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

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

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

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

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.

Redwork Update

Finally sat down and worked hard to finish another letter on my A-Z Snowmen project. Here is "I". I just love the way he turned out.

This project has to go into high speed since it is getting ready to end and I am so far behind. If only I could stitch a letter a day I would be all caught up.

Well, outside of being behind on the snowmen I did enjoy time in Park City, Utah attending Shepherd's Bush retreat. I took classes from Shepherd's Bush, R&R Reproductions, and Thread Gatherer. Also at this retreat was Blackbird Designs, Charland, and Jeanette Douglas. If you ever get a chance to attend this retreat please do. It is a great way to meet designers and hear more about the work they do.

Prior to the retreat on Thursday we made our way into Ogden and stopped at the studio of Jill Rensel. This is were I dropped off my picture of the "Skeleton Crew" for framing. Jill had one on display that she just framed and it was amazing. As soon as I get the picture of my friend's camera I will post it on this blog. I cannot wait for mine to come back. I did see other projects framed and I have to admit that I have more to get done and take back for framing in 2012.

Here are the pictures of the projects.

This first one is the class project from Shepherd's Bush. I just love this one.

The second class of the retreat was a project bag to stitch from R&R Reproduction. This is my friend Ellen holding it up and also very excited to stitch hers. Too bad you cannot see her smiling face.

Our last class was with Thread Gatherer and what a neat project. It is a scrapbook with fabric and includes a bit of cross stitch and lots of dyed threads. My mind is racing with ideas on how to put the pages inside of this book together. We got the supplies to do this front and back pages.

I know if you search around many a few other blogs you will find some really great pictures of the other projects from the retreat. So much to do and so little time to fit it all in

We had a wonderful trip and got to see some really spectacular sites. We spent an afternoon on Antelope Island and got these great shots of bison and antelopes.

Well, letter J is calling my name and this is a really good night to sit and stitch.

Snowmen

The weekend is over and I did finish a project that involves snowmen but just not my redwork project A-Z Snowmen. Here is what I did finish.

I spent time over the weekend going through a few bags that contained UFO's. When I ran across this one that was short one snowman at the end I figured it was possible to finish this up in time to drop off at Michael's to be framed at 60% off. Thanks to Connie at The Spinster Stitcher I found the sale. So, off today I went to Michael's with The Cross-Eyed Cricket's "A Well-Dressed Man". I started this picture several years ago during time off for surgery. Once I went back to all of my regular activities which included night classes this project went back into a bag and got lost in the bin of UFO's. So, another weekend gone and many more lost hours on my redwork project. So, cross your fingers that I get some time and attention back to it.

With the fall weather approaching so quickly and nights getting darker earlier all I can think about is sitting and stitching. Hope all of your projects are going well.

Thanks for the comments on my last posting. I know that I have been a bad blogger but I am working on becoming a better blogger and faster stitcher.

Finished Picture

Happy Dance.... Here it is. I am so excited to have this done. I really loved the way it turned out. I did the skeletons in glow in the dark threads. The thread is awful to work with but it is really neat to see the skeletons glowing at night.


I found my Prairie Schooler project "Christmas Eve" that I had on my WIP listing. So, here is my next UFO to complete. I figured it was better to get a Christmas picture done at this time since it will probably take me into November to finish this. Yes, that is right, why? I have the Redwork A - Z Snowman project to complete also and it is going to get my full attention this weekend. I hope to get letters I and J done this weekend and give you a progress update on Monday. So, hold me to it. Your comments and support will help me reach this. So leave me a COMMENT.... I know you are reading my blog since I can see the number increasing on visitors....

Well, the dogs are fighting over their food bowls tonight and I have to go and put an end to it. Silly dogs, they both have the exact food in the bowls. Why can't they get along and just eat their food like good little Shelties..... Wow, the fight just hit a high, had to run and put an end to it. Off to bed early someone goes and it won't be me. I want to watch TV and stitch for fun.

Hurry weekend, I need more stitching time.....