It was a semi-decent stitching day for me today – the temperature dropped to about 25C during the day and was fantastic for sleeping last night. I actually woke up feeling human today, and couldn’t wait to pick up a needle again! I managed to catch up with assignment 3 of the Apricot Elegance SAL from the Stitching Smalls Yahoo group … I was surprised, though, with the colour of the pearl cotton I’m using – on the skein it looks quite turquoisey, but when you stitch it up on that fabric the mint/pale green shows up more. I had my heart set on using a brightish turquoise for my filling stitches etc, but now I’m a bit stumped, as the colours just won’t go! Oh well, it means we’re off to the LNS tomorrow to try to find a colour that will substitute. Even though it wasn’t my ‘perfect’ choice of colour, I have to admit that I really like it … it now reminds me of Monet’s waterlily paintings, which I adore 🙂 It just means I might not be able to finish this week’s assignment yet, until I decide on colours.
Usually on my days off, I don’t go anywhere near my PO Box, as it’s a 1/2 hour drive away … but I knew I was expecting some parcels, so curiosity got the better of me today and we took a trip out for a couple of hours to grocery shop and collect mail. And what a wonderful lot of surprises were awaiting me! I had some fabric from Country Stitch from their sales, as Linda is selling off all her plain colour linens etc and will just be selling hand-dyeds from now on – the two stash expenses I haven’t given up yet have been my FOTM clubs with both Country Stitch and Silkweaver. Anyway, my last FOTM of plain linens arrived from Linda late last week, but my mail today was ‘extra’. I also received my December FOTM from Silkweaver last week, a lovely colour called “Desert Sky” – a very nice neutral colour 🙂
The other exciting mail was some fabric from Dawn, that she dyed herself – and it is the most scrummy colour turquoise … 
serious drool material! Thanks Dawn, for a fantastic trade – Dawn got a Mirabilia chart, and I got the fabric … me thinks I got the better deal! LOL. Thanks again Dawn! 😀 And then last, but certainly not least, I received a chart from Karen – Quaker Huswif by Sampler Cove, that was on my wishlist … Karen, you’re a sweetheart – thanks again so much! I won’t be starting this one for a while yet, so I have plenty of time to drool over it in the meantime – and there are week-by-week SAL instructions on the Legacy BB, which will come in mighty handy when I do start it 🙂
I forgot to mention that I also had a nice surprise at work about two weeks ago – one of the guys that I’ve only just recently started working with on the Hotline, was watching me XS at work on the late shifts a couple of times, and mentioned that his Mum had left some stitching ‘bits and pieces’ after she’d passed away, and he’d try and find them for me. So, a few days later he trotted into work and gave me a few packets of needles and DMC threads, plus a piece of natural linen, and some beige/tan aida and hardanger fabric. Also a magnetic chart holder, and two charts – one of them is a chart full of alphabets, which is going t0 be oh so useful – how wonderful! I have to admit that I probably won’t use the beige/tan aida as it is, but I’m thinking of practising my dyeing on it. I felt very very touched that he thought of me – as he said, he’d rather it went to someone who would appreciate it, than just throwing it out … thanks Craig! 🙂
Rightio, off to watch the some more of my mail … “The Notebook” on DVD from Homescreen – what a dreadful night we have instore for us again … a bottle of chilled Marsanne wine, stitching and DVD’s – just awful! 😀
Feather Stitching 
Ooooh – even if it wasn’t the effect you were expecting, I absolutely love the colours of your Apricot Elegance! Or should we say Marine Elegance here? 😉 I do hope you find a great substitution 🙂
You did get some great mail. I love that fabric Dawn dyed for you!
Have a great evening 🙂
Love your version of Apricot Elegance! The colors are stunning. Hope you find a good substitute for the “oops-too-green” floss.
Hi Anne! “Marine” Elegance just gets better and better! It’s amazing how differently colors can work out after they’re stitched – but I do love the contrast and it does remind me of Monet, as you said! Often when I’m smocking a dress on printed fabric, I have to wait till the fabric is pleated to choose colors as you just never know what colors will dominate when the fabric is pleated. That’s the fun of it 🙂
Ooh, you did have a nice mail day 🙂 Isn’t it the best getting stash goodies in the mail???
Your Apricot Elegance is looking fabulous!
Thanks for your kind words on my blog 🙂 You are so sweet and I appreciate them 🙂
hugs 🙂
Your project is looking fantastic. Those colors go great together!
Sounds like a fantastic mail day, how fun! That turquoise fabric is beautiful.
Lovely stitching, and you’re right, that IS a good mail day!! I’m rather jealous… *grin*
And how sweet that your coworker thought of you. I’ve got more than a few charts/magazines that I’ve acquired from house sales & thrift stores…you can tell they were the property of someone who has passed on, and the next of kin just had no idea what to do with their stash.
I think Marine Elegance is a great alternative name – it’s looking really beautiful, Anne 🙂
Glad you like the chart – looks like you’ve had some great mail today! I have a piece of Desert Sky linen and it’s really pretty – I have it earmarked for something already 😉
Usually blue isn’t my “thing” but your Apricot Elegance is stunning. Wowser. And what a great stash haul you’ve gotten in lately!
What a lovely stash day – that Quaker Huswif chart is lovely 🙂
And ‘Marine Elegance’ looks lovely too. I think the colours are great so far 🙂
Apricot Elegance is looking good – I really your color selection Anne! It may be the weekend before I’m able to complete Lesson 4 but it looks like an easy one. These are going to be lovely when we are finished!
Anne, Your blue Apricot Elegance is lovely. I like the little minty touches. Will watch to see what’s next. CJ
Aw, The Notebook. I just love that movie 🙂 Wow, wonderful, wonderful stash – that sure was worth the drive to the PO!! Enjoy!!!!!
Lovely stash day, your fabric looks really lovely. Thats a nice thing your friend Craig did, with the other bits and bobs.
Apricot elegance is looking lovely.
Your blue Apricot Elegance is lovely! And a great mail day you had also!
I am enjoying your blog! Thanks for your comment on mine!
I like the term Marine Elegance, as well. Brava, Isabelle! And it looks lovely, Anne. I hope you find just the right color of pearl cotton to use on it. 🙂