It's okay to restart a project

If you've messed up in two places that would require some major unstitching, and you really hated the fabric anyway, it really is okay to restart a project.

Several months ago, I had put some time into Teresa Wentzler's Egyptian Sampler, but I didn't take a new progress photo at the time because nearly every stitch I had put in that round I was going to have to remove. I was so disgusted that I just put it away, knowing that I'd eventually deal with it. I just couldn't deal with it at the time.

Fast-forward to Market weekend here a couple of weeks ago, and the gift of two of Cross Eyed Kat's charts in particular, Mayan Mystery and Egypt. I have the idea of doing these two charts and hanging them someday on a wall with TW's ES. Of course, I can't do that unless they're all stitched, and of course, ES needs some serious work to correct the mistakes I've made. But I hate, hate, hate the fabric (28 ct. ivory monaco, from the kit). So I decide that I have just enough left of my current favorite fabric, 28 ct. Cashel linen, in cream, to start the project over. And fortunately, this kit was made up of DMC floss, so I can easily use stash floss if I run out of kit floss.

And so, as I've done in the past when things just weren't working on another project (Black Swan Designs' Dragon Heart), I have restarted Egyptian Sampler. Here is the original and the restart as of yesterday afternoon. I've decided to go ahead and stitch at least the outline of the border so I'll KNOW that it is right (believe it or not, that was one of the issues on the left side of the project).

I am already so much happier, and thinking I'll just add this into my "rotation," such as it is. I'm back up to 17 18 WIPs, but I'm happier now with the variety.

New Trixie pics

No stitching news in this post, I just wanted to share my new Trixie pictures - her window tinting, and the new K badge on the front and rear.

Now off to maybe stitch a bit and try to get my dad's blog figured out. I tried to do the migration tool thing with his, and it has definitely had some hiccups. Once I get it done, then I'll have one more blog to migrate.

A spooky house start

Every time I think about taking a picture and posting it, I also think, "just a few more stitches," or "maybe I should backstitch a little so it will be more defined before I take a photo." The heck with that - I've made some progress, so here it is!

Not sure how much I'm going to get accomplished this weekend, my shoulder has been hurting for a few days. Of course, I know me, and it will be extremely difficult for me to NOT do anything... I hope everyone has a fantastic one!

Poinsettia Biscornu

I altered the design a little (left out some of the stitches and beads), and I had to use my magnifier to work on this (I believe the fabric is 34 ct. - it was from a scrap bag), but I'm really pleased with the result.

I'm working on my Spooky House and making some nice progress. After trying to work with the glow-in-the-dark Kreinik braid, and having to frog it all back out because I was off my a stitch, I've decided I like the look of the design with DMC 712 instead. And it's easier to stitch. Pic soon, I promise!

Aurora, Kitty Litter, and new stash

This will be really quick - here are the latest on Aurora and Kitty Litter.

And I got some new items in the mail today to help me kit up a couple of new projects I plan to start soon - the first shows my new Spooky House chart along with fabric and Kreiniks (I can pull the DMC from stash), the second shows my Autumn Fire Sampler chart and Dinky Dyes silk floss (got those a couple of years ago) with new fabric and Kreiniks. I picked up the required 4 bicone crystals too yesterday (not shown) along with several other colors at my LBS. :) And finally, I would be remiss if I didn't thank Kat for her generosity - 5 of her charts, including the 2 newest ones! They are left to right, top to bottom, Egypt, Mayan Mystery, Briar Rose Page 1, Iris Biscornu, and Dragon Tattoo.

And I finally got out my magnifier and the 2008 JCS Ornament issue - I've had the fabric cut and the floss set aside for months now, just haven't set aside the time to actually start it. Pam Kellogg's Poinsettia Biscornu is my current project, and I hope to have a photo to share in a few days. Still working on the binding for my quilt, but don't expect to get back to it until this weekend.

Whirlwind weekend

Wow, was that fun or what?! :)

Friday I drove over to the hotel after work and helped Kat set up her room. When we were basically finished, we helped Dana (Thutmosis) out some in Jo's (Dinky Dyes) room (fondling pretty silks as we put them out for display!).

Saturday (and Sunday - I know, SO not my usual m.o.) I was up before the alarm (!) and enjoyed briefly visiting with Kat, Dana, and Fran before the market opened. The Cross Eyed Kat room was sandwiched between Just Nan and Dinky Dyes, and there was a flurry of activity in the halls because of the early bird specials offered by many of the designers.

It was really interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes, and I thoroughly enjoyed helping Kat and getting to know her. I also enjoyed meeting several other designers and all the retailers who came to shop. I had the chance to peek into a few other rooms (couldn't possibly check out them all - there were like, 5 floors of them!), so of course, my creative energies are running wild now, and I want to stitch this, that, and the other, all at once. :)

Here are a couple of pictures I took to share - a view from one corner of the hotel on the 4th floor, looking across to Kat's banner, and finally a picture of Kat and me in her room, standing in front of some of her designs. Oh, and the outermost left and right designs on the wall behind us are stitched with some glow-in-the-dark Kreiniks, which just happen to show up really great with black lights!

And I just have to share one of my personal favorites, Ambigram Alphabet. A through Z, and when you turn it upside down, it's A through Z again. Too clever!!!

So I guess you could say I had a FABULOUS weekend! :)

Nashville Needlework Market

This is the show that is known as the Cash n Carry Market for retailers only. And I am so excited to be helping out this year in one of the designer's booths! Kat Rocha of Cross Eyed Kat asked me to help out when her usual assistant could not this year.

So I don't know how much stitching will be accomplished this weekend (it's all day Saturday and Sunday), but I'll be drinking in the experience of being around designers, other wholesalers, and shop owners for two whole days. And I'll probably come up with a wish list a mile long, ha ha! :)

I look forward to sharing the experience with you afterwards. I'm just getting ready to go meet Kat (and see Jo Mason of Dinky Dyes and Dana (Thutmosis) and maybe others) this afternoon.