Stitches and Cats, Oh My!: January 2010

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Where Do I Begin?

Since my last post on January 5th, I have been struggling with "beginnings". I was so looking forward to beginning a new sampler project after the first of the year. Here it is, the end of January and I'm still trying to decide what to begin. It's not because I don't have anything to stitch, in fact the situation is quite the opposite. I think I have too many choices! But what's a girl to to? I love to stitch and I love to collect patterns!!! Do I think that I will actually stitch every pattern I own. I sure do! Just kidding! In all reality, I know I'll never stitch it all but it's fun to collect and dream about it!

Today, I have been looking through my patterns, trying to decide what to work on; something new, something "in progress", something wintery, sometime springy, or something holiday related? Haven't decided yet but I really do enjoy handling my stash. I also started my Super Bowl Sale shopping list: fabric, threads, and possibly a few new patterns. I've decided to shop online since the closest shop is about an hour away and it is quite small with tons of stitchy things stuffed in it. By the time you get more than a handfull of crazed stitcher's in there, it could very well get ugly! LOL! I'll have to wait for my stuffs to arrive but I think I can find a few things in my stash to fill the time!

Recent mail stash acquistions: Lizze Kate-"Time for God", With My Needle & Thread-"Hoppin' Along Sampler", and Ewe & Eye & Friends-"Petite Exemplary". Love the bunny! Wouldn't it be perfect for Easter? I may need to order fabby for it.....

When I have had a few minutes to stitch, I've put a few stitches into my Carriage House Sampling, "Alphabet Sampler". It's on 40ct linen and I'm making s-l-o-w progress.

Darn! I cropped the picture before uploading it to my blog but it still pulled the pre-crop version. Don't know why. I need to figure that out, but it will have to wait for another day. Any advice would be welcomed!

I also began Blackbird Designs, "Truly Thine". (Sorry for the flash shiny spot.) No pic of my progress because it is very minimal. I'm stitching it on a tea colored linen from my stash because I didn't have and then couldn't find a comparable pinkish linen online. I plan to add a bit of soft brown (basket) and a couple of greens (leaves and vines) so it won't look so valentine-sy when I'm done.

I started Paradise Lost with DMC. Not very happy with the colors used for the lions (where I started), so I'm contemplating investing in the silks. Has anyone tried one of "Hand Dyed Fibers" conversions before? http://hand-dyedfibers.com/oscnuked/ I love her silks but not sure of the conversions. Thoughts?

Pulled out a few of my UFO's to see if they called to me. I'm waiting...nothing yet.

Just Nan - "Lady Scarlet's Journey"

The Drawn Thread - "French Garden"

So as you can see, I've been dabbling here and there, but haven't settled on any one thing yet. I really haven't had much time lately. Hoping that will change in the near future.

Part of my lack of stitching focus is due another type of "beginning" in my life. After being amongst the unemployed for over a year, I was offered and accepted a senior training position with a telecommunications company. Started January 11th and it has been a whirlwind. So much to learn! It is very different from the banking industry. Big adjustment for me, not just the job, but working again. (I really enjoyed my time off.)
So although I've been very busy over the last several weeks trying to adjust to working, I've tried to do a little blog hopping once or twice a week. I didn't have time to read much, but peeking at all the pictures has been like mental therapy for me. Thank you for being part of the blogoshere! You, and your blogs make a difference to me and helped to keep me grounded!!!

Thank you for stopping by!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

New Year Wishes and Confessions

I know it's late but I'm sending wishes out to everyone for a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

Now for my confession. I've put this off as long as I can so I'm just going to say it...er...type it.

I did not finish my ornaments from my last post of 2009 and I did not send out Christmas cards.

I hang my head in shame. I could have made the ornaments and addressed the cards in an afternoon if I had actually set my mind to it. Didn't happen. Hope to do better this year!

So instead of sharing my finished ornaments, I'll share a couple of things that I did finish for Christmas this year and a few past finishes.

I offered to help my sister decorate a wreath for her friend's mother. We went to JoAnn's and Michael's to gather supplies and this is what we came up with: The Golden Reindeer Wreath.

Jenn decided she couldn't part with the wreath so she gave the Rustic Poinsettia Wreath that I made her last year to her friend's mother. I was just glad that she made a decision!

Next up, a small cross-stitch design for the Quilting Queen, my neighbor, Pat. Check out her blog, Quilting Can Be Fun.

It was a fun stitch. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed stitching Graph-It Arts designs, simple, yet detailed enough to be fun. At one time, Lynn Waters Buza was my favorite designer. I'd still buy anything she designed. Love her use of color, shading, and detail. I think Pat really liked it!

From a Graph-It Arts leaftet

Designer: Lynn Waters Buza

Stitched on white evenweave with DMC thread

Glass beads used for pin heads

Pat made a beautiful log cabin quilt for my hubby and me in shades of lavender, one of my favorite colors, and a darling little appliqued quilt for our cats. Each of the four squares has a basket of four cats. Our cats love it and take turns napping on it. I'll take pictures and post later. Both quilts are so cool!!! Thank you, dear Pat!

Here are a few Christmasy finishes from past years...