What have I done in the past YEAR?

Has it really been a year since I posted?  I really don't have an excuse.  I should have been posting the whole time.  But, I have really slow internet at home, and forget to post at work.  So here is what I have finished and/or the stage I am at the moment.

First up, the Mississippi State Fair results.  I entered the Ink Circles Mystery Stitch along, The Silver Needle 2013 Pumpkin with buttons we made at the retreat, The Bent Creek Summer Snapperville, Barbara Ana's Owlscornu, Shakespeare's Peddler's Passport Pincushion, and an scarf that I created using double crochets and front post stitching.
I got blue ribbons on everything.  I am so proud!

Tiramisu Complete

 I finally finished the Tiramisu.  It is gorgeous!  I haven't framed it yet but will soon.  I used DMC floss on beautiful yellow fabric from Silkweaver.

Girl's Christmas Ornament Exchange

 Every year the girls in our family create an ornament to exchange.  My mother says that every Christmas tree should have a bird in it.  So this year I crocheted these cute little birds for everyone.  I used different color combinations for everyone.











My cousin Liz's daughter Michelle wanted a purple and green afghan.  So I crocheted 9 different granny squares.  Well, actually 8.  Katie, my sister-in-law crocheted the round one that is at the beginning of the top row.  Michelle picked the colors.  I finished this during spring break.  Michelle loved it.

Michelle's Afghan

Also, during spring break I started a new craft/art.  I found a book on Zentangles. I truly enjoy drawing these min-art projects.  They are so relaxing.

Zentangled Owl

My Zentangle Art

For my Mom for Bridget

My mother started this Irish Coffee for my sister Bridget in 1995.  It was almost complete (just lacked the "coffee" section and the border.)  So I finished it for her.  I dated it 1995 2015 and put both of our initials on it.















Other Cross Stitch Projects I have completed this year are: Raven Bewitch, Pumpkin Kitty, and Chicken Love (which is suppose to be a pin keep but is too large for a pin keep)

Raven Bewitch

Pumpkin Kitty

Chicken Love

I had to make mushrooms for Liz, Patrick, Theron, Tucker, and Jennifer.  Theron, Tucker, and Patrick got the blue mushrooms.  Jennifer's dog Sally loved the mushrooms.  Now I have to make her a new red one.  :)  They turned out really cute.

a troop of mushrooms: Grow up (red) and get a life (green)

This summer I decided that I was going to complete as many of my craft projects as I could.  So here are a couple of the things I completed.  I finished 3 sets of bead ornaments, a crystal angel, these two snowmen (for my brother Pete), and Raggedy Andy.  I still have several crystal angels to complete.

Better late than never

Raggedy Anne now has an Andy

Crystal Angel

This year we didn't go to the Silver Needle Retreat.  Rather we created our own retreat.  My sisters (Jennifer & Bridget), Katie, Lisha, Theresa, Maddi, and I went to Birmingham for a week.  We each brought a craft to teach each night (a different person each night) and crafts for us to complete.

Katie's chain maile earrings

Katie's Chain maile earrings

Theresa's Paper Mache Craft

Jennifer's Basket weaving

Lisha's Christmas Ornaments

I completed three project and made a major dent in the other project.  I finished Panel 1 of the Halloween Pudgy, a hot pad, and some crocheted containers.  I have nearly finished Jennifer's LaLaLoopsy doll.  I only have to add the hair.

Panel 1 of Halloween Pudgy

crocheted containers

hot pad

95% complete LaLaLoopsy Doll

Jennifer found a sewing pattern to create a cover for your notebook.  Well of course we all wanted one.  Here is mine.

Sewn by Sharon

Mari, Jennifer and I also became interested in stained glass crafts.  We took a class at the Craftsman's Guild in Jackson with Jane Mullins.  We made the star sun catcher.  Then Mari and I took the intermediate class (Jennifer had a prior engagement) and made the bird.  Mine was horrible.  I had a bad day (cut myself 3 times).  So I will probably take the class again.  The bird looks good here but when I put it together the gaps were too big.

And last but not least.  The Rose of Sharon.  I am nearing completion of this project.  This week has been very busy (preparing for school).  Next week will also be very busy (first week of school).  I plan to have this finished before the end of the year.

I have decided not to make plans with definite deadlines.  Every time I do things go awry.  So I just plan on working.  I have started several projects that I hope to post as I go rather than one large post like this.  I have also started using up my small amounts of yarn.  I am crocheting afghan squares for "Warm Up America!"  I have decided that when I finish a project that I will get rid of the pattern rather than keep it.  I am trying the KonMari method of cleaning and decluttering my house.  Let's see what happens.

Thank you for sticking with me all this time.  Hopefully I will post more often.

Sharon

Fireside Stitchery Package

Yesterday I got the 2nd installment for the Halloween Pudgy and the July installment of the Seasons Geometric Club. They are both beautiful. I can't wait to finish the 1st panel of the pudgy. The Seasons club has to wait until I finish the Meadow Grass kit for June. I really like having a stitch guide for the needlepoint I do. I'm not very creative in choosing stitches for effect on my needlepoint projects. I can't wait to finish the pudgy.

I've been busy stitching

Well I've been working on several projects but I finally decided to drop the rotation, per say. I've decide to try to finish a few projects instead. So... I'm almost finished with beading of the purse. My EGA group started this as a weekend (or two) project. I have 3 rows of flowers left to do. But, I have to wait for my group to send the beads to do the "clusters" around the places where the green beads intersect. I really enjoyed doing the beading but I'm not very good with the beads. I end up popping them across the room. Thank goodness for little nephews (23 months and 3 -1/2 years) who can see the little beads from a mile away, well maybe not that far, but still they can find the beads when I'm in need.

I also got a new "club" project in the mail from Fireside Stitchery. I got the 1st installment for the Patti Mann Halloween Pudgy. I couldn't resist working on it immediately. I finished the moon and started on the cats. It is so cute, I can't wait to finish it.

I also got the July pattern from the Geometric club. It is gorgeous. The colors of the thread are lush greens. I can't wait to stitch it either but I still have bare branches to do first. I must stick to my guns and finish the bare branches first or I'll never finish it.


I worked on the Christmas Fairy for an evening. I'm almost finished with the dress. Since I've recently had a birthday, I've had to get reading glasses to see such a small thread count to stitch. I use to pick on my friends for needing readers to stitch and now I'm in the same boat. That's what I get for being mean to my friends. But the best part is that they aren't that strong only a 1. Back to the pattern, I'm liking working with the over-dyed thread. I like the shadowing that it makes.

As for my other projects, I have somehow lost the fabric for the rainbow birds that I was working on for my mother. I got it out of my bag to show my mother how far along I am. Now I can't find it. I'll find it soon; I hope. That stupid penguin stocking is moving slowly. I will be so glad when I finish it. I haven't worked on Mari's pattern in weeks. I really need to get busy on it. Sunday, I'm going to stitch for an hour or two on each project to see if I can get them moving or finished. I know that your not suppose to stitch on Sunday, but it is not work. Besides that is the one day that I am not running around doing something with my family or friends.

Finally, my sister Jennifer and I went to Shakespeares Peddler's to get the thread to finish the second version of Boo from Trilogy. I plan on finishing it today and posting it tomorrow.