Hello from the Sandhills of NC

[Russophile]

Hi all. Been lurking here a couple of days now. Lots of great help! Look forward to getting more involved. I'm another stitching male We are out here....
I'm 51, and have been stitching off & on for maybe 15-20 years, not sure exactly when I started. But I got 'up to speed' doing a series of 4 bell-pulls with somewhat basic-looking patterns of backyard birds. Once I passed muster, I began to help my wife do a P. Buckley Moss picture for her mother (her mom had started it, and realized she couldn't keep on--not sure if it was the monochromatic palette, or the count of the Aida, or what).

Then I did a red-haired Christmas angel from the Gold Collection (Angel of Elegance, apparently it was -- she was playing a lute)

Now I'm helping my wife with the MarBek Nativity. I'm doing the 'celestials' & she's doing the terrestrials. I am stitches away from finishing the greenish-blue angel above the shepherds, and then I have to start the purple one on the panel just right of center.

I'm mentally gearing up for MLI's L&L "Angel of Christmas." It'd be my 1st project on linen. Oy! I want to get it started before my eyes are too old! Already told I have early glaucoma in my bad eye.
Cheers!

-Mark

[karen4bells]

Hello and welcome to the forum!!!---it looks like you have found the perfect spot for you here!! We would love to see pictures of some of your stitching---as for linen---go for it---try out a small design to see how it works for you!!

[MartaAre]

Welcome from Italy! I'm curious to see the celestials!

[Serinde]

Welcome from the West of Scotland! Your home stitching sounds a perfectly reasonable division of labour. We really love here, so can't wait to see your progress.

[rcperryls]

Hello and welcome to the forum from South Carolina! Sounds like you and your wife have a great arrangement. I also hope that you will post pictures of your projects. We love pictures. Looking forward to getting to know you.

Carole

[fccs]

Hello from Colorado and welcome to the forum. You and your wife are quite the stitching team; I like that. I hope you'll share pictures of your work. I've always loved the &L angels, as well as the Marbek Nativity.

[Squirrel]

Hi and Welcome from me too in cloudy and (thank goodness) cooler Brisbane its great to have you on board. As you may have gathered by now we love seeing pictures as you work through a design. I think its great that you share bigger projects with your lovely wife too.

[Russophile]

So how would I go about posting pictures, since I'm 'locked out' of the gallery until 8 or 10 posts under my belt?

[millymolly]

Have a wander into general chat and with only 8 to go that should be easy!

Welcome from the east of Scotland from me looking forward to seeing some of your projects!

[Russophile]

Hello to you too! I see there are at least a couple of Scots on here. I'm sure you must tire of random Yanks popping up with 'oh, I love Scotland, I'm part Scottish myself!' But it is true--my grandparents were born in 'Glesca' and near Scone.
And when I'm stitching, I feel guilty I'm not practicing my pipes--and vice-versa!

[Serinde]

I see there are at least a couple of Scots on here. I'm sure you must tire of random Yanks popping up with 'oh, I love Scotland, I'm part Scottish myself!' But it is true--my grandparents were born in 'Glesca' and near Scone.
And when I'm stitching, I feel guilty I'm not practicing my pipes--and vice-versa!

As long as you practice them OUTSIDE. Nah, I don't think we get tired of admirers, do we, MM? (I should probably confess at this moment that I made your grandparents' journey in reverse, being born in the US but living here all my considerable adult life.) Wouldn't live anywhere else, despite rain and gales.

[lavenderbee]

Hello & welcome from a very windy North Wales. Sounds like you & your wife are busy people. Hope you share pictures as you go along. Having said that, I am guilty of not putting mine on & keep saying I will. Had more probs with laptop but all OK now so am going to do them in next few weeks. Have 3 more projects to arrive (some of 2015 new stash) & then will get it all sorted. Keep up the bagpipes, I love 'em so did my mum & also her mum apparently.

[fccs]

And when I'm stitching, I feel guilty I'm not practicing my pipes--and vice-versa!

I love bagpipes. I recently went to the annual Scottish-Irish Festival up in Estes Park and was lucky enough to be there when there was a bagpipe performance. Beautifully haunting music!

[Brekkana]

Hello from Texas! I hope one day one of my boys will want to learn it's nice to know there are guys out there stitching away like I am lol

[Stitchinkitty]

Welcome from Queensland.Don't worry about the glaucoma.I have had it for years but the eye drops keep it under control.Love the bagpipes.My DH tried to learn but gave up.

[millymolly]

Haha I'll swap with you you wouldn't be loving all this wind and rain joking, its nice to have admirers

[Russophile]

Don't worry about the glaucoma.I have had it for years but the eye drops keep it under control.Love the bagpipes.My DH tried to learn but gave up.

Thanks for the encouragement. Started the eye drops a week ago.

Yes, at first bagpipe is like wrestling an octopus with rigor mortis, to say nothing of the sheer air volume and coordination of breathing and bag control!

[tiffstitch]

Nice to meet you and great plans for the future. And I'm impressed that you can play the bagpipes, wow!

[lcamp]

Hello and welcome from the MS Gulf Coast! I'm new here, too. Love bagpipes! We have a festival here on the coast and one in Jackson! I haven't been, but I'd love to go!

[Russophile]

Here's that P. Buckley Moss I helped my wife with. I worked on the sky & shingles of the church, not that you can tell jacksquat in this pic, sorry...