Friday, February 23, 2018

WIPs and whatnots

Do you ever feel like you're on a treadmill?  No matter how hard you work, it seems you occupy the same space.  I never seem to whittle down that stack of WIPs or Wannas (Those patterns languishing in a the to do pile).  Well, I've been working hard, and today I actually feel like I got somewhere!  haha

I have a list of WIPs in my head that I want to try and finish this year.  I've been working hard on Sweet Nectar and I feel like I'm finally seeing the finish line in the distance (though I know I still have a lot of work ahead of me!).  The middle is finished except for some outlining....only the outside ring to finish...yay!!  This is a Dimensions kit, but I swapped the fabric from Aida to 36 ct cream linen.  It's stitched over two threads.


As I was looking for something in my closet a few weeks ago I ran across a WIP that I had started in January 2012.  I finally finished this 15 sided biscornu I found in the Gift of Stitching magazine.  I'm going to take a day soon and finish off some of these ornaments I have been stitching.  I offered to make a few ornaments for some folks and I want to get them finished off before too long.  I have other WIPs I'm trying to get done!!  This is stitched on 32 ct linen over two threads using Gloriana and petite treasure braid.



I also finished up this Christmas ornament by Blackberry Lane that I found in a JCS ornament magazine.  This is stitched over one on 32 ct. Blue Spruce linen.


I was behind in a couple of SALs I have going at the moment.  I pulled two out yesterday and got them caught up....only to find Tempting Tangles had released the next installment in both of them the same day.  So....today I stitched and got them both caught up!!   Here are Wildflower Woodland Quaker Mystery SAL...this is stitched on 40 ct over two natural linen...


and Springtime Easter Delight Mystery SAL.  This is stitched on 40 ct white linen over two.


I have one more SAL I need to catch up on...so hopefully I'll be back in a couple of days with an update on that one.  Wish me luck!  Happy Stitching!

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Good Grief Charlie Brown...oh and February Gifted Gorgeousness

It's been a while since I posted any updates on my stitching.  It's been a while since I had a really good all day stitch fest.  I'm working on it folks, honest!!  But we are here today to update our Gifted Gorgeousness challenge.  If you don't know what that is then you should bop over to Jo's blog, Serendipitous Stitching, and see what all the buzz is about.  You can learn about it and sign up if you want to here.  If you want to see what everyone is doing for their Gifted Gorgeousness, you can link to their pages here.  Briefly, we showcase on the 15th of the month, the projects that were gifted to us...the patterns, fabric and/or floss...OR...the projects we are making as gifts to someone else!  It keeps me stitching, that's for sure!!

I know I haven't updated in a while....it's been a bit on the crazy side here at DJ's Domicile.  When I'm not running in circles, I've been snuggled in my bed nursing some crazy headaches that I think I figured they came from some boxes falling on my noggin in my closet.  They have finally gone, hopefully for good!  And I'm a lot more careful how I stack those boxes now!!  haha

First up is my biggest UFO for the moment.  This is Sweet Nectar, and I've been working on this for a few  years.  It's a Dimensions kit and this is a gift for my Mom.  It's big, and cumbersome, has metallic threads and blended needles and hard to work on so it's slow going.

I've made some exchange pieces, I'm going to show a little corner of each, changing the color and after the recipient gets hers, I'll show the whole thing...



I offered, on Facebook, to make Christmas ornaments for 5 folks, but more than 5 signed up (either they can't read, or I can't count...haha) so I'm going to be busy making ornaments.  Here are a couple I've finished so far.  I'll show them again when I have made them into ornaments.  First up is "Mine" I found in a JCS magazine, designed by Brittercup Designs.



Second is by Blackberry Lane and was found in a JCS Christmas Ornament magazine.


I'm a bit behind in a couple of Tempting Tangles SALs that DH bought me for my birthday but still have stitched more than I have shown before.  Here are Wildflower Woodland Quaker Mystery SAL


and Springtime Easter Delight Mystery SAL.


I have finished the February installment of the Ship's Manor SAL Through the Window so I'm caught up on that one!  This was a Christmas gift from DH.


I finished Gaspar from the Mill Hills series and now all my Nativity pieces are complete!!  These were a Christmas gift a few years ago from DH.  Once they are all finally finished I'll show them again, but this is one of the goals I had set for myself this year!  So excited to have them finished!!

I also finished the Serenity Sampler Katie had given me for my birthday.  While I enjoyed stitching it, it was heartbreaking to work on.  I miss that kid like crazy!  Not a day goes by I don't think of her.  I think I'm going to wait a bit to get it framed.  I just need a little time before I have it where I can see it daily.


Last, I'm going to show you a picture of a gift I received from some truly lovely ladies in a yahoo group I belong to, Friendly Stitchers.  It's been one thing after another for months now, and they knew I needed a little sweet surprise to lift my spirits.  This was the perfect thing to send me!!  Four of the ladies stitched on it, two from England and two from the states and framed it in an antique frame.  I have it sitting in my dining area where I see it daily to remind me I'm not in this crazy mess called life alone.  Where would I be without my stitching buds?  Thank you, ladies, you mean the world to me!!


I'm off to get more stitching done before the rest of my week goes off the rails.  Just a side note here...we made a late night run to the emergency room with DH a few weeks back.  Since then we have been inundated with medical tests, Dr. appointments and a few procedures.  While the tests have come back with fairly livable news, he's still working through some other issues.  I'm counting my blessings as everything seems to be fixable or things he can live with with a few minor changes in his daily life.  It's hard not to have a knee jerk reaction considering what our life was like last year.  We've grown closer as a family and rely on one another pretty heavily at the moment.  It's painfully clear to us now that life is so fragile.  Hold your loved ones close, tomorrow isn't guaranteed.   

Happy Stitching everyone!

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop


Happy Valentine's Day!!  It's a great day to celebrate love.  Whether it be between people or something we really enjoy doing.  Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching is having a blog hop today, in honor of one of the things I really LOVE to do!  So...if this is the first time you've heard about it, head on over to Serendipitous Stitching and read all about it, and take some time to hop around and see what others are celebrating about this day!

There is a list of people participating over at Serendipitous Stitching.  Click here and head on over to Jo's blog and follow the blog hop!  I have posted the picture of my secret stitching partner.  Now I will go over to Serendipitous Stitching and hop through the blogs to find the person who has my picture!  Should be a fun way to see what other folks have been stitching!

Over the years I have shared this day with others who would otherwise be alone.  I don't consider it a day just for "lovers", so just go out and share the love you have and make someone's day brighter!  Life is what you choose to make it, so make it a good one!



Happy Stitching!!