June 02, 2009

almost half way there

In our little family, two birthdays mark the mid-way point of the year, one falls on June 30th and the other one, on July 1st. Happy times. And this year, more so than ever as it means I'll be halfway done with 2009, which so far has done nothing but kick my patootie!!

Anyhoo, I'll spare you all the gory details, and just offer up some pretty pictures instead :-)

Here is my Cape Cod Girls....



design by The Primitive Needle and stitched on 36 ct. PTP Highland with recommended threads....



and this is Westwinds, by Carriage House Samplings...






which I stitched on some unknown 32 ct. linen with recommended NPI silks. I wasn't that happy with the coverage of one strand over two, but was already halfway done when I decided that, so I just kept stitching and tried not to think about it ;-)



this birdie was my favorite part of the whole thing!




Here are my boys....


Astro, soakin' up some sunshine....




and Muttley, who is too busy worrying about what's in my hand (maybe it's FOOD!!) to pose for a cute picture....




and while we were outside, I snapped a picture of this old cross stitch that's sitting in my Fuchsia plant....



If I recall correctly, it was from a Debbie Mumm kit...these used to be one of my favorite things to stitch in the 90's....she had some Christmas ornament kits I did as well, all on plastic canvas and I can remember having to use a leather thimble on my finger while stitching, otherwise it would bleed from pushing the needle through with all that thread on it...thinking it was at least three strands...



This little chick has held up pretty well over the years, she's been chewed on, gotten wet, sunburned, dirty...but she's still here. Hmm, kinda like me, lol!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pieces, lovely stitching!

Deb said...

I love both of your finishes! I'm about 1/2 through CCG and I put it down. I think I'll use yours as inspiration to get back to it!

Alice said...

Super finishes Andrea. The boys are too sweet and that chicken withstanding the elements is just amazing. I had a giggle over your comparison but I doubt the dirty part. : ))
Hugs
Alice

Tanya said...

Beautiful finishes. I really want to start CCG sometime soon. CHS is one of my favorite designers.
That is one tough chicken withstanding all the elements. Your boys are too cute.

Jan said...

Wow, Andrea, I love both of them!! Just beautiful! And I love the expressions on your two fellas, how precious are they?

Good thing it was plastic canvas, or it wouldn't have held up. And I totally identify with 2009 kicking MY patootie!:)

Melissa said...

Both those pieces are right up my alley. Congratulations on such lovely pieces!

Brigitte said...

Your finihses looks so great. I love them both, particularly Westwinds which must be in my stash as well. Congratulations.

mainely stitching said...

Still being here even after a butt-kicking year is a big deal! My mom's also had a really rough 2009 and I'm just so awed by her ability to just keep on chuggin'.

Lovely stitching and adorable puppy pics! :D

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

So pretty your West Winds and the Cape Cod Girls :) Beautiful Stitching!
The little Debbie Mum Chickie looks darling in your fuscia - she HAS held up well :)

Rachel S-H said...

great photos!

Siobhán said...

Erm... I just typed a comment & realized I wasn't logged in, so if I am commenting twice, just chalk it up to lovin' your blog entries. ;) Love the stitching--I've been wanting to stitch Westwinds for awhile now, and your progress on CCG is fab! I hope things get better for the rest of 2009. Cuddle your boys--puppy love always makes things better!

karenv said...

I love both of your finishes, they turned out great! Love the pug pics too - so very cute :)

Michelle said...

I saw someone stitching on Cape Cod girls last night - it looks like a fun stitch. Yours looks fabulous. And the CHS piece is wonderful, all the little houses...too cute.

CindyMae said...

CCG is looking great! I love WestWinds, it looks gorgeous, this is one of my WIP's right now. Astro and Muttley look so cute!!

Tammy said...

LOOOOVE Cape Cod Girls! Adorable doggies-aren't they awesome?

Annemarie said...

Gosh, I do love the Cape Cod Girls, but I think they would look odd in my cabin in the woods, that's why I haven't started it yet :o)
Oh, and congrats on West Winds. I think you made the right decision to just keep on stitching. It's lovely. Very Scandinavian looking.
Cute hounds, too!

I want 2009 to be over too. I'm counting weeks until Fall!

Sharon said...

Both are gorgeous finishes!