Making Time, Rotations and Canine Criminals

Do you ever find that finding the time to stitch seems like a job all by itself?
That is the situation I increasingly find myself in.
I've said before I might possibly be the slowest stitcher on earth. I'm thinking my new rotation may just prove it!
The 10 hour rotation just seems like a bit much for me. I get bored easily. I'm going to try a 5 hour rotation and see how it works out. Yes, another experiment, but with no more time than I'm able to squeeze in for stitching who knows how many days it will take to do 5 hours?

Anywho, here is The Blue and White Sampler after approximately two and a half hours. Approximate because there are breaks for puppy lovies and the occasional puppy 'Mom I need to go to the backyard' request.
Before:

And after:

I thought I'd share a picture of one of my partner's in stitching. Or rather, one of the things that steal stitching time.
Sam 'The Paw' AKA 'Jaws'.

"I'm innocent I tell you!"

Until next time
Happy Stitching!

 

First Finish of 2014!

I thought I'd show you the finished piece of blackwork. It was stitched on 14 ct. aida with one strand. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, given it was my first piece. I plan to make it into a pin cushion as per the magazine, but it is a bit large for that in my opinion. I generally like the smaller ones.

It hasn't been washed yet, and please ignore the doghair! I just took a quick snap since I have some things to do before work, but wanted to share with you.

Happy Stitching
Karen

Redwork! A Quick Update.

Here is an example of my first redwork project. Which is blackwork in red but whatever. It has been years since I attempted it, and this is a bit more than the beginners piece, which was all I've ever tried. It is ranked as intermediate if I remember correctly, or beginner to intermediate.

As you can see it has been the recipient of much puppy curiosity, from being tugged at and sniffed to being laid on. This baby will need a bath as soon as it is finished! It is going to be an awesome pincushion I think.

I'm finding the redwork quite addictive. The top and bottom triangles were fun to work with a minimum of fuss and errors, but that left side triangle, which was the second I worked, gave me no end of problems. I can't honestly say how many places I picked out a stitch or two because I'd placed them wrong, but it was a lot. Looking at the picture just now I can see an error in it I will have to go back and fix!

In other news, I've totally got QS Spider Queen unpicked! The frogging took hours and I'll be ready to re-start that piece 1 over 1 full crosses soon.  Also, working out a new (for me) rotation, but haven't begun it yet. I will update you on that as soon as I get the 'rules' I'll be going by figured out.

Until then Happy Stitching!

Ringing In The New

I decided to skip the usual year in review. It is enough to say that 2013 was a year of big changes, some good and some bad, and lots of the stress that goes with changes. It was also a year of scattered stitching and blogging.

I've decided to move right along with plans for 2014. First up, 2 new charts I was lucky enough to acquire for Heaven and Earth Designs.
First is In The Beginning by Lee Bogle:

I saw this chart being worked and each time she updated her wip pictures I fell more in love so I was thrilled at the opportunity to get this chart.

The second is Priya by Amy Stewart. I loved the art work for this steampunk lady and was thrilled when it was made into a chart:

 

Oh what a confetti heaven she will be!

Got some stitchy stuff for Christmas, though the magazine was part of birthday subscription.

More on those another time. I am trying out blackwork on the redwork chart in the magazine but I can't find the picture! I will show you more about the kit in another post soon.

 

Oh, my husband bought me a great stitching aid for Christmas! I was so touched, not only because he'd just gotten out of the hospital, or that we had agreed not to spend until we get all of the bills, but because of how much thought he put into the gift.

This little 'end table' as it was labeled has a back that props up for your tablet. I have used it for that but what he instantly thought of, and so did I when I first saw it, was that it would be perfect for propping my clip board that holds my chart page while I stitch. I love it and have used it every day! Perfect for my clippers, scissors chart and a cup of tea!


As you can 'maybe' see from the photo I am working on Fantasy Blue from Tilton Crafts. I haven't worked on it since August of 2013. I do love it but working 3-5 colors of blue per page gets boring.

I haven't decided if I'll have a rotation this year. The only decision I have made is that I won't start a chart I didn't own before Jan. 1st of this year! Other than that I've only a vague feeling that I want to work on some of my current projects.


I find this post is getting a bit long so I'll end it now and save the rest for another time.



Happy stitching for 2014 my friends.

Rocking The Cold and Flu Season and trying to stitch.

I thought it was more than time for an update.
I've found my camera finally but was unable to get the images off of my laptop.
My husband was ill and hospitalized for some time and of course now that he is out I have come down with a cold/flu or whatever it is. It has not been a stellar cold and flu season for me this year. Pneumonia, multiple sore throats, and now this. So much for the personal info, put in more so you will have an idea of why I've posted so little lately.

There was the Secret Santa for one of my stitching groups. I got ambitious and I have to tell you it was coming out even better than I expected. I had pics saved on the laptop of each step. I can easily tell you what it was since it met with disaster and the intended recipient is getting something else. An elegant little needle-book with fancy silver threads and  embroidery in purple satin, some monogramming, and l was letting my inner geek come out to play by doing her initials in Elvin in silver thread. Yeah, the dog ate it. Literally.Oh my.

I'll continue that story after Christmas since I don't want to get into what I did hand make.
Stitching there has been very little of, and much of it hurried.
The Blue and White Sampler has seen a little work.

I faithfully dragged it with me to the hospital every day but I think it only saw stitching 2 of those days.

The only other thing I've really stitched on was a piece from Just Cross Stitch which I'd printed in the vague hope I'd get to it.
Well, I sort of did. I was on hold for an endless amount of time and there was this piece of 14 ct. aida I'd set out that had been part of an abandoned project of my husbands nearby. There has half a skein of black within reach, and so it was begun. I'd forgotten how awfully thin DMC black is or I would have used 3 strands. I am not satisfied with the thinness of the stitching, but here it is, worked on only when I'm waiting for something.

So not the least bit productive lately stitching wise but I have high hopes for next year

Meanwhile I feel icky and I'm going back into hibernation for awhile. Be prepared since I usually come out of down time with a dozen new plans.

Happy stitching this Holiday season and Merry Christmas.

Updating Soon.

My laptop died and that had all my pics and blog things on it so it will be awhile before I update my blog. I hope to get some new pics and do a new post within a week or so.
Until then Happy Holiday Stitching.
Love Karen

How Many Shades of Grey? And Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

I've pulled out my lovely Mini Soul Mates now that I can stitch again. And I haven't counted how many shades of grey are in it, but there are quite a few.
Here is what it looked like the last time you saw it:

And here is a picture of it since I've been working on it  the past week or so.

I seriously love this chart.

I also have put some stitches in on my Live Love Laugh kit.

This is such a pretty little kit, it just makes me smile. Reason enough to work it!

I've been thinking of a really big project, which is crazy for someone who stitches as slowly as I do, but all the same. I've long held a secret desire to stitch The Sistine Chapel ceiling. There are 3 charts for it that I know of and I've been comparing the HAED version to the Joanna Roberts version. There is a group on Face Book devoted strictly to those stitching the Sistine Chapel so I've been avidly watching their progress. I've yet to come across anyone stitching the Artecy version, so if you know of anyone stitching it let me know.

Of course I've also wanted to stitch at least 2 other charts, both bigger than this, so I could still change my mind.
Meanwhile I'm trying to focus myself on just the charts I already have. They are all much loved and there has been a battle of the charts going on in my efforts to decide which I love the most, and so, which should be stitched on first! Still working on that, plus, with all the back issues of Just Cross Stitch there are a number of patterns I'd love to work. So many lovely things and not a tenth enough time to stitch them all.

Happy Stitching Everyone
Karen