New life for a UFO and Q-snaps.....

The Let's Stitch has been a great Friday night stitching group and I have been able to finish two UFO's. I picked up SB "Herb Gatherer", one of my oldest UFO's, tonight and hope to finish it before spring.

Here is what it look like when I started....

After 5 hours stitching....


I started this summer 1998 and I don't know why I never finished it. I immediately fell in love with it all over again and can't wait to stitch again next week. Actually...it will be really hard not to pick it back up this weekend, but I already have two designs in my rotation so I will have to resist the urge!

I have been struggling for a couple of weeks with La D Da's "Bushel & Peck". I saw this stitched on 18 ct. lambswool over 2 at a not so LNS and feel in love with their model. The design is 110 x 147 stitches so the fabric I am working on is pretty large! It is so "course" it has been very hard to hold and stitch freehand. I tried a large hoop, but found that very hard to hold and I couldn't keep the fabric taut. Well....I think I found my solution tonight. I have Q-snaps that I have never liked using in the past...just too awkward to hold, I don't use a frame, and the fabric would lose it tautness, even with scrap fabric between the snap and fabric. I see that so many stitchers use the Q-snaps ...so what was I doing wrong? I decided to search for some tips last night and saw on Vonna's blog that she used felt between the stitching and the snap. I decided to try it tonight on my SB since that is a big piece of fabric. Oh my....what a difference it made. I couldn't believe how taut the fabric was and it kept the tautness the entire evening. I could have bounced a quarter off of it. I can't wait to try them tomorrow on the La D Da. If it works as well, I do believe my needles will be flying!

Thanks for looking and happy stitches this weekend....

PIF Winner....

Beth is the lucky winner of my PIF. I will stitch her something in the next 365 days and she agrees to offer this to someone on her blog! I am excited to do this since we seem to have similar tastes! What a great a excuse to go through my stash!

Happy stitches....

My Totally Useless SAL progress....

This has been the easiest project this year! Thank goodness I was saving the bits. I actually found myself digging through my jar the other night to find a bit of thread long enough to finish a couple of stitches! Can't wait to see everyone else's progress. Interested in joining the fun? Just follow the path to Yoyo's blog.

P.S. Yoyo reminded us that the goal this month was to "double our orts". Well, since mine was empty when I started I think I more than accomplished that goal!

Valentine and UFO finishes.....

I was able to stitch a couple of things for Valentines and just got the finishing done tonight. Better late than never right????

Midnight Summer Designs "Lovebirds" freebie

I love this design and absolutely love the way this turned out if I say so myself! Instead of the pastel colors recommended, I stitched on coffee-dyed fabric with DMC 347. I was going to make it into an ornament, but loved the check fabric so I made a little pillow.

Drawn Thread "Love" freebie

I received this stitched design for my HOE Valentine Exchange and loved the specialty stitches so I decided to stitch it too. I changed the colors to make them both different.

This was a UFO from 2006 and I finally finished Friday night! Thanks to the Let's Stitch SAT each Friday night, this is my third UFO finished!

La D Da "Act Justly"

Oh well.....I think that is enough for today! I did take three things to the framers on Saturday and she said they would ready by Friday! This is the first time I have used this framer and I am anxious to get them back. Thanks for looking and I hope you have many happy stitches....

PIF....would like something stitched from me?

Thanks to Bonnie I am participating in her PIF. I agree to offer a PIF on my blog and I will stitch something for at least 3 people in the next 365 days. If you are interested in participating, please leave a comment. I will randomly choose 3 stitchers, if necessary, and if chosen, you also agree to offer a PIF on your blog.

This is exciting since I rarely stitch for others so I love that I can do something for other stitchers who would appreciate the gift.

Hope I have some response and will designate the recipients the first of the week! Happy stitches....

F&S Winter Exchange received....

Waiting in my mailbox today were these beautiful squares from Kendra. The design is so cute and I plan to make them into a cube this weekend so I can display on my window sill in my office! I really enjoyed my first exchange with F&S and can't wait to sign up for another! Happy stitches....

F&S Winter Exchange and more....

LK "Welcome Seasons-Winter"

I received word that Kendra has received her squares. This was my first time participating in a Fair & Square exchange and can't wait to do more! It was nice not to have the pressure of "finishing" the item.

LK "Friends Make Life Sweeter"

This year I decided I would make as many gifts as possible to not only help save some money but also give me a reason to stitch some of the stash I have accumulated over the years. This is my first gift for a co-worker's birthday in April. I usually prescribed to the JIT time management style ( Just In Time!) and have made another decision to avoid procrastination. It also serves as my SAL project for February over at the PALS Delight BB and I hope to finish it this weekend into a flat-fold or cube. The bonus to this completion is I have now finished two of my 50 S.O.S goal.

I have also been able to stitch a Valentine design as well as one Christmas ornament for some other SALs. Once I finish them this weekend, I hope to share pics. Well off to stitch some more... happy stitches.

My Green Valentine and some stitching.....

DH and I had a great time at the Savannah Irish Festival and a wonderful way to spend Valentine's Day together. We love Irish music and look forward to this event every year! Among our favorite performers was the Irish group Slide. This was their first time at the festival and this young, energetic group really got the crowd going. We also enjoyed legendary performers Mick Maloney, Sean and John Doyle, and Tommy Sands. We are already looking forward to next year's festival!

I have been stitching and have mailed my Winter Exchange for Fair & Square. Hopefully it will reach it's new home and I can post pics this week. I have also started La D Da's "Bushel & Peck" as well as LK "Friends Make Life Sweeter", which is almost finished. Well....off to to stitch. Wishing you happy stitches.

Happy dance...another UFO is done!

"Old Glory" -- Jeannette Crews

I started this back in 2005 and decided to pick it back up on January 2nd for the Let's Stitch Friday night SAT. I really like the design now that it is done. I thought the fractional stitches in the stars were going to drive me crazy!!! I think I may even have a mat and frame that will fit it. Hopefully this weekend I can get it finished and hung in my hubby's office.

Now....I think my next UFO will be "Act Justly" by La D Da. I only have the flowers left to do and should be able to finish this in one or two Friday night SAT. I think that will be it for this evening...sweet dreams and stitches to you!

HOE Valentine Exchange received....

My mailbox held this wonderful treat today from Sadie! I absolutely love the design, which is Drawn Thread, and I love the pink and green. I plan to add some ribbon and hang it on my ornament tree! This was my first exchange with HOE and it went so smoothly! Oh well.....off to cross some stitches! Happy stitches to the rest of you!

One down......

Bent Creek "Seasons Of Change Row"

....and 49 more to go in my SOS challenge. All of the stitching is done, but I didn't realize that there was a button pack when I bought the design so I will have to pick one up later. I loved this design when I saw it and love it even more stitched. Bent Creek is one my favorite designers and it is definitely one my favorites from them. Now I need to start on some smaller projects this week while I decide what I will start next. Decisions, decisions.....keep on stitching.