catch up

It's been about 6 months since I really stitched on anything. The break has done me good. Now the stitching bug has come back. Problem is that my current set up doesn't work as i'm now nearly 32 weeks pregnant, and the lap desk is nowhere near me! I've been wanting a lap stand for awhile now, i'm thinking maybe after xmas I will treat myself to one.

Teddy Bear Quilt Update

I have an update for the Teddy Bear Quilt. Now that N is helping me with it. It is going much faster. I had no idea he could use a sewing machine.

Here is a close up of one of the completed teddy bears



Here is all the teddy bear blocks.


And that is the update for the day.

Teddy Bear Quilt Update

The teddy bear ears.


The first partly appliqued bear.

Bears fused onto the background

more bears fused on.

sewing stuff

Today's plan is to finish the quilt. I should be able to, hopefully, maybe.

I washed the remaining fabric for the teddy bear quilt, and ironed what I washed yesterday. So that is all ready to go. I am not following the color scheme they used.



Our pirate quilt fabric came in the mail yesterday. All I am waiting for is the backing fabric. That should be here in a few days. Then I can start that one as well. I am using the exact fabrics shown.



In addition to the two quilts, I have a cute wall hanging I am going to do, plus a baby carrier I am going to make. The one we want costs nearly 60$ online, no way am I going to pay that when it is just as easy to make it. Course the wall hanging I am doing in blue as well. The baby carrier, you can see the one I am going to do here



So as you see I have lots of sewing to do. I'd like to get as much of it done sooner than later, as we grow bigger, we may not be able to reach the sewing machine very well.

Cheyenne

Haed charts for sale

In the coming weeks- I will be putting some HAED charts for sale, charts that I know I will never stitch.

Castles In the Air

My floss toss for Castles In the Air.

Japanese Garden Update

Hand-Dyed Fabby

I have some photos to share of some fabby I hand-dyed.



This is blue Rit Dye- on a variety of counts/fabby



Red rit dye on a piece of white evenweave, and red on a piece of yellow 28ct, jobelyn(i think it was jobelyn)


Coffee/Tea Dye

Coffee/Tea Dye on 28ct evenweave

Arrive today and JG

The new hard drive and memory will arrive today. I am glad. I am tired of using this live cd version of ubuntu (linux) I can only get online, can't do anything else as there isn't enough memory. It shouldn't take long to put the hard drive and memory in. Since I built the computer I know am familiar with the guts of the computer.

I have figured out the backstitching on JG. Thank goodness, as frogging the same thing over and over sure gets old. I got about 1/3 of the bottom waves in the tori center done. I hope to get some more done while I await the UPS man.

Computer issues

I am having computer problems. They should be fixed this week. Stitching has taken a back seat to dealing with the issue.

Tried to do some of JG today but the waves at the bottom of the tori center in the petite braid are giving me issues. It is over 2 but some of the stitches are half back stitches and it is messing my counting all up. After frogging 4 times I gave up.

Mistress Update- 4 pages done!

I am so very pleased with this. It took me awhile to get the last 500 or so stitches of this page in. It was worth it though. This is 4 pages complete, also 1/4 of the design finished.

Not sure what I will stitch next, I think there is a SAL for one of my groups this weekend, if so it is the one I stitch Mistress, I may sit this month out, not sure. I need a break from Mistress.

Japanese Garden isn't until next week. I may pull out Robin Blue, or maybe start a series of 3 angels I got from Cross-stitcher magazine.

I dyed some fabby over the weekend. I am pleased with it, Used Rit dye for some and then tea/coffee dye for the others. I like them both. I'll get around to picture after the fabby dries, and I iron it.

Desert Mandala

I have had my eye on Desert Mandala since seeing the first preview pic of it. I have been waiting for the material list to come out, to decide on if I will get it. The list came out today. Although there are many DMC flosses, there are also silks, etc, which makes this expensive to kit, plus the chartpack itself is 26 Euro. I decided to hold off on this, and instead I purchased Celtic Maze (mystery XI) The chart was only 16 euro, much more affordable. I won't be starting it until JG is at least half done. (or that is what I keep telling myself!).

I have a few smalls in my stitching stash. I am thinking of starting one of them. Sometimes I want to see a finish.

Sierra

Mistress-Thursday SAL

Normally I would show a picture here, but this week I will make you wait
for just a bit. I am nearly done with another page, I will show a picture when
the page is done.

I am quite pleased with my progress though. When I finish this page, I will put work on
Blue Robin for a bit, I think. JG isn't in the rotation until the second week of June.

update

Due to a family emergency last week I was out of the state, I didn't get any stitching done.

Japanese Garden- Progress Pic

It is the end of my week of stitching JG. I had a lot of fun this week. It was a nice change from HAED.

Although I didn't finish all of the Tori Center- I got most of it done, except some backstitching along the bottom and the frame around it. I'm pleased with my work.

I was nervous about the specialty stitches, but they were explained well. I had no problems with them.

JG- Backstitches

I decided to follow the written directions from Martina about the specialty stitches so today I did-----------Backstitches. Exciting is it not? Looks good though.




I know today is Thursday and usually that would mean it is HAED SAL day, but I decided I just wanted to continue with JG so I did.

Japanese Garden-

I've another Japanese Garden update- I finished the center cross-stitching. Tomorrow I will do the specialty stitches, and start the frame around the center. I'm quite pleased with how it is looking.

JG progress

I'm quite pleased with my progress so far this week on JG. Here is a pic for you all-

Last weeks Progress

I didn't get a whole lot done since I wrote last- Here is what I did get done-

Robin Blue Mermaid- I got the leaf filled in a bit more. I love the colors on this.

Mistress- I got another row and a part done

This week I plan to stitch on Japanese Garden

Mistress Update-

Here is another Mistress update. It's hard to see in this picture but the moon now has some sparklies.

First WIP of Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden- 2 over 2 on 28 ct, cashel linen Mississippi Blue (Silkweavers).

I finally hit a groove with this and got used to the counting over 2. Then it was today and time to put it away for the Thursday SAL, and then a monthly SAL I am doing, both with Mistress.

I got a good amount done on mistress today- 1000 stitches.

Thursday HAED SAL

Today was the thursday HAED SAL for Our Friends Haed blog (link at right). Here is my progress-

More frogging and some stitching

It's really taking me a bit to get used to stitching over 2. It's the counting that is messing me up. I had to frog more today-Sigh, but I caught the mistake fairly quickly so I didn't have to frog too much. I'm not sure there is enough done to post a WIP yet, though soon, I promise.

Tomorrow is the SAL for a group I am in, I will get out Mistress- I've been neglecting her, and it is a HAED SAL.

Started today

Finally started JG today. Took me awhile to get the fabby organized, decide how I am going to stitch it, and get out the threads I need to stitch the center. I usually stitch over 1, so this is new for me, and is taking a bit of getting used to- I've already been visited by the frog, but it is going well. I don't have too many stitches in yet, so you'll have to wait a bit for a first pic.

Japanese Garden Floss Toss

Here is my floss toss for my first Chatelaine- Japanese Garden. Although I am still missing a few colors, due to a backorder, I am not waiting until they come in to begin. I hope to start tonight or tomorrow. Also missing from the floss toss is all the beads. Since I am using a Q-snap as a frame, I won't be beading until the very end, I have for now put off buying the beads.

I am not using NPI silk, due to it's price. Instead I used Vikki Clayton Silks (see HDF link on the right). The rest of the colors I kept the same. The Fabby is Silkweavers 28 ct. cashel linen Mississippi Blue.

Hiatus

Well I had a bit of a hiatus from stitching. I haven't stitched since the last entry here. That's okay, it's good to have a small break every so often, but I am really itching to get back into it.

Both Mistress and Robin Blue are calling to me........ So it's anyone's guess which I will work on next.


The last of my japanese garden chatelaine threads are coming in the next week or so. When I get them I will do a floss toss.

Weekend SAL

I have only managed 500 Stitches in Mistress this weekend, I wanted to do much more, but least I got 500 in. I am hoping to get a chance to stitch tomorrow.

No more meds

went to the female doctor for a preconception visit. She was very nice, told her of the PTSD, and anxiety. Unfortuantly none of my meds are okay. Ambien a baby can be born addicted to, and Celexa may cause issues, I'd rather be safe than sorry. So I am weaning off that starting tomorrow. The only thing I can take other than benadryl and Tylenol is welbutrin, although that is mostly for depression and doesn't help much with anxiety, but I will try it. So I am stuck with just not having anything. I am quite scared about this, but I will do it (n- says that is the definition of being brave).I sure don't feel brave.

Stitching is one thing that does help anxiety, so I may be stitching more for awhile!

Japanese Chatelaine

I finally picked and ordered a fabby for my first Chatelaine-Link to her site to the right. You'll have to wait until I do the floss toss to see what it is. It's a silkweaver fabby, that is all I am willing to say! Few more weeks of collecting threads and i'll be starting! I plan to wait a bit to purchase the beads, as I won't be putting them on until last, or I won't be able to stitch it all using qsnaps.

1st Pic- Robiin Blue Mermaid

I have been working on Robin Blue Mermaid for 4 or so days now. Here is the first WIP. She is stitched 1 over 1 on 28 ct, hand-dyed bluebell Jobelyn





This week I will be working on Mistress again.

Latest Stash

A few weeks back, I bought somethings online. The last of that stuff came in finally. Here they are- 2 charts and some floss for a project. The Bothy Threads chart was half off! Yay to sales.




This weeks dye works floss I got for a project from 3 issues of cross-stitcher-






That isn't a color scan, so you'll have to wait for that unless you have those issues of Cross-stitcher Magazine. One is red, one blue, the other green.

Another Page Complete!

Guess what WIP I just finished another page of? That's right Mistress. Here she is-



This makes 3 pages of 16 complete. I am a bit concerned about the coloring on the skin of the top shoulder, looks a bit strange to me, but I am hoping that once I get more of her done, it will look more natural.

Stash!

When I went to Michaels this weekend to use a coupon, they had sale on kits, I couldn't resist!




My Vikki Clayton silks came in the mail end of last week. I can't wait to start the Chatelaine they will be for!




Couldn't resist a sale at an ONS last week- Lovely charts don't you think? I especially love the Angel Virtue series. I plan to collect and stitch them all.

Stitching case done

DH got the stitching case all done. Here it is full of stuff-

Bobbinating Done!

Yesterday I finished bobbinating all the DMC. I have yet to put everything in the new stitching container, but hope to do that tomorrow.

Today is the weekly SAL for Our HAED friends, I've done about 200 so far, confetti stitches we all know how time consuming that is! I'd like to finish the current page today but that will likely not happen, so instead my goal is by Sunday. That will be my monthly goal met for Mistress so....

I then plan to pull our Robin Blue Mermaid and stitch for a bit, it is nearly spring and I so want something springy.

I got something I won from ebay in the mail today, YAY I love stitching stuff in the mail- 5 Kreinik #8 braids!

Patches

Shopping-New Stuff!

Went shopping over the weekend, I now have nearly all of the DMC line. I am quite pleased about that, I am slowly bobbinating them all, what a pain that is, yet somehow it is enjoyable as well.

I currently have floss in containers in a larger container, It is driving me nuts- so I bought 2 of these-

My plan is to move all my bobbinated thread to the top drawers, While saving the larger bottom ones for storing silks, and other things, like Kreinik, needles, scissors, etc.

Hubby is going to modify them so they are stuck together back to back and put a handle at the top so I can move them easily.







Today I ran out of bobbins so we ran to Jo-ann's where they had some charles craft Monaco cloth on clearance ( .97 cents a piece) They are great size to cut for small projects or for HAED quick stitches.

I have other things coming soon in the mail, You'll have to wait until they get here, to learn what they are.

Dimensions Closing

Have you seen this report yet? I don't buy dimension kits any longer. Yes some kits are cute but the thread and aida is horrid. Still though kits where how I started and I shudder to think of how this will affect people trying cross-stitch. I also wonder about retail stores, Jo-ann's, Michael's, and Hobby Lobby- all mostly carry Dimension kits, Will they close their cross-stitch sections down? I remember not too long back they used to have an entire aisle of just charts and now that is gone.

Mistress after SAL for Our Friends HAED

Another WIP of Mistress. This is after the SAL for
Our Friends HAED. She's coming along great. I'm really motivated now to keep stitching after learning of the finishing incentive on the HAED site.

Mistress After SAL

Here is Mistress after the SAL for Love2Stitch forum.

New Chart

So, I caved and bought a new chart. I was feeling down, and wanted something springy and colorful, when I came across this I fell in love. I love robins and the colors in this are gorgeous, don't you think?


I have my fabby all picked out as well (scroll down for image) I got it shopping after christmas. It's a gorgeous Hand-dyed Jobelyn 28 ct. Blue Bell. I've never used hand-dyed fabby before, so I'm off to see if I need to prepare it special.

I plan to start this today!

Stash

I'm really wanting to go stash shopping. As the nearest good cross-stitch store is nearly 2 hours away, I order by internet (except the yearly trip to the xstitch store).

Unfortunatly with the recent surgery on Mallow, there is no money right now for stash shopping! The good news is that N gets his bonus soon!

Few days away

Didn't get to stitch for a few days, our dog was very sick and ended up having surgery, now is the task of him healing and keeping him from scratching it, so our stitching is suffering. We were able to get a 500 or so stitches in today, so it's a start.

There is a SAL this weekend, so I hope to find some day every day over the weekend to stitch.

She has a face-most of it

She has a face! I am so very pleased. It really turned out well. Next is the top of her shoulders and more hair, then I will move over and finish her face. I'm really having a blast stitching her, even though I do get frustrated with the drab colors, and confetti.

Here is a picture of what she will look like when she is all complete-

You can check out more of Jessica Galbreth's Artwork by clicking HERE.

Frogging- Sigh

I noticed last night a big issue with a color in her hair. You can't really tell in the previous WIP I shared. Turns out that I used the wrong color, so... a frogging I went. It took most of last evening to fix, but now that it is done, it looks much better.

I should have the face finished later today.

Watching the face come alive

I am having a great time watching Mistress' face come alive. I can't seem to put it down, not that there is anything wrong with that.



On another note- I am itching to make a new start, though I am trying to hold off.

My stitching history

I started stitching when I was around 10. I had this kit that was a plastic octagon jewelry box, it has this ugly picture of a sail boat on it. I stitched it for Nana. She still has that ugly thing, still displayed proudly.

I have stitched on and off since then. I put it down a few years back after growing bored with the patterns I found. Then I discovered HAED.

Most of the things I've stitched I've given away. I have one around here somewhere, when I locate it, I will post a picture. It is a kit of a house and scenery in front of the house.