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

My Day of WIP Stitching

What a day I had.  Jo,I had too much fun - also too much frustration.  I really do know why some of these projects are WIPS.... I had originally selected 19 WIPS.  I worked on 14 of them.  I thought I had a great plan and was very organized when I started.  Had a few stumbles along the way.  I am posting pictures only of the work completed.  Most of these before pic are on some page/post in my blog but in 1/2 of stitching - not much stitching difference but lots of insight. Please enjoy the pictures, no need to read all my descriptions - I wrote a lot of this for me - to help me organize my WIPS.
  Trying to keep the pictures small - In Order of how I stitched.  This is tribal wine glass.  Started 2012 maybe 2013.  stitched 3 little parts in the middle of glass - around the heart.

Thoughts After Stitching:  Am starting over with different fabric and different thread different colors would like it to look like a glass of red wine.

My 40 count -- I just continued on the very last EVIL White Stripe.  Again ripping out more than I stitched.  I am determined to finish this little tiny project no matter what!!!!!

Upside down Celtic Beauty (2013 DCC)  I love this - This was another Frog/Stitch project. There was a mistake in the border - I had to fix.  Was happy to finish the gold to the end of the top.  I will finish this one.  It has a lot of beads - I am not a great beader, but for some reason it is really important to me to finish all those I started for that challenge.

Finished the P - T.  Woodland Sampler - 2013 Challenge - Worked on this one earlier this year.  I will finish this.

Touching the Autumn Sky - 2013 Challenge  Before only the red stitches were complete.  This is my first and only ever started Mirabilia.  I love this design - It took me about 15 minutes to figure out where in the design these three little red bunch of stitches were. WHAT I LEARNED:  Always make sure when you put a project down you know where in the chart you need to start.  I knew it was in the center somewhere

 This is Joan Elliot I started this for the 2013 Challenge also - for some reason this picture was not on my original page for this Challenge so I added a picture of this - I love this saying but wish I had not started with the border.  It will be very pretty when finished even if all my kids are married a long time before this  It will not be done by September 3, 2016 the date of DD#3's Wedding - I am looking for a quick but very pretty little something to stitch up for her.
This is when I broke for Lunch with my Sister's who took me out for a wonderful Birthday Lunch.

 Patchwork Egg Basket - CS_N magazine Long ago start - one of the first evenweave projects.  I completed the top purple design - all one color - easy stitching.  Will Finish.

Liberty House - Leisure House - .  Did the red door.  I have been working in 2016 on this I will finish - this is one of those projects where everything is back stitched.  I am not doing the border, or anything besides just the house.








Around the World in 80 Stitches.  I completed nothing.  I have only the outline of the very first heart done.  I hate the fabric I started this on. And I am going to restart this one on a different fabric I think  I really want to finish this because of all the Specialty Stitches.

SamSarah 2013 Challenge start.  I don't like this fabric - but I do love this and love the colors.  Finished the star and a little bit of something else - was missing the correct color and spent too much time trying to locate  will Finish.





Dinner Time

2015 Start - Woneta  Worked on her green hand and the yellow on her skirt.  This I will finish will work on this one again soon.  It is tedious because I am not use to the big blocks of stitching the same color - and back in the day it seems that was all I stitched.  Wow how my stitching has changed over time.  I love this Witch - I love all witches really.

One Hundred Years - Lizzie Kate  Started 2015 Have cropped to show you what I completed in my 1/2 hour.  I really want to finish this for one of my kids.  I think it is a saying that is so important in the way we live our lives.

Stoney Creek Silent Night Cardinals 2013 Challenge.  Worked on earlier this year and for the longest time I had it upside down and couldn't figure out where to add the branches I had planned on stitching.  Finally figured it out.  There are two tiny little patches of brown branches I completed.

This is Lizzie Kate Belle - I started a challenge in 2012 to stitch all these guys one a month on the same fabric.  I got behind and have only a few left to complete.  This will be a shame if I don't finish.  I did more of her - the white a the bottom.








My Final piece of the day:

Yes there are stitches here.  This was my project for the 2015 retreat.  This was a year I took off from blogging - so there are no pictures of this.  There were three projects - the little strawberry - completed, the pincushion completed and the needle book.  The needle book - we had to baste first the outlines of the six pages.  Which was a very long process.  I had not stitched on anything since I finished the original basting.  The next step is to backstitch the actual frame of each page.  I worked on this backstitching - this was my first stitching on this since the retreat and it took me awhile reading the instructions and all.  This will be a beautiful needle book and I will finish this so there will be many more pictures.

If you have made it this far you have made it to the end of the day.  I kept out my most current wips to the last - and did not stitch on my RWB Nutcraker, God Bless America, my two LaDDa projects they are my most recently started and unfinished WIPS.

That is all for this post.  I do hope it will not take me so long a to pick up these projects again.  I have been in the New Start Something Small Enough To Finish mode - so we will see where my 2nd half of 2016 Stitching Joy takes me.  My goals are set 90% of the time with no END DATE.  So we will see.  Once again thank you Jo

At Last Something to Post

The older I get, the more I think about the "good old days".  I guess it also is coming into play this year will be my 45 year reunion from high school.  I am a child of the 70's.  Peace and Love.  So you can imagine, when taking a long, hard look at today it makes me pause.  This first May finish I knew I had to stitch because the words rang true.  This is another Stoney Creek.  

 And then the next little piece of great news I I have finished another little Nutcracker and he is my favorite.  He really looks like a little Nutcracker.  Well at least to me he does.  The colors were all DMC and he came together very fast.  He is actually from the "very old" magazine I discovered.He is stitched on 22 and I could stitch him again.  (Which is very rare for me to think).  See how little he is next to Mr. Green.  If you can tell - I know the picture is small - but doesn't Little Green really look more like a nutcracker???

It is finally going to be in the 70's tomorrow.  We have been just above freezing every morning this week.  My stitching time drops dramatically as the temperature goes up. We have so little Sunny Weather here, I will be soaking up the sun every moment I get.

Have a wonderful day.

Happy Place

The world of Blogging  is my "Happy Place".  In the writing of my blog, and more important in the Reading of blogs.  Blogs from all over the world.  How much to learn about culture, food, customs.  Yes this is my Happy Place.

I am reminding myself of this especially today, because of all of the nonsense that is happening in my wonderful country.(the not so United States of America)  That was built on Freedoms (and we brag about it) and these basic freedoms with a guarantee to all of us,  - and since we with glass houses often times throw stones it is good to remember if you are free to be you, than I am free to be me.

I am very excited to share my latest finish.  Stoney Creek Welcome - Plop Your Flops. This I started just about a year ago and finishing it was a 2016 Goal..  It's Done.  I had so much fun doing these Flip Flops -  They are a true a sign of Summer in CNY and everyone wears them.  I think I am going to do a bunch more as Smalls in many different designs.  I know that will be too much fun.

This Is Nutcracker #3 -  this 1s a 2016 yearly goal to have completed 12 Nutcrackers by 12/25  - This little guy will look just like Mr. Green and Mr. Blue, but you guessed it dressed in Red.

I was so excited on my Plop Flops Finish, I pulled out another WIP.  I started this for Debbie's Ultimate challenge of 15 New Starts back in 2013. (I thought 15 new starts was crazy, so for all of you who start each year with these Challenges I am too impressed.) I have only worked on it once.  This is too a Stoney Creek Design. So here are Silent Night Cardinals  - Fingers crossed they are not as much Trouble as Cardinal with Candy Cane - We will see.When I do these designs the changing of colors are so crazy.  I have pulled out all the greens, and threaded needles for all the colors - it seems to go faster as there are all these little bits of stitches all over the place. I have to stitch next to each other as much as possible - If you look up above to Mr. Red, it took me about 10 minutes of counting and recounting to jump over to put that other column of green stitches in.  I was a mess.  And that is an easy fabric to work on.  SO.  I am on a mission to see how much green I can get done over the next few days.

  I will always have a Stoney Creek design in the mix - these were one of my first Cross Stitching passions and I still get a Feeling of Peace whenever I am stitching one of them - and I still subscribe to the Magazine.

2/22/2016

These are the dogs.  Dakota (white), Cali and Little Bella.
When I moved to my little house, I took Cali with me.  It was a very difficult decision, but one that worked out best for the family, and the animals.  Daughters #3 and #4 who are living in the house could not have lived there without the Dakota and Bella.  However, just like the Grandkids, there are sometimes when they all come to the house for a visit.

Dakota is now 8, and Cali is 2 (both Rescues) and Bella is 2 also - but she started out as Granddaugher#1's dog, who went away to college - and we inherited her.

Dakota, Cali, Bella February 2016

I am blessed with a very large, fenced in back yard.
Cali has figured out how to climb up on a tree with a funny trunk and jump over the fence.
So, I had a bit of a fright this weekend, when I went outside to bring her in after a quick potty break and she was no where to be found.  Her backyard privileges have been suspended.

These are my two finishes.  My Dog Bone Blessing  is a little different than the original chart -- I have left off the WELCOME BONE and the blue panel at the very bottom of the house.  I am perfectly okay with these adjustments. and when it comes to my stitching  I always win.

Dog Blessing 2/22/2016 Finished

Here is my 2nd Christmas Nutcracker.  My grandson plays the French Horn.  I am not totally sure that is the instrument this Nutcracker has, but it is close enough look alike, so you get where I am going with this one.  It is for Grandson #2.  

February 8 2016

Last week was a great Stitching Week.  And I am very happy when I get the opportunity to Stitch a bunch.

Friday night was our first Stitch-In of 2016 at My LNS A Stitchers Garden.  This only happens every other month, they are very important to me.  These are the only women I know locally who I am blessed to be able to stitch with.  This was a great time.  It is now about six weeks to the Annual Retreat and it can't get here soon enough.    I worked on La-D-Da Peace on Earth - this is the designer who will be at our Retreat. Love her designs.  I was able to almost finish the bird..
This is a very poor picture.  

Nutcracker 2016 

This is my First Nutcracker finish.   I would love to do several of them this year.  Happy I have one finished.  My goodness, it has been a long time since I have done this much back stitching.  It seems most of my work of late has been limited.  This project needed it.  I think he may be too big for my tiny little tree next year - but I know he will be displayed.

So had to start on Nutcracker #2.  Same as above but dressed in blue.

 This Nutcracker has a French Horn.  My Grandson plays the French horn.  So this one will be extra special.  This little guy was not in the February plans at first.  But I have changed them.  Pretty sure this won't be the first time.

Dog House Blessing Update 2/8/2016

I did get to work a little on my WIP of the month.  I try to do this stitching on Thursdays.  

Life is good here in CNY.  We have dodged all the Blizzard and the temps have been mild.  I wouldn't mind the snow - but not complaining here.

Stay Safe

January is Over?

So true, So true.  Life passes quickly - so many days, so few memories.  Blogging will help me keep at the very least my stitching fresh - memories and the thoughts and reasons for each piece I choose to stitch - even if I never finish it - it was so very important and meant something the day I picked it up.


Another Finish for 2016   This was finished as a nice Phone Carrier Case. I think I may attempt to do this, But not sure if I will use it on a daily basis - I am afraid it will become a mess if I carry it around too much.

Hello

Cross Stitch Christmas From Hand and Heart

I will be starting one of these Nutcrackers for my 1st Ornament of the year.  I do like to do 12 - since I am a bit behind will have to double up.  

Stoney Creek Dog Bone Wisdom

This is my WIP for the Month of  February  Would love to finish the words, and the right side.  That would leave the bottom -- there is a ton of back stitching in this, which I will most likely not do all of it.  It depends on how it looks to me when the cross stitching is done.

I will also be working on Trilogy Springlogy -- Due to Stash Cash Limitations, I am doing this one on Fabric I have and DMC threads.   

Have not yet decided on my February Small but will share as the month goes on

Having kids and grandkids for dinner today.  Meal prep awaits me - 

Stay safe,  

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.

Prayers for Oklahoma

I am in a place where I have a job, I have a home, I have a loving and wonderful family.  I am so blessed.  I have such an ache in my soul for those in Oklahoma - another elementary school tragedy. 
Nature ---- What can I say - it just makes no sense to me why we can't stop these storms somehow.....

These are my stitching updates for last week.  First my Monday SAL - I have finished the little creature on the roof of my Garden Shed - I am not quite sure what he is, and more of the shed.  This is a hard project to put down once I get started.  If you click HERE you will see all the wonderful updates for all the great Bothy Threads Projects  Thanks to Debbie and Linda for organizing and updating this amazing SAL.

Update #3 Bothy Threads, Garden Shed,
May 21, 2013

This is my little PEACE ornament.  I found this design right after the Boston Marathon.  It is titled Peace Love and Rainbows - I felt the need to stitch this.  It took me less than two days of working on it, so easy to stitch - it was in the Childrens Section of Stoney Creek, but for me, it was a soothing sort of stitch.


Peace Love and Rainbows,
Stoney Creek, Magazine

I had an amazingly wonderful opportunity to go to Arizona on Business. I was really only there for two nights and I was in a two day long seminar with so many techie people - it was awesome.  Arizona is beautiful.  But anyway - when I travel, as when I babysit - I do One Color Wonders.  I am back home now - but I worked a little on this one this week, because sometimes my brain wants to stitch, but it doesn't want to work too hard at it.



Freebie Papillion Creations
The Three Emblems Click Link to see all the free designs

Last Wednesday of Month Ornament

This is my February Ornament Finish.  It is from Stoney Creek - Season of Joy Book.  I am going to try very hard in the Month of March to find a design that is not Christmas Green and Christmas Red.  We are a Candy Cane, Peppermint family, so this will work great on the tree.  Fingers crossed I will get it "tree ready" before 12/25/2013.  I joined the Ornament SAL over at Stitching Lotus, take a peak at her blog to see all wonderful ornaments stitched this month.

Christmas Stitching is so much fun.

A Stitching Adventure today

Today I am going to have a visit at my LNS A Stitchers Garden.  I am leaving work a little early, so I can get there before they close - Wednesdays they do stay open until 6.  I have my list ready.  I am also meeting a new stitching friend, who lives about 45 minutes away from me, who is going to help me with Medieval, as she has worked on several Chatelaine Designs (lucky me to have found her). After working on it for this week, I do have a few questions, I am kind of stuck.

But also, I am looking to bye some Dinky Dye threads for Celtic Beauty (Papillion Creation).  A 2013 Start I hope.

And Also the new afghan series from Stoney Creek.  This is not a great picture.  But it is very much me. I do not want to create an afghan, but I want to stitch this design.  So I am looking to purchase some fabric that will work, and not make it too large.  I know the people there will be able to help for sure.  Another 2013 project. 

I am really going to try to stick within my cross stitch allowance, we will see.

Heaven and Earth Designs Update

So there is a St Patricks Day Sale - from now until 3/19.  25% off.  So of course I will be purchasing some items.  Now I have sent in a request today for two minis both Dona Gelsinger Golden Gate and Sugar and Spice.  I have wanted these two charts forever, and after purchasing some very large charts, I know I will never do, I decided I had to cut down my purchases also.  I own over 200 charts, and that is ridiculous, when you think I still have dones of my other favorites - Stoney Creek, for one - Mirabilia for another - and Sue Hillis and Bobbie G.  Just to name a few, I often do need a break from Heaven and Earth, and there are several WIPs I have from others.  I will try to get some pictures on line the next rainy Saturday. 

Anyway back to sale - I know for sure I will be purchasing the new Odin I spoke of yesterday and Party on Island  Not quite sure of my third purchase, but I am thinking it will be a new mini and as much as I want Ariadne, this must just have to wait until my birthday.  We will see - of course I will let you know on Friday.