They are fantastic, professional even, but! BUT, they have lost that lofty position. Certain miniature long-haired dachshund breeders have cross-stitchers beaten by the proverbial country mile!.

Liberty Bella at 3 months
photo by Leann Lange

The ladies in Mobile, Alabama are breeding beautiful miniature Dachshunds and they know just how to match the right puppy with the right owner. Plus, they have a highly successful methodology to convince that right owner, that right puppy is ready and waiting them … even if said right owners aren’t actively seeking said right puppy… Yes, we are in the process - all the vet checks, booking the flight, packing up and getting music in the truck, so we can make an very unscheduled road trip to Edmonton International Airport.

Another successful, email puppy pictures to the Bakers campaign, brought to you by the Ladies of Weinerville USA. You guys are the best!

I’m beginning to feel like I’m in a camera that is only pulled once a year to take a snap shot at Christmas; or in this case one cross-stitch exchange to the next.

I want to share the contents of an, “Ohh, so brown package!” Some how I missed getting the flower seeds in the picture. Wild flowers and brown-eye-susans. They are still in one piece; the thieving dachshund was foiled yet again.

I stitched Dragonflies from Cross-Stitch Happy for my exchange partner.

The biscornu is stitched over 1 on some 22 count Hardanger cloth. I was very pleased with the results… but I desperately need to purchase magnifying light I can use in the RV. These ol’ eyes ain’t what they used to be! The dragonflies are stitched one strand of DMC E3824 Light Effects. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was easy to stitch with.

Here’s hoping I can hold tight to all the stings, yarn, elastic and puppy dog leashes that are going to keep me busy from now on.

“SAPIN EN RELIEF © 2005 Aiguilles-Passion“

(click on image for larger view)

There were a couple of challenges in completing this project from fabric to mailing. There probably would have been more, but I’ve blocked them from memory. I know I just gave my perfectionism free reign and re-did, re-did, re-did. All the while telling myself that life would be much simpler if I just accepted . . . “Life a work in progress”.

The first bit of fun came with the googled translation of the the French instructions. “…start by making the LoC points rear shown on plan…” or “…the grid page following and taking moulinés brilliant son…” I do point this out with a bit cheek; in reality I am impressed with how google handled the translation.

The second challenge was taking the ‘perfect’ picture. (Groans, bangs head down on desk.) I keep seeing such artistic project photo’s around the web. It doesn’t seem to be enough for these brilliant people to design incredible projects, but their photography keeps me wandering around with an ornament in hand looking for the perfect (there is THAT word again) location. I know I want snow; I know I want trees; I know I desperately want a place free of clutter! A place to hang the ornament out of Zahn’s reach would be nice, if it isn’t too much to ask. It really does stress the poor mind. >o<;

Thanks to Steve I have the tools to take good photos: a Canon 10D and a grey scale card. Thanks to open-source - Ubuntu and Gimp I have the tools to work with the photos. Some where along the road I lost the confidence I had in making decisions and knowing with surety what the next step should be. There are so many settings and so many choices to face. I write notes under proper headings placed between strategic dividers in my Little Brown Book. I review the notes and work through them again, only to find I haven’t a clue how to do some step or make the important camera setting. Then it all comes down to, “but the beads are supposed to be red!” I think I will limit my stitching to squirrel on black. Getting that picture was effortless!

Right, there was one more interesting challenge. Being tall enough to take the picture all the while balanced on top of a snow bank…

It always amazes me how you can go from fall to winter in what seems swifter than overnight. This period varies from the beginning of October to the beginning of December, but the end result is always the same … over a foot of fresh snow and the north wind intent on finding every little crack in coat and home. Every winter I wonder (errr, grumble loudly) why our lane has a direct path for the north-east wind straight to the house.

I dream of a home I can rotate into a bank, snug and warm while the wind blows to it’s cold hearts content! There I sit in front of a fire with a mug of hot chocolate warming my hands.  People talk about their snuggly lap cats, but nothing out shines a lap-dachsie.  She knows what is best for a dark snowy afternoon.

Little Bit Lap-Dachsie Extraordinaire

I never cease to amaze myself. I stitch this cute little squirrel; I sew it into a pouch using my favourite autumn leaf fabric (with the last black zipper in captivity). The pretty little package gets mailed and I absolutely can’t wait until my exchange partner receives it.  Hoppa, hoppa, did it come yet? . . . er, just mailed it this morning.  Pace, pace, did it come yet? . . . er, just mailed it yesterday.  When the squirrel finally arrived at the other end of the province I was all ready to post a picture!!

I’m thinking that was at least a month ago.

I think the reason this project excited me so much (besides such lovely shades of brown *^_^* !!) was pictures sent to me by the recipient while we chatted. Here she was telling me all about an industrious squirrel who had invaded her garden with intent to transform it into a colossal cone storage bin.  There I was petting my pretty squirrel!  She had no idea of the bubbly giggles she was inspiring!

Here are the pictures she took of the squirrel’s stash in her apartment balcony garden.

My resident woodshed squirrel is in a state of shock (o_O) . . . he has to brave ravens, coyotes, hawks, owls, and our long-haired “barking rabbit” all for cones a smidgen in size compared to the ones above.  I feel so sorry for him, all the danger for twice the cold weather and half the wealth.  Too bad we don’t live closer so the squirrels could share!

Here is the picture I tucked inside the cross-stitched pouch.