A Bit Late In The Day

...but I am way early for next year. :)


I am, naturally, referring to my latest finish. I completely missed the deadline for New Years' this year, but the stitching is finished really early for next year :). I have wanted to stitch this one for the longest time, but never really 'found' time to stitch it. I had this design printed out and in one of my freebie binders that I have in my stitching library. I had a small piece of leftover fabric that I had leftover from another project. It was perfect for this small design and I love how it turned out. I need to find an appropriate way to finish it off so that it may be displayed at the end of the year. I also need to find more New Years' projects to stitch. I really do not have enough of them and I really do love New Years' projects. 


At any rate, here is my latest finish:

Design: New Years' Magic

Designer: Brooke Nolan of Brooke's Books

Fabric: 28 count Cashel linen from Picture This Plus  in Phantom

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 as called for in the chart. Kreinik metallic threads in  #4 Very Fine Braid in #001 HL Silver, #032 Pearl #4 braid, and #3223 Ametrine. 

Accouterments: Dazzle-It Czech glass beads in crystal white. 

Stitchers' Notes: This design is a freebie on the Brooke's Books website. Border and year left off in favor of a generic Happy New Year design and to keep the design more 'open'. Substituted called for Mill Hill beads for in house supplies. Began Sunday, February 19, 2017. Stitching completed Thursday, February 23, 2017.

It was really hard to capture the darkness of the fabric with the bling of the Czech glass beads. it was totally worth it, however! :)

Well, I need to be off. I have chosen my next project and I need to clean up my area in order get started on it. No rest for the wicked. I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

---

Respectfully submitted, 

C. 

Happiest of New Years!

I don't have time today to do a 'Year In Review' post, so that will have to be done sometime in 2014. :) 


I do, however, want to wish everyone out there a safe, prosperous, and the happiest of new years! 

---

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

New Year, New Opportunities

Hello 2013!  :D


It's hard to believe that last year went by so fast. Seems like every year that rolls around, exits just as quickly. A lot went on last year in my personal life. DH and I moved to a new city, I started a new job only to lose that same job in October, only to find another one that I started the 29th of December. We moved twice last year, first into a condo, then into a house. The good Lord willing (and the creek don't rise!) we will be here for several years. We love where we are! :)


2012 was a banner year for me in my stitching life. I tried for the first time 36 and 40 count fabrics and found that I LOVE stitching on them. I thought I would hate it and shied away from such high counts, but once I tried it, I was hooked. I also managed to get 19 UFOs stitched up and out of the Bin O' Shame, making me VERY happy. Here are my UFO finishes for 2012:

1. A La Belle Etoile by The Thread Basket with C Mon Mode (Finished 11.08.2012)

2. Sew Red by iStitch Designs (finished 04.29.2012)

3. Spring Time by Citrouille's Designs (finished 04.18.2012)

4. Christmas Stocking by Atelier Soed Idee (finished 02.06.12)

5. Witchy Kitty by Brittercup Designs. (Finished 06.11.2012)

6. Birth Sampler (Finished 06.19.2012)

7. Tulip House Stitching Companion by Blackbird Designs (finished 11.06.2012)

8. Christmas Tea by Plum Street Samplers (Finished 11.11.2012)

9. March Birthday Needleroll by The Victoria Sampler. (Finished 11.19.2012)

10. Love and Devotion by Lucy Heaton for UK Cross Stitcher (finished 11.20.2012)

11. La Tour Eiffel by Novalee02 (finished 11.27.2012)

12. Baked Goods by Little House Needleworks (finished 12.07.2012)

13. Pink Flower by The Work Basket (finished 12.09.2012)

14. February Heart by CEC (finished 12.09.2012)

15. Frappuccino by LHN (finished 12.02.2012)

16. Autumn Harvest by JBW (finished 11.14.2012)

17. Peacock Needlebook by BBD (11.16.2012)

18. Quaker Heart by Janice Wood (finished 10.23.2012)

19. Wreathed C by GiGi R (finished 11.18.2012)

I didn't quite make it to 20, but that's the way it goes sometimes. I have a lot more to go, so I have decided that I will continue with my 'Bin O' Shame-ocalypse' in 2013. Here are my goals for 2013, stitching wise:


1. Bin O' Shame-ocalypse continues. Pull one out and Houston we are go, go for launch!  


2. Continue with the 1905 Sampler from Simone de Jong of Atelier Soed Idee. I am loving stitching this one, although I am still waffling about the date and the year! :)


3. Stitch a block per month of Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings. My LNS was having an after Christmas sale and I managed to get this chart for over 10 bucks off the price. I am still ecstatic! This was the design that tempted me to try 40 count linen.  It is way, WAY to large a design (278 wide by 371 high!) for a 28 count fabric. On 28 count it would be 19 3/4 inches wide by 26 1/4 inches high :O! On a 40 count, that brings it down to a more reasonable 13 7/8 inches wide by 18 3/8 inches high. I wanted to start this one today, however, I didn't get the fabric in time. More's the pity! :)


4. Have at least one finish per month. I figure if I can have one finish per month, whether that's a page of a design or a completed UFO or even a new start, that will make 12 projects done in a year. While not a sizable dent, but a dent in the stash nonetheless! :)


Here are the other finishes I had for 2012:

1. L'eventail de MA by Chez Elisa. Finished 01.26.2012

2. Cerises by JBW Designs. Finished 03.12.2012

3. Busy Needle by Little House Needleworks. Finished 03.29.2012

4. NJ Devils logo by Nomis. Finished 04.11.2012

5. Gateau Sampler by Soed Idee. Finished 04.15.2012

6. Paris Pincushion by Stofnest. Finished 04.21.2012

7. Coeur Romantique by Reflets de Soie. Finished 04.28.2012

8. Sew Easy by iStitch. Finished 05.04.2012

9. Sew Quaker by iStitch. Finished 05.16.2012

10. French Country Grapes by JBW Designs. Finished 06.10.2012.

11. Sew Blue by iStitch. Finished 05.27.2012

12. Haunted by Lizzie Kate. Finished 09.08.2012

13. Blackbird Sampler by Blackbird designs. Finished 10.17.2012

14. Snow White by Little House Needleworks. Finished 11.26.2012

15. The Queen's Crowns by Plum Street Samplers. Finished 12.16.2012

16. Souvenir de Paris by Blackbird Designs. Finished 12.19.2012

All in all, 35 finishes for the year, but then again, I was unemployed for a time this year, so that helped stitching wise. Not so good for the wallet, but my stash was happy. 

Well, I best go for now. It's time for an In N Out burger run. Happiest of new years to all of you out there in Blogland and the Internets! 

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

In the French manner

I have always admired the way the ladies in France put stitching on just about every available surface. Boxes, mail art, cabinets, anything that pretty much anything that isn't tied, nailed and/or glued to the floor. French ladies have a propensity for monochrome samplers and things stitched in two colors, primarily red and white. I have always wanted to stitch something like that, but never got around to it.


That is....until today. Just finished a French style monogram sampler. It's composed from two separate charts.

Here are the stitchy notes:

Monograms: DMC Italy (http://www.dmc.com/majic/pageServer/1c010100cl/it/ct/os/prid/26720/index.html)

Double M motif: Point de Croix Bourguignon (http://www.pcbdijon.com/accueil/TMP1072434954.htm).

Fabric: DMC printed aida in 14 count DC27T-arab2.

Fiber: Access Commodities #2936 (a really rich cherry red)

Needle: John James platinum tapestry needle in size 26.

Frame: Q-snap in 8x8

Began: Thursday, January 1, 2009.

Finished Saturday, January 3, 2009.

Here is 'Happy New Year' all framed up:

It's a lot darker and more rich looking in person, but for some reason, the lighting isn't quite right. Oh, well. :)


Hope everyone is having a good weekend!


---

Respectfully submitted,

C.

Last finish and post of 2008

Last post and the last finish of 2008. Finished this just moments ago. I won't have time to finish any more today, but tomorrow, I will be working on one of my numerous WIPs/UFOs.


Stitchy notes first, naturally!

Designer: Lizzie Kate

Design: Happy New Year Snippet #S63

Fabric: 28 count black jobelan

Threads: Needle Necessities 1931 'Calypso' for wording, DMC Satin floss in S5200 and S666 for balloon, Kreinik #001 #4 Very Fine Braid in Silver for border. Hat stitched in Crescent Colours Crushed Pineapple, Anchor 1, and SanMan Strands 'A New Leaf'. Green confetti in upper right corner DMC Satin S909.

As 2008 draws to it's close, I wish everyone a safe, happy, and prosperous New Year!


---


Respectfully submitted,

C.