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. 

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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.

Blog Hop #15: Stitching When Ill

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?? 

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Blog Hop #14: Reflections of 2012

I still cannot believe that another year has already gone by, and everyone is so hopefully about this New Year.  The latest blog hop has been issued, and the topic is, "What was your biggest stitching accomplishment in 2012? What was your favorite stash acquisition in 2012 and will you be using it in 2013?"

My biggest accomplishment for 2012 was actually keeping track of what I stitched. I created this blog to showcase what I've done as well as keep a written journal with pictures of each finished piece.  I love being able to look through the book and see everything that I have done - and all in one year!!  Another great accomplishment was learning to work on evenweave and tackling a larger, more ambitious type of stitching to include beading. I really love the new quality of my work and am hoping to learn more during 2013.

As far as stash, I acquired a ton of new items over this last year, and I seriously will need to live about 2 lifetimes to get it all stitched, but it is a cool to have (as well as to have the ability to acquire stash). One of my most awesome finds of 2012 was hand-dyed fabric. Of course, this is an expensive part of the hobby, but what a difference the hand-dyed fabrics make for my pieces.  Not to mention, I love the more blended and subtle look of my work as opposed to Aida cloth.  I will definitely continue to use the hand-dyed Jobelan and Lugana throughout 2013.

Another great purchase was an organizational tool to keep track of all my stash.  I blogged about it just a couple days ago, and here it is:  Organizing Stash. This was truly a great purchase, and I love that I have all of my information in one central location rather than having to go through the plethora of items that I have each time I'm considering a purchase or a new start. I also have the information on my iPhone which makes Joann's shopping for floss so much more convenient as well as being able to look at the pictures of my fabric to determine which one to use for a project and to know if I have everything on hand before I start. Yay!

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A Stitchmas Wish - Blog Hop #13

The prompt for this lucky number is: The holidays are right around the corner and gift exchanges are happening everywhere you look. If an amazingly magical Stitchmas Santa were to fly overhead and bring you one stitching wish, what would it be?

Now, I will readily admit that I "cheated" a little bit by reading some of the other responses to this before writing my own answer. You see, I was having trouble trying to decide what amazing item or idea I would want to ask Santa for. This dilemma is nothing new. Every time my hubby asks me what I want, he gets frustrated because of the "deer in the headlight" look that is his response.

What more can I add to my list other than what I already have in my life? I have a loving husband who has shown me unconditional love; our children who are happy and healthy; our home, etc. I know that it's rather "Peace, Love and Goodwill" type, but it's always how I feel. Christmas was not something I looked forward to most of my life. I tended to be forgotten and given small gifts usually without much thought. So, as much as I have loved this Season, I never looked for gifts. 

Time would be a great Stitchmas gift. I, too, have more stash than I will probably be able to get to in a lifetime.  I'm also afraid that almost everything I have will have to be gifts for others because there just isn't enough space in my house or wall space for all of the projects that I have and love.

A really great LNS would be awesome!! However, I've done really well for the past 20 years in mail order and the Internet has allowed me to find everything I want and need at some really great prices. So, that isn't really on the list either. I have many wish lists on various sites that my hubby keeps track of so he is never without an idea of what to give me. 

And finally, I figure it out! I would love to actually physically meet other stitchers and connect with them. It's great to see the love and support online - whether on the blogs or on social networking, but there is not a connection to these people for me. I'm not typically someone who gets a random email, no one really knows who I am or what it is that I do in my "real" life as well as my stitching. None of my other friends stitch and as much as my husband tries to understand what it is that I do, he doesn't get it.  I'm sure that there are other types of stitching I could learn, tips that someone could teach me or how cool would it be to just sit with someone else and stitch and chat?? Most of the Get-Togethers are back East, and I can't afford the travel let alone find the time. I find myself envious of those who live close enough to each other that they can actually have a little get-together and spend time together with their shared love of this hobby.

It seems to be a silly request, and I'm tempted to remove it so I don't seem as pathetic as this reads to me. However, a wish is a wish, and it's the one that I have.

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Blog Hop # 12: Being Thankful

This prompt for #12 is:  

When it comes to the stitching part of your life, what are you most thankful for?

Wow! There is so much for me to be thankful for, and given that this week is Thanksgiving, I find myself more reflective than normal. House, food, family, love, my dreams and goals - that's just a small list of things I am thankful for. 

However, to include my stitching in this opens up an entirely new train of thoughts. I'm grateful that I have a hobby that I can afford. Being able to fund my passion is always a great thing. 

I am so thankful that my stitching allows me to get away from all of the stress and chaos that goes on around me. I love that I not only have the ability to "unplug" from the world, but I am able to create something. It's a great feeling to see the end result of my time and have decorations or presents for others.

Another thing I am thankful for is the people I have met. While most people do not stay in my life and there are countless others I do not know because of Facebook, it is great to chat with others who have the same hobby and learn new techniques, tips, and get information on projects I never knew existed. While it is a "faceless" group of people that I will probably never meet in person, it has been great for me to see that their lives are similar to my own. It's always helpful to know you are not the only one going through trials, and again, to share an outlet for this stress is great!

I've moved a number of times, but only once was there a Local Needlework Shop. It did help me to acclimate to the new area, but I have found that just having my supplies in my new home or location helps tremendously especially since cross-stitching is not a big thing here in California. There just aren't many LNS. I just love being able to have "my" things hear me, and again, I'm thankful to have the items as well as the comfort of the hobby. I remember when I had to give up everything after leaving my now ex-husband. It was horrible to lose so many of my possessions, but not having anything to stitch really made it more difficult for me when I obtained my own apartment again. I was so thankful and happy to make my first purchase again after the separation, and I realized quickly how much easier it was to adjust to the new life and it gave me the ability to help my daughters more with their transition as well.  (I have made up for all of the lost stitching supplies and now have more than what I lost - the loss of my girls' baby pictures is still something that grates, but I've learned to deal with it.)

Which brings me to my ultimate "Thanks" - for so many reasons, I am thankful to Ken. Without him, I would not have the "things" that I desire in life but his love and total support makes my life enjoyable and possible. He and I have many similar interests, but while he does not try stitching himself, he is supportive of my hobby as I am his of wood working. It's great to know that I can count on him for anything and everything, but it's also great to be able to enjoy my hobby with him supporting me from the sidelines.

I can't wait to see what others have written about this prompt....

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By Request...For Bonnie

Ahhhhhh, now that I have my house back in order (we had the interior painted and were displaced for a week), I was able to find my stitching supplies, and I took a couple pictures of my frogger for Bonnie who mentioned she would like to see a picture of it. 

It's not very large; just 4 1/2 inches from the tip of the flower to the tip of the needle. However, this little gem has been completely invaluable.  Again, mine was made for me by Stephanie Bishop who also does her own hand-dyed fabrics, so if you are interested in one of these, you can contact her through her page on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/339985199376676/

Or, she has her email through her website: StephBish@sbcglobal.net. 

I believe that I paid $4 for mine, and it was shipped with my fabric order. I have not been tearing floss or fabric when I pull stitches out, which has saved me valuable time and money. If I used one of the embroidery needles, I inevitably had to re-do a lot more than the portion that I originally intended.  None of us like to "Frog", but this little do-dad really helps when you have to.

Blog Hop #11: Interesting Aquisitions

The prompt for this Hop is: What has been your most unusual or most interesting stash acquisition to date?

I have sat in my office for a couple days and looked at everything that I own. There is nothing in my stash that would be considered "interesting" or "unusual." I have never received a stash gift other than from my hubby (and he was good about learning where my wish lists are), and I have seen other stitchers who have far more interesting stories and items. 

The most unusual thing I purchased is called a frogger. It's a blunt needle with a beaded FOB, and I purchased it from the amazing and talented Stephanie Bishop of Steph's Fabbies. I never thought that this would be a useful tool, but it has become invaluable to me as I had to pull stitches out - the floss doesn't break and I don't tear the fabric. Yay!!

I will credit all of the amazing stitchers out there for my intense growth of stash over the last year: from charts I never thought I could possibly do myself to notions and specialty floss to just great tips and tricks! Thank you for always sharing what you know and helping me to be a better stitcher!


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The Dreaded....

It's time for another Blog Hop. The question is now: Maybe it’s a particular type of fiber that always gives you a hassle. Or maybe it’s a least-favorite color of thread to use. That one thing that when you come across it in a design you just know the frogs are coming, or something that gives you twists and tangles. 

The first thing that comes to my mine is LINEN! I tried so hard to work on linen especially since it is recommended for all of Nora Corbett's designs. However, I find it impossible to work on it - nothing ever lines  up correctly, and I know that I've followed every tutorial I have seen and found on linen. I have given away all of the linen that I had on hand to someone else who could use it, and I now have an amazing stash of evenweaves: Jobelan, Lugana and Jazlyn. I can work on these without a problem and they are gorgeous.

Another item that makes me rip my hair out is Glissengloss or Kreinik. OK, well, any of the metallic threads and filaments. If it wasn't for Thread Heaven, I would not be able to use these fibers, and they really do jazz up a piece.

Then, there's my own personal frustration with DMC. I have no problem using any of the floss. I love the colors, and as long as I routinely allow them to unwind, I'm perfectly fine. My problem seems to be a total curse though. Despite the four boxes of floss - all of which are perfectly ordered, numbered and stored in numerical order, I am always missing one color that I need for a new project.  What is that?! No matter how well I plan ahead and make purchases especially when the floss is on sale, I am always missing ONE. So irritating!

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Blog Hop #9

I missed the last Blog Hop, but I love the discussions that get underway. So, I was really happy to see that although I'm a couple days late, I didn't miss this one. The topic:
What are your must-have stitching tools and aides? Other than your trusty scissors, of course. Is there a problem you have had when stitching that you created your own solution for, or have you purchased a tool that helped?
The best tool that I have purchased is a little "frogger."  It's a hand-made item from Stephanie Bishop, and it's basically a very blunt needle on a wire with a cute decoration that allows me to pull out mistakes without ripping the floss or tearing my fabrics. I hate that I need such a tool (because who likes to admit that we make mistakes), but it's been great to not have so much wasted material when I need to correct some stitching. Here is the one that I sent to a friend of mine:

Another great tool was my FOB that I use for my threader. I kept losing it at the bottom of my mesh bag, but the FOB helps me to find it faster AND it's really cute!!

Hmmm, I also have Thread Heaven that helps me to use Kreinik. Just a little bit on the floss, and it's pliable and easy to use which is great because so much of Kreinik is used on the Miras!

I have tried a counter and the erasable highlighters, but I find it easier to stitch without them. I MUST have my magnetic boards and magnets to keep my place when I stitch. I also have my floor stand and scrolls for my large projects, a Q-snap for my smaller projects, mesh bags to keep everything clean and tidy, floss organizers for my projects, and my Ott-Lite. I have a floor stand model in my living room, and a smaller table Ott-Lite for my office depending on where I find myself stitching. 

Now, if we're going to start discussing how everything is organized, that will be an entirely new and long discussion....  

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Blog Hop #7: Left-Overs

Question:  What do you do with the floss, thread, beads, and other elements you have left over from full project kits?

Up until recently, unless the project had the floss labeled with the DMC number, I tossed everything away. There was no point in my keeping the floss for any reason.

However, with my girls starting to learn, I have found that having these leftover pieces made it far easier for me to allow my girls to experiment and learn - they weren't wasting the "good" floss and costing me extra money other than needles and Aida cloth.


Now with the beads - that is a different story. I have a ton of different beads, and so long as I can label the beads and have enough to justify a labeled container, I will keep them.  You just never know when you might need just one or two to finish a project.


As for the needles, well, I keep the needles, but they are separate from the needles I normally use. If I need one in a pinch, I can pull from my stash, but I tend to prefer John James petites, and I have found they do not pull on the threads at all. 

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Stitching Rituals - Blog Hop #6

It is that time again - another Blog Hop.  I really look forward to these, not only because I love to talk about myself, but I love to see the answers that others have written. 


This Hop's prompt: Some of us have a favorite chair that we sit in to stitch, others prefer to enjoy a steaming mug of tea while they stitch. Maybe you need to get comfortable and put on your pajamas before you pick up your needle or you simply must rearrange all the sofa pillows before you sit down. Sometimes the ritual is in the clean up when we’re done and everything must go in a certain place. What sort of stitching rituals do you have when you sit down to work on your projects?


I am a complete creature of habit.  I try very, very hard not to start another project before I finish the one I was working on. Sometimes, I have to get motivated, so I will kit up the next project and have it ready for myself which helps me to finish a project that was not working very well for me.  


When kitting a project, I always get the floss organizer ready - title of the project, the floss numbers written with their codes.  If more than one floss organizer is necessary, I will number them in order.  Then, all of my accessories are placed in my mesh bag (Krenik, floss, etc.).  I always have my notions handy in the mesh bag, but I have different sizes of mesh bags depending on the project.  I have a small one for the floss bobbins if necessary to carry with me to maintain the floss that I will need for the project, my scissors, extra needles, my needle threader on the FOB, etc.


I will make sure to set up in the corner of my sofa with the tray pulled down to hold my notions as well as a beverage (water, pop, bier - whatever I'm in the mood for), I get the TV ready with whatever show or movie I'm going to watch (I cannot stitch without the TV going, and I can't watch TV without stitching), and then my stand is ready.  Most of the time, I am using my stand for projects.  If I have a small project, then I'm stitching in hand.  I always, always, always wash my hands before I touch my fabric, and I will wash my hands throughout the stitching process to minimize the oils from my hands. 

The picture was fuzzy because one of my daughters took it, but it gives you an idea of my ritual. I have purchased some nice smaller pillows for behind my back that also accent the sofa when I'm not stitching.  


If I'm not done with the project, but I'm done for that moment or for the day, I will take a picture of my progress to post on my blog, put the scroll in a pillowcase to keep the dust off of it, and pack up all of my notions and accessories to keep them together.  We always have a busy house, and I would hate for something to go missing. The stand gets put against the wall out of everyone's way, and the rest of the items get put in the corner out of the way - the chart on the magnet board, the floss, and the mesh bag.


Once the project is done, I make sure that I put everything away right away.  The floss is returned, the accessories for that project are returned, and the chart is packed away to be kept flat. If my next project is already kitted, then I bring it all out to the living room to be kept in my corner of the room out of the way.  If not, then I'll either kit it up to be ready or wait until the next morning if I finished late at night.


When I travel, I make sure that I have a small pattern with me with everything I need to complete it.  I always set the thread and mesh bag out to my left and start stitching in hand.  

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Seasonal Stitching

It is time for Blog Hop #5.  The prompt for this one is:


Do you find yourself stitching seasonally or do you just stitch what moves you at the moment? What’s your favorite holiday or season to stitch for?


I love to stitch for the seasons, and I really try to plan and get things done ahead of time.  Most often than not, however, I am distracted by something else that comes up and inspires me.  I am sad to say that the Christmas ornaments I wanted to make for each of my step-sons using their first name initials has not been completed, but I am planning to get to them this Autumn.


Christmas has always been my favorite holiday closely followed by summertime and the Beach.  However, I am finding myself suddenly drawn to Autumn and Halloween for some reason, but I will be limiting my stitching for that one because I typically do not like the patterns that I find.  I cannot stitch enough flip-flops or sunflowers, but I always try to limit myself so that my house is not inundated with pieces throughout and muddled.  


In my stash, I have great seasonal "t0-dos."  I'm hoping to get to them each in their own time, but with everything that I have, I will have to live far past 100 years old to complete it all. 


Something tells me, I'm not alone in this......



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Stereotypes - Blog Hop #4

Here is the prompt for this blog hop: Do you experience this same assumption from society in general that just because you’re being crafty you’re also driven by some unseen force to be in constant 1950s housewife mode? and then…. Who actually does the cooking and the cleaning in the household? I’d also really like to hear some words from the men in the crowd who stitch on this topic. What sort of societal reactions do you get and what ridiculously wrong assumptions do people make towards you when they see you working on needlework?

Oh-my-freaking-God! This is such a great post for this month! Hahahahaha! I am laughing so hard at it because we just had an encounter such as this - on a military base!!  OK, so you need some back-story since many of you are new to the Koehler Klan.


My husband is medically retired from the United States Marine Corps.  He is a rough and tough son-of-a-bitch when necessary, but overall, he is the sweetest, kindest, and most gentlemanly kind of guy that you will ever meet. Everyone who knows him and even his medical records always indicate that he is a "perfect gentleman."  He is completely mechanical, and he almost proposed immediately when I knew how to rotate the tires on my own car.  


I have always been the rough and tumble tomboy who preferred to play sports and play with Tonka than put on a dress and play with Barbie. I have been shooting pistols and rifles since I was little, and it was my ornery and tough WW1 AND WW2 Veteran grandfather who taught me to shoot, cuss, and stick up for myself.  I was so afraid that when I had children that I would totally suck at it because of my apparent lack of estrogen (no fear, I did just fine taking care of the girls). I'm not the touchy-feely, overly emotional chick, and I still prefer hanging out with the guys smoking a cigar and enjoying a snifter of Scotch or Bourbon over being in the kitchen with the wives.  There are times I love being in the kitchen, but it's usually because the hubby and I are cooking together.


Now, please remember that my hubby is the retired one.  I am still employed full-time and hoping to scrape a retirement together before I'm 90 years old.  So, it is my HUSBAND who is home cleaning, shopping, doing the laundry, picking up kids and all of that fun stuff while I am the one working.  We share the cooking here and sometimes we enjoy preparing the meal together - which will usually involve a dance or two around the kitchen together.   I have learned to cook very well (as is evidenced by the size of my posterior at this point), but that's about it where the crafty stuff ends. The hubby does manage the budget because, frankly, I hate math and dealing with numbers literally hurts my head - but we plan the budget and work together to make the ends meet. 


My ability to cross-stitch makes people think that I sew, knit and crochet as well.  I really wish I could do those things, but I utterly suck at them.  I have finally purchased a sewing machine so that I can do some finishes to my stitching projects as well as fix hems for my girls or sew a strap back on when the sisters start fighting.  It's never pretty when I sew, but it's always functional.


For the most part, we get some funny looks when I mention this arrangement, but usually, I am met with shrieks of "You're SO lucky!" or something similar.  My hubby will not only clean the clothes, but he folds them AND puts them away.  Because the Marines is a way of life for him, he also irons.  (Honestly, he hates the way I iron clothes, so he does it all since I apparently miss one or two very small wrinkles and I don't pleat the pants appropriately - which all works for me because I hate to iron!)


However, there are many times that we get the "Uh-huh" and the eyebrow raise with nods when we discuss the arrangement in our house.  There are so many people who think that we should have the "conventional" home such as was seen on Leave it to Beaver, and I often make the remarks that I do NOT vacuum with a perfectly ironed skirt and pearls on.


I'm looking forward to getting a glimpse of the others on the Blog Hop.  It should be fun and interesting for me to read!



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Blog Hop - Planning

This Blog Hop prompt is: Do you set stitching goals for yourself and how do you plan them out? (Weekly, monthly, annually?) What are your current stitching goals (if you don’t mind sharing)? In addition to setting goals for yourself, do you have a special reward that you reserve for when you reach a stitching goal?


I am a planner by nature. My entire life is organized into various compartments, calendars, organizers, etc. My crafting room is organized, and I can typically find everything I need or want at any given time.  When it comes to stitching - I am the same way.  I determine which project I would like to work on next, kit it up, and then start.  


Now, once I start a project, I try to keep in mind how long it should take me.  However, I work a full-time job, have a husband who shares some other interests with me (traveling, shooting, etc.), 3 girls that live at home, 3 step-sons whose lives are currently combusting, and friends.  This means that there are many times that life just gets in the way of my ability to stitch.  I will "plan" to stitch each day if possible, but I allow myself the ability to be too tired or busy.  So long as I can get to my project each week, I am usually happy.


Currently, I am over half-way done with my current project: The Flip-Flop Welcome. My current plans are to spend this afternoon stitching until my children return home on their last day of school, and then listen to them regale me with their final tales of these grades.  I then hope to spend some time over the weekend stitching - but it's usually after the girls have gone to bed.


The reward to myself is seeing a job well done.  I enjoy giving the gift or framing my piece to keep, and then I look forward to choosing and kitting up the next project.  Kitting a project is always a great time for me, and it seems to be its own reward to me for finishing the previous project.


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