Warm Wishes

Another little cutie from Val's Little Stuff.

This is called "Warm Wishes".

Stitched on a 7" x 7" piece of 30 count Natural Northern Cross linen.

I used the WDW fibers as charted.

A Helping Hand - Finish

I stitched this little ornament-sized piece using an 8" x 8" cut of 28 count Khaki Cashel linen. I used the floss as charted.  A very quick stitch - just a few hours to complete.  Weather calls for about 1" of snow in the passes above 4500 feet today, so I guess this piece is seasonal after all!

Jack - Finished

What a cutie!

This photo is a little dark, but you get the idea.

Bright colors and a fun message.

...And Another Start

Since "Jack" is a small project, I decided, hey, why not have two going at the same time. 

I just kitted up "A Helping Hand" by Val's Little Stuff. 

I think I will now be stitching snowmen for the next several months.

I have many cute snowman charts and also have the fabric and floss with which to work them.

What To Do Next...Jack

With my last two projects both finished, it is time once again to dive into my stash and pick out the next project or two...more rabbits?...another snowman?...hmmmmmm.  

I think I'll go "seasonal" with this one and work on "Sisters and Best Friends" chartlet titled "Jack".  The fabric is called Rain Forest and the flosses used are bright and vibrant.

Summer Alphabet Sampler - Finish

I am very pleased with the finished sampler.  The colors are great and the over-all mood of the piece is lovely. 

I did change a couple of things: 

The color of the heart to a pink used in the flowers.

Also the base of the skep from satin stitch to cross stitch using two threads for added weight.

Forest Friends - Done!

Love it, love it, love it!

A very sweet little stitch. 

Ended up with half stitches for the snow using the Krenick braid, a full stitch looked too messy to my eye.

Summer Alphabet Sampler - Progress

I have been working on this sampler - truly lovely colors.  I did change the color of the heart in the upper right from onyx to the pink.

Forest Friends - Progress

So it would seem as though I celebrated the first day of autumn by working on a winter themed cross stitch piece!  Never let it be said that I was scared to march to my own drummer.  This is good fun so far.

Forest Friends

Yes, I am still working on "Summer Alphabet Sampler".

And no, I could not help myself.  I had to kit up "Forest Friends" and I began stitching on it last night.  I have lots, and lots, and lots of snowmen charts with the floss and fabric purchased and all ready to stitch.  Perhaps snowmen will be my fall / winter motif. 

Foggy Misty Sunday Morning

Blackberries

Rain droplets on Douglas Fir

Yesterday we got 0.3" of rain - most of it in the form of tiny, tiny misty droplets.  The rain has ended, but this morning dawned cool, cloudy, and foggy.  The diffused light makes the Sweet Gums glow whilst Parvati perches on a stump to survey her kingdom.

Sweet Gums - some of the nicest autumn trees

Summer Alphabet Sampler - Progress

I am very much enjoying stitching this small sampler.  Progress is fast and smooth - even enjoying the borders as there is a certain "randomness" to the pattern that keeps me on my toes.  I think this will be something special when it is finished. 

Sunny September Morning

The sun is shining and the birds are singing - no sign on fall this morning.

Johnny Jump-ups

Goldfinches in Filbert Brush

Zinnias, Zinnias, and more Zinnias

Summer Alphabet Sampler

Though summer is fast winding down, this pattern called my name.  It is "Summer Alphabet Sampler" by Chessie and Me.  I shall stitch it on 35 count Weeks Dye Works Parchment linen using the Weeks Dye Works and Anchor floss as charted. 

Backyard Birds - A Finish

I finished "Backyard Birds" today.

I think that the colors are especially stunning.  I will confess to getting a bit bored with all the many borders that surrounded the alphabet and birds. I stitched this La-D-Da piece on R & R's 32 count La-D-Da Brown linen and used the fibers as indicated on the chart.

From the Rabbit Archives

This design by Hands to Work is titled "Patience".  It is fitting that I worked on this while under-going some difficult health issues in May 2006.  It is kind of a personal tribute to walking a long, hard road. I changed the design from "Patience 1898" to "Elizabeth 2006" as a more fitting memorial to that time.

11am in the Cattery

No one can nap with the dedication and enthusiasm of a cat!

I have five examples today.

Parvati

Tom-Cat

Cleo, Solomon, and Padma 

Backyard Birds - Further Progress

I feel as though this is progressing very slowly, but based on the changes since I last posted, I have been stitching along steadily!

September Farmers' Market

Fall at the Eugene Farmers' Market.  What a beautiful morning!  We bought corn and onions and food from Hideaway Bakery for the U of O Football game at 7:15pm tonight! 

The Sun in September

It is supposed to be somewhere around 94-96 degrees today.  I potted up the violas and sedums I'd purchased a couple of days ago.  I also made sure all the potted plants on the back patio and the front porch had a good drink of water and that all the birdbaths were full.  I think the photo above is a good representation of the scorcher of a day we are expected to have!  

Another Nice Day

Late this afternoon I got an invitation to attend a meeting of the Eugene Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. I am so glad I did!

Dave and Pat Eckerdt came down from Salem, and Dave gave a slide presentation called "Garden Gems of the Pacific Northwest". 

Pat and Dave have an extraordinary garden outside of Salem, Oregon.  Pat is also an incredible artist - she weaves and works with stained glass.  Dave is an exceptional photographer so his presentation was a visual delight!

The photos are from May when my sister and I visited the Eckerdt garden - an English Golden Oak and lovely decorative tile birdhouses.   

Further Signs of the Season - A Good Day

I had several errands to take care of yesterday, so I went downtown and stopped in at Down to Earth on 5th Street.  They had the first violas and pansies of the season and I bought three or four.  These lovely flowers allow me to embrace the changing seasons. 

The Tuesday Farmers' Market was in full swing too - a pleasant surprise for me because I am not often in town during the week.  I had a wonderful buffalo bacon burger with bleu cheese and onions from Field to Table and I bought pan au chocolate from Eugene City Bakery.  Yummy! I did not have my camera which was a shame as the food displays are so vibrant this time of year. I did  pick up fresh corn, spinach, fingerling potatoes, and onions.  Most of that will be served tonight with albacore from the Oregon coast.  Sometimes eating locally is no hardship!   

Signs of Autumn

I got up far too early this morning and had exercised and showered by 6:00am.  I still needed to work on tidying up all the plants on the front porch, but on an early September morning that now required a light jacket.  I also had to turn on the porch light in order to work as the sun quietly rose in the east.  Lingering nights and cooler mornings - signs of autumn.  

Plant choices too reflect the changing season. My mother visited a garden center in Bend, Oregon and bought three asters and a new echinacea. The echinacea is called "Matthew Saul".

Garden Chair

Found this children's chair at Ikea and thought it perfect.  Love the color and it is exactly the right size for me to use when I sit to tidy up the plants.

I am nutso over these two little gardening angels.  I have both of them peeking out of coleus plants - I think they are just charming!

Backyard Birds - Progress

Here's what I've accomplished thus far. Lots, and lots, and lots of borders on this one.  I stitched enough of the borders to make sure that all the other elements would be placed correctly.  Now I alternate between "Boring Borders" and "Interesting Elements". 

This (rainy) afternoon Parvati and Padma were my cross stitch companions.

  

Leaping Rabbit Scissor Weight

Decided to spend part of a rainy afternoon stitch "Leaping Rabbit Scissor Weight" by Ewe & Eye and Friends.  This is an older chart - 1994 - I found it on Ebay.  I used 28 count Country French Cafe Mocha R & R linen.  I think it has a nice rustic look that works really well with this design.  Fast and easy, this took me about 90 minutes to stitch up.  I messed with the rabbit's tail; the chart called for a very large French knot which I did not care for, so I stitched a tail with one thread of floss over one thread of linen instead.     

Labor Day Weekend - Friday

As I walked outside this morning to look at my plants and view the day, my Orange Sentry was already on the job.

Pink Salvia and Burgundy Coleus

Red Salvia

A display of Coleus

Cheery Zinnias (yes cheery not cherry!)

Delicate Fuchsias - no wonder they are called Ladies Ear-drops!

            Also on patrol - the Semi-Short-Haired Apricot Sentry!