Back on Track

I finally found some time to stitch!! Well, actually, I had to make myself stitch tonight, but I'm so very glad that I did. Work has just been a bear over the last month, and by the time I shut down my computer, I barely have the energy to fix supper and get the kids to bed. I find myself collapsing from exhaustion, and I am always disappointed to see that I didn't get any stitching done. So, even with being utterly tired, I pulled everything back out, and spent an hour working on my current project - the baby sampler for my not-a-baby-anymore youngest child. 

Not only was I able to mindlessly enjoy watching Mark Harmon on NCIS for an hour, but I managed to get a nice chunk of the bear filled in. 

Just a small amount of time makes such a difference. I slept better, and the knot in my shoulders is down to just a crinkle this morning. I'm going to make sure that I make more time for stitching tonight as well!!  (Fingers crossed!)

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!

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.

A Giveaway

This was way too cute, and there's no gimmicks or games to play to get the pattern. Simply click on the picture and scroll down, and you can save the images of the pattern to your computer. Very simple and completely adorable!

October TUSAL

It is that time again! I love being able to show off what I've been working on via the ORTs.  I thought that for this picture, I would give you not only a glimpse of those little pieces left over after stitching, but one of the autumn decorations I made.

Can you see all of the Christmas colors in there from completing the boys' ornaments? Now, I am seriously hoping to find time to work on the baby sampler for my almost 9-year-old.

I will also share my new fabrics:

I placed a rather large order from Stephanie because I wanted to get some of her Fall Limited Editions on hand, and then I found that I wanted two more smaller pieces for a couple of projects, and THEN! she had a test dye that I totally loved.....Well, you get the idea.

There had better be some time for me to get some stitching done, or I will not have anymore room for fabric.  OK, seriously, I'll just buy another bin, but you get the point. Work has interfered with my ability to stitch for long enough.  

Hope everyone is having a great start to their week!! 

Letter B - Complete

It was tough getting to my stitching with all of the work that I have had to deal with, but I made it my mission to get the Letter B done this weekend. I am very happy to have these little gifts completed and ready for Christmas for the boys.

 

 And here it is put into an ornament:

For the final photo, I took a picture of all three of the boys' ornaments side by side. I have to say, that I'm fairly pleased with myself, and I really hope that they boys like them.

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....  

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.

A New WIP

I started the last of the boys' Christmas Ornaments. The letter B is moving smoothly, and I'm glad I have finally learned to work with opalescent fabric. I was having a very difficult time with the floss knotting up, but I've learned to untwist a lot more often, and I don't get as many knots as I was getting on the last two ornaments.  Again, I'm really glad that I started with small projects with this fabric rather than one of the larger Miras.

Over the last few weeks, I received some gorgeous fabrics from Stephanie Bishop. I joined her Fabric of the Month Club, and the September fabric was Iris (on the left). Words cannot describe how beautiful it is in person!! I also received three (3) pieces of Opal Lugana in Forest Bloom (right) to have on hand for when I finally get around to creating the Three for Tea for each one of my daughters.  

At this point, I have just as many fabrics as I do charts. Goodness knows when I'll get through it all, but I have great ambition and intentions!