Merry Christmas

(repost)
For some this time of year may have little meaning or may be a sad time.

For myself, this is a time to rejoice for all I have received, reverence for those I have lost, and to give in the spirit of Christmas.

If you find stress in this season, take a moment in silence and listen for the true spirit. Lend yourself to those whom are in need. Then without a doubt, the true spirit and peace of Christmas will fill your heart.

Thank you for a wonderful year.
May You all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year.

Phuan SK Update

Progress so far.  I don't have page 1 done yet, but I really want to complete it before the end of the year.

Stats:

Phuan                          Lesley Anne Ivory © HAED

Freebie SK Jun. – Dec. 2011

28 ct. English Rose      DMC floss 1 X 1, full cross

Started June 17,2011    Kreinik Blending Fil. 002HL   

Stitched by Louanne S.               Dec. 11, 2011

Fragile Heart Completed!

Here she is!  All washed, pressed and ready for her close up!  I finished her Sunday night.  I've now completed all my yearly goals.  My half-yearly goals look pretty shabby, I'm not even close on those.  So here's the goal wrap up so far.

Yearly Goals

Finish Fragile Heart SAL - Complete

Finish TT Sun Worshipper Cat 3 - Complete

Finish Chesterton SK SAL - Complete
Complete one more page (at least) on Goblin Tree, Pages 1 - 12 complete. Completed page 13 and 1/3 of page 14

1/2 Yearly Goals
Finish 1 page Bewitched (page 1 started).
Finish 1 page Phuan Freebie SK (page 1 started).
Start Catfish and finish (at least) half of the page (page 1 started). 

Hope you're all doing well with any goals you've set for yourselves this year.  Can you believe this year is almost over?
Joyous Stitching to you all!
Hugs!

Fragile Heart Page 4 Complete

Here she is!

Page 4 down.  I've been working on her since last time I posted.  Since it's a yearly goal to complete her, I figured I'd better get my butt in gear.  I'll continue with her this week, till Thursday night.

Friday morning the rare 5th weekend Retired Artist SAL starts up on the board.  It only comes around about 4 times a year.  Goblin Tree is a retired chart so she will come out for a while.

Things around here have been so busy lately.  I've been dieting and I'm down 26 lbs.  I have about 8 lbs. to go, yet, but I had to get myself some new clothes.  I'm only 5" tall, so for every 5 lbs. I lose, I go down a size.  I started at a size 12 (well, almost bursting out of 12s), I've worked down to a 6.  Now the 6's are hanging a bit.  I have to wash and machine dry everything.  Gone are the days of hanging jeans out to dry for fear that they would shrink.  Now I'm trying to shrink them!  Who woulda thought?  So anyway, I've been out and about, shopping most days after work.  I haven't gotten a lot, but what I have purchased has been hard to find.  I'm not a teeny bopper, but I'm not an old lady either.  Who are these designers making clothes for?  They all look like they're for my 18 yr old niece or my 84 yr old MIL!  What to do if you're somewhere in the middle? (SIGH)

Well, that's enough for now, possums.  Have a Stitchy Week!

Goblin Tree - Linda Ravenscroft - 30 Sept. 2011 Update

I didn't get much time to work on her, but here's the before and after for last week.
Before:

After: 

After all these years I still love working on her.  I wish I could just continue and finish this page.  But, this week's SAL is Freebies & Smalls, so Fragile Heart is about to come out and play.  I have one yearly goal yet to complete and that's to finish FH.  I'm not anywhere near that goal, so I have to get stitching on it.

That's all, for now possums.  Have a delightful stitchy week!

Better Late Then Never

I've been busy.  Had my SIL and niece over the weekend.  We went into NYC for a show and dinner.  Saw Prisilla Queen of the Desert, and had dinner at Chez Josephine's.  It was a great day.  I recommend both the play and the restaurant, so if you haven't been, go!  You won't be sorry.

DH bought a car on Wed.  He hasn't had a car in his name since we've been married, 15 years.  I've been telling him to buy a car for a few years now, but he didn't want a car payment.  He finally found one, not on purpose.  He went to a dealership trying to get a part for his work van and saw one on the lot that he really liked.  He got a Hyundai Genesis.  He really wanted something comfortable, and this car fits the bill.  I can't believe how nice it is.  It's not anything that I would ever have even looked at, but it fits him to a T.  He's happy with it so far.  I hope he stays happy with it at least till he's finished with the payments :-)

Last week was the SK SAL, so Phuan came out for a while.  As stated, I was pretty busy last week so my progress was meager.  Here's the before & after pics:

I was so excited to get to the start of his ear!  Then I went to post my update over on the board in the Phuan thread, and saw what all the other stitcher's pieces look like.  I feel like I got nowhere.  Oh well, I didn't have a lot of time to stitch, but I'm a slow stitcher anyway.  It's not the end point, it's the journey that's important.

This week is the Themed SAL, the Theme is Halloween or anything Autum-ish (not a word, I know).  So you probably already guessed it.  Goblin Tree is on the scroll rods.  I have another busy week this week.  Something every day after work.  But my old friend is there and I have managed a few stitches so far, and hope to squeeze a few more in before Friday morning.  Stay tuned!

QS Artur

Last week was the SWIP SAL on the board so I broke out QS Arthur, I hadn't touched him since March 2010! Here he is before:

And after:

Doesn't look like much but confetti rules this piece. I don't mind though, the detail is amazing, IMHO. He will take forever to finish, at the rate I stitch, but he's worth it.

This week is the SK Freebie SAL so Phuan is on the rods....

Some news this past week: Fudgey (Jeannie-Maree) has retired from her duties as Administrator.  I, along with Rachel and Nance are now helping Michele out with the duties there more than we were before.

As a farewell gift Michele and Bob have charted a QS Freebie of the piece that brought Fudgey to HAED in the first place.  You can find the chart, Sea of Roses, HERE.

Unfortunately, I got only one comment on my last post (thank you Ali) .  I was hoping for a bit of a better turnout.  Please look into your heart and re-read my previous post, I really would love to have your help.

It's a chilly 52 this morning, here.  I turned on the heat in the house, first time this season.  I'm still hoping for Indian Summer tho!  It would be nice to curl up in a blanket and stitch, but I have errands to run today.  Then we're taking some friends out for dinner tonight, in honor of her Birthday.  Maybe tomorrow I can stitch all day.

Have a great stitchy week!

Question for ya...

I have been thinking about this since last weekend, so I thought I'd just ask you what you think (hope you don't mind).  You may not know that I am a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant.  I've really just purchased for myself these past few years.  I got a letter from my Director saying that her husband has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.  Devastating news.  He was always a big part of the Unit, and threw all his abilities behind his wife, we all love him very much.  He's lost his income, so that leaves her to shoulder their total responsibilities on her own.  She has asked us to help her grow the business by doing anything that we possibly can.  I would like to help her, so my question to you all is this:  (I can buy a Mary Kay web site), if I did so, would anyone be interested?  I would post the addy and you could go to the site and browse and purchase right from the site.  No in home parties, or visits, no fuss.  If so, would you be willing to email your friends with the addy and ask them to browse as well?  I'm just trying to think of ways to contribute to the cause.  Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.
Thank you, very sincerely.

Fragile Heart Page 3

Here she is, page 3 complete!  I now that I'm not as far along as most of the other people stitching her, but I'm happy with her anyway.  We all do what we can, right?  I have so many WIPs going I'm happy to get something accomplished with any of them.
This week is the UFO/SWIP SAL, already?  Checks calendar... yep, it's the 2nd weekend of Sept. already!  I haven't looked though my wip pile yet to see what jumps out at me. 
Thinking that the year is flying by makes me want to have a look at me Goals for the year.  So here's where I am as of now.

2011 GOALS

1. Finish Fragile Heart SAL
2. Finish TT SunWorshipper Cat 3  COMPLETE!
3. Finish Chesterton SK SAL        COMPLETE!
4. Complete one more page (at least) on Goblin Tree:  Pages 1 thru 12 finished. COMPLETE!

Pipsqueak!

We made it through the storm.  Never lost power, but we did lose cable for 4 days, so no TV or Internet for me.  Just as well, I stitched!  I brought out Draconis Lepus Leo AKA Pipsqueak for the Themed SAL, and I managed to complete the page I was on and start the next!  Here is the little darling before:

 And after:

I started him in the center so the finished page is 15, and I backed up to start page 14.

This week it's Freebie SAL time, so Fragile Heart is out to play.

My heart goes out to all those that suffered through the storm.  Many people still without power, flooded, etc.  I keep you in my heart and send out healing/helping cyber vibes.

Phuan Update

Worked on Phuan for the SK Freebie SAL this past week.  Here he is before:

And after:

That wallpaper is murder! But I enjoyed stitching on him and I am making some progress.  This week is Themed SAL, and the theme is is feathers/fur/scales, so any chart with a bird reptile/fish or animal works.  Almost all of my WIPs qualify, so it will be a surprise.

Since I'm on the East Coast, Irene may mess up my plans.  I am figuring that I may be without power for a while at the very least.  We have everything battened down, and we are hunkering down for the big blow.  I just hope we don't get flooded.  That would be baaaad.  Hope everyone on the coast is secure, good luck to us all.

Another Page Finish!

This past week was the UFO/SWIP SAL.  I have so many that fall into this category (it's a shame).  So this time I selected and oldie but a goodie, Dark Cherry.  She was my selection for the 2009 Freebie SAL.  I haven't stitched on her since Jan. 2011.  Here she is before the SAL:

Here she is after.  I finished page 2 and started page 3.

Progress on her is pitiful. The end of page 2 was confetti laden, it took most of a day to finish it. The bauble at the bottom (on page 3) gave me a particularly hard time. I did something wrong in there, but I think I fixed it. It still looks wrong when I look at it now...  Have to put her away for a while, till I feel better about it.

This week is the SK Freebie SAL so Phuan is out to play!  They are saying rain for most of the weekend, so I hope to stitch through most of it and make some good progress.

Fragile Heart

I worked on Fragile Heart for the Freebie SAL this past week.  I finished page 2 and started page 3 YAY!  Here she is:

The UFO/SWIP SAL is up next.  I have a lot of those!  Not sure what to pick.  It will be a surprise!

Not a lot of Progress

Goblin Tree came out for the Retired Artists SAL (LR is no longer retired from HAED, but this chart is).  I didn't get a lot of stitching done with my SIL here, but here's the before and after:

This week is Freebie/Smalls SAL, I think Fragile Heart will come out to play.

New Start!!!!

 Okay!  So this past week was New Start SAL, and you know I was waiting for this one!  I finally got to start Catfish, and it was a joy to stitch.  I got about 16 10X10 boxes done in one week.  Really speedy for me.  Here he is: 

The red box shows exactly where I am stitching on the chart, I started in the middle.

Stats: 

Catfish                                Sheila Rayyan © HAED

Opalescent White 28 ct.     HDF Silk 1 X 1, full cross

Started 7/22/2011

This weekend starts the Retired Artists SAL, so you know who will be coming out to play! (Can you guess?)  I most likely won't be able to stitch a lot.  My SIL is coming down to stay for the week.  I'm off all week, and we plan to spend the week lounging at the pool, girl time.  We are calling it "girls behaving badly week".  We are going to drink too much wine, play cards, not cook, etc.  A real vacation!  I told DH he has to fend for himself for the week.  

Have a great stitchy week!

Catching Up

    I have been trying to update weekly, but I fell off the wagon.  I went for a 'girls weekend' in NYC July 15th.  Three of us left on Friday and got back Sunday night.  We had a great time!  We stayed at the Plaza Athénéé.  Friday night we saw Pricilla Queen of the Desert, then we dined at the Blue Fin, the food there was fine, but the service was terrible! Saturday we saw Memphis, then we dined at Chez Josephine what a great place!  It was owned by Josephine Baker and her sons still run it.  The food was delish! The service was wonderful, I need to go back and bring DH.  The shows were fantastic!  If you are in the area and can get to one of these shows, it's well worth it.  I would see either of them again.  During the day Saturday we went to MoMA to see the Alexander McQueen Exhibit, Savage Beauty.  All I can say is WOW!  We had a wonderful afternoon, and enjoyed brunch in the Members Dining Room.  Sunday we shopped Madison Ave., all the way down to Rockefeller Center, then we had lunch at Bice, wonderful place, best Cosmos EVA! We did a lot of walking, but it's good exercise and we had a wonderful time, I didn't want it to end.....
      So on to the stitching!  The week ending the 15th was the UFO/SWIP SAL on the HAED Board, I worked on Bewitched.

Before:

After:

The following week was Detail/Confetti SAL, I worked on Phuan.

Before:

 

After:

This week is Themed SAL's ( at the whim of the admin ), and the Admin picked New Start SAL YAY!!!!  I started Catfish!!!!!  I'll have the update at the end of the week.

Fragile Heart

Here she is after last week's stitching. I'm so close to finishing the page, but I've put her away because the UFO/SWIP SAL is this week, and I have to work on Bewitched for a bit.

FH is a joy to stitch, I'm enjoying her very much, and she is moving along fairly quickly for me. I'm a slow stitcher so getting close to 2 pages completed in 7 months (along with other stitching) is an accomplishment.

The weather here looks like it might finally be Summer. It stopped raining for a full day yesterday! Spent the day in the pool vacuuming it up from the effects of all the rain and storms we've had this past week.  It was totally trashed.  The sun is out and they are saying 90 for today, so I am looking forward to relaxing outside.  Got my floating lounge out and I am going to soak in some rays.

Happy Stitching!

Goblin Tree June Update

I am proud to announce that I have met another yearly goal.
My goals for this year are:
2011 GOALS
1. Finish Fragile Heart SAL

2. Finish TT SunWorshipper Cat 3 COMPLETE!
3. Finish Chesterton SK SAL COMPLETE!
4. Complete one more page (at least) on Goblin Tree (Pages 1 thru 12 finished). COMPLETE! 

I've completed page 13 on Goblin Tree. That's 3 yearly goals down 1 to go! Pages 1 thru 13 complete, and one third of page 14 complete (out of 20 total).
Without further ado, taaaaaa daaaaaaa!

I now have 3 full and 4 partial pages to go to completion.  This is the only HAED BAP that's ever come this close to a finish!  I am soooo tempted to just keep stitching to the end.  But The Freebie QS SAL is this week, so I must work on Fragile Heart.  GT is already off the rods and back in the storage box, and FH has come out to play.

I hope all my stitching buddies here in the USA have a wonderful July 4th.  I am off work till the 6th, looking forward to a nice weekend with beautiful weather (I hope), and stitching poolside for the duration!

Phuan SK Start

I started him last week and this is my progress. I am pleased with it. I used some Kreinik Blending Filament (002HL) in with one of the golds and I am liking the way it's working out. You can't really see it in the scan, but IRL I think it's lovely.  He's fun to stitch too! (See post from June 10th for pic of original artwork.)

Next up, in honor of Fairy Day, is Goblin Tree.  I brought her out yesterday and will work on her for this week.

Speaking of which...    Hope you all had a lovely Fairy Day yesterday.

Bewitched

I worked on her this week for the UFO/SWIP SAL. Here she is before and after

The Freebie SK SAL and the 2 week Fairy Day SAL both start this weekend. I will start off with the new Freebie SK. I selected Phuan (see post below). I have big plans for this guy, but I'm not going to say anything in case they don't turn out. Anyway, I plan to start, and work on him for a while. Then Next Frdiay is Fairy Day, so Goblin Tree will come out to play.

Have a wonderful stitchy week!