Long Overdue - Final SFS 2014 Report

Here I am back in blogland.

These last couple of months have been difficult. Nothing life threatening but still difficult. This resulted in me not wanting to be near a computer when I am not at work.

Instead I have read and stitched. I have been able to get quite a bit done. I was going through my notebook that I keep track of my projects (both completed and not yet started) because I wanted to transfer to a new journal. As near as I can tell, I have completed 31 projects. There might be a few very small projects that I have not counted. I am pretty amazed at myself.

Even though I have skipped a month, I am going to finish this years Stitch from Stash 2014 with a final entry.

Amount Spent: Balance $60.53 (November $40.53 + $25.00 - 20.00 (fabric) = $45.53) December $45.53 + $25.00 - $10.00 

Part 2 of Things Unseen Sampler $10.00

New Starts from Stash:

• November:
•  2 WOCS Pieces (Ladies Fan & Rainbow Mandella)
• September's Morning Glory
• December
• October's Marigold
• November's Chrysanthemum
• Tribal Sand Dollar - White Willow Stitching

WIPs or UFOs worked on: In Harmony - Dimensions Kit, Blue/Cream/Purple crochet blanket

Now for some pictures:

White Willow Stitching - Tribal Pumpkin finished in November

Winter Panel of the My Garden Journal

September's Morning Glory

October's Marigold

November's Chrysanthemum

Part one of Lizzie Kate's Things Unseen Sampler. 

I don't know what happened to my picture of

the completed part one but I do have it somewhere. :(

Part one of the bonus chart, done on 20 ct Aida 2 over 1.

I am just loving the colors in this piece

This is a kit one of my co-workers decided to try so she brought it in to work one day and asked me to show her to to start the project. Of course I was excited to share my craft and proceed to go over the basic concepts. By the time I was done, she was just shaking her head and said "I can't do that, the holes are too small (14ct fabric was included). Here, you can have it" I was a little disappointed but understood that this craft is not for everyone. It didn't help that the kit is for an intermediate stitcher and has many 1/4 stitches. So I changed the fabric to a lovely Mocha colored 28ct something (oops can't remember the type of fabric) and started the kit. Once complete, I will frame it and give it back to her. 

  My measly little start.

I finally pulled this blanket out and worked on it while the weather

was so cold this month. I believe this will fit on a twin bed when complete.

It is sitting on my queen bed in the photo. I figure it is

about only 1/3 of the way complete. I might have to go

and pick up some more cream yarn in order to finish it.

As soon as I pulled it out, my little one asked if I would 

Please finish it so she could have it.

Rainbow Mandella (WOCS)

Self designed Lady's Fan (WOCS)

I am so happy that I have finally finished the My Garden Journal Series. Now I just need to figure out how to frame the pieces so that I can hang them up.

I have started putting together a list of some of the projects I want to complete in 2015. My list is not written in stone. I know that there will be additions and deletions as the year progresses, but I figure that I can at least have a guideline of what projects I currently own that I want to work on next year.

I must go and put a few X's in the next project.

Ta Ta for Now,

Angela

Before I forget, I am going to participate in next year's Stitch from Stash. Let's see if I can beat my ending balance and complete some of those projects on my list.

Long week leads to a long weekend

Last week was a very long week at work. Nothing went wrong per se but nothing seemed to go right either. This resulted in very little stitching after work.Thankfully we had a long weekend here in the States (still not long enough) so I could catch up on my rest and stitching.

DD wanted her best friend to stay the night and somehow one night turned into 3. :) All is good since she is a very respectful child and I hardly know either of them is there when they are together. This was also the weekend that the PBR with the State fair was in the next town over. Now I have never been to a PBR (bull riding) event before and decided it would be something different to take the girls to. They had a blast and so did I. Below is DD and her best friend.

Since I did not have permission from DD's friend's parents, I hid her face.

 Later that night, I was able to get a nice picture (without funny faces) of DD enjoying herself.

I received a Bucilla kit called "Love Beareth". The moment I pulled it out of the package DD fell in love and started asking if I could stitch it for her. I think bears are very cute but they are no longer my thing. Know what I mean? But there was no way I could resist. So I started (pictured in my last post). I was able to spend a lot of time on it on Sunday and finally finished up on Monday (after my grocery shopping and errands were complete). It is a cute little thing. Now I have to figure out how to frame it since the fabric was cut at an angle leaving it a bit wonky. If I remember correctly I might even have some teddy bear fabric that I can use to make a wall hanging.

As soon as I finished "Love" I went searching for a new start. As I walked into my room, I saw the fabric for the "My Garden Journal" hanging up where I put it to allow it to finish drying. (Somehow it had a small spot near the stitched border that needed washed out. I was so scared the colors were going to run. I did see some pink/red in the rinse water but no color ran onto the fabric. Boy was I thankful). So I picked it up and made a very measly start on August's Poppy last night. I can't wait to get home and get dinner out of the way so I can get back to it.

August's Poppy (My Garden Journal) by Beach Cottage Stitchers

I finally decided that I was going to have a small project for "on the go" meaning during lunch time at work. Since the lighting is not the best for stitching I needed something with a higher count and a simple pattern. The WOCS has a new database open for mittens and they are so cute.

My camera washed out the color, but the fabric is a pretty

baby blue and the purple works perfectly with it.

This is only after two days of working on it

at lunch.

Since I didn't finish my post yesterday before I got home I had the chance to continue to work on August's Poppy. This is where I left it last night, working on a lot of stems. Only about half done with the stems, then I can start on the actual flowers. It is kinda weird working from right to left since I usually start these on the other side. This time it was easier to count on the right side. I do like being able to work in the flower first for a change.

Time for me to let you go, need to actually get some work done today.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela

Stitch From Stash 2014 August Update

It is hard to believe that another month has flown passed us. Summer is over and school starts for the kids in my neighborhood. I didn't get as much done this month as I had hoped, but I did get to spend some time with my oldest daughter. We took a long weekend and drove to visit which resulted in absolutely no stitching for over a week (some of the time was spent recovering from driving 19 hrs each way). I was so tired that I was afraid I would mess up any project I picked up. I was starting to have withdrawals from not being able to pick up fabric and thread. I did purchase two pieces of hand dyed fabric (they were actually quite large) and a cute alphabet pattern that I have had my eye on this month. I needed a few more neutral pieces of fabric on hand for some of the patterns I want to stitch soon.

Amount Spent: Balance $56.78 plus $25 bonus Spent: $41.25 ($16.25 after bonus) Ending Balance $40.53

New Starts from Stash:

• June's Honeysuckle - My Garden Journal by Cottage Garden Samplings
• July's Delphinium - My Garden Journal by Cottage Garden Samplings
• Love Beareth - Bucilla kit

WIPs or UFOs worked on: None

Now that I have the details out of the way, let me show some pictures.

First up is June's Honeysuckle from the series "My Garden Journal" by Cottage Garden Samplings

Next up is July's Delphinium. Don't you just love the the picnic?

Here is the Summer Panel to date. Just 4 more month's and the year is complete!

I received Bucilla's Kit "Love Beareth" in an exchange last month. My youngest saw it and immediately asked me to stitch it for her. How could I resist. So after completing July above, I made a start. I was surprised at how many colors make up this one little bear, but I have to admit he is cute. I have since started his friend and hope to make a finish this weekend.

As I mentioned above, the new school year starts today and I just had to take a picture. Of course she didn't really want to but she humored me.

Here are me and my girls. How I missed the oldest.

Here is my stitching buddy this weekend. Every time I sat down, he climbed in my lap. I think somebody missed us while we were gone.

I guess it is time to let you get back to your day.

Ta Ta for Now,

Angela

Garden Journal Update

Hello all,

I am so excited I finished another month on "My Garden Journal" and about half way on another!!

First up: June's Honeysuckle

 

Aren't those little bees in the border so cute?

 

Next is my progress on July's Delphinium.

 

 

Still enjoying working on this series. I hope to get this completed soon. Will be taking a short weekend trip to see my oldest daughter. We are so excited.

 

 

Last week I was contacted by Cottage Garden Samplings seeking my permission to post my progress pictures on their Face Book page. They liked the idea of doing a set of 4 Seasons. What else could I say but "YES". I was so excited to see their post. This gave me such a thrill, that now I can hardly put this project down.

 

Ta Ta for now,

Angela

June SFS2014 Update

Hello all,

Stitch from Stash 2014 June Update:

Amount Spent: Balance $14.28 Spent: $7.50 Ending Balance $31.78

New Starts from Stash:

• Cottage Garden Samplings - My Garden Journal December's Holly

WIPs or UFOs worked on: Lizzie Kate's Cat Lessons for People

 

I actually had two finishes this month.

 

First I completed the Stitcher's Challenge #3 for Q4OC.

 

 

I just love how the center heart stands out in this one.

 

Next, I was able to complete Lizzie Kate's Cat Lessons for People I started in April.

 

 

 

I did change the center cat to better match one of my fur babies. :)

 

I had such a hard time trying to decide what to work on after Lessons but I finally decided on My Garden Journal. I figured I would complete the second panel of the 4 seasons and started on December's Holly. I am really enjoying the colors in this one. I have been a little slow this last week on stitching (only stitching about every other day and sometimes only about 15 stitches at a time). I am hoping to complete December this weekend...we will see.

 

Sorry for the large picture but there were funny lines running through it.

About half way as of last night when I finally put it down.

 

I don't know why but I have really been wanting to do Halloween themes so when the following pattern came up for sale on one of the FB sites, I just couldn't pass it up. This may just be my next project (if I have everything on hand to kit it up)

 

Need to get some work done today...

Ta Ta for Now,
Angela

 

 



 

Monthly Update and SFS2014 April

Hello everyone,

I have just realized that I have only been posting about once a month this year. I find that I am not real interested in going online once I leave work. I do stitch though. I was able to complete quite a few things this month.:)

One of the ladies on a FB group graciously designed and shared with us a cute little owl.

 



 I had this piece of orange fabric (I think it is 28 or 32 ct) that I have been using for some of my Halloween ornaments that I used DMC 798 stitching 1 over 1. I placed a quarter next to the finished piece to show how small it came out. I am loving this little piece.

Next up is the charity piece I finished for Q4OC. We were provided the chart and we were allowed to pick our own colors. In the picture below you can't quite tell how bright a pink the hair came out, but I really liked the color combination.

Next up (sorry for the large picture but lines were appearing) is May's Lily in the My Garden Journal series. I am loving how these come together. Aren't the snails cute as can be?

 May's Lily

 

Below is the first completed panel of the series. I think that I am going to stitch December next so that I can have 2 completed panels (on the old color).

Spring panel of the series.

 I went to my LNS to pick up two more pieces of fabric so I can finish the set, but the manufacturer no longer dyes this particular shade of material. I spent an agonizing hour trying to figure out a color that will allow the greens to pop but still coordinate with my current pieces. I finally found the color but forgot to take a picture of the two different pieces together. While there I picked up the autographed chart I won on Norden Craft's FB page. The wonderful ladies helped me to change the color scheme from pink to blue. The more I look at it the more I love the way this came out.

 

 After finishing Corona, I was at a loss and asked my daughter what I should start next. She picked out Cat Lessons for People by Lizzy Kate. I picked it up as a kit so I am not 100% sure what count fabric it is but I think it is 28ct. Since the fabric is an off white color, I changed the cat to a brown, (I think I like him better this way).

 

Now, down to business.

 

 

Amount Spent: Balance $33.94 Spent: $44.66 (boy I did terrible) Ending Balance -$10.72

New Starts from Stash:

• Owl silhouette
• Q4OC Stitcher's Challenge #2 - Clown
• Corona
• Cat Lessons for People

WIPs or UFOs worked on:

•  My Garden Journal - May's Lily (I count this as a WIP since I am making all 12 into a 4 Season's project)

I now have 2 autographed charts that I will not do again so I am thinking that a giveaway will soon make it's appearance here.

 

Need to run and get a little bit of work done,

 

Ta Ta for Now,

Angela

 



Another finish and a Spooky update

Another month finished!!!

I was able to get April's Daisy finished last weekend. Sorry for the wrinkles but I don't want to iron until I get finish May's Lily of the Valley. I do enjoy the way these pieces are coming together and look when completed next to each other.

Once I completed this one I went back to Spooky Welcome. 

I am a little further than this right now, but this is the last picture I have taken. I am hoping to have another finish this weekend. :)

Ta Ta for now,
Angela CG

April Showers and A Spooky Welcome

Good morning,

I have been working very hard on a couple of pieces. I am close to the end on both and don't want to put either of them down. It is so hard to decide which one to pick up when I get home. I wish I had 4 hands so I could work on them both. :)

Without further ado, lets get to some pictures:

First up my latest progress photo on Spooky Welcome by Stoney Creek.

Stitched using 798 DMC on Purple 32ct Belfast by Under the Sea

 

I had to stop working on Spooky this weekend because I lost my working copy of the top half of the chart. I didn't want to mess up my nice copy.

 

I had a hard time trying to decide which project to give some love to. Would it be my Cat Collage? My HAED? A new start? No...I finally when with My Garden Journal - April. I decided I wanted to keep working on fabric that I stitched over 2.

 

 

This is where I stopped on Sunday...

 

 

 

I have not been able to put this down so as of last night here is where I am.

 

 

 

Sorry for such a large picture, but there were so many lines that it was hard to see the detail.

 

I plan on finishing April's Journal then go back to Spooky. Hopefully in the next two weeks I can add another finish (or two) to my list.

 

Ta Ta for now,

Angela CG





Pictures finally!!

I finally remembered to take good decent pictures last night.

First off are a couple of soon to be Halloween ornaments. both of these are done on a lovely orange 28ct (something). I don't have the piece of paper that my wonderful LNS puts with the fabric. It is a little stiff for my liking but I couldn't pass up the color.

This was done 1 over 1 using 310.

 

This little cutie was done 2 over 1 using JAR Designs Pea Green.

 

At first I couldn't decide if I wanted to let the orange come through on the eyes and mouth or not. Then my little girl told me that I needed to fill them in. I think she had the right idea. I will go through my fabric this weekend and see what I have that will set these two off.

 

Next up is my progress with March's Daffodil from Cottage Garden Samplings.

 

 

A few more flowers and some of the border and I will be onto April.

 

I didn't get any stitching done last weekend because I went to the Outlaws Muddfest.

I think I was the cleanest one there. lol

 

I had thought to bring my stitching with me but then I remembered...stitching + mud does not equal a happy time. Even though this is not an event I would normally go to, I ended up having a wonderful time.

 

Ta Ta for now,

Angela CG

Weekend Update and a Great Father's Day Giveaway

These last couple of weeks have been very productive. I started and completed the "My Garden Journal" cover page.

Of course I didn't happen to have the called for threads on hand so I improvised. I love the colors I used instead. Since I am not at home I don't remember which ones I actually used but I think the combination is great. I also just put the year instead of adding my initials. I plan on making this into a small pillow either with just the extra fabric, or a larger one. I haven't decided yet.

I have also started March of the series. I was able to complete the left half of pattern this weekend. I forgot to take a picture this morning before I left for work so you will just have to wait until it is complete before you get to see it.

I also took a break from making X's to sew three bags together for WOCS. Two weeks ago I completed two other bags for them. This is the first time making bags and I found that I really enjoyed making them.

This is a fun fabric to look at. I made this the first weekend

 

This was also made the first weekend. I used fleece and an old pillow case I found at Salvation Army.

 

Another walker bag. For some reason blogger has decided to put this picture sideways. I have it saved correctly. If you look closely those little dots are hearts. I thought they looked perfect with the little girl.

 

Another sideways pic. This one is a wheelchair bag. Quick and easy to make.

 

One more wheelchair bag.

 

I have decided that I am going to concentrate on my personal stitching for a while but I will still put some time into making the bags. This way I can still participate but also get some of those projects sitting in my basket done.

Now, onto the giveaway I mentioned. Kathy at Kathyinozarks has teamed up with Rita of Sticks N Stones Gifts to make a wonderful Father's Day basket. Head on over here to take a peak and enter.

Good luck.

Well I need to get back to work so I will see everyone later.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela CG