my Gifted Gorgeousness Update for May

It's time for another "Gifted Gorgeousness" update.  This stitch-a-long is being hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching.  Gifted Gorgeousness projects are projects that were made to be given as a gift, or in some way or part received as a gift.

I stitched on one of my favorite projects this month, "Spanish Sampler" by Sandy Orton.  This project uses fabric and floss purchased with a gift card - gifted by my Mom.  I finished the top band which included cross stitch and four-sided stitch.  I also finished the top left corner (shown above) with satin stitch, cross stitch and back stitch. 

I stitched on my mini banner, making good progress. I completed the border and filled in a bit here and there.  This project was also purchased with a gift card - gifted by my Mom.

I also stitched a bit on my Summer Sampler, working on the "Camp" section.  This one moves along so slowly ... so many, many color changes!  This project was gifted to me one Xmas by my sweetie with the set of 4 seasons sampler kits.

Last, but not least, I put in some time on my embroidered lap quilt.  This was a gift from a non-stitchy friend.  It is a printed quilt top pieced together in four sections.  I used lazy daisy, split stitch and stem stitch.

That is my progress for the month on my "Gifted Projects".  I can't wait to see what everyone else has been stitching!

my March WIPocalypse Update

BeeHive Sampler - In Progress

 Time for another WIPocalypse update ... featuring projects that I currently have in progress that I hope to finish before the world ends.  I have all of my WIPs posted here.

Shown above is my progress on "BeeHive Sampler" designed by Sandy Orton.  This project is stitched on 28 ct evenweave and features cross stitch (over 2 and over 1), back stitch, straight stitch, french knots, satin stitch and bargello.  

I am moving along on this one ... but I still have a ways to go.  It is a joy to stitch.

BeeHive Sampler by Sandy Orton

I also stitched a bit more on my newest project, "Mini Banner - Fall" by Debbie Mumm.  This one seems to be stitching up rather quickly.

Here is where I left off:

And here is what the finish will look like:

Those are the only projects that I had time to work on for this update ... as always, I wish I had more time for stitching, but am grateful for the time I do have.

The flowers are blooming all around Atlanta!

my November WIPocalypse Update

American Sampler - Sandy Orton

It's time for another WIPocalypse update.  WIPocalypse projects are all of the projects that I have in progress, that I would like to finish before the world ends.

I am attempting to stitch (at least a little bit) on ALL of my WIPs this year.  I began the year with 47 WIPs.  Out of those, I have managed to work on 35 of them - and actually finished 4!  So ... I still have 12 more that need attention.  With only December left to work on my WIPs this year - I don't know if I will be able to meet my goal.  We'll see...

This month I stitched on "American Sampler" by Sandy Orton.  I completed the Queen's stitch on the big pink flower, started work on the pillar and inner border, and filled in more background area with alternating half stitch.

Here is where I left off before:

I stitched a bit more on my "Tiger Lilies and Roses" pillow.  I added the big pink Tiger Lily start to finish:

And finally, I pulled out my felt Advent Calendar, and managed to make 2 more of the little "ornaments" to count down the days.  I wish I had more time - I would like to finish this and use it this year.  But ... I still have 12 ornaments to go - and I am short on free time.  Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

Question of the Month – What finishing style have you never tried but would love to do?

I have seen some lovely finished boxes, unusual bicornu, and amazing pincushions that I would love to attempt.  The reason I haven't is mainly a time issue - but perhaps I will make a resolution next year to work in more time for hobbies and to try new things.

Until next time...
Happy Stitching!

my November Gifted Gorgeousness Update

Thanksgiving 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. 

I have a finish this month!  I am happy to have finished stitching my "Thanksgiving Sampler" prior to the holiday.   "Thanksgiving Sampler" was designed by Lois Winston for DMC.  This is a freebie chart, and can be found here: https://www.dmc.com/us/p-free-patternsfree-cross-stitch-chart-give-thanks.html

I also stitched on "A Chirpy Sort of Place", which was a kit given to me by a non-stitchy friend.  I finished stitching the grass and bushes and worked on the fence back stitching. 

Here is where I left off last time:

The final Gifted Gorgeousness project I worked on this month is "Tiger Lily and Roses Pillow".  This was given to me as a gift by my Mother many years ago.  This is a printed kit for embroidery using satin stitch, long & short stitch, outline stitch, straight stitch and French knots. 

I only managed to work on a few Violets and leaves.  The Violets will have more stitching in the centers and a few French knots.  I am only about 35% done stitching this pillow top, so I still have a ways to go.

Wishing all of you a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!



 

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!
 

WIPocalypse Update : March

This month I worked on 22 different projects.  Some days I only had 15-20 minutes time for stitching ... so I didn't make a lot of progress, but any progress is always good - and I managed 2 small finishes.

One of my finishes is "Mini Flowers", a nice bright Springtime ornament by Studio18.  The other finish is "Girly Skull", which I posted on the Halloween Ornament SAL in February.

Some of the other projects I stitched on are:

Stitcher Sampler (freebie)
I am stitching this with 3 strands of floss on a very chunky oatmeal 11 ct. Aida.  I plan to use the finished piece on a book cover for a stitching journal.

previously:

current progress:

Quaker 2011 by Gazette94
I am stitching this piece with variegated gold and variegated blue DMC threads.  I wasn't sure how I would like that color combination ... but so far, so good.

previously:

current progress:

Boo! by The Prairie Schooler

previously:

current progress:

Cross Stitch Sampler by Marika Bel (freebie)

previously:

current progress:

This months topic is: If money – and time – were not limiters, what projects would be on your stitching bucket list? 

That's a nice dream ... I would love to stitch some of the big Quakers (esp. Halloween and Christmas), some of those lovely Ink Circles Mandalas, a Chatelaine (perhaps one of the Botanical Mandalas), and ANY or ALL of the amazing Long Dog Samplers!

Happy stitching!


PS. Nancy at the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is hosting a Spring Fling Stitching Give-away with over 100 winners, don't miss out!

a Happy May Day Off!

Yesterday was the first day off I have had in months!  So I spent the day relaxing and working on many of my projects. 

I haven't had a finish in so long that I decided to stitch an ornament from start to finish.  I selected "Majestic Bird" by Sandra Sullivan from the JCS 2013 Christmas Ornaments Issue.  I stitched with variegated floss on 18ct oatmeal Aida, but the variegation is hard to see in the photo. 

I will post updates for my larger projects next week in my WIPocalypse post.

I will leave you with a lovely Springtime photo from one of my morning walks this week.

The dogwoods, azaleas, and wisteria blooms have disappeared - but now the roses are all blooming!

WIPocalypse Update for April

Time once again for my WIPocalypse update!

I had a very tough month (emotionally, physically, and financially) and almost no free time to stitch.  I'm encouraged that things are going to improve ... so time will tell.

I did manage to make a bit of progress on my Nature's Alphabet Sampler.  Below is my progress photo from last month.

And I also worked on my latch hook rug:

March progress:

April progress:

That's it for my needlework progress this month.

For this month's WIPocalypse update, we are supposed to talk about how we organize our stash.  Well ... I don't really have much stash.  I keep my current kits, magazines, and extra fabric in a canvas tote.  I do have some of my older projects packed in storage (which will be like a treasure hunt when I finally re-discover them!).  I tried the little bobbins for floss & just don't like the crimps in the floss that you get from winding them.  I tried the binder pages with the long bobbins & didn't care for that system either.  So, I keep my extra floss in a big plastic bag inside my wooden stitching box.

Instead of showing boring photos of my tiny stash ... I will share photos of what has been going on in Atlanta:

The Dogwood trees are in full bloom!  As well as the Wisteria:

 

Happy Spring!

See more WIPocalypse stitching blogs here:
http://measi.net/measiblog/2014/04/16/april-wipocalypse-check-in-post/

WIPocalypse Update for March

A few updates to report this month.  I made progress on Nature's Alphabet.

The image on the left shows where I left off in February.

I added a few more letters, a heart and some ivy. 






I also worked on my Spring Sampler.

The image on the left shows where I was previously. 

I finished and back-stitched the Pansies in the top left, back-stitched a Tulip and Daffodil, and worked a bit on the seed packet.



This month I also finished my Carousel Tiger, which I mentioned in my last post.  I'm happy to have at least 1 finish this year.

WIPocalypse posters were asked to show their favorite stitching spots.

Well... here's mine.  Just a comfy old love seat I've had since the late 80's.  The afghan was crocheted for me by a friend many years ago.  I keep my current WIPs nearby in a tote.

That's all for now.
Happy stitching!

Summer's End

I found this Monarch having a lazy summer Sunday, sipping nectar in Piedmont Park last week.

My end of summer has been anything but lazy.

There has been a lot of rushing around to get things done, and my busy season seems to have started a few weeks early!

Hello Sunshine!

Sunny and in the upper 70's, it was a wonderful day for a long walk in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
 
This month is all about the tulips.  Tulips of all colors and sizes are filling the gardens right now.  The gardens are looking quite beautiful.