It is FINALLY complete

Well I finally finished it.  I have been working on this project since 2008.  I have been seriously working on it since February of this year.  It is beautiful.  I stitched using DMC floss on 28ct Jobelan Fabric from Silkweaver.  The color of the fabric is Karma.  The pattern is the Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long from Ink Circles.  I can't wait to frame it.  My sister Jennifer is out of town until tomorrow night plus it is Memorial Day Weekend.  So, I will have to wait a few day to go to Neblett's to order the frame.  I am extremely happy that I have completed this project.  One down, two to go.

Completed

Completed, Washed, & Ironed

Bent Creek's "lil p + Snowman"

I used this Bent Creek as a palette cleanser before I start the next big UFO. It was a quick and easy stitch.  It took a couple of days to complete.  I stitched it on the included fabric with the included pearl coton thread.  It turned out really cute.  My nephew Leif kept informing me that the had was missing the button and that the diamonds were incomplete when I was stitching it.  What a Clark (bossy).













My next big UFO project is Mirabillia's Rose of Sharon that I started in February of 2009 (I think).  I have complete the upper body of the women but I have a long ways to go.  I have one other major project the EGA course Tiramisu that I have to finish.  Since it is twelve bands, I am going to complete one band a month.  I decided this today and I am 1-1/12 bands behind.  I am going to work on it tomorrow and see if I can at least complete the 2nd half of band 4.

Well got to go.  Supper is ready.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Talk About Avoidance

Ink Circle Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long
so far (with 2 blocks left)

Well I have been working on the Ink Circles Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long as the main project since around February 10th.  So, you would think that I would want to finish it up quickly; especially since I only have 2 blocks left.  Well you would be wrong.  I don't know why.  I really want to finish it (and should be completely finished) but I have been sidetracked.

3 Goombas with the Mario I made for Patrick

 My nephew Theron has asked me several times when I was going to crochet a Mario Goomba for him.  So this Saturday I spent time working on the Goombas (one for Theron, Tucker, and Patrick) and the Yoshi Eggs (one for Theron, Michelle, and Tucker).  The pattern for the Goombas I got from the website Nerdigurumi.   The author of the site is Emjay Bailey and I love her work.  The Yoshi Egg pattern I got from Sprite Stitch Forum 

The Yoshi Eggs with the Yoshi I made
for Michelle last year.

 I need to buy the blue yarn from Theron's Yoshi and his egg (the white one). 

I was also delayed more (because the above post was started two weeks ago) by the internet and finals.  I couldn't get the pictures to upload to the website.  Then final exams and end of semester activities along with graduation.  Well as of today I am on vacation until June.  If my class makes then I will teach in June but it doesn't look good.  Now that Pell Grants only pay for two semester, many of my students can't afford to pay for the summer semester out of their own pockets.  Right now, I have one student registered for my Calculus II class.  I will not be upset if my class makes or if it doesn't make.  Either way I will be happy. 

Well got to go my nephew Leif requested a Nutella sandwich and has counted to 10.  I guess I am in trouble (wink, wink).  So, I should go fix the sandwich.

Thanks for stopping by

Sharon

What progress?

I am sorry that I haven't posted in a month.  I don't know why I haven't but here I am.  I have been working on the Ink Circle Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long.  I have completed the two crosses and the celtic knots on the side.  Actually right now I have almost completed the border but I will post that on Friday.  You know if I still had every stitch that was put into this pattern, I would have two versions of it.  I am almost through.  I have 4 big blocks left and the two fish in the corner.  It is looking great.

 

Well, the reason that I am not as far along as I should be on the Ink Circle project is because my cousin/friend Liz's daughter, Michelle, asked me to crochet a red giraffe for her friend Jordi as a wedding gift.  He turned out really cute.  The pattern didn't call for a nose but Liz suggested I put one on anyway.  It looks really good and there is a natural line for the mouth.

Jordi's Giraffe from the back

Jordi's Giraffe from the front

Are you looking at me?

Then my cousin Kevin's daughter-in-law just had a baby girl.  Of  course I had to make a baby gift.  I crocheted this baby blanket in one day.  I t is really easy (double crochet, chain 2 double crochet).  The only problem was that I had two skeins of yarn.  I followed the pattern but only put on 3 of the 5 border rounds because I ran out of yarn.  I actually had to do the last round twice because I was 3 inches from finishing the pattern when I ran out of yarn.  I tightened up my stitches and made it work.  It is a really nice summer afghan for a baby.

Baby Blanket for Kevin's new Grand-baby

I have been working from 7 to 10 every evening on something crafty, then reading from 10 to 11 before bed.  I had to force myself to do this because I get focused on one thing and forget to do the other.  I want to finish all my started projects this year but I also want to empty out a couple of shelves of books.  So, what do I do?  Borrow a book series from Liz.  But, I have been moving through them at a comfortable pace.  Hopefully, this year I can get back to reading as much as I use to.

Well got to go.  I have to drive home now and work on my cross-stitch.  Soon I will be drawing from the box again.

Thanks for stopping by

Sharon

Spring Break

So I started Spring Break at a Conference in Biloxi, MS at the Beau Rivage Casino.  I had a great time but I took my Geography content quiz using a coworker's tablet (because mine was dead).  Well, her tablet died in the middle of the quiz but I got to finish it on my iPhone.  I missed one because I was hurrying to finish (the quiz was only 15 minutes long).  I said that China had 1.3 MILLION people when I knew it was BILLION.  Next time I will double check before I submit.  I no longer have a 100 average.

Saturday & Sunday I spent taking out and putting back in (twice) the Celtic knot on the right side.  We stitched at Jennifer's on Sunday.  We celebrated Theresa's birthday with her friend Sue from up north.  We had a great time visiting and stitching.





Then for the rest of the week I have spent cleaning my house and cleaning out my office during the day and stitching on the Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long.  I haven't made as much progress as I would have liked.  I have finished the frames for the next two patterns and 1/2 of the Celtic knot on the left.  Today I have almost completed my house cleaning.  I have half of my desk (which is an L-shaped desk with a bookshelf built in) to finish cleaning.  Then I plan on spending the rest of Spring Break stitching. Oh yeah, I have a wedding to go to on Saturday but the rest of the time I will be stitching.

Well got to go watch Teen Titans with Leif and hold him.  He's ready for bed and wants all of my attention.  Typical of a 5 year old.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sharon

Week 9 - Progress on Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long

Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long
lacking green in the 3 patterns

I got busy this last week on the Ink Circle's Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long.  I started working on 3 of the patterns.  I was originally working on the upper right corner, but decided to work on the other two below.  So, I stitched one color at a time in each of the patterns.  I have two colors left, purple in the upper left corner, and green in all 3 pattern.









As for Michelle's afghan, I decided to do a basic granny square.  On Wednesday at bowling I finished 6-1/2 squares.  So when I got home I finished the last one.  Now I have 3 patterns left to stitch.  I think I will submit this afghan for the Mississippi State Fair in October.  I think it is going to be a beautiful afghan.  I can't wait to put it together.

Well, I got to go.  I need to finish the 3 patterns I have left.

Sharon

Stitching deja vue

Ink Circle's Celtic Mystery-Stitch-along
Stitched on Silkweaver - Karma
28 ct. Jobelan
using DMC floss

So as I posted last time, I had to pull out almost all of the right fish looking corner because I can't add.  Funny thing... I had to do it twice.  But I finally got it straighten out.  Also, since I was ripping out thread, I decide to redo the blue on the upper left corner.  The original blue that is suppose to go there is an lighter blue but it faded into the fabric.  So I decide to use only one blue since the pictures don't look like there is a difference in the blues.  I have completed 4-1/2 of the 18 different charts that make up this piece.  I am loving the work and the colors.  I hope to post more progress by the end of this week.


Also, I completed two patterns on Michelle's afghan.  The first was the Nooks and Crannies Square by Sally Ives and the second was the Apple Blossom Time pattern designed by Bonnie Pierce.  The Nooks and Crannies Square was fun to crochet.  I kept having to redo because I would lose track of where I was in the pattern but it was a fun pattern to do.  It turned out beautiful.  The I decided to try the Apple Blossom Time again.  At first I didn't want to do the apple blossom time because it called for E, F, & G hook; I was using K.  But, then I moved to the I hook for several of the patterns because the K was too large.  So, I tried again.  The Apple Blossom Time turned out beautiful. I now have 4 more squares to do for this afghan: (1) the Fisherman's Ring, (2) Early Harvest Square, (3) Basic Granny Square, and (4) Picots, Picots, Picots!  When I finish these squares, I will start on the squares for the Sunflower Afghan.  I can't wait to put Michelle's afghan together.  I am thinking of entering it into the Mississippi State fair this year.  We will see.

Nooks & Crannies

Apple Blossom Time

Well, got to hit the road.  Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed the read.

Sharon

Plastic Canvas complete (well almost)

Welcome.  I finally finished all of my plastic canvas (well almost all) on February 10th.  First up is the Reindeer.  I finished him on the 6th.  He is very cute but has a funny nose.

Large Santa

On Sunday the 9th, we had two birthday parties.  My nephew Tyler who is 4+1 (5 but not 5) had a present opening party.  (He doesn't want to turn 5 because he doesn't want to go to school).  Then our friend Theresa had a stitching party for my sister Jennifer's birthday.  At the party, I finished the big Santa, the small snowman, the pilgrim, and the angel.  Then I realized that I didn't have a small Santa.  So, I created my own small Santa using others (like the witch and leprechaun) as my guide.  On Monday, I colored the fabric covered wire black and made all of the smiles.  The almost part is I need to get an orange marker to color the fabric to make the smiles & whiskers for the cat and the spider.  Also, I am waiting on Bridget to finish cutting out the Uncle Sam so I can stitch it.

The Snowman, Pilgrim, & my Santa

all of the Holiday Magnets

Ink Circles Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long
DMC Floss on

Since all of the current projects were finished, I pulled out another project from the box.  And the winner is ... Ink Circles Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long.  I actually started this project in March 2008 (when they release the first piece).  But, I didn't get very far.  When I picked it up this time it looked like the picture here.  Well, I worked on it all week last week and this weekend.  Then I spent all of Sunday and Monday pulling out what I had put in for the upper right hand corner.  I started stitching on it last night and redid all that I had pulled out.  I will post again on Saturday what I have completed then.  Also, I am still working on squares that are for Michelle's afghan.  My sister-in-law, Katie, helped me figure out the Fisherman's Ring Square so I will work on it this week.  Tonight "we bowl".  So I am going to work on the granny squares.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed the visit.

Sharon

Bent Creek's Summer Snapperland Complete!

I really enjoy cross-stitching patterns like Bent Creek Summer Snapperland.  The patterns contain a theme and are easy to stitch.  I have stitched several series like this one.  I have completed Bent Creek's Red Thread Series, the winter snapperland and Snapperville.  I generally use hand-dyed fabric but regular DMC floss.  Sometimes I use the recommended specialty thread, if there is a large piece to cross stitch.


As for my project, I pulled out the parts of Mario that I have started.  I had completed both hands and the mustache.  I had part of the hat, part of the head, and part of the body started.  On Tuesday, I started working on Mario.  I thought about taking it to bowling because last week at bowling, when I crocheted I bowled well (134) for me.  When I was playing games on my cellphone, I did horribly (90).  I didn't take him though, rather I crocheted squares for Michelle's afghan.  I finished crocheting all of the pieces on Saturday and started putting Mario together.  I lost the mustache and his hair.  After I attached the newly crocheted mustache, I found the old one in the trash.  How it got there I do not know.  I still haven't found the hair.

So here is the almost finished version.  I need to attach the eyes.  But I need to buy some at Hobby Lobby.   Look at him, he turned out cute!  Tomorrow I will get some eyes for him, then completely finish him.  I left him for Patrick at MawMaw's.





The next cross stitch project that I am going to work on is the Ink Circles Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long from 2008- 2009.  I really like this series, the bold and bright colors.  The geometric shapes.  It appeals to the mathematician in me.  I don't know why it has taken me so long to finish it, but this year is the year.  I will spend an hour each day working on this and the rest of the evening on the next project from the box.  I hope to finish it soon.   Here is a picture of what I have completed so far.





Once I finished Mario, I pulled out another project from the box.  I am to complete the Holiday Stick-Ups.  They are plastic canvas holiday characters.  There are 8 characters: Love Bug, Leprechaun, Easter Duck, Easter Bunny, Witch, Turkey, Reindeer,& Santa.  I have completed the Love Bug, Witch, and Turkey already.  Today I have been cutting out the pieces for the rest of the characters while playing Wii U Mario with Theron and Skylander Swap Force with Leif.  I hope to finish them this week (Week #4).  These are fun to stitch since you only have to do half cross-stitches.  To the left is a picture of one of the characters I have completed.


Well got to go.  I need to go to play Skylander Swap Force with Leif.  He is getting between me and the computer to talk.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

WIPs to be completed this year

So, I decided to take pictures of the WIP that I have planned to finish this year.  I wanted to see the progress that I make as I work on each pattern.

Rose of Sharon - Mirabilia

The first pattern is the Rose of Sharon by Mirabilia.  I bought this pattern back in 1992 or 1993 from Stitch and Frame in Lafayette, LA when I moved to town to go to college.  I have wanted to stitch this for years but never got around to it.  Well last year I started it but I don't remember when.  So this year when I start a project, I am going to write the date down in my planner.  I have stitched most of the girl but still have the archway and flowers to go.  I wish I was the type of person who could modify the pattern because I would like to add beads to the dress like Nora Corbett did on her mermaid patterns.  I am stitching it on a 28 ct. blue linen that I had leftover from when I stitched the Precious Moments Noah's Ark for my nephew approximately 16 years ago.  I am using DMC floss.

Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long - Ink Circle

The second pattern is the Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long by Ink Circle.  I have completed two of the monthly squares and part of two others.  I am stitching it on Silkweaver's Karma - 28 ct. Jobelan with DMC floss.  I started this in August 2008 but as usual got sidetracked when working on it.  I hope to finish it in 2012.
 

Tiramisu - EGA GCC

The 3rd pattern is Tiramisu by Dakota Rogers.  I have signed up twice for this EGA Group Correspondence Course but, as usual, I was sidetracked and missed the evaluation process.  The pattern is being stitched on Silkweaver's Banana Splash - 28 ct. Lugana with shades of orange DMC floss.  The pattern is "A reversible Spanish Stitch Sampler from 16th and 1th centuries Italy" blackwork.  I love blackwork!!

Quaker Halloween Bat - Workbasket

 The 4th pattern in the Quaker Halloween Bat by Workbasket.  I am not really into Quaker Patterns but I did the Owl in this pattern last year and wanted to do the bat.  I am stitching it on Silkweaver's Rock Quarry - 28 ct. Lugana.  The thread I am using is Olde Willow Stitchery Hand-dyed Threads #110 - Dracula's Cape.  The funny thing is that I had two different dye lots so the threads are really different.  One is a silvery, purple color and the other is a silvery, gray color.  So I an using one thread from each dye lot; it's looking kinda cool.

Wild West

The 5th pattern is a kit from Janlynn called Treasure Map.  The pattern is on Aida and come with the thread.  My sister Bridget volunteered me to stitch it for my sister-in-law Mari about 5 years ago.  So I want to get it done before Theron gets too old to appreciate it.  This one has two large pictures (one of which I have finished) then lots of little pictures and words.

Ricky's Afghan

The 6th project is Ricky's Afghan.  I am crocheting the August pattern from "A Year of Afghans: Book 14" from Leisure Arts.  The yarn that I am using is Red Heart's Dark Orchid.  I am almost finished with it.  I hope to finish it tonight.  But probably not since I need another skein of yarn.  My brother loves the color and the length since he is 6'2".

Hobbie's Afghan

Last but not least is the afghan for my brother-in-law, Hobbie.  I am stitching June from "Birthstone Afghans" from Leisure Arts.  I am using Red Heart's Zebra Yarn.  This pattern is one row pattern repeated.


Well got to go.  Thanks for looking at my projects.  I will post updates more often this year.

Thanks
Sharon

Stitching Weekend and Finished Projects

Well, I finished my dad's afghan at the end of November. The pattern had rows that repeated. It looks like it would not be warm but it is very warm. I think he will love it. I also bought him the movie "The Pathfinder" with Karl Urban. As far as the other afghans are going. I should finish Tim's afghan by Christmas, but Ricky and Hobbie's afghans will be boxes of yarn under the tree.

Now this weekend, Lisha, Teresa, Jennifer, Bridget, and I got together at a different home each day to stitch. Friday, the first day, we stitched at Jennifer's house. I crocheted on Tim's afghan for a couple of hours. Then I worked on my ornament for the ornament exchange we had today. I stitched "Gift" from Lizzie Kate, then I stitched on the border for Bent Creek's Red Thread Series. When I got home, my nephews Theron and Tucker wanted to spend the night. So I let them. I thought they would want to help decorate the tree. Well, they didn't rather they wanted to play Pikmin on the Wii.

Saturday we started at 1:00 at Teresa's. Again, I worked on the afghan and finished what you see above on the border. Now I have the right side of the border and the words. I decided to do the words in a dark red. Then I worked on another Round Robin that needed finishing. The pattern is "Victorian Bear Stocking" a part of Designs for the Needle's Christmas Tradition. The pattern was completed in the round robin but the back-stitching is the thing that needs to be finished. The pattern is hard to follow for the back-stitching because they use two very similar reds to show back-stitching with different color thread. I didn't stitch a lot of back-stitching.

When I got home, my brother Ricky asked me to keep Leif, his son. Leif is 10-months old and fighting the urge to sleep. He is adorable and we finally got to bed at 11:30.
Today, I worked on "Fall Crazy" by Lizzie Kate. I had already stitched the body of the turkey. I stitched on the is one a long time. Then I switched to the Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long by Ink Circles. I worked on the border and one of the squares.

Fall Crazy

We did an ornament exchange. As I said, I stitched "Gifts" from Lizzie Kate. I got in the exchange the snowman. Which is perfect since snowmen are my favorite.

Jennifer stitched "Cookies" which Teresa got, Lisha stitched the snowman which I got, Teresa stitched the Noel which Bridget got, and Bridget brought the wreath of bells which Lisha got and Jennifer got my ornament.

Tonight I am home alone. No one is spending the night (other than the dog). I am ready for bed. My mother and I are going "combat" Christmas shopping in the morning.

Well thanks for stopping by,


Sharon

Celtic Knot Biscornu

I found a Celtic knot pattern that I stitched in 2002. I had stitched it white on green and then green on white. I had planned on framing them and putting them in my hallway. But, I never could find frames that looked good with them.

Well in May, my EGA group (Stitching Magnolias) wanted me to bring some projects to the meeting to show people how to finish their projects. At the same time they were finishing up a biscornu. So, I decided to finish these as a biscornu.

I haven't decided what buttons to use. My sister, Jennifer, says to use gold buttons. I think she is right. Now I have to find some gold buttons. I am really happy that I have found a way to make these patterns useful. I'm also thinking of putting beads around the edge. Well, I will let you know when I decide.

Thanks for stopping by

Sharon

Glutton for Punishment

As if I don't have enough to do, I found a new project. I was surfing the web for biscornu patterns for my local EGA chapter. (We are doing a biscornu for our April and May meeting.) When I went to Ink Circles web page. As usual I was looking around their website. Well, lo and behold they are doing a Celtic Mystery Stitch Along. Man I love a good mystery, stitching, and celtic things. So, I decided to participate. Now I need to gather my materials. Presently, they have the carpet page (the border) posted. On April 15th, they will post then next installment in the pattern. I will keep you posted on my progress (which will probably be very slow).

Celtic Cross

I finally finished the Celtic Cross on June 22nd. I've been looking for the cable to connect the camera to the computer since then. I used the thread called for in the pattern. The fabric that I used was a solo from Silkweaver's FOTM club. I think it turned out beautifully. I really don't know how I will finish it. Probably frame it.

Celtic Cross by M Designs

I think this one is really beautiful. The hard part for me is to do each x individually. But I'm using Thread Gathers Silk 'n color thread Acorn Woods on some solo fabric from Silkweaver's (that I received from the FOTM club that I joined.) I really like it because you don't have to change the thread every few stitches but I have already made a boo-boo. I moved one stitch to the left and will have to compensate for it when I try to match up the stitched work with the unstitched work. I do not want to pull out all the work that has been done. Not because there has been a lot of work (moderate amount) but because I had to stitch each x individually. That would be a lot of work. Besides, like my mother always says "No project should be perfect, it should always have an error."