New Year, New Blog Hop

It has been too long since I last posted. I have not wanted to get on the computer. I have not even kept up with every one's news. I am sorry for that. I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. This will be a picture heavy post so pour yourself a  cup of your favorite beverage and enjoy. We are going to start with the first Blog Hop of the year hosted by Stitching the Night Away.

 

What was your biggest stitching accomplishment in 2012?
What was your favorite stash acquisition in 2012 and will you be using it in 2013?

 

 

I think my biggest stitching accomplishment this year was to start back into stitching. I did not realize how much I missed placing color to fabric and have a wonderful picture appear before my eyes.

 

I think my favorite stash acquisition has to be the Scarlet Letter kits

I went looking at these because one of the other bloggers (for the life of me I can't remember who) is doing a Scarlet Letter year I just couldn't pass these up.

 

 

Visit all the blogs in this round of the Stitching the Night Away Stitching Blogger Blog Hop:
Find the instructions on how to participate in this round by clicking here.

 

Now on to catching up...

 

The last couple of weeks have been eventful. When pulling out our Christmas decorations this year we found that we had lost (or given away...can't remember) a couple of stockings. I had to go out and pick up another one but none were to my daughter's taste. We found one that was close and I personalized it for her.

 She absolutely loved it.

We were invited to a couple different friends houses this year to celebrate Christmas. We did not plan on going anywhere this year but couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend time with friends before we move. Just imagine...Christmas morning I woke up the little one (yes...believe it or not I had to wake her up) after fixing my morning coffee. I am sending out text messages to friends and family and I receive a text back saying that one of my friends would be leaving for a family members house at a certain time. Of course I was confused since I did not want to intrude this year and was told that we were expected to be there. ;) So here we go trying to hurry up and get ready to leave. We quickly got ready and met up with our good friends and had a wonderful meal and gift opening session. I made their gifts this year. I had a great time doing it.

 

I painted the inside and outside this one blue to match the colors in the fabric.

The wonderful woman I made this for loves Pooh Bear.

This one I painted a dark blue.

I just love the star pattern. I added a few buttons to add a little something.

I placed a coordinated fabric inside and added a little bit of chocolate and a gift card.

 The little cardinal added the perfect touch.

 

 

We had to leave there because the neighbors invited us over for the evening meal. So we rush back, pick up the pumpkin pie and went next door. The funny thing is we were still full from lunch at our friends. Of course they served a very Southern meal (including greens and macaroni and cheese) which I could not pass up. What a wonderful time we had. Earlier in the week we discussed going over to one of my daughter's friend's house. Of course as we were leaving the neighbor's house stuffed and tired she reminded me. Since I had not heard from them I text'd and made sure that we would not be intruding. They said we would not be intruding and we walked over. After all the food during the day I needed the walk. We talked and laughed for a couple more hours and finally headed home. I have to say my family has been blessed with wonderful friends and neighbors. When you least expect it, they are there for you.

 

We took the next day to recover and started cleaning up and moving things around. My father and his wife were coming to visit for my daughter's birthday. Since his wife will be joining him at his new posting (not military) soon they brought some of her stuff to be moved with his. What did this mean for me? Well out of a 20' room I only am able to use about 8' of it because the rest is packed to the ceiling (you read right, to the ceiling) with her things. Moth balls are great at keeping creepy crawly things away but they smell awful. We had a wonderful time with them though and as my daughter said more than once while they were here, we were spoiled by them. It was wonderful to see my Dad again. It has been over three years since I last saw him.

 

 

 Even though I have not been on the computer I have not put down my stitching. I received this cute little pre-printed kit. It stitched up quick.

I plan on finishing it as a flat fold. Currently it is sitting in my finishing box. :)

I found this cute flowered brown fabric to match.

This orange fabric is going to look great.

 This red is great.

I have been working on some pieces for WOCS. They also have started a new project of snowflakes.

 This one is a gray variation. This piece of gray fabric just fits.

 I saw this purple fabric that will work well with the thread I have picked out. I will complete this one next.

 Finally, I will try and make a third using these blues and pair it with this fabric.

I did not realize how many stitches are included in this pattern. I hope I can complete them in time.
I just love making these pieces. I get such a sense of accomplishment when I complete one of these pieces. I get the chance to work with other stitchers to make amazing gifts.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela

 



Hello World

I did not realize it has been a whole 11 days since I last posted. I may have been absent from the online world but I have not stopped crafting. I finished the base stitching on the top of the Oriental Butterfly.

The next step is to complete the bottom portion before I start the back stitching. This looks wonderful as is but will pop even more with the back stitching.

I lost my stitching mojo for a little bit but could not keep my hands still so I continued working on a couple of crochet blankets. I ran out of the green/white yarn so I will have to pick some more up later.

The more I look at the green blanket the more I do not like that white strip. I may end up taking it out. We will see. I finally felt like stitching again but not something complicated. So I started working on this cute little free pattern from Stitching the Night Away. I used the blue/brown floss I won a couple of months ago from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. I just love this color combination.

I plan on finishing this on a little keepsake box (my first attempt). My daughter has already claimed it. WOCS received a snowflake pattern from Brooke's Books Publishing designed just for them. We are putting a quilt together using this pattern. We are using white fabric and everyone is using white for the snowflake. I have never been so thankful for my Otte Light as I am now while working on this project. I have to admit...I am having a wonderful time stitching this one.

I finally finished all my Christmas shopping and set up our simple tree. The Ex said he was going to purchase a much desired item for our baby but then backed out at the last minute (and wanted to get her clothes instead). So I had to do a quick run to find this item. Now all presents have been wrapped and put around the tree.

I took the picture before we put the presents near the tree. A friend of mine had some extra snowman ribbon and made me this wonderful bow. The perfect tree topper!!!

Now I am off to catch up on some of my friends in the online world.

Ta Ta,
Angela

Good Morning

Good morning everyone,

Everyone decided last night that I needed cuddling. I had all three cats and my daughter laying on top of me last night. :)

I have been able to work on the green blanket the last couple of days but I don't have an updated picture yet. I forgot to post yesterday that I received my Christmas Ornaments Magazine from Sunflower Crossing. Thank you Barb!

 

I will most more again this afternoon. We have a day out planned. Finally I get out of the house for a while.

 

TaTa for now,

Angela

Another Day

Hello all,

I worked on my craft room again yesterday. I was able to box up more books.

The stack of books to go.

 

I still have 3others that I am taking with me. Went hrough and found almost all my yarn.

The Big Box of yarn (I have my current projects in drawers)

Put my fabric (both larger pieces and scraps) in boxes.

I have also been working on sorting out my crafting supplies and putting them together so that I can find them again after the move. ;)

After filling up a couple of boxes I realized that I had run out of tape to close the boxes. So off I go to the store. I needed to pick up a few things for the house anyway. While there I passed the toy section on the way to the health and beauty section. I started to think about needing to get Christmas presents. I ended up spending about $50 on presents at the one store. Then I decided to go to a craft store to pick up the yarn to finish the green blanket. Of course they didn't have the colors I needed so I will have to place an order online. While there I saw a lot of cute stocking stuffers for $1. I picked up some of those for my DD and picked up a cross stitch pattern book for me. This will be wrapped up and put under the tree for me. :) My Dad taught me that if I wanted something for Christmas/Birthday get it and put my kid's name on it. Then I remembered that there were a few books that she wanted so I went next door and picked them up. Of course I couldn't help looking at the magazines and picked up a Christmas magazine.

Enjoy Crossstitch at Christmas

It came with the bonus penguin chart and enough material for six cards and 3 ornaments. I completed all shopping for my girl except for the candy for her stocking. I may pick up one or two more things for me before then. Since I probably will not be moving until after Christmas but before New Years I will not be doing gifts for many people this year. Anything I do give will be hand made from my current stash.

My girl has been begging for a pumpkin to decorate this year and I finally broke down and picked up a couple. I leave you with the results of our decorating. ( I painted mine).









TaTa for now,
Angela