“Chimney Santa” by Heartstring Designs -- December 30, 2008

I’m very pleased that I’ve finished stitching the design on my Heartstrings “Chimney Santa”!

When you purchase a Heartstrings design, Pat Thode includes a stitch guide with lots of fun stitch and thread suggestions. This was a fun stitch and I stitched it pretty much as suggested by Pat.

I’m not sure yet what I’ll do for the background stitching. I’ll put it aside for now while I consider my different options.

The PC is finally back up and running so I’ll be able to post more in the next few days. Thank goodness! I’m way behind on my blog reading. :-)

Enjoy!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Technical Difficulties in Windy Meadow - Please Stand By!

We are currently having computer technical problems in Windy Meadow.  

Actually, we've been having computer technical difficulties since before Christmas.  Sigh...

Dear Husband decided that the main computer needed to go in for service.  Well, that's been one adventure after another.  They started working on it before Christmas and due to construction next door, they lost power for hours.  Sigh.  

Then it was time for the Holidays so everyone went home for the day, especially since they still didn't have power.  They finished everything they needed to do yesterday, but the new hard drive had not arrived.  DH went over today to pick it up so it can be used until the new hard drive arrives.  Guess what won't connect to the internet today?  Yep, the main computer.  We are now all sharing the laptops and I'm on the Apple which I usually don't use.  Right now, DH is NOT a happy camper. 

I'm slowly catching up on everyone's blogs and I've been enjoying reading about everyone's Holiday's and/or your current stitching projects.  I'll catch up with comments soon.  :-)

I've been stitching and I have lot's of pictures of stitching projects, stitching gifts, previously stitched projects, and Christmas trees to share with everyone.  The pictures will have to wait until the main PC is back up and running as I don't want to load them here and then have to move them later.

In the meanwhile, I hope everyone is having fun, spending lot's of time with family, received lot's of stitching goodies, and that you are finding time to relax with your stitching!

Back to stitching and having fun with the family.

See ya soon!!!

Cynthia

Windy Meadow

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas, and, oh, I was weary.
My stitching unfinished, my eyes getting bleary.
The stockings weren't finished, the chimney was bare.
And I knew that morning soon would be there.

My children and husband were tucked in their beds,
But visions of backstitches ran through my head.
I'd stitched ornaments and presents and gifts by the ton,
And now, I was finally, almost, almost done.

As I poised my needle for one more backstitch,
I heard something outside that made my hand twitch.
I jumped up from my stitching, and flew to the door,
Pressed my eye to the peephole, tip-toed off the floor.

My stitching forgotten, I peered into the night.
When suddenly, I got a terrible fright.
On my porch appeared Santa, holding his sack.
He knocked softly, and I took a giant step back.

I unlocked the deadbolt, and let Santa in,
He entered and gave a mischievous grin.
"Hope you don't mind if I come in the door?"
"Coming down the chimney can be quite a chore."

He said, "You're up late. Still working I see."
"Do you know how tired you're going to be?"
"I know, Santa," I said, with a sigh,
"But I'm still backstitching the stars in the sky,"

"And the fields on that stocking look blobby you know,
I need to backstitch the drifts in the snow.
I've been stitching and stitching and stitching, no rest.
I just tried to finish stitching too much, I guess."

"I know what you mean," he said with a smile.
"This is my busiest time of the year, by a mile."
He stooped down by the tree, and he opened his sack,
And began to pull presents out of his pack.

"I've got some things here I think you might like,
An oak stitching frame, and a brand new Ott-Light.
A bundle of floss, and a great big mat cutter,"
I smiled and felt my heart go a-flutter.

He put down gifts for us all, then he waved his right hand.
"Go to bed," he said, glancing at my floor stand.
He gave me a wink, and stepped out the door.
I just stood there a moment, glued to the floor.

After he'd left, I turned back to my chair,
Picked up the stockings, and started to stare.
The backstitching was done! The stars lit the sky!
And on my son's stocking angels sung on high.

I ran to thank Santa for this final gift,
And watched as his sleigh started to lift.
I heard him exclaim as he pulled out of sight,
"Merry stitching to all, and to all a good night!"

Author Unknown

“Cats & Bats and a Pumpkin!” -- December 17, 2008

A while ago…

Actually it was in October of 2008, that Laura of Laura J. Perin Designs posted a free design, “Cats & Bats” on her website. Of course I decided that I needed to stitch this new design, and I was determined to have it done by Thanksgiving.

I rummaged through the stash (we will not mention here that I was distracted for several hours). I finally selected some lovely black canvas to use. Eventually I found my DMC #5 perle cotton (more updates on the stash reorganizing adventure soon) and I was stitching away.

The border worked up very quickly and then I ran into my stumbling block. Why oh why did I use black canvas???

Because I thought it was a good idea at the time she says while thumping herself on her forehead.

You see, Laura’s two center elements for this design are a black cat or a black bat. Please note that these will not show up very well on black canvas. No, I am not yelling, just speaking with lot’s of emphasis. Sigh…

So here I sat, looking at my canvas, going “now what” as I put on my thinking cap or should that be a sorting hat? Do I stitch a purple cat or a purple bat, how about adding a sparkly thread to the black DMC #5, or should I design my own element for the center. Hmmm… all of these have possibilities.

I then decided to visit my local large box craft store and my local LNS to see what type of buttons or other fun objects would go in the center. No, I wasn’t looking for excuses for another shopping trip! Please don’t notice the crossed fingers behind my back… After lots of stash enhancement, I had a nice collection of possibilities.

About this time, I decided to catch up on my blog reading and talk about perfect timing! Laura had just updated her blog with the “Border Bits” entry, which had another sample of the stitched chart with a pumpkin in the center! I was excited that the orange pumpkin would work with my border on would show up on the black canvas. As you can see below, the pumpkin worked out beautifully!



Oh, you asked what I’m going to do with all of the buttons and things I picked up as possibilities? Well, I like some of them so much I’m planning on stitching up a few more “Cats & Bats” ornaments. This time I’ll be using ecru and lavender/purple canvas and maybe another one on black. I’m still intrigued with the idea of a purple bat and cat. So yes, they will eventually be used.

Laura’s blog is the “Two-Handed Stitcher” which I highly recommend!

Glad you stopped by!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

“Snow Cone Santa” -- December 15, 2008

Janet Zickler Casey’s “Snow Cone Santa” is being offered through the Shining Needle Society. As you know, I love Janet’s designs and had to add this one to my collection. :-)

Since this is offered as a class through the Shining Needle Society, I was determined to keep up with the class lessons for this Santa!

Well, I started off great as you can see by the picture below. I was able to quickly stitch Santa’s face. I took a picture at this point and started working on the next steps which are his beard and his hat.

I took pictures of our Santa (note the picture above) and several other progress pictures of my other projects to share with you, my dear readers. That’s when I ran into my “challenge”.

My dear daughter left last week to volunteer at a school run outdoor school for sixth graders. She was one of the counselors and she would be away for the whole week. This past Sunday she was having troubles getting her camera to work. Of course, like any other doting mother, I told her she could take my camera if she couldn’t get hers to work. Please note, that I said this while busy with other activities and while forgetting all of the recent lovely pictures that I had taken that weekend. So off goes dear daughter to camp… with my camera. I then drove myself nuts for several minutes trying to find the camera to upload pictures before I remembered that she probably had it up at camp. Sigh…

I think dear daughter will be getting a new camera soon that works!

Both dear daughter and camera have safely returned from camp. The camera was fine but did I hear stories of weather as we had over an inch plus of rain in about 36 hours last week.

I will now be able to share my recent (okay, I know, they are over a week old), pictures with everyone.

Glad to see that you all enjoyed “Merry”.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow