Eagle's Wings by Lori Markovic (La D Da). The words on this chart are from a song called "On Eagles Wings" written by Michael Joncas. The first line, "And I will raise you up on eagles wings," is from Exodus 19:4. Lori Markovic stitched this on 36 ct linen, but it could be stitched on lower count fabric.  

Chalk & Cheese

Chalk and Cheese! I love these little guys! Somebody actually designed a couple of cute rats. These were designed to benefit the RSPCA. I'm glad somebody else besides us appreciates rats! 

Leaping Cat by La D Da

Leaping Cat by Lori Markovic of La D Da. One of my favorite La D Da charts. I would like to do this one someday. 

La D Da

One of my favorite designers is Lori Markovic of La D Da.   She does wonderful neo-primitive samplers.   A lot of her work can be seen at http://www.emlis.com/ladida.htm#ladida.   Her designs might look "simple" on the surface, but she uses mostly R&R Reproductions linens in counts such as 32, 36 and 40, with letters sometimes stitched one over one.   She also uses Sampler and Weeks threads but lists the DMC equivalents.  But I'm not deterred -- I would just use a lower count linen, when I get around to doing one of her charts. 

Mike Vickery's Macaws of the Amazon

Mike Vickery's new design, Macaws of the Amazon. It is available at his website. I don't have it yet, but I'm going to order it. NOTE: I did get it, and it's magnificent. I can hardly wait until I have time to stitch it!

Vickery Website

Mike Vickery's website, The Vickery Collection, is at http://www.vickerycollection.com/. 

Mike Vickery's Halloween Scarecrow

I've been at this computer since 5:30 this morning talking to my stitching friends!  
 
Mike Vickery's Halloween Scarecrow is in The Cross Stitcher, October, 2003.  I got the back issue at eBay and there was a picture of the scarecrow there.  I knew I just had to have it.  The seller said something about "what to do with purple Aida" and I saw that this project was on purple Aida.  So even before the magazine came I was on eBay looking for purple Aida.  I got two pieces. 
 
I am not disappointed.  The scarecrow is as cute as it looked online.  Vickery's colors are so wonderful.  I'm going to start on the scarecrow as soon as I get BAA done. 

Iris Bookmark on 18 ct ivory bookmark blank. I made this for my mother-in-law. All I have left is the backstitching. 

Current Projects

My current project is BAA from The Bold Sheep.  The Bold Sheep is a UK  based company owned by Louise Ellwood.  The designs are wonderfully whimsical.  And yes, some of them feature sheep!  BAA is a popular design, and it has two companion pieces, MOO and OINK.   I bought mine at eBay, but their web page is www.theboldsheep.co.uk.  It comes as a kit with Anchor threads and 14 ct Aida, but I am using DMC equivalents with 18 ct Aida.
 
I also have some projects that are almost finished.  One of these is Bless the Graduate from Lizzie*Kate.   I'm making it for my son, Mark, who just graduated from high school and who is about to start at Columbia College Chicago.   I only have a couple of lines of red berries to go, almost nothing, but I got hung up on BAA.  I'm stitching it on 28 ct linen using DMC threads, even though it calls for Sampler threads.   At least they won't bleed.
 
Another project I haven't completed is an iris bookmark for my mother-in-law.  All that's left is the backstitching which, I must admit, is pretty extensive.  It is stitch on an 18 ct ecru bookmark blank with a lace border.
 
Finally, there's Easter Kitty Moon from Stitchy Kitty Designs (http://www.stitchykitty.com/designs.htm).  All I have left on this one are some lazy daisy stitches and a button.
 
I have one UFO (unfinished object) that I think will forever by a UFO.  It's a Celtic Knot that I started right before I had surgery on my left arm at the end of December.  It's a relatively easy pattern but it took me forever to get as far as I did.  It's big and it's got only five colors and it's boring as heck.  I took it out and started Easter Kitty Moon and that was the end of that.
 
What I really need to do is put BAA aside for a few days and finish the UFOs!