning with your great comments.  I have put aside Mary Ann for a bit to work on an Exchange Piece, but she will be back soon.  I am really enjoying working on her - she is not complicated, no specialty stitches - just full cross stitching - I got a couple of emails asking how I decided on this particular sampler to work on..... I think the reason I was drawn to this sampler is the second verse on the piece - it is the first line from one of my favorite Christmas Carols - "Hark, the Herald angels sing...."  Here is a great version of that song from St Paul's in London.....

My crazy reason in a Nut Shell..

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Over the weekend I watched a really good film - a difficult film, but an excellent film - "Wit" - 2001 - starring Emma Thompson (a super actress)...

Thompson plays a tough Professor of metaphysical poetry - specializing in the Holy Sonnets of John Donne who is diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian cancer.  Be advised, this is a tough film to watch; but also know that if you choose to do so, you will be rewarded with an experience that is invaluable and unforgettable.  From the first words spoken in the film "You have cancer" to the last voice over "Death be not proud" it is a journey well worth taking.  At a short 98 minuets the impact will stay with you for a very long time.

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That's about it for today sports fans.  I did want to mention a New Blogger out here with us.. Chiara - over at The Grey Tail - she is having a New Blogger Gift-a-way Drawing - so pop on over and say Hi!! - and leave a comment to enter her drawing!!   Thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!

Take care,

edgar

Sampler Stitching, A Mystery Start and some Thrifty Finds

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thanks so much for all your kind comments about Fridays Post.  Over the weekend we did our usual things - starting off Friday evening at the mall.  Macy's was having one of their perpetual "One Day Sales" so we took advantage of it and picked up some K-Cups for the Keurig - gotta love a sale!!

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I stitched on a few pieces over the last couple of days...

Mary Ann got quite a bit of attention......  and I joined a SAL so I started that piece...

 

"Mystery SAL al Castello" from Niky's Creations.  I am using a 36ct piece of Vintage Meadow Rue and the called for DMC.  I think this will be a great SAL.. I am loving the birds!!

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I also got to a few Thrift/Consignment Shops and picked up a few do-dads...

I love the child's mug with the enameled rabbits, and you know my passion for English Transferware.... I had to have this lovely dinner plate.  "A World Lit by Fire" is one of my all time favorite books - I have worn out two paperback copies and when I came across this 1st Edition hardback for a $1 how could I pass it up - and the Christmas book, well you know me and Christmas!!

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As you know Rico has the green thumb at our house - and to prove it once again I have this lovely thing blooming away...

This little orchid is pretty old and has bloomed every year for the past few years - if it was left in my care it would have given up the ghost a loooong time ago!!

 - and - I baked up this pretty terrific cake yesterday.....

It is a "Caramel-Apple Cake" and comes from Barandie over at The Country Cook.  Only a few ingredients come together quickly and turn out a moist tasty cake that goes just great with coffee!!

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That's about it for today sports fans!!  Thanks again for stopping by - do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Some Stitching and Some Stashing

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I think the Mal Ware issue is finally cleared up - I have to give a big old THANK YOU to DaffyCat for finding the offending little bit and pointing it out to me - I certainly couldn't find it...  I did try and try again, but no luck....  now I hope that everything is back on an even keel!

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I have been steadily stitching away on Mary Ann the last couple of nights and last night I thought would be no different - how wrong I was!  After dozing off and waking up about 6 or so times after dinner I hauled her out and snapped her into the old Q-snaperoo and was going to work on the second line of verse....  well, I counted and stitched and looked and counted again - and the "w" just was not where it was supposed to be.  

The other night after I stitched the "vine" bit along the top  - I found that in no way shape or form was it even  - it jumps from 7 to 8 back to 7  stitches all along the way.....  A light bulb went off might the sides follow that non-conformist stitching pattern??  I went back and re-counted the vine going down the left side - where I was counting off to set the "w" in place.  I found that in my haste, or numb scullery, I stitched the vine sections all at 7 up the 7 down then 7 up then - you get the picture....... or a picture is worth a 1000 words....

So it was a frog type evening - and all the stitching had to come out, I hate to waste the silk but what had to be done had to be done...... out came the vine, the flower bits and the leaves - this early in the game better to make it right than to fudge it later on!

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On another stitchity front I have slowly been acquiring more stash - like I don't have enough!! 

 Mostly things that are OOP  - here is a snap...

In the back from l to r - Dec 1992 - "Cross Stitch and Country Crafts" - for the great Noah's Ark chart, 2 Mary Garry Charts - "Autumn" & "Christmas Cookies," "Autumn Row" from Bent Creek, "Motif Sampler" from Just Cross Stitch, "Elizabeth Simon" from Scarlet Letter (I really liked this sampler as the verse is the 23rd Psalm), In the front from l to r - Goode Huswife " A Pennsylvania Alphabet Sampler." December 1989 Mary Beale "Notebook," Lavender and Lace "Mother's Tree," Pineberry Lane "Christmas Tide," and I won a great piece of Stash from Doris - Ewe and Eye and Friends "Napa Valley Sampler."  

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That's about it from my little corner of the world - the weekend is supposed to be lovely here by the Bay - so I might actually get out and enjoy it a bit....  or just "numb butt' it stitching.....  who knows!!

Have a great weekend!!  Thanks for stopping by, do stop again!

Take care,

edgar

5th Blogaversary Winners

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends  - well - I had the "hag claw" draw the 5 Winners from the BoD last night... with the help of some who-hounds!!!

The 5 Winners are......

1. Musicals - Lynn, 2. Christmas Collection - Mouse , 3. Drama Collection I - Melody, 4. Barbra Collection - Tracy, 5. Drama Collection II - Minnie.  I wanted to thank everyone that entered and for all the kind wishes for my 5th Blogaversary!!!  If all the winners could send me an email with their mailing address I can get the DVD's on the way to them.  

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I wanted to show a little update on the MA Hutton sampler....

I wanted to work the "vine" across as soon as possible - I often worry about the fabric size no matter how many times I have measured - and with this I have plenty of room... except -  I do hate when a piece is cut wonky!!  and this piece I bought "on-line" was cut way wonky!!! 

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A really good friend of ours gave us a new toy to play with.....

....  he is trying to cut back on caffeine (which stunned me!!) and wanted this great machine out of his house so it has come to live with us!!  I am loving it!!!  - and - there are way too many different kinds of drinks and flavours to try!!!!!!

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That's about it for today sports fans.  I have been getting quite a few concerned emails about this Blog and that a piece of Mal ware is attached itself somehow.  I have tried another fix from Google and lets hope this fixes that problem.  Thanks again for stopping by - do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

A Framed Piece and a New Start

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I futzed a bit with the Blog look again and am getting close to what I want it to look like.  I am mulling over a new header picture..... but the column widths are getting there.  The whole "malware" issue I think has resolved itself - as I removed a few things that I think where causing the problems.

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The first thing I want to show is a piece I did a couple of years ago that I finally had framed....

This is the "Beatrix Potter Companion Quaker" piece I personalized with wedding dates of my parents and grandparents.  Done on a mystery 32ct piece of over dyed linen using Belle Soie "Moss."  

Here is a close up of the frame...

I love the using a black frame to set the piece off.

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I also wanted to show my new start....

 This is the "Mary Ann Hutton" Sampler - I am using a piece of 36ct "Days Gone By" linen and my conversion from the recommended DMC colours to my choice of Belle Soie.

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We made it to a couple of Consignment/Thrift Shops of Saturday and I picked up a couple of things....

A slim volume of Truman Capote's Holiday stories and a great old blue & white bowl...  painted all around with scenes of Holland...

I would guess it is from the 1920's???  but who knows.

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I baked up a great chocolate cake using the recipe from Octoberfarm 

for "The Best Chocolate Cake."  

 I followed the recipe exactly - except - and you knew there would be one...  I added a heaping teaspoon of espresso powder to the boiling water before adding it to the batter - I like the way that coffee "kicks" up the flavour of chocolate!!  It really is a scrumptious and easy cake to pull together!!!

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That's about it for the weekend!!  Thanks for stopping by, don't forget that my 5th Blogaversary Drawing ends tomorrow afternoon - so if you have not signed up there is still time.  You can click HERE to do that.  Do stop by again.

Take care,

edgar