Friday, March 26, 2010 by averyclaire
Here’s just a little sampling of what I have been working on the past couple of weeks. I have finally finished my “Fir Tree Bienvenue.” It seemed like all I did was stitch trees and snow… but it was fun. It was done on 32 ct. Smoky Pearl Linen. Now I just need to frame it.
And here is a bit more of my Eiffel Tower. This one is being stitched on 40ct. cream linen. It’s a bit more strenuous on the eyes, but I like the delicacy of the 40ct on this one. My DH chose the antique blue thread I am using on it.
I am nearly finished with another something….but it is a surprise and I shall have to save it for next time. I am longing to begin something for Spring, but haven’t found just the right thing yet. Guess I’ll just continue my stitching “out of season.”
Amities, Averyclaire
Posted in Cross-Stitch, Needlework | Tagged Cross-Stitch, Needlework | 12 Comments »
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 by averyclaire
I am SO thrilled… just look at the lovely gifts I received in the mail from Anne at Feather Stitching all the way from AUSTRALIA! She sent me the nicest card with such a pretty water lily on the cover with a beautiful and thoughtful note inside.
Last January I admired a needlework she had done with special trim around it. I had never seen any such pretty trim like it. I asked her about it and here she has sent me some similar trims. In this first photo the color doesn’t show up quite so well, but in the second photo you can see the pretty colors. She also made me a scissors fob which I absolutely adore. I really love ALL the fobs she creates. Each one is prettier than the next. She also included some exquisite hand-dyed floss and ribbon. The blended colors of the floss and ribbons are breathtaking! I was overwhelmed and touched to receive such a lovely gift for no reason at all from someone I do not even know. Thank you so much Anne! This blogging world has brought me many new friends, even though we have never met. I will never cease to be amazed by this.
Can’t you just see these lovely pastel trims around a pretty little “Spring” stitching. I will have to search for just the right pattern to go with my trims! Usually it is just the other way around!
I might add that Anne has a special site called RAK … Random Acts of Kindness. I am not a member yet and am not quite sure how it works … but Anne’s gift is a lovely random act of kindess to me. So please stop by and check it out.
Have a simply stitching Spring day…..Amities, Averyclaire
Posted in RAK - Random Act of Kindness, Thank You | Tagged RAK - Random Act of Kindness, Thank You | 3 Comments »
Friday, March 12, 2010 by averyclaire
Sorry for not posting for three weeks, but it’s just one of those things. My life has been consumed with work problems and solutions. Today I begin training the new person who will take my place. I have only two weeks left to teach that person everything. It’s been very stressful and busy at work and at home. I am definitely looking forward to working only two days per week. I actually worked only two days per week for years, until I let them talk me into helping out full-time “temporarily” which turned into full-time for two years!
My DH had a bad report on his cancer, so I worried and worried and worried. It turned out to be a “false positive”….so we are in the clear again for now. I feel as though I worried twenty years off my life, but perhaps I can gain it back again. SMILE. Life sure has it’s ups and downs. Thank you to all of you who sent emails….I love reading your uplifting notes.
The weather has turned nicer now, and I will be able to work off some of that stress and frustration in my garden. It’s soothing for the soul.
I managed to escape from the merry-go-round and spent a “little” time with my friends, just because they are such super people to be with. And I needed their company so very much. We went out for dinner and then saw the play Funny Girl…it was a delicious dinner and a delightful play. Thank you Pat and Joan…I don’t know what I would do without you. And thank you Maggy for being at the other end of my email 4,000 miles away. My hands have not been idle…still working on unfinished needlework projects. And I did join the Homewood Embroiderer’s Guild this month. The group is lovely and inspiring.
I’ll post some new photos soon. Thanks for stopping in for a visit.
For now….amities, Averyclaire
Posted in Reflection, Stress | Tagged Reflection | 6 Comments »
Thursday, February 25, 2010 by averyclaire
Just a bit more snow and a few more stitches. Here in Chicago we didn’t have as much snow as all of you had on the east coast of the USA, but we did have some good snow. I love the silent beauty of the new fallen snow in my yard …
or at the office…
and at home I tried to keep my mind focused on lovely things and did a bit of stitching….
and worked on another project hopefully to be finished soon…
and enjoyed some indoor beauty as well…
(Those are my three lovely grown children hiding behind my Amaryllis.)
I think I’ll just set the stitching aside and go to bed early. Tomorrow I plan some more heart renewal with a trip to an antique fair with some good friends and a lovely lunch as well.
Amities, Averyclaire
Posted in Needlework, Renewal, Snow | Tagged Needlework, Renewal, Snow | 7 Comments »
Friday, February 19, 2010 by averyclaire
Some days are just worse than others. I have had a lot of bad days lately. When I mentioned that I cut my job from five days to two…it was like the weight of the world lifted from one’s shoulders…but it did not come without repercussions and stress. The person I worked for on those “cut” three days is ANGRY. And, of course, I have been the brunt of the anger. And for sure they don’t remember that I had agreed to do these three days only “temporarily.” It’s now two years later. It is with mixed emotions (mostly relief) that this part of my weekly routine has ended. When I resigned from this portion of my work, I gave them seven weeks notice and I am tied to it until the end of March, but soon it will be over. Ahhhhhhh. I shall miss my BIG paychecks and extra benefits of being a “full-time” employee, but I’d rather be poor than suffer through another year or two.
In the midst of the sadness came a bright ray of sunshine for my day. A DVD of Salvatore Adamo appeared in my mailbox…custom created…just for me from a friend. I will sit this weekend and watch and listen and my heart will be healed. Thank you so much for this surprise followed by a thousand kind words.
Here is link to hear some your own Adamo. Amicalement, Averyclaire
Posted in Adamo, Thank You | Tagged Adamo, Thank You | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 by averyclaire
Here is just a TINY beginning on my Marie Therese St. Aubin piece entitled “L’Adieu.” While perhaps Guillaume Appollinaire’s life might not have been to my choosing, his poem in this piece speaks of a long love. My DH and I have been married for 43 years (we married when we were two…SMILE) and I still adore him. Marie Therese St. Aubin does lovely work and I hope mine will be as beautiful. Amities, Averyclaire
Posted in Cross-Stitch, Needlework, Reflection | Tagged Marie Therese St. Aubin, Needlework | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 by averyclaire
In just a few days it will be Valentine’s Day. I’ve always wanted to do a small stitching and I found one last year when I was in Colorado…of course, I only worked on it this week. It was done on an Irish Linen 26 count over one thread with DMC and Weeks Dye Works Begonia. The delicate lacy look attracted me to this JBW pattern called French Country Love.
And then I completed stitching a couple of more ornaments I was working on….”He’s a Flake”…the third in the LHN series for this year. The ornaments are completed, but not “finished.” I guess I’d better get to that this weekend.
And without an additional photo, I did complete another “Peace and Joy” Santa ornament from the Drawn Thread. (You can see the first one on my side bar.) I gave this first one away to my very special sister-in-law for Christmas. I loved it so much I had to make another.
It has been busy at the office. I gave notice to work only two days per week rather than five days per week as of the end of March. I hope this will relieve a lot of stress I have been under this past year. In addition, after the health problems my DH and I had recently, I think it is time to spend a LOT more time together rather than at the office. Life is just too short…I want to live it to the fullest!
Happy Valentines Day to ALL! Amities, Averyclaire
Posted in Cross-Stitch, Needlework, Valentine Heart | Tagged Cross-Stitch, Valentine Heart | 7 Comments »
Thursday, January 28, 2010 by averyclaire
I had a birthday in November and wanted to show you a couple of very special gifts I received from my good friend, Maggy, who lives 4,000 miles away from me. She spent several months living in Morocco with her husband on an extended holiday. They sent me this beautiful little treasure…lovely, pale lilac, Moroccan slippers. I was thrilled when they arrived. Aren’t they the best? So unusual…at least where I live they are!!! The leather is so soft and pliable and the color so delicate. Maggy sent me quite a few other lovely gifts as well…too many to show at this time. I will never catch up on showing all the beautiful things I have received from my friends. I love them ALL, Maggy, thank you again.
And as another special surprise she had French designer, Marie Therese St. Aubin, send me one of her patterns that I simply adore….It is called “L’Adieu.”
There is even a lovely note to me signed by Marie Therese herself. I was delighted beyond anything when I opened the package. It is so special I couldn’t believe it!
So then of course, I immediately ordered some delicate silk thread for this beautiful pattern. It will surely take me quite some time to complete as there are never enough hours in the day. And here I sit playing on my computer, posting, and surfing blogs!!! I must remember…less computer…more sewing!!!
And last but NEVER least….I received the most wonderful gift from another friend, Nicole. She also lives 4,000 miles away and is a lovely and talented artist. Her designs are more and more beautiful each time I see one. She created for me this lovely notebook cover for Christmas. Thank you again, Nicole, I love the batiks and your art is exquisite!!
All of us have the most wonderful friends. We must remember how fortunate we are. I am grateful. Thank you to ALL of my good friends out there. I couldn’t live my life without your friendship and support. Averyclaire
Posted in Friends, Gifts, Thank You | Tagged Friends, Gifts, Moroccan slippers, Thank You | 4 Comments »
Monday, January 25, 2010 by averyclaire
Don’t know why I undertook this series of ornaments. I am working on the two year’s too late wedding quilt now as well. But…with the bitter cold winter wind blowing outside….it’s nice to be warm and cozy in the house with my needlework in the evening after working at the office all day.
Here is the second in the series of LHN ornaments for the year 2010. This is January’s ornament….Pear Tree. I made two of them both on 36 ct. linen. One as a traditional ornament to save for my tree next year and one made into a needlebook for my dear friend, Maggy, who just had a birthday.
A jute-type braid was chosen for the trim. Makes it look simple, yet pretty. The backing is a dark green wool. Easy to finish as well.
Here is the needlebook. I like the needlebook idea. This pattern just called for something like this with the mini-sampler theme. I think Maggy liked it as much as I did.
Just love needlebooks…use them all the time.
Just received in the mail LHN February ornament snowman pattern from Anita’s Little Stitches (a very nice shop with a very nice owner). WOW…hope I don’t get behind. Next post I will show you a couple of special gifts I received in the mail recently. A bientot, Averyclaire
Posted in Cross-Stitch, LHN Ornaments, Needlebook, Needlework, Ornaments | Tagged Cross-Stitch, LHN Ornaments, Needlebook, Needlework, Pear Tree | 6 Comments »
Sunday, January 17, 2010 by averyclaire
My first small project finished for 2010.
This is the December ornament from the LHN series. The project called for 28 ct. cappucino linen. It seemed too large for an ornament, so I did it on 32 count linen which I hand dyed to look like cappucino. Unfortunately I still feel that it is too large. I should have done it on 40 count linen. I wrote to the LHN company and asked that the future ornaments be a little smaller. I don’t know if they will consider it or not, after all…who am I?! I added a strand of irridescent balger to the white snow parts and to the FaLaLa and then did the fur on the dresses with Whisper White to make it look more like fur. It was fun. I’d really like to make another one on 40 ct. fabric.
I am working on the second ornament of the series…this time done on a smaller count fabric. I will post it soon. Computer time is far and few between these days and am having a hard time getting photographs and posting done.
A bientot, Averyclaire
Posted in Ornaments | Tagged FaLaLa, LHN Ornament | 10 Comments »
