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

YOTA - May 2015

Hi everyone!

Just a little bit of progress to show on my project this month.

Here's the before...

And here's the after.  I worked a little on the bottom of the robe and on the donkey.

Thanks for looking! : )

Tricia

{Stitch from Stash} April

Hi everyone!  It's Stitch from Stash reporting time again!  Here are the basics...

Month: April 2015
Spent:  $11
Earned: $ 0

So my balance forward is $86.88 + $25.00 for April = $111.88 minus $11.00 = $100.88

Here's my progress report...

I worked on my HAED Nativity and finished a column or two.

I worked a little on my Stoney Creek O Holy Night... (Sorry for the color cast on the pictures.  It's really overcast here today!)

And a little more on my Precious Moments piece...  There's a possibility I'll still be able to finish this by the end of the month, or at least be pretty close.  YAY!

And I finished my Spring Alphabet sampler!!

Here's last month...

And here's the finish...

I received this chart from sweet Linda at  Stitching with my Furbabies, and I would love to pay it forward and pass it along to someone who would enjoy stitching it and passing it on in turn.  Mention it in the comments if you'd like to be in the draw!

Well, I didn't quite make my $0 spend goal through April.  My not-so-LNS had their anniversary sale and dd in I were in need of a road trip, so I picked up some fabric for a few ornaments I would like to work on and a skein or two of floss for future projects.  One must support our stitching shops a little... mustn't one?? : )  Speaking of which, The Silver Needle has their May Daily Treats coming up.  I might have to splurge if I see something I like. : )  I'd also like to get the Stoney Creek magazine that just came out.  It has SUCH pretty things in it this time!  So many fun stitches... so little time!  We'll see how I do...

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fantabulous month everyone!

Tricia

YOTA - April

With being sick in March I got off schedule stitching on my YOTA piece, but I stitched for a good bit yesterday afternoon while listening to a Good Friday service online, so I have some progress to show.

Here's my before...

and here's my after...

The bottom of Joseph's robe is coming along and I started working on the donkey.  This is a fun stitch, but it moves sort of slowly with all the color changes!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy Easter!  I pray that you know Christ as the Risen One!!

{Stitch from Stash} March

Hi everyone!  It's Stitch from Stash reporting time again!  Here are the basics...

Month: March 2015
Spent:  $ 0
Earned: $ 0

So my balance forward is $61.88 + $25.00 for March = $86.88

Here's my progress report...

I worked on my HAED Nativity and added in three or four hundred stitches.

I worked a little on my Stoney Creek O Holy Night...

And a little more on my Precious Moments piece...

And a few stitches on my Cross Country Stitching Sampler...

And sweet Linda from Stitching with my Furbabies sent me two Lizzie Kate alphabet charts - Spring and Autumn - that I had admired on her blog.  THANK YOU, LINDA!!!!!

I was desperate for a spring stitch, but I didn't want to spend any money, so I dug through the little bit of fabric that I have and managed to find a piece of 18 ct white aida that would be big enough.  I switched out all the colors to DMC that I had and started.  It is a fun stitch and I love how it is turning out.  (The colors are a lot softer in real life!)

So what's new on my wish list this month?  Winnie the Pooh!!  I seem to be picking all expensive projects to wish for this year!  Here's the Pooh and Friends II kit...

Image from Keepsake NeedleArts

So, my goal for now through April.  If I can go another month with $0 spending, that would be fantastic!  I have enough to work on, that's for sure!!  I would like to finish both the Precious Moments piece and the Spring Alphabet if I could, and do a little more on my HAED and my Stoney Creek Nativity.  That's the plan, anyway!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fantabulous month everyone!

Tricia

I'm looking for...

Hi everyone!

Does anyone happen to have a Lizzie Kate Fab Fob - Spring Kit with the little scissors in their stash that they would like to sell??  It looks like this...

I'm going to be flying to see my daughter graduate in a couple months and I want to get a pair of the little scissors to carry with me on the plane, but they don't have the cute ones with two colored handles anymore and I like the fun spring fob...  Just thought I'd check!  

Thanks for looking!

Tricia

YOTA - March

Hi again!

Not a ton of progress to show on my YOTA piece this month, but it's still growing!

Here's the before...

And here's the after...

Thanks for looking! : )

Tricia

{Stitch from Stash} February

Hi everyone!  It's Stitch from Stash reporting time again!  Here are the basics...

Month: February 2015
Spent:  $ 0
Earned: $16.00 for Stocking Finish

So my balance forward is $20.88 + $25.00 for February's Budget + $16.00 finish = $61.88

Here's what I've been working on this month...

Stoney Creek Oh Holy Night

I'm still working on Oh Holy Night for about 30 minutes most mornings, and I'm seeing progress!! 

Then my finish for the month...

Stoney Creek Winter Sanctuary Stocking

And the newest WIP I took out of my bag.  I have to stitch on this in the daylight right now because I can't see the blue thread on the blue fabric!  So my evenings have been spent on the next piece instead.

This piece is from the Cross Country Stitching magazine, and it doesn't look like much so far, but it took me three or four nights to stitch that sign.  I think there were 1000 stitches of 822 in it!! : )  I'll outline it tonight and write the words and I'll feel like I'm half done with the piece.  OK, not really, but it really was a big chunk of solid stitching!!  It would have been worth $4 if it were a finish! LOL!!

My goal for February was to try not to spend anything and I didn't.  WooHoo!  We'll see how I do in March.  I really don't want to spend anything this next month either, but I'm afraid I am going to be wishing for something Spring-y soon!!  I'll have to remember that and pick up a few patterns to work on next Spring when I have a little extra real money. You know, real money vs the virtual budget that I have available! : )

Thanks for stopping in!!

Tricia

Mid-February Update

That's me up there, shaking my head in disbelief.  I was so excited to show you the stocking finish in the last post that I forgot to share a picture of this AMAZING pillow that showed up in my mailbox last week from Carol!  She sent it along with a chart I had lent her.  Oh my, I was THRILLED!!  Her workmanship is amazing and her friendship is treasured!!

THANK YOU, Carol!!!

In stitching news...  I've continued to work on my Stoney Creek Oh Holy Night in the mornings.  Here's my progress for this week...

I worked on the Precious Moments piece for a couple of nights...

But then I had an "I want to work on aida" night when I just needed something easier to work on with no fractionals and easier counting, so I started a piece I've had in my stash for awhile from an older Cross Country Stitching magazine.  Now that I've started it - on my absolute favorite fabric to work on... 16 count natural aida... I don't want to finish the Precious Moments piece.  I just want to work on this instead!!  Oh, well!  They are both from my stash, so I guess stash progress is stash progress!! : )

I hope you all have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

My First 2015 Finish!!

WooHoo!!  The stocking is finished!! : )  It's all ready to be ironed and made into a stocking for next Christmas.  YAY!!  Tonight I'll start on the next WIP in my pile  - this sweet Precious Moments piece...

I want to send it to Love Quilts, so I probably won't do the words.  I have just a tiny bit of her face and her done at the moment, but I'm hoping I can finish it this month!! : )

Thanks for stopping by!!

Tricia

YOTA Update - February

Hi everyone!  I'm back with my YOTA update!

When I checked in in January I was here...



Now, after a month of stitching 1/2 hour in the morning (or so... there were a few days I didn't because of some shoulder issues...) I'm now here...

It is SO exciting to see progress on this piece!  I hope to have it finished by the end of the year!

Tricia

Stitch From Stash - January

Hi everyone!  It's Stitch from Stash reporting time again!  Here are the basics...

Month: January, 2015
Spent:  $4.12
Earned: -0-

So my balance forward is $20.88.

Here's what I've been working on this month...

Stoney Creek Oh Holy Night

I've been working on Oh Holy Night for about 30 minutes most mornings, and I'm seeing progress!! :

and...

Stoney Creek Winter Sanctuary Stocking

I've spent the bulk of my stitching time on this one this month.  I would love to finish this in the next two or three weeks.  I was hoping to finish one of my WIP's each month, but we'll see if that happens!

My goal for the first half of SFS is to try to spend under $25.00 total for the six months.  I don't really have anything extra to spend right now, and I think I have enough stash to get me to June just finishing up projects that I've started, or stitching on ones that I have a kit for.   If I make it - and I need to! - I will splurge on a kit that I've been wishing for. : )  Then I'll try to kit up my second half projects with anything extra I've been able to save (in real money!) from now til June.

Sooo... things I've seen that are on my wish list?  Not tons, thankfully, but definitely the L*K ABC's of Faith Kit that will be coming out soon.

And then Rachel, has been using all these gorgeous aida fabrics by Fabric Flair for her challenge starts this month.  I can see kitting some things up with them for the second half of SFS!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

YOTA and Mid-January Update

Hi everyone!

Today is the first Year of the Acronym (YOTA) update!  I've been working on my chosen piece - Stoney Creek's O Holy Night, that I started back in 2012. I decided that I would stitch on it for about 30 minutes each morning and see how much I get accomplished.  Here' my before...

And here's my after...

I'm so excited to be working on it again.  It will be so pretty!!

In non-YOTA stitching I've been working on the Stoney Creek Stocking that I would like to have done for Christmas this year.  I've been working on this one for about 2 or 2 1/2 hours each night and I just finished the bottom page yesterday.  Maybe I can come close to finishing it this month!!

Thanks for stopping by today!  

Tricia

2015 Goals!

Hello, hello!  I'm back with my New Year's Goals post.  I spent the whole day on the floor in front of the space heater going through my stash,  picking out projects that I would like to work on next year and making a stitching game plan.  I'm really going to try to make this my motto this year...

Yup, I got the pillow as my end of year treat.  And stitched it in just a couple of days because I liked it so much!!  

I loved Stitch from Stash last year, so I joined again, but this time my personal goal will be to only spend $50.00 or less in Round One and $50.00 or less in Round Two.  

I also joined the Friendly Stitcher's Get It Done SAL and I'll be working on my Stoney Creek O Holy Night Nativity that I started a couple years ago.  My plan is to stitch on it for a half hour each day during daylight hours, then to stitch on another project at night.  I have an ornament kitted up as well for traveling or boredom. : )

Here is my tentative list of projects for this year...

1. Stoney Creek O Holy Night Nativity

2. Stoney Creek Stocking

3. Homespun Elegance Snowman Ornament

4. Precious Moments January Snowdrop

5. Homespun Elegance Reindeer Ornament

6. Dimensions Nativity

7. Homespun Elegance Along for the Ride

8. L*K Marriage Piece

9. MBT Joy Ornament

10. Harvest Blessing Kit

11. JinglePot Road Ornament

12. Harvest Light

13. L*K Ornament

14. Bent Creek Leaf

15. Got Snow Reindeer

16. LHN Kindness

17. Cardinal - Lady in Red

18 CCN Silent Night

19. CCS Slow to Speak

20. LHN 12 Days of Christmas

21. WIPF (Work in Progress Forever) HAED Nativity

22. WIPF HAED Mini Christmas Mailbox

23. WIPF HAED Stocking

The ones in red are my January projects, and, if I get any charts as gifts during the year, I reserve the right to fit them in. : )  I can't wait to see how I do on my list!!

One last goal for the year is to keep track of the time I stitch on each project.  I simply forget to do it, but I would like to know how long it actually takes me, vs what I THINK it will take.

Wish me luck!!  I'm looking forward to starting tomorrow!!

Stitch from Stash - December

WOW, oh WOW!  I made it to the end!!  What a fun year it's been with the Stitch from Stash challenge.  I've really enjoyed it and I'll be back in a few days with my goals for next year.

Here is my spending breakdown for this month...
I started with a balance of $145.51 + December's allowance of $25.00 = $170.51 in account. : )

I did a little buying during the Thanksgiving weekend...

Family Blessings Kit:  13.99
Natural Aida:  4.79
DMC:  2.00

=20.78

149.73 Left! : )

This month I finished the Necessities Sampler...

So I started a Precious Moments charity piece...

And did a little more on the Dimensions O Holy Night kit.

Thanks for all your hard work keeping track of this Mel!  I have really enjoyed it and am already signed up for next year.  If I don't see you before have a Merry Christmas, and I'll be back soon with my 2015 stitching goals! :)

I found a Must Have!

I found a must have yesterday.  Even before the Oh Holy Night that I showed in my last post.  This one is going to be stitched and put on my bed so I can look at it when I'm sitting in my chair working on my computer.  It seems strange, though, that I want to buy something to help me remember that I don't have to buy things!  Here it is...

photo credit:  The Silver Needle

Isn't that the truth???  I so need that reminder!!!

I'm hoping someone will have a wonderful after Thanksgiving or end of year sale, so I can get it then.  Soooo ... today I'll be working on my LHN piece to see if I can finish it in the next week or so.  I can't buy anything until it is done!!!

Did you see Nancy's wonderful giveaway today?

Day Eighteen

Love it!!!

I'm off to be productive!

Tricia

Another Giveaway!

Oh, look at Nancy's giveaway today!  Wouldn't that be just SPLENDID???

The 17th Day of Christmas

{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

More Christmas!

I have another giveaway to share from Nancy!  It's another fabric giveaway today.  Isn't she SOOOOO generous??  Just click HERE to enter!!

Are you getting ready for Christmas?  I have ornaments to finish, a tote bag to make, a quilt to quilt, and I'd like to try my hand at a couple of stitching project bags.  Guess I'd better get busy, huh??? :)

Have a wonderful day!

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