Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas!

A Bouquet for Cheryl Finished

This brings my total finishes for 2009 up to two! Yep, I think there were only 2 this year. Still have to wash this and pick out a frame for it.

Thanks to all of you that commented on my last post. I hope I can be an inspiration to those of you that want to move to a more healthy lifestyle. As I said, I am continuing my journey. I went back to the doctor Monday and he released me. So I can start back to my Spin classes. I am putting in for my regular classes starting in Jan.

A wonderful little RAK Fairy sent me 4 awesome charts. I can't share what they are yet cause it's a secret. I was so surprised! 4 HAED charts! OMG! The ladies over at HAED are just so wonderful! I'll update on this when I get the okay.

I have taken on the responsibility of Moderator of the Our Friends' HAED SAL Blog. The girls that had it were bogged down with other things and they needed someone to take over, or it would have been disbanded. I said I would do it. I don't know how well I will do it, but I'll try. I've never been a Moderator for a blog before, there are 100 members and a waiting list a mile long. I just hope I can keep up with it.

Till next time...
Happy Stitching!

Final Numbers

Okay here's the final tally!

weight down 18 lbs.
% body fat down 5.1%
waist down 7.5 inches
hips down 5.5 inches
chest down 4.5 inches
biceps down 1.25 inches

Over all inches lost 18.75

I am so happy with the results! Proved to me that when I finally stick to something it works. I just have to put in the effort.

Parfaits

Here's what the Parfaits looked like.
I think they were a hit! Most of the ladies asked me to email out the recipe.

I had a nice time. We all got our Dimplomas for graduating the class. I was voted 'Best Transformation' and got a certificate for that. I was very surprised. It was fun. One lady made a pasta salad with fresh red & green peppers and Dream Fields Farms Pasta. Very low GI and only 5g of digestable carbs per serving. It's very good and you can't even tell it's not 'regular' pasta! I have to get the recipe for the dressing she used in it. Lots of fruit and veggies.

Now on to the results! I don't have my mesurements yet. They will email them along with our before and after pictures, soon. Most of my measurements didn't move that much, some not at all. But I know it tapers off, plus I have to get back to spin classes, I'll get come back to that. So DRUMROLL.....
My total weight loss after 11 weeks was 18 pounds!!!! WOO HOO!!!!! That's the most I've lost in years!!!

I have my next appointment for my back on the 21st. I have already decided that even if he tells me again that I can't go back to class, I'm still going back starting in Jan. I will just not do any bending or anything that will cause my back harm. If I can't do 3rd position on the bike then I can do 2nd position. I'll do the weight training parts, and all that. I just won't do anything that calls for bending. So when the Jan. schedule comes out, I'll be on it! There you have it.

Thank you for following me and commenting! Anna asked about Rosy in silks. I did the conversion myself. Vikki has a good conversion tool on her site Floss Converter. I just typed in the DMC number and it tells you the corresponding silk number. It took a long time to do it for Rosy since there are so many colors, but I was determined to stitch her in silk, so I did it. Another thing about Rosy, I am stitching her along with her 3 counterparts all on one piece of fabric. I blogged about it way back when, when I first started her. See this post New Start SAL - HAED and this post Silks! if you're interested.

Tonight is the Last Meeting

For my 12 week Transitions weight loss classThey will take our final weight and measurements. Also an “after” picture. We are each supposed to bring something good to eat. I am bringing my new favorite breakfast (in mini versions). I call it a “Dr. Oz Parfait”, cause I got the idea for it from his show. Side note: I am a Dr. Oz fanatic. I record his show everyday then when I have time I watch a bunch of them back to back. Okay, back to my favorite breakfast. I layer Greek yogurt (plain, 0% fat), fresh strawberries and blackberries, no fat added granola (I like to use Bob’s Red Mill Original Whole Grain Natural Granola) about a tablespoon, and top it with about a tablespoon of agave natural sweetener (low GI). YUM! I went to a party store and got some 5 oz. clear plastic cups and I’m going to make tiny individual parfaits. They should look delicious. I hope that I can actually make them look as pretty as the picture I have in my mind. If they come out nice I’ll snap a pic before I take them to the meeting. Depending on how awful the pictures of me (before and after) are, I might post them as well, maybe. So wish me luck tonight! I think I did pretty well in these past 12 weeks. I know I’m down to a size 8 jeans. I even have 2 pairs of 6’s that fit well! WOO HOO! I am only 5 feet tall… 5 feet ZERO inches, LOL! So I need to be a good size 6 or so, or else I’m a square! (As tall as I am wide!) The main thing though, is I FEEL better. I will post my results when I get them. I plan to stay on track. I’m not down to my goal yet, I don’t think. Doesn’t matter anyway, I need to eat healthy all the time, it needs to be a natural part of my life, period.

On to stitchy stuff! I worked on Curly Tailed Rosy this past week. I hadn’t touched her since Feb. She is being worked in HDF silks on 28 ct. Jobelan (white), 1 X 1. Here’s the before and after. The after pic doesn’t show the very top, it’s rolled up on the frame, I was too lazy to use the scanner and just snapped a pic while she’s on the rods.


I'm working on Moon Fantasy StoryKeep now. I'll have a pic of her soon.
Thank you for reading and keeping up with me!

It's been a while

Since I've posted. What can I say? Nov. & Dec. are busy months around here. I worked on my Freebie SK, Moon Fantasy a bit. Here are the before & after:

Stitched some on Bouquet for Cheryl (before & after):

And Dark Cherry:

I may pick up Curly Tailed Rosy next, haven't given her any attention in a very loooog time!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We went to my SIL's. My MIL had her other knee replaced on Nov. 13th and she was in rehab for Thanksgiving (she did the first knee last year, at Christmas). They only let her out for 3 hours that day so dinner, which should have been at my house (it was my turn), ended up at my SIL's. They are in the Poconos (PA), we are in Central NJ so MIL wouldn't be able to make the trip. It was also my MIL's birthday she turned 83. God bless her, she's a trooper. She is now out of rehab and back home (lives with my SIL). They said she is doing really well. Walking better every day.

I'm supposed to be putting up the tree today, and I have to hit the grocery store... Don't know if I'll get any stitching in for a while! Hope to be back with new pics soon!

Happy Holidays!!!

Transitions Lifestyle Update

We had a weigh in Monday night, here are my results (total for the 7 weeks):
Weight - down 13.4 lbs.
Measurements:
Hips - down 4 inches
Waist - down 4.25 inches
Chest - down 4.5 inches
Bicep - down .5 inches
Body Fat down 3.4%

Interesting, I lost a total (so far) of 13.4 lbs, and the total inches lost are 13 and a quarter.

Side by Side

First I want to thank my readers. Thanks for visiting and leaving comments. It's so nice to hear from you!

Here's the before and after fromt he SWIP/UFO SAL last weekend. The after pic isn't that great but I am just to lazy today too take it off the rods and get it to the scanner.

Just got some more of that tree on the right stitched.

Now here's Simba (on the left) & Lancelot (his littermate):

That's Simba in his Halloween neckerchief. What a cutie pie! Here's a few more recent photos, he's getting so big!
Simba, Sky & Simon and Simba & Simon.
Check out Simba's face in the last one! Also, Sky modeling the neckerchief.

On the lifestyle side. It must've been the cut of my old jeans (the smaller ones). I went out on Friday night and tried on a few different ones in the smaller size and they all fit! So I got 3 pairs of jeans and one pair of cords in one size smaller. Hurrraaahhhhh! They were on sale so it wasn't too bad.

Simba's Brother

I finally heard from Arielle! She's the girl that has Simba's litter mate. She named him Lancelot, and he is doing great! Here's some pictures she sent me.

Almost Simba's twin! Simba has a bit more black in his fur. You can tell he is well loved! I'll have to try and get a picture of Simba in about the same position and post them for comparison. Thanks to those that asked, my boys are doing well. Simba and Simon are like 'peas and carrots' (Forrest Gump). They really are best buds, and play together all the time. I could watch them romp and play-box for hours.
Thanks also for your comments on Goblin. This weekend is the Swip/UFO SAL so she is staying on the scroll rods at least until next week. I'd really like to finish page 12 but don't now if that's possible. Have a wedding to go to on Saturday, so no stitching that day.
I did try to get into my smaller sized jeans yesterday, that was a no go. But I think it's more the cut than the size. The smaller ones are more highwaisted than the ones I've been wearing. I wasn't able to zip them, missed it by about a quarter of an inch. So I have to wear the larger sized ones, but they are baggy all over. I keep hitching them up because they keep sliding down. Very annoying. But it's better than the alternative, needing to go buy a bigger size to fit!!!!

Thanks to all of you that comment and follow, it means alot to me!

Goblin Tree - Linda Ravenscroft - Update

This is a retired chart from Linda. I started it in Nov. 2006! I'm on the 12th page.
Here it is before the SAL this weekend: And this is it after:
I love stitching this chart! You can see a bit more of the tree on the right side. It's too big to fit in the scanner so the left side (the moon) is cut off. I will stay with this one through the SAL next weekend. I think it's the Swip/UFO SAL, and GT qualifies! She's the first full sized HAED I ever started, and she's a little more than half way done.
STATS:
Fabric: Sugaqr Maple Fabrics - French Vineyard, 28 ct. Lugana
Stitch: 1 X 1 Full cross
Floss: DMC
Start Date: Nov. 2006

Health News: I'm going to Physical Therapy (3 X's a week) and it is helping. I always feel better when I leave there. I am doing the exercises they gave me to ease the back pain, and it's working.
Still sticking to my Transitions Lifestyle plan, and eating right. I think I'm down a total of 12 pounds right now, but I have to hold on to see the real number when they weigh us next time (I think that's in 2 weeks). I am noticing that my jeans are falling off me. I even put them in the dryer! (Normally and un-heard-of occurance!) I am going to pull out a few pairs I saved that are one size smaller and try them on today. Wish me luck!

A Bouquet for Cheryl

Before and after the SAL this weekend.
Stats:
Started Feb. 27, 2008
28 ct. Forget-Me-Not Blue Lugana
Carrie's Creation hand-dyed floss in Lumiere de Cheryl
1 X 1 full cross

Now on to my health news....
I saw an Orthopaedic doctor first thing Monday morning. He said I "sprained my sacroiliac ligament". Gave me a back brace to wear all day, anti-inflammatory meds, and I have to go to physical therapy 3 X's a week for 4 weeks. Told me no Spin classes for 3 weeks (till he sees me again and lets me know).
I'll be out of class, till at least till the middle of Nov. My next appointment with him isn't until Nov. 20th.
I had my first PT session yesterday afternoon. It went well, and I felt better after. This morning is another story, I'm sore in that spot, but at least is isn't a stabbing pain. My next session is Thrusday. I hope to get better faster than 4 weeks.
I'm still doing the transitions lifestyle plan faithfully.

Dragon Charmer (New Start)

The Special New Start SAL ended last night. Presenting my first 1400 stitches of my first Jo Wall chart ever, Drum Roll.....

Dragon Charmer!

Now don't throw stuff at me, but I am going to admit that I am not a big fan of Ms. Wall's charts. Her art is lovely, but not usually anything I would want to stitch, with this ONE exception, a dragon, and beautiful blues (my favorite color)! Plus, to tell the truth, they scared me! They looked like so much detail and I figured every other stitch would be a different color, and it would drive me mad. I am happy to report that is not the case. I am really enjoying this one.
Stats: 28 ct. Joblean - light blue, DMC Floss, 1 X 1 Full Cross.
Once again, here is the original:

The HAEDless SAL is this weekend so I will be working on A Bouquet of Cheryl. Expect an update on that after the weekend.

On the exercise/lifestyle change front I have some not so great news. I hurt my lower back (in class, I think) a week ago Monday (the 12th). I've continued going to classes and hoping that it would work itself out, but I just cannot ignore it anymore. My lower back is screaming at me on full volume. I called an orthopaedist on Tuesday and I can't get in till this coming Monday. I've made the decision to discontinue my classes until I get to the doctor and find out what it going on with my aching back. Sometimes it's a stabbing pain, all other times it's just a nagging like a tooth ache. I am continuing my healthy eating habits, I'm not giving up! I'm 'sticking to the plan'!

Transitions Update

I promised an update after the weigh in Monday night, so here goes....
Weight - down 5 lbs.
Measurements:
Hips - down 2 inches
Waist - down 3.5 inches
Chest - down 3.25 inches
BMI - down 1 point

I lost 8.75 inches over all, not bad. It's so much better to see these numbers going down instead of up!

Monday's exercise classes: Core Sculpt 30 minutes, and RIDE & CURL, 30 min spin & 30 upper body.

I got a few more stitches into Dragon Charmer, look for a pic by Friday!

Exercise Update

I went to class 8AM Saturday. TOTAL WEEKEND RIDE~45min spin & 25 min total body. I was a killer! Went 16 miles in that 45 minutes on the bike. I am keeping on plan. Except for Saturday night, I had a glass of wine, but only ONE glass, which I nursed for 3 hours! We get weighed tonight after class. They will also take our measurements again. It will be interesting to see any changes. I'll keep you posted on that.
Claire asked about motivation. The only advice I can give is:

Find the activity/exercise that you like (I mean REALLY like).
Find a place where you feel comfortable. (class size, location, etc.)
Make friends there.

During this 12 week Transitions Lifestyle weight loss class, the thing that is keeping me on track is that I know the other 12 ladies doing it with me (it's in conjuction with Studio Spin+). We have our weekly meetings there, every Monday after classes. We all ask each other how we're doing on the plan when we see each other at classes. We share tips (low GI sweeteners, recipes, etc.), we also share any challenges we may have had, and how we handled them, or didn't handle them! I'm very lucky, nobody judges. We're all "in it" together. We even email back and forth and just ask "how's it going?" These ladies are truly nice people. No back biting, jealousy, or any of that stuff. And that's important.

On the stitchy front, I stated Dragon Charmer, and I'm loving it! It's my very first Jo Wall piece. I always thought JW charts would be hard, but I am happily surprised that they really aren't any different than my other HAED's. The SAL runs till Thursday, so I won't post a pic till after. I have about 900 stitches in so far. I'm hoping that I can get some time this week to get a little more work done on it. Till then, Happy Stitching!

New Lifestyle Update

Did my classes lat night.
BURN BODY BURN, 55 min non-stop body sculpting and JUST RIDE, 45 min spin in various energy zones. Except the 2nd one was even longer, about 55 min. I went 19 miles in those 55 min. WHOA! I weighed myself this morning and it looks like I am now down 8 lbs. But I did it first thing, before any coffee or anything. It's going to be interesting this coming Monday. They will weigh us and take our measurements again. I noticed yesterday while typing on the PC that my rings are flopping around, so that's good news! I hope those 8 lbs. didn't just melt off my hands LOL! I'm really working hard on this and it's nice to finally see some improvement. I also feel better. My DH said that I have a glow in my eyes, and I look better than I have in ages. I do notice more energy, I'm not half asleep by dinner time.

Thank you for your comments/questions. It's nice to see comments, it lets me know that somebody is reading, and keeping track. It also helps me stay 'on plan'.

I don't have any stitching to show today, I haven't had any time this week to stitch! (Hate when that happens!) I think my best choice for the Special New Start SAL that starts today is Dragon Charmer. I have all the floss bobinated, the Needle organizer already all set up, and the fabric chosen, so that makes the most sense. Iron Dragon and Dragon Keeper aren't that far along yet. I have the floss for each, but the rest... It takes some time to bobinate and set up. I've been wanting to start them, but time is an issue. Someday soon!

Moon Fantasy

I don't remember when this started, and I can't find a picture of what it will look like completed. Here's what I do know: This is part of an HAED Freebie SAL. Same rules apply as the HAED 2009 SAL Challenge! It's a Storykeep (Bookmark), named Moon Fantasy, artwork Ching-Chou Kuik. I started work on it last month, but didn't get enough done to post a pic. This past weekend was the HAED Freebie SAL, so instead of working on Dark Cherry, I pulled this out. It is sorely in need of attention (as you can see). I'm sorry I can't show you what it will look like finished, can't locate an original.

I did finally finish frogging all of Arthur, luckly it doesn't look like the fabric was harmed at all in the process. I haven't re-restarted it yet though.
Next up a Special New Start SAL, in honor of HAED's 8th Birthday this Friday. (There is also a 30% off Sale going on there now!) It will run from thursday this week until thursday next week. I have floss gathered for 3 charts, but I am not sure right now which I will pick. It will mosy likely be one of the following: Iron Dragon, Dragons Keeper, or Dragon Charmer. (Do you see any common thread? ;-0) They have all been screaming loudly at me from the stash closet, but I think Iron Dragon and Dragon Charmer are hollering the loudest. I haven't decided on which one, yet.....

I haven't shared pics of Simba in a while, he's over 5 lbs. now! Here he is with his favorite toy. He walks around the house with it in his mouth. I find it in the oddest places... He looks evil in these, but it's just the lighting, he is really a little sweetie pie!

Here is a rare moment... Simba and Storm (this never happens!)







And finally even MORE rare photos, THREE cats together! My hubby was sick with a cold and lounging late in bed. I guess they all knew that he needed comforting, and they were up for the job. (Look for Simba's little head popped up in the first pic, and Simon's tongue in the second.)

Week 2 on Transitions

I weighed myself this morning and finally show a loss. 7 lbs.! But probably more like 5, since I weighed myself before eating or drinking anything at all....
So nice to finally see some results, it's keeps me moving in the right direction.
I did my exercise classes this week. Not last Monday, as we were still in detox week. I was allowed to start back on Wed.

Wednesday - BURN BODY BURN, 55 min non-stop body sculpting
and JUST RIDE, 45 min spin in various energy zones.

Saturday - TOTAL WEEKEND RIDE, 45min spin & 25 min total body.

I will have a stitchy update later on.

Stitching Update Tiny Treasures

I have a little update. I worked on this over the weekend. He is truly a UFO. If it weren't for the HAED SWIP/UFO SALs he would never be worked on! This is Sun Worshiper Cat 3, atrist Katherine Barber. (retired from HAED) On the left the original artwork, on the right my WIP. So happy to see this little guy's face! Interestingly enough, I noticed that he bears a striking resemblance to Simba! Weird, since he was started a very long time ago...











Stats: Started March 2008
Silkweaver 28 ct. Opalescent Lugana, color Chashmere Glitz
Stitched 1 X 1 DMC

Other stitchy news: I am experiencening the Frog Plague with QS Arthur. First I didn't like the fabric, so I re-started it on different fabric. Now I'm having an issue with one of the colors in the background. It doesn't look like the picture and I'm not exactly sure what's wrong with it. The color is DMC #3856 (see the bright orange color below). I checked with Michele at HAED and my chart is correct, but she agrees that is doesn't look right. Could be a dye lot issue, it's just too dark. However, all the 3856 I have looks the same. What to do???? My only option now is to frog it all, and re-restart (yes, re-restart) in the middle of the chart, then maybe not stitch the background at all. I should have done that in the first place. I've been drooling over everyone's wips of their moggies on the HAED BB for weeks, and complaining that I wouldn't get to see any detail on mine for a while since I had started in the upper left corner. Can you imagine frogging 900 stitches, 1 X 1, from my gorgeous Passione Ricamo 30 ct. evenweave linen? It's a nightmare. I started last night and frogged for about 3 hours, and it's not all out yet, of course I am trying be be so very careful, so as to not damage the fabric.

I need to Vent

Okay. I joined a 12 week weight loss class at Spin last week. It's a low GI diet, called Transitions Lifestyle. http://www.transitionslifestyle.com You know me, I'll try anything, ONCE. ;-)

Anyways, they started us off with 7 days of 'detox'. That meant eating only veggies and 3 servings of fruit a day (and water). No caffeine, no sugar substitutes, no crap. So I did it. Today is the last day. I admit that I did have one cup of coffee each day because I don't need the headache. The idea is to 'clean out your system'. They went through all the reasons to do it and what it means to your body. OK fine, I get it. Monday night after class they weighed us and took our measurements. That was a rude awakening for me. I know
I'm fat, but Holy Cow! My measurements are just about straight up and down! I'm a box! Anyways....

So, as I said they did this after Spin, and the discussion, so that was around 9 PM. AFTER I ate dinner, AFTER I drank 2 24oz. Bottles of water during 2 Spin classes. So the weight that they recorded was a bit more than I normally see when I weigh myself in the morning, about 2.5 lbs. more. I expected that....

So here I am into the 7th day of detox. I weighed myself this morning, just because I was curious. I've been working so hard at this and really staying with it. And guess what? I weight about 2.5 lbs. less than I did last Monday night. So that means I weigh EXACTLY THE SAME!
I've eaten nothing but friggin' veggies for a friggin' week and nothing has changed!!!!!
How can this be? My metabolism must be dead, I mean really dead!

I am really depressed over this. I know they said it's inches, not the number on the scale, but I don't feel any different! I've been emailing back and forth with one of the other ladies that's doing this, and she said she feels 'less bloated'. I didn't feel bloated to begin with, I just feel fat. And I STILL feel fat. My clothes don't fit any different, my rings are still tight on my fingers, NOTHING has changed. I'm ready to jump out a window....

Thanks for listening, and letting me vent.

Edited to Add: I joined an exercise place back in 07 (see this post). I do 5 classes a week, faithfully except for when I had surgery last October. Classes I take:
Mondays - Core Sculpt 30 minutes, and RIDE & CURL, 30 min spin & 30 upper body.

Wednesdays - BURN BODY BURN, 55 min non-stop body sculpting
and JUST RIDE, 45 min spin in various energy zones.

Saturdays TOTAL WEEKEND RIDE, 45min spin & 25 min total body (longer class).

This month I added every other Tuesday - CYCLEBOX~Crunch 15 min spin / 35 min kickboxing & 10 min abs

During detox week though, they told us NOT to exercise. So I haven't been since last Monday night.

Arthur Re-Start!

Presenting, as promised, my new Arthur on 30 ct. Passione Ricamo 30 ct. evenweave linen. Started Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, DMC 1 X 1, Ivory fabric. About 900 stitches in this weekend. I am much, much happier with this fabric. I am once again overjoyed to be stitching him!

Bouquet for Cheryl Update

Progress as of Sept. 21, 2009

I worked on this the weekend of the 19th for the HAEDless SAL. I have to say that I really enjoyed working on it this time. More so than usual. I don't know why, I just got into the 'flow'.

This past weekend was the HAED Themed SAL. This month's theme was background. I pulled out QS Arthur since I started at the top left and that's all background. I stitched on it for a while and finally decided that I didn't like the way it looked on the 32 ct. fabric. So I scrapped it. If you follow me, I posted about it in the past. I was going to try to stick with it and see if it all evened out with more stitches in, but it was bugging me. So I re-started it on some lovely 30ct. evenweave linen (yes, evenweave linen) from Passione Ricamo. A dear friend Jeannie-Maree recomended it and she is my stitchy hero, so I had to get some! Of course she was right, it is wonderful for stitching HAEDs. Stay tuned for an update with a pic.

Simba Update: I had a feeling that Simba had someting going on. His eating habits had changed, so I got a stool sample to the vet. Turned out he has hook worms (YUCK!). Got him over there and got medication for him, as well as my other 3 boys (just in case). The vet said that it shouldn't have affected his eating, he is probably just 'leveling out' in his growth spurts. He's up to 6 lbs. 2 and a half oz. So all the boys are medicated (it's a topical that works for a month) like Frontline. I trashed all the litter and got new boxes. I'll take another sample back to the vet in 1 month's time to make sure they are all rid of the worms and healthy!

2 Stitchy Updates

First up, my progress on Goblin Tree, from Aug. 31st, after the retired artists SAL. Linda Ravenscroft is no longer retired from HAED (YAY!), but this chart is.

Next, some small progress on Tiny Treasures Sun Worshiper Cat 3 - Katherine Barber. This weekend was SWIP/UFO (slow work in progress or unfinished objects). This one is a UFO. The last time I stitched on this was March 2008! YIKES! I was digging through my WIPs and realized I had forgotten all about this little one. I started in the middle this time.
Stats: Silkweaver 28 ct. Opalescent Lugana, color Chashmere Glitz, stitched 1 X 1 DMC.


This is the original.

Happy Birthday to the Boys!

Today is Sky, Storm, and Simon's Birthday! Sky & Storm are 5 years old and Simon is 1 year today. It's unusual that Simon's estimated birth date is the exact same day as Sky & Storm's, but that's the way it worked out. Happy Birthday my little loves!

New Start

I was so excited to see Linda Ravenscroft's Mystic Mogs charted by HAED. There are four of them, and I got them all. I have no self control. I started Arthur over the weekend. It's not that exciting looking, as I started in the upper left corner. It's all background so far.

First the Original beauty:

Here's my start:




Stats: 32 ct. Zweigart Belfast Linen, Olive Green. Full cross 1 X 1.

Belfast isn't my favorite, but it was the perfect size and I liked the contrast from the backround of the chart to the fabric. The background is a lot of creamy, peachy, yellowy floss, and I thought it would be too hard to see where I stitched and where I didn't if I went with a more netural color. I can always run the matt right up to the edge of the stitching later on if I don't like the look of the fabby. It isn't a dark color, it's soft and light, not like you would think of an Olive Green. This is the first HAED I am attempting on 32 ct. Everything else is on 28 ct. What do you think? Does it look okay?

It's soothing, just stitching a lot of one color for a while. It's a contrast to other projects with a lot of detail stitching. I'm going to try to work my way (cross country) down to his ears. Get some of the detail stitches going, then I'll have a reference point to work over to where there is less detal stitching on the other side. That way I can work on either a lot of detail, or not, depending on my mood. Plus getting used to the 32 ct. doing a lot of one color is helpful.