July - Summer Vacation in Full Swing

Since the last time I posted, I officially started summer vacation, went on a stitching retreat, celebrated 4th of July, co-hosted a family reunion, and finished 1 project.

First up, my sister Jennifer, friend Lisha, and I went to Katrina Boyd's retreat in Franklin, TN.  I meet some wonderful ladies, 1 from Mississippi, the 5 local ladies and the 5 from Memphis.  We actually had a local artist stitching with us, Ryanne (sorry if I miss-spelled it).  She was very helpful with my tablet.  I love her highland cow cross stitch pattern.  I also liked her new pattern she was working on. shhh... check out her site to see when she releases her new pattern.  Jennifer and I did our usual, stitch for an hour then switch.  I stitched on 9 things each day.  No finishes though.  I can't wait until August when we go to Georgia; I've never been.

Second, after we came home, my family celebrated the 4th at my Mom's house.  We didn't do the big fireworks show that Uncle Tim usually does because Tucker (his son) was at camp.  But we ate the usual, hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, potato salad, baked beans, and salad.  My sister-in-law, Mari, made a spring roll desert filled with strawberries and blueberries with a cream sauce.  Yummy!

Third, my mom's side of the family usually gets together the first Sunday in July.  Well the last few years we either haven't had it or some people will not come because "its too far to drive".  So my cousin Liz and I decided to host it here in town.  We had about 100 people show up.  Most everyone brought food or drinks.  Everyone seemed to have a great time and enjoyed the food and fellowship.  It seems Liz and I are expected to host it next year.

Now why you really came, my stitching. 

 This month I decided to stitch on one WIP each day.  I have about 30 WIPs left.  I have pretty much stuck to the schedule.  If I missed a day then I stitched on the missed project and the project due that day.  I finished Little House Needlework's Blessed are the Meek using DMC floss on Wandering Ivy by Silkweaver.  It turned out really cute.









 I have also finished Oh Say Can You Sea by Hands On Design.  My sisters (Jennifer & Bridget) and our friend Lisha are stitching on this project as a stitch-a-long.  I'm the 3rd one to finish it.  I used the DMC floss on 32-ct Vintage Stormy Nights Lugana fabric.  We all used the same fabric.

I've made some progress on each project so far.  I hope to knock out most of these WIPs by the end of the year.


Well, got to go.  I plan to post again next week.  I will let you know when I start my FlossTube vlog.

Sharon

June - Mid Year Review

I started the year out with 18 WIPs.  I have added 18 new WIPs with Stitch "May"nia.   I started Amy Bruecken's Snowman Man of the Month, am doing a Stitch-a-long with my sisters and friends (Oh Say Can You Sea), started 2 large monthly projects (Country Cottage Needlework's Main Street Series and Little House Needlwork's Virtues), started and completed 4 new projects (Mill Hill's Owlets).  My finishing list is 23 projects thus far.  I plan on finishing several large projects by the end of the year.  I want to complete any project that is over a year in the WIPs box.  That would be 12 project: Blackwork roses, Blessed are the Meek, Summer Retreat, Curious Owl, 6 Fat Men, Robin Hood, Tuffet's Cupboard, Wicked Patch, Witchy Wash, Vlad's Vash Day, Santa Clothes, & Hang Ten.

The pictures to follow are a Parade of my finished works.  If I bought the patterns separately, then I count each pattern as a finish.  I apologize for the pictures not rotating.  They are right when I click on them in the file but they import sideways or upside down.

1. Be Spooktacular! by Lizzie Kate - Linen

2, 3, 4. Owlets by Mill Hill - Kits - finished Violet, Huey, & Emma this year

5. Snoel - unknown - Kit

6. Christmas Tree - Wire Whimsy - Kit

7. Photo Booth - Frank n' Boo - Bent Creek - Kit included fabric

8. Love Laundry - Raise the Roof - Silkweaver Linen

9. Snow House - 6 Fat Men - Lizzie Kate - Fabric Flair 28-ct. Blue Cloud

10. Sam's Socks n Such - Raise the Roof - Silkweaver 32-ct Cashel Castle View

11. January - Happily Every After - The Frosted Pumpkin - Under the Sea 28-ct. Looking Glass

12, 13. Main Street: Flower Shop & Coffee Shop - Country Cottage Needlework - Hand-dyed 18-ct Aida

14. Curio: Ladybird - Heart in Hand - Hand-dyed 18-ct Aida

15. Broad Stripes & Bright Stars - Cross-eyed Cricket - Millennial Blue Linen

16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Man of the Month - Amy Bruecken - called for fabric

21. Pins & Needles - Raise the Roof - 22-ct Hardanger (over 1)

22. Stoneware Cat - Priscilla's Pocket - kit

23. A Gray Hare - Lizzie Kate -Kit

If you made it this far, I am very excited.  My sister, Jennifer (of Jen's Stitching Niche on Etsy), and our friend Lisha are going to one of Katrina Boyd's Stitching Retreats this weekend in Franklin, TN.  I am excited because as I am typing this, I just finished giving my final to my June class and have submitted their grades.  I am free from campus bound, time set classes for the summer (only teaching 1 online class).  We are leaving tomorrow and taking our time going to Franklin.  We will stop along the way to shop at different needlework shops that Lisha and Jennifer want to visit.  I love going to Katrina's Retreats; everyone is easy going and I get a lot of work done.

So, thanks for stopping by.  I'm off to pack my things and get ready for the trip (gas, tire check, snacks, stitching projects, oh yeah and clothes).

Clarkey

Stitch Maynia 2018

For some reason, I didn't post this on May 10th like I was supposed to do.  So here it is.

So this year was supposed to be the year of finishes.  But, my sisters talked me into Stitch Maynia (a new start each day for 18 days in May).  I did 18 new projects.  I completed two of the new projects that I have started.  Here are the projects.

Day 1 - Wire Whimsy - Star Santa - Plastic

Day 2 - Miss Peepers - Little House Needleworks - Natural Linen

Day 3 - May Man of the Month - Amy Bruecken - called for fabric

Day 4 - Gnomes in the Garden Row - Bent Creek - Natural Linen

Day 5 - House Hunting for Spring! - Silver Needle - called for fabric

Day 6 - Frogscornu - Barbara Ana Designs - Linen

Day 7 - Little Gray Hare - Lizzie Kate - completed - called for fabric

Day 8 - The Green Door - Little Leaf Designs - natural linen

Day 9 - Rooms with a View - Raspberry Patch - Silkweaver

Pins & Needles - Raise the Roof - I thought was Aida but is 22-ct. Hardanger

Day 11 - Calico Chicks - unknown - Aida

Day 12 - Snow Catcher - Fanci That - Bellpull

Day 13 - Curio: ladybird - Heart in Hand - hand-dyed Aida

Day 14 - Broad Stripes & Bright Stars - Cross-eyed Cricket - Millennial Blue Linen

Day 15 - Stoneware Cat - Priscilla's Pocket - called for fabric - completed

Day 16 - Oh Say Can You Sea - Hands on Design - called for fabric  Stitch-a-long with sisters

Day 17 - Bird in Hand: Winter - Heart in Hand - natural linen

Day 18 - Lovebird - JABC - natural linen

Sorry for the delay in this post and that the last 3 pictures wouldn't rotate.  I hope you enjoyed the parade

Clarkey

2017 - I hope it is better than 2016!

So, I have decided to try to keep up with my blog this year.  Last year was horrible, I couldn't find time to craft or cross stitch.  I could barely keep my house clean.  I don't know what I was doing that kept me from doing any of these things.  I just know that I spent many a night just being a couch potato.  I couldn't get the energy up to do anything.

This year has already started out different.  I started the new year with a completely clean house.  Barely any clutter (mostly in my office slash junk room).  I have been able to keep the house clean and work on several projects.  I have had a burst of enthusiasm to stitch.

My sisters and I have decided to do a round robin with Lizzie Kate's Halloween Rules.  So yesterday I went to Jennifer's house to stitch on it and watch floss tube.  I spent the entire time pulling out several things because I didn't like the color.  I have to re-stitch them before Saturday because that is when we exchange them.  While I was frogging.  I got a wild hair and decided to stitch Mirabillia's Our Lady of the Flag.  I actually got the kit at Hobby Lobby years ago for $6.53 (thread, beads, and linen included).  I am crazy because it took me years to finish the Rose of Sharon.  But I am going to finish Our Lady this year.  I started this on Tuesday.  It is hard to see but I have put in a few stitches and beads.

Our Lady of the Flag

One nights worth

Also, while I was there, Jennifer challenged me to do a new start each month on the 17th.  Crazy as it sounds, I took the challenge.  There is a Sisters and Best Friend pattern (A Friend's House) that I have had for a long time that I want to stitch.  So this will be my January new start.  I started it last night.  I did one side of the border and a little bit of the inside.  I am stitching it on Silkweaver's 28-ct linen colored Cascade using DMC floss.  It is a cute little pattern that I love.

 Tonight I am going to work on all 3 projects plus my punch needle project (like 30 minutes to 1 hour each).  I have 4 more punch needle patterns left then I will hang up my punch needle needle.  I don't think it is my cup of tea.

Friday I plan on working on some sewing that I want to do.  I am going to make Vonna's (The Twisted Stitcher) project envelopes for my mother and sister-in-law Mari.  I also have to make the "stitching tool" that I am going to give to everyone in our stitching group on Sunday. 

This weekend my cousin/friend Liz and I are having a Twilight day.  She wants to watch all of the Twilight movies.  I am going to work on the squares for my sunflower afghan while we do this. I have to crochet 48 squares; 24 blue and white stripes and 24 sunflower.  I have 15 blue and white stripes completed and 1 sunflower completed.  I have 23 centers for the sunflower made.  I plan on finishing the blue and white stripes and start putting the yellow petal on the brown centers.  I will let you know how far I get.

Thank you for stopping by.  I will post again next week.  See you then.

Sharon

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

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

Housework Never Killed....

I bought this Lizzie Kate thinking that it would be quick and easy. Well, it is quick and easy if you don't lose the thread. I bought Baby Spinach twice and lost it twice. My sister Jen finally found it in her stuff. The fabric I used was Silkweaver's solo. I thought I would never use the fabric but Jen kept telling me that the perfect project would turn up; it did. I used the specialty threads as well. My sister Bridget says that I should finish it as a pillow but a pillow that looks incomplete. I think I will try it. I am not a housekeeper. My little nephews are always telling me I need to clean up (Little do they realize that most of the mess comes from the visits they make).

Thanks for stopping by.

Ladybug, Ladybug

I started this on Friday and just finished it. It is Ladybug, Ladybug by Little House Needleworks. I stitched it using the recommended DMC floss on Solo Mini - 28ct Lugana from Silkweaver. I bought this awhile back from Shakespeare's Peddler. I love ladybugs and thought this would be a quick stitch. Other than the fact that I miss counted on the border (counted 72 instead of 78), I didn't have to frog many stitches. I think I'm going to finish it as a flat fold. I have gone to Vonna's blog to get the tutorial. I will try it this weekend.