Change of Plans

As is usually the case, October comes to Texas and I cannot bear to leave.  So, I will stay on the bend until some time in November.   We had such a great time with our visitors.  I forget how I enjoy having them.

The fall is so terrific.  The deer are out and all the critters are getting ready for winter.  This is a year for pecans so the squirrels are staying busy.

I have made a little stiching progress this month.

Hatching Christmas, Good Housekeeping

Just have to work on the border.  I am considering changing it to a more Christmas themed border.....perhaps holly leaves.  Turned out pretty cute for my chicken raising DIL.

Home is Where You Hang Your Needlework, Homespun Elegance

Once I got the lettering done I just winged it on the motifs around the outside.  I think it is finished.  This is a project that I may stitch again and follow the chart a little more closely.

Books Reading Books, HAED

I just started Page 15 so I am almost halfway done.  I will not bore you with another photo.


Woodland Wonder, Glendon Place

I am thinking that perhaps this fabric is a little too sparkly (if that is possible).  Interestingly, this fabric is a little more difficult to stitch on that I would have thought.  However, I still love it and will keep going.  The pattern calls for combining 2 strands of white and one strang of the Kreinik metallic but I don't know.  Seems like it will be bulky.  I decided not to put the metallic on the snowflakes around the border (since the fabric is so sparkly) and am still pondering the snowflakes inside the border.  I may wait until more of the reindeer and trees are done to make a finaly decision.

Bee Keeper, Plum Street Samplers

I am enjoying this project in spite of myself!  Alternating the large blocks of color with the other details and border.  It is going well.

Comet, Nora Corbett

This project is kind of interesting.  I like it, but not as much as I thought I would (and I ordered 2 other reindeer.......I cannot imagine that I will do all of them)   It may be one of those projects that I like better once I get it done.  Who knows.

A FINISH!!

O Canada, Jeanette Douglas

Although this project has proven to be far more tedious than I would have thought, I really enjoy doing it and it has given me a new appreciation for samplers in general.  There are so many errors in it I cannot even remember most of them....but it will be off to it's recipient in a couple of days.  I have not "signed" it and am not sure that I will.  So I am hanging onto it until next week.

Planning a Busy October

Lots going on this month.....I hope I get my stitiching fixes!

Two sets of company and the trip back to California.  I have a tendency to plan, replan and overplan before I even start packing things up and getting the house ready to leave.  It makes me a little sad to leave the bend, but after a day or two on the road I will be looking forward to getting to the West Coast for the winter.  We have alot of plans for the months that we are there so the time should go by rapidly.

WIPS

Books Reading Books, Heaven and Earth Designs

The never-ending wip.  Making progress, but it is slow.  About 500 stitches left on this page.

Bee Keeper, Plum Street Samplers

Enjoying this in spite of the awful fabric.  I did her face 1 over 1 and it makes her look like she has a big long nose.  I am not sure I will re-do it.

O Canada, Jeanette Douglas

I have still not received the thread I need to finish this.  It is kind of depressing.  I am going to look for a replacement I think.  I have ordered it from two places (ABC Stitch Therapy and Stitching Bit and Bobs) and have heard nothing so I broke down and ordered it from Canada and they are waiting for it to come from the supplier.  Grrrrr.  This may not be completed by Christmas after all.

Hatching Christmas Cheer, Good Housekeeping

This is turning out really cute.  The fabric came in a Stitchy Box a few months back.  It is a cream color opalescent by Fabric Flair.  Lots of back stitching should help make it really pop.  It is a pretty easy stitch.

NEW STARTS

Woodland Wonder, Glendon Place

This is on 28 ct. Lugana,  a solo from Silkweaver.  It has gold flecks in it....I love this fabric.
Just barely started the border.  I am not so happy with the border snowflakes (white DMC....), but they are OK for how.

Comet, Nora Corbet

I ordered the fabric called for but did not like it, so I am doing it on 28 count Dwarf Twilight opalescent by Picture this Plus

The border of this piece is in white DMC but it is so unforgiving  I ordered pearl cotton #3 and #5 and will use that when it arrives.  Not to file:  Never do a project that has alot of white stitches on it....!  I am not sure if I will do all 8 reindeer and rudolph, but I am watching anotherh stitcher doing Santa's sleigh and it is amazing.

Home is Where You Hang Your Needlework, Homespun Elegance

I just could not resist this sampler pattern.  I had purchased a bag of silk threads Waterlilies from Caron) over a year ago and had not figured out what I could do with them, so I used them on this sampler.  I am really pleased with how it is turning out.  It is on 28 count Prairie Grain linen.  It is a little stiff, but not too bad.  I am really liking the "homespun"  rustic look of the sampler.

Months ago I ordered the Coloris set of DMC.  It finally arrived today.  I am not sure if I will do the sampler that is included but the colors are really nice.  It is odd to me that the sampler says "Sweet Home"  and not "Home Sweet Home".  Just kind of sticks out to me.

I also took advantage of the month end sale at the local quilt shop and loaded up on fat quarters for finishing.  I think I have all the fabric I could ever use for finishing!

It dawned on me that for the first time in years I do not have a Chatelaine going.  Seems odd.  Of course there is Gardens of London but I have completely lost the love for some reason.  I have several kitted and ready to go, but will try to wait until 2017 to start a new one........maybe.


I will probably not post again until we are on the road.  Depends on if I get anything accomplished.

Thank you so much for visiting.  I hope you enjoy visiting as much as I enjoy creating the blog.

September Fades Away

It has been a busy month heading into an even busier month.  Good things, however; grandgirls are coming from California for a visit and some dear friends from California are coming for a visit, then we are off to California for the winter.  This is the month of California I suppose.

I did make a little progress on stitching:

FINISH

Mini Mandala 05, Chatelaine

All done.  As it turns out, I ended up enjoying the specialty stitches and beading and even the subtle color pallette.  I wish you could see how shiney it is...you will have to use your imagination.  I am really happy to have this finished.

I probably will not have a chance to frame it before I leave so it will go with me I suppose.

WIPS

Books Reading Books, Heaven and Earth

This is still going slowly.  I try to work on it a little every day, that way all the confetti does not get so overwhelming.  I decided only to post photos of page finishes.

O Canada, Jeanette Douglas

I am still really, really enjoying this piece although it is somewhat tedious.  I think because I am gifting it I am attempting to be extra careful.  Or perhaps because it is the first thing I have done using only one thread.  It is pretty different and has inspired me to do more samplers.  I am still waiting for the thread to complete the lettering, then I think it will go really fast and will be off to its forever home before the end of the year.

I did a couple of NEW STARTS this month

Hatching Christmas, Better Homes and Gardens

Am doing this as a gift on 28 count Opalescent  from Fabric Flair  but I am not sure of the color (looks ivory to me) using DMC threads.  I may or may not put all or part of the lettering but I do like the border even though it may take a while.    I am planning to do this as a flat fold so I will consider the size before I make a final decision.

Bee Keeper, Plum Street Samplers

I really HATE the fabric that came with this, but I am afraid if I do not use it, I will never use it for anything else so I am going with it.  It is very, very stiff.  I am, however enjoying it. The sample was stitched on 35 count Natural Northn Cross Linen  but I am not sure if that is what came with the chart.  It uses Weeks Dye Works threads.  I picked this up while we were in Canada over the summer from Traditional Stitches in Calgary.

I have not picked up any other WIP in the past couple of weeks.

I will be moving into Christmas projects in October  (hence the Hatching Christmas start) and I have several that I want to do so I am trying to get them kitted up and ready to go next week.

While I was picking up some missing DMC for my projects I ran across these two Kreinik sets and simply could not resist.  They are so colorful and sparkly!  They reduced them to half price so how could I resist 18 spools of kreinik for $25.00?

I have whittled my current WIPS down considerably (I am less than 10 now) so I am planning on more new starts.  I also decided that I am going to leave the Americana projects and Halloween projects (as well as some others) rather than taking them back and forth with me.     I typically work on those two types of projects while I am in Texas, so I will see how it goes this year.

Yes, I am already planning the trip West.  At least my needlepoint projects will get some attention!

If you have comments or questions do not hesitate to post them.    The blogosphere is becoming more and more sophistaced and I am still not that good at it but will do my best to find and answer your comments and inquiries whether they appear here or not.

Thank you so much for visiting.

WIP Udate

Have been busy with chores this month.  We are going to be having some company in the next few weeks so not much stitching progress being made.

I will post photos of my progress at the end of the month

I have so many projects that I want to start.  I am trying like crazy not to start anything new until I finish something.  I had to order additional threads for the O Canada project so I am not giving it much attention.  Not sure how long it will take to get the one thread I need.  Annoying.

I did get Be Thankful framed:  I did not put glass on it nor did I put paper on the back but I wanted to get it done before out company arrived.    It turned out to be 9 x 12.

I got a new lap stand.  I am still getting used to it.  So far it is working OK and I think the more I use it the more comfortable it is going to be.

Last but not least, remember the center of Old World Vinery that I did for my sister?  Well she got it framed and it really looks nice.  I am so happy she likes it.

Thanks so much for visiting.  I hope to have alot of progress to share by the end of the month. Who knows, perhaps I will even have a finish!

September Finally Here

Still working hard  WIPs .  I have been feeling a little overwhelmed with all the various projects that have been going on for months and months.  Of course I have to remind myself I have done alot of smallish projects this year.

Be Thankful, Country Cottage Needleworks

I pulled this one out of the UFO pile.  I got tired of it last year but with less than 1/3 of it to go I decided to finish it.    I thought it was smaller, but perhaps it was means to be done of a larger count than I choose.  It will fit in an 8x10 frame so that is probably how I will finish it.  I was not paying much attention when I ordered it and started it.

I must comment on this fabric.  It is a 28 count even weave in Coffee by Fabric Flair.  I cannot remember where I got it.  It is a thicker than some evenweave fabric I have used and it is white on the backside.  It is a nice, soft fabric to stitch on, but the white on the back tends to be a little off putting.  It tends to stretch and who the while through onto the front side.  Hard to explain.  But it does go back into place pretty easily.  Not sure I would use this again for anything.


I wish I was more blog saavy.   There are so many things that a blog can do, like link to other bloggers and things they are doing.  There is something where you show our ORT jar, but I do not know how to link it all.

But, in case I figure it out, here is my ORT jar for the beginning of September.  I think it is really interesting that I feel so "attached" to my ORT jar.  Funny.  I have a new one every year.  I have put some years into those clear plastic christmas ornament jars and labeled them, but I do not think I have ever put them on a tree!  I just hang on to them for some reason!  What I do find interesting is that since I started doing several projects at once there is no longer a clear delineation of the projects.  I kind of like it.

I am planning to start a wedding sampler for some friends of mine that I need to have finished by May 2017.  This is But Happy They by Cross Stitch Antiques from the Headmistress Sampler Series.

 I had to write the designer to ask a dumb question about this project and she mentioned that I could add motifs in the open spaces of this chart.   What a great idea....but I am not sure how to figure out what to put on there or where.   I am looking forward to starting this.   It is about 15 x 18 as it is, so kind of large.

I have had a little progress on other WIPs but nothing I think warrants a photo at this point.  I have also been working on some Christmas ornaments between the large projects.   Hopefully, there will be a finish or two this month that I can share.

Thanks for visiting.

August Finally Ends

It has been in interesting month.  We have been busy, but I cannot really tell you what we have been busy doing!

Sing for the USA by Brittercup Designs

I changed the color of the bird house from the dark navy to a lighter blue that was used in the Lizzy Kate.  I also thought the leaves on the flagpole looked odd just hanging out there, so I sort of made it a "vine" by running the thread over and through the flag pole.  I am fairly happy with how it turned out.

I added jute around the border so it would coordinate.  Looks kinda plain, but what the heck.  And it was just a lucky coincidence that is turned out about the same size as the Lizzie Kate.....I certainly did not plan it!

I have one more Americana peace lined up.   Perhaps by Labor Day I will feel like doing it.


Ghouls Nigh Out by The Trilogy

Alas, another Halloween project.  It is pretty cute and fast.  It is on 32 count linen and I did it 2 over 2.

Oh Canada Sampler by Jeanette Douglas

I am really enjoying this piece more than I thought I would.  I took an on-line class through Craftsy that was taught by Jeanette Douglas, that helped me understand her chart and instructions.  This is the first time I have ever done a 1 over 2 piece and I am more impressed than I thought I could be.  There is some 1 over 1 which is another thing I have never done before.  The one over one is extremely tedius to me.  I suppose it is worth it but this is going to take longer than I originally thought.

Not sure if this is the way 1 over 1 is supposed to look, but I think I will keep going with it and make it my focus piece for the rest of August.


Mini Mandala 05 by Chatelaine Designs

This project is coming along.  For some reason I am not so fond of it.  But I am sticking it out.

Right now it is the only Chatelaine that I have in the works.  (and I have to say that feels so weird)   I have several kitted up and ready to go, but I am not sure which one I want to start since I sent the Old World Vinery off to my sister so she can have it framed.


Books Reading Books by Heaven and Earth Designs

Have decided that I need to put in more time on this project so I am going to try to do at least an hour or two a day.  It is very confetti heavy (as most HAEDs are) so it takes me a long time.  I do still enjoy it, however.

 Although I have whittled my WIPs down to about 8 I still had trouble organizing them while keeping them handy to pick up and stitch.  I found a canvas tote thingy and it is working out perfectly.

Handles on the side an two sections.  Works perfectly for the bags I use for most projects.  The one behind in the pillow case is the O Canada on its frame.

Thanks so much for visiting and I appreciate every comment, suggestion and hint!

Mid-August Starts, Updates and Finishes

Oh Canada Sampler by Jeanette Douglas

I got this pattern, threads and little pinecone bead at Traditional Stitches in Calgary.  It is kind of intimidating, but so far so good.  There are some areas what are one over one (I do not know which ones they are at this point) and part of me is afraid of it; part of me is looking forward to the challenge.  I am developing a new found interest in samplers.  They have never been my thing......all those letters, words, disconnected motifs.......but I am changing my mind after seeing all the beautiful work that was framed and hanging in the shop in Calgary.

It is done on the recommended 32 count Belfast Linen in Lentil.  I am loving it.  It is done using only one strand of thread.....have never done a project with only one thread and I am really enjoying it.  The stitches look so clean.  I cannot say much for the coveage, but I think that is a "sampler thing" so it is not a big deal like with some projects.  Who knows.  

I got a terrific book about Samplers and have found it interesting and amazing.  I feel another obsession coming into my life.  Oh Boy!

I "aged" a piece of antique white linen to use on one of my sampler projects using coffee (instant crystals) and vanilla.  I am really happy with the subtle color on it.  You will see this again when I start the new project on it.   I am tring not to start anything new until I finish something.  We will see how well that goes.

Old World Vinery by Chatelaine

I am doing this piece for my sister who saw it and wanted it to hang in her new house.  Well, in sharing the progress, she has decided that the entire piece will be way to big for where she wasts to hang it (about 30 x 30 inches).  So, she wants me to complete the middle portion (without the landscape panels) so it will be about 13x13 matted and framed.  At first I was reluctant to do that, but I figured, what the hey, I am doing for her anyway.  And, I can always do it again (thanks to PDF) and would probably just have to get fabric and the beads.  So I added all the crystals and embellishments and it is good to go.   She said she wants to take it to her framer so I will have to write out some instructions mentioning the need for spacers, matting and the fact that the threads are silk and will bleed.  I am sure it will be fine.

These design are so incredible with the beading and intricate stitching they are very difficult to photograph (for me anyway) to do them justice.

I still feel kind of funny about not fully completing the project.  But I suppose it means that I can start one of the Chatelaine Mandala's I have kitted and ready to go.  Which one is the dilemma!

Mini Mandala 05, Chatelaine Designs

Making decent progress on this project.  It is much more "pastel" than the other mini mandala's I have done.  I am pretty happy with it.  It is done on 32 count Belfast Linen in pearl grey.  

Books Reading Books, Heaven and Earth Designs

I finished page 13 and am on to page 14 so not quite half way through the 30 pages.  I have put this back in my rotation.   It needs my attention.  It amazes me how the photo make the picture more clear.

Fully Finished Projects

I did a little ornament finish on "Be a Witch".  I will probably re-stitch this at some point.

And here is the back






And I made the Freedome House (which I am sure you are sick of seeing) into a pillow.

This is the back







A pretty productive couple of weeks when I put it all on one page.  No wonder the house is a mess!   The weather should break soon and I will have to get busy preparing for fall visitors.

I would really like to figure out some kind of rotation to get caught up on all the projects I have in the works.  Perhaps I can hold off starting anything new for a month or so..........or not!

Thanks for visiting.