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Saturday, January 15, 2011

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!
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44 comments:

  1. FayeJanuary 15, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    Love all of them especially the big girl project!!!

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  2. GlennaJanuary 15, 2011 at 11:54 PM

    Three good choices. I've been wanting Bee Man and Snow Day, and this is the first time I've seen Real Roses. You have great taste in projects, and I'm looking forward to watching you stitch!

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  3. GlennaJanuary 15, 2011 at 11:55 PM

    Oh, and I love love the idea of the "big girl project!" LOL! That's what I'm going to call my large, scary projects now!

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  4. Meadows08January 16, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    Those Extreme Couponers and their stock piles freaked me out!

    You have done so well during this challenge! I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on the 15!

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  5. LorettaJanuary 16, 2011 at 12:04 AM

    Your last 3 starts are so beautiful especially your "Big Girl" project. I think this challenge has triggered a lot of enabling. It sure has with me.

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  6. ColeJanuary 16, 2011 at 1:15 AM

    Wow, that's definitely Extreme!! Can you imagine saying "I saved $628 on my groceries"?

    You've picked some beautiful charts to stitch!

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  7. SylviaJanuary 16, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    Again, more lovely starts - your "Big Girl" project is going to be gorgeous. Oh yes, the couponing game - lots of fun, lots of work - but sometimes you get such great deals.

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  8. Charlene ♥ NCJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    I am just about worn out trying to keep up with stash to match all these challenges! Just teasin'. I'm really excited to watch all these great pieces come to life. I understand that feeling of wanting to finish something! I think that's why I like smalls so much! Enjoy your blog cruise.

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  9. ChristineJanuary 16, 2011 at 6:11 AM

    Great choices and starts. I love the "big girl" sampler

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  10. rionaJanuary 16, 2011 at 7:03 AM

    Those last three charts are just lovely ... I am sure you will enjoy finishing your 15 challenge projects ... I think most of us participating in the challenge picked pieces that have really been calling our names for quite a while. I'd have to say 11 of my projects fall into that category, though I do admit to "salting" the list with four ornament sized pieces for the Town Square SAL in which I am also participating. As you implied, I don't want my challenge pieces to morph into UFOs ... so I kept my list realistic: a balance of small, medium and large pieces as well as a balance of easy, advanced, and truly challenging pieces.

    Good luck on your challenge pieces ... I look forward to watching your progress.

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  11. MargaretJanuary 16, 2011 at 7:55 AM

    Wonderful choices, all! I've enjoyed seeing what your 15 projects are! Great stuff!

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  12. BonnieJanuary 16, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    Congratulations are in order. I love all the new ones and I have been waiting on Real Roses.
    You really stitched a great start.I am starting mine over on the 32 ct.
    I have a Lizzy Kate to stitch for an exchange and an ornament for T
    the ornament a month challenge and then on to my fifteen.

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  13. MyraJanuary 16, 2011 at 8:11 AM

    My wish list is now a mile long thanks to this project and I didn't even participate! Great job on getting them all started, you sure chose some gorgeous designs.

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  14. Patty C.January 16, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    I love "Snow Day" -Too cute !!

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  15. gracieJanuary 16, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    It certainly has beed fun meeting and visiting all the new friends because of this challenge. I love these 3 projects...and your phrase...big girl projects! I think many of us will be saying that now. We made it this far so I know we are going to finish them all...yes? Today I am taking a break from them to work on an exchange for February that is almost finished. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  16. Cathy BJanuary 16, 2011 at 9:55 AM

    Karen, I have to admit - I have never had so much fun starting projects either! And I'm not planning to stress out over the WIPs, nor will they keep me from stitching other things that I may want to work on during the year. It was crazy but a lot of fun!

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  17. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    Three more fantastic projects! At this point I think I am following about six or seven folks in this Challenge, I think I want to see some more. It is amazing to see all the different choices people have made. Some I would never even try and some that I now have on my wish list - LOL!

    Can't wait to watch yours grow, and have fun with a Lizzie*Kate - that is always a break!

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  18. SherryJanuary 16, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    I love all the pieces you chose to start for this challenge. I can't to see your progress on them

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  19. SiobhánJanuary 16, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    LOL about your big girl project comment. All of your choices are wonderful! I always found DT to have great explanations for specialty stitches. I also have recently discovered You Tube for special stitches. I am very much a visual learner and that's helped a lot.

    I am the same--the gathering of threads and choosing of linen and making sure I'm in the correct starting spot are the things that I like the least. I'm so glad to have my plans mapped out for this stitching year! I'll enjoy watching your progress on all your gorgeous projects.

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  20. Lisa SJanuary 16, 2011 at 12:03 PM

    All of your choices are fabulous Karen! Like others have said my wish list just grew longer! LOL
    I can't wait to see these finished :)

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  21. MaryJanuary 16, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    I love all of the projects that you have chosen. Good luck with all of them and happy stitching!

    That's a great name--BIG GIRL project!!

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  22. BrendaSJanuary 16, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    Again, all your starts are great. The Drawn Thread piece is beautiful and they have some nice illustrations for all the stitches so I'm sure you will be fine. Love the "Snow Day" over 1. Great idea!

    Thanks for sharing.

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  23. SnowySticherJanuary 16, 2011 at 12:40 PM

    beautiful new projects

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  24. AnnieJanuary 16, 2011 at 1:06 PM

    Great set of 15. Now the fun begins. Can you resist starting more?

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  25. DebJanuary 16, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    I love all of your projects. You've really picked some wonderful ones. I'm going to enjoy watching your progress on all your pieces!

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  26. KatriJanuary 16, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    Wow, what a great collection of starts you have here! Best of luck for the rest of the Challenge!

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  27. LynnJanuary 16, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    Really lovely projects Karen! I would be saving the big one until last too. I'm very intimidated by specialty stitches. I haven't done all that many but slowly I'm venturing into uncharted territory!
    I'll be checking in regularily to watch your progress on these pretties.

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  28. LaineyJanuary 16, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    More gorgeous starts Karen. I can;t wait to see lots and lots of up-dates. Happy stitching!

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  29. Babs in AlabamaJanuary 16, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    Hi Karen, and thanks for visiting my blog :)So glad to meet you. Your "big girl" project is beautiful...I know cause it's a wip in my DT stack. I will so enjoy watching yours grow and maybe even get mine out and stitch along a bit. Will enjoy watching all the progress.
    hugs,
    babs

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  30. NicoleJanuary 16, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    I LOVE Real Roses!! One of my favorite Drawn Thread designs. I'll e looking forward to seeing more! I also love Snow Day and Bee Man's Garden! All great projects Karen! :)

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  31. Teresa S.January 16, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    Love all the projects on your challenge, Karen--especially "Her Sampler" I'll be watching with interest!

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  32. LumiruusuJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    Thank You for visiting my blog,
    it meant a lot to me,
    beacuse I have stitched only for about three years.
    I have admired yours and your friends very advantaged stitching on the blogs ..
    And I love all your projects !!

    Sorry for my funny english
    and the bad grammar..

    Maija from Finland

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  33. Natasha January 16, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    I have yet to catch that show, hopefully soon though it sounds interesting. I am like you I have alot of great designs in my stash I would LOVE to stitch but I get overwhelmed trying to decide on fabric and floss. Maybe next month I will pick 4 projects and kit them up so they will be ready to go one day.

    I love all of your starts so far. Take care Karen and have a great day!

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  34. MaryJanuary 16, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    You kept the best till last. Real Roses was the first Drawn Thread sampler I ever did and I loved it - still do - it's one of my all time favouorites. Hope you enjoy stitching it as much as I did.

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  35. sheriJanuary 16, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    Wow, you've got some really great beginnings here. Hard to pick a favorite, but I really like the Peacock Sampler and the Autumn piece with the gorgeous Victorian Motto thread....will have to check that out!

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  36. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2011 at 2:50 AM

    OMG, I totally missed your blog in the challenge list and I'm sorry for it, because you have an amazing line-up!! With these choices you're going to have so much fun stitching this year!! I know I will be back to enjoy your progress! Happy stitching!!

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  37. PumpkinJanuary 17, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    OMG! DH and I saw that show and were just dumb founded! There is NO WAY that would happen here in Canada. It just blew our minds...

    Wonderful selection Karen and I love your last project. I can't wait to see you working on these now :o)

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  38. SusanJanuary 17, 2011 at 5:38 PM

    What wonderful starts you have done! I love your Moon Garden and it is in my challenge box - have 9 starts and will get going on the others before the end of the month.

    Happy Stitching!

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  39. Cindy's StitchingJanuary 17, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    Love all of the projects you picked out. I saw that extreme coupons, I do use coupons but not like that. Its to extreme for me. They live for that. Coupons do not have a lot of good food for you to eat. Most is junk food. So dont feel like you aren't up to par. Stitching is more productive :). I am a new follower. I thought I was a follower.

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  40. JulieJanuary 18, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Such a lovely selection of projects you have chosen Karen, going to be great to watch all these grow over the coming week

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  41. Carolyn NCJanuary 18, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    Wow - great starts!

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  42. LoisJanuary 18, 2011 at 3:08 PM

    Three more lovely projects!

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  43. MichelleJanuary 20, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    Pretty starts! I love Bee Man - can't wait to see more!

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  44. AngelaJanuary 21, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    It's really hard to find a coupon here for even a few cents off something, that is something else! Love all your challenge projects and look forward to watching your progress on them!

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Who doesn't love a good comment....or a bad one for that matter! Thanks a bunch for visiting my little piece of the stitching universe! If you're new, I will be sure to visit you too.