Update and SBQ

The lack of updates doesn't mean I haven't been stitching - just means I've been too lazy to download and post my pictures.

Here is my Christmas Chickadee - didn't manage to get the finishing done though.









Since that finish, I've been working on the March house for the country house SAL, finally finishing it up today. I'd miscounted the border and had to redo part, which took a bit longer than expected. I'm not sure if I'll catch up with January and February in March though. I'll work on A New Baby for a while then, and will try to get a picture in before I'm off to the hospital.









This week's SBQ is:
Do you use your needle, a seam ripper, or something else when you have to frog stitches? Why do you use the method that you do?

It depends on how many I have to frog. If its just a few, I'll use my needle. If there are a lot, but the back is clear, I'll use my little beaded frogging tool (see pic). If there is a lot, or there are a few colours making the frogging more tangly, I'll use my boo-boo snips (see pic) to get me started. I've never tried a seam ripper.

Update

It's not been a particularly productive week - been stitching a bit but not overly motivated. I did manage to do the finishing on my Bee Pinkeep, although I turned it into a little ornament rather than a pinkeep. I won't make most of my monthly goals for February, but I did get the magazine challenge done.

I worked on "A New Baby over the weekend, got about 1/3 of the main stitching done. I need to get cracking on this. Today I decided to take a break from the grey though and work on my weather sampler. I got 2 blocks done, and have now made it all the way over to the left hand side. I love the fabric I have for this (Silver Mist).





I got some lovely stash in the mail today - my Silkweaver order. 5 small pieces from the random assortments (28/32 ct linen/lugana). I got Jamaica Sunset, Antique White, Chasescape, Bluebell, and Peacefull Waters. No plans for these yet, but I'm sure I'll find something! I also have a fat quarter of Mountain Mist (Colour of the Week in 32 ct lugana) which I'd bought for my house project, but it's not as brown as I thought it would be. I'll have to see if it still works, otherwise I think I have a mocha piece that will. Also got some white and chantilly linen from the odds and ends sale. Too bad I'll have no time to stitch on all these lovely pieces in the near future :(

February SAT Part 1

It's SAT weekend, and I have a new finish! This is the mystery flower sampler from last summer from Kissy Cross. I stitched it on 16 count white aida using DMC in 413, 470 and 3803.

I finished stitching the borders on my flower sampler this morning, and then decided that I would do the finishing as well while I was at it. I think it turned out pretty well - this was the first time I'd used a pillow form rather than stuffing and I got the dimensions right, although one of the seams was pretty tight. Unfortunately the colours don't match any of the rooms in our house right now, so I'll have to find a space for it until we finish decorating. I'm happy to get this done for a few reasons - one is that it's been hanging around for almost a year, so its about time it got done. But the other is that its one of my aida projects. I'm not starting any more projects on aida (at least not planning too) except for my flower quilt blocks. Now I'm down to only 3 aida projects, so I have more room for stitching on funner fabrics.

I'm now working on the Bee pinkeep from gift of stitching - its on the country stitch fabric that Nicki sent me for the cat lady exchange last fall - glad I finally found the perfect use for it. Hopefully pictures tomorrow.

Blocks Finished

I finished up the last block on my flower sampler today. I then went and bought my backing fabric and started to stitch the borders. I might not stitch them all, still deciding exactly what will be best. I'm hoping to finish this up tomorrow so I can do the weekend SAT on a new project.

Heading for a finish...

Hopefully tomorrow. I had plans to work a bit on each of my pieces, but that didn't happen. After frogging block 2 on my flower sampler, I restitched it properly. Then I realized how close I was to finishing this piece, and decided to do block 9. Although its probably my least favourite fo the sampler, I finished that today, and am now half done with #6, which is the last before the borders. So I should be done this week if all goes well!

I am still waiting on at least 3 packages of stash - one of which has been on order since December :(. Hoping that I get some soon - I think I'll deserve a new start once this is done, and I need the packages to finishing kitting up my new projects.

Stitching and Unstitching

I think I spent almost as much time today frogging as I did stitching. Which isn't as bad as it might seem - I've correctly the two major mistakes I made in both the flower and Cranberry samplers, so now both are good to go. The mistake in the flower sampler was one I made last summer and caused me to put the piece away for 4 months, so it's good to have that fixed so I can finish up the piece. I think I'll work on this tomorrow.

Besides that, I stitched block 36 on my weather sampler - this is starting to come along nicely, although I still have a lot to go.

Sampler Progress

I was a bit stitch this afternoon, and managed to finish block 5 of my flower sampler. This is coming along nicely, despite the frogging still to do. Block 5 went fairly quickly, hope the next two do as well.

When that was done, I picked up Lupine again. I think I managed to identify all the colours - or at least decide the way I'll stitch them. Awfully hard to distinguish between light lavender and very light blue. I figure if I can't tell the difference, it won't show up in the blending anyways. I was calculating how many squares I needed for the quilt to make it a decent size - I've got a long way to go! I think I'll have to leave some patchwork bits in it as well though, or I'll never finish. I'll aim for 24 squares though, which means only 21.5 left to stitch.

Weekend Stitching

I didn't get as much done this weekend as I'd planned. We ended up going shopping and it tired me out so much that I napped much of the afternoon instead of stitching. But I did pick out my lazyboy, so that was nice. We just have one more place to check prices first before we buy it, but the model is picked. Yesterday I spent much of the morning making mess in the kitchen - for only 2 of us, we ended up with a lot of food, but I guess that's normal for SuperBowl Sunday. Today I had to go back to the hospital for some tests, which took a chunk out of today as well.

I did another block on my weather sampler - this one went fairly quickly compared to some of the others. Then I put in 2 hours on my Iris UFO. After all the backstitching on the Cranberry and weather samplers, it was nice not to have any to do. Tonight I'm working on a little pincushion motif, once again with no backstitching, but not quite worth posting a picture. We'll see how I do tomorrow.

Cranberry Sampler Start

I started work on Cranberry Sampler by the Sweetheart Tree today. I didn't think it would be a particularly easy stitch, but didn't think I'd spend have my day frogging either. I was half done row 1 when I realized I'd made a mistake very close to the beginning. I'm going to remove the top part though and keep the bottom. I was already a bit frustrated with all the backstitching, so took a break by stitching rows 2 and 3. I'll finish frogging next time, as I don't want to get too far a head of row 1. There are 4 more similar rows, which I imagine will be the most time consuming part of the sampler - the others ones appear much quicker once you get going. The colour in the photo is terrible, but I'm stitching on 32 count ivory linen with the recommended threads (DMC so far).










While at the hospital for tests on Thursday, I started my next Carolyn's Meadow kit - this one is Lupine. I really like the patterns, but hate sorting out the threads to start. Still not convinced I have exactly the right colours, but I think it looks okay anyways. Not a priority project, but nice to have something little to cart around.

Block 5

I was having lots of fun with this sampler so decided to keep going. Got the border finished for block 5, just the inside flower left to do, which I hope I'll get done this week. I then have to frog about half of block 2 :( before moving on to the last two blocks.

Catching Up

While I haven't posted lately, I've managed to stitch and craft a bit. Pretty good as we were away at a wedding all weekend.


Still feeling attached to my flower sampler, so I worked on block 8. Here it is together with the rest of the stitching. This won't be one for January, but could easily be a February finish I think.

I also worked on another of my Carolyn's Meadow kits, this time Chicory. I worked on it more than it shows, but unfortunately had to frog out everything I did on Sunday, as I'd mixed up my light and very light yellows. I think that's my biggest irritation about kits - trying to get the floss sorted correctly.

And I also made a few cards, one for the wedding and one for a baby thank-you.

I tried working on my baby blanket too, but that's not moving ahead as fast, so I'll probably end up stitching instead.

I also decided to abandon one of my UFOs. It had barely anything done on it, and I really didn't like the pattern as much as I thought I did. It was a really cheap kit too, so not even worth saving for the fabric. Into the garbage. Only 4 UFOs left to finish!

Block 3

I've been stitching this weekend, just more relaxed. Last weekend was pretty intense stitching-wise, so I had did a few other things this weekend. I really wasn't motivated to pick up any of the other projects on my WIP list on Friday, so decided to stay with the flower sampler, and start block 3. I wanted to get one block done per week, but two is even better I guess.

I also started knitting a baby blanket, but no pics until I get a bit further along.

Block 7

I finally finished stitching block 7 of my flower sampler. This one was a lot longer than the block above, but I managed to get it done tonight, not having it finished yesterday. Here is block 7 plus the sampler as it stands now. I'm going to try and keep getting one block done a week - hopefully next one will be quicker.

Flower Sampler

I started working on block 7 of my flower (no-longer) mystery sampler tonight. Took a while to get into it, so wasn't able to finish it, but should be good to finish tomorrow. I'm really enjoying these patterns - once you get the hang of each repeat they go quickly. I don't think I would pick the same colours if I did it again - I picked at first to try and stay with flower colours, only to realize after seeing the patterns that it really doesn't matter. I think it would look nice in a monochrome blue scheme - maybe another time.

Yesterday I wasn't feeling stitchy, so made this card for my cousins instead. I still have a bunch of thank-yous to send so more card pictures to come.

And I think I have another project for the year to do (like I needed one). Isabelle pointed out a year-long SAL which I think I'll have to join. If I get my block done tomorrow I'll start pulling thread - I think I might have fabric for this on hand already.

2nd finish

Yesterday I started this little kit I had from the Carolyn's Meadow series called Comfrey. I made a few changes to the colours, as I didn't like the combination of fuchsia (cross-stitches) and purple (backstitches) together in the flowers. I think I have 7 others in the series, and there is a total of 24 I think. While I might use this for a card if needed, I think I'll try to keep it - once I get some of the others done it might make a nice little quilted wallhanging. We'll see how they all come out.

Since the football wasn't over yet when I finished Comfrey, I took out le Temps qu'il fait and stitched block 9. Worked out well - finished just as the 2nd game ended. Here is the block and my progress to date. Only 47 more blocks to go!

Block 41

got it done. There is one mistake left, but I was able to work around it and not unpick anymore. Here he is, along with the rest of the sampler so far.

I'll probably pick up something different tomorrow, we'll see what is calling my name when I get home.

Slow stitching

Not a very productive night. Since we'd spent the first part of the evening running errands, rather than pick up Regatta, I decided to do one of the blocks on le Temps qu'il fait. Small blocks, 30x30 each and not very densely stitched, shouldn't have been a problem. Except out of the two hours I spent on the block, I probably unpicked for at least 30 min. So the block is not done and its bothering me. I really need to learn to count properly if I want to get this done any time soon. Hopefully pictures tomorrow.

First Finish of 2007

I thought that I might finish it last year, but needed a few hours this morning to get the beads on. Not only did I like the pattern, but it included some specialty stitches and beading, which I hadn't done before. As I have a bunch of patterns in my stash that require that, it was nice to get some practice in on a smaller piece so as not to get too frustrated later.

Just Nan: Beaded Rose
Dec 28 2006 - Jan 1 2007
28 ct Smokey Pearl Linen with DMC





When I finished this, I looked through my WIP drawer to see what was calling me. I managed to find my fabric for my flower sampler (Kissy Cross) so stitched block 4 on that. Here is the block and what the piece looks like all together.
I also put a few stitches into the border of a card I found while looking for something else, but as its solid yellow stiching the picture is pretty boring so far. I'd forgotten about that start, but as its been less than a year, its no yet on my UFO list, still a WIP. But I'll try to finish it anyways.

I downloaded my copy of the Gift of Stitching today, and was very tempted by the Bee Pinkeep. But I think I'm going to work a bit on my Regatta piece before I start that one. To try and meet my UFO goals, I decided to try and stitch at least 10 hours on a UFO this month, and so far that one is screaming the loudest so I'll try to work on it before.

I haven't stitched this much in a day in a long time - my arm is tired so off to bed!

Sampler Update

Here is my latest progress on my weather sampler. I'm not sure why I thought this would go relatively quickly. The blocks are only 30x30 but they're taking me hours for each one. I'm enjoying it so far, so that's the most important. I'll try to do a few blocks each week (there are 52 total) and alternate with other stitching so I get to use colour. Unfortunately, I stitched instead of working on my term project which is due tomorrow, so definitely no stitching til that's done.

Another busy day

I had another finish today, but I don't think I'm even going to post a picture - I was this close to throwing it out. In the end I couldn't throw my little squirrel out, so managed to finish it. While there isn't much I like about it anymore, at least I can start something new with a clear conscience.

I also did the finishing for my Christmas duck ornament. This is now on its way to Africa along with the card I also made today. I have one more ornament to make this year and have signed up for the SAL on the Robin's Nest to help me along. It will be Valerie Pfeiffer's Christmas Chickadee from the last WOCS. I have everything I need for it, but won't start it quite yet, as I had something else I wanted to start first and have a gift to finish up too.

I forgot to post about the lovely fabric I got in the mail this week too. 32 count lugana in Silver Mist (Silkweaver) for my next start, along with 5 pieces from the odds and ends assortment. I also got a fat quarter of cashel linen in Baby Lotion with my SEP from Traditional Stitches. The rest of the package didn't inspire me a lot, although I did like the chart freebies that came with it. I'll give it a few more months before deciding whether I continue with it.

And finally, here's my new start. Being that the sampler started in January, I'm quite late, but oh well. First of 52 blocks from the Temps qu'il fait sampler. Stitched on the Silver Mist with DMC 3838. Since most of the blocks are out, I can stitch in groups rather than the mystery order they came out it, so lots less gridding for me!

I've loosened up my rotation a bit. I have things that are inspiring me more and things with deadlines. So I've decided that I can stitch anything on my 5-item list whenever I want, but can't add anything new until one is finished. Hopefully this will help - I still havent' been able to find my missing fabric so couldn't keep it strictly anyways.

Off to stitch some more