Sunday, March 2, 2014

Frustrations and Mardi Gras

Thanks so much for taking time to read my blog!  I appreciate all the nice things you said about my Olympic Stitch.  Ever since I finished with that one, I have had problems.  First, I wanted to stitch "Slicker Bunny" only to realize I had purchased the wrong count linen.  It was the perfect gray color of Seattle skies so I really wanted to use the Lakeside linen -Flagstone.  I went to the trusty computer and ordered the right size.  Next, I decided to work on the antique sampler.  If you have been following my blog for awhile, you will remember the antique sampler my sister gave me and we charted (we meaning my DH who helped chart).  I had tons of trouble with the linen color and the floss color.  I made some decisions on what I thought would fix the problem.  It didn't!  So back to the original linen to start over- oh dear, I forgot that I had cut it up for another project-back to the trusty computer to get more of the original linen.  What to do while I wait for the linen??!!  pick up an old Halloween WIP! I will be glad to get the linen! That's the problem with not having a LNS!
Last week we had a few lovely Spring-like days so the DH and I decorated the front of the house for Mardi Gras. Many of you may not realize  that Mobile and the surrounding little towns celebrate the holiday.  In fact, they tell you that Mardi Gras actually started in Mobile not New Orleans.  We were down there visiting my step-Mom a few years ago and I bought the decorations right after Fat Tuesday as they were all half price! I think the folks up here wonder what on earth we are doing with all the beads, etc. on our front porch.  The people down there take this holiday very seriously and have wonderful decorations.  I hope you enjoy seeing them.


 Current WIP, I think it is called Witches Nine.  It is an old design by the Primitive Needle. I so miss her wonderful designs!

Our front door.  I won't tell you the problem my DH had getting this 1/2 price wreath home-or what the cost was!!!!

We have bags of beads! So we used the hooks for Christmas lights and hung a few strings of beads!

 Now we are in Southern Alabama.  Enjoy! This parade was in the delightful town of Fairhope.

 There were very elaborate floats!


The rest of the photos show you how various homes and businesses were decorated. Most pictures were taken in Fairhope and Daphne AL.











 Thanks for joining me today.  I hope you all have had a great week-end!

16 comments:

  1. Love the stitching! What fun pictures! Grrr about the fabric - hate it when that stuff happens!

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  2. Love and miss the Primitive Needle! Reminds me that I should pull out some of her designs and stitch some more! So fun seeing all the decorations ~ the colors made me smile ~ too many grey winter days this year!

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  3. Carpe Diem!! Have some king cake for me.

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  4. I'm sorry to hear about the fabric mishaps, but I hope the new fabric arrives quickly! Love your Mardi Gras decorations!!

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  5. Glad you did were able to find something to stitch while waiting for your linen to come in. Loved all your photos of the parade & Mardi Gras decor. I too am stuck or I should say have been procrastinating on working on an original family sampler (I named my moms sampler). But I will get back to it soon. love Annette

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  6. Sorry about your linen problems.
    Great start, I miss Primitive Needle designs.
    Great wreath!
    Thanks for sharing the Mardi Gras pics, very colorful.
    Marilyn

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  7. Love all the mardi gras photos ! Your front porch looks great ! Such a pretty wreath ! Sorry about your stitching troubles :)

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  8. So sorry that you are having such problems getting your stitching to go smoothly. It does stink not having a LNS. I hope things go smoothly from now on.
    Lovely decorations, thanks for sharing them!

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  9. What great Mardi Gras decorations. I had no idea it wasn't just a New Orleans tradition.

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  10. I'm sorry for all your problems, but you did pull out Witches Nine. I finished that one and put on a Tim hanger thingy.i love the witches
    Pretty festive decor
    Take care

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  11. I share your frustration at not having a LNS nearby, Barb! There are so many times when I want to start something new and find myself missing a major overdyed thread or something... Sure would be nice to hop in the car and go purchase it...

    Love the Mardi Gras decorations. Many years ago when my husband worked for one of the giant accounting firms we got to take a trip to New Orleans and actually had a party in one of the warehouses where they house the parade floats. It was such fun to see them up close and personal :)

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  12. Such a sad stitching saga, but I know it will end well. :)

    The MardiGras decorations are so fun and festive. Too bad we don't make more of it here in the NW.

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  13. Wonderful decorations - I love your wreath. Bummer on the linen, hope you get it soon.

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  14. Your house looks so festive! I love it!

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  15. Loved seeing all the decorations. Is this where I share that I have still not put my Christmas decorations away!?

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  16. It was a good thing to take up an old WIP while waiting for the fabrics to arrive. I know that problem, even when I need another DMC I have to order it. But as I've never had a needlecraft store nearby I'm used to it.
    The Primitive Needle had some wonderful Halloween designs, I love them all.
    Great Mardi Gras decoration.

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