Monday, February 25, 2013

March is Ready!

I'm ahead of the game with this one! Whoo-hoo! I finished March Clovers last night, and now I just need to get it framed and ready for Friday.  It came out really cute and the Weeks Dye Works swirls for the wind are adorable.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

February IHSW

I completely love long weekends!! It was completely wonderful to have an extra day to relax especially since my body was trying to readjust to West Coast time. I did not get to stitch as much as I had hoped over the weekend. Sadly, there was too much else that required my attention. 





March Clovers is almost complete - a couple more swirls and a couple borders to go! I'll be ready for the 1st when it gets here. It will be weird having all of these done and just ready for decorations starting in June. Only a couple more of the months to complete for a full year's worth of little frames. Whoo-hoo!

Friday, February 15, 2013

TUSAL, WIP update, a Blog Hop and IHSW Weekend

This week has been crazy. The hubby and I left to go to Buffalo, NY in the winter to say goodbye to his grandmother. It was a very sad reason, but she was just shy of 96 - a good long life and plenty of memories to carry us all with. However, this beach chick was unprepared for Buffalo in winter. Wow!! That was an experience!!

So, to get caught up, I missed the TUSAL update for February, so here is my jar so far:
You can see the Valentine Heart that I created - all of the red and pinks. I also put the picture of Grandma and Grandpa behind it since they're together now and the reason that I was traveling.

I also figured since I had so much time on the plane ride home to start Stoney Creek's March pattern. It is a fun stitch, and it took up a few hours on the plane:


Whew! And I have returned home to a Blog Hop. 


Stitching the Night Away Stitching Bloggers Blog Hop

This topic is "How many needles have you lost?"

Hmmmmm, I think over the course of my stitching career, I have lost quite a few. An estimated amount is probably 20 or so.  The "best" story is not a pleasant one. I lost a needle about two years ago, and sadly, I found it with my foot. That was VERY painful and I have continued to be diligent in hanging on to my needles so that they don't end up in a tush or a foot ever again. 

Visit all the blogs in this round of the Stitching the Night Away Stitching Blogger Blog Hop:
Find the instructions on how to participate in this round by clicking here.
And now for the IHSW. It is the Hermit Weekend, and I would love to have time to finish the Month of March from Stoney Creek, the Hope bookmark and get a lot of work done on the Baby Sampler. I just realized I started the baby sampler in August!! I am just not motivated to finish it for some reason despite the fact it's for my own daughter.  What a crappy mom I am about that one!!  So, "finding motivation" is my goal for the weekend.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Blog Hop #15: Stitching When Ill

Stitching the Night Away Stitching Bloggers Blog Hop
This Blog Hop is very pertinent to me lately: Eventually there comes a time when you’re not feeling well, whether it’s the flu or a cold or something else entirely. The question is, do you manage any stitching when you’re under the weather or does it just have to wait for better days?

For the past 5 weeks, I have been battling some Demonic Infection. It started as a head cold, went into the flu and ended up as an upper respiratory infection.  I'm grateful that I didn't get pneumonia which I am prone to get, but it still made it impossible to sit upright for a few weeks. Being that dizzy and weak made it impossible for me to stitch. I even blogged about it a couple times - all that wasted couch time!!!  

Typically, if it's just a cold, I will stitch while I'm relaxing on the couch, unless it's for a gift or I'm going to have someone else frame it, and then I won't touch it just to be sure that I don't transfer any icky germs. However, with this nasty thing that went around, I just didn't have it in me to stitch or do anything else for that matter.  

How's everyone else done?? 

Visit all the blogs in this round of the Stitching the Night Away Stitching Blogger Blog Hop:
Find the instructions on how to participate in this round by clicking here.

February Complete

I was only a few days late, but I completed the February Hearts by Stoney Creek. I used Jobelan in 28 ct in Antique White for the fabric and the DMC floss as directed for the pattern.

Each of the months has been fun to make, but this one was particular was frustrating. I hated all of the confetti. All of those little squares alone made it impossible for me to get through it without stressing over the possibility that  floss would come untucked from the back. 
My middle daughter celebrated her 12th birthday this last week, and she loved the stitched representation of her birthday month.  

Monday, February 4, 2013

Super Bowl Stitching

I am very happy to report that I was able to stitch this weekend. It was great to have needle to fabric again after being sick for so long. While I am still battling whatever this Demon Infection is, I am at least able to concentrate and create. I felt horrible when I realized that it was February and not only did I still have some Christmas decorations up, but I hadn't completed the February monthly pattern, so I got busy on it. 

Sadly, I was not well enough to attend the Super Bowl party, so I happily sat down to stitch. (I will say that I think it's just crappy that making breakfast for the family was "overdoing it". Stupid cold/flu thing.)  The youngest child had to stay home with me as well - sadly she was stuck at home simply because she doesn't listen or follow directions well, and with only one parent in attendance, there was no way to supervise her. However, imagine my surprise when she crawled into my lap and asked me to teach her to stitch.

I have spent a lot of time teaching the older two how to cross-stitch, but they simply aren't interested in it.  They only went through the motions because it is something that their Mama likes, but they are too interested in other things such as computer games, the XBox, etc.  They are into chatting with their friends, talking about boys and bands, etc. Welcome to my life with a 12 and 13-year-old in the house. 

Because I didn't want to take away from the child's request to stitch, I got her a cut of Aida, and we designed a simple design for her to stitch. I also had a coaster available, so I showed her what we would put her finished project in. She became very excited, and we sat down to stitch while watching the Super Bowl.

I went over the loop method to start and why, how to read the pattern, why it's important to pay attention, etc. She was totally excited especially since I loaned her my travel kit with needle threader, scissors and a frogger - all beaded FOBs and pretty.  She sat right next to me, counting away and asking very good questions while she worked.  She always seemed to know exactly when she made a mistake, and she had no problem frogging her mistakes so she could have it "perfect." 


After an hour and a half, I felt she had a good enough handle on her work to pick up my own project. We cuddled together on the couch (as much as we could while stitching), and did our stitching. As she saw her letter J come to life, she got very excited.  "I'm doing it Mama! I'm stitching!"

I took the pictures of her stitching, and then I took pictures of her progress - just like she sees me to with my own work. At this point, she exclaimed, "I am SO addicted to this!"
I laughed to myself and marveled at the fact that the one daughter who has no patience and no attention span loves to stitch and does the best work. Sadly (for me), when I mentioned that to my hubby when he got home, he laughed and commented, "Oh, so she IS just like her Mama." Hmmmmmm, I guess I have to take credit for all of the headaches this youngest child gives us.  HeeHee.

My favorite part of the evening was when Jordan was asking me about my stash. "Will I get to use the really pretty fabrics (the hand-dyes)? When will I get my own stand? Will I ever get a kit like this for myself?" On and on she went. She not only loves to create, but she is already planning for her future. She asked if I have a Valentine project she can make when she finishes her coaster.  I told her all about the magazines that I have with a children's page in each, and her eyes lit up. I laughed and told her that since she's the only one who seems to like cross-stitching, that she would be the one to get all of my stuff.

The child sat straight up, eyes wide and smiled! "I'll get it all, Mama?!" I told her yes, when I'm dead and gone, she can have all of my stitching stash so she can continue to create all of the things that I had collected to make myself. This opened up a TON of funny statements from the child:

"So, I'll get everything when you die?"

"Oh, I will have so much stitching stuff and it's all so pretty!" (she then squealed with excitement.)

"So how much stuff DO you have?"

"Can I see everything?"

"But Mama, will you teach me everything you know before you die?"

At that one, I just started laughing. Apparently, it's now acceptable for me to die so long as I teach her how to stitch first. Hahahahaha!! My hubby is now concerned that she might try to poison me for my stash and suggested that I stop making stash purchases just in case.  Nice try!! I told him I placed two orders during a Super Bowl Sale. He said that was fine with him, but I should be prepared in case the child wants it for herself.  He, too, was giggling hysterically at the questions.

She did not want to go to bed because her coaster wasn't done. She begged and pleaded to stay up since she didn't think it would take her long to get it done. I had to be the tough Mama and send her to bed despite her excitement.  
I am happy to also report that she woke up this morning, quickly got dressed and ready for school and came running to see me, "Can I stitch now!! I'm ready for school!" Sadly, she only had 4 minutes to spare, so there wasn't time for her to stitch. Yay!! I have created another Stitching Diva!

Oh, and here's what I accomplished:






Just the outlining on the edges to finish and then I can frame it.