Monday, April 16, 2012

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.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

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.....

Sunday, February 5, 2012

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.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Happy Holidays

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.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

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, November 4, 2011

Friday Update

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.