July Progress and August Goals

July wasn't too bad, stitching wise.  I am fairly happy with my progress, but I always wish there could have been more stitching time.  You will notice that two more items on my Work in Slow Progress list are finished.  That leaves 5 items on that list.  I hope to get at least one more of those finished this year and make some progress on the other 4. 

July Progress

WISPS:

Work on Bavarian Table Topper  
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2011  finished
Needlepoint hearts 1   finished
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler

 In Progress

Snow fun finished

Need to start

afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Photo booth
Sue Hillis Seasonal Baskets – stitch border
Natalie’s Birth Sampler
Quaker Rose Sampler
Snowman Ornament (Val’s Stuff)
Train ornament
Duck ornament
Mystery Sampler part 12 finished
Let it Snow  finished
Strawberry #4  finished
Mystery Sampler beading  finished
Snow Day worked on it
Needlepoint heart 2 finished
Hardanger Ornament #2 finished
Crystal Violets
Robin’s RR finished

August Goals

WISPS:

Work on Bavarian Table Topper  
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler

In Progress

Snow Day

Need to start

afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Photo booth
Sue Hillis Seasonal Baskets – stitch border
Natalie’s Birth Sampler
Quaker Rose Sampler
Snowman Ornament (Val’s Stuff)
Train ornament
Duck ornament
Crystal Violets

Results from this past weekend

I wasn't too much of a hermit this past weekend, but I did get to stitch and have a finish! 

Friday evening was a Children's Folk Dance Group rehearsal, and by the time I done dealing with all of the little darlings and got home, I was too tired to stitch.

Saturday, I went to the Des Plaines Library (at the crack of 10) for our monthly stitching get together.  I brought along this canvas piece that was barely started and stitched and stitched until I got too cold at about 3:30 (besides, my wrist was getting sore) and then I went home. 

After a few chores around the house and some Tylenol, I went back to stitching and even found some beads that would work and was able to finish it off before I went to bed.  I will do the companion piece another time, perhaps even next week.

Sunday I met Marguerite for breakfast and then we visited the Kane County IL fair so see the needlework that was entered.  What a disappointment!  We got their as the fair opened at noon, so we were able to park up close to the entrance.  There were no maps to tell us which building was which, and we found the textile entries by accident, the building wasn't even marked.  There were 3 (yes, three) counted cross stitch entries, one or two stamped embroidery entries and a few machine embroidery entries.  This fair doesn't give a Divisional Champion ribbon or have a Grand Champion, so I guess no one bothers entering.  Security was non-existent, so I would be afraid to enter there.  Oh well, at least we had breakfast and a nice visit!

IHSW again!

It's International Hermit and Stitch Weekend again! 

6 Fat Men Week 15

I am happy to say that I made a good bit of progress yesterday, and finished Let it Snow!

I even had a chance to start the border on Snow Day, which is the last square left to do.  

Black Cat Stitchery

It seems like every few weeks, another LNS announces that it is closing.  In Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, however, a new LNS just opened this past Mother's Day weekend.

 I had the opportunity to stop in at The Black Cat Stitchery last weekend.  It is a charming shop with lots of potential. 

The shop has just been open for two months, and is still growing.  They are sorely in need of models for their walls, and there isn't a lot of inventory but that could change as they grow.

Unfortunately, there is no web site, even though they have a nice newsletter that is sent out electronically if you sign up. 

I look forward to visiting again to see the shop grow.

Needlepoint Guild Retreat in Galena

The ANG Guild that I belong to has an annual retreat in Galena, IL each year.  It is held in a charming old hotel, The DeSoto House, which is the oldest continuously run hotel in the state.  Abraham Lincoln stayed there, Ulysses S. Grant used it as his campaign headquarters and it is said to have a resident ghost.   The rooms all have REAL keys! 

Lots of stitching and chatting and laughing!  It was a great weekend, starting and ending with some shopping at the Needle and I.  With the store closing, the 40% off sale was too good to pass up! 

6 fat men week 14



Not as much stitching time this Monday as I had hoped, but some progress was made.  I do see the end looming near!     Next year's piece by Lizzie*Kate is said to be "6 Fluffy Ladies"....not sure if I will be stitching that one or not.  I will have to see the charts first.

Patriotic Mail Art

I was involved in a Mail Art exchange recently, and here is the piece that I stitched for Marie. 

The design on the front is from Sue Hillis' It's Summer Chart.







The design on the back is from Sue Hillis' Liberty chart.  The fabric I used for the lining has fire crackers on it.

I enclosed a postcard of Chicago and two skeins of Weeks Dye Works Americana floss.

I hope Marie likes it!

Happy 4th!

Hope everyone had a happy 4th of July.  This is the trifle that I took to a party today.  It ended up being an indoor party instead of a picnic due to the heat, but was fun anyway. 

6 Fat Men Week 13

I finished Snow Fun this past Monday and made a bit of a start on Let It Snow. 

This is stitching up very quickly, and if I were to just stitch on ir for a few days, I would be done with the entire thing.   As tempting as that is, I will continue to just stitch on this on Mondays but I do think I will be done in a few weeks!

June Progress and July Goals

June was a good month, stitching wise!  3 more items on the Work in Slow progress list done, and 2 more from that list were worked on.  Total stitching time for the month was 117 hours, just 3 hours short of the 120 hours I was hoping for.  17 total finishes, too!  Although some of those were ornament, they were things that were hanging around, all kitted up for quite some time and I am happy to have them done.  Ornamantification will happen soon.

June Progress
WIPS:
Work on Bavarian Table Topper  worked on it
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2010 finished
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2011 worked on it
Work on Crystal Iris  finished
Mystery Sampler part 7 finished
Needlepoint hearts 1  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler

In Progress

Snow House finished

 Need to start

afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Photo booth
Sue Hillis Seasonal Baskets – stitch border
Honey I Shrunk the Wreath ornament finished
Natalie’s Birth Sampler
Quaker Rose Sampler
Snowman Ornament (Val’s Stuff)
Train ornament
Duck ornament
Fox Scissor Fob finished
Margie’s RR finished
Mystery Sampler part 8 finished
Mystery Sampler part 9 finished
Mystery Sampler part 10 finished
Mystery Sampler part 11 finished
Mystery Sampler part 12
Snow fun worked on it
Bookmark finished
Congressional club seal ornament finished
Byzantine Ornament   finished
2^nd bookmark finished
Mailart finished
Hardanger Ornament  finished

July  Goals

WIPS:
Work on Bavarian Table Topper  
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2011
Needlepoint hearts 1  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler

In Progress

Snow fun

Need to start

afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Photo booth
Sue Hillis Seasonal Baskets – stitch border
Natalie’s Birth Sampler
Quaker Rose Sampler
Snowman Ornament (Val’s Stuff)
Train ornament
Duck ornament
Mystery Sampler part 12

6 FAt Men Week 12

Here is this week's progress.  I had hoped to get Snow Fun finished, but I just didn't have as much time as I needed. 

Look for a finish next week, though!

Thanks for stopping by!

4 Canvas Finishes

Honey I Shrunk the Wreath

I have been busy with the smaller canvas projects this past week. 
The first one is Honey I Shrunk the Wreath, which is freebie by Neon Flamingo.  I received this all kitted up at our ANG Christmas Party in 2010, and I have always want to stitch it, so I finally pulled it out and did it!  I have Quilted Wreath all kitted up ready to do, but haven't had a chance to start it.   Now I am itching to get to it!

Congressional Club Seal Ornament



The second piece is a small project from the Congressional Club Seal that the guild did a number of years ago.  I plan to finish it as an ornament

Fox Diamond Scissor Fob

The third piece I did is a scissors fob design, designed by Eileen Gurak of Handblessings Designs, exclusively for our guild's 40th Anniversary luncheon.  We received the kit at the luncheon this past April.

Byzantine Ornament

The Byzantine Ornament was kitted up for us at the 2011 ANG Guild Christmas Party and is a freebie from the Caron Collection.  I actually had printed out the chart a year prior, intending to stitch it but never got to it.

The three ornaments still need to be ornamentified, and the scissor fob needs to be finished, but that will be for another day!  Right now, I am happy the stitching is done.


Excuse the wierd formatting, Blogger is being wonky this evening!

Questions.....and some answers

Tammy tagged me and asked me the 11 questions below.  I need to answer them, then write up 11 questions of my own, and tag 11 people so they can answer them.  Here goes!

1. Favorite pattern ever stitched-show a picture if you can - Quilted Flag by Neon Flamingo

2. Favorite junk food to have while stitching. ! Chocolate !

3. Your Favorite Blog to visit:   Riona's blog, she posts such interesting things!

4. Do you leave comments on blogs?  I don't post comments very often, I don't think people really want to read what I have to write.

5. Do you reply to your comments on your blog?  I try to, when I remember!

6. Your favorite thread to work with ie. DMC, Anchor, sampler, weeks ect. Glorianna and Dinky Dyes silks!

7. Do you know a male stitcher? I met one once......

8. what is the biggest stitched piece you have stitched?  Rocky Mountain Christmas - about 30 hours left to stitch and it will be done!

9. What is the farthest away you have traveled to go to a stitching store, what was it called?   I have been to shops in Alaska and Europe.  The one in Austria is probably the furthest one, but I don't know the name.  My cousin took me there as it is her LNS.

10. Favorite tool to use with stitching  my eye glasses!

11. and last but not least Do you like stitching for others or yourself and why?  I love to stitch for family and friends, but I hate deadlines!

Here are my questions:

1.  Where is your favorite place to stitch?  In my comfy stitching chair!

2.  What is your favorite shop (brick and mortar or on-line) to purchase your supplies?  Welcome Stitchery in Crystal Lake IL

3.  What is your favorite specialty stitch?  Rhodes Hearts - they are so pretty!

4.  Which specialty stitch do your least enjoy?  Queen Stitches

5.  French knot, colonial knot or Mill Hill knot?  Definately a 'Mill Hill' knot!

6.  How much stitching time to do get per day or week or month?   I try to stitch an average of 3 hours per day

7.  Do you keep a stitching journal and if so, what do you include?  I do keep a journal of sorts, it includes start and finish dates, how many hours of stitching time on the project, as will as fabric and fibres used and if it is a gift, model or for myself.

8.  Besides counted cross stitch, what other forms of needlework do you do?  Crewel, embroidery, counted canvas, and hardanger.  I can crochet too, but haven't done that in a long time!

9.  When did you start stitching?  and why?  I was 6 years old when my Oma taught me stamped cross stitch and embroidery.  She said girls needed to keep busy and playing was not an option.

10.  Do you rotate your stitching projects or are you a 'one-at-a time' stitcher?  Definately a rotater, I find I get more done that way.

11.  How many UFOs, and WIPs do you have?  I refuse to call anything a UFO, so I have WIP and WISP, and I now have 11.  My goal is to finish a good portion of these this year, and to make some good progress on the ones I don't finish.


Here are the 11 stitchers that I am tagging:

1.  Riona
2.  Robin
3.  Katica
4.  Ranae
5.  Carolyn
6.  Joyce
7.  Rachel
8.  Kim
9.  Lillie
10.  Barbara
11.  Meari
(you should be able to click on each name to go to their blog if I did this right!)

They should now make up 11 questions and tag fellow stitchers.

Ok, have fun!  I can't wait to see your responses.

6 Fat Men Week 11 and IHASW Report

I was unable to participate fully in the Internation Hermit and Stitch Weekend this past weekend.  I was attending a folk dance workshop in Tulsa OK, so I was either driving or dancing.....I only got 4 hours of stitching in all weekend!

I did get a little bit done on my 6 fat men yesterday after I got back home. 

Thanks for stopping by!

A La D Da Finish

 Recently, our EGA Chapter had a Satruday Class with Lori Markovic of La D Da.

This is the piece that she presented, and exclusive design for our chapter, Needle's Nest.

I was unable to attend the session but was able to purchase the kit.  Here it is all finished, not my best finishing job, but it is done!

6 Fat Men Week 10

Here we are!  I finished up Snow House this week and started Snow Fun.

I am a little past the half way point.

Tune in next week to see more progress on this fun design.

Thanks for stopping by!

Recent Round Robin Stitching

The round robin I am currently involved in, 12 ladies stitching, is well under way.  It started off in January, when I mailed off my pieced. Since then I have worked on 4 different pieces, but I forgot to get a picture of Kim's.

This Darla's. It was a fun stitch and turned out really cure

This one is Sue's.  I just love these chickens!

I also stitched on Charlotte's. I need to get this chart for myself.  It is too cute for words!

And the WISP List Gets Shorter.....

I started this piece in March of 2009, and only finished the iris part.  I don't know why I was affraid of doing the background, it really wasn't that hard.  I was affraid of miscounting and having it come out wrong but here it is, all correct and finished!!  It is very sparkly in person, sorry I couldn't get a better picture.

This is Crystal Iris by From Nancy's Needle.  I have the companion piece, Crystal Violets,  in my to-do mountain also.  Once I get that pieced stitched, I will decide on how to finish them.

Thanks for stopping by!

6 Fat Men Week 9

I made some good progress on my fat men yesterday. 


Can't wait for next Monday!

Framed and Gifted!

I picked up Logan's birth sampler from being framed yesterday, just in time to take it to his 3rd birthday party today, but much to my horor it was pointed out to me that I had stitched the wrong date!  Thank goodness for curved needles!  I was able to make the correction without taking the framing apart. 

When Logan unwrapped it, he lit up and brought it right over to me.  He has seen me stitching on it and even helped me pull the needle through the fabric. 

I gave Sweet Treets by Country Cottage Needleworks to Natalie for her first birthday.  I will look great in her room.  A sweet treat for a sweet little girl.

May Progress, June Goals

May was a good month, stitching wise, but a busy month so not as much stitching time as the month before.  I did manage to average a little over 3 hours per day, so a lot was accomplished.  I am particularly pleased that 3 pieces from the WIPs list are finished.  I plan to finish at least 6 more of these during 2012, and then completely finish that list in 2014,  but then there are always new charts calling to me......

I also am happy that there has been a lot of progress in the "finishing" department. Besides the teapots and teacups, everything except Cloister Garden (which was completed last night) was either finished by me, or is at the framers or the finishers.  Just a few ornaments are at home waiting for a trip to the finisher's, but they will wait until next spring.   Oh, and I have to "finish" up the bell pull and the Traveling Stitcher pouch and needlebook, but there really is very little in the finishing basket compared to a few months ago. 

Meanwhile, thanks for stopping by!

May Progress
WIPS:
Work on Bavarian Table Topper
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2010
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2011
Work on Cloister garden finished
Work on Crystal Iris 
Logan's birth sampler finished!!!
Mystery Sampler part 7
Needlepoint hearts 1  
Holiday Fun stocking  finished 
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler

In Progress

From Sea to Shining Sea border  finished
Snow Friends finished

Need to start

afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Photo booth
Sue Hillis Seasonal Baskets – stitch border
Quilted wreath ornament
Natalie’s Birth Sampler
Quaker Rose Sampler
Snowman Ornament (Val’s Stuff)
Train ornament
Duck ornament
Mountains  finished
Midwest  finished
May Flowers  finished
Needle’s Nest pin cushion  finished
East Coast finished
Fox Scissor Fob
Sue’s RR  finished
Snow House  worked on it

June Goals

WIPS:
Work on Bavarian Table Topper
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2010
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2011
Work on Crystal Iris 
Mystery Sampler part 7
Needlepoint hearts 1  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler

In Progress

Snow House

Need to start

afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Photo booth
Sue Hillis Seasonal Baskets – stitch border
Quilted wreath ornament
Natalie’s Birth Sampler
Quaker Rose Sampler
Snowman Ornament (Val’s Stuff)
Train ornament
Duck ornament
Fox Scissor Fob
Margie’s RR

49 Queen Stitches.....

..... and 19 Spider Web Stitches later.....and I finished another piece on the WISP list!  This time it is Cloister Garden by Drawn Thread.  I started it in March of 2009 when Rene and I took a class at Welcome Stitchery.  Rene finished hers a long time ago, but I set mine aside, 2/3 done, with lots of Queen stitches unstitched.   (Did I mention that I hate queen stitches?)  I also realized that Spider Web stitches aren't my favorites either.

I really enjoy specialty stitches, and this chart was just full of them!  I have the others in this 'Garden Series' in my to-do mountain and will have to pull out another one to stitch soon.  I think I am going to wait with the framing on this one until I finish at least another one so that I can frame them similarly.

Thanks for visiting!

 

Another Finish

One of my goals this year is to work on WIPs (works in progress) and WISPs (works in slow progress).  I refuse to have and UFOs (unfinished objects).  I finished Logan's Birth Sampler and now have finished this mini stocking (counted canvas).

The list is getting shorter!  Most of the WISP are BAPs (big a$$ project) so I won't get all 12 of the finished, but I hope to make a good dent in the list and at least work on all of them over the summer.

Thanks for stopping by!  come back again soon as I have some more finishes and framing to photograph and show you.

6 fat Men Week 8

Well, I planned more stitching time this Monday, and considering it was a holiday, I didn't think it was unrealistic to plan to spend the day stitching.

Unfortunately, a BBQ was planned for my house (not by me) and I had to straighten up the house, clean up the kitchen, make German potato salad, bake some pies and be a charming hostes.  Don't get me wrong, it was a lovely afternoon, but I couldn't sit in my comfy chair with my stitching lamp and stitch all day without interuption.  I did get a little bit done on Snow House.

Thanks for stopping by!  More stitching on this one next Monday!

TA DA!!!!

Finally!  The last stitch was put in at 3:39 AM on Saturday morning. By 10:00 AM it was at the framers.  I had ordered the frame a few weeks ago, so I should be picking it up sometime this week and I will be giving it to Logan at his 3rd birthday party next Sunday.

Did I ever mention I hated kits?  This was a kit, although I used my own antique white Jubilee fabric and used DMC floss instead of the floss included in the kit.  If it had been for anyone else, I would have tossed it months ago.  But for my grandson, I just kept on stitching.  

IHSW and 6 fat Men

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend is over again. Sigh!  I did get to stitch on Friday and Saturday and managed to finish From Sea to Shining Sea, which was started last month on the IHSW.  I love how it turned out!

On Sunday, I babysat, then found my self too tired to stitch in the afternoon.  The evening was used for finishing, but nothing got "finished".  I have three things in a partially finished state.

Monday, or 6 Fat Men Day, no stitching at all!  Next Monday is a holiday, so I promise to make of for this week's lack of progress.

Another International Hermit and Stitch Weekend!

Since the last one worked out so well for me, I am going to participate again.  Unfortunately, this weekend is a rather busy one.  I had to work a bit later than usual today, and this evening I had a folk dance rehearsal.  Saturday morning is the last day of German School, followed by the Graduation and picnic, so that takes up quite a bit of my Satuday.  Sunday, I have promised to babysit my two little munchkins for the morning, and I don't know when I will get home.  I don't get much stitching done while I babysit because both of them want to "help"and at 3 and 1, they can't really help much.  But I will report back with my progress at the end of the weekend.

May Flowers

Last Tuesday evening, our  ANG  chapter invited Nancy Buhl of From Nancy's Needle to teach a project.  She brought May Flowers and the kit included this lovely music box to mount it in. 

It was a quick stitch, and I finished the stitching and "finished" it this evening. 

In case you hadn't heard, Nancy is retiring from retails sales and is closing her shop, The Needle and I, which is in Rockford.  I will miss that shop.  I didn't make it there more than once or twice a year, but she always had some great sales, and usually had the fibres I needed and couldn't find elsewhere.  Nancy will continue designing and selling her designs on the internet.

6 Fat Men, Weeks 5 and 6

 I realized that I forgot to post last Tuesday, I was too busy stitching!  Here is last week Monday's progress.  Not too much, I was having an episode of vertigo and couldn't stitch too much, but there was some progress.

Yesterday, I had to work very late, so I didn't get in as much stitching as I would have liked, but I did finish the Snow Friends chart so there was some progress.

Tune in next week to see which of the other 4 charts I start next!

6 Fat Men Week 4

I made some good progress this past Monday night.  I did the birdhouse on the right and part of the snow man in Snow Friends. 

This is quite an enjoyable stitch, and I found myself wanting to continue stitching on it on Tuesday, but I resisted.

Check back next week for more progress on this piece.

April Progress, May Goals

April was a great month, stitching wise.  I logged 159 hours of stitching, and really feel like I made a lot of progress.  I hope the renewed stitching mojo will continue.

April Progress

WIPS:

Work on Bavarian Table Topper
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking  Christmas heart canvas ornament 2010
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2011
Work on Cloister garden 
Work on Crystal Iris 
Logan's birth sampler stitching finished, backstitching half finished
Mystery Sampler part 7
Needlepoint hearts 1  
January stocking project for ANG 
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler

New Starts WIP:

Strawberry #2 finished
Strawberry #3 finished
2^nd Starfish Biscornu model  finished

Need to start

afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Photo booth
Sue Hillis Seasonal Baskets – stitch border
Quilted wreath ornament
Natalie’s Birth Sampler
Quaker Rose Sampler
Snowman Ornament (Val’s Stuff)
Train ornament
Duck ornament
Darla’s Round Robin  finished
Charlotte’s Round Robin  finished
6 fat men border  finished
Snowed in   finished
Sweet Stitches Needle book  finished
Sweet Stitches biscornu  finished
Sweet Stitches Scissors fob  finished
LHN Deck the Halls ornament  finished
LHN Gingerbread Village ornament   finished
From Sea to Shining Sea border  worked on it
West Coast  finished
Southwest finished
Snow Friends worked on it
Rose Card  finished

May Goals

WIPS:

Work on Bavarian Table Topper
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 

Christmas heart canvas ornament 2010

Christmas heart canvas ornament 2011

Work on Cloister garden 

Work on Crystal Iris 

Logan's birth sampler

Mystery Sampler part 7

Needlepoint hearts 1  

January stocking project for ANG 

Antique Map and Needlebook

Heirloom Christmas Sampler

From Sea to Shining Sea border

Snow Friends

Need to start

afghan pillow bear

afghan pillow moose

Photo booth

Sue Hillis Seasonal Baskets – stitch border

Quilted wreath ornament

Natalie’s Birth Sampler

Quaker Rose Sampler

Snowman Ornament (Val’s Stuff)

Train ornament

Duck ornament

Mountains

How's that Birth Sampler coming?

You probably have been wanting to ask me that question.......

Here it is, just needs to be back stitched and personalized....and that MUST be finished by early May so that I can have it framed for Logan's 3rd birthday.....actually 1/4 of the backstitching is alreay done, so I don't think it will take too much longer to finish.  I am thinking of a bright red frame or perhaps another primary color.....

Stitching on Paper

While I was on the Sue Hillis Cruise this past January (Yes, I know I haven't posted about it, but I will, soon, I promise!)  I received this card.  It was 'stitched' by Rochelle Handelman, one of our cruisers and the picture doesn't do it justice, it is truly lovely (and sparkly, too!).  I knew that Michelle wanted to present this type of stitching at one of our EGA meetings, so I put her in touch with Rochelle.

This past Monday evening, Michelle presented 'Prick and Stitch' embroidery to our EGA guild.  It was an interesting presentation, and then we all got a card to work on.  Mine is pictured on the left, a single rose and leaves.  It was fun to do and didn't take as much time as I thought.  I am quite please with the results.   I will need to find some more patterns and the tools and try a few other designs.

6 Fat Men Week 3

This is the result of Monday's stitching.  I started the Snow Friends square, but didn't get as far as I would have liked due to a power outage....I could have stitched for at least another hour!

I have had some questions about my fabric, I am using 28 count Blue Spruce Cashel, and did have to change out one color of floss.  The Deep Sea WDW floss is too close in color to the fabric, so I switched it out for a brighter shade of blue in the Snowed in square.  Since it is surrounded by white in the Snow Friends square, I did go ahead and use the Deep Sea there. 

Stop by next Tuesday to see how far I have gotten!

A Productive Weekend

I am happy to report that my first International Hermit and Stitch Weekend was a great success! 

Starting at 6 pm Friday evening and ending at midnight on Sunday evening, I stitched!  I did have to teach my German Class on Saturday, so Saturday's Stitching didn't begin until 3 pm.

What a productive weekend!  I decided that a new start was in order, one that had been all kitted up for quite some time.  This is Little House Needleworks' From Sea to Shining Sea, done on 32 count raw linen, with one strand of silk from Cresent Colours.  I managed to get half of the border done, I completed the first square and made good progress on the 2nd square. 

It was nice to have peace and quiet and very few interuptions.  Can't wait to do this again, when is the next one?

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend

This has been going on for quite some time, but I have been too busy to participate! But this time I will be part of it! As of this afternoon (once I get home from work) I will become a hermit and stitch all weekend! - except for German School on Saturday morning - I hope to get lots and lots of stitching done. Will you join me?http://joysze.blogspot.com/p/international-hermit-and-stitch-weekend.html

6 Fat Men - Week 2

Here is this weeks progress on 6 Fat Men.  As you can see, I finished the first of the 6 charts this evening.  I love how this is stitching up so quickly.

6 Fat Men on Mondays

Katica at Threads, Thoughts and Other Notions is hosting a Stitch-a-long on her blog on Mondays.  We are stitching 6 Fat Men by Lizzie*Kate. 

I had my project all kitted up for a few weeks and it was really hard to wait to start stitching on it. 

Here is my progress after the first Monday of stitching. I was lucky to have the day off of work, so I was able to make good progress.        

Please stop by every Tuesday to see my progress!

March Progress, April Goals

Not as much progress this month as I would have liked. I had the mother of all colds that really knocked me for a loop. Add to that lots going on at work as well as some family stress, and it equals less stitching time. Thanks to those of you who e-mailed me to check up on me, it's nice to know I was missed!

MarchWIPS:
Work on Bavarian Table Topper
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas
work on Logan’s stocking
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2010
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2011
Work on Cloister garden
Work on Crystal Iris
Logan's birth sampler
Mystery Sampler part 7
Needlepoint hearts 1
January stocking project for ANG
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler

New Starts
WIP:
Strawberry #2
Strawberry #3
2nd Starfish Biscornu model worked on it

Need to start
afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Photo booth
Sue Hillis Seasonal Baskets – stitch border
Quilted wreath ornament
Natalie’s Birth Sampler
Quaker Rose Sampler
Snowman Ornament (Val’s Stuff)
Train ornament
Duck ornament
LHN Traveling Stitcher Pouch finished
LHN Traveling Stitcher Needlebook finished
EGA Ornament finished

April
WIPS:
Work on Bavarian Table Topper
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas
work on Logan’s stocking
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2010
Christmas heart canvas ornament 2011
Work on Cloister garden
Work on Crystal Iris
Logan's birth sampler
Mystery Sampler part 7
Needlepoint hearts 1
January stocking project for ANG
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler

New Starts
WIP:
Strawberry #2
Strawberry #3
2nd Starfish Biscornu model

Need to start
afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Photo booth
Sue Hillis Seasonal Baskets – stitch border
Quilted wreath ornament
Natalie’s Birth Sampler
Quaker Rose Sampler
Snowman Ornament (Val’s Stuff)
Train ornament
Duck ornament
Darla’s Round Robin
Charlotte’s Round Robin