Am I Crazy or What?

I have been having some really crazy idea lately. I got the idea in my head that I could do this chart called Spring Heart with a lot of specialty stitches in it and to top it off I would do this design on black fabric.  I started on a piece of linen with DMC Satin floss (the first mistake) I frogged that out so I wouldn’t ruin the fabric, the second start was on 14ct Aida and I soon learned that it is really hard to make specialty stitches on Aide so I frogged that out.  The saying that “the third time is the charm” is true I started for a third time on 25 ct Lugana with the regular cotton DMC floss and voila! 

The chart is a freebie from http://olgamaxden.blogspot.com/ and I really enjoyed stitching it.  However this next crazy idea was put into my head a week ago at my Wednesday stitch-night.  It is a mystery SAL by Papillon Creations called “Around the World in 80 Stitches”, I got the supply list and gathered what I needed. I’m using a 28ct even weave called “Dusty  Green”, 8 DMC floral colors of my choice + a dk, md & lt green.  I’ll have to see if some of the beads I already have will fit before I decide on the two I need.  This is my floss toss, I think I did okay.

As soon as the first section was available I ordered and received my first of 24 monthly installments, I’m excited and a little scared.   This brings my WIPs to a whopping total of 8, something I have never done before and is the reason I posed the question (Am I crazy or what?).

Instead of another of my figurines by Anne Lee, I thought I would share a one of a kind piece by a young artist.  This one is actually my most prized possession.

Mama's Mug by DD 1993

Well that’s about all for now, thanks to all my followers and readers keep those comments coming, I love them.  I’m off to make some wonderful little xxs.

WIPOCALYPSE-APRIL 2012

I just have a short post, I didn’t stick to my rotation as much this month so all of my WIPs didn’t get any attention but here’s the list:  Rose Sampler, Three Kimonos, Black & White and African Women got not attention and have no progress to report. I completely unstitched the heart I was stitching on black Aida to be restarted on black 25ct Lugana soon.  I had two finishes my soldier memorial and Random Threads that was posted last week.  That leaves the progress on “His Name is Jesus and the Champagner.

As it stands today

before

after

It is now officially spring and Easter weekend so my garden gnomes have come ready to start work (at least one of them has) in my balcony rail planter which as you can see needs lots of work. 

Flowerpot Gnomes

  I want to thank all of my followers and just readers for stopping by and leaving wonderful comments, I look forward to them every day and I want to also wish each and every one a very Happy Easter.  I’m now off to make some more wonderful little xxs.

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

I have been busy since my last post, sorry.  Last week I didn’t stitch as much but that is not to say I didn’t work on stitchy stuff.  I finished the framing of my soldier memorial and I framed “Random Threads” instead of a regular matt for RTs I decided to use some scrapbooking paper as a border in the frame.  I can’t afford to have my pieces professionally framed so I have to do them myself with store bought frames and there is never enough room for the matt, core board and the back of the frame so the scrapbooking paper worked pretty good and it’s acid free.  I did make a little progress on “His Name is Jesus” but it was time to move on in my rotation to something else.  I picked up the “Champagner”. 

Two blog related items are; I was invited by Jackie over at ScatteredThreads II to contribute on another blog, it is the Southern Roots Stitching Blog check it out.  Second I was nominated for another Liester Award, thank you Karen at The View From the StitchingChair.  I don’t think I’ll be doing the whole process over again, I really don’t know that many more bloggers to pass it on too, but I really do appreciate you thinking of me.

Over the weekend my hubby and I did some very unstitching things, we replaced the countertops in my kitchen.  We now have all new marble-like laminate counters.  The hardest part was cutting out the hole for the sink but we did it.  The first one we cut the hole too big and the sink almost fell through so we had to start over with a whole new counter.  The second time was the charm.

Last but certainly not least is a figurine that I am sure everyone can kind of relate to.  Whatever religion you belong to or faith you believe in I’m sure there is a special place you go to worship and this represents mine.  

Well today is beautiful and my hubby called and invited me to play nine holes after work so I have to go make a few xxs before then.  I want to thank you all for stopping by to visit, please leave comments I love them.

I'm a Winner!

I was selected for the Liebster Blog award by Julie over at Julie’s Blog.  I would at this time like to thank Julie and whomever  it was that first thought of this award and the acad…. sorry I got a little caught up.

Liebster is a German word, meaning favorite, dearest or beloved.  The Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other, newer bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to spread the word and help the new(er)bies gain wider recognition.

The award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting

1.        Choose five up-and-coming blogs (with fewer than 200 followers) to award the Liebster too.

2.       Show thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3.       Post the award on your blog.  List the bloggers you are giving the award too with links to their sites.  Leave comments on their blog so they know about the award.

4.       Share five random facts about yourself that people don’t know.

Well the five blogs I have selected are:

1.       Emma -  xxxstitching

2.       Chris – Chris Cross Stitch Mania

3.       MarchAnn58 – Stitching Again

4.       Jan – Stitching Cats

5.       Jackie – Scattered Threads II

The five random facts about me are:

1.       I met my husband/soul mate at the age of 12.

2.       I enlisted in the US Army when it was still the Women’s Army Corp.

3.       I have always wanted to play the piano.

4.       I always cry at sad movies, TV shows and books.

5.       I am afraid of rodents.

This was fun now we all know what time it is....time to make the little xxs.

MY MARCH TUSAL and THE GREAT SCISSORS SCAMPER

Today is the new moon and time for the March TUSAL.  Mine is being paired with another Annie Lee figurine that’s called “Bathing Mama’s Baby”.  This could have been a picture taken directly from my childhood down to the three little braids.  My TUSAL shows the finish of my soldier memorial with the metallic gold from the stars, the browns from “Random Threads”,  the blues from “His Name is Jesus” and the purple satin from my new start on “Spring Heart”. Wow what a month, I have had so much fun stitching them all.

As I was reading through several blogs the other day I found the most fun thing, thanks to “Mouse”, it is a Scissors Scamper that is being hosted by Inky over at “The Stamper’s Stitches”

http://thestampersstitches.blogspot.com/2012/03/great-scissors-scamper.html  

 Here are my scissors, I never realized I had this many.

The bigger orange ones were the work horses at my desk; they were used for everything and now are just part of the décor. They have been replaced by the gray/yellow ones.  The blue ones are my living room/stitching area work horses.  Pink- was a gift from DMC for participating in last years “Stitch Pink” program.  Golden-was a gift from my daughter a couple of Christmas’ ago.  The next are what I call my frogging shears with the little hook to clip stitches when the frogs attack. Last but not least is the newest pair that I picked up in Vegas last year that I absolutely love.  They are convenient and easy to carry with my current projects. So there you have it…my Great Scissor Scamper.

Well I’m off as usual to make some wonderful little xxs.  Thank you all for stopping by to visit and comment.

WELL THIS STITCHY WEEKEND (IHSW)

I continued to work on “His Name is Jesus” and I finished the first page.  I had just started the second page and the new start bug bit me and I had to see what this new chart would look like.

  It's what I think is a freebie from http://olgamaxden.blogspot.com/   I was directed to this blog by a friend and I am so sorry that I cannot read a single word but there are some of the most beautiful charts with these specialty stitches.  If and when I finish this start it will be for my daughter who loves purple.  I am attempting to stitch this with DMC 30552 (S552) satin floss.  Actually this is the second start of this chart, the first was on 28ct black Cashel linen and I couldn’t see the holes and got scared so I switched to 14ct black Aida.  I didn’t want to ruin the linen picking things out. 

In addition to the stitching I did some other stitch related tasks that I have let build up.  I went through and returned all of the floss colors I have used in the last three or four finishes to my stash boxes and updated my inventory, yes I keep an inventory of which colors I have.  They are mostly DMC but I do have a few WDW, Threadworx, Crescent Colors and The Gentle Arts.

Now this isn’t actually a figurine but it brought back so many memories when I first saw it I couldn’t help but buy it.  When my husband was stationed in Hawaii my now 26 year old was only in elementary school and the hottest shoe style was “Jellys”.  Talk about smelly feet, after a day at school and play I would have to clean the mud out of them every day but she loved them. The quarter is so you know that this is not the real shoe.

Well I hope everyone had a very good IHSW I sure did.  Thanks for stopping by and please come again soon.  Time to make the little xxs.

Just a short note to remind all that this is the beginning of the International Hermit & Stitch Weekend, for more info click on the adorable little crab button on my sidebar to the right.  (Yes, it's there you have to scroll down a little, see).

Also to highlight another of my figurines  “Personal Furnace”  I’m sure all you ladies like myself who are of a certain age understand this one.  However it is also how I felt yesterday because we reached 82 degrees here in Northern VA.  It is still officially winter but I have played golf in shorts, opened all the windows and turned on the fans to sleep by.  With the dry and very mild winter we have had I am predicting a sweltering summer. 

Here is what I’ve worked on lately, the first one is another finish “Random Threads” by Erica Michaels, and I found these little buttons at Michael’s the other day that fit with this piece.   Should I embellish or not?  What do you think? 

Also I have been working on “His Name is Jesus”. This is still the first page of the chart; I’m really enjoying stitching it and want to finish it before moving on in my rotation or I may just continue thru the IHSW.

Thank you all for the beautiful comments I love them so please keep them coming and visit as often as you likeJ

I’m off now to make some more wonderful little xxs.

MARCH WIPOCALYSE

I have so much to post, being a little under the weather I could only read blogs my brain was in a bit of a fog, but it’s better now, so here goes.  Here is a pictures up-date of all of my WIPs

In order from left to right, top to bottom is “His Name Is Jesus”, Rose Sampler, only one so far of the “Three Kimonos”, “African Women”, “Random Threads” (by Erica Michaels which was to be stitched on that blinding 40 ct gauze, instead I am stitching on 28 ct linen), only four of the six “Black & White” figures and last but not least “Champagner”. 

I have another finish to share; it is right off the Q-snaps so it isn’t ironed don’t look at the wrinkles, my “Soldier Memorial”.  I wanted to share the stitching part but out of respect I won’t show the soldiers name.

I wanted to also share some new stash I picked up at my LNS (In-Stitches Needlework) which by the way has a blog http://institchesshopblogspot.com/  on this past Sunday’s Nashville Market Sale.  It was so much fun to see all of the new charts, collect some freebies and door prizes, there was even a drawing.

These are from left to right and top to bottom: * Lets Sew- Ursula Michael-Imaginating Inc., A Wicket Accident – Avry TM, Mini Pineapple Stitches- Jeannette Douglas Designs,* Keep Love- Shepherds Bush, French Country Hobby Horse-JBW Designs,* Love One Another- Little House Needlworks.  * I think these were the new ones from Nashville.  As I was leaving the store some half price items caught my eye and I also bought The Drawn Thread Sampler of Stitches Part One (ABC) as I’ve said before I’m not a real big sampler person but this has a lot of specialty stitches which I like learning to do. 

Last night was stitch night at In-Stitches and I actually remembered to take a few pics of the shop before leaving, I’ll try to remember to get more the next time and may a few of the ladies I stitch with.

Well this is a kinda long post but that’s what happens when you stay away too long.  Well I’ll try to do better, I promise.  Welcome to my new followers and thank you all for stopping by.  I love reading your comments.  I’ll pick out another figurine to highlight next time.  Need to go cook something, I’m getting hungry and then to make some wonderful little xxs.

Something I had to share

I know this is very unusual for me to have two post in as many days but as I left you yesterday I was off to cook and clean before stitching.  Well I just wanted to share what I ended up having for dinner.  Now it didn't take all day and there wasn't a lot of work involved but man was it delicious. Chicken noodle soup is good anytime but this is the first time I have actually made it not out of a can.  It started with a packet of seasoning mix "Mrs. Grass Homestyle".  Instead of chicken breast (which I cook to DRY every time) I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sauteed in a little vegetable oil with onion and garlic powders. This was added to the pot of 8 cups of water, season packet (which included noodles, carrots and celery) and a couple cans of sliced mushrooms. TADAAAA!!!!

And of course a little stitching did get done.

Well you know were I'm off to now... you got it to make some of those wonderful little xxs.

PS: Welcome to my new follower and thanks all for stopping by.

Welcome March

This is how it looks when I go to Curves Zumba class, that’s me in the yellow of course.  Phew! I can’t keep up.  And you know there is always that one B__ch, person who likes to show off and the others who just do their own thing. 

These are another set of my Anne Lee figurines and that is my little story behind them they are called (1) “Stretch One & Two” (2)” Don’t Be Hating” and (3) “You Hungry?”   They always make me laugh.

OK so now let me get to my stitching updates, since my last post I have worked on the Rose Sampler and I am well into the fourth page. I love those little birds.  This is a hard chart to put down, I am not a sampler kind of person but the simplicity of this one just speaks to me.

I also worked on the African Women; I really love the colors on this one but it needs some sparkle I’ll have to think about what to do to make it extra special.

All of my give-away packages have been received even the ones sent overseas, that was quicker than I thought it would be.    My LNS  “In-Stitches Needlework” will be having a big Nashville Market event this Sunday, I can hardly wait to see all of the goodie .   Well time to take care of life’s necessities like cleaning and cooking and then the best part… making those wonderful little xxs.

Time for February's TUSAL

Just me and the hubby relaxing after a long day out... actually this is one of my favorite figurines.  I have decided that I will try to hi-light them in my posts.  This is called "True Love" by Annie Lee and it reminds me so much of hubby and I, down to the gray hair and houseshoes.  My TUSAL is full this month with the three finishes and the progress made on the Rose Sampler.  Off to select a new jar and filling it with orts for the next new moon.

2nd IHSW of 2012

Since my last post (15 Feb) I have wanted to announce that after smoking for over thirty years I have now been SMOKE FREE for 3 years.   Wooooo Hooooo!!!  Ok now that I got that out, here are my IHSW updates.  I didn’t seem to get as much done as I thought I should have but, I do have another finish for this year, even though this is only one of three kimonos to be stitched in this project.

I picked up the Rose Sampler and finished page three and started on page 4 as of last night.

Today with the hubby off from work we went out shopping and had lunch at a wonderful Japanese Restaurant, the grilled chicken and shrimp was delicious and of course I saw a kitty statue at the entrance reminding me of my last finish.  While hubby was ordering a new set of golf clubs I was able to get my hands on a copy of “365 Cross Stitch Designs” as if I needed 365 more.  I just love the large variety of card motifs it has and there are even a few Joan Elliott’s in there.   On Saturday I received my copy of “Cross Stitch Gold” magazine (issue #90) featuring Joan Elliott’s “Princess Cinderella”, it is lovely.  There is also a very beautiful rose worked in blackwork, which is actually white on navy blue evenweave.

 That would be something new for me… no I must resist starting another project.  I have definitely been bitten by that “start another” bug.  I have to go back to my old ways and finish the projects I have already started; they are beginning to pile up on my couch in big two gallon Ziploc bags.  All of the packages for my drawing winners have been mailed and I can mark this off as a big success.   

Thank you to all of my followers and anyone else who’s just browsing, please come again and leave comments, I love them all.  I’m off to make more of those wonderful little xxs.

Let's see, what's happened...

Since my last post which was to announce I had 50 followers, I have noticed that sometimes my blog shows I have 56, 53,46 then 42 and actually I think I had 50 for a while before they all showed up.  I have no idea why it jumps around like it does. If anybody knows the answer please let me know if it is something I’m doing wrong. Also do I have to be one of my own followers to comment on my own post?  I'm not very tec savy as you can probably tell. Anyway I have only received two winners’ addresses so as not to keep them waiting I will send out their packages today. 

I hope everyone had a good Valentine’s Day yesterday.  My hubby brought me these lovely cupcakes and they looked so good we ate some before I thought to take a picture to share but here is what I have left.  This is now my favorite bake shop.

As for stitching I started two more items, one is the “His Name is Jesus” I mentioned before and the second is another small Joan Elliott design.  It’s the first of three kimonos and I’m planning on stitching them all on the same piece of fabric to be framed together.   

I noticed that even though I wash my hands constantly during the day and while stitching somehow the fabric still gets dirty and I saw these covers that you could order that fit over your Q-snaps, then I thought why buy when I can make my own.  Which I did, it only took about 15 minutes.  I only made the one size because that’s the size Q-snap I use the most but it I decide to use a larger set I’ll have to make another cover to fit it.