Progress Report and Surprise Gifts

I’m making progress…slowly but surely.

The needle case pictured below is my goal…

My journey began two days ago.  I spent the first evening prepping the linen by basting a running stitch down the entire length of the linen to mark the center line.  I also had to do this in several places across the width of the fabric not only to indicate where the fold for the pockets will go but also to separate the four individual designs.

For me, this is quite an ambitious project because I only started x-stitching last Fall and only completed three relative easy projects.  This is also my first attempt at using linen which takes a while for one’s eyes to get accustomed to simply because linen is a natural fibre and the weave is somewhat irregular.

So after two days, here’s what I’ve managed to accomplish.  I’m about two thirds through the first of four of the stitched designs.

I’m absolutely thrilled at not only how it’s starting to take shape but simply because I’m able to do it.  I did have to un-stitch a couple of rows two or three times on my first day but now that I’ve figured out exactly where to place my needle and how to count the threads in the weave, my second day went without a hitch.  Woo hoo.  And did you notice the gorgeous strawberry scissor fob?  That was one of my Christmas presents from Stina.   Of course it makes my scissors magical!

If you recall on Tuesday when I went to the post office, I received three parcels.  One was my long awaited stitching supplies and the other two were from Australia.

Last March just two months into my blogging career, I signed up for a PIF or Pay It Forward that Khris had talked about on her blog.  One of the packages was from Khris with my PIF gift enclosed.

Isn’t she the cutest raggedy?  I told Khris in my email to thank her that she fits right in with my other raggedies but that she’s having a difficult time making herself understood because of her Aussie accent.  *wink*  Thanks again, Khris.

The third parcel was from my friend Julie.

Julie and I like to surprise each other from time to time with little gifts and this time I was very surprised.  I knew that she was sending me some rusty bells, rusty pins and gold lobster claws for the scissor fobs that I make but she also included an Australia tote bag and this beauty...

Awesome, huh?  A pincushion made from wool and stitched by Julie.  Be still my heart!  Two of my favorite things rolled into one…wool and a pincushion.  Thanks again,  Sipsy.

This morning when I was trying to update my blog list, the entire list disappeared from my sidebar.  I even tried to “clear edits” but nothing seemed to work.  In full panic mode, I tried to jump start this old brain into trying to recall everyone who was on the list and started writing down names as they popped into my head.  I’m sure that I’ve not remembered all of you but as a precautionary measure,  I’ve learned to make a separate hardcopy just in case this happens again.

I’m looking forward to this afternoon when the United States plays Finland and  then tonight when Canada takes on Slovakia in Olympic hockey when I can take up my stitching once again.  I confess…I’m nuts about hockey!

Happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥