Deep Breaths

I'm totally overwhelmed!  Things have been crazy around here since last week and they don't look to let up anytime soon. I was so busy with friends and family over the weekend so my house is a "disaster run rampant".  I'm not even going to mention all the stitching and finishing that still needs to be done for X-mas gifts!  Plus, work is going to be more intense from now (tax projection time) until April 15th.  I just hope that there is a little reprieve in the first couple of weeks in January so that I can work on my 2011 Crazy January Challenge.

So, here's a little glimpse into what I have been working on........

I finished one of the ornaments that I featured in my last post.  It was for my dear friend Maggee.  I pulled her name for our first annual ornament exchange.  I knew as soon as I saw it that it had her name written all over it, especially after I changed the colors so that it matched her themed tree.  Let me just say that Maggee is doggone lucky that I decided to let this one go!

Windows of Faith, Hope and Peace
by Primrose Needleworks
2010 JCS Ornament Issue
Stitched on 36ct Whimsy by Picture This Plus
Belle Soie: Empress
Backed with the fabric it is sitting on

I also gifted my stitching sisters a copy of the cookbook that is being sold by The Attic to benefit Breast Cancer Research along with these pincushions that I love so much.  (I even stitched one for me using Belle Soie's Empress and Fern Frond, but I haven't had the chance to "finish" it yet.)

Rosemary Pinkeep by Blackbird Designs
Stitched on 40ct Olde Towne Blend by R&R Reproductions
Stitched using Belle Soie
"D" - Fern Frond and Mer Blue
"S" - Fern Frond and Elegant Eggplant
"M" - Fern Frond and Rosebud
Finished in Ball Jar lids

I also finished another ornament for Hubby's side of the family.  This one is from the 2007 JCS ornament issue and again I took liberties with the floss colors since I didn't have the called for colors on hand.  I really love the way it turned out.  Oh how my "finishing" pile keeps growing!  I'm going to need a holiday before the holiday so that I can get all these done in time for Christmas.  At least I only have two more to go for Hubby's family.

Joy by Lizzie*Kate
32ct Pearled Barley by Lakeside Linen
WDW Used: Bullfrog and Amber
Crescent Colours Used: Cupid and Bamboo

Whew!  All that and I still haven't caught my breath!  I guess you will have to wait until a future post to see what I got while at the first annual ornament exchange.

In the meantime.......

Happy Stitching!

One Step Closer

After this weekend I'm more than just one step closer to my goals for November and December.  Woo-Hoo!

I finally made a finish of LHN's December and it should be on its way (along with September, October and November) to my dear friend Sharon.  Now her set of models for the Monthlies will be complete.  Whew!



"December" on 30ct WDW Mocha

 This finish gave me ample opportunity to work on some other stitchy projects around the house.  I was able to frame my memory/memorial sampler and I'm so very pleased with how it turned out.  I took a picture of it last night under the Ott light, but it didn't turn out.  I guess I'll just have to wait for the light of day instead. 

I also took some time to stitch on one of my Blackbird Designs works in progress.  Remember the Keepsake Box from the 2008 Shepherd's Bush Retreat?  Well, with just a little stitch time during the late Sunday night Giants/Eagles football game I managed to turn my work into this:

Now all I have left is a little bit of fill in on a couple of the flowers, the flower pot and my initials.  I figured that I deserved to reward myself with a little bit of "off goal" stitching since I've been good at keeping my goals so far.  Plus, not only did I finish December, but I finished stitching my Blackbird Designs Exchange piece!  I think that deserved a reward, don't you?

So, here's my piece for the exchange:
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HA, HA!  FOOLED YA!  You don't think I was going to show it before my recipient got to see it, did you?  I couldn't do that!  I'm pretty sure that this person reads my blog.  Plus, her initial is on it and that would have given it away.  So, instead, I'm just going to show you a few of my supplies for the piece instead.  I plan on "finishing" it up this week so that it will be in the mail for our November 30th deadline.

I guess that means that I will have to start stitching on all of those ornaments this week.  Wish me luck!

Happy Stitching!

"November/December Goals" Update

Just a quick little update on how I am faring.....

By the end of last week (after kicking out October's frogs) I finished up November.

November
by Little House Needleworks
Crescent Colours Cotton Thread Pack

Stitched on 30ct Mocha by Weeks Dye Works

 And, in keeping in line with the goals, I got a good start on December.  I'm much further now than this picture shows and I anticipate being able to send these models out shortly.


It's the last one!!!

Looking back on my goals, I'm just about done with number three. Yipee!  I also started on goal  number four over the weekend and I picked out the fabric and fibers for my Blackbird Designs exchange. 

Speaking of exchanges, I have received my exchange from Karen over the weekend and boy is it amazing!  Stay tuned for pictures......

Happy Stitching!

Visiting Frogs & Broken Curses

The frogs visited over the weekend and this time it was a good thing.  They only stayed a short while.  Just long enough to rip out the wrong color border and then I sent them on their way.

The correct color is on the upper left and the wrong color is on the lower right.

 After the frogs left I got to work finishing up October.

October
by Little House Needleworks
A Crescent Colours Cotton Thread Pack
Stitched on 30ct Mocha by Weeks Dye Works

 Next I had a great start on November.  Since it looks like the border is lining up, I guess that means the curse may be over.  Hubby is working at job #2 tonight, so I should be able to get through most of this pattern with little to no interruptions.  Yeah!!!!

A great start on November.

Happy Stitching!

See, I Do Stitch!

Last night was a crazy night for me.  I left work and traffic was horrible!  It took me 50 minutes to get to the hairdresser when it normally takes me 25-30 minutes.  Then, after the hairdresser, I came home to a bedroom in shambles!

You see, Hubby didn't work his day job yesterday due to the rain.  (That's construction for you!)  Since yesterday was his first day without a cigarette he was in a tizzy.  (He is trying to quit.....again!  Please pray it works this time!)  So, when I came home, the bedroom furniture was rearranged.  That in itself was fine.  It was just that many of the items that were inside the furniture are now on the outside and strewn all over the floor.  UGH.....Men!  But, what can I say?  I love the guy!  He was just trying to stay busy and help.  So, the rest of my evening was spent dealing with that, and I'm nowhere near finished yet.

Even with that, I have been stitching and this time I have the pictures to prove it.  Here is the "September" Monthly from Little House Needleworks........

This is the one that gave me heartburn with the green border.  Remember?  I had to rip it out four times!  But as you can see, except for the legs on the bird, this one is all finished. 

Now I'm trying to work on this one.........

.....it is Little House's "October" Monthly.  I had every intention of having it done way before the end of October.  But, trying is the operative word here.  See that piece of CC's Roasted Chestnut at the top of the picture?  Well, that is supposed to be the border color instead of the CC's Caterpillar that I stitched.  I guess that means more frogging for me.  I think these two months were cursed!  Pfft!

Looks like I will need to have a marathon session tonight and over the weekend so that I can finish up the year.  Hopefully November and December won't be cursed like these two months were.

Happy Stitching!