The Big One

Remember last October, when I started a new project? Specifically, the Prairie Schooler 12 Days of Christmas, stitched as separate ornaments. I'm behind on sharing where I am at on these so I thought I'd catch you up!

Barbi girl...you got some catching up to do!

Firstly, I think I skipped sharing 9 Ladies Dancing. I am sure I showed you 8 Maids and 10 Lords and I don't know how I missed 9 Ladies but here it is:

I already showed you 10 Lords finished ~ remember all my silly photos finding missing stitches? So now here is 11 Pipers completed:

And 12 Drummers:

I can't believe the stitching is completed! You can click here to see all my posts featuring these designs.

I have had a great time stitching each one. These were easy stitches and very relaxing! Don't they look great?

The fabric I tea stained for these ornaments was perfect. I used a 32 count Jobelan from 123Stitch, spotted it with strong tea, then dunked the whole piece. After dyeing, I cut the fabric into 12 even (mostly) squares and started stitching. I think I worried all these months that I'd lose my pack of fabric squares mid-way through ~ or that I'd lose one of the completed squares! Silly me.

Now for the mammoth task of finishing all of these into ornaments. I would like them all to look the same and I'm thinking to make them like the ornament in this post. This is going to take some determination to sew all 12. What the hell was I thinking???

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Try, Try Again

I meant to post again last week but I kept getting sidetracked. Then, I meant to post on Sunday for WIPocalypse full moon but sat my butt on the back porch and stitched instead. This really wouldn't be a problem but circumstances prevented me from WIPocalypse last month so it's about time I make a WIPocalypse post!

Now that my traveling patterns are all finished I've been concentrating on my Prairie Schooler 12 Days of Christmas ornaments. I finished 10 Lords-a-leaping! Isn't he handsome?

Wait! He looks kinda funny. Oh no...I forgot his eye and golden buttons!

There, that's better! Hmmmmm, still looks odd. Is something missing?

Holly berries! GEE ~ Is this one done yet? How long have I been at this hobby? I think I'd better check all the other ones I've already "finished" too...

I made a really good start on number 11 as well:

Traveling Pattern? You mean the Shepherd's Bush one? Oh, heck...I nearly forgot that as well! Sorry, sorry, sorry! That is heading out to Kathy of Kathy's Sit and Stitch. Congratulations Kathy! Those of you really, really wanting to stitch this please bookmark Kathy's blog and be watching for her finish!

I'm trying to arrange a treat for you. Yes, that was cryptic, wasn't it?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Weekend to Hermit

Ah, the one weekend each month to do nothing but stitch! It was International Hermit and Stitch Weekend and I made use of every second I could spare. Of course, one must do the laundry, dishes and take care of the gardens but for the most part, I stitched and stitched some more ~ Dash even cooked for me every meal! Yes, I know how lucky I am, girls...believe me.

So first up, I started my next Prairie Schooler "12 Days of Christmas" ornament 10 Lords a-Leaping and I made excellent progress:

Lynn, you aren't the only one with Zombie people! 

It was so hard to put this one down but I knew I had to start the next Traveling Pattern or I'd get behind. Wouldn't want anyone to think I was a flaker! Here is where I got to on that:

This is Tending the Blooms by Shepherd's Bush. I chose a very bright spring green linen I dyed a long time back. Wish you could see how pretty it is in person! However, since this is linen, it is terribly wrinkled and you can't see it in the picture but I'm weighting the edges down with my scissors and needle minder ~ lol!

I am so impressed with how much stitching I was able to do! There were some comments on my TUSAL post about how people wished they had as much time to stitch as I do. Really? Me? No way ~ I am still The Queen of Slow Stitching and don't anybody forget that! I work full time (and when I am not AT work I'm worrying about work) and I am the worlds worst about managing my time when I am home. I spend way too much time ogling blogs instead of stitching or even crashed in front of the TV because, poor me "I had a hard day." If we all actually put ourselves to it we could accomplish so much more than we do!

If you would like to join us for the next International Hermit and Stitch Weekend visit Joyce's blog for details. IHSW is the third full weekend of every month so the next one starts May 18th. Joyce usually has a sign up in advance so you can let everyone know you are "coming" that weekend.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Fangirl February ~ Now That's a Wrap

It's the last day of the month...this is Leap Day to boot...so it's time for a Theme-a-licious check in. February's theme was: Send a Valentine to your favorite designer...or at least work on his or her designs for the month!

There is no way to hide the fact I LOVE Bent Creek with all my heart so I dug through my stash and came up with a few designs I've been wanting to start, closed my eyes and picked one. Bad Hare Day was the winner. This was so much fun to stitch that it went much faster than I expected. I  am incredibly pleased to show you a finish!

Design ~ Bad Hare Day

Designer ~ Bent Creek

Fabric ~ 28 count tea dyed Lugana

Fiber ~ DMC

How cool is that? I know you will forgive the fact that it is still very wrinkled and crumpled. This bun hasn't had his bath yet! Can you see I stitched my initials in red? I am so very attracted to alphabets...

Since Bad Hare Day was completed I decided to spend the rest of February stitching another favorite: Prairie Schooler... 

And my 8th ornament is finished! 8 Maid-a-milking was quick. Really, all of these blocks stitch up super fast. If I just closed my laptop planted my rear I could get them done in no time flat!

So...March Madness starts tomorrow. In March, our theme is: Stitch or knit on something different every day...it's madness...of the funnest possible kind. I dunno about something different every single day but we will see! If you'd like to join us on this theme-filled adventure visit Heather's blog It's Geek to Me for details.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Seven Swans

The Prairie Schooler ornaments are still being worked on. I finished Seven Swans a-swimming this morning. Wait, I take that back. It was finished shortly after I started to take pictures of it. Realizing I had forgotten to stitch the grey in the wing, I paused my photo shoot. 

This project is over half way finished! Here are all the pieces completed so far. Sorry about the weirdly cropped picture. I had to edit out my ridiculously cluttered desk or you will know I'm a slob. I meant to clean it off this weekend but rather stitched in abandon instead. Now, it is even more cluttered. Life could be worse.



No, haven't found backing fabric as yet. I am not going to start any finishing until all the ornament pieces are complete. I want them all to be exactly matching each other and the only way I can pull that off is to do them all at once. That means there is no hurry to find the fabric.

Doggy update: Sheba had her stitches out on Friday. The incision looks good and although a very furry dog with a shaved neck should stand out ~ the long fur remaining hides it pretty well. There is still no word on the biopsy; the vet said she would call the minute it came back. We are also going to wait on the next blood test a couple more weeks. Sheba still has a heart murmur and the vet is hoping that it will go away after the high thyroid levels out. If it doesn't she may need medicine to correct it.

On the plus side, Sheba is slowly returning to normal behavior. The constant panting is gone and she is sleeping in bed for longer periods. Yes, I sleep with my dog. The hyperthyroidism made her so restless she would come to bed but then go sleep somewhere else, then somewhere else again. And this was the dog that never once got out of bed after we laid down. Really, that should have been my first clue that something was dreadfully wrong. Tennis ball fetching is slow to return but I've been able to toss a couple more each day. She will get more energy in time. It might be my imagination but I believe her fur is already getting shinier. She has put on a couple of pounds too, best watch that or we will be back on a diet!

Back to stitching!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox  

Six Geese

My Stitchass Holiday is going so well! I've taken short breaks to eat turkey sandwiches, to feed the pets and toss laundry in the wash but I'm already stiff and have needle-finger syndrome. Just look at the results:

Six Geese a-laying is complete! I'm loving these Prairie Schooler designs. They are such fast and fun stitches. I very nearly changed that white egg Mrs. Goose laid into a "golden" egg but in the end I left it alone. A girl could change her mind though!

I may have another finish to share very shortly; my tush is pretty chapped!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Five Golden Rings

I've been meaning to show you my Prairie Schooler 5 Golden Rings all finished up. It took forever but I finally tackled that hand. A little dark maybe but I guess my True Love is an outdoorsman so he's a little tanned.

In other news, Heather has received the fabric I sent her for winning my blogoversary giveaway. See the Fabric here. Visit her entire blog It's Geek to Me here. If I were you I'd visit her entire blog and read the post above my giveaway prize as well. Heather's unintended houseguests had me rolling on the floor! You and Michael are too clever by far, Heather! Thanks for the giggles!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Squawk or Nancy was right

Nancy (no blog) commented on my last post, predicting my yellow-legged hen was being chased by four calling birds. Too true, they were fast on her heels! Here is Four Calling Birds, stitched in one day!

Rather, a "squawking" bird. I'm not real sure about using a parrot as a Christmassy bird but it's stitched! I used to work in a pet shop and advice I gave about birds was simple, "All birds are noisy. All birds are messy. It's just a matter of volume and quantity." I'm not fond of parrots. Although they are beautiful creatures they require a lot of attention and patience. I do like small birds, like finches, and find their soft, "Bee bee bee!" calls soothing background noise. Quite different from the ear-splitting shrieks of annoyed or bored parrots!

Jessie is in the city this week for a job interview so I am pet-sitting her Betta, Mage, while she is away. I must say, Jess has the most uncooperative pet to take photos of. I tempted him to the top with his pellets but when I tried to adjust the light so I could get a photo without glare, he hid under the plant. Maybe he's just pouty because his person is away?

If you have entered my blogoversary giveaway don't forget to leave a comment on this post too for another entry!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Miss Yellow Legs

I am not sure what this little lady's real story is but I think she has stolen a bit of Christmas garland and is being chased by two unseen hens. She probably has a pretty accent too. What do you think is happening in this block?

My Prairie Schooler ornaments are zooming right along. These are such a joy to stitch. I adore the colors and the theme and I really like the Lugana I dyed. How perfect could one 12-part project be? Mind, I will regret not finish-finishing them as I go but I still haven't gone shopping for supplies! It will be an ornament finishing orgy once I have them, won't it?

If you have entered my blogoversary giveaway don't forget to leave a comment on this post too for another entry!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox



Two Down...

...ten to go. I finished Two Turtle Doves over the weekend.

I still haven't gotten to the fabric store to get the backing fabric. I have some that will work but not enough for all 12 ornaments and I want them all finished the same. It can wait, I'm in no hurry anyway. I still have ten more to stitch, after all!

I am really excited though. I often go to the city to shop at Jo Ann's for fabric. The only stores in Stillwater for fabrics are Walmart, Hobby Lobby and a couple of very small quilting stores. I won't have to drive to shop at Jo Ann's much longer ~ one is coming here and it's going to be in the very same shopping center I work in. I can walk right over after picking up my paycheck!!! If I remember correctly it will open early next year. I can't wait.

If you have entered my blogoversary giveaway don't forget to leave a comment on this post too for another entry!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Solo Stitch Club

It's been a good, if exhausting, week for me. Today, the president of the company I work for visited my store. He told me the store looked fantastic and thanked me for doing such a good job. Score! It's so nice to know your hard work is noticed.

I rewarded myself by going home an hour early and going to Solo Stitch Club at the library. Thanks, Jenny, for naming my stitch "meetings!" I got quite a lot accomplished today. Tempted even, to stay longer but Dash had beef stew cooking...

Shari wanted to know how I was planning on finishing these Prairie Schooler ornaments. I've pretty much decided to sew them into pillow ornaments, lightly stuffed, with silk ribbon and bead edging. I will just need to decide on backing fabric; I'm thinking a tan and red gingham check and a red silk ribbon with white or tan beads. Things may change but for now that's the plan.

Kaye asked how I keep up with my blog list. Simple ~ I don't! I'm always behind. I do end up reading most everything, sometimes skimming for treasures and seldom leaving comments. Yet, other days I go down the list chatty as ever! I remember the days I could get through my entire list in an hour. It's more like three or four weeks now =O

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Trying Something New

I finished the first of my Prairie Schooler Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments on Sunday. Number 1, Partridge, turned out just lovely. I'm very happy with the colors I've substituted and I even got a little start on the next one!

Just a little start, mind you! I've been feeling a little grouchy during my work weeks. Lately, with work, housekeeping and All That Jazz I've only been getting serious stitching time in on Sunday afternoon. That is not enough to keep me sane. Nor will it ever be sufficient to make a dent in the crapload of stash I want to stitch! I'm sure it would help matters if, when I got off work, I stayed off the Internet but your blogs keep getting updated so I must be nosy and go see! And eBay, Amazon, Netflix and OMG Google! You know how it is, next thing you know it's past bedtime?

The other night as I lay dozing before sleep I thought how it might be possible for me to make appointments with my stitching. Much like going to club meetings and such? Hmmm, how could I make this work? I'm such a terrible homebody. I like nothing better than staying in and doing nothing. Except maybe stash shopping! I decided I'd give it a try and my first appointment with my stitching was today at the public library! After work, I packed up my stitching and my ipod. I found a table at the library and stitched for a wonderful hour and a half. No phone calls, no laundry, no blogging, no computer.

Oh, and it was The Beatles on the ipod today.



See how much I got done? It was very peaceful and the tables and chairs were comfy to stitch at. I think I should have grabbed a little snack because near the end of the "meeting" my stomach started growling very loudly! I'm sure the people sitting next to me thought I was starving. I don't know how long I can keep it going but so far, this is a positive. Every one needs a little "me" time.

How do you get yours?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Meet My Mummy

There was an mysterious fat package in my mailbox last week. It was very heavy. What could it be? I was a little grim thinking maybe this was a donation for the Totally Useless giveaway, oh dear! Surely nobody sent me a two-pound pincushion? That package is going to be heavy enough as it is!

Imagine my glee when I opened it and discovered this darling *squee* mummy inside. Last year, I had admired Tanya's Halloween decor and truly coveted the mummy she had made. Tanya knew I loved her so much she sent her to me! Mine! My own mummy! Sweet Miss Mummy is residing spookily on my bookshelf for the holiday season. I love her to pieces. Thank you Tanya!

I also received another package last week, this one expected. Every now and again I see something from the UK I just have to have and I'll call on my good friend Lindsay to get it for me. Then, in return, I'll do a favor when asked. Of course, every now and again one of us will open our mailbox to find the other has filled it with something unexpected and awesome. (wait, on second thought, Lindsay probably has a door slot for mail deliveries *giggle*) Anyway, I saw this Margaret Sherry magazine on Bec's blog. Ooo, Margaret Sherry! I could not resist, so an email to Lindsay was in order. Thank you Lindsay! You too, Bec, you shameless enabler you!

According to Sharon, I've been teasing you with hints about my new project. Okay, I'll stop now! I finished kitting up and started stitching yesterday. I'm going to stitch Prairie Schooler's Twelve Day's of Christmas. Each square as an individual ornament. I've been looking for that perfect "12 Days" chart and have even bought several but they were either too big (I don't want 5x7 inch ornaments) or charted as a group only. I was so pleased to find this design.

 

One of you "out there" is stitching this too but I'm sorry, I can't remember who you are. If you've been blogging this design recently it was probably you, speak up! You were my inspiration ~ thank you!

So, I snagged one Prairie Schooler chart off eBay. I've pulled my colors. Some I didn't like (copper red? For Christmas? Ewww!) and some did not match the model close enough and those were swapped out. I measured out enough 32 count Lugana, tea-stained it and cut it into 12 ornament sized pieces.

 

And here is my start! Wow, this is a really fast stitch. I started last night and only had a short time for stitching. It would be nice to have these all done in time for the Christmas tree this year but I know it won't happen. I'm not a fast stitcher or finisher. Plus, I work full time. I thought about making this my 2012 project and stitch & finish one ornament each month, very doable for me. But I couldn't wait to start. I just about went insane the weeks I waited to start Crabby All Year, that time. I'm not set up for waiting, I guess. I want it NOW!

I still need to find fabric for the backing. I figured I'd wait and get a couple of them stitched so I could color match. Darn, I have to go to Joann's Fabric store. What a shame. I can't wait! I hate waiting!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox