Birds

Hi Stitchers!
Wow, things have changed on Blogger since I last visited!
Like birds?
I do love them, and have stitched a few lately.
Here are some -the finished ones ;)

Old Crow by La-D-Da

 Yellow Bird by La-D-Da (What? It's not yellow is it? Does it really matter?).

 Plums semi kit by Little House Needleworks

A l'R de Rien freebie, reorganized, that you can find here

 The Prairie Fairie by Prairie Schooler

The Gilded Cage by Carriage House Samplings.

 Hugs, Stitchers!

Some stitching and -just a little- mischief.

Hi Stitchers! :)


First of all, I want to thank all my readers who left comments here, my friends who asked for news of my son. He is feeling better now. He had lots of tests, including a fibroscopy that revealed nothing wrong, and our usual doctor has finally given him some homeopathy treatment that has done wonders where nothing else worked... There was some gelsemium for stress and nux vomica for his stomach. Huge relief. But yet, it reveals that his stress can make him physically sick and it's a problem.

 Patchwork Sampler, Jardin Privé freebie (You have to be a customer and then you can make your own patchwork). Nathalie Cichon is a French designer who sells her PDFs worlwide.

School is over! At last! And they will have to go back in September, which means a long break. While Daphné will enjoy a well deserved rest and the swimming pool in the garden, her books, and games on the computer (her best friend is in Cambodia until end of July, we miss him, he's like my DD's twin), Corentin will have to make up for the weeks he missed at college and the general laxism he has shown this last year. Being 15 is tough, all right, but it's the time when they ask that you make important decisions for your future anyway... So I personnally deal with the German and French lessons, while his father deals with Algebra. O joy... I have always admired the mums who homeschool their children, mine do acknowledge my competences, but don't like seeing in me anything else than a mum...

Prairie Schooler a little transformed with a heart instead of a pink ribbon, the design is/was sold to help cancer research.

OK, here's for the almost seasonal projects. I have found many things I hadn't scanned and shown on my blog in the last year. Here are some of them, they're all Xmassy. I guess my avatar suits me fine... ;)

Lizzie Kate's snowman 2010, but a little truncated and that will be turned into two small ornies instead of one big.

Sorry for the bad scan, the beads don't help...

Homespun Elegance Sampler Santa.

I've added a fish (I had intended to but it was all the more useful to hide the red that did dare run when I ironed, bloody red thread, lol!) and the backing fabric shows that it's a gift I have offered my father, the fisherman, last Xmas...

Reindeer freebie from tantes Zolders

This design is old, I have seen it many times. For instance, it's in the last JCS ornament preview (part of a sampler that looks like bad DIY designing really) and Rosewood Manor also offered it (well rearranged) on her site for Xmas 2008.
Here's what it looks like (so you don't have to browse this blog):

Although I love Xmas and celebrate it in my heart all year long (does ring a bell... lol!), I've had real bad Xmas days, where the people around me just didn't seem to understand the true meaning of Xmas, and the good spirit that should have been shared. I must admit that this drove me angry and that these days really turned into flops and this memory made me change this design just a little tiny bit (of mischief).

This is Windows of Faith, Hope and Peace by Primrose Needleworks, from JCS ornies 2010.

I also did this in remembrance of these neverending wars, those truces that don't even see the end of the night when we celebrate the birth of our Savior... I am losing faith in men. :(
Originally, the design is stitched in a very beautiful, peaceful blue thread, and I'm thinking of doing it too. Without the FLOP word. To honour the designer. ;) And to remember that I should keep hoping... There was a time when asked "what do you want?", I always replied "Peace on Earth". This would make people laugh and ask "But seriously?". I was serious.

Yet, we all ended eating some Xmas cake, but not that kind, that's typically British:

JBW Xmas Pudding

That's it for now. I'm off to start La D Da's Old Crow. I just fell in love with this design...
Ooops, and first of all, German. (It's a chance I love studying foreign languages... lol!).

Hugs to you all, my friends. A special thought for those who are having a very difficult time, you know who you are. I will visit your blogs soon.

Lili Bear

Boink

Hi Stitchers!
In this part of the globe, Spring (boink) is slowly turning into Summer (though here, the contrary generally happens, meaning early spring is like summer and autumn begins in August)...
No need to say that with such weather, I haven't stitched for Xmas... :D
No, I felt the need for a Blackbird Designs cure and I went for smalls.
Here is BBD's Basket of memories with its backing fabric. I used Needle Necessities Hydrangea.

I really enjoyed playing with the variations in the thread to try and have pink flowers and green stems. Well, as much as possible. ;) I haven't personalized it yet (initial) I'm not sure I will.

BBD's Bluebird was a challenge: I really love the bird, but I absolutely hate the bug/butterfly/whatever insect that is in the original design, next to the bird. At first, I thought it was a vine leaf. Well, I have changed the design and replaced the loathed bug with a flower.

I used Needle Necessities threads, Coventry Gardens and Blue is blue. And you can see the backing fabric, I love that the flowers look like the ones in the design. No initials there either. May be buttons later? Will see.

BBD's "A Stitcher's Journey" is a must have with lots of great designs, but my favourite by far is the Summer Stars Pincushion, a beautiful reference to quilts. I have chosen Crescent Colours threads that go together well: Blueberry Tart, Finley Gold, Purple Aster, Eve's Leaves and Sea Shelley. The backing fabric is the best I could find in my stash...

And finally, because there are other designers in life, here is a generous gift by Cathy Roy, French Blogger who owns Le Chalet des Perelles. Love at first sight, I wanted to go pink. It's called "le temps des cerises". Thank you Cathy.

I have fabric for it but I plan some different finish, I will show it someday.

Finally, for my friend Margaret, here's my progress on our LiMa SAL... I am late. Definitely, dreadfully, shamefully late... :(

But certainly not about to give up. I love every single stitch of this project. :D

About a month ago, we had a wonderful vacation in Oxfordshire near Burford and the most amazing needlework shop I have ever visited: hand painted canvas (amazing!!!), tapestry, cross stitch of course, name it, they have it.

Of course, we visited Straford upon Avon. A great moment. I just had to laugh though, because while some of Shakespeare's characters enjoy a well deserved celebrity,

 
their creator, up above, is enjoying the pigeons...

I have also learned something that's very preoccupying: it takes three geeks and an i pad to light a fire...

Now we're off to a specialist's to try and see what we can do for our son, who's been sick for ten days now, unable to move from home as his stomach rejects most of what it eats in spite of treatments (ulcer?). No need to say we're worried... He's losing a lot of weight... That's unfair: I should've been the sick one ;). No seriously, every mom will understand how much I wish I could take his pains, really.

Hugs to you all,  Stitchers!

Edit 31st May: I have edited this post with the colours used in the BBD designs.
I also wanted to add that Coco is going to have a fibroscopy -poor Baby :((( - next Tuesday (7th June). Please spare a thought for him. I know it's not going to be fun. At all. 
We have also consulted a doctor today who's giving him homeopathy, for his nausea, stress and bellyaches. We do hope it will help.
Thank you for your kind messages.

Lili Bear

LiMa SAL, Hallosal and Reading

First and foremost, I want to express my support to the Japanese People who are experiencing one the most heartbreaking series of catastrophes in their history. :( I don't think there is much to say, but there's something we can do: pray and send help.

Now, without transition, because there is no good transition in this case, I 'd like to show my progress on a SAL that Margaret and I are doing together.


Margaret is great at choosing names. Do you remember the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern with Waxing Moon's stitcher that said "my needle and my floss, they comfort me"? After stitching it, Harmien sent it to a winner (I was drawn :D) and then the chart was passed along in a great sisterhood. We all added some change in the dress colours and all and I must admit I have lost track of it, though. :( And Margaret found the name for this great initiative. :D
This was my version, I had her look like me. She doesn't have a mouth because I don't speak. ;)

Margaret has again found a great name, simply associating our first initials. We could choose then between Lima, capital of Peru, and Mali, in Africa. Well, Lima was the first pick. Now, what is this LiMa SAL? Well, we are stiching the most beautiful 12 days of Xmas project by Just Nan. Two days per month starting in February.
Here's what I've done until now:

I may not have chosen the best fabric for the b5200 thread to show, so I will probably add some backstitch in one shade of grey used there. What do you think? This is quite an intricate design with around 25 shades, and though I thought it would be a little hard on my goldfish ability to concentrate, for the moment, it's been only pleasure and no frog has shown yet. Fingers crossed.


I am also part of a SAL on the Hallosal with Lizzie Kate's SAL Boo Club series. I have stitched number 1, there are twelve to stitch.

And because it feels springy, and at the same time, because this is what I mostly do these days, here's reading by LHN. It was a chartpack but I have modified it a little as it was a gift for my friend and partner in crime (HalloSAL and books in common), Pink Canary. So the birds are pink of course. And I wanted to turn it into a little pincushion so I had to leave the Reading off. That goes without saying anyway. ;)

Thank you to my friends who still visit and comment here. This post is for you.

Hugs to you all, Stitchers,

Lili Bear

Xmas is on the corner...

... My favourite season of all, although this year it has a slightly bitter taste.

My gran's passing has made us all very sad and old wounds and scars are visible again. I guess that's what happens in many families.
We had Eugenia buried with Adolfus in the family cemetery eight days after she passed away... In November around here, the dead have to queue to enter the cemetery...

Did I ever tell you how sadness made me angry? I don't cry out of sadness, I just loathe the whole world. I am irate and very difficult to live with. It makes me revolted, the unfairness of things just becomes completly unbearable, and I become bitter and unfair myself. I'm a nightmare for my loved ones, actually... but I'm working on it. It doesn't seem to work very well but time helps. That's what they say.

I know this pic may seem out of place and all, but in a sense, that's guy's anger and courage is really cracking me up, even if I feel sorry for the police force, just doing their job.

More than ever, I feel the need to see beautiful things. To see the beauty of life again. And to share it with you. I did not take these pics, they're from a French daily news web mag.

These are snowflakes on a car windscreen. Have you seen anything more beautiful, both fragile and delicately structured?

Snowed in landscapes make me dream... as long as I'm safely tuck at home with a warm tea or chocolate... ;)

At home, it definitely feels Xmassy, because I have a wonderful family who make it all worthwhile...

Are you ready for D day? Well, like Santa, I still need to get my elves on that... (Lizzie Kate):

And a helping hand (Val' Stuff) would be welcome:

 It would help if we were not snowed in (Val's Stuff again, a freebie I cannot trace back, sorry...):

But it doesn't matter, I have my stitching to keep me busy . Plus the hyperactive dog and kitties and kids, and loving husband and food and auntie's move before Xmas, and the friends' children who will arrive tomorrow for a couple of nights' sleep in, and  the Xmas dinner to plan and consequently, this:

will not be finished by D day... This is Xmas ABC, a chartpack with threads (Crescent Colours) by Lizzie Kate.

Have a great holiday time, enjoy the season, tell and show your loved ones how much they count, and seize the day.

Lots of Xmas hugs your way, my dear friends,

Lili Bear.

RIP Eugenia

My gran died yesterday at 6 pm.
According to her beliefs, she is now with her beloved husband, Adolfus.
We are both devastated and relieved. It took two months and two days of agony.
RIP Mamie. You have been loved, and you will remain in our hearts forever.

Preparing Xmas is even better than...

celebrating it...

Well, that's my point of view, I know some people don't share it. But I have always enjoyed anticipating a moment more than living it... Call it "living" my life.... Yup, I know.

But for a stitcher who loves Xmas, the best season is all year long. Here are a few of the things I have stitched for Xmas this year. There's more to come, of course...

Here's the Brightneedle Season petites Winter, I have now stitched the whole four seasons and I have really enjoyed it. What a shame they're no longer designing :( ...


This is a well known Prairie Schooler freebie . I have just added a red border and used overdyed green and red:


This is White Christmas by Ewe and Eye and Friends. I have replaced my initial with a silver snowflake:


Last but not least (and not really Xmas but has a feeling in it though), here's Tralala's under the stars (A la Belle Etoile). I haven't filled in the trees because I love the swirly designs of the branches and they wouldn't stand out enough if I filled them with some lighter green, as advised by the designer. I have bought this design there and they send worldwide for 1.50 euro only (just checked the site, it is discounted at the moment):


Next batch for soon, I hope. I'm still stitching reindeer, of course...

Thanks for the kind comments and thoughts. I'm not much there on the web and your blogs, but you are in my heart all the time.


Hugs to you all, Stitchers!

Lili Bear