June WIPocalypse

I've had a pretty productive month of stitching.  In addition to an exchange that I can't show yet I was able to finish two projects that were on my original WIPocalypse list.  Until now all of my finishes have been things I've added to the list since January 1st, so I was happy to finish some longer term WIP's this month.  The first finish was the Linen Band Sampler/Bookmark by Eventine Designs.

The second stitching finish was from a class I took at the 2011 Celebration of Needlework.  This one is called Grandma's Garden Sewing Kit by Linda Duree.  I couldn't seem to get a good picture of it, which is a shame because it's a very pretty piece. Maybe I'll have better luck when I finish it into the sewing kit.  For this one I changed the fob and stitched two different flowers from the piece instead of the design she had charted. 

And now it's time to pop off and see what everyone else has been working on.  I love that part!  Happy stitching everyone.

IHSW update

I was able to get lots of stitching done this weekend, but unfortunately can't post a picture because it's for the Stitched with Love Favorite Things Exchange.  I was able to finish the stitching on the main part of the exchange and now I just need to do the finishing work. I say that as if I ever actually finish anything!  But this time I actually will have a completely finished piece sometime next weekend, which is another milestone thing since it will actually be finished at least a week before I have to mail it.  This is my first exchange and I'm pleased that it's pushing me into better habits :-) I'll post a picture after my exchange partner receives it.  Here's hoping she is as pleased with the stitched piece as I am. 

Next up is to start the stitching on my next exchange piece, and maybe I'll squeeze in a small project too.

May WIPocalypse update

I noticed on Friday that the WIPocalypse update was on the weekend and I realized that I hadn't worked on any of my WIP's for weeks :-(    Oh well, at least I managed to get a day of stitching in, and I made much better progress than I expected: 

This is Grandma's Garden Sewing Kit by Linda Duree.  It was a class I took last year at Celebration of Needlework.  The last time I worked on it I had to unstitch a few areas, but I finally finished that and was able to complete many of the flowers this weekend.  I was surprised at how quickly it went once I spent some time on it.  The stitching was fun and easy, and I have no idea why it's been sitting around waiting for attention for so long.  The siren call of new projects I guess.  I am determined to finish the stitching by next month's update.  Then I'm going to start looking for a 12-step program for those who finish stitching but never actually finish the projects themselves.

I also finished a couple of non-WIP projects while I was at Celebrations:

Gentle Touches by Shakespeare's Peddler

Quaker Pincushion by Jeannette Douglas

 

 

 

Celebration of Needlework

I just spent a fantastic weekend with my best stitching buddies at Celebration of Needlework in Nashua NH. We had a fabulous time stitching, laughing until it hurts, and shopping.  And shopping some more.  Since it's only 5 minutes from my home to the hotel I rationalized that meant I could use the money I would have spent on a hotel room for stash!!  I came home each night and emptied my shopping bag out on the dining room table so I could ogle and fondle all my wonderful new stuff.  I'm a very lucky, very greedy girl, so by Saturday night the table was covered.  Wanna see??

Lots of beautiful linens

embellishments

Pincushion stand from Olde Colonial

Lots of new charts, many with floss packs to go with them

a new oval hoop and some cute stitch starters in various sizes

adorable stitcher's companion and project pack

a wool applique project

Gazelle frame with Love is Patient project by Victoria Sampler, that I won at the secret auction to raise money for the fight against breast cancer.

I also took one class by Barbara Jackson called Williamsburg Tray.  I'll be adding this to my WIPocalypse list.  Which reminds me ... I was lucky enough to meet Melissa, the hostess of our 2012 WIPocalypse.  She was working on the most amazing orange overdyed fabric.  I can't wait to see her finished project.

When I look back at all these pictures I'm a little embarrassed at my greediness, but I only lose control like this once a year, so I'll probably get over it before next year's event.

After 3 days of stitching with my friends I certainly got my stitching mojo back.  I've wanted to do nothing but stitch since I got home.  But I already miss stitching with them, and hope we can all get together again very soon.

Late IHSW Update

I ended up having very  little time for stitching over the weekend, but did manage to get some time in on Gentle Stitches by Shakespeare's Peddler.  It's been a nice easy stitch, which is just what I need right now.  Sorry for the poor quality picture. I'll post a better one when it's finished.

Tonight is the start of Celebration of Needlework in Nashua, NH.  I'm lucky enough to live 5 minutes away, so I can save the money I would spend on the hotel and spend it on stash! WooHoo! I'm signed up for a class on Friday, and a couple of different events, and lots of stitching time with my best stitching buddies.

Stay tuned for lots of stash pictures next week :-)

April WIPocalypse Update

A little late with my update this month, but do have something to show.  I finished the first square of the Petit Sampling Etui:

I also finished the stitching for the lid of the Sturbridge Box, which I posted about previously.

After spending weeks stitching over one I decided to give myself a break and start something easy.  I chose Gentle Stitches by Shakepeare's Peddler, which I hope to finish and post this coming weekend.  Then back to work on WIP's.

Off I go to look at what everyone else has been working on.  Happy stitching!

Look what I won!

Teresa of Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches recently had a giveaway for her followers and I was the lucky winner of a handmade stitcher's portfolio.  The fabric she used was just perfect and so is her finishing work.

The portfolio opens up and has a large pocket on the left side, 2 small pockets in the middle, and another large pocket and a clear pocket on the right.  Teresa also filled each of the pockets with special little treats, including an adorable box of chocolates, some mints, the cutest pair of Itty Bitty Scissors, an adorable counting pin, and Just Nan Needle Flutters kit.  All packaged up in a pretty pink envelope covered in hearts.

Don't you wish you were me??  Thank you so much, Teresa. Your lovely gifts will get lots of use.

I've been gifted with the Leibster Award

Astrid at Dragon Stitches by Astrid has gifted me with the Leibster Award. Thank you so much, Astrid!

Liebster is a German word meaning favorite, dearest, or beloved. The Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other new bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers to help spread the word about their blogs and to help them gain wider recognition.

The Liebster award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting.

1. Choose five up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers to award the Liebster to.
2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blog so they know about the award.
4. Share five random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

My award recipients are listed below. Their blog names are links even though I can't get them to display correctly.

Teresa at Teresa’s Heartfelt Stitches is a lovely lady I was lucky enough to meet at a retreat last fall. She does so many beautiful projects, cross stitch, sewing and others. I recently won a beautiful portfolio that she sewed for one of her lucky followers to win. I’ll be posting pictures later.

Pam at Confessions of a Southern Stitcher is another wonderful lady I met at the same retreat. She does many lovely projects and has recently taken up quilting. Looks like she’s a natural at it!

Colleen at Threads in My Garden was one of my earliest followers. She loves to stitch, sew, quilt and garden.

Terry at Rosy Stitches just finished Dance of the Roses and it is gorgeous! She also does some lovely beadwork.

Melissa at Melissa's Miscellaneous Adventures just finished Mediterranean Mermaid by Mirabilia. Wait till you see it! Melissa also enjoys cross-stitch, baking, reading, sewing, and gardening.

And now the hard part, coming up with 5 things about myself:

1. My brain froze at the thought of coming up with 5 things, since I knew there were not 5 interesting things to share. I considered making stuff up.

2. When I am lucky enough to retire, or at least work part time, the very first thing I will do is get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Or two!

3. Next to stitching, my favorite thing to do is to sail on Lake Winnipesaukee.

4. I love doing tai chi.

5. After being initially convinced that I would never spend the money for an ebook reader, since I only wanted ‘real’ books’, I ended up owning both a Kindle and a Color nook, and I can’t imagine a day without them.

Thanks again, Astrid!

IHSW Weekend

Very little progress to report this weekend.  First I ended up having to work all day Saturday, which I hadn't expected, and then the stitching gremlins came to visit. I ended up spending more time frogging than stitching. The first project had some eyelet stitches over 2 threads and they're almost impossible to remove.  Notice the messy blue flower in the middle. The blue section on the far left, and on the bottom both need to be removed and restitched.

When I got tired of trying to remove those I decided to pick up another project to work on.  This time I didn't have as much frogging to do, but since it was all over one I found it very frustrating to unstitch.  Might be time for new magnification! 

And yet hope springs eternal! It's a beautiful, warm sunny day here in NH, and I have an hour before I have to leave to bring my mom to an appointment.  Off I go to try one more time to get some happy stitching done.

March WIPocalypse Update

It's been a crazy busy month, but I did manage to make pretty good progress on my Sturbridge Box project since my last WIPocalypse update. During the last IHSW weekend I finished the stitching on the top, which I've already posted. But since it's so pretty I'll post it again here in case someone missed it :-)

I also finished 3 and a half sides:

Side 1

Side 2

 

Side 3

Side 4

Excuse the funky spacing.  Blogger has decided that it will look this way no matter what I want.

Now I need to finish up Side 3, then the scissor fob and scissor keeper. All of those should be finshed by my next WIPocalypse update.  I'd love to have the finish-finish done by then too.  Time will tell.

This is the first time in years I've only worked on one project at a time. I have to admit that it's nice to see visible progress on something, and potentially finish it in the same year I start it :-)  But I'm itching to work on something different now.

Off I go to look at everyone's updates.