Counting the Blessings

When it comes to the stitching part of your life, what are you most thankful for?

Ah, where do I start? I guess I should start with the magazine (Ladies Home Journal, Family Circle, Better Homes & Gardens… something like those) my Mom had that intrigued me enough to try cross stitch… ultimately ended in me designing and stitching my first ever project. It sent me on my way to completing many, many more projects.  I’m also thankful for the means to support my habit…. err, I mean hobby. It’s the best stress reliever, ever! Let’s not forget the stitchy friends I’ve made since my foray into the online stitching community almost a decade ago – I’ve met so many awesome ladies, both online and in person as a result of being online. It’s also nice to have a significant other who not only supports my habit hobby, but encourages it. So kudos to him.

Visit all the blogs in this round of the Stitching the Night Away Stitching Blogger Blog Hop:
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Marvelous Monday Update 11/26/12

It's a marvelous Monday, isn't it?  Or is it?  I think so... for many reasons.

THANKSGIVING
I spent 3 days (about 5-6 hours total) making a creamy carmel pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner.

My sister sent out text messages that Thanksgiving was at 2pm.  The BF and I drove an hour and a half to her house.  We arrived at about 1:40pm to find that everyone was practically done eating, and my brother scrambled to help find us clean plates and silverware.  Needless to say, I thought it was very rude!  Originally the time was set at noon and then changed to 2pm.  They all have cell phones (nieces and nephews included) and *someone* could've called to say we were eating early.  On an up note, the pie was really good!  The recipe can be found HERE.

STITCHY STUFF
I didn't get much stitching done last week. That's what happens when I get the "cleaning bug"... no stitching.  Boo, that's no fun.  I did start an ornament for the third ornament exchange I joined this year.  Crazy, I know!  I'm hoping to finish it this week.

I received word that the second ornament arrived at it's new home in Belgium.  Angela is pleased with it and says it's a "jewel" on her tree.  Glad she likes it!

 

Stay tuned for next week... I have some good news!

Until next time,

The BIG Reveal

Last week I mentioned I finished the stitching on Fleurs et Papillons.  I had a terrible time finding the right size frame to refurbish.  Terrible, I tell you!  Finally, I found a really H-U-G-E one at a thrift store for $8.

As you can see, it's taller than my fireplace.  Paris, anyone?



I set to work and dismantled the entire thing. I cut the pieces to the size I needed and put it back together.  This was the first time I've attempted to resize a frame.  Here's the result:

Fleurs et Papillons

Designer: Angie SB of Argentina

Fabric: 25ct Ivory Sal-Em

Fibers: DMC

Started: Mar 2012 ~ Finished: Nov 2012

OTHER STITCHY STUFF
I received word that one of the ornaments I made for exchanges has arrived to it's new home with Laney in Ireland.  I started with these ten little squares....

As you can see, they're smaller than a quarter!  Here's what I turned them into... a teeney-tiny ornament:

Star Ornament

Fabric: 28ct Antique White Monoco

Fibers: Unknown Cotton

Embellishments: Snowflake Buttons, Handmade Cording

Stitched one-over-one

 

Here's what Lany sent to me.  Isn't it beautiful?

 

Christmas Dove

Designer: Janet Designs

 

EVEN MORE STITCHY STUFF
I have a new start! A big finish calls for a new start, right?  Right.  I started The Eight Immortals a few days ago.  It's being stitched on a piece of 30x36" 16ct aida.

 

I also worked a bit on Samplers aux Bouquets. I'm about 2/3 done with part II.

 

 

For my stitchy friends in the U.S., I'll leave you with this bit of humor:

Happy Thanksgiving!

 



TUSAL 11/16/12

Finally! Here's my TUSAL:

The Totally Useless SAL is coordinated by Daffycat.

This month, my ort pile features threads from:
• Japanese Garden
• By the Bay Autumn Mystery SAL
• Star Ornament
• Fleurs et Papillons
• Sampler aux Bouquets
• Christmas Ornament (can't show a pic yet)

Wow, I worked on a lot of things this time around!

Very Interesting!!

The blogging prompt for hop #11 is:

What has been your most unusual or most interesting stash acquisition to date?

Maybe you picked up a mystery package during a sale and found something cool inside. Maybe you shopped an estate sale or received a stash-inheritance full of vintage fiber goodness. Maybe you found a fantastic shop on Etsy with amazing supplies (in which case, please tell us where to go shop!)


Once upon a time, there was an avid stitcher who was always on the look out for stash acquisitions. Yard sales, thrift shops, eBay, stores going out of business… She looked high and low for fun S.E.X.

One day, there was a listing on a Freecycle group for cross stitch stuff! Excitedly, the stitcher responded to the offer via email. Shortly thereafter, an email arrived with the address where it could be picked up, along with a note that there were two boxes that would be sitting on the porch. Not knowing exactly what was being offered… and didn’t care… (after all, it was cross stitch!) the stitcher happily drove to pick up the goodies.

The stitcher arrived to find two boxes on the porch as promised. Two B-I-G boxes. They were 24x24” in size… chock full of cross stitch and needlepoint supplies, but mostly cross stitch. Needles, pins, fabric, charts, stretcher bars, hoops, kits. Oh My!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen… I was that stitcher, and that was one of the most fun and interesting stash acquisitions I’ve encountered.  Did I mention it was free?!?

Until next time,

Visit all the blogs in this round of the Stitching the Night Away Stitching Blogger Blog Hop:
Find the instructions on how to participate in this round by clicking here.

It's A Happy Dance!!!

I started this project back in March. The designer's colors look like the photo to the right. I changed up all the colors. I finished Fleurs et Papillons on Sunday.




I'm going to save the "big reveal" until after I get it framed, but here's a preview:

As you know, I'm big into reuse and upscaling. Here's a preview of what the frame will look like. I'll be working on that this week.

WEATHER
This morning when I woke up it was a whopping 22F!  Can you say, "Brrrr!"?  This was 30 degrees cooler than it was yesterday morning.  Forecasters say temps will be in the 30's most of this week. Time to get out the winter coat and gloves!

Marvelous Monday Update 11/5/12

GIVEAWAY
Lisa is hosting a candy giveaway on her blog, Empyrean Embroidery. Click on over to see what it's all about.

Rebecca from A Gathering Place is hosting the cutest snowman giveaway. If you're interested, go check it out.

Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is hosting a 25 Days of Christmas giveaway. Doesn't that sound like fun?

STITCHY STUFF
I made a good amount of progress on JG (aka Japanese Garden) last week. The 12 o'clock garden is almost done!

Until next time,