Trying to Catch Up.

Again family health issues have occupied my mind, while I wasn't in the right frame of mind to post here I have been stitching of course. Just so you know everyone is again healthy. Stitching always keeps me some what sane.
Since my last post I have worked on a few oldies and a couple of newbies. On my Brooke Books Advent Animals, I added Pierre Penguin

I also added the August fairy to my afghan, September is  (coming soon)

The latest installment for the Wednesday We Stitch Black SAL from The Primitive Hare was completed.

This was as you can see in honor of the blue moon in July. Wow! I have fallen behind, will have to do August installment soon.
Up next, a couple of finishes, this one I named Bats, Bats and more Bats(freebie).  I apologize to the great designer but for the life of me I can not remember who it is at the moment, I will continue to search for that information to share but here is the my version, stitched on 28ct Cashel called Crystal Brash.

I think a lot of stitchers can identify with this next design from Jeremiah Junction (another freebie) stitched on pink 14ct aida.

This cutie is a Joan Elliot stitched on a 20 ct linen from Legacy.  I saw an article about this fabric and was curious, so I inquired at my LNS (In-Stitches) and I was given a sample to try.  The fabric reminds me of burlap but is a lot softer and it is easy to see even without a magnifier. 

I used a combination of #5 perle cottons and 4 strands of regular cotton flosses from DMC. 

I had a couple of other new starts, one is again another freebie this time a SAL, it can be found at my good friend Connie Gee's blog.

Each diamond design is stitched with your own choice of colors. I have been using DMC variations and variegated, I'm loving the way these are turning out.

 I have been in a birthday card exchange this year and I shared the cards I received for my birthday but couldn't share the ones I've made so far until now. Here are the first three.

  

This exchange has been so much fun, I've learned some new craft skills in the process.
Last but not least is a new start "The Swim Instructor" from the Cricket Collection (freebie).

Those are all of the stitching I have done in my absence from posting, hopefully I will get a lot better with my updates. 

This next thing is not actual stitching but you will love it.  I am going to my very first retreat next month and I will be hitching a ride with friends and have to pack light, so I decided I needed a table stand to stitch with that is light weight and takes up next to no space.  I searched the internet and found a video on You Tube-Flosstube and I have become a subscriber of Pam Reid. This wonderful lady shared how to make my newest lap/tabletop frame. 

It is made completely of 1/2" PVC pipe and connectors from Home Depot, the cost... under $7.00

The clips are regular q-snap clips. 

Well I hope I haven't bored you to death if there is anyone still reading.  I appreciate all of you for stopping by and will share more soon.  Got to go make some more wonderful little xxs.

August IHSW

This will seem like the same post as the last but look closer, yes I worked on my Joan Elliott, Sea Goddess.  I finished her right hand and the seahorse along with some flowing seaweed.  This little progress was well over-due and I can't wait to make more. Thank you for stopping by, going to make some more of those wonderful little xxs.

July Second (Blue Moon) Wipocalypse

Did you know a blue moon isn't really blue? Unless you are seeing it through a volcano plume,it's the same color as normal. Blue moons occur because the solar and lunar calendars don't sync up and we end up with two full moons in one month, which is occurring tonight. They are pretty rare, so rare the next one won't happen until 2018. What this all has to do with cross stitch... well in the blog world we have what is called Wipocalypse on each full moon, this is when we share our WIPS (works in progress) and it's hosted by Measi, in addition we have been given a discussion topic and this one is: "It's a blue moon today, show us your favorite wip that features a lot of blue". I only have two blue wips and I really can't choose which is my favorite. One is "Sea Goddess" by Joan Elliott, the fabric was a birthday gift a few years ago and I saved it for just that perfect design and this was the one. It's like looking through dappled sunlight into the deep blue sea.

My other blue wip is called "Tranquil Seas" by Anne MacGregor,  her beautiful design from a Cross Stitch Gold magazine and it will be made into a honeycomb cushion just as it is shown in the magazine. I love this design because it is the first and only project that I have used actual silk threads along with specialty stitches.

Since this is wipocalypse I have other things to share for this month. 

You've seen the first part of the needle book up, top is the front and back completely stitched from "The Primitive Hare", a couple of little mermaids from "The Little Stitcher" a summer SAL piece "Sweet Rose" from LHN and Miss Grimilde also from "The Primitive Hare". In the picture below that is July Fairy from Lucy Heaton SAL. I stitched a couple of other things this month but they are gifts and will be shared at a later date. I really need to get back to stitching soon, I've got one last goal for the month of July and it's to add Cashmere Camel to my Brooke Nolan "Advent Animal Collection".

There are still some xxs left to do before this day is over, so until next time, thank you for stopping by.

July TUSAL

There are some mystery orts in my July TUSAL, you will just have to guess what I stitched because I can't share they're gifts. So here's my ort jar a little small but almost full.

Thanks for visiting! :-)

It's Wipocalypse Time Again

Believe it or not I'm on time...yay for me! Okay lets get started I've got a lot to share. I have to confess there are a few things I worked on this month that I can't share they are for a birthday card exchange and haven't been seen yet so those will come later. Here is a little something that I finish since my last post

and now for the rest of the wip that received attention,

Hattie Hedgehog was added to my Advent Animals from Brooke's Books. 

My June Fairy from Lucie Heaton was added to my afghan, I love her rose.

 This is a new design I just picked up at Stitch Night last night, it's by The Nebby Needle I think I'll be changing the thread color on that one.

This is the June design in the Wednesday We Stitch Black SAL from The Primitive Hare, can't wait to see what she has in store for us this month.

This month's discussion topic from Measi was "Reality or Fantasy, which do you prefer to stitch? Figures or Abstract?" Well take a look around my craft room...

what do you think? I love stitching figures and fantasy especially. I think trying to stitch portraits may be a little frustrating for me.  I am blessed to say that I recently celebrated my 58th birthday and some very good friends of mine stitched and handcrafted these beautiful cards for me and I just had to share them.

Well I think that is all for now, stay tuned there will be another full moon and Wipocalypse at the end of the month and I will hopefully have more to share and also another discussion topic. Thank you all for visiting and I hope you enjoyed yourself.

IHSW Reporting...

Late as usual.  I don't know why I am always late these days, but it is definitely better than never or not at all.  Well this IHSW I worked on this piece called "Sunday Mornin"  it is from a booklet by Alma Lynn Designs.  A little more lettering to do and it will be another for the finish pile.

Need to get crackin' in case the lights go out in the storm we're having. Thanks for stopping by xxs.

Couple of days late for TUSAL...

but I'm here. With the assistance of Mr Jenkins and my trusty little scissors, this is my TUSAL for the month of June.

Join me for more fun this coming weekend as I make more orts for next months TUSAL during the IHSW (International Hermit and Stitch Weekend). I love xxs.

June 2015- Wipocalypse

It's time to share again...so lets get started. First I'll tell you what I didn't touch in my wip bag this month: Brooke Nolan-Advent Animals, I wanted to but other things kept calling me, Dare to be Daniel,  Rose Sampler, Three Kimonos, Sea Goddess, Trick and the Treat and Tranquil Seas you saw that progress last month. I did manage to make some progress on The Primitive Hare- Wednesday We Stitch Black SAL- Prim Witch

and I also made progress on my Lucie Heaton- Calendar Fairies, this is June.

This months question was "Do you find yourself more productive with your stitching in the summer or winter?"  Seeing as how I'm always stitching I can't really tell but I would guess it is the winter because I hate going out when it's cold and snowy.
I had a couple of new starts this past month

This one is ready to be sewn together.

This is part of a Facebook SAL it's from Little House Needlework, and it is called The Patriotic SAL.

Last month we didn't have a question or topic for discussion so I made up my own and it was to make  a list of things that I wanted to finish in the month of May. I had seven items and as you can see below they are all scratched off...yes I finished them all.

You've already seen Namasta finished and sewn to a hand crafted yoga mat bag for my daughter, in my last post.

Here is the sampler I made and framed as a memorial for my granddaughter Troy, also for my daughter.

I stitched the last face for the Joan Elliott Mystery SAL and attached all of the beads.

I mounted May's calendar girl for May and I've also mounted Junes and it is now on display.

I attached all of the beads required on my Papillon Creations- Around the World in 80 Stitches, it just needs a very large frame.

I finished and mailed this birthday card to a friend in a Facebook group exchange. It has been received so I can show it.  The stitching was okay but my card making skills hopefully will improve.

Last but not least is Idelia Mae Rich, totally complete.

This frame was a lucky find at one of my local thrift-stores and I think it's perfect for her. 

I think my list making worked out pretty good, I have another for the month of June, again wish me luck. Okay! I think I have bored you enough for one post so I will say good evening and thank you all for stopping by. Got to go make some more wonderful little xxs.