Well, yesterday, I embroidered a Wild Rose motif in the bottom right hand patch using DMC Rayon floss. Then I started to highlight the floral print in the center by stem stitching around one of the flowers using 2 strands of Sulky metallic gold machine embroidery thread. Only, I'm doing it by hand! Which is a challenge now with all the beads I have on the block!
Later today, I'll continue with outlining a few more of the flowers and leaves in the floral print. I want to find a little brass bee charm to add next to the embroidered motif I did yesterday. I thought I had one in my stash but I couldn't find it. Perhaps I used it on something else.
Cross Stitch Patterns inspired by nature, animals and the holidays by designer Pamela Kellogg of Kitty And Me Designs
Saturday, July 02, 2005
My Daily Schedule
Gina from Patra's Place asked me how I manage to find so much time to stitch. She was wondering if I clean my house or if I have a housemaid. I thought I'd share my reply with everyone.
No, I don't have a housekeeper, I do my own cleaning. And it's funny that Gina asked this question because there are days when I feel like all I do is clean something!
Honestly, I'm just very efficient with my time. My husband and I get up early, 5:00 a.m. everyday. We have a cup of coffee and watch the weather and then he leaves for work at 6:00. When he leaves, I do my cleaning and my chores. I'm very routine and scheduled and quite organized and yes, my house is very clean and neat. I can't stand a mess anywhere! I take a quick break at 7:30 to watch "Simply Quilts" on HGTV and when that's over, I finish up my chores and then I get to my work.
I do my design work usually from about 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. although in the Winter, I usually work more hours because I don't have outside work to do.
While I'm working, if I have laundry to do, I run my washer and dryer and when I'm done with my work for the day, I fold the laundry and put it away.
Then I stitch. My husband doesn't get home from work until 6:00 or 7:00 at night so I have alot of time by myself.
I guess some of my extra time comes from the fact that we don't have children (although 4 cats must equal at least one child!) and I'm not one to cook. It's not that I don't know how, I just don't enjoy cooking so I don't do it. We eat alot of salad and fruit and Scott does alot of cooking outside on the grill. Even in the Winter! So without cooking, there isn't alot of kitchen cleanup. And that's where I get some of my stitching time.
I need to stitch. If I don't have a little time to stitch almost every day, quite honestly, I don't feel good. It's where I find my peace.
I try to plan my stitching time (in the Summer) for when the ballgame is on. Most of you know I love the Chicago Cubs Baseball team! So I stitch while watching baseball and when that's not on, I put a DVD on to listen to while I stitch.
I usually listen to the Classical station on the radio while I do my design work and I listen to my CD's while I clean. I like Classical music alot and I listen to that while I work because it isn't usually distracting. When I'm cleaning, I like something a little more upbeat. I'm quite fond of movie and musical soundtracks. My current favorites are CATS, Chicago and Phantom Of The Opera. I'm also quite taken by Mozart's Symphony #25!
On Saturday mornings, I go grocery shopping, run to the bank, the post office and any other errands that I may have to do. Sometimes I work in the afternoon on Saturdays and sometimes I stitch or sew.
So that's pretty much my daily routine. I clean, I work, I stitch! On the weekends, my husband and I go to Flea Markets, Antique Shops and Swap Meets. (Swap Meets are flea markets with car parts. Scott is a car-guy!)
I suppose many people would think my life is boring. Maybe to some it is. To me, it's usually peaceful. And that's the way I like it.
No, I don't have a housekeeper, I do my own cleaning. And it's funny that Gina asked this question because there are days when I feel like all I do is clean something!
Honestly, I'm just very efficient with my time. My husband and I get up early, 5:00 a.m. everyday. We have a cup of coffee and watch the weather and then he leaves for work at 6:00. When he leaves, I do my cleaning and my chores. I'm very routine and scheduled and quite organized and yes, my house is very clean and neat. I can't stand a mess anywhere! I take a quick break at 7:30 to watch "Simply Quilts" on HGTV and when that's over, I finish up my chores and then I get to my work.
I do my design work usually from about 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. although in the Winter, I usually work more hours because I don't have outside work to do.
While I'm working, if I have laundry to do, I run my washer and dryer and when I'm done with my work for the day, I fold the laundry and put it away.
Then I stitch. My husband doesn't get home from work until 6:00 or 7:00 at night so I have alot of time by myself.
I guess some of my extra time comes from the fact that we don't have children (although 4 cats must equal at least one child!) and I'm not one to cook. It's not that I don't know how, I just don't enjoy cooking so I don't do it. We eat alot of salad and fruit and Scott does alot of cooking outside on the grill. Even in the Winter! So without cooking, there isn't alot of kitchen cleanup. And that's where I get some of my stitching time.
I need to stitch. If I don't have a little time to stitch almost every day, quite honestly, I don't feel good. It's where I find my peace.
I try to plan my stitching time (in the Summer) for when the ballgame is on. Most of you know I love the Chicago Cubs Baseball team! So I stitch while watching baseball and when that's not on, I put a DVD on to listen to while I stitch.
I usually listen to the Classical station on the radio while I do my design work and I listen to my CD's while I clean. I like Classical music alot and I listen to that while I work because it isn't usually distracting. When I'm cleaning, I like something a little more upbeat. I'm quite fond of movie and musical soundtracks. My current favorites are CATS, Chicago and Phantom Of The Opera. I'm also quite taken by Mozart's Symphony #25!
On Saturday mornings, I go grocery shopping, run to the bank, the post office and any other errands that I may have to do. Sometimes I work in the afternoon on Saturdays and sometimes I stitch or sew.
So that's pretty much my daily routine. I clean, I work, I stitch! On the weekends, my husband and I go to Flea Markets, Antique Shops and Swap Meets. (Swap Meets are flea markets with car parts. Scott is a car-guy!)
I suppose many people would think my life is boring. Maybe to some it is. To me, it's usually peaceful. And that's the way I like it.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Speaking of Vogart...
Another of my flea market goodies from this past Sunday! A Vogart Needlework Lesson Chart from Fall of 1946!
This is the front cover.
This is the back cover.
There really aren't any needlework lessons in here and there are no patterns. It's basically a booklet with instructions as to what floss colors to use on their Fall 1946 line of transfer patterns.
It's a neat booklet with photos of their line and believe it or not, I don't have any of the transfers from this line!
I would just love to have the patterns on the back cover! They are just too cute! I don't know if I would make any as there aren't any babies or young children in my family but they are so charming! And there is an auction for them currently at Ebay along with some others. I don't know if I'll bid on them or not as the seller is in Canada. And I certainly don't need another pattern but I may not be able to help myself!
This is the front cover.
This is the back cover.
There really aren't any needlework lessons in here and there are no patterns. It's basically a booklet with instructions as to what floss colors to use on their Fall 1946 line of transfer patterns.
It's a neat booklet with photos of their line and believe it or not, I don't have any of the transfers from this line!
I would just love to have the patterns on the back cover! They are just too cute! I don't know if I would make any as there aren't any babies or young children in my family but they are so charming! And there is an auction for them currently at Ebay along with some others. I don't know if I'll bid on them or not as the seller is in Canada. And I certainly don't need another pattern but I may not be able to help myself!
My Other Current Project
Besides working on the Pink & Green CQ Block, I'm also working on a set of pillowcases with the cutest little Vogart kitties on them.
For the large photo, please click here.
Here is one of my stitched pieces.
For the large photo, please click here.
Obviously, I'm still working on these but have the kitties on both pillowcase stitched. Now I'm working on the flowers.
I know these are kind of babyish, but I can't help myself, I just love them! I'll use them on my bed.
For the large photo, please click here.
Here is one of my stitched pieces.
For the large photo, please click here.
Obviously, I'm still working on these but have the kitties on both pillowcase stitched. Now I'm working on the flowers.
I know these are kind of babyish, but I can't help myself, I just love them! I'll use them on my bed.
Pams Challenge Block - yet another day!
Well, this block is coming along and I'm starting to like it better. I finished beading the leaves on the bottom applique and I changed the little red rosebud applique to a pink one. I like it better.
Then I added some leaves and tiny flowers to the vintage daisy applique at the top.
Not sure what to do next but I'll look at it for awhile and see what I can come up with. I'm thinking of outlining the flowers and some of the leaves in the cotton print with some metallic gold Kreinik, maybe #4 braid. I'll try it and see how it looks.
Then I added some leaves and tiny flowers to the vintage daisy applique at the top.
Not sure what to do next but I'll look at it for awhile and see what I can come up with. I'm thinking of outlining the flowers and some of the leaves in the cotton print with some metallic gold Kreinik, maybe #4 braid. I'll try it and see how it looks.
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