Framing finishes and a new start!

I never took a picture of this one in the frame.  This is A Paris Kiss by Vervaco, a kit I bought from The Stitchery catalog years ago.  It was framed by my friend who works at a framing shop, using a frame that I already had and she cut the mats and mounted it for me.  Do you see how the corners are rounded at the top?

A Paris Kiss - framed!

I just got this one back from her, too!  It is the free Hummingbird design by Teresa Wentzler.  I bought this square gold frame at a thrift store for $4.  She cut the mats and mounted it for only $5.

Hummingbird - framed!

Here is another one that she framed for me.  The frame is actually silver metal, but it looks black in this picture.  I love the way she cut the mats!  This is a free design from a French website, Battybat.

Harley-Davidson logo - framed!

My new start is a freebie from Kissy-Cross, Rudolph Wreath.  It will be about 4.5" square on 20 ct Valerie fabric, stitched 2 over 1.  Can you see the gold sparkly thread in the fabric?

Rudolph Wreath

 

One of these days I'm going to get all my little finishes together and actually make them into ornaments using Vonna's tutorials.  Wish me luck!

WIPocalypse update #6 and two finishes!

Only six more months until the WIPocalypse! Will I get all my WIPs finished in time?  The entire list on my WIPocalypse page is slowly shrinking.  I have moved two more WIPs to the Finishes 2012 page!

Linda and I had a Monday snowman SAL.  She finished Snow Pals and I finished Mr. Mittens.  Next Monday we'll start a new SAL.

Mr. Mittens - finished!

"Mr. Mittens"
Designed by Alma Lynne
Janlynn
Started 1/2/2012, Finished 6/8/2012

I am having a giveaway of the original chart for this design.  The finished size is 7" x 9" and the chart has the DMC color numbers listed.  There are lots of quarter stitches, so I would recommend 28 ct fabric and stitch over 2, or use a sharp needle if stitching on Aida 14 ct, which is what came with the kit I used.  Just leave a comment on this post to let me know if you're interested in this chart, and I will choose a winner on Thursday, June 14.

My next finish is the Harley-Davidson logo which I didn't finish in time for Christmas, so I waited until my boyfriend's birthday in June instead.  The orange hand-dyed fabric is from Stitchnmomma.

Harley-Davidson logo - finished!

 "Harley-Davidson logo"
battybat
Started 11/26/2011, Finished 6/3/2012

My friend Beth works at a framing shop and framed this for me.  I love the custom mat that she made!  The frame is actually silver and reminds me of a motorcycle engine.

Harley-Davidson logo - framed!

I signed up for a Pine Needle Basket Weaving class at the local community center for three Saturdays.  This is my progress on my very first basket after two classes.  It will be finished next Saturday!

Pine Needle Basket top

Pine Needle Basket bottom

TUSAL #5 and vacation photos!

TUSAL #5

Yes, my TUSAL posting is almost two weeks late!  I was on vacation at Yosemite National Park and barely stitched at all, only finishing the orange X's on the word MOTOR (they were only half-stitches before).  Today I did the black border, and now all that is left is the black between the letters.

Harley-Davidson logo update #11

The month of May wasn't very productive in the cross stitch department!  I didn't keep up with any of my SALs and didn't have any finishes at all.  My goal for June is to finish at least five of my many starts that are close to being done anyway.

Here are some lovely vacation photos to enjoy!  You can click on each one to make it full screen size.

This is the first view of Yosemite valley after driving through a mile-long tunnel in the mountain.  El Capitan is on the left, Half Dome in the distance in the center, and Bridal Veil Falls on the right.

 This is Vernal Falls from a distance as we were hiking uphill.

 This is Vernal Falls as we got closer.  I didn't make it to the very top though.  This was close enough!

 We floated down the river on a raft and got this great photo of Half Dome.

This is upper and lower Yosemite Falls.  Notice the RV and cars at the bottom, so you can realize how massive this is!  There were many other waterfalls to see also.

We drove through the snow at higher elevations and saw this little guy who looked like he wanted a ride!

Halloween House update and Random Number Generator

Halloween House update #14

I only did some backstitching last Friday on Halloween House.  I want to stitch the rest of the jack o'lanterns next time.  Everyone is making great progress and someone is getting close to a finish!  See them all on the Halloween House SAL page.

Spring & Fall - April update #3

The brown bunny is a little bigger.  I didn't finish this April picture in April, so I think I'll start on the May piece next Saturday.

Harley-Davidson logo update #10

All the black is done on the bottom of the Harley-Davidson logo.  Now I need to finish the orange X's on top and stitch the rest of the black background.

I copied Otter's Ocean and got a Random Number Generator widget to choose which of my WIPs to give some attention to (in addition to my weekly SALs).  They are all listed on my WIPocalypse page, but the numbers will change each time I have a finish and move it from that page to the Finishes 2012 page instead.  My number range is from 1-62, since I'm planning to have another new start for World of Charity Stitching any day now.

Red Cat update #1

The first random number for yesterday was #53, Red Cat, stitched with Vikki Clayton hand-dyed silk in Aquamarine on 28 ct antique white Jobelan, 2 over 2.  This was one of my starts for the Super-Duper Ultimate Crazy February Challenge, since Linda convinced me to start a new project every day in January AND February!  I remember how fun it was to start something new every day.  I think I'll click on the Random Number Generator whenever I get the urge, so look out for different pieces being updated all the time now!

Happy Stitching, everyone!

WIPocalypse and SAL updates!

This is my WIPocalypse post for May!  Check in on Measi's blog to add yours!  I have also updated my WIPocalypse page, so check it out to see the most current pics of all my projects.

Harley-Davidson logo update #9

I have been working on the black background of the Harley-Davidson logo and I hope to finish it before the end of the month so I can get it framed before my boyfriend's birthday in June.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - finished!

I finished Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in time for my son's 28th birthday!

Mr. Mittens update #10

Mr. Mittens has the beginning of a blue striped scarf, and I added a little more backstitching.  He still needs another sleeve and glove.  This is my X-Stitching Xmas update for May.

Spring & Fall - April update #2

I stitched a little more of the brown bunny for my Prairie Schooler monthly designs SAL with Linda and Rosemary.  Rosemary has already finished the April design!

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas (Day 2) update #1

I stitched the two turtle doves for the second day of Christmas.  Linda and Kaye are also stitching these Prairie Schooler designs.  This is also my X-Stitching Xmas update for April. Lady Kell of Kincavel started a X-Stitching Christmas Challenge to finish 12 items for Christmas.  Check out my X-Stitching Christmas Challenge page to see what I have done so far!

TUSAL #4 and Halloween House progress!

TUSAL #4

It's time for the monthly TUSAL update!  My ORTs outgrew the star-shaped dish, so now I'll be using this vase instead.  Be sure to check in on Daffycat's blog.

Halloween House update #13

I only got one pumpkin done in front of the fence.  There will be many more!

Harley-Davidson logo update #8

I made full cross stitches on the bottom half (CYCLES), but the top half (MOTOR) is still half cross stitches. Can you tell the difference?  The words will really pop after I add more black background between the letters.

I have no reports to type for work right now, so I can get back to stitching on company time! Lucky me!

Just a little bit of progress!

Spring & Fall - April update #1

This Prairie Schooler design from the Spring & Fall booklet is my Saturday SAL with Linda and Rosemary. We plan to stitch one for every month.  Linda suggested doing the bunnies in different colors and I thought that was a great idea!

Harley-Davidson logo update #7

I finished the two rows of black under the word Davidson.  Next I will finish the orange half stitches into full X's.  I have been spending a lot more time chatting with my boyfriend online instead of stitching this gift for him!  I missed the Christmas date, so I put it off for his birthday instead.

Halloween House update #12

My little bit of progress on Halloween House was just the last two fence posts on the right.  My goal for next Friday is to add more Jack o'Lanterns!

Happy Stitching, everyone!

WIPocalypse and SAL updates - lots of progress!

I saw a beautiful Full Moon the other night, which reminded me that it's time for the WIPocalypse update #4!  Check in on Measi's blog to share a link to your WIPocalypse update, too!  Are we getting closer to finishing all our cross stitch projects before the end of the world?

You can click on each photo to make it larger.  See my WIPocalypse page for current pics of all my projects.  Enjoy my updates!

Trick or Treat update #13

I added a spider, pumpkin, and started the purple hat on Trick or Treat.  I'm already imagining how it will look when framed with 2 or 3 different colored mats.

Harley-Davidson logo update #6

I added more black background behind the letters, but still have a lot more to go! I also need to finish all the orange X's, since they're only half-stitches right now.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles update #1

I started Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on day #10 of the Ultimate Crazy January Challenge.  I bought this chart from Wee Little Stitches.  One turtle down and three more to go!  It will be a gift for my son's 28th birthday.

BBQ Queen update #9

BBQ Queen has hot dogs on a BBQ now.  Maybe next week the flamingo and BBQ will have legs!

Halloween House update #11

More of the purple house and black fence were completed on Friday the 6th.  I didn't stitch anything on it last Friday the 30th.  You can see progress pics from everyone on the Halloween House SAL page on Linda's blog.

I bought all the cute Q-Snap covers from Christine's Q-Snap Huggies.  Be sure to tell her that I sent you!

WIPocalypse update #3

It's another Full Moon and time to check in for the WIPocalypse on Measi's blog!  Since my last check-in, I finished the Happy Easter Snow Globe and you can see a pic on my Finishes 2012 page.  I started a new cross stitch project for every day in January and February, and now I can give some attention to the pre-2012 cross stitch pieces!

Linda and I were having a SAL for Trick or Treat last year, and she finished hers, but I set mine aside to concentrate on stitching Christmas gifts.  This is where I left it in December 2011:

Trick or Treat update #11

And this is where it is today!

Trick or Treat update #12

Hopefully I will have it finished by the next WIPocalypse check-in!

I have also been stitching the black background for the Harley-Davidson logo.  I didn't finish it in time for Christmas, so I will also go back and make the orange stitches full crosses instead of half crosses (which I did to save time).  The free pattern is from battybat, and I bought the orange hand-dyed fabric from Stitchnmomma.

Harley-Davidson logo update #5

Please check out all my WIPs on my WIPocalypse page. I keep the most current updated pics there of every project I am working on.  Thanks for looking!

Halloween House SAL update #5

Halloween House update #5

Here is my progress on Halloween House for my Friday SAL. You can see everyone's pics HERE.

Spring & Fall - March update #2

I stitched part of the lion on Spring & Fall - March for my Saturday SAL.  We plan to stitch a square for every month!

Harley-Davidson logo update #4

I started stitching the black background on the Harley-Davidson logo.  It wasn't finished on time for Christmas, so now I have time to go back and make full X's for the orange instead of half crosses.  I found this freebie chart on a French website, battybat.  The finished size will be 7" x 5.5".

Harley-Davidson logo (small)

Day #44 is another Harley-Davidson logo, also a freebie from battybat. This one will be smaller, about 4.5" x 3".  I am stitching it on perforated paper and will glue it onto a magnetic sheet and then cut it out.  It will make a great magnet for my dad!

Quoth the Raven

Day #45 is Quoth the Raven, designed by Lady Kell of Kincavel.  This is a free chart from her blog.  I plan to stitch this one for my nephew, since he is an Edgar Allan Poe fan and performed in some of his plays in high school.  I will only use black floss on 14 ct red Aida.  The finished size will be 8.5" x 5".

Day #2 - Mr. Mittens

 

Day #2 of my Ultimate Crazy January Challenge is Mr. Mittens, a kit from Janlynn, designed by Alma Lynne.  I am having a Snowman SAL with Linda and Randi on Mondays.  We are all stitching different charts but very similar snowmen.  I was able to stitch this during my work day on company time, since I had nothing to type!  I'm posting this update earlier than usual for me, and now I will stitch on something from my WIPocalypse list.

I got this far on the Harley-Davidson logo and all I have left to do is the black background and border.  That will be easy to do while watching TV, since I won't have to count or change colors.  I bought the orange hand-dyed Aida from Stitchnmomma.

I just got back into cross stitching last year when I made a wedding present for my friend.  Then I was in a car accident and was off work for six months so I had plenty of time for stitching.  I have joined Yahoo groups, Facebook groups, and started following and commenting on lots of blogs.  It has been a very fun year!  Here is a summary of my progress in 2011:  I had 26 finishes, 14 which were gifts, 9 donations to World of Charity Stitching, 5 Christmas ornaments, and 2 pieces for myself.  I am starting out 2012 with 10 WIPs.  I wonder what my summary will look like next year!