Day #7 - Plymouth Rock Chickens

I bought this pattern book a few years ago, with the intention of stitching new light switch covers all over my house.  The first one I will make is for my mom, the Plymouth Rock Chickens.  She can put it in her dining room, kitchen, or hallway.  It is stitched on 14-ct Fiddlers cloth.

Day #6 - Hen on Nest

I bought this kit at a Creative Circle home party in the 1980s.  Thanks to the Crazy January Challenge, I finally opened the package and got started on it!  I am going to stitch this for my mom, who has her dining room and kitchen decorated with chickens and cows.  It comes with the frame and batting, and will be 5" x 7".

Day #5 - Harley-Davidson

I really like these cross stitch kits from PINN. The floss is already sorted, the edges of the Aida cloth are already basted, and the large color chart is beautiful to see.  I am stitching this one for my boyfriend or my dad, who both have Harleys.  I don't think I will add the clock, which is not included in the kit.  It will be 14.5" x 11".

Day #4 - A Paris Kiss

I got a little behind in the Challenge after I got my cast off, but I was finally able to stitch yesterday.  My next project is "A Paris Kiss" as a gift for my daughter.  She has been to Paris twice and her room is decorated with photos and figurines of the Eiffel Tower.  Hopefully, the next time she goes to Paris, she'll get a kiss just like this!

This is the first time I have stitched on 28-ct linen, stitched over 2 threads, instead of the usual 14-ct Aida.  I am being very careful; no frogging for me!  This is part of the man's head.  The finished size will be 11" x 15".

TUSAL #1

Here is my first photo for Daffycat's TUSAL.  Most of these floss pieces are from my last finished project, Wedding Ride.

Day #3 - So Many Tools

I got the cast off my arm on Monday, but now my wrist just hangs there and I can barely move my fingers at all.  I tried to start my next Crazy January Challenge project, but only got as far as sorting the floss.  It took a long time using only one hand!  I bought this kit to make for my dad many years ago, and thanks to this challenge, I finally opened it.  It will be 11" x 14".

Day #2 - Lamplight Bridge

I thought this project would be pretty simple with just some French knots for embellishment on a printed background.  Boy, was I wrong!  I opened the kit today and spent a long time sorting the floss and looking at the 5-page chart!  Almost the entire picture is covered with cross stitches, half stitches, French knots, blended stitches, back-stitching, and outlines!  I was going to give this one to a friend who likes Thomas Kinkade art, but if I ever finish this BAP, it's going over my fireplace for sure!  It will be 16" x 12". 

Day #1 - Thai Dancer

Happy New Year!  I didn't get started on my first project for the Crazy January Challenge until 8:00 pm, and only stitched for a little while.  I hope I get more done tomorrow.  I thought this Thai Dancer was so cute, so I'm stitching her for myself.  It will be 10" x 14.5".

Today I went to my house for the first time since my car accident on December 1st.  I sure missed my 2 dogs and 3 cats!  Thank goodness they still remembered me after being gone for a month.  I unloaded and loaded the dishwasher and did two loads of laundry, all with one hand, since the other arm is in a cast.  My 22-year-old daughter is at work or commuting most of the time, but she takes good care of the animals.  I hope to go back home as soon as I can!   

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

I am warming up my stitching fingers on this simple cross stitch picture.  I bought it at a thrift store for 25 cents.  I will give it to my mom's neighbor, who actually has a custom-made mailbox shaped like an apple, that also says "a day" on the post!  This is my progress after two days:

Tomorrow is the first day of the Crazy January Challenge!  I'm so excited to start!

I'm Ready for the Crazy January Challenge 2011!

I finally chose the 15 kits I will start for the Crazy January Challenge 2011!  The list is on the right side of this page.  To see pictures of all the projects, just click on the Crazy January Challenge tab above.  I chose 7 big projects, a light switchplate, 6 Christmas ornaments, and a refrigerator magnet.

The plastic surgeon said I don't need daily dressing changes to my burned right arm and hand anymore.  My left arm is still in a cast, but I think I'm ready to start stitching!

TUSAL

I saw this TUSAL on Cindi's blog, who found it on Daffycat's blog.

The rules are simple...

1. Get a glass container and save your thread clippings or ORTs (Old Ratty Threads!) Some stitchers include fabric trimmings, thread bands or any other stitching cast-offs they gather.

2. On (or about) each New Moon take a picture of the ORTs in your jar and post it to your blog. Yes, you MUST have a blog to be included. Reasonably "late" posts will be accepted...posting several updates at once is cheating!

3. Yes, you can use your current ORT jar. This is no contest...the stitcher with the most ORTs doesn't automatically win!

4. You must post a picture each New Moon, even if there has been no "progress" to show.

5. Label your Totally Useless posts with "TUSAL" to make it easier for Daffycat to find your posts at the end.

 

2011 New Moon Dates:
January 4
February 3
March 4
April 3
May 3
June 1
July 1
July 30
August 29
September 27
October 26
November 25
December 24

 

Sign up on Daffycat's blog, just like I did!

Car accident!

I was in a car accident on December 1st.  My car was hit from behind and rolled several times and then caught on fire. Luckily I was able to undo the seat belt and someone ran up to the car and told me to unlock the door. Thank goodness the door wasn't jammed and opened easily. I got out and walked away from the car and laid on the grass. When I looked back at the car, it was full of fire with smoke going way up in the sky. There were several explosions too! My left arm was broken and dislocated. My right arm and fingers and forehead were burned. The ambulance took me to the hospital before these pics were taken. Click View Slideshow. LINK


I had surgery the next day to put a plate and screws on the broken left arm, and also got a skin graft from my right leg to right arm. I was in the hospital for two weeks. Now I am recovering at my parents' house. I can type with one finger, and hold a pen to write or fork to eat, but I can't do much else. I am waiting for new glasses too, since everything burned up in the car.

Unfortunately, I had my grandma's cross stitch project in the car with me and it burned to ashes too.  I think I will print this picture and frame it instead. I don't plan to start over again!

I mailed Christmas cards yesterday, so I'm happy about that. I sure wish I could be cross stitching right now! Maybe when the burns heal on my fingers, I can get started. I am just now catching up and reading everyone's blogs.


Merry Christmas!!