All caught up!

Good morning! Here are my last five starts for Debbie's Challenge.

• Jan 18 - A freebie from Plum Street Samplers, Be True, stitched on a cocoa linen with DMC

• Jan 19 -I've had this design for a long time and finally pulled it out to stitch. It is from Ink Circles, and is called Love Letters - Celtic, stitched on an evenweave fabric with Gentle Arts threads.

• Jan 20 - Another one I've had for awhile - Blossoms and Blackbirds from Little House Needleworks, stitched on evenweave with DMC

• Jan 21 - I have a big box full of designs from Little House Needleworks waiting to be stitched. This one came with the Crescent Colours threads. It is from the scriptures series, and is called Gentleness.

• Jan 22 - This is a 2011 Limited Edition kit from Prairie Schooler called Comin' to Town. The linen and Crescent Colours threads were included.

So now I am all caught up...yay! Sorry for the poor photos! Looking forward to starting a few more this weekend, and working on some of those I've already started.

Thanks for taking the time to visit, and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend planned!

Stitch from Stash Post

Month:  January
Spent:  $18.55
Earned:  $20.00

Last year, I spent very little money over the entire year. But this year, I couldn't resist two items in this first month! Money was spent on a few skeins of floss, a book with a bunch of La-D-Da designs, and a really cute prim Valentine design!

Being part of Debbie's Challenge this month has given me the opportunity to stitch lots from my stash. I had 14 new starts from stash, and also worked on one WIP (Morning Star) and one UFO (Quaker Christmas II - Songs of the Season). I also had three small finishes - two exchange pieces and one of the Cross-Eyed Cricket mitten patterns. I hope I figured the "earned" money correctly!
There are pictures of all my starts in the previous few posts if anyone wants to take a peek!

Even More Challenge Pieces...

Can't seem to shake this chill...hope I'm not getting sick...ugh!

Here are my next six starts:

• Jan 11 - I stitched on a piece that has become a UFO, but one that I plan on finishing this year with the help of the Get It Done SAL...Quaker Christmas II - Song of the Seasons from ByGone Stitches. I started this in January of 2012 and hoped to finish it to go along with my Quaker Christmas. Well, that never happened!

• Jan 12 - Ho Ho Santa from Prairie Schooler. This design was in last year's Just Cross Stitch ornament issue. I would love to think that I can do an ornament a month this year...we'll see!

• Jan 13 - one of my "no stitching" days  :(
• Jan 14 - another day without stitching  :(
• Jan 15 - This freebie from Nikyscreations Primitives is called Friendship. I am stitching it on a mint colored Lugana from Picture This Plus with DMC threads.

• Jan 16 - I doubled up my starts today to make up for Tuesday.  I stitched a freebie from The Primitive Hare called Love Never Fails, but I can't show a picture yet because it is an exchange piece. My second start today was Heart and Home Sampler from Little House Needleworks, stitched on a white evenweave with DMC.

• Jan 17 - Another day of doubling up! This is a freebie from Plum Street Samplers called Lovely You, stitched on Picture This Plus Lugana in Bashful with a DMC variegated thread.

 

•  This last design was gifted to me by Gillie last Christmas. She was my Secret Santa with the Friendly Stitchers' group. The design is called Autumn, Quaker Seasons and is also from ByGone Stitches. I am stitching it on an evenweave fabric with Carrie's Creations thread in Mud Pie. 

So that's it for today. I think I will be caught up by tomorrow! Off to have a nice hot cup of tea.
Thanks for taking the time to visit today, and for all the nice comments on my starts so far. I'm looking forward to spending more time working on these once January is done.

More Challenge Pieces

It is still dark outside, but it isn't raining, so maybe we'll see some sunshine today!
I'm not sure why so much of yesterday's post was highlighted with a white background...I must have hit something on the laptop...anyway, I apologize in advance if it happens again!

• Jan 6 - Secret Egg Hunt from The Trilogy: I've had this little kit for a long time and every year I say I will stitch it, but never get to it. Maybe this year it will finally be finished! It is stitched with Gentle Art and Week threads on a small piece of linen fabric that came with the pattern.

 

• Jan 7 - Today I worked just a tiny bit on a WIP - Morning Star from Blackbird Designs.

 

• Jan 8 - French Lace from Debbie Draper Designs: This is another piece that has been in my stash for ages. It came with the Carrie's Creations threads. I love the blue color.

• Jan 9 - Patriotic Heart Quaker Style from Aury TM: I can't show a photo of this one yet, because it was stitched for an exchange which I just mailed out yesterday. But I can say that I stitched it in a more Valentine-y palette. I plan to stitch it for myself again later in the patriotic colors.
• Jan 10 - Birds Sampler from Brenda Keyes: This is being stitched as part of a SAL with the Brenda Keyes Facebook group. I found the pattern in a book called Traditional Samplers. I am hoping to stitch several samplers this year, so this is my (very) small start. We'll see how it goes!

Thanks for taking the time to visit today!

1st TUSAL of 2015

It's the first New Moon of the year, which means it is time for the Totally Useless Stitch-a-Long postings! If you click on the little TUSAL icon in my right sidebar, you can find out all about it.

So here are my bits and pieces from January:

Stitching the Weekend Away!

 

This past weekend was International Hermit and Stitch Weekend...and for the first time in ages, I actually was able to do some stitching! The weather cooperated...it was a rainy, gray weekend...and both hubby and I decided the time was right to just lay back and relax. So that's just what I did!

I made a few very small starts as part of Debbie's Challenge, finished off two Valentine exchanges and got them ready to mail today, and finished my monthly block for  for Stitchers' Timeout. I also did a tiny bit of organizing in my "craft room"...tiny being the operative word!

I didn't hear about Debbie's Challenge until right before the first of the year, so I didn't have time to kit up all my projects. I've kind of just been picking and choosing a I go. I decided to work on new starts, as well as maybe some WIPs. Technically, I guess I have already failed at the challenge because there were two days last week when I was not able to put in even a couple of stitches. I had two really long days and nights at work, and was just too tired to do anything when I got home. But I did double up on starts this weekend, so I will still have 31 new projects started in January, just not one for each day.

Anyway, since I haven't posted any of my starts yet, I thought I would start off with the first five today and then move on from there over the next few days...I think I'll catch up to the right date eventually! So....here we go...and I apologize in advance for the very minimal starts on most of these!

• Jan 1 - Stitcher's Resolution from Heartstring Samplery: stitched on....with overdyed threads. I am having to substitute some of the colors because I want to use what I have in my stash.

• Jan 2 - Letter S from Jardin Prive: this is my bit on Gillie's round robin as part of our round robin group at Friendly Stitchers. She chose to do the piece in all one color, and she picked out a beautiful multicolored thread. It is gorgeous in person!

• Jan 3 - Life Is Not Measured from Lizzie Kate: this was gifted to me by DJ, my Secret Santa (again from Friendly Stitchers) This is another piece where I am substituting some of the over dyed threads with colors from my stash.

• Jan 4 - Hearts Unite Valentine Pillow Keep from Primitive Stitchin' by Shelly Auen: I fell in love with this cute little design the minute I saw it and caved and bought the pattern, even though I am trying to only stitch from stash again this year. Oh well...it's worth it!

• Jan 5 - Stars and Stripes Mitten from Cross-Eyed Cricket: We are having a mitten SAL all year at Stitchers' Timeout, and Cross-Eyed Cricket is the designer for our January block exchange as well, so I decided to do this one. These mittens are addictive. And this is actually a  piece that I finished this weekend as well.

 

That's probably enough pictures for one post...I'll post the next five tomorrow! Off to make some hot tea...I'm freezing here in my little cubby...something is wrong with the boiler in this old building! Brrr!

Thanks for taking the time to visit...hope everyone is having a great day!

Gifted Gorgeousness - January Post

First report for Jo's "Gifted Gorgeousness SAL"!
So far this month. I have stitched on two exchange gifts for Valentine's exchanges (can't show pictures until they have been received though).
I have also started a Lizzie Kate pattern called "Life if Not Measured". This was gifted to me by DJ - my Secret Santa at Friendly Stitchers this year. I am stitching it on a piece of Picture This Plus lugana with various Gentle Arts, Weeks and Crescent Colours threads. I'll update with a photo later - I'm at work right now.
It's rainy and gloomy here today, and I don't think things are expected to improve over the weekend, so I hope to make some stitching progress. I'm doing  Debbie's Ultimate Challenge, so I have made a small start on several pieces this month, but haven't made many stitches past the starts! I'm hoping to catch up a little bit this weekend...I think this is Hermitting Weekend, isn't it?
I hope everyone has a great weekend planned.
Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Only one week left....

Would you like to find more blogs about topics that you are interested in? Would you like to get more people to follow your blog?

Vicki is once again hosting the "Grow Your Blog" party. This year's event is on Sunday, January  25.

I have participated the past two years and it is really a lot of fun discovering new blogs and meeting other bloggers. This year, she will also be adding your craft choice or focus along with your blog name to make it easier to connect with like-minded bloggers.

If you are interested, the sign up ends on January 17, and you can find all the information you need here. If you try it, I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Thanks for taking the time to visit!

Happy New Year!!!

Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful year ahead. Are you all starting a new project today?
Beth (Heartstring Samplery) issued a new design on Monday called "Stitchers Resolution" which I thought would be a perfect new year's start, and since Beth lives not too far away, the pattern arrived yesterday.
I'll try to post a photo. ..I'm doing this post from my phone so not sure if it will work!

I'll be working on a Round Robin today, but will make sure to get at least a few stitches in the new piece.
Now it's back to watching the Rose Bowl
(Go Ducks!!!), waiting for the girls,  and my stitching corner.
Thanks for taking the time to visit...hope you all have a wonderful day.

Another SAL ???

The owner of my LNS is proposing a cool SAL for 2015.

• a new start on January 1
• a new start each Saturday in January
• a new start on the first Sunday of each month beginning in February

So that's 17 new starts in the new year. But the best part is there are no rules. No accountability either.
And no lists. You can change your mind whenever you want...decide on what project you will stitch the night before even. Stitch when you can, for as often or as little as you are able.

Sounds like my kind of low key, low maintenance SAL, what do you think?

last TUSAL for 2014

And I'm late again! Maybe next year I'll get my act together...one can only hope!
Anyway, this is what I had for last month....

 

And this is the total for the year. I didn't do as much stitching as I had hoped, but the colors are pretty!

 

Sorry for the poor photos!

stitch from stash - December

Wow...this is our last check-in for 2014! I didn't do as much stitching this year as I would have liked, but I did do really well at not buying any new stash (until this month!) So, I think I came out ahead!

All my stitching was from stash this month...I stitched two ornaments from the JCS 2014 ornament issue (borrowed from the library):

This design is from My Big Toe Designs - Joyous Square

This design is from Turquoise Graphics & Designs - Winter Joy

I also stitched two of Cross-Eyed Cricket's mitten designs:

Winter Lace

and Arctic Rose

And I finished a pierce I started last month - Pumpkin Farm from Blackbird Designs.

I also stitched a little bit more on BBD's Morning Star, but I don't have a photo of that one.

So...onward to next year! I think there may still be a few spots left...check it out at epicstitching.blogspot.com

Thanks for visiting!

stitch from stash for November

Yay!! I am finally stitching again. I must admit that it was mainly because I had some exchange ornaments to stitch that got me started, but now I really feel like I am back in the swing of things.

I joined the ornament exchange at Friendly Stitchers and stitched this one for Roz. It is from the 2007 JCS ornie issue. The design is from Val's Designs, A Merry Kitty Klaus. I stitched this one up once before and since Roz has cats, I thought it was a good choice.

I also stitched two Prairie Schooler ornaments. This one is from the Nordic Designs leaflet, and was sent to Clare.

This one is from one of the Santa leaflets and was sent to Jinger.

I also finally found my missing Pumpkin Farm pattern (Blackbird Designs). I was supposed to be doing a SAL with Clare and Jinger on this one, but totally misplaced the pattern. That old "safe place" syndrome. Anyway, I found it while looking through some other stuff and made a start.

 

So...

• Money spent on stash: None
• UFO's worked on: None
• Starts from Stash: Pumpkin Farm (Blackbird Designs); Partridge ornie (Prairie Schooler); Santa ornie (Prairie Schooler); Merry Kitty (Val's Designs);Quaker Winter Acorn (Midnight Stitching)

I think that's it! Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

TUSAL - late again!!!

Better late than never, as others have said! I had to find my froggy...it's been awhile since I even had any bits to post, but I have been stitching this month...a few ornaments for exchanges and I finally also found my Pumpkin Farm chart and got started on that. I think I finally have my mojo back for good...yay! So here's froggy with my little bowl of bits for this month.

Thanks for visiting and hope everyone has a Happy Thankgiving!

An amazing giveaway

Please visit Nancy at her blog. She is having another wonderfully generous giveaway of her beautiful threads.

Good luck!

stitch from stash - September

Well...another month has gone by with almost no stitching...almost, but not quite. Yes this is a very small amount of stitches, but it is stitching none the less. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
This is a start from my stash - Morning Star from Blackbird Designs.
No money spent on stash this month.

Looking forward to seeing how everyone else did this month!

stitch from stash - August

Well...this will be short and (not so) sweet! No money spent on stash this month (yay!), but also no stitching done this month either (boo!)... and I mean none...zero...zilch...nada.
I don't know where August went, but it went by in a blur. I really hope that things slow down soon...this has just been too crazy.
Looking forward to seeing all the great stitching the rest of you are doing!

Stitching from Stash for July

Well...I did spend some money this month - $22.19 to be exact. I had borrowed a pattern from a friend and when I went to return it to her, I couldn't find it anywhere. You would understand if you knew what chaos my household has been in for the past year. Anyway, I decided to just order a new pattern for her, and I did...intending to send it to her. I'm thinking that a gift doesn't count toward stash money. But then, within an hour of sending in the order, I found the original pattern that I had misplaced! To say this is typical for me would be an understatement! So now I will just keep it for myself...hence the stash enhancement. At least I will finally get to stitch it...at some point!

This month I finished two pieces. The first is Bloom from Midsummer Night Designs. I had started this one last month from my stash. Sorry for the shadow on the bottom of the photo!

The second piece was a WIP that I can't remember when I started. It was about a third of the way done when I picked it back up this month. it is Summer Band Sampler from Little House Needleworks. The colors, especially the red, are so much more vibrant in person!

And finally, I started another piece from my stash. This is another design from Midsummer Night Designs, called A Sampler Stitcher. I think I'll work on the lettering next. I'm hoping to complete it during the next few weeks.

Hope everyone had a great month stitching from their stash. I look forward to seeing what you are all stitching!

Thanks for taking the time to visit!

It's TUSAL Time Again!

My little froggy doesn't look too happy, but he should be! There are actually quite a few little snippets in the bowl this month! You can see what I've been working on in my next post!

Thanks for visiting!

stitch from stash report for June

There was actually some stitching going on this month...yay! I got through another month without spending any money on stash too. I have so much here that it makes it a little bit easier. And I really try to avoid looking at any of the new goodies coming out all the time.

Anyway, I finished one of my WIPs...Shades of Autumn, designed by Jo-Anne Mason for Dinky-Dyes Designs and stitched with Dinky Dyes silks which came with the pattern. I love the colors in this piece and it was really fun to stitch. The fabric is much more yellow than it appears in this photo.

When I went to look for another design to start, I found this one from Midsummer Night Designs all kitted up and ready to go. It is called Bloom and is stitched with Anchor threads. I stitched a bit more on it last night after taking the photo, so I think this one may be finished soon.

I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone else did this month.

Thanks for taking the time to visit, and I hope you all have a great weekend!

It's TUSAL time

Here's Mr. Froggy with this month's orts. I managed to get some stitching done. Not as much as I would have liked, but I did have a finish (see my stitch from stash post for this month) so I am a happy stitcher! Have a great day!

TUSAL time

A little late, as usual, but here is my TUSAL gathering for this month. I also added a couple of photos to my previous post if anyone wants to take a peek.



Thanks for taking the time to visit!

stitch from stash report for May

No money spent on stash this month!

And I actually did do some stitching. I finished up my piece on a round robin that we did with Friendly Stitchers this year - Halloween Horn Book Sampler from Plum Street Samplers.




 Thanks again to Sally, Gillie, DJ, Frances, Mouse, Ally and Niina for all your lovely stitching.

I also picked up two WIPs from my stash. I finished Gilded Cage  from Carriage House Samplings




 and am working on Shades of Autumn...a Dinky Dyes pattern.

When I find my camera, I will add some pictures to this post...it's been so long since I had anything to take a photo of!

Thanks for taking the time to visit!

TUSAL post for April

I thought I missed yesterday's TUSAL post, but I think it is today...so I'm not late after all!  Here is a quickie pic before I head off to work.

Happy to see lots more threads in here this month...two round robins and a start-to-finish sampler...all going into the mail today. I feel good!

Hope you all have a great day!

Thanks for taking the time to visit!

stitch from stash for April

I am happy to report that I have actually done some stitching this month!

This is a round robin that belongs to Gillie from Friendly Stitchers. I did the small flower in the upper left corner. The colors on this piece are gorgeous!

I also stitched a sampler for my sister for a birthday gift. This is the second time I have stitched this for a gift...the other was for my sister - in - law. I love this sampler, and I think the saying is really appropriate for a special birthday. It is Joy in the Journey from Little House Needleworks.

So my report for this month:

• money spent: .82 for three DMC colors I was missing for the sampler
• stitched from stash: Joy in the Journey

I'm off to work on another round robin piece.

Thanks for taking the time to visit!

Reading Challenge for March

I seem to be running a little slow these days...sorry!

The challenge for our Reading Relit for March was to read a book that was turned into a movie and see what we thought. This was a bit of a problem for me. Usually, if I have read a book, I don't watch the movie. And I don't actually go to the movies all that much. But I did go see The Silver Linings Playbook, and when I realized that it was based on a book by Matthew Quick, I decided to read it and see if the movie did the book justice.
I have to say that I really loved the movie, and I also really like the book too. The characters were the same, and some of the situations were also the same, but they were changed around somewhat in the movie.There were a few things added to the movie that weren't in the book, and some things that were in the book, but not the movie. I think this was a good thing. If the book had been filmed exactly as written, I don't think it would have been as good. I also think the casting for the movie was spot on, and I am really glad I read this one (but if I had read it first, I don't know if I would have gone to see the movie...just because that is usually something I don't do, like I said!)

Anyway, the challenge for April is to read a favorite book from childhood. I have been a big fan of mysteries since I was a young girl, and of course some of the first mysteries I ever read were from the Nancy Drew series. So I have picked a few of them to read this month. Wonder what I will think of them, all these years later....

'Till next time, thanks for taking the time to visit!

it's TUSAL time

Not too many threads to show since it has been another .month with very little stitching, but here you have it.
Even my little frog doesn't look too happy!

Thanks for taking the time to visit! Hope the sun will be shining on you today.

March Stitch from Stash report

It's time for our monthly Stitch from Stash reports. No photos this time, but I am happy to report that my stitching mojo has finally returned, so I have been able to make a tiny bit of progress.

I did not spend any money on stash this month, so that is three months in a row with no money spent! Yay!
No new starts from stash, but I did pick up Gilded Cage from Carriage House Samplings (one of my WIPs) and hope to see a finish on that one soon.

Until next time, thanks for visiting!

Turtle trot...or not

No photos...no stitching...no mojo!
I actually did do some stitching...on a round robin....but then halfway through, I realized that I had miscounted and everything was one row higher than it should have been. If it was my own piece, I probably would have just left it as it was, but I didn't feel right doing that to someone else's work. So I have passed it along and will stitch it when it comes back around to me.
I'm leaving for Indianapolis tomorrow for a conference, and I'm still debating whether or not to bring any stitching along. I thought I might try to find a small freebie that I could do in just one color...we'll see.
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to visit...I know that I haven't been a very good stitcher or blogger lately, but I do appreciate you all still hanging around!

Reading Relit - March

So we are into our third month of the Reading Relit Challenge here at the library.
February's challenge was to read a book that we had seen mentioned on a blog. I chose Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. I must say that I did enjoy this book...it was part mystery, part fantastical...a really interesting premise, I thought. I would have loved to visit that bookstore, that's for sure! I was really getting into the whole story and the end seemed to come too soon. But I would recommend it for sure.
March's challenge is to read a book that has been made into a movie. We do not go to the movies very often, in fact the last non-animated film that we saw in a theatre (I think) was Silver Linings Playbook (and since Jennifer Lawrence won the Oscar for that last year, you can see how long ago it was!) but I did enjoy the film and so I have decided to read the book by Matthew Quick.  We'll see how it compares. I usually read the book first, and then rarely go to see the film because I don't want to spoil my vision of the book, so we'll see how this works out!
I have been doing lots of cozy mystery reading though1 I discovered The Booktown Mystery series by Lorna Bartlett and just devoured all seven over the past couple of weeks! I love them and can't wait for the next installment.
I've also read the first two in the Amish series by Laura Bradford, and I have already ordered the new one that comes out this week. I really love this series too. So glad to have some new cozies to read and enjoy!
Till next time, thanks for taking the time to visit!

another late TUSAL post

...and a pitiful one it is too! I can't even comment on this except to say that last night alone I added more to my little bowl than I did all of last month!
Till next time, and thanks for taking the time to visit!