In a few days, I will be closing Olive Hope Design. I’m saddened by that, but also excited about what the future holds. This will likely be my last post here, but I’m not leaving the blogging world just yet. I’ve started a new blog here, which will be in some ways much like this one, without the new design updates and other biz related stuff, and likely some more personal stuff than I felt comfortable posting on a business blog.

I’ve gotten back to stitching, and I’ve been working on the EMS Rose Sampler. I plan to post progress pictures on the other blog soon.

I hope all of you will follow me to my new blog. Don’t forget to update your bookmarks and links! Have a great day, and take care!

The past 2 weeks I’ve felt like I’ve been trying to do a number of things, but not really finishing much of anything. Last week my son got sick with some stomach virus (the first one for him!). He was only really sick for 1/2 a day and then his energy was mostly back. I felt a bit under the weather after that, and took it easy for a couple of days. I’d always wondered how I would deal with a sick, vomiting child, as the smell makes me gag. I was amazed to find that I could just go about cleaning up the bedding and my son without gagging or feeling nauseous. It wasn’t pleasant, but at least it wasn’t made worse by me getting sick to my stomach as well. We’re both fine this week, which is good, because it’s been a busy week, plus I decided to start spring cleaning this week. I decided to start, but that doesn’t mean I’ve accomplished much yet I did finish the worst (for me) job – cleaning the fridge. Amidst all this, I’ve had little time for stitching.

I started a group on yahoo, where I’ve started a SAL for this Teacup Sampler:

Teacup Sampler byOlive Hope Design

I accomplished a little stitching on this sampler last week, but haven’t had time this week:

progress as of May 8/09

To join in on the SAL, join the group here.

I’ve also been working on the EMS Rose Sampler. Most of my progress on the 4th part (the letters) was accomplished earlier in the month of April:

progress as of May 4/09

I also have a finish to share! After working on it sporadically for almost a year, I finished knitting a sweater for my son, and it actually looks like a sweater:

sweater finished May 3/09

I was having visions of sleeves being different lengths, back and front not lining up, etc. It’s a little big on him, which is fine, as then it might still fit him by fall so he can actually wear it. Next time I will try using long enough needles to knit both sleeves at once. At least then I won’t have to concern myself over if they’ll be the same length

I’ve let my etsy shop sit empty for a few weeks. Partly because I did forget when the last items were expiring, but mostly because I was trying to decide what to do with it, whether to keep selling, or to close the shop. I will no longer be selling my cross stitch charts through etsy, unless it’s a special release or limited edition, etc. I do have some items that I want to work on over the next month to add to the shop. So while there’s nothing there now, the plan is to have some items there within the month.

In other news, we had a bit of snow this morning! Yes, snow in May. Somehow I don’t think the fish will be biting very much for Opening Day tomorrow – and I definitely don’t want to be out on the water in this cool weather!

The Needlework Show opens in one week! I finally finished everything up yesterday, and aside from getting a few last minute things ready, I’m all set. I have 2 new designs (just put the last stitches into the last model yesterday morning) ready for this show, for a total of 6 new designs since the October show. Now, to plan some things to keep my mind busy so I’m not constantly checking my email, booth stats and orders. Hmmm, maybe I should plan to do some spring cleaning next week.

I’m continuing to make progress on the EMS Rose Sampler:

Apr 8 '09 progress on EMS Rose Sampler

I’ve had to frog a few times, but so far it’s not too discouraging. As much as I thought monochrome stitching would be boring, I’m finding it quite relaxing. (Sorry for the ripples on the fabric – I was quickly trying to snap a photo and get it saved to the computer before the batteries ran out on the camera.)

Progress to March 4, 2009

My progress on the Ellen Maurer-Stroh Rose Sampler; not as far as some of the other stitchers taking part in this SAL, but I’m on track to finish it by the end of the year (which is the group’s goal). Surprisingly, I’m really enjoying this monochrome stitching; I though I would find it boring.

I’m not doing very with posting each day, so far. But, it is getting me to think more often about what I can post on, so I think I am accomplishing something with it, even if I don’t end up with 20-30 posts by the end of March.

We’ve been suffering through a cold here; my husband and I had it 2 weeks ago, and this week my son has it. Only one day of school missed (Tuesday), and with plenty of rest each day, this morning he announced he was “all better!” Well, the nose still sounds a little stuffy, and he was still coughing, but he was more talkative during breakfast, and in all seemed to have more energy, so I believe he is over the worst of it. We’ll see how much energy he still has when he comes home from school. Yesterday he wasn’t even home half an hour before he was off for a nap. I’m guessing he’ll still need a nap, but perhaps it won’t be needed quite so soon, nor quite so long of one.

…until the end of March. At least I am going to try a post a day Monday though Friday until the end of March. If I can get a post or two in on the weekend, I will, but it will be quite an accomplishment just doing Monday through Friday.

I hope you won’t find this post too boring, especially since I don’t have any pictures to show, but I’m just going to talk about my day today (well, and a little about yesterday). I will definitely have more posts with pictures more often.

First, what I accomplished yesterday: I finally finished knitting the first sleeve of my son’s sweater. That was quite an accomplishment! I knitted and ripped the same sleeve three times, and finally the fourth time, I have a sleeve. I’m not without my reservations, though, but I’m trying to hold out scrapping the whole project until I’ve at least finished the second sleeve. I’m crossing my fingers it’ll actually be wearable out in public when it’s done. If not, I think I may stick with scarves and slippers for a while.

Today, I framed a birth sampler that I should have had finished long ago for a friend’s son (he’ll be 2 in August!). We’re getting together tonight, so that spurred me on to get it finished in time to give to her.

I also finished charting two new designs today. One will be part of a set of Christmas ornaments, and the other is for a group exchange. It may end up as a complimentary chart on my website, or it may become part of  a set. I’m just not sure yet.

Well, what was supposed to be a 2 week break from blogging, turned into nearly 2 months. I didn’t plan it; it just seems that for the past 2 months, blogging never made it to the top of my to-do list, until now. I’m happy to report some progress on the design front: 3 new design releases!

Life Words 1, Spring Sampler, & Winter Sampler

There are now complimentary designs on my website! I have yet to make them easily accessible (ie, putting a tab in place to link to the page), but I will provide a permanent link via this blog (to the right). There are only 2 designs there now, but I do plan to add to them in the near future.

In stitching progress, I’ve joined a small group of stitchers for an annual SAL (stitch-along). We’ve chosen the EMS Rose Sampler for 2009. This was my progress as of February 4, and I’ve made a little more progress since then, although I spent a good part of yesterday evening frogging

EMS Rose Sampler progress, Feb 4-09

I’ve made some progress on the sweater I’m knitting for my son; I’m now on the sleeves. However, I’ve nearly finished knitting the first sleeve 3 times already, and each time I’ve found I made a mistake and needed to pull it all back to the beginning. Finally, on Monday, I figured out my error – I was misreading the instructions. Instead of making an increase at each end of the needle, I made an increase at one end of the needle, so of course it’s not going to work out right! Fourth time is the charm?

I started a new ornament over the weekend:

The Decorator by Full Circle Designs JCS 2007 Ornament Issue

This arrived in the mail the other day:

Heirloom Nativity by Carol Emmer

I had hoped to make the nativity that was part of a series in the Cross Stitch & Country Crafts, but once I’d found all the issues, I discovered that all but the Mary and Joseph patterns were in the issues. Mary and Joseph were sold as a separate pack, and I’ve been unable to find those patterns anywhere. So I finally decided to seek out a different one to stitch, and this is the one I found. If time allows, I hope to have at least some of the figures finished for next Christmas. My to-do list just seems to keep growing, lol!

By the end of today I think it will look a lot more like winter. It’s been raining all morning, and when I got my son off the bus I noticed that it had cooled off enough that slush was collecting on the steps. I just looked out the back window, and there’s a layer of the white stuff on the car. There’s more snow forecasted for tomorrow. I wonder if it’ll stick around?

I have an ornament published in the lastest issue of The Gift of Stitching magazine! The whole issue looks great, and it reminded me that I need to go through those issues as well to add to my ornament list!

Apparently I was in such a time crunch to ge the ornament off to the publisher, that I completely forgot to take a picture of it before I mailed it. So, at least for now, if you want to see it, you’ll just have to get the magazine!

My goal is to someday have a tree on which I hang only handmade ornaments. I’ve been really slow so far to stitch ornaments (I keep getting side-tracked with something else), and the ones I have stitched in recent have all been given away as gifts. I’m hoping that if I commit to stitching ornaments this next year, I’ll be able to have enough for the tree next year (ambitious, but I’m optimistic; besides, I already have one done, vbg). So, over the past while, I’ve been going through my ornament issues from Just Cross Stitch. I only have four issues, but I’ve come up with a long list of ornaments I want to stitch. I thought I’d share them with you, in no particular order (except by issue):

JCS Ornaments 2002

Warm Wishes by SamSarah/JABC

Snowflakes Falling by Rosie’s Garden

Roly-Poly Snowman by Bent Creek

Making Spirits Bright by Little By Little Design Co

A Simple Tree by Frances and Me

Shepherds Watched by Shepherd’s Bush Printworks

Three Wisemen by Marie’s Garden

Decorating the House by Brightneedle

Wish for Peace by Trail Creek Farm

Sweet Christmas by Glory Bee

Peace, Joy, Love by Lizzie*Kate done

Merry Little Christmas by Graphs by Barbara & Cheryl, Inc

Abigail’s Christmas Ornament by Earth Threads

Together in Faith by Julia Lucas Designs

Peace by Theron Traditions

Star of Wonder by With My Needle

JCS Ornaments 2006

Christmas by Olde Colonial Designs

Christmas Joy by Angel Stitchin

Mary & Joseph by Shepherd’s Bush Printworks

First Light by DebBee’s Designs

Silver and Gold by The Sunflower Seed

Winter by The Prairie Schooler

Winter Joy by Little By Little Design Co

Winter’s Eve by Country Cottage Needleworks

2006 Snowman by Ursula Michaels Designs

Be Merry by Val’s Stuff

Enjoy the Holidays by Bizzi Creations

Quaker Pinkeep & Scissor Fob by With My Needle

Christmas Joy Bellpull by The Sweetheart Tree

Christmas Chorus by Elizabeth’s Designs

A Merry Stocking by Knotted Tree NeedleArt

Visions of Sugarplums by M Designs

Cross-Stitch Christmas by Sue Hillis Designs, Inc

JCS Ornaments 2007

Love and Dreams by Angel Stitchin

Fill with Love by Designs by Cathy Jean

Noel Christmas Bellpull by The  Sweetheart Tree

Deck the Halls by Julia Lucas Designs

Joy by Lizzie*Kate

Christmas Tree by Scandinavian Stitches

Sweet Baby by Shepherd’s Bush Printworks

Gingerbread Cottage by Medeiros Needlecraft Designs

Winter Love by SamSarah

The Decorator by Full Circle Designs

All Flakes Welcome by Sisters and Best Friends

A Star, A Star by The Sunflower Seed

Snow Bunnies by Little House Needleworks

JCS Ornaments 2008

Adestes Fideles by Fancy Work

Winter Song by Blackbird Designs

Joy by Hands to Work

Noel Ornament by The Sweetheart Tree

Christmas is a Time to Share by Val’s Stuff

Frosty Friends by Mosey ‘N Me

Christmas Eve by SamSarah

Snow Baby Joey by Victoria Sampler-Designs by Cathy Jean

Let it Snow by Casey Buonaugurio

Let it Snow by Country Cottage Needleworks

Bluebird of Christmas Happiness by M Designs

Snowy Night  by The Prairie Schooler, Inc

Deck the Windows by Julia Lucas Designs

Candle Light by Angel Stitchin

Starry Night by Shepherd’s Bush Printworks

Joy Band Sampler 2008 by DebBee’s Designs

A Christmas Song by Full Circle Designs

Peace by My Big Toe Designs

Wish Upon a Star by Wildflower Stitchery & More

Feel the Magic by Midsummer Night Designs

Merry Tree by Lizzie*Kate

Be Merry by My Mark

O Starry Night by Little By Little Design Co

Noel Pinkeep by Erica Michaels Designs

Miracles Happen by Ladybug Lane

Christmas Centerpiece by Brittercup Designs

Peace*Joy*Love by Lizzie*Kate, JCS OE 2002

This was a quick stitch, which was just what I needed. I actually feel ready to get back to stitching some on Fish City, which I think I might do tonight. I’ve got to tidy up my stitching bag first; it gets so cluttered that it often is fuller than it needs to be.

Door prize winners for today from The Needlework Show are: Christine P. and Melissa M. Congratulations! I will be doing a couple of more draws throughout the weekend, so if you haven’t entered, you still have time.