Market Party at Welcome Stitchery!

Last Friday afternoon, I found myself in Crystal Lake, IL at the flag store on an errand from work. I got all the flags ordered by 5 pm, and then walked across the street to Finn McCool's where I was meeting Debbie and Renae for dinner.

After dinner, we walked around the corner to Welcome Stitchery for their Market Party. Lots of new things to look through, making the decision of what to buy very difficult. I ran into Ilona at the shop, it was great to see her again too!

After making my own purchase and making sure that Debbie and Renae filled their baskets, too, Debbie and I headed across the street to Starbuck's to have some hot chocolate and inspect each other's purchases. It was a very enjoyable evening!

A Biscornu Model

I was asked to stitch a model for Sue Hillis. She will be teaching this class at and EGA chapter in her area.

I finished the stitching and assembly last evening, and my sister, Trudi, was kind enough to take some photographs of the assembly process that Sue wanted. It is now winging it's way to Sue's for some final touches. I eventually want to stitch this for myself, someday.....

Snow White

Here my latest finish, Snow White by Little House Needleworks, started during Super Bowl weekend and finished less than a week later.

It is stitched on 28 count antique blue lugana with Cresent Colours Belle Soie in the color, Icing.

It was a quick and enjoyable stitch, especially because the silks are so wonderful to stitch with.

2nd square of Piece/Peace maker's Quilt

I finished the 2nd square of the Piece / Peacemaker's quilt by Handblessings Designs the other day. So, it's 2 down and 10 to go on this project.

Another Ornament Finish!

I started this one during the Crazy January Challenge. It is by Sue Hillis and is found in the 2008 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Preview issue.

It is stitched on 28 count victorian red (I think) fabric over on fabric thread with one strand of Gentle Arts Sampler Thread Chalk.

This is a companion piece to the ornament in the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue 2008, and like the original ornament I have stitched it before for Sue, and now have stitched it for myself.

Finishing....well, that is another adventure.

Photobooth Snowmen Finish!

Another Crazy January Challenge finish!

I just love this series by Bent Creek! The snowmen are just too cute! I plan to stitch the entire series...but I have no idea how I will "finish" them...perhaps lots of little bellpulls?

I am open to suggestions!

And Yet Another Crazy January Challenge Finish

Finished this Lizzie Kate design! It is stitched with the recommended fibres, but I swapped out the fabric to an evenweave, the linen that came with the chart was just way too thin.

Another Crazy Janaury Challenge Finish!

I was able to finish this ornament that was started as part of the Crazy January Challenge. It is a Sue Hillis design from the 2008 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue.

It is stitched with one strand of floss over one fabric thread on 28 count white lugana.

He's a Flake is finished (twice)

Two more Crazy January Challenge start are now finished! Here is a photo of one of the He's a Flake ornaments, the second one looks just like the first.

This was a fun one to stitch, and they both only need to be ornamentified.

Spool Tree Finish

I recently finished the spool tree ornament that I started during the Crazy January Challenge. It still needs to be ornimentified, but the stitching is done!

TUSAL - February

Here is my Ort Jar as of February 3rd. It has been a good month for stitching, as you can see by the amount of orts in the jar, which was just about empty at the beginning of January!

Public Service Announcement

As the midwest digs out from all the snow, please remember to clear the area around your fire hydrants. Your local firefighters will be very appreciative.

Made it in to work today, most of the roads were quite good, except for Wolf Road in Wheeling, Illinois. Let's just say it wasn't a fun drive......

Snow Day!

We had a snow day today! The office was closed yearly Tuesday afternoon, and remained closed all day on Wednesday. I couldn't have gotten out of the garage anyway, so it was a good day to stay inside and hybernate!

Here is my freshly shoveled sidewake taken from the front door. Officially the snowfall in the Chicago Area was 20.2 inches, but there were some very high drifts in the area. Once the wind let up, it was a sunny, crisp day.

The kids in the neighborhood had fun sliding down the large piles of snow, but I was warm and toasty inside and had no desire to join them.

Stay warm, everyone!

January Progress and February Goals

January was a good month as far as stitching goes. I managed to stitch for 96.75 hours. I had 19 starts for the Crazy January Challenge and finished 11 of those! The other 8 will be finished during this year.

January Progress
Work on Bavarian Table Topper no
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas no
work on Logan’s stocking no
Christmas heart canvas ornament no
Work on Cloister garden no
Work on Crystal Iris no
Crazy January challenge:
November cup ‘o Tea started
December cup ‘tea started
afghan square #11 no
afghan square #12 finished
Mystery sampler part 8 no
part7 EMS Rose Sampler finished
Stitcher’s bellpull part 8 finished!
kit up Logan's birth samper and perhaps put in a few stitches - a different one is being ordered
start on Third LHN monthly ornament finished
Third LHN ornament #2 finished
start on one Bent Creek photo booth started
Mystery Sampler part 7 no
Strawberry ornament #1 started
Strawberry ornament #2 started
Whimzie Rose ornament #1 finished!
Whimzie Rose ornament #2 finished!
Sue Hillis spool tree ornament finished
Quilted wreath ornament no
January stocking project for ANG started
1st square on piece makers quilt project finished!
Sue Hillis 2009 JCS ornament started
Sue Hillis 2008 Ornament Preview ornament started
Sue Hillis 2008 JCS Ornament finished
Lizzie Kate Did You Ever Stop to Think finished


February Goals
Work on Bavarian Table Topper
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas
work on Logan’s stocking
Christmas heart canvas ornament
Work on Cloister garden
Work on Crystal Iris
Afghan square #11 (last square)
Mystery Sampler part 7
EMS Rose Sampler part 8
Logan's Birth Sampler
Quilted Wreath ornament
Peacemakers quilt square #2
Model piece for Sue Hillis
Crazy January challenge:
November cup ‘o Tea
December cup ‘tea
Bent Creek photo booth snowmen
Strawberry ornament #1
Strawberry ornament #2
January stocking project for ANG
Sue Hillis 2009 JCS ornament
Sue Hillis 2008 Ornament Preview ornament