Olympic Stitching

I decided to join Measi of WIPocalypse 2012 and a few others for an Olympic Stitchalong.

I'll be 'competing' in the Rotation Relay and Finish Line events.

Rotation Relay - I've never actually worked a rotation before, I usually just pick up and stitch whatever I feel like working on, so we'll see how it goes.  I'm thinking of working a 3-4 hour rotation on the following projects:

Hedgerow Birds - Blackbird Designs
C of A's Pyn Pillow and Scissor Fob - Eileen Bennett
Shaker Pincushion - Victoria Sampler

If I finish any of these I'll add the Bluebird Tree by Gerda Bengtsson to the rotation.

Finish Line - I have 15 stitched but not finished projects to pick from. My goal is to finish 10-12 of them.

I'll post progress pictures of the Rotation projects during the WIPocalypse updates, and finishes as they occur during the next few weeks.

But before I really get started on this I need to finish up the exchange gift I'm working on.  I expect to finish that today.

IHSW July Update

I had the great pleasure of an unexpected weekend stitching companion.

This adorable face belongs to Reggie, my former most frequent stitching companion, who now lives with my Ex.  When I was asked if I could keep him for the weekend I leapt at the chance, and the two of us spent many happy hours stitching (and snoozing) on the back deck.

I spent some time working on an exchange gift that I can't show, and much time working on Hedgerow Birds by Blackbird Designs, which has been sitting around waiting for attention since I messed up the border a year or so ago.  I was able to frog and restitch the border early last week and since then managed to finish one side of the project. The picture does not do it justice, but it was raining this morning, so I couldn't get one in better light.

I'm hoping to finish up the other side in the next couple of weeks, while I participate in Measi's Olympic Stitching events.

And now I'm off to see what everyone else has been working on.  Such fun!

Amazing exchange package

Saturday was a fabulous day.  Not only did I get to stitch all day with two of my best stitching friends, but I also had the overwhelming pleasure of receiving an exchange package from my stitching twin Nataly.  We decided a few months ago to do a private exchange, and I must say that was one of the best ideas I ever had!  Wait till you see all the wonderful things I got!

First up was a couple of needlebooks, the one on the left is from Scandanavian Stitches. I had wanted to buy one at Celebrations of Needlework in April but they were all out, so Nataly ordered one for me. I'm not sure yet what I'll stitch for the front.  The one on the left is an adorable one that Nataly stitched for me.

 

Nataly even stitched a little something on the back. 

And filled it with her beautiful handmade counting pins.





In case that wasn't enough (and it would have been!) she also included a pretty blue glass ort jar

AND a beautiful glass flower/scissor frog

When I first saw this beautiful piece I thought "Wow, that's pretty big.  I may need to buy more scissors :-)" 

Those who know me won't be surprised that after I wandered into a couple of rooms and gathered up my scissors and fobs I practically filled it!

And that's not all!!  Nataly also gave me Beauty in Simplicity by Blue Ribbon Designs, AND a 1/4 yard of lovely linen to stitch it on. The moment that I saw this project I knew I had to have it.  I can hardly wait to start it.

I was overwhelmed and overjoyed by Nataly's thoughtfulness and generosity.  Don't you wish you had a stitching twin like mine?



And the winner is .....

The random number generator chose comment 10 from Samplers, Silks and Linens.  There doesn't seem to be a way to reach you through your blog so please contact me with your name and snail mail address.  You should be able to click on my name under Contributors on the top of the right sidebar (use the second one for quickest response).  Congratulations! 

WIPocalypse stitching finish

I have to admit that the WIPocalypse is really helping me to work on WIP's.  I have a tendency to work on exchanges or 2012 Year of Smalls projects for most of the month and then I see that the WIPocalypse posting is coming up and I pull out a WIP and work feverishly for a couple of days so I'll have something to post about.  My two days of feverish stitching this month were enough to finish the stitching on a project that's been sitting around for years. 

Take Time to Stitch, Jeannette Douglas Designs

I ended up having to change the colors a little on this, since several of them washed out on the fabric I used.  Amazing how a small thing like that will cause me to put a project away for years.  Oh well, done now!

Saturday is the last day to enter the giveaway in my previous post.  I'll use a random number generator to choose the winner on Sunday. 

Time for a giveaway!

It looks like I passed 50 followers sometime in the last few days :-)  Welcome everyone!  Guess it's time for that giveaway I mentioned in last week's post.

Since my stitching mojo seems to be taking a summer vacation I decided to take one of the many pieces in my 'stitched, but not finished' pile and finish that for the giveway.  I came across Singing the Blues by Little House Needleworks which I loved stitching, but now have no place to display.  I found a tuck pillow that it fits in perfectly. I hope you like it. You should be able to click on it to see a larger view.

I will include a few other items in the giveaway package, but I'm not sure yet what they will be. You must be a follower and leave a comment on this post to be entered.  If you post the giveaway to your blog you can come back and leave another comment for a second chance.

I will use a random number generator to select the winner on Sunday, July 8. 

Thanks for following my little stitching blog. 

Almost time for a giveaway

Wow, I see that I picked up 5 new followers in the last week.  Welcome!  And a belated welcome to my other recent followers.  I'm thinking that since 50 is such a nice round number perhaps I should have a giveaway when I hit 50 followers.  It's possible that I decided that when I was looking for an excuse to start yet another new project instead of working on my WIP's, but does it really matter why the thought popped into my head??  ;-)

I realized that I've started and finished 4 small projects in the last month, and haven't spent even 5 minutes on any of the WIP's on my WIPocalypse list, so I vow to try to make some progress on one or two of them in the next week and a half until the next WIPocalypse update.  We'll see how that goes.  For some reason I'm just itching to start another new project, and have little interest in working on any of my many WIP's.  Maybe if I pull them all out and look them over again one of them will ignite a spark.  If not, I'll just have to start working on a new project for a giveaway!

My Favorite Things Exchange

I recently participated in first stitching exchange, one of the Stitched With Love Exchanges organized by Lainey. The theme of this exchange was My Favorite Things. It was so much fun!  The package I received from Shirlee, The Easily Influenced Stitcher was more than I ever hoped for.  It included a BBD pincushion, filled with lavendar that smells heavenly.  The colors match my living room perfectly, and it now sits on my coffee table where I can see it and sniff it often.  She also sent 2 packages of chenille trim, neither of which I had yet, 3 lovely colors of Olde Willow Stitchery floss, a package of needles, a Stacy Nash Primitives journal chart and a whole quarter yard of Tobacco cashel.  I already have several projects planned for that beautiful fabric!

Shirlee took the time to individually wrap each item, which added to the fun I had when the package arrived.  Thank you so much, Shirlee!  You could not have made me happier.

The package I prepared went to Nataly of Nataly's Needle Creations. The funny thing is that Nataly is a good friend of mine, and is actually the one who convinced me to try an exchange.  But since the exchange was anonymous I couldn't tell her I got her name!  So she wouldn't know it came from me I used my sister's return address when I mailed the package.  This is the package I sent to Nataly.

I hope she enjoyed her package as much as I enjoyed mine. 

My first exchange was such a great experience.  I can't wait to sign up for another one.

Another small finish

I was able to finish up A Tisket A Tasket this week. It was a fun and easy stitch and I really like the colors. Not sure yet how I'll finish it.

A Tisket A Tasket - Little by Little

June IHSW Update

I spent many happy hours on my deck stitching this weekend.  I was actually able to finish finish a project! 

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This is called the Flower Pot Sampler by From the Heart.  This was the May project for the 2012 Year of the Smalls.  The sample was done is a nice soft green, but I changed mine to Belle Soie Rose of Sharon so I could hang in it my bedroom.  It fit nicely into a standard frame size, and I was able to find a frame I liked for only $4.  Yay!

I also started another project from the Year of the Smalls.

This one is A Tisket A Tasket by Little by Little.  I'm stitching it on 30 count fabric.  Not quite sure what I'll do with it when it's finished. 

I also finished the stitching on another exchange, which I can't show yet.  All in all a very happy stitching weekend. 

And now I'm off to see what everyone else has been working on :-)