Round Robin Stitching - IHSW Report

Lots of stitching happened this past weekend.  First I started and finished part one of Sam Sarah Designs Farmers Market.  This is the first part of a 6 person Round Robin.  5 more people will each stitch another vegetable, and when it come home, I will attach the beads and bugs. 

 I received Sue's 6 person round robin piece and was able to stitch that up very quickly. 

I also stitched the two squares on Teresa's piece which is part of the Diva's Round Robin. 

Mardi Gras Mail Art

I received a lovely piece of Mail Art in the mail the other day, all the way from Germany.  The theme of this mail art round was "Fasching" or as we know it: Mardi Gras. 

It was beautifully stitched and constructed, but Maria was afraid to send it through the mail, so she put it in an envelope.  Although she put a stamp on the stitched envelope, it wasn't cancelled.  It was lovely to received none the less.

This is the piece that I stitched for the exchange and sent to Michaela in Austria.  I wanted to portray an American Mardi Gras, and finally found the chart that would work.  Imagine my surprise when I found great Mardi Gras Fabric for the lining at my local JoAnn's!

Michaela hasn't yet received the envelope and I hope it gets there faster than the one I sent to German right after Christmas.  That on took 6 weeks!

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend

Let the stitching begin!

21 Pines

Okay, there was some space left on the piece of fabric and I had all the threads out....so I stitched up a third one.....

the ornamentification of all three will happen at a later date.

14 Pines

Since the first one stitched up so quickly, I couldn't resist stitching a second one.

7 Pines

7 Pines was a free chart from Little House Needleworks.  It stitched up quite quickly.  There was a list of colors by name only, no DMC number and since I was too lazy to go look it up, I just picked my own.  I need smaller beads for the snowman's eyes.

Another Round Robin Piece

I finished Chris' piece for the ANG 4 person round robin.  One more piece to go and this round robin in finished!

Gingerbread!

Another ornament from the 2012 Little House Needleworks series.  This time, Gingerbread Cookie!  
I will have to stitch this a second time, but that will come later.

Ding Dong!

Last week I stitched Ding Dong Merrily on High, one of the 2012 ornaments by Little House Needleworks.  (I'm a bit behind!)  It stitched up rather quickly, which is a good thing, because I need to stitch it a second time.

Happy 85th Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mother's 85th birthday!  Yesterday we celebrated at her favorite restaurant, Himmel's European Bistro.  We had a great time, and a wonderful meal.  I baked the cake.  When ever my mother baked a birthday cake, it was a nut torte with Parisian Cream Frosting.  I found her recipe for the frosting, but not the cake, so I found a similar one.  It turned out well, but I am still on the hunt for her recipie.  She can't remember it, nor can she remember where she put it, but my Dad is going to look through her recipies for me.

Lena's Round Robin Finished

 

Lena's Round Robin is hearts from many different countries.  I chose the heart from Romania because both of my parents were born in Romania - German-speaking villages in Romania.  It will be off to the next stitcher soon.

January Progress, February Goals.

I had out of town house guests the first week of the month, and two grandsons had birthdays, so it was a busy month.  I also organized and ran a very large children's Mardi Gras event, and was sick for a few weeks.  I am surprised I found time to put needle to fabric, but I did!  In past years I did the Crazy January challenge, where you start at least 15 pieces in January and then fnish them sometime durring the year.  Well, I was too sick to even think about kitting things up, and I decided to "stitch from stash" and stitch things that were already kitted up.  There are plenty of things here to stitch!

January

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler

In Progress

Oveture II 
Christmas Mail Art Germany  finished

Future New starts

Snow in Love finished
Good Tidings  finished
Winter forever finished
afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Crystal Violets
French Alphabet block sampler
Silent Night (CCN)
Around the World in 80 Days
Owen’s birth sampler
Peter’s Birth Sampler
Natalie’s Stocking
Owen’s stocking
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Halloween House #15
4 person RR – Chris’
Diva’s RR – Coral’s  finished
6 person RR – mine
12 person RR Elaine’s finished
12 person RR Lena’s finished
Ding Dong Merrily on High  worked on it
 
February
WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
 
In Progress
Oveture II 
Ding Dong Merrily on High 

Future New starts

afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Crystal Violets
French Alphabet block sampler
Silent Night (CCN)
Around the World in 80 Days
Owen’s birth sampler
Peter’s Birth Sampler
Natalie’s Stocking
Owen’s stocking
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Halloween House #15
4 person RR – Chris’
6 person RR – mine
Diva’s RR – Teresa’s

A Round Robin Finish

 

I finished the stitching on Elaine's Round Robin.   It will be ready to go to the next stitcher soon!

Another new moon this month, so another TUSAL report

Today is another new moon, so here is another TUSAL (totally useless stitch-a-long) report.  Lots of orts from the past 4 weeks!

Winter Forever

While I was home sick, I stitched the last of the 2011 ornaments by Little House Needleworks.  This is Winter Forever, which is very fitting for all the snow we have been having this week. 

A Framed Round Robin

I took this round robin piece to the framer after it came home.  Welcome Stitchery had the perfect ready-made frame in stock, just waiting for me! 

This is Bon Appetit, and older Sue Hillis design, with just a slight modification.

Thanks to Sue, Darla and Leta for stitching on it!

Another Finish

This is Snow in Love, one of the Little House Needleworks 2011 ornaments.  I have one more to do in the 2011 series and then I can start on the 2012 series....just a bit behind.

A Framed Finish

Perhaps some of you recall when I struggling with all the "pink" on this piece.  Even though it wasn't my favorite thing to stitch, and I didn't really enjoy stitching it, it got better once all the lettering was done.  It was for my little Natalie, so I just dug in and finally finished it. 

It did turn out rather well, and I had it framed and gave it to Natalie as part of her Christmas gift.  When she unwrapped the package, her eyes lit up.  She pointed to the fairy on the left side of the picture and said "Me!" 

She remembers seeing me work on it, and I hope she will fondly remember her Oma in years to come!

A Round Robin Finish

 While I was at the retreat, I stitch on Coral's Round Robin.  I finished my section, and mailed it off to the next stitcher. 

Black Cat Stitchery Retreat

 January 10-12 I attended a stitching retreated hosted by Black Cat Stitchery.  It was held at the Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center in Zion Illinois.

Although the weather outside was frightful, (ice and cold) it was a great weekend. 

 About 56 stitchers had a wonderful time, and got lots of stitching done! 

Tracy and I roomed together, and we had a wonderful weekend away.  Can't wait until next year.