Deeply WIPpy

I don't feel like blogging today -- simply because I'd rather be stitching. BUT I promised to announce the winner of My Favorite Kitten today, so that's exactly what I intend to do. Just so you know, since claiming I'd throw in the real life kitty with the stitched one, Pantoef has been nothing less than angelic, so I've given him until the end of October to mend his ways on a more permanent basis. If he succeeds in staying this...
...sweet and cuddlesome, I promised him that he could stay. If not, you can all look forward to a new blog contest in about 20 days' time.
Back to the stitched kitty though. My trusty name-drawer was otherwise engaged...

... so I asked Ransomizer.org to do the work for him, and the winner of My Favorite Kitten, as shown on the picture in my previous post, is none other than

Daffycat

Congratulations, Sharon! Be a dear and send your snail mail address to amcdevries AT gmail DOT com, will you, and I will make sure this wee darling gets to you ASAP.

As I said, I'd rather be stitching, and you will be very happy to know (I think) that I've been engaged in some heavy-duty WIP-stitching. No sign of startitis here! Actually, I could have named this post 'Deeply SAL-ly', because three of the four projects I've been working on are SALs. Firstly, of coursely, Noah:

Not a lot of progress there, but any progress on this one is good progress, as far as I'm concerned.

Secondly, Mary Wigham:
Don't ask me what possessed me to pick up this monster of a Quaker, but I did enjoy finishing that huge first motif.

Thirdly, my BBD Summer Basket, a Thursday SAL I'm doing with the lovely and talented Giovanna, Cristina and Nadia. Actually, I did a lot more work on this one, but I happened upon a couple of frogs along the way.

Fourthly, not a SAL, but definitely a long-time WIP, CHS's Mrs. Pearson. I'm stitching this one on 32 count linen, with one thread of Vikki Clayton silks over two. This, my dear friends, is not a good idea if you like a good bit of coverage. As I happen to do.

Love the design. Not the coverage. After discussing this with Barbara, who was kind enough to be brutally honest about it, I decided to start all over again, on 40 count linen this time. Now I don't only love this project, I actually luuuuuurve it. Think The Blue Lady kind of love.

Barbara suggested I make the first attempt into a little fragment piece, which is a brilliant idea, of course. Also, since this is merely a quirky fragment of a wacky design, I decided to leave that total whopper of a mistake I made and finish it as it is. I mean. You know. The number 836 means as much to me as the year 1836, i.e. nothing. Is it even a DMC colour? I don't think it is. No WAY am I going to frog something so as to change it into something I don't know the meaning of anyway.

Speaking of the good Barbara, I spent an absolutely lovely day in her company on Tuesday. We did some stitching, did a lot of chatting, had a gorgeous lunch. I got to see little Arden and his happy smile, and I got to talk to sweet Max. Also, Barbara made me this completely wonderful gift:

It's a sweet little autumnal pouch in which she hid some fabulous pumpkin buttons and a beautifully delicate Mermaid thread keep, made of shell, which is already in use. Thank you so much, Barbara, for the lovely day, and for your generosity and kindness :o)

Darn. I really shouldn't start my posts saying I'd rather be doing something else, because whenever I do that, I end up writing the most boring, long-winded blog posts you have ever had the misfortune to read. Sorry, my friends. Hopefully, in the next couple of days, I will have something to show you in the way of framed stitchy goodness. Yippie!!!

Yours long-windedly,
Annemarie.