Sunflower Crossing

Spring Finishes

2012-04-16T20:00:00.003-07:00

At last I have been productive with my stitching stash. When you have a goal to get items done for something very important you seem to pick-up an astounding pace. First up is a project I started on back in January of 2011 and then put it back in the stash pile.

Flag Day by With thy Needle & Thread

Conversion Design by Shepherd's Bush

Is this one great!!!! I love the color changes and buttons. I cannot wait to have this framed. I have a few great ideas.

Next up is a pattern that I saw at my LNH. Several of the stitchers got together and came up with color changes in silks. The shop owner at Inspired Needle put it together as a kit with fabric. I just love this one.

"Spring Robin" by Widgets & Wool Primitives

Conversions by Inspired Needle

The final completion of this month is.......

"Tis the Season" by Blackbird Designs

This one I did on a fabric called "Patina" and the only color that I changed was the white called Vanilla Pudding. I changed it to Icing by Crescent Colours. My photo does not give this picture true justification. Hopefully once it is framed it will show up better.

I cannot tell you how exciting it is to get three projects done and ready for finishing. Next week I will let you all in on my secret adventure coming up. In the meantime have a great week and lots of good stitching time.

Easter Is Coming

2012-04-04T18:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I finished an Easter Project this last weekend but forgot to take a picture of it before dropping it off to be framed. So, here is the picture from the booklet.

I finished the Rabbit and it is very lovely. A few years ago I did the basket of flowers (picture below). I just love the colors in this project.
Yesterday I picked up the Garden of Love that I finished in February. I just love the way this one was finished.

I love the plaid fabric. The purple color really makes this design stand out.

Happy Easter.....

2012 First Completion

2012-02-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

I did it, here is my first finish of 2012. Not bad, got this pattern a few weeks ago and was able to fit it into my project rotations.

Sorry for the bad picture. We are busy watching the Super Bowl and I didn't want to miss out on the action.

Poor baby, I think Brinkley is ready for bed.

Goodnight everyone......

February Stitching

2012-02-05T14:52:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of progress going on in my projects but I know that my blog has not represented it lately. Everytime I think I am going to sit down and post there isn't either enough time to take pictures, poor lightening, or I am just too tired to get the laptop or camera out. So, today I was on mission to iron my projects and take advantage of daylight for photos.

First: Inspired Needle in Lemont is working with a group of stitchers to offer a new small project each month of 2012. I didn't pick up the January project but did grab the opportunity to do the February project which is "Garden of Love" by Citrouille's Designs. I just love the fabric and threads that were put into this kit. The threads are what the pattern called for.

Second: Margaret Cottam by La D Da. I just love this design and currently working on Part 2. It took me a while to be excited by using only one thread on this design but the more I have done the greater it is looking.

Next up, I continue to work on the following designs from Blackbird Designs - Loose Feathers and With thy Needle & Thread - mystery sampler Birds of a Feather.

Lastly, I have done a bit of progress on Winter Floral Sampler from the designer Knotted Tree. I just love the colors and how they pop on this fabric.

At the end of 2011 I did finish a project but didn't get a picture taken of it. I am attending a class this Friday at Inspired Needle which we will put our finished projects onto a box as shown on the pattern by Blackbird. This design is called Morning Star. I love this.....

I hope to get a good scan of this pattern that I completed and add it to a necklace. Right now the printer and I are not playing well together. I will send DH to tackle it. Course, only after he finishes the wonderful roast he put in the oven today.

The last update that I have really been behind on is the ABC Stitching Gals project. There are three of us working on Prairie Schoolers ABCs and so far I am way, way, way behind on this project. I did work more the other day on the pumpkin but I think someone is taking out the stitches on me since I am not able to get to the end of this pumpkin. Here is my progress.... UGH......

Ellen has gotten a lot done on hers. She off onto her third letter. Here is her progress:

Keep up the good work Ellen. Cannot wait to see what you send to me next.

As soon as I finish up my February small Garden of Love I have two new projects to decide on. They are both for February but I think this will one will be my focus. It is With Thy Needle & Thread's -
Be My Valentine.

This was an easy decision since I get to eat the chocolates first. Yummmmmmm

Well, see, I have been doing a lot of stitching. Just a slow blogger. I haven't set any goals for 2012 like I failed at in 2011 but I have changed the way I sit down and stitch. Each time I sit down to stitch I pick up one of these projects and have made a habit of switching to a different one the next time. If I have a good week of stitching I should be able to touch each of them with at least an hour of stitching time.

As I was taking pictures of my projects my the living room window I happened to look outside and caught this picture. I am going to call it the "Lady in Pink". This girl was completely dressed in pink and was walking her standard size poodle. The poor poodle had its head dyed pink to match her coat. I wish I had a better camera that was able to get a closer shot. Enjoy....

That poor dog.... I wonder how long the pink dye lasts or if it will run in the rain.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-23T19:29:00.000-08:00

The tree is decorated, the cards have been mailed, the cookies are baked, and the gifts are wrapped. Wow, maybe I can finally sit and stitch again. Well, maybe not for a couple more days.

The only pictures I have to share with you at this time are my puppies enjoying the Christmas tree.

They both have seem interested in the tree and I know they are looking to see if there are any new toys under the tree for them.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-17T19:03:00.000-08:00

Time is moving quickly. We are sitting here tonight making our list for dinner on Thanksgiving. Wow, I cannot believe it is almost here. So, to all of my stitching buddies have a great Thanksgiving.

Here is the 10th of the month update for the ABC Prairie Schooler from Ellen. She has finished A, working on B and has started on C. Way to go....

As for the rest of us, well, I guess you will have to see what next month brings. I only added a few more stitches to mine so that really isn't worth a picture.

Last Sunday I got a chance to sit and stitch at Inspired Needle in Lemont. Not only did I sit and stitch but I did do a bit of shopping also. I purchased "Winter Floral Sampler" by Knotted Tree. I need to give this one a start right away.

The colors on this pattern are great. I cannot wait to work more on this.

Also, last Saturday/Sunday I got a lot done on Summer - Loose Feathers by Blackbird Design. Just in time since I picked up the next section Autumn.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving.

Friday Update

2011-11-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

Wow, a lot has been going on so to start off with I will show you my progress update on Carriage House Samplings "Fall's Gifts".

I just love this project. It was in my stash from a trip two years ago. We were traveling in KY and I found a shop listed on the Internet called The Needle Nest in Shelbyville. Well, we were just coming home on vacation Monday and we made a trip back over to Shelbyville so that I could visit the shop again. It is so much fun to travel the US and visit shops. On this stop I purchased an older design by Jeanette Douglas from her Stitches Series called Pineapple Stitches. I cannot wait to start this one once I have finished this lovely picture.

Another find on this trip was more flower frogs found in an amazing antique mall in Williamsburg, VA.

One has a fantastic silver bottom that the frog fits into. It has roses all around it. I found several others that I brought back as gifts for my stitching buddies. I hope they enjoy them. Sorry, didn't get a picture of them. I also found this lovely blue candy dish. It will look great with candy in it. Yummmy.....

Another stop on our trip was Virginia Beach. Why in October? I attended the Dyeing 2 Stitch cross stitch retreat. I was lucky to have classes with Shepherd's Bush and Shakespeare Peddler. It is always so much fun to meet the designers in person. Of course I came home with loads of projects to do from the retreat and their shop. Here is my basket that we got as a gift and all of my treasures. I have lots of stitching to do.

They made everyone the most fantastic scissor fob. Here is the one I got.

Time to return to my stitching. Enjoy your weekend.

Frog Find

2011-10-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday....

This weekend I ventured into our local town to an antique mall on search for a flower frog. It took a bit of searching but I was very thrilled at the mission accomplished. Here is my lucky find.

On the stitching front I spent time this weekend working on Fall's Gift by Carriage House Samplings.

I love this design and wished I had more time to just sit stitch. After coming back from last weekend's fun retreat in Shipshewana I am having a hard time in getting back to my chores around the house. All I want to do is sit and stitch. Okay, I still sat and stitched and didn't get to all of the chores I needed to do this weekend but I did get out and ran a lot of errands that I never can find time to do during the weekend.

Well, Josie and Brinkley are telling me it is time for bed. Hope you found time to stitch and I will be checking your blogs to see what you did.

Weekend Retreat

2011-10-12T17:31:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I spent a wonderful weekend away in Shipshewana Indiana at a retreat by "Inspired Needle". It is a wonderful weekend of lots of stitching and shopping. The weather was great and the decorations around the hotel were amazing. Here are some gourds that were outside of the entrance.

If you want to see more pictures from the retreat take a look at Laura's blog:

http://maudeandmozart.blogspot.com/

She did a great job of walking around and capturing what everyone was working on. I was late getting to the retreat on Friday and missed out on the ornament exchange. No problem. I loved what I made and now this is mine......

We got time on Saturday to do a bit of shopping around town. I happened to be in a home store and ran across an item that I thought would make a great holder for my stitching patterns and look nice sitting on my end table. I think it is a recipe or photo holder.

Here is what it looks like holding my pattern.

On Friday night I worked on Prairie Moon Pattern that I have been progressing on. Well, now I am busy removing all of the stitches I put in last week while watching Grey's Anatomy. UGH.....

I did start a new project over the weekend. I am glad I purchased a new light that was stronger than the one I took. This is Fall's Gifts by Carriage House Samplings. I bought it several years ago while on vacation visitning local cross stitch stores. Look up this pattern, it is amazing.

I bought a really pretty magnet from Puffin & Company. I had to use it now for October. Isn't this cute.

We got to work on a really neat pin cushion from "Just Another Button Company". The best part was we got the ice cream to eat first. Yummy

Since I got home the only project that I have had a chance to work on is Mardi Gras by Laura Perin. I just love working on this one.

Finally, here is the progress update for the "ABC Girl Club". First up is Ellen:

She has gotten her first letter block done. Congrats Ellen.... You are doing Great....

Well, as for Terry or myself we have more work to do to finish up a letter. My pumpkin has not changed since last week and I know Terry is still trying to work on hers. Hopefully we will have better progress updates next month and get a chance to head off Ellen.

Happy Stitching New Blog Buddies.....

There is Fall in The Air

2011-10-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful time to sit and stitch. Happy Fall!!!! I just wished I had more hours each day in which to get my projects done. I love the fall time and the projects I have lined up. Here is my progress on Prairie Moon project.

If you are working on this project or getting ready to start it I have found a few items that are in the photo and not correctly graphed. So, watch picture of the design closely against the pattern.

Also, I just couldn't wait to start a new Laura Perin design. This is called Mardi Gras. I love the design, colors, and challenges.

This photo doesn't really capture the color of this project. Here is the full design photo from the pattern.

To keep up with all of the projects I have going on I pickup a different one each time I sit down to stitch. That way I feel like I am starting or progressing on an exciting design. When I keep working on the same project every time I get that burned out feeling because I am not seeing my progress as I should.

Here is my progress on the newest Loose Feathers from Blackbird Designs. I cannot wait to see the next part to this project.

Hey ABC Prairie Schooler Stitchy Gals, it is time for you to send me your progress updates. Send it to me over the weekend and I will get it posted next week unless either one of you are ready yet to start your own BLOGS.....

I find myself getting up on Sundays and spending the morning hours working on this. Doing over one requires me to have eyes that are fully rested. By time I get done working on this my eyes always need rest.

Yesterday I go the recent copy of "Just Cross Stitch" for Nov/Dec 2011. I just fell in love with this project and have added it to my list of "Got to do in 2011". I love the cardinals in the photo and the colors being used are just amazing. This is called Red Birds by Marie Barber. This design reminds me of an old fashion post card.

Sorry for the bad picture. Kind of hard to hold the magazine and camera at the same time.

Well, I am going to sign off with a picture of a secret I have been working on. This package contains an ornament that I recently completed for a swap. Once this has taken place I will let you see my handy work. I am so excited with this. Not only did I create on this project but I finished it also. That doesn't happen to often around here but with all the recent tutorials being posted I found the instructions on how to do it. It came out great. Trust me....

Enjoy your weekend and happy stitching.....

We Remember

2011-09-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

Here is our downtown just now preparing for a memorial of Sept 11th. This is a day that will live with all of us forever.

The flag is being held up by our ladder firetrucks across the square downtown as the prepare to have the memorial.

This weekend I got together with my friends to start the Prairie Schooler "ABC Girl Club". We are all working on different letters from the Prairie Schooler Letter Charts. We have decided that since we cannot get together to stitch that we will report in on the 10th of each month with our progress. Hopefully this will help us all drive towards achieving this project as timely as possible.

First up is Ellen, she got a head start on us. She is working on Letter A and is doing her letters vertically.

25 count Lugana - Bone

Working Vertically

Next up is Terry, she is starting at the bottom with Letter Z. Here is her progress from last night.

28 Count Lugana - Potato

Working Horizontally

And lastly here is my progress. I basted my material so I can jump around. Since Halloween is my favorite I selected J for Jack-O-Lantern.

25 Count Lugana - Potato
Working Horizontally

Today the weather is perfect for relaxing and stitching the day away. Hopefully my eyes will hold out. I have so many projects underway that I just don't know where to start.

Enjoy your day as you think about Sept 11th..... God Bless America.......

First Finish - LJP Design

2011-09-06T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hurray, I finally finished my first Laura J Perin Design. It is called Sunflower Star. When I selected and started this one a long time ago I selected colors to match the sunflower design in my kitchen. This is so funny. I finally get this done and guess what, we are in the process of painting and changing the kitchen. It will no longer be sunflowers. Oh well, I still love this design and will find another place for it in my home. As to how to finish it is still a mystery. I truly enjoy Laura's designs and have a couple others to do. I have been good, I haven't purchased any new ones until I finish the two I have kitted and ready to go.

Here is my finish..... Whooo Hooo!!!!!

I am still working on my halloween cross stitch project by Prairie Moon. My progress is going slow on it but what else it new. This truly is the time of year that I love to sit and stitch all day. That means nothing else gets done around the house. In fact, the dogs continue to watch me and hope that I will stop at anytime and play with them. Don't worry, they still get lots of attention.

I leave you to continue my stitchy fun....

Halloween Feeling and Giveaway

2011-08-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

Isn't it amazing all of the new Halloween patterns that are coming out and what fun it is to see everyone busy working on them. I found the following Giveaway that you just have to go over and look at:

http://countrycreationsbydenise.blogspot.com/

This is so adorable. It will be given away on Sept 1st. Good luck everyone but I hope I win it.

I spent some time working on Prairie Moon halloween pattern. I noticed an error in the pattern and by following the picture I put the missing items in. I hope they look okay. It is around the skull head. The line above it was not on the pattern or the crosses.

I cannot wait to stitch the new Blackbird Design Halloween Eve. I think this one will be close to the size of the one I did of theirs a few years ago.

Good luck on your projects.

Picture Stitched

2011-08-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

If you saw my last blog you saw that my SIL stitched up a picture of our church window for my mother. Well, she surprised me last week with a stitched picture of my puppies. What a treat. Take a look:

She used a software from a website www.myphotostitch.com. This is amazing. It is a perfect picture of Josie and Brinkley. I love it. And again, this one is also done on 14 count vinyl and done in one week. All I can say is she is very talented and amazing. THANK YOU SIS.....

Here is my progress on the latest Loose Feathers. Heads up there is a mistake that was found in the pattern and you can get this information from Blackbird's blog on my blog list.

This is a short blog so I can get some stitching time in before bedtime.

Latest Stitching Progress

2011-07-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

When it is so hot outside there is nothing better than curling up on the sofa in a cool house stitching. I have finally found some time in the past couple of evenings to pickup my sewing. Course, I had to make a few trips to the LNS to get some new projects to work on even though I still have tons in my stash to get accomplished. Added to my started projects are:

The latest Loose Feathers - Summer from Blackbird Designs.

I started this Sunday evening. I think this is going to be a lot fun since the next two releases of the series will be added onto this piece of fabric. Cool idea.

Next up is Thine is the Trick and the Treat by Prairie Moon.

I love this fabric which is called "Relic". I am using something new for me from ThreadWorx. The color is an overdyed Black. It looks great. This is how much I got done on Saturday after getting home from the LNS with my new purchase.

The prior weekend I spent time with my friends at a stitching retreat. JBW and Lizzie Kate were the teachers. What a great time. I did get the project done from JBW. It is a really neat needle case that is very easy to stitch up and is in a completed needle roll. What a great idea for those that are not as handy doing finishing. That's me!!!!!

It is always so much fun to spend stitchy time with the girls. I just wished we had more stitching events to go to that are close to home like this one was.

The last item I cannot wait to share with you is a special project that my SIL completed for my mother. The picture used for this project was the stain glass window at our church. She took a photo of it and sent it away to be charted. What else is really neat is this was done on 14 count vinyl. AMAZING.....

The detail on this is perfect. She had to add in a lot of outlining to accent each piece of glass that is in this window. I never thought this could be done on 14 count. I am so used to linen that I couldn't imagine doing this on anything else to get the effect of the window that she did.

Hope you are all staying cool in the awful heat. You know it is bad when you cannot get your dogs to outside. They are totally happy staying in front of the vent letting the cool air blow over their fur.

Royal Wedding Giveaway

2011-04-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

Go over to "Chris Cross Corner" for this lovely giveaway.

What a lovely tribute to the wonderful wedding yesterday. I still am watching all of the shows repeating the events.

Here is Chris Cross Corner blog : http://xxstitcherxx.blogspot.com/

Royal Wedding Watch is Closer....

2011-04-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

I guess tomorrow will be a very long day since to watch the Royal wedding will require getting up at 3am. Hope you enjoy the wedding as much as we will.

Here is my progress on Sunflower Star by Laura Perin. I just love this design so much. After I get this one done I have couple others in my stash that I cannot wait to start.

And lastly here is my very slow progress on "Soar Sampler". I have to say that working with a very dark fabric is a challenge. It is taking a bit longer to progress but with all the rain we are having I think there will be more stitching time in my future this weekend.

The other item that is also slowing me down this week is that a book I have been waiting for from the library came in. It is called the "The Paris Wife". Since I only have 14 days to read it in on my Nook I have to get it done. There are several people behind me that have it on hold which means I cannot renew it if I don't get it done. So, now you can see why my stitching is a bit behind this week.

Enjoy the wedding and the weekend.

Happy Easter

2011-04-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

Winner

2011-04-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

Wow, after all the times that I have entered blog giveaways I have finally won one. Just Another Button Company had a wonderful giveaway on their blog on the 15th. Here is my winning:

What a wonderful end to a really bad day. Thank you Just Another Button Compay.......

http://justanotherbuttoncompany.blogspot.com/

Soar Sampler

2011-04-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend I started a SAL with Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle & Thread. Here is my progress today on this sampler called "Soar".

This project was started due to the recent birth of three baby eagles in Iowa. Here is link to the blog to see the camera feed.

http://blog.syracuse.com/outdoors/2011/04/see_the_first_baby_eagle_hatch.html

Brenda sold this design to raise money for the Rapture Resource Project. Follow her blog weekly to see the progress we are all making on this project. There is a link to her blog at the bottom of my blog links.

Enjoy and come back to see my updated progress. I can promise you it won't be very fast since stitching on dark fabric is a challenge.

Slow Progress

2011-04-11T17:58:00.000-07:00

It is always amazing to look at all the stitching blogs and see how fast you all stitch. Well, if you are waiting and looking at mine you can take a nice long catnap. Sometimes it is so hard to find the time to sit down and stitch. We have been busy with the day to day activities of life and by time I find a few minutes to sit down and stitch it is around bedtime. Course, my favorite time to stitch is early on Sunday morning during all of the wonderful cooking shows. I won't even mention how bad I am at updating my blog. I think you know if I update it at least once a month I am doing good.

Here is my current progress on the three projects that I have going on:

Flag Day by With Thy Needle

Winter Wonderland by Blackbird Designs

Sunflower Star by Laura Perin

It is funny to look at the first one - Flag Day and imagine it would look better if I got her head done. This one is going slow for me since I am using a frame to stitch on. I am use to stitching without one so that I can sew instead of stab. This one is going to look really nice once I get it done.

Recently DH and I spent a weekend in Kohler, Wisc at The American Club. Kohler has a really neat design center of all their fixtures, sinks, tubs, and toilets. What is really special is that hotel also has some of the really neat products in the rooms. Our room had the most beautiful sinks. Isn't this the neatest!!!

We had a wonderful time and used this weekend to celebrate the event of getting engaged 20 years ago. The hotel was so sweet and made us a treat with our dinner to celebrate.

We will have to go back in two years when we are ready to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary. I hope they don't remember us so we can do this treat again.

Okay, need to hit some stitching time before bedtime and make better progress of my 2011 project list. Have a good weekend and enjoy your stitching time.

What Did You Work On This Weekend?????

2011-03-06T17:30:00.000-08:00

I had a great weekend of working on projects. So, what did I do?

Friday I spent time working on a UFO project that I put into my bag of 15 projects for 2011. I am working on Winter Wonderland by Blackbird Designs.

I have finished one old project from the bag which is another Loose Feather's design from Blackbird Designs but I haven't taken a picture of it yet. It was my first finish for 2011 in January but being that I am a very slow blogger it has been updated to my blog yet. Need to capture a good shot of it and update my accomplishments for 2011.

On Saturday I went with my BFF to a class that we are taking of a design by Crabapple Hill Designs called Over the River and Through the Woods. We are quilting squares and painting. On Saturday we learned how to use fabric markers to highlight the coloring with crayons that we did. Here is a small example of what I worked on. The tree on the left has both crayon and fabric marker on it. The tree on the right is only with crayon. This is lots of fun but very time consuming.

On Sunday I was looking around at blogs and saw a few neat designs of needlework that made me go looking for a project that I started years ago and have left in a box wasting away. It is a design by Laura Perin called Sunflower Star. I have a lot of it done and it is terrible that I have never picked it back up to finish. Well, now is the time.

Recently I had the chance to go to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to see the Colonial Embroidery display. I feel in love with all of the samplers on display. Here is done by a Prudence Clark that she did in 1757 when see was 11 years old. This is so amazing.

We had such a wonderful weekend. Here is a shot of the park next to our hotel. It looked so pretty.

Course, it was the weekend before Valentine's Day and this really added to the beauty of the weekend.

We have had so much snow around here that I think we are really ready for SPRING. Course, I think Brinkley is becoming a huge snow lover.

Well, I am leaving this blog to spend more time stitching and watching my favorite show "The Amazing Race". Go Cowboys.....

Finish to 2010

2010-12-31T10:33:00.000-08:00

It is so hard to believe that Christmas has come to an end and we will be starting a new year. I wanted to make sure that I did one final posting for 2010 of a finish so I worked at completing Christmas Eve by Prairie Schooler. I am very excited with the finish and debating on whether to put this into a box top or just to frame it.

Also, I have not been good on providing any updates on A to Z Snowmen project. We did have our last class at the beginning of the month but due to the holidays and other issues the project got set aside. Before putting it down I did complete Q.

I am planning on working hard to get it completed before February so that I can take a hand quilting class and learn how to finish this project by hand. I think this will be a good finish for this project.

There have been several postings on many different blogs about the 2011 January Challenge. I did think about it and did put together two stitching bags. One contains 15 new kitted projects and the other contains 15 UFOs that are anywhere from 5% complete up to 85% complete. I know that tomorrow I will pull out a new project and start it since that is suppose to be the tradition. After that I am trying to figure out if I switch between the two bags and see if that will work in helping me to complete more projects for 2011. Someone stated on their blog that they completed 58 projects in 2010. WOW, how is that possible. Looking at what I did for 2010 I look like a beginner. Completing three projects and working on the A to Z quilt sounds awful. So, my goal for 2011 is to hit at least 15 projects as the challenge states. This is a huge step for me and will require resourceful use of my free time in doing this. Free time, well that is the other problem. I think I dream more of stitching than I actually do since during my sleep is about all of the free time I have.

We hope your holiday was wonderful and I will leave you with a picture of two doggies that Santa spoiled this year. They had so much fun on Christmas Eve that they fell asleep under the tree even though gifts were still being exchanged and Christmas music was filling the air.

Happy New Year and I am very excited to see what new designs and projects come our way in 2011.

November Snowman Progress

2010-11-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

Wow, almost forgot to stop all of my stitching progress and update my blog for the past several weeks. I have been so busy concentrating on getting A to Zzzz Snowmen done that I forgot to let you in on my progress. Next month is our last class and we will be getting the last two letters. I am anxious to find out more about finishing this into a quilt for next year's Christmas decorations. We did discuss a bit about doing some hand quilting and since this is not my area of expertise I think I will give it a try. We did get the material for the inner border and it is amazing. It is candy canes.

Instead of showing each of the following letters that I have finished I have put them into a grouping so that it will be easier for me to post.

I forced myself to go back to the letter E and F and finish up the fly stitch that I really didn't feel good at doing. After getting it done I am a bit happier. The letter M for Mittens is done except for the fly stitch so I need to pull it back out and get it done also. This project has been so much fun that I have signed up for another one next year at the same shop. This time we are going to color the designs instead of stitch them. So, stay tuned to hear about my ability to color.

A couple of weekends ago I did set aside a fun weekend just devoted to cross stitch. I pulled out Christmas Eve that I had recently gotten the material and threads for from Shepherd Bush. They had a picture on their blog of a conversion of the material and threads that I just loved. I am almost done with it and hope to finish it up on "BLACK FRIDAY" evening. I figured this would be a good treat for relaxing after a busy Thanksgiving week. Here is what I have done so far.

I was waiting for a good bright day to take a picture of my "Skeleton Crew" that I had done by Jill Rensel in Utah. Today seemed like a good day but it looks like my shot is a bit blurry. Sorry, but I think you can still see how wonderful this project looks with the great matting, cutouts, and frame. It will be sad to put this away until next year.

I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving. May your travels and time together be a safe and happy time.

Another Snowman Weekend

2010-10-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

Before I show you my recent project completions I have to say that my picture quality tonight is really bad and I am way too tired to redo them. Sorry......

I have to thank the ladies at Michael's for their help in framing my picture "Cloths Make the Man". I just love it and cannot wait to set it out for the holidays. This picture doesn't show you the wonderful colors of the mats and the beautiful frame. It is amazing.

The frame is silver but has a few color tones in it that helps to pickup all of the each of the lovely snowmen. I put little black buttons on each of the snowmen which really makes their outfits pop. Not sure which one is my favorite but I have to say that the Captain has really grabbed my attention.

I did have some success on my Redwork project. Here is J, N, and an update on C that was missing a candy cane.

Tonight I started working my Halloween decorations. I have only gotten a few items up but I wanted to share them with you. Again, these are very dark but I have to admit it looks great in the family room.

I am so excited to have finished a couple of Blackbird designs for fall. I have to work on getting more done for Christmas.

Well, the doggies are wanting some playtime before we all go to sleep. Have a great evening and enjoy your stitching time.