Giving Sisters progress and Kitted Up Projects

I've left Mrs. MaGuire's Garden for a bit (nearly done) to work on my Giving Sisters and I'm making good progress. I'm thoroughly enjoying this stitch and have loved this design ever since I saw it.

I kitted up my projects that I bought floss and fabric for while on vacation too! So I thought I'd show those off.

 

I can't wait to work on all these designs, and I have plenty more kitted up and ready to go as well. I found a great system that works for me using small and large acrylic envelopes to store kitted projects in. I keep the fabric and floss separated in the envelope however, to avoid any bleed that might happen.

I look at all my beautiful stitching supplies and I feel very lucky indeed. I'm a crafter by nature, so I have lots of yarn, beads, and scrap stuff too. My project life book from last year is paused at August. I've yet to do one this year. It's been a hell of a year around here. Some good, some bad. But I feel stuck as I've never felt. Just need to get all my things back on track! Actually completing stitching projects is so huge for me. Staying off facebook certainly helps.

If you are taking time to stop by this blog and are generous enough to leave a comment, thank you. It's no small thing when people take time to notice you and acknowledge what you are doing.

The Witch is Back....from the framers, that is. Plus stash and WIP pics!

I got my beautiful witch framed and picked her up last weekend. They do such a nice job at In Stitches. I think the frame is perfect for her. As much as I love Halloween, she'll stay out of the main area until next year.

Spooky Hollow by WTNT

While I was at the shop, I just had to pick up Away We Ride and Paper Snowflakes.  I got the last copy of Away We Ride, and why did I feel so good snapping that up anyway?  :-P

I already owned Poinsettia House, but I wanted to get the gorgeous floss while I was there. I think this might be my next project to work on!

Isn't that pretty? I love it. Here is my progress on that sweet Snowflower Diaries Haunted House from last time.  I've been busy and my plans to finish that before Halloween didn't exactly pan out.

I hope everyone had a great Halloween and is gearing up for Thanksgiving. This was the first year my son didn't dress up! He had homework to do and was busy playing online with a friend. Maybe next year (says a hopeful mom!). :) It is time for hot chocolate, sweaters, twinkle lights in windows, and short days. Also for cold, crisp clear nights that seem so much better for seeing stars and appreciating the beauty of the night. I feel so lucky to live in a state where we experience the four seasons so wonderfully. Sometimes we have a dud of a winter with some 70 degree days scattered in there, but sometimes we have a really great winter with snow and cold. Winter just seems suited for stitching and I really plan to get more done than the earlier part of this year.

We also celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary last week!  Boy, where did that time go?  Crazy.  Not a feat to be taken lightly!  I can't say enough good things about my husband, truth be told.  We have had up times, down times, and up times again.  It's been a ride for sure, but we laugh most every day and for that, I'm so thankful.  Life is really good right now and we're enjoying it fully.


Take care, and until next time...
 

Halloween is coming....

So, another Halloween/Samhain season is on it's way. We've had a really hot spell and now the weather has finally simmered down and it's really feeling Fall like. It's refreshingly cool. We're decorating the yard. Nearly done, but we still have some finishing touches to add.

We stuffed a new guy for our porch this year. We've always had a skeleton man on the porch and he's been upgraded to werewolf now! I really like him. We did a pretty good job if I do say so myself.

 

 
We had to say goodbye to our boy Baxter this past Saturday. He's been featured here before. I can't tell you how much we miss him. He was the epitome of what a "good boy" is, and had all the qualities of a true gentleman. He hated thunderstorms and loved pillows. Baxter, you were the best.

For the first time in 25 years, we have only one dog now. The bond you have with your animal is an amazing thing. You are their whole world and they let you know it. It doesn't matter if you're gone for 8 hours or 5 minutes - the zeal with which you are greeted is the same.

My Spooky Hollow, by WTNT, is at the framing shop, ready to be picked up.  I can't wait to see it.  I hope it looks OK without the border.  I didn't get a mat, and it's in a primitive type frame, so it should be good!  I'll be sure to post again when I pick it up, perhaps this weekend.

Well, I hope you all are enjoying good weather, and productive stitching.  I am STILL not stitching anything, but I am working on a beautiful new crochet scarf.  Here's my progress so far.

It's gonna take me a while, but it's worth it.  The original pattern can be found here:  Cluster Stitch Scarf and boy, is it beautiful!  All I could think of when I saw it was "It Shall Be Mine".  :P

Until next time, peace to you and

 

Stash and Other Things

I have some stash I'd like to share and a couple little projects, not necessarily cross stitch related. Here's the stash:

I also picked this up recently.

Spooky Hollow by With Thy Needle and Thread

 I just love all of these. I hope I can make some time to stitch soon. It's been busy around here lately, getting my son back to school and all the routines that go with that. Just when I thought I'd have a little break, I think I'll be starting work tomorrow instead of next week. Yes, I'm grateful every year for my job, but I had just a few more things I wanted to do, craft-wise! Wah. My mom had a birthday and I made her a couple things. One was a scarf, the other was a beaded scissor fob.

If the scarf looks similar to the one in the previous post, that's because it is! Just a different yarn. It turned out really lovely, and she seemed to like it. The scissor fob was fun to do and I'll be doing lots more of those I think! If you haven't tried it, please do. It is so easy and there are some great to follow tutorials out there, like this one from Focus on Finishing - Beaded Scissor Fob Tutorial.

I've been enjoying my moonflowers again this year. I just love the magical way they bloom in the evening-usually after 5 o'clock pm. They have a lovely, light fragrance. The next morning, they shrivel up and drop from the vine, so it's imperative you go out and enjoy them each night.

Last of all, I took Spooky Hollow, from With Thy Needle and Thread, to the framers at In Stitches. That lady really knows what she's doing, let me tell you! I should have it back in another month or so. Just in time to display it for Halloween hopefully! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read.

Spooky Hollow Finish

Happy Valentine's Day! Let's see, I've not been back since November so a quick recap is in order. Thanksgiving was wonderful, went to my sis's house and visited with everyone-same for Christmas. She and her husband are great to host it for us. Wonderful company and food. My husband lost a friend of his in the line of duty on New Year's Eve. His loss will forever be felt by family, friends, co-workers, and the community at large.

On a lighter note, my son just took his ACT and is taking the SAT in March.  He's researching colleges, and I don't think we're ready for all this!  Yes, we knew it was coming, but it really sneaks up on you, doesn't it?  YIKES.

Otherwise, we've just been working and doing some cleaning out and fixing up of our little house. Just some repainting, etc. at this point. It'll be good to get it all done. Speaking of all done-I finished Spooky Hollow without the border. Yes, I did say that I wanted to finish it properly. But guess what? I'm taking a page out of a fellow stitcher's book and saying "I didn't do it and I don't feel guilty either!" LOL. Think of me what you will (you're probably right, whatever it is!). I looked at that border and thought "Do I really want to spend time stitching this??!" The overwhelming answer was
"NO!".

Spooky Hollow

With Thy Needle and Thread

28 ct. Picture This Plus Mello

Regular DMC floss

So, there we go.  All done.  Now I'm finishing up the Shepherd's Bush Green Snowman-he's over there to the right in my sidebar.  He's nearly done.  Have you seen the new Gray Snowman?  Oh, I think I'm going to have to have him!

Isn't he adorable?  And I love that little house too! All of those snowmen are so cute.  I think I need blue and purple as well.

We put a bird feeder up, so I'll leave you with a pretty pic of one of my favorite birdies.

 Until next time,
 

Finishes and Frames

Well, hello!  Um, pay no attention, please, to the date of the last post.  Deal?  I've done many fun things this past year, and have recorded none of them here.  Shameful, I tell you!

Since I last left showing a peek of Fa La La, maybe I should update him, eh? Here he is, all finished and pressed. Don't know what I'll do, but probably frame him somehow.

Shepherd's Bush - Fa-La-La

I think he turned out pretty cute. LOVE that button hat too! I also had been working, albeit very slowly, on Spooky Hollow by With Thy Needle and Thread. Very sad and slow update below! I adore this design.  It's got a border that doesn't look very fun, but I'll persevere and finish it properly.

Spooky Hollow - With Thy Needle and Thread

Just yesterday, I went and picked up a project from the framer, In Stitches. Here is my framed Blackbird Designs project.

With My Needle - Blackbird Designs

I hope everyone is doing well. My blog feed shows so many beautiful and wonderful projects being done out there! I need to find some time to catch up with everyone and get some inspiration.  I've done some designing, but not much stitching, as evidenced here.  Maybe I'll get my act together this coming year?  I have a few things to figure out on Blogger, so that will keep me busy updating for a while.  Until next time, 

Spooky Hollow and Etsy

I put a few charts up in my new Etsy Shop for those that may want them. Thank you for the kind words and encouragements. I appreciate it more than you know! Hopefully I'll be having another design out in a few weeks time.

Meanwhile, I have made a tiny bit of progress on my Spooky Hollow piece. This is so fun and don't you love that little pumpkin?


We've started (LATE!) our Halloween decorating. Some new lights that the dear hubby just had to have:

Work has been keeping me SO darn busy. But I can't complain. I was very lucky to be awarded my contract again and that will keep me until at least March. Then summer time is free until I start up again in the fall. Life is pretty OK sometimes. Until next time,

Spooky Hollow Progress

I've been steady working on her. Funny how cross stitch gets done when you actually do it, isn't it?

This sure is a fun project to work on, but check back with me when I start that border, OK? :p Actually, I think the border on this will go pretty quickly. I've also learned to use my beloved Thread Heaven , even on DMC. Half of her skirt was without it, and half was with it and I much more enjoyed the half that I used it on! If someone can tell me how to make floss lay perfectly flat, I'd really appreciate it. Because I've tried for 20+ years now, and haven't mastered that one. I do try however!

Till next time (which will probably be tomorrow!),

New Spooky Start and Progress Too!

Woohoo! I got my mojo back, baby (said in my best Austin Powers voice)!! I started a new project promptly after my last post and have a couple pics. Here is the supplies and fabby for Spooky Hollow by With Thy Needle & Thread:

And my progress thus far:

You know I couldn't leave this witch with a pink face! She called out to me to stitch her true soul, which was green--green with envy, the spirit of Halloween, and lots of other sweet and sour things. I don't have a name for her yet, but she'll reveal it to me before I'm done, of that I'm sure. The model for this design was stitched over one, but no way could I leave her that small. She is "full sized" so I can always see her in all her glory. She also won't stand for sitting in the pile of finished works when she's done. She's going to have to go straight to the framer! Thanks for looking and for all your comments!