Quaker Alphabet and Hanky Pysanky

I decided to stitch a little on Quaker Alphabet to decide the colors I wanted to use for it once and for all.

I decided on Sampler Thread Brethren Blue and Weeks Dye Works Onyx. I'm stitching it two over two. The 35 ct. linen by Weeks Dye Works is really nice to work with so far.

I also decided to get back to Hanky Pysanky last night. I finished up the motif to the left of the big diamond.

Well, nothing else going on here. Watching all the kids today. My mom is sick now. I don't know if she has what I had, or just has a migraine. I told her to lay down and I would watch my niece. I may take them somewhere to get them out of the house. Write later!

I Have a Major Case of Startitis!

I always do this when I'm stressed... Start a bunch of projects (usually huge). I feel like I can't settle down to one thing. I'm stressed about moving and the fact that my brother is getting ready to put the house we're in on the market. It's going to be hard to show a house with three kids (sometimes four)! Oh well, I can't think about it too much. I wish we were already settled in South Carolina. I'm usually a live in the moment type person, enjoy each day as it comes, but in the situation I wish I could fast forward a little bit to the future!

So the latest thing I started was Ink Circles "Cirque Des Cercles." I really just wanted to see how the thread would look on the fabric and then I stitched on it some more last night, so I guess it's officially a start. :)

The fabric is 40 ct. Antique White Newcastle linen and the thread is DMC Variations 4210. I'm using two strands over two. The coverage is a little thick, but I thought it was too thin with just one.

And I really want to start this....

It's taking all my willpower not to start it, but I have very little of that lately, so don't be surprised if you see a wip pic soon. :)

Anyway, in order to ease my guilt a little over my recent spending binge I've put some things on ebay.

Just Cross Stitch Magazines

Vera Bradley Classic Black Little Travel Case (yes, I forgot to share that I got another one, which I don't need)!

Very Bradley Capri Melon Little Travel Case (I like this one, but it really doesn't go with my other bags).

I have also added some more items to my For Sale Album. :) Write later! If you are interested in anything please email me at nicoleneville@aol.com. I tend to miss it if just a comment is left! Thanks!!

I Love the Super Bowl...

...Sales that is. :) I went down to Golden Needle today and I'm ashamed to admit I went a little crazy. I was going to be so good. I had a budget. A set amount that I was going to spend and once I started putting things in my little basket I just couldn't stop! I need my head checked - the impulse part of my brain went a little haywire today! Anyway, I did find some great deals.

There were some $1 dollar charts...

A Stitcher's Hands "My Friend" and Just Nan "First Stitches 2000"

Some $2 and $4 charts...

The Needle's Prayse "The Teaching Sampler," Drawn Thread "The Night Before Christmas," and Earth Threads "Flower Gaiety."

And a Chessie and Me "English Cottage Sampler" all kitted up for only $10...

I'm guessing Cathy (shop owner) took this class, but never finished it - she asked me to finish it for her. :)

And the rest was 20% off...

Shepherd's Bush "Tending the Flowers" and "Keeping the Bees"


CCN "Garden Girl"


32 ct. Vintage Examplar and Vintage Light Examplar by Lakeside Linens

I also found some lighter linen to go with Christmas Tea. It's Vintage Tundra by Lakeside and I like it so much better than the Vintage River Willow. And if all this stash buying weren't bad enough there were a couple of orders waiting for me when I got home. As if I weren't feeling guilty enough!!

I got this from Elegant Stitch...

Blue Ribbon Designs "Valentine Wishes" with 32 ct. Bittersweet Lakeside Linen

And I got this from Handcrafts Online (paid for with my paypal money - at least this one is somewhat guilt free!)

New CCN and LHN charts

LHN "Schoolgirl Lessons" with Belle Soie Rose of Sharon

I should really be ashamed of myself, but I'm too happy wallowing in my stash to care at the moment! :) Maybe tomorrow. The stash diet will start then too! I mean it this time! Really!! :)

Oh, wait - I do have a wip pic to share. I finally finished a big motif on Hanky Pysanky...

And last, but not least I want to thank Nicki and Su for the You Make My Day Award. I feel so honored and humbled! That was so sweet of both them. I love their blogs and they make my day too! :) There are way too many people that make my day everyday - So I award all my readers with the You Make My Day Award! Thank you all for all your kind comments and your support! It really means so much to me!!

P.S. you also get an award if you made it to the end of this very long post!

More Hanky Pysanky

I decided to get back to HP last night. I love the diamond motif that I'm working on now. It's so much fun!

I'm getting ready to go to South Carolina for the weekend. It's supposed to be cold up there tonight! I'm so glad there's a fireplace in the apartment. It's so cozy! :)

I thought I'd some questions before I go...

Danielle asked if there was a conversion to Crescent Colours for Brave Hearts and the answer is yes!

Cindy asked what type of 40 ct. linen I prefer. I definitely prefer Zwiegart Newcastle. Not Wichelt, which is too holey and stiff! I love lakeside Linens, which uses the Newcastle as it's base.

Anonymous asked if I was pregnant! He or She said I wouldn't say on my blog if I were. Well, that's not quite true. I blabbed right away about Matthew. No, I'm not pregnant. My dad used to ask that when I got migraines. People who don't understand migraines seem to ask that! No, I think three kids are enough for me and dh! :)

Well, that's all for now! Write later! :)

Feeling Better

My head is just a dull ache now. Thankfully, no more nausea or pounding headache! I'm taking a little break from Poinsettias and Pines. I got back out Hanky Pysanky this weekend. I worked on it just a tiny bit.

I'm still loving it! it's such a fun stitch! I'm also getting ready to join Tanya's Quaker Christmas SAL. I'm trying to decide which fabric to use. I think I'm going to go with the 40 ct. Vintage Examplar. It doesn't look like I'm going to be a one-at-a-time girl for long! LOL! :)

Well, not much else going on here. I'm going to take some more Excedrin and then get in bed and stitch! :) Write later!

Oops!!

I just realized that I forgot to stitch the chimney on my Prairie Sampler! I don't know what I was thinking! I noticed it after I saw Debs's stitched. She did such a wonderful job! I guess I'll be getting it back out today to get it finished up the right way this time! :)

I did work a little on HP again last night...

That big diamond is going to take longer than I thought it would. Lots going on in there! Write later! :)

A Little More Hanky Pysanky

I worked on this a little more last night. It's so much fun to stitch!

For those wondering I'm stitching it two over two on 32 ct. Belfast Linen. The threads I'm using is Carrie's Threads. It's my first time using them, and I like them. They're soft and easy to use. Write later! :)

Something New and Different!

I needed a change from Christmas stitching. I needed something new for the New Year! I was looking through my stash and came across "Hanky Pysanky" by Ink Circles, which I had all kitted up. I decided that this was just what I needed! I got a little start on it last night and I'm loving it so far! I'm doing the pink version, but I bet it would be very pretty in the rainbow version too.

The black Belfast was a little hard to see at first, but I'm getting used to it now. Well, Matthew is fussing, so I'd better go! Write later! :)