I'm almost on a first name basis with the Post Lady here in Maryland! It's been a busy month for her! Between exchanges I've been a part of, Round Robins that have been arriving from every corner of the world, and belated birthday/Christmas gifts, I've been receiving packages quite frequently. I'm still waiting on one more, a box of goodies that I won from Gifted Gorgeousness last year. I'm feeling pretty lucky right about now!
Let's start out with the things I'm stitching for Gifted Gorgeousness.
The rules can be found here. If you are interested I think you can sign up any time! And if you want to see what the rest of us have been submitting, you can find the links for February here. Thank you, once again, Jo, for hosting this! I really enjoy searching and stitching for this challenge. It keeps me searching through patterns and things to post for this challenge!
I'm still working on the Needlework Casket that was in a book I was gifted with from a good friend of mine. I had to restart because the last one I stitched on 36 count and it was coming out a wee bit too large to fit in the casket I have. So here is what I've done on the new one, stitched on 40 count. I've learned a lot since restarting. The satin stitch is done differently, and covers much better. The herringbone stitch is also done a little different to make the roof look more consistent and more like shingles. I just love this piece!!
I've done a few more letters from Prairie Schooler Christmas Alphabet that was also gifted from another friend. These are stitched on 28 count over two. I've decided to try and do four letters a month to finish up earlier so I can move on to other things. I was hoping to do two a month until all were done, but they stitch up faster than I imagined. Here are Y, C, H, R.
I've done a couple more of the numbers of the EMS Advent calendar. I stitched up the 24 because it was the largest and hopefully soon (before the end of the month) I can get them finished up. When I was stitching this I thought...why aren't I stitching the big ones first? As it gets closer to Christmas I'll have less time, so it will be quicker to stitch the smaller ones then...so from now on I'll be going in reverse order. So here are 24 and 23 stitched on 32 ct over one. They are freebies from Ellen Maurer-Stroh that you can find here.
February has been released from The Snowflower Diaries SAL. Here is mine done on 32 ct. over one. March has also been released and you can find all the patterns on her blog here.
I'm participating in a round robin with a few ladies from Friendly Stitchers. When I was in NY I missed a couple, so I've received two recently, one from the midwest that was sent on to England....
And one from England that was sent on to Canada....
With these two I think I'm caught up. I think that makes three (four if you count mine) out of seven that I've stitched on. Just three more to go before I receive mine! I just love participating in these!
Now...on to the gifts I've received. From a private Valentine's exchange I received this...
It's a small project bag, and is stitched so beautifully. The fabric of the bag is so soft too. I just love it and will be using it for small projects. Thank you so much Amy!
My pen pal and stitch pal from England, Mouse, sent me these beautifully stitched and finished pieces. The thread keeper is a small project bag as well and I can't wait to use it!
The Huswife has three separate pockets and will work perfectly for things I like to carry with me wherever I go to stitch. I can't wait to put them to good use. Thank you so much Mouse!! I feel well and truly spoiled by all these lovely gifts!
So what else have I been stitching on? I've been making very sloooooow progress on Aurora Cabin. Through Friendly Stitchers I've been making it a point to stitch on Sundays. Unfortunately it seems my husband keeps making plans so I've haven't made much progress...but here is what I've done since the last picture.
I started working on a Christmas ornament that was supposed to be a gift. I decided it probably would be an appropriate pattern for what it was intended for, so I'm going to finish it, but not give it there.
One of the other things I'm hoping to keep up with is finishing each of these months from Country Cottage Needleworks. Here is February. This one is done on 32 ct over two.
I'm hoping to start getting these made in to cube stand-ups tomorrow. I'm setting aside tomorrow as a "finishing" day. I have a couple of things I would love to get made up....one is actually a gift and I need to get it sent off...wish me luck!
I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day. I was well and truly spoiled by the two men in my life...DH and DS. I was treated to a movie and dinner and a small box of chocolates from DH, and a Downton Abbey puzzle from DS. I've already started it, and it's been a lovely treat. The only drawback is to see all my favorite characters from the series staring back at me from my work table...hahahaha. Truly, it's hard to draw myself away from it. If only I could keep Thomas (my cat) off the table, I'll be doing well!!
Off to spend time with the guys, they have today off for President's day. It's another snowy day here today, so I doubt we'll be going anywhere, let's hope we don't get the 6 inches they are threatening us with! It sure looks pretty from this side of the window though!
Well, February just seems to be flying by! Wooosh!! I've had a few days to get some stitching done, so yay!!
As you know, I realized after I had more than halfway finished the top section of my Needlework Casket that it wasn't going to fit. I went almost immediately and bought fabric that I hope will now work, but it took me a while to pick up my needle and thread again. *Sigh* But this past week, I decided I couldn't wait any longer, I just need to see how it's going to look on this fabric. So here is my progress so far. I'm still hoping I can finish the entire casket this year. Fingers crossed...
I am so pleased with the way it looks on 40 count now. I've made a few changes and do like it much better with the changes I've made. Sorry for the dark picture, the fabric is much lighter. Hopefully next picture will be a bit better.
I was able to finish up another number in the Advent series I'm working on. This is the largest in the series and now I can figure out what size to make them all. I've been kicking around ideas as to finishing them, and once I do and finish the first one I'll finish them as I go along. Hopefully by the first of December I'll be able to display them!
I've been trying to work on Aurora Cabin each Sunday just to try and finish it up this year. It's slow going as it seems I'm busy on Sundays lately. Here is my latest progress, I'll post before and after so you can see.
I finished up a little ornament a made as part of the smalls challenge I'm participating in on Friendly Stitchers. I just love this little ornament!!
It was a fun but busy weekend. My guys love hockey, baseball, and my son loves soccer. They signed us up for a bus trip to NJ to see the Capitals play the Jersey Devils Saturday, so we hopped the fan club bus and traveled to the Devils Den to see the game.
It was a lot of fun, but it was a loooooong day! My son can be very vocal, and the Jersey Devil mascot had a few choice gestures he made our way...LOL but it was worth it in the end to see our team win!! Sunday my son was up early to see his soccer team play (Arsenal) and win. An hour later the Capitals played on home ice and again they won. Then we dashed off to Astrid's Superbowl party to see the Broncos (the team we chose to root for) win! What an exciting time we had....but I will admit, I'm about testosteroned out! Today I'm watching chick flicks to try and compensate! LOL
Off to get some stitching done...hope you are having a fabulous day!
So....after a few hours of shoveling, and keeping the guys entertained...I was able to get some stitching done.....actually quite a lot!! Where do I begin?
Let's see, I have an exchange coming up. I'm going to show a couple of pictures from what I'm making, but I'm still kicking around ideas on how to finish. I've got some really interesting ideas how I should do it, but that will remain a secret until I actually send it on it's way. This is stitched on 54 count fabric over two. I would hate to stitch anything really big on this count, because the stitches turned out quite tight in there, and took much longer than it probably should have. I had nothing better to do anyway, so I just kept at it.
Next up is one of the pieces I'm stitching for a RR. This one belongs to Mouse and you can see her blog here. This fabric is from Sparklies, and was such a joy to stitch on...really! I wish I could browse their stall at Harrogate...maybe one year I'll get there. We'll see...
I have been participating in the Joyful World SAL from The Snowflower Diaries. They sent out February's chart, so I thought I would squeeze it in and finish it up this month. This is stitched on 32 count over one. I've been trying to figure out a way to finish, finish it so I can include it in a challenge Friendly Stitchers is having. I think I have an idea, but it's still on the back burner. Watch this space because I have to do something with it before the end of the month!
In trying to stick to my schedule, I went ahead and stitched two letter Rs from Prairie Schooler Christmas Alphabet. My goal was to stitch two letters a month spelling out Merry Christmas, but these two only took about 3 hours, so I may just go ahead and stitch a few more. The more I stitch, the sooner I finish. I'm looking forward to getting these on blocks. I have other patterns and might stitch small blocks to spell out Welcome, or another holiday, we'll see.
I edited this to include the Valentine's exchange piece I did. I happened to be in Michaels and stumbled across this frame that I thought would be perfect for the piece I had stitched. I wasn't planning on framing it, but this frame had a ribbon to hang it with and a lovely scrollwork design on it that fit perfect with the theme. My partner in the exchange said she loved it and thought it looked perfect too, so here it is finished! So glad you liked it!
Looks like I'll have to put my needlework casket on hold. As I was stitching I realized it was going to be too big for the opening in the box. A few friends tried to convince me to just go ahead and not worry if some things are covered. UGH!! I would be so disappointed every time I looked at it and decided to go back and buy a higher count fabric and start over. It was so discouraging that I haven't had the desire to get back into it...soon though! Aurora Cabin is languishing on the sidelines calling to me...funny I haven't picked it up because all that shoveling left my arms aching...so it's hard to hold anything big right now...maybe in a couple of days.
I haven't started London either...I just can't seem to get on to the big stuff right now...hoping my mojo for the bigger projects comes back soon!! The fabric came in just before the storm hit. I'm going to stitch it on 40 ct. over two, but I will have to set up my floor frame and right now I'm not sure where I'm going to put it...sometimes I wish I could hang it from the ceiling and lower it when I needed it! LOL!!
I'm off to stitch on some advent numbers...we'll see how they turn out. I think I'll stitch 24 next as that's the biggest one, and then I can decide how to finish them off. That way I can finish them as I go, and make them similar in size. Wish me luck!
I hope those who were in the path of the storm are doing okay. We have a window leaking like a sieve...I'm not sure what to do about that at this point....ugh!! My thoughts and prayers are with those who lost loved ones, and for the people on the West coast who are dealing with the storms there. It just seems there are so many tragedies going on out there in the world...it puts problems like misunderstandings between friends, or family members, being snowed in for a couple of days, leaky windows, and the like in perspective. So my final words are these....forgive quickly, learn to speak gently, love unconditionally, pray for others who you feel have wronged you, and seek peace. If all else fails...move on, if they can't get over their disappointment in you, (because let's face it, we're all human and make mistakes), then they weren't meant to stay in your life anyway. Getting even, being snide or nasty, excluding others, doesn't make them look bad, it makes you look bad and it doesn't hurt anyone else but you. The only person who can rob you of your joy is YOU! As for me, I choose joy!
Well, we survived, with power, sanity and back intact! I've been out helping DH shovel this morning. I'm hoping we can shovel the 29.2 inches we got in stages, and soon, before it compacts and gets too heavy to maneuver. The problem is...there's no where to put it! With a front yard the size of a postage stamp, the best you can do is pile it high! I'm betting we don't see our front yard until summer at lease! LOL!
I took a picture late last night before I went to bed....and one late this morning. I'm not sure what time it finished showing, but I'm guessing around 10 PM. They (you know...the big THEY) are not allowing people out on the roads without snow tires or chains so I don't plan on going anywhere, but it was nice to get some fresh air! Still you gotta clean off those cars in case there's an emergency...and the guys are hoping to go to work tomorrow. We shall see. The last time we got this type of storm we were housebound for 7 days!!!
Yes there's a car under there...or I should say a minivan. I'm hoping I'll see it sometime in June...LOL!!
Ok, off to get more stitching done. I thought I would get more done yesterday, but I was too busy keeping you know who entertained...LOL
Stay safe and warm wherever you are!
Yes, here we go again. It was 5 years ago that the big Snowmageddon happened (you can see pictures of that storm here) and according to the news tonight, this storm is going to be historic. Does that mean it will be worse? Not sure, but I hope we are prepared. It has been snowing about 4 hours now and already the ground is covered and the brunt isn't even supposed to hit us until tomorrow. They are saying it's supposed to be a 48 hour event with the heaviest snow starting around 6 tomorrow morning.
I decided to show what it looked like before any snow started falling...so here we are around noon today.
About an hour later, I got a call from my husband that they were getting off work early, and would be home soon. What normally takes about 15 minutes took them an hour and a half to get home, and at that time it was only flurrying. I guess everyone had the same idea to head home as the storm was starting rather than waiting for the roads to get slick. That's life in the burbs I guess! Here is what it looked like 4 hours later...
So...what will I be stitching on during the Big Kahuna? I started this for a Stitch Day exchange....we'll see if I can get it finished, since I'm only about half way there. This is stitched on 45 count over two. Yep, you read that right, 45 count. I stopped in Sea Needles on my way home from Rehoboth last weekend to find something to stitch, and after I collected the pattern and the floss...guess what....they didn't have 40 count fabrid. Nor did they have 36 count...so what's a body to do? LOL I didn't want it too big, and it won't be that's for sure! Once it's done, and I'm shoveled out and my partner gets it, I'll show you what it turned into.
Did I mention that we went to Rehoboth last weekend? My dear husband promised me a weekend away after I came home from NY. I found a groupon coupon for a hotel close to the beach so we decided, since neither of us had been there, that we would go. It was a great time away from the hustle and bustle, and a much needed break. Little did we know it would snow...and turn bitter cold...but that didn't stop DH from wearing shorts to the beach...
It was a lovely day traveling home though...so we took this shot on the beach the next day, when DH so wisely changed from shorts to jeans. The sun was bright but it is deceptive how cold it was...with the wind chill it was just barely above 0 degrees!
Well I'm keeping my fingers crossed we keep our power, and if so, I'll be back with an update when the snow finishes falling, and hopefully I'll have some stitching pictures to show you! For those of you in the path of the storm, good luck and stay safe! For those of you watching from afar, keep those warm thoughts coming!
It's been an interesting week! I've had extremely busy days, and days when I could stitch to my hearts content! I've been trying to "downsize" both my belongings and myself (I could really lose some weight...wish me luck!) So...I've been trying to get a certain number of steps in each day, and still trying to get in so much stitching time each day. It's a war within! LOL But so far I'm happy with the results.
Another year of Gifted Gorgeousness is planned by Jo. If you would like to join or know more information about this SAL you can find the rules here. If you would like to see what everyone else is stitching on you can see their entries here. Thank you so much Jo for hosting this again, I really enjoyed it so much last year!
I was able to start and finish two of the advent numbers for this month. I'm counting these under Gifted Gorgeousness as they are free patterns offered on the internet on Ellen Maurer-Stroh's website you can find here. I bought the threads with a gift card I received from my dear husband for Christmas as well. I hope to finish at least two each month. Wish me luck! These are stitched on 28 count over one.
I was able to finish January in the series being offered through The Snowflower Diaries as a free SAL. You can find them on her website here. I have all the materials to start February too, I just need to find the time! LOL I'm counting this as a Gifted Gorgeousness as well, as these are being offered for free this year. This is stitched on 32 count over one.
I've been stitching the letters for Merry Christmas, and they will be attached to wooden squares hopefully in time for Christmas. I'm hoping to do two letters a month. They stitch up quick, I finished both of these in one day! There are Christmas Alphabet by Prairie Schooler.
I've made progress on my Needlework Casket, but as I was working I thought to myself, this is going to be a bit big...I'm not sure if the fabric was mismarked, if it stretched when I put it in the Q-snaps when I began stitching, or what. I'm going to finish this, and see if it is fitting in the opening or is just an illusion right now (I've measured it and it does measure bigger than it's supposed to). I'll be so disappointed if I do have to stitch it again, but I am determined to have it look just right...I will always be thinking it's just not right if I let it go as it is right now.
I've made progress on Aurora Cabin too. I sighed up for a challenge with Friendly Stitchers to work on a WIP until it's finished this year. I tried to do that with this last year, but got hung up on it when I had to go to NY for 6 weeks. It's coming along quite well so hopefully I will finish it this year. Here it is before...
And now...
I stitched an exchange piece for someone for Valentine's day. I couldn't think how to finish it off, so I found this darling frame at Michaels and decided that would have to do. I love it so much, I may make one for me! I will post pictures when she tells me she has received it.
Off to get started on another exchange I'm doing in March for Stitch Day. Do I have any idea what I should stitch...no I don't...or how I should finish...no I don't...but I'm sure I'll come up with something soon. I'm hoping to make more entries in my blog this year. We'll see if I can keep up with all my lofty goals this year...the road of my life is paved in good intentions...LOL Till then, happy stitching!
Happy New Year!
I just love "firsts"...the first of the year, the first day of school, the first day of a new job, having your first baby (hm...maybe that's why I only had one? LOL), their first steps, their first...well you get the idea. There is something so unique and exciting about the first time you accomplish something new! I guess that's why I always start the New Year with a new project. This year I set two aside to work on just for this particular year. Luckily for me, I can consider them Gifted Gorgeousness patterns because one was a kit that was gifted to me, the other is a Needlework Casket that I bought, but when looking for a pattern, a dear friend (Thank you so much Ms. P!!) gave me the book the pattern that I had settled on was printed in. I bought the fabric, but the threads were bought with a gift card I had received from DH.
So....here is a picture of London by Thea Gouverneur
And the Needlework Casket from the book Sampler and Antique Needlework Vol. 1
I started the casket on the first day of the year...and here is what I've accomplished so far. There are all kinds of specialty stitches, a few you can see here are the Queen stitch, French knot, and the Satin stitch. I am excited to see how this one progresses, and I will be personalizing it as I go, I just need to think how I will make this one "my own".
I will be posting my goals for this year under 2016 Goals tab at the top. I tried setting goals for myself last year, and am pleased to report that I was able to finish a good many of them. I ran into issues when my Mother took ill and needed surgery and some constant help and attention at the end of October. I was there with her (with the exceptions of a few days when I traveled home) until the middle of December. I put around 4,000 miles on my van with all the traveling!! Whew! I am so happy to be home, but I will say I hit the ground running when I returned leaving all the holiday prep work until I was here to take care of things. It's been a wild ride! I am finally now getting back into stitching. I will admit, I was beginning to twitch from withdrawal! I did get the last two months of the Cottage Garden Samplings series finished before the end of the year! They were also one of the goals I set!
Here is November's Chrysanthemum by Cottage Garden Samplings
And here is December's Holly by Cottage Garden Samplings
I tried choosing two projects last year, and although I did finish one of them, the other is still a work in progress. I do hope to finish Aurora Cabin this year. I nearly made it half way through last year. So....here is where I'm starting this year...
I attribute my goal accomplishments to participating in the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL last year. I tried to reach my monthly goals by the 15th of each month so I could post in a timely manner. I think that helped keep me on track, so I chose to sign up again this year. If you are interested in participating you can click on the picture here or in the sidebar. It's been a challenge and a lot of fun looking through my stash to find things that qualify. I hope you'll join us!
Here's to a less hectic and enjoyable year for all of us!
