Monday, February 28, 2011

New Beginnings and An Old Friend....

Hello, hello! I certainly wanted to get a post in sooner, but alas the month of February has flown by, like it usually does, I might add! It is my birthday month, and with the few days short that it boasts, it is almost always quick and over, with the blink of an eye! I hope that all of you have had decent weather, although we have had some weirdness going on at times and with the creeks and rivers being at flood stage, that is always a concern! But all is good for now, supposed to dry up and warm up (a bit) for a few days, before the weekend and the forecast of more precipitation!

With today being the last day of the month, I am determined to get this post, posted! I have been working on several things, so it doesn't appear that I have made much progress on anything, but I have had a blast doing what I am doing, so that is what counts!! Progress will come, I just need to stay at it!

I actually have Three "New" Beginnings this month, which is a great deal for me! Many of you, might think that is silly, especially those of you that joined in the January Crazy Challenge of starting how-many-new-starts-was-that-again???? Anyway, I love and have loved looking at all of the wonderful new starts out there, but to be honest if I had started that many, I would have been definitely found certifiable!!!


First off is Blackbird Designs Anniversaries of the Heart, A Wish For You:

I am doing this all on one piece of fabric, 40 ct Silkweaver's Purely Primitive, one thread of recommended over dyeds over two threads (with a couple of substitutions). I am doing them in NOT the same order as the talented ladies of Blackbird Designs is releasing them. I just felt that this one would look better first, and I will be doing this particular square to celebrate my youngest daughter, Ashley. Hope to finish it up in the next week, we shall see!

Secondly is Mary Glover:
Very little done on this project, but it is started! Thanks to Siobhan and her wonderful enabling, when I saw this sampler and the details on her blog, I just had to do it myself! Please visit Siobhan's blog, if you have not already been there, her projects and pictures are a true feast for the eyes and will definitely not disappoint! Also she has the details on how to sign up, obtain and take part in this SAL. She also has a recent picture of her progress and she has quite a bit more done on it! I did convert the DMC to NPI's, if you would like to have that list, please let me know, and I will edit this post later, with my conversions! I am such a silk snob when it comes to sampler stitching these days! I am stitching it over two threads, with two threads on 32 ct...I forget the name of the color now, although I do know it is an R&R!

Thirdly, here is my birthday start, Needleprint's Marianne Wenn Sampler:
Again, very little accomplished, but it is a start and I am so loving this one! I shared with you all, in a previous post, my conversions from the DMC to NPI silks and I chose 36 ct R&R Flax Fields, stitched with one thread over two threads. I WILL finish this sampler, someday!

NEXTLY (oh my goodness, I am going to have some friends all over that form of english usage, but I don't care,  I like the sound of it!) a re-introduction of a very old friend, Plum Street Samplers Seven Days of Creation:
I am not sure what YEAR I started this, Paulette, do you? Sorry, dear friend, I am not putting you on the spot! I do know though, it has been several years, and when I got it out of the wip bag, I thought to myself, self, you have that almost half done, it needs to be finished and on the wall! So, I vowed, once I got it in the scroll rods to work on it as often as I can and get more progress done on it. Because it is so very pretty!! I am stitching it on 36 ct R&R Creme Brulee with my conversion of DMC to Crescent Colours cottons.

BTW, Paulette is a very dear and old friend too, and if you haven't yet purchased or stitched any of her designs, you are missing out! Her creativeness is so heartfelt and she puts so much of herself in to each and every design! I have them all, and hope to live long enough to stitch many more of them!

Well, I guess that is it for this month! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read my posts; everytime you leave a comment, I am blessed immeasurably! Today, I am thankful to the Living God for friends such as yourself, whom I have learned from and developed many, many happy memories!!



I hope this video works....it is of my 20 month old Allie Bug, going on 30 years, reading the daily paper!

Love, Jan

33 comments:

Robin in Virginia said...

Nice starts, dear friend! Allie Bug is a cutie!

Faye said...

Be still my heart!!Oh, Jan, they are all beautiful!!! Nice job, Faye

Crystal said...

Beautiful starts, I love the blackbird design one. Allie is such a cutie and growing up so fast.

KarenV said...

All your new starts are lovely, but particularly the BBD one, great work!

Margaret said...

I love all your new starts! Just beautiful! Your little Allie is sooo cute -- and she's growing up so fast! How did that happen?

Natalia said...

Great starts, Jan !!! I saw Mary in Siobhan's post, but I can't take one more project otherwise I'll end up being all stressed up about falling behind on them !! LOL !!
Oh that Allie is just adorable !!!

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Awesome starts, Jan! I am thinking about joining in the Mary SAL but just don't know if I can handle it. I'm a one project at a time kind of a gal (most of the time!).

Allie is adorable!!!

Lynn said...

Your Allie bug is a real sweetie!

You have some fantastic new starts there. I'm really going to enjoy watching those samplers progress. I especially love the BBD!

Nan said...

I know what you mean about being certifiable. There is no way I could handle having that many starts. Your stitching is lovely! I can see why you are enjoying the projects you are working on.

Deb said...

You have some wonderful projects going on Jan! And I have to let you in on a secret - I wish that I had only started three projects last month! Now I feel like I'm drowning.

I've keep seeing that Mary Glover SAL going on and I'm so tempted to start, but I guess I'll just have to enjoy yours and others. And I love how your Marianne Wenn is coming out. That's such a pretty sampler.

Allie is adorable! Aren't they so previous?

Unknown said...

Love your new starts, Jan. Sure am glad you are stitching again on Seven Days, it is a lovely piece. Allie Bug is too cute!

Littlebit said...

Oh, Jan! Your work is absolutely beautiful!! I think I might have to look a little closer at that Marianne Wenn.
I'm with you on the PSS designs--ok, I guess I am very biased--but you are on brave soul to tackle that one. I think Paulette has too much time on her hands when designing. LOLL!
Your littlest Allie Bug is such an adorable youngling! Take care, Jan.

Sylvia said...

Great starts, and Paulette's designs are always among my favorites.

mbroider said...

Belated birthday wishes my dear! The WIPs are all wonderful - a treat to the eye

Sharmila

Patty C. said...

Your work is impressive & the kids are darling !!!!

Nancy said...

All of your projects are so pretty Jan. Enjoy!

Now I need to watch your video which I'm sure is precious!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Oh wow Jan...look at all this good stuff :)
I love 7 days myself, don't have the chart but someday I'm going to have it because it is a must stitch!

Sherry said...

Happy Belated Birthday dear friend. Wonderful starts, Jan! I love your start on Marianne! Thanks for sharing them all! I can't wait to see more of them. I love the clip of Allie. She is so cute.

Carol said...

What a sweet clip of little Allie reading--she looks so serious about the whole thing. As a librarian, I'm thrilled to see her getting an early start on reading :)

Your new starts are just beautiful, Jan--I'm especially in love with Marianne Wenn. Can't wait to follow along on your progress.

staci said...

Happy Be-lated Birthday! All your projects/stitching is just gorgeous!

woolwoman said...

beautiful new starts Jan and you sure deserve to have fun in your birth month ! I'm all for that - I saw the info about Mary Glover on Siobhan's blog - what a great opportunity but I can't start another thing since I succumbed to Elizabeth Savilles recently. Enjoy it all and I hope your birthday was a great one! hugs mel

Mary's Stitchin Time said...

Love all your new starts, Jan, and am so happy that you are have Seven Days back in your rotation. Go, Girl!

Allie is just too cute and it makes me wonder what she's thinking while looking at the paper! Can't believe they are both getting so big!

Carolyn NC said...

I do love this song! Your little Allie is so adorable- so growney-acting. :) Love the stitching and starts- awesome!

Kathy Ellen said...

Wonderful progress on all of your lovely WIP's. Plum Street Samplers designs are among my favorites too. Allie bug is too adorable for words!

www.astitchersheirlooms.blogspot

Katrina said...

All gorgeous WIPs, can't wait to watch your progress on them.

Your granddaughter is just too sweet :-).

Joy said...

Beautiful work...you certainly have been busy. Can't wait to see the finishes. Happy Stitching!

Mylene said...

Beautiful designs you are working on.
Your little granddaughter is so adorable!

Kathy said...

Love all your new starts, Jan! And Miss Allie is just too cute!

Siobhán said...

You should have posted a warning on your post. EACH picture is more drool worthy than the last, and then you top if off with that cutie patootie granddaughter of yours. Oh my gosh!! I love everything and want to run and start the things I haven't already started! BEAUTIFUL progress!! Oh, and thanks for the shout out, too. :)

Susan said...

Allie is just too cute!!

All great starts, Jan! I'm also stitching the BBD Anniversaries. These designs are deceptive. They look small, but there's lots of solid stitching. Hope you'll be showing us a finish of your Seven Days of Creation soon.

BrendaS said...

All your WIP's are just beautiful. Your stitching is just beautiful.

Cute video of your granddaughter.

Have a good week.

Brigitte said...

Oh my, Jan, what gorgeous starts you had last month. It must have been a fu stitching month. I love your new WIPs and I'm looking forward to seeing the progress pictures in your next post.

Mary said...

Lovely new starts!

Little Allie is a real cutie!