October is always the hardest month of the year, because our two biggest shows happen this month - and only a week or so apart!  On top of that, I'm trying to get some designs finished and stitching done, LOL ... and while I have so much out of my office (my van is still about half full), I'm trying to clean and re-organize... so arrrggghhh, ROFLOL.

So, what have I been up to?  Well, last month I told you that I'm working on a design I'm calling HAPPY CAMPER... four 'boxes' with different sayings about camper trailers (ie "We go where we're TOWED"), laid out rather like the fishing pattern I did a couple years ago.  I did get the design done, and have about 1.5 boxes stitched, but there was no way to get it done for release this month. 

I also finished the designs for my FLAMINGO CARDS (for A Needle Pulling Thread), did I tell you that, LOL?  Haven't started stitching them yet, but they (hopefully) won't take long to stitch - and I think I have until January, so I'm good for time. 

But (being me, LOL), I got sort of sidetracked with an idea for a little elf to go with my SANTA BALLS.  I have these great medium-sized bells, about half the size of the ones we used for SB.  Basically, I figured out the assembly - how I wanted to do his legs and feet - and wrote out all my instructions, but I haven't had a chance to work on faces and coats, and actually get one put together.  It's also much to late to release a Christmas design, so this will be a 2020 release (look for it next summer). 

OH!  I know what else I worked on, GBG, how could I forget?  I have a DRAGONFLY PURSE design, and I need to finish a little snap wallet (with those metal strips you push from the ends, that open in the centre), to go with it.  It's assembled, but I need to do the lining and add the channels for the snap strips, so this won't be released to our distributors until next month, since I have so many other things on my plate for the next two weeks (wink).

I also didn't get the wee halloween bellpull stitched I've been working on (sigh), and it's all designed too, LOL, so that too is being pushed forward to 2020.

Well, that's it for this month, enjoy your halloween, and we'll talk next month!

Well this has been quite a busy month, doing the Madoc Fair with my sister (she entered some of her artwork, and won a 2nd and 3rd place ribbon); and getting ready for Kingston the first weekend in October, and our biggest show of the year, Creativ in Mississauga in 3 weeks!

But of course, I'm still stitching away (wink)... the piece I told you about last month (STAY-CATION) is done; framed; and off to A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD (ANPT), so look for it in the next issue.  I have the patterns for the following issue (4 Flamingo themed cards) designed, and waiting to be stitched as well, but I'm really struggling with the Shelley McVittie piece I told you about in July.  It's going to be gorgeous when it's done, but man, some of the detailing is really hard to pin down!

I got a bit of stitching done on the final wallet in my PURSE PAL collection (I have the LION and the OWL done, and the CAT is stitched, but not assembled - the last one I'm working on is a FLAMINGO - which actually inspired the cards I'm doing for ANPT, LOL).

I whipped up a new design last night, that I'm going to sneak into this years lineup, if I can get it stitched before Creativ... someone asked me for a CAMPER themed design, and gave me one or two sayings to inspire me.  I googled a bunch more, and I must say, it's going to be quite cute!  There are 4 mini motifs, with HAPPY CAMPER in a box in the centre.  The motifs will be stitched all as one, but could easily be worked indivitually for 4 smaller designs! 

Then I spent a couple evenings working on framing... I got a new release you'll see next month done (wink).  Spoiler alert... it's a dancing bear, called YUK TUK.  And I got the IRIS & MONARCH Keirstead piece laced, but unfortunately my framer cut the matte wrong, so I have to run in to see her before I can finish... I have at least 2 more frames with stitched pieces sitting here, that I need for Mississauga, so that's on the list for THIS week.

But I also took some time to play with a wrapped yarn ornament I found when I was browsing on line... I think I've made over a dozen now, LOL.  I can see them being adaptable to feature a wee cross-stitch piece on one side, so I think I'm going to package them up for Creativ, with a finished ornament and how-to instructions together.  I'm keeping my favorites for my tree though (wink), and may work up at least one more with a cross-stitch, for the ornament exchange at our guild this Christmas.

Well, I think that's all I have to share this month... I have a couple UFO's in the works as well - a birthday tablecloth, which I plan to release as a pattern - if I ever get it finished, (GBG), and of course I'm still working on WONDERFUL WORLD, the Louie Armstrong tribute I'm stitching for ANPT.  This will be the second piece in my QUOTES series, that began with Audrey Hepburn and POSSIBLE.  It will be in the magazine (ANPT) 3 issues from mow, LOL, so we're planning ahead! 

Happy stitching, and we'll talk again next month...

Sorry guys, LOL, summer vacation - no blog this month!  Our kids and grandkids were here for a nice visit, so I didn't get ANYTHING done this month, (wink)... but back to work now, so talk next month!

We took a wee vacation in July, and ran down to New Brunswick for a week, so my dad (and mom) could visit dad's brothers and sisters, most of whom live there.  Only one was missing, since she lives in Spain, LOL, and the one who lives in Oakville came down for a visit at the same time, so 7 of the 8 were together.  They're almost all in their 80's, so chances to get together are getting harder, and we had a wonderful time visiting everyone and having family get-to-gethers.

Bill and I took a day with one of my cousins (Lois), who was home for a visit as well (she lives and works in Vietnam), and ran down the coast to Alma for some fresh lobster for supper... as my uncles say "boy, that was some good!".

Didn't get as much stitching done on my project for A Needle Pulling Thread as I expected - though I very optimistically took a second project with me, in case I got it finished, LOL.  Here's a peek at how it's coming along:

The issue theme is something like 'holiday destinations", and I told the editor I preferred "stay-cations", LOL, which is how the idea came about... I still haven't decided if I'm going to backstitch the lettering... I think it shows OK, but we'll see ...maybe I'll rip out some of the roof / window around the letters instead (wink).

The background house is worked with a single strand of floss, so it's faded in the distance, while the woman in the hammock is worked with three strands.  Bill sez I have to define the pages of the book hanging off the edge of the hammock as well, as they're hard to see... I'm stitching on this pretty much non-stop, so should have it done by the end of the month, when they want it...

Anyway, I am also working on a design (not ready to be stitched yet), based on Shelley McVittie's artwork, and it is very different for her... a bird landing by a pile of flowers and fruit, on a black background... I'm thinking about using beads for the berries, to get that rounded globule look, LOL.  I just have to figure out what SIZE I need. 

OH, and the stitcher who was working on the new Keirstead has it done - and it's GORGEOUS!  Watch for it in the September newsletter!

Other than that, just trying to enjoy some summer, and getting excited that our girls and grandkids (and SIL, LOL) will be here in less than THREE WEEKS!!  So much to get done before they arrive, as I won't be getting much done while their here!  Happy stitching... try to keep cool and dry in this unpredictable summer!!