The Biggest Cross Stitch I've Ever Seen

This is a link to a story on N E E D L E P R I N T blog, it is a story about several stitchers in Poland who took a famous painting (The Battle of Grunwald) and turned it in to a project that would eventually exceed more than 8 Million stitches. Check out her blog here.

Patterns I covet

How many of you are on Pinterest? If you aren't you should be. I have several public boards that I am looking after under the Stitch By Rachel segment and one of my newest favorites is "Patterns I Will stitch Someday". You can check out my board directly here.

In the meantime and in between time, Here is my pattern of the week:

Blackwork Tudor Rose, Originally posted in issue #221 of Cross stitcher Magazine

Off Topic - How to replace 3 household's worth of Christmas ornaments

I am looking to replace three household's worth of Christmas ornaments due to the extreme flooding that happened in our area. We are looking to do it on a budget! I am looking at handmade ideas, post Christmas sales, and all kinds of good things... Last year I made a bunch for the office and I am trying to think of ways... if you have any websites or ideas (I am combing Pinterest like an addict) I would greatly appreciate it.

IHSW July

I had to change out my Easy Count, re arrange my reds and beiges, but    overall I got very little stitching done. I am happy to have something accomplished, be motivated, and working through!

After I finished my International Hermit Stitch Weekend I have this to show for it:

This is what I started with:

How am I staying focused? #toomanywips

Before we embark on another International Hermit Stitching Weekend (July 19-21st), you will probably recognize these 5 projects. 

I am just trying to power through some details. Leaving pictures up of the finished projects in my office motivates me to go home and work on them. When I am spacing out at work, I just look up, mentally take stock of what challenges I have left on each of them, and know exactly where I will start when I get home. Typically I commute, have dinner with the family, and while toddler plays with her toys, I pull out my stitching. When she goes to bed, I'll give it a further go. The last few weeks have disrupted my routine drastically, so I have to get the groove back. I was so busy this week I missed a deadline for pictures of the Turtle Trot, so I will just get the next round. If you have any ideas on how to motivate oneself through too many WIPs, I would love to hear about it~!

Join this stitch-a-long Here

June 19 - June 30 and the aftermath

Because of the flood, I lost my wedding cake top layer 2 weeks before we were to celebrate our first anniversary. As a placeholder, my dear lovely husband and I celebrated our anniversary with a piece of pie and some of the hand decorated butterflies (made by Lindsey Searle, pastry chef extraordinaire)  that survived the freezer thaw.We couldn't eat the butterflies, but we had a very nice moment on July 7th. We did our favorite activities, hugged our little girl, and had a moment to appreciate all we have.

As I mentioned in my previous flood post, many members of my family were evacuated and suffered major property damage. Our city and surrounding areas were drastically affected by a flood. 3 people perished, many hundreds of animals were lost or relocated. Our province committed a Billion Dollars to the Red Cross, the Stampede raised $2.1 Million from the sale of the T - Shirts, and many believe that we are hundreds of millions away from rebuilding. Thousands of people are still homeless for months, many will have their homes deemed uninhabitable. Building permits have changed, and there will be limits on who can build where.

Our zoo was badly affected. Three species of animals and fish were killed, the hippos tried to escape, and there was talk of putting lions/tigers in jail to keep them safe(which everyone got a laugh at, imagine being in the cell next to them). One animal pavilion will never reopen because the damage will cost too much to repair. The area is rebuilding and we have high hopes. We would like to thank all the volunteers who worked so hard in our neighborhoods to get people back into their homes safely.  If you would like to help donate online to the Canadian Red Cross Here

I haven't been coping well and many subsequent time/financial issues have arisen. Our first family vacation in three years may be in jeopardy. We had to outlay thousands in unexpected costs. Although there has been a tremendous amount of friends that have chipped in for us, and we are grateful to them, by no means are our heads above the proverbial water yet. The good news is we are all healthy and safe. 

I have been trying to get back into my stitching. The irony was when I was inspired and motivated and had time to stitch, I was without it. As soon as I got some of it, the stress had set in and I just couldn't concentrate. The same Turtle Trot Projects that I have been running with since January are still my focus, and I am hoping today I can find my rhythm. I was working on William Morris Roses and Paris Market last night and I am going to switch back and forth between them until I can't stand them anymore and move on to my remainders. I did do a bit of the Panda Pals over the course of the evacuation, but I just need to do what I can to stay sane. 

Please check out My Flickr feed "Original Works & Finishes" on the right=> for completions if you want to look at what I have done in the past.

Flood Rescue 2013 - Been to preoccupied to post

Firstly, let me say we are all safe and healthy. Below are pictures from a flood that started on June 19th in my neighborhood. My family was affected, and just three homes in my immediate family are looking at upwards of $250,000 damage in total. Most of which is not insurable under non existent flood coverage in Canada. The rain started on June 19, and here we are on July 5 and I just had my insurance appraisal this morning. I live about 3 miles from Calgary Stampede Grounds which were deeply affected. It was cleaned up, and the Stampede started last night. They started a campaign (which was inspired by our Mayor's comments) and are selling T-Shirts for the flood victims. Which I think it hilarious way to look at it.... Will get back to my stitching posts soon....