More Colors Done

I got a second color of blue and the blue variegated border done this week on the third corner. With each color done, I feel -so- much closer to completing the whole of part five. Still a lot of gold to put in, and the light colors, but it's getting there.

A Week of More Work

You can tell there's a lot more progress when I work something more often. This has really accelerated since I started working on it daily. Not only is the flag growing, so is her dress.

Chained to the Squiggles

Using another shreddy metallic, I put chain stitches in the top squiggles and then outlined more of them around the guitar. This week, I'll be filling them in too. I thought, with this being a small project, that it would go faster than it is. I think it's because I get no joy slogging through the instructions. I know one of you said that's the price of designing genius, but my response to that is - editors.

One Band Done

We didn't have our meeting this week due to bad weather, but I did get band one done anyway. I like the colors on it, and I think the variegated silk adds a nice touch to the carnations. The second band is all in cream and I'm about a quarter done with it already.

You Make My Day

Earlier this week, Pierrette gave me a Make My Day. I'm really really honored to get it. This blog was for my own benefit, after all, to show myself I was making progress when I felt I was mired in stitching doldrums. It seems others like seeing my progress too, and for that I thank all of you who take the time to read this.


The Rules:Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times.

Now comes my dilemma. I don't read other peoples' blogs often. I do browse occasionally, but I know if I do it often, I get so distracted by that that I don't do anything else. It took me a while to come up with my ten blogs that I didn't think have been Dayed. I do read Sharon B's blog and I look at Pierrette's at least twice a month, but they get inundated with these things! So, for something different, here's a list of blogs I visit. Oh, and to share the love ... not all are stitching related.


Wind from the East - a Japanese blog about crazy quilting. She does wonderful work.

GSGuide.net - My other main hobby is playing an online game. I've been playing it for some twelve years now. This is a fellow-player's help guide and information archive for the game.

Blissful Creations - Bliss talks about life and cross stitch.

Lani's Journal - Lani's a good friend and talks about her life as a musician in the Army, her family, and her stitching.

Stitchery Nook - She has some beautiful pieces she's working on.

Rooted in Mississippi - Rissa's got some "pretty impressive stuff" and she's not afraid to show it. She does some awesome work.

Gigi's Blog - Gigi is a great cross stitch designer and is always doing something new and different. Go visit, even if you don't speak French.

Isabelle Vautier's blog - She always has something going, and the pictures are beautiful.

Athena's Thimble - a website dedicated to the neeedlework of members of the East Kingdom of the Society for Creative Anachronism.

CJ Stitching and Blooms - Judy does some beautiful work in both beading and crazy quilting.

It's an Oval

This week, I was -one- jessica from finishing this when I realized I was -one- thread off two thirds of the way around ago. After muttering several curses to the stitching gods and frogging all the way back to the offending jessica, I decided I had enough of this particular area and spent three hours straight completing the oval. Don't you hate when you're off and it's a symmetrical design and would be noticed for placing everything else?

I still need to put the big stitches inside and fill in the jessicas, but I think getting that whole outline done is something to be proud of, especially since it's made with really slippery rayon.

Valentine Exchange

I participated in the Valentine's exchange on Vikki Clayton's forums this year. My post office messed up, though, and kept this buried in their packages section for two weeks, so I -just- got it yesterday. Isn't it beautiful? Tracy from Kentucky made it for me. I have it hanging on my warping board for now until I find a more permanent spot for it. I think it's gorgeous!