Week 2 & 3 Art Journal attempts

Welcome,I started my art journal a little late.  So, I have been catching up.  Week 2's question is "I am..."  I tried my hand at decoupage.  I used words cut out of magazines. I used words that I felt described me and a couple of words that I wanted to describe me.  As usual, it didn't go like I planned it. I'll have to think about how to improve it.  If I figure something out then I will post another picture.


Week 3's question was "Do you believe in fairies?  So I went to the internet to find pictures of fairies and came across this 1970's looking fairy.  So I decided I was going to color it with my crayons.  But of course, I couldn't find my crayons.  So I used my chalks from scrapbooking.  I think she turned out great.  I also planned on writing the words with a glitter pen but it came out goopy so I used my silver pen over regular black ink.  Since the glitter pen didn't work, and I wanted glitter on it, I put glitter on the wings instead. 


On the stitching frontier, I finished Monster on the Lizzie Kate Boo Club.  I have also added the other ear to the Quaker bat.  I will wait a little longer before I post pictures because it takes so long to load the pictures.

The weekend is coming up and I can't wait to do Painting with a Twist.  I am ready to try something new.  I hope it turns out ok.  But if my art is ugly, that is okay because I tried.  At least, I will enjoy spending time with my sisters and our friends.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I need to go stitch.  Starting Monday I will be back on the grad student wheel.  I WILL finish this year!

Thanks again,

Sharon

Art Journal & Boo Progress

 Welcome,

So I wrote in my previous blog that I wanted to start doing things that are not my normal activities.  I said I was going to do an art journal where I got the questions from  Em's blog.  So here is my first attempt.  The question on the back is "What do I wish for this year to bring?".  Well I want to finish period.  I want to finish my degree.  I want to finish all of my WIPs.  I want to actually relax and take a vacation.  And of course, love and marriage. I think I did a good job on my first attempt.  I made my own tassel but the rest are scrapbook cutouts.  I didn't even think about the background paper.  I just liked the colors, then I realized they were stars, wishing stars that is.  I am a week late but I think I will continue this for a little while longer.  Maybe even 51 more weeks.

To continue in this "stepping outside my comfort zone", my sisters and I have signed up at Painting with a Twist.  We have signed up for Rhianna, The Metal Chicken.  I think we are going to have fun.  I will post a picture of my masterpiece (ha ha ha) this weekend.

On a different note,  I have been working on Lizzie Kate's Boo Club.  I have finished fright and brew.  I am in the middle of monster.  I have two more words, ghost and halloween, left to stitch and the border to finish.  I may actually finish this project this month. I think this is turning out pretty.

Monday, I made October, November, and December into magnets.  It took me all day because someone (Leif and Theron) kept wanting my attention.  It is funny that when you are doing absolutely nothing they don't want anything to do with you.  But, the minute you start working on something, they call your name constantly.  Well, any way,  I have completed the Monthly magnets.  Hip Hip Hooray!

Thank you for stopping by my blog.  I have to go to bed.  Work in the morning.

Sharon

First Finishes for the Year

Woo hoo!!     I finished two projects this year.  The first was the December pattern (Winter Village) that was a free pattern on Rainbow Gallery's site, designed by Erica Michaels.  I should have finished this series in December of 2010 but my mother got sick in October and I fell behind.  I am making the series into magnets.  I still have 3 more to make into magnets.  I like this one best.

Erica Michaels 2004 Cross Stitcher's Surprise Series from Rainbow Gallery

 Here is a picture of all of the patterns.  I stitched with DMC floss on Aida Fabric.  I changed the color for December since the pattern was mostly in white.  I use them as magnets to hold up my monthly calendar on the refrigerator.

 

The other finish was the afghan I was working on for my brother Ricky.  It has been 2 years for me to finish it but I finally did.  I stitched in Red Heart's Dark Orchid.  Once I finished it, I noticed that I stitched the pattern wrong. between each 2 double crochets there is suppose to be a bubble but I did a chain 3 only.  I misunderstood the pattern and only did a chain 3.   Now I will be working on Hobbie's afghan.

Thank you for stopping by.

Sharon

WIPs to be completed this year

So, I decided to take pictures of the WIP that I have planned to finish this year.  I wanted to see the progress that I make as I work on each pattern.

Rose of Sharon - Mirabilia

The first pattern is the Rose of Sharon by Mirabilia.  I bought this pattern back in 1992 or 1993 from Stitch and Frame in Lafayette, LA when I moved to town to go to college.  I have wanted to stitch this for years but never got around to it.  Well last year I started it but I don't remember when.  So this year when I start a project, I am going to write the date down in my planner.  I have stitched most of the girl but still have the archway and flowers to go.  I wish I was the type of person who could modify the pattern because I would like to add beads to the dress like Nora Corbett did on her mermaid patterns.  I am stitching it on a 28 ct. blue linen that I had leftover from when I stitched the Precious Moments Noah's Ark for my nephew approximately 16 years ago.  I am using DMC floss.

Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long - Ink Circle

The second pattern is the Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long by Ink Circle.  I have completed two of the monthly squares and part of two others.  I am stitching it on Silkweaver's Karma - 28 ct. Jobelan with DMC floss.  I started this in August 2008 but as usual got sidetracked when working on it.  I hope to finish it in 2012.
 

Tiramisu - EGA GCC

The 3rd pattern is Tiramisu by Dakota Rogers.  I have signed up twice for this EGA Group Correspondence Course but, as usual, I was sidetracked and missed the evaluation process.  The pattern is being stitched on Silkweaver's Banana Splash - 28 ct. Lugana with shades of orange DMC floss.  The pattern is "A reversible Spanish Stitch Sampler from 16th and 1th centuries Italy" blackwork.  I love blackwork!!

Quaker Halloween Bat - Workbasket

 The 4th pattern in the Quaker Halloween Bat by Workbasket.  I am not really into Quaker Patterns but I did the Owl in this pattern last year and wanted to do the bat.  I am stitching it on Silkweaver's Rock Quarry - 28 ct. Lugana.  The thread I am using is Olde Willow Stitchery Hand-dyed Threads #110 - Dracula's Cape.  The funny thing is that I had two different dye lots so the threads are really different.  One is a silvery, purple color and the other is a silvery, gray color.  So I an using one thread from each dye lot; it's looking kinda cool.

Wild West

The 5th pattern is a kit from Janlynn called Treasure Map.  The pattern is on Aida and come with the thread.  My sister Bridget volunteered me to stitch it for my sister-in-law Mari about 5 years ago.  So I want to get it done before Theron gets too old to appreciate it.  This one has two large pictures (one of which I have finished) then lots of little pictures and words.

Ricky's Afghan

The 6th project is Ricky's Afghan.  I am crocheting the August pattern from "A Year of Afghans: Book 14" from Leisure Arts.  The yarn that I am using is Red Heart's Dark Orchid.  I am almost finished with it.  I hope to finish it tonight.  But probably not since I need another skein of yarn.  My brother loves the color and the length since he is 6'2".

Hobbie's Afghan

Last but not least is the afghan for my brother-in-law, Hobbie.  I am stitching June from "Birthstone Afghans" from Leisure Arts.  I am using Red Heart's Zebra Yarn.  This pattern is one row pattern repeated.


Well got to go.  Thanks for looking at my projects.  I will post updates more often this year.

Thanks
Sharon

Welcome 2012

I had a wonderful time last night.  My sister Bridget had a board game party at her house for New Years Eve.  There were 8 people there (mostly family).  We snacked and played about 7 games.  Then today after church and lunch, my sisters, Jennifer and Bridget, with my brother-in-law Tim and I played SmartAlec (It goes by a different name) and Phase 10.  We had a great time.

I had hoped to start my new year with a very clean house and all of my decorations put away.  Well, I didn't quite make it there.  On the other hand, I did complete a major feat.  I completely cleaned my office (it looked like a hoarder lived there, had to step on things to get in).  It is so clean, the floor is clear, my desk is actually a desk again, not a junk holder.  My goal this year is to keep the house clean using the Fly Lady's cleaning system while trying to minimize my possessions.

Another of my goals this year is to be healthier.  I plan on cooking breakfast every morning rather than getting a breakfast burrito meal from McDonald's.  My boss gave me this pretty lunch bag for Christmas which I plan on using on regular basis by taking my lunch to work rather than not eating or going out (which is what I did last year).  I also plan on starting to exercise.  I borrowed Jennifer's Wii Fit and will start using it on Monday.

Finally, I want to enjoy life more.  Reading for pleasure, stitch more, crochet more.  I want to do something new each week that I have never done but wanted to do.  I think I am going to do the art journal that Em will be starting soon.  This will be a big deal to me because I don't think I am artistically inclined but I am going to spread my wings.


Thank you for stopping by.  I will posted again during the week.

Sharon

Amigurumi again

Hippo

Leif and his Hippo

Bunny for Jessica

Leif and I went shopping one afternoon.  We were in Hobby Lobby looking at yarn when he choose the multicolored yarn.  I tried to put it back on the shelf but he said "No! Hippo. Hippo for me."  So I made him another Hippo.  As you can see he loves it.

As for the bunny, my friend Vercher's daughter loves bunnies and is pregnant due this month.  So I crocheted this bunny (from Stephanie Jessica Lau) for her and her daughter-to-be.  I decided not to do the nose and mouth.  While I was making the bunny, my mother made a baby blanket with rick-rack for the fringe.

 Thanks for stopping by

Sharon

Isn't it Beautiful? Aren't They Cute?

This is the Lollipop Quilt wall hanging that my sisters and our friend Lisha decided to work on as a group.  I really like the idea of the project.  But, I spent most of my time cursing the sewing machine or being very aggravated.  Jennifer did the Halloween one and this one.  Her's turned out beautifully.  Mine looks good but I don't think I will do a big one like this again.  I have two small wall hangs that are from the fall.  I finished this one a couple of weeks ago but have only been able to post tonight.

Monkey & Hippo

Owl (my sister say Vulture) and a red Hippo

I have started crocheting animals (aka amigurumi).  I have completed two hippos, one for Leif (the purple one) and one for Tyler (the red one), an alligator for Liz, and the owl/vulture for me.  I am working on a pink hippo and a green walrus for my sisters Bridget and Jennifer respectively.  The hippos, aligator, and monkey are from the Easy Crochet Critters book.  The owl is from a Coats & Clark freebie pattern.

The other project that I have finished is the Turkey Dressing by Raise the Roof Designs.  I have to put the buttons on it tomorrow.  So, I will post a picture of it then.  I am making progress in my 22 project challenge.

About a month ago, Jennifer and I went to Michael's and bought these beautiful storage boxes.  I used mine to store most of my 22 projects.  Well I went back and found another box that I loved that was bigger.  So I got it; justifying the purchase as needing a place to store my finished stitching in until framing.  I had to clean out my cabinets and my mother's drawers to find my finished projects.  I just about filled it up with completed stitch projects.  Now I'm having to decide how to finish these projects.

Well got to go.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Two Year Project!?!

Side view of the Original Ottoman

top view

I bought this from a friend who was moving back in 2004 or 2005. I decided to recover it about a year later.  So, I bought the fabric with a 40% off coupon from Hobby Lobby.  Then I finally decided to recover it in March 2009.  I took it apart with the plan of covering it the next weekend.  

Well this year with my mother and father's help, I finally finished it.  Daddy and I finished it today.  I think it turned out great.  But next time I will just buy a new one.  The cost of the supplies was almost as much as a brand new ottoman.

side view of the recovered ottoman

top view of the recovered ottoman

Well thanks for stopping by.

Sharon Clark

2011 - Goals

Well I know I am starting late with posting.  Every time I say "I am going to do ______".  You can bet that it will not happen.  I planned on posting each week this year but here we are in the 3rd month and this is the first post of the year.


Jennifer challenged us to complete 11 UFO's and 11 new projects this year.  So I accepted the challenge.  I have already posted the 22 projects to be completed this year.  I have completed one of the projects.  The second one I ran out of thread.  I need to pick up some thread to finish it.  I was hoping to be through with 4 projects by now.  (See, I plan it but it didn't happen.)  I really hope to finish all of them this year.


Also, I have been watching way too much "Hoarders".  So, on January 1st  I started cleaning out my house.  I took every thing out of each room, furniture and all, then washed the room - walls, floor, curtains, etc.  Then I only put back the bare essentials.  I finished half the house in January, but work and other obligations has gotten in the way of finishing the living room and kitchen.  My goal (which I shouldn't write) is to finish the cleaning today.  I have packed up 3 to 4 boxes for the garage sale we are having this month.

I begin spring break today.  I want to just relax (yeah right).  Maybe I will.

The End of 2010....THANK GOD!

I was on the phone with my friend Sharon tonight discussing what's happened in our life since we last talked (about a week).  We both concluded that 2010 was the worst year ever and that 2011 will be much better.  Between sick parents (and nearly losing one of them for both of us), nephews, daughters getting married (hers), no dating, very little stitching or reading, and a lot of work, 2010 was a rough year. But there were some good notes.

I finished the Seasons Series from Kick Back & Stitch.  I started this series in 2007 and finished receiving the patterns in 2008.  Well I finished the last of the series December 30th.  It seemed like I would never finish Maple Trees before the end of the new year but I did it.  I finally finished the 16th needlepoint patterns.  I only gave two of them away Crocuses to my Mother and Frozen Pond to Michelle.  The rest I have trimmed then I frame 4 on the wall then switch them out every few months.

I am so glad that October is basically over

As you know I planned the math conference for the beginning of the month.  What I didn't post is that my mother went in the hospital the day before.  She stayed in for 12 days then came home.  She has been convalescing until Friday morning when we had to rush her back to the hospital.  Well she has been in ICU for the weekend but is now being moved to a room.  Hopefully she will get to go home soon.  Keep us in your prayers for a fast and full recovery.

 On the stitching front.  I finished one of the Geometric Needlepoint patterns while my mom was in the hospital earlier this month.  I framed it for her and it hangs in her stitching room.  This weekend I finished a fleece blanket with owls on it.  You know the one - cut and tie knots.  I also finished crocheting 4 Halloween trick or treat skull bags for the 4 youngest - and still trick or treating - boys.  They are so cute.  I already have request from the 7 and 5 year old for a pumpkin and a Frankenstein for next year.

I've been working on several things but it has been slow going.  Hopefully I will be able to finish some stuff the month of November.  When things slow down, I will post pictures of the Halloween bags and  framed needlework for my mother.

Well I am exhausted.  Trying to keep myself awake until it is a decent time to go to bed.  I think I will go stitch for a while.

Thanks for stopping by

Sharon

Yeah I survived

I survived the conference.  I planned and executed a regional mathematics conference for community college faculty by myself (for the most part).  It had a bumpy start (I forgot to print extra forms and someone who was helping me started the conference early.)  but it went smoothly after that. 

We had a wonderful presenter, Elayn Martin Gay - textbook author.  Her presentation was wonderful and useful on helping students to get organized to learn.  Then she show everyone how to make a latern with Kirigami.

Afterward, we had 3 breakout sessions with 3 presenters per session.  The continental breakfast by Spoondance Catering was great along with the pulled pork/ pulled chicken meal from Squealer's of Meridian.  If nothing else, the attendees were well fed.

I am happy that it is over. 

At the business meeting I was elected Mississippi Vice President and Chair of the Policies and Procedures committee.

Well got to go to work
Thanks for stopping by to read my ramblings.

Sharon

Hectic Week

Hey everyone,

I have been planning a conference.  I'm days away from the conference and think I'm about ready for the conference.  The group is math instructors from local community colleges.  We have a textbook author as our keynote speaker which is great.  I'm so ready for this to be done.  I hope that I will actually be able to visit with my friend and enjoy the conference.  Well, got to go prepare the goodie bags

Sharon

I finished a couple more projects yesterday and today.  I finished the 13th block in the Kick Back and Stitch - Geometric Series that I have been working on for a very long time.  I finished the "Frozen Lake."  While I was working on it Liz's daughter Michelle asked if she could have it.  Well since there are 16 of them I thought why not.  She is going off to the university in a few weeks and her birthday is at the end of the month.  So I finished it for her.  Then I had to decide how to frame it .  Well Friday, Liz and I were killing time before our movie "Charlie St. Cloud" (a three hankie movie) at Hobby Lobby and found these floating frames that were on sales.  So I bought one to try for Michelle's gift.  It worked wonderfully.  See.




 I like how it looked so much that I decided to frame my other ones the same way.  The only difference is that I was going to frame 4 at a time.  This solved my problem "What do I do with them when they are finished?"  I think I am going to frame them seasonally this year.

The other project that I finished was the Erica Michael's freebie for August.  I had the large flower and g-u-s-t finished Friday.  On Saturday, Michelle asked me to ride with her to Paul's Pastry in Picayune, MS to pick up her birthday cake.  I said yes.  So, I stitched on August while she drove (it was 1 hr one way).  I really like this one.



Now I am off to bed.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Finishes for Today

Last night I finished two of the patterns that I have been working on this month.  I finished the Quaker Owl and the July installment of Erica Michael's Rainbow Gallery Freebies for 2004.  I used DMC floss for the red and blue then used Rainbow Gallery Hi-light for the red, white, blue, and gold sparkles.  I hope to finish April through July as magnets this weekend.

The Quaker Owl was stitched on linen with Sampler Thread - Picnic Basket.  I want to finish it as a stand up - kind of like a stuffed animal.  I think it is beautiful.  I am very happy with it.  Now I plan on doing the Quaker Bat in Dracula's Cape on Silkweaver's Rock Quarry.





Thanks for stopping by,

Sharon

Quaker Owl

Last week I worked exclusively on my Quaker Owl.  As for the head of the owl, I have stitched that thing 3 times.  The first time I was completely finished with the right part of the head, the eye and ear on that side.  As I was finishing the beak I noticed that it wasn't centered on the circle that is the belly.  Soooo, I ripped it out and stitched it again starting at the beak.  Then when I was almost finished with the right side of the head I realized that it was one row up.  Soooo, I ripped it out and stitched it again.  Correctly this time.  Why did I rip it?  because it is a symmetrical pattern and the mistakes would be obvious.  So now I have only the lower left side of the face and the left wing to finish.  BUT,  I ran out of thread which was a specialty thread.  So, today I will go by Shakespeare's Peddler and pick up some of the floss.  I wanted to finish it this weekend and complete some other projects but that didn't work.  So I hope to finish everything this coming up weekend.

I'm in my last week of classes for summer school.  The Lord has blessed me greatly this summer with two summer classes at two different community colleges - one in June and one in July.  He has also blessed me this fall with two classes at each school - two on MW at one school and two on TR at the other, along with my tutoring job at Sylvan.  I feel very happy and blessed today.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings.  May your day be wonderful

Sharon

Going to the Movies

Did you know that I have never seen the back of a movie theater in all of my life?  Nope. Never. At least not until Tuesday night.  My friend/cousin Liz's daughter Michelle wanted to go to the midnight showing of "Eclipse".  We bought our tickets on Monday then got to the theater around 9:30 pm (the movie starts at 12:11 am).  The line was already wrapped around to the back.  We had to stand by the dumpster that is about the halfway mark for the building.  When we went to the midnight showing of Transformers 2 it was nothing like this.  Well, they started letting people in around 11.  When we got to the front we could see the end of the line which was near the front doors.  They only let people in on one side but not the other to avoid the end of the line turning around.

Anyway all 18 theaters had "Eclipse" running and every  theater was sold out.  It was an experience that I enjoyed.  Everyone was nice and polite going in and during the movie.  We were worried that the guy above us was going to heckle the movie the entire time but he quieted down when the movie started.  I had a good time.  The movie kept me interested which is hard at midnight (my usual bed time).


We got out of the theater around 2:30 am but sat in the parking lot until about 3.   The traffic was awful.  I didn't get home until 3:40 am.  Thank goodness that I didn't have to work the next morning.  BUT, I was up at 8:00 am. Oh well.

Thanks for reading my ramblings.


Sharon

Afghans and Quilts

My boss Brittany is having a baby girl!  Yippee I get to work with something pink.  Oh sorry.  I got a little excited.  I only ever get to work with boy colors for afghans.  So I decided to give her about 3 blankets.  One blanket will be fabric with rick-rack around the edges.  The second one will be fabric with crochet around the edge.  The third and final one I crocheted.  It is sooo soft.  I love it.  I bought the yarn reduced for quick sale at Hobby Lobby.  The pattern I used called for 4 balls but I only used two.  It is a big baby afghan.  Brittany loved it and has shown it to everyone.  I hope to get the other two to her before she leaves at the end of June.

After I crocheted her baby blanket, my sister Jennifer made rag quilts for her boys as well as Theron & Tucker.  They were so cute that I wanted one.  So when I found out that Hancock Fabric had moved and was having a grand opening I went and bought some fabric.  The making of the quilt was fairly simple.  That is once I fixed the bobbin on my mother's sewing machine.  (She had been fussing for months about it messing up.  It really does help to read the manual when you have a problem.  The bobbin was too loose but we fixed it.)  The hardest part of the whole thing was the cutting.  I had trouble with using the rotary cutter but finally figured it out.  Then I pinched a nerve in both of my thumbs using regular (and brand new) scissors instead of the scissor specifically designed for this type of quilt.  But,  it turned out beautiful.  My thumbs are still recovering (2 weeks later).

 

THE FRONT

 

THE BACK

My mother loves the back over the front.  I love both sides.  I can't wait to use it.

Thanks for stopping by

Sharon

Erica Michaels' Rainbow Gallery Freebies 2004

 

I am working on stitching Erica Michaels' Freebies from 2004.  These are the ones I have completed so far.  I changed the threads in order to use DMC floss. I started off doing well and finishing the magnet but I have been slacking.  Maybe this weekend I can finish stitching July then make them all into magnets.

These are easy and fun to stitch.  I probably should have chosen a smaller thread count.  But it is easy to stitch.

Thanks for stopping by

Sharon Clark

April Activities

Well I haven't had internet for several weeks now. It has been torture, no emails, no blogging, no farming...I mean Facebook posting {; I have finished several things. I have pictures but not with me. I will post them tomorrow or Tuesday. The semester is drawing to a close. I have class on Monday and finals on Wednesday and Thursday. I hope to have a fun summer this year with not a lot of working like last year.

On to what I have finished. Crochet: two dishcloths and two glass-like containers. I have two afghans left from Christmas to crochet and a baby blanket for my boss Brittany. Needlepoint: I finished snow day. Cross-stitch: I finished the Lizzie Kate Flip It Blocks with Charms (12 patterns) and Bent Creek's Red Thread. I finished Erica Micheal's April Block.

I started stitching yesterday on the Quaker Halloweens - Owl and Erica Micheal's May block. I hope to stitch more for the next few weeks between classes.

I have also been spending a lot of time trying to de-stress due to being semi-retired (working part-time) with limited insurance. I hope and pray for a full-time or part-time with full benefits job for the fall. Keep me in your prayers for the job. I've started listening to relaxing music and walking early in the morning. I take my nephew Leif in the stroller on the walk and try to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells. It seems to be working some. I need to get a weekend away from everyone and everything and just relax but you know how that goes. The good thing is that I had this Saturday off and will have next Saturday off also. Yippee!!

Well got to go. I left my nephews in the other room playing on the Wii. They are 6 and 4 which means they need to be monitored.

Thanks for stopping by,

I will post again soon with pictures.

Sharon