Stitching During the Olympics

I usually have some DVD playing while I am stitching.  It provides some background noise for me and I generally choose something that doesn't require my full attention.  Since Friday night (EDT), I have had the Olympics on while stitching.  I am not a big sports follower, so I haven't really had to give my entire attention to the television.  Of course, Friday night I didn't really stitch much since the Opening Ceremonies were just so fabulous that I didn't want to miss anything.  IMHO, the British Olympic Committee did a fantastic job and the ceremonies were worth the wait. 

While watching on Saturday and Sunday, I managed to finish two pieces. 

Knotted Heart

This first piece is one I did for a quilt to be sewn for the World of Charity Stitching Yahoo group.  Stitchers are able to use their own colors - I chose DMC tangerines (740 and 742) for this combination.  The pattern is a free cross stitch chart from Loretta Oliver at Stitching The Night Away.  The stitch count is 45 x 45, and I used 28-count white evenweave.  I am not much of a sewer so I send coordinating fabric to the wonderful women who make up the quilts.

Knotted Heart
Designed by Loretta Oliver
Stitching The Night Away

Stella Polaris

My second finish was Stella Polaris which I did in the Mulberry colorway for the DD who is a huge purple fan.  This is a cyberclass through Shining Needle Society.  The designers are Carole Lake and Michael Boren of StitchPlay Designs.  The Mulberry colorway uses Watercolors and Waterlillies in Mulberry, along with Soie Crystal, Grandeur, Elegance, Vineyard Silks, Kreinik Metallics and Bijou in complementary pinks and purples.  I have the canvas and threads to stitch this in the Savannah colorway as well.

Stella Polaris - Mulberry
Designed by Carole Lake and Michael Boren
StitchPlay Designs

I just love their geometric designs and have already signed up for the latest Vineyard Quilt Patch.

I am now stitching on Achoo! for my sister, the veterinarian.  I will post pictures once it starts looking like something!

Until next time, happy stitching.

Moorish Splendour is Finished

Last night I put the final stitches into Moorish Splendour.  This was a fun design to stitch - and I will be stitching another one in the purple colorway sometime later this year.  The colorway that is shown reminds me of paprika and is a great autumn piece.

Moorish Spledour
Design by Jane Zimmerman
11" x 11"

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend.  Here in New Jersey we are expecting record-breaking temperatures!

Summer Begins

Somehow I missed posting during the month of June.  Where does the time go?

Family Update

At the beginning of the month we had DD's dance show which, as expected, was fabulous. Everyone did a wonderful job and had a great deal of fun. We no sooner finished with the show than school was winding down for the year. DD finished her freshman year in high school. We got her report card at the end of the month and she did a great job in all her classes.

DD got about a week off from school and then started her first summer job as an assistant in the day camp she had attended for the past nine years.  She will be working for eight weeks.  And if that isn't enough to keep her busy, she will be participating in dance workshops on Tuesday evenings for four weeks.  She wants to go up "en pointe" in ballet, so she is taking a workshop in ballet and a second in "en pointe", as well as a third workshop in jazz.  One of the days at the end of school we had to visit the dance store so that she could be fitted for the pointe shoes.  It's critical that the shoes fit well, and the teacher has to approve the shoes/fit.  I don't think in my entire life I have ever spent so much time getting shoes fitted!

Moorish Splendour

The Moorishp Spelndour class from Shining Needle Society ended but I still have to complete my piece.  I am nearing the end and had hoped to have it finished by the end of June.  Alas, it was not meant to be, but progress is certainly being made. 

Moorish Splendour
Progress 07/01/12

Moorish Splendour Detail

Moorish Splendour
Detail

Hopefully, the photos are legible.  I really need to take a photography class!

Summer Stitching

In addition to finishing Moorish Splendour and Birds on a Cherry Blossom Branch (finally), I hope to start the cross-stitch Achoo!, mentioned in my last blog.  I will also be cross-stitching a square (maybe two) for World of Charity Stitching.  And today I'm supposed to start stitching Stellar Polaris, another Carole Lake/Michael Boren piece from Shining Needle Society.  I think that should keep me busy!

Until next time, happy stitching to everyone.  And a very happy Independence Day for those who are celebrating.

Photo from AllFacebook.com