Stitch a little

 New for 2014 - even if you only have 30 minutes for stitching - Stitch.  It is one of the most favorite things you do - you love all of it - sometimes, even the frogging.  There are days, in THE PAST, I have not picked up the needle, if I thought - it's too late, or your too busy tonight, etc, etc.  One of my goals for 2014 was to stitch - every night - even if it took me longer to pull out the project and thread the needle, than the time I would spend making x's.  And I have been somewhat successful with this approach - and I am surprised how happy this one small change has made me.  I have three different projects to share - Hoping one will soon be complete - as this year, no new start until I finish something (well there will be an exception for my ornaments - which I haven't started yet).

Below you will see, My Precious Moment, My Coffee Banner, and My Garden Shed (Linda and Deb's Monday SAL).

Precious Moments - My little precious is completed, need to finish the puppy, the grass (a few flowers) and the back stitching. 



We have a latte, and the start of another mug.

I have stated the flowers on the roof - more bugs and a butterfly and more yellow paint for my shed.

Crazy Cold

I am blessed to live in Central New York - we prepare for crazy winters with tons of snow.  Our snow removal is the best - our roads stay pretty clean and dry.

I live 2 miles from my job - and own a vehicle - and driving in my city is not a nightmare - Rush Hour may mean I spend 10 minutes extra.

But this Winter has been something else, hasn't it?  And I love Winter and the Cold and the Snow - but only for December thru March - but this January is CRAZY COLD....  You would think I would be getting a ton of stitching done, as I am staying in more - but still sort of doing some purging and organizing.

I did get a few more of the apples completed - and then I decided to try to finish all of the one color red, before starting a new one.  But this Idea may not last long. 

Bothy Threads Garden Shed.

But I am feeling super excited because I have another update on my Garden Shed.  Deb and Linda this is a wonderful way to start a new week of stitching - with a little bit of Bothy Threads.

I purchased a new car - I traded in my Truck - it was a very sad day - It was like, when you have a boyfriend you really love, but you know he is just not right - and you must be done with him, you hate to let go, but you have to.  Well that is what it was with my truck - so in love - but too many things happened this fall, I had to get a vehicle that could hold more people - so I have a new Rav4 - its red.  Hope you are all in a safe, warm place.  Happy Stitching.

My Truck !!!!!

Picture of what My new car looks like -

2014 Here I am - SO

I have not been posting, or really doing much stitching at all. So yes of course, I have set new goals for 2014 - Stitch a little (Because I know it makes me feel great and is wonderful for the Stress Level) and Blog a little, cause it does wonders for my brain, and try to stay current on my blog reading.

I have finally, now that January is about half way through took some pictures of my December 2013, 2014 stitching.


I have taken time to re-organize and divided my projects into three groups.  1. The WIPS I will never finish, and have to desire to anyway.  The time to stitch that project is long passed.
2. The WIPS from way back, I really do want to finish - even though my stitching preferences have changed, I still want to complete those projects as it does have a special place in my heart.
3.  The WIPS I have started not so long ago - because those I still have the urge to complete.

I do have three stick fast goals for 2014. 
1.  Work on Bothy Threads Cut Thru Garden Shed on Mondays.
2.  Try to complete (and finish to hang somewhere) 12 smalls.
3.  To finish my Lizzie Kate Snow Guys and Belles.

The Monday SAL latest picture is here.  I pulled that out and worked a bit last night.  The changes may seem minor but it was a wonderful feeling to pick this up again.  I double checked over at Deb's blog to make sure it was continuing in 2014 and it is!!!!!!  I am not joining any new SALs until I finish my Snow Guys and Belles. 


Cut Through Garden Shed - Monday SAL Latest Update

 



2013 Crazy Cross Stitch Challenge Current WIP

The next picture is My Coffee Shop's Lateste update. 

Very Old WIP - Selected to finish in 2014



Precious Moments - Very Old WIP - Started 1990 Maybe - Selected to Finish in 2014. 

The last three -Coffee Shop and the Apple Sampler and my Precious Moments, well those are charts I have actually worked on over the past two months - and these are the most updated pictures. My Precious is sideways, I will make sure he is sitting up straight my next update.  These are three projects I am so very close to finishing, which is why I started to work on these first.  I know some people can have so many WIPS and not get flustered.  I have decided, I am not one of those.

I am seriously going to try to limit my "New Starts" to my Smalls - ornaments - unless I finish a larger project.  Only because that is what is GOOD for Me.

Hope to blog more, read more blogs and stitch more in the upcoming months...

Stitched A Bit

 

September is here.  What a Wonderful month this is.  School has started, Apples are getting ready for picking.  The American Football Season has begun.  I love this time of year.  One of my daughters has moved back home (she has gotten a teaching postion at the Elementary School in the neighborhood), but another one returned to College for what I hope is her final year.  So there are still three kids at home.  Tthe moving in and out really doesn't bother me too much.  However  I do wish I knew what it was like to have an empty nest, just once.  My job is still consuming so much of my time, I have had little for blogging - and reading blogs, and that is something I really miss - the reading.  I do have to try to set aside time each day for reading blogs. 

I was able to get a little stitching done in August.  



 

Freebie from my LNS. This is a varigated thread I purchased at Hobby Lobby called Earthy. It is a silk.
This is the latest in my Laundry Mat Stitching. It is very small, the size of a nice ornament, so including it in my 2013 Ornament SAL  THis thread was TOO varigated for me, well at least in this design. And I think I should have planned to stitch with a purpose. It was a great little project to test my patience with the thread type. And I did learn a bit. 





 I have fallen a month behind with my Guys and Belles, and I did not quite finish July.  I do want to be able to have this finished before January 2014.  I have only 3 more to go (and finish All Dressed Up).  To stitch these all as one is a SAL organized by Denise at Riverside Stitching.

This is an update on my Monday SAL organized by Deb and Linda.  I was able to take advantage of the Labor Day Monday and do some stitching.  I love to work on this B Thread Cut Thru Garden Shed.

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. 

SAL UPDATE -- Ornament and Bothy Threads

My June Ornament is a Lizzie Kate - Let Freedom Ring.  Since I am on this Super Patriotic Kick - of course, because I was raised as if 4th of July was the 2nd most important Holiday of the year after Christmas.  We are all Red White and Blue here getting ready for the 4th.  I know this picture is sideways.  And I have tried today to switch it - and I give up.  This is for my Ornament SAL over at Stitching Lotus

 

 

 

Next up is my Monday SAL Bothy Threads Cut Thru Garden Shed.  I worked very hard to do the roof all the way to the end, and then I worked very hard FROGGING - because I had made a little mistake, and things would not line up correctly.... I so do not like to frog. Debbie and  Linda are the wonderful ladies organizing and updating this SAL. 

To complete my Birthday Celebration, I am going to take a small road trip to Mass, and Vermont the next couple of days.  I am looking for Needlework shops as I travel.  Will share any I find.

Happy Stitching..

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



Garden Shed - Bothy Threads Cut Thru #1

Garden Shed, Bothy Threads, Update #1

Here is my first installment for my Monday SAL - I will give this project a special page, as my other SALS do, but as I am at work right now, I will have to come back to it later.

If you have never stitched a Bothy Thread, let me tell you, the things I love after just stitching this little piece - The chart is amazing clear, and large.  I got two charts, one with out the backstitching.  It is so easy to read. The symbols are clear and so far very different - it was easy to tell the difference.
There are so few colors - your floss expensive will be at a minimum (I did not purchase the kit). And it is DMC Excellent.
I think I will find more things I love as I continue to stitch - I am already looking at the choices for my next one.  This SAL is being "sponsored by" Debbie, click here to see the recent pictures of all the WIPS