Long time no see...

...seems like I had one of my frequent blogging breaks again. But this time not as long as in the past. I did stitch a bit and we got some additions to our family and it seems as if summer is comeing to Brandon finally.

Lisa was still asking questions about her cats in Germany and sometimes she suddenly started to crying because of them so we decided to find some cats for her. We never wanted indoor cats but living in town there is no other choice....
I am pleased to introduce you to Holly and Ally:

I finished Kindred Spirits it was a fast and fun stitch.

Kindred Spirits by The Primitive Needle

threads: Belle Soie Silks and for the 4 stitches in Kiwi I used DMC

fabric: 40ct R&R Reproductions Dark Cappuccino

started: 2009-05-07

finished: 2009-05-22

From Sea to Shining Sea FINISHED!!

From Sea to Shining Sea by Little House Needleworks
threads: Belle Soie silks
fabric: 40ct Lakeside Linen Winter Sky
started: 2009-02-10
finished: 2009-05-07

Derek is pretty confident that he passed his red seal exam in Toronto. He flew back on thursday afternoon and we are so happy to have our little family complete again. Now he is busy looking for a Harley...because I promised him that he will get his Harley after accomplishing the goal to achieve his red seal. :)
He was so happy to be back. Toronto is a little bit too big for us countrynuts. LOL




But even in the middle of a big city you can always find some beautiful spots....

I saw the other day

on the Tiny Treasures Exchange Blog that Sabine from Belgium received the biscornu I stitched for her. I enjoyed stitching it very much.....just the writing over 1 on 40ct linen was a little bit of a pain.... Sewing my first biscornu together and adding the beads around the corners was a lot of fun, too. It was the first biscornu I stitched:

The Bee Charmer

by Indigo Rose

Tiny Treasures Exchange biscornu for Sabine from Belgium

stitched with my own choice of Caron Waterlilies

on 40ct Shale Newcastle linen by Picture This Plus

Started: 2009-03-07

Finished: 2009-04-04

This was my 4. finish in 2009

I started it together with my friend Manuela when we spent a few days together during our holidays in Germany in december/january. We both unpacked our kits on janauar 02, 2009. Back in Canada I wasn't to far from finishing it when I took it to stitch on it while watching Lisa's swimming lessons. When I wanted to put in some more stitches at home the next night I realized I lost the silks at the pool.... And when I got there to ask for my threads nobody had seen them. I am pretty sure that the little cardboard heart with some fuzzy silks could look like garbage to someone who has no clue about stitching... But lucky as I am Manuela was about to finish hers and sent me her leftovers very soon and I was able to finish mine without a hassle. Thanks so much Manuela!!!! I just wish you were not so far away....

The Stockings
Shepherds Bush
Started: 2009-01-02
Finished: 2009-02-01
stitched with the silks and on the 32ct country grain provided in the kit
I will add the embellishments when I am going to frame it or finish it otherwise.

Shepherds Bush is always so much fun to stitch and the colours are gorgeous...

I can't show you a picture of yesterdays stitching on From Sea to Shining Sea as I had to rip it all out again :( I miscounted at the end of the last thing I stitched and everything I stitched yesterday was wrong 1 cross wrong in place....

I was busy....

....doing the HAPPY DANCE! :) Friday later in the evening I finished Home is Where You Hang... This is exactly the right size for me. Not that big that I am getting tired of it and put it away and not too small. Unfortunately I am often drawn to the really big projects....
The colours are pretty good on the pictures except of the linen. In real live it is pretty close to Zweigart sand.

Home is Where You Hang Your Needlework
by Homespun Elegance
stitched with the recommended Belle Soie silks
40ct R&R Dark Cappuccino
started: 2009-02-02
finished: 2009-03-06

Debs Hello Neighbor RR is finally finished an can go on its way home. I stitched her house combining a lot of the Proverbs designs by The Workbasket.


Then I added the little "minime" playing with the angels:


and a tombstone for me:


on the Froggy End Cemetary:


which is also a part of Deb's beautiful Neighborhood:

I spent the entire day sleeping in my bed yesterday. And I felt a lot better today.....at least good enough to go to work. :) And I am pretty sure to do at least some stitching tonight. Yayyyy...

This was my 2. finish this year. It took me 3 years from the first stitch to the last.... I don't know exactly why. It was very interesting and actually a lot of fun. The most scary and challenging stitch were the cups of the acorns. I know I didn't do a good job on those. But anyway, they are finished now :)

Catherine Agnes

by Indigo Rose

stitched with Caron Waterlilies

on 32ct. Permin shell

started: 2005-12-21

finished: 2009-01-27

I hope to find a nice frame for Catherine Agnes but I am pretty sure it won't be easy....

This scissorskeeper was my first finish of the year. Just a small one but still a finish. I stitched it as an exchange piece for Michelle with the Tiny Treasures Exchange Group.

Beekeeper Freebie

The Drawn Thread

stitched with DMC on 32ct. shell Permin

started 2008-12-25

finished 2009-01-20

incl. finishing as scissorskeeper

Yesterday I stitched for a little bit on Take Time To Quilt Spring. But I was so tired I didn't do too much.



Tonight I won't have a lot time to stitch as well. While my husband waited in the parking lot at my workplace to pick me up the plant manager left heading home. They both met a year ago on a trip to Germany and so he stopped at our car for a bit of talking and gave Derek some Eishockey tickets for tonight. Our plant is a big sponsor of the local team so there are always free tickets available and he had some left over.... :) Time to leave now. See you later :)

Isn't my Hello Neighbor RR stunning?

Deb sent it to me together with her RR. I had hers when we were just about to move to Canada so I didn't manage to finish my stitching. So I am working on it every day a bit until it is finally finished.
When she send me her RR I first didn't even realized that she sent mine as well. It was so well hidden between her charts that I found it after she send an email asking how I liked it..... LOL And it is just BEAUTIFUL. I am so happy that this is my RR and I don't have to send it to anybody....just mine :)))

Here it is my "Neighborhood Row"

And a little bit closer: the left side:

the right side:

Thank you so much to all the ladies who stitched on it:

Carol for stitching AND setting up the RR and doing all the work as RR-mother :)
Deb
Glenna
Karen
Leslie
Marie
Nicole
Wendy

Yesterday I got the first three LHN installments of "From Sea to Shining Sea" and guess what I had to start right away after stitching my dayly portion on Deb's RR:

One of our mechanics at work has a cattle herd at home and from time to time he sells beef to his workmates. So I could not stand the temptation and bought a quater beef. I got it today and guess why I have to stop now...Hubby is nearly done with barbequeing this little piece of meat for us: