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

WIP Wednesday, Summer Holiday Edition

Thank you everyone for the comments wishing me a speedy recovery from my dreaded summer cold.  I'm almost over it which is a relief I was feeling pretty awful for awhile!  While battling this cold we've been dealing with quite the heat wave.  I'm so grateful we have central air conditioning!  I could just imagine how awful I'd feel not only battling a cold, but the extreme heat as well.

Stitching-wise I feel like I've had a pretty productive week, when I wasn't sleeping!

Bluebird Tweet

Just Nan

Stitched on: 32ct Linen from Silkweavers

Stitched with: DMC & Mill Hill Beads

I started and finished another Just Nan critter.  I now have two stitched up for the JN Critter finishing day Kathy and I are going to have in the fall.  This time at the top of the pile was Bluebird Tweet which I picked up at The Attic back in March.  I have pulled out and kitted up a third Critter but I've not started it yet.

Instead I started this Lizzie*Kate, Be Naughty.  I kitted this one up in early June and its been in my basket waiting to be started.  I've been stitching up one or two letters each day before I pick up Fortunate Traveler.  Except for yesterday, I didn't touch it at all.  When I first posted my start on this on Instagram, I thought it would be best not to hashtag the name of the chart like I usually do.  Imagine the traffic I'd get with the hashtag "benaughty"!!??  Though I do have some fun coming up with some creative hastags!!! (don't forget you can follow me @tkd_chick and see stitching almost daily!)

I finally hit a milestone with The Fortunate Traveler by Teresa Wentzler!  Last night I finally finished the cross stitching on the border!  Of course as you can see there are miles of backstitching to be done now.  I like to get areas completely done on TW's before I move onto the next.  There's always a lot of BS on her pieces, and leaving it to the end could be overwhelming!

As you can see from this close up of the corner I've got a start on the BS, there will be a lot of work putting in the netting you can see started here as well.  It took quite a few hours last night and today to get the outermost line of stitching on the borer and the inner most line backstitched.  I'm not sure what section I'll tackle next, probably all the writing both the "Fortunate Traveller" which I will spell correctly with the Queen's English and the story before I get to the fun part... the dragon!!!

Calabogie Lake

 Water's Edge at Calabogie

Drgonfly On The Rocks

I managed to get out for a bit on Monday with my brother and Dad, I have to admit half a day out left me pretty drained by the time I got home.  My brother and I went in his sports car and my Dad followed on his motorcycle.  We drove out to Calabogie, through White Lake, a stop for lunch in Arnprior, and a final stop in Packenham before heading home.  It was SO nice to get out!

 5 Span Stone Bridge over the Mississippi River in Packenham

WIP Wednesday, Rarely On Time

I have every intention of blogging last night, however my Internet Provider decided they needed to do maintenance on our network which could result in "reductions in speed or interruption in service"  well, my "interruption in service" last from 4PM to 10:30PM.  Awesome, just awesome.  So blogging just wasn't happening last night.

A Year In Chalk - June

Hands On Designs

Stitched on: 32ct Weeks Dye Works Linen, Gunmetal

Stitched with: GAST

Since last week's update I pulled out Hands On Designs - Year in Chalk series after finishing Mini River Cottages.  June whipped up really quickly from the small amount I had started.  I now have half of this series stitched up.  For the moment, I can't go any further in this series as I don't have July and August charts yet.  They're out, I just don't have them.

Stoneware Cat - Kit

Priscilla's Pocket

On Tuesday evening I went out and stitched with my good friend Janice, and I decided to work on this little cutie.  I bought this kit back in March during my trip to the Attic in Arizona.  I was a little disappointed with the kit because I ran out of thread.  I contacted the designer about this, it turns out it was supposed to be stitched over two with one strand of floss.  There were no stitching instructions at all included in the kit.  So like any good, experienced stitcher I stitched it 2 over 2.  Anyhow he's really cute, and he'll be finished into a little pillow with a nice blue pom-pom trim that came in the kit.

After some fairly straightforward/easier projects, I was still in the mood for more complex stitching.  Teresa Wentzler's Fortunate Traveler continues to hold my attention.  If I get in the stitching time I'd like to, I hope to have the border completely cross stitched by the end of the weekend.  I have I'll be sticking to this project to the end.

I have also started my July ornament.  I'm still working away on Lizzie Kate's Jingles series.  This month's addition is Cheer.  I love the wee cardinals!

Not only have I been stitching this last week, there's been more finishing!  They're all ornaments I've stitched up from the Rosewood Manor - Red Threads chart.  Again, rocking the beaded edging on all of these.

WIP Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!  I'm actually on schedule this week and I'm actually getting my WIP Wednesday post up on the right day!

 Mini River Cottage

Michael Powell

stitched on: 27ct eveweave

After last week's post I finally settled on a WIP to work on, Michael Powell's Mini River Cottage... well I finished it Monday night!  I just love the look of these and stitching them!

Red Threads

Rosewood Manor

Stitched on: mystery fabric

Stitched with: Threadworx

I also had a small finish as well, I pulled out this little Red Threads motif by Rosewood Manor, one of my purse projects.  It had been started awhile ago, so it was nice to have that finished as well.  Its gone into my finishing pile, I've already picked the coordinating beads for when I'm ready!

Of course with the finishing of one focus project that leaves the tough decision of "what's next?".  A few texts back and forth with Christin and for the moment, I've settled on Teresa Wentzler's Fortunate Traveller.  I started this back on May 1, 2013 as a stitch-a-long with Bonnie, Beatrice and Christin.  Of course none of us have really made any serous progress since then.  I think we keep getting distracted by other projects!

I've also put a couple of more thread lengths into A Year In Chalk - June.  I'm planning on putting an hour into this each day until its done or I decide to put my head down and finish it.  Once this one is done, I'm caught up until I get a chance to buy/pick up July & August.

Tiny Tidings

Lizzie Kate

Over the weekend I also completed another ornament, and a floss ring tag.  I started a second ornament, but haven't managed to find the time to complete it yet.  I guess that just gives you something to look forward to next week!

Red Threads

Rosewood Manor

Nothing exciting has been going on to share with you, I've been back to work this week after an extra-long, long weekend.  Just the stitching you see here!