April Update

April Showers.  OR any project with water.  This is the theme for Aprils Theme Tas Stitch monthly SAL  For the first week of this month - I was all about this theme, as it either rained or snowed just about every day so far in April.  I hope to have a few more Rainy stitching by the 21st but I do want to finish Woneta, 4 calling birds, and a couple other WIPS.

 I finished my Puddle Dancer by HandsBlessing.  I am giving this to my daughter who dances in the Summer Rain all the time.  But I have to do it again to keep for me.

I had a new start finish my I love New York - Yankees.  I left out the word Yankees Because I don't think this CloudsFactory chart needs it..  This post would be all about baseball if I spent anymore time explaining.  But my mom who would have been 90 this year - loved, loved, loved listening to the Yankees on the Radio - every, every game all summer long.  Her love of the game and the team was passed down to all of my siblings and grandkids  It was a warm and fuzzy project. I am going to find a couple of buttons to add instead.  I choose many of my projects as if I am still stitching gifts for her.  Oh wait a minute - what does have to do with rain... Because the worse thing that happens while listening to baseball on the radio is RAIN DELAYS
This is the cake my Baker Daughter made for me for my birthday a couple of years ago .  Summer stitching is best while listening to baseball on the Radio

Below is my Finish of Springology As I mentioned in a previous post I am only stitching two squares  And they are finished.  And of course we have our great rain boots and umbrella.

First March Check In

I had a great February Stitching Month.  These are all my finishes.  There are two additional Smalls I am sharing for the first time.  JBW Designs Spring Basket I completed with the left over floss from my Spring project - because it was stitched 2 over 2 on 25 ct purple, it really is much larger than I expected.  The pink Easter Egg fabric is a shade of green.

I have jumped back and forth with trying to plan just what Madness will be happening in My March Stitching.  I have added a few stitches to my year of WIP piece Woneta by Amy Bruecken, I have a new start Puddle Dancer from Hand Blessings and I did start 12 days of Christmas, in Cross Stitch and Needlework January 2014.  I am stitching from stash.  So many new projects will start on different shades and stitch counts and fabrics.    I have frogged all of my progress on 12 days because I will not survive stitching it on the fabric I choose.  So I will restart it next week.  

I am planning on several new starts in the Month of March.  But not sure which ones will make the final cut - I will share as I stitch. 

Daughter #3 loves to play in the Rain.  Especially in the Summer when everyone is running for cover, she is dancing.  I am stitching this on, I think, 14 ct while aida in her favorite color purple  DMC 154

Woneta - When I pulled this out to stitch on I had completed half of the black cat and the arm and hand holding the cat.

This pattern has a  ton of fractional stitches.  Haven't stitched these in a bit, the evenweave I started this just wasn't working.  But I really want this to be finished by Christmas and I like this already owned chart.  So I will not give up.

Something to share on  Cross Stitch.  But just have to.

Locally every Tuesday our law enforcement agencies issue a press release regarding a cold case.  This past Tuesday this was my brother.  I am sharing the links because I have to.  I have to continue to share on all my social media things.  So the following links are all about the case.  I have saved this to the end, because I am not sharing this for one reason, it makes me feel better.  Interview re brother  and   First Article after Press Release

All but the Eyes

When I pick a new project from my ever growing pile of TODO's, I have a heart to heart discussion with the dog (Cali).  Ask a few questions - Does this meet any of our current goals?  How long do you think this will take?  Do you remember what was going through your mind when you moved this from the Someday Pile to the TODO Pile?   Was a specific reason why this chart was purchased to begin with? Do we have the required threads, or will we have to substitute?

All the answers we came up with made great sense and I began with high hopes and great expectations.

Here he is finished - A Cardinal with a Candy Cane - just need to get the beads for his eyes.  

HOWEVER!!!!!.  I can't tell you how difficult this was for me to finish.  There was a lot of Ripping out and Restitching.  The fabric bothered me - it really is a pine green - but somehow I could never get the count right and was constantly off one line.  That was the easy part --- But the Snowflakes were a mess.  These 12 Snowflakes took me THREE HOURS.  And I think the one at the top right is a little off, and to that I say, Oh Well.  I am so NOT a Perfectionist.  And he is a 2016 Christmas Finish, a Small Finish, with a huge introduction.   

The snow is finally melted here.  Fingers crossed it is gone now until October.  A Floss Organization Project is set for the Weekend - I hate to do it, but I know in the long run, it will save me so much time later.  If anyone would like to share some great ideas on how your organize your floss, I would love some.

No more Whining about the Rain in April

Sunday Morning I woke up to this wonderful backyard

This was about three inches of new snow.  And we received 3 more for a total of 6.6 inches of snow yesterday.  And Wait, we are not done.  More snow predicted for the rest of the week.


One amazing thing about a day of cold and snow, I was able to complete the next month of HandsOnDesigns year in Chalk -- April.  Smiling with every stitch, as I watched the snow fall.

I also have two small updates, Cardinal and Candy Cane and Tender Heart (Retreat Piece).

Enjoy the day.

Thursday March 31

Today is the last Thursday of the Month, Smalls SAL 2016 Check in Date.  If you click HERE, you will find all the wonderful SMALLS created by some awesome Stitchers.  This SAL is being held by Heather at Stitching Lotus.

Presenting "April Glooms" Snapper by Bent Creek.  When I first saw this, it was an immediate must have.  This is exactly what April is like in Central New York.  It just doesn't stop raining and the Sun never shines.  This was a quick stitch - I reversed the colors in the Umbrella - and by the time I really realized my error, I was sure I would not rip it out.  And I think the colors are what makes this SMALL, they are as dark and gloomy as the month.

I have one new WIP to share.  It is my March Ornament - The one goal I do like to keep for the year, is the 12 new Christmas Ornaments, and I do not want to get behind.

The color of the fabric, is actually a shade of dark green.  I really Handblessings and I am a Cardinal collector, this also was a must have chart.

Enjoy your Day.  Fingers Crossed the Sun will shine just a little - but Snow predicted for this weekend - you just never know.

Some WIPS and Some Finishes

This is a Handblessing Chart.  One of my Crazy January 15 Starts and it is my first Finish of the charts I started in January 2013.  This is stitched in Green DMC S501.  I am not sure if this will be an Oranment on the tree, of just a tiny picture, but it so reminds me of pictures of me when I was little - I think it is the night gown.  My girls  always had brand new flannel nightgowns on Christmas Eve and there was always at least one Teddy Bear under the tree.

 

This is my second finish from the January 15 starts.  It is an Irish Blessing from Keepsake Calendars.  I opted to use fabric I already had instead of purchasing new, and I am disappointed in my choice as I wanted a more rough and tumble look.  But once I started, I kept going - I thought it would grow on me, didn't, but I think I can try to use some imaginative finishing to dress it up a little. I wanted to finish this before St Pats day.   I am not Irish - Scottish, But I do enjoy the Irish traditions and blessings.

Lets do Coffee update, I was with grandkids all last weekend, so I wanted a one color wonder.  I really do love my coffee.  And I probably drink it as many different ways as mentioned in this Work. 

 

I also worked on my March Ornament for the SAL and finished it - but won't show it off until the last Wednesday and a little more on a SnowBelles for my SAL. 

 

This is a big night for us Syracuse Basketball Fans - I have often times been in New York City this week every year for the Big East Basketball Tournament, but this year between my job and finances it didn't seem to work, so I am home watching on TV.  We are playing one of our biggest Rivals tonight - Georgetown, and they have beat us twice this year.  I will be stitching and I think I will stitch on AIDA tonight - watching the game, it is so hard for me to count when doing over two and watching basketball. 

 

Please all, hug the ones you love today.