Oops, Forgotten Finish

In all of my excitement to post today I forgot one item.  I recently got back a finished item from Inspired Needle. 

This is Spring Robin by "Widgets and Wool Primitives" that I did in silks.  I was at an open stitching day at Inspired Needle and the group came up with the fabric and fibers for this design.  It turned out great and I love the green chenille and plaid used to finish this.

If you want to do this one call Cathy at Inspired Needle to see if she has anymore kitted up.

Busy Stitcher's Life

Happy Sunday,

Wow, since my last blog I have had a crazy life and sorry that has totally prevented me from doing my most favorite things.  Stitching time has started to get back on track so I had to find time to update my blog.  I really don't know how some of you get time to do as many updates as you do and still get on with life.  You guys are my hero's and help to keep me motivated to at least have a blog.

It is a quiet Sunday here at home and the kids (Brinkley and Josie) are keeping cool close to the air vents so that they can slumber peacefully.

It is so much fun to have a quiet and peaceful Sunday.  At least that provides me with some good stitching time.  I am currently working on Little House Needleworks "Brave Hearts".

I saw this done back in June in the home of Jan Alexander and just had to run home and pull it out of my stash to work on.  Course, when you look at your stash you always find many others that you just have to get moving on.  I hope to have this one done in the next week and will also stitch up "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by LHN on the same fabric.  The fabric is from Tree of Life Linens (Jan Alexander) called Roasted Hickory Nut - 32 count.  The picture just doesn't give you a true view of the colors.  Maybe after it is finished and framed you will be able to see it better.

Back in June I attended Jan's retreat.  I had a great time stitching with old and new friends.  I got a few finishes done that we stitched up prior to the retreat.

It really felt good to come home with a finished project.  Here is Jan with Ellen and myself.

I still need to keep working on the sampler project.  I really don't have much done to show you so stay tuned.  Course, I need to get off of my patriotic mood of stitching.  My buddies would say that that would be mission impossible since that is my most favorite stitching theme.

Once I got home from TOLS retreat I found that my first ever adventure in the world of Ebay auctions had arrived.  Here is a Clark's Spool cabinet from the 1800's.

It is amazing.  It will need a bit cleaning done on it since it was found in an old sewing store's storage.  It has not been touched which will make it even more valuable to me.  I have been wanting one of these for years course if I ever find one that has John Clark(e) on it I will need to have to add it to my collection since that is part of my family name for many generations.  So if you ever see one please let me know about it.

This weekend I did attend another retreat in Downer's Grove by Tomorrow's Heirlooms.  We had Lori from La D Da and Linda from Chessie N Me as our teachers.  The event was great and the projects are amazing. 
 

Well, I have had lots of fun lately and you can see why I got behind in my blogging.  For those of you reading this and don't have a blog (you know I know who you are Cindy or Pat) leave me a note to tell me you at least read this blog update.

Lastly, I think you might remember that I started ABC Prairie School stitching with a group of friends.  Well, only one has been providing me with updates and I have really let mine slip away and need to pick it back up.  But for Ellen I really needed to show you her amazing progress. 



Ellen has finished her third letter.  Way to GO.....  I am still on my first. Darn, I need to find a way to add this into my monthly rotation.

Well, the kids are starting to rise and I think I have provided you with enough to see what has been going on.  Take care and enjoy your week.

They Are Here!!! They Are Here!!!

Yesterday was the best day ever!!!!  If you remember back to my last long ago posting I mentioned that I had something special coming up.  Well, I took a trip to Ogden, Utah to have Jill Rensel frame a project for me.  Well, it didn't end up being just one, it turned into 4.  I am so excited and cannot wait to share the pictures she took.  Since her pictures are better than anything I could do I am going to post her's.

Aren't they amazing!!!! Trust me, seeing them in person in my home is even better than what I could have ever imagined.  I started out wanting to just do Tis the Season from Blackbird Designs since I had seen it at Jill's shop a couple of years ago.  But since I was making the trip out and had a few extra to take I went for it.  I am so pleased and her work is so amazing.

Last weekend we went antique shopping and I found some of the most amazing FROGS.  I love the colors and the different styles.  Depression glass is so amazing.

The one in the middle is very unique in coloring.  It really wasn't part of the frog but since I found one that the frog would fit into I just couldn't pass it by.

I love the green base on the bottom.  Now I need to find a good way to display these and I guess I will be buying lots of scissors to fill them.

Last item I want to show you is my Easter Parade that Kathy from Inspired Needle framed for me.  I found the frame in her shop and thought this would be a good match for this design.  Thank you Kathy, I just love it.

Hope you find lots of time to stitch and enjoy the weekend.  I am outside enjoying the warmth and also watching the house wrens taking care of their babies and feeding them constantly.  It is so neat to listen to the babies calling out for food.

Spring Finishes

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

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

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

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.