Stitchin' Stuff

GR&DF I do thank you so much for the nice comments about yesterdays post!! I had a couple of emails about my Granny's stemware - the pattern is Persian Pheasant and was made by Tiffin Glass - and they date to 1929 or so. My grandparents eloped so I am not sure if they were bought in 1929 or 1930.

I wanted to post a couple more of the exchanges that have made it to their new homes.... First up is an ornament I stitched for the year long Christmas Ornament Swap - my Partner was Rosalie and when I read her likes and dislikes I knew immediately what I wanted stitch up for her - here is a snap -

The chart is from Mary Garry's - Seasonal Mementos - "December." Stitched on a mystery piece of linen using the recommended DMC floss. I love these great little MG charts and will probably try and make them all.

I was asked what I have been photographing the ornaments on lately - it is a bunch of dried curly willow - I didn't have a tree up yet and I think the ornaments photograph better when hanging.

The second piece to make it overseas was an Angel stitch I did for Sari - her partner in the SBBC totally flaked - I read that she likes sheep - and I knew exactly what I wanted to make her for her Birthday - here is a snap...

This piece is from Prairie Schooler book #2 "Country Fair." The piece is stitched on a Solo Piece of Silkweaver linen using the recommended DMC Floss. Here is a snap of the little extras I included....

Even though this came months after her Birthday Sari was so kind and patient about it - Happy Belated Birthday!!!!!

I know I said I wasn't going to get any stash and work from what I have but just like any addiction I just couldn't help myself..... I reeeeally need a fix!!! Here's what showed up yesterday...

I had to have the two Shakespeare Peddler Jenny Bean charts - how great are they!! Then I saw a finished "With My Needle" by Goode Huswife over on Nicole's Blog - she does some beautiful things!! I knew immediately I needed this one!! I just love Reindeer things and the "EN 1815 Sampler" by Heartstring Primitives fit the bill. Then how could I pass on the two newest Stocking charts - "September" and October" by BBD - I have all the other ones and I wouldn't want to break up the set!!

The mail also brought a treat from a dear stitcher - Simone - I dropped a little Holiday treat to her and she reciprocated with...

Some Honey Drop - now, we all know my fondness for the black stuff and this honey type is just great!!! Thank you so much dear Simone!!

Last night I only did a little black box stitching on the letter C on the ABC Sampler - so no snap of that.

There you go sports fans!! Thanks for stopping by do come again!!

Take care,
edgar

Some Lovely Mail

GR&DF thank you so much for your kind get well wishes - I am feeling better. Probably sitting still last night and having hot soup and going to bed earlyish has done a world of good. What is left now is a raspy cough and a stuffed up nose - but I guess it could be worse.

Yesterday when I came in there were packages waiting and then the mail brought more lovely things - so where to start......

I received from my SBBC partner Su a wonderful package -

She stitched up and lovely bag, strawberry and reindeer pyn pillow. The finishing is perfect as is the stitching. Included in the package is some very pretty linen, fabric a cute pair of scissors and a wonderful little Pin Wheelie project. Thanks you so much dear Su!!!

I also got a package from Valerie -

She included some chocolate, licorice (a favorite) and some lovely HDF silks - how sweet was that!! Thank you dear Valerie!!

Another package from a great friend of many years was from Daytona Beach - I am sure I have mentioned this company before...... Angell & Phelps - she sent me a box of their tasty truffles....

This little chocolate place has been around since 1925 - and is a Daytona institution and my favorite candy. If you ever get to Daytona Beach, Florida you should stop by their shop on Beach Street and pick some up!

There was also a package from Vonna - a while back in the throws of cleaning out the guest room closet I came across a piece of needlepoint I did a really long time ago - I thought to myself if anyone could make this into something nice it would be Vonna.... and yesterday this arrived.....

Her finishing is just gorgeous and how she made my little piece of needle work into a beautiful pillow I haven't a clue. This piece brings back so many memories - it was the first painted canvass I had ever done and the first piece I had to decide what coloured wools to use and the first time I had ever used a metallic thread - I couldn't be happier and would highly recommend Vonna and her super finishing!!!!

Last but certainly not least of the mails - I received the Shepherd's Bush chart - Hallowe'en Night - I won in Becky's Drawing over at Stitching Smalls with Friends -

She also included 4 Bats and a Cat - how great are these Hallowe'en pieces!! I know that Hallowe'en Night will be the next Shepherd's Bush piece right after I finish Sail Away.

That's about it sports fans - Thanks for dropping by!!

Take care,
edgar

A RAK, A Winner and A Gift Arrives

Good Morning Dear Friends - I am always amazed at the generosity of this community. Just read a handful of Blogs and you see over and over again how kind and giving this group is. A week or so ago a dear friend I made through the stitching Blog-o-sphere, Shay, sent an email about some Royal Memorabilia - and would I like them. Knowing my love of the Windsor-Mountbatten's I said yes of course, and yesterday a box arrived. Dear Shay sent all of these lovely things....

She included with the Royal Wedding Wedgwood plates a darling cream and sugar and a couple of pretty doilies. How wonderful are they!! I couldn't believe it as I was unwrapping them, Thank you so much Dear Shay!!!!

Moving on to the winner of "Let Live" - I popped all the names from the comments into a Randomnizer and out popped Sherry's name at the top of the list. I will get it in the mail in the next day or so. Thank you all for entering my little give away - and for the very kind things everyone had to say - I do appreciate them.

I saw on the SBBC that my partner got her Birthday Package - I was getting worried, but there was no need - everything arrived safe and sound. My partner was Pirjo in Finland. Here is a snap of everything I sent - a chart with buttons from her Wish list, some scissors, candy, bath salts and a California magnet and seeds-


and a closeup of the Pyn-Keepe I made -

This chart is from the Crown and Thistle Seasons - this is from the Spring Summer. I picked up both the Spring/Summer and the Fall/Winter set when they came out but had never had an opportunity to stitch any of them - I wanted to make something that had a Summery feel and a busy Bee skep and vine worked out really well. Happy Birthday Pirjo!!!

There where plenty of flicks over the weekend - Some of the highlights would be - "The Easiest Way" - 1931 - starring Constance Bennett, Adolph Menjou, Robert Montgomery and Anita Page. The film is a pre-code with the basic story line about a good girl who becomes less good for a lovely life and a ton of jewellery then gives it all up for love. A pretty good film with some silly dialogue and situations - but very watchable. Another early film - "Looking Forward" - 1933 - starring Lionel Barrymore - Made in the throws of the depression this story juxtaposes two families one very wealthy and the other a working class one and how they handle it as their lives fall apart in losing everything. Everything works out in the end as most movies do. An interesting side note is this is one of eight films that Barrymore appeared in 1933 - he was very busy!!! I had two Netflix Pic's - The first would be "The Eddy Duchin Story" - 1956 - starring Tyrone Power and Kim Novak - This Bio Pick is the story of the famous Band leader of the 30's and 40's and his life. As with most Bio Pic's it is very slick and Hollywood - but some very good music and Kim Novak is stunning on screen. The second film was a BBC production of "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" - 1996 - based on the 1848 novel of Ann Bronte's. The production is superior and I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys Jane Austin or the like. I had never seen this before and I was so glad I gave it a chance. It is a mini series on one disc broken into three parts - so you can watch it over a couple of evenings.

I have droned on long enough!!
Thank you for stopping by and for all the comments!!
Do come again.

Take care,
edgar

A Birthday package Arrives and a Great Director

Thank you all so much for the kind things you said about my sick collecting habit!!! I am was partial to china - be it hard or soft paste - and then you throw in Christmas and I really start to drool - It is good and I got it bad!!! If nothing else I can always use them for desert plates around the Holidays - :)

On the stitching front I am still plugging away at exchange stuff - but I did hear from Joan that the SBBC Birthday Package I got together for her. Here is a snap of the stitched piece I made -



It is called "The Garden Gate Hare" from Ewe & Eye & Friends - The chart calls for a floss mix of DMC/Anchor and a couple of over dyed - I shifted all the floss' to over dyed and was really happy with the results - this chart also called for some specialty stitches I had never tried - just chicken I guess - but once I got the hang of them they where really no more trouble and the result is way better than just plain cross stitch. Here is a shot of the interior of the box with the extras I included in the package -

The flickers last night on TCM where honoring John Ford the Director. All this month is a tribute to the great Directors - the evening started off with "Stagecoach" - 1939 - starring John Wayne - and I have to say - I really enjoyed the film. I am not one for John Wayne or Westerns - but this is really a superior film and a break out roll for Wayne. This was followed by "The Horse Soldiers" - 1959 - also starring John Wayne and William Holden. I always enjoy William Holden and had seen this film before - based in history the film is a bit more Hollywood than the reality but aren't they always!! The final flick ( that went on way too late) was "The Quiet Man" - 1952 - again starring Wayne along with the lovely Maureen O'Hara - this is one of my favorite movies and I always enjoy watching it. All three films are great and just about any film by John Ford is superior I could recommend the whole bunch - they include - "Drums Along the Mohawk" - 1939, "The Grapes of Wrath" - 1940, "How Green was my Valley" - 1941 ..... and the list goes on and on!!!

Thank you for stopping by -

Take care,
edgar

Hit and Run Post.....

A very short and very late post today. This morning I have been sending out the reminder emails for next months SBBC Partners - and October is the biggest Birthday Month of the year - and we all know why....... about 9 months ago there was a holiday called..... Valentines day..... a day that is very romantic!!!! Just a reminder that the SBBC for 2009 sign ups will close on this Friday, 9/26 - at 3pm PST. I am planning on working up the parings over the weekend and sending out the emails next week, that will give everyone enough time.

Last night I was working on the MAW - and will probably not make this Thursday's mail date - it will more that likely be pushed to next Tuesday.

Yesterday Rico got a copy of the "Sex in the City" - 2008 movie - and so that was the flick for the evening. We really enjoyed it and it was just like watching a very long show. if you liked the show then you will probably like the movie.
I know that there are lots of people that did not like it but we did!!

Thanks for stopping by...

Take care,
edgar

Hit and Run Post

Just a quick postie today as I have come into a pile of work from the weekend -
I ask myself is that extra day off worth it......and I always tell myself - YES!!!!

I will say that there was some upheaval in my life over the weekend - as I have quit my part time job a Borders - there are just way to many things going on at the corporate level and then trickling down onto the staff that I do not agree with - especially towards employees - not me in particular since I was only there a few days a month - I was in under the radar - but in general that I did not agree with, so I quit! I live my life by one constant thought and premise - "If I aint happy, I change it!!" That applies to every single aspect of my life - job - living situation - acquaintances - clubs - crafts....... everything!!! So I was not happy there and I changed it!! You can ask anyone that really knows me and they will tell you how true a statement that is. I always remember first and foremost - that we only get one shot at this life and you have to make of it what YOU want it to be!! There is NOT going to be a magic knock on the proverbial door with somebody handing you what you want - change it and get it yourself!!!
Now - off the soap box -

It was quite stitchy weekend with a ton exchange and RR stitching -
I do not have any snaps today but will have some tomorrow.

I hope everyone had a great weekend - I sure did!!!!

Take care,
edgar

SBBC - info on the blog, just click it.... Sign ups until the 26th. :)

Tuesday brings...

...another day of possibilities and wonderfulness - birds singing and sparkle sunshine .... see I can do positive!!! It often seems that I tend to ramble on in a less than positive and uplifting vein of thought - or so I have been told by certain persons who shall remain anonymous...but you know who you are - orchid man!! :) I know I do tend to dwell on the negative - but it is just a part of the charm that is me!!! :)

The mail brought some really nice goodies - starting off with my receiving Carol R's re-stitched QFFRR - the colours she chose are just lovely!! Included in the package are a set of the best floss tags with my name and little black sheep's all over them - here is a snap -

Those tags are just the cutest!!!

The mail also brought my first installment in the acquisition of silk for "Shores of Hawk Run Hallow."


Since there is very little re-use of silk between the VoHRH and Shores I am needing to get quite a few skeins so I am breaking up the spending across a few purchases. I am still in the way back thinking about what linen I will stitch it on - and think should I go for the yellow that is recommended....I have read how well the colours of the silk just pop on it but can I work on a piece of yellow/gold fabric for months.......

I also said that I would show a snap of the little print I got over the weekend -



It is an old print in a old frame that is probably original together as the paper backing looks to never have been disturbed. It is hanging in our stairway landing where all of my icons and things hang together, and fits right in.

Two of the movies that I saw over the weekend are - "The Darjeeling Limited" - 2007 - about a journey of three brothers in search of the wandering mother played by Anjelica Huston. Along the way the brothers work on themselves and each other. The trip is taken across India on a train (and we all know how I love a good train movie) There are some really spectacular moments in the film. It is a visual feast and the score is great also. Another movie was "Stage Struck" - 1958 a remake of an earlier the film "Morning Glory" - 1933. This version with Susan Stasberg, Henry Fonda , Joan Greenwood and Herbert Marshall had some interesting moments - but overall the overacting and chewing up of every moment she was on screen Susan Strasberg made this film almost impossible to watch. This is one film that I would not watch again.

I have tweeked the SBBC info and posted it on that Blog - I will be taking sign ups starting on August 29 and close them on September 26th with partners names/info being sent out the following week - If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar