It's June

This is a picture of my March Primitive Hare Retreat of the fully finished pieces.  I have finished all the stitching.  I have all the materials and great instructions on how to finish both these pieces, the wonderful little bag and the doll.  My goal is to have these both finished before October 2017.  The little pumpkin was Stars.  It was fun, but it took me quite a bit longer to stitch than if they were simple crosses.  

This is my progress on Music Among the Trees.,  I forgot the V in the 2nd alphabet.  Have to restitch the w and the x.  Not a major restitch project, but I am still annoyed with myself.  I believe this project will work great for the theme-tas-stitch sal, with a Garden theme - I have lots of trees in my garden.  The very light letters, you can see them in real life but this is a varigated thread and I think I should have stitched them all with the darkest color - to late now, will not be redoing that one.

Here is my amazing ORANGE hardanger project.  Current with the HAL.
One of these things is not like the others!
And guess what.  I am not doing this over again.
I am definitely enjoying this little project and am learning a lot about me and my stitching.  I have perfected the process of ripping out and starting over - and I am very sure I will be doing this again and it will not be orange,

As you can see, I am doing the tree for 12 days.  This will not be as bad as I imagined, Isn't that always the truth.

Small Monthly Update for May

Today is the last Friday of the month, so I am sharing my latest Small, stitched in the month of May.

Heather at Stitching Lotus hosts this SAL, and I don't think I would have ever started stitching Smalls if not for this wonderful SAL.

I 

I am doing the 12 days of Christmas, one day each month this year.  I have finished day 5 for May.  

Also here is an updated picture of the project. 

Here is a reminder of what the completed piece will look like.  I think I am going to spend the rest of May working on the Partridge Tree in the Center.  I debated whether or not to stitch this part, or just the 12 days, and I decided I to do this design as it appears. The more I stitch on it, the easier the fractionals stitches are getting.  Guess that is pretty much true in all aspects of my life.  

It's Almost May

It is almost May.  We have had wonderful weather.  I can honestly say, I am loving this Spring - and it is my very least favorite time of the year.  

Baseball is Back.  And it is so easy to stitch with baseball in the background.  It is the last Friday of the month.  Its Sharing Day for  Small SAL Hosted by Stitching Lotus 

I am stitching 12 days of Christmas this year and April 4 Calling Birds.  Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching shared this great link about this song and all the different versions and all about these birds.  It is a great read and you may find out, you really do know the words.

I also broke out two of my 2017 WIPS.  Autumn Bell Pull by Stoney Creek.  I have stitched these designs since my early stitching days and they feel like home to me,  I still subscribe to this magazine and find something in every issue that appeals to me.

 I also stitched a little on my granddaughter's Woodland Animals Stocking.  I will have no problem getting this one finished on time.

So Baseball ball update, my team is now losing 9-1.  But it's not over yet.

Have a great weekend

March End Post - A Day Late

Stitching Lotus Small SAL 2017 

Here is Three French Hens.  These little blocks are so difficult to stitch for me.  And I am not sure why.There is a  great sense of accomplishment when one is complete.     So April begins with Three French Hens complete and Four Calling Birds ready to go.

This is the progress I have made on Woneta.  She is part of my Year of WIPS Facebook Challenge.Very close to have a finish here.  Will continue to work on her in April.   

  I also started another little Prarie Schooler Folk Art Egg 

April Plans.  The Theme-tas-Stitch for April is Rain, Water.  Which is perfect for April.  Because in Central New York that is all it does.  I am sure I will have lots of projects to stitch on.

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

Small SAL Check In February

     

It is the day to share our Small Sal at Stitching Lotus

Here he is.  He is a combination of two different motives I found in Cross Stitch and Needlework March 2009, while I was stitching my Easter Basket.  He is really very small.  I have blogged in the past about the crazy St. Patrick's Celebrations in my city - Syracuse New York.  The green beer arrives at the local Irish Pub on Tipp Hill.  In fact here in Syracuse we call it Green Beer Sunday  

And I just couldn't post about St Pats Day without mentioning again our Upside Down Traffic Light

If the weather is decent on Green Beer Sunday you will not even be able to drive the streets of Tipp Hill.  I will not be attending, but will celebrate at home, a little food coloring will do the trick.  

It is on to March Madness - for the States it is the Month of Crazy College Basketball ( I am a huge fan) and now my stitching will be crazy too.  Will post again next week with March Stitching plans.

Surprises and Stitching

Last Sunday I did a very small favor for a friend.   And she was so kind to bring me a gift.  I am a lover of beer.  The best beer (my opinion only) can be found at small independently owned craft breweries.  These little breweries are popping up all over Central New York.  Here is a picture of my newest favorite, thanks to my best beer loving friend.

  Here is a link to the brewery, Crafty Ales and Largers.  The beer was great, but the little Growler is even better.  Check out the little Witches Hat (how perfect, witches are my favorite) on the refillable Growler - on the back it says "Put a Little Magic in your Mouth".  Seriously this made my.  The sign is a quote from Benjamin Franklin that sits on the counter in my kitchen.  

I have one stitching update to share.  I have enjoyed working on this one so much, I did not want to stitch on anything else.. And I was so sure I would never be able to join in  Justines - Just one In July, and I guess I could have..  I am so close to being finished now. I love the colors.  This is going to be a gift - for my daughters (#3 and #4) to display in their home, so I will have to finish it.  Like all the way.  Nervous already about that.

I have found flosstube - well I knew it was there, but I had not watched it much - but know I sort of am watching it a lot.  It is very addicting - but very enjoyable.  I am watching it on my TV, So I get a great view of all the videos and am amazed.  Totally amazed.

One small note - my political, global note for the day - France.  Sadness, Anger, Strength.

It's Friday and I wish it would rain

I don't remember the last time I wished it would rain.  But the lack of rain in my neck of the woods has started to have a negative effect on everything, especially the local farmers.  So today there are promised showers, and I am going to be dancing!

My Week of Stitching --- Summer Sun = less stitching.

But I do have some finishes, some progress on one of my Longest Day Marathon WIPS, and a new start.

Lizzie Kate 100 Years.  - This is taking so much longer than I ever thought it would.  However I did get almost to the end of the top row and filled in some of the missing letters from the other rows. This baby has been put to rest now for a bit.

Here are my two little finishes.  They are both Nutcrackers - so my total for the year is now six.  I love my Red White and Blue Nutcracker.
The Purple Dude is from  a hard cover - Craftways - A Cross Stitch Christmas - A Heartwarming Holiday.  I wanted to do a Purple nutcracker and there are 4 in this book.  I just am not feeling this little guys arms, but I did fool around with those terrible French Knot Eyes.  I think when I do his friend I am just going to make his arm touch his body - just add the one column of stitches.

This is my new start - it is Summer Sampler and it is in the Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine and it is the July 2009 (or maybe it's called Summer 2009) issue.  This is  perfect for the Summer Family Picnics -- we always play Croquet with my Mom's and Dad's very old Croquet set - the one I had as a kid (and I have been around for a very long time) and I really like the colors too.

This is where I am after one day of stitching.

Once again my Country is in a terrible place.  I fear we will have another Civil War.

But today I will dance in the Rain and it's Friday.

June Small Sal and More

 This is my Finish for the Small Sal hosted by Stitching Lotus.  I am very happy I have posted a small for each month so far this year.  This is Primitive Star and it was published in Cross Stitch and Needlework Magazine. I switched the colors - the letters are Oatmeal and the Star and Border are Turkish Red.

 This is America Finished.  This is a Freebie from my LNS From Nebby Needle From May 2014, this link will get you close.

This is my update on the Red, White and Blue Nutcraker.  

And my last little item to talk about.  Jo from Serendipitious Stitching often shares her Scrap Book page finishes, and I really loved this idea.  I have never scrapbooked before but I had to try this. So I made one.  This is my Hello I finished earlier this year and it is really attached to this scrapbook page.  The colors of the phone are a little washed out - but I just really love this. I have it displayed in a 12 x 12 Shadow Box.

Now I am on a mission to find just the right pages to finish off very many smalls.  Thanks Jo.



June is over - July is bound to be full of Sunshine and Summer Stitching.

2016 01 12

Winterlogy - Almost Done

January is fast flying by.  I really like the Winter months in Central New York - everything but sometimes the driving.

We have not had any snow yet - some predicted for tonight and tomorrow which means driving conditions are excellent and I had no trouble getting to my LNS, A Stitchers Garden

I am a lover of Cardinals.

 It's something I inherited from my mom.  So when I received my new copy of Cross Stitch and Needlework I knew I just had to do this project.  And It is Peace on Earth.  SERIOUSLY!! This really has my name all over it.  It is a Cottage Gardens Samplings  I really like Vinniey Tan's designs.

So this will be my one new start for 2016 and I purchased the fabric and threads (plus a few other things) this weekend.

Up top is a picture of Winterlogy which is almost done - have to fill in some of the ice block outlines and the snow on the last block on the right.  I was so planning on having this finished by now, but oh well.

Looks like this weekend will continue to be fun filled, I am attending a Painting with a Twist  Event on Saturday.  It is for my nieces birthday celebration.  We have a great time when we do this, I will share a picture of my creation along with one of what it is suppose to look like next post.

Stay safe

Saturday Mornings

My Stove Top Percolator

Saturday mornings without errands to run are my favorite.  I get to have the best cup of coffee of the week.  Ground up the beans and percolate.  This is a percolator I purchased from a flea market for little cash.  I was looking for one for a very long time - a memory.  It is perfect - makes about 4 cups of wonderful coffee and it makes that wonderful sound of coffee percolating.  Is that the right word?  Smells great - tastes great and the anticipation while waiting for it to finish is great too.  I finally perfected the grounding of the beans so they are coarse enough not to spill out into the coffee.    Now if I can just get a rotary dial wall phone with an extra long cord -- I will be content....

We also in Central New York had a crazy warm week - in the 70's -- unheard of -- three days in a row.  I have added pictures of my stitching below.  November is the month of the year I start looking towards setting my stitching, reading, home improvement, health goals for the upcoming year.  December is way too busy for me to wait.  So I grabbing another cup of coffee and publishing this post to work on my goals.  Enjoy today...

Stitching Finishes

After Stitching is Completed 

Back after stitched together

Front of Pin Cushion

This project has been on my list to complete for awhile.  I have been doing more stitching lately of things not to frame.  This was also different because there were lots of new special stitches I had to learn, which keeps the brain functioning...  This design was published in Cross Stitch and Needlework - January 2011 - one of my favorite publications.

Christmas Ornament Before Finish

Peace Ornament Found in here

 New Starts For November

December - As I started Late when this is finished
will be working on January

This Welcome is found in CSN  January 2010.
 With m y latest needleminder  Nutcracker Uncle Sam

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