Here There and Everywhere

You'd think by the title of this post I was travelling, but nope!  It just perfectly describes my attention span (or lack there of) when it comes to stitching these last few weeks.  Or probably ADD is the best way to describe it.

I thought my last new start/finish would settle me down into one project but that didn't work.  Since my last post I've worked on (and those who know me well know that I don't usually have a lot of WIPs on the go nor do I bounce around from project to project) :

Cirque Des Triangles by Ink Circles, I started this on my trip to the Dominican Republic at the end of February.  These designs make fantastic travel projects, one thread colour and you don't have to hop all over the place.  Over the last couple of years I've started one of these "Cirque" designs on my annual "work trip" to the DR.  I'm stitching this on a piece of 32ct Queen Ann's Lace (which was disappointingly too "muddy" to stitch Spring Quakers on) with DMC 4022, which is a very striking combination and honestly makes me think of the ocean in the DR!  I worked on this for about a week after my Peacock Alphabet finish and managed to stitch up page 3, this means the top half is done.  I then promptly lost interest and put it away.

Next to see the light of day was The Big Red by The Silver Lining, I started this one many, many, many years ago and it has sat ignored until this past Christmas when I picked it up.  During my focus time on this piece over the holidays I managed to work my way up from the middle to the top and I've stitched pages 1-4. This piece is being stitched over one on 25ct summer khaki lugana using a combination of DMC and Anchor floss.  For about a night or two I plugged away on page 5, then it went away again.

Cranberry Christmas

Prairie Schooler

Stitched on 40ct Mellow from Picture This Plus

Stitched with DMC

Last week I decided, oh boy I haven't stitched an ornament in awhile!!!  This year I've even managed to get out of my habit of the monthly Christmas Ornament which I have done for years and years!  Some time ago I started stitching up the ornaments from Prairie Schooler's Cranberry Christmas chart.  These are being stitched over two on 40ct linen from Picture This Plus with three colours of DMC.  So this ornament got worked on for a couple of days, then put down for a new start (see what I mean!  Serious ADD here!), but I promptly made myself pick it back up on Sunday which resulted in a Happy Dance that evening!

New start did I say that?  Ahem yeah I did.  So I've thrown yet another project in the mix (and by the way I have yet to admit to all of my WIPs to you).  I've been talking with one of my stitching friends out our next Teresa Wentzler start and that it would be about a year out while I wait for Christin and Bonnie to FINISH The Fortunate Traveller (which I finished last year) so we can start Fantasy Triptych.   During these discussions this friend mentioned she was hating the piece of fabric she started The Guardian on...  So I thought on Friday I'd look at the chart in my stash, I knew I had it... well I had the kit... looking turned to sorting floss... sorting floss turned into a new start!  This has managed to hold my attention for oh four days in a row now!  Almost a record!

Tune in next time to see if I stick with The Guardian! (or follow me on Instagram for instant gratification @tkd_chick)

Months Of Silence

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I've recently received a few comments lately on my last post which was the end of July asking if I was alright, and a few e-mail as well.  I wonder if at this point after so many months if I have any followers left.  I haven't planned on abandoning this blog, it would be such a shame as I was one of the early bloggers in the stitching community.  I also think of all the time, effort and heart that has gone into creating and sharing this blog.  I just lost the desire to blog for awhile, however my stitchy-bug was not affected at all I've got quite a bit of stitching to share with you from the last months.

In my last post from July I was working on Lizzie Kate's Be Naughty

Be Naughty

Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on mystery 28ct linen using recommended threads

In order of completion I've stitched the following pieces:

Ho Ho Ho Holiday - Jingles

Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with Weeks Dye Works

I've realized I've not photographed the following pieces and will do for my next post (I promise!).  Again this all in order of completion, I keep a little book listing all of my finishes since 2007!

• Just Nan - Gingerbread Angel Mouse
• Just Nan - Gingerbread Jingle Mouse
• Just Nan - Little Princess Snow
• Just Nan - Loreli Lamb
• Just Nan - Oakley Owl
• Hands On Designs - Year In Chalk : July

Here's a finish I'm sure you've been wondering about (unless you follow me on Instagram)....

 Fortunate Traveller

Teresa Wentzler

Stitched on 28ct Cream Lugana

Stitched with: DMC and Mill Hill Beads

Since finishing Fortunate Traveller I've worked on a lot of smaller pieces.

Wait 'Till Dec 25 - Jingles

Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with Weeks Dye Works

1st Christmas

Lizzie*Kate

32ct White Lugana

Stitched with DMC & Mill Hill Beads

Jeffrey's Christmas Ornament

Earth Threds

Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue 2001

Stitched on 32ct Iris Garden Opalescent Belfast Linen

Stitched with DMC, Kreinik & Mill Hill Beads

Merry - Jingles

Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with Weeks Dye Works

FaLaLaLaLa - Jingles

Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with Weeks Dye Works

Joy To The World - Jingles

Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with Weeks Dye Works

Silent Night - Jingles

Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with Weeks Dye Works

Love - Jingles

Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with Weeks Dye Works

Joy - Jingles

Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with Weeks Dye Works

Let It Snow - Jingles

Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with Weeks Dye Works

 Red Threads

Rosewood Manor

Stitched on 32ct Raging Storm Belfast

Stitched with Threadwork

Red Threads

Rosewood Manor

Stitched on 32ct Silkweaver Solo Wexford Linen

Stitched with Six Strand Sweets Blueberry Grunt

Reflections of Canada

Ink Circles

Stitched on 28ct White Lugana

Stitched with DMC 498

Update : Finishing

So besides stitching like a mad woman, I've been doing quite a bit of finishing as well!

In early June Kathy and I made plans to get together to finally put together her Petit Sampling Etui.  Amongst my circle of stitching friends I seem to be considered the "finishing expert", go figure.  I think I'm just willing to dive in and give things a try.  I had never put together an etui before, but my finishing skills have been steadily improving over the years.

I have to say putting this box together was not easy and it definitely required two weekends, two heads, four hands, and a lot of reading over and over!  Though I didn't stitch the panels I'm certainly proud of the end result!  Kathy and I make a great team and work well together.

Of course neither of us are planning to put together or stitch another one for a long time.

I was motivated by helping Kathy with her Etui to do a little finishing of my own!  On weekends I've been home I've been pulling out one ornament after another out of my finishing box.  I've been quite productive now that I see it all here in one blog entry!

 My first attempt at a tag finish and I have to say it turned out great!

Fa La La La - Freebie

 JBW

French Country Star

JCS Ornament Issue

 Heart of Flake - Freebie

 Rosewood Manor

Red Threads

Heart In Hand

Snow Woes

 Ink Circles

Stained Glass Holly

Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue

 Stitchers Joy

Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue

The Stag

Freebie

Update : Stitching

Once again I've become lax at blogging.  I keep thinking, I should blog but then my stitching seems to take precedence.  Also at work, the month of June is rather hectic as we're busy wrapping up another school year.  Sadly I'm not on summer holidays like may of my co-workers, I'm one of the "lucky" few that has a 12 month position in the school.  So I'm still working, I'm looking forward to 5-day long weekend starting after work tomorrow.  After that I won't be taking any holidays until the last week of July when I get to enjoy 3 weeks of vacation.  This year I have no travel planned, I'll be having a stay-cation or a few little day trips.

I'm going to update you on what I've done, been doing, stitching over the last month over a few blog entries.  First I'm going to start with stitching, my needle has certainly been busy!  I'll update you with all of my WIPs on WIP Wednesday, there has been a flurry of finishing, and a few little day trips that I've taken a few photos.  So, keep an eye out for blog entries every couple of days!
 

 Cirque des Carreaux (squares)

Ink Circles

Stitched on: 32ct Queen Ann's Lace Joblean

Stitched with: ThreadWorx Foxy

Since the end of May all of my stitching attention when to one piece, Cirque des Carreaux.  Christin suggested that was the project I should work on during a weekend away, and I just never put it down.  I was on page 2 when I picked it up, I found I was easily stitching a page in under a week, there's six pages in this design.

This is the third piece I've stitched in the "Cirque" series.  There is just one design left for me to stitch "Cirque des Triangles" (triangles).  I'm planning on starting that one in February during next year's Dominican Experience trip.  I haven't decided on colour yet, I'll keep the fabric the same as I have with all the other pieces.  Right now I'm thinking either a nice purple or turquoise, something vibrant.

In May I decided for my monthly ornament to start stitching up the Lizzie Kate Jingles series.  Fun, colourful, and quick are a great way to describe them!

Deck The Halls

Jingles

Lizzie Kate

Stitched on: 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with: Weeks Dye Works

Noel

Jingles

Lizzie Kate

Stitched on: 32ct Taupe Lugana

Stitched with: Weeks Dye Works

So that's it until Wednesday when I'll share with you how my latest WIPs are coming along.

WIPWednesday, Small Finishes and What's Next?

Happy Wednesday fair readers!  Which means its WIPWednesday and one of my blogging days!

As usual I like to start with the happy stuff, and I've had two small Happy Dances since my last post.

Red Threads

Rosewood Manor

Stitched with NPI Silk

Stitched on 32ct Natural Linen

This first little guy, was already well under way, so there wasn't much left to do.  This has been my "purse project" and I've been dragging it around with me most places but not really working on it.  So I finally put the last stitches into it.

French Country Star

JBW Designs

Just Cross Stitch - Ornament Issue 2010

Stitched with WDW Garnet

Stitched Over One on 25ct Sand/Gold Lugana

Next up is this month's ornament, I had a hard time settling on which one I wanted to stitch.  I finally picked up this sweet little stitch by JBW which was in one of my Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issues.  If I can, and it may be rather ambitious I'd like to finish this star-shaped!

I haven't settled on a new focus project yet, and really that's okay.  This week I've picked away at two different projects.

I kind of have it in my mind to finish up my January 1st start from this year, Peacock by Alessandra Adelaide.  Christin and I started them together, but she's been done hers for awhile now. Usually I'm the first to finish!  I've had a hard time getting "into" this project.

When I haven't been able to get "into" Peacock I've pulled out an oldie, but goodie Arabian Woman a kit from Lanarte.  I fell in love with and bought this project a long time ago, and it cost me a fair bit.  A few years ago I put some stitches in it to make myself get back to it.  I've enjoyed working on it this week.  The fabric on this piece comes painted and there's a little "+" where to start so I've slowly worked my way from that start point, to my happy place, the top left hand corner.

As promised last week here are the other projects I have started in my stitching basket... Which project would you like to watch come to life?  Leave me a comment!

Mini River Cottage - Michael Powell

The Big Red - The Silver Lining

 Cirque des Carreaux - Ink Circles

Fortunate Traveller - Teresa Wentzler