Crazy Update

There are only 84 more days to finish all fifteen of my Crazy January Challenge pieces.  I don't know about others who have participated, but I just don't see myself finishing all fifteen pieces.  Maybe in 2012 I will have to create the "What the @*$^ Was I Thinking in 2011?" Challenge so that I can finish up my works in progress.

Here's what's left:

1. Mouline Rouge (Long Dog) ~ When I actually have a calm moment to stitch this is my "go to" piece.  I'm much further than I thought I would be and I've actually finished page 3 of the pattern (upper right side).  Page 6 and page 12 still have some work to be done, but page 9 is 80% done.  Here's where she stands as of a few days ago:
2. Sheltering Tree (With Thy Needle) ~ It still looks like it did on January 3rd.......sigh......
3. Tis The Season (BBD) ~ This one also looks exactly like it did on January 4th.  I guess I should put down Mouline Rouge and make this my "go to" piece so that I have slim chance of having it ready in time for the holidays.
4. To Light the Way (BBD) ~ This has a few more stitches in it than it did on the 6th, but I'm having a hard time determining which color is which in this retreat kit.  I just need to make an educated guess and I could have this one finished in no time.
5. Letter "H" (Mirabilia/Nora Corbett) ~ I typically stitch on this project when the lighting isn't so good because this piece is on 32ct.  When you are used to stitching on 40ct, 32ct is enormous!  I'll probably work on this piece when I meet with my stitching sisters tomorrow.  The light doesn't always work in my favor and this will be the perfect project to work on.
6. Mermaids (CCN) ~ This one is a disaster!  I started it on one color fabric on January 14th and promptly decided to change it.  When I went back to it recently, I grabbed the fabric that was sitting next to the pattern in my wip basket and went to work even though I wasn't real pleased with the color.  I stitched the left side of the seaweed and then moved onto the right side of the seaweed because I was missing some DMC in the middle.  After getting to the bottom of the right side I realized that I was off by one stitch near the top of the right side.  Then, while looking through some older blog posts for a picture, I realized the reason I wasn't happy with the fabric that I was stitching on.  I PICKED UP THE WRONG COLOR FABRIC!  So, this "easy" stitch has really become a bear.  Looks like I will be starting this one over.  Third time is a charm, right?
7. Beyond My Heart (BBD) ~  I've worked on this piece several times in the last few months.  I have all of the border done as well as the words in the top of the piece.  I was able to get a few of the flowers done, but I've become bored with them.  I'm also coming up to the eyelet and satin stitches.  I definitely have to be in the mood for those and I haven't been.  If I could just get my rear in gear I could have this finished by the end of the year.
 

Looking on the bright side, I have finished over half of what I started.  I guess that is an accomplishment in itself!

Happy Stitches!

Big Progress , Small Finish and the Traveling Pattern

Happy Monday All!  I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend.  I divided my Saturday between stitching and a little bit of quilting.  My Sunday on the other hand was pure "Hubby Time". 

We spent the morning catching up on HBO's True Blood series.  Hubby just got interested this year, but I've been reading the books for sometime.  We are currently on the last half of season three and I've got season four saved on the DVR.  Only one more marathon session and we will be all caught up.

As for my stitching I thought I'd catch you up on some of my Crazy January Challenge pieces.  First up is the Letter H.  I've been working on this during my "Saturday Stitch Time" with my stitching buddies.

Letter H by Nora Corbett

I also spent a great deal of time on this project a couple of Fridays ago.  That Friday was "Forgiveness Friday".  An old stitching friend and I met at the local Barnes & Noble.  We talked and let many old "issues" go.  As as result of the forgiveness, I'm really looking forward to stitching with my friend again.  (Forgive the picture......the fabby looks grey, but it is a really great shade of purple in real life.)

This Heart of Mine by Ink Circles

I'm also keeping up with my fifteen minute piece.  Here's it is as of this morning.  At the rate I'm going, I may be able to finish this one up by month's end.

Saturday evening also brought me closer to my sewing machine.  I had such wonderful compliments on my color choices for my pillow that I decided to use the same fabric for these two little pincushions.  I learned so much while sewing these up.  They aren't too bad for my first try, but I'll be sure to change things up a bit for future pincushions like these.  (They came out much smaller than I expected.)

Last, but not least let's talk about the Traveling Pattern, "ABCD" by La-D-Da.

Remember this post?  It seems that we have had quite a bit of interest and that excites me so very much!  Originally I was just going to send this pattern off and let flit from place to place.  However, I want to be sure that Peggy Lee gets it back someday.  So, in that vein, I'm going to switch things up a bit.  I'm going to limit the number of people so that the last person can send the pattern back to Peggy along with the autograph book that I have purchased so that she will know where her pattern has been. 

Based on the original post there were about 30 interested people.  If you are still interested, please drop me an email (it's in my profile) and let me know.  Also let me know if you are willing to mail to an overseas/foreign address.  That way I can make up a mailing list.  You will know who you are receiving the pattern from and who you are sending it to.  As for stitching this timely, it took me a weekend to finish this up, so I feel like three weeks should be plenty of time to finish this pattern.

I can't wait to hear from everyone!

Happy Stitches!

Crazy Changes and Pictures

As I said when I first started this 2011 Crazy January Challenge, I reserve the right to make changes on which patterns I choose to stitch.  Well, as you can see on my side bar to the right, I did change up my list of fifteen.  Plus, my list of alternates got much bigger as I went farther into the challenge.  The reason?  Well, there are many, but ultimately something didn't work out with the pattern that I wanted to start so it would shift down to the "Possible Alternates" area.  Then I would end up finding something that wasn't on my list to begin with.  Well......the rest is history and the fifteen were started.  However, my goal for the rest of the year is to make a start on each pattern that is listed in my "Possible Alternate" area.  Of course, I can't guarantee that I won't add a few new things into the mix during 2011.

Now, on to a couple of pictures of the rest of my starts. I believe I left off at number six. So without further ado, here is seven and eight........

Letter 'H"
Letters by Nora Corbett (Mirabilia Designs)

Rose Garden
by Blackbird Designs
(over one inspired by Peggy Lee....thanks Peggy!)

That's it for now.  I hope to grab a few minutes again soon so that I can show you some more starts.

Happy Stitching!

Summer Cold??

I haven't been feeling well for the past few days. At first I thought I was coming down with a summer cold. But after last night, I know that I have a summer sinus infection instead. The pressure in my sinuses were so painful last night that I could feel it in my teeth! Since I feel a little better today, I'm going to wait it out for another day or two. Sometimes they go away with a little rest and extra vitamin C. If not, I will head out to see the "Doc in a box" since I know I won't be able to get an appointment at my real doctor's office on such short notice.

With all that pressure, I've given up on stitching for the last few days. So, unless I have a marathon session this weekend, it looks like "Bayside Bungalow" will just have to have a July finish instead of a June finish. Sew goes the needle! (Ha, ha!)

What's worse right now is that things are real slow at work. So slow in fact, that I have been cruising the Internet looking at all things stitchy. In the 12 years that I have been working here, I have never had this problem. Yet, I shouldn't complain.....there are others that have no job at all! I'm just hoping that my clients will respond to all my phone calls and hurry up with sending in their information. I can see it now.....one second with nothing to do and then the next second I will end up overwhelmed and begging for help! It always seems to work that way.

So, have you seen the latest from Little House Needleworks? I just love her newest "Love One Another".

I've already placed my order at the LNS. I wonder how this will look on 40ct. Then again, maybe I'll go bigger and make it into a pillow. Decisions, decisions!

Speaking of decisions, I have to decide what my next start will be. I've been putting off my Mirabilia's lately so maybe I'll have to start Letter "H".....

I have the pattern and the threads. I just need to look through my stash and see if I have any good fabric for this. Otherwise I will just have to bring it with me to the LNS tomorrow night for a floss toss.

Well, I guess I should try to get back to work. If only my boss had something for me to do.............