Needlework

Sorry to hear about your tribulations Karen. Although the roof man left food for the cat did he leave a way for the cat to get down?

I'm babysitting a cat next week. Hopefully the poor fat little soul will make it through the week. She apparently has a bad tooth, and I'm supposed to be alert lest she start drooling since that could indicate infection. Meanwhile there's no guarantee fatso will let me near her if her owner isn't around, but at least I know she can't run fast (bad back leg).

I worked on the quilted panels to go on the top and bottom of my holly cross stitch last week. The quilting is finished, but I'm beading over the seams between the cross stitch and the quilted panels, and ran out of gold thread. Once I get my DMC metallic (and some more Thread Heaven since the cat appears to have appropriated it as a toy so it has gone missing) I should be able to finish the hanging in short order. That's a big finish. I think I started that project about 10 years ago.

Meanwhile I've been working on my sister's birthday present. Last year I gave her a card with a promise to make whatever beaded object her little heart desired, and she chose beaded flowers. Which is a kind of beading I don't do. So I have been sitting with two instruction books to do this for her - one has lots of pictures with minimal instructions, and the other is all instructions with no pictures. I showed her the book with the pictures to try and get an idea of what she liked. She liked everything. Hate that. So I'm making whatever strikes my fancy, not worrying about what goes together. I've made a poppy. Maybe I'll make some lavendar next. Dora

It's Nutcracker season, so precious little at the moment. I did finish the crocheted ponchos for the nieces. I have to finish some ornaments. Other than that, I'm as done as I'm getting for handmade gifts (aside from maybe some cookies). What isn't done before Nutcracker gets going full swing, doesn't get done!

Best wishes, Ericka

I think, without checking, that the only thing left are some bullion stitches.

I get very anxious when I'm so close to being finished so now I can't wait for it to be done and framed.

L

I just finished stitching my version of JanLynn's Birds and Berries and am practising attaching ruffles to finish it as a pillow. I also made a small 'personality' pillow, a zoftig (slightly robust) lady, from a book picked up for a pittance at the used book store. I'm practising using my sewing machine and I gotta tell y'all that I don't like sewing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next up is doing a doodle cloth/sampler of Brazilian embroidery.

I'm still on Carol Emmer's nativity set. Both sides of Mary are done,

2nd angel side almost done, still have 2nd side of Joseph & the manger. Somehow I don't think I'm gonna get these pieces finished by Christmas. :( Next year are the other 13 pieces (really 26 since I'm stitching each twice!)

Joan

HI

I finished my Brazilian embroidery course from EAC and got it framed!

I also finished a ribbon embroidery piece as a banner. IT did not m ake the Master Craftsman programme.... long story

and I have stitched two small pieces for retirement gifts. Just the Colonial girl tea towel pattern and framed in a round pict frame from wal mart but each senarioor "Day" applied to the person. ie colonial girl in hoop skirt sweeping with a broom for the broomaker in a historic village... with beads for dirt...

At work I finished the perforated paper motto Merry Christmas.

but have not stitched for me for about a week or so...

a lurker with the odd response,

also researach in Kipas in the 19th century and 1846 Miss Lambert needlework book just arrived today...

nanc

We're assuming the cat can get down the same tree it got up.

It's rare that they don't I understand - they usually suggest there is more risk to the person trying to rescue them. Did it get down ?

That's what I was trying to explain to the owner, but whenever her #$%^& cat gets on my roof she gets fixated on it and there's no peace to be had. The logic that "cat will come down when cat gets hungry enough" doesn't penetrate.

I have not heard the cat meowing, so I assume it came down, but she was supposed to let me know that it was down so we could get the contractor out to seal up the opening he made as well as the one she claims the cat got in the attic through. (I haven't been up on the roof, so I have to take her word for it that there's a hole that lets in cats but not rain.)

If you can't hear it, I expect it is down. I don't think I would take her word for it if you do not have a leak, unless you can go to her vantage point to see said hole.

I am on a three month medical leave of absence from work. I have made good progress on the Celtic Band Sampler (not MLI's Celtic Banner)

and am nearly done with The Church from the Nutmeg company I have made 4 pairs of knitted dorm socks (house socks) in anticipation for messy winter weather. My Fibro is worse and now my eyesight is being affected. Still have several more tests to try to determine what is going on. So far all the obvious reasons have been ruled out. It is not diabetes, macular degeneration, or a side effect from my meds.

The bright side is that Dr. Erick and wife will be here for the holidays and I'll have to be in touch with the DC members to show DDil where all the good needlework shops are. I sent her home with some of my stash last weekend. The live in Church Falls Va and works in Chantilly.

I have been very busy reducing my stash and cleaning out all my drawers, and cupboards and closets.

Bobbie V.

remove the knot with a net to reply

Sorry you're not feeling well, Bobbie.

Did you mean they live in Falls Church?

There is a needlepoint store in Falls Church - Needlewoman East. She does have cross stitch also. And the most wonderful selection of fibers.

Donna in Virginia

That was an interesting cat story. Did the animal shelter person tell her she's the one causing abuse by letting the cat out of the house?

I'm not stitching a single thing that's for gift-giving.

My main focus right now is my Agnes Scott Sampler by With my Needle. I'm trying desperately to get this finished by January in order to get it framed and entered into Woodlawn next year.

Donna in Virginia

Poor kitty, poor Karen. If the cat can get up, the cat can get down. Getting the cat down causes (potentially) harm to rescuer and rescued.

As to stitching - I'm futzing with a Xmas gift I can't quite get "right". I've frogged a lot of it twice now. Finally found the "right white" for a flower. And found the right bug motif (no - not a lady bug), so it might be done in time if I can find the right buttons. I'm also knitting a scarf for DD in her team colors. With Bobbie V's help, I found fabric to make DD helmet bags, so I'll get cracking on those later - most likely Monday or so.

And I have to get the veggies for Thanksgiving. I might scale back a little; just sweet potatoes, garlic, onions, beets, potatoes and carrots. I don't know that only one else likes the parsnips or turnips.

Well, I'd better go get dressed and hit the grocery store.... C

Donna, Erick and Irene live in Falls Church and Irene works in Chantilly Va. Thats what I get for posting before coffee, UGH!!! Irene tends toward Mill Hill kits as it satisfies her ADD. She is often alone at night as Erick is in his internship and working all kinds of crazy hours. HTH Bobbie

Yeah, but not getting the cat down causes harm to my nerves. The owner won't stop banging on the door and ringing the doorbell (even at obscene hours) until I give her permission to get on the roof to retrieve the cat.

Which is why this time (since she insisted a hole had to be made to get the cat out of the attic), I put my foot down and insisted on a licensed contractor (i.e., not her buddy the handyman who does shoddy work and will work for beer). Maybe if she knows it'll cost her money to retrieve the cat she'll be better about keeping it indoors.

I made sure that the cops, firemen, Animal Control, etc. understood that this is the umpty-umpth time the cat has been on my roof and I've had it up to here with being inconvenienced because she's irresponsible. Although every one of you knows I wouldn't let it go that far, I was taking the attitude with them that "if the cat dies, it dies", hoping that she'd get the message that I've run out of patience with her.

Since the fire department will no longer go on a roof without the homeowner's permission, I suggested that Animal Control point out to her that if I'm on vacation next time, the cat WILL starve, because there will be no one to give them permission, so she'd better think of that the next time she lets the cat out. She and I are not good enough friends that she would know when I'm on vacation.

And I told her at least three times in front of the neighbors with the best view of my roof that I don't EVER want her on my roof for any reason; when I next go on vacation, I will make sure to leave instructions with them that if they see her on my roof they are to call the police and have her arrested for trespassing. And fax similar written instructions to the police.

I managed to get the Autumn Bellpull finished and hung up before the end of October :-). I've got the Winter bellpull started but don't see being able to finish it, or even work on it any time soon! I got to take down the autumn decorations and put up the Christmas stuff and that take up all of my time for a good two weeks. I've also managed to finish the old travel kit (I'm pretty sure I took a photo) and I have started on a new one. It's one of those little kits that come in a squarish plastic "box" -- does Dimensions make them? -- with 3 kitties wearing Santa hats and sitting inside gift boxes under the tree. That will probably take me a bazillion years since I only work on it when I am traveling! Then again, DH is taking me on a 5 day cruise for my b-day in early January so I might get a bunch of stitching done while on board the ship! Anywhoooo -- that's it for MOI. I did manage to get the white silk quilt for my DNiece finished on Monday and have a crappy photo of it up at Webshots. I'm pestering DH to take another photo *outside* tomorrow. You have NO idea who difficult it is to get a really nice photo of something that is all white when using just inside lighting and a camera flash!! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

I have umpety-ump projects going and am feeling out of control. Mainly it's that I had two "deadline" projects - the church banner and a set of ornaments to present during a visit - and I finished those on time (except the last ornament for myself, which I'll do soon), so I haven't had really self-directed stitching time. While traveling last week, I started two crocheted scarves, which are in addition to the crocheted baby blanket that was too cumbersome to bring on a plane. (Unfortunately I used all the yarn I'd brought on the trip *out*, so had to buy more yarn to start something else on the way *home* - that's why two UFOs resulted!)

Last week before my trip I carefully planned some small cross-stitch projects to take (ornaments from the JCS issue), then left them home - so I started some others with the few supplies I had at hand. So more starts than intended!

It will sort itself out. Almost finished one ornament last night. This weekend is Stitching Night at the LNS, so I'll concentrate on some little things to get done rather than working on a bigger project. And last night I spent some time organizing floss - putting away some piles from past projects - so I felt that I'd actually accomplished something. On my list for this weekend is to go through my stitching totes and organize/list/prioritize the WIPs.

Sue

I have finished the dresses on "Sisters and Friends". It is really turning out well. May have to do this one again, next time for me. On to the skin and hair, then the fun part - embellishing them with "jewelry"! I want to but a bead neckline on one, some earrings on a couple and have to decide how to do a necklace on a third. Plus bracelets of course!

I just found out that the friend I am making this for is moving after the first of the year (job transfer), which makes this a very bittersweet project.

Also, have to cut squares for our GS troop to sign (she's one of my co- leaders) and design. I want them to do simple line drawings and then I am going to embroider them, sew it all together with another fabric, and make a memory blanket for her.

Linda