I can't believe October has nearly come and gone... Time is flying by on a broom with transwarp drive to be sure... and it's leaving me stranded at the docking bay... ;-)
My Cardiologist took me out of work last week and this week... soooo I've been stitching and watching films and reading... and trying to catch up with my blog visiting and emails... I keep telling myself I should have accomplished more... alas I find myself puttering and pondering and wandering hither and yon... and all in all it seems to add up to much ado about nothing... ;-)
I've joined a few blogs whilst I've been on leave... For marvelous stitchy Inspiration I was fortunate enough to be granted membership in BeckySC's new blog... Let's Stitch... And it's certainly proving to be wonderfully Inspiring... so many talented stitchers and so much lovely handwork to admire and inspire... And Becky has all manner of stitchy incentives that is sure to entice even the most stubborn of stitching mojos to come out of hiding... I really don't know where she finds the time to organise and oversee so many wonderful stitchy groups, not to menion all the lovely handwork she creates... Ah... to be so talented!!! I could certainly take a leaf out of her book when it comes to organisation and sewing and crafting skills... I am determined to teach myself how to sew and make all these wonderful creations... I'm hoping for a sewing machine for Christmas... {If you see Santa do whisper a hint in his ear if you please...} Anyway, hop on your brooms and fly on over and have a gander... I know you will be inspired! :-)
My stitching Muse has been whispering ever so fervently in my ear of late... Thus, I also took the plunge and finally joined Vonna's wonderful, wonderful blog, Me, Myself and I Neighbourhood Round Robins 2 ... Oh, and I am sooo excited about this!!! I fell in love with Neighbourhood Round Robins when all the buzz surrounding The Original Dijon Neighbourhood RR was flitting around the stitching community and I have long since thought of stitching my own Neighbourhood... then I could stitch along at my own leisurely pace... ;-) Alas, I just never got around to tackling such an endeavour... Now, I have no excuses... Save the *minor* one of making a decison on my theme and choosing the designs... Minor? Have I finally lost what wee bit of sense I had left??? Have I gone completely daft??? Achk??? HELP???
I am most certainly at a lost when it comes to the blueprint layout of my Neighbourhood, and I've been pondering long and hard... Yes, I am completley and utterly dazed and confused at this point... ;-) Anyway, I'm seriously thinking of sitting down with a stitcher's yard of Vintage Examplar by Lakeside Linens and begin stitching in the upper left corner... leaving room for some sort of boder of course, be it flowers, leaves, vines or whatnot... and naturally I'd have my chosen designs and houses, gardens, critters, et cetera on hand and just let the design flow... and as I stitch, the neighbourhood will unfold as it may... Hmmmm... I wonder? Can you tell I am NOT an organised woman? ;-) As for my theme... Now, that's the difficult part as I cannot seem to make up my mind... Much akin to a buzzing bee amongst a garden overflowing with flowers I keep buzzing about from one idea to the next... I'm at a complete loss! There are so many I'd love to stitch... Country Folk Art Village ~ Jane Austen Village ~ Seaside Village ~ English Village ~ Prairie Schooler Autumn Village ~ Prairie Schooler Christmas Village ~ Halloween Village ~ and a Fantasy / Mediaeval Village... Ah, Decisions, Decisions... I am going to have to make up my feeble mind soon and save the rest for another time... And I do declare, I just don't know if I can settle on one theme... Any words of wisdom from you my dear stitchers on designing... And thoughts and ideas on a theme for my Neighbourhood would be ever so kindly and greatly appreciated! :-)
In anticipation of Neighbourhood stitching and a wee bit of inspiration and eye candy for you... Here's a stitched wonder to behold... I had been following Isa's progress on her Prairie Schooler Autumn Neighbourhood for a while now as she's in the Prairie Schooler Fans Yahoo stitching group and lo and behold... she finished it not too long ago... Absolutely, positively stunning!!!
This is Isa's Prairie Schooler Autumn Neighbourhood ...
The link doesn't seem to be working just now...
Nonetheless, I would not want topost the photo
and not give the stitcher credit...
Isn't it Gorgeous? I could look at it for hours... :-)
And of course I just can't resist a wee bit more *Inspiration*... ;-) This is one of my faves... It's absolutely Stunning!!! Just Gorgeous! Oh, and does anyone know who the Designer is for the house and tree et cetera in the bottom left corner... it looks like a Prairie Schooler Tree and Critters... but I don't know... And I love the border... and I've long thought I'd love to use it on my own NRR some day... I thought it was from Millennium Sampler by Ewe & Eye & Friends, thus I've been trying to find a copy for ages on eBay... And... a couple of weeks ago, Fate was kind and I now have my own *precious* ... ;-)
This is Deborah's NRR...
I also joined Hazel's blog... the eagerly anticipated Needleprint Beatrix Potter's Quaker Sampler SAL ... I have had the chart since last year and what more wonderful inspiration do I need to begin this beautiful design than a lovely group of stitchers peacefully stitching along with Beatrix together... I'll most likely go with Vintage Examplar and some muted Autumn coloured silks... just haven't decided which ones as yet! Imagine that? ;-)
Needleprint's Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler...
Oh, and my goodness... for stitching fun year 'round... and because I just love stitching Seasonal pieces... I joined Nicki's wonderfully inspiring blog... Seasonal Stitch-a-Long... I have been itching to stitch something Halloweeny and Autumny and just haven't had the time with the wedding gifts I am stitching... However, this is just the inspiration and incentive I need... who can resist? I do feel the need for a wee bit of *me stitching* time...
Monday was my eldest son Elisha's birthday... he is 28 now and I just can't believe it... He, Jamie, Brandy and Nick all came over for his Birthday dinner Monday night... Alas, my camera batteries died and I just couldn't get my charger to work... {you might know that it started working after they left...} Anyway, I did manage to get one photo before my batteries died on me... silly me did not even think of using my Blackberry... I could have at least taken a few more photos... Well, Jamie had his digital camera and he took lots of photos and two hilarious videos and we're going to download them on my PC ... So... I'll have some memorable photos!
Jamie, Brandy and Elisha...
Elisha's Birthday... 20th October...
Oh, dear but I'm rambling yet again... one of our incentives this week over at Let's Stitch was to post a photo of just one of our favourite stitched finishes and tell a wee something about it... Why it is our favourite, when we stitched it... memories surrouding it, et cetera... Of course, you all know how I am when it comes to decisions... Thus in pondering which piece I would choose and how on Earth I would ever decide... I was drawn to the very first piece I ever stitched... It's a wee boy in patchwork overalls pulling a toy train and he looks just like Elisha... I stitched it while I was expecting him in 1980, thus this piece will always be near and dear to my heart... and with it being Elisha's birthday this week, I thought it was the perfect choice!
Wee boy pulling train...
Designer unknown...
My first stitched piece...
Stitched for my eldest son, Elisha in 1980...
Oh, and I have a new family member in my home... It is with immense pleasure I introduce... drum roll please... ahemm... Are you ready???
Ooops... Whatever was I thinking???
This is the wrong Mr Darcy! ;-)
Thus... without further ado...
Lizzy and Mr Darcy...
I just couldn't resist... ;-)
For the real Lizzy and Mr Darcy
from Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice...
see my side-bar...
As for my current WIP's... I have a few photos to share with you tonight... Here's my progress on Lizzie*Kate's... And Two Shall Be As One... I'm stitching it for my dear daughter, Brandy, who just got married back in June... It's going to be one of her Christmas presents and I hope to be finished soon... and if it weren't for those dreaded black frogs... I'd be finished already... I do declare, but I've stitched almost all of what I have stitched now twice, and some of it three times...
And Two Shall Be As One by Lizzie*Kate...
Stitched on Vintage Mocha Cashel Linen...
With Gentle Arts Sampler Threads...
Wee Mr Darcy just loves to help me stitch and take photos... ;-)
Spring Has Come by The Prairie Schooler ...
Stitched on R & R Cashel Creme Brulee...
With Crescent Colour Conversions
by Theresa at Shakespeare's Peddler
And my Angel, Shelley...
Spring Has Come by The Prairie Schooler...
The Wedding by Lavender and Lace
Stitched on Vintage Examplar by Lakeside Linens
with recommended threads...
for my dear daughter, Brandy...
The Wedding by Lavender & Lace...
I really need some encouragement
with this one, dear Ladies...
Thank you all ever so kindly for your continued visits and lovely words of inspiration and encouragement... akin to honey to the bee... they are sweet nectar to my Soul...
Blessings and love in stitches...
Lizzy
I am thankful for precious moments... Mr Darcy... Pride & Prejudice... Stitching... Lovely Autumn days and kind and thoughtful stitching friends...
Boy oh boy, when you're back, you're BACK!!! Look at all the plans nad WIPsyou have, it's going to be amazing!
ReplyDeleteAnd move over Matthew MacFadyen, I know who my favourite Mr. Darcy is!! Kitty is adorable!!! Such a sweet picture of you both.
BTE, if you see Santa before I do, tell him to get two for the price of one... I wouldn't mind one of those baby's... LOL!! Hugs!
Yay! I just loved reading this post and hearing you sounding so GOOD, Lizzy! GREAT pictures of your new furbaby - he's such a cutie. And such wonderful stitching. :D
ReplyDeleteYour kitty Mr Darcy is just as cute as the other one :) So sweet. Lovely stitching too and such great plans you have for everything. The Wedding looks great - good luck, you can do it! :) Oh, and Isa has closed her blog - not sure why - so that's why your link isn't working :(
ReplyDeleteYour kitty Mr Darcy is just as cute as the other one :) So sweet. Lovely stitching too and such great plans you have for everything. The Wedding looks great - good luck, you can do it! :) Oh, and Isa has closed her blog - not sure why - so that's why your link isn't working :(
ReplyDeleteLizzie, you have such beautiful wips and Mr. Darcy is precious:)Can't wait to see more!
ReplyDeleteOk, first of all, dear Lizzy, THANK YOU for the eye candy of Mr. Darcy upon my visit to your Blog this morning. He woke me up! lol
ReplyDeleteNow ~ your stitching pics are beautiful, all of them. WOW - girlie, you do beautiful work.
More beautiful? Those children and the smiles on their faces. Gorgeous and happy belated birthday.
Hugs,
Tanya
I just loooooove Mr. Darcy!!! (both of 'em! Lol.)Pretty stitching, lovely writting.Nice to meet you, Lizzy!
ReplyDeleteHugs from sunny Brasil!
Mr Darcy is so gorgeous, I just want to take him home and cuddle him and give him a saucer of milk...
ReplyDeleteThe kitten isn't bad either ;)
Wonderful stitching pictures too
Wow! What a post. I enjoyed every word of it.
ReplyDeleteI think I am in love with Mr. Darcy, lol
Fabulous photo's
I am so glad you are back.
Dear Lizzy,
ReplyDeleteSo good to read a post from you!!! I loved every word!!!!!! Your stitching is lovely as always!!!!! I always dreamed of doing the wedding so I guess I'll live vicariously through you!!!!! You can do it!!!!!!! Thinking of you often!!!!
Wow, Lizzy, your stitching is amazing! Such lovely pieces. Keep going with The Wedding as it's a beautiful piece when it's finished. I stitched it for my BIL and his wife as a wedding gift about 11 years ago.
ReplyDeleteYour kitty is so cute and what a perfect name for him!
As for your MM&I SAL I don't know what to suggest to help you make up your mind. As soon as I signed up I knew I wanted a Winter theme for mine so that part was easy! Maybe you could have a neighbourhood featuring all the themes? Just pick one or two bits from each theme? Would that work? As for planning it I copied and enlarged each chart I wanted to use and cut bits out and positioned them how I wanted them. I think I've finally got it how I want it! Does that help at all???
The pictures of your children are wonderful. Happy Belated Birthday to Elisha:)
It's nearly the weekend so have a wonderful one!
{{{{hugs}}}}
Now I wouldn't mind curling up with either of those Mr Darcy's on a winters evening - they're both rather adorable. LOL :0)
ReplyDeleteWOW! what amazing plans you have - so looking forward to seeing them all unfurl.
Oh Lizzy, what a great post! Your son is very handsome, and as the mother of a 12 year old, I know the day will sneak upon me when he's a grown man. SNIFF!! Your little boy cross stitch is adorable, and it does look like him when he was little-so cute. I hope you start feeling better soon. Oh, and I love your stitching as usual! Thanks for posting that beautiful PS village-what a wonder that is! And thanks for the Mr. Darcy eye candy. ;)
ReplyDeleteWow! Loved all the pictures in your post!
ReplyDeleteTo partially answer your question about the house in the lower left of picture titled "Deborah's NRR," the top of the tree is from Prairie Schooler Book 85, "More Friends," but it's been changed a bit. I don't recognize the rest of that block.
Hi Lizzy! Such sweet visits from you on my blog! Your stitching projects are so beautiful! I stitched the Giving Sisters last year, and I also did it on Foglifter linen. Isn't it the best for Halloween? I love it! What a gorgeous picture of Mr. Darcy, but then how could it not be! Such a handsome man. The kitty is adorable too - we have many fur babies. Take care, and enjoy your stitches!
ReplyDeleteI hope things have settled down for you a bit now. While being able to be home and stitch would be lovely, what a scary reason to have to stay home. Hopefully you get an all clear from your doctor to go back to work soon.
ReplyDeleteThe neighborhood samplers you showed are lovely. Sounds like you're going to be a busy lady with joining the neighborhood SAL as well as the Beatrix Potter one. What fun projects to be working on. I like the idea of the Halloween neighborhood the best. Your WIPs are looking lovely as well, what a nice selection of styles you have to pick from. Good luck with getting The Wedding done for Brandy, it is such a gorgeous piece.
What a fun birthday picture, they looked like they were having a lot of fun at Elisha's party. To bad your camera decided to act up, how lucky that Jamie had his and was able to get pictures and videos that he could share.
Mr. Darcy is adorable, and I enjoyed the comparisons with P&P, your Lizzie and Mr. Darcy picture was so cute. I was so sorry to see in your email the first little kitten took sick and didn't make it, that would be so hard. I hope Mr Darcy grows to be a big strong fellow that you'll have for many years.
Glad to see you back and posting. Take care, {{hugs}}
Sue
My goodness - lots of stitching updates! Congrats on your progress and happy birthday to your DS.
ReplyDeleteLizzy, I so enjoyed your comment on my blog :) and I was delighted to see you back again .. love your long postings with all those pictures! Your children look so happy :) and I do love both Mr. Darcys! lol
ReplyDeleteYour wips look great! Hope you continue to feel better!
Lizzy, I so enjoyed your comment on my blog :) and I was delighted to see you back again .. love your long postings with all those pictures! Your children look so happy :) and I do love both Mr. Darcys! lol
ReplyDeleteYour wips look great! Hope you continue to feel better!
Thank you for visiting my Blog Lizzy :o)
ReplyDeleteFrom what I can tell, you are one busy woman! I have thought about the NRR but I doubt I could ever put something like that together and stick with it :oS
Your WIPs are beautiful. Good luck with your L&L piece. Just think, every little piece gets you closer and closer to being done :o)
Lizzy, I love your stitching and your stories, and dear Mr. Darcy,as a kitten I love him even more LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my blog, I feel honored, and love your comment!
My, so many wonderful projects and treats here! There's no way you can keep me away from this blog! I will come and check often.
ReplyDeleteMr Darcy is sooo cute...
And you have a lovely family.
Take care,
Lili
Wow - loved your blog post! Making progress on all kinds of projects. I just might have to join you on this Beatrix Potter SAL group. I think I must have gotten one of the last copies in existence on the net and I'm feeling the need to stitch it. The neighborhood RR's are fantastic! Love your Mr. Darcy & you don't look old enough to have a 28-yr. old son.
ReplyDelete:)