IF I COULD PUT TIME IN A BOTTLE!

I still wouldn't have any, but if someone else figures out how I'd be first in line to buy it.
House projects, puppies, plumbing problems and pneumonia along with a full time job have kept me hopping and given me little to no stitching time. Not enough time for sleeping either! I even multitask when I'm checking facebook!

I did manage a few stitches on Phuan the past 2 Fridays, and by a few I mean maybe 30 to 50 stitches each time. Loved it.

 

I'm contemplating a major project in the next year or so. There is pretty much no way it will ever fit on 18 ct. so I'm experimenting with smaller counts. 28 count is a no go. Lesli sent me a piece of 25 ct. DMC Magic Guide)(Thank you Lesli) and I am playing with it now. It looks better on the frame, what doesn't? but I'm not sure I'll be able to continue on frame because of my neck problems and my in hand stitching with it looks lumpy. On frame is ok with 2 over 1 half crosses  but my tension needs work.

I've been 'sneaking' in a little crochet, just to see if I could. So long as I don't do it for more than 5 minutes at a time it has been ok, anything over that and the pain starts. Knitting is still out of the question.

Pattern sale. I shouldn't have spent the money but I had planned it in advanced that when Simplicity patterns went on sale I'd pick up two of their retro patterns. Ran in yesterday on the way home from the hardware store and picked up these two.

Unfortunately my obsession with maxi dresses ended up in two others, one picked by my DH and one by me.

Can you guess who picked which pattern?

The sewing room/stitching room that was supposed to be set up this weekend is only 1/4 done due to multiple unforeseen  circumstances but I did manage to carve out enough space to sit and stitch so while practicing on the 25ct. I'm starting this, which you may recall was an RAK back in May of this year.

I've been longing to stitch her in any case.

Happy Holiday and Happy stitching 'till next time.
Karen

Eight Weeks Old and a Page Finish!

Puppy dog tails!

Sam

Dean

Gizmo, stealing the big kennel

I thought you could use some cuteness!




In stitching news I finished a page on Fantasy Blue from Tilton Crafts. This is the last page of the first row, which is where I generally prefer to start.

 So yay me! A page finish. There are only 3 shades of blue in this page which really helped it along.



I've tons of work these next few weeks, plus even more tons of stuff to do at home so I'm not certain when my next update will be. I do plan on getting some stitching time in on the SAL for the HAED  Bulletin Board that I am taking part in. Mystic Garden, but I can't promise how much time I will have for stitching.

Happy Stitching Everyone!

New Additions to the Family, and Stitching.

I'd like to introduce two new additions to our little family.

Samantha (Sam) on the left and Dean on the right. They are exactly 7 weeks old today and joined us yesterday. They are already as big as Gizmo and weigh more! I'm sure you'll be seeing more of them in the future.

On the stitching front I've only worked on one project since last time. Fantasy Blue has had my attention when I have found the time and energy to stitch. Not as often as I'd like but I had settled into a bit of routine with it. I know that will be different while the puppies need so much attention but here is the update pic after yesterday.

Other than this life goes along. I have had some health issues slowing me down a little and hope to have those resolved soon. There is work and Gizmo and the new puppies, stitching and spending time with my husband. Life is full and busy. The stitching helps keep me centered. What a great thing it is to have a hobby that is always there to look forward to and enjoy.

Until next time, Happy Stitching everyone!

Mysteries Of The Universe, and stitching.

Such as, why is DMC thread so much less expensive in the US than in Europe? or Why does DMC sell Magic Guide in the UK but not in the US? And why have dye lots on the skeins if you don't have dye lots? Things that make you go Hmmm.

Then there are my skirts. Yes, I prefer making them to fit and today I am reminded why. Three ready made (store bought)  skirts that are just me. All were sort of tea length, or what I call cowboy boot length, except one turned out to be a maxi, swoon! All in the same size, two by the same manufacturer. One is tight enough to have been used in medieval torture. The other just right and the third from a different manufacturer a smidge too big.  The just right one is the maxi, so all cool there at least. But huh on ready to wear sizing?

Now to the stitching.
I pulled out one of my all time favorite pieces, Basilisk, and re-kitted it. Yes, I know I said I hadn't the inclination for a something with a lot confetti or colors right now, but apparently my mood changed!  I don't have a new pic because I didn't have about 5 colors. I was going to work on it anyway but naturally three of those five colors were in the first row so I put it aside until I get them. Here is where I was the last time you saw it.

On Friday I was having what I like to call a Karen day. After the past few weeks of dealing with some illness and the new job settling down I was just frazzled out. So when I was off on Friday I didn't run errands or do lots of useful stuff around the house.

I sat on my bottom and made a new start on the only thing I had kitted up.
Fantasy Blue. You may remember that I surprised myself by buying her back in April. Well, I didn't get a lot done, but here is her progress so far.

Probably not the greatest picture ever but a nice little beginning.
She should look like this when she is finished, and is available from Tilton Crafts

I also hung out laundry. lol. I actually enjoy that.

I've been following along on a certain stitch-a-long that I meant to take part in that began in June but I didn't get everything kitted up in time the way I thought I would. You saw those charts in a previous post and if you haven't seen it yet take a look at HAED's Owl in a Poppy Field being stitched over on
http://gizzimomosstitchyplace.blogspot.com/. It is looking fabulous and cute and sweet.

That is all for the moment friends. I hope you guys are enjoying your summer if it is summer for you and enjoying your not so summer Down Under.

Happy Stitching this week!

A Quick but Happy Finish

I wasn't expecting to be blogging again so soon, but I couldn't resist a quick update.

I finished this on Saturday:

This was such a quick finish, no where near the 15 hours the magazine suggests. I really enjoyed it, even though I found an error I'd made and left it in there.

I expect to make it into a cushion, though you never know, it may end up framed. I'm really happy with this one.

I'm planning on going watermelon hunting later this week. Who knows, I may try a watermelon milkshake this year! I'm working on the actual day so we will celebrate on Friday.

Happy Holiday this week to those in the USA! I'm wishing everyone a great time this week even if it isn't a holiday for you.

Happy Stitching!

Here In The Real (stitching) World

There are only so many hours in the day.
After being a bit injured I'm able to stitch again this last week or so, but having less time and still working on recovering I realized I just didn't want to work on some huge project with 100 colors. Wow, did I say that?
The smaller projects I've done in recent months have been satisfying my stitching urge without overwhelming me with detail, and I've come to a place to realize that is ok, for the moment. Not that there isn't a part of me that misses and longs for confetti galore, but at the moment I'm really enjoying my lazy stitching and seeing some completions of things for the home.

In that vein when I was able to begin stitching again I didn't pick up anything major. In fact I did a few stitches on my new kit, just to put my hand in. This is the little I've done.

A bit of umbrella, nothing too exciting.

But then last week-end I was able to pick up only my second issue ever of The World of Cross Stitching. You just can't hardly find them here.

It was issue number 201 and I found a little chart I couldn't resist.

Not the best pictures but it is rainy and cloudy so the best I could do.
I'm loving stitching this up all in one color, though I picked a different color of red than that in the magazine.  I can see this as a pillow much like in the magazine, and I may add our names at the bottom, also a suggestion in the magazine that I like.

So I'm busy, and tired a bit 'till I get used to working full time again. It is a good feeling and I'm feeling mostly satisfied with the little bits of stitching I am having time for. I feel like I should feel guilty about all of this but I really don't. It is just too good and relaxing at the moment. Very freeing to change things up.

What about you? Are you enjoying your stitching? Having fun with your present projects, or do you need to shake it up for a little while? Summer brings so much in the way of change and shaking up routine, have you done anything different? Do you want to?

Happy Stitching my friends! Have a great weekend!

First Day of Summer Update!

But not much in the way of stitching!
I hurt my wrist and arm shortly after my last post. It is nothing bad or serious but has taken a little time to start to feel better.
I began my new job full time on Monday and was in training for the two weeks before that so there would have been little stitching anyway. I am happy to say I'm feeling better now and will hopefully have a more interesting update about stitchy things soon.
I plan to work on my new kit that I showed you in my last post. Hopefully I'll do some stitching on the 2013 HAED SAL since I am feeling it needs the attention. I also plan to begin Fantasy Blue. After that we will see. I have too many WIP's and I don't know what will come back.
Meanwhile I've been enjoying everyone's WIP pics on the HAED BB, on Facebook and on their blogs. If you haven't checked out my links you've been missing out!

Happy First Day of Summer!
Karen