Gloria!

It's been a few days since I posted...so thought I would give you a little peek of Gloria that I have been working on.  Prior to working on Gloria this past week, it had been since September 25, 2021 that I have put any stitches in it.  Here are pictures from 2021 and then last night when I put my needle down for the night.  

This was a SAL from Tempting Tangles that I was participating in.  I was keeping up until I hit those little houses on the left.  UGH!  I'm working on white Opalescent, and I've heard the same complaints from others who have worked on Opalescent fabric, it catches on the floss and creates knots more frequently, also you have to work with shorter strands because it kind of chews the floss up.  I love the final effect, but working on it under a bright light drives my eyes crazy...I WILL finish, but sheesh, I wish I could work faster.  Keep your fingers crossed I finish it this year, I would love to enter this one in the State Fair.  So there are 25 pages, and I'm working on page 18.  I have other stuff I should be stitching, we will see how it goes.  I REALLY want to get this off the hoop!!  

I'm off to put some stitches in today.  I've been kinda busy lately, and the next two weeks are going to be a bit nuts as it's Spring break and I'll have my granddaughter here a few extra days a week.  Her personality is beginning to shine and I just love being around her.  So it will be fun,  just crazy busy and NO Stitching...   I hope you are safe wherever you are and healthy.  This tornado outbreak in the south has broken my heart.  They are in my prayers daily.  Take care!

Spring Fever...

Spring has arrived!  The flowering trees are all in bloom and my car has turned a lovely shade of yellow (from the pollen).  Aaaaaachhhhooooo!  LOL  Allergy season is in high gear.  I don't really "suffer" from allergies, but I do notice a little sinus ache in my cheeks sometimes.  I'm very thankful for the air purifiers I have in my house!  So...have you pulled out your spring designs yet?  I've had a little notebook of all the Easter things I would love to stitch, and I did a little peruse of my patterns and dug out some kits and a few things I really want to stitch.  Some are too big to stitch in time for Easter this year, but maybe between now and next year I'll get a few more of them done!  Wish me luck!  

When I was at the Salty Yarns last week I did pick up a couple of things...one is this Mill Hill kit called Lotus Egg.  I have never stitched a full bead covered Mill Hill kit before...whew!  That was a challenge!  

Then I remembered I had a Daffodil Egg Mill Hill kit somewhere....and so I stitched this one! 

But one of my favorite things that I picked up at the Salty Yarns was this pattern by Jeannette Douglas Designs called Chubby Bunny.  I don't know what it is about this design that spoke to me, but I loved it the minute I saw it.  So...I pulled out some 28 count natural fabric and stitched this using DMC floss over one.  It's so tiny...and I'm not sure all the colors show up, but I love how it looks!  Now to fully finish it in time to dress up the mantle in my living room!  

That's what's been happening in my neck of the woods...what's happening in your world?  Happy Stitching! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I don't know why it's one of my favorite days to celebrate.  I mean, I really don't do anything special...but it's just a day that makes me smile.  Maybe because of my Irish heritage...maybe because it used to be a huge day back in my college days...where the town had a large Irish population...who knows.  It's just one of those fun days for me.  I was finally able to finish a St. Patrick's decoration for the house before the actual day!  I found this frame at the needlework store I visited over the weekend.  What a perfect find!  Here is Erin Go Bragh fully finished.  It's by Kitty and Me Designs!  Erin Go Bragh...Ireland forever!  

I chose today to finish up Wintertide by Patricia Andrle, a freebie that can be found on the Kreinik website.  I thought I might get a little Irish luck!  LOL  I used only white materials because I'm stitching it for Clare's Christmas tree.  She has asked for people to stitch ornaments for her church's Christmas tree for a few years now.  I've done a few in the past, but when she asked for hardanger this year, I had to give it some thought.  She wanted them all in white...and this is far from perfect...but it was fun to give it a try!  She mentioned that she would put it on her tree even if it wasn't perfect...well...it's not but I hope she enjoys it.  I'm trying to decide if I should be brave and cut the outside....hm...either way, I'm done stitching.  

Update:  I decided to bite the bullet...and here it is completely finished.  Clare if you see this, this is the way it's supposed to be hung, from the corner.  I hope you like it!

I got all caught up on Peppermint Purple SAL yesterday too.  It was a busy day!  LOL  I was able to finish week 11.  Yay!!

Last is another recent finish.  The lovely Ms. Mouse in England and I were doing a solo SAL.  She sent the pattern (Count Twice by Plum Street Samplers) to me as a gift as she had an extra one.  I found floss that were kinda close to what was called for (I only had one that was originally called for) and stitched it on 40 count Hogbristle.  Now to figure out how I'm going to fully finish it.  She suggested a drum...but I'm not confident I could do that...so I'll give it some thought, and maybe take a tour around Hobby Lobby to see what I can find.  I'll be back when I decide what I'm going to do.  

It's a dreary day but warmer than the past week or so...so I think I'll take a little tour around the neighborhood.  They are working on the new playground across the street (Miss A is going to LOVE it!) and I thought maybe I'd take a peek.  I hope  you are enjoying your St. Patrick's Day wherever you are!  May the luck be with you...Happy Stitching! 

March Gifted Gorgeousness

Hi and welcome to my March Gifted Gorgeousness post!  This Challenge is being hosted by Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching.  If you haven't visited her blog before, take a moment and give it a look.  She is always stitching the most amazing things!  Each month, on the 15th we post stitching related things that have the word "gift" associated with them.  They can be a gift to someone or from someone, it can be a pattern, fabric or floss that is used in a project that was a gift.  If you go to her blog on the 15th you can see the linked blogs that are participating in the challenge!  

I usually start off with the ornaments I stitch each month from the Just Cross Stitch Magazine.  My husband has gifted the magazine to me since it was first published.  First up is Rudolph by Century Farm Stitching from the 2023 JCS Ornament issue.  It was stitched on 32 count Blue Moon over one.  

Next is Christmas At The Farm by Pickle Barrel Designs also from the 2022 JCS Ornament issue.  This was stitched on 36 ct. Petite Point over two.  

I'm including Count Twice by Plum Street Sampers.  This was a gift from Ms. Mouse and we are stitching it together as a SAL on Thursdays.  Hopefully I'll be finished soon, I have enjoyed stitching on this.  I'm using 40 count Hogbristle over two with substituted threads.

I'm caught up on Peppermint Purple Blackwork SAL which is a free SAL being offered on Facebook.  The next portion comes out today but I have only finished through week 10.  I'm using black and 3809 DMC.  This was one of the free layouts with the "hybrid" of blackwork and cross stitch and only using two colors.  I'm a rebel...LOL!!  

I have caught up with Part Of Your World SAL by Story Stitches.  This is a free SAL based on the Disney film Little Mermaid.  It's fun each month, and hopefully I'll have time to work more on the top frame of the SAL soon!  Here is a close up of part two that I stitched this month.  

I have been following a blog for years now that has a Christmas tree she decorates at her church each year.  I have stitched ornaments for her in the past...but this year she has asked for white hardanger ornaments.  I've been sloooowly working on this one, and since I don't do hardanger all that often, I have to relearn things every time...lol.  I have stitched, miscounted, restitched, miscounted etc a lot with this one, but I'm persevering.  It's it's not up to snuff I won't be offended if she doesn't use it, but fingers crossed it will be passable.  I like to try new stitches, but for some reason this one is on the verge of having me pull my hair out!  LOL  We will see if I can finish it.  Either way, here is how far I've stitched.  Wish me luck!!  This is called Wintertide by Patricia Andrle and I found this freebie on the Kreinik website.   

I guess this is all I have to show this month.  I will have more to show again soon as I'm going to start a couple of other SALs I've been following that are free.  I have been searching through my stash looking for materials to begin and I have one completely kitted so watch this space!  The weather has been so wild lately that I hope everyone is warm and safe where you are.  It's very windy here today and there have already been power outages with downed trees.  Here's hoping our power stays on.  I'm hoping you all are keeping healthy and safe...til we meet again, Happy Stitching!  I'll leave you with a couple of pictures from the beach this past weekend...where we took a short holiday as a break from the busyness we have all been experiencing lately.  

Ireland Forever

Whew....I was beginning to think I was losing my touch!  LOL  It's been a while since I had a finish, but then I've been working on SALs so we know they won't finish for a good while yet.  Anyway, I REALLY wanted some St. Patrick's Day decorations this year.  I was hoping I would be able to stitch a month ahead of holidays but life...and other choices...and stuff keeps getting in the way.  I saw this design on FB and just had to stitch it.  Not only is it a St. Patrick's Day design, but it has VIOLETS!!  My favorite flower, so how could I resist?  This was a fun stitch with the little satin stitched clovers...but all that backstitching was a beast!  LOL!!  I finished in the late hours last night....so today I get to start something new...what will it be?  Stay tuned (I sound like an old 60's tv show...LOL!!)  This is Erin Go Bragh by Kitty and Me Designs.  It's stitched on 36 antique white over two.  Hopefully sometime this weekend I can find an appropriate frame...fingers crossed.

Someone asked me what Erin Go Bragh meant....Alexa tells me it means Ireland Forever.  I've done a little research into my family history...my Dad's family was from Ireland, my Mom's family was from Wales.  The British Isles have always called to me so hopefully one day I'll make it back to Great Britain and get to see the rest of the places I've always dreamed of seeing.  We had a cruise booked for September, but circumstances have prevented us from going.  While I'm disappointed (mainly because I had hoped to meet face-to-face a long-time online friend) I'm oddly relieved.  I've been on a cruise before and didn't particularly enjoy the cruise life.  (I loved sight-seeing when we were in port).  I prefer to see things on my own timetable.  So we hope to make plans another time to visit but in a different manner.  For now it will have to remain on my bucket list!  

We have a busy weekend planned, I'm so excited, so hopefully by Tuesday I'll have another update.  (Monday's are reserved for Miss Cutie Pie).  Spring has sprung, the apple and cherry trees here in Maryland are blooming (AAAACHOOO) and bringing color to the drab winter landscape.  We have crocus blooming in the garden and some paperwhites.  I've seen some daffodils peeking their sunny blossoms here and there.  It's so beautiful here in the spring.  I hope things are looking brighter where you are today!  Happy Stitching!  

Attention Deficit Perhaps?

I'm not sure why I'm all over the place lately.  This sometimes happens to me at the beginning of the month...so many SALs I'm hoping to keep up with...so little time to get them stitched?  Who knows?  LOL!!  It's the 5th and I've already stitched on 5 different projects this month...seriously, I'm beginning to think there is something wrong with me...LOL!!  Here's where I'm at...

On the first day of the month I finished stitching part two of Wonders of the Hubble Space Telescope SAL by Climbing Goat Designs.  I'm not as enamored with this one as I was with part one...though I still love this SAL.  This part was released on the 25th of February and the next part will be released by the 25th of March.  I sincerely hope I can keep up, I do love this especially this fabric! 

I also caught up with and finished week 9 of the Peppermint Purple 2023 SAL on the 1st.  These little blocks usually only take 60-90 minutes.  Something about this block spoke to me, I love the different pathways you can see in this design.  Again, this is a weekly SAL...and I really hope to keep up with it too!  We shall see, I have a busy week coming up!  

On the 2nd of March I moved on to and finished the second part of Part of Your World by Story Stitches.  This was released on the 1st and I finished the second part on the 3rd of March!  Moving right along!  These Disney SALs by Story Stitches are fun to watch unfold!  

I also worked on Count Twice by Plum Street Samplers which is a SAL I'm working on with Lady Mouse.  We agreed to spend some time on it each Thursday.  I'm stitching this on 40 ct. Hogbristle, while she is working on a white fabric.  I'm also substituting a lot of the colors...maybe I'll have to stitch this one again?  

On the 3rd of March I started Erin Go Bragh by Kitty and Me Designs.  I haven't had a lot of time the past few days but I'm really hoping I can finish stitching and finishing by St. Patrick's Day!  Wish me luck!  I'm stitching this on 36 count Antique White over two...don't be too shocked!  LOL!!  

I've been putting a few stitches in A Heart Remembers by Blackbird Designs here and there.  I started this on 32 count Legacy over one so it's smaller than this picture shows.  I love how it's coming out...but may restitch it if I can find the right fabric in 40 count over two.  This is how far I got by the end of February.  I'll be back working on this as soon as I finish Erin Go Bragh.  

If all goes well and I finish up the Christmas Ornaments from the challenges I'm working on, and when all the materials I ordered arrive, I'll be starting another SAL.  Yes, I'm crazy...but watch this space!  LOL  I have some big plans I'm working on...and I'll be posting about it soon!  I hope you all are keeping safe and making plans of your own!  Happy Stitching!