A happy finish...

She's done - completed a few days ago, and finally photographed.
Now to find a proper frame, but that will have to wait until summer's end...




I made a few small changes such as adding the completion date and my own initials.



It was also the first time I've stitched over one thread ( Ann's name and year) - I dreaded it at first, but it was not so bad after all!
It was a lot of fun stitching this sampler, but for now I'll take a break from Quaker samplers and pick up some stitching in need of my attention, or will I start something new? Let me enjoy this finish first for a little while....

taking on the challenge...

While the painters are working on our home, and the wind blows cold and hard against the windows, I've been stitching away wondering if I will get Anne finished by May 1st.



There hasn't been much time to have long sit-down sessions, so I've been taking a few minutes here and there, even if it's just to do a few stitches. Surprisingly, it's added up nicely and progress is coming along. I'd thought I'd get tired of the Quaker motifs, but no, it's still just as much fun stitching them!

That, plus the incredibly kind words I've received from all of you who commented on the completion of Hannah Beeby, has, like Chicken Soup for a cold, really done me a lot of good and has motivated me even more to complete this larger sampler. Thank you so much!
Add a challenge from a dear friend with what seems a daunting deadline....

...and you've got me signing off so I can go back to my Ann!

Handwerkbeurs in Zwolle (long post, lots of pics!)

It took me a while, but here it is, a "quick" digest of my trip...

Two weekends ago I attended the Handwerkbeurs in Zwolle. Over a 140 merchants presented their wares from all sorts of crafts: quilting, spinning, knitting, cross stitch, sewing, tatting. There were stands that had the necessary tools of our crafts, merchants from not only Holland, but Belgium, Germany, France and England, to name a few. My friends Diane and Nanda (who are unfortunately still blog-less) and I got an early start Sunday morning, so we could scope out the place before the crowds arrived.


workshops


knitting tables, to chat and hang out...


First things first: out slipped the lists, with our "necessities": Daylight lamps, adaptors, threads, needles, wool, patterns, batting, scissors, fabrics for quilt classes, and other bits and bobs.


I have a standing Daylight lamp, you know the one that looks like a big glowing doughnut with the magnifying lens that allows me to do micro-surgery on torn pockets and teddy bears, next to letting me stitch for hours on end...
Finally a portable Daylight lamp to take with me on trips and visits!



Another little light I use for reading in bed when the man wants to, or is already asleep is the Mighty Bright Mini light, a handy lamp you clip onto a book or even your clothing. I bought it at my fave quilt shop, and it's even more compact than the table lamp. When I got it home at the time, I was checking out what batteries it would take, and if it could take an adapter - oh oh..it's American! At the same stand in Zwolle, we were happy to find that it had one for Europe! So I had to grab that puppy fast!

Let's see...what else....and what did it look like over there?
It was a well set up place, lots of room for everyone, even for those in wheelchairs and scooters.
Everyone was very helpful, friendly, customers and merchants alike.


fabrics for projects...


my friends picking up necessities...

|
and not so necessary necessities...

This stand got the girls buying sock wool, and me to promise to teach them how to knit socks (with pleasure!). It was tough for me to resist, but I have a full basket at home of all colors waiting to become socks. There is nothing like a hand knitted sock!


I joined Merkwaardig, a national "sampler society" as they call themselves, that focuses primarily on historical samplers and their history, bringing those with the same enthusiasm for these works together.

Now, since I've not been quilting for some time now, because of work being done to the house and my sewing room still functioning as storage room, and I've been keeping to my New Year's resolution of finishing works in progress and NOT starting new ones, I've been left with no choice but to cross stitch (Gasp!!-woe is me! lol!). Having said that, you can imagine my interest led me more to the cross stitch stand than anything else.

Picked up some patterns that caught my fancy for a while now:

Amager Panel 1799- NeedlePrint


Rebecca Blake 1809 - Needleprint

EA 1798 - The Marking Samplar

Into the Ark - Blue Ribbon Designs
I have a thing for Noah's Ark designs....

I just couldn't resist picking up a book or two....


Simple Quilt by Yoshiko Jinzenji (French Translation)
Les Editions Saxes
ISBN:978-2-7565-0220-5


and a signed copy of -
Geschiedenis van de Nederlanse Quilt by An Moonen (Dutch)
Uitgeverij Van Gruting
ISBN: 97890-75879-414


What else? hmm..some bits of marbled and dyed linen, now tucked away (and I'm too lazy to pull it out to photograh) and a few teeny weeny patterns that will undoubtedly show up in this blog one of these days as little weekend projects...

All in all, a great day with friends, lots of ideas, lots of itchy fingers ready to get into the next project, so many new things, gadgets and goodies, so many tips and tricks learned from merchants and fellow enthusiasts. We were completely recharged, and have lots of plans to do lots of things together and individually, all of which I will share with you as they present themselves.

So there you go! I haven't figured out how to put photos next to each other to save a bit of space, so forgive the length of this blog - hope you enjoyed reading, and if any of you went to Zwolle, I'd love to hear what you thought of it!

Now back to my regularly scheduled stitching......
heidi out.

TaaDaah!

Happy Day!
My first finish for 2009....



I'm very pleased with how this sampler came out, and how much fun it was to stitch.
This is the first sampler I've ever completed! I've used the word "completed" but actually it's not really done yet, is it? Now the question is: Do I frame it myself or have it done? Do I display it with glass, or without?
In France, at shows and in shops, I've noticed that the works are framed, but no glass is used. Many I've asked prefer it that way because they feel it brings out the relief in the stitching. I found it very pretty as well.
So, any advice, comments and experiences with this would be greatly appreciated!

In the meantime, since we're still in the middle of re-doing our attic, and my sewing room is being used as a temporary storage room, I'll be "forced" to stick to stitching until the work upstairs is done. All current quilting projects are machine sewn ones, and there's no way a mouse can squeeze through the stacks of boxes , let alone quilt in peace!

So for today, I'll be going through some works in progress and see which one will get some attention...perhaps Ann Grimshaw?

good progress...

Hi Ho!
Hope you all had safe and happy Holiday celebrations! We enjoyed being with friends and family, are slowly recovering from all that eating and socializing and getting back into the normal rhythm of life. School starts on Monday again, the house will be quiet, and it'll be good to pick up quilting projects lain aside for a few weeks, as the sewing room became the place to wrap and store presents temporarily...lol!

I'm surprised myself, but did manage, between all those social commitments to get (for my doing) quite a bit of stitching done and share it with you now:



I'm telling you, this sampler is practically stitching itself!
It's really become one of those projects you stay up later for to work on, or get up in the morning for to do a few stitches before breakfast. It's still a mystery why, but hey - I'm not not complaining!

Well, it's another short post, but it's time to walk Darwin, and watch the ice skaters on our now frozen lake in the park. And upon my return, before I can sit down to work on Hannah, I've just got to have a go on our new WaterRower. It was the family Christmas gift. Better for your health than a new flatscreen tv, no?

take care,
heidi

a quick update

Hi Ho!
Finally managed to make a little time to quickly post some things. It's been very busy here lately and time has been scarce to be behind the computer. So without further ado, here's what I've been up to:

A table runner made up of left overs and scraps from a tryptic made a while back.  I decided to just start sewing, put the pieces together and see what happened.  Not an easy thing to do and had to change my mindset because I've been working on projects requiring accuracy, but so relaxing letting it all go but the brain in neutral and just let the fabrics to their thing!  

Sorry about the funky looking color, but after many, many moons I've picked up the knitting needles up again to finish this UFO, a pair of bright orange socks, a very basic pattern, destined to become a Christmas gift.  It had been such a long time since I had the needles in my hand, but really, it's just like, as they say, riding a bike!  It's tempting me to start knitting more regularly, even pull out the spinning wheel to spin up some fine wool, but "sigh" - there's lots more to finish first before throwing more projects on my plate!

Last but not least: a start on Hannah Beeby 1816.

I'm doing it in the recommended DMC colors, because I just didn't want to spend the extra money especially since I'm trying to maintain my stash diet, use what I have and only buy what I need, not want.  At first the diet was only intended for my fabrics, but I've extended it to all my crafts.  Besides, it'll free up lots of extra change to buy that digital reflex camera I've set my heart on: a Nikon D90.

I have the feeling I'm forgetting something, but oh well, it'll have to come another time.

Now it's back to the needles again, this time sewing on wayward buttons, patching jeans and waxing jackets..good fun!  

smiles,

heidi

a slow build: House #4

This weekend was spent doing lots of stuff around the house, but also sneaking in stitches here and there, together with longer bouts of stitching while "watching" or well,  listening to Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot solve murder mysteries.



I finally seem to be picking up a rhythm in this piece, and getting used to stitching big blocks of color so it is going much faster. Starting to "see" the pattern, if that makes any sense to you.  It's also the first time I've got a bent needle! Haven't changed to a new one yet, this one has adopted the form of my hand and I've gotten used to it. It made we wonder if any of you stitchers keep the same needle or if you change to a new one if the current one gets bent?

It has also put me to thinking about one of those stitch remover thingies - I've been using the needle to do that and that may have contributed to its current form..lol!

Time has also been spent working on a quilt project, but that I can't post yet as it's a gift. Due to certain circumstances, this project however simple, has become an emotional drain, and it takes every bit of self-coaching to get myself working on it. What once had me so encouraged, now has me dragging my feet. Every had that? This is a project that should have nothing but love in it, and I even tried to change the design, to give it a freshness, but to no avail. The worst part of it is it's a baby quilt.

What do you all do when you face something like this? Normally I'd put it away but in this case there's a dead line. End of the month. Any insights, ideas, would be so much appreciated!

have a happy monday!

picked up the stitching again...

and decided to get a start on the Houses of Hawk Run Hollow.
It's a change from working with only one color, and with these Au Ver A Soie silks its a pleasure! Here's a quick picture of the start. I'm beginning with house #4.



You'd think it was an easy pattern, the houses are pretty much square, a nice change of pace from the more fiddly bits of the Quaker and sampler pieces I've been working on, but no. Counting long rows of stitches once, twice, maybe three times takes time, and doesn't guarantee it's right! After a few false starts, I've finally gotten it right and have found a rhythm.

At least I'm doing something again. Life has been busy and I've been de-cluttering again, which has taken up much of my time, leaving little to quilt or cross stitch. Adding to that, Blogger has been very unkind, frustrating my access to my own blog and to leave comments on others! Today after a few attempts I was finally able to post today.

On a happier note, I picked up some goodies a few days ago, and can't wait to share them with you as soon as I have better lighting (it's dark and misty today). Also, a new little quilt is finally in the works - I'll be cutting the fabric today I hope and share that with you as soon as possible.

On this Tuesday, Election Day, I bid you happy stitching!

making do...& sampler progress

This is my way of procrastinating... (when I should be doing other things in the house)

Dug deep and found yet another bit of muslin to use for the triangles quilt.  Here a stack of blocks and the freshly cut muslin squares waits assembly into the larger 5 x 5 blocks.  They will be waiting for me upon our return from holiday.

It was also the turn of the red & white sampler to be worked on.  Didn't have much chance to do much stitching on it, but here are some photos...not the best, but it's pouring rain here at the moment so the lighting is not that great.  I am however, enjoying the sound of the rain and watching it stream down my window...

numbers and the letter "W"

the letter "V"

shy leo

He almost got caught up in the swirls of the letter "S" above him by one stitch!  More than once I contemplated taking him out, but threw caution to the wind and lucky for him, all ended well.

Ok, back to doing chores in the house...

Hope the weather is better where you are!

:-)

mail!

new additions to my pattern collection....
all by Carriage House Samplings


The Houses Of Hawk Run Hollow



Sweet Humility




Willow Tree

for the "nut" in you...

Have you ever had someone say to you "wow, I really like..." or "I have a thing for...", and once they said it, you consequently see "that" everywhere? (I have it for Noah's Ark - don't ask me why) Well, my new stitching friend and fellow namesake Heidi mentioned in the last post that she loves acorns. Now I see the little nuts everywhere!

So Heidi, this post is for you:

I just wanted to share the adorable little patterns I saw that showcase these favorites of squirrels everywhere...the acorn.

Acorn Ornament by Lakeside Linens

seen at: Shakespeare's Peddler

Oh Splendid Acorn by Homespun elegance
seen at: The Silver Needle

I came across these patterns while searching for Carriage House Samplings' patterns, The Village of Hawk Run Hollow and The Houses of Hawk Run Hollow. I'm considering making tackling one of these in the future, but don't know which one and want to know how much I need in my piggy-bank in order to buy one. Oh yes, yes I know - finish what I have first! By the time I complete one of my samplers (my own red & white sampler or the Ann Trump) I hope to have gathered the materials to get started on this Mammoth project...

Back to the European Championships Portugal v. Turkey... (read: time to stitch )

Have a great weekend all!

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week May 29th

This week's SBQ was suggested by Jan and is:

Do you ever get to a point working on a project that you've had for so long, you start to wonder what possessed you to start it in the first place?


Yep.  And that's not only for stitching projects either!
The sampler I bought a few moons ago, "Hollandsche Schone" or "Dutch Beauty" is just such a project.  What was I thinking?  I had no idea what I was doing, didn't really know the proper way to stitch, have since changed the direction in which I cross my stitches, the question remains if it will ever be completed.

I consider myself a newcomer in world of cross stitch, so there's lots of things to learn, but as far as other crafts are concerned such as knitting there have been many projects - some still up in the attic and official UFO's - of which I really asked myself "why?"  Hubris?  Hope?  

Often the beauty and quality of the materials got me through a project, but sometimes, even that wasn't enough.

My take on it?  Ach, it happens.  A lesson learned.  Some projects did get finished when I had more experience and tech know-how, or help from someone more knowledgeable, others, had a less happier ending.  It's all part of the process.

just in....

Just landed in my mailbox -  three Ackworth Quaker Samplers!

Which ones?

Rebecca Blake (1809)

Ann Trump (1797)

The Companion Beatrix Potter's Sampler

I'm really excited and wanted to drop everything and start stitching right away (I'm sure you've had that urge) but first things first: decide what linen to use and if I want to go for silk or DMC threads.  I've never used silks before, so it would be cool to try the Au Ver a Soie silks!

Actually, the Ann Grisham sampler is first in line, since I was planning together with a friend of mine to do it together, but after seeing the Rebecca Blake and Ann Trump Samplers, I'm thinking it would be fun to work with colors as well, even though it's easy and convenient to work with only one color. Sure, call me lazy!  :-)

Will have to think about that for a bit, and will get back to you on what I decide!

Doing a snoopy dance,

Heidi

Edit: Jennifer asked me where I purchased these patterns. These were bought at Kunst en Vliegwerk an online shop that specializes in classic samplers and is based in The Netherlands. Lonneke delivers great service and advice, and I love our chats!

Ann or Hannah?

The red and white sampler isn't done yet, and the idea was to just work on that one to get it done, but...the fingers are itching to start a new project!  The Ann Grimshaw  (1803) and Hannah Sauders (1818) are two samplers I picked up late last year together with a friend with the thought of kitting them up and working on the when my large red and white sampler was complete, but since I'm making good headway on it, and my stitching buddy is also ready for a new project to do together, it seems like a good time to begin something else.  Just for a change, you understand....lol!

What I'd really like to work on is the Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler, but that one is no longer available and after several inquiries, the prospect seems bleak that I'll find a pattern.  A shame really, the original thread color would look great in my home.  

If any one knows how and where I could find one, please let me know!

Back to the samplers I do have - in a few days I should have not only two new patterns from the Ackworth School collection  ( Ann Trump and Rebecca Blake) but some samples of new linen to choose from.  I may just try working on 16 ct. linen instead of my comfortable 14 ct. Belfast linen from Zweigart and see how that feels.   As far as threads go?  Well although I read a lot about the different threads available, but I must admit I have no experience with anything else other than DMC.  I'm considering trying Au Ver a Soie for my new project.  Black?  Perhaps an off-black or slate color?

Who knows?  I just may want to start on Ann Trump and Rebecca!  Stay tuned!