Getting ready for 2012

First a big southern welcome to my new followers. Can't believe I have over 50 now!  I'm sure some of you are finding me because of what this post is all about. Let's hope 2012 brings us lots of stitching time!

It seems I'm in the mood to start making lists for next year. I'm a great one for the making of the lists. I love lists. I even like to cross things off them. The problem comes when I make lists for stitching/knitting/crochet purposes and then aren't able to cross items off. I sometimes get discouraged and in a rut. But still I make them.

So, now I can make lists for Theme-a-licious 2012 and WIPocalypse 2012. The best news is that they aren't mutually exclusive lists and really each month's theme will help me figure out my list of WIPocalypse. I've kind of been throwing some ideas around in my head for Theme-a-licious, especially for January. My problem is do I want to use that challenge to focus on a single project each month or just create a my monthly rotation around the theme? Decisions, decisions. If I were only more like my friend TheresaR I wouldn't have such a problem. Unlike me of the many WIPs, she's a monogamous stitcher.

Here's what I've come up with so far.WIPs for WIPocalypse are noted as well.
Jardin January

• Margaret W Brown 1838 - I'm using Jean's (of The Attic fame) conversion. (WIP)
• Tulip Slip - my EGA chapter went together to purchase this as a project this year. We've contemplated doing the finishing in a program in 2012 so this makes great sense.
• Winter Garden Gate - cuz, well it's SO close to being finished and if I don't get it done by then why not have a nice finish to start the year? (WIP)
• Pansy Garden - and old UFO from ASG one year (WIP - kinda obvious)
• Wild Woodviolets - this is a silk gauze piece I bought after a class many years ago. So pretty. (WIP)
• Antique French Ribbons - since well there are flowers on some of the ribbons!(WIP)
• My new Christmas Stocking will fit nicely in this catagory.
• Apparently I wasn't around for the vote but I'm also going to start Ann Dale with my sampler guild friends. (Some friends huh? They wait until I've left to decide we're all going to do the SAL for this sampler!)
• Misty Morning Vineyard certainly fits into this month and I keep saying I'm going to work on it and finish it before I die. (WIP)
• Anniversaries of the Heart - because it's another huge project that I want to make progress on in 2012
• Daughters of Longbourn Hall - see AofH for a reason (WIP)
• Mary Corey - since I couldn't resist starting it when I bought it and it just is calling to me! (WIP)

Fangirl February (I'm listing the designers I'm going to choose from during the month)

• Rae Iverson (Moss Creek Designs - who's website is being redone so no link right now)
• Ellen Chester (With My Needle)
• Plum Street Samplers
• Patrick Woods
• Tony Minieri - cuz I need to make some progress on that class

I'm sure as I look through my stash I'll find some other pretties I could work on. I need to look at ornament kits and see if any fit the bill as well. Let's be reasonable, it's also possible that I'll start picking up something just because it hits my fancy. But looking at the list I've got more WIPs than new starts and even a few UFOs. If I could just finish one or two that would be fantastic. In January I have a nice 3 day weekend planned with my DF Jackie. We went to this same retreat last year. I took way too much to work on. I'm going to try and pare down this year and see what happens...oh who am I kidding, I'll take way too much to do and talk way too much, but at least I'll have a good time!

Any others making plans for next year?

PS - I just looked through this list and thought, "You know....I may just ditch that entire list and do something completely different. It's all going to depend on what I feel like come January."

Time to Have some Fun! 2KCBWDAY7

Day seven: 3rd April. Your knitting and crochet time.  2KCBWDAY7
Write about your typical crafting time. When it is that you are likely to craft? 

Well the answer to that question is whenever I can. Seriously, I rarely like to just sit and do nothing. I almost always carry something with me to a doctor's visit, either an ornament I'm stitching or a small knitting or crochet project. I always carry multiple projects with me on trips. I stitch, knit or crochet when I'm watching TV, listening to a book on my iPod, hanging out with friends, you name it. I've knitted at baseball games, in restaurants, airports, in my car (not while actually driving, but sitting still at long traffic lights during rush hour why yes I have), on a plane, on a boat (took a knitting cruise with my LYS a few years ago), at home, my LYS and I'm sure some retail stores totally non-yarn related. I've pretty much stitched at all those places as well, although I haven't stitched at a baseball game, but I have stitched in the car on the way to a football game, and probably while we tailgated at least once. I love to knit or crochet on something simple during NASCAR races, usually while on a chat with several of my online friends. It has to be simple since I do pay attention to the race more than I normally would other things on TV.

If I'm home I have two places that I gravitate towards when I'm knitting/crocheting/stitching. One is the chair in my bedroom. It's a big, comfy chair with a nice large ottoman that I bought back in the early 90's. I love that chair. I have my Dazor on a rolling floor stand that I bought around the same time as the chair after I saw one at Spirit of Cross Stitch oh so many years ago.

Only mine is cream colored that's it exactly. This was totally worth the investment all those years ago. I have a place to put my drink and quite a few of my supplies close by. I also keep my stitching and knitting bags beside that chair for when I feel the need to switch projects. Right now I've got just the ones that I have in my "rotation".

The other place is in the family room. We have a sectional couch that has 2 recliners. I have staked a claim to the one closest to the fireplace since that's where I can plug in my Ott Lamp and actually see. There's always a project or two (ok or more) laying close by to pick up and work on. That's where the nice HDTV is and where the Wii is, so if I'm going to watch a movie from Netflix or really want to see the yummy men on Hawaii 5-O (just for instance) then I have to go in there to see them in all their yummy glory.

If there is nothing on TV that I want to listen to/watch, then I just listen to a book. One of the women that frequents my LYS turned me on to Audible.com and I love it. Sometimes I listen to several books a month, other times just one, and some months none. I always have several that I haven't heard on my iPod ready to go.

So, there's nothing typical about when I will craft, or maybe there are more people like me than I realize. I think that a lot of my friends are like me, but then again, maybe not.

A Weekend Retreat

I went a long way for this one, all of 9 miles from my house to Camp Blanding. Camp Blanding is the FL National Guard training facility, both for Army National Guard and Air Force National Guard. They also do a lot of other types of training for law enforcement. It's located on Kingsley Lake, where as a teen I spent many a summer day at either Stricklands or Kingsley both public access to the lake. It's a beautiful area and the facilities were excellent. You can read more over at DF Jackie's blog where she has some great shots of the lake and the room and a whole lot more about the weekend than I should write at this late date.

I will show you some pretty pictures though to distract you from the fact that I took FOREVER to write this post.

This is what my Linen book looked like before it was all put together and aged. I did have to finish stitching it when I arrived on Friday so I spent most of the day doing that...as well as eating and talking to people, some of whom I hadn't seen in a few years. I'm not normally a "primitives" person, but I love how this piece has turned out.

Next is the finished product...

Front, back and the inside. The pattern called for an inside pocket, but I had the pretty mother of pearl hearts you see here and decided I'd rather sew them into the inside and use it as a project book.


Jackie also wanted to learn some finishing techniques for ornaments. Now, I've got plenty of items that need to be finished, and my plenty I mean too many, so I thought this would be a good idea, a way to get caught up on my finishing. So I got all my finishing together, put it all in separate bags with everything I'd need, plus I packed a box full of some of my ribbons just in case we might need them. And here's what I accomplished.

I finished my needlepoint snow bunny ornament. That is all. Now mind you, I went a little overboard on the finishing and totally "mac daddy'd it out", but still. And to top it all off I ended up stitching the cording on after I got home. Still I love it! I loved stitching this piece and I love how the finishing turned out.

The only other thing I worked on a lot while I was gone was mom & dad's anniversary piece. I'll leave you with a picture of how it looked when we left Sunday afternoon. It is further along now and getting even closer to being done. Based on a number of things mom has said I'm not going to have a party for them after all. She would rather go on a cruise, so we'll do that once she's feeling all better from the mono. I'll just finish this and then give it to them when it's framed and explain why it's late.

February Stitching Blog Question

We like to stitch things for people we love.  Show us and tell us about one (or more) of your favorite needlework projects that expresses your love for someone.

I've been thinking about this one for awhile. I'm not sure if it's cheating to use a round robin as part of my answer but I'm going to go for it anyway. Several years ago my friends Jill, Judy, Heather and I decided that we should commemorate our friendship by stitching a piece together, creating a round robin sampler. We decided on doing band samplers and using motifs from the teacher/friend who is the main reason we're all friends. You see, we all met through taking classes from Rae Iverson. Well all except for Jill and I who met because we worked together and went to the same university. We took almost a year and had a lot of fun with them. They are all 4 very different and in a lot of ways express who we are as individuals. To see them all individually you have to go here  you'll have to click on "Features" then "Heather's World of Needlework", then "See some Round Robins I've participated in", then "See a RR I stitched with friends based on Moss Creek designs" and look through the many pictures. (It's a bit of work but it's worth the reward to see the upclose pictures of each band.) You can seem them band by band and then how they turned out over all. Love them all, but I'm especially fond of my own.

The other one isn't finished yet. I have to say working on An Emblem of Love for my parents anniversary is a labor of love and I'm very happy with it so far. I can't imagine it not being something they'll love. No update yet, but I hope I'll have one after tomorrow, it all depends on if I get out and go in to Jacksonville or not.

Sorry about no pictures, but at least you can go see great ones on Heather's old site. 

A Primitive Weekend

Finally getting around to trying to tell everything that happened on my trip with DF Jackie to Mesa, AZ for a weekend of stitching put on by the fantastic ladies at The Attic. If you head over to Jackie's blog she has a great day by day description of what we did. Since it's taken me so long to get things together for this post I'll just bring you the eye candy you come to see anyway.

First the great freebies we received during the weekend.

From left to right: from Priscilla's Pocket a beautiful handmade hornbook frame with a great little alphabet sampler to stitch and mount, from Chessie & Me "Rosey Alphabet Pincushion", above a great pair of scissors, a great mini quilt, scissor's holder & pincushion pattern from Renee Plains of Liberty Star, last but not least a beautiful hornbook necklace that Jean gave us on our first evening. There was also another lovely pair of scissors you'll see when I get to the project they go with.

Our first project was from Linda of Chessie & Me, "Needlebook of Stitches". I managed to finish putting the book together and started stitching on the front panel.

Notice the very adorable pair of mini stork scissors? Those were a surprise as well. I'm fairly certain this will end up being finished fairly quickly. It's been added to my current rotation so it will be coming out and seeing the light of day soon I'm sure.

Saturday morning we got a start on "Nancy V. Renssela: An Unfinished Sampler". I haven't decided what to put at the end, I've got some books I want to look through along with looking at the designs Linda gave us with the project. Linda suggested we decide how we're going to approach this project, one of her suggestions was to think about it as if we were Nancy's granddaughter who is going to finish the sampler years later. My grandmother taught me to stitch oh so many years ago, so as a tribute to her I'm going to take that approach. I'm thinking of using a quote at the bottom and I'll put both our initials on it. Here's what I accomplished between class and the other stitching I did on Saturday.

Nancy v. Renssela: An Unfinished Sampler
on 36 ct Vintage Meadow Rue from Lakeside Linens

You can't see it, but I did manage to finish the first row of wording, so that's a very nice start.

That afternoon we were privelged to be invited to the home of Vickie Jennett to view her collection of needlework. What a great afternoon! I told Vickie that I was going to do this, so I guess I have to live up to my promise.

Gotta love a bathroon that has samplers in it! The whole house was full of wonderful examples of needlework. Not to mention sitting in the lovely weather and enjoying our lunch, like Jackie here...

Then there's Deb and Beth enjoying the lovely weather as well.

Deb, Beth, Angela (one of my many friends from the Atlanta Stitch Group), Jackie and I went on a bit of a shopping trip. First we went looking at Vera Bradley at a Hallmark store, we checked out a quilt shop (where I found a couple of lovely fabrics to add to my collection for backing smalls), then on to Vera Bradley and finally to The Attic to make our purchases. By the time we finished the back of Beth's car looked like this...

Bags are hiding bags. Can't say we didn't do our part to help the economy!

Sunday morning brought our time with Stacy Nash. This was the class I'd done the pre-stitching for and I was looking forward to it all weekend. The first order of business was to sew it together, then stuff it with sawdust Stacy had brought with her (don't you wish you could have heard that conversation from TSA when they looked at her suitcase filled with tubs of sawdust???). Then we sewed it up and embellished with stitches and finally used a solution of water and walnut crystals to make it look old. The final result?

The last one shows my little strawberry that we made and then could make as old looking as we wanted. I went for mangy looking! I love how this turned out and am looking forward to her releasing the Christmas themed one she did for a different class. Plus it's my first official finish of the year! Now I can sit back and relax and not worry that I won't finish anything this year.

All in all it was a great weekend. Saw old friends, met new ones and learned some great things. I hope Jean will do another weekend next year and that I can go again.

As an added bonus I got to meet an on-line friend who was also in the area with her son. Wendy & I met on Ravelry because we both like NASCAR. She's part of a group that meets online to chat during the races each week. Since almost everyone lives in a different state it's not like we've all met in person and she lives in WY, so I was excited when she mentioned she might be in Phoenix the same weekend I would be in Mesa. We managed to meet up for dinner. It was so great getting to sit and chat and actually meet! Now I want to meet the rest of "the gang"!

Wendy & I (two Tony Stewart fans together!)

I'm going to finish this post and start another to show you the stash I bought, you knew I did right? Stay tuned!

Getting ready for a new year

Oh yes, I know it's a little early to start thinking about New Year's resolutions and the like but Sunday I was having a discussion with a friend and mentioned that several years ago I managed to finish off quite a few UFOs from my stitching stash by concentrating on a rotation that allowed for projects at various states of completion. My Sensei Heather, who many may know as TMTIH (The Magic That Is Heather). Now understand I did this when I wasn't knitting, so I managed to finish something like 12 items that year. Not bad. Finished a couple of large(ish) samplers, some smalls, pretty varied. So that has me thinking that I need to adopt that practice again. I have things that I can put my hands on that are withing 10 hours of being finished, some that are more like 25 and then others that need a lot of hours but that I really want to work on. So I'm thinking I'm going to do a bit more of a rotation and really be a bit more thoughtful about what I'm working on. Here's what I really would like to finish in say the next year, in no particular order.

1. Ornaments - I don't even want to think about how many ornament kits I have from the years I participated in an ornament kit exchanged based on the Just Cross Stitch Ornament editions. Let's just say there are more then 100 and less the 1000 and be happy about that. I have finished some, I even have enough that have the finishing complete to hang on a small tree each year, but if I were to get serious and stitch those kits I'd have enough for...well a BIGGER tree. I'm not going to put a number on how many to finish in the year, some are easy, quick stitches, other are more time consuming. I have one that has some hardanger in it and I need to just finish wrapping the bars and doing the doves eyes and it's done. So, I'm just going to say I should have at least 1 ornament going at all times.

2. Mom & Dad's Anniversary Sampler - for obvious reasons this needs to be done. I'd like to finish it before their actual anniversary on March 3rd so it could be framed, but I'm not going to be all crazy and think that's really going to happen.

3. Winter Garden Gate -

This picture is actually not current. I've done more since it was taken. I'd say a good 20 hours and this one would be done. I've already finished 2 of the 5 garden gates and have them on my wall, would love to add this one.

4. Blackwork Band Sampler

This one is also further along. (Wow, I need to take some pictures!) I ADORE this piece and would love to see it hanging up in my house.

5. Biscornu - I can't believe I haven't finished the stitching on this one. There is really no excuse. It's simple and almost complete.



6. Simple Elegance I - You may not really believe me but this one is further along too. (I know...pictures are proof!)

I already know that I want to finish this as a stand up.

7. Christmas Fairy - She's just so pretty, how can I not want to stitch on her? (Picture included just in case you'd missed seeing her before.)


8. Snow Globe Bunny - This is really an ornament, but since it's needlepoint I'm going to count it separate.


9. Eiffel Tower Shawl - A little knitting was needed of course. No picture because it's at a point where I really can't get one until I am able to bind off.

10. Autumn in Cambria - Another shawl I've got on the needles.

11. Socks - because it would be nice to finish some that are on my needles.

12. Mystery 4 - Ok, because I really am crazy I'd like to finish one of these before I die, get it framed and enjoy it hanging up somewhere in my house. I realize this may mean a visit from the crazy police, but I'm going to put it out there. I actually have this one and another one started, this one if further along so it is getting the nod.

Go ahead and click through to the picture on Webshots. There's an album just for this one and you can see Mr. Peacock in all his glory, with piece de resistance of crazy where I decided to do his head 1 over 1 (which for you non-stitchers is small and tedious but produces beautiful results that are amazing.) I really don't believe that I could finish this during the year, but why not work on it from time to time and see what happens.

13. The Daughters of Longbourn - Because dang it I'm enjoying this one and love stitching on it.

14. A sweater - I need to finish one of the sweaters in my UFO pile. Then maybe start another. Not like I don't have yarn for a few.

There's more deep in the recesses of my stitching & knitting bags. Small little things that could be finished like a scissors case that needs less then 10 hours on it and the stitching would be done. Alas I have no pictures. Not to mention the patterns I've bought in the last month that I'm sure will NEED to be started.

So there it is. My big list for me to think upon and try and work with. So what that it's not January 1st, I'm making my list now and seeing how it goes, that way in 2 months if I don't like it I can try something different!

It's a big, BIG world

Well, actually this is about big stitching projects, but you get the idea. Since April is all about the LARGE projects I figured I wouldn't get much done. I'm notorious for starting large projects and then taking forever to finish them. It's nice to get some solid stitching time on them every once in awhile. So, after finishing Mr. Peacock's arbor, I decided to work on some other WIPs in my bag.

One of the boards I post on has a group devoted to UFOs. I consider Deer in the Woods a UFO since it got started and then has languished in my pile of other WIPs. I bought the pattern a couple of years ago when I went to AZ and we took a side trip to The Attic. (Lovely store that all stitchers should visit if in the area.) They had this completed and all the wall and I fell in love. I think the colors spoke to me, and probably the verse as well. So I bought the pattern and they mentioned that they had converted it to silk and gave me a copy of the conversion. So, here's what it looked like before Sampler Guild on Sunday...
Here's what it looked like after Wed. night when I put it away until next month...I'm very excited with how much I managed to get done. It's far from being finished, but that's about 1/2 a page, so maybe 1/8 done? I've decided I'll work on this each month for 3 days, and hopefully when I go to Sampler Guild. We'll see how far it progresses during the year.

Thursday is for a real UFO, and Traditional Elegance 2 fits that bill. Didn't think I'd get much done on it yesterday, but had some time during lunch to pull it out and then got home earlier then expected last night and was able to stitch a couple of hours. Thought you'd enjoy an updated picture.I had thought I'd work on the acorn in this band, but decided I was a bit tired for that. Still, that's quite a bit of progress. The end is actually in sight for this one, or at least I think it is.

Not much else going on. Teaching a crochet class tomorrow at my LYS, KnitWitz. Looking forward to that. It's a 2 part class, so should be fairly laid back. Otherwise, the weather is perfect today and life is not too bad.

Guilt-free Jan. round-up

Well, as I was reminded "guilt-free" can mean anything. So I really embraced the theme this month!

I managed to finish a surprise for my friend Jean's birthday (which she's probably tired or hearing about and not seeing but it's coming, I promise!) I also have been knitting a lot. I worked on the Lynton sweater and have to say it's closer to being done then it was 2 months ago. I've also been knitting on Print o'the Waves. I've been making it for my mother for at least 2 years. It's high time it was finished. You work this in2 parts, then graft them together then put on the border. I have one half completely finished and passed the mid-way point on the second half last night. If I can finish a repeat a day I should have it done in about 8 days I think. Seeing as that's an insane goal, I'll probably try to have that done in 2 weeks. Then I'll have to deal with the grafting. I think that may take some hand-holding at my LYS.

I've also restarted my "I Dreamed of Africa" socks. I'm into the leg pattern, so they will come along nicely now I think.

February last year was all about finishing. This year it's all about your favorite designer(s). I have several, but my all time favorite is Rae Iverson of Moss Creek Designs. I have almost everything she's ever designed and have several pieces that are WIPs and/or UFOs. In other words I have lots to choose from here. But she's not my only favorite. I've been blessed to take classes from some wonderful designers over the years and have to say that many of them have become "favorites". Ellen Chester, Catherine Theron, Sherri Jones (Patrick's Woods), Eileen Bennett...I really don't want to bore you here but I could go on. Plus there's the designers and companies that I just enjoy stitching or looking at for any number of reasons, Just Nan, Shepherd's Bush, Mirabilia, Needleprint...well you get the picture. My tastes are diverse to say the least. One of the things I discovered when I recently went through my stash is that I still like the things I bought 15 years ago. I may not have worked on them in that long, but I still like the designs and would enjoy finishing them and displaying them at some point.

So, how am I going to approach this month? Well right now I have no idea. I think I'm just going to see what yells. I know that a class piece from Catherine Theron has been doing some talking lately and Winter Garden Gate from Rae has been getting kind of loud as well. Wouldn't mind working on those two for awhile and see what I can accomplish. I'll keep you posted!

Unbelievable!

My poor, unable to win against an ailing U. of Miami (FL), Seminoles finally put together a complete game and won against the current #2 team, Boston College, in Boston! I wasn't watching, which may have helped (Ann I may have come down with your disease for big games.) I was knitting at the Midnight Knit-in at the ever awesome KnitWitz. I had planned on going no matter what time the game aired. I felt the need to be with my yarn people, they understand my yarn thing. I also admit I didn't think my alma mater could pull out a win this year. Oh me of little faith. Sigh. Now I'll have to watch it on the rerun tomorrow. Still it's exciting, and hopefully they can start playing up to their potential and win some more games.

The only other major news from today was my attempt to organize my stitching patterns and kits. I started, but didn't have the right system, so I'll continue tomorrow. It's totally something I can do while I watch the replay of the game and any other sports action on tomorrow, like the race in TX. Shouldn't actually take me that long now that I know what to do. (At least that's what I keep telling myself, we'll see how long it actually takes.)

Yes, these are old finishes...

...but they are finally framed. Hence they get some blog space. (Well that and I'm tired and the whole nor'eastern storm thing always puts me off doing much of anything except sleep. And yes, I realize what time it is, I'm getting to bed soon!)

On to the eye candy.

This would be Charm Garden. Don't ask me when I finished it, it was several years ago. It's by Just Nan and all those lovely charms just set the whole thing off.

The every lovely Beach Roses, also by Just Nan.

(The cup is from some dishware I traded my paternal grandmother for. She got a set of Corelle, I got her very lovely 1930's dishes. She thought I was crazy, I think I got the best of the deal.)

Finally Last Stitches by, you guessed it, Just Nan. (I didn't mean for this to be an all JN posting, but it kind of happened that way.) I did actually put the last stitch of this piece in on Dec. 31, 1999. How said is it that it's been setting, unframed for that long. Well not as sad as the part where I confess that I also put stitches in "First Stitches" on Jan. 1, 2000 and that's all that's ever been done on that piece, that's sad...really, really sad.

I love them all, but I have to say a special "Thank You" to the wonderful Vicky B. She did all the stretching and framing for me. I bought the frames you see on Last Stitches and Charm Garden when I was visiting in July. The problem was I didn't have the stitched pieces to leave with her so they got sent with DF Jill when she came for the FSU-'Bama game in Sept. By that time I couldn't remember if I got the gold frame for Charm Garden or Beach Roses, they are almost the same stitched size, so I sent both with Jill with the instruction for Vicky to put whichever one looked best in her opinion. When she got them she thought she had the perfect frame for Beach Roses, so she just framed it and told me if I didn't like I could send it back and she's take it apart. First of all, Vicky is a very talented stitcher and finisher and has wonderful taste, so I had no doubt I'd love what she'd done. I was right! Isn't it lovely?!?!

Now I just have to figure out where to hand these pieces. I'm thinking of starting a "JN" wall. I'll let you know what I decide.

Decisions, decision

Sometimes it's fun to make decisions. I need to make a fun decision, what stitching to take with me to ASG tomorrow. I only want to take 1 item. I thought an ornament, but I don't want to take something that I have to start. Too much trouble. I narrowed it down to 3 items: 1)part 1 of Leporello book and yes, I'm still on part 1 which is crazy since the whole thing ended in March of this year and it started last year some time. I like to start things you know; 2) Halloween Fairy & 3) the class piece from Catherine Theron from last year's ASG. My DH Heather said I should bring Leporello, but as of right now it's not in my carry-on. What did make it was Halloween Fairy and "B is for Bunny" (which wasn't one of the original choices which tells you about my decision making abilities lately). I do have Leporello Book fixed so it doesn't take up much room, so I may stick it down in my bag. Crazy things have been known to happen.

Otherwise, I'm packed and ready to get some sleep. Tomorrow morning will come way too early, I have to leave my house at 5:30 A.M. - no that's not a typo, that's the real time and if you know me you know that I don't usually see that time of day. I'm gonna need a nap tomorrow...or lots of coffee.

Yes, my camera does work

I've been promising pictures of my finishes. I kept saying I was actually accomplishing something, but you were just having to take me at my word. For all you know, I could have been sipping margarita's by the pool, if I had a pool, which I don't, but I could have been just drinking. But I really was working on finishing, as crazy as that sounds and as much as I'm more about the starting and not the finishing, or even the completing of the stitching for that matter. Now you have proof that I did stop stitching and knitting long enough to make ornaments, or at least something that can pass for ornaments. That being said, I'm not the best at finishing. I can, and I do on occasion, but I'd much rather stitch. So without further chit-chat and digression....
Ta-da! Can't remember the name of this ornament, but do know it was in the 2006 JCS Ornament issue. It was one I had to stitch for the exchange I'm in. I finished it as a stand-up. It can be hung as well, but I have a feeling I'll sit it at the base of my tree. I'll probably do some more like this as time goes on, Like small packages around the tree with the stitched ornaments. I think it will be a cool look.

This is Silver & Gold, also from the 2006 JCS Ornament issue. I love how this one turned out and can't wait to do the other 2. There was one before this one and one in the issue that just came out. They are a set and have to do with the song "Do You Hear What I Hear", which has always been special to my family and especially my mom. That may be why she liked this one so well. Anyway, the back is finished with this lovely deep red/brown velvet and I used a really pretty braided trim that is white and gold around the edges. I only bought enough trim for this one ornament. At the time I had no idea it was the 2nd of 3. Really, people should tell you up front they're doing a series, then I can plan accordingly. I want them all finished the same, so I've got to get back to JoAnn's to get more trim. I've got plenty of the velvet.
Last but not least, the Roly-poly Snowman. This was my "surprise" ornament that I stitched for the exchange. I love how he looks. Used some pretty cotton quilting fabric on the back, kind of plain, and then made some twisted cord from some Perle cotton in blue and white. I found out that making a round stuffed ornament is not very easy. It looks pretty good, but I think many sins are hidden by the cording.

So, that's what I've been up to the last couple of days. Well that and work and other stuff. Unfortunately tomorrow morning I'll be at a funeral. A friends mother died a couple of days ago after suffering with cancer. I didn't know Cheri's mom, but Cheri is a very special lady and friend. I'm going so she'll know we care. Then I hope to be able to finally get my long sleeve shirts out of storage so I can decide what to take with me next week. Lots to do, lots to do. Hopefully I can get the important stuff finished.

I have pictures...

but I haven't downloaded them. So you'll have to just hear what's happening until I can manage to get pictures taken and actually downloaded from my camera.

First, my hand is feeling better. Thankfully. Although I've been trying not to do much to aggravate it. Seriously, I have to be able to stitch next weekend. That's what ASG is all about. Ok, so it's also about seeing friends, eating and finding the best chocolate desert we can find, but there is some stitching as well. Really, there is. I'm sure of it. I know I've seen other people stitch while there, and I'm fairly certain I've even stitched some myself in years past. Considering how I really want to work on several different stitching projects, and considering how the descriptions of the projects for this year sound, I'm sure I'll have plenty to keep me busy.

But I digress...I've been working on some actual finishing for items I've stitched lately. Had a few minutes this evening to sit down and start putting the braid around one of my ornaments that I sewed up and stuffed last night. Actually sewed and stuffed 2 ornaments last night. Need to make some cording for the other one. I'm fairly resigned to the fact that I won't manage to get my "cubie" put together before I leave for ASG next week. Right now my plan is to take it with me to do the finishing in the room. I'm trying to talk Heather into bringing her stitched "cubie" with her and having a finishing party one night. I think it's do-able.

Tonight I had dinner with some friends, kind of a "pot luck" except we all knew what we were to bring. (Yummy pot roast, mashed potatoes - from me, green bean casserole, bread and cheesecake for desert. Oh and a couple or 3 bottles of good wine!) Anyway, I took my Lynton cardi. with me to work on. Managed to get a few rows in while we sat around and talked. Then it was all about the food and talk. Came home and did some more while I watched my beloved Seminoles loose to Wake Forest...sigh...I really do dislike college football on Thursday nights. Anyway, I did knit and I don't think it's hurt the hand, so I'll take a every spare minute to knit on it in the hopes of meeting the goal I set. Stay tuned!

It's Wednesday already?

Seriously, I'm totally off by a day this week. I know, that's what happens when Monday is a holiday. But still, I usually can figure it out by the Wednesdays. Not this week. I completely forgot that I have both a standing meeting and band practice on Wednesdays. Oh, I remembered it at some point today, even told someone I had band practice and a meeting. But when it came right down to it, I forgot. I think it had something to do with going to JoAnn's and finding the perfect materials for 4 smalls I've finished in the last year.

Yes, that's right, I went to JoAnn's to find fabric and actually found something that would work. This of course means that I'm one step closer to doing some actual finishing. I think I'm almost inspired. Who knows, I might sit down tomorrow afternoon/evening and get to work. Not that anyone should hold their breath or even be waiting patiently to see pictures here. No, just the thought of having what I need is not enough. I need to feel inspired to do finishing. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

While we're discussion stitching...I took some pictures of what some friends I and affectionately call "cubie" today. Thought you might enjoy seeing what I've managed to accomplish. The first is a picture of what I've actually finished. The top is the "Autumn" side, the bottom the "Winter" side. Oh yeah, the actual name of this piece is "All Year Square" and it's by Betsy Morgan. It was a class from ASG back in 2005.
As you can see I started working on the "Summer" side. What it's not obvious that this is the summer part? You can't tell that's a frog there in the center? Wow, I can't imagine why? I'm actually quite pleased with how much I accomplished yesterday night. I'm sorry that the picture doesn't show the fabric color that well. But I'm very happy with how well you can see the alphabet in this picture. I don't think it shows up this well in real life, but that's just me. This is really a cute piece, so we'll see how much I can get done during this "month of smalls". I went through my stash today and found several pieces that are smalls and that are almost finished. I'll be working on some of them this month as well. Maybe clear out a few things.

Speaking of WIPs. On one of the boards I read someone asked how many WIPs everyone had, whether they thought they'd finish them all, and finally what keeps you from finishing something. Well, I was appalled. Only a few people had answered, but still, here they were apologizing for having 5 of 12 of 17 WIPs. Amatures! Seriously that's nothing. You want embarrassing, try somewhere in the 75 WIP range (give or take a few). That's potentially embarrassing. However, I'm not embarrassed. Why should I be? I enjoy stitching. I do it to relax. I do not stitch to be the first to finish a piece. Rather I stitch to be somewhat creative and, although here I'm repeating myself, to relax. I think the first year I found a stitching retreat I thought I'd found heaven. Here's this opportunity to go, take classes and learn something and get new patterns. I thought it was wonderful. So wonderful that for as many years as I went to those stitching festivals...and some of you know which ones I mean...I took at the minimum 5 classes. And then there's ASG. I have been to every fall ASG since Rae & Ron first starting having them. So that along is another 4 projects each year. It's amazing how many actual class pieces I have. And since I like to start stitching in class, all of them have some stitching on them. Heck, I could stitch from my class stash alone for several years.

Anyway, I loved the question, but kind of felt odd with my answer to the first question. And really I should finish more stuff. And as you can see, I actually do finish things. I especially finish when I have a real deadline. I'm not so great with fake ones, but the real ones I can usually manage. So, anyone else want to give a shout out with their count of stitching WIPs here in my comments? I'd love to know I'm not alone out here with this many WIPs!