TUSAL and a Disaster!

Only one day late...not bad! My little bowl of orts is quite full this month which makes me very happy!

What does not make me happy is the big stitching mistake I discovered this past week. (If you also post on the Get It Done SAL blog, sorry for the repetition!) I started Quaker Christmas II back in December of 2012. I put it away for some reason and started stitching on it again this year, hoping to finish it by Christmas. It is the companion piece to Quaker Christmas from ByGone Stitches, (which I stitched several years ago and which I love). Anyway, I was very happy to finish Page One of the piece this month, and was getting ready to move forward to another page. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go across the piece or down, so I was checking out the pages when I discovered my mistake. My big mistake. I'm sure you can see where I am going with this. I assumed that since the first piece was wider than it is long, the second piece would be the same. I did not check. And of course...I assumed wrong. I could have cried! I guess I should be happier that I had not gone even further with the piece than I did, but still...So now I will have to take out all the stitching I have already done and start over. And I am really not ready to do that right now! Maybe this summer....

So, lesson learned. Always read all the directions on your patterns before you start, and never assume! I know I never will again!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. It was raining a minute ago but now the sun is shining!
Thanks for taking the time to visit!

 

gifted gorgeousness

 

It's time for a gifted gorgeousness update. This pattern is from By Gone Stitches and is called Autumn Quaker. It was gifted to me by Gillie, my Secret Santa from 2013. I started this as one of my January challenges, and haven't made too much progress yet. It's coming along though! Please ignore the wrinkles...I just took it out of the hoop.

 



Thanks for taking the time to visit!

happy saturday!

I cannot believe that tomorrow is March 1! Wasn't it just Christmas????

The sun is shining here in Oregon, the daffodils are blooming, and my grandson is coming to spend the day with us...add lots of cups of tea and some stitching time...what more could a girl ask for?

A wonderful giveaway, that's what. Please hop over to Parsley's blog and see for yourselves!

Thanks for visiting today and hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Lost and Found

I have been trying to organize all my threads...the DMC were really in a mess...if only I would learn to put things away when I am done with stitching a design...maybe someday! Anyway, in between  sorting threads, when my eyes started crossing, I decided to also start to go through my boxes of patterns.

It was like Christmas all over again!I found so many designs that I forgot I had, more duplicates than I care to admit to, some designs that I know I will never stitch, but many more that have gone straight into the "need to stitch soon" basket. I am thinking about making a page here with charts for sale, and maybe having a giveaway or two as well.

But I also found something else that was not so nice. I have at least a few designs that are missing parts. For example, I have one sampler pattern all kitted up. It's one I started a couple of years ago, I think. But the fabric with my stitching on it has disappeared! I know that I have seen it,  maybe in the last year?...but where is it now???? And then I have two prim designs from primitiveBetty that I started...I have the stitched fabric for these, and the cover sheets and instructions for the patterns, but the patterns have disappeared!

And these are only a few...I'm wondering how many other lost treasures I will come across! Not to mention the little bags of threads and fabric that I know were bought for a specific project, but I'll be hard pressed to remember which project that might be...

Has this ever happened to anyone else, or am I just hopelessly disorganized??? I'm a librarian for goodness sake! I get paid to be organized!

I'm sure all the bits and pieces will find their proper homes and everything will re-appear at some point in time...don't you think?

Thanks for taking the time to visit today!

some finishes to share

This past month, I was able to finish the rest of the year's blocks for our Stitchers' Timeout Block Exchange. Sorry for the shadows on the pictures!

The designer for our March block is Little House Needleworks. I stitched Blossoms and Blackbirds on an evenweave fabric with DMC threads.

May's designer is Blackbird Designs. I chose to stitch a block from the Cast a Spell leaflet, the Basket block. It is stitched on an evenweave fabric with a silk thread from Carrie's Creations, Cajun Coffee. It's a really pretty color with slight variations, and the silk is a pleasure to stitch with.

The designer for our September block is Prairie Schooler and I chose to stitch the Angel from the Christmas Past leaflet. This is stitched on fiddlers cloth with DMC thread.

For the November block, we are to choose any ornament from any of the Just Cross Stitch ornament issues. I chose this design from The Sampler Girl...Glad Tidings to You...from the 2011 issue. It is stitched  on evenweave fabric with DMC.

These were all items I had in my stash. My other finish for the month was a design from Lizzie Kate...Life Is Not Measured. This was gifted to me by my Secret Santa this past Christmas, so I didn't have it long enough to count as stash, but I did use fabric and threads that I already had. I substituted a couple of the colors that I was missing. It is stitched on a Lugana from Picture this Plus with Gentle Arts, Weeks and Crescent Colors threads. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out.
Not sure how I will finish it yet...any suggestions?

Thanks for taking the time to visit, and thank you for all your comments. They are greatly appreciated.

Stitch from Stash

It's time for this month's check-in!

Month: February

Spent: 13.27

Earned: 24.00

This month, I spent money on floss that I was missing,and a new Lizzie Kate design that I don't have yet. There were 12 new starts from stash, and I worked on one WIP (Life Is Not Measured...which I finished, but the pattern was too new to me to count as stash, tho the fabric and threads were!) and one UFO...Joyful Summer.,

I misplaced my camera, so once I find it, I will upload some photos of my finishes!

Thanks for stopping by to visit! I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone else did this month!

Late SAL Check-Ins

Yup, it's that time of the month again...time to check in with the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL and the Totally Useless SAL...and guess who's late again?

I've finished three pieces of gifted gorgeousness, the SAL hosted by Jo...two were Valentine exchanges that I couldn't show last month because they hadn't been received yet. The first was sent to Judith in Germany. The pattern is called Patriotic Heart by AuryTM. I changed the colors to something more Valentiney (?) from the red, white and blue called for. Stitched on a bluish/lilac color jobelan with Crescent Colours "Miss Madalynn thread, and made into a small pin pillow.

 

 

This second exchange was sent to Tami in Alabama.The design is Love Never Fails by the Primitive Hare, stitched on a lugana from Picture This Plus (Ancient) with Gentle Arts thread in "Old Brick", and again, made into a small pin pillow.

The third piece I stitched was a design gifted to me by DJ, my Friendly Stitchers' Secret Santa this year. It is from Lizzie Kate, and called Life Is Not Measured. I stitched it on a lugana from Picture This Plus (Mesa) using some of the called for threads, and substituting some others from what I had in my stash. They are all either Gentle Arts, Crescent Colours or Weeks threads though. I really enjoyed stitching this one...not sure how I am going to finish it yet though.

Since I was stitching quite a bit in January, trying to keep up with Debbie's Ultimate Challenge, there are lots of threads in my little ort bowl for this month. I've been trying to stitch at least a little bit each day, and have really been enjoying it again. If you want to join in the TUSAL fun, you can click on the link in my sidebar to find out how.

We'll see you all again next month...hopefully on time!

Thanks for taking the time to visit!

Giveaway Winner!!!

I am so sorry for being a few days late with this...I know I said my Grow Your Blog Day drawing would be on February 15th, but time just got away from me!

Anyway, I put all the names in a basket this morning, and the winner is:  

Linda  from Stitchin' with my Furbabies

Congratulations, Linda! I've emailed you, in case you don't see this.

I hope everyone will take a peek at Linda's blog too. It's a real treat.

Thanks again to all who visited my blog on Grow Your Blog Day, and for all your comments. They are truly appreciated.

T.G.I.F.

I didn't mean to let so much time pass between posts, but the flu bug caught me and I have been down for the count for the past while. I finally came back to work yesterday, and am still not feeling great, but at  least the weekend is upon us, and for that I am truly grateful!

I know that some of you are continuing on into February with Debbie's Challenge, but I decided not to. I really want to finish up these projects I started, and I have been stash diving as I've been picking out patterns to do for the challenge and there is a whole pile that I really would love to get to at some point this year. Most of them are ones I forgot I even had!

Anyway, here are my last  6 starts for the challenge:

• Jan 26 - Blackbird's Garden from My Big Toe designs. This one is stitched on star sapphire jobelan with over-dyed threads

• Jan 27 - Another mitten...Promise of Spring from Cross-Eyed Cricket, stitched on an evenweave with DMC

• Jan 28 - Necessities Sampler from Little House Needleworks, again stitched on an evenweave fabric with DMC

• Jan 29 - Goodwill from Little House Needleworks. This is another of the Scripture series. It is stitched on a green linen with the Crescent Colours threads that were included with the design

• Jan 30 - Claddagh Mitten from Cross-Eyed Cricket, stitched on a fabric color called Sunset Breeze with DMC threads

• Jan 31 - Traveling Stitcher from Little House Needleworks. Stitched on Butterscotch Cookie with the Crescent Colours threads included with the design. I have wanted to stitch this one for so long. I am glad to finally have it started!

Someone mentioned that I have a lot of started borders...well, yeah, I guess I do! I usually start my patterns in the upper left corner...it's just easier for me that way.  I'm hoping that soon some pretty designs will emerge!

I hope everyone has a great weekend planned. I think the rain that we have been having the past few days is supposed to continue through the weekend, which means getting cozy with my stitching!

Thanks for taking the time to visit!

weekend update

Thanks to everyone who visited this weekend as part of Vicki's  Grow Your Blog party! I have been having computer issues all weekend, but I will be getting in touch with all of you soon, and also visiting blogs from the party. It is such a fun way to get to know new bloggers and share all that wonderful creativity that is out there!

We had a beautiful springlike weekend here...I know that most of our family back East is buried under snow right now, so we are truly grateful for the weather we have had! We drove to the Coast on Saturday for lunch and a little beach time. I got to sit and stitch for a bit, which was very relaxing!
Does anyone know how to upload photos from a Samsung Galaxy 4 to a Windows 8 laptop? I am having the hardest time with this...

Here are my starts for Debbie's challenge from this weekend:

• Jan 23 - Another mitten from Cross-Eyed Cricket. This one is Noah's Mitten, stitched on a pale blue linen with DMC

• Jan 24 - This is a design I have had for a long time. It is from Dinky Dyes Designs (designed by Jo-Anne Mason) and is called The Min Min. It came with the beautiful Dinky Dyes threads, in Warenda and Boulia. They are a joy to work with! Stitched on 32 ct. antique white Lugana.

• Jan 25 - Another design I have had for ages. This one is from Turquoise Graphics and Designs, and is called Ornamental Pumpkin. Stitched on a 28 ct. evenweave with Gentle Arts threads.

I also stitched my bit on DJ's round robin for Friendly Stitchers. She chose a pattern from Blue Ribbon Designs that was in a Just Cross Stitch magazine from March 2011. It is called Berries, Birds and Blooms and is really cute. The colors are so pretty! I stitched the bright yellow flowers because of our springlike day!

Thanks for taking the time to visit today!

Grow Your Blog

Welcome to my blog! If you are visiting from Vicki's Grow Your Blog Party, I hope you are having fun discovering lots of new blogs...and that you may find some that you would like to follow as well.

According to Blogger, I have been blogging since 2006, but I know that when I first started, I rarely posted anything. I think that at that time I was so impressed with some really fabulous blogs that I had found, and I just felt that I didn't really have that much to say or share. Over the years, even though I still don't post as often as some, or as often as I would like, I have come to enjoy the experience more.

So...a little introduction. If you look in my sidebar, you will see that my name is Lynda. You will also see that there is no photo there. I do not like having my picture taken. So, I am represented by Flat Lynda, a virtual representation of myself. And until things change in my head, she will just have to do!

We live in Oregon...my husband and two dogs and two cats and me. We moved to the Pacific Northwest from New York 20 years ago, and I have never looked back. I love it here and feel like this has always been home to me. We have two adult daughters, both live close by, and one grandson who is 6. He is the light of our lives. Being a grandparent is the best!

When we lived back East, I was a school librarian.Since we have been living here, I have worked in public libraries, first as a children's librarian and now as a manager. We are in the middle of a building project that is taking up much of our time and energy. I just realized that I have been a librarian for over 40 years...and it's still fun!

My interests include reading, especially cozy mysteries and biographies; watching baseball; spending time with my family; exploring new places, cuddling with our furbabies, and cross-stitching.

I started this blog as a place to share my stitching, and that is still the main focus. There are many stitching blogs out there, and I love reading them and seeing the photos of everyone's beautiful work.
I know that there is so much other social media around...Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook...but the reason I still love to blog (and read others' blogs) is because I think that when you blog, you share a special part of yourself and that is really important.

Almost forgot about the prize...not 100% sure what it will be, but I can tell you that it will stitching related! So it will be a surprise prize! Everyone can enter. You don't have to become a follower to enter, just post a comment saying that you interested. The drawing will be on February 15.

Thanks to all the other bloggers who are so willing to share their creativity and their talents with the rest of us. I am looking forward to discovering lots of new blogs today and meeting lots of new friends.

And thanks to everyone who has visited here today. Please leave a comment if you have time...they are always appreciated. And I hope to see you again!

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!