Sarah Elliot's Sewing Chest

I know it's been a while.  I sometimes feel like the universe is conspiring against me...LOL!  The last few weeks have been a little up and down.  Sometimes lots of stitching time (like the weekend of IHSW) then very little stitching/blogging time.  I guess my summers are going to be like that for a while.  The kid's daycare worker has limited days during the summer so it's a little hectic and disjointed finding child care for Miss A.  When I do have her with me, there is no stitching time, and when she leaves, there is no energy!  LOL  Oh to be young again...  As a matter of fact, I had Miss A today, and immediately after she left I had to take a nap.  But that's beside the issue...  

During the IHSW I picked up Sarah Elliot's Sewing Chest.  I started this back in 2019.  I can't believe it's been sitting around that long.  There are a lot of pieces to this pattern which will require a lot of patience when finishing.  I'll be learning some new techniques which I haven't been shown before, so it will be a challenge in many ways.  Thankfully Ms. Mouse has offered to walk me through some of the directions.  I hope I'm up to the task.  I'm not a very good technical learner, I really need hands on, with lots of pictures...lol!!  We will see if Ms. M has the patience of a saint...  So I thought I would show how far I've come.  When I started stitching this, I finished the top piece...

then the inside top of the chest.  

They were quick and fun!  Then I got distracted...and while searching for something else, I found this lanquishing in my closet and I decided it was time it had a little attention.  I worked on the two end pieces....

then the front and back of the scissor fob...

then the front and back of the biscornu...

then finally stitched the scissor pocket last night.  

There are still three more pieces to go, the two inner side pockets and the needle and pin keep.  I will need a little time to read the directions for the side pockets and figure out where to start stitching (Ms. M has given me directions that I need to look over) so the next one to work on is already in the hoop...the needle and pin keep.  Lots of lettering on all three of these which always seems to slow me to a crawl...we will see how it goes. Wish me luck!  I just thought you might like to see what I've been up to.  This whole project (including the chest) was a gift from a friend.  I was going to wait until Gifted Gorgeousness for August but I wouldn't wait to show you what I've been up to!  I'll have other stuff by then anyway.  

Other exciting news...I had a little experience last Friday.  We were attending a baseball game during that incredible heat wave we had.  When we left the house it was 102F.  But with the humidity, it felt like 110F.  Ooooof!!  When we arrived at the ball park, we learned there would be a delay as there were severe thunderstorms in the area.  There wasn't any rain at first, so we stood around in the 60 mph wind for a while, watching the lightening in the distance.  LOTS of lightening...then it started to rain...and when a lightening strike hit near us, we ducked for cover.  We ran down a ramp until we were covered (though there were no sides) but we were still getting a little wet as the wind was blowing the rain sideways.  And there we stood for 2 hours.  It was still in the high 90's despite the rain.  I was drinking water, but as the time dragged on I started feeling light headed...and then worse...in the end I had to call first aid (my bp rose to 171/106 at one point) and then my DIL to take me home.  I missed an incredible game...but I learned a valuable lesson...heat exhaustion is nothing to fool with.  It's been three days since then and I'm still feeling the effects.  Be careful in this terrible heat!!  Drink LOTS of water...and be safe out there!  Till we meet again, Happy Stitching!

July Gifted Gorgeousness

July...already....where has this year gone?    I swear the older I get the faster time goes.  Anyway...it's time to showcase our "gifts" for the month.  If you don't know what Gifted Gorgeousness is please visit Serendipitous Stitching (click here) to see what others are stitching, hosted by the lovely Jo.  You can learn the rules (click here) and sign up to join us if you like.  You can join at any time.  Basically we showcase things that are associated with the word "gift".  It can be something we stitch using something that was gifted to us such as fabric, floss or patterns, or it can be something we gift to someone else or that someone has stitched and gifted to us.  I do have a few things to post this month...I've been a bit busy!  

I always post things I've stitched from the Just Cross Stitch (JCS) magazine as DH has gifted all the issues that have been published since the beginning.  (Yes I'm spoiled!!).  Since last month I've stitched Noel by MTV Designs from the 2022 JCS Ornament Issue   

Bear-ly Waiting For Christmas by Black Swan Designs from the 2001 JCS Ornament Issue  

Christmas Star by KEB Studio Creations from the 2022 JCS Ornament Issue 

and Little Christmas House by La-D-Da from the 2015 JCS Ornament Issue.  I'm slacking on the finishing front, but I have a ton of things waiting in the wings to finish...so hopefully soon I'll get my act together.  

So many things going on right now that I'm way behind in a lot of things.  I'll get there soon!  I participated in a Gift of Stitching Summer Exchange this year.  It was fun stitching all these things and hopefully my partner enjoyed her package.  Here is what I sent her.  

I was truly spoiled by my partner!  I truly loved everything she sent.  Here is what she sent me.  

I consider the free SALs I participate in as gifts.  The designers so generously give us these patterns for free and I have enjoyed stitching on them.  Here is Peppermint Purple SAL 2023.  I am finally caught up except for the outer border...I'll get to that soon!  I really enjoy this version which is half blackwork and half cross stitch.  

Back in 2022 this kit was offered as an exclusive.  At the time my husband offered to gift it to me for our anniversary.  This is United We Stand and I am working on one of the sides.  I have had this sitting in my closet for over a year and since I'm trying to get unfinished things done, this was next on my list.  Wish me luck won't you?  I'm not sure why this has been sitting there for so long!  

Ok, I'm off to get ready, I have a lot of things  planned for today.  I'm going to the library to see about classes to convert slides (remember those?) to digital images.  I read they give classes then allow you to use the equipment for free.  I'm really looking forward to seeing pictures from half a century ago.  Then we are going to a baseball game tonight.  Tomorrow we have a free concert with friends to hear a female band play Beatles music (provided we don't get rained out).  We are having a picnic beforehand...lol  Should be fun!  Monday I have Miss A here for the day.  It's all "little" things that keep me busy...but I enjoy everything.  I hope the weather cooperates!  It sure has been HOT here!!  So wherever you are I hope you are comfortable, healthy and happily stitching!  Take care!! 

Well Whaddaya know?

I've been on a quest lately.  I have so many unfinished projects waiting in the wings, and lately I've decided it's time they saw the light of day.  As you know, I finished Gloria, then Flowers and Lace....and as I was digging through some things not too long ago, I found O Tannenbaum.  It' seems so crazy to me that I have all this unfinished things just sitting there, with the floss and even ways of fully finishing them waiting for their turn.  So, I dusted them off, and finished the final 4 parts of O Tannenbaum.  I can't even tell you when I finished the first one...which is pictured here...  

But it only took a few days of steady work to finish off the other 4...and here they are.  

I have the box, I'm deciding what I want to do with the box before I attach the pieces, but I'm getting there.  Hopefully soon I'll have made up my mind....so stay tuned!  

I've been working on odds and ends here and there and poor Peppermint Purple SAL was sitting there collecting parts...so I dusted that off, and got caught up within 3 days.  Fingers crossed I can keep up now...but don't hold your breath...because...you know...LIFE!  LOL  I'm going to do my best though!  Here it is through part 28 which came out today!  

Next on my list was United We Stand.  I finished the top part of the pincushion in September of 2020.  

Good Lord, what is taking me so long?  LOL!!  I'm starting on the 4 sides now...let's see how long this takes me.  I seem to have a frog sitting on my shoulder.  Anybody have some anti-frog banishing spray?  He needs to GO!  Wish me luck!!  I'll be back soon with an update!

I've been watching the horrible pictures of the flooding in NY and Vermont.  My heart is literally aching for those folks...so will you join in prayer with me for those who have been driven from their homes, and the families who have lost loved ones?  I'm still praying for the Canadians who are in the midst of the wildfires there too.  My prayer list keeps growing by leaps and bounds.  Ok, my stitching buddy, who thinks if his food bowl is empty that he is starving whenever I walk into the kitchen, is here yowling to be fed.  I'll be back soon with my Gifted Gorgeousness update in a few days.  Till then, stay safe, stay healthy and Happy Stitching!

Merrily We Stitch Along...

I've had a few uninterrupted stitching days in a row...and while they were unplanned and not too much fun...I did get a lot of stitching done.  I'm finally caught up in Wonders of the Hubble Space Telescope SAL.  Part 5 did a number on my head...or maybe it was because I was sick (Hence the uninterrupted stitching time) with sneezing and watery eyes, there was a LOT of confetti stitches so it was easy to lose my place in the pattern.  Still I persevered, and it is finished, and is probably one of the neatest portions of the pattern, I love how the swirl is so pronounced.   Only three more portions to go!

I was able to finish two ornaments (so far) this month so most of my July ornament goals have been met!  Yeah!  Here is Christmas Star from the 2022 JCS Ornament issue stitched on 36 count antique white over two.  This was a quick stitch and so much fun!  

Next is Little Christmas House from the 2015 JCS Ornament issue stitched on 36 count light khaki over two.  I love this one, and it will be finished in the shape of an antique ornament...wish me luck with that finish!  

Last is O Tannenbaum by With Thy Needle and Thread Part two.  I have had this in my stash for ages, and have actually stitched part one of five already!  This is stitched on 36 count Legacy over two with one strand of floss.  To me it looks a little faded so I'm a little disappointed with that, but I know I won't have enough floss if I use two strands...so onwards and upwards we go!  I'm going to finish this in a shadowbox, and hopefully I can finish that up this month.  It's been sitting around far too long!  I've already begun working on part three!  

Soooo, that's all that's fit to print today.  We've been having some wild weather, between thunderstorms, torrential rain, and even nickel sized hail it's been a little exciting at my house!  We had one thunderclap that rattled windows, and the lightning itself landed in the driveway of our neighborhood.  Thank you to those followers who consistently leave comments, I do read each one.  I'm just terrible at getting into the email service to respond, but I do appreciate the time and effort to write those comments!  I hope everyone is weathering the storms safely!  Happy Stitching!