I think I've found my stitching saturation point. Yesterday I did between 5 and 6 hours and had actually had enough at the end of it.

The first couple of hours I started on my badge for the Aion get together in April. This is the first time I've used my Q-Snaps...................I love them. They are so easy to use and although they are heavier than a hoop overall this isn't really a disadvantage and I look forward to a long and productive relationship with them.

The badge is coming along nicely.

After a couple of hours on this I switched to my current obsession - Chatelaine Mystery Sampler 1. Last time I posted a picture there was no gold stitching - just look at the difference a bit of sparkle makes -

Then yesterday I concentrated on the central piece of part 2. It doesn't look much but that bird took about 3 hours to do - well worth the effort though -

I may have had enough yesterday but I'm raring to go now - pass me that needle..............

SS

Stitch & Craft Group

After six months of procrastinating last night I finally plucked up the courage to go to my local Stitch & Craft Group.

I managed to make a complete fool of myself before I even got there. I happily set off and arrived 10 minutes early and sat in the car to make sure I was walking in bang on time. Went up to the door and it was locked and the main hall was in darkness. Realised that what I thought was the Community Centre was the Youth Centre and I had no idea where to go. Drove up and down the long road a couple of times but couldn't find it. Rang DH for the address and phone number out of the phone book. I was definitly on the right road but still didn't know where it was. Thought about going home but decided I'd ring the centre first. Very embarrassed to learn that not only was it opposite the Youth Centre but I was parked outside.......LOL.

So I managed to be about 20 minutes late but I'm so glad I persevered. What a lovely bunch of ladies and how talented they all are. There was plenty of stitching going on - cross stitch, crewel work, quilting and some other stuff I don't know the name off. There was some beading and some card making too. It was lovely to sit and stitch with other stitichers - what a treat.

The group meets once a month and alternate between work nights and speaker/workshop nights. Next month it's a beading workshop although I believe you can still do your own work if you want to. Looking forward to it.

SS

I love living in the countryside - miles from anywhere. However, there are disadvantages - no broadband - after a week away from the office I am so pleased to be back at my computer. I don't miss civilisation at all but I do miss the online stitiching community enourmously.

You would think a week away from the office would mean lots and lots of stitching done. It didn't quite work out that way. It was half term here (although I believe it's half term in the rest of the UK this week) so we had a couple of day trips planned, lunch with Grandma, trip to the cinema and then there was all the chores etc to be done.

Stitiching wise this is my progress to date on the Mystery Sampler from Chatelaine:



I'm really pleased with how this is stitching up. I'm about a third of the way into part 2 now. Unfortunately I had to stop working on the part in the top right corner because I suddenly realised I had the wrong thread. That's been ordered now and hopefully I'll be able to add the satin stitch this week.

Tonight I'll work some more on the internal border and maybe start the center detail of this part.

I've been reading about various trips to the Nashville market - it sounds totally exhausting trying to fit so much into so short a time but must be great to meet designers and see all the new designs. There are some lovely things coming out. Fortunately nothing that screams at me so no immediate S.E.X for me. After the mad S.E.X of a couple of weeks ago I've calmed down a bit. I've a wish list for payday so watch this space.

SS

All going well

Mystery Sampler 1 is working up really quickly - nearly finished the bottom half of the border. Hoping to finish the top half over the weekend and then work on part 2 next week. It's a real pleasure to work on.

When I'm up to date on that I think I'll start part 5 of the Mermaid's Treasure box - it's one of the short sides - not too big and it's repeating the theme from the box top so it's there won't be any suprises in the chart - should be a nice stitch.

The 'travel project' - needlecase - hasn't been touched this week 'cos I've enjoyed working on the Sampler too much.

Got the latest newsletter from the Sampler Guild last night - a really interesting copy. I'm tempted to sign up for the 2005 stiching project - should I/shouldn't I - silly question if I don't I might not get the opportunity to stitch that project ever again!!

Still waiting for my orders from the States to arrive - fingers crossed they'll come next week.

Not going to work next week. It's half term and got a few things planned - hoping to get loads of needle time.

February

February already. I love the winter and am at my happiest from September to April. May to August I find more trying I'm not really an outside person and like to sit inside with my stitching and be warm and cosy. I'm hoping DH will 'build' me a stitching nook in the garden this summer. I see a pergola giving shade, with a useful table and a wooden reclining garden chair position by the trees overlooking the village.

As it's February the fifth part of the Mermaid Treasure box was released yesterday - one of the short sides. I'm not starting it just yet as I pre cut the fabric and didn't leave enough spare around the edges so I'm going to get some more fabric and this time leave it big to fit on a nice q-snap (when it arrives from the States).

The second part of the Mystery Sampler 1 was also released. Very nice indeed. I stitched an hour or so on the border last night and it's working up really quickly. I have a week off next week so I'm planning on getting this up to date and then spending the rest of February on the Mermaid Treasure box.

Managed to fit in another little shopping exursion yesterday whilst looking at a quiliting site I found that Artbin have released a stitching line. I was already looking for a small box to put all my odds and ends in on the table next to the stitching chair and there was one on the site. I remembered that one of the scrapbooking shops I visit online sells Artbin and voila they had it on their site too. One quick click and it was ordered - whilst I was there I also ordered the Sew 'n Go Tote . My justification for this purchase is that I'm going to join my local stitch and craft group and it will be so useful for those meetings/workshops. Mmmmmmmmmm as if we needed to justify S.E.X.

SS

Clickity Shop, Clickity Shop

How did we manage to get supplies before the Internet? I've managed to restrain my online shopping recently I'll admit it was getting a little out of control. So throughout November, December and January I didn't buy anthing.

It was payday last Thursday and to celebrate a small payrise I've been doing a bit of shopping.

Charts

I've been lurking on the Terea Wentzler's Ezboard and am taken with the Lady of Shallott and the 12 days of Christmas.

©Leisure Arts, Inc. P.O. Box 55595, Little Rock, AR 72215

I haven't stitched any TW but have decided to add them to my to do pile. I ordered the charts yesterday from Sew and So and as usual their service was impeccable. I've been studying the LoS chart this morning it looks a bit daunting but I do love the colours and the intricicy of the design makes this a truly sumptious piece.

©TW Designworks, PO Box 176, Montoursville, PA 17754.
All rights reserved.

The 12 days of Christmas is so lovely and makes a change from so many Christmas ornaments you see. I think I would like to stitch these as two bell pulls with six ornaments on each. I have a huge brick fireplace and they would look stunning displayed this way.

I also got the latest chart from Sue Hillis. I love her "I shall wear purple...." design and it's also in my to do pile. This made me laugh when I saw it so just had to add it to the pile.

My chart buying theory is that if I don't buy it when I see it when I get around to being ready to stitich it will be out of print and hard to get!!!!

Music

This is definitly stitching related because when reading about the Lady of Shallot on the Ezboard I read about Loreena McKennitt and ordered her CD with the song on it from Amazon. The whole CD was so fab I ordered another one of hers yesterday which arrived today. It's such lovely music to stitch by.

I have also joined Silkweavers Stash of the Month Club - very excited about that and can't wait for it to arrive on this side of the pond.

My final spree for the month was at The Silver Needle where I've got some Q-Snaps on order, some thread straighteners and a ruler. Again just got to wait for their long journey to finish.

Mmmmmm looks a lot when you write it down - that's it now until next payday. I'm writing a wish list during the month and then the things I still want on payday I'll consider buying. This month I actually deleted a few things off the list - so much for impulse shopping.

SS