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

End of Row!

HAED The Nativity, 18 Count, 2x1, June 27, 2016 - end of page 16

Well, the picture isn't the greatest, but the feeling of completing a whole row of pages since January 1st is AMAZING!! : )  On to the next goal of completing another full row by Christmas!!!

Nativity Update and Winners!

Hello again!

I'm back with the winners of my free to take charts, but first an update on my HAED Nativity.  I'm really surprised that I haven't gotten bored with this yet, but I am really, really enjoying seeing it come to life with each little block of 100 that I finish.  My goal is to reach the end of this row of pages by the end of June. :)

OK!  On to the winners!

#1 - Snowman Chart - Joyce
#2 - LHN Chart - Kim M
#3 - Cross Chart - Minnie
#4 - Sheep KnotWork Kit - Cucki
#5 - Proverbs 31 Chart - Minnie
#6 - Quilted Tablerunner  - Goodwill : )
#7 - Shepherd's Bush Kit Leftovers - Kathy

Winners, please contact me at thestamperstitches@gmail.com and give me your address so I can get your charts sent out!! :)  Blessings!

Tricia

Nativity Update!

This is SO much fun!  I love seeing the faces appear!!  Click on the picture to see it larger...

Heaven and Earth Designs - The Nativity
18 Ct - 2 over 1

I have one more column to go on this page (page 11).  I'd love to finish the page by the 5th, and I'd aim to finish the next one by the end of March.  I really am enjoying stitching the 10x10 blocks with full coverage - each one feels like a little finish and each little finish brings me a step closer to the full picture.  It's like piecing together a puzzle and watching the picture appear!

Hopefully I'll have another page to show you at the end of the month!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

Lots of Stitching

Hi again!

I was able to get in quite a bit of stitching this weekend, so I thought I'd post another update...

I just love seeing this come together!!  Here's a closer picture of the first wise man...

Thanks for looking!

Tricia

Nativity Update

Hi everyone!

Here's my HAED Nativity update for the end of January...

Can you see the first part of the wiseman's robe??  How it looks remotely white and striped is beyond me.  There are a TON of colors in there!!  BTW - for a size point of reference -  that is a 60" round kitchen table that it is sitting on.... : )  I'm still thoroughly enjoying stitching on it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

Page Eight Finished

YAY!!!!!

I met my goal and finished page eight before the year ended! :)  I'm so excited to see the whole top row of pages complete.  Tomorrow I start page nine and hopefully by the end of June I'll have another row of pages done.

Happy New Year!!

Tricia

Finished a Page!

Hi everyone!  I am SO excited!  I've finished page 7 and am on track to finish the top of the picture by the end of the year since page 8 is just a half page.  This afternoon I need to look through my stash and find a travel project for this weekend, but I'm sort of afraid to look at all my other goodies.  I don't want to get sidetracked from this one!!  Unfortunately it is too big to take along or I'd bring it.  I figured it out today and I would need to do 400 stitches a day to complete the whole thing by the end of next year... working on nothing else, of course!  I don't know if I can stay that focused, but I might try.  I don't usually stitch that much during the day and there will be a lot of confetti from here on out, but if I aim high I'll get farther than if I don't!!

Back to stitching!

Tricia

HAED Update

Hi everyone!

I missed posting last month since Stitch from Stash was discontinued, so I decided to put up an update today on my HAED Nativity.  My goal is to finish the top of it by the end of the year and I'm right on track!! :)

Here's where I was on my last check in...



Here's where I am today.  I just finished a column and I'm at 32,000 stitches.

Wow!  I didn't realize that I had done so much!! :)  I have about 6,000 stitches to do to finish the top row by the end of the year.  Wish me luck!! :)

{Stitch From Stash} October

Hi everyone!

Sorry that I've been such a bad blogger lately!!  I seem to have a one track mind lately.  I can blog or stitch, but apparently not both! : )  I have been stitching this month, though!  I've gotten a lot done on my HAED Nativity.  It's the one that was calling to me after I started all the new patterns last month, and it hasn't stopped talking yet, so I'm still working on it!  First, my check in for the month.

Month: October 2015

October Budget: $25.00

Spent: $0
Earned: $0
Budget forward:  $77.00

OK, here's where I was on The Nativity last month.  You can just see the start of the halo of light around the star.

And here is where I am now...

See the tree branches starting again??

I would love to get the top row finished by the end of the year and it is attainable, but I would REALLY have to concentrate on it and I would need a couple of long Jane Austen movie and cross stitch days. : )  I'm a little short of my goals for the week, but I just had a hugongous chiropractor adjustment on my mid and upper back, so I need to lay low for the rest of the night, I think.  I'll try to catch up some tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll have lots more done by the next check in!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tricia

{Stitch from Stash} September

Hi again everyone!

I went on a spending splurge this month.... well, sort of.  I saw a pattern I just had to have, and I got another pattern for my birthday at the end of last month, so I decided to kit them both up and have a pattern starting party last week. : )

So first the details...

Month: September 2015
September Budget: $25.00Spent: $39.00
Earned: $16.00 (L*K Good Marriage)
Budget forward:  $52.00

Here's my finish...

L* K A Good Marriage

25 ct over 1

Threads from stash

Here's my progress on Family Blessings - the kit I started on 14 count because my eyes needed a break from the 25 count...

Then I started Got Snow Reindeer - my birthday present...

And bought and started this chart...  Not as big as an HAED, but still lots of stitching!

And, of course, I'm still working on The Nativity... (sorry for the crummy picture!)

I'm hoping to start some sort of a rotation soon, but right now it is just whichever one is calling to me at the moment. : )

Thanks for stopping by!  Hopefully I'll have more stitching to show as we get into the fall and winter.

Blessings!

Tricia

Stitch from Stash - May

Hi everybody!  I've been SO busy this month that I haven't even had time to update my blog.  In fact, so busy that I FORGOT about the May Daily Treats at the Silver Needle that I told you about last month.  I didn't remember them 'til I saw it in last month's post just now.  I guess I didn't need anything... well, unless something wonderful shows up during this last week of the month! : )

The nice thing is that I've been too busy to shop, so I have a $0 spend month, and, even better, I finished my Precious Moments and a page of my HAED Nativity, so I get some "extra" to add to my virtual budget! WooHoo!!

Month: May 2015
Spent: $0
Earned: $23

So my balance forward is $100.88 + $25.00 for May + $23.00 for finishes = $148.88

Precious Moments (for Charity)

O Holy Night

HAED Nativity - Starting on Page Four

My HAED has been getting most of my attention lately - to the detriment of my Stoney Creek piece.  But I find the HAED to be so relaxing to stitch, and I'd love to make it across the top of it sometime in the next year... LOL!!

I think I have a theme going here... here is the Dimensions Kit that I'm stitching on right now... : )

Random.org says that the L*K Spring Alphabet chart is going to visit Alyssa. : )  I'll be in touch, or if you read this before I get the email sent, you can send me your address so I can get it in the mail.

Back to stitching!

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

Mid - October Update

It's raining here and I have chocolate chip muffins cooking in the oven, so it seemed like a good time to update my blog.  I think I've decided that cross stitch is one of my comfort foods. :)  No, I don't eat it, but if I'm feeling a little low I love to look through my stash, window shop online, or make grand plans about next year's stitching.  I might actually even stitch a little! :)

Here's my update...

Page Two of HAED Nativity is finished! WooHoo!!!

The toe of the stocking is finished and I've worked on the band.  Little by little!!

Just a quick letter here and there when I need a stitch I don't have to think about too hard. : )

I've been having a needtobuysomething urge lately.  First I saw this...

... which is SO me.  I haven't bought it yet, because I am not sure I should have 2 HAED's going on at once, but I love it and would love to stitch it!

Then I saw this...

...which looks so fun, since I love Christmas stitching.  I didn't buy that either.

Then I saw this Petite Dimensions Gold kit on eBay.

Another sweet Christmas stitch.  I did buy this one.... : )

My Stitch from Stash account is over $100.00, I think, so I might cave in and place a small order just to get it out of my system.  But as soon as I say that, I am paralyzed, because I can't choose what to get.  LOL!!!  Should I start another HAED?  Should I just get fabric and floss and kit up a bunch of charts in my stash?  Should I buy the Christmas kit up there?  Or the two charts from my last post?  Or should I get one of those Vera Bradley Kiss and Makeup bags to stash with all the stitching goodies I always wish I had with me?  Or should I call Shepherd's Bush and see if they would kit up a fob for me with aida, since I'm allergic to linen???

Decisions, decisions!  I'm going to go ponder....

: )

Have a splendiforous day!

Tricia

{The Nativity} Page One Finished!

Hi everyone! I'm so excited... I finished page one of  The Nativity last night. Now I know that page one out of ... way too many to count... isn't a big deal. But I'm thrilled that I met my first goal. I started on May 15th and I finished page one last night - so that was 5200 stitches in a month and a half and my goal was 3000 stitches a month. If I could keep on that pace for {COUGH, COUGH} a little over 4 years, I'll be done! That would mean no other stitching, mind you. No other WIPS, no other new starts, nothing! LOL

I'll actually, in all probability, start working on another project for at least 15 minutes a day, just so I don't get burned out on this one. I need to work on a couple of things for Christmas, and I'd like to do a block for charity, too, but I'm just really, really enjoying this right now!! And, the best news is that I don't have to buy any floss for the next page, unless I run out of a color. Yay!

 So here's the picture...

HAED The Nativity - 18 ct - 2 over 1
Start Date - May 15, 2014

{Stitch from Stash #6} June Update

Hi everyone!

Greetings from a very out of touch blogger!  I've hardly commented on anyone's blog lately -- Sorry! -- but I have been watching your progress and cheering you on.  Truly I have!!    I'm glad that I signed up for Mel's Stitch from Stash or I might not even be finding the time to update right now.  The stamping side of my life has exploded with busy-ness right now, so most of my forum and blogging and computer time is being funneled that way at the moment. : )

Anyway... on to my report.  I was a good girl and didn't spend any money this past month.  Oh, wait!  yes I did!  I bought 2 skeins of floss for my project...  So I spent 84 cents. : )

I worked and worked on my Nativity piece this month.  Here's the goal...

Here was my progress at last report...

And here's where I am today.  Can you see the start of the palm tree??

I've stitched 4,200 stitches... or 2.2% of the project.

Not much other stitching going on here.  Hopefully I'll be able to concentrate on this one for a few months - at least until I get in the mood for some autumn stitching!!

 So here's my update...

Carried forward from May - $31.82
Plus June budget - $25.00

Available:  56.82

Spent: 
.84 - floss
Balance to carry forward... 55.98

Happy Stitching!

Tricia

{Stitch from Stash #5} May Update

Hi everyone!

It's time for my May Stitch from Stash Update!  And, yes, I spent some $$ this month... but it is all Mel's fault.  LOL!!  Some of you may remember that she told us in the newsletter that HAED had a 50% off sale for Mother's Day, and I'm suddenly in a Christmas mood, since it is actually sunny out here... (I'm not sure how that works, but when it was cold, I didn't want to think about winter.  Now that it's warm, I'm thinking about Christmas!  LOL!)  Anyway...  I finally bought The Nativity pattern that had been on my wish list. : )

I'm doing it on 18 count.  Since I'll be working on it for 10 years or so, I decided to use a fabric size that I enjoy working on. : )

Here's my progress so far...

Here's how far I have to go...

LOL!!! : )  

Rather than buying all the floss at once, I'm going to plan to do about 1 1/2 columns a week, and just pick up the floss I need week by week.  I only needed one color to start!

Wish me much perseverance!! : )  

On to a smaller thing...

My little finish for this month.

Cross Country Stitching - Apr 2011

 So here's my update...

Carried forward from April - $30.89
Plus May budget - $25.00

Available:  55.89

Spent:
5.25 on magazine so I can stitch this piece sometime
10.50 on chart
4.11 on fabric
4.21 on marking pencil and floss
TOTAL:  24.07

Balance to carry forward... 31.82

TTFN!!

Tricia

Catching Up

Hello again!

It's time for a progress report!

First up...  HAED Little Drummer Boy Stocking

It's coming along!  I got most of the next column done.  Now i'm back in the solid confetti section, but most of my threads are parked, so it should go fairly quickly... as long as I parked them in the right place, which is sometimes a question!

Next...  Dimensions Kit:  Heart and Soul

More flowers and outlining done.  I'm definitely in the mood for a new start from my basket, so I need to really, really work on being good and sticking with these until one is complete!

Then there is this Margaret Sherry kit called "Good Heavens" that is calling my name, but I can only find it in the UK...

http://www.dkhcreations.co.uk/margaret-sherry---good-heavens-1380-p.asp

If anyone happens to have it in their stash and wants to find it a new home, let me know.  I should really be sure I have all my Christmas presents bought before I buy myself any more cross stitch! : )

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I know I've been horrible at keeping up with everyone, but I do read your blogs, I just don't always find time to comment. : )

Have a lovely day!

Tricia