A Windy Day!

Hello, hello!  It's windy outside today.  I need to run out to the post office, but I really don't want to set foot outside, so I'll do this weekly wrap-up first! : )

First - my favorite card from this week...

The stamp is from My Favorite Things, and the layout is the My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge from this week.  The little girl is colored with copics and is sending all my readers some well wishes!!

Now onto this week's stitching...

Heart and Soul from UFO Thursday...

Today's progress on my SAL with DD - Dimensions Twilight Bridge

This week's progress on my BHP... Dimensions Cabin Fever

And, finally, my first finish of 2012.... Lantern Santa (JCS 20011)

I'm tucking this away in a box for later.  I'd like to have some things done ahead for Christmas this year, which is why I'm trying to stitch an ornament and quilt something each month.  

I did get the little quilt layered and quilted, but I haven't sewn the binding down yet, so you'll have to wait until next week for a picture of that one.

Don't forget that I have a few charts for sale or trade in the post before this one.  Let me know if there is something you would like!  You can contact me at inkystitcher @ yahoo.com 

Lizzie Kate, LHN and Precious Moments for Sale or Trade

Hi everybody!  I'm doing a little destashing and thought I'd see if anyone was interested in these...

I would love to trade for something on my wishlist, or I've also listed a sale price (with the shipping included).

L*K November $2.00 (including shipping)

L*K Woof - $2.00 (including shipping)

Little House Needleworks Counting House - $4.00 (including shipping)

Precious Moments Noah's Ark - ADORABLE! $4.00 (including shipping)

This Week in Pictures

Hello friends!

I got such a fun surprise in the mail today!  Over Christmas I won a drawing during our Stitched with Love exchange and just look at all the fun things I got today from Colleen!  I *love* the Santa pillow she stitched for me!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Have you gotten a lot accomplished this week??  Here's my week's work...

BHP for Becky's Challenge - Dimensions Cabin Fever...
I've stitched on this almost every day.  It is slow going, so I switch it up with the exchange piece that I'm working on.  You can start to see the reflection of the cabin in the water!

SAL with DD - Dimensions Twilight Bridge...
Just 45 minutes or so on this one this week.  I filled in a window and that was about it.

UFO Thursday - Dimensions Heart and Soul...
A little backstitching and more done on the rust colored swirls.

Scrap Quilt...  I'd love to put together a scrap quilt or table runner each month so I have some gifts ready at Christmas time.  This is some leftover fabric from a quilt I made for DD a number of years ago.  The top is all sewn together now and next week I'll sandwich, quilt and bind it.  It's definitely cuter in real life! : )

 And my favorite card this week!



A sweet little "hello" using a stamp from Verve and the adorable Mouse who is now available as a digital stamp from Whimsy and Stars.  I followed the Mojo Monday sketch for my layout and colored Lucy Mouse with Copics.

Have an amazing week!

Blessings!
Tricia

Time for an Update!

Hello again!

I definitely didn't have as much progress this week as I might have liked, but I can't blame that on anyone but myself.  I spent time relaxing instead of stitching a few times this week.  Well, either relaxing or doing bookwork, which isn't quite the same thing!  But I do have a little progress to show you, and I also worked on an exchange piece that must remain invisible for a time. :)

First, my UFO.  Not too much progress, but any is better than none! :)

Then my SAL ornament.  I tried to do this while I watched the Packer game yesterday.  Sigh.  I was too distracted to get anymore stitched, so I finally just gave up!!

And my BHP for Becky's Challenge...  I really did get a lot done on this, and, of course, made a few mistakes along the way.  Nothing I'm going to fix, though.  With all the confetti stitching, I can't imagine that a stitch or two out of place would even be noticed!!  I have lofty goals for this one, this week.  We'll see how much time and energy I have to accomplish them. : )

Here's a question for you all.  I am looking for a nice quiet, relaxing, not super expensive vacation spot for my husband and I to celebrate our 25th anniversary this year.  We have gone nowhere and done nothing, so we are really clueless.  I mentioned going overseas, but since I've only flown once, I don't think I'm ready for that yet.  And since we've seen next to nothing in the US, it would be nice to do something here.  We'd like somewhere quiet, relaxing, with things to do if you wanted, but not in a crazy busy city.  If we could have the best of both worlds, I would like a cross stitch shop and he would like a trapshooting range. : )  Let me know if you have any ideas!!

Stitching Updates and Spotted Scissors

Hello again!  It's update time!! : )

Let's start with the SAL with DD...

Before...

After...

Then my BHP... Dimensions Gold Cottage Fever.   Last week...

and up to last night...  

I started to use a size 24 needle this week - even though it's 18 count fabric.  With all the sections of 4-5 strand stitching, my smaller needles were bending, breaking and just being frustrating.  I'm going TONS faster now.  YAY!!!

Then my Thursday progress on my UFO...

And my progress on my SAL ornament...

Yesterday, dd and I went shopping to help her spend some of her Christmas money and ended up at our not so local Needlework Store.  The 50% off bin was full and I found the adorable Bent Creek chart there.  The little pieces of fabric are all evenweave from the remnant bin - perfect for the ornament SAL I'm doing.  Then my Homespun Elegance chart for later in the ornament SAL (I know, Shirlee, I said I'd only buy one chart... But one full price one counts, right??? LOL!), a few needles, some thread for an exchange project and a $4 pair of spotted green scissors.  I think the scissors are adorable!  Now I need to get my hands on the cute little SB scissors fob kit that matches.  Well... maybe next time I have a little $$ to spend.  When is Mother's Day???  LOL!

My sewing room is a happy place for me right now.  I'm so thankful that Cabin Fever is coming along easier.  I'm at the bottom of the first column, which makes me feel like I'm really accomplishing something, and I made really good progress on the ornament, so I'll be able to get that done this month, and that will satisfy my "quick stitch" urge.   I spent last night looking through all the JCS ornament editions that I've collected to make a list of ornaments to do for the challenge.  I'm looking forward to having a little pile for gifts.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.  If you read this far you deserve a medal!!

Blessings!

Tricia

aka Inkystitcher

Stitching update!!

Greetings!

I figured it was about time for an update on my BHP (Big Huge Project... rather than the other more "slangy" version that I would rather not say...) : ) - Cabin Fever.

In case you've forgotten, I'm working on a Dimensions kit for my husband, and it could very well be the end of me.  My goal is to finish it by the end of the year.  It could happen!  Maybe.... if I buy stock in needles...  and patience.

Here's my progress as of yesterday.  Don't even ASK how many hours work that was!

Figuring I was going to need sanity breaks, I joined Lainey's monthly Christmas ornament SAL, too.  This month the theme was Santa, so I looked through my Ornament magazine and found this cute design by Sue Hillis.  I get to start this on Sunday, after I've stitched 15 minutes or so on the Cabin.

Since I've already put half an hour in on the Cabin, I can work on my UFO tonight, so next time I'll have pictures of that, too.

Have a wonderful day and happy stitching!!

A Little Stamping...

Hi all!

I have something fun to share today!  My Favorite Things - one of the companies that I enjoy buying rubber stamps and accessories from - is having a Guest Design Team Challenge this week, and if you are chosen you could win *lots* of fun stamps and accessories to make sample cards with for their next stamp release.  For 2012, I'm going to be consolidating all my stamping and cross-stitching blogging together to save me some time, so here I am - and here's a card to share! : )

The challenge for our card was to paper piece... in other words to "color" the image by cutting the different parts of the image out of different patterns of paper and glue them together.  If you look carefully, I've paper pieced the little lamb, each of the flowers, the jacket, the pants, and even the little "hands" and "feet".  I used copic markers to color in the grass and then add some depth and shading after I finished piecing him back together.  The clouds are sponged in with pink and turquoise ink, and I cut the little border flag, since my First Place Award Ribbon Die-namics die won't get here for a day or two yet. (My DH gave me Christmas money and I have a lovely order coming!!)

If you enjoy making cards, be sure to check out the My Favorite Things shop!  And wish me luck with the contest!!

Blessings!

Tricia aka InkyStitcher : )

On my list

Hello friends and neighbors!

It's Thursday, so to get a headstart on my Friendly Stitcher UFO Day, I'm going to stitch on this today.

I worked a little on L*K ABC Lessons this week...  I plan to work on this one week each month until it is done.

And here is my start on the Dimensions "Twilight Bridge" SAL that I'll be doing with my DD.  I'm not sure how often we'll be stitching on it when she's back at college.  Once a week or once a month, maybe?  It has really pretty colors, so it seems like it will be a fun stitch.

And here's the extent of my Christmas stitchy gifts.  A little kit from my DD and my wonderful little pair of designer Gingher scissors.  *Love* them.  I would love to get all of the colors of these, but, WOW, they get expensive once the color is retired!!  I actually found these for 50% off at Joann's before Christmas and snapped them up, wrapped them and put them under the tree to me from Santa's reindeer. : )

Next week I'll start working on my big project for next year - Dimensions Gold "Cabin Fever".  I started it in the upper left corner last January and never touched it again, and now I'm thinking I would really rather start in the middle.  I may look at it tomorrow and see about frogging the corner and restarting in the center.  It just seems to be easier to hold that way. : )

Thanks for stopping by!

Inkystitcher

Merry (almost) Christmas!

Hello friends!  Can you believe that it is almost Christmas?  I've been stitching on a SAL with my DD who is home from college for the past few days.  We're not getting exceptionally far, cuz there are too many Christmas movies to watch. : )

I'm thrilled to get to show you the gifts I received from Marjorie during the Stitched with Love exchange.  What a beautiful box of goodies she sent!  Do you see that pincushion?  I'm positive that my great aunt had a quilt in those colors.  I have it next to me when I'm stitching.

Here is the beautiful hanging pillow/ornament that she sent.  And the cutest little pinecone reindeer!  Thank you SO much, Margorie.  I love it ALL!!

For the exchange, I sent a box to Teresa of Heartfelt Stitches.  I changed the colors in an ornament from one of the JCS ornament edition magazines (Sorry!  I don't have it in front of me to tell you which one!), and made it into a flanged pillow.

Here is is up close...

 I'll leave you with the words to one of my favorite Christmas songs...

Do you worship the babe in the manger

But reject the Christ of the cross?

Your redemption comes not by the manger

But the death of Christ on the cross.

The Babe in the manger was God's only Son,

Who left Heaven's Throne to die.

The Babe in the manger could never have done,

The work of God on High.

The Babe left the manger and went to the cross

To pay the wages of sin.

Your way of forgiveness is not by the Babe

But the Christ who died for your sin.

--ooOoo--

Have a Blessed Christmas,

Tricia

Counting House Finished! : )

Hello everybody!  I put in the last few stitches on LHN's Counting House last night and started one more little Christmas ornament that I hope to finish before Saturday.  Then my SAL with DD will begin and I'll concentrate on that for the two weeks before the new year starts.  It's been a fun year of stitching.  I'm pretty sure that this is the most I've ever completed in a year! : )

Guess what showed up in my mailbox a week or so ago??   I got a card from *someone* who was at Harrogate (I don't know who!!!) and in it was this adorable little button.  I love sheep!!!  I ran down to my craft room and found a set of magnets to attach to the back to make it into a needle minder so I could always have it with me.  I named it "Inky".   So that makes me "InkyStitcher".  : )

Thank you, secret stitching friend, whoever you are!

Hopefully I'll be able to show the fun things I received in an exchange soon, so I'll see you again then!

Blessings!

InkyStitcher : )

Ornaments, my 2012 Challenge, and Updates!

Hello again!  Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?  Or a nice Harrogate show if you're from the UK??  We had a busy weekend with Thanksgiving, then Christmas with part of the family, and then a few days of "clean and repaint the bathroom before company comes".  I can't *wait* to take a shower again! : )

On the stitching front... first some ornaments for our Friendly Stitcher Ornament Exchange...

From Elizabeth to me...  Isn't it beautiful??  It's my first biscornu and the fabric shimmers!

Then from me to Elizabeth - an older L*K pattern...

Here's my finished PS Autumn Leaves Foursome - Jackie, if you read this I need your address to send it back! : )  ...

And finally, my progress on LHN Counting House...

As for my personal 2012 challenge, I worked on it over Thanksgiving and here it is.  I have it under the challenge tab up top, so I can keep track of how I do and remind myself of my "rules". : )

2012 Tricia's Personal Challenge!

Rules...
1. My main goal is to finish Cabin Fever by the beginning of December 2012.  I have about 100 stitches done.  

-Heart and Soul (left)  and Cabin Fever (right)-

2. I need to finish the starred "in progress" designs before starting anything new.
3. I will work on Heart and Soul as my UFO project on Thursdays for Friendly Stitchers.  It is my oldest project except for Cabin Fever and I know I won't finish it if I don't make myself.  When it is finished I will work on Quilted Garden for UFO Thursdays.
4.  When I have three finishes I can kit up the next two that are missing threads and fabric.


IN PROGRESS...

1.  LHN Counting House *
2.  Dimensions Cabin Fever
3.  Dimensions Heart and Soul
4.  Stoney Creek Shepherd Boy
5.  L*K ABC Lessons *
6.  Shepherd's Bush My Mom's Garden 
7.  Blue Ribbon Designs Quilted Garden


SAL w/DD STARTING IN DECEMBER...


8.  Dimensions Twilight Bridge


OTHER WANT TO's...

9.    HAED Tiny Treasure Cow Over the Moon
10.  CCN Bunny Hop
11.  Precious Moments January SnowDrop
12.  Jardin Prive Jouxe de Vivre
13.  SB Ornament
14.  Imaginating Be Joyful
15.  Silver Creek Sampler Do Not Worry
16.  L*K Fat Men
17.  Margaret Sherry Mistletoe
18.  etc, etc, ;)

i don't think I'll get everything done on my list, because I'm sure I'll do some smaller designs here and there for exchanges or blog prizes, but this is a good start for me!! : )  Can't wait to see how I do!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Blessings!

Time Flies!!

Hello everyone!  Have you been busy too??  I've been stitching a little and doing some Christmas shopping and making a Holiday Planner and going off sugar (I feel so much better - but can you imagine  Thanksgiving and Christmas without sugar?  EEK!  What will I get in my stocking?  Socks??)  Here are some pictures of what I've been up to...

LHN's Counting House.  I'll try to finish this by Christmas.

Prairie Schooler Autumn Leaves Foursome...  Hopefully this will be finished this weekend, if I can get some concentrated stitching time!

An AMAZING Blog gifty that I received from Andrea.  Have you ever SEEN anything so beautifully finished?  Look at those beads!!!!!  swoon..... : )

Here's a Margaret Sherry freebie that I stitched into an ornament for a friend that loves cats...

And another gift from a blog and real-life friend, Angie... Aren't they adorable?  A little notebook cover and pouch!

And finally a gift for my MIL.  I was all set to try a pinkeep... but I chickened out and framed it instead.  I'll get up enough courage one of these days!!

That's it for me right now!  I'm sending off an exchange today.  Can't wait to receive mine back again!  With paying for dd to stay in college, we're cutting back on Christmas presents for each other this year.  I think we'll just do stockings - so getting these few stitchy things here and there from my blog friends and exchanges is going to be my Christmas!! : )

Have a wonderful day!