It was a show day today.
Since I've described the events leading up to it, I shan't repeat. LOL, it doesn't really change from show to show.
We attended a breed specific show. They are nice because it's nothing but beautiful, white, fluffy, noisy, over excited Samoyeds. You can be sure coming away from the show you will be covered in fur and kisses. I'll never forget my first sight of a breed show when I saw no less than 50 Samoyeds in the space of 3 minutes! A feast for the eyes.
I am very happy to say Misha did very well today; she came away with two Firsts; one in Junior and one in Graduate.
She showed like an angel, perfect conformation, her movement was spot on. No pacing, which has tended to be a bit of a problem, just good ground eating drive.
She was well behaved in the ring, no excessive barking, and stacked well.
We were disappointed that in the unbeaten bitch lineup she wasn't awarded a Best Bitch or Reserve Best Bitch. However as we were walking out to our cars, with the winner of Best Bitch, who also won the Best in Show as well, the judge singled me out.
She told me she very much admired our Misha, and she lost out because of immaturity. She said a few more months (Misha is 15 months old) will make a difference. It's not that Misha played up, it's she looks young and hasn't muscled up enough yet. The judge said that Misha will mature nicely and will certainly take the high honours. She said we should be proud of her. As I said, we couldn't be any more than we are.
Misha has started her second season. It's a relief that she finally has come in. We were having nightmares that she would be in full blown season during Crufts. We shall be out of this in three weeks, so all clear and ready to go to Crufts. :)
Now it's to find places to walk her where she won't be bothered by dogs. This is one little gal who will be very upset at not being let off the lead for three weeks!
So this was a typical show SUN. Up early, gone all day, and come home absolutely beat! No stitching tonight!
Sunday, 28 January 2007
Saturday, 20 January 2007
One worry gone!
This week saw the end of an era so to speak. My DH closed on the sale of his flat. He bought it 19 years ago, and it served him well. It was conveniently located for him when he was working the odd hours in London on the trading desk. He was able to get transportation back home easily.
I asked how he felt about selling it, if he was sad to see it go. His answer warmed my heart. He said that it doesn't suit us, we aren't for the flat. We are to have a house with a nice garden for Misha and any other Samoyed we will get soon. He told me he was looking forward to the new chapter.
I'm very glad he didn't rush to sell the place when we came back from Holland and we trying to decide what to do with it. By waiting he got a much better price.
So, a little breathing room, wait to see what the housing market is doing with prices, and then searching for our new home!
Started the show season yesterday. Up early, long drive there, even longer one coming home. Why do we do this? Show as well tomorrow. Thankfully this one is closer and doesn't have as early of an ETD.
Well, at least Misha has qualified for Crufts 2008. :)
I've not done a lot of stitching this week. Seems there was more taking out then putting in. I hit a snag and just could not find the error. It seems the pattern is off by one silly little square. I may go back and pull the whole area.
I'm so impatient to get my silks. I will start something else when they come to take the edge off of the project I am working on.
I just need a fast finish so I can get back to stitching on the huge sampler for my nephew and his wife. I really, really do not want to do that one. And I don't know why. It's just hanging over my head and making me feel guilty. Oh well, soonest done, soonest finished!
This week I promise myself I will stitch more! Really, I will. Okay, stop laughing...I mean it. :)
I asked how he felt about selling it, if he was sad to see it go. His answer warmed my heart. He said that it doesn't suit us, we aren't for the flat. We are to have a house with a nice garden for Misha and any other Samoyed we will get soon. He told me he was looking forward to the new chapter.
I'm very glad he didn't rush to sell the place when we came back from Holland and we trying to decide what to do with it. By waiting he got a much better price.
So, a little breathing room, wait to see what the housing market is doing with prices, and then searching for our new home!
Started the show season yesterday. Up early, long drive there, even longer one coming home. Why do we do this? Show as well tomorrow. Thankfully this one is closer and doesn't have as early of an ETD.
Well, at least Misha has qualified for Crufts 2008. :)
I've not done a lot of stitching this week. Seems there was more taking out then putting in. I hit a snag and just could not find the error. It seems the pattern is off by one silly little square. I may go back and pull the whole area.
I'm so impatient to get my silks. I will start something else when they come to take the edge off of the project I am working on.
I just need a fast finish so I can get back to stitching on the huge sampler for my nephew and his wife. I really, really do not want to do that one. And I don't know why. It's just hanging over my head and making me feel guilty. Oh well, soonest done, soonest finished!
This week I promise myself I will stitch more! Really, I will. Okay, stop laughing...I mean it. :)
Sunday, 14 January 2007
In Memory and Honour Of
I ended my last blog saying I was going to add another piece to my Challenge.
It's going to be Museum Celle 1826 by Permin of Copenhagen. This piece fascinated me from the first time I saw it, however I was put off it by the fact it only came in an expensive kit, and it was done on linen. At the time I wasn't working on linen or evenweave.
I 'grew up' and discovered I liked linens, but still choked at the $100 some price tag.
One of the boards I go to has a weekly 'Wish List' where people post what they are looking for in the hopes others can assist.
I posted one week asking for a used chart for this design from a kit.
Several weeks later I received the chart in the mail from one of the kindest women I've ever known, Michelle Gualeni. I had met Michelle on the board a few years before. She was one of the first people to befriend me, and adopt me as it were.
Michelle had a absolute heart of gold. She was constantly doing wonderful, kind, thoughtful things for people. Her list of people she sent to must have been endless.
When I received the chart I was stunned as I had no idea how she knew. But then figured out it was from the list, she saw my wish, found a chart and sent it to me.
I back burnered the chart as I had other things on the go and happening in my life at the time.
A few months after receiving the chart Michelle suddenly died. I still to this day can not believe she is no longer with us in body. This July it will be 3 years since she has passed. Michelle is missed by so many, and will never be forgotten.
Now is the time to start work on this chart. I feel a need to stitch this in honour and memory of Michelle. Some where on the chart I will find room to stitch her initials. It will be stitched with love, smiles, memories, and no doubt tears as I remember that she is physically no longer with us.
However, I will never forget her kindness, her thoughtfulness, and cheeriness.
Mich my dearest friend, thank you. I miss you.
It's going to be Museum Celle 1826 by Permin of Copenhagen. This piece fascinated me from the first time I saw it, however I was put off it by the fact it only came in an expensive kit, and it was done on linen. At the time I wasn't working on linen or evenweave.
I 'grew up' and discovered I liked linens, but still choked at the $100 some price tag.
One of the boards I go to has a weekly 'Wish List' where people post what they are looking for in the hopes others can assist.
I posted one week asking for a used chart for this design from a kit.
Several weeks later I received the chart in the mail from one of the kindest women I've ever known, Michelle Gualeni. I had met Michelle on the board a few years before. She was one of the first people to befriend me, and adopt me as it were.
Michelle had a absolute heart of gold. She was constantly doing wonderful, kind, thoughtful things for people. Her list of people she sent to must have been endless.
When I received the chart I was stunned as I had no idea how she knew. But then figured out it was from the list, she saw my wish, found a chart and sent it to me.
I back burnered the chart as I had other things on the go and happening in my life at the time.
A few months after receiving the chart Michelle suddenly died. I still to this day can not believe she is no longer with us in body. This July it will be 3 years since she has passed. Michelle is missed by so many, and will never be forgotten.
Now is the time to start work on this chart. I feel a need to stitch this in honour and memory of Michelle. Some where on the chart I will find room to stitch her initials. It will be stitched with love, smiles, memories, and no doubt tears as I remember that she is physically no longer with us.
However, I will never forget her kindness, her thoughtfulness, and cheeriness.
Mich my dearest friend, thank you. I miss you.
Sunday Again?
I can't believe an entire week has passed.
In this week my DH has had contracts exchanged on the sale of his flat - finally. It's only taken over 5 months to get to this point. The flat was put under contract in less than 12 days, but it's taken this long to agree to terms. I have to admit the stumbling block was the solicitors handling the sale on his end. Inept does not begin to cover their description. In fact they are so bad they were struck off the list of firms that the estate agent use. It was a recommendation by the estate agent that had DH agree to go with them.
Anyway, the sale should be completed on WED the 17JAN. Hooray!
Also this week has seen me take a little field trip to a crafting show. It's the semi annual show held at Sandown Race Course in Surrey.
Primarily it was a cross stitch and knitting show, but other crafts have been making inroads there. There's card making, quilting, ribbon crafts, beading, and some sewing to name a few.
This is a small show compared to the ones held at Olympia Earls Court, or at Alexandra Palace. But for the people who can't or won't travel to London, it serves very nicely.
There was a marked decline in the cross stitch offerings. I have to admit I felt very sad to see every one pawing over the kits trying to decide if they should buy it at this stand, or the one on the other side.
Such a shame that the majority of them do not know about the variety of charts, fabrics, fibers, embellishments, to name but a few things, that can be found on the Internet.
To be limited to buying a kit and having to use what comes in it. If they change out the fabric it's a major undertaking.
My stitching world has been enriched by finding designs by Papillon , Long Dog Samplers, any of the lovely Quaker reproduction samplers, etc.
Colour has been added by all the different varieties of fiber, variegated, silks, and so on.
Although I tend to use a lot of Antique White evenweaves or linen, there are so many wonderful reproduction type fabrics and hand dyes out there.
I truly feel sorry for people who have not been introduced to any of this and just plod along with the charts.
And lastly this week - while at my in-laws last Sunday I took a long hard look at my WIP, the Rose Garden. I discovered I was really out on some of it. Because it's mirror imaged...four times...I would have had to frog more than half of it. No way!
I just scrapped it and cut a new piece. I started from scratch. It's coming along well, and I'm enjoying it far more than I would have if I had frogged it all.
I've decided to add a new piece. But more of that latter.
In this week my DH has had contracts exchanged on the sale of his flat - finally. It's only taken over 5 months to get to this point. The flat was put under contract in less than 12 days, but it's taken this long to agree to terms. I have to admit the stumbling block was the solicitors handling the sale on his end. Inept does not begin to cover their description. In fact they are so bad they were struck off the list of firms that the estate agent use. It was a recommendation by the estate agent that had DH agree to go with them.
Anyway, the sale should be completed on WED the 17JAN. Hooray!
Also this week has seen me take a little field trip to a crafting show. It's the semi annual show held at Sandown Race Course in Surrey.
Primarily it was a cross stitch and knitting show, but other crafts have been making inroads there. There's card making, quilting, ribbon crafts, beading, and some sewing to name a few.
This is a small show compared to the ones held at Olympia Earls Court, or at Alexandra Palace. But for the people who can't or won't travel to London, it serves very nicely.
There was a marked decline in the cross stitch offerings. I have to admit I felt very sad to see every one pawing over the kits trying to decide if they should buy it at this stand, or the one on the other side.
Such a shame that the majority of them do not know about the variety of charts, fabrics, fibers, embellishments, to name but a few things, that can be found on the Internet.
To be limited to buying a kit and having to use what comes in it. If they change out the fabric it's a major undertaking.
My stitching world has been enriched by finding designs by Papillon , Long Dog Samplers, any of the lovely Quaker reproduction samplers, etc.
Colour has been added by all the different varieties of fiber, variegated, silks, and so on.
Although I tend to use a lot of Antique White evenweaves or linen, there are so many wonderful reproduction type fabrics and hand dyes out there.
I truly feel sorry for people who have not been introduced to any of this and just plod along with the charts.
And lastly this week - while at my in-laws last Sunday I took a long hard look at my WIP, the Rose Garden. I discovered I was really out on some of it. Because it's mirror imaged...four times...I would have had to frog more than half of it. No way!
I just scrapped it and cut a new piece. I started from scratch. It's coming along well, and I'm enjoying it far more than I would have if I had frogged it all.
I've decided to add a new piece. But more of that latter.
Sunday, 7 January 2007
Simple Sunday
I love Sundays when they are spent relaxing and just taking things slowly.
We've not many more of them left this month since we start the dog show scene again on the 19JAN.
Those Sundays are up at 5a (or earlier), into the shower, get DH up, make sure Misha does what's needed to be comfortable. Harass DH that time is marching on and he needs to get ready. Then it's make the sandwiches, pack the cooler, get the thermoses readied. Need to make sure all the show paraphernalia is packed, the cameras are at the door. Go harass DH some more that we are already 15 minutes late from the ETD. Pack the car, lay my show clothes on top of everything, and then deal with a hyper Misha because she knows that it's a show day.
Get dog and DH in car, and collapse in a heap in the passenger's seat! Then I can rest until we get to the venue.
And so it goes on.
It is fun really. Misha enjoys showing and she loves to see the other dogs and people. One of her favourite spots is on the top of the crate watching everything.
I like seeing the other competitors, comparing Samoyed notes, and especially seeing all the beautiful Sams.
But it is hectic, and I do love when we have Sundays off!
I've been stitching; not a lot, but I've done some.
My WIP is Rose Garden by Holbein Embroideries. Yesterday I unpicked two tiny areas no less than 3 times! Talk about aggravation! Then after finally getting the motifs placed correctly I found I was out by one thread in another area I thought was finished. Me being me, I will have to go back and frog that area and restitch it correctly.
I've decided to make some changes to the original design. I like it, but feel it's too crowded with little things. I'm leaving out a lot of what seems to be surplus fill in motifs. It will make it a bit more airy. My MIL and I were discussing the overall look on Christmas Day and she does agree.
I had ordered some silks from Hand Dyed Fibers for some of my projects on my Challenge list.
I received my set of tags and spent FRI doing an inventory of them and figuring out the new ones I need to order.
The tags are great. I had joined the Fiber of the Month Club and got all the colours Vikki had up to last FEB. I was planning on using them as a huge colour card. But, it wasn't very practical, so I decided to order the tags and am so glad I did.
Now I can free up all those lovely skeins of silk to use in other projects!
Some fabric is making its way here.. I know I said wasn't going to get stash...but the fabric is needed for the projects on the Challenge. After going through what I have, there were not enough suitable. Also, technically, the silks were ordered last year! ;)
I'm off now - we are going to the PsIL house today for lunch. It's always lovely to see them and I'm looking forward to it. :)
We've not many more of them left this month since we start the dog show scene again on the 19JAN.
Those Sundays are up at 5a (or earlier), into the shower, get DH up, make sure Misha does what's needed to be comfortable. Harass DH that time is marching on and he needs to get ready. Then it's make the sandwiches, pack the cooler, get the thermoses readied. Need to make sure all the show paraphernalia is packed, the cameras are at the door. Go harass DH some more that we are already 15 minutes late from the ETD. Pack the car, lay my show clothes on top of everything, and then deal with a hyper Misha because she knows that it's a show day.
Get dog and DH in car, and collapse in a heap in the passenger's seat! Then I can rest until we get to the venue.
And so it goes on.
It is fun really. Misha enjoys showing and she loves to see the other dogs and people. One of her favourite spots is on the top of the crate watching everything.
I like seeing the other competitors, comparing Samoyed notes, and especially seeing all the beautiful Sams.
But it is hectic, and I do love when we have Sundays off!
I've been stitching; not a lot, but I've done some.
My WIP is Rose Garden by Holbein Embroideries. Yesterday I unpicked two tiny areas no less than 3 times! Talk about aggravation! Then after finally getting the motifs placed correctly I found I was out by one thread in another area I thought was finished. Me being me, I will have to go back and frog that area and restitch it correctly.
I've decided to make some changes to the original design. I like it, but feel it's too crowded with little things. I'm leaving out a lot of what seems to be surplus fill in motifs. It will make it a bit more airy. My MIL and I were discussing the overall look on Christmas Day and she does agree.
I had ordered some silks from Hand Dyed Fibers for some of my projects on my Challenge list.
I received my set of tags and spent FRI doing an inventory of them and figuring out the new ones I need to order.
The tags are great. I had joined the Fiber of the Month Club and got all the colours Vikki had up to last FEB. I was planning on using them as a huge colour card. But, it wasn't very practical, so I decided to order the tags and am so glad I did.
Now I can free up all those lovely skeins of silk to use in other projects!
Some fabric is making its way here.. I know I said wasn't going to get stash...but the fabric is needed for the projects on the Challenge. After going through what I have, there were not enough suitable. Also, technically, the silks were ordered last year! ;)
I'm off now - we are going to the PsIL house today for lunch. It's always lovely to see them and I'm looking forward to it. :)
Monday, 1 January 2007
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