2021 Finishes

I am looking at all the stitched ornaments on my tree, my stitched stockings, and my stitched advent calendar and realizing again what a big part cross stitch has always had in my life.  I haven't been able to concentrate on it for long periods of time since my mom died and then my husband had brain surgery and then I got a concussion, but even then it's always been there and I'm thankful for it.

I finished a number of things this year - and even finish finished one - which is amazing for me.   This Lizzie Kate ABC's of Faith hangs next to my bed and I look at it every morning.  It's one of two pieces I have that I actually had professionally framed.  I finished it during online "Cross Stitch Camp" which was really a good challenge for me. 

My word this year was harmony, so this little Shepherd's Bush Fob kit was perfect...

I finished a page of my HAED Mini Serenity Lane on 18 ct Aida...

Made a sweet freebie from Shannon Christine Designs using Antique Blue 14 ct Aida and some threads from my stash.

Made a Stitching with the Housewives freebie for Sunflower September with FQS Flosstube. (14 ct Vintage Country Mocha, threads from stash)

Finished a 6 or 7 year old WIP - Family Blessings by Imaginating (kit)

Finished 5 patterns in the Frosty Forest series by CCN - I plan to finish this in 2022. (16 count Platinum Aida, DMC)

Finished Block 1 of FarmHouse Christmas - LHN - 16 ct French Country Mocha?, Classic Colorworks.  This series is on my list for 2022 as well - and hopefully I will start the new Fall series when this is done!

Lady in Red by Heritage Stitchcraft, stitched on some fabric from my stash... Monaco, maybe?  This one is in memory of my mom.

I'm actually a bit amazed to see how many I've finished this year!  Since my last concussion a year ago - I've had a number of them through the years - I've had a spike in ADHD type symptoms and sitting still and concentrating to stitch is hard.  I've been trying to stitch for 15 minutes or more a day this year, but it is frustrating when things that used to take a couple of nights now take a couple of weeks.  And then you have to work through the mental struggle of wanting to quit because you feel like a failure and you wonder whether it is worth it.  I'm realizing that I need shorter goals, easier counts and some aspect of novelty / fun /challenge to keep going.  And I want to keep going, because it is good for me mentally and emotionally.  I think I will be making a WIPGO board for this year, working mostly on Aida, and challenging myself to fully finish my projects this year.

On a fun cross stitch related note, I've developed a love for project bags this year.  I picked up three from this Etsy shop - pamsneedleandthread - over the course of the year.  They are gorgeous!! Plus I received one from a stitching friend as a thank you for some handmade cards I made for her. I think I got the better end of that deal!!

I've also been watching the Fat Quarter Shop floss tube channel.  I love watching the incredible amount of projects Kimberly can accomplish in a year.  It continually inspires me and it's fun to see all the new things she works on.  Happy Little Stitch Shop has a lovely floss tube and shop as well.  Angela is so sweet!!

So that's it for 2021 unless I come back and post my plans for next year or I happen to have a finish.  Merry Christmas to any of you that happen to run across this post!

Happy Stitching!

Tricia

Scissors Scamper Winner and an Update!

Hello everyone!

Let's start with something fun...

I wrote out all the entrants into the Scissors Scamper and had my daughter pull a name.  The winner of the Scissors Scamper prize is LYNDA!  Congratulations!  If you'll email me your mailing address I'll get your prize out to you.  Thank you everyone for playing along!  I had fun seeing everyone's scissors. : )

Not a ton to show on the stitching front this week.  I decided that I am not thrilled with my choice to do the Yiota's kit over one.  I will probably restart it sometime and work from the middle of the chart instead of the top corner so I can see the dogs right away.  I don't think I could never do a HAED chart that had 5 pages of black or blue before you got to some color.  I really wouldn't enjoy it!  Anyway, the Yiota's kit is back on my someday/maybe list for now.

Here are my favorites for the week...

I love this Jardin Prive chart!  It is SO fun to stitch!

And "O Holy Night" is coming along, too...

And then, of course, we have the "I am such an idiot" moment for the week.  Apparently I don't like windows, because I stitched over the two back windows of my January Cottage completely.  And I'm leaving it that way, too!  Because I meant to do it that way  I don't want to frog the entire house!  Sigh.  That's what I get for not paying attention when I'm stitching!

The rotation for this week?  Well, I have an exchange piece to start and I want to work lots on the Jardin Prive and O Holy Night pieces.  I might put 15 minutes in on the Cottage, Cabin Fever, His Eye is on the Sparrow and my Turtle Needlebook, too... but those two and the exchange piece are what are calling my name at the moment.  We'll see!

Have a wonderful week!!

Blessings!

Tricia

New Rotation & Prize up for Grabs!!

Happy wet Wednesday!  It sounds so Spring-like here today.  The rain is falling gently...  ahhhh!!! : )

Lots and lots to show you today!  First off, how about a look at the prize for the Scissors Scamper.  There are just a few more days for you to link up your post of your scissor collection!  In keeping with the theme, I chose to stitch this adorable little Summer Fab Fob by Lizzie Kate for the winner and I'll include the scissors, too!  Of course, my dd looked at it and said... "what if one of your overseas gals wins??".  Hmmm.  Good point.  I guess you'll just have a keepsake from the US with our flag on it! : )

Here's the fob & scissors...

And here's the prize all together. : )

That was a fun project to put together, especially because I hadn't ever made my own cord before!! Yay!  I learned something new.  Now to try a pinkeep.  Hmmm.  Maybe next time!

After my trip to Branson and fun at the cross stitch store, I decided that I was going to try working through a rotation of projects again.  I need to keep going on my DH's Big Huge Project, but he said it didn't have to be done right away, so I feel better about taking it a little at a time again.

So, right now... at least until I change it in a week or so... here's my list of projects.

Sundays I'm going to work on O Holy Night by Stoney Creek.  I found some gorgeous Lugana fabric to use and I love how it is coming along so far.  Here's my start...

I wasn't sure if I could use Lugana with all my allergies, but I haven't had any problems yet and I love it!

Monday is Jardin Prive's Douceur de Vivre.  This has been in my stash for awhile and I think it is SO pretty.  And it has sheep on it! : )

Tuesday is the BHP - Cabin Fever.  It was easier last night because I was using the floor stand with it, so I got quite a bit done.

Today I'm working on Eye on the Sparrow by Silver Creek Samplers.  You'll see an update of that next week.

Thursday is be CCN's January Cottage...

Friday Old Colonial's Turtle Needlebook that I bought in Branson...  (I just have the other side to complete)

And Saturday is Yiota's Dogs Caroling kit.  I really hope I allowed enough fabric for this.  I have measured 6 or 8 times and I'm going to be really close!

Now... a couple of (very wrinkled) finishes!! : )

Lizzie Kate's ABC Lessons

28 Tea Monaco

Threads from Kit

And DH's first finish...

 He wanted to be sure that I showed you his current progress on his WIP, too.  He's doing such a good job!  It's fun to sit and stitch with him in the evenings!

Thanks so much for dropping by!  I've been horrible at commenting lately, but I am keeping up with everyone's posts.  We'll see if I ever catch up with myself enough to drop by and say hello! : )

Don't forget the Scissors Scamper!

TTFN!

Tricia
aka Inkystitcher

Me Again!

Hello friends! 

Sorry it's been so long.  I've had some things come up over the past few weeks that sort of took my breath away, and I had to take some time to process them before I could find time and inclination to stitch and blog again.  Don't worry!  Nothing scary like cancer, just working through some "people" problems and getting my daughter ready for college this fall, when we weren't planning on her going until next year.  

This little bit of stitching is all that I've been able to get accomplished.  Somehow I lost my "mojo" for awhile there, so I stuck with this CCN Book Store for my dd.  It's on aida, uses DMC, and is pretty without requiring a tremendous amount of concentration. :)  Some days I've not stitched at all and other days I've only put in 10 or 12 stitches, but each stitch today is one I don't have to do tomorrow, right?? :) I'm going to a trapshoot with my dh this weekend, so, hopefully, I should have lots of time to stitch.  Maybe I could finish this one this week??  After that, I'm not sure.  I have more from my challenge that I should finish, but I just saw a new chart by My Big Toe called "Count it all Joy" that I really want to find and maybe do next.  It comes from the book of James...

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing..."

I pray others will see in me that patience and faith that only comes through suffering!!

Blessings, my friends!

A Slow Start

It's been a slow start on B is for Boy this past 10 days, but little by little he's coming together.  I, of course, am already looking ahead to the next project on my list. :-)  Isn't that the way it goes!  I have two projects that I would really like to have finished before Christmas.  One is part of my crazy 15 and one isn't, but it will go in the rotation soon. :-)  Isn't cross stitch fun???

Speaking of FUN - the winner of my lots and lots of followers giveaway is...

LYNN

Congratulations!!  I'll be getting in touch for your mailing address!

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such sweet comments.

Have a blessed day!

Tricia

A Giveaway of Note!

Hi friends!

There's a giveaway over at the Cranberry Samplings blog that you don't want to miss!  Head on over!

I didn't stitch much last week after the accident, but I was able to finish "G is for Girl", which was a nice way to end the month of April.  Sorry the picture is so dark, but I took it at night so I wouldn't forget.  It will be on its way to its new owner shortly!   I started my PIF for Mouse yesterday, so no pictures of that, but next week I'll start "B is for Boy" so I should have something to show you then!!

Blessings!

Yesterday

Hello friends!  Yesterday was an interesting day around here!  Coming home from town on the highway, I was hit by a car coming out of the side road, who apparently didn't see me.  The bumper on the ground was from his vehicle... it had been embedded in my door when I stopped.

The miraculous thing is that I wasn't hurt... other than a sore back and shoulder.   And, as far as I know, he was ok as well.  It was truly a blessing that he hit the van right in the post of the door frame, rather than squarely in the door itself.  Praise the Lord!

I have tried to cross stitch a little on G is for Girl today, but I can't bend over my work for too long at the moment.  That's ok.  15 minutes here and there will make a lot of progress!  Here's where I am presently...

My weekend project "Morning Lake" is coming along nicely, too!

Thanks for stopping by!  I've been doing a lot of blog visiting but not a lot of commenting lately.  Everyone does such nice work, I just don't seem to have enough hours in my day to admire it all!

Have a blessed day!

Fun Organizational Find!

Our local WalMart store is under construction to become a Super WalMart, so every few days there  are different things added to the clearance aisle.  Well, the other day when I went to look at reading glasses (Quick rabbit trail...  Vera Bradley had 50% off the reading glasses that I've been using to stitch with, and I *LOVE* them, but I couldn't remember what magnification they were, so I had to go try some cheap ones on a WalMart to see which Vera Bradley ones to order.  I got them today and I wish I'd gotten two pairs while they were on sale.  They are SO nice to stitch with and they look nice, too!  ** End of Rabbit Trail! ☺)

ANYWAY... down the clearance aisle, I found these folders.  They have a number of plastic pockets, with attached covered plastic pockets.  **Lightbulb Moment ** These would be perfect for my pile of "I want to do this next" patterns that I've been accumulating - along with the rest of my 15 Crazy Challenge pieces.

Here are a couple of my crazy challenge starts, waiting to be finished.  The floss bobbins for each of these are in my large floss case, but the fabric and patterns are here.

The front pocket isn't see through, so I put magazines or books in those...  The opposite side shows my LK Snowman all kitted up, with the floss in the attached little pocket.

Here's a couple of my newest acquisitions.  Cecilia's Sampler was having a 25% off sale the other day and I picked up Bunny Hop with the CC threads I needed, and this Precious Moments book that I'll use for Love Quilt or Angel Quilt squares.

So, after filling my binders, I have how many patterns that I want to stitch?  Ummmm.... let's just say that I have *enough*.  I really don't need more than 30 things calling to me at one time!!  But I know that I do have a few more patterns coming that are "must do's", so I need to keep stitching to make room for them (and whatever giveaways I might win...!) in my binders.   In the meantime, I'm planning on focusing any stitching related shopping that I do for the next few months around kitting up what is in my binders - fabric, overdyed threads, etc., and, of course, a few fun extras like scissors, q-snaps, needles, thread sorters, etc.... :-)  No patterns unless I win them or am given them ... (Anyone having a giveaway??? LOL!)  Oh - and by the way - my big kits aren't in the binders - I have them in some huge (9x12??) plastic envelopes that snap shut that I found at our local Sentry Food store for $1 each. :-)

Since I had to pare down my stash some to settle on 30-some projects, I'm planning a special kind of giveaway in the next week or so. Keep your eyes peeled.  This will be a fun one!

On the stitching front, here's the progress on my bear and my new start, Country Cottage Needleworks "G is for Girl" pattern that was in the JCS magazine.  I'm thoroughly enjoying that one - there's no backstitching and no 3/4 stitches. :-)  I need to finish the bear next week, though.  Then I'll open my binder and pull another of my Crazy Starts to work on! :-)

Happy Stitching~

Weekend Wrap Up & Friday Night Stitch In

Hello friends!

Friday Night Sew In became Friday Night Stitch In at my house yesterday.  Somehow sitting, stitching and watching an old Doris Day movie seemed to be what the evening called for, so I complied. ☺

I've been working on Pumpkin Cottage this week mostly.  Here's the progress so far...

Hopefully you can't tell all the little (or big!) mistakes I made.  I tried to cover them up and I think it will be ok...  We'll see!!  I just love the colors in this one.  It makes me happy!!

I've also put a few stitches in my LHN Woodland Sampling.  I'll work on that more this week, too, I think.  Here's it's progress...

Now my fun mail for today!  My son went out early, early this morning to put a letter in the mailbox and came back with a little box that I'm *sure* wasn't there yesterday.  Hmmm... Anyway - I received my ornament from the HOE Reindeer Exchange from Janet and its MARVELOUS!  The fabric is sparkly and there is wool on the back.  Sigh!  I love it.  She also send a few threads and some gold John James needles.  I am *so* spoiled.  What a happy Saturday morning!

Isn't it gorgeous??

Well, that's it for me for now!  Hopefully I'll have a finish to show by the end of this next week.

Blessings!

Another Crazy Finish!

Hello, hello!

I have had a busy weekend with company here, so I haven't stitched much... and when I tried to stitch during the Super Bowl it was a lost cause.  Tooooooo stressful and exciting.  

But my Packers won.  YAY!!!!!!!!

I did get to do a little stash shopping during a Super Bowl sale, though.  I almost talked myself out of it since I have so many projects that I'm working on, but my husband and daughter came to my rescue and said I had too.   I complied.☺  I bought a number of charts that I've really been wishing for, and now I'll start to gather the thread and fabric for them.  I won't plan to start them until most of my 15 starts are finished... Well, except for a few of them...  LOL!

Today's finish is the "Let it Snow" ornament from CCN.  It's from the '08 JCS Christmas Ornament magazine, so I won't be passing along the pattern this time.  Now I have to decide what to work on for the rest of the week.  Hmmmm... Choices, choices, choices!!

Blessings!

A Winner, A WIP, and a Pattern that Wants to Travel

Hello again!  Thanks for all the sweet comments on my last post!  I threw everyone's name in a hat - well, actually in a pile on my table, and pulled out a name to receive the Santa's Flight start, and the winner is........   Jackie!!!  Be sure to get me your address so I can send it out!  My email is in my profile. :-)

I pulled out my CCN Pumpkin Cottage start to work on last night, and then put it away after a few stitches.  I don't think it was wise to work on that one while I was sick.  I think I need to reconstruct the house with as many errors as I made!  

So... rather than just dealing with it, I decided to work on another CCN start... "Let it Snow."  Here's my progress.  I should be able to stitch for awhile tonight after supper, so I'll see how much I can get done then.

Now for today's fun!

Nicky had made this adorable Shepherd's Bush Spring Scissors Fob last year and kindly sent me the chart when she was finished.  I finished my version of it the other day, and I'd like to pay it forward and send it to someone who would like to stitch it and then pass it on as well.  A traveling pattern, if you will. :-)  Please only enter if you would *really* stitch it in the next few months and send it along.  It's so adorable that I'd hate for it just to get buried in someone's "someday" basket!

To enter, just drop me a comment on this post.  You can be a follower if you'd like, and post it if you'd like, but that's totally up to you, it's not required. :-)  I'll choose a name for the lamb's new home next Wednesday.