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Monday, February 20, 2012

TUSAL and February Update

Happy Family Day to my fellow Canadians!!  And Happy President's Day to my American neighbours to the south!  And Happy Whatever to the rest of the world!  (My calender only listed the two holidays, so if I missed anything, I apologize!)  This Canadian holiday is not very old, only a couple of years or so.  Basically the kids get a day off from school, and govenrnent offices are closed.  February needed some sort of holiday, and it's a great excuse for a three-day weekend!  My DD is very happy, to say the least!  lol

This will be quite a lengthy update, so please grab a beverage of your choice!

Here is my February TUSAL update!  I did quite a lot of stitching, if I do say so myself.
 February TUSAL
 This is the jar that I empty out the previous month's orts! (Mentioned this last month, so here is the picture!)   I just wanted a way to keep track for my own personal amusement.  I'm weird that way!
I am really liking that I have to post every month for the TUSAL as it forces me to post to my blog as well!  And this way I kill two birds with one stone.  

Now on to the stitching!
 This is where I was previously on Mirabilia's Cinderella.
 And here is where I am at now, as of February 20, 2012.  She is coming along beautifully!  I am having so much fun stitching her!  But that darn Nora Corbett has come out with a new design, "Silver Moon Tea"!!  Why must she do that?!?!  It's a beautiful lady holding a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea in the silvery moon!!  That's my favourite tea!!  So you see why I must stitch this?!?!  Stay tuned for an update.  Sigh.  (I can justify anything!!  lol)

I have a couple small starts to share this month.
 First off is a Needle Fob Challenge for TGOS magazine Yahoo group.  Basically we choose a needle fob chart and stitch it and finish it by March 2.  I chose the Ladybug needle fob from TGOS April 2011 issue.  And as it's a challenge and not an exchange, I am making it for my sister's birthday in May, once again killing two birds, one stone!
 This is what I have done so far!  Yes, I know, not much is done, but I have been doing it only during DD's rowing practices, and sometimes I get yapping with other parents.  I'll try to do better from now on!

This is my second start of the month!
 It's a freebie called "Heart of My Heart" from Abi Gurden of The Stitch Specialist's Yahoo group.  But you have to be a member to get it!  I used some raspberry coloured fabric from my stash and ecru DMC floss and perle cotton.  I am having a ball with all the specialty stitches and can't wait to use my new-found Hardanger prowess to cut!

Now on to some exchanges!!
 I sent this out to Theoria in South Africa for TSS Birthday Threads exchange.  She finally recieved it, so I can now post it!

The second one is from The Friendly Stitchers Yahoo group!  A Spring Biscornu exchange!  My partner was Sara from Ireland, and she stitched me this lovely one on tea-dyed fabric that she dyed herself!  Thank you so much again, Sara!  It has a place of honor with all my other biscornus!

 This is the one I sent to Sara.  And between you and me, if it had been finished when my mom first saw it, it would have went home with her!  She really liked it. I may have to make this one again. 


 My DD has been stitching up a storm lately!  She has stitched three Dragon Dreams freebies in the last month, with a fourth one very close to being finished!  She is going a marvelous job on these!
 Dragon of Hope 2005
 Dragon Love
 My Treasure

And I have done a wee bit of shopping in the last month too!  Nordic Needle had a few things on sale and Hubby paid for part of my order for Valentine's Day, as well as the 2011 Back Issue Bundle from The Gift of Stitching magazine.
 I have been eyeing up these scissor since I saw them, and being the patriotic Canadian I am, well, they found their way into my cart!
 I bought this one to continue my Hardanger journey.
 And this one needed to join my library so I can learn and practice new stitches!

This is the card I made for Hubby!  His Aunt Bev and I started this at her house, and I finished it up in time for Valentine's Day.  It folds out, and I wrote a lovely sentiment inside.
 Here is DD at the Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships (CIRC) on February 5, 2012.
 She did really well for her first time, placing 4th in her division out of 9 competitors.  Her best friend Kaylee, placed 1st, beating the previous record!  The girls had fun and represented the club well!  Their coach was very pleased!

Now on to my bird pictures!
 This one was taken at the farm where my parents live.  There is a bird sanctuary close to their place, and the swans often fly across the road to the field to feed.  
 This one is one of the Blue Jays that often come to my feeder.
And this one is my favourite!  An Eastern Blue Bird!  It is very rare to see one in Ontario in the winter, but I think that because it's been so mild here this winter, they are still here!  I emailed my dad this picture and he and I both got our bird books out to discuss over the phone what it could be! I was very excited to get this picture!!

I may be late with my update next month, as Hubby, DD and I are going on vacation over the March Break!  We have rented a house down in Florida for a week, near Disney World and Universal!  We are so excited to be getting away!  It has been a few years, 7 to be exact, since we have had a real family vacation.  We are driving down and back, so if any one knows of any good LNS, please feel free to let me know!  We will be going down I-75 and then back up the Eastern Seaboard, and I hope to hit a couple needlework places as Hubby said he would stop if we knew of any!

Well, need to get going to put a roast beef in the oven with carrots and potatoes, so supper will be easy today.  Then DD and I can spend the afternoon stitching and watching movies!  What a nice way to spend Family Day!  Thanks for sticking with me!
Chat soon!

22 comments:

mdgtjulie said...

Lovely blog entry, Melissa. I can't imagine seeing that many swans together. I've only ever seen them at the zoo. And in pics, of course. Lovely blue bird too. And the stitching is fabulous. Your Cinderella is going to be stunning. And I love the Elemental Dragons series from DD. Your daughter's Hope Dragon is very reminiscent of them. Well done to both of you. What criteria do they do the indoor rowing on? It is timed, or how many strokes you do or what? I've never heard of this before. Again, great job to your DD. Hope you enjoy your vacation too. I would love to go to Florida. Lots of threads in your TUSAL jar too. I don't think I would have had as many. (Of course, I'm also a terrible floss miser, sooooooo...) Grats on your purchases too. Have fun justifying the new Miribilia!!

Deb said...

Cinderella is looking wonderful! Great progress. Biscornus are gorgeous. I keep dmiring them and have yet to stitch one.
Eastern blue birds are indeed a rarity in winter. In Texas, our birds have not even bothered to leave this winter. And true to their staying the winter, it has been a mild one. DD is stitching beautifully. But, look who she has for a stitching role model! Great update! Deb

Nicola said...

I can see why your Mum loved the biscornu. I do too. I am in awe of your Cinderella, so beautiful.

I have the Hardanger book and I can recommend it.

Christina G said...

I loved this update...lots of stuff to see. Great progress on your lady, she is so lovely! I just finished my needle fob for the same challenge and must admit that I probably stick to projects that I can frame, or biscornus! LOL

Val said...

Some beautiful work there .... and some lovely photos .... :)

Val x

Nancy in IL said...

Great updat, Melissa! You always have such a lot to catch up on. Cinderella is coming along beautifully; I have that in my Miras, probably never to be done, LOL!

I don't blame your mom for wanting the biscornu you made - it's lovely! And I love the raspberry fabric you're doing HOMH on! Be sure to share so Abi can see it. Great idea!

Nice threads you sent Theoria for her birthday. I only sent Abi 3 skeins, so you sent all those and a pair of the polka dot scissors - very generous! I need to get some of those scissors to keep on hand. I sent 3 out for Christmas exchanges. They're so cute!

There are so many other things to comment on that I'll just end by saying I admire all the dragons your DD has stitched/is stitching! So cute, and I enjoyed seeing her picture, and of course the beautiful blue jay!

Keep up the very beautiful and very interesting work. I so enjoy seeing it all.

blueladie said...

LOVE all the pictures! I am such a visual person and always enjoy looking! Your stitching is wonderful. I am so jealous of the scissors. That is such a great gift! :) Cathryn

Vicky L said...

Cindrella is coming along beautifully. Great progress! I love the new Nora Corbett pattern too. I might go on my wish list.
Your daughter is doing great on her Dragon Dreams freebies.
Have a nice vacation.

Veronica said...

Your needle certainly have been smoking. Cinderella is progressing beautifully. Lovely WiPs and bixcornu too.

Hugs,
Veronica.

Carolyn NC said...

Love the progress on your stitching and your DD's stitching, too. Great Exchange. And congrats to your DD for the great job rowing!

raised by cross stitching wolves said...

Wow, I'm impressed by both you and your DD! The Cinderella is exquisite, of course! I also love the Dragon Dreams designs, and your DD has done a wonderful job with hers! How does a young lady who is obviously very athletic sit still long enough to cross stitch? I also love your bird photos. I live in South Carolina (USA) and we feed the birds from our back door. A few months ago the mama wren was even hopping through the doorway to look for peanuts or pecans. I stitched a photo of her for my blog here: http://raisedbywolveswholovetostitch.blogspot.com/
Great photos, and I love your blog!
~ Lorraine

Jeanne in VA said...

As always, beautiful work. Your Cinderella is lovely, and DD's dragons are so cute. You asked about needlework shops that you could visit on your trip to Florida. There is one in Marietta, GA, called Abecedarius, at 2141 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062. The phone number is 770-977-3585. It's very close to I-75, and is located in a shopping center. It's at the end of the center closest to I-75, and the sign on the brickwork over the shop just says "Needlework." The lovely lady who owns the shop, Susan, is very helpful and very willing to just let you browse. It's not a huge shop, but I enjoy visiting it. Susan would remember me as the lady from Virginia who visits every year around Christmas.

SueT said...

Some lovely stitching in this update Melissa, Cinderella is looking good and your biscornus are gorgeous. Samantha's dragons are great too. Have a great trip to Florida and tell us what stash you collect on the way there & back!!

Tricia T said...

I *love* the bluebird picture! I always felt extra blessed when I would see one at our last house (a little cabin in the woods) and I haven't seen one where we live now at all!

The Cinderella piece is gorgeous! Wow! And your other stitching and exchanges are wonderful as well. Have fun on your vacation!

Lynn said...

Cinderella looks awesome! I think this is one of my favourites of her designs.
Your WIP and exchange gifts are lovely too.

Congrats on the Bluebird photo! I've yet to see one at all, summer or winter.
Hope you have a wonderful vacation. Safe travels!

Dianne said...

Lovely work - you've been one busy gal LOL And Family Day greetings for earlier in the week :) Di in Alberta

tiffstitch said...

Wow, this is a lot of news! Great capture on the blue bird, I've never seen one. I'm sure you're right about the milder weather keeping them around. Beautiful work on Cinderella and congratulate your DD for her work on Dragon Dreams and her great finish in the rowing competition!

Hope next month is successful too!

COUSON said...

Great job & what a lovely bird!Couson

Daffycat said...

Whew ~ what an update! Your biscornus are beautiful!

Thank you for the birthday wishes!

Anonymous said...

Hello

just found your blog through Daffycat's blog.

You have some beautiful stitching on your blog.

Lovely ORT jar too.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful time in FL! I'm here with my sister (she's regrouping from surgery on both feet). We're planning on a trip to the same needlework store you got all those wonderful goodies! I can't wait.
Thanks for sharing your vacation with us.

Barbara Gordon said...

Nice pictures..especially of the birds. I'm always looking out and taking pictures of the birds in my small little yard. We don't have that small little blue bird here, very pretty. Rowing competition ha...good luck to your daughter on future tries. She still did very good.