11 and a Bonus!!

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends once again I must say how very nice it is to open up the Blog and read all your kind comments!!!  Now for todays post....  I always enjoy answering questions asked and try to get back to any and all with some kind of answer - that's why I really enjoyed the "33 Questions" the other day.  Now I have 10 great questions from Riona from over at "Obliette" that I wanted to answer......

1. Do you enjoy designing projects of your own? - I have only ever designed one piece on my own and found it lots of fun.  I am not sure if I am creative enough to turn out a bunch of designs, but the single sampler was enjoyable, and who knows, I may just done more.

2. How often do you find yourself swapping out fibers: solid for overdyed, silk for cotton etc?  I almost always convert and switch colours and often switch up silk for cotton and overdyed for solid choices, I usually go for what I like instead of what is recommended.

3. Do you enjoy using "different" specialty fibers, e.g.: bamboo floss, velvets, silk ribbons, metallics and the like?  The few times I have used metallic floss I really hated it and so I shy away from any kind of specialty fiber.

4. Have you ever stitched on fabrics "outside the box," e.g. on regular sewing fabrics, burlaps, gauzes or even screening?  Not yet, but if the project called for some I would certainly not mind trying.  I always say and live by the mantra of....  "You gotta try everything at least once!!"

5. Is there any form of needlework that, try as you might, you just can't quite master?  Yes, I have tried stump work and it never looks "right" - so I just stick to what I know.

6. Are there other textiles arts on the horizon that you want to explore?  I would love to know how to quilt, but have just never taken the plunge.

7. Is it really necessary to have more than a dozen pairs of embroidery scissors?  How can you have less than a dozen with all the beautiful scissors out there???

8. What is your favorite non-framing finish?  I do love Pyn-Keepes!!

9. Do you select you vacation destinations based on the locations of needlework shops and tea shops?  What's a vacation???  No, really, when I travel, it is the destination first, but I always do research before going to see what needlework shops might be doable or in the vicinity.

10. If you could plan the very finest of stitching cruises, what would it be like?  I have never had an interest in cruising so I have no idea where to begin or what is available.

11.  How many stitching Blogs do you read daily?  Quite a handful.... upwards of 20+, if time permits.

Bonus Question: What is your favorite Needlework related Website?  Well, two I visit daily are the 123 Stitch site - I really enjoy reading the Message Board and the other is Hand Dyed Fibers - for the Stitching Forums - I usually never post on either of them but I do keep up with what others post.

_____________

That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks again for stopping by, have agreat weekend and do stop in again!!

Take care,

edgar

Cottage Catch-up

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I am running short of time this morning so will make this a short post about the CCN Cottages - 

I don't think I ever got a snap of completed June up - so here is a snap of that - 

I think my favorite part of this cottage is the thatched roof.  As you can see I changed up this one a bit, but leaving off the floating flowers and I deleted the french knots from the strawberries - they looked nothing like seeds to me - I did stitch in some seeds with really small stitches, but you can not see them in the photo.

Here is an overall shot of the piece showing the little progress I have made with July...

____________

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

Take care,

edgar

A Wonderful Summer exchange and Some Holiday Stash

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends the mail was really very good to me yesterday!!!

As you might remember I am part of a small group of stitchers doing a year long exchange over at Friends Stitching Through the Seasons 2012, and yesterday I received my Summer Package from my partner Karen.  Here is a snap of everything she sent...

In addition to the beautifully stitched and finished Recipe Box, Karen included a couple of fun things....  a Wooly Wily and light up caterpillar.  Inside the box where a set of great molds and a patriotic heart to hang up - and - two lovely pieces of fabric for finsihing!!  Here is a close up of the Box...

It is perfedctlly stitched and the finishing is top notch.  I know this will be a wonderful addition to my kitchen and help corral some of my ever growing pile of recipes!!!  Thank you so much Karen another super duper exchange!!!!

___________

The mail also brought some stash.  Every year Prairie Schooler releases new patterns for the Fall/Winter Season and this years additions I could not resist - I do love me some PS!!!!

In addiition to the New PS charts I got a couple of OOP Charts I won off the Bay of Evil...  both BoF Hallowe'en charts and both totally cute!!  I have been after these for a while and now they are mine!!!

I think my favorite of the new PS charts would have to be "O Christmas Tree" I really like the 12 Days of Christmas ornaments - and know they will have to be stitched up!!  I also really like the new idea of Hallowe'en Cards, like the annual Santa Cards

_____________

I started "July" Cottage last night after converting all the floss to over dyed choices I like (and have already).  I'll show a snap in a day or two.

That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks for all the great comments and emails and for just stopping by - do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Luscious Lemon Coffee Cake

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends another lovely cool and breezy morning to enjoy here by the Bay.  I watch the news in the morning and evening and the weather channel whenever "something" is going on in the South East.... can we say TS Debbie.....  I just see the temps going up and up... if I enjoyed the warm/hot weather I could get some by just crossing the Golden Gate Bridge over into Marin County and driving 10 minutes... the heat spirals up quickly over there - in fact we are surrounded by heat and hot-ness.  "They" are saying we are to be getting warmer towards the weekend.... we shall see.  

Yesterday was damn near perfect in the afternoon when we got down to the pool - mid 70's slight breeze and a warm pool.....  I threw some steaks on the grill and we had our Sunday evening Steak and baked potato meal a day late. Rico's got together a green salad and it was a perfect addition!!

_____________

I wanted to post the link to the recipe for the coffee cake - I found it over at "Stolen Moments Cooking" a great place that Kate Miller has gotten together some super recipes, check it out.  I started out on Saturday making the lemon curd that was the filling - the recipe says you can use lemon pie filling, but when lemon curd is so very easy, why would you not make some!!

Since it only takes 4 ingredients I whipped some up.  HERE is a version with video on how to make Lemon Curd.

On sunday I pulled the curd form the fridge and it was tangy and thick!!

The recipe is very straight forward and easy to make.  HERE is the direct link.  It made one delicious cake....

I got the curd a bit too close the edge and it browned a bit ....  but when cut the cake is really beautiful...

 - and - the recipe for the Lemon Curd made enough for the cake and some extra for later!!!!

________________

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

Take care,

edgar

A Monday Morning Posting

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thanks for stopping by and a great good morning!!!!  It is a brisk 56 degrees outside with a nice breeze - I love SF in the summer!!!!  Over the weekend we really beautiful days -  not warm at all but bright and sunny both days.  We were to have some rain but that fizzeled out - the most mositure we got was some fog rolling in Friday evening - and then not too much.

___________

As you might remember I am taking part in a year long exchange with a small group of stitchers over at "Friends Stitching Through the Seasons" and my partner, Diane received her Summer box safely.  Here is a snap of the exchnage I sent...

and here is a close up of the stitched piece....

I used the Farmer's Alphabet from Priaire Schooler to create this Pyn Keepe - It was a fun piece to stitch but for Summer I had a hard time thinking up something... now, with Fall approaching I have some super ideas!!!

__________________

On Saturday I ran around to some Estate Sales and a couple of Thrift/Consignment Shops and picked up some fun things...  here's a snap

From front left to right....  a little plate in my Mom's wedding china - Castleton "Lace" - this has been out of production for 45+ years and what on earth you would use this tiny plate for is beyond me, I picked up these great Limoges pieces (covered vegetable and tureen) not beacuse I need them, or even have the room but because they were 1/2 price - from the marks on the bottom they date to the 1880's and are in super condition, the Native Harvest's cookbook is really interesting and finally the great old maple rolling pin, perfect condition and a lovely old worn colour!!

_________________

On the stitching front I worked some on cottages - so here is a progress snap...

...... as you can see I am almost there with June - what a great month.  I tried a couple of other "whites" for the house but settled on the DMC B5200 I have been using as my white throughout.  I also frogged out the fence in March (like it much better).  I will certainly have June finished before the end of the month and get a good start on July.  I have seen a picture of August Cottage, and I am sort of put out with it being another light blue cottage, that will make three and the way I am stitching them August will line up with May - I am thinking of seriously changing up the light blue for another colour.

____________

I also baked up this tasty Lemon Coffee Cake yesterday......

I post up that info tomorrow.

_________________

That's about it for today sports fans.  Thank you all for your great comments and emails.

Take care,

edgar

33 Questions

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I wanted to take a minute and thank you for you kind comments about yesterday post.  I usually don't use my Blog to pontificate about an issue, but I just couldn't let that go - so once again thank you for your patience!!

____________

I was tagged by Tam over at "I Want to do One More Stitch"  with the "11 Question Game" that is going around the Blog's.  I tied to come up with a list of bloggers that I thought would like to play along but so many have been tagged at this point that - instead of passing on the Game - I will answer not only the 11 Questions for me but also the two sets of Questions she was tagged with.....  I hope enjoy learning just a bit more about me and my nuttiness!!!

Questions from Tam - 

1) Favorite pattern ever stitched - show a snap -  I have so many, but one of my favorites would have to be CHS Alphabet - 

2) Favorite Junk food to have while stitching? I don't eat at all while I am stitching, I always have something to drink - tea, coffee, Gatorade, but never any food near my stitching.

3) Your Favorite Blog to Visit? - There are way to many to name.

4) Do you leave comments on Blogs?  I do if I have something to say, usually I am so far behind in reading them that I am constantly playing catch up.

5) Do you reply to your comments on your Blog?  When I can I try to - especially if there is a question in the comment.  It is hard if the comment is a "no-reply" type then I have to leave the commenter just hanging, but I try.

6) Your favorite thread to work with?  Hands down Belle Soie - love the feel, love the colours - just love the stuff - but any over dyed floss I think is great just for the variation in colour you can achieve.

7) Do I know a male stitcher?  Not personally - I know of a few - like 3 - I am sure there are more out there.

8) What is the biggest stitched piece you have stitched?  That would be a toss up between Village at HRH or Shores at HRH - just the amount of stitching they take make them are large pieces.

9) What is the furthest away you have travelled to go to a stitching store, what was it called?  I have never purposely travelled a distance to get to a stitching store, but when I travel I always try and find a store...  One that I visited when in Florida in December was Brick City Cross Stitch.

10) Favorite tool to use when stitching?  Would have to be my Ott Light

11) Do I like stitching for others or for yourself and why?  It depends on what and who - I do enjoy stitching things for those that appreciate the time and effort it takes..

Now, questions from Trina - 

1) Why do you love stitching?  It's creative, to a point, and it keeps me off the streets!!

2) Do you have a favorite genre/type of pattern that you like to do?  I do love doing samplers.

3) Have you ever had to re-stitch a pattern?  No, but I have restitched something I liked or thought someone else would like.

4) How often do you try to stitch a week?  I stitch every day, it is rare when I don't do a little stitching every evening.

5) What DMC colours do I lean towards?  The more dull earth tones seem to pop up most often.

6) How did I come to stitch?  Although my Mom stitched as did my Granny.... in college I had a roommate, Louann, and she taught me how to stitch.

7) Do I have favorite stores to buy stitching from?  My LNS Needle in a Haystack, but I also like Needlecraft Corner and 123 Stitch, for online stuff.

8) Do I have a favorite designer?  I like quite a few, but the top three would be - Prairie Schooler, Blackbird Designs and Heartstring Sampler.

9) Do I have a stitching Blog?  Yes

10) Have I read fictional books about stitching?  No

11) How many times a week would I say I visit other stitchers Blogs?  I try an read some every day.  I do not touch the computer over the weekends - Only M-F.

and now some questions from Janye -

1) How do I feel about blended threads as in T Wentzler's projects?  I like using a single piece of floss on high count linen - so I guess I don't care for them.

2) Do I launder my projects before framing?  No, never.  I use way to much over dyed floss to take a chance.  I keep my hands clean and the area I work in spotless so there is not a problem of getting my stitching dirty.

3) How do I feel about the lack of colour fast in all the flosses now?  It really is of no concern - I like the colour choices of over dyed and the overall look of the stuff.  I try to be really careful and have had no problems thus far - knock on wood!!

4) When you begin a project with a black and white chart how do you choose which symbol to begin with?  I usually start in the upper left hand corner regardless of the symbol.

5) Do I do my own framing?  I have done lots of my own framing, but some pieces are just not a standard size - so those have to be professional framed.

6) Do I choose my own mats and molding or let someone else tell me what I would like?  I always choose my own moldings and they way a piece will be framed.

7) Pins or lace?  Pins

8) Do I have any wall space for a new project?  There is always room for a new piece to go up on the wall.

9) Have I ever gifted a finished piece right off the wall because someone really liked it?  No

10) Would I stitch it again for myself?  No

11) Do I have a group of friends whom I share the love of stitching with on a regular basis?  Yes, all my Blog Buddies!!!  It's what keeps me coming back to mu Blog!!!!

Well, I hope you enjoyed learning just a bit more about me. 

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

Take care,

edgar

May Cottage Finish and a Stupid "Ann Taylor" Employee

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thanks so much for your kind comments on Mr Stanley and his adventures here in Sf and Florida.  If all goes as planned he will be winging his way home today.

____________

Last nights stitching involved lots of frogging and my figuring out what exactly my problem was with this particular Cottage.  I think after I took off quit a few bits that it was overcrowded.  I removed the fence, two clouds and the sun.  I also converted all the DMC Floss to over dyed choices to soften up the colour - now I am much happier about this month and have moved on to June.  here is a snap...

I took about a dozen snaps of this and can't seem to get a decent shot - the flash bleaches out the colour something terrible, but you get the idea.  I'll try over the weekend for a better shot in natural light.  Here is a list of the floss' I used - with the recommended Floss choice coming first:

676 - WDW Whiskey

959 - CC Tyler Boy Blue

964 - WDW Aqua

3031 - CC Hickory Sticks

3806 - WDW Peony

CC Frog Legs - HSH Leapfrog

WDW Bright Leaf

White - DMC B5200

I kept the WDW Bright Leaf, I couldn't get any of the CC Frog Legs (it seems that everybody had run out), but I did have the HSH alternate Leapfrog in my stash.  I kept the DMC B5200 White - as I have used it in the other Cottages.  Here is an overall shot...

Sorry about the extra "wonk" to the shot, but you get the idea.  For the June Cottage I have once again converted all the DMC's to over dyed, including the white..... and as I keep looking at the piece I am thinking about frogging out the fence in March......

_____________

I usually try and not get on my soap box often but yesterday I read an article on line that set my teeth on edge and got my dander up!!!  Here is the ARTICLE - in a nutshell - an Ann Taylor store employee basically asked a shopper in an Ann Taylor store with a guide dog to leave the store as "dogs" weren't allowed in the store.  Clearly she was with a guide dog and needed her to navigate and shop, but the employee was adamant and so she and her dog Cricket were asked to leave and they left.  Becky, the shopper with dog, posted about it on her BLOG.  The store issued some lame excuse .....  "that the reason she was asked to leave was the dog was off her harness"  ....  what .....  are they kidding!!!  A guide dog is there to guide, hence would be in a harness....  a complete fabrication by the store to get out of a sticky situation.  In this day and age an employee dealing with the public can't tell the difference between a guide dog and a dog on the loose!!!!  What a commentary about the stores training and dealing with public.  Now, I don't shop at Ann Taylor, but if I did I think this horrendous move by their employee and then by corporate would sour my perception for a good long time and I would do my shopping and spending elsewhere!!!  Read the article and read Becky's posts about the incidents and the "apology."  It's an eye opener for sure.

_____________

That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks for stopping by, do come again... I'll be a little less caustic tomorrow!!!!

Take care,

edgar