Save Your Orts and Quaker Diamonds Progress

I have been enjoying myself lately by stitching A LOT more on a regular basis. I feel very lucky to have free time to do this right now, but I know it will not last forever.

While enjoying my stitch time, I realized one morning that I was running low on a particular color required for my Quaker Diamonds. This is the one I've been working on for months. What happened to the 'withered green' color? I really couldn't say, but I didn't want to order more Valdani threads as there wasn't really THAT much green left to do.   What to do? I looked at corresponding DMC colors but I didn't want to mix them into the project.

I went into my ORT vase, and lo and behold I was able to find a lot of small strands of withered green (H202)  that I was able to use. I completed all the green required, and I think I have enough tiny pieces of green to finish one small little section.  In fact, some of the ORT threads were so long that I couldn't see why they were even in the ORT vase. Live and learn!

I've also gone from using my frame with Q-snaps, to stitching in hand, to using hoops, and now back again to the stand.  It's great to have all these options. For years and years I only stitched in hand.

Here was the piece before my latest stitch sessions:

And here it is a few days ago:

I took this one today, as yesterday I was able to work about more on the motif in the bottom right corner: 

I think at this point I have completed 21/26 letters, but I still have to finish this motif, complete another small motif, and finish one more motif that is above this one. That's it, except for a few tiny stitch designs here and there.  

Keep in mind I started this in 2013. I am not one to finish things quickly, but that is fine. I did have three finishes in 2014, so for me that is a victory. 

Thanks for stopping by, and do remember to save your ORTs.  

Beautiful Stitched Pieces at the County Fair

We are thrilled that cool air has finally  hit our area.  At least for a short while, anyway.  This weekend it is supposed to be up to the 90 degree mark again.  I have always disliked the heat, and I am forever shocked to hear that some folks love it hot.

Just shy of a few weeks ago we went to the county fair.  It was a miserably HOT day, and I am amazed that I actually went on such a day.  We joined our grandchildren, our daughter, and her husband for this festive occasion.  The kids LOVED the rides. It's nice that they're now old enough to do a few little rides. For dinner we passed on fair food, and ate in air-conditioned comfort at a restaurant that has locations all around the southern California area. It was delicious, and delightful to enjoy our meal in cool comfort.

One of the things I love the most about the fair is seeing folks' lovely handmade works. I marvel at the workmanship, and creativity.  As I walked in that building, I remarked to my husband that it would be amazing to know the amount of hours of work spent by the people who created all the pieces in the building. The building includes needlework, sewed clothing, costumes, quilts, photography, scrapbook items, to name just a few of the items in the building. We took some photos of some of the pieces we saw that day.  Sadly, I do not know who stitched them except for one of the pieces.  I don't even know which ones actually won ribbons, except for the ones where one can see the ribbon, of course.  They're all winners in my book.  I am not sure of the names of a lot of these pieces, and if you do know the design names please leave a comment and let me know.  I would really appreciate it! For some reason, the fair description does not include the designer's name, nor pattern name.

 Thanks to all who stitched these pieces. Here are a few of them that we saw that day:

First of all, this is Theresa Wentzler's Peaceable Kingdom.  It is a beauty! With all the blended threads a Wentzler piece contains, you can imagine this took a long time to stitch.  This one has a third place ribbon on it.

 Here is a beautiful piece, and thanks to Ohsewcrafty leaving a comment I now know the name of this one. It is called Pleasures of Winter and it's a Dimensions Gold kit. 

This piece won a second place ribbon, it seems. Lovely, but at first I had no idea on the name of the designer or pattern.  Thanks to Ohsewcrafty's comment, I can now say it is also a Dimensions Gold kit. It is called Twilight Bridge.

How impressive! I wonder what pattern this might be? Edited: Thanks to OhSewCrafty I can now tell you that this is one of Debbie Patrick's patterns. It's the Beringer Winery in Napa.  Thanks, OhSewCrafty.

A bit of blackwork on this one, I see. How lovely!

Here is Peace Angel by Lavender and Lace.  The face was done in over one stitches. It was quite large, and very impressive to behold.

This is Lavender and Lace's Summer Angel.  Gorgeous, isn't it?

This is Butternut Road's Catching the Wind.  (Same designer as the Lavender and Lace designer, the oh-so-talented late Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum)

For those of you who like to play the game Loteria, there were some clever patterns from the game that were stitched up so festively.  This one had a great presentation along with the stitched pattern:

This was so beautiful.  I was struck by the wonderful quilts hanging above the dock.  Does anyone know the name of this pattern?

This piece won "Best Of show" in its division.  Simply beautiful! I do not know this pattern's name, either. I do see the stitcher's name on this piece. Excellently done, Ms. Nunn!

I  had to take a photo of this costume that was featured in the same general area as the needlework.  Isn't it amazing?

These photos are of displays found in the House and Garden building.  The theme was "Mardi Gras" this year. I adore the rich colors and designs.

I love the bright, garish colors of the fair.  I think it's a throwback to childhood, when our great aunt and uncle used to bring us here, along with our parents. It was simply enchanting then to see all the colors of the fair. 

And what would fair photos be without a photo of one of the fried food fair stands?  I've never tried any of this deep fried sweet stuff at the fair.  I guess they must be tasty, looking at the constant lines in front of them. 

After spending about 7 hours at the fair, we happily left for our home in the neighboring county.  Until next year, farewell fun fair.