Last weekend was a 2nd IHSW bonus weekend! 

I worked on (and completed) the Ink Circles RYO SAL.  LOVE how this turned out!   It was a very fast stitch! And it was sooooooo very easy to pick my own colors!

Last month I was part of an exchange on Tiny Treasures Exchange II.   We did Scissor Cases for the exchange.  I had never done one before.  The one I did has not yet been received, so I can't yet show how it turned out.   But the one that was done for me by Amanda is just beautiful!   She combined my two favorite things --- Butterflies and the color yellow!

 

 

I also found some time to start and complete part one of the LHN Song of Season SAL.   This was a very quick stitch as well.   Can't wait for the next part to come out!

 

 

 

Unfortunately, not much work got done on Confetti of Hardanger.  I did get the cutwork done, but was unable to really concentrate on the pattern.  So have put this aside for now.

 

 

While waiting for the next parts to Song of Seasons and Into the Deep to come out......I have dragged Dance of the Graces back out of the UFO pile.   That hasn't seen any love since January!

 

 

Well......That's it for me......Have a Great Day everyone!







Another Late IHSW Update

Last weekend was IHSW.....snuck past me!  But I wasn't idle!

Since my last post I have completed 2012 PR Mystery SAL!  I absolutely love how she turned out!

 

 

I have also started the Ink Circle RYO SAL.  At first I chose to go with the 738 colorway, but the browns just got totally lost in the design!   So I ended up with the 434.   LOVE how this is turning out so far!   Four pages down......one and a partial to go!  Hope to have this one finished soon!

 

The new 2013 PR Mystery SAL started on June 15th!  I ordered my fabric (Caribbean Tides) from Leslie at Under the Sea Fabrics!  It is just GORGEOUS!!!!  AND......have also finished the 1st part already with the exception of the beads!  And this design is going to be LOADED with beads!

This weekend I have pulled Confetti of Hardanger back out and will be working on the final part.  Hope to get this one finished over the weekend or early next week!  Here is how it looked the last time I had it out....

I have also signed up for the Little House Needlework Song of Seasons SAL.   Received all the materials in the mail yesterday.   Depending on how far I get with Confetti, I may pick that up and do part one.....

AND........the final surprise gift that I had worked on back in 2010/2011 was FINALLY given to my brother!   So I can now show you what I had worked on WAY back then.....LOL.  Snow Leopards are his favorite animals of all time and he was absolutely tickled by the gift!

And.....last but not least,  my husband has been slaving away making this......

....for our 1st grandchild due in August.   It isn't quite finished yet, but is getting close!   This is his 1st piece of furniture!  I'm soooooo proud of him!   He is doing such a beautiful job on it!

Well.....that's it for now folks! 

 

Stoney Creek Woodland Babies

 

I have been busy with my stitching though.   Have continued to work on the Stoney Creek Woodland Babies.  I don't think I will be able to get this done in time for the Baby Shower in April as planned though.  But I am quickly approaching the 1/2 point.   This has been a total joy to stitch thus far!   The space between the bunny and the raccoon (the one I'm working on now) is supposed to be a tree.   I don't like the look of the tree and will repeat one of the animals in it's place.   I have yet to decide which animal I will do, so I have skipped it for now.

Confetti of Hardanger is also moving right along.   Part 13 is complete!  Part 14, the final part, dropped this past weekend and has yet to be done.   I have to say I am sorry to see this one finishing up!  I have really enjoyed this one!   Learned alot along the way!   Hope there will be another SAL on Stitcher's Specialists Yahoo Group as this was a load of fun to do!

 

Also made progress on PR Mystery SAL!   Part 7 is now complete.   Part 8 was just released on the 1st of March.  I'm also enjoying this one as well!






Does anyone remember the Charity piece I worked on in the fall of 2011?  Where I did one square out of 20 that was to have been ultimately quilted together?  The quilt was to be given to the mother of a dearly beloved internet community stitcher that has passed away suddenly.   Well I'm pleased to say that the quilt was completed.   Arlene from another BB gathered all the cross-stitched pieces and quilted them together.   She did an AWESOME job on it!   Here is a picture of the finished piece!

HEAD Chelsea's Gift

 

As there was no interest in the Giveaway, there is no winner to announce.   I even allowed the Giveaway to go a week longer than originally planned. Oh well.....  Maybe next time?

 



Well, that is about all I have for this time my friends!   Have a wonderful day!   Until next time!

IHSW, Blogversay Give away & Woodland Babies

This past weekend was once again IHSW!   WooooHoo!   I chose to work on the Woodland Babies Afgan (see below for more info).  Worked on the Chipmunck Square.....  Here's how it looks as of this morning (there is a picture below of how it looked at the beginning of the weekend).

                                           
                                    

I started working on the baby afgan for my 1st grandchild that is due in August.  I am working on Stoney Creek's Woodland Babies.  Stitching it on 18 ct Fireside Afgan material.  I am making this larger than the normal size as I want it to be crib size.  There will be 17 stitched squares instead of there normal 13.  So far I am totally enjoying working on this!

Confetti of Hardanger also received a little bit of love.    I did the "Curved Fan" in one of the center blocks.   Was a fun stitch to do once I got the hang of it.   But I'm not sure I'm completely happy with my efforts!   I may yet pull it all out and do it again to get the individual fans more uniform.   The next motif just dropped this past weekend.  Haven't printed it out yet though.....

And I just noticed I am 2 days away from a Blogversary!   Soooooooo...How about a little give away?  I was thinking I would give a Chart of Choice from HEAD (Heaven and Earth) to one lucky person who leaves a comment AND is a follower.  Since 2 days is too short a time for this to run.....I'll extend the time on this until Monday next week, February  25th at 10:00 am Central Time.  Winner will be chosen with a randomizer.  Good Luck everyone!

Have a wonderful day and keep on stitchin!

Sorry.....I did it again......Long time between posts!

Since my last post.....DD got married, parents and one of my brothers came for a visit, I went to AZ for Thanksgiving and got back in time to do Christmas preparations for our Scandinavian family to come for a visit.  We also helped my In-Laws celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary!

DD and DH

DD and DSil

The wedding was absolutley beautiful!   Couldn't have had better weather for an outdoor wedding!  Everything went off without a hitch.....that is, until the wedded couple climbed into the Bently to take them to their Honeymoon Hotel!   The people at the venue decided to give the couple an opened bottle of RED wine to take in the car with them when they left.   They neglected to tell the couple that the cork was just barely in the bottle.    At some point in the 30 min drive to the hotel, the bottle became uncorked and the wine spilled all over DD's beautiful wedding gown!  I got a frantic and tearful phone call from DD on what to do with the dress as club soda was not taking out the stain.   I told her the only thing she could do at that time was to put the dress in the tub with water as cold as she could make it and let it soak over night and that we would take it straight to the cleaners in the morning and could only HOPE the stain would come out.   They emptied the hotels Ice bin on their floor into the tub with the dress and cold water!   By the time, we got the dress to the cleaners the next morning you almost couldn't see where the wine was on the dress.   The cleaners had the dress for six weeks and in that time, they were able to get the stain totally out!

Eagle Moon

Cherished Memories

While in AZ  I was able to give three of the special projects that I worked on last year to my brothers.   One of my brothers was not able to make it home for Thanksgiving or for Christmas, so he has not yet received his gift so that one I will hold off on showing you.  But here are the other three...   The Celtic Tree one is a conversion of a picture that my brother, Joe, drew.  He had no idea that I had taken his picture on a previous visit home with the intention of cross-stitching it for him.  I do believe this was the first time I've every seen him speechless when the completed piece was presented to him!

Celtic Tree Knot

 

 

Confetti of Hardanger

I've been quite busy on the stitching front too!   Have Continued to work on Confetti of Hardanger and have kept up with the steps.   The latest step has just dropped so I will be working on that this weekend.  I must say I'm really enjoying this.  I actually find it quite relaxing!

 

PR 2012 Mystery SAL

Passion Ricamo's Mystery SAL is also coming along nicely!  I've managed to keep in pace with this as well.  The next part on this will drop on the 1st.   I have modified it though.   I decided I didn't want to do the word that she charted at the bottom of the piece between the fairy and the scrollwork....so I have moved my scrollwork up to just under the fairy.

 

And Dance of the Graces also saw a bit of love.  I am hoping to get close to a finish on it this year.  Time will tell.  







HEAD Dance of the Graces

 

 

 

Last weekend was IHSW (Internatinal Hermit Stitch Weekend).  Last year I didn't participate, but this year I thought I would go ahead a do so.  Late in putting up my progress pictures due to blogger not letting me upload pictures until today (what's up with that?).   Anyway, I decided a new start was necessary for this.   So.......out came English Whitework Sampler.   I'm doing this on 40 ct linen which is a Silkweaver Sale Special that I got off their FB sales.  I'm loving this so far!   But I'm now going to have to put it aside for a little bit, cause I need to get started on a baby Afgan for my 1st grandchild that is due in August.

 

English Whitework Sampler

Well,   I think that's it for now my friends!  Enjoy your new year and keep on stitching!



Busy times are ahead!  The wedding is just on the horizon and there is still a lot to be done!  It is to be an outdoor wedding and we are just praying that the weather will be glorious.   But all it's wanted to do here recently is rain!  We are definately keeping our fingers (and toes) crossed!

I did get DD's Bride's Purse done.   (Pattern was from Cross Stitch and Needlework, May 2009.)  Had a couple of mishaps in the cutting, but I was following the pattern directions and cut where they said to only to find out that I should NOT have cut there.  But with a bit of Stitcher's glue and invisible thread, was able to repair it.   As long as DD is gentle with the purse, all should be fine!  Here it is......... although I think I will add a little beaded handle to it....

I put in some time on Lizzie Kates Very Scary Mystery Sampler and got it finished.   Still undecided on how to finish it though.   I'm going back and forth between a bellpull or framing it.

I have started my next Hardanger.  I joined the Yahoo group The Stitch Specialists.   They are doing a SAL called Confetti of Hardanger.   I was a little behind when I started mine, but have just about caught up.  Parts 1-4 are done.   I have started part 5 and part 6 should be released this weekend.   I'm loving how this is turning out so far!   I've chosen to do this on 32 ct Summer Sky using #8 and #12 DMC Perle 3753 and Caron Wildflowers Williamsburg.

Also managed to put in a "little" bit of time on Dance of the Graces.  Again, not much of a difference, but a stitch is a stitch!

 



Lately I've been in a knitting mood.   So I've decided to try my hand at knitting a shawl.  Never done one before. But love the delicate look of them.  Wish me luck!

 

Until next time my friends!  Have a GREAT STITCHY DAY!