Sept Gifted Gorgeousness Update

Cow Sampler

It's time for another "Gifted Gorgeousness" update.  These are projects that were made to be given as a gift -or- in some way or part received as a gift. 

Hooray, I have a finish!  I finished stitching my Cow Sampler soon after my last post. I added some red glass beads to the centers of the red flowers after I completed the stitching.

I also finished "one" of the pair of butterfly pillowcases.  These were gifted to me by a non-stitching friend.  They are printed pillowcases for embroidery.  No instructions ... I used cross stitch, stem stitch, chain stitch, and French knots.  The pink and green flosses are variegated.  After I finish the second pillowcase, I will wash them and most likely add a crocheted edging of some type.

I stitched on my tiny "Rambling Rose Sampler", gifted to me in a prize drawing by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching.  The entire sampler measures just 1-1/2" wide X 2" tall.  I still have rows of flowers at the top and at the bottom, along with the ecru background stitching over the entire piece left to stitch.  

This one does progress slowly - as I use magnifying glasses, as well as a hand held magnifier.  I don't want to make any errors, as frogging would be a nightmare on such tiny, delicate gauze.

Rambling Rose Miniature Sampler

I was so excited to pull out my "Spanish Sampler" and add some stitches.  I finished the top right corner, which features Algerian eyelet stitches, satin stitches, and a bit of back stitching.

I worked on the top border as well using cross stitch and four-sided back stitch.  This project is fun to work on - lots of different stitches to come!
 

This is what it will become:

I think I have covered all of my gifted projects for the month.   I can't wait to see what everyone else has been stitching!

 

my August WIPocalypse Update

Napping Kitten

It's time for another WIPocalypse update!   These are projects that I have been working on and hope to finish before the world ends.  My stitching time has not been as plentiful the past couple of weeks, but I did manage to work on a few of my WIPs.

I put some stitches into "Napping Kitten".  Shown below is where I left off last time.

I also stitched a bit more on my "Cow Sampler".  I hope to have this finished by my next update.

I put a little bit of time into "Victorian Charm".

And last but not least ... I managed a few more rows on my latch hook rug, "Monterey Sunset".

 

I guess that covers my WIP stitching progress for the month.  

Question of the Month – How do you get yourself out of a stitching drought?

I guess I don't worry too much about having a stitching drought.  Most months I am too busy to find enough time for my stitching.  If I get 15-30 minutes a day I am happy!  All I need to do to feel the urge to stitch is to look at my WIPs page and I am ready to go!  

See ya' next time.
 

My August Gifted Gorgeousness Update

It's time for another Gifted Gorgeousness update.  "Gifted Gorgeousness" projects are projects that were made to be given as a gift -or- in some way or part received as a gift. 

This month I stitched a Lab Puppy ornament for my sister and attached it to a card for her birthday.  I used a free pattern that I found here: http://www.jessica-tromp.nl/crossstitch/.  I stitched the puppy on 14 count plastic canvas, added a satin ribbon loop, and backed it with felt. 

This was a pretty good month for stitching progress.  I had a nice finish: Quaker 2 - (freebie) by Claire aka: Gazette94

I love to stitch Quaker style charts!

I also made a lot of progress on my Cow Sampler:

This should be a finish before too long.

To change things up a bit, I pulled out one of my printed embroidery projects, "Rose Lap Quilt".  This was a project gifted to me by a non-stitchy friend.  A project photo, 4 printed fabric panels, and a few skeins of floss were included.  There are no stitching guidelines - so I am winging it.

I had finished assembling the panels and stitching the center motif the last time I worked on it.  This time I started embroidering one of the rose motifs (there are 8).  I mixed in some of my color variegated floss that actually matched the colors of the included floss and used lazy daisy, split stitch, straight stitch and stem stitch so far.

 Here is the project photo that came with the panels:

Whew!  This one is going to take a long time to finish!

That's all I have this month for Gifted Gorgeousness projects.  I am working my way through my WIPs and should have some new progress on old WIPs for my next post.

Happy Stitching and Happy Gifting!
 

my July WIPocalypse Update + a small finish

"Beehive Sampler" by Sandy Orton

It's time for another WIPocalypse update!   These are projects that I have been working on and hope to finish before the world ends.  I had some good stitching time this month (for  a change), and I worked on several of my WIPs.

"Beehive Sampler" by Sandy Orton (shown above).  I am moving along a bit on this project.  I finished stitching the left hand side pansy border, filled in a few spots in the center (still some back stitching to do there), and started work on the oranges and blossoms around the top beehive.  Plenty more to stitch and some fun specialty stitches coming up.  I can't wait!

"Halloween Pumpkin" from the Just CrossStitch 2012 Halloween Issue.  Well, the pumpkin is finished! and I did some work on the bat border and the witches hat.  I still have a way to go as I have barely started stitching the cat.

Here is where I left off last time:

Quaker 2 - (freebie) by Claire aka: Gazette94

I started this project back in 2015 as part of Debbie's Crazy January Challenge & hadn't touched it since.  I am using random bits of floss leftover from other projects in shades of pinks and greens.  I am making good progress & going to try to finish this one before the end of summer.

Here is my small finish of the month.  It is "Precious Puppy" from the book "100 Cross-Stitch Christmas Ornaments" by Carol Siegel.  I plan to finish this into an ornament.
 
Question of the Month – What are your oldest and your newest WIPs?

I have several projects started in the 90's, which ended up in storage after a move.  They sat in storage for about 15-20 years before I located them and pulled them out.  

I think my oldest WIP is "Her Majesty's Carousel" a Dimensions kit 16" x 18" with a gold lazy daisy stitched border and gold beading.  I am actually very close to finishing this ... I just never seem to pick it up.  I haven't touched it in at least 5 years.  (shame! shame! shame!)

My newest WIP is "Victorian Charm" by Dimensions.  I started this project last week!  (shame! shame! shame!)  lol!  My sweetie and I both came down with the flu last week and each picked an item off our Amazon wishlists as a treat to look forward to.  "Victorian Charm" had been on my wishlist for a few years ... and so I have a new WIP.

I think I've about covered my stitching for the month.  I can't wait to see what everyone else has been up to!

Happy Stitching!