Another Finish and Look What I have!!

This is a limited edition piece from Ink Circles called Immaculate Hart.  It came with specialty handspun threads.  ARGH!  What a nightmare those threads were.  It looks cool but geez.  If anyone would like the chart with the left over threads, write to me a taffystreasures@yahoo.com.  First come, first serve.

For Christmas my sister made the wooden plaque with a photo of the old cabin on it.  I am hoping to build a new one this year.  I love this and it will be hung up in the new camp.  She also found a metal bell similar to the one my Mom used to call us home at camp.  The noise was enough to travel up and down the river and even bring my brother in his boat back to camp.  Ahh - the memories.

Merry Christmas to All

I have been busy with friends and family.  Whew!  Things may calm down a bit now.  I did make a huge accomplishment yesterday - on Christmas day.  I finished the stitching on Victoria Samplers Christmas Etui.  I have been working on it for a couple of years.  Last night, late, I finally put the last of the buttons and beads on it.  Here it is.

Next up will be to get it put together. 

Christmas Projects Are Now DONE!!!

I am happy dancing here.  I am so happy to report that I was able to finish the last of the projects I wanted done by the big day.  Today I was able to finish the last of the ornaments.  I also cleaned the craft room closet and washed the windows.  I am easily distracted.

I was a bit distracted today.

I have seven ornaments ready to go to the sewing machine.  While searching for jingle bells (I knew I had them) I ended up cleaning drawers and top shelves, finding some missing mini envelopes and rearranging my finishing tools.  It took all day.  I hope I get to the sewing machine tomorrow. 

The sleigh was from Foxwood Crossings and I believe the chart is Sledding.  My amazing girl friends did many, many of these both large and small.  They are so cute.  This is the sort of thing that you don't get to SEE when you only have the internet to rely on.  I so wish there was a shop near here.

It is a good day!

I had nothing planned.  The weather guy said rain and fog but warm temperatures.  I decided that today I needed to clean up the craft room and reorganize some things in there.  Including getting some long ignored mending done.  I was in the midst of doing that when I had a surprise visit from my son.  (Always a treat to spend time with him.)  Plans went out the window and I have yet to touch a needle.  The mending did get done.  Packages did arrive and I have some things ready to leave. 

Let me explain.  I spent 8 hours ( count them -  - 8!!!!) doing the beading on a certain Santa.  I needed to get him ready to leave.  Here he is.

 

Then I found a package on my door step.  A dear, dear friend stitched me a sleigh!!  Here it is!!!

I was aware of these little goodies but I hadn't seen any 'in person'.  My friend had been talking about them, but I wasn't drawn to them.  But!!  They are fantastic.  So unique.  There is a lot of stitching represented here.  It is oh so wonderful.  ( You know who you are!)

Zippity Do Dah!

The sun came out today.  I hadn't realized how much I was missing the sun.  It made the snow so bright that it hurt your eyes but I welcomed it anyway.

 I spent most of the day making Sugarplum the horse.  This is from Victoria Sampler - Down Jinglepot Road #2.  She was fun to do.

Yesterday I made Holly Farm House from the same chart.  Both will be ornaments soon.

Yesterday I put this one together.  Sweetheart Tree Door Knocker - Merry Christmas.  This will be a gift soon.  I was asked how I make these.  I generally cut some cardboard or foam core board the size I want.  I also cut some very thin shirt cardboard the same size.  I cover both with a piece of quilt batting.  I cover the stiffer board with the cross stitch piece.  I use double sided tape for small items.  I use an appropriate fabric for the thinner card board which is added to the back.  Place a hanger if necessary and sandwich it all together.  I then stitch around the edge, perhaps covering the edge with cording as in this case.  Wah Lah! 

Finally - A Productive Day

I am not sure why I haven't been able to settle down this week but finally today I was in my room and working on doing some finishing.  Yes, we have yet more snow - I believe I have photos.  Then I worked on ornaments and such.  Then I started a new ornament.  It was a busy day.

Snow - Snow - Snow

I no longer have to dream of a white Christmas.  We will have at least several feet on the ground.  This is the view of my back porch this evening.  Trees blocked my driveway this morning so the snow plow guy couldn't do his job.  It was a rude awakening to my day.  It is snowing now and more is due overnight and into tomorrow.  We are looking at day number 3 of snow.

Meanwhile I have been stitching. I started a Santa by Mill Hill.  But I am using four strands of floss and it is a bit tight.  I cut my thumb the other day so I have set this one aside for now.
I started and finished a heavily beaded Mill Hill - - next for this is finishing.

Yesterday  wanted to do something different.  So picked up a Nordic Needle Fandangle.  I just finished it tonight.  As you can see, I have been busy.

Block #9 is done and the tree is up!

 The tree is up and this year I remembered to put on the many cross stitch ornaments that I have.  So many were made by friends and by myself.  It was thrilling to see each and every one of them.  I haven't seen them in two years because I forgot to put them on the tree last year.  It was fun.  There are ornaments that my husband made that put a few tears in my eyes.  I miss him.

Block #9 is now history.  I finished it today.  Then I took a photo of the whole deal.  I need to make a few ornaments so, for now, the afghan is going back in the closet.

Christmas is Coming - -

I have a party to host next week.  Suddenly I realized that I should have the house decorated before that party.  So there is now a deadline.  Today the tree went up with lights.  Ornaments will follow.  Last year I forgot (can you imagine?) forgot to display my cross stitch ornaments.  Be assured that will not be the case this  year.  I haven't seen those ornaments for two years now.  I am looking forward to it. 

A few days after Thanksgiving, the toms came for a visit.  I now have eight Tom Turkeys.  Last year I had four.  I was able to get a photo as they went through the back yard.

The photo was taken with the Thanksgiving snow on the ground.  We had a brief period of time with no snow but now we have new snow on the ground.  Isn't winter fun?

I have been stitching.  I am enjoying the afghan.  I am almost done with Block #9.  I have a few flowers in the lower  right corner and back stitching to do.  The end is in sight.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It was a quiet day here on the hill.  We have 14.8 inches of snow from yesterday's storm to deal with.  I am shoveled out and the roads seem to be clear now.  I can't remember having so much snow on a Thanksgiving.  It certainly is pretty.  I had a visitor earlier today.

 He had a few friends but I didn't get their photos. 

I was able to begin work on Block #9 of the Hummingbird afghan.  One thing I am very grateful for is my love of crafts and my hobbies.  Thank you Mom for helping me discover what it means to be creative. 

And Now I have Two

I had a need to make a second Down Jingle Pot Road.  I stitched the second one on a 32 count so it is just a bit smaller than the original one.  Snow is coming?  It is nasty rumor in my neck of the woods.  3 to 6 inches.  If that happens tomorrow, perhaps, perhaps I can spend the day in my room doing some finishing of projects.  Instead of spending most of the day driving to and from a distant dentist.  It was worth the trip but it isn't my favorite thing to do.

Block #8 is done

Block #8 of the Stoney Creek Hummingbird Trellis afghan is complete.  I feel a bit like I cheated because this block only has some floweres and the birds butt from above.

This is the whole afghan.  I have a total of ten of the 30 blocks complete at this point.  Yippee Skippy - - I love a finish!!!!  What to do next?  What to do?

Afghans Update

I finished this crochet afghan last evening.  Just the right size for snuggling at night watching TV.  I am so happy to have this done.

Today I made some progress on the afghan block.  I have touched the other side of the block.  The end is in sight.

Confetti Continues

Thanks for the reminder about 'parking' threads.  I haven't really tried it with this one.  I actually have gotten quite good at judging how much floss I need for a small area of a color.  I use the loop start, especially with this being an afghan.  I am about half way across this block now?  I really should be thinking about Christmas ornaments.  But I do love stitching on an afghan.  Especially with the ice and sleet that is happening outside my door.

It's a Daisy

I started in the corner and I have a daisy.  I will be cussing soon.  I have never cared much for confetti type stitching. (Just a few stitches of each color and they seem random like confetti.)  At least it is warm to be under the afghan during this cold, cold, cold snap.

Winter Has Arrived

I didn't fall off the earth.  I did seem very busy with lots of little details.  Now the winter chill has descended on us and I am finally getting some stitching done.  First I decided to work on Part 3 of the Sam Sarah project.  The final parts arrived and I wanted to get it done.

 This was when I finished the base stitching and backstitching.  It was then ready for buttons.

Here it is in all it's glory.  This seems like it has been a very long time that I have been working on this one.  I am glad to add it to the finished pile.  But then I had to figure out what else to work on.  I have been cold lately.  I don't dare complain because if I lived near Buffalo, I would be buried in snow about now.  We did get a dusting one day and then it turned cold, cold, cold.  I have to bundle up to go outside but at least I don't have to worry about shoveling it.  My decision is to work on a couple of things.  First - a nice warm afghan.  I pulled out the Hummingbird Trellis project and began work on block #8.

The hummingbird now has a tail.  This block also gets a lot of flowers.  They will be started tonight.  I do love working on afghan fabric.

Done. Complete. Finished!!

I Need Inspiration

One more strand of white to make a few more snowflakes.  Then there are just a few beads to do.  Why can't I find 20 minutes to finish this one?  ARGH!!  On the other hand, house chores are getting done, I went to a dinner party and life just gets busy around here.

Quiet Day but colder

The base stitching is done!  Next is beads and a ton of backstitching!  I was feeling quite accomplished with all this stitching today.  And so far - - nothing (equipment wise) has broken.  Very quiet day. 

Make the FROG go away!!

Whew!  It has been 'a day'.  If one more thing goes wrong.....  What will I do?  The TV box went out yesterday.  In the process of fixing it, the internet went out today.  Meanwhile the dish washer quit working.  Where do I start?  I feel like a ship being pushed around, banging into the docks with no way of stopping it.  Good news.  Tonight all is working including the dish washer.  (As I pat myself on the back for fixing it MySelf.  But not before I hand washed all the dishes in it.)  I have been busy while I was dealing with the cable/phone/internet people.  (Oh did I mention the mouse people?) 

The Mill Hill Wreath is ready to go.  I did the finishing with the beading this morning while I was between appointments.

Yesterday I started Sweetheart Tree Merry Christmas Knob Knocker.  I made good progress.  Of course this one comes with a lot of backstitching and details to add once the base stitching is done.  I also want to show off one of my birthday presents.  I was surprised by a package on the morning of my birthday and it included this stitched box.

A very good and dear friend stitched this for me.  It was filled with an Ink Circles Limited Edition kit, some silk n colors, and a cute tape measure.  It is just so special to have a stitched box from a friend.  I love it.  (You know who you are!)

Happy Birthday and some finishes

Yes, I had a birthday.  Every year I get to smile at my new age.  (Long Story short.)  Since I have a late in the year birthday and I the math when asked how old I am, at my birthday I realize that I have spent most of the year thinking I was a year older than I really am.  After all these years you would think I could remember that each year..... but I don't. 

Birthday flowers in a pumpkin flower dish.  I wonder what I will do with the dish once the flowers are gone.  My mind is already spinning.  Oh, and I did get some cards.  I even had them spill over to the hutch for display.

I did get a really special cross stitch gift.  I will share photos on the next blog.  Meanwhile I did get some finishes done. 

Snow in Love by Little House Needleworks is ready for finishing.

 The tree fandangle is ready to be hung up.

I just put the last bead on Mill Hill's Tiny Treasure "Winterbird Wreath".  Quick and easy.  I didn't touch a needle for two days.  I need some serious stitching time.

2014: Happy Halloween

Just a bit of progress on the snowmen.  Stitching hasn't been a priority of late.  Leaves are falling and that means I spend time dealing with them.  There will be at least one more day of leave grinding.  I have also discovered Zentangle.  Meditation doodling.  Very cool and fun.  There is a rumor that I might see the drawings for the new camp today.  Also I am told that my father's chair (bent metal frame) from the front porch is being cleaned up and refurbished.  Guess what color it will be!!!  Purple!!!  Thank you Butch.

Snow In Love and Tree Fandangle

 I started another Christmas ornament.  This is Snow In Love by Little House Needleworks.  I didn't get very far but it is a start.

Today I had housework to do and then I spent the afternoon in my room working on the fandangle  I finished the first one, except for the red beads.  There is a mistake.  So before I get anything else done, I want to make the matching second (back) fandangle.  I need to duplicate the mistake.  Argh!