A Two Finish Friday

As of late last night, I managed to get two more finishes for the week in, one of which is from the Bin O'Shame. I am very happy with this progress. The finish from the Bin O'Shame is the fourth one for the year, which means as of late February, I am a third of the way to my goal of 12 projects finished up from the Bin O'Shame. Happy day, happy day! :)

Well, let's get started, shall we? 

Finish #1:

Design: Coffee Is Magic 

Designer: Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

Fabric Used: 28 count white opalescent Lugana

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 in B5200, 415, 550, 552, 554, 744, 776, 809, 818, 938. Rainbow Gallery Fuzzy Stuff in FZ-25 Pink. Kreinik metallic threads in #4 Very Fine Braid in #002HL Gold. 

Accouterments: Mill Hill beads in #02014 in Black

Stitcher's Notes: Project began in late 2003 or 2004. Project resumed on Wednesday, February 17, 2016. Stitching completed Thursday, February 18, 2016. Left off 'Coffee Is Magic In The Morning'. 

As of Wednesday, February 17, 2016:

Stitching completed Thursday, February 18, 2016:

Finish #2:

Design: Love Birds (my title)

Designer: Antique Sampler Stitcher 

Fabric Used: unknown 28 count natural linen

Fiber Used:  Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Tulip

Stitcher's Notes: One day start and finish. Design does not have a title as it was a part of a group of smalls to be stitched. Project taken from the March 2009 (no. 5) issue of the magazine. Project was to be completed during a recent car trip, however, as is the custom, time was an issue. :)

 Michelle Sayetta of Heaven and Earth Designs has issued another challenge on the official Heaven and Earth Designs Facebook group. This challenge is 1000 stitches in stair step stitching. The challenge begins today and runs until March. I did sign up for the challenge for the QS Evil Queen. So, Saturday will be devoted to her exclusively. Sunday will be devoted to the return of the Lady of the Flag. I am looking forward to putting some time in on her. She is a very large project and I really would like to see her finished before September 11. 

I had best be off. I need to clean up my work area and get a start to my day. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

One For The Money

Well, I did it. I managed to get the first of the Bin O'Shame projects finished for the year. I decided to use my unofficial yearly goal of 12 projects a month as the Bin O'Shame projects. This way I can kill two birds with one stone. This will also serve to get the Bin O'Shame  even further caught up. 

I had picked up the first project from the Bin O'Shame  after I had finished stitching the Peeps from my last post. Then I saw why it had sat for so long. The fabric had not only become stained, but there were large sections that were stitched totally in the wrong color. The project was just too far long to salvage anything, so it was just scrapped. Thankfully, it was stitched in DMC and not in silks. I then went to pick up another one, and the same thing happened! Quelle horreur! So, both of those will now be do overs. *sigh*. Ah, well. These things happen I suppose. 

So, this left me with the following:

Bin O'Shame  total as of Thursday, January 7, 2016: 27

That is an encouraging number. Now, if I can just keep at this, I will be even happier :). Work has gotten really, really busy so there is that. I am hoping to get more stitching time in, but you know how that goes. So, I guess I will just take it easy and just enjoy the journey this year. 

Here is is, the very first Bin O'Shame finish for 2016:

Design: September Dragon taken from the leaflet Gemstone Dragons (DD-69)

Designer: Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

Fabric Used: 14 count white opalescent aida

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 in 796, 798, 799, 800 and 806. Kreinik metallic thread #4 #001 HL Silver, #032 Pearl #4 braid, and #051 HL Sapphire blending filament. 

Stitcher's Notes: Piece picked back up on Thursday, January 7, 2016. Finished Sunday, January 10, 2016. Piece initially started in 2003 or 2004. 

As of Thursday, January 7, 2016:

Finished Sunday, January 2016:

Well, I had best be off. Tons to do today. I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Spoke Too Soon!

This is one of those rare times where a project did not take as long as I had anticipated. I had managed to finish this guy up by late afternoon yesterday. I was grateful for the minimum of backstitching on this one. It did not take nearly as long as Friendship block. I *love* the way this guy turned out. I can see me stitching him in a variety of colors. I know there are a lot of folks who never re-stitch a project, but as for me, I find a variety of projects that can be finagled with to make them totally different from the last time. :)

Well, here is yesterday's WIP Wednesday, that turned into a finish instead. Not that I am complaining, mind you! ;)

Design: Strength (Block #5 from the 2002 Dragon Virtues Series)

Designer: Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

Fabric Used: 14 count White aida

Fibers Used: DMC 208, 209, 210, 211, 550, 740, 742, 743, 744, and 3371.  Kreinik metallic thread #4 VFB in #023 Lilac. Rainbow Gallery Tiara twisted French metallic in #T116 Purple. 

Stitcher's Notes: No notes regarding the start date of this project. Converted to purples from original greens. Resumed stitching on Monday, August 31, 2015.

As of Wednesday, September 2, 2015:

Finished late Wednesday, September 2, 2015:

With this project, I have 34 projects wrapped up from my Bin O'Shame project. I am toying with the idea that after I manage to get #35 out of the way (which is now awaiting me in the Q-Snaps!), I am just going to finish out the year stitching out of the Bin O'Shame. Just to see how far I can go with this. I have set myself a goal of just 10 projects out of the Bin O'Shame for next year, as I have managed to stitch way past my original goal of 25. With a wee bit of luck, I may even get the UFOs/WIPs down to just the HAEDs! I have many, many projects that I wish to start next year, including my much coveted OOP/HTF/Rare three ring binder of projects. I have a good many Prairie Schooler, Goode Huswife, Blackbird Designs, Judith Kirby and many others that I have been wanting to get to stitch. I am kicking some ideas around in my head as to the plotting out of projects, but I may just see where the wind and the sea take me instead :). This has been an interesting stitching journey this year and I do not doubt that next year will be even more interesting! :)

Well, I had best be off. I need to go get more coffee and #35 awaits for the pas de deux that is what I refer to as coloring with fabric and thread. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Until next time! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

WIP Wednesday Post For September 2, 2015

Another oldie, but a goodie from the Bin O'Shame pile. I have convinced myself that I may as well try and make it to 35 before the end of the year. This one is a bit tough to get through, as I am itching to stitch some fall/Halloween related things, due to the calendar changing over yesterday. However, as I do not wish for this project to get tossed aside again to sit for over 10 years, I will persevere until it is completed. :)

Well, at any rate, here she is. #34 from the Bin O'Shame:

Design: Strength (Block #5 from the 2002 Dragon Virtues Series)

Designer: Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

Fabric Used: 14 count Ivory aida

Fibers Used: DMC 208, 209, 210, 211, 550, 740, 742, 743, 744.  Kreinik metallic thread #4 VFB in #023 Lilac. Rainbow Gallery Tiara twisted French metallic in #T116 Purple. 

Stitcher's Notes: No notes regarding the start date of this project. Converted to purples from original greens. Resumed stitching on Monday, August 31, 2015.

As of Monday, August 31, 2015:

As of Wednesday, September 2, 2015:

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish the happiest of birthdays to Keanu Reeves, who is one of my favorite actors, ever. Happy 51st, Mr. Reeves!

Well, I had best be off. The Bin O'Shame won't stitch itself, haha! Hope everyone is having a fantastic week! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

#33 Finish

I managed to finish this up moments ago. This month, I have managed to finish 7 UFO's from the Bin O'Shame and had two complete starts and finishes. That's a LOT of work! :)

Well, here is #7 for the month and #33  Bin O'Shame  finish for the year:

Design: Friendship (Block #10 from the 2002 Dragon Virtues Series)

Designer: Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

Fabric Used: 14 count Ivory aida

Fibers Used: DMC as called for in the chart

Stitcher's Notes: Unknown start date. Picked back up Thursday, August 27, 2015. Substituted Mill Hill petite beads in #42010 Ice and #42014 Petite Black seed beads for french knots. 

As of Thursday, August 27, 2015:

As of Monday, August 31, 2015:

I had best be off. Time to get some lunch and clean up the stitching area. Hope everyone had a great weekend! 

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Throwback Thursday Post For August 27, 2015

Throwback Thursday apparently is an internet 'thing'. I managed to pick up another project from the Bin O'Shame on an actual Thursday this time. I haven't stitched a Dragon Dreams project in quite some time. I love stitching her things and I have 3 or 4 more in the Bin O'Shame to finish up. As with the rest of the Bin O'Shame projects, they are in various stages of completion. I am not sure if the next three will all be Dragon Dreams projects, but you never can tell. :)

Well, at any rate, here is where it stands as of right now:

Design: Friendship (Block #10 from the 2002 Dragon Virtues Series)

Designer: Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

Fabric Used: 14 count Ivory aida

Fibers Used: DMC as called for in the chart

Stitcher's Notes: Unknown start date. Picked back up Thursday, August 27, 2015

As of Thursday, August 27, 2015:

Welp, I had best be off. Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

No pic update

I have been running ragged since 7 AM this morning and have YET to even pull threads for my next XS project. (An SMO Members Only gift, 'Cup of Autumn'.) I am so tired, I can hardly hold my head up, and I have yet to help get dinner ready for my FH's birthday, do the cake and ice cream thing, presents, etc. Let alone pull threads and fabric for YET ANOTHER START). 

Here are all of the tasks I have completed so far:

1. Instructed the live in children to clean rooms, take out trash, clean up kitchen. 

2. Herded a cat to the tile before kitteh hurled up breakfast.

3. 6 hours of laundry.

4. Cleaned master BR and bathroom thoroughly. 

5. Herded same cat BACK onto tile, as kitteh apparently now thinks litter boxes are a suggestion and not for actual use. 

6. Price checked local vets for said kitteh. 

7. Made up bed with clean laundry.

8. Updated my MySpace blog.

9. Complained to my Maid of Honor about the no work, no mon-ay situation, I'm being driven insane by kittehz and kidlets, and if men aren't the silliest things on the planet. 

10. Dusted master BR and master bathroom. 

11. Worked on my RR Neighborhood. I am at least pleased that I can work in my SanMan Originals designs and I think I am going to even be able to work in some Dragon Dreams as well. WuWu!!

12. Acted as Counselor to various friends in need of everything from just a pat on the back to dude, you need to do let go of that which no longer serves. (I never said it wouldn't suck, I'm just sayin'.....)

13. Called up one of my oldest friends to sing the worst rendition of the Beatles' 'Birthday Song' ever in all of mankind's history, because she turned 27 today. Yay, Amber!!

14. Updated this blog. 

Now..... onto the stitchy related parts, as this blog is SUPPOSED to be about, iuno....*stitching*. 

As I had indicated in #11 on today's 'Tasks Completed' list, I got a fair amount done on the actual planning of it. All I can say is, I have NO frickin' clue how designers do this day in and day out. No, really. I think I have been through about 5 revisions of just even the initial idea, and I haven't even gotten to the meat and potatoes of it yet. OY!  

How do they do this year after year, and not go stark insane? I am not even sure I can even pull this off. I don't mind the actual stitching part of it, as it will enable me to stitch up designs I have been wanting to stitch for forever and three days, but the actual plotting and planning has me doubting I can successfully do this. This will be my biggest BAP to date, with a metric f-ton of time, money, and energy put into it. I just hope it looks good. I am not only going to be mixing threads by different companies, but designer's styles as well. I think I have chosen a fairly cohesive selection, but time will only tell. 

Firstly, my Town is laid out in a gigantic Square. Like, a big f-off one. Here is the basic layout:

Spring right side of square

Summer bottom of square

Fall left side of square

Winter top of square. 

Here is what I have so far:

Seasonal Village (working title, most assuredly!) 

In the center: Little House Needleworks, 'Queen Bee' (representative of me and how everything on the peripheral influences me throughout the year). 

In the four corners: SanMan Originals '4 Seasons Square' gift design. The design is a flower that is in four parts, to make up the whole flower. Each section of flower will be put into its prospective seasonal corner. There will be a border around the whole thing, uniting all of the seasons and elements. 30 x 30.

In between the four corners:  LHN Mini Season Samplers. Motifs are 67 w x 26h. 

Buildings in Town:  Most are from Country Cottage Needleworks, however, the Inn, the Coffee House, and the Chocolate Shoppe will be taken from LHN. Elements within the individual designs will be changed to reflect the season they happen to reside in (see Notes below).

The Bakery will be located in the Spring side of the Town Square. 

The Flower Shop will be located on the Summer side of the Town Square.  

The Needlework Shop will be located on the Fall side of the Town Square.

The Gingerbread Cottage will either be the Boutique or it will be an Inn. I am still waffling on this one, so hang on to your hats. :P

Regardless, it will be on the Winter side of town. 

I am also planning another Inn, a Coffee shop, a Chocolate Shoppe, and maybe even a toy store, if I can wing it. 

Townsfolk's' Homes:  House design taken from SanMan Originals 'The Perfect Tree' and minor elements will be changed to reflect the seasons. 

Town Griffons: I am going to do my damnedest to get 'Griffon Welcome' by Dragon Dreams incorporated into this design. I have met Jennifer Aikman-Smith, and it would be such a shame to leave out the wonderful designs she's created. I am thinking of placing the Griffons in either the four corners to 'prop' up the flower elements in the four corners by SMO, or do them over one over the 'Queen Bee' design and stitch the banner as well, with the name of the Town. Iuno yet. I know I have a metric boatload of her tiny dragon freebie gifts that I have collected over the years. I bet I could sneak some in, because my town at least needs a dragon or four! LOL!

That's what I have so far. I am envisioning a LOT of changes on the fly, at LEAST a yard of fabric, revisions, and frogging of biblical proportions. I need to stitch up that Frog-B-Gone design idea I had kicked around with Ashley of Stitchertigger fame, before I begin this. I've a feeling I am going to be buying stock in the company! :P

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Respectfully submitted,

Arch