Song of the Seasons Finished

I finally finished my version of the Little House Needleworks Mystery SAL. Whew! It was a lot of time that I didn't actually have, so I completely hibernated until I was done.  

Once I was into this project, I couldn't seem to work on anything else (and I received a Round Robin which was pushing me forward).  I added beads for the raindrops and snowflakes as well as for the snowman.  I also reworked the Season names so the colors matched the season.

Then, I took the time to alter the alphabet portion.  I really don't care for alphabet samplers, so I changed this to be for our Family name, and I used our native German for it.  I debated about making the date large and to match, but I opted for a smaller date in the bottom right corner. That way, any of the children who decide they want this can have it hang as just a Family Banner, but when it was completed will be remembered.

Because of how important this piece became to me, I have written a small account of it on parchment paper so I can attach it to the back of the piece when I received it back from the framer (Jill Rensel - who else??).  It describes how Nikki Loans convinced me to try this with her and she will have one similar to it at her house in South Africa as well as how our family is to sing together through all of the seasons every year.  

So, now that my sentimental heart is done with this piece, I'm packaging it up to send it off for framing....and kitting up the RR piece that I need to get done.  

Then, it's on to Christmas stitching!!

September 2013 IHSW

Wow! Is it really September already??  And the month is over half-way over!!  I don't know about you, but I cannot believe that 2013 is almost gone.  We are (finally) enjoying some cooler weather here. The hubby was actually cold last night with the window open (yeah, I wasn't cold since I'm constantly on my personal tropical island).  Autumn seems to be here even though we don't see a physical changing of the seasons in the desert other than the temperature.  This also means that I need to step up my Christmas stitching. Oh dear. Time to make the list of who gets what so that I'm ready to go!

I failed to take a picture of my latest work prior to the start of the ISHW weekend, but I have been working on the Little House Needleworks Mystery SAL.  I really need the scroll rods in order to get to the Round Robin that is sitting on my desk waiting. I just don't want to take the SAL off the rods and not finish it!! 

So, here is where I left off last night:

Sorry about the shadow which seems to be a blue line on here.  I will get a better picture once I move the fabric on the bars.

As you can see, the third panel is almost done.  I still have some grass to stitch and flowers to complete it, and then I can start on the Part 3 - which is the Seasons portion and the Sampler.  I'm working to change the sampler part to writing our family name since I'm not keen on alphabets.  

I have really loved working on this SAL. This is my first one, but I have already purchased the Lizzie Kate Christmas SAL and have Part 1 waiting for me.  Maybe by Christmas 2014...

A Californian Ornament

I seriously love making things to give to people.  The best part is that I am making a set of these to give to a group of great ladies who I know will actually like them!  

There were really cute flip-flop holiday buttons, which I attached, and then I used a pre-made ornament as the finish (I just really hope they don't look inside at the cutting that was necessary to get this to fit.

August IHSW

I completely forgot to take the "before" picture, and I'm very late in getting a post for the IHSW weekend, but here is what I accomplished over the weekend:

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This is the Little House Needleworks Mystery Sampler.  I am {still} on Part 2, but I managed to finish the Winter House.  The Sampler is entitled Songs of the Seasons, so it goes from Spring to Winter from left to right.  I am not typically a Sampler person, but this one is really cute, and I am enjoying it.

The pattern called for the snowman to have french knots for his eyes and buttons, but I decided that I wanted to use some petite beads instead, and then I got the great idea to use some more beads for the snowflakes and the wreath since snowflakes shimmer and the wreath would have lights.  

Again, a friend of mine in South Africa is also stitching this.  We both decided to take the leap together on a Mystery SAL, so it sweetened things considerably.  I am working on having the story put on pretty stationary to attach to the back after it's framed.   Now, to figure out where this is going to hang in the house when it's finished....

The Gadsden Flag

I managed to finish the last of the backstitching today!  Yay!! So the first of The Gadsden Flags is now complete. At this time, I only have one more requested since a friend of my husband's saw me making this and now wants it for himself.

The pattern is from Stoney Creek, and the fabric is 32 ct Jobelan from Stephanie.  I hate that I have been so busy that I haven't found a lot of time to stitch, but I'm glad that I'm able to have a few finishes for this year.

TUSAL - August 2013

I have been rotating between the Gadsden Flag and the Little House Needleworks Mystery SAL as my ORTs show.

The girls returned to school today, so hopefully I will get more stitchy time!

July IHSW

OK, someone needs to please tell me where the rest of the year has gone already. Didn't we just put away the Christmas tree and relish in the fact that the Christmas ornaments were made and completed on time and appreciated?? 

Wow, so here is where I left off prior to the IHSW weekend beginning:

I've pulled out The Gadsden Flag, and I'm fairly confident I can finish this this weekend, but we'll see.

By Sunday night/Monday morning, I'll post the update here.

And welcome to Monday Morning!! I must, sadly, return to work today. The school I work for has the world's shortest Summer Break, but having a paycheck again will be nice.

So, here is what I accomplished over the weekend:

The top portion:

 And then the bottom portion:

Not too bad!! I feel like I did some good work in a couple days!  I can't wait to see what everyone else managed to complete!