Worthy Brown....

is finished....

 

CHS "Worthy Brown"

stitched on 36ct. linen w/DMC

 

I am so happy to have him done. 

This is lingering from my 2012 Crazy January

Challenge and I have to admit it was a chore

to stitch it.  I do love the design and the

finished piece ....that bird is another story.

I guess he was just so big and kind of boring

to stitch though I do love him once he is

done.  Once that bird was finished, it

was easy going from then on out. 

 

Don't you hate it when you love a design

but don't enjoy the stitch?

 

Fortunately there were some great little motifs

that made it enjoyable in the end. 

 

Once done, he enjoyed a nice "spa day"

soaking in a warm coffee/tea bath

and then saunaing in the oven for a

while for the perfect finish.

 

I am off to sneak in some St. Patrick's Day

stitching and hopefully some finishing

before it actually gets here.

 

I do hope you are having a great

stitching weekend!   Thanks for visiting.

66.67% finished.....

...that's how much of the Crazy Challenge is done!
Here is finish number 10 ....

Plum Street Samplers "Olga"

stitched on 40ct Purely Primitive

w/ DMC

  This design looked so simple and I just

knew I would breeze through it.  Not so...it

took a good week to get this little lady done.

I had been doing a lot of Olympic

viewing so that probably did impede my

progress somewhat.  Now what will I watch ...

I'm sad to see them end.

I just love the colors in this one...especially the

white pumpkin.   I think that will make

the cutest little pin pillow. 

Another black kitty in the family...

can you see how thrilled Pork Chop is????

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Thank you for all of your wonderful comments

on my trip to the west.   I am so lazy about

replying to comments but please know that I

do read them all and appreciate them all!

Well....I am off to see what other

stitching trouble I can find!

Have a great stitchy weekend!



Halloween in July....

First, I must say I just enjoyed my first

tomato sandwich of the summer.

It was the perfect tomato sandwich.

What makes it perfect?

Sunbeam Old Fashioned white bread

(yes...it has to be Sunbeam & it has to be fresh)

John's Island tomatoes

(from the SC Lowcountry...they are the best)

Duke's mayo

(yes....it has to be Dukes)

Think I will enjoy another as soon

as I finish this post!

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Okay...back to stitching.  I have another

Crazy Challenge finish...lucky number 7!

Primitive Needle "Kindred Spirits"

stitched on 35ct. WDW parchment

w/CC & Victorian Motto

Everybody needs a little halloween in their June!

This little design was so deceiving!  I thought

I could knock it out in a day or two but it took

me over a week to get it finished. 

(Maybe too much t.v. watching and not enough stitching!)

Now I just have to figure out what to do with it....

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

My time before has been preoccupied

with this little beauty and I thought I would

share a progress pic.  

Homespun Elegance "Peace & Plenty"

stitched on 40ct mystery fabric

w/ DMC

I just love the colors in this one and can't

wait to get back to it.  I have decided to use the

same color scheme for Plum Street Samplers

Colonial Garden since I think they will

really complement each other.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *

I have also recently acquired some new

goodies though it is bittersweet.

I was sad to learn that Counted Stitches, one

of my favorite shops, was closing the end

of June.  They were so sweet to deal with

and I will definitely miss my annual trip

for their Christmas Sale.

Hubby & I had a trip planned a few Saturdays

ago so he was persuaded to take a small detour

so that I could visit with them one last time.

Their sale started at 35% off so I couldn't resist! 

(I think I am set for life with HE brass buttons.)

My diginity will not allow me show the full

haul but here is just a glimpse.  

(I did some serious damage.)

I also got some goodies from Jill who was nice

enough to share some of her hand-dyed threads.

I just love pink & brown and I hope to put

them to good use very soon!

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Well I won't bore you with comments on how

hot it is here in SC since you are probably just

as hot if you are in the good ol' USA.  

Perfect stitching weather, though, so I

am off to see what trouble I can find.

As always....thanks for visiting

and stay cool!

Nantucket Sampler....

I had a good stitchy weekend and finished

up another Crazy Challenge piece.

Elizabeth's Garden "Nantucket Sampler"

stitched on 40ct khaki linen

w/DMC

This turned out to be a great little sampler

to stitch.   The finished size is only 6" x 3"

but this little sampler packs alot in it.   Although

I used DMC, the subtle thread changes in some

areas almost gives it an overdyed look.  I did give

my finish a little coffee soak to help tone

down the ecru border just a bit.

I love this little scene with the red house and

ship.  The bird and peacock are a little on the

large side but seem to make the sampler complete.

This design has been languishing in my basket

for many years and I am very happy it is stitched.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

With summer fast approaching, I hope to sneak

in a few little Americana smalls.   As always....

thanks for visiting and happy stitching!

Goodies in the mail....

First...this cutie came from BeckyK 

for Winter Seasonal Exchange.

Homespun Collectibles

Becky said this was an older design from

her stash and he is just so cute.   I love that

she stitched something for me that I

would never have stitched for myself.  

 I will enjoy this one in my office

for the rest of winter.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Next....Cindy Mae was quick to

mail her LK Exchange.

Another cute design and I love Cindy Mae's

finishing.  I have it hanging on my pie safe and

it will surely bring a smile as I enter each day.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I have my first Crazy Challenge finish!

La D Da "In the Sweet"

40ct. Lakeside Linen

w/recommended DMC

I just love this design....

sweet definitely comes to mind. 

Everytime I look at it I think of my

Granny Smith.   She loved gospel music

and loved to sing hymns.  I couldn't help

but hum this tune while stitching.   

I know this will become a  sweet little pillow

to keep with some other mementos

from my Granny.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Well...I guess I better get busy finishing

my exchange pieces. Time is a ticking......

happy stitching!

Crazy Challenge diversion....

Here are the remaining starts for

the Crazy Challenge.

Day 9

Plum Street Samplers "Halloween Hornbook Sampler"

Day10

Primitive Needle "Kindred Spirit"

 Day 11

BOAF "Kindness Sampler"

Day 12 

BOAF "Bloom Where You Are Planted"

Day 13

LHN "Thirteen Colonies"

Day 14 

Goode Huswife "The Flowers of Lebanon"

Day 15 

CHS "Worthy Brown"

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

With some very busy work days, I wasn't

capable of focusing too long on

some of these Challenge projects.  

I really needed something a little "easier" 

and just couldn't resist these cute,

fat snowmen anymore! 

I hope to finish them as little pillows

to display in a basket so I can enjoy

them throughout the winter.

LK "Snowed In"

stitched on 28ct khaki evenweave

w/DMC

 

This roly-poly one is just so cute so I

couldn't wait to start the next one.

LK "Snow House"

stitched on 28ct evenweave

w/DMC



They do stitch up very quickly so 

hopefully I will get them all done to enjoy

at least a day or two this winter!  

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Well....I have some exchange stitching calling me.

Then it will be the difficult decision of 

what to stitch next???

Thanks for looking...happy stitching. 

Crazy Challenge part 2....

After a busy work week and relaxing

weekend, here's this week's

Crazy Challenge starts.

Day 3....

BBD "Tis the Season"

stitched on 40ct Purely Primitive

w/Victorian Motto, WDW, ST

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 Day 4...

Plum Street Samplers "Olga"

stitched on 40ct Purely Primitive

w/DMC

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 Day 5

Elizabeth's Garden "Nantucket Sampler"

stitched on

w/DMC

 ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Day 6

Goode Huswife "Three Crows"

stitched on 36ct linen

w/DMC

 ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Day 7

Barrick Samplers "1797 Ship Sampler"

stitched on 40ct khaki linen

w/DMC

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Day 8

BBD "Summer's Jubliee"

stitched on 30ct 18th Century Black

w/Victorian Motto

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I have a love/hate relationship

with this Challenge.  

I love it because I am finally stitching

some wonderful designs that have been

languishing in my stash for years.

I hate it because I have seen the

wonderful designs y'all have started and

I want to stitch many of them now!

Anyone else having this problem????

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I am off to get ready for Downton Abbey tonight. 

I don't want to miss a minute so I need to

get situated in my stitchy chair.

As always...thanks for visiting.

Happy stitching!

First stitching in 2012....

Unfortunately, I began my new year under

the weather but was able to do some

stitching for my Crazy Challenge.

Day 1.....

 La D Da "In the Sweet"

stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen

w/ DMC

This is the sweetest design and I should be

able to finish this one up pretty quickly.

Day 2.....

CHS "Matter's Choice"

stitched on 35ct. straw

w/DMC

I have loved this one from the first time I saw it. 

I really struggled with whether to stitch in

blue or red.  I decided to go with DMC 3750

but still envision this one in red. 

There is a smaller sampler included and

think I will do that one in red.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I picked up one of the LK Inspirational Boxer kits

last week at my LNS sale and decided

I just had to stitch it. 

LK "We Can Do"

stitched w/DMC

I didn't have the suggested thread so decided to

use the DMC conversion.  I actually finished

the stitching on New Year's Eve and was

able to do the finishing on New Year's Day. 

I really like how it turned out and will

have this on displayed in my office at work.  

This is a message I need to read

frequently each day!

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Looks like many stitchers are already off to a

good stitchy start in this new year! 

I do hope you are one of them....

happy stitching. 

My last 2011 finish....

A busy holiday season has once again 

been conquered and I have found

time to stitch and finish this lovely....

Drawn Threads "Real Roses"

stitched on 32ct Belfast Antique White

NPI silks

I took advantage of my time this week to

finish #14 of my Crazy Challenge.  

I have had this kit for some time and was a

little intimidated with the speciality stitches, but

I am glad I decided to stitch this one.
  

The design is so delicate and "pretty" and a

nice change from what I normally stitch.

I did take some liberties with a few stitches.

It became necessary for the Queen's stitch

and myself to part ways....

Hmmm....think there should be a period after tree???

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Well...that leaves one lonely

snowman in my Challenge basket.

I am not too happy with my fabric

choice so I decided to leave it

last and  will restart this one as

part of my 2012 Crazy Challenge.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

As always, thanks for visiting!

I do hope you had a wonderful

holiday season and wish you a very

happy stitchy new year!

Lucky 13......

My 13th finish in my Crazy Challenge....

Goode Huswife "In the Bee Man's Garden"

Stitched on 35ct WDW Linen

w/DMC

Well my little pile is now down to two!  

This stitch wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped

....not sure why.  I think it was because I was

nervous about the beehive, which is done in

a satin stitch.   It was the very last thing I did

and I have to say it truly makes this design. 

Once done, I realized again why I loved this one.

I just love the look of the beehive...

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I did take a  little break for some

Christmas stitching.

The Scarlett House "Jingle All the Way"

Stitched on 40ct PTP Swamp

w/Victorian Motto threads

After seeing Tanya's finish at the Pals Retreat

in October, I couldn't wait to stitch this one.  

My favorite part is the fabric she used so I

decided to treat myself and I am so glad I did. 

Vonna (Twisted Stitcher) had the perfect

finish for this one and I hope to recreate

her magic myself with some coordinating

ricrac and a rusty jingle bell.

I love this fabric too! 

Mine is more of a mossy green, which

I love.   The entire time I was stitching I kept

seeing some type of white Christmas tree

design on this fabric so I am off to

search out the perfect design

to complement this finish. 

~   *   ~   *  ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~  

Now that Christmas is fast approaching it is time

for my favorite part of the holiday season!  

Yes....time to make the

"My LNS After Christmas Sale Wish List"!  

Each year at this time, I go through my stash

to  list my stitchy needs....and wants!  

I check it twice and then wait

anxiously for the big day to arrive....

the day after Christmas!   

Oh I get excited just thinking about it!

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~    *   ~

As always, thanks for visiting my

little bit of the world. 

And in the spirit of Christmas,

do something nice for someone today!