Weekend Update (updated)

I'm back again. And I have two finishes to report.

I know, I'm shocked too. lol

First up is "I love you more" by Bent Creek.

This is so cute. Since baby girl has claimed this one, I'll have to do another one. I'll wait a couple of months so that it feels new again. I think I have a couple of heart buttons in my stash somewhere I can use.

Next up is "Spring Welcome" I talked about a couple of posts ago.

With the stitching complete, I rather like how it turned out. I did work a little bit on one of my charity stitches, but couldn't get into it. Now the question is...what to work on next. There are a couple that I am itching to start, but I am doing them as part of a SAL on FB so I will just have to wait. I think I have narrowed it down to two. Might just start them both. :)

Ta Ta for now,
Angela

P.S. I have been updating my 2015 page and I was a little shocked on how many pieces I have stitched and it is only the first quarter. Now don't go expecting the same results the rest of the year. lol I do have some quick stitches planned this year, but there are also a couple of larger projects I would like to work on this year as well.

Now it is really time for me to get off this silly computer and get ready for bed.

Night all

Surprise!!

Hi all,

Surprise!!! I decided to drop in and say hi before I needed to post my numbers for SFS2015.

When I left you last week, I was working on the free pattern offered by LHN called Welcome Spring. Well, I have to tell you I am not feeling this one right now. I don't know if it is the combination of the colors on the fabric I chose or what, but I just can't seem to get on with this one. I found myself not stitching at night or on my lunch breaks as I normally do.

What did I do you ask? I went stash diving. I pulled out my binder of patterns. I put my free patterns or the single page patterns that I have picked up over time. I started flipping through it trying to get some inspiration to stitch on my current piece.

Instead of inspiration, one of the patterns started screaming at me to finally pick it up and stitch it. I picked this chart (Bent Creek - I love you more) on my very first trip to my LNS two years ago. I loved it from the first moment but others kept calling my name. It is finally this one's turn.

I am stitching it on 28ct blue lugana that I picked up somewhere along the way. You can't tell in the below picture, but I really am stitching the main part of the heart with the called for WDW Cocoa. It looks gold here but in real life it is a rich brown. I think this is the only color I had on hand that the pattern called for, but I think the ones baby girl and I chose are looking good. Baby girl asked to make this into a little pillow when I am done with it. ( I think she is intending to keep the pillow so I might just have to stitch this up again for me lol).

Hopefully with just a couple more nights, I will have this one done. I will go back to Welcome Spring for a little and maybe be able to finish that one as well.

Ta Ta for now,

Angela

SFS 2015 March Update

Hi all,

It is times like these that I am very happy that I joined Mel from Epic Stitching for Stitch from Stash 2015. It makes sure that I come visit with all of you at least once a month. I have been finding it hard to find the time to actually come online and post.

Let's get the numbers out of the way...

Month: March

Carry Forward: $44.54 (I realized that I didn't add the $25 budget allowance in February)

Spent: $7.00 ($60 gift card minus $67.00)
-Nashville Market purchases $42.12
-WDW Floss Bundle, Classic Color Works Floss Bundle, L*K Buzz kit and and Aury TM Quaker Halloween chart
-Fabric.com $18.96 2 yards of 14ct aida fabric (to be used in my charity stitching)
-123Stich $5.92 28ct Jazlyn fabric

Earned: $14.00
Spooky Tree by Breanne Jackson in the 2013 Just Cross Stitch Halloween Issue
Music Note free pattern
Mini Heart - designed by baby girl


Carry Forward into April: $76.54

My co-worker and I were both given a gift card as a bonus in early February for going above and beyond what our normal year end duties required. It was a surprise but I knew exactly what I wanted to spend it on Nashville Market. lol So I saved and was able to spend a little more than I would have been able to otherwise.

For some reason I am on a real Halloween kick here lately and I am loving it. So until I get bored I will continue with the patterns that have caught my eye. I do have a couple of stitches that I promised I would complete that are not Halloween but that is good cause I don't want to get burned out too quick. There are so many patterns that are just calling my name to do.

This month has also proven to be quite busy. We to see my brother and attend a niece's birthday party at the beginning of the month, then two weeks later on baby girl's spring break we took a trip to the coast and then went to my brother's for the weekend.

The first weekend after the birthday party of course, we had a very relaxing time and I was able to get quite a bit of stitching done.

First to be completed was the first bonus pattern that came with L*K Things Unseen Mystery Sampler. I think I used a 20 ct white mystery fabric that I had in my stash. I didn't count this in my earnings. I love how the threads in this pattern pop on a bright white fabric. Not sure how I am going to finish this one but until then, into the finishing drawer this one goes.

Next to be worked on and completed is the second free pattern with L*K's Things Unseen Mystery Sampler. This time I went with a scrap piece of 25 ct Dark Red Lugana that I had in my fabric bin. Again I am surprised that this came out so cute. Surprisingly the colors also stand out on this fabric. Again I did not count this in my earnings total. Now I just need to finish it as a pin pillow. Until then, into the finishing drawer it will go.

Once those were done I started looking around for what to do next. I found this cute little music note with a heart and just fell in love with it. It was stitched on 14 ct white aida for Q4OC. I joined them on Yahoo, but they are now on Facebook. This is the group that I purchased the 2 yards of fabric for. I was searching and searching in the stores for 14 ct white that would produce more than one square at a time and couldn't find any. So I did a quick search and found Fabric.com. They sell this count by the yard and each yard is 60" wide (for only $9.48 per yard). I figured at that price I would go ahead and stock up.

Since that one stitched up so quick (one day) I had to find something else. Baby girl had designed a little heart some time ago and had asked then if I would stitch it for her. Well...she saw me digging around for another project and brought it back out. She even went in my stash and picked her own colors to be used. I think we might have a budding designer in the house. lol

Once that was done, I decided to give a little love to a name tree "Peace". I can't remember where I found this pattern but I am enjoying how this looks.

But after a day of stitching on this piece I was in the mood for something different so on the hunt I went again. This time I went looking in my project basket (the one for kitted but not started projects) and found Spooky Tree from the 2013 Just Cross Stitch Halloween issue. I used a 28 ct Misty Blue Cashel and stitched with the recommended DMC 310. This was a fun stitch. The only problem I had was the 2 over 1 for the bats. OMG was this difficult. I don't know if you can tell but there may be a couple of stitches that I crossed over two instead of one when making my second stitch.

Last week was baby girl's spring break and we went to Galveston then popped over to my brother's for part of the weekend. We originally planned on staying the whole weekend but he forgot we were coming by and he made "Guy's Weekend" plans. Of course I had to rib him a bit over the mix up, but in the end it all worked out because we were able to relax at home on Sunday before work and school started. I couldn't believe how foggy it was. Here is a couple of pics of the two of us. :)

On the jetty (only about 50' from shore)

Foggy look at the Pier

While gone, I didn't do very much stitching but I did make a new start. It is called Welcome Spring by LHN and the pattern came free with the purchase of Classic Color Works Floss Bundle at Market. I am making a few thread changes but I will get into that when I finish. I am stitching on 28 ct Lt Gray Lugana. Not sure if I am really liking how the colors look on this fabric yet, but I am going to give it some time. I have only used one color so far.

I am sorry for the long post. I will try to make an interim
post to show off some of what I get done in April.

Ta Ta for Now,
Angela

February SFS 2015

Uh Oh, I am late.

That's ok, I am still going to make my post so I don't loose my place. :)

Month: February
Beginning Balance: $26.50
Spent: $18.96
Finished $ 12.00
End of Month Balance: $19.54

This month found me working on a couple of different things.

I started working on Lizzie Kate's Things Unseen Mystery Sampler but found I ran out of threads. Thank goodness I received a gift card at the beginning of the month. I was able to order them and finally complete the piece. I love how this piece came together and how it looks now that it has had the embellishments added. This piece does not count in the finished bonus because it is not over 6 months.

 

Surprisingly enough, this picture actually shows the fabric color pretty well. (maybe a little darker but I think that is the lighting in my room).  Now let me tell you about my service at 123stitch.com. I placed the order for the threads I needed and as usual, they sent an email stating that the order was processed and another when the order when out for shipping along with the tracking information. I waited impatiently, checking the tracking every day to see where my threads were at (obviously I really wanted to finish this piece) lol. The day finally arrived when the tracking stated that it had arrived in my mail box. What an unpleasant surprise when I checked the box that day and no package. So I waited another day and still no package. I had to wait an additional two days before I could contact the post office and ask what had happened. Of course I got the run around a promise of a phone call (which never came) and another two days of still no package. On Tuesday I contacted customer service at 123stitch.com via email and explained my problem. They were very sympathetic and said that while I contacted the post office they would see what they were able to do. Then on Wednesday I called the post office again and stayed on the phone for over an hour. Spoke to at least 3 people with the result of again receiving a phone call. During this time I received another email from the 123 stating that they were gathering new threads for me and were going to ship them out to me the next day with the only condition that if I end up receiving the original package, that I send it back to them. No hassle, no fuss, no muss. I did end up receiving the original package and contacted them so that they did not send out a second one, but I have to say that the customer service at this company is wonderful. I will not receive any compensation for these statements, I just wanted to share what great customer service this company has.

 

While I was waiting for the threads to arrive I had to work on something, so I picked up this piece. Nancy over at the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe designed the sampler below. I loved the saying but I am not a pink person and asked if it was possible for her to help me to chart the flowers in a purple color, which she agreed to do. If you know her sight you also know that she also hand dyes her own threads. I love using her colors. So I purchased the chart and asked her to include her own dyed threads to use. She not only provided an updated chart, she gave me two options to use for the flowers and provided the thread for both options. This has been sitting in my to do pile for about 7 months now and decided it needed some loving.

 

 

Next up is my first finish for the month. I used Stitching the Night Away's brushstroke butterfly and added a saying I found a while ago. I stitched this for a group based in Europe - Stitching Out Stigma. I wanted to express that even though we may think the world is ending, I is only the beginning of a new part of our lives.

 

 

Next up is a little flower I found as a freebie from Blueladie Designs for the charity group WOCS. I loved how the little violet came out. I forgot that I started stitching this on 18ct aida, so the flower came out really small. I added a border. Of course, at the first turn of the second row, I forgot the number of spaces I originally intended and by the time I realized it, I was already on the third row of the border. Even with this, I think that It came out looking pretty good if I say so myself.

 

 

 Next up is a piece that has not seen much loving but I did manage to add in another 100 stitches or so. This is not a piece that I normally would have picked up myself, but will finish so I can gift it completed to the co-worker that originally purchased the piece. This is obviously something that she would enjoy seeing in her home. I am so glad that I switched out the fabric on this piece since this has so many 1/4 stiches. I would never have been able to get this done on the 14 count aida that was supplied in the kit..

 

 

Well that is all for now. Need to go get my hair cut and some errands run.

 

Ta Ta for now,

Angela CG

An Update

Hi everyone.

I hope you all have had a great couple of weeks. I haven't been able to spend much time (really any time) catching up on everyone's blogs lately. Things have been a little hectic at work.

I was able to finish stitching Mikey Jr.'s name piece. Now I just need to cut the fabric and start piecing the quilt together. I really like the way the colors look.

My plan is to use the fabrics below in his quilt.  I really like how these colors look together. I hope that they look as good once they are sewn together. I think I need to pick up at least one or two more pieces of fabric this weekend. I love these colors but the pattern I want to do needs at least one or two more.

I was also able to finally finish White Willow's Tribal Sand Dollar. I did change the colors up just a little, but it does look pretty good. I was having a hard time trying to finish this one. I think it is because I had just finished the Tribal Pumpkin and I was using too much of the same color. I am so glad that it is finished.

I finally received part 3 of Lizzie Kate's Things Unseen Mystery Sampler and am enjoying working on it again. I forgot to take a picture of it when I moved the hoop last night. Am about 1/2 way done with the stitching in part 3 and will just need to add the embellishments. That will be a first for me. Hope it will go as smooth as the rest of the piece. :)

I haven't really been in the mood to stitch much this week because I have gotten caught up in a book series. Hopefully I will have another finish this weekend.

Ta Ta for now,

Angela

SFS2015

Hi everyone!

This has been a busy month! I have decided to go participate in Stitch from Stash again this year and hope to finish some of the many projects I have kitted up ready and waiting for some attention. Let's get the details out of the way first:

Month: January
Spent: $6.50
Finished $8.00

On to a great start!

I can't remember, but I think I may have mentioned that my oldest daughter was expecting. This month he decided to show up weighing in at 6lbs 12oz and 20 inches long he is such a cutie!! I wasn't able to be there when he was born (we live in different states). I have made plans to go and spend a week in March. I can't wait!!

Momma and baby doing great!!

 .
So to do something crafty for her {cause that's how we roll ;-) } I started making the centerpiece for a quilt (from a Precious Moments Alphabet booklet) that will include his birth details and in other areas of the quilt, a mini family tree. My goal is to have the completed baby quilt done before I go to see her and the baby.

My first finish of 2015. This is called Stitcher's Brew by Little River on a piece of 28ct Jobelan Odyssey by Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. I saw this fabric on her sight last year during a sale and knew that this pattern purchased the month before would look great on it. Of course, when I kitted this I didn't realize that Needle necessities was a thread brand so I changed it to DMC 920 and WDW Daylily to give the effect I was looking for. Of course the bat buttons are missing but that can always be added later if I really want to but I like the way it turned out. I purchased the pattern on a whim last June and finally got around to working on it.

This has been my bring to work piece, but I have put it aside for the moment until I can finish the birth record for my grandson. I hope to have this finished next month. :) 

I am so sorry that I have not posted much. Work has been a bear with year end and the new boss. I spend so much time on the computer at work that I don't want to go home and deal with a slow connection at home. So instead I stitch or take a night off and read. On top of stitching from stash more this year I want to make posting and catching up on everyone a higher priority.

Ta Ta for now,

Angela CG

Don't interfere in the affairs of Dragons
...for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup

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.

Halloween & SFS2014 October Update

Hello all!

I haven't really meant to avoid being online lately but that is what seems to have happened. I need to be on the computer for work all day and really don't want to touch it when I get home. Which means that there is not much time for blogging and reading all your great posts. Sometimes a person just has to make some hard decisions...reading the latest book in the series or stitch. Such a dilemma :(

There are some books that I can listen to and satisfy both cravings but not all the authors I love are in audio format so my stitching has suffered. It didn't help that for over a week I was laid low by a stupid cold. I would go to work and by the time I came home I was barely able to function enough to cook dinner for the little one.

As you know, I have been participating in Mel's SFS2014 this year and even though I never really spent that much on enhancing my stash, it has made me be more conscious of the money I do spend. Last month I took my free month, not because I spent too much (I did purchase some lovely threads from a FB group) , but I couldn't seem to get myself together enough to make a post or even an email. Sad I know but there it is. Well this month I am on the ball (maybe a day later than I should but I am here). Mel's precious other half has generously allowed a bonus this month which I am taking full advantage of. I am going to participate in my first Mystery Sampler. Lizzie Kate has put together her "Things Unseen" Mystery Sampler and I just love the colors and motifs that she has revealed so far and I can't wait to get the first part in the mail. Thankfully the first invoice came just before the month closed and I could take advantage of the last bonus of the year. Now onto the details.

Amount Spent: Balance $40.53 (August Ending balance. Since I took a free month I thought that I should not add September's allowance).

Bonus used: $50.00
Part 1 of Things Unseen Sampler $69.00 and $0.60 thread purchased to almost finish kitting up a new project (Total $69.60)
Balance: $19.60 to be used against monthly spending

Final Balance: $45.93 ($40.53 + $25.00 - $19.60)

New Starts from Stash:

• 2 WOCS mittens
• 2 Exchange pieces ready for finishing

WIPs or UFOs worked on: White Willow Stitching Tribal Pumpkin (started in September)

I have made some progress though, so onto some pictures.

 This first is a cute little mitten I stitched for WOCS. I completed a second one but forgot to take a picture if it. (Oops) These are the type of projects I love for my lunch time at work. Very easy to follow and quick to stitch up. You really can't see it in the picture but it is stitched on a baby blue fabric that allows the blue and red to stand out.

Updated: I found the picture of the first mitten I stitched for WOCS. 

 Next up is the start of one of my exchanges that I am working on this fall. I could only work on this one after work when I was not very tired. Black 22 ct fabric is a little hard on the eyes, but I love the way it turned out. I used thread from the FB group Fiberlicious and it turned out just wonderful. The colors are outstanding. I have a second piece that I completed on the same fabric but since it is also for an exchange, I can show any more, but the colors just pop.

 This is the other thing that has kept me busy over the last couple of months. I made my Little One's Halloween costume which will double as her outfit when we next go to the Renaissance Faire. I made the skirt and cloak. The funny thing...She wares the cloak every day. It makes a momma feel good to know that something she made is enjoyed that much.

Last but not least I have been working on White Willow Stitching's Tribal pumpkin. I changed the leaves and stem from the brown to green and I love the way the colors are coming together. I am almost done and hope to have a finish this weekend.

Happy Dance!!

Happy Dance time!!

I have another finish. A two for one (hehe). If you have been reading my humble blog for any time, you know that I am working on the "My Garden Journal" monthly series and am working it up into a four seasons style finish. Last night I put the last stitch in August's Poppy completing the summer panel.

First up...August's Poppy. DD and I both agree

that the blue and white waves on the bottom

are the best.

Here we have the full summer panel.

So after ironing and taking pictures, I still was not ready to head to bed (even though I probably should have). I start looking around my stitching chair and see what I had out (within arms reach) that I wanted to pick up. I decided that I haven't given my HAED Steam Butterfly any love lately.

This is where I started and I was able to put about

300 stitches before I got too tired and had to head to bed.

This is what (a long, long, long time from now) the finished product will be.

I just love the colors. 

Ta Ta for now.

Angela

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