Finally Back!

I really fell of the world for awhile, stopped stitching and just cocooned, but now I am back. I started stitching again this last week. I got quite a bit done actually for not having stitched much at all the last month.

This is a little surprise I am working on for my sister. Her birthday is in August. It will go in a trivet frame. The design is Sisters-Best Friends from Hobb Nobb.

The picture below is Just Nan's Whimsy summer made into an ornament for an exchange. It is outlined in beads and the handle is made of beads.

Finally the above picture is a blurry shot of my 2 over 40ct restart of my HAED Black Cherry. I am enjoying it much more than 1 over 28. :). And the colors are really bright.

I have now started on LHN Traveling Stitcher piece. I am gonna work on a few little ones to get my mojo going and then get back to the biggies.

I will be around more now!!!

Bummer

I had to restart my HAED Black Cherry this weekend. A couple of reasons. First I tried to stitch on it while I was ill and really messed up the counting. Secondly, since my health issues, I find I my concentration just a little off (probably some of the meds) so one over 28 just gets me messed up. So I started her over again on 40ct over two. For some reason over two is easier for me right now. It will be larger so we will just how to see how it turns out. I'll post some of it that I have done tomorrow.

WooHoo Made it!!

Here is my version of the BBD chart. It is in 115 red and black. The date is my parents wedding day and the last name is there. The small letters are their initials. My father died in 1992, but we still celebrate their anniversary some every year..

Vonna's WS Round Robin Piece

I finished Vonna's RR piece this weekend end. It is Cross-Eyed Cricket - Two Familiars, Nevermore. I used DMC for the Raven. I hope she likes it. I only have one more RR piece to do in this one and then we are finished, wow, that went fast..

Here it is Vonna dyed the fabric hereself and it is so pretty.

My next project is the BBD contest piece. My mom picked the color and I am putting her last name and the year she and my father got married on it..Their anniversary would have been May 8th. Everyone have a Fantastic DAY!!

A BBD Finish

I finished one of the stockings from Blackbird Designs. It was for a Spring Ornament Exchange. I loved doing this one. It is on 40ct Antique white linen using the DMC substitutions. The hanger is beaded but because of the background color it is really hard to see...

A Little Inspiration

I suddenly had this desire last night to put a few stitches into Inspiration (and I couldn't find the floss for the BBD I am working on, LOL). So I decided to make the SAL I am doing with Vonna on this start a day early. Here is where I am now. Sorry, guess I could have done better with the picture :).

Some Stitching this Weekend

I finished up my CCN Garden Party Dragonfly, I love Dragonflies. I started this one while I was in the hospital but didn't get too far. Here he is all finished. Haven't quite figured out what to make him into, any suggestions.

Then I worked on the Lizzie Kate ABC Lessons along with Vonna and Amy. Somehow the way this year has gone, this design has special meaning to me. I am stitching it on Picture This Plus Crystal Chime 32ct linen. The fabric has such a pretty tint to it. I love the way it is coming out.

This week I try to get on my schedule until Friday, then I am going to spend a couple days staying at the hospital with my Mom while she has knee surgery so I will work on some small projects :). Oh and I did figure out what to put on Vonna's Witching for Stitching RR and my ornie for the exchange..YAYAYAYAYAY.. See Ya all later..

WooHoo Finally

stitching again. Just working on something small this weekend but I think I got my stitching bug back again...yayayayayayayay. I am working on Garden Party Dragonfly and it should be done tonight. Hopefully I will have a picture tomorrow and get back on my rotation of days going again...

Have a GREAT WEEK EVERYONE!

Cautionary Tale and Thanks and Love Sent out

Hi Everyone so sorry I have been away for so long. It was so close to being forever. I don't write about my personal life much but I am doing so now as a cautionary tale to all of you to watch and advocate for yourselves. I had a spiral fracture to my right leg in January and it was surgically repaired. No one in my family has had blood clot issues and the doctor did not feel it necessary to put me on any blood thinning drugs. Almost one month to the day of my surgery I started having shortness of breath and extreme fatigue after writing it off as a bad cold on Thursday evening I crawled into bed. Friday morning I woke up and could barely move, 2 steps, lie down, catch breath, 2 more steps. My sister rushed me to the ER. It turns out I have a saddle Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot) blocking both sides of my lungs at the top and putting pressure on the right side of my heart. I am one of the lucky ones, I almost died in ER but I did not thanks to quick thinking family and friends, the fatality rate for my type of PE is approximately 80%. I have now spend 10 days in the hospital and will spend another 6 to 8 months on drugs to thin my blood and help the clots dissolve. At the same time this condition can now cause my squeezed heart to develop problems.

My caution is this tale is that you need to advocate for yourself with the doctor. I should have pushed on the blood thinners for the surgery, I should have questioned more about clots. Anytime you see a doctor, make sure they know your entire family history and question question question.

The Most Important Thing I learned: My stitching friends are the greatest friends in the world. Special thanks to Amy, Vonna, Christina, Robin, Brenda and Vicki, for all the love, support, prayers and kindness in the world.
Without all of you and I am sure I wouldn't be here :)...

Anyway off my soap box. I hope to get out of the hospital today and quit being quite the human pincushion and start stitching. See you all around :)......Watch for some stitching to appear here again very soon.

Some Stitching the Last Few Days

I worked on my Inspiration piece on Tuesday night of my rotation. I am hoping this one will get done this summer, but we shall see.. Here is the progress on it.

I also started on a SAL of By Gone Stitches Quaker Virtues with Amy, Vonna and Nicole. I didn't get a lot done, but I love my color choice (not traditional but what I like, LOL). It is FAntasm by Carries Creations..

Well off to work with the Rugrats, more later.

And the winner is

Chris.....

Chris...Could you e-mail me your snail mail Address at sylvyrdragon 08 @ yahoo . com (without the spaces.

thank you to everyone who slugs through my ramblings...

WooHoo BBD finish and delay in drawing

The Mystery Sampler got finished about 10:00 last night. This is not the best picture. I will get a better one when I get it framed this week. I am so excited and I really love this piece.

Also, I decided to wait one more day to draw the winner of my blogoversary prize. To give some people I know were gone over the weekend a chance :)..

Happy 2 years to me

It was two years ago today I started blogging. So I will have a give away for it. I have some duplicate BBDs and a couple LHN or CC that I will put in a special pack and send out to someone. It will be a surpise goodie package to celebrate. Post a comment and I will announce the winner on Monday.

Sorry not much stitching to show, this leg thing has kinda gotten me off schedule, but I plan to finish the BBD Mystery this weekend and maybe then I can get my stitching jump started again.
Well Good luck to you!!

Finished Donna's RR piece

I stitched Plum Street Samplers The Pretties for it. I thought the witch reclining in the living room talking to her spider was perfect for the house..

BBD, Ornie from Donna and My Wheels

I received a gorgeous ornament from Donna for the Winter Ornie Exchange on the all Seasons Exchange. Isn't it too cute, I love it Donna, Thank you so much.

Then I did finally get some stitching done. I finished the fourth part of The BBD Mystery Sampler, I can't wait to get the 5th and final part to finish it..The colors go perfect with the walls in our living room.

And last but not least, here is my new means of transportation. The doctor says absolutely no weight bearing on the broken ankle for at least 8 weeks, and as I am crutches challenged here is how I get around. I kneel on the "seat" with my bad leg and push around with the good leg. It is slow but I get there, LOL. Of course, I have fallen off once already, LOL.

Everyone have a GREAT DAY!!

May be quiet for a little while

I am not getting much stitching done right now. I fell on the ice on Sunday and I broke my leg. I need to go get surgery on Thursday to pin it back together. I haven't done much stitching but hopefully will get back to it as soon as possible...I miss stitching..

A Little more Mystery

BBD mystery sampler that is...I love this saying and very much fits me, since I can't seem to unwind my day until I stitch a little.
Also in response to questions I have been receiving, here are the charts which contain the first 4 parts of this mystery.
Loose Feathers 31 - Blessings and Kind Wishes
Loose Feathers 32 - Beyond my Heart
Loose Feathers 33 - Keepsake box and Pinkeep

Have fun!

A Little Inspiration and some floss tosses

I worked on my Rosewood Manor Inspiration SAl with Vonna yesterday. I got a little more accomplished. Then I also did a floss toss for Isabelle Vautier's Grand Marquoir and Quaker Virtures. Here they are:
Quaker Virtures will be on 40ct Antique white over 2 with Carries Creation Fantasm.
The Grand Marquoir will be on the same fabric over 2 with Carries Creation Epiphany silk.

BBD and a Start

I started just a very little bit on Village of Hawk Run Hollow this weekend and last night started on part 4 of the BBD Mystery. I can't wait to see what part 5 is like. Today is my Inspiration SAL, so I am putting it up on the lap frame now and getting it ready to go :)...

Village of Hawk Run Hollow

BBD Mystery Part 4

Some Weekend Stitching

I learned to use my new lapframe this weekend. It was like relearning to stitch but it certainly is helping the arm and elbow. I think I will love it once I get used to it.

I got the third part of the BBD Mystery Sampler done this weekend. I am really excited to start the 4th.

I also got some more stitching done on my HAED Dark Cherry SAL, I really love the colors.

Hmm, I am thinking about starting a new one today.

HAED SAL Day

and I am ready. Back to work on Dark Cherry by Kuik. Here is where I am starting today. With it being a balmy -17 outside right now, I don't plan on going anywhere this evening, so I should be able to get some stitching done :)..

BBD Mystery Sampler

A little (and I mean very little) progress on the BBD Mystery Sampler. I had hoped for more, but got sidetracked. Here is where I am now, I vow to get part 3 finished today, if anyway possible.

Inspiration SAL

Well, I did manage to get some stitching done last night. I finished the second page of Rosewood Manor's Inspiration, only 28 more to go, LOL..I love the way this one is coming out. The fabric is a limited edition fabric from Silkweaver called Tawny Sparkle, it is a 32ct belfast linen.
I need to get the third part of BBD Mystery Sampler finished tonight :)..

Rosewood Manor Inspiration SAL and New Toy

Today is my Rosewood Manor Inspiration SAl day with my favorite Twisted Stitcher. So I pulled it out of my dusty WIP pile and here we go. I am starting about halfway through page 2. I'll post progress tomorrow.

Then it I got a new toy this week. It is a Doodler 4 square lap frame. I hate to admit it but I am starting to get some arthritis in my hands and arms and right now have tennis elbow. it get harder for this old lady to hold the fabric in hand some days. So I am hoping this will help. I need to get some eztape and then I'll be ready to go :)..

Everyone have a great day..

HAED SAL and a lost wip found

Well I didn't get as much stitching as I would have liked this weekend since first the power was out from 6am till 5pm on Saturday and then on Sunday I managed to pick up a stomach flu, bummer. But I did get some done on our HAED sal with Dark Cherry.


Then as I was going through my stash I found my Egypt Garden which I had put to one side because (yes I am absentminded) I had misplaced the fibers. Well I found both, so I have put them in my WIPs to work on this year :)...Here is where I am so far..

I am working on an exchange this week along with my Inspiration and HAED SALS. Plus I got Donna's RR the other day to work on too in the coming month :)..

Slow but sure a Little More Stitching

I finally got through the house on BBD Mystery Sampler, it seemed to take forever.

Yesterday we got the first page of the HAED SAL and I managed to get around 200 stitches done, YAYAY..I love the colors. I will work on it this weekend, then next week I need to finish up my ASOE winter ornament.

Since I seem to be suffering from a Serious

case of stitcher insanity, I have joined in a couple more sals of biggies so I need to adjust my year plans, LOL>

1. The HAED SAL of Black Cherry, to complete in one year (1 over 1 cross on 28)
2. Complete the BBD Mystery Sampler. Then start another BBD and so on as I finish one.
3. Get 3 pages done of HAED Dragon Charmer by Josephine Wall
4. Completed Enchanted Lair DragonWing
5. Get 3 pages (1/2 of each is my share) of Barbers Sisters (Vicki and I are doing this one together).
6. Complete Legend of Sleepy Hollow trio this year.
7. Finish the Kiss by Mirabilia as Phantom piece.
8. Make some real headway on Rosewoods Inspiration.
9. Start on Sal for Quaker Virtues.
10. Start with SAL for mystere du Grand Marquoir
11. Make a Voodoo Girl to go with the boy :)..
12. Home of a Needleworker too by LHN
13. Start Village of Hawk Run Hollow

Well now my insanity is written down, LOL..

Weekend Stitching

I did manage to get some accomplished this busy weekend. Being the Griswolds of our street means a lot of after Christmas cleanup so I didn't get as much as I wanted to in the way of stitching done, LOL..

Here is the BBD Mystery as of today, I absolutely love this one :)..

and then I got a little more done on HAED Dragon Charmer. This Friday the first part of the HAED SAL 2009 comes out, so I will be starting on Dark Cherry this weekend. I have the fabric all gridded and all the colors ready, so I am ready to start her (hmmm, wonder if I will ever finish an HAED, lol).

New Years Stitching

Okay, so I started something New on the New Year with HAED Dragon Charmer, I got a little over 200 stitches into it, I know, not much, but a start. Here it is so far, just a blob.

Then I worked some more on BBD Mystery Sampler, I am hoping to get as close to the third part done as possible this weekend, and maybe start the 4th.

2009 - Stitching for a New Year

Well I have tried to think and think about what I want to accomplish this year. I know that this year I really want to do a lot more stitching for me. I have several things I plan to put as goals for this year.

1. The HAED SAL of Black Cherry, to complete in one year (1 over 1 cross on 28)
2. Complete the BBD Mystery Sampler
3. Get 3 pages done of HAED Dragon Charmer by Josephine Wall
4. Completed Enchanted Lair DragonWing
5. Get 3 pages (1/2 of each is my share) of Barbers Sisters (Vicki and I are doing this one together).
6. Complete Legend of Sleepy Hollow trio this year.
7. Finish the Kiss by Mirabilia as Phantom piece.
8. Make some real headway on Rosewoods Inspiration.
9. And pick up a few WIP and put some stitches into them :).

I don't think that is too impossible. I have two exchanges I will definitely keep going with the All season ornament and F&S. I have a RR I am 1/2 way thru, Witching for Stitching a Halloween themed RR. So this is what I am thinking for the new year, now I need to figure out how to get myself organized to accomplish it :)..

Happy New Year Everyone :)..

BBD Mystery Sampler Part 2

I finished up (all but monogram or date, can't decide which) the second part of the BB 5 part mystery sampler. I really like the way this one looks..I hope to get to work on the 3rd part this weekend!

Happy Holidays

to Everyone!!

Weekend Stitching

I finished up my first strawberry emery last week, can't show it off though because it is for an exchange. I will show it off this next week I hope. Not perfect but not too bad either :)..

I also finished Ulla's RR for Witching for Stitching. I used Waxing Moon's Pumpkin and Bittersweet.

I also got started on part 2 of Blackbird Designs Mystery Sampler.

Well Everyone have a Great Day and get lots of holiday fun things done :)..

BBD Mystery Sampler Part 1 - done

YAYAYAY!! I got the first part finished this weekend.

Now today, I must meet with the consultants for my MM&I town and get ready to start that. I have a feeling I won't have the border done when everyone else starts but I will certainly try to be ready as possible :)...

Have a Beautiful Sunday!

More Mystery Sampler

This weekend I got more done on the Blackbird Design Mystery Sampler.. I managed to get the alphabet done, although all the letters are not in this picture, LOL..

Just Nan for Gaby

This is the pinkeep I made for Gaby for the MAW exchange. She wished for a Just Nan Pinkeeps so I made Winter in the Square into a pinkeep :)..

Some Thanksgiving stitching

I started Blackbird Designs 2008 Mystery Sampler on Thursday Evening. Here is where I am on Friday night. Didn't get to stitch as much as I would like, but hopefully will get more in this weekend. I am really enjoying stitching this design. I think I want to have a BBD always in my rotation next year.. :)..

Exchange to Amy

I was slow getting this to Amy but I did finally get it to her. It is stitched with Crescent Colours Belle Soie in Red fox, Expresso and Teddy Bear on 40 ct linen. The original designs was for a checkbook cover but I preferred it to be a needle book.

MAW from Gaby

I received the cutest Halloween pillow from Gaby. It is from the make a wish exchange. Gaby chose a German design so I would not have anything like it and I do not. I love the pillow and have put it in a place of honor on my stitching table.

F&S Round 10 received from Susan and a New project started

This is the very pretty Just Nan design I received from Susan P in the 10th round of Fair and Square. It is very pretty and the picture does not do it justice. Thank you so much Susan.

And of course since I didnt have enough WIPs already I thought I'd add a new one, this is Dragonflight by Enchanting Lair stitched on 32ct Frenzy Linen by Silkweaver.