October IHSW

Since I was away in Myrtle Beach for a long stitching weekend, I can report that I did stitch all weekend.  (Pictures and details of the retreat will be forthcoming in a future post). 

I didn't finish anything, and spent a great deal of time "unstitching", but did get some quality time with my needle.

I managed some good progress on:
Judith Kirby's Halloween House #9
Bavarian Table Topper
and a Prairie Schooler Strawberry

6 Snow Belles Week 5

Week 5 brings more progress!  All Dressed Up is finished and I got in a good start on Ready for Snow!

I have been doing some other stitching, but no finishes at the moment.  Soon, I hope!

6 Snow Belles Week 4

Definately a bit more progress this time!  I hope to finish it before the end of the month!

6 Snow Belles Week 3

Progress is rather slow, but at least there is some progress. 

September Progress and October Goals

Not as much stitching progress this month as I had hoped.  The beginning of the school room and those preparations took up most of the early part of the month and the car accident and muscle relaxers prevented any stitching at all at the end of the month.

September Progress

WISPS:

Work on Bavarian Table Topper  worked on it  
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
 
In Progress
Treasure Box Scissors Pocket 3  finished

New starts

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)
Crystal Violets
Treasure Box Pin Cushion 1  finished
Treasure Box Pin Cushion 2  finished
Treasure Box Pin Cushion 3  finished
Ukrainian Pulled Thread Embroidery project finished
All Dressed Up  worked on it
Strawberry #5  worked on it

October
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
All Dressed Up 
Strawberry #5 
 
New starts
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)
Crystal Violets
Poinsettia Stocking

 

 

 

6 Snow Belles Week 2

A little bit of progress!  The fabric is actually a bit more raspberry-ish in person.  It is 30 count linen by Thead Gatherers.  No color name, and it has been discontinued.  I found this while I was traveling in Michigan recently and stopped in at Stitching Bits and Bobs. 

Tune in next week for more progress!

Ouch!

So there I was, early for work, driving along, minding my own business, when out of the corner of my eye, I see a white mini-van heading right for me.  I tried to speed up to get out of the way, but there was traffic and bang!  She hit my car. 

It's not drivable, but it is fixable.  I should get it back in about 3 weeks.  Meanwhile, I have a rental and her insurance company is paying for everything......

I just didn't need this!

6 Snow Belles Week 1

Although I only have the first three charts, I did find some fabric so I decided to make a start on the Snow Belles charts.  Here is how it will look when it is finished, sort of.  Imagine different fabric. 

The same rules will apply that were used when I did the 6 Fat Men.  I will stitch on this piece every Monday and post pictures weekly so that you can see my progress. 

Here you can see the start:

Not too much stitching, but it is a start.  I look forward to spend my Mondays with these lovely ladies. 

I was asked how one can tell if it's a Snow Man or Women.  Well, it's all about the accessories!

August Progress and September Goals

Althought I did have a fair amount of finishes, I was not as productive in August as I would have liked.  I spent a fair amount of time learning to make jam instead.

August Progress

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 finished

New starts

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 finished
Duck ornament finished
Crystal Violets
Beach Ribbons  finished
Elaine’s RR  finished
Treasure Box Top 1 finished
Treasure Box Top 2 finished
Treasure Box Top 3  finished
Autumn Banner  finished
Treasure Box Scissors Pocket 1 finished
Treasure Box Scissors Pocket 2 finished
Treasure Box Scissors Pocket 3  worked on it

September 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

Treasure Box Scissors Pocket 3 

New starts

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)
Crystal Violets
Treasure Box Pin Cushion 1
Treasure Box Pin Cushion 2
Treasure Box Pin Cushion 3
Ukrainian Pulled Thread Embroidery project
 

 

 

Adjusting Our Sails

I stitched this quite some time ago, but just got it back from the finisher last week, who finished it as a flat fold for me.  I gave it to John yesterday for his birthday. 

It is an Erica Micheals chart, stitch on 28 count evenweave with 1 strand of DMC floss over 1 fabric thread.  It is small enough that he can display it on the sailboat if he wants, and I think he is planning to do that. 

Autumn Banner

I finished Autumn Banner by Nancy Cucci the other day.  It is a charted needlepoint piece done on 18 count mono canvas with Anchor floss.  I plan to finish it as a small bell pull but I need to find a charm to add to the bottom triangle section first.          This piece was taught at our ANG guild meeting last week.  Nancy Cucci has now designed matching banners for the other three seasons.  I am such a sucker for 4 seasons designs!

 

 

 

 

6 Fat Men Week 20

Ta Da!!  My 6 fat men are finished! 

After 20 weeks, actually I only stitched on 19 Mondays, and a total of 84 hours, my 6 little fat friends are all finished.

I will wait to pick out a frame until after the 6 ladies are done.

I will miss spending my Monday evenings with these guys, but in a few weeks, once I have picked out some fabric, I will continue with the 6 Snow Belles on Mondays. 

Snow Belles!

Just released by Lizzie*Kate......will make a great companion piece to 6 Fat Men....who is up for a Stitch-a-Long?

6 Fat Men Week 18 and 19

 This first picture was taken after stitching on 8-6-2012, which was week 18 of the SAL.  I made good progress, but it doesn't look like much.

This second picture was taken after stitching on 8-13-2012, which is week 19 of the SAL.  I finally feel like I am getting somewhere on this square, and feel like the end is in sight!  Perhaps only two more weeks and I will be done!

6 Fat Men Week 17

I forgot to take a picture at week 16, but there wasn't too much progress.  Not too much progress this week either, but it's getting there.  I just wish my Mondays weren't so busy so that I could spend more time stitching!

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.