I worked on Hawaii for a couple of hours tonight. I was working on one long circular needle, but didn't like that, so I changed to DP's. They are more comfortable, but still not perfect. The first few inches of sleeve #1.


Last stitching rotation, I finally finished Part 5 of Mystery 6. The parts are released on a monthly basis, so now I'm only three months behind.


And I finished another pair of socks. These are in Rodel Tiger.


Just Finished:

Stitching Blogger's Questions of the Week

Do you feel cross stitching requires patience?

Yes, but not so much as some people think. That's the number one comment when SIP, "oh, I could never do that, I don't have the patience". It's not rocket science, people.

Some designs require more patience than others. Teresa Wentzler's for instance, with all the color changes, blended threads, quarter stitches, etc require much more patience than a simple folksy design with only six colors in large blocks.

Just like with my knitting, I stitch both kinds, it all depends on what I feel like at the moment. Instant gratification or intense concentration.

Stitchers QOTW

What would you most like your favourite designer to design next?

I'm going to have to sit this one out. I don't really have a favorite designer, I pick thinks I like regardless of the designer. I don't have one particular designer that I like best, or that I would collect all the charts from. I also can't think of anything that I would like to see designed that I haven't already seen in some form or another. No imagination, I guess.

Started my Halloween stitching a little late this year. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I especially love all the cute cross stitch designe.

That's Treat Time designed by Lizzie Kate. I know I said I didn't have favorite designers, but I must say I really like her Halloween stuff.

Ann asked about Zedd. Zedd is a Sphynx, otherwise known as a hairless cat, which is a misnomer, he has hair just not very much and not all over his body. I adore him, he has absolutely the most personality of any cat I've ever met. But, they are not for everyone. Sphynx are not by any means maintenance free. Sphynx are greasy, their ears are potato farms, crud will build up on their nails. They require frequent bathing or they leave a film on everything. The light colored ones sunburn easily. It's worth it though, baths and all, I wouldn't trade him in for anything, and I want more!

Just Finished:

I really dislike...

Dr. Laura, and don't agree with anything that comes out of her mouth, so found this particularly funny:


"Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a U.S. radio personality who dispenses advice
to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an
observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to
Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.

Dear Dr. Laura: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding
God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share
that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to
defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that
Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I
do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other
specific Bible laws and how to follow them:

1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They
claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair
price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19- 24. The problem is, how
do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend
of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you
clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2
clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill
him myself?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality?
I don't agree. Can you settle this?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have
a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does
my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.
19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments
made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also
tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to
all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? -
Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family
affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)?

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you
can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal
and unchanging."

Just Finished:

Mini Mystery F Update

Finished Part 1B and Part 2 of Mini F today. These mini mysteries are very pretty, but not really my style. I don't think I'm going to sign up for the other two in the series.

Progress Updates

Two new photos:

#1 is Marquoir Story, the nine part sampler I'm doing as a stitch a long with the Sampler Life group. The upper left corner is complete, and so is part of the upper middle portion.


#2 is White Queen, the EGA correspondence I'm coordinating. I'm done! Only four months early. My scanner cut off the bottom band, I couldn't get a good photo because of the white on white.


I don't have photos yet of Hawaii, I finished the body, and started on a sleeve, but don't like how it's coming out so I may frog it. I've only got about ten rows done, no big loss.

I also don't have photos yet of Mystery 6, I've almost got part five finished, which is a big deal, parts four and five were an enormous amount of work, with tons of black Marlitt. I hate stitching with Marlitt.

Stitcher's QOTW

If you were to stitch something to be passed on to future generations of your family as an heirloom, what would it be and why?

I don't know that there will be future generations of family. I'm not planning on having children, my sister has said she isn't either, so that leaves Dave's brother as our last hope. And that's not looking very promising.

I stitch for me to enjoy, I haven't made anything nor do I plan to stitch anything specifically so someone in the future will get pleasure out of it. Hopefully everything I've stitched will be loved in the future, I may leave just leave it all to the EGA so they can add it to their collection, or auction it off to support their future educational efforts. That won't be for another 50 plus years, so I've got some time to think about it.

I'll post a project update with pictures later today, or possibly tomorrow.

Just Finished:

For the man who has everything

including rampant paranoia:
The Quantum Sleeper
Wow! Only $160,000 I'll take two!

Question of the Week

What would your stitching confession be?

For example, you don’t tidy your backs.

My confession is that not only do I have way too much stash to ever finish in a lifetime, but that my tastes have changed so drastically that most of what I own has become obsolete. I belong to a trading group, and ever so slowly, I'm replacing some of the old with new, but I'm afraid that by the time I get around to being ready to stitch any of it, I won't like it either.

Knitting stash confession, I went overboard on sock yarns, I think I have enough for 100 or more pairs.

I do not, however, feel the need to hide any of my stash inside the oven or piano, or unused bathroom or cat bed. I don't cram my yarns behind books on the bookcase, or hide my cross stitch charts in the trunk like I've read so many times on KnitList. I feel completely comfortable with my obsession, because all I have to do is open the door of the downstairs bedroom and look at all the unpainted minatures to know that Dave does exactly the same thing. We are perfect for each other, the only problem is that we're going to need to buy a really big house to hold all our "important" crap.

I won a contest on OpalChatters. All I did was post an response to the question of the week. One of the moderators felt like doing an impromptu drawing.

How did she know my favorite color is purple?

Zedd is enjoying some quality time with Dave:


Just Finished: This was an ok read, I picked it up because I'd heard several good reviews, but it wasn't really my cup of tea.

Zoo Baby

The newest zoo baby is a Titi Monkey, in this picture he is 3 days old. For a idea of size, the person holding him is my friend Kim. She has average sized woman's hands.

He was at the hospital because his mom rejected him. Titi Monkeys have monogamous pairings, and the male provides baby sitting services by carrying the infant around except when the infant needs to nurse. Then he hands him over to mom. This little guy's mom refused to take him. Which was odd, since she had successfully raised a baby previously. Fortunately we were able to convince her that she really wanted to raise her own offspring, since it isn't really great if we have to hand-raise since the babies don't learn how to act appropriately as animals.

Comments
Caroline asked if Hawaii is a Dalegarn pattern? Good guess, it's the cover sweater from book #122.

Robbyn, the latest Dark Tower was really good. I loved the way Stephen King included himself. I was skeptical when I heard that was his intention, but it worked.

Jenni, Noah's Sub is gorgeous, but for some reason I've never been really attracted to stitch it.

Just Finished:

Stitcher's Question of the Week

If you could only finish one of the pieces in your stash as it is at the moment, what would it be and why?

Does it have to be something I've already started, or can it be something new? If we're talking something I've already got started, then it would have to be Crossed Wing Flower Power. Why? Because it's huge so I would have many, many hours or even years of stitching pleasure, and because I just love all the hummingbirds and critters. If it's something I own but haven't started yet, then I just can't choose one. I have a list of about 15 things that I really, really, really want to stitch. Most of them are enormous, like And They Sinned or Blue Ribbon Sampler. I have this major attraction to big ass projects lately, which may be why I keep feeling like I'm not getting anything any closer to completion.

I have made progress on Hawaii.
The back is done, half of the front is done, I still have to do the sleeves, but it's almost a sweater.

I've also almost finished White Queen. I only have the final two bands to complete. I don't have a progress picture, it's on a scroll frame and there really isn't much to show. Hopefully I'll have a finished picture by the end of the week.

Those are the two things I've been concentrating on. I've stopped doing my rotation until I get at least one or two things done, and then I will try my hardest not to add anything new in.




Just Finished: