Cactus, Cherry, and BBQ Queen progress!

These three projects are coming right along!  The Christmas Cactus is waiting for the Christmas lights.

Christmas Cactus update #3

One of the cherries is coming to life.  Does it look real from a distance?

WOCS - Cherry update #2

I have started stitching the flag that says "Summer" on BBQ Queen.  There is still a lot of backstitching to do.

BBQ Queen update #20

Here is a peek into my everyday work situation!  I work at home on the company computer on the right, and my personal computer is on the left.  There is always a furbaby within arm's reach!

Billy, Blueberrie, and Bubbles

Bubbles, Billy, and Teddy

Sophie under the desk

Sophie sitting in the cat bed.

Teddy under the desk

Billy on my lap when I'm typing!

The brown tabby cat is Billy, 5 years old, the black and white tuxedo cat is Blueberrie, 9 years old, and the calico cat is Bubbles, 10 years old.  Teddy the Labrador Retriever/Mastiff mix is 2 years old.  Sophie the German Shepherd/Shetland Sheepdog is 10 years old and very camera shy.  She is best buddies with Billy the cat.  I wish I could get a picture of them playing together, but she always takes off when she sees the camera!

Wow! I'm a winner!

Gracie of Needles, Pins, and Dragonflies had a little contest on her blog to name her newest finish, a beautifully stitched lady doll.  You can see her HERE.  She liked the name that I suggested, Clara, and announced that I was the winner!  Gracie asked me what I liked and I replied, "Bright colors, birds, flowers, Wizard of Oz, dogs and cats."  Her personalized prize package contained all kinds of goodies that were handpicked just for me!

Thank you so much, Gracie!

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.

Some Saturday stitching!

Day of the Dead update #1

I clicked on the Random Number Generator again and it chose #54 of my 55 WIPs (see my WIPocalypse page) which is a flowery Day of the Dead skull from the Twisted Stitches book.  It is on 18 ct white Aida.  The flower is an eye, and the upside-down heart is the nose.

The mama bird is coming to life on the June square of this Prairie Schooler Summer & Winter design!

Summer & Winter (June) update #4

The background is a printed fabric. It had a blank circle in the middle but I cut it into fourths and decided to stitch right over the printed design.

Who is peeking through the windows?

Halloween House update #22

It looks like more ghosts and an escaped convict! After the backstitching, you'll be able to see their faces even better.  I still have a lot of green roof to stitch!

Christmas Cactus update #2

I stitched the medium green around the cactus.  There will be more dark green on the edges, and then the Christmas lights and a star on top!

WOCS - Cherry update #1

Would you believe this Cherry has 14 different shades of pinks, reds, and oranges?  I hope this one really stands out on the Fruits & Berries quilt for World of Charity Stitching!

Nothing but green stitching last night!

I used the Random Number Generator to choose one of my 55 WIPs, which are all shown on my WIPocalypse page, and it came up with #24, Christmas Cactus.  I started this in January for the Ultimate Crazy January Challenge, when we started a new project every day in January.  You can see all the projects I chose to start in January on my UCJC page.

Christmas Cactus update #1

Don't you love the Bright Chartreuse on red Aida?  I'm going to use DMC Satin floss for the lights.  I found this free Christmas Cactus chart on an Italian website, http://www.il-mondo-di-ezechiele.com/

I also started a new square for World of Charity Stitching.  They are making a fruits and berries quilt.

WOCS - Cherry

I found this free chart on Ann's Cross Stitch Patterns in the Fruits category.

Jolly Jack is finished and on his way!

Jolly Jack - FINISHED!

"Jolly Jack"

Designed by Bonnie Sullivan
All Through the Night
Started 10/3/2012, Finished 10/9/2012

I finished this adorable traveling pattern and sent him on his way to the next stitcher.  Visit Nancy's blog, A Lil Bit of Stitching, to watch her progress and sign up to be the next one to stitch Jolly Jack!

Jolly Jack is traveling soon!

The traveling pattern of Jolly Jack will be on his way to Nancy of A Lil Bit of Stitching in just a few days as soon as I finish!

Jolly Jack update #2

I have also been stitching on Santa's 12 Days of Christmas by The Prairie Schooler.  He will have three French hens soon!

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas (Day 3) update #2

Jolly Jack is almost done!

Do you want to be the next stitcher who gets the traveling pattern of Jolly Jack?  Just leave a comment on my previous post and I will draw a name on Monday, October 8.  This is how Jolly Jack looks today!

Jolly Jack update #1

I blended DMC variegated Steel Gray and black 310 to substitute for WDW Charcoal, and I used DMC variegated Terra Cotta instead of WDW Tobacco Road for the leaves.

I've also been trying to keep up with So Many Tools, so I will have it ready in time to give to my dad for Christmas.  There are still 30 more tools to go, plus the words.  Only 11 weeks until Christmas, so I still need to finish about three tools each week.  There was a TON of backstitching on this tray of nuts and bolts and screws and nails!

So Many Tools update #3

I went to the Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds on Saturday with four other stitchers from the SoCalCrossStitchers Yahoo group.  Then we went to lunch, had a quick stop at a LNS, then back to the group leader's home to stitch.  Three more stitchers joined us there.  I bought a new pair of stork scissors and three cross stitch kits by Bobbie G Designs at the fair, then bought a Bent Creek chart at the LNS.  What a perfect stitchy day!

Jolly Jack after one night of stitching!

This is such a fun chart to stitch!  I didn't want to put it down until I finished the pumpkin!

Jolly Jack update #1

Instead of using Weeks Dye Works floss in Sweet Potato color, I blended DMC variegated Burnt Orange with an old skein from American Thread Co. Star Six Strand.  Can you see the 10 cents price on the label?  I like to buy random floss on eBay and then convert it to DMC colors.  This one is close to DMC 900, Dark Burnt Orange.

I'm giving away this chart when I'm done because it's a traveling pattern! If you would like to be in the drawing, leave a comment on my previous post.  Drawing on Monday, October 8.

Happy Stitching, everyone!

Halloween Stitching!

I haven't touched my Halloween House in a month! Now it looks like this:

Halloween House update #21

I finished all the purple on the house, stitched the third floor window and the orange shutters.  I wonder who will be peeking out of the windows at the next update?! You can click on the picture to see it bigger.

Lucky me!  I received the traveling pattern, Jolly Jack!  I am stitching him on 28 ct tan linen over 2.  Instead of using Weeks Dye Works floss, I am using my own variegated DMC and some other colors that I chose. I hope it looks OK when I'm done.

Jolly Jack

Devon at Devon's Quiet Corner in Florida stitched him first, then she sent him to Amanda at Samplers, Silks and Linens in Taiwan.  She sent him to Denise at Country Stitcher in South Dakota, who then sent Jolly Jack to me in California!  He has been traveling all over the globe and I would love to send him off to the next stitcher to see how many Jolly Jacks we can stitch before Halloween.  Please leave a comment if you are would like a chance to get the traveling pattern of Jolly Jack.  I will choose a winner on Monday, October 8, and send the pattern as soon as I finish stitching.

Katy at tadamama is having a giveaway on her blog to celebrate reaching 50 followers!  Please tell her that I sent you!

Blogoversary Giveaway winner!

The winner of the $10 gift certificate to 123-Stitch is

RITA E. in AZ!

Congratulations, Rita!