Stitchingly Along...

Hello!  :)

Perhaps that should be the title of my blog with how much stitching I've been doing lately... lol!  :)  I'm definitely moving stitchingly along. I will be moving sewingly along again but for now stitching is bringing me comfort and joy.  :)

When I last shared with you I had begun stitching the first piece in the new Little House Needleworks series called "Sheep Virtue's". Here is where I left off . . .

 This "Hope" piece stitched up pretty quick. I finished it the next day.

I can't wait until the end of this month when the 2nd in the series comes out. I already have my fabric ready and waiting.  :)

This past weekend I began stitching on a piece I've been wanting to work on for awhile now. Lizzie Kate's "Boo Club" is a fun piece that actually has 12 individual designs that can be stitched separately or all together. I'm stitching them all together on a piece of 28ct Golden Harvest Lugana.

I've made quite a lot of progress in a few days. I've actually been stitching more than I've been on the computer which isn't normal for me.  ;)  I think it's coming along very nice. I had to change the original yellow border to the bluish/green color already used in the design. There are also stars in each section that I haven't stitched yet. They were suppose to be yellow and won't show up so I need to change them. I'm thinking about using a silver color with some shimmery strands but I haven't decided for sure yet. I'm also considering just adding star buttons. I'll make that decision eventually.  ;)  For now I'm just plugging along.

I got some good news today. My Yahoo stitching group, SoCalCrossStitchers, will be getting together again on February 23rd in Upland. I can't wait to spend another day stitching with these lovely ladies. We also have another stitching day set up for March 9th in Newport Beach, an overnight stitching day/night on May 18th in San Diego and we're talking about setting up a retreat. I'm so glad I found these ladies. If you're a cross stitcher in Southern California we'd be happy to have you join us!  :)

Oh I almost forgot . . . It's the time of the month to show my ORT's for the

What are ORT's? They are your 'old ratty threads' that are leftover when your stitching. Before I show you my jar for 2013 I need to show you how full my jar got in 2012 (since I forgot to earlier).

It got pretty full huh? I love all the colors. While I should throw these out, I just can't yet at least. I may find something else to do with them. I think for now I'll keep them.  ;)

Here is my jar for 2013. Two months of stitching so far. Such a difference.  :)

Until next time . . .

A Finish ~ Ort Report & Progress Finally!

Hello!  :)

Last week and over the weekend I got some stitching done. I actually finished stitching the piece I'm doing for my Fall Exchange but of course I can't show it to you. I'm hoping to get it made into a finished piece in the next few days. Especially since I need to have it mailed out by Monday.

After the exchange piece, I picked up the Poinsettia House again. Here's where I had left off last time . . .

Here it is all stitched up and ready to make up into the mini quilt I had planned for it.

Now I just need to pick out the fabrics to go with it and get 'er done.  :)  With all the stitching I've been doing my ort (old ratty threads) jar is getting full.

I wonder how full it will be by the end of the year. I'm posting it as part of the

Now to show you the progress I made. I finally got my act together and sandwiched my "My Favorite Things" quilt.

I kept putting it off and putting it off. The sandwiching is my least favorite part of the whole progress. I think it's because it's so big and hard to do in my small home. Here's a closer view and a sneak peek at the backing fabric.

I think the red gingham backing (a recycled sheet) really goes well with the quilt and looks fabulous!  :)  Now I just need to sit down and start quilting it. I'm using perle cotton and doing it by hand. I think doing it that way will really add to the quilt. I wasn't really sure how I wanted to quilt it and am just figuring it out as I go along. I did get a chance to sit down with it last night and begin. Here's how I'm quilting the blocks and pieced areas between them.

I decided to use red to stitch around each block. I'm using white to outline each shape. Then I'm using yellow, red, pink and blues to stitch flowers in some of the larger blocks in the pieced areas between the blocks. I'm really happy with how it's turning out so far. I've gotten the first row done already. Only four more to go... lol! My plan is to finish each row of blocks. Then the rows of strips and then the borders after that. I have a few ideas of how to quilt the strips and borders but haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do yet. It's kind of fun figuring it out as I go along. Thanks for visiting me!  :)

Until next time . . .

Friday Night Sew-In & Ort Report

Hello!  :)

I had a wonderful Friday Night Sew-In Stitch-In last night! I managed to finish up part one of the Lizzie Kate Mystery Halloween Sampler. Here it is . . .

There are some straight stitches that will go in the triangular border. I'll add those later since I'm using a hoop to stitch this. I'm now ready to start part two.  :)

Yesterday was the day to share my ort's. You can read about them here . . .

I've been adding lots of threads to my jar. I'm finding myself pressing them down more now, as the jar's getting pretty full.  :)

This weekend is also the . . .

I'm going to keep on stitching and will be back Monday with a report of all the stitching I get done over the weekend.  :)

Until next time . . .

ORT's ~ Exchanges ~ Hermits ~ Stamps

Hello!  :)

I'd like to share my ORT's for July with you . . .

You might be asking yourself, "What are ORT's?" Well let me tell you!  :)  They are the old ratty threads that are leftover when stitching. As you know I've been stitching pretty non-stop lately so my jar is pretty full! There are lots of wonderful colors in there aren't there?! Sharing my ORT's is part of the Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long (how fun is that?!).

Next I'd like to share some exchange goodies with you! I took part in another stitching exchange over at "Stitched With Love Exchanges". I'm really enjoying participating in these exchanges! Thanks Lainey! No one gets to share what they sent or received until everyone has received their package and Lainey tells us it's time to share. Then she posts all the goodies everyone sent and received on the "Stitched With Love Exchanges" blog. You can view all of the goodies here.

This last exchange was a Patriotic one. Here's what my partner April sent to me . . .

Isn't it fabulous?!!! I was so happy when I opened my package!  :)  I love Americana stuff. I actually used to decorate my whole house with it. Now I've toned it down but still have some pieces around. I've actually already stitched the pattern she gave me up into a pillow for the 4th which I shared with you previously here. I also use one of the ribbons she gave me on one of my "Celebrating Red White & Blue" quilt blocks here. I love all of it! Thank you so much April for your kindness and sharing your talents with me! I really appreciate it! Here's a close up of the stitched piece she did for me . . .

I'm planning on doing my bathroom in Americana very soon and this will be hanging on the wall in there year-round. For now it's sitting on a table in my living room. It makes me smile every time I see it!  :)

Here's what I sent to my partner Kim . . .

I was really happy with how it all came out. I hope she was too!  :)  Here's a closer view of the pillow I made for her . . . 

Does it look a little familiar to you? It should! I made one for myself for the 4th and shared it with you here. I also stitched a bigger version of the same design and put it on a block for the "Celebrating Red White & Blue" blog hop which you can see here. Can you tell I like this design?! I love hearts and I love patriotic things!

The next exchange is a "Tea Party in the Garden" exchange. I am preparing a "Garden" package for my partner and I will be receiving the same theme in return. Actually I haven't really started yet. I've been swamped lately. I finally did sit down tonight and ordered the pattern and supplies necessary for the piece I will stitch for my partner and also a couple of extra goodies for her.  :)  It should come quickly as I ordered the items from 123stitch.com and they usually ship items pretty quick. They have great prices and low shipping too! It's one of my favorite places to go for my stitching supplies!  :)

Speaking of stitching . . . this is the weekend for the next

I will definitely be participating and stitching this weekend. I'll be back on Monday to tell you all about it!  :)

Before I go I like to tell you about some items I'll selling over at eBay in case you're interested.

Do you like to stamp? Don't you just love Stampin' Up! stamps?!!! They're absolutely fabulous! I used to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator until a few months ago. I had to give it up as I just didn't have as much time for it anymore. I have lots of great stamps and other items in my personal stash. I've found myself needing to raise some cash pretty quick so I decided to part with some of my lovely, cherished stamps. 73 sets of them to be exact! (Don't worry I still have more! I know!)

Anyway I'm telling you this because I thought you might want to get some of these awesome stamps for yourself. If you're interested you can check out my eBay stamp auctions here. They all end on Monday, July 23rd (or sooner if you use the "Buy it Now" feature). If you do decide to purchase any of them please let me know you came from my blog and I will include a special surprise for you with your stamps! Just a little gift from me to you to say "Thank You!" (My auctions are only available to those in the US . . . sorry!) Have a Great Weekend!  :)

Until next time . . .