Sunday, May 5, 2013

Gardens and bees....

 
Rain rain go away....
 
I guess I shouldn't complain since it does
make great stitching weather!
 
We have had a steady rain all day so
it was one good reason to spend
the day in my stitching chair.  
The result was a finish!
 
Plum Street Samplers "Colonial Garden"
stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen
w/DMC
 
Many of you would probably recognize the design
from the model.  I love the design and hoped to
display it with Peace and Plenty so I altered
the colors.   This resulted in some funky
flowers and motifs but I like it.
 
Ode to Karen and Andy..... a true colonial couple!
 
My hubby loves colonial history so it was easy
to imagine us as the colonial couple. 
 
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I also had a finish last weekend.   I fell in
love with Nan's design as soon as I saw
it so it just had to be stitched.
 
Threadwork Primitive's "Bee's Blessing"
stitched on 40ct WDW Linen
w/Victorian Motto
 
This just the sweetest little design that
incorporates two of my favorites....
sunflowers and bees.
 
I am now struggling with the finishing.   I
love the way Nan finished hers but I can see
this as the cutest little pillow too.
Decisions, decisions......
 
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Work has been very time consuming for me
the past few months so my time spent with
hubby in the evenings has suffered.  To make
it up to him, I promised him a month ago I
would hike a portion of the Palmetto Trail.  
It was only 7 miles..... sounded like
"a walk in the park" a month ago.
Granted....I barely "walk" 7 miles a week,
I wasn't too worried, though,........until Friday.
What was I thinking!

Hiker Andy is rearing to go!
 
We had to travel about 2 hours to "enjoy" this
hike so we were up at the crack of dawn. 
We hit the trail at 9:35 am and finished at 1:08.
 
Trail running parallel to the intercoastal waterway
 
Overall, the trek was pretty uneventful and
it was nice walk....until we reach mile marker 5.
 
The next mile was mostly underwater
with some spots almost impassable. 
 
Widow maker's pass....yuck!
 
I will say this was a moment of truth for me....
I almost became a widow..... I was not happy!
Luckily for my hubby, I realized he is worth
more to me alive so he was spared.
 
Seven miles down....308 to go!
 
We did reach the end without incident.
Hubby was quickly informed that he will
hiking the remaining trails alone.
 
Today I can barely walk and never knew
there were that many muscles in the
lower half of the human body.  
Thank goodness I can at least still stitch so
there's another good reason to spend
this rainy day in my stitching chair.
 
~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~
 
Thanks for all of your wonderful comments
on my framed goodies.   I just love them
and am still trying to figure out just the
"right" spot to hang each piece.
 
I do hope you have had a great
stitching weekend....happy stitching!
 


34 comments:

  1. What a great finish ~ I love the colors!! Wow ~ congrats on doing that hike ~ not sure I would have agreed to hike through the water ~ but I guess if you are prepared with the correct footwear, it would be okay!

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  2. Such a beautiful finish! Love the colors you used! Good for you on the hike. I know that feeling of soreness after a hike. I still remember a hike we took once that must have been like yours -- I was so sore afterwards!! My DH also likes to hike. I think he wants me to go hiking too so I might end up like you. lol! Oh boy!

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  3. What pretty finishes!!!!! Hope you are relaxing and stitching after your hike :-).

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  4. Both designs and finishes are lovely. I'm a sucker for bee motifs, so have been eyeing that new chart. I think you went on a cross-county journey - not a hike! A hike is oh 2 to 3 miles with a nice lunch. No wonder your boy is protesting!

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  5. Widow maker`s pass, lol! I think I`d have had to do the sums too. Lovely finishes, congrats!

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  6. Beautiful finishes! You always stitch the prettiest designs. Oh congrats on your hike - I held my breath when I saw Widow maker's pass. Glad to hear your not a widow! lol
    love Annette

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  7. Karen, I would be feeling exactly the same way as you about that hike!!!!!!
    Love your Colonial Garden finish with the change in colours and also your Threadwork Primitives finish. Looking forward to seeing how you decide to finish it.

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  8. Love both of the finishes !!!! Great patterns Your story reminds me of a time when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant & my husband wanted to take a short cut during a fishing trip - Long story .... he survived - just barely - lol

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  9. love your finishes! I think the colors on the Colonial Garden" are very pretty. And way to go on the hike.... I have been wanting to do that one.

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  10. Beautiful finishes. Always admire your work. Congrats on the hike!

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  12. Lovely finishes Karen.

    Wow that is one long hike!

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  13. Love your finishes! Especially Colonial Garden.

    You are brave to attempt a long hike. I bet the scenery was pretty tho.

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  14. Awesome finishes! I love the colors you chose for Colonial Farden, Karen and Nan's piece is so sweet! I love those bees.
    Good for you on the hike, I hope your soreness goes away quickly!

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  15. How sweet that you two are the colonial couple. =) Both finishes are great.

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  16. Rain rain go away!!!! I love the stitched pieces... Beautiful color substitutions! And a big ole double thumbs up in the looonnnnngggg walk... Wow! Proud if ya!

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  17. I love the Colonial Garden Plum Street and the Just Nan. I'm working on a JN for the first time in a while...it feels good :)
    Congrats on the walk. The scenery looks like where I live :)Your stitching beautiful as always.

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  18. I am so sorry about calling Nan's piece a Just Nan. I guess my mind was on the one I'm working on. My apologies to Nan at Threadworks...I own all her stuff so wasn't like I should have known before I hit that button.

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  19. Love your stitching and finish.
    You are so brave walking 7 mile , I use to walk allot but not much in the last two years.

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  20. Lovely stitching. I am looking forward to seeing how you finish them off. Well done on completing your hike, I am sure the sore muscles were worth it for the personal achievement.

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  21. I came across your blog accidentally and on the spot fell in love with your stitching. Well done!

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  22. I just bought Colonial Garden this weekend. Paulette Stewart taught at my Guild and the model was amazing. I like your version. I hope to start mine soon - now I have to decide if I like the dark or light version.

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  23. I love hiking--but do not love wet feet or shoes! You were a good wife and made your hubby happy. Love the new Threadwork Primitive piece

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  24. I love the changes you made to Colonial Garden, Karen. The colors are beautiful!
    Nan's "Bee Blessings" is on my to do list.
    I'm looking forward to your finishes for both.

    Great job on your hike...looks like your efforts helped to make your hubby's day a happy one!

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  25. What a good wife you are to endure the pain that followed your walk...you've definately earned some sitting and stitching time.
    Super finishes you have been creating.

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  26. Love your stitching - always! Look forward to your Colonial wall update. Striking color choices, too.
    Your hiking would probably have done me in! Congrats that you're still kicking.

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  27. I love the stitching!
    It is very beautiful!

    have a nice day, Evelyne

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  28. What great projects you finished! Love your color changes--they look just fine! Congrats on the 7-mile walk, despite the fact that you had to have a rest the next day or two... you STILL did it! Hugs!

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  29. Great finish Karen!! I love the light version - you'll have to send a picture to Paulette. Too funny about the hiking!! I'd probably feel the same way! :)

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  30. Fabulous PSS finish Karen! I also love the bees design by the lovely Nan too!! Well done on your intensive hike! They are a lot of work but so rewarding afterwards!!

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  31. hi Karen, what a beautiful blog!!! nice finished piece!!!
    Ezia.

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  32. I love your PSS Colonial Garden! This is one of Paulette's designs that I don't think I've seen before. It's quite lovely!

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