A Calendar Year is Done

I have completed one year's worth of monthly stitches. Wow!!  I can't believe that all 12 months from Stoney Creek are done! I seem to have gotten into the swing of one-handed stitching, or this was just a fun little stitch for me to complete. 

Thank you to those of you who have left encouraging messages for me. I never realized how "spoiled" I was for being able to stitch with both hands, but I promise that I won't take it for granted when I'm able to do it again.

Now that my Pattern for the Months series is over, I will get back to the baby sampler.  I just realized that it has been on my scroll rods since *gasp* August!!  That is entirely too long to leave something undone. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.  

Ready for the New Year

I managed to get another finish in for 2012 - the Month of January by Stoney Creek. I was planning to spend the rest of the month working on the baby sampler, but then I found myself wanting to curl up on the sofa with my girls over the weekend. We had cold and rainy weather this weekend, so I chose to cuddle up with a small project and the girls rather than have the stand out.  That one day of movie-watching and girl time let me complete this entire project in the one day. Very cool for me!

As an added bonus, our eldest son showed up to spend time with us, and he watched me complete this little pattern. He was amazed at how this came together and he started asking pertinent questions: So each symbol represents a color? How do you know where to start? Why do you get the knots and then take the time to get them out? Etc.

It was cool to have him help me put it into the frame and see it complete and waiting for January 1st. He even asked about which patterns I had left to do and what would I do when all 12 are done. HAHAHA!! Yeah, I showed him my stash - he couldn't believe how many patterns I have on my to-do list.  

An Early IHSW

It was just the beginning of the International Hermit and Stitch Weekend, but I have a finish to start it off. My December Stockings is complete and going in the frame to wait for the month to start!

Now, I hope to concentrate on the baby sampler for the rest of the weekend!

December Prep

It was a long weekend to honor the sacrifice made by our Military this weekend, and with that comes my girls all home and camping out in my living room. They take over control of the television, the dining room table, etc. which makes it difficult for  me to spread out and do the stuff that I want such as working on the large stitching project.  So, I put Netflix on my computer in my office and started the smaller project for the Month of December:

After a few episodes of Frasier, this was what I accomplished:

A really cool plus for the weekend was my middle son has suddenly taken an interest in what it is that I do (step-son, but I usually don't make the differentiation). He was watching me go through some patterns and he started asking questions. After some time, it seems that he realizes now the amount of time and energy that goes into this, and he's seeing everything a bit differently. I was really surprised by the change, and very happy with his interest. I wonder if I can get him to learn to cross-stitch now. Hmmmm......

November - ready in time!

I love it when I'm able to get things done in the time that I "allow" myself. Even with a very busy schedule this last week, I managed to squeak out a finish on my Month of November and I was able to get it framed and put out with the November/Thanksgiving decorations this morning.

 Outlining started

 Finished the wheat and beaded

Whew! Now, I can concentrate on finishing the baby sampler, and I'll hopefully have it done so I can work on the Month of December without having to interrupt the sampler.

WIP(s) Update

Yes, once again I have found myself starting a new project in the midst of trying to finish another. It is all for a good cause though! I realized yesterday that I had less than a week before November will be here, and I hadn't completed the November month, so I got it started. I am so glad these are quick stitches, and it should be done quickly so I can get back to the Baby Sampler.

I did spend a few hours this week working on that baby sampler, and here is my progress:

I will apologize to all of the amazing stitchers who participated in the IHSW and posted their work. I have not had time to look at everyone's work, and it's something that I usually love making the time for. Sadly, work is still keeping me very busy, and I haven't had the time to carve out of my day in order to be inspired by you. I hope to have time to get to them during this next week, and as always, I will post the comments for you!! 

October is complete

It was just a couple more hours of backstitching, and October was ready for framing!! Now, I am ready for the new month, and I'll get my next project kitted up.

 I finished the scarecrow's mouth and the inner border

 Then I completed the outer border

 The buttons were attached and in the frame it went!

Up next (yes, the baby sampler is still on the scroll rods) will be the Letter B for my youngest step-son. Once I complete these ornaments, I can get back to the baby sampler for my youngest daughter. It's still important to me to complete something stitched by me for the boys, so I'm making it a priority.

October - almost ready

I have to repeat myself and say that I love quick stitches. These little patterns for the months from Stoney Creek really do not take that much time. Of course, I wish I didn't have to work, and then I would have more time for stitching. However, if I didn't work, I wouldn't be able to afford all of the great stash that I have! Such an evil cycle but a necessary one.

As you can see, I have made some very good progress.  There's nothing left but the backstitching, adding the sunflower beads, and then I will put it in it's frame and be ready for October.

IHSW & TUSAL

The weekend is over, and while I had a great time with friends and traveling, I did not get much time in to stitch during the Hermit Weekend.  I did use the "excuse" to sit down last night and take just a couple hours for my stitching, and I think it went very well.  

Yesterday was also the day for the TUSAL Report, and I am happy to report that my jar is filling. I kept my middle daughter from smooshing the floss down, so you can actually see the last few projects: September's month, a couple of Christmas ornaments and now October's month.

Well, I think that it will just be the two more small projects before I return to the large baby sampler on my scroll rods.  My youngest is just dying to have a sampler on her wall like her sisters.  

IHSW is here

If you haven't already joined, you will want to click the link on the right of my page and get yourself involved in this really fun weekend.  There's no pressure, there's no official membership list - you just get a "reason" to find time for your stitching!

This weekend is going to be very busy for me, and I'm going to have to use the "reason" myself!! Between the eldest girl's 13th birthday party and some theatre tickets for tomorrow, it's going to take some serious dedication to get to the stitching.  Luckily, I have finished one project, and this morning, I kitted up the next one:

It's mid-September, so I felt I needed to work on the month of October so it will be ready to go on the 1st.  

Now, to find the time to get stitching!!!

Ready for Fall

It didn't take very long, but I just had to get in the groove to finish the backstitching around the borders and add the buttons. Voila! I am now officially ready for September (and I would like to request it arrive quickly because I cannot take anymore of the heat).

Now, that it is packed back up in the bubble wrap and ready for September 1st, I can resume the baby sampler I was working on.