Crazy January starts 10-12

I'm still having fun using the Random Number Generator to choose a new start each day from my UCJC 2013 page!

Day #10 is Fall Welcome, an Imaginating chart by Diane Arthurs.  I started with one of the pumpkins.  It is stitched on 14 ct Lambswool Aida and will be about 4" x 15".

Fall Welcome

Day #11 is Halloween Happiness, an Imaginating chart by Sandra Cozzolino.  I stitched the dark part of the moon.  It will be 3.5" x 11.5" on 18 ct Davos fabric. I don't know the color name, some kind of brown.

Halloween Happiness

Day #12 is Hamburger & French Fries from the Incredible Edibles designs.  I started stitching the top and bottom bun on a Charles Craft huck towel with a 14 ct Aida insert.  I might give this away as a gift.  It all depends if I fall in love with it or not!  LOL

Incredible Edibles (Hamburger & French Fries)

I bought an 11" x 14" red metal frame at Joann's for So Many Tools.  I didn't want to get something too big with a mat.  Red is my dad's favorite color!

So Many Tools - FRAMED!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Big Happy Dance and TUSAL #1 for 2013!

Hurray! My first finish in 2013 is this gift for my dad.  It wasn't done in time for Christmas, so it will be his birthday present instead.  I will give it to him tonight.

So Many Tools - FINISHED!

"So Many Tools"
Designed by Peggy Murray
Design Works
Started 1/28/2012, Finished 1/9/2013

I bought a 4-pack of glass ornaments to save my ORTs.  I copied someone else's blog where I saw that she wrote the year on each one.  These are my ORTs from 2011 and 2012, and my start for 2013!

TUSAL 2013 #1

Be sure to check in on Daffycat's blog with your TUSAL posting, too!  Happy Stitching, everyone!

I stitched a tool box!

The big tool box is finished!  Now there is only one tool left plus the words at the bottom, "So Little Time."

So Many Tools update #17

I love seeing everyone's new starts in January!  I'm happy with everything I stitch, but I'll be glad to get this one finished and out of the way so I can give more stitchy attention to all my other WIPs.

If anyone is interested in this design, I see a kit is for sale on eBay right now: So Many Tools by Design Works

Happy Stitching, everyone!

I'm on a roll!

Yesterday I finished three more tools!  Only two more to go, and the words on the bottom, "So Little Time."

So Many Tools update #16

Thank you to everyone for all your encouragement!  After this is done, I won't have any deadlines for awhile.  Whew!

Crazy January starts 1-3 and another tool!

Happy New Year!  So Many Tools is now officially a birthday present for dad.  I finished the circular table saw.  There are 5 more tools to go and the words at the bottom.  I need to find an 11" x 14" frame or a bigger one with a mat.

So Many Tools update #15

The Ultimate Crazy January Challenge has begun!  I used the Random Number Generator to choose my starts each day from my UCJC 2013 page.

Day #1 is The IT Crowd.  It will say, "Have you tried turning it off and on again?" This is such a coincidence but last night my daughter was watching this show on TV.  We have never seen it before.  I told her, "Hey, did you know I'm cross stitching that guy?"  This is on 14 ct white Aida and will be 9" x 6".

The IT Crowd

Day #2 is Easter Hang-Up.  I stitched the handle of the basket.  This is on 14 ct white Aida and will be 4" x 9".

Easter Hang-Up

Day #3 is Triple Jack-o-Lanterns.  I bought this Bobbie G. Designs kit at the Quilt and Craft Show.  This is on 14 ct black Aida and will be 5" x 8".

Triple Jack-o-Lanterns

I hope to get more done on my starts after So Many Tools is finally finished.  I haven't forgotten about my leftovers from 2012 either!  These two helpers slowed me down last night.  LOL.  I was holding my stitching up in the air.

Sophie and Teddy

Happy Stitching, everyone!

Stitchy Christmas goodies!

I received a wonderful surprise from Linda, who sent me all these great stitchy surprise gifts!  There are three mini kits with wooden frames and magnets, two charts, a Cross Stitch magazine, and three great pieces of fabric, including Hallows Eve by Sassy's Fabbys.  I'll use that for a Halloween design next year for sure!  Thank you so much, Linda!

My son and daughter gave me some stitchy goodies, too!  My son ordered the Wizard of Oz puzzle from Herrschner's that I asked for, but then he called me and told me to pick out more items so he could spend enough to get free shipping, so I chose this Christmas cross stitch book and some 28 ct hand-dyed Jobelan fabric to also use for a Halloween design next year.  My daughter surprised me with an OttLite Task Lamp!  She bought me the OttLite Craft Caddy Lamp two years ago, which I use everyday.  Now I have a portable light to take with me to stitching GTGs (get-togethers).

I didn't finish my dad's gift in time, but his birthday is in 12 days, so I'll give it to him then.  I finished the wire wheel thing on the top right.  Lots of backstitching!

So Many Tools update #14

I was spending lots of time decorating the tree, wrapping presents, baking cookies, and making fudge!

I also joined the Turtle Trot SAL hosted by BAP Attack.  We pick 13 WIPs/UFOs and stitch a little on each and post progress pics by the 13th of each month.  I listed my choices on my Turtle Trot 2013 page.

I had success with my eBay auctions of cross stitch and crewel kits.  Almost all of them sold.  The high seller was the Elegant Peacock crewel kit, which sold for $81!  Yippee!

Only one more tool!

Only one more tool stitched, that is!  There are still seven more to go!  Yikes!

So Many Tools update #13

I finished the red-handled tool on the right side.  I think it's a drill or nail gun.

Well, it looks like December 21st wasn't the end after all!  We still have time to stitch!

Happy Stitching and Merry Christmas, everyone!

So Many Tools update!

Where has the time gone?  I didn't touch this for a week.  Last night I stitched the words on top and one unidentified tool with a green top.  Could it be some kind of brush?  I have no idea.

So Many Tools update #12

Will I finish it in time?  I still have 8 more tools to stitch and the words at the bottom, but only a week until Christmas!  I still want to stitch a few more ornaments, bake cookies, make fudge, decorate the tree, and wrap presents! Oh well, I always do better under pressure at the last minute.  Merry Christmas!

A little finish and So Many Tools update!

I finished this little ornament of Ariel, the Little Mermaid, for my niece.  My goal is to make a little Disney ornament for everyone in the family.  Not much time left!

Ariel - FINISHED!

"Ariel"

Disney kit by Janlynn

Started 2/22/2012, Finished 12/7/2012

So Many Tools update #11

This week I finished the wind-up tape measure in the top left corner and the set of wrenches on the bottom.  I also stitched one word.  It will say "So Many Tools" at the top and "So Little Time" at the bottom.

Back to stitching!

WIPocalypse update #12

I've had two more finishes since the last WIPocalypse update.  Check in on Measi's blog with a link to your update, too.  Thank goodness she's extending the WIPocalypse SAL into 2013, since I obviously didn't finish all my WIPs before the end of the world! LOL

BBQ Queen is finally finished!  It seems like I've been backstitching on her for days!  This was a SAL with Linda of Diane Arthurs designs.  She just finished Lady Liberty, too!

BBQ Queen - FINISHED!

"BBQ Queen"
Designed by Diane Arthurs
Imaginating
Started 1/4/2012, Finished 11/29/2012

I also finished Cherry for World of Charity Stitching.  This will go on a Fruits & Berries quilt.

Cherry - FINISHED!

This was So Many Tools at the last WIPocalypse update:

So Many Tools update #6

And here is So Many Tools now:

So Many Tools update #10

I also stitched on a different WIP every day in November by using the Random Number Generator to pick a number each day from my WIPocalypse page.  So please look there for current photos of all of my other WIPs besides the ones in this blog post!

Cherry finish and 3 more tools!

Yippee!  I finished Cherry for the Fruits & Berries quilt for World of Charity Stitching.  It is about 6" square.  This is a free design from Ann Logan in the Czech Republic.  Click HERE and scroll down to Existing Albums for lots of great free charts!

Cherry - FINISHED!

"Cherry"
Designed by Ann Logan
Ann's Cross-Stitch Patterns
Started 10/10/2012, Finished 11/19/2012

This week I stitched a mallet, vice grip pliers, and the little keychain thing (what's it called?).  There are 14 tools left and 5 weeks until Christmas!

So Many Tools update #9

Three more tools and TUSAL #11 update!

This week I finished the power drill, wrench, and C-clamp.  That leaves 17 tools to go and 6 weeks until Christmas!  My ORT jar for the year is filling up nicely!  I've been happily stitching every day!

TUSAL #11

So Many Tools update #8

Remember to check in on Daffycat's blog with a link to your TUSAL update, too!

Halloween House and So Many Tools updates!

I finally started on the green roof of Halloween House.  This is all the light green on one side.  I stitch this on Fridays.

Halloween House update #23

So Many Tools has 20 tools left, and 7 weeks until Christmas!  This toolbox with socket set took forever to backstitch!

So Many Tools update #7

If you're in the USA, don't forget to vote tomorrow!  My daughter is working at a polling station from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  I'll go after work.  I hope the line isn't too long!

WIPocalypse update #11

I've had four more finishes since the last WIPocalypse update!  I hope the world is not ending soon, because I still have a lot of cross stitching to do!  Check in on Measi's blog with your update, too!

Jolly Jack was a traveling pattern that I received from Denise and passed on to Nancy.

Jolly Jack - FINISHED!

Now I have 4 of the 12 months finished of these Prairie Schooler designs in the Spring & Fall and Summer & Winter booklets.

Summer & Winter (June) FINISHED!

Now I have 3 of the 12 days of Christmas finished of these Prairie Schooler designs.

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas (Days 1-3) FINISHED!

I finished this freebie design that I found on an Italian blog, http://www.il-mondo-di-ezechiele.com/

Christmas Cactus - FINISHED!

Here is my progress on BBQ Queen, a SAL with Linda, who is stitching Lady Liberty, another design by Diane Arthurs.  After the flag is done, there is still a lot of backstitching to do on the flag, sun, and dress.

BBQ Queen update #21

This was Halloween House at the last WIPocalypse update:

Halloween House update #20

And here is Halloween House now:

Halloween House update #22

This was So Many Tools at the last WIPocalypse update:

So Many Tools update #2

And here is So Many Tools now:

So Many Tools update #6

I also started a new square for a Fruits & Berries quilt for World of Charity Stitching.

Cherry update #3

Starting on November 1, I'm going to click on the Random Number Generator to choose something different to stitch every day from my WIPocalypse page.  It will be a good warm-up for the Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2013, when Linda and I will start something new every day in January (15 just isn't enough)!  Who is going to join us?

More progress on So Many Tools!

So Many Tools update #6

I met my goal of stitching three more tools this week!  Now you can see the yellow-handled pliers, a small red jar (oil can?), and a circular saw blade.  It's a good thing I don't mind the backstitching because there sure is a lot of it!  There are 22 more tools to go and 8 weeks until Christmas!

I haven't been stitching everyday this week like I usually do, because I've been posting some items to eBay. Just some stuff from around the house and garage, and things that my mom and daughter asked me to sell.  This could go on for months!  I spend so much time taking pictures and doing research and writing the ad and choosing just the right background for each auction, but it's fun!  See if there's anything you like HERE.

Two Prairie Schooler finishes and 3 more tools!

Now Santa has 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree!  Only 9 more days of Christmas to go!  All 12 of these Prairie Schooler designs will be stitched on one big piece of fabric.  Linda and Kaye are stitching these, too.

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas (Day 3) finished!

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas (Day 3) finished!

"Santa's 12 Days of Christmas" (Day 3)

Book No. 125

Designed by Pamela Byrd Smith

The Prairie Schooler

Started 8/5/2012, Finished 10/23/2012

Now I have finished March, April, May, and June of these monthly Prairie Schooler designs.  Linda and Rosemary are stitching these, too.

Summer & Winter (June) finished!

"Summer & Winter" (June)

Book No. 91

Designed by Pamela Byrd Smith

The Prairie Schooler

Started 8/20/2012, Finished 10/20/2012

I met my goal of stitching three tools this week!  Now you can see the pliers, tape measure, and a screwdriver.  Only 9 weeks until Christmas and 25 tools to go!

So Many Tools update #5

TUSAL #10 and stitchy helpers!

TUSAL #10 and Teddy

One of my cats posed with my ORT jar last month, so this time it's the dog's turn! This is Teddy, a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever/Mastiff mix.  He lays at my feet all day long when I'm typing and follows me to the couch when I'm stitching, too!  

Teddy, Billy, and me!

Billy is 5 years old and is the youngest cat.  I was a foster mom for kittens for the animal shelter, but after having several litters and giving them back when they were old enough, I just couldn't let Billy go.  He always sat on my lap and still does, even when I'm typing.  He lays across both my arms and nuzzles his head into the bend of my elbow.  I stopped taking foster kittens after deciding to keep Billy.  I always had 2 dogs and 2 cats before adding him.

After my daughter took this picture, another cat joined us.  She is the one who sits next to me every night when I'm stitching.  Even though the dog was in her spot, she squeezed in there, too.  But my daughter didn't want to take another picture with her cell phone.  Oh darn, missed photo op!

This is what I was stitching when that picture was taken!

So Many Tools update #4

I stitched two more tools on So Many Tools.  Only 10 weeks until Christmas and I have 28 more tools to go.  My goal is to stitch three more each week.

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas (Day 3) update #3

I stitched all of the green hen house for the third day of Christmas.  This is my Sunday SAL with Linda and Kaye.