Thanks to All

Thanks to everyone of you who has made comments to my posts. I still haven't figured out how to reply to you individually --unless you include your email addy in the comment. But I have decided to just add a new comment so that hopefully you will check back and see any comments and answers to questions you might have made.

My FAS is being put aside once more as my latest model arrived a few minutes ago. I will be extremely busy over the next week since there is a serious deadline crunch here. But I will try to give you an update pic as I go along.

I have also taken some new pics to share with you as soon as I can get them downloaded. So please check back often. You never know what you might find!

What's going on?

After trying for two days to get into my blog I finally made it. I'm not sure what has been going on with Blogspot but hopefully it is fixed now.

Thanks to everyone who has made comments to my posts. I do read and enjoy them but I haven't discovered how to acknowledge them directly. I am glad that some of you take the time to read and enjoy my blog.

I have been stitching on my FAS for the last few days while waiting for my latest model materials to arrive. I know, I know. I said no more models this year...but what I mean it that I will be cutting back on them. I am finishing up some deadline pieces now and will then have one or two major models to complete over the next few months with no fixed deadlines--so I can do some personal stitching also, which is what I am aiming for.

Life has been getting in the way lately. My aches and pains are seemingly more aggravating at the moment and I think it is mostly weather related. It has been very dull and dreary and rainy for the last week or so and the temps have gotten much colder. All I want to do is sit in front of a fire and relax. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get my fireplace started this year --pilot light won't ignite--so I will have to make do with my blankie and stitching to keep me warm.

I have also tried to do some more sorting and clearing out of my closets and drawers, etc. But it has been difficult to get in the mood to do this. I know it must be done but *I don't wanna do it!* Oh,well, as Scarlett would say....I'll do it tomotrrow.

Snowflake Nativity

Snowflake Nativity, originally uploaded by The Mad Stitcher.

When photographing some of my finishes this week I realized that I had not shared a pic of my Snowflake Nativity from ©Chatelaine Designs. This was formerly Christmas Mystery I and has just been re-released as a chart. I stitched it on Ice Blue Lugana using the required silks, RG Petite Treasure Braids, Delica beads, Swarovski Crystals and Crystal Treasures. The Madonna and Child in the center is all stitched over one and I also added additional crystals on the bottommost *swag* of beads. I really like how this one turned out and is my favorite of the Christmas Mysteries thus far.

It has been very cold and rainy and dreary for the last several days and I have just wanted to curl up in a corner and stitch. I think I am going to make a pot of vegetable soup and relax tonight. I may even take a break from my model and stitch on FAS for a while.

New Goodies

I just received my order of silks from Vikki Clayton and I admit that I am drooling over the colors and texture of all these silks. I got 16 glorious 50 yard spools to use on the Christmas presents I got--Rosemarkie, St Sylvestry, St Georges, St Germaine, and the four M design trees. Now I just have to decide which color for which chart. I am so looking forward to doing these. I think I have chosen Dragon Opal for Rosemarkie as I really like the richness of these colors. And I have a lovely purple-icious that I will use for one of them and a gorgeous Dragon's Hoarde that is earmarked for one of the trees. It is so much fun just playing with the colors and trying to decide which I like best--as if I could choose just one! And then trying to decide which I will start first. Well, that's another hard to make decision. I guess it will come down to which I pick up first! Now I must get back to my fond....ummmm...stitching.

Enchanted Fairy

Enchanted Fairy, originally uploaded by The Mad Stitcher.

This is the Enchanted Fairy from ©Passione Ricamo that I have been working on as a model for the last few weeks. I finally got her finished up and now she is pressed and I will be mailing her off today. She is stitched on 28 ct Lugana using DMC floss, Waterlilies silks, RG Petite Treasure Braids, and Mill Hill Beads. I love the colors in this one and enjoyed stitching her a lot.

Now I am moving on to my next model. Soon I shall be able to stitch some things for myself.

Waterlilies arrived...

The errant Waterlilies have finally arrived so I can finish up this model! It will be a relief as I know it is needed for a deadline. I will share a photo of it once it is done. I have been working on another model this week and hope it goes more smoothly than the last one. There are so many things I want to stitch and so little time. I really want this year to be for me but I have to finish up these obligations before I can start anything else. This doesn't keep me from dreaming and planning, however! Oh well...that's for another day...

French Alphabet Sampler

French Alphabet Sampler , originally uploaded by The Mad Stitcher.

Well, I have only been able to work on this on the weekends as I do my model stitching on weekdays. But I am enjoying this one so much. I have frogged the green and restitched it in the Dragon Blood. This one is moving pretty fast. I really hate to put it down when the time comes to do so.

Sorry...

Things have really been crazy around here. Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. I am trying to get things finished up with a model I am stitching but I am having trouble getting a skein of Waterlilies that I need for it. The chart said 1 skein but I have used it and still have a lot left to do with it. Hopefully my skein will be here Tuesday --since the PO is closed on Monday-- and I can get this one finsihed. So this weekend I have been working on my FAS and will try to get an updated pic on tomorrow. Thill then....

Changed my Mind....

After looking at my FAS for a few days I think I will frog the green and go monochromatic after all. I just don't think the green is looking as well as I had hoped. But it will have to wait a few more days. I am working diligently to try and finish up a model which has a deadline fast approaching. But I can hardly wait to get back to it.

I have so many new charts that I want to do. Santa was so good to me this year and I will have fun planning out the fibers and fabrics for them.

French Alphabet Sampler

French Alphabet Sampler, originally uploaded by The Mad Stitcher.

Well, we are all still in shock! What a way to begin the New Year. I have been unable to sleep so I have been trying to stitch a bit. I began my FAS at midnight on New Years Eve and managed to get a good bit done before the sad news hit us. I thought I would share a photo of my start. It is stitched on 32 ct white Belfast Linen using Vikki Clayton Silks in Dragon Blood, OMG Red 1149 and Isle Green.

In Shock!

We just received word that Bunny's husband was killed in a car accident this morning! We are all in shock and Bunny, of course, is devastated. Off to cry some more.....

Lovely weekend

This weekend I had the get together for a group of friends. This was our *Christmas* and we had a wonderful time. We stitched a lot, talked a lot, ate too much, slept too little and laughed so much our sides hurt! It was wonderful! I got lots of stitching stash--4 Long Dog Sampler Charts (Rosemarkie, St Georges, St Sylvestry, and St Germaine) 4 M Designs Christmas Trees (Love, Dream, Peace and Kathy) 15 Accentuate metallic fibers, 4 Needle Necessities, a telescoping magnet, the Vikki Clayton Silks Sample Tag Assortment with binder, a carousel for my stitching basket, a GC to European Cross Stitch, a GC to my LNS, and I know I am forgetting something! I also got lots of non-stitching stuff--a jar opener (to help my arthritic hands), the Harry Potter book collection, a battery powered drill (all for myself!), a calendar mouse pad, leather memo holder, candy, coccoa, candles, and more! The biggest gift of all is just having the friendship and love of such a wonderful group of ladies. I feel so very fortunate.

The weekend started on Thursday evening with the arrival of Bunny. Then on Friday, Tracy and Kiki showed up in the early afternoon followed by Angela and finally Angel. Some of them had to leave on Sunday evening but Kiki stayed and brought in the New Year with me. She left this afternoon and I feel so alone now. It was a great weekend but I admit I am terribly tired. I think I will go take a nap!

Happy New Year!

I wish for all of us a Healthy, Happy, and Safe New Year. 2007 is going to be a wonderful year--I just know it!