Catching up: Finally June....

Yes....I am officially caught up on my

stitching endeavors over the past months.
Thank you for all of your wonderful
comments and for sticking with me.

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June stitching was limited with a week

away for vacation, food poisoning,

just summer fun that takes you outside

and, of course, some summer stitch-alongs.

First up....was Whine and WIPS.

The  Stitchmaynia Facebook group was 

sponsoring this event for June.

Simple....work on something
that makes you whine.

It can be something that makes you

whine when you stitch it or makes you

whine when you can't stitch it.

I chose a WIP that has been languishing

since December 2013.  I love this

design and I bought the project after seeing

the model at The Attic Needlework

during a trip.  I bought the supplies,

came home and promptly started it.   

What about this beautiful design

makes me whine????

*****    40ct black linen  *****

OMG....I have the brightest light I can take,

wear 2 pair of readers and I still have a

difficult time distinguishing those little

holes.  This was a good excuse to

bring it back out and work on it. 

I did give it the old college try and made

great progress on the border. 

This is where I started.....

Scarlett House "Ann Topley"

stitched on 40ct with recommended threads

And this is where I have ended up.....

I can't promise every stitch is over 2

holes but I don't see any glaring

mistakes.  I have made myself work on this

in hopes it would spur a finish but I

just can't take it anymore. 

So away it has gone again.  

I will keep plugging away and know

eventually I will finish it & love it. 

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Cross Stitch Finish Line on Facebook

was also hosting a stitch-along that sounded fun.  

Vintage SAL required you start or

stitch a design that was from the 90's o

r earlier.  Having stitched and stashed

for 30+ years, I had tons in my stash

that would fit this bill.   I decided to

finally start something I have loved

from the first day I saw it.

The Heart's Content "Rose Marriage Sampler" 

circa 1990
stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen with DMC

I just love this design and figured I should get

going on it after 22 years of marriage. 

My start was meager but at least I have it

started now so I have no excuse to not stitch it.

Hopefully I will have it done by

our 25th anniversary.

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My Prairie Schooler alphabet design 

this month is my sixth and that

means I am at least 20%

done with this project. 

Prairie Schooler "S*T*U"

stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen with

recommended DMC

All six designs so far....

I still love stitching it and this is one I

want to be completed now....

oh well, back to stitching.

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And lastly...
I had two finishes just under the wire.
Both were Stitchmaynia starts
and both were a joy to stitch.

WTNT "Grand Olde Flag"

stitched on 40ct PTP Sand with

Victorian Motto thread conversions

The Drawn Thread "Free and Brave"

stitched on 32ct PTP Legacy with

Victorian Motto thread conversions

I use a lot of Victorian Motto thread...
I have built up quite a collection
and just love it.
Many have asked about how I convert
designs to Victorian Motto and it
is quite simple.   I just compare them to
the model picture or DMC conversion
(if available) and just pick the colors I like.
Sometimes it works and sometimes
I am constantly changing my mind
until I find what I like.

If you haven't tried Nancy's thread,
I urge you to give it a try. 
It such a great bargain
and the colors are beautiful.

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Hopefully I will be able to keep up

with more timely posts.

You can find me on Instagram daily too at

@karenshandiwork

I love seeing everyone's stitching
progress so if you are on Instagram,
please let me know in a comment so
I can make sure I am following you.

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For those in the States, I hope you

had a nice, relaxing July 4th.

As always thanks and 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???

 

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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.

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As always, thanks for visiting!

I do hope you had a wonderful

holiday season and wish you a very

happy stitchy new year!

March ornament exchange.....

Hard to believe another month has passed so quickly and it's ornament exchange time! 

The Drawn Thead's "Merry Little Christmas Ornament"

Mine--stitched on 32ct ivory w/ NN &WDW

Yours--stitched on 32ct khaki w/NN & WDW

This month's ornament is a freebie from The Drawn Thread and I just love this one!!! 

This was a fun and easy stitch and I can see many more of these as Christmas gifts.

And this month's ornament exchange partner is..........

Carolyn

Carolyn's Stitching Chatter and More

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I had very tiring trip and plan to stitch the weekend away!  Hope you have a great stitchy weekend too!!!

Crazy Challenge wrap up....

First, let me say I would have posted earlier but I got caught up watching "Extreme Couponing" on TLC.  Have you seen this?When the lady's grocery bill went from $630 to $2 after coupons, they got my attention.  Will be checking this out tomorrow!  Now back to stitching......

Day 13

Goode Huswife "In the Bee Man's Garden"

35ct WDW Linen

w/DMC

Day 14

With thy Needle "Snow Day"

25ct Lugana over one

w/DMC

Day 15

Drawn Thread "Real Roses"

32ct Belfast antique white

w/NPI silks

This is my "Big Girl" project. I saved it until the last day because all of the specialty stitches were intimidating.  I made it through the satin stitches and spider web stitches so I think I will be okay.

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I have to say I have really enjoyed this challenge so far.  The thing I hate most about a project is starting!  I will usually skip over something just because I don't want to have to gather the supplies, figure out where to start, and then actually put the first stitch in.  Now that I have done that with 15 designs, the rest should be smooth sailing.  I haven't gotten too nervous yet and will not think about the 15 WIP I now have.  I do have to say I am missing my Lizzie Kate and such so I think I will have to throw a quickie in there this week to get my fix!

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Thank you for visiting the past couple of weeks and I have truly enjoyed your comments.  I can't wait to see what everyone else started and plan to take a trip around blogland tomorrow to check them all out! The few I have seen have been so "enabling" and I have seen some beautiful designs that had eluded me somehow.  Will definitely have a wish list by the time I'm through.  

Hope you are having a great weekend, stay warm and...happy stitching!