Vacation last week - slow to recover

I was on vacation last week and since I have dial up, I didn't even try to post anything. Takes forever! :-)

I did finish a couple of projects during my week off, Sunflower Bell Pull from The Drawn Thread and Vintage Bloom from Blackbird Designs. It's so nice to be a finisher. Now I have to look for the bell pull itself. I think I can order it for $25.00 or so. Not too bad of a price and it's cheaper than framing.

Last week I purchased off eBay, all four of The Drawn Thread arbor kits for $15.00 a piece! I love it when people clean out their stash. I'll put them in my pile. AND get to them.

I had many new toys show up in my mail last week - The Village of Hawk Run Hollow and the Houses of Hawk Run Hollow. They are wonderful. I'll be starting the Village as soon as month one of my NPI silks arrive. I have to buy one months worth of silk at a time - I just can't afford all at once. I could have gone with the DMC but I really like the silk threads. I'm doing it on 32 count Sand Dune. I just can't see 40 count or even 36 count anymore and both of these are huge projects. So I want to enjoy the process, not struggle with it.

I'm currently working on three projects - the first, a SAL organized by Karen (Karen is from the UK and has the most wonderful blog - I want mine to look like hers when it's grown up!) from the online group, Legacy Embroidery Guild, which I'm currently a member of. We started on Monday, July 3rd. I did ok with the start. This will be my train project and I'll work on it until it is complete - Quaker Garden by Blackbird Designs.

Day one progress:

Day two progress:

I'm also working on from The Drawn Thread, Linen and Lace. I'm doing it on 32ct hand dyed linen, cameo from Silkweaver Fabrics. It's so pretty. Here is my progress - I have almost the entire center done.

And I'll be starting the new Loose Feather from Blackbird Designs - Secret Garden. I think I'll only be doing the box design and I'll be doing this at night along with Linen & Lace. Right now I don't have time need for the strawberry needleholder and I have another strawberry design from Sheepish Designs that I want to do more. And I have to cut back! I have more than enough to keep me busy for the rest of the year.

I'm back on the food wagon again. I lost 35 pounds last year and gained 25+ back (I'm afraid to get on the scale). So no more Mini-Moo's at work!

It was Clancy's first birthday yesterday! He is one year old. I had a little party for him.