2 exchanges

I did a Sock it to me santa exchange in a group i'm in.  I forgot to take a photo of what I sent.  Here is what I received though.

I am doing an exchange for a different group- an advent exchange. Here is what I have received so far.  This is days 1-14.   Missing from the picture are Piecemaker needles, which I have already opened.

Here is a picture of the best looking laundry ever!

Sierra

WIPocalypse 12

Forgive the lateness of this.  With a hubby still recovering and a 2yr old very active little boy........ well you get the idea.

Although I'm further now on Japanese Garden I am going to show the photo as of when I should have posted this.  For a current update you'll have to wait until the next update (assuming the world doesn't end right?)

I finished my goal on Crabby all year long for this challenge.. Month 1- January. I am happy with how it turned out.. though I think i am going to move that top bird to on top of the car.  I am stitching each month on separate fabby.

I also finished Joy Love Peace.  I love this as well. It is upstairs in the process of being finished. My son has already asked for it to be in his room. He loves Christmas trees.    Although I have discovered it doesn't line up I am okay with that. It adds personality right?

My final update is Japanese Garden. I am quite happy with how it is going. I finally finished that outer border this past month. WOOHOO.

Sierra

Border Finished- Japanese Garden-WOOHOO

Guess what?? I finally finished the outer border on Japanese Garden.  It took all year to finish it I think.  Although I love the look of all the Jessica stitches, they really gave me trouble.   They were hard to place properly.  I have some I need to frog out and redo but I will do that at the end of all the stitching.   I am so glad to move onto the next part.  I am LOVING this piece, both the look and the stitching it, but it does get repetitive sometimes.

So here it is.   I also included a few photos of different parts of the entire piece close up. It is so large that you can't see details when I show the entire piece.

So the particulars for anyone new to this blog or anyone interested.  Stitched on 28 ct. cashel linen on a dark blue from picture this plus.  I just can't remember what the color was called, midnight something maybe.   The NPI silks have been converted to HDF silk.  All the beading I will do at the end... Which is getting closer.

Next up the crane medallion outlines.  I need printer ink so I can only do the outlines, I need to blow up the PDF to print cranes to see them (they are over 1). So I can only work on what I have in the current printouts I have.   Medallion outlines, then onto the bridges and bamboo.

Crabby Month 1

I decided to do Raise The Roof Designs Crabby all Year individually.  My plan is to put several pieces in frames above the calendar page for each month.   January was an easy month to stitch. It didn't take much time at all. It was one of my Crazy January Challenge pieces, so it was started.  The only part I didn't like was all the white. Boring.   It only took a few days of stitching to get this done.  I love the birds on it.  I may move that top bird I'm not sure if I like it there. 

I am still looking for fabric to finish Joy Love Peace.   I hope to get to Hancock fabric this week to see what they have.   Can you believe I have No Christmas Fabric?

A Finish

I had another finish today.  I'm pleased with how it turned out, though if I stitch it again I will change one of the colors.  I thought about changing it, but just didn't want to frog what I had already done.

Joy Love Peace- CCN-Mystery pink fabric, 2x2

It was really hard to get a decent photo of this.  The fabby is actually a pale pink, and you can't really see them but there are white birds at the top by the star and two snowflakes below the birds.  If I stitched it again, I would change the mauve, to a more pink, or perhaps a purple or blue. Still it was a quick and fun stitch.

I was originally going to stitch it as an ornament, but it is a bit big for that, so I'm not sure how I will finish it.  I may do an ornament finish but hang it on the wall instead of the tree.

This was also one of my Crazy January challenge pieces as well as a WIPocalypse. 

Hubby Update-OT

Thanks everyone for the prayers and thoughts on my recent post about hubby.  I am happy to say hubby is home from the hospital.   What we thought was going to be a routine appendectomy- turned into a serious nearly 4 hour operation where they removed dead bowel and ruptured cecum and appendix.  Had he not ended up at that dr. that day- he would have likely died.  

So he is home from the hospital after an 8 day stay.   That was a week ago.   He is doing okay.  Can't lift anything, is on heavy pain meds.  His incision was healing too fast so the surgeon had to reopen it this past thursday so it can finish draining.  Hubby is not happy about it and is as a result rather grumpy.

I'm still so happy he is just alive and here that I find it hard to get too upset with his grumpies (though it does get a bit easier every day-lol)

Needless to say I haven't gotten much stitching done recently.  I did pull out something just today and stitched a bit. 

WIPocalypse 11

Well I didn't get much stitching done this past month-  My husband had emergency surgery and was in the hospital for 8 days.  He nearly died, and I have been so busy that stitching just hasn't happened.  But here is what I did get done-

Fire Goddess-

Prayers needed-OT

So last night my husband had an emergency appendectomy. Turns out he also had a perforated colon and appendix. He's doing okay but has a fever. Please keep him in your prayers that he is ok.

Thanks so much

Sierra

Got a few finished and my birthday

I have been on a finishing streak the past few days- I was able to get Knock Knock finished and I gave it as a gift to my sis in law who had been admiring it every time she saw me work on it.  This is my eldest niece, posing with the finished piece

 

Today I finished something I stitched last year-  a Christmas Sock monkey from a JCS ornament issue.   Just a simple finish but I like it

I thought my sewing machine was broke- hubby fixed it though, so YAY.  I have a few other things I want to finish- Most notably a pillow.  

I also as I hinted at in my last post- I finished another WIPocalypse piece as well as a Crazy January Challenge piece-

Coffee Crazy- Lizzy Kate. This was such a fun, simple piece. I really enjoyed it.  I did change the color in the mug to the blue that you see.  

Also yesterday was my birthday-  Here is a picture of the stash I got from the birthday club I am in-

I also have some Gift certificates from 123stitch, and some gifts still on the way

WIPocalypse 10

It's been a long time since I updated. I have a job though and didn't have time through the summer as I figured out a new routine for me and the family.

I am back to stitching though-

Here is where I am with stitching-

I finished Springtime Serenade-

Springtime Serenade- CCN- 28ct evenweave- coffee/tea dyed

I also finished Coffee Crazy. This was such a fun easy stitch.   I did change the color charted in the mug to the blue.  

Coffee Crazy- Lizzy Kate- 28ct coffee dyed evenweave

And last but certainly not least- I finally got the sparkly threads I needed for this,  I did the sparkly stitches in her hair, necklace, and belt.

Fire Goddess- Joan Elliott, 28 ct, hand dyed evenweave

Crazy January Challenge and WIPocalypse finish

I finished another piece today. This one was part of both Crazy January Challenge and WIPocalypse.  I'm so excited.   I think I will wait until my WIPocalypse update next week before I share which one.

Happy Stitching,

Sierra

Knock Knock- A Finish

I finished Knock Knock today. It was a spur of the moment start last halloween.  It was a very easy stitch, all black.  I used memory thread for the first time. It was easy enough to use.  It would have been easier I think- had I been outlining something.  Still I will use it again and would recommend it. 

I stitched this on 28 ct. Hand dyed evenweave. I *think* it may have originally been a funky yellow color, but I am not positive. 

I included a photo of the piece with the intended finishing fabric and ribbon as well. I plan to make it into a no sew wall hanging.  I hope to get that done this week.

I was going to stitch it for myself, but I had it somewhere stitching it and someone really admired it, so I am going to surprise her with it.

WIPocalypse #9

It's been way to long since I updated.  I haven't stitched anything until the last few weeks.  My reason?? I have a job. It's nothing special- just deli counter at a local grocery. But it's the first job i've had (not counting being a mom) in oh geez- a very long time.  So it's a big deal to me.   So my time needless to say just hasn't been there.   It took me awhile to get everything juggled- work, my son- Troy (who is 2 1/2 now) and laundry, cleaning- you all know what I mean.

So i've had a finish actually-  Springtime serenade. I am so pleased with how it looks. It's quite nice I think.  I broke my sewing machine back in february making a nook cover- so i've a pile of stitching pieces to finish. I can do the ones I am going to frame I suppose.   Unfortunately it is now well Autumn, so no hurry on this piece.  So here it is. 

Springtime Serenade- CCN- 28 ct, hand dyed evenweave 2x1.

I will be putting this chart up for sale should anyone be interested in it.

In other stitching news- I pulled out my halloween piece from last year.  It's one of the charts from last years halloween special JCS collection.   I am nearly done- this week should see it finished.  

WIPocalypse 3

Well it's that time again.  I haven't much of an update really.  I have a good reason though I promise.  I got a part time job.  Between that and Troy, well life is busy.  I am stitching about 2-3 days a week.  Depending on how many off days I have.

Anyways.  Here is what I worked on this past month-

Still plugging away at the border on Japanese Garden- I'm burnt out on it. But I've not much more to go now....

I got a good bit done on Springtime Serenade.  When I last left off- there was only one Tree mostly done.   I am really enjoying this one.

 Fire Goddess. I also am loving this piece. I just love the colors in this.  I have a few gift certificates to spend for 123 stitch. I am going to use them to get the Kreinik and the beads for this piece.  Can't wait to add the Kreinik to what is already stitched. 

WIPocalypse 2

It's that time again folks.  WIPocalypse update 2.  I am qFireuite pleased with my progress this past month.   I stitched on a few projects and finished  2.

Fire Goddess- Joan Elliott- 28 ct hand dyed evenweave

 Lizzy Kate- Hop Squared- Hand dyed Aida received in an exchange- finished

 Shades of Autumn-from nancy's needle- 18 ct canvas- Finished

 Japanese Garden- Chatelaine- 28 ct cashel linen midnight blue

Now for my regularly scheduled update- I ended up stitching on Shades of Autumn last week and it is finished.  I am so very pleased with how it turned out.   It only took 3 years to finish, but that isn't the point is it?  Hubby loves this one and wants to hang it in the hall, who am I to argue with that. 

Today I got out Japanese Garden. My goal is to get the border finished, whether that is possible I have no idea, but i'll give it a good try. 

Fire Goddess

I added a few new charts to my For sale page- the link to the page is on one of the tabs above.

I forgot to mention last week that I had a small finish.  It was a small- a tiny really, that I work on when I am out.  I plan to get some fabric for it in the next few weeks- So I can finish it before Easter. I am unsure what it is stitched on. A piece of Aida, hand-dyed a wonderful light Yellow that I received in an exchange. Oh and if you have this chart you'll recognize I didn't stitch the green border at the top, I didn't like it. 

Lizzy Kate- Hop squared.  unknown yellow Aida.

Onto this week.........

I am quite pleased with my stitching this week. I stitched on Fire Goddess by Joan Elliott. I am loving this project so far, The colors, the stitching- just everything about it. 

Fire Goddess- Joan Elliott, hand-dyed 28 ct.

 I am missing some threads still- that is the waist area that is unstitched. I have to order them, and haven't gotten to it yet. 





I am hoping to get some finishing done tonight. I have a pile of things waiting to be finished.  I finally picked out fabric and decided what to do for some of them.  Hopefully I'll have another post this week showing some of them off.

I am unsure what I am stitching this coming week. I'll go with whatever calls to me tomorrow.  Whether it is Shades of Autumn or Springtime Serenade remains to be seen.

Japanese Garden

Thanks for all the comments on last weeks progress.   I appreciate and read every comment, though I don't often comment on them. 

Satia- The name of the chart is Shades of Autumn and is by From Nancy's needle.  If you are interested in me sending you the chart when I am done with it just send me an email.  

I am quite pleased with my progress this week with Japanese Garden. I am starting to get anxious to get it completed, at least the stitching part. I am starting to get nervous about the beads- I have never beaded anything before.  Probably a good time to mention that I have a hand shaking problem.  Needless to say it may take me awhile.

I worked on the outer border this week. It went fast though it was boring by thursday.  The cross stitching was mostly straight lines, a huge part of it was Jessica stitches which I don't mind.
    
Thought maybe you would like a close up to see what I am talking about with the border.   I did run out of the gold treasure braid.  A trip to the LNS took care of that. I didn't buy anything I didn't need-  Beads for Fire Goddess (I will have to order the rest online),  the gold PTB, and a chart/floss for my valentine's day exchange partner.   Oh I did glance through the free boxes, where I found two that had charts I liked, but that doesn't count since I didn't spend any money. 


 

Here is a photo of the entire piece.


This week I am stitching on Fire Goddess. I am really excited about this piece. I plan to do all of the goddesses.  I love them. I may make a quilt with them, who knows.   I love the oranges in this piece. It is a color I don't use a lot in cross-stitch. 

Not at much progress as I'd hoped

I never seem to get to the weekly update on Sunday. I think I will change the day I try to get it up. 

I didn't get as much done last week as i had hoped for.  I started with good progress but then I noticed a mistake and had to frog quite a bit.  I had been hoping for a near finish  but that didn't happen. Oh well there is always next time.  I enjoy working on this.  It is different than cross stitch. It's a nice change sometimes.  

This week I am working on Japanese Garden. I am working on the outer border. I can't wait to get all the Jessica stitches done so I can work on the bridges.  That won't happen this week, but maybe next time I get it out.  I am moving along nicely though.  You'll have to wait for my next update to see pictures. 

WIPocalypse update- January 2012

The first WIPocalypse update.  If you haven't heard of it or signed up you have until the end of January so hop on over here

Since I am also participating in a modified version of the Crazy January Challenge, I have lots of stuff to show this month.  It won't be this way every month.

 A Trio Of Angels-Harmony- Cross stitcher August '08

6.  Fire Goddess- Joan Elliott

7. Crabby all year- Raise The Roof- am stitching these separate. Will count a finish as each individual month. My plan is to get the first month done. 

8. Springtime Serenade-CCN

9.  Hop Squared-LK

10.  Coffee Crazy-LK- will count a finish as one of the three designs, have yet to decide which one

13. Joy Love Peace- CCN

14. Dogs Leave Paw Prints-LK  Finished 1/5/12

Crazy challenge days 8-9

The last two days of my challenge. I had a price for today- day 10 but I am missing floss so I can't start it. I am okay with that. I was getting overwhelmed with all the starts.

Day 8- crabby all year- raise the roof

I have had this chart awhile now. I am stitching it a bit differently. I am doing each month separately. I may or may not stitch the top that says crabby all year. I'll decide that at a later date. For this challenge I will count a complete as each month. My goal this year iOS January. This was boring to stitch as I stitched in only white. It is a large part of this month though.

Day 9- hop Lizzy Kate

This was a small price full of bright colors. Nice to stitch after a day of all white. I got about half of it done.

Now to decide what to stitch first.

Sierra