Catching Up Yet Again!

Wow its been a couple of busy weeks for me!  I've been so busy, I haven't even managed to get into the gym!  Thank goodness I've got a treadmill in the basement so I can get that exercise in!  What free time I have had, I've wanted to spend stitching!!!


First of all, last week's PhotoHunt, the theme was "spark"

I just love the sparkle of a good firework show!

Two weekends ago Tracey, Christin and I popped across the border for a little shopping.  We visited JoAnn's and I picked up these cute fabrics!

Also I made Tracey stop at the side of the road, I finally found THE basket to display my smalls in!  There was an Amish man selling baskets and baked goods at the side of the road.  I got this beautiful basket for a great price!

This past weekend Christin, Tracey and I piled into the car again, this time to Kingston!  We went to check out the Cataraqui Guild of Stitchery's annual merchant market.  I took a little money with me, I managed to pick up a few things, a beautiful piece of fabric, the new DMC colours, and a great Ottawa Balckwork piece with is a fundraiser by the Ottawa Guild of Stitchery for Seminar in 2014.  We then all headed to Rebecca's for a fantastic day of stitching, comraedarie... and well food too!

Kathy surprised me on Saturday with this cute little martial arts themed fabric!  I love it!

Also on the weekend was TUSAL time.  Finally, here is my ort jar, full of browns and other earthy tones.

Cat's Meow

cThe Drawn Thread

Stitched on 32ct White Lugana

Finally, I have a Happy Dance to share with you from last night!  This is the 14th of my 15 Crazy January Starts that I've finished!  This was so cute and fun to stitch!

February Ornament SAL

If you haven't figured out by now, I love ornaments.  I haven't put my own tree up in a few years but I keep stitching ornaments and I give most of them away.  Here's the ornaments I've stitched up since last month's report.

Progress on my latest ornament

Dove of Birds

JBW Designs

  Merry Christmas Deer

Little Stitcher Freebie

 'Tis REd

La-D-Da

I also did the finishing on this one

Merry Little Christmas

Drawn Thread

February TUSAL & More

Its TUSAL time, sorry no artistic photography this month, just a jar, that's all!  You can seem some of the reds and greens from my smalls stitching the last few days.

I've had a couple of finishes this weekend and I've done a wee bit of finishing too.

 'Tis Red

La-D-Da

2010 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue

Stitched on 30ct Coconut Macaroon Linen

Stitched with Caron Waterlillies Emerald

Red Threads Letter C

Rosewood Manor

Used the same fabric/threads as above since I had a little fabric left after the ornament.  I stitched and finished this on Saturday

 Merry Christmas Deer

c2012 Little Stitcher Freebie

Stitched on 32ct Dirty Linen Belfast

Stitched with Carrie's Creation Colonial Red & DMC

 I also whipped up a back for this ornament

 I finally did the finishing on this little Drawn Thread Freebie I recently stitched

How do you store your ornaments and small pieces awaiting finishing?  I used to store mine in either a big ziplock or a large zipper mesh bag.  A couple of my quilting friends use scrapbooking boxes to keep their blocks in while piecing their quilts.  I thought well, they're 12x12 that seems ideal for my ornaments/smalls.  This past week all storage was 40% off at Michaels so I thought why not, and picked two up.  I'm quite pleased with them.

Ornament SAL - January Report

Silverlotous is hosting an Ornament SAL this year and if you're a regular reader you know for years now I've stitched at least one ornament a month, so this SAL is a cinch for me!  I couldn't not join in.

Instead of stitching one ornament this month... I've stitched quite a few!  All of these were part of my Crazy January Challenge.  I have a couple of more I haven't finished yet.  They'll be shown off for next month's SAL.

 Peace Pin Button by Jeannette Douglas

from the 2012 JCS Ornament Issue

 Merry Little Chirstmas Ornament by The Drawn thread

 Love Dove by JBW Designs

Flowers and Vines Dove by JBW Designs

Crazy Challenge Day 12 and Some Stitching Goals

Saturday saw me starting my 12th project for 2013, I picked something just a little bigger than an ornament since it was the weekend.  I was out and a about a bit so I didn't get as much done on it if I had stayed home all day, but that's okay.  I can't always be a stitching hermit!

This chart was a gift to me quite a few years ago, finally I've gotten around to start it, I'm really enjoying the colours in this so far!

Last year I got out of the habit of sharing my stitching goals with you each month.  Actually I got out of the habit of setting them ... feel free to join me this year!  I find it really helps me to focus my stitching each month!

So here we go for 2013...

January Stitching Goals

• Crazy Challenge, start 15 new projects in 15 days!
• Lizzie*Kate travelling pattern Cross Stitcher in Residence
• Stitch one ornament
• \Stitch one row on my current page on The Accolade
• Finish A is For Angel on Kathy's Christmas Sampler

Crazy Challenge Day 11 Start & Finish!

Merry Little Christmas Ornament - Freebie

c2010 The Drawn Thread 

Stitched on 32ct mystery linen

Stitched with Silk'N Colors, DMC and Mill Hill Beads

Another weekday, another ornament!  Day 11 found us on Friday picking out another ornament to stitch up for our Crazy Start.  After a couple of JCS ornament starts I picked out a freebie I've been wanting to start for a few years now.  So yesterday I found the file, printed it, and  kitted it up.

 Front

Back - I repeated the center motif for the back

Not only did I start this ornament, I finished it as well!  That's 5 out of 11 so far finished, not a bad!!!  This is another piece that's not very intense but very effective and quick to stitch... of course many people tell me that my idea of quick isn't most people's idea of quick????  I would say this takes about 5 hours maybe and that includes the front and back with backstitch outlines for future finishing.

Farewell Long Weekend...

Were you checking for updated entries this past weekend? Well, there weren't any because its the Victoria Day long weekend (we celebrate Queen Victoria's Birthday!). Todd and I unplugged ourselves from the world starting Friday night and headed to Todd's parent's cottage with his folks and sister. We disconnected from the Internet and the phone and just spent time as a family. The weather wasn't stellar, it was cold and wet at times (very common for this long weekend) but Todd and his Dad got out fishing and Terri (his sister) and I got out for a lot of long walks.




It was nice to just get away from everything and everyone for awhile... and sleep in!



I got some nice photos on the weekend (again using the "creative zone" of the camera).




Terri and I came across this rusty old bike up against a tree. Very picturesque, could be on the front of a greeting card I think.



Then there was this cute little red squirrel that was quite bold on the road in front of us.


I did manage to stitch a little this weekend, but most of it was done today. I've almost finished my last model, just some nasty DMC metallic to put in. I am sooo looking forward to getting back to my own projects, of course first I need to find the time!


I do have some stitching to show off! Late last week Marg received the squares I sent her for round 6 of Fair and Square.

Rosebud Nametag

Freebie cDrawn Thread

Stitched on 32ct Natural Linen

Using DMC Threads