The Town of Halloween

Is FINISHED!!!! So I had to blog.    This is one of the my Crazy 2013 Challenge - a new start this year.  I loved Stitching this - it is in the 2012 JCS Halloween Issue.  I found it hard to keep count - so there is a bunch of Special Mindy Adjustments.  I wanted it finished before Halloween and I really want to do something with it so I can display.    Hope to get back into blog reading and posting soon. 

Hope you are all enjoying this Autumn Season and life brings you more laughter than tears.

Stitching Updates

Update on One of my January Challenge Projects - Town of Halloween.  this is about 60% completed now, and it won't be hard to have this finished in time for Halloween.  I visited Salem Mass while I was on Vacation last week  - thought it was a good week to stitch some witches..

Town of Halloween Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2012

I have finished the roof. This SAL group is Growing every week. Please check out two wonderful blogs, Debbie's and Linda's to find out all about this SAL and see all the updates.

Bothy Threads Cut Thru - Monday Sal. 

It just so happens, Debbie is having a give away - she is giving away a chart Let's Do Coffee.
I have this chart already, it is one of my WIPS from the Crazy January Challenge.  This is a wonderful chart and I have not finished it yet, but it does stitch up quick.  I did visit two Needlework Shops on my Vacation. 

Bush Mountain Stitchery 87 W. Brookfield Rd, North Brookfield, MA 01535 774-449-8090 or 877- 987-5464

And Battenkill Stitchery in Arlington Vermont.  Battenkill does not have a website.  They were very different, but both were wonderful.  The shop owners were there, and they are wonderful women.  I will compose a post soon with more details, and a couple of pictures. 

Stitching Update

 Some day I am going to figure out how to insert these pictures into my blog with the Captions in an organized wonderful way.  It took me quite a long time today, just to get the pictures standing up straight. 

1st there is the latest update to Stoney Creeks Dog House Blessing.  I started this in January - one of those 15 new starts in 15 days.  It is on my complete in 2013 list.  Very few of those made that list. 

 So here is the Dog that blesses my house, my Wonderful Dakota....

 

 

 

Here is my latest update to Bothy Threads Garden Shed.  If you can see the yellow bit at the top - that is the center of the chart - also I have almost finished page 1 (a page with very few stitches).  This picture is a little blurry.  This is my Work on Every Monday SAL.  Debbie and Linda are doing an amazing job hosting and updating all of our work. 

And to my right is my Chocolate Cake Sampler - FINISHED.. TA DA!!! This is one of those 15 I started in January and it will be a gift for my daughter.  Once I figure out how I am going to really finish it, I will post a better picture.  But I must say I am really glad I jumped in that Challenge, I met some very nice blogger stitchers, and I really have finished some of those charts I have wanted to do for a very long time.

Is it Cold in your hometown.  It has been cold and rainy here for what seems like forever, but the garden has taken off nicely - fingers crossed my veggies grow.  This is only the 2nd year I have had a veggie garden, it is wonderful to watch things grow.

Bothy Threads #2 and Chocolate Cake

Garden Shed #2 Bothy Threads

 Here is the newest WIP of my Garden Shed.  I started on Page 1, the top left.  When I learned to cross stitch, the woman who taught me, always had me start here. Over time, I have found starting in the center is a sure way to make sure you do not misjudge the fabric.  Point being - I have started this very, very close to the left side of the fabric.  As I do the next two pages down, you will see.  I know I will have enough to complete the project, but there will be less left over.....  Never the less, I opted not to start over - because the very last thing I ever try to do when stitching, is frog, start over.  Here is a link that will take you to all the updates of all the Bothy Threads latest WIPS. 


Chocolate Cake Sampler

I started this next one in January.  I can't find any of my before pictures, which doesn't surprise me much as I have a very difficult time with organization - but this is one I started for my daughter who has a Bachelors degree in Sociology, but really wants to be a Baker, and has gone back to school.  This is my latest update, and the Pick of the Month. - Focus Project when Not working on SALS.

 

Started January 2013



Snow People February Update

February Update

It is surprising to me that I have been able to stay on track with my Snow people SAL, but I am really having fun stitching these guys.  Fingers Crossed I will be able to keep up. 

This is the very tiny ornament I did for my 2013 Ornament SAL.  I did start this as one of my Crazy Cross Stitch 15.  I should have posted on 1/30, so hope it is not too late.  I have one goal for 2013, and that is to finish off all my ornaments and hang them on the tree..... Fingers Crossed.





Town of Halloween January Update

My job is easier, but still as crazy, I am figuring out the new boss, one day at a time - but I still have those ten hour days, so this has been a great stitch - as there are only two colors and it seems to go faster, and it just is more relaxing for me.

I have put her away for now, and I am  not sure what I will be stitching next, but hope to keep some extra time this weekend for stitching.  I have work tomorrow, and wedding stuff as my daughter is getting married in August, and there seems every weekend there is something to do.

Super Bowl Sunday - as I don't care who really wins, I hope it is a well played game and it stays exciting to the end. 

It was a crazy week here weather wise - for you guys too?  We had 62 on Wednesday and a blizzard with lots of snow today. 

Had a eye opening experience this week at the Car Dealer - took the trunk in for Oil change, and as I was sitting in the waiting area with others, I was shocked to overhear so many people's phone conversations.  My goodness, I know all about one persons Commission checks and sales reports, another persons kids, and another persons deadlines at work.  Made me think a little, I wonder just how many people I have shared my personal business with???

Stay warm and safe.

Finally, A Day off

New Boss at work, been a tough month or two figuring out how she wants us to do our jobs.  It has been difficult for me to adjust - but I think I am on an upward climb. I have changed my hours to work at 6:30am - this way I will have two hours before anyone else arrives. I hope to be able to accomplish a lot - will get out early, but even if I have to work late - my late will be 5:30 so it will be better I hope.

I have been off, started back at my weight loss program - I know this is a stitching blog, but it is good for me to post these things - I have gained back 25 pounds - work so hard to lose, so quickly it returns.  I have my first weigh in back tonight - so fingers crossed, I can see a tiny result... Changing my hours I hope will get me to the gym.

Stitching.  Well, doing 15 starts in 15 days was not as easy as I thought - it was fun to go through my stash and pick new starts, and I was so excited to each one, but almost sad to put it down and pick up another with only a days progress.  Also only working an hour on a chart, well I can't get that much done in a hour.  So I am posting a few starts now, and I hope when I return from my weigh, I will post more.


This did not have to be new starts - it could also be current.  But I will show you new first, and create a little gadget on the side of the blog to track my progress on all.  I previously posted day #1.


Coffee Shop Day 2, yes that is my hand taking this picture, I have to figure out my lighting.  There is a better picture of my new starts on my Page dedicated to my 2013 New Starts. 



Day 3 - Dog Bone Wisdom

Day 4 Witch's Pantry

Day 5 Irish Blessing

Day 6 Small Ornament from Mag - I found this mitten as part of a fingertips towel design, there are six mittens altogether, I am stitching all six individually and adding a bit of Christmas blessing to the bottom.  So this is a finish as is.  I will update my 2013 page with these pictures.

Day 7 This is Theatre of the Absurd.  This is the 2013 Freebie SAL from HAED.

Will have an update of the rest I hope later tonight. 

Happy New Year

Stitching Update

 

I did not finish all of my December goals, but it would be a very strange thing if I had.  I did finish my 2nd Snow Belle - Baby it's cold outside, which was my number one goal. 

 

 I am very happy with my progress on Winter by Sue Hillis.  I am so close to being finished, so I hope to be able to finish that off by end of January - but not sure with the 2013 Crazy Cross Stitch Challenge, but stranger things have happened. 

I worked a tiny bit on Santa's Village - and on my other Christmas piece, Santa may sit for quite awhile before he comes out again - but being that Santa's Village is a SAL, and the 2nd part has been released, I will be working a little on it in the month to come. 

 

 

2013 Cross Stitch Challenge - 15 Starts in 15 Days, Day 1 - This is a very old chart - from this late 80's early 90's publication.  I have a better picture on my Challenge Page.  I have decided to do this on black - with DMC 3844 - It looks pretty good - I hope to be able to get a better picture next time. 

My January Goals - to work on 15 different projects one different for each of the first 15 days of January.  Some of these will be left overs from other years.  AND
To finish my Next Snow person  

Peace to All.  I hope this new year brings peace and wonderful blessings to all.

Bite off more than you can chew

There are so many different SALs and other "Join this Group" starting now.  It is so difficult for me, not to join a million different ones. 

I have 4.  I hope to make a page for each one - I figure if i can keep the blog organized, I will keep my stitching organized.

1 - Snow belles and Fat Men - as one Project - Brought to you by Denise at Riverside Stitching

2 - Santa's Village - Organized by Melissa at St. John's Stitcher via  Facebook Group

3 - Crossstich Crazy 2013 - Facebook Group

4 - Heaven and Earth Designs 2013 Freebie Sal - Theatre of the Absurd


This will be a lot of stitching in 2013, and I know I will not get through the year with out starting other projects - or working on projects started long ago.  I am looking forward to these challenges. 

My first blog post will be December 1 for Snow Belles and Fat Men. 

But I do believe this is enough stitching for me.  I do get a rush out of finishing things- which is equal to the joy of new starts - so as tempting as it is, to only to Extra Large projects, or have 100 new starts - or try to complete every New Monthly Series that comes along, I am telling myself to find that happy medium.

There is another SAL - YOTA, started by Pull the Other Thread, which is more of a motivational SAL, to help us complete those we have started.  Which is another good idea - because it is about finishing some things. 

It is a wonderful world - Cross Stitching.

I am blessed to believe in me and my ability to stitch all these wonderful projects next year and not get over whelmed

 

Enter if you Dare, Finished.  I hope it looks a brigher orange on your monitor, I really love this, it was so much fun.  The fabric, was R&R 30ct Carrot and it was a wonderful fabric    

Also Finished my Fall Hangup - I made my goal deadline and I do not even have to stay up all night stitching.  It is a good day.

 

I am thinking I can now finish another very old WIP, My Santa Stocking - Benevolent Gent from Leisure Arts.  This is another guy I have had around for a very long time.  I spent a lot of time this past week organizing my projects for last year.  I did join the Facebook Group for the Crazy Crossstitch Challenge - Thank You SoCal Debbie, am trying to figure out my new starts.  I am really picking charts I have wanted to do for a very long time - years - and regardless if they are smalls, or BAPs, I will be stitching totally for me in 2013.  I just can't seem to make my mind up.  So many, many charts I want to stitch.  

 

This has been a great fall weekend, with apple picking with the family, and volunteering at the Hunters Hope Walk, too bad the Yankees lost twice, SU lost too, but so happy my Cleveland Browns finally put up a Win.  Tomorrow I am taking a much needed vacation day.  Life is good.