A Finish and WIPocalypse #2

This busy year is continuing to fly by. I had every intention of posting in February, but it got away from me obviously. This is my Tulip Manor finish which is a Loose Feather's #7 by Blackbird Designs. I had been stitching on this one off and on for awhile just enjoying it. I made a few changes, I left off the smyrna stitches because they seemed to bulky and I added my mom's initials to the right side. I think I reported earlier that this was a 30 count fabric, but I believe it's 32 instead. I used the recommended threads. It will be framed and go on my sampler wall. This also will complete one from my WIPocalypse list.

Tulip Manor by Blackbird Designs
I recently went on a stitching retreat with my local stitching friends organized by the lovely Jinger. That was my little adventure. We went to Orlando for a few days to check out the stitching and knitting shops. The first stop was Brick City Cross Stitch in Ocala Florida. Then it was on to Orlando. We stayed at a lovely resort, ate great food, went shopping (can we say Vera Bradley Outlet) and of course stitched! I didn't get any good pictures. We were a little disappointed with selection of fabric and some patterns. I decided I was spoiled because the thread prices were really marked up 25 t0 55 cents per skein depending on where you bought it. I have never paid that much per skein, so needless to say I didn't buy but a couple skeins that I needed to finish one of my patterns.

This last picture is a new start called Queen of Quite a Lot by The Scarlett House. I feel like that most days, don't you? I just picked up another random piece of 30 R and R linen and I am stitching it with DMC instead of NPI silks. I hope to get it finished soon. I do have some other projects I have started, but not enough to show. I did start Frances Pool by With My Needle and Thread, love it! I also am working on a Prim Sister's club pattern by Pineberry Lane. Thanks for all your well wishes for my daughter, we still have occasional pain but nothing like before. I appreciate your kind words and concern.

I am off to stitch, I am thinking I may have me a Criminal Minds marathon day with my stitching. I hope your Sunday is a good one!

Blessings
xoxo

WIPocalypse #1

The month of January has almost gotten away from me. It has been a very busy month filled with appointments, work and the topper of the month was Alexis being hospitalized for a sickle cell crisis. Fortunately, it was a brief stay and she is better. Though still with the occasional pain. This

fickle weather doesn't help either. Hot in the morning and cool at night!  Anyway, I digress  as I here for the very first WIPocaplyse posting. I have been stitching amazingly enough even with all that's being going on.

First up is Tulip Manor by Blackbird Designs. It's being stitched on a random piece of 30 count R and R linen with the recommended threads!  I have been working on this piece for awhile, just picking it up when I felt like it and then it just started calling my name. I hope to have this one finished by the next posting. 

Next up is another Blackbird piece Sarah's House. I had been promising to show this one for at least a couple of posts and finally here it be. Not much more on it either. It's being stitched on 

30 count Abecedarian blend with recommended cotton threads by Gentle Arts. The frog has visited me a few times on this piece and I became a little frustrated hence it's unfinished state. However, I will finish this soon as I love the pattern and the colors.  I am sorry for the less than stellar pictures but I wanted to get these in. I am off for a little stitching adventure tomorrow, more to come on that! Have a blessed week friends! 

Joining the WIPocalypse

Towards the end of the 2012, my mind started going thinking of stitching projects I would like to work on. As you can see from the long and varied list below, it's a lot.  I have started several,  but only have a few stitches in as my project ADD kicked in and I moved on to another pattern.. Some are BAP's and I know I will not finish in 2013 but I would like to make significant progress on them. You also see a few by The Primitive Needle, I love Lisa's patterns and now I need to finish some!  The ones with asterisks are the ones I have started.  So I will begin and we will see how far I get with this. Hopefully, by participating in the WIPocalypse I will be motivated to get more stitching done!

If you would like to join the WIPocalypse you can find the info here.   Another great thing about the WIPocalypse is finding new blogs, getting to know new people and having someone  to cheer you on! Of course to add to my project distraction ,I have signed up for a couple of clubs. Bad Sharon! I signed up for the Ladies Prim Society with Dyeing 2 Stitch and The Prim Sister' Girls Club from Country Sampler.

This crazy list is in no particular order and I just added to it as things hit my brain:
Feast of Friendship by Blackbird Designs*
Tulip Manor by Blackbird Designs* completed Feb 2013
Sarah's House by Blackbird Designs*  completed 6/24/13
Jane Pattison 1806 by Shakespeare's Peddler*
Ragamuffin #2 by Shakespeare's Peddler
Let Your Life Speak by The Primitive Needle*
Tombstone Spots by The Primitive Needle*
The Flock by Samsarah Designs*
Shining Star by Samsarah Designs
Zombies by Prairie Moon*
Life is a Beach by Queenstown Sampler Designs
Maude Eloise 1891 by Blackbird Designs
Violets Blue by Blackbird Designs deleted from list 3/18/13
My Dear Sampler by Blackbird Designs
Folk Art Floral by From The Heart*
Thine is The Trick and The Treat by Prairie Moon*(This a SAL along with Jinger)
The Olde Settlement by The Primitive Needle*
Garden of Eerie by Plum Street Samplers
The Big Red House by La D Da
Wild Garden by Blackbird Designs*
Christmas House Sampler by Abby Rose Designs
Queen of Quite a Lot by The Scarlett House  Completed 3/17/13
Merry Christmas by Blackbird Designs*
Love Letters: Fraktur by Ink Circles*
Frances Pool by With Thy Needle and Thread*
Feather's and Fins by Tempting Tangles
Ohio Treasure by Threadwork Primitives added 3/18/13
May Basket by Blackbird Designs added and completed 3/31/13
Wrought by My Hand by Pineberry Lane added and completed 4/17/13
The Sowing Sampler by Notforgotten Farm added and completed 5/13/13
ES Spot Motif Sampler by Of Female Worth
Harvest Moon by Island Cottage Needlearts added and completed 8/5/13
Mary's Sampler II by Plum Street Samplers added and completed 12/27/13
Happy New Year Freebie by Stitches by Cheri added and completed 12/29/13

There are some more I haven't purchased yet that I hope to eventually add to this list and they are
Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs
Christmastide at Holly House  by  Scarlett House
Christmas at Hollyberry Farm by Stacy Nash
Summer at Hollyberry Farm by Stacy Nash

Ambitious aren't I? Well where would we be without a little or a lot of that? LOL I could go and add Frances Pool and that new one Red Cottage by Plum Street Samplers but I will try to control myself!  So much to stitch and sew little time to do it! Wish me luck my friends!

Last but not least is a finish that I did some time ago and forgot about!  This  is Purple Heart by Ewe and Eye and Friends/ I stitched it on 32 count purple iris linen with Anchor threads. This will probably be finished as an ornament. I bought an extra pattern and if anyone would like to have it, leave your name on this post and I will draw  a name on Monday, if more than one is interested. Thanks and thanks too if you have made it to the end of this post and have not laughed yourself silly at any of the aforementioned words. I am off to bed...xoxo

Edited to add: Southpaw Stitcher wins the pattern

Last 2012 Finish and Happy New Year!

This is my last finish for 2012 Follow Your Art by Raise the Roof Designs. I stitched it for my daughter Alexis who over the last year has really been into drawing and painting. She is pretty good. I am amazed that both of my older children can draw as I can barely draw a straight line or a stick figure! LOL As you can see I was feeling crafty and picked up this little wooden crate from JoAnn's. I spray painted it cherry red. The piece itself is stitched on white linen with GAST and uses JABCO buttons. The hardest part was sewing the frou frou around it. On the back as you see below I spray painted the wooden sign create purple and attached it to the back of the crate. 

This is the back of the crate and below is the inside of the crate. Instead of leaving it plain I placed a fabric bottom. I really like the way it turned out. My daughter really liked it and it was a surprise Christmas gift under the tree for her. 

Lastly here are the kids right before Christmas coerced kindly taking a picture for me! Brandon on the left, followed by Alexis and Caleb. I never imagined having kids this age! It's very interesting and never a dull moment! Love these kids!

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! May you be blessed by love, peace, prosperity and good health! I am off this week to spend some time with the kids and of course planning all sorts of stitching projects. More about those later!  Thanks for all your sweet comments on my Santa cube! Have a wonderfully blessed day friends!

xoxoxo

Merry Christmas!

Here we are with Christmas upon us again. Every year as I get older it seems to come even more quickly  than the year before. I am as ready as I will ever be this year. This is my Lizzie Kate Santa 2010 Socks and Underwear finished into a cube. It's my second attempt as the first met with disaster. I am still not super happy with it. The bottom is kind of annoying me, but I am going to leave it alone for the time being. It is a no sew cube so I can pull apart again if I want need to.  I tend to want my things to look perfect, which is a very bad tendency to have! LOL

This is the back of the cube.

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year if I don't post again  before the end of  December! I am thankful for so many things and one of the things I am thankful for is sharing this amazing hobby and friendship with you. 

Last but certainly not least. I leave you with a picture of Tabasco. I have had him almost a year now. He is really funny and loves to terrorize my other cats by chasing them. He is the baby after all! LOL  He also has terrorized my poor Christmas tree by pulling out the ting and knocking ornaments off of it. He has ran through the presents several times and chewed up one of my gift bags! Bad kitty! LOL My son says the Christmas tree is like cat nip to the cats! I find that pretty funny. They do seem to think the tree was put up especially for them.

Anyway, I am off to have a little Christmas party with the kids. Blessings to you and yours!

xoxoxo

Ornament Finishing!

Here is Santa doing a little modeling for me with my ornament finishes and finishing! First up is Joy to Ewe by Chessie and Me. It was a small kit with threads and fabric. My poor little sheep is supposed to be fluffy-however Sharon and the French knots did not get along. But, I think he is still cute. I finished it into a pin keep ornament. 

Up next is a little kit I got from a store in Wyoming called Ewe Count. I can't remember the name of the pattern but it was a gift pattern done by Samsarah for their store. I saw it someone else's blog and called and ordered it. I just liked it mainly because of the cute boot button and that it was by Samsarah. I finished it simply as a flat ornament with a chenille hanger.  Also, if you haven't tried the chenille trim by R and R you should, I love it!

This next one you have seen before, it's my Bedford Falls ornament by The Sampler Girl and I believe it's my favorite of the three. I just love the colors and I added a few jingle bells at the top. You know an angel gets their wings every time you hear a bell-though probably not a jingle bell-LOL

That's it for now, I have 4 more to finish and I keep promising to show my Sarah's House and I will. I just wanted to get these posted. I have finished Christmas decorating...now to just finish a little shopping. How are your Christmas preparations going?

Have a blessed Sunday friends!

xoxo

El Dia de los Muertos

Front

Back This is El Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead by Monsterbubbles. You can find the pattern in the 2010 annual Halloween issue of Just Cross Stitch. I stitched this for my friend in Chicago as a Christmas gift. No, I haven't lost my mind...yet! She was really interested in the sugar skulls that mark this Mexican holiday this year-so instead of stitching her a traditional Christmas ornament as I have been doing I stitched this instead. I made it into a small display cube-as I most likely won't stitch another Halloween ornament for her and this way she could move it around to where she wanted it. She is into beading and I am thinking it may be perfect for her bead room! I added the flower buttons to the skull and found some really cool skull fabric at JoAnn's today. It is stitched on yellow linen with Gentle Art threads. Stitch count is 55x41 I hope she likes it-I think it came out pretty cute if I may say so ;-)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Mine was great. My sister's were in town and we hung out and ate of course. It was so nice, even though I had to work later that night! Now it's time to pull out the Christmas tree! I will be back soon with some ornament finishing. I am also steadily plodding away on Sarah's House by Blackbird. I will have to show a wip photo of that one. Also, even though I promised myself I wouldn't start a new one. I did start Folk Art Floral by From the Heart by Wendy picture here.

I am off to stitch, be blessed my friends!

xoxo

a couple of more ornaments...

Here are two ornaments I have had finished for quite a bit.They have taken awhile to grow on me and I had to tweak them a little because at first I didn't like them. I want the ornaments that I do to be perfect...sigh The one on the right is a design from one of the ornament magazines of which I can't remember and I am currently too lazy to look up. However, I did adapt it by adding the metal hope sign, and changing the colors completely. You may recognize it. Lest you think I potentially may be brilliant-LOL, that idea came from someone else. The one on the left is from Blackbird's Winter Delivery leaflet. Both finished as pin keep ornaments.

Not much else to report here. I started Feast of Friendship by Blackbird Designs and I am still working on Christmas ornaments! Love the FOF! It is a lovely cool day here in NW Florida! I hope wherever you are the day is a great one!

Blessings my friends and Happy Halloween!

 xoxo

Still Here...(picture heavy)

I can't believe it's been two months since I last posted! Time is just flying by Before we know it, Christmas will be here.  It's been a  very busy two months for me. I have been working to much and Alexis has been sick on me twice. She is all good now! Thankfully! I have also been on my vacation as well!  Believe it or not there actually has been a little stitching going on here. Every year in September I begin having fits that I don't have enough ornaments, it really hits an all time high when the JCS ornament issue comes out.  I usually do two Christmas trees, one for just my stitched ornaments and the other the usual traditional tree. My goal next year is to kit more ornament projects so when I am ready to work on them I can just pick them and go with it!  Below are some I have just completed. I hope to get to finishing in the next week or two.

Winter House by The Trilogy. I changed the red color to a brighter red for Christmas. The snow buttons came with the design. The fabric next to it is the backing fabric.

This is Snowed In an oop design by Stone and Thread. The pattern came with the snowman button.  I stitched this on opalescent Ariel by PTP. I made some changes to this as well. The star is supposed to be gold. However, I used red Kreinik and I added the snow buttons because my white stitches got lost on the light fabric. I love this one because of the sparkle! Fabric next to it is backing fabric.

Seek and Ye Shall Find is a kit by Shepherds Bush. It's stitched on 10 count Tula with DMC colors. I used a gold Kreinik to brighten the stars. I love the little sheep button.

This is Bedford Falls by The Sampler Girl. These were not the colors that were on the key. I got this pretty palette from Jinger. The design is an ode to one of my favorite Christmas movies. It's a Wonderful Life. I also really like this one because 1946 is the year my mom was born.

This is Merry by Crescent Colors. It's from one of JCS ornament issues. I can't remember which one right this minute. It's cute I think and was really quick. Something I need these days.I actually finished it sometime ago but misplaced that little snowman button-but here it is finally complete.

Lastly I leave you with a picture of the cruise ship I was on. We were on the Carnival Conquest. We went to Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Cozumel. This was off shore at the Cayman Islands. The boats can't go right up to the island and have to dock off shore. Then you can catch a little boat to the main island. Next to it, is the Carnival Liberty which came at the same time we did. It was very cool to see both ships together. Lots of fun, no cooking or cleaning and for me no kids which led to a very restful week. We are already planning our next one!
Thanks for your visits and comments. Both are appreciated. I am off to stitch on a new pattern. Merry Christmas by Blackbird Designs and maybe just maybe I will pick up my needlepoint! Blessings my friends!

Another foray into needlepoint....

Yes, I have gone and jumped into the deep end of the pool! ! I saw this gorgeous needlepoint canvas by  Patt and Lee Designs and thought I really had want to try that. So, I ordered the canvas and it has taken about 6 weeks to come to me because it had to be painted. I absolutely love these colors. I would love to start it but since I have no idea what to do, I will have to wait until I can get a friend to help. That friend is Sherri, who is the queen of all things crafty.  She can do it all and she has agreed to help me learn how to do this. Please pray for Sherri's patience as I am sure I will sorely try it! I have tried counted canvas twice before and suffice to say it didn't work out for me. Hopefully, this won't be an expensive endeavor in futility!

Now, cross stitch is my true love, so trust me when I say that is not going to stop. Though I am a little frustrated today because I am working on Sarah's House by Blackbird Designs and that border and I are at odds. It's not meeting like it should and whose fault would that be! LOL  Stitching unhappiness is when your borders don't meet up like they should!

Been getting the kids ready for school again, and running to doctor's appointments, plus working like crazy.  So that is why I have been quiet,  I don't have any projects close to being finished-so you will probably
being seeing lots of wip photo's for the time being!  It also doesn't help, that I am jumping between several projects, but hey! they eventually get finished right?

Thanks for the comments on my mom and her piece she stitched for me! I appreciate them and so does she. My mom is pretty special, but I guess everyone's is special too! LOL

Blessings my friends!
xoxo