Monday 4 May 2009

Return of the Prodigal Stitcher

Hello there fellow stitchers.
I have finally returned. We had a very eventful trip home! Snow, freezing cold, closed interstate - high winds and a dust storm and that's the first day. We had to detour around Denver due to the onset of the biggest snow storm of the season. We could not get through the mountain passes. We had to map our way between two storms - snow in the north and torrential rain and tornado warnings in the south. We stopped to visit with some friends in Iowa halfway home - wicked winds, rain and cold there.
We arrived home on April 24th to warm greetings from our families. My parents gave us a family dinner for 15 the first night, our oldest son a BBQ for 17 the next and those who could get up and moving went for breakfast on Sunday. It is good to be home and surrounded by family!
Our 4 year old grandson, Jackson, did not go back home with his parents. He missed his Poppa and wanted to stay. How do you say no when you have the sweetest face looking up at you.
We moved back to our house last Monday. We gave the mice their eviction notice, cleaned up their mess from the winter and unpacked boxes. I could not believe the amount of stitching supplies I had to put away.
I did take a little time and stitch with Beatrice, Adriana and Dani on Sunday afternoon. Thursday, I was back at Ann's and with the stitching group. It was so nice to see them all again and catch up on their stitching progresses over the winter.

I have a few stitchy things to show you. I spent my time in the car on the way home working on a birthday gift for Dani.
Well, let me tell you. The frogs moved into my van and would not leave. I wove the entire diamond pattern on both sides of her afghan and then discovered they were in the wrong place. It took me two days to cut the yarn out! Needless to say it was not finished in time to give it to her as soon as I got home. It is being delivered to her today when she and I go out for dinner.


I finished this quilt top recently. This will be a toddler quilt for the Linus Project. They provide quilts to local police units and they keep them in their cars for accident victims and people in crisis. I found a great black fabric with paw prints to do the back. This will go on the frame soon to be hand tied.


I stitched this little pillow for my BFF Beatrice just before we travelled home. I often tease her about being a "serial starter" and knew this was so appropriate for her. I made it into a little pillow as soon as I found the sewing machine. She laughed really hard when she saw it. I had her bring it to Thursday stitching and it caused lots of laughs there too. We all agreed the saying was perfect for her.

And a little hint, if you start this design, start in the top left corner. I started in the middle, had half the writing done and I was in the wrong place. Those blasted frogs visited me for this one too!

I stitched this pillow for Gaby for the Make a Wish Exchange. She wished for a pink pillow. This is one of the medallions from Paradigm Lost done in DMC variagated pink and on a piece of 32 count Limited Edition Silkweaver lugana.



The latest Friendship Sampler RR's have come and gone.
This one is Willeke's.


This one is Diana's (no blog).Nicky has notified me that she received the latest round of Fair and Squares from me. They are stitched on 32 count antique white lugana. The pattern is a freebie but I am not sure where I found it!

I have the last of the Winter Neighborhood RR's in my hands now and hope to have it finished by the end of the week.
I have joined the Mirabilia RR on the Worldwide Round Robin site and am busily gridding my fabric for that. I think I have the idea laid out to my satisfaction.

Not a single stitch in my HAED, Mirabilia, Noddy or Fairies in the Garden. Not a one. Oh well, next time???????????

Stitch often, laugh much, unstitch rarely!!!

P.S. Edgar's blogaversary is coming up and he's having a giveaway. Check it out!

29 comments:

Lisa said...

Glad to see you made it safely to your Canada address - nice to be welcomed by family and friends. You were very busy along the way (even with the detours). All of your finishes are beautiful, I enjoyed the visual summary of them.
Enjoy the day!
Lisa in CA

Rebel In Ontario said...

WOW! Sounds like quite the journey home! I'm happy to hear that you arrived safe and sound in the end. Can't wait to have some stitching time with you in the near future.

Linen Stitcher said...

Glad you have made it back to Canada and back to your stitching friends there. Wow! Frogs or no, you've been very busy and have gotten quite a few projects finished. I'm seriously impressed!!

Missy Ann said...

Glad you made it home safe & sound.

Wow you! All the great pictures and stitching. I adore that pillow you made for your BFF.

Jenny said...

Glad you safely navigated your way back home. :) Love the afghan you did for Dani too.

mainely stitching said...

It must be so wonderful to be back with family! :D I'm glad you made it safely depite the perils underway.

Love the stitching goodness you've shared. And I hope the frogs will stay away!

Judy S. said...

Aren't four-year olds wonderful? So glad you made it home OK, and it was fun to see all you accomplished. That needle must have been flying in between the frogs! I LOVE the afghan. And that saying is perfect...fits me to a T also.

Dani - tkdchick said...

Wow you have been busy and I can't wait to see that afghan in person its gorgeous!

See you at dinnertime!

Kim B said...

Glad you arrived home safely! You accomplished a lot of beautiful work - even if the frogs were a problem!

Cindy F. said...

Oh gosh girl! What a trip home you had! Glad you guys made it back safely:) And what a wonderful welcome home....dinners, breakfast, stitching with friends!
You are truly blessed girl! and what an awesome gift for Dani! She's going to love it!
Quilt, RRs, squares, pillows...wow!! You amaze me! All are so beautiful!

Von said...

Winter kept its hold on us far too long this year! Glad you finally made it home safely and are settling back into northern life. :)

You're such a thoughtful friend to stitch up an afghan for Dani - it's beautiful and I'm sure she'll be thrilled!

Karen said...

Glad you made it home safe and sound. What an eventful trip!

The Linus Project sounds like a great idea, I'm sure those quilts would be used very quickly.

Marion said...

Glad to see you made it back safely!!

Great stitching....and weaving!!! (Finally I get to see a weaving project!)

Nice to have you back on board again.
Take care my friend!
Marion

Aussie Stitcher said...

I am so glad that you made it back home safe and sound, what a trip you had!!
You have been busy with the quilt and Dani's afghan, they are both gorgeous. How cute is your Grandson wanting to stay with his Poppy, it would be impossible to say no.

Rowyn said...

Glad to hear you made it home safely. You've certainly been a busy stitcher (the pink pillow is especially stunning!).

Wanda said...

Welcome home! glad you made it back safely...sounds like a journey you don't want to make too often! And such a wonderful, love-filled homecoming! So many friends and family...awesome. You've been quite busy...great projects. I just read Dani's blog...she is so thrilled with the blanket...and rightly so! Get settled back in and the stitching on your other projects will come! Glad your back!

Lelia said...

Welcome Home. Lovely stitching Kathy! You seem to have accomplished a lot : ) What beautiful projects!

Wendy said...

Glad to read you made it safely back home!!

You sure did some wonderful stitching in the meantime.

Beatrice said...

It's good to have you Back!!!!!
I LOVE, LOVE my pillow...lololol!
Thank You.
All your stitching is lovely.
Nice blankie for Dani!

Carolyn NC said...

Good to have you back! You got some beautiful stitching done in spite of those pesky frogs! Congrats.

Juls said...

Glad to see you back and oh so glad you made it safely!!!!! Lovely stitching!!!!!

sandra said...

Glad you made it safely! It's good to have you back in the blogland!
You have done a lot! Everything is beautiful, both pillows are gorgeous!

Andrea said...

Both are beautiful pillows. You've been very busy with all of your other gifts and WIPs.

Rachel S-H said...

WONDERFUL finishes. I love the toddler quilt. Bravo

Glad you made it home safe. Funny to think of a winter storm so late in April.

Hazel said...

Wow you have done so much stitching!! Congrats on your finishes. x

Katrina said...

Wow what a trip! We have had a lot of spring snow :-). Glad you made it home safe and sound.

Carolien said...

Hi dear Kathy,

I am glad that you are home, safe and sound after that snowy trip of yours! It must have been good to see family and friends again ...
You made some beautiful projects, the one for Beatrice is brilliant! Big fun ...

Take care & hugs, Carolien

P.S. Of course we will keep in touch. I will follow your blog!

samplerlover said...

Hi Kathy, sounds as if you had an amazing trip home. Also an amazing arrival home with family.
You have some beautiful projects going there - Sandra.

Brigitte said...

Oh my, what a trip home. Must have been horrible. Good to know that the time of snow storms is most likely over by now.
Your little pillows are so nice. I saw the pink one in person at Gaby's during our last get-together. It looks wonderful.