Yet Another Traveling Pattern

Boo ~ I completely forgot about posting for Theme-a-licious yesterday! I blame it on having finishes to show and not actually showing them! Our theme for April was to work on our biggest projects. You might remember, I got drawn for three Traveling Patterns at once so I re-arranged my goal to include the Amazonian task of finishing 3 TP designs before the end of April. I'm tickled pink to say I did it!

The first Traveling Pattern, Thankful.
The second Traveling Pattern, The Busy Needle.
And presenting the third Traveling Pattern, Tending the Blooms:

Design ~ Tending the Blooms

Designer ~ Shepherd's Bush

Fabric ~ 32 count Daffycat-Dyed Belfast Linen

Fiber ~ DMC

I screwed up the row of satin stitches somewhere. I never could figure out where or what I was doing wrong. So, I shrugged my shoulders and went on. Funnily enough, life didn't end.

When Gracie sent me the Traveling Pattern she included this little RAK of wonderful goodies. Sweet counting pins, silver charms, a fun bumblebee design and the coolest vine- shaped trimming ever. Thank you Grace! I love it all!

Oh hey, you know what this means? Yup, I have to send this design on it's way to the next stitcher! If you would like to be the next to stitch this design leave a comment on this post asking to be included. I will choose someone in the next few days ~ so hurry!

Next up for Theme-a-licious is:

May Memories

Remember when you took that class? Or decided to commemorate that event? And then abandoned your poor WIP? Take a stroll down memory lane by working on it again.

I'm at a loss. I really don't have any abandoned projects, unless you count Peacock Tapestry? It's not abandoned ~ just disliked ~ lol. I have to be really "in the mood" to stitch on that ~ so not gonna happen. Maybe I will work on my Prairie Schooler 12 Days ornaments and/or my Finery of Nature instead? Or maybe something else?  I guess I will surprise you...

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

March Madness Failure

I am perfectly aware how atrociously late I am at updating for Theme-a-licious. I have been dawdling because I totally failed my plans for March Madness. I only completed two projects and of those, only one got finish-finished. I meant to stitch and finish one a week. Yes, me...the Queen of Slow Stitching. Stop laughing! I really meant to do it!

My first finish was the Bent Creek Red Winged Blackbird stitcher's pocket:

This was sent as a secret RAK to Barbi! She received it earlier this week and you can read about it here.

My next project was La D Da's A Bird in Hand:

Horrible wrinkles and lighting here. This was stitched using Nina's Threads as part of Nina's Threads project. Nina chose the colors...I just stitched! This still needs finishing but I should get to that soon!

For April our theme reads:

Amazon April

Dip your needle into the vast swath of fabric dedicated to your BIGGEST projects!

I kinda have a problem with that...and it's called "obligation stitching." I  was chosen to be the next stitcher on three different traveling patterns. Oh holy crows! How did that happen? No one enters giveaways expecting to be drawn! 

My first project is underway and two more are being mailed to me. Instead of working on Finery of Nature as I planned, my Amazon April will be filled with these three projects. My Amazon task, lol. Be ready for drawings! Two of these Traveling Patterns will be drawn by lottery. As I complete each one, I will put it up for grabs to the next lucky stitcher!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

The Ides of March Madness

It's Theme-a-licious and this is March Madness and here I sit at mid-month with only one project finished. What happened to half of March? I had plans for this. I was stitching. I was going like gangbusters ~ I stitched and finished an entire project and...got sidetracked. First, I was chosen by Nina to stitch A Bird in Hand using her hand dyed threads and then I was drawn on Anne's blog to stitch a traveling pattern. Whew, when it rains it pours. This wasn't what I had planned but it IS madness and it's fun and I will have a blast doing it.

A quick recap:

I stitched and finished this scissor pocket using Bent Creek's Red Winged Blackbird. Surprise! This was sent out as an RAK to someone that reads this blog. If I have your mailing address it might be you. If I don't have your address you might miss out so email it to me along with your blog address so I am reminded who you are ~ lol.

Here is my progress on A Bird in Hand:

Seriously weird tint to the colors here but you get the idea. So far this is a great stitch. Nina's threads are very nice! This is my first La D Da stitch and I think I'm hooked.

This next picture is Anne's Traveling Pattern finish not mine:

Isn't that a cutie? I'm looking forward to stitching this. I've been trying to decide on my colors and that can take me forever! Be sure to stay tuned to this blog if you'd like to stitch this one after me. I'll be hosting the drawing for it as soon as I can get it stitched.

It's madness at my stitching desk! It's a good thing this weekend is International Hermit and Stitch Weekend or IHSW as you may have seen on blogs. I have plans to let everything else go hang while I catch up on my stitching.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

WIP Wednesday

A rare view of my desktop. This includes a sneak peek of my current project in mid-assembly. Who here likes cherries on black fabric? Isn't that cute? No, I deliberately didn't show the stitched part. That's why it is called a sneak peek!

Part of my March Madness goal is to finish-finish some things. I'm getting there. Now, if glue would dry faster! Of course...this could turn out as complete rubbish and get tossed in the bin.

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

Theme-a-licious Time

 

I can't believe it is already mid-February. The past couple of weeks have been filled with our Fangirl February stitching! My project is Bad Hare Day by Bent Creek. Wow ~ almost done! (Hey, Heather I figured out that banner. You noticed that...riiiight?)

I have no idea how this picture "really" looks...I'm using Dash's computer because mine is acting up. I had to snap a quickie photo and use it since my computer was in serious jeopardy of being smashed into bits & pieces.

If you'd like to join in on the Theme-a-licious stitch a long visit Heather's blog for details.

Entropy. Forget all that BS about thermodynamics...this is when you are busy getting one part of your life straightened out and the rest of it falls apart. Between work, home and my own body it will be a wonder if I survive. I no sooner get one area cleaned up and a mess appears in another. Thanks to those that have noticed and questioned my whereabouts these past few weeks. I'm just trying to keep this chaos in order, that's all. I stitch like mad every second I can. Stitching is such an awesome stress reliever.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox



Jardin January Wrap-up

This month was full of fun stitching! My Theme-a-licious plans went like clockwork. I stitched one fourth of my BAP Challenge project! Actually, I stitched a little bit more than shown here but the lovely purple flowers I stitched in the next block to the right of the bird were stitched one space too far down. I was NOT happy when I discovered things weren't lining up. Damn frogs. However, I am pleased I was able to complete so much this month.

Yup, still linty...and I see a big fuzzy. It will get lint rollered someday. Trust me, "rollered" is a real word in my house. I don't care what spell check says.

Coming up tomorrow (how can it be February?) starts Fangirl February: "Send a Valentine to your favorite designer...or at least work on his or her designs for the month!" My favorite designer is Bent Creek or at least ONE of my favorites anyway. I'm thinking I shall stitch this:

Bent Creek's "Bad Hare Day"





It only needs kitting up...I love kitting up almost as much as putting in that first stitch. Before I can kit, I must start laundry and empty the dishwasher. Housework is not high up on the list of things I want to do this afternoon but it must be done!

You can see links to everyone's Jardin January posts here.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Jardin January

Our Theme-a-licious for January is to relax in the gardens after the stressful holidays just past. We are to stitch on any piece with flowers or gardens. My Finery of Nature sure fits the bill...although I'm not sure exactly how relaxing it is to stitch ~ I'm too terribly excited about stitching on it! The colors are so vivid on the black Jobelan that every time I have introduced a new color my heart soars.

I'm still learning how to photograph on the dark background and yes, it's linty. But isn't it luscious? It has been quite a challenge to become accustomed to stitching on black and I'm glad to say the frogs are disappearing with practice. I will definitely be stitching more on black after this!

You can see every one's progress in their Jardin January stitches by visiting this link here. You are also welcome to join us the entire year for some fun stitching and some awesome blog prompts!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Joining In The Fun

I'm not usually a "joiner." You know...the girl that has two dozen club/church/friendship groups to go to every week? I am shy and quiet and usually tend to go my own way. But 2012 looks like there are loads of awesome things to do online!

First up comes the TUSAL. This one is easy since I've been hosting for the past year! TUSAL posts on the NEW moon each month.

Then there is Measi's WIPocalypse. This one should be fun since there is an overflowing bin of things that want stitching and an overloaded WIP bin of stuff that needs working on. WIPocalypse posts on the FULL moon each month.

Next we have Joysze's International Hermit and Stitch Weekend. There is nothing I like better than a do-not-disturb-stitching-session! IHSW "meets" the 3rd weekend of each month, posting on the Monday following.

There is also Heather's Theme-a-licious to follow! Every month is a fun theme to stitch too. It will be fun trying to come up with interesting posts each month. Theme-a-licious posts on the 15th and again on the last day each month.

Finally, we have Becky's BAP Challenge. This is a project to stitch between January 1st and December 31st of 2012. The project must be at least 10 x 12 and not a current WIP. There is a prize to be given away (a $100 GC) drawn from those that finish their project. This challenge is a post-any-time but does need to be updated when there is progress.

Holy crows! I'm gonna be so busy! I wonder if there is anything left out there for me to join?

So this brings me to that picture I'm teasing you with up there! That is Dimensions The Finery of Nature, a kit I have had in my stash for years. I will be starting this for the BAP Challenge which also takes up the Theme-a-licious of Jardin January. Starting this one will also count towards my WIPocalypse goal of reducing my unworked-but-wanting-to-stitch stash. I should be able to make good progress during the International Hermit and Stitch weekends, filling up that ORT jar for the TUSAL.

I hope I can remember all this stuff.

I'm in the process of kitting up this kit. Yeah, I said that right. It came as a kit but I just don't like it! First off, I didn't like the aida ~ toss ~ replaced with 28 count black Jobelan. Then I couldn't bring myself to use the yucky threads it came with. Today I matched them all up with DMC and I will buy those after work tomorrow. I'd be really mad if I ran out of a color after I had a major frog. DMC is just safer, even if it is only in my head. I am excited about my new start!

I do have quite a few other things in my stash that need stitching too. Updates will follow. If I don't get lost.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox