Ok, so I'm having a stitch day at my house tomorrow....I come downstairs this morning, with duster, vacuum, and mop in hand getting ready to clean when what to my wondering eyes should appear....
THIS!!!
I'm giggling and shaking my head all at the same time. Where would I be without my goofy husband who is always exercising my chuckle musles?
Ok, I hope you've had time to look and see what I'm talking about in the picture...My husband LOVES anything Olivia Newton-John related. I've given him albums and other things she has created over the years. So when I saw this ornament at the Hallmark store, I couldn't resist getting it for him for Christmas. He loves the movie Grease, and loves the music from the movie too. We had a good laugh over it on Christmas day. I haven't taken my decorations down yet, because one of my friends wanted to see them (that's why the stitch day is tomorrow), so I didn't really notice that Olivia wasn't on the tree anymore...until I started dusting today. And there she was...well at least she stood back and let the Wise Men have the close spot next to Baby Jesus. I have to admire her, everybody should get to know Jesus!!!
Ok, on to the important stuff...Folks have been asking what my next WIP will be. I've decided to tackle Winter's Majesty...at least for the rest of this month. I have two items I need to make as gifts, and as soon as they are done, I'll be working on this fine lady. So here are pictures of what she looks like, and where I'm starting from right now.
I haven't worked on her since August of 2013. I started her on Christmas day, 2012.
I've also started one of my gifts, and I'm only going to show a little bit here. I don't want to give anything away, or who it's for...so here is my humble beginning...it is being stitched on 28 ct. Mushroom lugana over one. Thankfully, and as you can tell, it's just a small project...
And that is all the news that's fit to print. I hope none of you are expecting a dramatic finish like Aurora Cabin. I'll share a secret with you! Most of the sky and trees were done in half stitches. There was very little back stitching or couching that was left to do by the time I picked it back up again. There really wasn't much work left to be done, so it went along fairly quickly. Winter's majesty is mostly all cross stitches AND lots of back stitching with metallic thread. A stitcher's worst nightmare. But I'm going to work on it for a bit and see how far I get. Wish me luck! Till then, happy stitching everybody!!
Can I get a WOOT and a drum roll please??? I finished my first WIP for 2017!!! Only 16 more to go! Now I will need to save my pennies so I can frame Aurora Cabin. It hasn't always been a fun stitch (dragging up to 6 strands of threads through 18 count Aida fabric really takes a toll on ones fingers!!) But I will say, I'm thrilled I persevered. I love how it looks done, and I will say the picture on the front of the kit doesn't do this piece justice! I'm not even going to count the number of French knots I just navigated, but let's just say it took a good two days to finish them up! I don't mind doing French knots, but not hundreds at a time!! LOL Not bad for two years and 7 days work!
Now I can start a new project...and I have three staring me in the face...whichever will I choose??? (Two of them are gifts, that need to be finished...so I may have to bend the rules and start them all...) Off to gather supplies and pick one to start today...
Happy Stitching!
Happy Friday everybody!!
I've had quite a week! Don't get me wrong, I love my guys, and I've enjoyed every minute of spending time with them over the holidays! It's been great having them home. When the holiday falls on a weekend, the government generously gives them an extra day off, so they have both had two 3-day weekends, which has been fun. We've been going to movies, shopping, and dining out, and I will say I'm pretty tired...so the past week, I've slowed down a bit and spent some time stitching. I got my hair cut, and had lunch with two ladies (who recently retired) from our church. The rest of the time I've been stitching...and making really good progress on Aurora Cabin!! Here are before and after pictures...
I've also tried to put one strand of thread in Leave a Light On a day. I love this pattern...and am really enjoying the stitch, but the main priority this year is to knock out those WIPs I've had hanging around. Weird how the pictures look different in the different light...it's a bit dreary here today. What has been nice about stitching slowly on this is that I'm stitching on 28 count Navy...over one...quite the challenge, so it's nice to give my eyes a break!! Not a lot of progress, but there is some...
I have a couple of things waiting in the wings. I decided to stitch something for a charity (Equines for Freedom) my cousin is raising funds for in honor of her brother who was a Vietnam Vet. This is a program that provides healing for our veterans with PTSD without cost to the vets. I couldn't attend the fundraiser last year because I was in NY taking care of my Mom, so I thought this year I would go, if I can, but I would also stitch something for them to raffle off to help raise funds. I've chosen this pattern, which I happened to have all kitted up and ready to go! So, I can stitch it up and still stay within my resolutions to stitch from stash. Win win!!
I've also decided to participate in the Linen and Threads Mystery Sampler SAL. My friend Mouse has twisted my arm...LOL!! (Just kidding....she only had to whisper SAL...LOL!!!) I thought long and hard (about 5 minutes...haha) and decided to dive into my stash and see if I had what I needed...two summers ago I bought a small container of threads at a flea market for $5.00. You couldn't really see what was hidden in the bottom and there were a couple skeins of DMC at the top....but that was all the DMC in there!!! I found JP Coats, and many others I had never heard of. I put it aside and use it now and then when I need a small amount of a color in a project. I decided to really dig around in there and I found several skeins of the same color! Woot!! I decided I'm going to give it a go and see where this takes me. I'm going to throw other colors in there now and then just so I hope to have enough to finish the whole thing. Here is my toss floss on 28 ct. black fabric. I'm going to stitch it over one (and hope they don't throw any specialty stitches in there). Still stitching from stash! Ain't life grand??
I just want to end this by saying....the two ladies I mentioned that I had lunch with? They recently retired. They mentioned that it's been a challenge since they did, as they are finding it very lonely. They both had jobs where there were a lot of folks around, and they have found the change very isolating. I am so glad now that I invited them to lunch!! I like having time to myself, I enjoy just puttering and doing what I like, so solitude never bothered me, but I REALLY enjoyed their company!! I realize there are a lot of folks who don't have much interaction with others (my Mom is one, and I worry about her spending so much time alone, but living so far away there's nothing I can do about that). It opened my eyes to the needs of others (something I've been praying about) and honestly, it took very little time to go and have lunch with them, and cheer up their day. I encourage you, if you have the time, to seek out those who might enjoy your company, and spend a little time with them. I know I'm so glad I did, I may have even got more from our little encounter than they did! If you are the one isolated, reach out and invite someone to do something with you...who knows? You might even get more enjoyment than you think!
Guess who's having a stitch day? Next Tuesday...hopefully I won't have to cancel, and those I've invited can come. Can't wait to see my stitch pals again, it's been too long since I've spent time with them!!
On that note...off to get some serious stitching done...I feel the end is in sight of Aurora Cabin!!!
It's a brand new year! And my husband and I always have the same conversations. Are you making any New Year's Resolutions? What is so funny this year, is that January 1st was on a Sunday, so as usual we went to church. DH works with the kids one Sunday a month, and this was his week...so I sat by myself. I wish he could have heard the sermon, because it was about optimists and pessimists. Optimists make resolutions and work to stick to them, thinking this year will be a better year. Pessimists do not make resolutions because they feel they will only break them so what's the use? I never really thought about it before, but I guess in the long run, I'm an optimist...and my Dear Husband is a pessimist. After 32 years of marriage you would have thought I would have figured this out before...but now some things make a LOT of sense...*giggling*.
I have made some resolutions this year. I'm not going to spell them all out here, just a few that I don't mind making public...hahaha. First is I'm going to "unplug" a little bit. No electronics at the table. This means even if I'm having a meal by myself. No TV, no computer, and no phone at the table. I want to have conversations with my family if we are together. If not, I want time to reflect on things.
I'm going to stitch from stash. I have many things kitted up, but I'm not going to start anything new (except my New Year start, which I do every year) until I finish a WIP. I'm only going to buy floss or other fibers if I need it to finish something up. I'm going to finish smaller things when I am done stitching them. I am going to start a rotation of UFOs, meaning I will stitch on a project for an entire month (unless I finish it within that month) and at the end, rotate if I'm not finished. I sincerely hope to finish up some projects I have floating around that have somehow gotten me bogged down. I've joined a FB group called Stitching from Stash Only to help me keep focused on this goal. I'm counting on my pal, Cindy, to keep me in line!
I am going to take a little time each week to sort though, organize and clean up my stash. This means that when I'm finished with a project and I no longer need the pattern, I will be having a give away...so watch this space. And if you see something you would like to have, you can urge me on to get it finished, so you can try and "win" the pattern! This way we both win!
With all that being said, I did start something new...Leave a Light On by Teresa Layman Designs. I found this in the fall, and it was a birthday gift from my husband when we took our trip through Pennsylvania and ended in Ocean City. It was a model on the wall at The Strawberry Sampler...and if you know me at all you know I love lighthouses. It's been kitted up waiting for New Year's Day....and here is what I've done so far. It is stitched on 28 count Navy using one strand of floss over one thread. So far I love it!! It's very hard to put down.
I've also been working on a UFO. This was a New Year's project two years ago (has it been that long already??) This is Aurora Cabin. I will post the starting point and the current point. I'm going to try and stitch a little bit on both each day, even if it's only one length of thread. This piece has a lot of meaning for me, as my DH bought it for me on our Alaskan cruise, the one we took for our 30th anniversary. I really want to finish it and frame it this year. I do have one question, it calls for a LOT of French knots in the sky to represent stars....I don't mind doing them, but I'm afraid it will take away from the darkness of the sky showing the Northern Lights....what do you think? Should I do them, or leave them off?
I am participating in a couple of challenges this year. One is WIPocalypse 2017....trying to finish 17 WIPs in 2017. I have a list on my goals page, but it may change during the year. I still hope to finish 17, but I may change which ones I'm working on.
I'm going to participate in the Gifted Gorgeousness challenge again this year. I have done this the past two years, and have really enjoyed working on gifted projects as well as a reminder to post at least once a month. It's been good for me in many ways, and I thank Jo for hosting this each year.
I also signed up for the Smalls Challenge. I am participating in a Round Robin, which we are stitching smalls for each other, and I hope they ones that are returned to me and finished will count as part of that challenge. I'm also going to participate in some exchanges, so we will see where this will lead me.
And that, as they say, is that! I'm counting on you all for encouraging me in my goals, if you wouldn't mind. And remember, there will be some giveaways this year, so don't forget to stop back in! Happy Stitching everybody! And Happy New Year!
It's New Year's Eve! I wish for the New Year, health, happiness, and all things stitchy for all my family and friends. I hope the New Year is kinder to folks than 2016. It's been a tough one for many that I know. So let's look forward with hopeful thoughts!
I wanted to post one final post for this year with a few last minute finishes. Here is "Benjamin" from Mill Hills Nativity Trilogy. With only 3 more to go now (out of nine) I feel really good about almost accomplishing my goals this year, considering there was about 3 months when I wasn't able to stitch at all! If you want to see all that I finished last year, you can check the 2016 goals tab at the top and see them all!
I also finished another Frosty the Snowman by JBW designs. This one is for Mouse, who agreed to assemble the two I stitched as long as I sent the fabric, and she can have one of them! They will be winging their way to you as soon as I get all my ducks in a row, Mouse!
I didn't finish any of the WIPs I had planned to, nor did I start London by Thea Gouverneur. But I did finish up many of the ones I had planned, the Snowflower Diaries series, the Advent Calendar, the Merry Christmas blocks and Jan-April of the Country Cottage Needleworks months. Considering the way the year went, I am pleased with the 86 finishes I did have! I've added the ones I didn't finish or start to next years list....and hope 2017 will end with a lot of old finishes! Wish me luck!
I also plan to participate in a different kind of Round Robin where we will send and receive individual smalls to stitch, then send back to the original owner to finish. I'll be sending out some strawberries to work on. I can't wait to receive the ones from the others...it will be interesting to see what they will choose. I'm also participating in a stitcher's day exchange. I have everything ready to go for that too (I went to an end of year sale yesterday...so I'm all ready to rock and roll!) Tomorrow I'll be starting Leave a light on by Teresa Layman Designs. I can't wait!
Until next time....may your stitches be many and your frogs be few! See ya next year!!
Merry Christmas, everyone! Don't you just love that perfect pear? A friend of mine stitched it for me as an exchange this past spring at our annual St. Michaels weekend. I was the lucky recipient of this beautiful ornament, that is sitting in my tree.
Yes, I'm one of those folks who love Christmas. I shop all year round looking for the perfect gifts. My Dad was always the hardest one to buy for...and the most fun to search for...and I very nearly managed to get something he loved every year! He would always say, "You find the neatest things...where on earth did you find this?" I truly miss him but especially at Christmas. See my Dad used to dress up as Santa. He would show up on Christmas Eve at the houses of friends with little kids and they would mysteriously catch him placing gifts under their trees. We caught him one year....the best Christmas of my life! My sister wouldn't leave her bed to go see him, I guess she was afraid she wouldn't get what she wished for...but that didn't matter to me, I wanted to give Santa a hug....he was always good to me every year! We didn't even notice that Dad was missing...hahaha.
I like to stitch for Christmas, decorating the house is one of my favorite things I look forward to every year. As we get older, though, it's been a bit harder to get my act together. This year went together the smoothest of all. All the decorations are out, the gift buying/wrapping was done earlier this year, and I've had time to really reflect on the true reason of the season. So I'm thankful.....for my family, for my friends, for the life I lead which at times can be difficult to navigate but when you look at it in it's entirety, it's been a pretty good life! But what I'm most thankful for is the Love our God has showered on us by sacrificing his one and only Son. He came to earth to bear the sins of the world, to die on the cross as our sacrificial Lamb to atone for all our sins. What perfect, amazing, unselfish love!! I pray that as life goes along, I will mirror that perfect love....it's not perfect yet, I'm still working on it, but hopefully moving in the right direction. May the Love of Christmas fill your hearts today, and all the year through! Merry Christmas!
Are your stockings hung? Do you have a glass of eggnog? Are your presents wrapped? My Advent calendar tells me it's Christmas Eve...are you ready?
