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 :-)

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.