Autumn, Stitching and Stash

It is November and in two months it will be a new year.  Anyone started their Christmas shopping? Not me. I am one of the weird people who likes the crowds and shopping in decorated stores.  One of my favorite things for Christmas.  Funny thing is I will be stitching Halloween for the next few months.

I did finish page 4 on the Fright Night Friends and on page 5.  I just finish the sign last night, all Kreinik thread.  Kreinik and I are just barely getting along, and as soon as I am done, the next time using the Kreinik again will be too soon.  I hate DMC Light effects more than Kreinik.  I have another sign to put on under the shoes and the E will stitched next week. I know I will finish it this year.  I want to do the Christmas banner too, but I think I will wait a couple months before starting that one.

I am doing this lovely sampler from a French designer, Jardin Prive.  I didn't show the first part so the above picture is part 1.  I am stitching it on a  6 inch stitch band.  It is a little tricky  to stitch on it by the edges.  I love the color of it but I notice under the lights in my kitchen, where I sometimes stitch, parts of the band gives a "dirty" look, like car grease was spilled on it through out the band. I know it is the lightening.

Last night, I finished part 2, just in time, since part 3 came out this morning.  I have decided to redo the hearts and flowers. The pinks are very light and almost whitish color.  I had order the threads this morning and when they come in, I will frog and restitch them.  There are mistakes on this section too, but they are spacing mistakes and I can't tell the difference.

 I got some lovely new stash this past month.  My friend, Karin, rak'd me these lovely gifts, Christmas mittens ornaments, a Christmas card magazine and some variegated threads.  I love the  gifts and I know I will be stitching from a couple patterns soon. Thank you Karin!

 I had signed up for the Kustom Krafts Stitch A Long and I am stitching Autumn Encounter.  I admit I haven't touch it in a couple weeks (no update) but will be working on it this weekend.  I was one of the winners in last months raffle and I was allow to pick a pattern from their site.  I fell in love with this tiger, called Blue Eyes. I am not sure when I will get to it, but it will be gorgeous when I do finish him.

Last June, I had participated a online retreat with one of my Yahoo groups.  I had won a prize was told I could pick 2 patterns from the X'x & Oh's site.  I picked Big Trouble and Shall We Dance.  It was the perfect treat for this stitcher on Halloween.  Thank you Vickie!

On the 15th every month, Nora Corbett releases at least one new pattern . The Mirabilia Minions (which they like to be called), stay up late to 1 am to see the new pattern.  Then the next few days, the talk is about what is the perfect fabric and who can get the pattern first, etc.  If I am awake around 1 am, I will check out the new patterns, but I usually don't go out right away to buy it.  When this mermaid, named Azure, came out, I said it was pretty but I can wait. so I thought,and when a friend, who model stitched Azure, showed some close ups of the model.  What I saw were beads and bling which I didn't see when seeing the whole picture.  My heart literally fell in love with her.  I actually had a physical feeling of my heart falling.  Needless to say, I brought the pattern and beads but will be getting the threads and fabric in a couple weeks.  I know when the rest of the stuff comes in, I will be stopping the rest of my stitching, because I want her on my wall.
 I will leave it here for now and leave you with some more Autumn scenes in Southeast Connecticut.

 This one was taken from the highway we were driving on.  My aunt stopped on the side for a minute and I snapped a few pictures.  We actually felt the bridge sway as the cars were whizzing by.

 This one is when the sun was blazing on the trees at sunset.

Love the blue sky!

Have a great week!
Until next time,
Vicky

Update and A Finish

 Here is my update on my Fright Night Friends for Week 7.  My goal this week is the second L and the sign post. I didn't stitch on it today which is Monday.  I was finishing up on Paws. I was  so close to finishing it, I didn't want to wait until Thursday to finish it.

 Paws and Stripes

by Stitchy Kitty Designs 

28 count even weave dyed purple by me

Recommended DMC threads and added white beads

This took me longer than I expected. One of the reasons is I have been getting headaches recently and been a little tired in the afternoons.  This summer is better than last year when I didn't want to stitch at all due to depression. I do need to get a button for the middle paw, but I won't show this again until I finish it into a wall hanging. I got the fabric and trimming already.

 Nora Corbett came out with a new pixie, Fairie Summer Love (FSL) and I fell in love with it. I love the greens in her dress and blue wings.  I am going to to stitch her on a Silkweaver solo I had in my stash. She will have a few stitches by next week's update.

Joann's had a 27 cents sale on Saturday. I took advantage of it, and got 95 skeins. Plus I wrapped majority of them on bobbins that night, and it took me about 6 hours. I am planning to use the skeins for FSL, Mirabila Lady of Freedom, and Sue Hillis Maps of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The maps are for my aunt. She had the patterns and gave them to me. I will be starting Massachusetts on Thursday.  I will be starting 2 new projects this week.

My dad is still in the rehab but he is doing good. We are hoping he will be home this week. It's been two weeks since his surgery. My cousin came over and fixed the dishwasher. I am very happy it works now.

Have a great week!

Hugs,
Vicky

Update and Winner

On the Fright Night Friends,  I stitched the 3 pumpkins.  The two pumpkins on the side of the middle is in Kreinik threads.  It really slowed me down. The sign below the pumpkins are 90% Kreinik.  My goal is to complete the sign this week and hopefully I can pick up speed after the sign is done. The good news is I finished page 2 and now on page 3. :D :D

I have a new start, Little House Needleworks Songs of the Season.  I am stitching the pattern on Hand-Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie Meadow. I just love the colors, a mixture of blue, green, and yellow.  This picture is half of part 1 and was able stitch this part in 2 days. Part 2 came in this past week and there is lot more stitching in that section, so that will take a little longer.

This past weekend one of my groups is having a super Stitching Weekend Challenge, which ends on July 31st.  As of Monday afternoon, I had made 2300 stitches. My original goal was 2500 but I changed it to 5000 last night.  Some of the stitches in the LHN was counted. I have a finish and a new start, my second one this week.

  Long May She Wave

by Val's Stuff

14ct  purple/pinkish aida

DMC threads 

gold beads

I will be finishing this into an ornament this week.  I will show the finish piece next week.

I started this piece last night, Sunday. It's a lot of fun. The pattern is from Stitchy Kitty.  I am hoping to finish this piece by Wednesday. I will be giving it to my friend. I don't have any fur babies but I do have a fur nephew and 2 fur nieces. I am thinking personalizing it, but not sure yet.


Are ready for the winner?  Because I am since I am done with my update.  There were only 4 that express interest in the traveling pattern.  I wrote the names on a piece of paper, shook them in a bag, and pulled a name. The winner is.....

Congratulations Meari!!!

Meari will be getting the pattern soon and she will offer it on her blog when it is ready to travel again.

Today my Dad went for his knee replacement surgery. He is doing good.  I talked to him, and despite of the drugs, he is alert and doing great. If no infections appear, he will be going to a rehab on Wednesday  to get use to his new knee.

I hope you have a great week!

Hugs,
Vicky

Traveling Pattern, Giveaway and Update

First a small update on my Fright Night Friends.   I am almost done with page 2.  The ghost is adorable.  This week is the Pumpkin Patch.   Most of it is the Kreinik thread. It is cool it glows in the dark but it can be such a huge pain.

Snowflower Diaries is having a great giveaway.  I did stitch a couple of her designs but I don't see them on my blog.  They were for a Spring exchange a couple months ago.  Or I deleted the post by accident.  Click here to get the information on the giveaway.

A couple months ago I won a traveling pattern and it finally arrived from Moscow,  Russia.

Little House Needleworks Summer Splendor 

by Diane Williams 

14 count Summer Khaki aida

recommend DMC threads 

added gold beads 

It came last week and I stitched it in 3 days.  I added gold beads to the strawberries and the centers in the flowers. Now I am offering it to my blog friends, just a few rules.

1. You must have an active blog.

2. Please agree to stitch it promptly.

3. Please pass it along to a fellow stitcher via a drawing on your blog.

4. Please post your finish and the history of where the chart has travelled like this:

1. Kathy at " Kathy's Sit and Stitch "

2. Carol at " Stitching Dreams "

3. Lisa at "Lisa's V Lounge"

4. Ellen at " Stitch Passion "

5. Theresa at " Giraffe Crossing "

6.  girl with a hoop at  "Girl with a hoop" (Tatyana)

7. Vicky at Numegger's Stitching Works

Post a comment on this post and I will pick a winner  on July 29. Good luck!

Have a great week!

Hugs,
Vicky

Heatwave, Torandos and Stitching Update

It's been 2 weeks since my last update.  First week of July was very hot and humid, leading to the 2nd heatwave for this year.  One of those days, 2 torandos touched down in Connecticut.   One by New York and other in central of the state.  No deaths or injuries,  just a lot of damage. I spend the 4th with some friends and was able watch the city's fireworks from their deck. I did start a new project but did not get too far. I was having trouble seeing the holes. I was in bright daylight but it was 30 count fabric. It shouldn't made a big difference dince I use 28 all the time, but it did this time. Here is my feeble start on  Country Cottage Needleworks Red, White snd Bloom.

Saturday and Sunday I picked up LK  ABC Lessons. I didn't do much but it is progress at least.

Last week the weather was crazy. It was so humid all week, sunny in the morning and storms in the after noon.  Last Wednesday,  another tornado touch down in the East of Connecticut and a microburst close by. A microburst is a storm with straight winds, where a tornado is circular winds. Again no injuries or deaths.






   I did stitch on my FNF SAL on Monday to Wednesday. I did finish the owl and back stitching and started the ghost. The ghost was suppose to have 2 arms done but I happen to miss a row in the arm by the A.  I was trying to stitch the bow and couldn't understand why it wasn't lining up. So I found it, un stitched the arm, and re started it again on Thursday morning before my appointments.

On Friday,  I took out Time To Go.  Between Friday and Saturday,  I put in 970 stitches. I finished page 1 and started on page 2. I can't hardly wait to get back to it in 2 weeks.

Sunday  I took out Gaze and almost finish the first 2 columns.  I stitched into 2:30 am. I was determine to finish the columns but I was making mistakes so I thought it was better to stop. However I did put in 775 stitches.

This week is going be our 3rd heatwave. The temperatures will be reaching near 100 with heavy humidity. I will be staying in my air conditioner and stitch. Have a great week!

Hugs, Vicky

This is Halloween SAL I am doing with a few ladies. I have a strong start.  I like stitching on it but its only on Monday to Wednesday.  By time Wednesday comes along,  my groove is going strong and I don't want to put it down.

What am I doing on Thursday to Sunday?  Well, I am doing some UFOs.  Sunday I picked out Lizzie Kate ABC Lessons.  I didn't get much done. It was very hot and humid plus my air conditioner didn't get into my window until Sunday evening.

This picture show I did finish the word friendship, the rose, the bu
butterfly and the letter Q. I will be getting back to this one in 2 weeks.

This is Halloween House and it went into  the garbage.  What went wrong?  Not thinking and being careless with scissors.   I stitched the left side on Friday and Saturday.  When I was stitching the pumpkin I realize I was missing a row.  It drove me nuts on where I lost it. The gate bars on the right, one with the big pumpkin, is off one stitch.  Now I figure I had to frog everything I stitched.  So I started cutting at top of the left, half way through, I yelled "You Idiot!!" to myself. All I had to do was frog the pumpkins, bottom of the gates, and the grass. Duh! I was almost done than the scissors slipped. By then i lost all my patience, which is hard to do, and threw out the piece.  I don't think I ever threw a piece out before. I did find another piece of fabric and dyed it a blue color. I will probably restarted Halloween  House in 2 weeks.

This house is a freebie from gazette94. I am trying to stitch on it a little each day. Last few days have not been successful.  There is a lot of blue. I do like the pattern.

.Snow by Shepherd Bush

Sassy Fabby's Berry Burst 28 ct  lugana

Recommend threads

I was looking for something in my stash and I came across this, almost finished. I even had 2012 in the corner.  I don't know why I didn't finish  it.  I know it was a Christmas gift from one of my exchanges in 2011 and I started while I was visiting my friend in Virginia. It came out adorable.

This week I will be working on Time To Go and Gaze.  I will try show my progress on Monday.  I was trying to do this week's update on Monday but blogger was not behaving very well. I will leave you with a couple pictures of the moon on June 23rd.It was beautiful and peaceful.

Hugs, Vicky 

Exchanges & Finishes

I participated in the Home Sweet Home exchange  on the Stitched With Love exchange blog. June was my partner and she stitched me a beautiful pin pilloe.  It is gorgeous.  She included the pattern Dew Drop Fairy. It is a pretty pattern and is part of a series.  Plus there are notecards, olive green thread spool, flower printed tissues, fabric, ribbon saying Home Sweet Home, and a postcard close to her home. Thank you June!

I send to Melanie in the U.K.  I stitched LHN Saltbox Village, and included needles, Heart in Hand Family Medley pattern, hand dyed material I did myself, fat quarters fabric, threads, notecards and beads. I forgot the postcard. Melaine said she liked everything!

LHN Saltbox Village

14 count antique white aida

DMC threads

In my Stitching Sisters group, Cindy send me this gorgeous sttiched framed piece for the spring exchange.  It came in this huge box and was light as a feather.  I have to add a backing to the stitched piece and lined it better before I hang it up. I love it! Thank you Cindy!

I finished up the Christmas ornament exchange In The Stitcherhood group. I won't say who got which one because they haven't let me know if they received yet, but I can show them off.  They were very quick and I added beads to add some bling to them.

 The three ornaments came from Leisure Arts Mini Christmas  Ornaments leaflet. I got the leaflet on clearance at Joanns for $2.97.

 Chilly  Penguin 

25 ct, pewter even weave

DMC threads

 gold beads added to the tree

 Puppy on Package

28 ct Antique White

DMC threads

green beads on package

Danish Angel

25 ct pewter even weave

DMC threads

beads to wreath, dress and cuffs

a motif Laughing in Flowers pattern

by  Praiseworthy Stitches. 

in Cross Stitch & Needlework May 2013

28 ct Raspberry Lugana

Threads: JAR Designs Butterfly Blue, GA Butternut Squash,

CC Aunt Marie's Violet, Carrie's Creations Green Grass and Purple 

In my ILCSing group, I participated in the Blooming May exchange.  I stitched an ornament for Tiina. It was shipped to Finland and she got it in less than a week. I added some ribbon and fower printed nail filers.

Judith from Germany send me this lovely exchange, a pin pillow, purple ribbon, and some floral patterns. Thank you Judith!

Butterfly and Seahorse fobs

I bought these 2 fobs from Mary Louise on Facebook. The picture is not doing justice to the fobs.  They sparkle alot. Seahorse is my favorite aquatic fish. I would love to learn how to make my own fobs. I tried to find instructions on the internet but no luck.  

Hope Building Block

by My Big Toe Designs

28 ct opalescent even weave

Threads: Crescent Colors Sugar & Spice, Plum Paisley and DMC 209.

I finished Hope for my aunt. I need to finish it but I am debating to frame it or make it into  a pillow. I have Faith and Love to do and I am thinking to do Hope again for myself.

I join a Halloween SAL in my new group on FB, Every Stitch Counts. On Mondays to Wednesdays, I will be stitching Stoney Creek Fright Night Friends.  I dyed the material a light purple. When I took the material out of the dye bath, it was a bright magenta color. I was so happy it lighten up a lot and it became the color I pictured in my head. That rarely happens.  It usually becomes a color hue I don't expect.  As you see, I am all set to go.

Thank you for reading my blog.  I am now exchange free so all my stitching is for me right now. I might be able do more frequent updates instead monthly.  In July, I am celebrating my 5th year blogiversary, and just notice I had 297 followers. I am gathering items for a gift away and there might be 2 if I get over 300 followers by July.

Have a beautiful week!

Hugs,
Vicky