Alphabets and lettering

That's pretty much what I've been stitching during the last few days. I didn't plan it that way but that's where I arrived on all three pieces I'm working on. I started by pulling out NS once more. Besides the lettering I'm also continuing with the border around it. Not much progress on this one since I only pulled it out yesterday.

Next up is He is Risen. The pattern calls for the use of a small letter h in the second phrase but I prefer to use a capital H when referring to the Lord. Well changing that meant I could no longer fit in the punctuation but I don't think it's really necessary on this anyways. I also didn't like the way the capital H looked once I got it stitched so I altered it slightly. I guess I better finish stitching the first word in the phrase. It looks a bit silly without it right now.

Finally we have my new start, Colette's Cat Sampler. There are just two more words left to be stitched in the quote but I got tired of working on the lettering and decided to move on to one of the cats for a change. The quote in this piece is by a French novelist, Colette, and consequently her name is inscribed at the bottom of the stitching. I've decided I want to substitute it with the name of my cat, Clarisse but once again I find there is no room to fit the entire name in. If I changed the spelling to Clarice it would work and I might have to do this if I can't figure something out. The latter spelling is the one that most people use anyways but I'll have another look at it this week and see if I can adjust things somehow to make it work.

Having lots of time on my hands while I recuperate, I decided to try my hand at finishing again. I dug through my drawer of finishes and found my Waxing Moon Checkerboard Bunny freebie. Perfect for spring. Next up, find a corresponding fabric. Okay, that only took me about 30 minutes! Because it had been more than a year since I'd tried a pinkeep finish, I looked up my copy of Vonna's tutorial to guide me once more. After only a couple hours of trying to figure things out, here are the results.

Not too bad, if I do say so myself!

More time on my hands also means more time for online shopping! Not always a good thing according to my DH but this time I found a goldmine. Since the demise of Sugar Maple Fabrics, I've been looking for another Canadian source of hand dyed small fabrics. I prefer having smalls for the ornies I want to stitch. Of course it always works out that you find something when you're not looking for it. I was looking for a particular floss and kept finding listings for Ayrloom fabrics. I decided to check them out. Turns out they are an established dyer of yarns and wools in the Ayr, Ontario region which have now branched out into dyes for needlework fabric and floss. I ordered some of their itsy bits of fabric which included 10 pieces of 9x9 fabric in various counts of linen and evenweave per package. The cost was very reasonable. They arrived yesterday and I was thrilled with the fabrics and colours. Take a peek!

The floss has since arrived and I love it as well. I'll try and remember to have a picture for next time to show you.

Yesterday I tried the drive into Ottawa to join my Tuesday night stitching group. Between my trip to Florida and my surgery it has been 4 weeks since I've stitched with the group. It was so good to see them all once more and catch up with all their stitching. Most of the group are headed off to a stitching retreat in Gananoque this weekend. I opted not to this time because of my recent Florida trip plus the fact that I'm saving for a trip out west this summer.

Although it was fun joining the group again I did find I was pretty tired from the drive and left earlier than usual so I could hit the sack as soon as I got home. I couldn't have sat any longer anyways. The trip to Gananoque would have done me in for sure.

I'm wondering if anyone can help me out? I've been admiring many of the pin pillow finishes on several blogs. I find they are just too cute and would love to try one out. Trouble is I don't know where to start. I don't have a machine so I would be hand sewing everything. I know how to make a standard little pillow but I'm not sure just how to insert the piece of stitching in there. Are there any tutorials around?

It's another beautiful and warm day. A cold front is passing through overnight, dropping temps again so I'm going to head out and enjoy the day while I can. Stitching on the deck anyone?