Fully Finished Frenzy...

Well...as you all know, I'm not a big fan of finishing...lol.  BUT after going through stuff looking  for things and finding TONS of items in need of fully finishing, I decided I'm going to try and fully finish what I stitch as I can each month and maybe some from years past, as some of these things really need to see the light of day.  So today, I pulled out  the smalls I stitched this month, and got them finished!  I still have more to do, but I think I will wait on the 12 Days ornaments and finish them all after I finish stitching them all.  Anyway...here are some familiar things fully finished!  They are not always my favorite thing to do but now they are done and I feel so good about it!  Yay!!  

Snowy Greetings!  

Rose and Rosebuds miniature!  

Christmas Snowflake!  

Do what you love!  

Next I need to find a place to get some framing done.  I've been told about Total Framing and am considering it...but I really wish there were something closer to home.  Decisions, Decisions...I'll let you know what happens...  

I decided on the 12 Days of Christmas patterns I wanted to stitch this year.  I've decided on Santa's 12 Days of Christmas by Prairie Schooler.  I have stitched the first one (and started on the second one) on 40 count Vintage Country Mocha over one.  I'm questioning my mental capacity...LOL  It's a challenge and where the stitching is dense, it's truly difficult to get the needle through the fabric at times (I've even bent a needle) but I love how compact, vibrant, and small they are...so I'm going to soldier on.  I'll let you know if I hold it together mentally and physically (with my eyesight...lol).   

So far so good!  And on that note, I'm headed back upstairs to work on Day 2 of the 12 Days.  Wish me luck!  Happy Stitching!

IHSW-International Hermit & Stitch Weekend

It all started with an innocent remark to Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching...LOL  I had seen several people posting about IHSW and always thought....rats, I missed it again.  I mentioned to Jo that I always heard about it after the weekend was over, that I could never remember when it was, and was usually busy on those weekends.  Next thing I knew she sent an invitation to the Facebook group and voila' I got a notice before the weekend.  Even though I was busy, I was able to set aside a big chunk of time, and devoted it entirely to finishing this ... Flowers and Lace by Kooler Designs.  Here are before and after pictures.  

I even had a couple of hours extra to stitch this...Christmas Snowflake by Giulia Punti Antichi from the 2021 JCS Ornament Issue.  This was stitched on 32 count Summer Skies by Sparklies ... the fabric was a gift from Mouse!  I use it sparingly because I love it so much!!  

I'm so excited because I made a list of big items I've started and have lost the will to finish.  I decided this year I was going to give it my best shot.  I'm falling behind in some SALs I'm working on, and I have a few busy weeks coming up, but at least I've finished 3 of the biggies I was hoping to finish so I'm calling it a huge win!  LOL

I'm off to gather stuff for a gunnado (another term Jo introduced me to) which will be my next project....Prairie Schooler's 12 Days of Christmas Santas.  I'm getting smaller projects kitted because I'll be busy for the next few weeks and want something quick and small to pick up and work on.  And on that note, I better run.  I'm meeting up with the kids for a family day where the guys work today.  Can't wait to see the cutie who calls me Gigi!  Happy Stitching!!

May Gifted Gorgeousness

Welcome to my Gifted Gorgeousness Post for May.  It's been a weird month for me so far.  I was thinking I wouldn't have much to show for GG this month, but looking back at my finishes since April 15th, I have more than I originally thought.  If you don't know what Gifted Gorgeousness is all about, I invite you to visit Jo's blog Serendipitous Stitching by clicking here.  You will find what others are stitching for this challenge.  Basically it's anything with the word gift associated with it.  It could be something you have stitched with an item gifted to you, or something you are gifting someone else.  She has a tab at the top of her homepage that you can click on to see the rules and sign up to challenge yourself with the rest of us!  You can join in any time!  Ok, on with the show!  

First up, this was a gift my husband bought for me quite a number of years ago.  I started stitching on it on January 1st 2020.  It's very intensive with lots of quarter and three quarter stitches, outlining and specialty stitches...and LOTS AND LOTS of COUNTING.  I struggled for a while then set it aside for several months...but I decided it's time to finish off some of the bigger samplers I have that have been residing in my stitching closet for quite some time.  I finished Rose Ada Featherstone, then Gloria, and decided my  next one would be Flowers and Lace.  Whew...lol.  I'm determined to finish this before I pick up another piece.  Here is where I started, 

and here is where I am tonight.  

Let's see, what else have I been working on?  Oh yes, this is Special Delivery by Durene Jones from the 2022 JCS Ornament issue.  I consider anything stitched from the JCS magazines to be gifts as the subscriptions have been a gift from my husband each year.  

I also stitched Come and Behold Him by Fancy Work from the 2014 JCS ornament issue.  

I stitched Roses Violets and Forget me nots from the book Miniature Stitching twice.  I'm gifting these to some ladies who do not visit my blog.  I finished one in a pocketwatch frame,

 and the other in a pendant.  

Last is Snowy Greetings by Living on the Rainbow from the 2022 JCS Ornament issue.  

I guess that's all there is for the GG post.  I've had a lot of people asking how I'm feeling, I'm doing much better though I still have this silly cough.  I'm much better than I was last week...and I missed getting a visit from Miss A on Friday.  Still...I saw her briefly on Mother's day, she's becoming quite independent!  What a little character though!  Always keeping me in stitches.  

Ok, I'm off to bed, I nearly forgot what day it was so it's quite late as I type.  I hope you all are safe, healthy, and happy!  Until next time...Happy Stitching!

Oh Dear, I've Been Stung...

I had a Dr. appointment yesterday, a long overdue physical.  I have to tell you, I dread these things.  I love my Dr, but she's always finding things to send me off in a million different directions.  To begin with, my kids have had strep throat for the past week or so.  I started feeling unwell on Sunday so by the time I had my appointment I was already expecting to have tests to see if I had it.  In walked the nurse, donned in a yellow covering with face mask and plastic face shield, and gloves.  Nothing like making you feel like a walking bio hazard...LOL!!  Two swabs in each nostril, and two swabs to the throat.  I was tested for Flu A, Flu B, Covid and Strep.  The rapid strep test came back negative but they are sending out the longer lab test and I'll hear back from that in a few days.  Covid came back negative, as well as Flu A, but the Flu B came back positive.  Now I have to say, while I felt under the weather, I surely didn't think I had the flu, I really didn't feel that bad, the worst part was the sore throat.  Swallowing was a decision I didn't take lightly...LOL!!  I honestly didn't realize how out of it I was until I picked up my stitching last night and couldn't find my place in the pattern.  I was so far off in so many places I wasn't sure if I should frog or throw it in the trash bin and start over.  LOL!!  In the end, I frogged, and caught back up, and hope I didn't make any more mistakes...funny what a fever will do to your perception.  I was talking to a former college roomie (and fellow nursing student back in the day) who has the most delicious sense of humor and we've decided to say....I've been stung by the Flu-B (otherwise known as the flu-bee).  I should be past the infections stage now, but my DIL is taking all precautions to prevent Miss A from catching it so I won't get my Miss A fix until Mother's Day.  (To be honest, I suspect she is the one who gave it to me considering I haven't been anywhere since watching her last Friday and she was not feeling too well herself). 

 Anyway, I said all that to say.....I've been making headway on another WIP I had hanging out in the closet.  I've decided I'm going to stitch exclusively on this one (unless another Christmas Ornament jumps into the mix) until it's finished.  I dearly love this design though it's quite complicated.  I will think twice about picking it up should I feel feverish again as making a minor mistake on this throws quite a bit out of alignment.  This is Flowers and Lace by Kooler Designs.  I hope to finish it this month, do you think I will?  It's moving along so slowly...here's a progress pic.  

And on that note, I'm off to get more stitching done, and maybe take a snooze or two.  What's happening in your neck of the woods?  Happy Stitching!

I guess it's only fair...

I guess it's only fair that I wound up with another finish before the week was out!  I like to sneak in a few Christmas ornaments each month..LOL!  I was looking in my stash for something and found this little piece of 32 count charcoal.  It was just what this pattern called for.  This was a fun stitch.  It's called Snowy Greetings by Living on the Rainbow from the 2022 JCS Ornament Issue.  I'm not sure how I will finish this just yet, but my hope is to finish it before the end of the month.  This was a challenge piece from a Facebook Group I belong to.  Each month there is a designated pattern from the 2022 JCS Ornament issue which we can stitch or substitute it with another pattern from the same issue.  Hopefully I'll figure out a way to fully finish this soon.  

Since I'm trying to finish up some WIPs I have hanging out in my closet, I dug in and picked out this one called Flowers and Lace by Kooler Designs.  Last I knew this pattern was still available by PDF from their website.  Whatever fabric I'm stitching on (I think it's a lugana) it's like pulling thread through melted butter compared to the opalescent I was using with Gloria.  It's a pretty big pattern though, so it's hard to work on, but I'm going to work until it's finished.  I love the look of this piece!  I started this in January of 2020 as well, it's time I finished it up, don't you think?  I can't wait to hang it on my wall!  Here is where I am as of last night.  It's been a great week!   

I have tons of things to do next week, so I don't know how productive I will be but fingers crossed I will make some great progress on Flowers and Lace.  Wish me luck!  Until next time...Happy Stitching!!

What a week!!

I started out my week by finishing Rose Ada Featherstone, and on Friday I finished Gloria by Tempting Tangles.  

I've been working on this WIP for over 3 years.  It was second on my list that I hoped to finish this year.  A little later than I had hoped, but it's finished...YAY!  Now to find a place I would like to have frame it nicely.  There are days I wish I still worked in the frame shop (though it went out of business years ago).  I did learn a valuable lesson with this one...while it looks fabulous on opalescent fabric (it really doesn't show in the picture how sparkly it is) it sure was a mess to stitch on.  Otherwise I think I would have finished it while it was still a SAL.  Anyway, I'll keep to smaller pieces if I use it another time.  

Friday I also got to watch my granddaughter who is a joy to have around.  She is fun, and funny, and though I'm wiped out afterward, I love spending time with her.  I hope she is always as excited to see me as I am to see her.  

And Friday I found out I won a pattern that I helped name.  I won't receive it for a little while, but I'm excited to see it and stitch it.  I very rarely win anything, so this was super exciting for me!  

I've been watching the coronation of the British King today.  Don't you love all the pomp and circumstance?  It's a feast for the eyes as well as the ears.  The choir is fabulous as well as the other performers.  

And now I'm going to stitch a couple smaller pieces before I pick another WIP from my list.  Have a wonderful weekend!  Happy Stitching!!

Triumphant Tuesday!

I'm calling it a triumphant Tuesday because I have finally put the last stitch in Rose Ada Featherstone 1894 by Hands Across The Sea.  I have enjoyed working on 46 count over two, honestly, especially with the 100.3 silk.  I love the feel of silk in my hands....but definitely NOT in the pocketbook...LOL!!  I'm glad I got the chance to work with it on this piece though.  I must say I wasn't totally in love with the really bright colors, but I do like how it looks finished!  

So now I'm off to work on another piece that has been waiting in the wings for quite some time.  I really want to go through my stash and finish up some of these pieces that have been languishing in my closet for far too long.  As soon as I finished Rose Ada, I immediately picked up Gloria.  

I truly want to finish this soon, then find a good place to have it framed so it will be ready this summer for the fair.  Here is where I am at the moment, with only 5 more pieces of the pattern to complete.  I did put a few stitches in before I came here to post about it, and the difference between silk gliding through 46 count linen and DMC tugging through 32 count opalescent is tremendous.  LOL  I remember, now, why I set it aside for a bit.  But just like I powered through Rose Ada, I'm going to do the same for Gloria.  I want these finished, then I can, in good conscience, pick up something I know I will enjoy stitching.  Look at me being all disciplined for a change.  I wonder how long this will last?  LOL!!!!  

It's a dull dreary day today, with an ear ache and headache yesterday, I slept a good portion of the day.  The ear ache is gone today, but the headache remains...and the dreary weather is calling me back to bed.  I wonder what the rest of my day holds for me?  We shall see.  Whatever your day holds in store for you, I hope it includes some relaxing stitching!  Happy Stitching!