One Last Finish for June

Just in the knick of time....I finished the June square for the Joyful World Stitch-a-long shortly before midnight, so it was still June!  Yay! 

WIP Wednesday 6-29-2016

Here is Witches Stitches by Sue Hillis that I have been working on.  It is coming along well, and a joy to stitch! 

Two More Flowers of the Month Stitched

 I finished the January Flower from the Ellen Maurer-Stroh Flower of the Month project last week.  I have had this project all kitted up for a number of years, so this year I decided to get started on it.  I did the February flower first a few months ago, so I though I should get the January one done also.

 Since I was on a roll, I continued stitching and managed to get the March Flower done also.  I love these cheerful daffodils!  There wasn't any backstitching on the January and February squares.....imagine my surprise to have to do some backstitching on the March square, but it was worth it.

Here is the entire project up as it stand now.  I will start the April flower in July.....

Another Piece for Ronald McDonald House

I finished the stitching on my second piece for Ronald McDonald House, this time it is for the house near Lurrie Children's Hospital in Chicago.  As soon as I frame it, I will drive down and present it.

A Finish for my Princess

Natalie, being my favorite and only granddaughter, is very special to me.  She loves pink, and is referred to as our princess.  So...as soon as this is framed it will be going to adorn the walls of her room.....

Another Flag Finish

Those white stripes almost did me in......but I just did a little at a time....about an hour a day, most of it pulling out stitches that were placed wrong, but....ta da...!  The stitching is done!  I am not sure how I will 'finish' it.....

In case you don't remember, this is the Nancy Cucci U.S.A to Z Frame Weight that I took as class in March....

Joyful World Stitch-a-long.....progress to date

 

March is finished, April is finished, May is finished.....on to June!

 

 Here they are all together.  I am stitching this on 40 count linen over two fabric threads with one strand of the suggested (for the most part) threads.

WIP Wednesday 6-22-2016

I have been stitching on Lizzie Kate's ABC lessons for the past two days.  Made great progress, but now on to another piece in my rotation.

A Haul of Hummels!

 

I feel like I hit the mother load!  A dear friend had been storing her deceased mother-in-law's

Hummels for a long time, through a few moves, and decided they needed a new home, with someone who would love them.  She though of me!  My daughter was going to be near her house, so she picked them up for me so they wouldn't have to be shipped across a few states, and I just got the box!  It was better then Christmas!  

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend - The Results!

Well, Friday was a bust, too much stuff going on.  A Funeral and memorial luncheon to attend, interviewing new caregivers for my mother....and then just collapsing.  Saturday was a bit better, driving a daughter around to get her car repaired, hospice doctor visit for my mother, babysitting for some of my grandchildren, and unpacking a wonderful gift box of Hummels, but I did manage to get some stitching in.  Sunday was Father's Day, so lunch with Dad was on the agenda, some shoe shopping to replace the black sandles that broke last weekend, but there was stitching!

In all, I got 15 hours of stitching this weekend, which isn't earth shattering, but it was a good amount!  I mostly stitched on the French Alphabet Sampler, which is over 1 on 25 count, so it is a bit slower going. 



Here is where the weekend started.
















...and here is where it ended....doesn't look like much, but it is all done over 1 on 25 count, so although it is tiny, there are a lot stitches done.

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend

I haven't had a chance to participate in quite awhile, but this weekend, I plan to try!

A Bunch of Baskets!

This past weekend I visited my sister-in-law.  She recently lost her mother, Barbara, and was cleaning out her home.  While I was there, I was given a bunch of Barbara's Longaberger baskets!  What wonderful treasures!  I can't wait to fill them all!  And every time I use one I will remember Barbara, a wonderful lady.  We have many memories of spending time with her both in our home and in hers.  Rest in peace, Barbara, and know that I will treasure these baskets and put them to good use.  Can you imagine how much stitching stash these wonderful baskets can hold?

Saturday Stitching and a Finish!

 Even though I stitched until 1 am the night before, I got up at the crack of 8 on Saturday morning and pack up my stuff, and headed off to the stitching room.  After fortifying myself with a bagel and tea, and some chatting with my fellow stitchers, I started stitching at about 10 am on Together We Stand by Handblessings Designs. 






Even though I took a break for lunch, and then later in the afternoon, drove to Savanna Illinois to has dinner with my sister-in-law and then chatted with her and her step father all evening, I did manage to get it all finished before getting ready for bed!

Retreat Stitching - Friday

Friday morning, at about the crack of 10:30, I pulled out this Nancy Cucci piece, a flag frameweight that I started a few months ago in a class with Nancy and hadn't worked on since. 

 After stitching for a good part of the day, here is my progress.  I still need to do the white stripes and the border, but I am pleased with my progress.

A Break from Stitching

 I have been to Galena many, many times over the years and have never taken the time to visit Grant's home, so this year I decided to just do it!  Friday afternoon, I took a break from stitching and drove a short distance to the home.   The home was given to Ulysses S. Grant after the civil war by the citizens of Galena.  After his death, the family gave the house back to Galena to be used as a memorial, and it is now owned by the state of Illinois.  Most of the furnishings are original to the house.  It was a delightful tour!

 Here is the study.

 The parlor

 the dining room

and a bedroom.

Retreat Stitching - Thursday

 Once I arrived in Galena, I quickly settled in to stitch.  The first project up was Overture II by Kay Stanis.  This project hasn't seem the light of day since August of 2013.  Here is the piece where I left off.

 ...and here it is at the end of the day Thursday....not as much progress as I had hoped, but progress non the less!

Here are some of the ladies stitching in the beautiful ballroom at the Desoto House hotel.

On the Road Again.....

 

 Today's destination is Galena, Illinois.  I traveled to Galena to attend our ANG Chapter's annual retreat, held at the Desoto House Hotel.  It is a very historic hotel in downtown Galena.  Galena is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from home, but due to some road construction took a bit longer. 












The hotel itself is the oldest continuously run hotel in the state of Illinois and has seen many historic events.  Abraham Lincoln has stayed there, Ulysses S. Grant used it has his campaign headquarters during an election, and stayed there.  Many other famous historical figures have also stayed there. 




 
 
 
 
 




It is a very charming hotel, and is still decorated with historical furnishings and pictures.  I enjoy staying here every year!

Wednesday WIP 6-8-2016

Hey there blogging buddies!  This week's WIP is the Santa Train Stocking by Stoney Creek.  It is coming along nicely, and seems to be 'on track' for a finish before Christmas!

WIP Wednesday 6-1-2016

This week's WIP on Wednesday is the Superhero Alphabet.  I am a little more than half way done....it is a fun stitch, but since I have already stitched it, it is not so much fun the second time around.  But.....since it is for a grandchild, I will just suck it up and get it done eventually.

May Progress, June Goals

As always, I wish I had more stitching time.....never enough time to stitch.  But I was happy with my progress, never the less.  Most significant is that there are now only two projects left from the Crazy January starts, out of an original 28!  To celebrate that, I started 15 new projects for Stitch "May"nia, and finished 4 of those already.  Hopefully June will be month with lots of stitching!

May

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Nancy Cucci flag frame weight

Crazy January starts

Justin’s Birth Sampler worked on it
The Breath of Autumn  finished
Landon’s Stocking  worked on it
Embroidery Guild  finished
Home of a Needleworker   finished

Stitch Maynia (15 new starts in May)

Birds, Flowers & Patches Quilt Square 9 finished
Birds, Flowers & Patches Quilt Square 10 finished
Joyful World March worked on it
Joyful World April worked on it
Joyful World May worked on it
French Alphabet Sampler page 2 worked on it
January Flower of the Month worked on it
March Flower of the Month worked on it
Hinzeit Princess worked on it
Witch’s Stitches worked on it
ABC Lessons worked on it
Birds, Flowers & Patches Quilt Square 11 finished
Birds, Flowers & Patches Quilt Square 12 finished
cardinal ornament worked on it
The House That Love Built #2 worked on it

Future New starts

Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge
12 cardinal ornaments

June

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Nancy Cucci flag frame weight

Crazy January starts

Justin’s Birth Sampler
Landon’s Stocking 
 
Stitch Maynia (15 new starts in May)
Joyful World March
Joyful World April
Joyful World May
French Alphabet Sampler page 2
January Flower of the Month
March Flower of the Month
Hinzeit Princess
Witch’s Stitches
ABC Lessons
cardinal ornament
The House That Love Built #2

Future New starts

Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge
12 cardinal ornaments