A finish and A "I give up"

I finished this on 4/20/2008 but haven't had time to post it. I had to stitch it backwards because it wasn't mine. My friend, Lisha, crosses her x's backwards from me. I had to concentrate really hard to stitch in the correct direction for her. Next, the Ocean Voyage on my sister Jennifer's Round Robin.

I also attempted to complete the Meadowsweet Group Correspondence Course project from EGA. I was the group coordinator for Cyberstitchers. Only 4 people sent their project in to be evaluate. But, mine wasn't one of them. I have also signed up for "My Favorite Bracelet" which I have completed about half of it, "Tiramisu" which I know I will love because it is blacwork but haven't started, and "Florentine Ornaments" which I need to get my sister-in-law, Mari, to paint the canvas first.

I will post pictures this weekend of several things that I am working on. Also, I bought a laptop last weekend. At present, I am tied to one room until my brother, Pete, can activate the wireless. It is a Toshiba which I like so far. It is much faster than my older one (which took an hour to load a word document). Now all I have to do is get all my stitching stuff on it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

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.

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).

Christmas Ornament Exchange

I finished my March exchange Christmas Ornament. It is a variation of the O Tannenbaum pattern by Jane Timmers of Fancy Work in the Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Edition.

I used the two large trees from the pattern but I used thread from DMC, Kreinik. and Wildflowers by Caron. I think it turned out cute. I didn't have all of the thread called for in the pattern so I improvised. I hope that Gina likes it. Since our group (crazy for cross stitch C4C) will terminate at the end of the month. It will be hard to complete an ornament a month but I will continue to try. I have 5 ornaments that need to be completed by Christmas. So that leaves me 4 ornaments to do just because. You see I joined a sub group of the EGA Cyberstitchers that stitch an ornament a month. With my exchange I was also in the ornament a month group. Since the C4CS group had a deadline I thought I could use them both to make my goals. Now, I don't have deadlines. I don't work well without deadlines, but we will see.

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

HoE Biscornu Exchange

I received my Hooked on Exchanges (HoE) exchange yesterday. It was a wonderful selection for such short notice. My partner had to drop out so the lady who runs the exchange put one together for me.

I am very pleased with my biscornu and goodies. The exchange contained Silkweaver fabric (purple - my favorite), 2 skeins of DMC variation floss, a spring notepad, LK April Flip It pattern, two candle melts (Blue Raspberrytini and Sweet Lilies from old Virginia Candle Company) and a bottle of hand lotion (Moonlight Path from Bath and Body Works).


The biscornu was stitched on 32-count Silkweaver solo Lugana using Cresent Color floss. The pattern is Twilight Biscornu by Indigo Rose. It is beautiful. The lady who sent it was surprised how small it turned out. But, I like it and think it is so cute.

Since the lady who was suppose to send to me was the lady to which I would send, I am holding onto my exchange in case someone gets left out. I think my exchange partner (whoever it turns out to be) will be happy. I won't post a picture until I have sent it.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

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

Scatter Sunshine and Joy

I started the Sheperd's Bush "Scatter Sunshine" freebie pattern when it first came out. I decided to do it with DMC floss on a book mark. I just finished it. It is really cute. Now, I have to decide how to back it so that the threads won't pull lose. Mama also said I need to turn the ends down so they won't unravel. I am really happy with this one. It has been in my bag of WIPs for a while. I am working to empty that bag. My goal is to work on two cross stitch patterns and one needlepoint pattern at all times. But, first I have to get my WIPs down to two cross stitch patterns. Of course this plan excludes all the round robins and exchanges that I am in. I also need to find a bee charm that will fit on the bookmark.

Well got to go stitch. I only stopped long enough to post because I haven't posted in 10 days.
Thanks for stopping by.

Clarkey

Cherry Hill Finished!!!

Yesterday, the girls got together for a scrapbooking day but ended up having a stitching day. I worked on the border for my Lizzie Kate Round Robin. I finished the box border. I also finished stitching the Cherry Hill pattern. It is so cute!!! I really love it. I hope to get my sister, Jennifer, to help me finish it as a stand-up cube. Tonight I hope to finish the Round Robin that I was suppose to finish yesterday. Once I finish the round robin then I have a biscornu to finish. My goal this week (spring break) is to finish a project a day. I have several that are near finishing.

I've been tagged

Lisha tagged me to name 7 weird or random facts about myself. So, here goes... But first the rules...

The Rules:
1 Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2 Post the Rules on your blog.
3 Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4 Tag 7 people and link them.
5 Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

7 weird or random facts about me:

1. I am the education coordinator for my primary EGA group which is in Louisiana. (I am in Mississippi).
2. I love to eat crawfish and shrimp, but am allergic to them. (Carry Benadryl with me at all times).
3. I have been to Alaska during the spring.
4. Saw a report about a train wreck in the town where I worked while sitting in an airport in Chicago (on my way home from Alaska; worked was to start back up the next week).
5. My favorite snack is either dark chocolate or Cheetos.
6. I'm not a good housekeeper (I hate to clean).
7. I enjoy doing walk-a-thons but hate to exercise.

Now for the tags:

Well, since Lisha tagged the only other person that I know personally who has a blog, my tag will be you. Since you're reading this blog you are tagged. If you don't have a blog, then post your seven facts as a comment to this blog.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Busy Week

My goodness what a week it has been. I gave a test Thursday night and had to have midterm grades posted to PeopleSoft by 4 pm Friday. But, it wasn't the test that I gave Thursday that held me up. It was having to read all 150 discussion board replies for the Orientation class that took forever. I submitted all my grades by 3:59 pm with a few seconds to spare.

As far as stitching went, I finished the ornament for my ornament exchange. Again I got my sister Jennifer as a my exchange person. I stitched the Victorian Lace Snowflake by Karen Kluba of Rosewood Manor. I got the pattern out of the JCS Christmas Edition 2007 Magazine. I loved working on this one because I worked it like reversible blackwork. Before I put on the beads you couldn't tell which side was the front without really looking. After I added the beads, you could. Not just because of the beads but because of the thread. When I stitch this for myself, I am going to put the beads on as I go instead of last. Jennifer loved it. But, I didn't finish it because she said she would. I'm not big on the finishing. I love to stitch but finishing... I'm learning but it's not so easy.


As far as my Snapperville goes. I have completed the squares. I finished the Town hall on Thursday. I changed the thread used for the building. It called for Harvest Basket. But, Harvest Basket was the same color as the fabric. So instead I used Virginia Beech (which was my substitute for Shaker White). I think it turned out pretty good. It took longer to complete this one because I wasn't concentrating when I started stitching the building. I got my windows out of whack. So, as usual, I had to re-stitch the house.



I started the Stockyard yesterday about 6 pm. I finished it about 1:30 am last night. This is one of the squares that caused me to buy the whole set. I think it is the cutest one of the set. My sister Jennifer already had the one with the cat on the fence and I had the pumpkin patch. When I went to buy the stockyard, Jennifer reminded me that we had the other two. So, I decided why not get the set and stitch them all. Now, all I have to do is stitch the border. Which, Jennifer and I think is what makes the set adorable.

For this set I 26 specialty threads but replace 12 of them with thread I had on hand. For example the borders called for Bark, I used English Ivy. The following are the other 10 exchanges I used (substitute, pattern): Freedom for Deep Sea, Dried Thyme for Kudzu, Arizona Petrified Wood (limited edition) for Barn Grey, Flax for Harvest Basket, Black Coffee for Onyx, Cinnamon for Rust, Gold Leaf for Schneckley, Black Hills for Seaweed, Dark Chocolate for Swamp Water, and Toasted Marshmallow for White Wash.

Now I have the winter snapperland to stitch. I love the chalet and the villa. Also Theresa for Raise the Roof designs is creating an "other side of the tracks" street that I can't wait to stitch. I think it is hilarious.

Today I am going to work and and try to complete the Cherry Hill from Country Cottage Needleworks. Here I also used thread I had on hand. So, I substituted Bramble Bush for Roasted Chestnut, Evergreen for Weeping Willow, and Willow Leaves (limited edition) for Cherry Tomato. The fabric is "Rock-a-Bye" from Silkweaver. (The same fabric I am using for my Christmas fairy.) I thought this was a cute pattern when I bought it. But, the more I stitched it the more I fell in love with the pattern. It is not hard to stitch and the sheep are so cute. I am almost through with it. I had to stop because I ran out of Dandelion Stem for the grass and leaves on the tree. When I finish this one, I am going to get Jen to help me make it into a square. I'm going to put it in my display shelf with my spring decorations. It is so cute.

Well got to go. Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Sweet Sister

My sister Bridget got all the ladies in our Red Thread Round Robin a little happy. It consisted of a tin, 2 fat quarters of fabric, a pack of Mary Arden needles, skeins of specialty floss and some Valentine's Candy. Each box contain fabric and floss that matched the personality of the receiver. I got Gentle Arts Blackboard, Ohio Lemon Pie, and Purple Iris. The needles are my favorites. I now only buy Mary Arden needles.

Bridget got us all a gift because she likes to do things like that. She said she did it because she was holding up the round robin but I think she would have done it anyway because it was valentines. So thank you to my sister. I love it.

Sharon

Exchanges Received

This week I received several of my exchanges. I am a member of the Crazy for Cross Stitch Exchange and the Hooked on Exchanges group. In the Crazy for Cross Stitch Exchange I have joined the Secret Sister Exchange, the Christmas Ornament Exchange, the Postcard Exchange, and the Birthday Floss Exchange.

Right now, the Secret Sister Exchange is behind a couple of months to me. I received my February Exchange for Kathy and I liked everything in the package. The tuck wall hanger is really cute. I also love Lizzie Kate and Bent Creek patterns. I have yet to receive for December and January. I need to check on those again.

I received my February Christmas Ornament Exchange also from Kathy. I really like it. So does my sisters. They were very impressed with the way it was finished. I can't wait to hang it on my tree.






From Hooked on Exchanges, we had a scissor fob exchange. I have previously posted, the one that I sent. So, here is the one that Paula sent to me. Isn't he so cute; I love snowmen. I'm going to start using him today. Because I alway lose my scissors when I'm stitching. I stand up to look for them and boom they fall on the floor. So, now I won't lose them. I also received some goodies from Paula. The chocolate covered mints are divine.


I really enjoy doing the exchanges because I love getting packages in the mail. I now have to go and buy for my person for the February Exchange. It's funny, my sister Jen was my January SS Exchange and now she is my February Christmas Ornament Exchange. I need to go shopping to finish the two exchanges. Soon the Hooked on Exchanges group will be starting a biscornu exchange. I can't wait for that. Of course I have to get busy.

Also, I am a member of Cyberstitchers . The president's challenge is the Artist's Way training. We started this week. We'll see how it goes.

Sharon

Semi-busy weekend

Well I finished the fob. My sister, Jennifer made the cording for the string to attach the fob to the scissors. For the back, I stitched the recipient's first initial. I used Weeks Dye Work "Calypso" to stitch it but for the cording I found matching DMC floss. I enjoyed working on this project. I will be mailing it out later today or tomorrow.




The second thing I finished was the "Maypole" for the Red Thread Round Robin that I am working on. I stitched on Mari's this month. She changed some of the colors but it turned out beautifully.







The third thing I finished (which was earlier in the week) was the backpack. It turned out cute. Now I have to do another one for Theron. I may even do one for me except bigger. Tucker loves it. But, I have to find some Velcro to match for the shoulder strap. His mom is suppose to look today, otherwise I will use white Velcro on the strap.

Backpack, Backpack!

My nephews, Theron and Tucker, love Diego and Dora. Theron has a backpack that Tucker likes to play with. As kids are, the two of them argue over the backpack. So I offered to crochet one for Tucker. I have worked on this all weekend. As my usual pattern, I have probably crochet this thing two or three times. I have been using two "freebie" patterns from Lions Brand yarn plus a pattern that my mother uses for her kitchen towels. I hope that my sister and her son will like it. I have to make the drawstring, finish the flap and make the straps but I should finish it today. I think I did a pretty good job. Such a good job, that I think I'll make my self one but a little bigger and in a different color.

Thanks for stopping by.

It's Snowing!!

Look what I woke up to this morning. Snow! Now for some people in this country, snow is a normal part of winter, but here in south Mississippi it is not. The last time we had snow was in 2000 or 2001. Isn't it beautiful? I love living in the country where there are a lot of trees to catch the snow. Now, at 2:00 pm, it's starting to melt but the woods still look beautiful. {Sunday, we still had snow in the shade. I actually had to clean it off the windshield of my car to go to church.}




My nephew, Theron, had fun playing in the snow. He and his mom threw snowballs, made a snowman, and made snow angels. They played outside for several hours. Of course, he's only 4 years old and this was his first time in the snow. He loved it.






I also, finished stitching a flower for one of my exchange groups. It was a freebie pattern from My Aunt's Attic. The thread that I used was named Calypso. I'm going to make it into a scissor fob.
Today since I'm not leaving the house, I have several things I want to work on.
1. finish the fob
2. Stitch the border for the new round robin
3. Stitch on the red thread round robin
4. Crochet a backpack for Tucker. (Deigo's Backpack)
5. Stitch on the "Rainbow birds" for my mother.

I'll let you know what I finish this weekend on tomorrow or Monday.
Thanks for stopping by

Sharon

Another Block Complete

Okay, so it was almost finished when I started on it today but I finished it. I have two more blocks and the border to finish on this Bent Creek Snapperland series. Once I finish this series I have the winter series to start on.

Well I've got to go and start on the next block or Moma's pattern. I'll see when I sit in my chair.

See ya,

Sharon

What a week!

I continued working on finishing. I started back on the blanket that I was knitting for my nephew, Theron. I started it because he and Tucker were fighting on the blanket I made for Tuck when he was 1. It turned out great but I learned not to use variegated yarn when you are working with two skeins. They never match up. But, this turned out okay. I got the pattern from the "I Taught Myself to Knit" book that I bought at Walmart a couple of years ago. It was an easy pattern to knit. There wasn't a lot of counting needed like I have to do with crochet. But I love crocheting more. This pattern has about 5 skeins of yarn in it . You knit it using two skeins, so I started with six skeins but only used half of t he last two. Since there was so much left over, my mother is going to make him some footies out of the left over yarn to match his blanket.




On another note we had very bad weather on Thursday. So bad that we decided to go stay at my house because it was sturdier than my mom and dad's place. Of course, the babies loved it because it was a new set of toys to play with. We got very strong winds and hail. (A tornado touched down in a nearby area). So, I decided to begin working on the scissor fob that I have to mail out by the end of the month. The instructions say to use 28-count linen. So I thought alright I'll use 14-count aida instead. So, I cut out the six inch squares and gather my supplies then I begin to stitch. At which time I noticed that the instructions say "stitch over 1 thread". Oooohhhh. So now I have to dig through my stash to find some fabric that is appropriate because the fob is too perfect not to stitch.

Next I will work on my exchanges that go out this month, and the rainbow birds for my mother.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

First Finish of the New Year

I finished the second installment for my group in America's Best Round Robin. I will be mailing it today. The project was Beaded Elegance Ornaments by Kathryn White for Dimensions. I stitched the heart, as you can see to the left. I didn't complete it because outside the box is suppose to be streams of leaves that are made with lazy daisies. I can't do the lazy daisy stitch. They end up looking like pine needles. I did do the French knots which turned out really nice, if I do say so myself.

Now I'm going to work on the border of my Red Thread Round Robin before I have to send it on to the next person.

2008 Goals

I don't do resolutions each year, instead I make a list of goals to be accomplished each year. My sister Jennifer said I had to post my goals for 2008. So, here I go. My motto for this year is "Get It Done". I have several projects that have been sitting around waiting to finish. For example, I started a project at least 3 years ago called Lavender Myst that I haven't stitched on in at least a year. I am behind in stitching on my Geometric Series from Fireside stitchery and the Halloween Pudgy. I have two projects that I have to stitch for Moma and Mari, my sister-in-law. I have signed up for 4 GCC's through EGA (three of which are now active). Finally, I have the round robins that I am stitching on.

I also decided that I needed to go through my stash (which is very large) and stitch on things that I have bought before I start buying new things. I have the Mirabillia Rose of Sharon that I bought when I first moved to Lafayette, LA in 1992 still not stitched. So, as soon as I finish the next "big" project (my mother's), I will start on it.

In other areas of my life, I plan on finishing things.
1. Remodeling my home
2. Finishing my Ph.D. (or receiving a degree this semester)
3. Find a permanent job (or win the lottery ;-) )
4. Lose a dress size.

Hope that I have inspired you to look at and document your goals. Thanks for stopping by.

Clarkey