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

Needlepoint

Fridays will be needlepoint for my rotation for awhile. I have been working on my Fireside Stitchery Seasonal Squares for a while. I started Early Blossom yesterday and finished it today. I have completed 10 out of 16. Once I finish the remaining six, I will work on my Halloween Pudgy then I will work on the sun canvas that I bought (and spent way too much money on it). The sun will be beautiful when I finish it. Of course, I have several more canvases to stitch on that I can't wait to work on them. Before I start on the sun, I need to get a really big set of stretcher bars and a frame to support it.

WIPs from Bag One

Well the other day I decided to organize my WIPs that are not in a container. I separated them into cross-stitching, needlepoint, and crochet. I have about 3 needlepoint projects with multiple canvases. The first is the Fabrege style eggs (2), the seasons geometrics (8), and the Halloween pudgy. As far as crochet goes, I have 1 afghan I am working on. But, this post will be about the cross-stitch projects that I have actually stitched on.

The first is the beaded purse. The purse is an educational project from my primary EGA group, Stitching Magnolias. We started this last year when we met at Billie's house and began beading the pin tucks. Since then I have finished the flowers, in the middle of the diamonds, and the clusters, where the pintucks meet. We were suppose to meet in February and then in March to finish the purse. I don't have a copy of the book (it was on back order) to continue working on it. I know that it will have a beaded fringe and a beaded handle but I don't know what to do next.

The next project is one that I have had for a long time, Lavender Myst. I bought this at Stitch 'n Frame in Lafayette, LA when I lived there. I think I bought in 1997 and started on it. I guess that it intimidates me because of the thread cutting part. Maybe I can get someone to do that part for me when I finish stitching it. The other thing is that in the border there is a lot of color change. The directions say to do the border completely first, but I am always making a mess. So I am going to work the border as I go. I finally put it on a scroll frame to keep it tight. Several of the rows require the fabric to be in a hoop or frame. I will be surprised if I complete this one.

The third project is the love birds that I am doing for my mother. This one is taking so long because there is a lot of color change with the leaves and flowers but I'm about finished. My mother has decided that she will finish it as a pillow. So, I need to hurry up and finish it.


The fourth project is a kit I am doing for my sister-in-law Mari. This has a few big pieces, like the miner, and a lot of half stitches. The half stitches are used to make a map of the California coast. Then it has a border around it. I thought it would be a really quick stitch but it is not turning out that way. Right now I am backstitching the miner, then I will work on the words "Wild West" and the gun that is below the miner.

The last project in the bag is the Christmas fairy. It is about halfway finished. I am following the pattern and using the specified threads. All I have left are her feet, wings, head, and the tree.

I hope to finish all of these patterns because, as you may know, I have a whole bunch more that I have kitted and want to work on.

Also I have 4 Group Correspondence Courses that are due at the end of April, May, and June. The fourth, I don't know its due date. The one due at the end of April I haven't even started yet. I really need to get busy but I don't know where the time goes. Well I am going to the living room and start stitching.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Needlepoint Bookmark

I got this bookmark at one of my EGA Stitching Magnolia's meeting. It was either a business meeting or a Christmas Party. Well I finally pulled it out on Saturday and stitched it. I used Krienik Antique Purple and Gold thread. I wanted to use an emerald green background but though it would be too "Mardi Gras"ish. So I choose a light blue background. Now all I need to do is stitch around the top to finish the bookmark.

I also completed a scissor fob for my friend, Vercher. I know that she will love it. I'm not posting a picture until she receives it. It wasn't hard to stitch but it was hard to find a pattern that worked. Now I think I am going to make something else to go in with it but I don't know what yet. Her birthday was in January. So, I am very late in getting her gift to her. I hope to mail it this weekend.

Finally, I finished the ornament for the March Ornament exchange for Crazy4CrossStitch exchange group (which is now closing). Once my partner receives the ornament I will post pictures of it. I think it turned out cute.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Sunset at the Lake

I started this one yesterday (11/21) and just finished it. I didn't do the center like the directions. I thought I was following them correctly but obviously I wasn't. But, I like the center the way it is and decided not to redo it. This was the July installment in the Fireside Stitchery's Seasons Club. I'm about to start the August installment entitled Harvest Moon. I only have 4 left to do. I hope to finish them before the end of the month but I also have my snapperville, my red thread round robin, my round robin, and the 4 GCC's that I have signed up for that have deadlines. I will continue to work on them.

Well off to watch "Home for the Holidays" and stitch. Bye. Thanks for dropping by.

Meadow Grass

Well, I started this one Saturday at my sisters house. Between not being able to count and the pattern being wrong in the written directions, I stitched the 4 green boxes at least two times. Well I finally finished it last night (Tuesday night). They are usually so easy to stitch that you could stitch one a day. So I've started on the next one. Lets see if I can complete it in a day. It doesn't seem that hard to do.

Thanks for stopping by. Comment if you want.

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.

Bare Branches

I finished another Seasons Geometric from Fireside Stitchery. This was the May installment of the club. I have to finish the June installment soon because the July one will be here soon. This one was interesting. I liked doing the spider web in the middle. I chose to do the alternate pattern in Band C. I think it turned out beautifully.

I still haven't decided what I want to do with them. I like the idea of coasters but I need to research the available materials. Another possiblility is to bind them together somehow (like a quilt) and frame them. Well, if you have a suggestion, I am open.

Autumn Leaves

I finished the April installment in the Fireside Stitchery - Geometric Seasonals club. The pattern is called Autumn Leaves. It was a really quick stitch. I would have been finished sooner but I got Harvest Moon, Magical Melodies for my birthday. So, I've been playing on the Nintendo rather than stitching. Today I've been stitching on all my projects. I plan on posting updates on all of them tomorrow.

I also went through all of my patterns, kits, and canvases, I made a catalog of all of theses items. I wanted to be able to see all of my patterns when I needed to add a new project to my rotation. As I have told my friends and family, "My nerd-itis has reared it's ugly head." But, now I can see all of my stuff and chose a new project.

Summer Sands

Well, I finally finished a project this month. I received this project as the February installment in my Fireside Stitchery Seasons Club. I was halfway through it then got side tracked. Now I have two more projects to do. This project is called Summer Sands by Kick Back & Stitch. This was actually a very easy project to stitch. I started back on it Sunday around 6 and finished it at Midnight last night.

When I finish this club I will have 16 different pieces. I really have no clue what I'm going to do with them. I thought about making them into coasters but how do I protect the fibers? Well that is a problem for later. You can view the different projects at http://www.firesidestitchery.com/infoAlerts/Clubs/Seasons/export1.htm

Fireside Stitchery - Summer Sands

I'm about halfway finished with this one. I like the pattern; the colors are not that exciting but they work with the name. I hope to finish this one this weekend because the next one arrived today in the mail (It's called Autumn Leaves).

Fireside Stitchery - Spring Flowers

I really liked this one. It is beautiful. My mother and sister really like it. The stitching wasn't too difficult but the center flower took me several times to get it right. I really like these kits.

EGA Christmas Ornament

This is the Christmas ornament that I stitched for the EGA ornament exchange. I used very velvet for the back ground, yellow krenik for the star and string holding the star, beads for the holly berries, DMC floss for the face and leaves of the holly. For the hat I used two shades of red Flair, and the Fuzzy Stuff. The beard was two shades of wisper. When I finished stitching it Edie finished it for me. I need to send it to Susan soon.