Not enough stitching was done in April in my opinion.  I did make great progress on Rocky Mountain Christmas.  I would have finished it but needed to start on a model stitching project right away, so it will be finished in May for sure.  I do want to get the Work in Slow Progress list finished by the end of 2019. 

A word about Stitch Maynia.  This is where you start a new piece every day for the first 15 or 18 days of May and then commit to finish them during the year.  I love this!  I have had great success doing this and the Crazy January Challenge for a number of years.  This year, I have my Maynia starts all planned out and ready to go.  I then got some obligation stitching to do that are gifts that need to be finished as soon as possible.  So....I will be starting my Maynia pieces in August or September instead, and I will be doing a "finishing Maynia"  I will 'finish' one piece each day in May for at least the first 15 days, if not more....I have a lot that needs finishing.

April 2018

WISPS:

 Rocky Mountain Christmas  worked on it  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Merry Bells #1 

Maynia starts

1.       #5 (perpetual calendar)
2.       #6 (perpetual calendar)
3.       #7 (perpetual calendar)
4.       #8 (perpetual calendar)
5.       #9 (perpetual calendar)
6.       Candy Corn #2
7.       Ambrosia Honey
8.       Scissors case
9.       May flower of the month
10.   June flower of the month
11.   July flower of the month
12.   French alphabet page
13.   Hardanger runner
14.   Hardanger ornament
15.   Snowman Heart
16.   Marnee Ritter Heart
17.   Gingerbread heart
18.   ANG Blue Tree
19.   dreaming of Tuscany
20.   wedding sampler
21.   journey bag
22.   Linen & Threads 2017 Part 5
23.   Snow Sampler
24.   Fox Embelishment square
25.   Linens Threads SAL part 5

Future New starts
Alphabet band for Sue  worked on it
Hardanger Heart  worked on it
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

May 2018
WISPS:
 Rocky Mountain Christmas 
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Merry Bells #1 

Maynia starts

1.       #5 (perpetual calendar)
2.       #6 (perpetual calendar)
3.       #7 (perpetual calendar)
4.       #8 (perpetual calendar)
5.       #9 (perpetual calendar)
6.       Candy Corn #2
7.       Ambrosia Honey
8.       Scissors case
9.       May flower of the month
10.   June flower of the month
11.   July flower of the month
12.   French alphabet page
13.   Hardanger runner
14.   Hardanger ornament
15.   Snowman Heart
16.   Marnee Ritter Heart
17.   Gingerbread heart
18.   ANG Blue Tree
19.   dreaming of Tuscany
20.   wedding sampler
21.   journey bag
22.   Linen & Threads 2017 Part 5
23.   Snow Sampler
24.   Fox Embelishment square
25.   Linens Threads SAL part 5

Future New starts
Alphabet band for Sue 
Hardanger Heart 
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

 

WIP Wednesday 4-25-2018

This week I am doing some Model Stitching for Sue Hillis.  I do have her permission to show this piece.  It will be a band that goes around a box, and will have other components, a box top, and pin cushion, and perhaps some other things.  She will be teaching this piece at various shops across the country this year.  I am looking forward to stitching it a second time for myself.

Weekend Baking

This past weekend I made a Lemon Meringue Cheesecake.  It turned out quite yummy!  It could even stand alone as a lemon cheesecake without the lemon curd and meringue on top! 

I always have trouble with meringue on top of a pie or cake, it always ends of shrinking no matter how well I 'seal' it.  Will have to practice some more.

Even so, it was well received.  My taste testers finished every last crumb!

WIP Wednesday 4-4-2018

Rocky Mountain Christmas is almost done!  Not much left......I must get it done!

Easter Sunday Eats

 For the first time ever, I attempted to make Salz Kipfel.  I got the recipe from a friend, it was her husband's grandmother's recipe that she wrote down after watching it being made, and it is a bit sketchy.   But they turned out pretty good!  I have made note of a few tweeks for the next time I make it. 

Here is the rest of the Easter Buffet.  There were only 9 of us, and I am used to cooking for 20 or 30.....we had ham, cheesy potatoes, German Apple pancake, deviled eggs, kale salad, veggies, fruit, and Kipfel.  I made a fruit torte for dessert.

March Progress and April Goals

March was a good stitching month!  Lots of stitching time!  8 finishes, including the Santa Train Stocking that seemed to be taking forever.  I also worked on two of my Works in slow progress!  I mapped out my "May"nia stitching also, although I may start one or two of those pieces early.

March 2018
WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  worked on it  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II  worked on it

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
SAL part 1  finished
Pacific Heart  finished
Merry Bells #1 

Future New starts

SAL part 2  finished
SAL part 3  finished
SAL part 4  finished
Blue Fox Emerald Patch finished
Flamingo bookmark  finished
book mark #2 finished
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

April 2018

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

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Merry Bells #1 

Maynia starts

1.       #5 (perpetual calendar)
2.       #6 (perpetual calendar)
3.       #7 (perpetual calendar)
4.       #8 (perpetual calendar)
5.       #9 (perpetual calendar)
6.       Candy Corn #2
7.       Ambrosia Honey
8.       Scissors case
9.       May flower of the month
10.   June flower of the month
11.   July flower of the month
12.   French alphabet page
13.   Hardanger runner
14.   Hardanger ornament
15.   Snowman Heart
16.   Marnee Ritter Heart
17.   Gingerbread heart
18.   ANG Blue Tree
19.   dreaming of Tuscany
20.   wedding sampler
21.   journey bag
22.   Linen & Threads 2017 Part 5

Future New starts
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

 

 

Bookmarks

I finished these two bookmarks yesterday and the day before.  One of the challenges at the Embroidery Guild this year is to stitch two bookmarks for the guild.  Once we have collected them all they will be donated to the library’s literacy program and to the church we meet at’s shut-ins. Glad to have them done

No Wednesday WIP this Week....

Instead we have a Wednesday finish!  This is Nancy Cucci's Pacific Heart.  I started this at a class just about a year ago, and it hadn't seen the light of day since then, that us until a little while ago.  I finished it up in the wee hours this morning.  So another WIP bites the dust.  Down to 6 WIP's at the moment, and hope to get at least two more finished soon.

De Ja Vu......

I finished this little box up this morning.  I am teaching this project at our Guild this evening, and since I had stitched it in Green over a year ago, I decided to make another one to practice the stitches......love it in blue, too! 














Here is the green one I did last year.  Love them both.  This is a design by Eileen Gurak of Handblessings Designs.  It is done on canvas with perle cotton, and then mounted to this little tin. 

Part 4 Finished!

And here it is.....Part 4!  It actually stitched up quite quickly once I kicked that darned frog to the curb! 

The Valdani floss is behaving rather well, also.  The floss for part 3 and 4 did not have the knotting problem I had with Part 1 or the shredding problem with Part 2.  Hope the rest of the floss works well also. 

I included the rest of the colors that I will be using for the rest of the bands.....not 100% sure of the order I will use them in, but there they are!

As much as I would like to continue working on this piece, I have a few other things that need to be stitched, some WIPs that I set a goal to have finished by April 22, and a wedding gift and a 50th anniversary piece that need to be finished by June and August respectively. 

WIP Wednesday 3-21-2018

After the visit from the frog, I have finally kicked him to the curb and made some good progress on part 4 of the Stitch-a-long. 

IHSW Report - a Finish and the Frog



I did manage to finish Part 3 of this stitch-a long this past weekend, but there was no progress at all on Part 4!  None, nada, zilch!  I stitched on part 4 all day Sunday, and on Monday, I unstitched all of it!  All. Of. It.  I love stitching over 1, but frogging over 1 is the pits!

IHSW

It is International Hermit and Stitch Weekend again (third weekend of the month).  I have some appointments and errands on Friday, and German School on Saturday, but I plan to stitch for most of the weekend after that.  Check back on Monday to see what I have accomplished.

WIP Wednesday 3-14-2018

This is Pacific Heart by Nanci Cucci.  I took the class last March, and it hasn't seen the light of ay since.  Pulled it out today and got two more sections done!  I love working on Nanci's designs, so I need to get this one finished soon.  I am taking another of her heart classes in June.

Part 2 is Done!

Part 2 didn't take as long as part one.  Love how this is turning out, love the floss colors, but not really happy with the quality of the floss.  I am using Valdani floss that I purchased as a set of 12 colors, originally intended for a fall quaker.  It came as little balls of 3 stranded cotton floss, and since I am stitching 1 strand over 1 fabric thread on 25 count, it made sense. 

Well, on the first section, the burgundy colored floss knotted a lot, and I do mean a lot!  On the second band, it just kept shredding!  I changed needles in case the eye of the needle wasn't smooth enough, I then changed the size of the needle to open up the fabric a little more so the floss didn't rub against the fibres in the fabric, but nothing seemed to help.  I did use shorter lengths of floss than normal, but it still kept shredding.  We will see what happens with the third color.....

Another Fin-EE!

This is part 1 of the 2017 Linens & Threads Mystery Sampler.  Yes, I am a bit behind, but hush, better late than never! 

WIP Wednesday 3-7-2018

This is actually as WISP (work in slow progress).  It was started in February of 2006 as a stitch-a-long with two stitching friends.  The plan was to stitch on it for 10 hours each month.  Denise never did get hers started, and Nancy made some good progress early on, but found she had a huge counting error and abandoned the project soon thereafter.  For some time, I did get my 10 hours in almost each month, but then other projects needed attention and it stood in the corner for some time.  The last time I remember working on it was April 2016....until today.  I should have about 30 hours of stitching left.....wish me luck!  I want it done and off my WISP list!

This Weekend's Baking

While shopping this week, I found strawberries on sale or a very good price, so I was inspired to make this dessert that I remembered from my childhood trip to Germany.  I have made it before, but not for a number of years.  The recipe for the sponge cake makes two, and I have two pans, so I made two cakes.  I had a lot of volunteers at German School this Saturday, so the two cakes were gobbled up in not time!

February Progress March Goals

February was a fine month for stitching!  I stitched for 150 hours!  I finished the last three of my Crazy January Starts, and I finished the Stocking that I have been working on for two years!  Yay!!!!

February 2018

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

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
SAL part 1  worked on it
Landon’s Stocking  finished
Pacific Heart 
Merry Bells #1 

Crazy January Starts

Grand Hotel finished
Forrest Snowfall finished
Afternoon in New York  finished

Future New starts

Perpetual Calendar
                #5
                #6
                #7
                #8
                #9
Candy Corn #2
Ambrosia Honey
Scissors case
Flower of the month
French alphabet
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

March 2018

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

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
SAL part 1  
Pacific Heart 
Merry Bells #1 

Future New starts

Perpetual Calendar
                #5
                #6
                #7
                #8
                #9
Candy Corn #2
Ambrosia Honey
Scissors case
Flower of the month
French alphabet
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart

Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
               Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge
 

WIP Wednesday 2-28-2018

Here we are, the third time I am starting this one so I am hoping the third time is the charm.  This is the January chart of the 2017 Mystery Stitch-a-Long from Lines and Threads.  I first started it on 40 count fabric, one floss thread over 2 fabric threads, but didn't really like the fabric I was working on, so I tried it on 25 count fabric, 1 strand of floss over 1 fabric thread.  I liked it better but didn't like the color of the fabric, so now I am doing this on 25 count Vintage Lugana in country mocha, and I am loving it!  I am using Valdani threads (I bought the Autumn Quaker set and will use a different color for each part of the stitch-a-long.  I got a good section of the January chart done so far. 

Ta-Da!

The stitching is finished!  This one took a lot longer than planned.  Poor Landon is now 8 years old and finally getting his stocking!  I started this one on January 11, 2016 and it took 225.75 hours to stitch.  The snowy village at the top was the hardest part to stitch.  White on white was giving me lots of trouble, and my eyes were bothering me.  But it is done!  I will turn it into a stocking as soon as I find where I put the fabric and chording I bought this summer.

WIP Wednesday 2-21-2018

...in which we backstitch.....on day 3 of backstitching!  The end is in sight....backstitch, bath and bead and then finish!

WIP Wednesday 2-14-2018

Happy Valentine's Day to all!  It's Ash Wednesday too!  I spent the day stitching and finally got the houses in the snow done on this stocking!  This part has taken me longer than the rest of the stocking, mainly because of all the white on white and my eye issues.  Just the blue bubble on the top and the name and then all the backstitching....but the end is in sight!

And We Have a Finish!

I finished stitching Afternoon in New York by Country Cottage Needlework in the wee hours of the morning......

I am glad it's done!  This is the fourth and final piece of this series that I stitched, and now I have to decide how to frame them.  Will wait for the framing sale at Welcome Stitchery this May.

This one was not as easy to stitch as the other three.  The chart is fine, I am the one who caused all the issues.  Lots of reverse stitching because I forgot how to count correctly.  I also ran out of WDW Grapevine, and then couldn't find the DMC substitute 3031 anywhere in my house or stitching room.  (I have at least two or three of every DMC color - except this one!).  After working on another area and making a trip to Michael's for the floss, I found a bobbin of it right in the stitching bag for this piece.  Why didn't I look in there? 

Well, it's done! 

WIP Wednesday 2-7-2018

This Wednesday's WIP is Afternoon in New York by Country Cottage Needleworks.  and am about 2/3 finished, but it has not been an easy road.....lots of visits from the frog, running out of colors, substituting and then running of the substituted threads.....but it will be finished soon!

....and we have a finish!

Finished Forest Snowfall.  I must admit, I had trouble with this one.  I didn't like the Deep Fennel that was listed for the words....the color just bothered me.  So, I pulled it all out and replaced it with Weeks Blue Jeans.  Then my needles started smokin' and it was finished in no time!

January Progress and February Goals

I finally feel like I got a lot of stitching done in January!  I had 20 new starts for the Crazy January Challenge, and of those 20, 17 have been finished!  I will continue to start a new piece on the 18 of each month for the rest of the year, and probably also do a number Maynia starts in May. 

January 2018

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

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Landon’s Stocking 
Pacific Heart 
Merry Bells #1 

Crazy January Starts

10 stitches for ANG
                Greek Key #1 finished
                Greek Key #2 finished
                Framed Bricks finished
                Cloud Swirls finished
                Sequins & Waste finished
                Diagonal Wave finished
                Large Willow finished
                Leopard Spots finished
                Paved Bricks finished
                Byzantine Pieces finished
Gingerbread House #10  finished
Gingerbread House #11 finished
Gingerbread House #12  finished
Peppermint Pine finished
Busy Bee Bag finished
Grand Hotel worked on it
Forrest Snowfall worked on it
Plaid Spider #4 finished
Plaid Mitten  finished
Afternoon in New York  worked on it

Future New starts
Perpetual Calendar
                #5
                #6
                #7
                #8
                #9
Candy Corn #2
Ambrosia Honey
Scissors case
Flower of the month
French alphabet
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge
 
February 2018
WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Landon’s Stocking 
Pacific Heart 
Merry Bells #1 

Crazy January Starts
Grand Hotel
Forrest Snowfall
Afternoon in New York 

Future New starts

Perpetual Calendar
                #5
                #6
                #7
               #8
                #9
Candy Corn #2
Ambrosia Honey
Scissors case
Flower of the month
French alphabet
Large Bargello Ball #2
Small Bargello Ball #2
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
               Owen
               Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge