Back from the framer!

I just picked these up from my framing friend!  This is Quaker Moon by Bent Creek.  I found the perfect black square frame at a thrift store for $1 and she only charged me for mounting it.

Quaker Moon - FRAMED!

This is Mary's Sampler II by Plum Street Samplers.  This is another thrift store frame for $1 that I thought matched the colors perfectly and I only had to pay for mounting and the gold mat!

Mary's Sampler II - FRAMED!

This is I'll Get You My Pretty by Sue Hillis Designs.  I did pay for this one to be custom framed because it was an unusual size, 7" x 12".

I'll Get You My Pretty - FRAMED!

Beth at Wilson's Frame-Up has framed 17 of my cross stitch finishes so far!

February WIPocalypse update and a finish!

There's a full moon, so it's time for a WIPocalypse update! This month's topic is "How many projects do you generally feel comfortable having in progress at a time?  Tell us about your one-at-a-time or rotation habits!"

I stitch on about 20 different WIPs each month (except for last month, when it was 62; 31 new starts and 31 WIPs).  I'm in 3 SALs (stitch-a-longs) where I stitch a certain project on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  I also chose 10 WIPs for the Turtle Trot SAL and post before & after progress pics once a month.  The YOTA SAL also has a before & after photo once a month.  I'm in the Smalls SAL and Hallowe'en Ornie SAL and try to finish one a month for each of those.  When I meet with the Southern California Cross Stitchers Yahoo group once a month, I usually stitch on 2 Lizzie*Kate designs.  I might stitch on a few more from my WIPocalypse list to fit the theme for the Theme-a-licious SAL each month.  I'm also in several cross stitch groups on Facebook that have different challenges each week!

I like to stitch a few hours every night while I'm watching TV, even though I would get more done if the TV was off!

You can see current photos of all of my WIPs on my WIPocalypse page.  My goal this year is to move half of them to the Finishes 2014 page instead!

My Sunday SAL with Linda and Kaye is Santa's 12 Days of Christmas by The Prairie Schooler.  I stitched the 5 golden rings.

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas (Day 5) update #2

My Saturday SAL with Linda and Kaye is Fall Welcome by Diane Arthurs.  I stitched the bottom of the scarecrow girl's skirt.

Fall Welcome update #6

My Monday SAL is Cut Thru' North Pole House by Bothy Threads.  There are almost 40 stitchers working on different Cut Thru' designs.  See all their progress photos on the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Monday SAL page.  I finished the yellow wall and did all the backstitching on the presents.

Cut Thru' North Pole House update #7

I finished Mary's Sampler II, the free Mystery SAL from Plum Street Samplers.  Part 9 was words, border, and another crown.

Mary's Sampler II - FINISHED!

"Mary's Sampler II"
Designed by Paulette Stewart
Plum Street Samplers
18 ct Fiddler's cloth
Started 9/30/2013, Finished 2/14/2014

Check in on Measi's Musings blog with a link to your February WIPocalypse blog post, too!

Back from the framer!

I finally got Mr. Mittens framed!  I finished him in June 2012.  This was a Janlynn kit that someone gave me.  Then I had a giveaway drawing and passed the chart on to another stitcher.  I found this natural wood frame at a yard sale for a dollar.  It was brand new and from Ikea.  My friend Beth the framer mounted it and cut purple and green mats that match just perfectly!

Mr. Mittens - FRAMED!

Mr. Mittens - FRAMED!

I'm almost finished with Mary's Sampler II, the free Mystery SAL from Plum Street Samplers.  Part 9 is almost done except for the red flowers around the border and one more crown in the blank space on the right side.

Mary's Sampler II (part 9)

Here I am in my usual stitching position with a cat or two, watching the Olympics and stitching!

Teddy usually sits next to me but he's getting so darned BIG, he takes up half the couch!  I took him to the vet on Friday and he weighs 131 pounds!  The animal shelter told us he was a Labrador when we adopted him 3 years ago.  Hmmmm... vet says he must be part Mastiff, of course!

 

Stitching black on red!

Just for fun, I'm going to post updates on my WIPs that have something in common. Here are two designs that I started last February 2012 that are both stitched with black floss on red 14 ct Aida.  They are darker than this, but it's really hard to get an accurate picture of red with my camera!

Quoth the Raven, a freebie from Lady Kell of Kincavel, will be a gift for my nephew.  I stitched more of the border.

Quote the Raven update #4

Leo, a freebie from Stitch Alley, will be a gift for my daughter.  I stitched his chest and front paws.

Leo update #2

I'm actually caught up on Mary's Sampler II, the free Mystery SAL from Plum Street Samplers!  I added two crowns and a cross for part 8.  This Sunday will be the 9th and final part!

Mary's Sampler II (part 8)

Today I'm going to meet up with some other ladies from the SoCalCrossStitchers Yahoo group for a stitching get-together.  We'll be stitching at the food court of the mall by the beach today!  We usually like to stitch outside, but it might rain, which is pretty rare for Southern California.  Check out this TV news video about our terrible weather the other day! 

Christmas stitching!

I backstitched Santa's elf in the gift wrapping room in the Cut Thru' North Pole House. Isn't he a cutie?  Linda, Justine, and Eva are way ahead of me on this one.  Check out their progress on the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Monday SAL page!

North Pole House update #5

I'm almost caught up with Mary's Sampler II, the free Mystery SAL from Plum Street Samplers.  For part 7, I added 7 stars, the heart, flower, and leaves.  Part 8 will be quick, just two crowns and a cross.  This Sunday will be the 9th and final part!

Mary's Sampler II (part 7)

Happy Holiday Stitching, everyone!

November WIPocalypse update

Another full moon and time for another WIPocalypse update!  Check in on Measi's blog with your November update, too!

I won't have this one ready to hang up for Autumn this year, but definitely next!  This is Fall Welcome, a Saturday SAL with Linda and Kaye.  I stitched the post of the scarecrow, the stems of the pumpkins, and most of the squash.  I am using 14 ct Aida Lambswool and it will be about 4" x 15" when it's finished.

Fall Welcome update #3

Here's another one that I haven't touched in a few months.  This is Santa's 12 Days of Christmas by The Prairie Schooler, a Sunday SAL with Linda and Kaye.  I started Day 5 with the backstitched border and part of Santa's hat.  I should have this done by Christmas 2014.  I'm stitching them all together on one piece of 28 ct Mushroom evenweave and the finished size will be about 12" x 22".

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas (Day 5)

I finished parts 5 and 6 of Mary's Sampler II, a free Mystery SAL from Plum Street Samplers.  I added 6 more stars and 2 angels for part 5.

Mary's Sampler II (part 5)

Then a shepherd and another star for part 6.

Mary's Sampler II (part 6)

I was missing DMC 611, the color for the shepherd, so I went to my brand new JoAnn's which is only a mile from my front door, and bought just ONE skein!  It was on sale for 35 cents so I couldn't use a coupon.  Next time I'm sure I'll have a bigger purchase.  LOL!

Another Christmas design is Santa Hang-Up, which Linda already finished.  I stitched a lot of white for his beard, trying to get up to his face!  This is stitched over 2 on 20 ct sparkly Valerie fabric and the finished size will be 5" x 12".

Santa Hang-Up update #6

I stitched more yellow walls on Cut Thru' North Pole House.  I'm going to backstitch the elf next, so we can see him more clearly.  Check out all the great Cut Thru' designs everyone is stitching on the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Monday SAL page.  I just bought another Cut Thru' kit from the UK for the Vintage Car!

Cut Thru' North Pole House update #4

I had already finished the Cut Thru' Igloo, but it didn't have the stars yet.  Now I've added the 12 sequin stars.  I found a frame for it at a thrift store and will get it framed soon.

Cut Thru' Igloo - FINISHED!

Thank you so much to Ingrid of Mii Stitch blog!  I was a winner in her giveaway of this great chart. It flew very quickly from the UK to my California doorstep in only a week!

November TUSAL and more SAL updates!

Stitch-A-Longs are so much fun, especially since you know someone else is stitching on the same thing that you are!  It helps motivate me to keep on stitchin', even when I'm left in the dust.  Linda already finished Thankful Critters and Santa Hang-Up, but I'll get them done eventually.

We started a new Saturday SAL with Kaye of Kitten Stitching to stitch Fall Welcome by Diane Arthurs.  I already had the pumpkins done before, and now I stitched one of the blackbirds.

Fall Welcome update #2

I'm also stitching Mary's Sampler II, a mystery SAL from Plum Street Samplers.  I stitched the star and an angel for part 4.  Parts 5 and 6 are already out and ready to be stitched.  There is a new part every Sunday until November 24, so we can have the sampler done in time for Christmas.

Mary's Sampler II (part 4)

Part 3 of the Jardin Privé Positive Thinking SAL is ready, and I haven't stitched part 2 yet!  There is a new part on the first of every month.  I'm stitching the French version, but I think I'd like to stitch the English version, too!  Nathalie also made Spanish, Italian, and German versions!

There are stitchers all over blogland in the Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long.  Here is a photo of my ORT jar for November.  I woke up Teddy, who was sound asleep, just to pose with my ORT jar.  Be sure to check in on Daffycat's blog with a link to your ORTs photo for the TUSAL, too!

TUSAL 2013 #11

Little bit of SAL progress

Every Monday I'll stitch a little bit more on Cut Thru' North Pole House.  There are several others who are stitching this one, too.  Check out their progress on the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Monday SAL page!  Maybe I'll finish this by Christmas 2014.

Cut Thru' North Pole House update #3

I'm also slowly catching up on the Plum Street Samplers free Mystery SAL, Mary's Sampler II.  This is parts 1-3, but they're up to part 5 already, total of 9 parts.  I stitched French knots on all the sheep!

Mary's Sampler II (part 2)

Mary's Sampler II (part 3)

 You can click on the picture to make it bigger.

Happy Stitching!

Another finish, a new start, and giveaway winner!

I finished Red Cat, which was a free design from Cross-Stitchers-Club.  This will be donated to World of Charity Stitching to be sewn onto a cat-themed quilt.  I used Victoria Clayton silk HDF in Aquamarine.  It is stitched on 28 ct antique white Jobelan.

Red Cat - FINISHED!

"Red Cat"
Cross-Stitchers-Club
Started 2/22/2012, Finished 9/28/2013

My new start is Mary's Sampler II, a free Mystery Sampler from Plum Street Samplers.  There are 9 parts, one each Sunday.  I am stitching on 18 ct Fiddlers cloth light.  The finished size will be about 5.5" square.

Mary's Sampler II (part 1)

Remember, tomorrow (October 1), part 2 of the Jardin Privé sampler, La Pensée Positive, will be available!  She has also made charts in Spanish and Italian versions, and is working on a German version, too!  All PDF files are free on Les Marottes de Nathalie. 

The winner of the Cut Thru' Igloo chart is..... Debbie Daniels!  She has noreply-comment and no blog, so if she doesn't respond by next Sunday, October 6, I'll choose another name.  (I found her on Facebook after all!)

 Debbie Daniels said...

Since I am a Debbie also, and live in Alaska, (in an igloo of course!) I think you should pick me :-). You did a lovely job on this

September 18, 2013 at 8:06 PM