And so it goes...

Well, I've had a "dabble" in a few different projects, because of the SALs I'm working on.  I just downloaded the next part of the Wonders of the Hubble Space Telescope part this morning, so as soon as the dust settles from today I'll be picking that up to work on the next part.  I love this SAL, and have been stargazing lately thinking about this SAL.  

Have you seen the "trio" lately?  I've been seeing the Moon, Venus and Jupiter pictures on Facebook lately, so when we were outside the other evening, I looked up to see this!  (Sorry for the craptastic photo).  

It was such a clear night and even with all the light pollution we could see the stars very clearly in the sky...so spent some time with my son's app to look at the different constellations.  I wish we lived in the country so we could see more of the universe!  Anyway...while I've been waiting for different SAL parts to be published I've been working on a few other projects.  

First up is Count Twice by Plum Street Samplers.  The lovely Ms. Mouse in England sent me this pattern for  Christmas/Birthday and suggested we stitch it together as a SAL.  I've been working on 40 count Hogbristle over two, with all substituted colors (hoping to get as close as possible to those listed).  So Thursdays this gets pulled out and worked on.  Since I watched Ms. A on Thursday I was only able to work for a short time but got quite a bit done on the flower on the right side.  This is fun working on it together!  I found a mistake the other day but I think you would be hard pressed to see it so I think I'm going to leave it in...just thought it was funny because it was a counting error.  Haha...well no one is perfect!  

The other project I've been working on is A Heart Remembers by Blackbird Designs from the book A Heart Remembers.  I posted my start the other day and told of the trials and tribulations about getting this started...lol.  Here is were I was last night.  This is stitched on 32 count Legacy over one.  

I'm about to make a little road trip to Baltimore today to visit Needlecraft Corner with my DIL.  The guys and Miss A are going to watch the Capitals play hockey on the TV so we thought we'd escape for the day.  I have a little list, wish me luck!  I hope you all are having a fabulous Saturday!  Happy Stitching!   

Startitis Attack

So the past few days I've been working on the new SAL I decided to start.  While I've enjoyed the Peppermint Purple SALs in the past, this one has me pulling my hair out.  So in a little break I was rummaging for something and found this pattern that I've had my eye on and thought it would be fun to stitch after I caught up on the PP nightmare.  I kitted it up with DMC floss and what I thought would be nice fabric.  I read the card wrong thinking it was 46 count so cut the size of the fabric so that it would fit in a certain frame.  After stitching a bit, I realized my mistake that it was actually 40 count and that it wouldn't fit on the fabric where I had started it...so the frog reared it's ugly head...lol.  I decided to start it in the middle....and nope...while the border looked great on the fabric, the red flower didn't knock my socks off...so....back to the drawing board.  I stopped stitching for the night to ruminate a little.  When I woke up this morning I went for a deep dive into one of my boxes of kitted items and found a small piece that wouldn't be used and decided that was the one to use.  So here is my new start.  This is A Heart Remembers by Blackbird Designs stitched on 32 count Legacy over one using one strand of floss.  If my calculations are correct this will be a little over 4" X 4".  Fingers crossed...otherwise it will go in a heap until I can find fabric I like...haha.  Wish me luck! 

I also finished part 8 of Peppermint Purple SAL 2023 where I'm all caught up until the next portion is released next Wednesday.  I'm stitching this on 40 count Flax over two using one strand of floss.   I'm on a roll!  

So that's all the news for today....I'll have Little Miss A tomorrow...so probably won't stitch until later in the evening...shame as I'm really enjoying A Heart Remembers.  After posting on a Facebook page I post on everyday following a challenge to stitch at least 30 minutes a day....I posted for the 365th day in a row.  Wow...an entire year of stitching at least once a day.  Quite the accomplishment!  I hope you are safe and warm wherever you are today...Happy Stitching!  

SAL Number Three!

I have been collecting SAL parts for several SALs...13 so far this year...and I'm sure there will be more as the year progresses.  There are several I sincerely hope to stitch this year.  I have started three (two have had pictures shown on this blog already) so I thought I would share number three!  I have stitched a Peppermint Purple Blackwork piece once before, and her designs are delightful!  This one has me wanting to pull my hair out...LOL!  She has several free layouts and I chose Layout Two Border Two with a combination of Blackwork and Cross Stitch.  Oh boy!  Sometimes I feel like I've bit off more than I can chew!  LOL!!!  I'm stitching this on 40 count over two using just two colors (there are two combinations she chose but as per usual, I went my own way...LOL)  DMC 310 and DMC 3806.  I have used the 3806 alone many times, I just love that color, it's very calming and I think it works well with the black.  PLUS I have tried stitching from stash for the past couple of years, and crazy enough, I have just kitted up 5 projects I wanted to stitch and had all but 5 skeins that I needed!  I had the fabric and most of the floss and the patterns in my stash!!  Yes, I'm a borderline hoarder I think.  So since I had so many 3806 already I just decided to go with that.  Here is a picture of my progress so far.  

I'm working on the inner border with parts 1-4 already stitched.  So far 7 parts have been published.  Hopefully I'll catch up before too many more parts are released.  I'll post another picture when I'm caught up and you'll see progress on Gifted Gorgeousness posts as this is another freebie.  If you are interested in seeing the designs or participating in the SAL you can find her on Facebook under Peppermint Purple Blackwork SAL.  I hate to sound boastful but I'm loving how this is turning out!  Who knew I would love blackwork so much?  I'm hoping to catch up by the time the next Wonders of the Hubble Space Telescope is published.  Wish me luck!  Happy Stitching Y'all!  

Remembering...

There are days...and there are days...this lady has been on my mind a lot lately.  Today is her "going home" anniversary.  She was loved by so many...especially her family.  She was a nurse, and worked mainly with maternity patients and their babies.  She just loved babies.  And she certainly had a way with them.  And people remembered her...whenever we went anywhere in my hometown we would run into people and they would say things like...you were there when my son/daughter/grandchild was born.  She helped deliver (and on some occasions delivered some herself) many babies and sometimes generations of babies.  Now that I'm a grandma I find myself wishing she were here...she would have loved her great granddaughter.  So...she's been on my mind a lot lately.  I miss her.  When she passed it was weeks before I could write about her on my blog.  I just couldn't find the words...but here is what I eventually wrote.  I'm leaving the link here mainly for myself so I can find it later.  (Click here).  Anyway...I almost apologized for writing a "downer" but then reminded myself, my feelings matter.  It's ok to have a moment of sadness as long as we don't stay stuck in that moment for too long.  So today I'll remember her fondly and remind you to make the most of the time we have with those we love,  you never know how much time we have with them. 

February Gifted Gorgeousness

Yikes!  This past month passed by so quickly...it's making my head swim!  It's time for Gifted Gorgeousness already!  If you aren't sure what that is, please visit https://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com/ where you will see those who are participating and if you click on the link in the header for Gifted Gorgeousness Sign Up, you can read the rules (basically anything pertaining to gifts either to us or for others) and even sign up to join us if you like!  Thank you Jo for organizing and keeping us on the straight and narrow!  

Well I've been stitching along merrily, but most of the things I'm stitching can't really be considered GG.  I have finished part one of Part of Your World SAL, this is a freebie out there on the web by Story Stitches.  I stitched Tale As Old As Time last year for my DIL (which reminds me, I still have to get that framed!!!) and my DIL decided we would stitch this new one together this year!  I don't have all of the frame finished yet, but the first part is complete.  The fabric and floss were gifts from my husband for Christmas...and I'm loving it!  

I did finish a couple of ornaments that came from the Just Cross Stitch magazine...I consider these GG because my husband has gifted me the subscription every year!  First up is Christmas Love by The Little Stitcher from the 2022 JCS Ornament issue.  I didn't stitch the snowflakes because of the dots on the fabric, but I think it looks fine like that!  

Next was Poinsettia by Punochka from the 2020 JCS Ornament Issue.  I have stitched this before a few times, but have given it as a gift, so one of these days I'll keep one for myself...haha.  I do think this will be a gift too, though.  

Next was My Wishes For You by The Queen Stitch from the 2022 JCS Ornament issue.

I didn't have this fully finished for the last GG post, so I'm showing it again here.  This is The Winter Snow Owl by Blackberry Lane.  I found this frame (but could only find the one) at Home Goods.  I'm still on the look out...haha.  I made this for a cousin whose Mom loved owls as much as I do.  I really want to stitch this one for me...as soon as I get a chance!  

Ms. Mouse and I are working on our own private SAL.  She sent this pattern to me for Christmas as she had two and suggested we work on it together.  I scrounged in my stash and found fabric and threads (I substituted all but one of the colors) and found things that were as close to the colors as possible.  This is Count Twice by Plum Street Samplers.  I'm only supposed to stitch on this on Thursdays and I've been true to my word, but it's such a fun stitch that it's hard to keep my fingers off it!  LOL  Thank you again, Ms. Mouse!  I think this week will be a bye week as she has other important matters to attend to this week!  Here is my progress after two Thursdays of work.

This last one isn't really a GG piece, but I'm including it here at the bottom because I finished part one of Wonders of the Hubble Space Telescope SAL last night.  I have always been fascinated with astronomy and love to star gaze.  I think it's wonderful that our DIL and her mother work at a place that sends things into space.  Whenever I work on it I think of them!  This is a SAL offered through Climbing Goat Designs and when I saw it I just knew I had to stitch it.  It isn't free.  I had a hard time finding the right fabric so when my DIL said she was stopping at a needlework store on her way to WV, I asked her to find some fabric for me.  This is such a gorgeous piece of fabric!  I wish I had asked her to buy more!!  It's called Gothic and unfortunately I don't know the maker.  Anyway, watch this space because the next portion will be released in a little over a week and I'll be anxious to start the next part!  

It's crazy that today landed on a Wednesday (WIP Wednesday), the day after Valentine's Day...it's been a busy blog week!  I'm off to see what I'll be stitching next...do you remember when Netflix first came out with all those series you could binge watch?  They had commercials about being in a show hole....after binging an entire series and you didn't know what to watch next?  Well....I'm in a stitch hole...wondering what project I'll dig out next to stitch on.  So...I'm sure I'll come up with something soon!  Watch this space!  Hahaha!!

Aaaaand I'm off like a herd of turtles....Happy Stitching!   

Secret Stitching Sweetheart 2023

Happy Valentine's Day!  

I'm happy to be participating again in the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop organized by Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching.  This fun game starts by visiting Serendipitous Stitching blog by clicking (here).  Each of those participating are given a picture of something we would give as a secret valentine gift that someone else has stitched.  We then hop around the blogs, leaving messages where we have visited, until we find the picture we submitted.  It's always fun seeing what others have stitched, and visiting different blogs to see what others have been up to.  It's a great way to meet other stitchers and sometimes even get great ideas in finishing, or adding to our stashes!  To those participating, thanks so much for visiting!  If this is your first time here at my blog, thank you and I hope you'll be back for more "fun".  Thank you, Jo, for organizing the hop and making blog life fun on the web!  Without further ado, above is the picture I've been given.  I LOVE this so much, it's so beautifully stitched and finished!  And now I have to stitch this one myself...I found this freebie on the Primitive Hare's blog here (click)   And now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be hopping around the blogosphere looking for the picture I submitted....take care, and Happy Stitching!  Oh, and have a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Wonderful....

Well, I have abandoned Part of Your World for the time being.  I have completed part one, which, other than the frame, is the only one published at the moment.  The frame, I feel, can be stitched as I go along.  There is a lot more to be stitched, along with the little bubbles (which are a pain in the neck) outlined along the frame.  But I think in little doses can be managed over time.  

I have been itching to start The Wonders of the Hubble Space Telescope which are pictures taken from the Hubble.  The first picture has been published.  Since I'm stitching on a dark navy blue  36 count fabric, it's slowing me down as it's hard to see.  The fabric is called Gothic, and is tightly woven together so I decided to stitch using only one thread of the DMC floss.  It seems to be covering quite well so I'm pleased.  Here is where I've stitched so far.  I'm loving it!  

I stitched on it during the Super Bowl, which...I was supposed to be at a party but caught this...whatever you want to call it...so while everyone else was partying I was home stitching, sneezing, and blowing my nose...haha.  I would hate to share these germs, so I also had to beg off watching Miss A today.  I'll see her Friday though!  We had dinner (and dessert) with the kids last Friday, and stopped when we thought the red light was on at Krispie Kreme....and have this little pic of Miss A.  She usually won't keep a hat on her head, but kept this on the whole time...so cute!   If you don't know what the red light is at Krispie Kreme...they turn the light on when the donuts come out of the oven...they are hot and at their best!  LOL  We missed the red light, it came on after we made our purchases.

And that, as they say, is that!  I'm off to stitch some more on the Hubble...Happy Stitching!

SALing Along...

I've finally got some SALs going though not nearly as many as I had hoped.  I have several I'm following, but can't seem to get my act together...where have I heard that before?  

My DIL and I decided we wanted to stitch Part of Your World by Stitch Stories which is the Little Mermaid themed SAL.  I do enjoy the older Disney animated movies...and this one in particular.  Anyway...I bought the materials she needed for this free SAL and gave them to her for Christmas.  DH bought mine for me as a Christmas gift as well.  I finally found time to get started the last day of January.  The frame had been released in January but I just didn't get started until the first "window" had been published.  Hopefully before the next window is released I'll have the first window done and most of the frame...I'm getting there slowly but surely.  I'm stitching this on 28 count over two on a lovely shade of green that was part of the package you could buy before the SAL started.  Here is where I was last night when I put my needle down.  

Mouse sent me a lovely pattern (as she had two of them) and suggested we do a SAL together.  We agreed to start last Thursday and work on them on Thursday throughout the month.  I'm working on 40 count Hogbristle over two which is becoming one of my favorite fabrics to work on.  I substituted most of the threads, I think I am only using one of the suggested colors...but the rest are as close as I could get from my stash.  I'm still trying to use out of my stash (sorry Ms. H...you won't have as much inheritance as you once thought...LOL!!).  I've been pretty good so far this year I think I've only had to buy 6 skeins of floss.  

I'm hoping I can get one of the Blackwork SALs started that I have been following, either Peppermint Purple or The Steady Thread, both are just lovely this year, but I can't decide on the version to stitch, or the colors.  This is where I usually do get stuck...lol.  

I also would like to start the Climbing Goat SAL which is pictures taken from the Hubble Telescope.  Once I'm a good way on POYW I will begin that SAL.  The next section will be published on the 25th so I better get stitching!  

Ok, so that's what I've been up to for the past few days.  Hopefully next update will be even more done on these SALs.  Fingers crossed!  I hope wherever you are you have fair skies and good health!  Happy Stitching! 

Moving on...

I've had a couple more finishes...don't worry I'll be back on my crabby project in a little while.  

I'm still trying to keep up with challenges, though I did fall behind a little bit.  I really need to decide which 12 Days I'm going to work on this year.  I had all the supplies for the Shannon Christine 12 Days she published last year, but now I'm trying to decide if I'll do it over one or over two.  I need to make up my mind soon!  Anyway...  

I've moved on to the JCS Ornament SAL where the group picks `12 ornaments from the previous year's Christmas issue...I finished the one for January, and now have finished the February choice.  It is My Wishes For You by The Queen Stitch.  I stitched this on 32 count Raw Opalescent over two.  I think it needs something but I'll have to do a little dive in my stash to see if I can find something to fill in a gap above Hope that I'm not happy with.  Anyway...the stitching and beading is done.  

I have had this next pattern in my stash for a few months, but I saw this stitched at a Needlework store and was on a quest to find it.  It took a few months to find the pattern, then a few months to find the time.  This is 2002 Santa by The Prairie Schooler.  I guess I'm hooked on patriotic themes lately, and this fit perfectly!  It's stitched on 40 count Vintage Country Mocha over one.  I really adore how it came out!  

I guess that's it for this post.  I'm moving on to some SALs I'm participating in...hopefully I'll have a pretty good update next time I post.  Till then, Happy Stitching! 

Crabbiness Continues

 I'm not sure why I'm in a crabby mood...but when I found these last fall I had a crazy idea.  I still have one more in my stash, and if I can find it I'll probably work this up soon...BUT!  I promised a couple of people I would do some SALs with them.  So...here is Maryland Flag Crab from Samplers Revisited that I finished on 28 count Espresso over one.  I really do love the Maryland State flag, it's so unique.  It was a quick stitch that I finished in 3 days!  

As for the SALs I'm doing...let's see.  First up is Count Twice by Plum Street Samplers.  I'm working on this with Ms. Mouse.  We agreed to start on the 2nd of February and work on it on Thursdays until it is finished.  I didn't have many of the colors listed on the pattern, so I substituted most of them.  I'll compile a list when I'm done.  I'm stitching this on 40 count Hogbristle.  I'm loving it so far!  

The second is Part Of Your World by Story Stitches.  I bought all the materials for this SAL being offered free on the Story Stitches website for my DIL for Christmas.  I've begun the frame, but already the first window has been published.  Hopefully I can at least finish part of the frame and the first window before the next window is published.  It's hard to see in this awful picture, but it's being stitched on a lovely shade of green!  Wish me luck!  

I've been working on the ornament challenges I have signed up for...I've only finished one for this month so far.  Here is Poinsettia by Punochka from the 2020 JCS Ornament issue.  I think this is the third time I've stitched this lovely!  It's stitched on 32 count opalescent raw over two.  I have someone specific in mind for this one this year!  

I guess that's all I have for today.  It's bitter cold here, but I know of colder places so I'll just be thankful I'm here.  My best friend from High School posted that it was 30 below in my old home town this morning.  I'll take my 17 below thank you very much!  Wherever you are, I hope you are warm, healthy and happily stitching!