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

Orange Beach Stitching Retreat

Katrina's Cross Stitch Retreat

This weekend, my sisters (Jennifer and Bridget) and our friend Lisha went to Orange Beach, AL for stitching retreat.  We had a great time.  We saw dolphins, a wedding on the beach, and the wave roll in.  I brought all of my WiPs with me (21 of them).  I worked on each one for 1 hour.  I shopped at Katrina's store (in the retreat), ate good food, and had a wonderful time meeting new people.

My sisters had several completions on this trip but I only had 1.  I completed Love Laundry by Raise the Roof.  I only had the man's shirt and the pole for the line left when I went to the retreat.  I wanted to finish it for Valentine's Day but I missed the deadline.  But, I did finish it the week of Valentine's Day; so I'm happy.

My goal this year is to knock out all of my WiPs.  That won't be easy because I have The Lady of the Flag - Mirabilia, Tigerlily - Nora Corbert, and Simply Sunflower - Paula Vaughn.  All of which have multiple color change and are large projects.

My march new start will be Little House Needlework's Little Sheep Virtues.  I want to stitch it like Julie M stitched it.  I think it is really cute.  I have all but one of the patterns.  I want to find a dark-ish brown fabric to stitch it on.  I think it will look good.  I will post a picture once I start it.

Well thanks for stopping by.  I will post more soon.

Sharon

First of February

I worked on the Mill Hill Bead Owlet - Huey.  I finished him in one day.  Yes, I sat on my behind all day and watched Person of Interest, season 2.  I really like these little kits.  I have one more to complete which is Emma.  She is really cute.

I also worked on Raise the Roof's "Love Laundry".  As I was stitching it I put one x as 2 over 3 instead of 2 over 2.  Which made the pattern off.  You can't really tell that it is off. but I noticed it when I started stitching the laundry basket.  It is one thread up from the shoes but everything else lines up.  I'm not looking for the mistake.  As Theresa says "Work it in".  So I am.

This weekend is a long weekend for me.  I am going to prepare for my stitching retreat next weekend.  I am going to the stitching retreat in Orange Beach, AL with my sisters and friend. (We went last year).  I'm taking all of my WIPs (only 18 of them).  Also, I  going to get the February Man-of-the-month by Amy Bruecken.

My sisters and I have been going to stitching retreats for several years now.  We play this game of changing our project every hour.  It keeps it interesting; keeps you from getting bored or frustrated.  One year we identified 6 different projects that we were going to work on, then each hour we would randomly pick a number that would identify the project of the hour.  It was fun.  Some weekends I do this at my home so that I can make progress on several projects.

Finishes for January

Oops, sorry forgot to post this one.

Whoo hoo.  I have 2 finishes for January.  Well technically only 1 complete finish.  I finished my new start for January, Mill Hill Bead's Owlet - Violet.  I really like stitching on these.  I have completed 4 of the 6.  I will start on Huey next.  I am saving Emma for last (she is so cute).













The other completed project is the stitch-along, Amy Brueken's Man of the Month.  I completed the words in the middle and the January snowman.  I am stitching it as the pattern calls for the fabric and threads.  It is fun to work on and quick to stitch.






I have made progress on Raise the Roof's Loves Laundry.  I have completed the "little black dress" and the black heels.  I don't think I have it completed by Valentine's Day but I am trying.

I now have to pick a new start for February.  Maybe something love

January - What are my goals?

If you haven't already figured it out, I am a planner.  I plan things.  I may not execute them but I do plan them.  My goal this year is to wipe out all of my WIPs (there are only 20 cross-stitch ones).  At the same time I plan on starting a new pattern each month.  So far I am achieving my goal.  As in my previous post, I finished 1 of the 20 WIPs and started a new project. 

Well, I was thinking this weekend about how I was going to accomplish this.  I have one project that is designed to complete a portion of it each month (Frosted Pumpkins - Happily Ever After). As you can see below, I have completed 1-1/2 of the 12 parts to the pattern. 

Frosted Pumpkins - Happily Ever After part 4

Then I was thinking how am I going to break up my kits.  So I decided to work on one of the large projects for the month (i.e. Tigerlily, Our Lady of the Flag, etc.) while trying to knock out the smaller ones (i.e. stained glass window bookmark, Frank 'n Boo, etc.)

Then I got a wild hair and signed up for a Stitch-A-Long of Amy Bruecken's Man of the Month.  I love Amy Bruecken's work and snowmen.  So I get the both in one project.  Of course, I started to do the project; got the pattern, got the fabric, went to get the threads....I don't have any of the colors.  So off to my sisters etsy store for the thread.  Maybe I will get to start it this weekend.

I haven't completed any of my projects this week but I am getting closer on a couple of them.  I will post pictures as soon as I complete them. 

Well I have to go and teach class.  Have a wonderful day and keep stitching.

Sharon

Week 1 - Finishes and New Starts

So, each month I am going to have a new start.  But, at the same time, my goal is to complete as many WIPs as possible.  So this week, I finished one and started my new project for January.

I finished the "Be Spooktacular" for Lizzie Kate's Halloween Rules.  My sisters, Jennifer and Bridget, and I did this as a round robin.  Jennifer finished her project before Halloween (of course).  Bridget actually finished her project before me in November.  But I finished the project this week.  I actually wanted to finish it before the new year.  But, then I thought, it will be a quick finish.  Better to use it as a finish in the new year since many of my projects are going to take some time. Here is a picture of the pattern that I completed along with the complete project.  I stitched it on _____ count fabric with DMC colors.

My January start is the Owlet: Violet by Mill Hill Beads.  I have stitched 3 of these (Finn, Kiwi, & Tango) and still have Emma & Huey to complete.  They are relatively quick to finish.  I don't know what I will do with them yet but I have them grouped together so I can decide.

I will begin working on Raise the Roof's Love's Laundry to try and finish it before Valentine's Day. I have all of the clothesline patterns.  I have completed Peter's Cotton Knit's

Thanks for stopping by
Sharon

2018, Yippee!! New Year, New Possibilities

I know every year I start over with blogging but then peter out around the summer.  My goal this year is to make it to the end of the year.  So here we go.  My sister Jennifer talked me into completing 18 WIPs in 2018.  Below are the WIPs that I have for this year.  I have labelled each one with the Designer and name of the project.  Enjoy and thanks for coming by.
Sharon

Lizzie Kate's Halloween Rules

Stained Glass Window Bookmark

Mirabilia's Tigerlily

Mirabilia's Our Lady of the Flag

Little House Needlework's Blessed Are the Meek

Vicki Hasting's Wicked Patch

Little House Needlework's Robin Hood

Country Cottage Needlework's Main Street

Country Cottage Needlework's Summer Retreat

Raise the Roof's Sam's Socks...n Such

The Frosted Pumpkin's Happily Ever After

Carol Algie Higginbotham's Blackwork Roses

Art to Heart's Curious Owl

Bent Creek's Frank n Boo

Lizzie Kate's 6 Fat Men

Janlynn's Christmas Tree Whimsy

Just Nan's Gingham Christmas

JABC's Tuffet's Cupboard

Paula Vaughn's Simply Sunflower

Whiskeerkin's Lucky Cats