Where has it gone?

This summer has flown by faster then I could have imagined, but when you are having tons of fun, how can you really complain?
I have 2 pics to share with you, both are of finished items completed at the end of last month.

Birds of a Feather OOP Spring; 1 of 4 in a seasonal series.  I stitched her on Vintage Maritime White 45ct with a silk conversion, she is approximately 14 x 18 in size which is a great deal smaller then the charted version of 20 x 24!  Yikes!! 

Next up is the Lattice Quilt, hard to get the whole picture in with the borders etc., but you can see the colors on the top, another job done :)  I love the way it turned out and to think that I had 756 pieces to sew all back together!  Funny concept of cutting perfectly good fabric into a bunch of small shapes and re-sewing them all back together.  Crazy huh?!!!
Summer is a great time to catch up on so many things, it is always hard to find time to blog about our experiences, but as long as we are having fun, that is all that matters!!

Until next time :)

Mutilple items

A few things that need to be updated since the last time we talked about stitching.  First off though, my new little nephew is already almost 1 week old already!!  Amazing how time flies.  I remember watching my clock last week and announced that he was already 1 day old.  My sister and brother in law dressed him in this super cute little grey stripe outfit with a giraffe on it and took him to coffee hour at church yesterday.  Everyone was just thrilled to meet the little guy just 5 days old :) 
Today I wanted to share with you some stitching projects I have been working on.
First up is the La Da Da Stitchers Roll Kit; I have completed the stitching, now onto the wonderful finishing part.  I cant tell you how fast that will be complete-- I am not the best finisher, but we shall see.  Depends on how quick I want if off the pile!  (sorry for the wrinkles)

Next up is Birds of a Feather Le Printemps

I am enjoying the filling in of her dress, love the color I chose for her :).   I am looking forward to finishing the skirt soon.  I did notice that the bottom bands are more spread out and there are less of them.  The top ones are a bit compressed.  Although they are wider on the bottom....... I am looking forward to finishing with this color and using some of the other fabulous and bright colors I have chosen soon :)  I am so tempted to cheat and use them, but I feel like it will be a reward for sure!

Since the stitching is finished on the La D Da Stitchers roll, I needed another new travel project.  I managed to dig deep into the basement and stash dive for a bit.  What a hard choice!!!  There were so many beautiful options, but looking for the perfect 40ct linen project wasnt the easiest.  I was looking for something that wasnt quite as simple- or small, and something that would last a bit longer (however I am not sure how long it will last because once I really get into it, I might want to finish it asap--like with Elizabeth Mears)
So, wanting to stitch this next sampler has been in the top section of my basket next to my stitching chair for like 2 years, I decided to start stitching Jane Tindall from Needlework Press. 

Using the called for AVS and Florimell Silks along with 1 other addition a Ltd Edition Hankalicious from Gloriana (the dark red), I have started a new travel project.  Or what I call a driving project.  Call it what you will, it is only worked on while in a moving vehicle.  That all may change in the future, but you never know, there are so many others I want to work on while sitting still!!!  LOL.

Since hearing the horrors of running out of the specific grass color, I bought a few years back a hankalicious of it.  You never can have too much, however you might run out at any time.  I HATE this, and about 7 years ago, decided this had to change.  It wont go bad!

I wanted a specific shade of grey for Jane and I have had her kitted up with (what I think is) the perfect color from the old Birds of a Feather linen-- Sandpiper.  WOWZA is she looking good so far!  I cant wait to hit the road again.

Speaking of hitting the road, how many of you have ever done a United States cross country road trip?  East to West, West to East?  See anything that was so fabulous??  Any cross stitch shops that are a must stop?  Quilt shops? Antique Malls?  Landmarks?  Museums?  State Parks?  Restaurants?  Packing up the old car or truck, motorcyle, 5th wheel or Motorhome? Pack a lunch or hit famous road-side diners? How many stitching projects do you actually take???

I would like to know!!!!  I am just curious as my Husband and I are getting ready to pack up and head out!!

Up next

Thank you for all your kind words yesterday on my American Quaker Band Sampler.  Curious minds also wanting to know what is next up on the stitching front.

 

From this past Nashville market, from La D Da; Stitcher's Roll Key.  I am immediately drawn to kits when I see them, but remember each and every time I start one why I don't like them.  The linen is always the bare minimum and you hold your breath for the threads.  Linen is 30ct WDW burlap and I am not used to putting my needle up from the bottom and it falling out of the linen by the time I reach my hand up to the top to grab it.  LOL.  I use a hoop so one hand is always occupied.   I am thankful that this kit is using NPI and the numbers are given- easy to match if you run out.  I always like options however sometimes the design takes over (a must have) and you just make due with what comes with it.  I guess I am usually spoiled stitching on a piece of linen larger than a hankie and having a full skein of something.  Non the less though, I did purchase both of this years kits, even the Stacy Nash kit.  Overall the end result is what matters.  I love these little guys!!  They are stinkin cute!!!!
I think that once the easy part of the stitching is complete, the hard part will be for me is the finishing.  I would rather stitch queen stitches all day then finish something like this.  One of my friends said that is what they have finishers for. 

Almost finished with the top section, looking forward to hopefully finishing it today, but we shall see.  Le Printemps was calling me so I worked on her for the later part of the evening while watching The Impossible.  This movie is a true story about a family who was in Thailand in 2004 during the Tsunami.  Truly incredible, and worth watching.

I finished outlining the bottom right of her skirt along with the bottom and began filling in her dress.  It is amazing what only a few hours will do for you when you are focused. 

I cant wait to add more to her, she is so much fun!!
Enjoy your weekend, hopefully it is relaxing and full of stitching!!  Thanks for stopping by :)

Something Fun

Since my last post, life as has been a whirlwind of various activites.  All fun of course and great times with friends!
I have some more progress to show on BoaF Le Printemps, however I have put it aside this week because my friend Krista from Just Stitching Along (who is also doing the SDW SAL) has decided to stitch along Birds of a Feather Le Ete (summer) with me!!!  I'm so excited:)   Anyone else who wishes to stitch along is most welcome to.  Just let either of us know which of the 4 seasons you are stitching.  I think it will be great fun!!!
My progress as of last week looks like this on Spring:

Since finishing Elizabeth Mears, and since it was my travel project-- I needed another one.  What should it be?  I must say I have plenty going, but I have a hard time traveling while stitching on 45ct.  I know, poor baby right?  LOL.  But, I can easily stitch on 40ct and I found a great Scarlet Letter pattern called American Quaker Band Sampler that I had kitted up now for over 5 years.  So, out it came.  I am using 40ct Maritime White from Lakeside along with a random variety of AVS.  I started last night and it is coming along great.  I'm calling it a weekender project. 

Here is my progress from earlier today

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!  (Can you believe its June already?!!!!!!)

Next project is?!

Thank you for all your wonderful comments, emails and texts about Elizabeth.  She is a wonderful addition to all my other completed girls :) 
I have a WIP pile as long as my arm and I just opened up the bin and pulled one out.  What I have been stitching on for the last few nights is an old Birds of a Feather pattern called Le Printemps.  It is 1 of 4 in a series of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.  I think that you can still get these patterns (even though they are out of print which is a shame, there might be some stock left)- I haven't checked in a while since I have them, but I just am crazy over the BOF patterns.  They are all sooo stinkin cute!!!!  (Why do the good ones always go out of print?????)  There is even 1 in this whimsical style with a cat on it!  And yes, I have the cat too.  I have started both the Spring and the Winter back in the crazy challenge of January 2010?  I cant really remember..... I am loving the result and it is a quick stitch so far.

 

  

Stitching her on 45ct Vintage Maritime White Lakeside Linen (I cant get enough of this color!  Dutch Beauty also stitched on MW) along with my silk conversion.  The best part about this piece for me is the COLOR involved.  I am not one for such bright colors so I am stepping out of the box for sure on this one but I am loving it!!  Also, the size.  The models for these 4 girls were stitched on 36ct making them 17" x 22".   I have reduced the size of this design to 12 x 17 on my linen choice.  A friend of mine completed her Autumn gal, and it turned out just gorgeous-- framed and all :)  I hope to stitch all 4 of these gals-- I have them all planned out already (I can hear of few of you already saying "Of course you do :)"  LOL.  I know who you are!!!!  Ha Ha.  There is just something about being organized :)
A full week of fun in the sun I hope for everyone and lots of stitching!!!