Seven Sheep Puddles and It's A Wrap

I kept thinking these looked like puddles of sheep as I stitched them. Seven silly snoozing sheep.

With group seven done...that means it's finished! Fifty five fat fluffy sheep all counted and stitched!

Design ~ J'apprends à compter les moutons 

Designer ~ Mouton Rouge

Fabric ~ 32 count Blue Spruce

Fiber ~ Gentle Arts Sampler Threads

This was such a fun design to stitch! I started this project right around the time I started this blog in 2007. A long time ago! I am glad to have it finished even though I have no idea what I'll do with it!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Six Sheep in the Poppy Field

At least I assume these are poppy flowers! My group of six on Les Moutons is complete! I did get to work on this part during a Facebook Friday Off the Grid session a couple weeks ago. Before that, it was kind of a slog, just tough to get going! Once I got well started, they were a breeze. 

Group seven are well in hand already and I should have a finish very soon!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Wee Sheep

Ever since I stitched the group of five "stacked" sheep on Les Moutons I kept admiring that bottom sheep. Wouldn't that make a cute ornament? He wouldn't leave me alone!

He begged to be made...

I found some Daffycat Dyed 28 count Monaco and stitched him quick. The blue star fabric is the backing but it sucked the color out of the Monaco in the photos.

The actual color is very rich, like this. I trimmed it out in Daffycat Dyed chenille and a festive red bow. Maybe not typical Christmas colors but I liked it! Vonna has an excellent video tutorial how to make this type ornament here: Pillow Christmas Ornament

Yes, yes..I know I have a box FULL of stuff waiting to be finished! I have a couple of those pieces in process already, I promise!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Totally Useless February

Shine up those ORT jars people, it's the New Moon and our Totally Useless Stitch A Long is in full swing! I have added lots of little threads (so much white!) to my stitching jar and mojo is still running strong on Les Moutons:

My sewing ORTs are interesting from sewing those bowls cozies:

I love the bright colors in this Fresh Market layer cake. There are also some trimmings from ornament finishing. Remember that big box of finishing to do?  I'll try to share that business soon.

Here's a detail of the group of four sheepies. The bottom sheep is so fluffy only his toe-tips peek out. The top sheep reminds me of a setting hen, all fluffed out to nestle chicks!  Gosh, they're too cute! Hey, this means there are only a lucky 13 sheep left to stitch! I've a tiny start on group six as you can see in the TUSAL photo.

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Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your February TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

And They Were Swinging!

I have been sitting on this photo all week, don't know why I haven't posted it. Three more sheep swinging in the garden. I somehow added a row in the third sheep so he's extra fat!

I finally got around to getting red pompom trim for my Grinchy ornament. This freebie is still available here.

I'm working on the set of four sheep now, and they are nearly finished. I had to go get more B5200 floss as I've gone through nearly 2 skeins since I picked this back up. These sheep are deceptively fluffy! A couple of the sheep are stitched in oatmeal GAST, I guess for a bit of variety? Once four are done, I'll just have six and seven. Closer to a finish!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Lambing Season

Now, I don't know anything about real sheep but at my house it must be already lambing season because a lot of them have sure popped up! I turned that top corner so you can see how big it will turn out. It's just under 13 inches square. 

Les Moutons is coming along at a good clip! See the silly one kicking out his back hoof on top of the stack of five? HaHaHaHa! I'm enjoying this stitch immensely. 

I've also started making bowl cozies out of that Fresh Market layer cake. I told you I had plans! Jake powers right through all those layers of cotton like it was piecing.

The bad thing about making these is all the batting fluff does a number on my eyes! Itchy and dry, my eyes are red before I finish even one cozy. I'm not allergic to batting, it's just a debris irritant. Eye drops are my 2nd best friend! I will have to give Jake (my #1 best friend) a good cleaning/oiling during and after making these linty cuties. 

Oh dear, I've been watching floss tube. As if I didn't already follow like, 500 some-odd blogs already, now I'm adding video blogs to my enablers. If you aren't aware of floss tube (or flosstube) go on YouTube and type that keyword into the search box. Be careful. Just saying. I enjoy the concept but it is a lot more time consuming than reading blogs! It does give me something to watch/listen to while stitching. I especially enjoy the tutorial ones - I love learning new stuff. Do you watch floss tube?  Are you a floss tuber? 

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Progress, Questions and Stash

The sheep are rockin' and rollin' right along. I tried stitching for the Friday Off the Grid Stitch In but I kept getting interrupted and simply gave up. Sometimes you gotta go with the flow. However, that left me one sheep not connected to his legs!

I swear, my favorite parts of this stitch is that fat sheep beside the number five (he's so stinkin' cute) and that silly sun. I had to save the sun for the last thing on that section as my little reward for finishing it!

Deb had some questions...what is the fabric I'm stitching Les Moutons on? It's 32 count Blue Spruce, unknown brand. I bought the fabric at the Silver Needle. The model of this was stitched on a light baby blue, not my style but I wanted the fabric to really contrast with the white sheep. 

Deb also wondered how my broken arm was feeling? Much better! I forget it was even injured now. It's been 14 weeks and I have finished therapy but I still have stretching and strength building exercises to do. The doctor said it would be a year before I had full strength and movement back. It was just about six weeks on when the Mystery Quilt started and I had just gotten the go-ahead to use the arm. Wow! I feel like it healed fast.

I finally spent the $50 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop I won a year ago. Boy, their packaging is nice! I got this sweet layer cake called Fresh Market by Bella BLVD for Riley Blake. This was also in a plastic wrapping but I took it off as it was too shiny for photos. I gots plans for this layer cake! I also got two yardage cuts for another project. A green stripe and a green dot. More to come on both of those!

I found a project I really wanted to do but it is an appliqué design and I've never done that. The closest is the Dresden Plate quilt I've been (not) working on. I'm not one to shy away from something new so I've been researching and gathering supplies. I still need to either buy or make myself a pressing pad I can use sitting down. The stripe and dot fabric above is part of the planned appliqué project, along with some fabrics from my stash. 

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

We Start Another Totally Useless Year

Here's to kicking off the first Totally Useless Stitch A Long with a "Bang!" Or a some really full ORT containers, at least! It's the first New Moon of 2018! Have you signed up for the TUSAL this year? Look for the link above or at the bottom of this post so I can put your blog on the guest list. We also have a Facebook group if you don't have a blog and you can show off your ORTs there.

I have had really good stitching mojo but only so-so sewing mojo. My stitching ORTs are all from Les Moutons which  is coming along at a good clip:

My wooden leaf bowl is chock full of clippings from On Ringo Lake:

Not such an attractive photo but everything else in my studio is covered with units of the quilt waiting for me to sit down and sew it together! Sew much to do!

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Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your January TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Friday Night Stitch-In

Yesterday, I joined a Facebook group called Friday Off the Grid by Caroline of Off The Grid Needlearts. You may also recognize her from her YouTube channel of the same name Off the Grid Needlearts. So many links all the same name...hope I got them correct!

Anyway...Friday Off the Grid is an internet stitch-in held every Friday from 6pm to midnight. We post a picture of our project(s) at the start and again at the end. It was a lot of fun!

I was late to the party, spending time with Dash as he would be gone all day today, so I didn't get to start until 9pm. No one kicked me out so the rules must be pretty loose, right? I was able to stitch from 9pm to 1am. Ooo, I stayed a little late! Yes, I'm that guest you have to ask to leave cause I'm having so much fun I don't realise the party's over!

At 9.

At 1.

I got half a sheep, a zero, some grass and some fencing put up and I watched three episodes of The Handmaid's Tale and a couple of Floss Tubes. I had gotten the first half sheep, a tree and a one put in the night before whilst watching entire seasons of the Midnight Quilt Show. For those that don't know, I am The Queen of Slow Stitching so this is incredible progress. Shocking, really.

You ought to check out the links above and join us on Friday nights! We'd love to stitch with you!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Long Haul

The New Moon is today...have you polished your ORT jars? My broken arm doesn't allow me to do much but I have been able to put a few stitches in. Look! Two whole ORTs!

I'm five weeks in now with this arm. Slow going, but I'm in it for the long haul, right? Speaking of long hauls, the last time les moutons came out to play was 2009, started in 2007.

I can't say I've enjoyed stitching the last few bits here but at least I can stitch if I set my mind to it. I can't make an upsweep with my arm to pull the thread through but a few tugs on the thread brings it up. Long haul. Sigh!

I can't wait to use my arm again!

=^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your November TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

More sheep

Here is a quick update on les moutons. Three more fat sheep have been added in this row...there will be ten sheep total across the bottom. The groups of eight and nine are already completed. When they are complete I'll start the five going up the left side.

Questions, questions...Chiloe asked if this was being stitched for me or as a gift? I would say this is for me. I liked the design so I decided to stitch it, no plans otherwise! Cathey wanted to know what is the fabric color? This is 32 count "Blue Spruce" but I've no idea what brand.

Tomorrow is April. Do you know what that means??? YES! It's CRABBY TIME! Woo Hoo! The sheepies will be put away for a time now. I'm also suffering the dreadful New Start Itch. Like I need another project.

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

xox

Baa Baa

I want to thank those that have noticed my lack of posting and commenting and emailed asking if I am OK. Your concern has greatly cheered me! I caught the dreaded Spring Cold and it really knocked me on my tush! I actually missed two days from work, something I rarely do. I feel a little better today, thanks! Between sleeping and zoning out on the couch at the TV, I have kept up on my reader with your wonderful posts but I haven't felt like commenting very much. Rest assured, when I'm better I'll be back at it!

When I'm ill, I rarely feel like stitching so not a lot has been accomplished! I did pull out Les Moutons (or more properly: J'apprends a compter les moutons) and gave them a turn at the needle. I realize it has been a long while since they have seen any stitching so click here to see where I left off last time...Good night, it was June 2008!

Here is a little close-up. Baa!

I really should work some substantial progress on these little guys before I put them away. They are too cute to ignore! This darling kit can be found at Mouton Rouge a French company. They have some super-darling charts!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

les moutons

Here is a photo of my recent progress, as promised. I've been stitching the counting sheep this week. Not a lot accomplished; not as much stitching time as I would like to have. This is a fun design to stitch! I must really be careful as I refer back to the chart...one white fluffy ball of sheep looks much like another! Tweeding the GAST makes a nice subtle variation in color and I'm quite pleased with it so far.

I must thank you all for your kind and thoughtful comments. I am blessed with many great friends!

Stitching updates!

Here is the biscornu I received from babynurse in the EMS exchange. Isn't it lovely? Thank you Melissa, you did a great job and I love the silver buttons! I'm sorry to say I haven't been able to get mine mailed as yet. With the trip and all I'm just a little behind. I'll post it on Monday...sigh, the deadline date!

Here is my WIP update on the counting sheep aka les Moutons. I got quite a bit of stitching in during my trip and I'm well pleased with my progress. Oh, yeah...I got to use one of the greens-finally! I was getting a bit tired of white and Raspberry Parfait...giggle!

December already?

How can it be December? I've been in a fog since Thanksgiving I guess! I'd had a dreadful cold and lost some time there...add working and keeping house and I think I've lost track of myself!

Here is a picture of the counting sheep. I got it out last night to work on a bit. I've been stitching Christmas cards but can't show any pictures as they haven't been received yet. These sheep are adorable...I'm stitching them on 32 count blue evenweave with Gentle Arts overdyed threads. I am tweeding the overdyes so I get very subtle shading and variation in color...


Here are a few very special cards I have received...from Joan and from Rachael, both in the UK...
This one is from Barb in OZ...
And this one is my EMS exchange from Annemiek in Holland...