Friday, July 9, 2010

Half-way There!







Hi everyone! Well, I finally reached the half-way point on Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow--Block 6 is finished!! Although this was a block of almost solid stitching, I think it is my favorite one so far. I never got bored with it because there were so many little motifs scattered about to keep things fresh. Don't you love the bonfire and that rustic log cabin perched on the hillside. But, just what is that creature lurking on top of the bridge with his fiery yellow eye? I think he's supposed to be a reindeer, but, he looks pretty ominous to me!

I also like this block so much because it kind of reminds me of my family (not that I can skate--heavens, no--I am hopeless on the ice!). But, when I was growing up, there were three girls and a boy in my family--exactly the same make up as the group of skaters and the tiny sleigh driver featured here. There's me on the right, the oldest of the bunch, probably yelling at my little brother to stop goofing off and making a mental note to tell my mom (when we got home) that he wasn't wearing his mittens! I'm afraid I'm a typical first-born child: organized, conscientious, and too much of a perfectionist. I'd love to be able to relax and not always have to be on time for things, or maybe break the rules now and then, but it's just not in my nature. We were talking about birth order at a family picnic over the weekend and I've been reading a lot about it since then. Two interesting sites I've come across that discuss common birth order traits are: here and here. How about you? Do you have the traits that are most common for your birth order? My guess is that because cross stitching is such an orderly craft with exact counting and stitching, that there are many first-borns who share the love of it...



I had the best time stitching LHN's "Stars and Stripes" as a surprise for one of my first blogging friends, Myra! I was even more excited when I read on her blog that she came home to find it waiting in her mailbox after a particularly hard week at work and that it really lifted her spirits. Isn't it amazing how a kind word or simple gift from a friend can have that effect? I hope to send more of these little gifts out to my blogging friends in the future--it was such fun!



"Stars and Stripes" was stitched on 16 ct. natural Heatherfield fabric with DMC and WDW threads. I did change the outer border color to be the same as the wording rather than the charted brown color. To finish it off into this little pin pillow, I backed it with some burgundy and red checked fabric, added a frayed bow of the same material, a tiny heart button, and trimmed it with some blue cording. I'm so glad you like it, Myra--I truly enjoyed making it for you :)

22 years ago today, my youngest son was born! We were living in the D.C. area at the time--right where he is living this summer and having the experience of a lifetime: interning at the Department of Justice. The week he was born, the weather was almost as unbearably hot as we've had this past week. And yes, in many ways he is a typical youngest child--funny, charming, and outgoing and maybe, just maybe--a "teeny" bit spoiled, but he has made us so proud and I want to wish him the happiest of birthdays! We miss him very much and can't wait to see him in a few weeks...

I was so excited to see comments from so many new readers last week! Thank you all so much for taking the time to say hello. I was able to visit many of your blogs and I loved adding new ones to the ever-growing list of stitching blogs that I follow. I hope you all have a most relaxing and stitch-filled weekend in a nice, cool spot...

56 comments:

Lois said...

Carol, I love block 6! You are doing so well getting these stitched and I loved seeing a pic of the whole piece. What a beauty!

What a sweet gift for Myra with some beautiful finishing!

Happy Birthday to your son! My eldest will celebrate his birthday on Sunday. Is he the typical first born? Yes and no! Having a girl sandwiched between two boys is an interesting mix, she definitely kept things calmer when they were younger!!!

Wendy said...

your block is really nice, I´m somewhat starting to long for winter !
temperatures over here are now not fun anymore, it is simply to hot, and the normal day to day things go on aswell.

your gift is finished so beautiful !

and same here, I guess I am a typical first born as well, so is my sonn.
while my husband must be a typical second born ?
he´s lucky his head is still attached, or else he would lose that as well !

FIONA said...

Carol this work is just gorgeous! Love the colours and the story behind the pictures! Great stitching and great to catch up on your blog!

Hillery said...

Congratulations on block 6. Your progress is fantastic. I can't imagine tackling such a large project. Your little pillow is just beautiful as well. Happy Birthday to your son. Have a wonderful day, and keep cool.

The Queen Bee said...

Your finishes are gorgeous. I haven't stitched any of the Hawk Run pieces, but each time I see one come together I get the urge to take the plunge.

Happy Stitching, Pam

KarenV said...

Congratulations on finishing block 6 and getting to the halfway point! I really admire all your stitchers stitching the HRH pieces - I tried Village and gave up after about a block and a half LOL. Yours looks gorgeous and it's downhill all the way now :)

Love your exchange ornament, such a sweet design and the little fabric bow is just perfect. I must pinch this idea for the future - I sometimes forget to use fabric if I don't have suitable ribbon and this idea works so well. Happy Birthday to your son too!

Oh,and I'm a typical first born too - I can really relate to the perfectionist, not wanting to break the rules thing ;)

Siobhán said...

I love your HRH block, Carol! It is so pretty. Good for you for keeping on track, too! Your LHN is wonderful, too.

Interesting about the birth order! I am the only sister among three brothers, and the second born. I can definitely see the birth order coming out in my kids!

Margaret said...

Sorry, I'm the youngest in the family! lol! But I'm also organized and conscientious and love stitching! Love your CaHRH so far -- wow! Congrats on being halfway through! I love that skating block too -- never noticed the scary reindeer before! Love that it's so appropriate for your family when you were young. Love the LHN piece you made for Myra too!

Shari said...

block 6 is gorgeous!!!!! I love it & I love your explanation of it.
I can see why you get so many comments & blog visits. You have a way with words that is wonderful.
Love the gift you made for your friend.....too cute...
Another first born here!!! And yes, I have all the first born traits as well!!!!!! Like you, I wish I could just once in a while break out of that trait/habit!
Happy birthday to your youngest!!!! Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Kathy A. said...

Congratulations on finishing Block 6 and your accomplishment of being 1/2 way there. Those pieces are huge and I know how much stitching and how many hours must have been donated to get to that point.
I am also a first born - bossy, organized, family referree and stitcher!

Lesleyanne said...

Congratulations on finishing block 6 - it is abosolutely gorgeous. I think it may be my favourite too. Love your finish too.

Annie said...

Block 6 is definitely my favorite block of the piece. And I don't think the reindeer looks threatening at all ... just going about his reindeer chores with determination!

Barb said...

You have made fantastic progress on this piece! I have resisted the urge to buy this chart even though I know it may be selling for big bucks on EBAY at some point. The skating block reminds me of when we lived in St. Paul, MN, and we had a rink at our school. The parents took turns flooding the parking lot and looking after things. We even got to go out at lunch and skate! There was a wood stove in the warm up shed and I would invariably leave my mittens on it for too long and singe them. Mom wasn't too happy about all that knitting going up in smoke!

Part of the reason why I love cross stitch is because of the orderliness of it. I can't say that I have any particular traits related to my birthing order (I am one of six) and my own kids don't seem to fit a pattern either except that they are very different from each other.

Happy stitching!

Katrina said...

I am a first child too so I'd be right there with you fussing :-). Love your CaHRH and little LHN pillow, too cute.

Nancy said...

This is my favorite block so far too Carol! It is such a fun winter scene. What is that yellow-eyed creature? Maybe something that lived under the bridge! You have done a gorgeous job of stitching. I love your Stars & Stripes too, and your finishing is just as beautiful as always.

Happy Birthday to your son! I hope the day is a very special one for him.

Ineke said...

Your block 6 is beautiful. I loved to read about your explanation. I am a typical first born too. It is very interesting to read about birth order.

Faye said...

Yeah Carol!! Half way done is a milestone!!! It is looking awesome too btw....

I had seen on Myras blog that cute LHN pillow you made her...I just love it!!! Myra is one of the sweetest bloggers I follow and I know getting that piece from you just made her day!!!

Nice job, Faye

Pumpkin said...

Oh Carol!!!! Just stunning! I'm so happy to see that you're at the halfway mark :o) Will you miss stitching it when it's over though?

I'm an only child so technically I don't have a birthing order. LOL! I am typical of an only child though ;o)

What a cute finish and no wonder Myra was so happy with it. You are such a beautiful stitcher and finisher!

Happy Birthday to your DS! You sure sound like a proud Momma :o)

Unknown said...

I think block 6 is my favorite, too. Congratulations on your progress on your HRH piece, it is lovely.

Such a sweet gift for your friend, very beautifully finished.

Shirley said...

There is something about Christmas designs that I love, even when the weather is scorching and this one if a beaut. I am the yongest child in my family and was a typical younger child in my teens, dressing outrageously and dying my hair different colours(green, anyone!) I am now really methodical and organised and any craft work has to be just so and always finished before starting anything else. I even hang my clothes in colour groups and co-ordinate everything. I guess a leopard can change its spots! Have a great weekend, Shirley

Cole said...

Love your progress on CaHRH... I'm itching to start this one, I think fabric shopping is in my future!

I'm a firstborn too, and I think the traits definitely follow through in my family, and in how our family members treat us too!

Happy birthday to your DS!

Carolyn NC said...

Love your progress - what a cool block! Hope your DS had a happy BD! Beautiful stitching on all. :)

valerie said...

I love block 6...I think it's my favorite! How exciting to be half finished! Love the ornie you made for Myra...the frayed ribbon is precious.

I am the last born but I think I am a combo or last born (minus the spoiling...yea right!) and only child since the age difference between me and my siblings are drastic!

Happy birthday to youngest son! As for OS, I went to my first meetup. It was fun!

BrendaS said...

Carol --
I just love your progress on CaHRH. It is simply stunning!

What a great little gift to send your blogging buddy and great timing!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tricia T said...

Great job on Hawk Run!! wow!! And I adore the little pin pillow! I love that pattern, but I haven't seen it in my LNS. I'm sure your friend loved it!

Blessings!

Tricia

Jules said...

Congrats on reaching the halfway mark!!! It's looking great.

I love Stars and Stripes!

Daffycat said...

Carol, your CHRH looks fantastic! You are half way ~ woo!

I love the RAK you sent to Myra and your finishing is just adorable!

Lainey said...

Congrats on reaching half way Carol and block 6 is really pretty.
Myra must have been thrilled with the darling pillow you made, love the little tartan bow you embellished it with.
Happy Birthday to your youngest son!

Rowyn said...

Happy 22nd birthday to your son. I hope he had a wonderful day.

CAHRH is gorgeous. I love the block you have just stitched too - the colours are rich and there is so much fun going on in that scene.

It was scarey reading those articles on birth order - scarey, because they are so accurate. I have two sisters, one older and one younger... and those descriptions are mostly very accurate.

I will have no trouble finding a cool spot to stitch in this weekend, it's freezing here. LOL. Have a wonderful weekend!

Barbi said...

Well, I didn't want it, but now I have to have it. I love how it's stitching up for you! So yes, I am going to put another dent in my credit card and order the Hawk's Run Christmas before there are no more.

Friendship Crossing said...

Hi Carol,
I just recently discovered your blog and I wanted to say how much I admire your work.

I love the pillow you made for Myra and commented on her blog about it too. Love that LHN design and I've always been a fan of Heatherfield fabric!

Love the Pr. Sch. pillow too and several others you've made. Your finishing is amazing!


Come visit sometime.
Tanya~friendshipcrossing.blogspot.com

Angela said...

Carol, I just love your block 6 it's lovely! I do agree though that the reindeer looks a bit mad :) Hmmmm.

I'm a first born and love everything in order but my Sister is the same way and she was the youngest.

Stars and stripes is a beautiful finish and a lovely gift for a friend. I love how a little gift can really brighten someone's day :)

Happy birthday to your youngest son too! This heat has become almost unbearable!

Have a great weekend :)

Edit said...

Block 6 is so beautiful (and the other 5 also). I love to see how it develops and it will be so exciting around November, December also :)

Here is is extremely hot, almost unbearable too. But so far still better than the last summer was.

I cannot tell you my experiences about being first born or not as I have no siblings, so I am the youngest and the oldest at the same time :)

Happy birthday to your son and a wonderful weekend to you!

Sally said...

I absolutely love block 6 Carol! It just has everything in it that says Winter to me:)

Love your LHN finish too.

Happy Birthday to your son!

Valerie said...

Wow! CatHRH is gorgeous! I love the blocks and colors! You are making amazing progress!

Melissa said...

I'm a first born too, Carol, and you have described many of my traits! We're cursed eh? ;-)

I love your stitching - just beautiful!

Rachel S-H said...

Your needle is FLYING. Great finishes!

Catherine said...

CaHRH looks fantastic!! I saw your gift to Myra on her blog. It's such a great finish and sounds like you really sent it to her at the perfect time!

Happy Birthday to your son! I can definitely see some of the birth order traits in my three boys! I keep telling my husband that we don't need to save for college - just therapy!

Enjoy your weekend!

Julie said...

Happy Birthday to your son.

Another first born here and yes i too have the traits. Love this block, the 'reindeer' on the bridge looks like the TV reception aeriels that so many UK houses have on their roofs, but i think it probably is a reindeer, he just needs his antlers cutting back a bit LOL

Love the littel gift for Myra, what a little treasure to find in your mailbox

Kim said...

Block 6 is my favorite one as well. You are making nice progress on this piece. I love the snowman standing not too far from the fire and I have no idea what that is supposed to be on top of the bridge and funny I never noticed it until you mentioned it :)

Jackie's Stitches said...

Your recent block of CaHRH is just gorgeous! I love your commentary about your family and birth order too. I'm a first born and seem to be pretty stereotypical. My sister is a classic middle child. We were talking about birth order at work and it was interesting to see that most of my team are either first born or were born many many years after the child closest to them (kind of like a second first born). Interesting stuff.

Unknown said...

I love your sixt block i'm a fan of skating and do it a lot.
I lived in a place with a lot of canal like streams that were perfect for skating long tracks.
I'm good with speedskates and not so good with the hockey one's.
I'm a first born to and the only girl and have love stiching since a was able to do it.

Hugs Yvon.

niina said...

Wow:) your christmas stitching is gorgeus:) It's so great when you enjoy stitching especially when there are many details. All the best and greetings from (far away )Finland -Niina

Mylene said...

Congrats on finishing block 6, it looks great.

A lovely ornament finished for your friend, i am sure she's thrilled with it.

Happy Birthday to your youngest son.

Andrea said...

Wonderful stitching, gorgeous pillow/ornament.

Dani - tkdchick said...

I think this is my favourite block so far as well!

What a lovely little pillow for Myra!

Mary said...

Carol, Block 6 is beautiful (as are 1-5) Can't wait to see the "finished product." You have accomplished much in the past few weeks with all of your beauties. It's inspiring! I'm happy to finally be up and running in "blogland."

Meari said...

Beautiful stitching, Carol. Happy Belated Birthday to your DS!

Patty C. said...

Beautiful work :)

Unknown said...

Love your stitching!

I found the birth order links very interesting. I'm at least the fourth generation fistborn daughter of firstborn daughters. I learned to cross stitch from my mother who learned to do needlepoint from her mother who learned it from her mother. I don't know beyond that. So far, I haven't been able to rope in my (also firstborn) daughter, but there's still hope! She does like to paint and scrapbook, both of which I did when I was younger and learned from my mother. Both my mother and I lost interest in those because they are not as portable and require more clean up and organization - which are NOT family traits, sadly. ;)

Meadows08 said...

All the of the HRH charts are so gorgeous! Congrats at being half way done, it looks fabulous.

Love Stars and Stripes too! Your finish is superb.

Happy Birthday to your son.

Vinniey said...

Hey! I was the first-born child too. Most of the first-born child is more patient. :P Happy birthday to your youngest son. It's fun to stitch block by block. I love the bonfire too. :) Your "Stars and Stripes" finishing looks great!

Michele B. said...

Another first born (and new reader - love your blog) here. Yep, I've got all the traits of a #1, and judging from the number of first born commenters, you are right on the money with your theory about stitchers. Your Hawk Run piece looks amazing, and you did a wonderful job on the little pillow. Your finishing is beautiful. How nice that you made someone's day when they really needed it.

Babs said...

I looks very nice, can't wait to see the rest.

Brigitte said...

Oh Carol, I love this little pillow you stitched and finished for Myra. Your finishing skills are really great.
Very nice progress picture of the HRH piece. All these blocks would also look very pretty when stitched and finished individually. That's what I always think when I see one of them finished on someone's blog.

Jennifer said...

I am coming in very very late on this, but count me in as another typical first born!