Sunday, January 2, 2011

Happy New Year!!!

Wishing all my online friends a blessed Happy New Year and the wish that 2011 will only bring good things to you.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with lots of gifts.Mike spoiled me by upgrading my computer Next to that, we booked our next vacation. End of January we're stepping on the plane and travel 6 weeks in New Zealand.

But there is more good news. One of the most important things....my stitching mojo returned to me after been on a long vacation!!!!
Mike got me a kit from Thea Gouverneur (Amsterdam) 2 years ago for Christmas I thought I "should" give it a go. At first I wasn't very enthusiastic at all.  The linen was too hard, 125 colors on these color cards that kits ship with (and I detest). But after washing the fabric (TWICE) it became the most beautiful soft fabric that one can wish for. It's gorgeous quality of 35ct linen and feels simply delicious.  It JUST fits on my biggest scroll rods, which are a noticeable 40" wide.  After winding all colors on floss cards I started....and couldn't really stop anymore. I LOVE it. And I am throwing all plans of rotating out of the window. For now I will stitch this one and some smaller things on the side.



Oh, another thing I did. Because I had so much success with washing the linen for Amsterdam I thought I give it a go and wash the R&R fabric I bought for "Their Song" from BBD. Which is a bit too hard for my likings. That went a tad wrong...lol Instead of Apple Brown Bindy I have now a  beige linen which is still not soft, but lost all it's special effect. Ordered a new one and will give it a try tea dye the ruined one. Can't get any worse after all. Can only go up from here....lol.
Note to myself...do NOT wash R&R hand dyed linens (which they tell you also not to do...but for the ones like me who have troubles following directions...it's really not a good idea to do so)

Blessings be Thine grew also a bit.



Next in the planning are to finally finish the stitching on couple Prairie Schooler ornaments I started in 2009 and 2010 and never finished.  And start finally "Their Song" by Blackbird Designs. The chart is meant to be a traveling chart and I feel rather guilty that it's still here. Next in line will be Kathy who is  waiting for it way longer then she should have been. (SO sorry Kathy!!)

30 comments:

Stitching Noni said...

Well done on getting your stitching mojo back - I know what it's like when you lose it - I had that problem for awhile.

You new start looks great! Can't wait to see more of as you stitch it.

All the best for 2011 - I hope your needle and thread continue to fly through the linen!

Cheers
http://firefliescatsinthegarden.blogspot.com/

Wendy said...

Happy New Year! Nice to see you stitching the capital city of my country. Look forwaed to your update pictures.

elsy said...

i love all your work.....its a new love of mine and very addictive

Siobhán said...

Yeay!! I'm so glad to hear that your mojo has returned. I went through a big slump last year so I know how frustrating it is. Your new projects are BEAUTIFUL!! I love your plans for continuing WIPs, too. I find that with R&R linens, once you work on them a bit, they start getting softer. I hate using them at first, find them to be like a stiff sheet of paper and it feels like my needle could bounce off of the linen rather than glide through it, but as I work on the R&R, it gets much softer. I love your Blessings Be Thine!

6 weeks in New Zealand--can't wait to see the photos!

Happy new year to you and yours, Gabi!

Deb said...

I definitely know what it's like to lose the stitching mojo. I think that we all go through it at some point. I'm glad that yours has come back and I'm just loving Amsterdam. I can see why you can't put it down!!

Carol said...

Happy New Year! I love "Blessings Be Thine" and can't wait to follow your progress. Sounds like 2011 is off to a great start for you already with a fun trip to NZ already on the schedule...

Giovanna said...

Happy New Year! Amsterdam is going to be lovely, and you're doing great on BBT - have a great stitchy 2011!

Cindy's Stitching said...

Lucky you going on a trip. Enjoy each moment. I like the piece you started and glad you have your mojo back. Happy New Year to you and your family.

Littlebit said...

Wow! Getting that project ready to start is a project all by itself! What a beautiful start. I hope you will share pictures of your upcoming vacation. Happy New Year!!

Laurie in Iowa said...

Gabi,
You have a wonderful blog. I've enjoyed going back to look at your previous posts.
Blessings Be Thine is one of my favorite Christmas pieces. I look forward to putting it out on display each year.

Bertie said...

Sound's familiar no stitching mojo, we probably all suffer this at one stage in our stitching life:))
Agree that the linen of TG and Permin as well, are very hard, and will follow your lead in washing, thanks for the R&R tip, I have been tempted. Look forward to the finish of Amsterdam, lived there a long time ago-)
Happy New Year and wish you a fabulous time in New Zealand.

Julianne said...

Gabi,

Glad to read that your enthusiasm for stitching has returned.

I am also woking on BBD's Blessings Be Thine. I am working on the ivy wreath and it is slow going.

Best wishes to you for a great 2011

Missy Ann said...

Happy you've got your mojo back! I just love those holly leaves, I know I'd be pausing to pet them while stitching on that piece. ;)

Shelley said...

WooHoo!! The mojo has returned. I was beginning to worry :)I am really liking Amsterdam and look forward to watching your progress on this piece.

Hugs & Stitches,
Shelley

Terri said...

Great stitching Gabi. I am glad you have your mojo back

Dani - tkdchick said...

That Amsterdam WIP will be fantastic no wonder you've fallen in love!

Your other WIP is pretty too!

Carissa said...

Gabi, I'm so glad to see you back and know that life is going better for you overall.

Your new project looks great and I saw that "Amsterdam" is looking good too.

I look forward to reading more of your posts. Have a great New Year!

Meari said...

Yay, your stitching mojo is back!! :) Your projects look good so far. Sorry to hear about the fabric mishap.

Happy New Year, Gabi.

Enjoy your trip to NZ - I'm envious!

Berit said...

Looks good! You know, I used to like linen but found out I like the look of stitches better on a stiffer one (like wichelt).

Hey, live and learn--now you have an ideal tea candidate! :)

Nessa G. said...

Golly, everything looks absolutely beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Good news your stitching mojo is back - and what a stunning project for it to return on! Look forward to hearing about your NZ travels and seeing the future progress on this stunner :D

Nancy M said...

Now you are stitching 2 famous cities!!! It looks wonderful already and so detailed too! 6 weeks?? That long of a vacation is unheard of over here....our usual is only 2-3 weeks per year and not all at the same time either!

Unknown said...

Lovely stitching! Glad you have your mojo back and a Happy new Year to you too!

Carolyn NC said...

Happy New Year to you! So glad to hear you have your stitching mojo back! Can't wait to see your progress. :)

Brigitte said...

So gut, dass du wieder Lust hast zum Sticken. Und das kann man auch an deinem neuen Projekt sehen - Amsterdam sieht einfach umwerfend toll aus.
Ich habe vor ein paar Tagen ebenfalls Their Song begonnen, es stickt sich sehr schön und ich freue mich schon darauf. deinen Anfang zu sehen.
Gutes Neues Jahr auch dir!

Justflo said...

Glad your mojo's returned. It'll be good watching your new project grow.


All the very best for 2011.

angel parker said...

Lovely start on the Thea Governour kit. I have admired many of those kits and not felt brave enough to start one. I will enjoy following your progress. I envy your trip to New Zealand. I have always wanted to visit there. Angel in Florida

Elizabeth MacGregor-Kirkcaldy said...

So happy to read your stitching mojo has returned, Gabi!!! And what a wonderful project to start the New Year with! Amsterdam is gorgeous and I can't wait to follow your progress... And I just Love Blessings be Thine!!! I had forgotten about that one. What leaflet is it or is it in one of their books... Is it out of print? I can't seem to find it anywhere. It is so very pretty and I would really love to stitch it!!!

I'm sorry about your R&R fabric... I LOVE R&R Zweigart based linen but not the thin and stiff Wichelt based linen... I heard they had started using Northern Cross based linen instead of Wichelt and it's supposed to be a tighter weave and not quite nearly as stiff. We shall see... ;)

Your Holiday sounds just Wonderful! I know you must be looking forward to it!

Wishing you much love and joy, good cheer and a warm hearth, blessings abounding and loads of peaceful stitching thyme in the New Year...
Blessings always in stitches...
xox

Nancy in IL said...

Gabi, thanks for your visit and comment to my blog! I love, love, love your WIP's. Amsterdam is going to be gorgeous, and I look forward to seeing it grow.

Lucky you going to New Zealand - a place I've always wanted to visit!

I'm so sorry about your ruined R&R fabric, but tea-dye is good too. When all is lost....

Jan said...

Hi Gabi~ Wanted to stop and say hello, just found your blog. Your wonderful stitching is such a delight to see, I do hope you continue with it! Glad that your mojo has returned, it is horrible when that happens!!

Blessings Be Thine is looking pretty, as well, won't be long until that is finished!

Have a most wonderful new year, filled with everything you consider worthy!