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

{Stitch from Stash} November

Good morning!  I thought I had better post my SFS update before I forgot!  I had a good month and didn't spend a thing. : )  YAY!!  I still have my eye on a few things that I might get before the end of the year, but we'll see.

Here's my progress since my last update.  I haven't touched my HAED's much during the past couple weeks, but I've made some progress on the stocking...

the Dimensions Nativity...

And even the Necessities Sampler!!  

So here's my report...

I started with a balance of $120.51 + November's allowance of $25.00 = $145.51 in account. : )

I'm doing pretty well with my 5 project rotation/choice.  I can always find something in the group that looks fun to stitch.  The piece I'm really wishing for on my wish list right now is the DesignWorks Oh Holy Night that looks like this...

It looks so happy!! : )  So maybe if I can finish one of my pieces this month I'll let myself order it.  We'll see!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tricia

Stitching Fun and Frustrations!

Hi everyone!

Do any of you have trouble with stitching a certain designer's work?  I just LOVE Lizzie Kate and Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Stitching designs, but every time I stitch one of them I end up frogging and frogging and frogging.  Every. Single. Time.  Why is that???  They are not hard charts.  There are not a lot of color changes.  They should be easy relaxing stitches!!!  Take this lovely little piece here.  Notice where I stopped??

Yes, the bottom of the X.  Only when I picked it up again, I assumed it was the bottom of the Y and so that's what I stitched.  And then I stitched the Z and the little tree under that and the little house under that....  You get the picture. : )  Sigh.

I think I need to stick with pieces like this instead...

I just love how my HAED Nativity looks!!   I worked some on the Mini Mailbox, too, but I think I'll save pictures until I have something to show you other than a blob of pink.

Here's my progress on the Stoney Creek stocking.  I'm enjoying this one, too, for the most part!

My daughter has been after me to make out my Christmas wish list, and I'm adding a few charts and some fabric here and there.  How fun!  And Nancy keeps posting more Christmas giveaways which is fun, too!  Here are a couple more of my favorites...

DAY THREE - Floss

DAY FIVE - Hand-Dyed Fabric

DAY SEVEN - $25 Gift Certificate to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Have a splendid day!  

Tricia

A New Page Started!

I've been recovering from whatever cold/flu thing got me a couple weeks ago, and since I couldn't do this...

I decided to rest by stitching!

I worked a little on my new Christmas kit...

And added a few letters to my LHN Necessities Sampler...

And worked quite a bit on my Stoney Creek Stocking...

Then I played a bit setting up my new box with my HAED projects..  Isn't it pretty??

Here's the inside...

And this little box holds all the extra threads I needed that aren't on bobbins yet.

I just adore my new little Vera Bradley Kiss and Make Up case.  I have it filled with all my stitching necessities and I can grab it and take it with wherever I happen to be stitching. 

So I stitched a little bit on my HAED Mini Christmas mailbox... (which will look like a big blob of pink for quite awhile!)

And I started a new page on my HAED Nativity!  I've stitched around 11,200 stitches, and just started page 3. : )

Christmas movies start on the Hallmark channel on Friday, so I should be getting more stitching time in soon!! : )

TTFN!

Tricia

The Joys of January

I am loving this Stitch from Stash challenge!  For some reason it is really motivating me and I have three small finishes - wait, FOUR finishes since last we spoke - two were WIP's and two new starts.

First, my valentine exchange ...

OOPS!  I can't show you that!  But I can show you the one I received from Joyce.  She made me such a pretty hand towel and sent a handmade card and some silk floss as a sweet extra since my allergies made the other "extra" options not such good choices. : )

After I finished Mitten Friends, I pulled out a sweet Margaret Sherry ornament that Mouse had sent me two years ago.  I made a promise to myself that I would never again do a MS piece on aida.  That backstitching is a killer!

BTW, please excuse my pictures today.  I couldn't get good lighting no matter how hard I tried!

Next I started LHN Sheep Virtues "Patience"...

Just pretend it isn't shaky...  It's really pretty! : )

Then I pulled out a sweet LHN ornament - Good Tidings that I had won when Vicki was doing a blog giveaway last year.  Thanks Vicki!!

Last night I pulled out another UFO - WIP that I started a few years ago during the January Crazy Challenge - Dimensions "Heart and Soul".  Maybe I can finish this by the end of February, or maybe even by the end of the Super Bowl... who knows!! :)

Now a note to some dear sweet stitching angel who sent me this pattern off my wish list and didn't give her name....

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

It was my favorite of the patterns I listed and I am SO excited to stitch this!  I'm going to put it in my "to do soon" basket and use some of my budgeted $$ to kit it up sometime this year when I have the urge to spend.

That was SO sweet of you to do for me.  You really, really were an encouragement to me today, and I thank God for you!!!!!! 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I always read and enjoy your comments, even when I don't respond.  I appreciate each and every one of you!

Happy Stitching!

Tricia

NaCroStitchMo - Day 5

Well, NaCroStitchMo has turned into NaBlowNoseMo due to the arrival of a cold/flu bug at my house.  Uggh.  Funny thing is that when I did the January Challenge a couple of years ago, the exact same thing happened!!  Hmmmm....  So, let's see.  Sunday I was just coming down with it.  I started LHN's Glad Tidings that I had won from Vicki's blog.  (Thank you, Vicki!!)  I thought it would be a nice easy stitch.  HOWEVER, "nice and easy" and "coming down with the flu" translate into "frogging most of what you stitched".

Monday was filled with aches and pains and a chiropractor appt.  No stitching.  It hurt to  even think about holding a needle.

Yesterday was a little better.  In between sneezing (hard enough to scare my dogs and my daughter!), blowing my nose and moaning, I was able to put in a few stitches on "Glad Tidings" while watching Feel Better Little Bear.  Some people have comfort food, I have a comfort movie... or perhaps movies, because then I stitched on Heart and Soul later in the evening while watching Pride and Prejudice.

Here's my progress on them both....

I just got a package from 123 Stitch with some fabric and a few charts that I ordered with a gift certificate that I won from Mary Ann a while back.  One chart is for my daughter's Christmas stocking, but the other two will probably be my next two starts.  You'll have to come back tomorrow to see the first one! : )

So... just so I can keep track... here's what I'm working on so far...

1.  Dimensions Heart and Soul

2.  L*K Promise Me

3.  LHN Glad Tidings

4. ???

5. ???

6. ???

7. ???

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

A Wonderful Exchange!

Hello friends!  I've been a busy girl lately and I haven't even taken time to show you the wonderful 4th of July exchange that I received from DJ!!! 

Isn't it fun??

She sent me TWO things!  I'm spoiled rotten. :)  A cube and stocking - and I didn't have one of either of those two finishes!! :)

Here they are...

I had to snap a picture quick of Acorn trying to fit in the stocking. 

 That's why it's blurry...

BTW, DJ, yours is going to the post office this morning!! :)

So.... would you like to see my little bit of stitching for the month?  

Yup, that's it.  My shoulders haven't let me do much... but something is better than nothing, right???  And it is pretty! : )

All right, back to work for me!  Thanks for stopping by and leaving sweet comments.  You make my day ( and Acorn is getting conceited hearing so many nice things about himself!! LOL!! )

Happy Monday!

Tricia

Finally!

I have a finish!  Yippee!! : )  This one seems like a HUGE accomplishment, because I started it last February.  Acorn wanted to hold it...

Eye on the Sparrow
Silver Creek Samplers

I finished the stitching on my exchange piece, too, but I can't show that yet.

In the mornings after I read my Bible I've been stitching on the "Courage" sheep virtues chart.  I caught Acorn trying to put in a stitch when he thought I wasn't watching...

Oops!  She caught me!!  Hi Mom!!

So... my WIP in progress right now is Yesterday, Today, Forever.  I got a good bit done on it yesterday evening.  I'm thrilled to get some of these pieces finished that have been on my list for awhile.  I love starting new projects, but after awhile it really starts to weigh on my conscience if I don't finish them. : )  

Thanks for stopping by!!

Tricia

May Goals

Hi everyone!

It seems I need to do an update for April!  Here are my pictures for the month...

I finished LHN Sheep Virtues "Peace".  This one brings to mind Psalm 23...  "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul."  I love the fishies in the water and the garland around his neck!

I worked on Silver Creek Sampler's Eye on the Sparrow for a little while.  Although I must admit with this one I wish I had started on the words "Do Not" instead of on the word "Worry"!!  I'm stitching this one over 1 on 28 count and it's beautiful, but I can only work on it for bits at a time or my shoulder and back and neck bother me.  I've made good progress, though!

Here's the start...

Here's where I am now...

I finished and sent a charity quilt block...

I finished this sweet little PS block...

And started Promise Me...

All right, let's see how I did on my goals for April...

hmmm.

 April 4-10: Finish and send charity block - DONE

April 11-14:  Stitch LHN Sheep Virtues "Peace" - DONE

April 15-30:  Finish 1200 stitches on stocking - pg 2, next column - NOTHING DONE

When I need a break from the stocking tiny work...

 Finish PS Bunnies - DONE

Stitch one night on Eye on Sparrow - DONE (plus some!)

Start L*K Promise Me - DONE

Ongoing:  Work on Yesterday, Today, Forever at Mom's - NOTHING DONE

And my goals for May?  Finish Eye on Sparrow and stitch LHN Sheep Virtues Courage.  For some reason I'm in a "finish my WIP's" mood.  So I'll run with it while I can!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

'Til next time...

Tricia

My Very First!

Flat ornament, that is!!

Hello everybody!  I've been a busy stitcher these last two weeks!  First, I met up with a fellow stitcher from my Friendly Stitchers group last week.  So much fun!!  Gillie has a wonderful British accent, and we had a lovely time together chatting over a cup of coffee and doing a little stash enhancement.  Gillie brought me a sweet pair of British flag scissors, which I didn't take a picture of cuz they were in use already. : )

While we were there I picked up the chart for LHN's "Hot Cocoa" ornament.  Now you know that I've only ever made little pillow ornaments, but on the tree in the shop there were adorable flat ornaments that I commented on.  Of course, Gillie said that I should try one... although, if I remember rightly, she hadn't made one either...

Anyway - here is my stitched and finished ornament to remember our get together...

TADA - a Flat Finish!!!! : )  Yay for me!!

Just a note... My aida was called "Lambswool" and it was almost too light.  I had to change out ecru for B5200 and you still can't see it that well.  I'd recommend a darker color fabric if you want to use the recommended colors!

 Here we all are after supporting the local economy...

And look what arrived in the mail for me!!  From my sweet blogging / Friendly Stitcher friend Melissa...

Another flat ornament ... with SHEEP on it!!! : )  I love it Melissa!  Thank you so much!!!!

That's all for me right now.  I'm working on a Precious Moments piece for charity at the moment, but I think I'm missing some colors, so I might start another ornament.  We'll see!

Thanks for stopping by!