A New Beginning

 Hello friends!

I bought myself a fun stitch after Christmas with some of my Christmas money.  When I was decorating I saw all the stockings and smalls and gifts and ornaments that I had made and received years ago - even though "years ago" seems like yesterday in my mind - and I decided I was going to encourage myself to stitch for fun this year.  Maybe it will jumpstart my mojo! 

My current project is a stocking for someone special.  I have been having trouble for the past year or so just sitting down and stitching for long stretches, so I've been doing "just one length of thread"each time I sit down with this project.  Who was it that did that?  Butterfly??  Whoever it was, thank you for the idea!!

Harmony is my word for the year, so this little fob will be one I start soon.  The Happy Little Stitch Shop is doing a SAL on Instagram that I might join in with.  On the 1st of each month you start something new or work on a WIP, the 4th of each month is for a Patriotic stitch, the 14th for Love/Friendship, the 25th for Christmas themed, and the 30th for Fall/Halloween.  I don't know as I will start something for all of them,  although, come to think of it, I'm sure I have a pattern or WIP in my stash for each of them and I probably wouldn't have to buy anything to start with... -  I do like the idea!

There are so many stitches that I would like to work on this year!  Some that I have in my stash, and some that I've seen and wished I had, so I'm hoping that I will be able to work back into a stitching rhythm.   

In other news, towards the beginning of last year I started to make prayer / comfort shawls.  I couldn't keep my thoughts focused to cross stitch, but this simple, beautiful pattern allowed me to stitch and pray and relax.  I so enjoy making them and giving them to people who need a bit of God's love and comfort.  

Another thing keeping my attention has been watching the antics of this cheeky squirrel.  It took him a couple of months to figure it out, but finally he succeeded in jumping straight up from the deck railing to the birdfeeder (about 4 feet?).  I really miss the birds, because I had so enjoyed watching them, but Mr. Squirrel ate the whole bell in about two days, so no more birds.  It's a good thing he's cute!! :)

Until next time!

Crocheting...

I'm crocheting today.  It intrigues me, but I am having an awful time settling down to one project.  There is so much to learn.  So many hooks to try.  So many projects out there.  Today I am working on a Daisy Granny Square pattern that I bought from BluPrint (formerly Craftsy).  I am using some yarn I have on hand, which happens to be a multi-color SugarWheel from Hobby Lobby in yellow, dark grey, sage and light grey.  Since I've never made a Granny Square before I am just trying to fumble my way through the pattern once or twice and then I would like to try making the squares with all the color changes in a thinner yarn with a smaller hook.  Unless I get distracted by something else first.

It could happen.

Yesterday I cross stitched a very little bit more on my little pillow project.  I'll work on it until I need a change and then pick out the next one to add to my list.

Soooo... so far I have - 

1. Pine Mountain May Pillow (cross-stitch)

2. Practice Daisy Square

We'll see whether or not my list expands this week!

Colors

This hasn't been a great morning.  Today was my Mom's birthday and I realized only after I had made a sympathy card for my husband to take to the funeral of his ex-boss.  Putting the two together made me sad.  And maybe a little sorry for myself.  And irritated that I was sorry for myself.  And upset that I was irritated.  But then my eyes were drawn to the jar of colored pencils on my desk and I saw the rainbow of colors that were there.  They wouldn't be nearly as pretty if they were all the same color.  It is the different colors that make them beautiful as a group.  I've had that experience when I was stitching, too.  I might be stitching along thinking "This really isn't pretty!", but then I add in another color and everything pops.  I think that my emotions are like that.  Each day brings different emotions - Some days are red angry days, some are blue and sad, others I am sunny yellow happy, or growing in a vibrant green.  I've had black days which transitioned into dark brown and then lighter brown, and I've had mixtures and shades of the colors as well.  And as a whole they make my life what it is... a beautiful unfinished tapestry being stitched by a Master Designer.  I am so blessed.

I was able to stitch for just a few minutes last night, so I started a Pine Mountain May pillow.  It has bluebirds on it which make me happy. :)

I'm not sure what I will work on today.  I guess we will see!

Time for a New Start

I'm pretty sure that there is no one still following this blog, and that's ok.  It's been 2, well, basically 3, years since I posted last and those years have been the hardest of my life as I have worked through the symptoms of acute anxiety and depression.  God has worked in my life in so many ways through this time and one of the things He has shown me is that, for those who love Him, His character doesn't include or cause fear, but love; it doesn't make you sad, but joyful; it doesn't cause anxiety, but brings peace.  His life in me because of Christ allows me to be patient and kind.  It is gentle and makes me gentle.  It is good and loves what is right and good.  It is faithful and helps me to be able to fulfill my commitments.  And it helps me to be moderate and not be overwhelmed with wants and wishes, but makes me grateful for what I have and helps me to enjoy using the gifts He has provided.

I've had a hard time cross stitching the past two years.  I think that all together I only completed 2 1/2 pages on my Heaven & Earth Designs Nativity in that time.  But it's always been there.  And lately I've enjoyed crocheting as well.  Nothing big... I have a lap throw a little over half done and I've made a few dishcloths, both knitting and crocheting.  I have a few things I would like to work on though.

So, anyway, I am going to make today a new start.  I'm working full time now, so it is going to be harder to do this, but I am going to pick 10 projects and post a picture of them - kind of like I did in 2013.  I am going to commit to working on those 10 projects for the rest of the year and see what kind of progress I can make.  I want to choose projects that make me think of all the characteristics above.  That make me happy, that encourage me toward peace, that give me a chance to practice faithfulness in working on them each day - even if it's only 15 minutes at a time, and that allow me to actually use what I have and be grateful for it.  I know that I might need to buy a few things for the projects - some floss or fabric - and I know that I have one new pattern I would like to buy - "Live your Dreams" by Silver Creek Samplers...

The rest I will work on throughout the next couple of days and I will post it here as a reminder to myself.  I am cautiously excited to begin this stage of my journey!

The Nativity Update!

Hello!!  It's been WAY too long since I've updated here.  I will try to do better!  I've been working non-stop on my Heaven and Earth Designs project and have made a LOT of progress.  Here's a picture of my last page finish, and I'll have another page finish to share soon! :)

Isn't it sooooo pretty?  I just love watching it take shape!!

See you again soon!

Nativity Update!

Hi everyone! (If anyone is still following me...)

I am so sorry that I haven't updated since June.  It's been a rough couple of months as I've dealth with the anniversaries of my mom's death and my husband's brain surgery - plus we had to put down our dog last weekend. :(  But I have something happy on the stitching front, I have 2 pages finished on The Nativity since June.  I was hoping for three pages, but this one seemed to have a LOT of confetti.  Either that or I just couldn't concentrate... not sure which!

Here's my progress...

I need to put in a few extra hours on it if I want to finish this row by the end of December!!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

Hi everyone!

It's been a ton of time since I last posted an update on my Nativity project!  I'm currently on the middle of page 15 and on track to finish this row of pages by June 30th, which was my goal.  I'm so thrilled!  If I can keep this pace up, I'll have another row finished by the end of the year.  I really hope to finish this by next September, or so!!  Here's where it is currently...

Having a good bit of sky in this top section has helped it to go a little more quickly, but the rest of this page and most of the next row will be confetti stitching with all of the gorgeous robes and people to work on.  It's really going to start taking shape!

Thanks for following along with me as I stitch this piece.  I know that I haven't had much to blog about since I started working on this project only, but I really find it relaxing and I'm thoroughly enjoying the journey of seeing a masterpiece come to life.

Have a blessed day!

Tricia

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

Free to Take

Hi friends!

I have a few patterns that I'd love to pass along!  I'll post pictures here and you can leave a note in the comments as to which ones you'd like to be in the draw for.  (As many as you'd like!)  I'll draw for winners Monday, March 14th if more than one person would like a specific pattern.  I hate to do it, but my pocketbook says it will have to be US only this time, unless you wouldn't mind paying the overseas postage.  Thanks so much !!

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} August

Goodness, how this month has flown!  I've been working fairly steadily on my Lizzie Kate piece, but I don't want to show its picture again until I've given it away. :)  So... here's the REALLY BORING Stitch from Stash mandatory check in details...

Month: August 2015
Spent: $0
Earned: $0
Budget forward:  $50.00

My husband is doing SO well since his brain surgery in June.  He is back at work full time - or more than full time, and has more energy each day.  My energy comes and goes depending on the stress of the day and what I eat. : )  The prevailing opinion on a helpful diet for me seems to be lots of vegetables (but no tomatoes, peppers or potatoes) and meat and some dairy and healthy fats.  No coffee, sugar, and little to no fruit or nuts or carbs.  Considering I really don't enjoy vegetables that much and I DO enjoy the "don't haves"  I'm having a little trouble sticking to it... : ) 

Thanks for dropping in.  I hope I'll have a more interesting post to share in a week or two! : )

Tricia

{Stitch from Stash} July

Hi everyone!

Month: July 2015
Spent: $0
Earned: $0
Budget forward:  $25.00

It's month one of the second half  Stitch from Stash and I have a wonderful spending report of ZERO but not very much to show on the stitching front!  With my husband's brain surgery last month and then his recovery time, I haven't really been able to calm my mind often enough to sit and stitch.  Now that he is back to work for a few hours a day, though, I have great hopes that stitching will be in my future... if I can tear myself away from the silly 2048 puzzle game that my son got both my husband and I hooked on! :)

For the few minutes I HAVE stitched I've worked on the Lizzie Kate Marriage ABC's - 25 ct over 1 with all different threads...

and I started a kit I had in my stash that I just love and it is on 14 ct aida, which is easier for me to concentrate on right now.

So there you have it!  Hopefully I'll have more to show for my time next month.  

Happy stitching everyone!