As I mentioned the other day, this past week was sort of chaotic. And though I didn’t spend as many hours stitching this week as I normally do, I think if I hadn’t spent at least some time stitching I would probably typing this from the funny farm. 
Consequently, in an attempt to save my sanity through cross stitch, I managed to make slow but steady progress on almost all of my WIPs last week. I made some solid progress on “Above the Clouds,” “Fairy Flora,” and “Home of a Needleworker.” I completed roughly half of Mary’s ruffle on Tuesday and on Wednesday I happily realized that I am nearing the end of the cross stitching on my Spring Cat. Today was my exchange and round robin day and as you can see, I worked some on Leslie’s RR. (You can see the progress on my other pieces in my gallery.)
I had every intention of continuing my rotation Saturday and working on “Celtic Spring,” but I was out and about all day. Then when I finally did get home all I wanted was to soak in a bubble bath, so Mae was neglected for yet another week.
Saturday is always a day when I may or may not get much stitching done and, as a result, my progress on “Celtic Spring” has been sort of hit or miss the last couple of months. I am not too troubled by my recent lack of progress on “Celtic Spring” though: I have decided that once “Catch the Wind” is done I will slide “Celtic Spring” into my Tuesday spot and designate Saturdays as Stitcher’s Choice Day.
And now in exchange news… I have some good and not so good news on that front. The good news is that Nicki received her Summer Exchange from me safe and sound, so now I can share a picture. The pattern is a Janlynn freebie full of bright summery colors that I stitched on a piece of Dawn’s hand-dyed fabric. I love, love, love the way this turned out and some day when I have time (say around the year 2050) I intend to make it for myself.
However, on the flip side I learned the other day that I will have to make replacement piece for the Recipe Exchange. Replacement piece, you say? What happened?
Well, my recipe exchange package reached its recipient (Christine) in an amazing four days from Germany to Canada. This in and of itself would have been wonderful except Christine got a surprise that she wasn’t expecting when she opened the package: It was empty!
No, I did not send the package to her that way! Apparently someone decided to take the exchange but send on the empty envelope. Needless to say both Christine and I were shocked about this development. And though I am somewhat angry that someone would steal the contents of a package but send on the envelope, I have to admit I also think the situation is slightly amusing.
I have started the replacement piece and hope to finish it up this week. Christine said it would be OK if I waited to mail the Recipe Exchange until I mail her Leslie’s RR in a couple of weeks, but I would really like to try and get the replacement stitched up and sent to her before that if possible.
So that’s all for this late night edition of “Stitched with Love and Cat Hair.” Good night.
Nicki says:
Thank you so much for my exchange! I really like it - the colours are just so ’summer’! And I love the fact it’s on Dawn’s fabric (no, you didn’t mention that and it’s great).
I’m just astonished that someone had the gall to steal Christine’s gifts and send on an empty envelope. How utterly nasty. I did hear of that happening with a box of Christmas gifts too - all that arrived was the empty box. I hope whoever did it gets their just desserts one day!
24 July 2006 at 00:42
Leslie says:
Sorry to hear about what happened to your exchange. I wonder what happened to it???
Everything else is looking wonderful. I know what you mean about stitching to stay sane:)
24 July 2006 at 01:27
catandturtle says:
I can’t believe someone would do that. That seems to be a common saying of mine this weekend. A friend of mine had something stolen from her this week and I couldn’t believe that either. What is the matter with people?
I love the finished flip flop piece. It is so sweet. You did a great job. Ann.
24 July 2006 at 03:38
Isabelle says:
I love the exchange you stitched for Nicki, but what a shock concerning Christine’s exchange!
Aniza still haven’t received the Friendship exchange I sent on June 15 - she tells me it may sometimes take a long time but I’m really getting worried. 
I really hope all is well with you! Hope you can get back to a more normal rhythm soon
24 July 2006 at 07:37
Jenna says:
OK, that’s just really strange. I can’t believe someone would take it out and send the package merrily along, with no contents?? Wierd.
24 July 2006 at 21:08
Wendy says:
I love your Flip-Flop piece - so cute!
But what a shame about your disappearing recipe exchange piece!
25 July 2006 at 14:23
Christine V says:
Good grief, some peoples’ kids!!! What a terrible thing to do.
Love the flip-flops. I’m not a flip-flop wearer but that design is too cute!
26 July 2006 at 04:24