Fire Goddess dress

I've been working on Fire Goddess the past few weeks. I finally have a page finish. The third of four pages, minus the beading and backstitch.

I am pleased with how it looks and may just have a few big finishes in 2014. 

In other news I am working on my stitch list for 2014. Anyone else? I just have to collect what few threads I need, and get my fabric ready to go.

Japanese Garden 3 O'clock side finished

I finished the 3 O'clock side of Japanese Garden. I am so pleased with how it is turning out. I am now officially half done with the final part (minus the beading). I am going to put it away for a few weeks. I need a break. I'm pulling out Fire Goddess. I am hopeful to get the 6 O'clock side half done before years end. I included some close ups of the flowers and the over 1 crane.

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Japanese Garden update

A few weeks ago the Chatelaine Facebook group inspired me to pull out my long neglected Japanese Garden. I have been working on it for maybe 10 days now? I am so pleased with the progress. I am currently working on that 3 O'clock side. The crane is over 1 and took about 4 days to stitch. I had to frog the bridge as I was off by one.  Least I found the mistake before I added all the lazy daisy stitches. I am pleased with how they turned out this time. They are much better than my first ones on that 12 O'clock side. I hope to get the remaining vines in tomorrow and start the flowers in the corner, then I will move to the other bridge. I plan to stitch this for as long as I can.  The second photo is much more true to the color of fabric.

NaBloPoMo

I have commited to participation in NaBloPoMo. You won’t see my entries here though. I am using my other blog for it.  PatchworkJourneys  Bet you didn’t even know I had 2 blogs. I usually keep them separate.  Hope on over if your curious. If not that is okay.

My zombie now interrupts.............

I just want to post a photo of my little son zombie, dressed up for trick or treat tonight. We went out in the wind and rain and had a great time.

WIPocalypse finish and halloween

6 bats and a black cat.  32 count hand dyed Jobelyn. I love how this one is coming along. Instead of saying it won't be done for this Halloween I will say it is very early for next Halloween.  I even have the perfect fabric to finish it with if I don't decide to frame it.  This is an easy stitch, though it does have 2 specialty stitches, they are ones I am familiar with. It's few colors makes it a great project to take with me.


Love Stinks. Part of the Crabby all Year series by Raise The Roof designs. Stitched on tea/coffee dyed 28 count evenweave. I am stitching each piece separately. I have a frame already and I will switch them out monthly.  Eventually I will have a variety of the month series from different stitchers all up by my calendar.

This brings my WIPocolypse total to 7/18. I am still quite hopeful to get to 9/18 at least. 
It is the last week of the month. Usually that would mean Dragonflies Whisper, my HAED. However I have finished my yearly goal already and Japanese Garden has been calling my name.  I have been stitching on the final parts for 3 days now. I am currently working on the 2nd 1 over 1 crane. If I remember correctly, it should take me about a week to finish it.  You will have to wait until next update to see it though.

Cirque page finish

I finished page 2 of cirque des  couers. I am excited because 2 pages meets my yearly goal for this piece. WOOHOO.  Looks great too IMO.

 

Sorry the photo isn't better. It wasn't a great day for taking pictures. 

Angie

HAED update, halloween stitching

I have 2 update photos to share today.
First up is my HAED update. I stitch on it once a month at least as part of a SAL. This is about 2 1/2 pages. I love how this is turning out.

This is my halloween piece for this year. Well maybe this year and next year. It is highly unlikely I will finish it by halloween. It is 6 cats and a black bat. It has been fun to stitch.
Halloween is my favorite holiday to stich, what is yours?

Wordpress and stash

I have another blog. I'm sure i'm not the only one. It's a non-stitching blog. I recently moved it to wordpress. I love it there.  It's different of course as I've been at blogger for years.  Today I moved my stitching blog. I'm currently keeping both. Here and at wordpress. At some point I may delete this one and move totally to wordpress.

You can find me here- Patchworkstitches-Wordpress. 

I hope you'll visit.

In other news- I have recently acquired some stash.

The first is what my mom bought for me while I was visiting her in oklahoma.  I got some more expensive things that I normally wouldn't buy myself, which is perfect. I am so excited to start something. I got oldfield orchard- victoria sampler, Passione Ricamo-Fairyland dreams, Cricket collection-Master and the Macabre (a tribute to edgar allen Poe) and a mill hill bead kit. I am unsure whether I will purchase the oldfield orchard thread pack or do some converting.  

Oklahoma stash

The mirabilia are Cottage Garden fairy.  Then Penny was nice enough for free to include the other pattern- Deco Spirits.

bought from a yahoo group friend

Bought from a facebook group

And finally up some stash that I got for such a great price on a facebook group I just couldn't help myself.  Spring snapperland hive- Bent creek, LHN- 6 little cardinals, LHN- garden pleasures, CCN- beach cottage, snappers easter- bent creek.

cute story- While I was in the LHN in Oklahoma with my mom; we were talking to the shop clerk as I checked out. My mom said how she wasn't a stitcher, then asked me if this would give me something to stitch next year. To which I replied that I had enough stash to keep me busy for several years. My mom then in a perplexed manner- why I was buying more.  The shop owner said to me, "wow your mom is obviously really not a stitcher if she doesn't understand the art of stash."

HAED update, TUSAL, final framed finish

Long time no post. Sorry about that. You know how life gets in the way. I have been stitching a fair amount, and have a page finish on my Haed. Dragonflies whisper. It is also my yearly goal. Though it is only August so I hope to get a bit more done before years end. This is the first year I hit my HAED goal. I attribute it to finally finding the combination that works for me.  22ct, 2x1, tent stitch.  I just wish I had experimented more earlier on and not let what others used and said about tent stitching influence me.

I also included a photo of what it will look like someday, since this still isn't much to look at.

HAED-Dragonflies whisper

TUSAL JULY

 

Springtime serenade-CCN

I can't believe I didn't share this before but apparently I shared it everywhere but here.  My final recently framed piece. Would you believe I found the frame at goodwill?  It couldn't fit better if I had bought it specifically for this piece. I can't wait til it is spring so I can hang it.

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3 Framed Pieces, cirque update

I know it has been a long time.  My computer was broken so all my updates had to be through my tablet. It was a pain in the butt to try to get photos on it from my camera.

Anyways. I have been collecting frames for awhile now for these pieces. I have about 7 frames.  Here is the first 3 to get frames...

Crabby all year- January

Garden Bugs- Country Cottage Needleworks

Coffee Crazy- Lizzy Kate

Cirque Des Circles

I plan to use that same frame for all the crabby months. I am stitching each separately and will change them out.

I found all the frames at used stores and refinished them with spray paint and a sanding block.

I recently was in the smoky mountains. Here is the stash I acquired while there-

Japanese garden, overdue finishing

I got out japanese garden about a week ago. I am really enjoying it and making  great progress on the final parts. I am loving all the specialty stitches.

I finally got the camera hookup for my tablet so I am playing with a few photo editing apps.

In other news, I have the first of my used frames refinished and ready to show. I stitched that awhile ago. It's strawberry house by CCN I believe.

Wipocalypse 2

I had lots of progress this past month. You can see links to other Wipocalypse participants or join the fun by going here.

I started cirque de couers. Despite having to frog that big heart 3 times, I managed some good progress. It is being stitched on 32 count jobelan with caron waterlillies blue Lagoon.

My mom finally received her gift so I can show you how it turned out. Took forever for me to get it just right but I'm so pleased with how it looks and so is she. cowboy dreams by CCN. I took out the pony toy the upper guy had and used beads instead of French knots.

I had another rotation on haed as well. I'm about a quarter of the way through the second page. It's coming along nicely. dragonflies whisper by kuik on 22 count.

Last I had a restaurant that on one of last year's Wipocalypse pieces. Snowflake serenade by CCN. I believe it is okay on a 28 count jobelan. I had to redo it as I had the fabric turned wrong. I didn't like the mint green as charted so I have changed it to purple in the scarf and house.

TUSAL-2

I had A lot of additions to my vase this past month. I had lots of thread from cowboy dreams. On the top is my additions from cirque.

Please go here if you want more info on joining this.

Patience

My son's birthday is next weekend. Between working 6 days in a row to have next weekend off, doing taxes.... My blog has taken back seat. But.....

Coming up in the next few weeks I'll have..... Photos of cowboy dreams, a 100 follower giveaway, my how I coffee/tea dye, a photo of my fabby for 12 fat men /snow belles and a start on that., as well as my Tusal.

Sierra

Dragonflies whisper update

I am sorry for the photo quality, my computer isn't working right. After spending hours on it, I retook the photo with my ipod. Honestly since getting my nexus the only thing I use the computer for is a hard drive really, so I will just back everything  up and reload windows.

Anyways this is after 1 week stitching for a stitch A long on a Facebook group. I fell a little short of getting the first page finished but that is okay. I'll get it done next month. This is stitched on 22 count, which I am loving. I will use it for every haed I do from now on.

I was going to start 6 fat men today but the fabric isn't right. I don't think the color will show the white right. Then I got to thinking that it would be nice to stitch 6 fat men with 6 snow belles on the same fabric. I found someone with a blog who did it and I am waiting to see if I can get how she charted them.

So I ended up restarting snowflake serenade instead. I had to frog all my previous progress as I had my fabric turned wrong.

Forgive Quickly- And A Giveaway

Heather at Heather's Stitching Story is having a giveaway- She is giving away a very generous number of LHN and CCN Charts.

In other news- I finally finished Forgive Quickly.  I like how it turned out. I didn't put anything around the outside edge. I was going to, but it just took away from the stitching.  You can't really tell from this but the fabric is a very very pale blue color. I changed the thread to what I had- An unknown Variegated red HDF thread.

Forgive Quickly-Lizzy Kate, Unknown mystery blue fabric, unknown red variegated HDF thread

WIPocalypse 1

I really enjoyed last year's WIPocalypse even though I didn't stitch for about 7 months of the year.  I accomplished a fair amount when I did stitch.

You will see some of the same pieces I was working on last year (Fire Goddess and Japanese Garden) as well as many new pieces.

 I already have 2 finishes. First up is Forgive Quickly.  This was a really fun and fast stitch.   I changed the charted thread to an unknown HDF. It is one that I got in an exchange and is I believe came from HDF grab bag.  This is Lizzy Kate stitched on an unknown piece of blue fabric, either 28 or 25 ct.  I am in the process of finishing finishing this.  Look for that post in a few days or so.

Next up we have Cowboy Dreams. This is a gift for my mom, who lives in Oklahoma.  It is stitched on a coffee/tea dyed piece of 28ct evenweave. It is from Country Cottage Needleworks.  I stitched it with all the recommended threads. I did substitute seed beads for the french knots. I will do that from now on as it was easy and Ithink it looks nice.  I am in the process of finishing this one as well.   Since my mom doesn't come here I can show it. It's my facebook she looks at so I won't post a photo there until she receives it. (this pattern will be up for sale soon should you be interested) Sorry for the crappy photo.  I'll get a better one when I get it finish finished. 

So that isn't bad I don't think. My list of what I'd like to work on this year can be found on a tab above.  But here is a list for you........


In no particular order here is my list.I know I won't finish the entire list and I'm okay with that.

1.  Japanese Garden- Chatelaine

2.  Dragonflies Whisper-HAED- will count a complete as 1 page

3. A Trio Of Angels-Harmony- Cross stitcher August '08
4.  Fire Goddess- Joan Elliott
5. Cirque De Couers- Ink Circles- Will count a page as complete
6. Retro Owls- Cross-Stitcher 221
7. Sweet Treats- Cross-Stitch Collection October 2012- Will Count a finish as one gingerbread man
8.  6 bats and a black Cat- Blue Ribbon Designs
9.  6 fat men- Lizzy Kate- will count a finish as 3 snowmen
10.Crabby All Year- February- Raise The Roof 
11. Let it snow- CCN
12. Winter Fun- M Designs
13.  Never Ending Stash- 4 My Boys
14.  Snowflake Serenade- CCN
15.  Traveling Stitcher-LHN
16. Snowy Pines- LHN
17. Cowboy Dreams-CCN-started 1/14- finished 1/24
18. Sheep In the Meadow- CCN
19.  Medallion- From Nancy's Needle
20.  Forgive Quickly- Lizzy Kate-started 1/1-finished 1/10

HAEDs

As part of a facebook group I am participating in a HAED stitch a long. I haven't had any of my HAED's out in quite awhile. While I was looking for them and deciding which one I am stitching on this year...... I thought maybe you all would like to see which ones I have.  I'll spare you talk of the upteen hundred charts I have and just stick to the ones I have started.

 

 I thought I would start with my furthest along. This is Mistress of Wolves by Jessica Galbreth (retired pattern), 28ct, 1x1 full crosses.  I have 5 of 16 pages stitched. This was my first HAED. I did most of this stitching at a very dark time in my life. Since leaving that dark period I have lost all interest in stitching this. However I only have 4 1/2 full pages and the rest are partial pages. I may just finish the top half and not stitch the bottom. I haven't decided.  

 This one is one of the 2 I may stitch on this year. I simply love the colors.  This is Robin Blue Mermaid by Nadia Tate. Sky Blue Jobelan, 25 ct. 2x1 tent stitch

 
 

 This is Visions. Also by Jessica Galbreth. I love this pattern.  It's about 1/2 page worth. It's 28 ct 2x1 tent stitch

This is what I will probably stitch. It's Dragonflies Whisper by Ching Chou Kuik. I adore dragonflies and they remind me of someone no longer alive.  This is the only one that I have fully kitted as well. This is about 1/3 a page. It is stitched 2x1 on 22 ct.  Sorry about the photo quality. January in Ohio is not good for taking photos. 

So which is your favorite?  Of course like any HAED collector, I have a million other patterns to start as well as a large wishlist.  

Sierra

First finish

I have my first finish of the year. It was a quick, fun, and and easy stitch. I did change it a bit. It is lizzy Kate forgive quickly. I stitched it on a very pale blue mystery Even weave. I changed the thread color to a mystery hdf I found in my stash. I plan to go to Hancock fabrics later this week to find the perfect fabric to finish it with.

Tusal January 2013

This is my first Tusal post. I wanted to join last year but didn't get to it in time.  I picked a pretty vase, it used to be my nana's so it is a sentimental thing.

What is Tusal you ask?  Basically, you collect your thread ends and save them. Each month you post your growing collection. Sound like fun? Hop here to find out more

I'm afraid I haven't much to show for my first month. My appologies for the crappy photo. It's January in Ohio and sun is hard to come by.

Reading Challenges

My other passion besides Cross-Stitch is reading. This year I am going to try a few reading challenges.   I plan to keep track of them here.  I also post reviews to Goodreads

I love reading new authors. How else does one find new books to read?  I haven't tried as many new authors recently as I would like so.........
 I am joining the New Authors Challenge.  My plan is 15 new authors.


1.The challenge will run from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.

2.Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels. Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
3. I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors. It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be.  If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop. Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky. We all want to know about your new experience.

4. After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome. You don’t have to have a site to participate. You can link up via Facebook, GoodReads or even Amazon if you’d like.                                                      

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I love ebooks. Don't get me wrong- I love handheld books as well. I will always read them, always keep some, but.... it is so convenient to be able to carry around a 100 books in my purse. It is so much neater to have my nook, or my nexus on the table, than a stack of books (especially with a toddler).  Other than library books, and my already collection of books, most of what I read is ebooks, so my goal for the ebook challenge is 50 books.

Challenge Guidelines:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013.
2. Anyone can join, you don’t need to be a blogger. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
3. Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
4. You can plan your books in advance or as you read them.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2013, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:
    Floppy disk – 5 ebook
    CD – 10 ebooks
    DVD – 25 ebooks
    Memory stick – 50 ebooks
    Hard drive – 75 ebooks
    Server – 100 ebooks
    Human brain – 150 ebooks

Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop. Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list. Introduce us all to whoever you find. Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

When you’re signing in with Mr. Linky, please leave either your name or your blog name followed by the author you tried – i.e. Jackie (Melissa Marr) or Literary Escapism (Melissa Marr).  Please do not add wrap-up posts here. If you would like to add a wrap-up post, please leave a link in the comments. (Mr. Linky will be added on January 1st).

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WIPocalypse 2012- Final

Although I didn't get everything done I had on my list I am pleased with what I did get done.   Here is what I was able to get done. 

Hop Squared- Lizzy Kate-Mystery Yellow fabric

Shades Of Autumn- From Nancy's Needle

Springtime Serenade-Country Cottage Needlework

Coffee Crazy- Lizzy Kate

Joy Love Peace- Country Cottage Needleworks

Crabby All Year Long- January- Raise The Roof


Also on my list but not finished yet-

Fire Goddess-Joan Elliott

Dragonflies Whisper-HAED

A Trio Of Angels- Harmony-Cross Stitcher August 08

Japanese Garden- Chatelaine-


I definitely will be joining next year.


Sierra