Apr 11, 2011

Marvelous Monday Update 4/11/11

Not too much to report this week, so this post will be pretty short.

STITCHY STUFF
I made some good progress on Blossom Splendor. I'll be working on her face soon! It bothers me that she has no face, lol. As you can see, I've finished her sleeve. A little backstitching, and the details should pop out on it.

Other WIP pics can be seen HERE.


I've signed up for another mailart exchange, so I've set aside Blossom for now. I decided on the design I'm going to stitch and started it last night. Of course, it couldn't be easy... no... I decided to stitch it opposite of the way it's charted, so that's been a trick. Looks good so far. Speaking of mailart, I was showing off the exchanges I've received in the past and realized that I have 3 envelopes from 3 different countries: Malaysia, Australia, and Finland. How cool is that?!?


GIVEAWAY
Amy from Cross Stitch and Cupcakes is hosting a giveaway. She has the cutest blog, ever! Go check it out. :)


DIY
For the past three years, I've been using a teeny-tiny battery powered weed trimmer that I'd gotten from a lady on Freecycle, or conned asked someone else to do it for me. The little trimmer only stays charged for 15 minutes and really isn't big enough for what I need. I finally bit the bullet and bought myself a gas-powered weed trimmer. 16" 25cc. Oh yeah... More power!! (insert Tool Time grunts here, lol) This, of course, will be a learning experience for me seeing as I've never mixed gas, nor have I used a full size weed trimmer. Hopefully, my flowers survive... and I don't hurt myself!

Also invested in a lawn spreader to try and get a handle on the weeds growing all over my yard. Another first!

44 comments:

Angie said...

great progress.

_ said...

She's looking great, Meari! Congrats on the new weed trimmer. I can never get our gas powered one started. Hopefully you have better luck. Or maybe it's just a ploy on my part to get one of my older kids to do the work. LOL!

Bette said...

Very pretty!

socialsue said...

Great progress, Meari! Good luck on your mailart exchange! I enjoy reading through your blog!

Pam in IL said...

Blossom is looking awesome! I'm sure you're getting anxious to give her a face. You have me curious about your mailart exchange and how you are stitching it opposite of the way it's charted. Do you mean the colors are opposite or you've changed the orientation of the design from left to right or top to bottom?

Mary said...

Blossom Splendor is looking great! I can't wait to see your next update on her and maybe even a bit of her face. :)
Hugs!
Mary

Blu said...

Blossom looks so lovely!

I haven't chosen between her and Blue Geisha. I just know I have to stitch a JE geisha...

Kay said...

You really made a lot of progress this week, she is looking beautiful! Good luck on the mailart exchange.

htimcj said...

Blossom is looking wonderful! Have fun keeping the weeds out of the lawn!
Heidi-ILCS

EvalinaMaria said...

Oh, my! Now you are a gardener! Great progress on your WIP.

Sunshine said...

Great Progress Meari. I look forward to seeing her face too. Have fun with your new toys!!!!
Do be careful learning tho....

Sharon said...

Your stitching looks wonderful Meari!

Sue said...

Blossom Splendor is looking quite stunning! Can't wait to see this one finished.

Chiloe said...

More power? This is totally you !! lol

I love your blossom splendor: the fabric is just perfect . :)

Carol R said...

Beautiful Blossom!
Take care with that weed trimmer - you need your fingers to hold a needle!

Berly said...

Blossom is looking beautiful, Meari!

Debbie Jo said...

Stitching looks wonderful and the backstitching will bring the true beauty out. Having mailart from 3 countries is great! I love to go back through exchanges or read the card/note that was sent with an exchange. Sounds like fun with the new toy,,becareful!

Carol said...

Beautiful progress on Blossom, Meari. Nothing like new power tools :) Have fun in your yard and show those weeds who's the boss!

Emily in NC said...

Great progress, think I may a missed an update or two. Don't hurt yourself with you new toy.

Unknown said...

Great progress, have fun with your new gardening tool.

Barb said...

You made a lot of progress! It looks great and the colors in the dress are so pretty.

chrisstitches said...

Wow....I am impressed at the progress. Good for you.

Anonymous said...

Blossom Splendor is looking great! Good luck with the gas weed eater - ours was too heavy/off-balance for me, so DH bought one with a battery pack. Much better! :)

Karin in CA

Akila said...

Blossom splendor is coming up gorgeously :d

How does a mailart exchange work? But then, the rate at which I stitch, my turn would go probably a year later. lol

Anonymous said...

The battle with weeds is never ending. That's because they were here first in most cases. The high powered weed whackers are great.

Your stitching is beautiful. It seems like you came a long way fast.

Tina

CJ said...

Good luck with your new trimmer. I am getting ready to pull ours out. I hate trimming bushes. Have fun working in your yard.

CJ

Katrien said...

she's beautiful

MaryT said...

Really beautiful I'm like you I like to have a face on things that I'm stitching when it requires one:)LOL makes it more personal somehow.

Mary Louise

Sandy P said...

Blossom Splender is looking great and nice to have new toys.

Anonymous said...

You're making great progress on the geisha, Meari!!

Hugs,
Lynette

Carolyn NC said...

Meari, this is so pretty! Love it!

Julie M said...

I can't wait for her face to come alive Meari! Tapping my foot here waiting so get a move on! LOL!

Look at you all I am woman I can do it all! I have used a weed trimmer many times and I always pay for it with a bad back ache afterwards. Watch how you are standing when you do it. And don't go barefoot!!

Anonymous said...

Great progress on your picture. When you own house there are so many things that you need to keep it in good condition.

Marl

Donna said...

I want to see her face also! Great stitching. So beautiful.
Best of luck with your new cutter. My husband would like one like that, but really don't have all that much territory to cut. Of course, notice that it is the one not doing the cutting that is making the statement!

Kristin said...

Blossom Splendor looks gorgeous so far!

Anonymous said...

Oh Meari

I really love your stitching. That is coming so beautiful and those color are really beautiful too

Tinna

Maureen said...

loving seeing the progress on this piece .

Nancy in IL said...

Blossom Splendor is really getting there now. Isn't she exciting to see take shape? I'm really enjoying watching it.

Good luck with your weed eater. I let DH eat the weeds (not literally), and we cheat and have a lawn service spray for weeds, but I take off my hat to you for doing it all yourself!

Rachel S-H said...

She is so pretty, and that fabric you dyed is amazing.

Jo said...

Beautiful stitching Meari. Good luck with your new weed eater, I let the weeds grow in the garden as it's mostly grass but the allotment I'm strict on...don't want weeds on the potatoes or tomatoes!

Dani - tkdchick said...

She is going to be gorgeous!

Gabi said...

What a pretty design. Love your stitching :)
Good luck with your weed trimmer.

too_busy_to_stitch said...

Looking great - love the colours in this :)

Shelley said...

Your WIP is looking awesome.

Good luck with the new weed wacker!