MERRY CHRISTMAS

Well it is Christmas Eve day and I am wondering where this past year went!! How did my life get so busy - well 2012 will be hopefully a slower paced year and filled with lots more stitching. I learned a new word --- NO!!

To add to my busyness - my computer has been acting strangely - notice the underlining!!?? Do not know where that came from and I cannot seem to get rid of it.

The little bit of stitching I did is below - the small red and gold Whitman's Tin with smalls from a Jane Timmer's design. I also made a waxer using two small charms tied together with a ribbon with the wax pressed inbetween.

Since I do not like to see the writing on the bottom - I cover the area with felt or ultra suede and then add button feet.

Above is an ornament I received from an exchange group and below is the ornament I sent.

Since this is the 3rd attempt to post this - I will close and say Merry Christmas to you all.

Roberta

TUSAL

Well, life just seems to not want me to sit at the computer - I truly thought I would be able to get caught up with my messages and my blog reading - WRONG!!! I do see the light at the end of the tunnel, just have to get a few more things taken care of both at home and family and with my stitching projects. Working, of course, doesn't help!!!

But I did remember to take a picture of my ORTS for this past month.

The picture below shows the small container with this months ORTS and this years collection of ORTS.
This is a shot of this months ORTS.

I have been getting some stitching in and some finishing - hoping to get all my stitching done for Christmas.

Did everyone have a good Thanksgiving??? We did and we really tried not to overeat!!!

Thank you for stopping by ---- see you soon.

Roberta

Life is not slowing down

But I am still working on some small things.

Below is from a mini workshop that my EGA group put on - it is a scissor fob using ribbon, beads and the anchor is a coffee stir straw with silver filler beads on the end.
Here is a photo of the full thing - pretty cute and clever.

Here is a small scissor holder with the newly made ribbon fob attached (cannot see fob)

Below is a lovely ornament that I received from Edgar from the HOE exchange group - this is just beautiful - stitched and finished with perfection - just love it.

This is the ornament that I sent along to my exchange partner - I just love the legs!!
Now this is a spider web that was over our driveway - it was really pretty, but luckily it was quite high up.

I belong to Ikebana International and below is my design from a workshop - design something using grapes!! I thought it looked pretty good and the instructor liked it, but did take away the chop sticks that where in the vase.

Can you believe that the Holidays are upon us - Halloween this weekend and then onto Thanksgiving and then Christmas - where does the time go???

Thanks for stopping by ------------- Roberta

What I have been working on!

Over the past year and a half, I have been working on the table favors for the EGA National Seminar in Naples, Florida. There were several of us that worked on these lap cloths for this event, which happened in September (last month). I was also volunteer chairperson - so with all that going on and working, having my sister move down to Macon - life has been a bit crazy and my stitching, blogging and life in general was totally out of routine and control!!!

Below is the the silk screen that we put on the lap cloths - the name of the event was Flamingo Fandango - it was great fun, wonderful hotel, hotel staff, good food and the classes and teachers were terrific.
This is the lap cloth layed out. We had folded them and tied them with pink floss with a thread card attached - the cloths were well received.

Below is my Halloween ornament for the month - my stitching was reduced to small things over the course of the last year plus.

At the seminar I had the privilege of being accepted into two separate classes one taught by Tanya Berlin and the other taught by Jetta Roy-Finley Heath. Tanya is from England, trained at the Royal School in England and now resides in Canada. Jetta is originally from Denmark and specializes in Danish white, pulled, drawn thread styles. Both ladies are extremely talented and very knowledgeable about their skills and techniques.

Below is what I did in Tanya's class - basically it is a thread painting class using 1 strand of DMC. The boutique that was at the seminar had cut out mats to complement various pieces that were being taught at the seminar - I really liked this mat that was cut to fit the Blue Bird on a blossom branch. It is slightly off set, so it give a really nice appearance.

Now this is Tanya's piece!!! her work is just exquisite!

Now here is what I did in Jetta's class - Falstersyning Coaster - it is the style of whitework that is done on the island of Falster, just off the coast of Denmark - syning is the word for sewing - hence Falstersyning is sewing in the style of Falster.

Here is Jetta's piece, again another beautifully crafted piece of embroidery.

Well, since I didn't have enough to do, several of us were asked to do a pilot piece for Barbara Rakosnik - which she was teaching at the seminar - this is what I have done so far.

I am just loving these pieces that I now have to get finished along with the rest of my WIPS!!!

Below are two wash/dish cloths that I did manage to crochet and knit up - there also was a third on, but it was given away before I took a picture of it.

As if there is nothing to do, I also belong to the local Ikebana oranization and this was the workshop for September - manipulating leaves/line material.

I know that I went on forever, but it has been such a long time since I have been able to sit and write about what I love to do - it felt good to be able to sit here at the keyboard and share my loves with you all.

Thanks for visiting - see you all soon - I have lots of blog reading to catch up on -

Roberta

TUSAL photo

Well, it has been a month since I last entered somthing onto my blog!!! Life is finally quieting down a bit for me - but, of course, the holidays are just around the corner!!!

Here is my ORT's from this past month. I finished up the table favors for the EGA National Seminar (dark blue and pink orts) and the rest is from the two classes that I took at National and the Pilot class I did before the seminar. There is also some scraps from a small quilt that I am working on.
I will have photos of what I have been working on later today or tomorrow.

See you all soon.

Roberta, who is back to blogging!!

TUSAL

Hi All, I thought I would be able to be back in the swing of things, but my life is still very busy, once the EGA National Seminar is over, I should really be able to catch back up with you all. I do miss my blogging and reading what everyone else is doing.

Well, I missed the last few TUSAL's so here is what I have and yes, I am a few days late - sorry!!!

See you all soon, thank you for being so patient with me. I'll be back in blog land in a few weeks.

Roberta

Dropping in for a quick hello

with some photos to share.

The weather has been so terribly hot that my poor yard is suffering, but there is still some beauty --- this gorgeous butterfly on my hydrangea bush.
Then we have the area that the birds feed - I now have a garden of ????? corn maybe??!!

But definitely, do have pumpkins or squash growing!! Isn't this so cute and little!!

Couldn't pull this out of the yard and I am so glad that I left it. I know it will be gone what with the deer, raccoons and possums that visit my yard!!

Now onto some of things that I have been able to work on with my crazy busy schedule. The local yarn shop "Creative Yarns" has stared a sock club which meets every week and we are suppose to do pair of socks a month -- ya right!!!! Just so I can catch up, I am not doing the August sock until later!!

Here are some of the socks that I have started - this one below is not in this book but something I started last winter and hope to finish soon!!

This is the sock for the month of June - the purpose of the Sock Club is to learn new techniques and to help each other with problems - this is not a class but a social event. What is so fun is how everyone approaches each sock. This pair I am doing on double pointed needles as with the above sock.

Here is a close up of the pattern and the yarn which is - Malabrigo - kettle Dyed Pure Superwash Merino Wool.

Below is the sock for July and I am using 2 circular needles. this is my first attempt using circular needles for socks and I am liking it so far.

A close up of the pattern - this is a cable technique and the yarn is Spud and Chloe a superwash wool and silk. This yarn splits easily, but I love the color and how it feels.

So yes, another knitting project - because of my crazy busy life at the moment, the knitting is an easier thing for me to do - I can just pick it up and work a few stitches or rows when the time is available - especially at work!! Yes, I can stitch or knit at work when it is not busy. I do get to stitch once in a while at home, but I am only working on small things like ornaments.

Below is scarf - some call it a 'jellyfish' scarf.

This is what it looks like on the skein and then pulled apart.

This is how it is knitted - using # 10 or 11 needles - cast on 6 stitches using the narrow edge and then you knit using each loop as your throwing yarn.

This is the product that was at my yarn shop.

Notice the thick bottom of the strand and the thinner top which is where you work from. Clear as mud!!! I hope I explained this so you too can do this project - it could be done in one long night - I am not a fast stitcher - this took me about 5 hours. It is a great gift item!!

Thank you for stopping by and good for you for reading through this longer than usual entry. I hope to be able to be back on track with blogging and reading and commenting by the end of September.

Again thank you for visiting ---- See you soon on the web ---- Roberta

A quick Hello

to say that - no I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth YET!!!

Life has just been extremely busy and my computer time and my stitching time has suffered greatly- will explain soon.

Just wanted to share with you the cat that is too big for the small box. Cats love boxes, paperbags, small spaces in closets and chasing sheets as one makes a bed.

Well, here is Mars sitting/sleeping in a box from Sam's club (big box warehouse store). He loves this tiny box - why is beyond our family's understanding, but it is just way too funny and cute!!
This is some flowers and spearmint from the yard - smelled great!

The Hydragea's were lovely, but with the heat we have been having, my bushes are just not too happy, but here is another view - do note that large cat is still in small box just under the purple flower.

Now some of my flowers are simply a food source for the locals - we have visitors daily and there are hardly any flowers left in the yard. LOL

Now as for stitching - that has taken a big hit - have worked on a few smallish items and have been knitting a bit - dish/wash cloths, and knitting socks - have 3 going and only one sock is almost done from the three pairs!! I do miss my computer time and stitching time, but I do try to drop in and visit blogs - usually do not have time for commenting since I visit during work. I am hoping life will ease up for my by mid September.

Thank you for stopping by ----------------- Roberta

TUSAL

Well here is my 'orts' for this year!! I missed both April and May getting my TUSAL photos up. Now I am not sure what I should be showing - the smaller container is from the beginning of the year and the larger container is what I have put in these last two month. I think I need to change the containers!!!

So my question is do I show just what I did for the month or do I show what I have put into the jar year to date??
I have completed my ornaments for the months of April and May - will have photos in a day or two. Need to have May's ornament arrive at its destination - It was an exchange piece.

I am 2 months behind with my wash/dish cloths - hope to catch up this month by doing 3!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Roberta

It has been 2 months!!!

Where does time go??? My life has gone into total chaos, nothing serious, just things having to be done, traveling, getting ready for DS, Jean to move here with us, yard work and of course work, the paying kind.


I haven't has much time for the computer so my blog reading (and you already know that my blog writting) have taken a back seat. But I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel.


I have been doing a bit of stitching, but just small things. I have had the time to pull out my bigger projects, but hoping maybe by the middle of June I can get back to some serious stitching.


I have also been working on a project for a National Seminar for the Embroiderer's Guild of America (EGA) and that has taken up a lot of my stitching and computer time, I am almost done with working on that!!! thank goodness.


I have been taking pictures, and hope to get them downloaded to the computer soon.

It is good to be back in blogland and I am looking forward to visiting you all and having you drop by once I get some pictures posted.

Hope everyone had a good Memorial Day weekend - have a great week.

Roberta

Some catch up and some finishes

Hi Everyone, having ones computer die can be very rough with commuications with family and friends. I now have a new desktop computer, fits just right into my messy desk area. Springtime has come to middle Georgia - the cherry blossom trees are just about done, but now the azaleas and dogwoods are showing their beauty, will try to get a photo up sometime soon. Below is my March TUSAL, I know it is a bit late, but no computer, not picture to post.

I did get my March ornament stitched. She is from the 1999 JCS magazine.

Below is my wash/dishcloth for the month.

I have been busy stitching and doing some beading as well as working in the garden.

Thought I had it down on how to down load my pictures from the camera and no it didn't work, had to have DH and DD come and help me figure out this new program.

I know this will get easier as time goes by, so bear with me.

Hope you all are doing well - I will be catching up once again with my blog reading.

Have a great rest of the week and a good weekend.

Thank you for stopping by --------------- Roberta