August WIP Update

This summer has disappeared! I am already spending more time getting ready for back to school than I am stitching. This month I quickly stitched up the August block of my Once Upon A Time sampler by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.

Then I bravely made a list of all my WIPs and choose one to try and finish. I picked May Word Play by With Thy Needle and Thread. It finished quickly and now it is waiting to be sewn into a prim pillow.

After my finish, I decided that I deserved a new start. This project has been kitted up for years with floss, wool for sewing it into a tote, and a lovely linen. I purchased these so long ago that I have no idea what count or color linen it it. This is my start on Guided By Virtue, a Stacy Nash pattern.

I hope to finish this piece by the end of the month. It is stitching up quickly and I love working big sections with one color. This project is coming to the beach with me. I may even take another small new project... Big decisions to make.

~aj

 

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Just finished...

"Hoe, hoe, hoe..." By Notforgotten Farm

It was so quick! I had most of the dense stitching complete already, however, there was no reason for this piece to be waiting so long. I am planning this as a Christmas gift and will need to think a little more about how I want to finish it. It is stitched on what I believe is an 18 count linen, over one. This linen is very rough and rustic feeling. Although my arm would feel scratched after a bit of stitching, I loved the prim look. The linen threads vary in size and I don't fuss about trying to make them look even. The pattern called for slightly different orange- reds. I choose DMC colors that matched the Christmas stockings hats I knit for my friend years ago.

So now it is back to the WIP pile to choose another piece to focus on before the next FPS block. This time I pulled "A Quaker Study" by Carriage House Samplings from the bag. I started this piece as part of a Crazy January Challenge in 2012. I worked on it once... There is a lot to do. I am stitching on 35 count Straw by Weeks Dye Works using the called for NPS. There are only two colors so it was a pretty affordable project in silk.

Off to work I go!

~aj

 

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Woodland Sampler Finish!

This morning I finally added the last thread to my Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery Woodland Sampler. I am so appreciative that the pattern included a 2014 stitching option - thoughtful. I have been close to finishing for days and there was just one thread of white missing. A finish!

Now on to the next step - eventually - I would like to sew this into a project bag. My plan is to do a few little pieced rectangles and have a fun woodland pink interior. You can see my initial fabric choices - just some pieces from my stash.

I bravely dug through my remaining WIPs and made a list of all I have to do. That includes some old projects that I started in 2001. Eeks! After writing them down I glanced through to see what caught my eye and this primitive piece was more complete than I thought. Maybe a few hours of stitching will result in a finished Christmas gift. It will be my first gift of the year so I am feeling bit behind.

It is"Hoe, hoe, hoe..." By Notforgotten Farm

Happy Stitching! ~aj

 

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July Once Upon A Time Progress

This month stitched up so fast! It may have been the large sections of solid color. I was enjoying stitching it do much that I ended up ordering a few more Frosted Pumpkin patterns and some linen to match. I have plans to use some smaller designs to stitch up a cover for my little Kindle. It has a tendency to get popped in my purse and I worry that it isn't well protected.

Since my large sampler is caught up, I plan on working on my FPS Woodland Sampler. It is very close to complete and has been patiently waiting for me to finish it. One way that I have been fitting in more stitching time is to work a thread in between my household chores. There are a few benefits to this routine. 1. I fit in some stitching time during daylight hours. 2. I am not sitting for long periods of time. 3. My home gets cleaner!

~aj

 

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Ready for July

My summer vacation has been very busy! I managed to squeeze in some time to finish my June block of Once Upon A Time.

Once Upon A Time by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery

Then I dug through my WIPs and spent a little time working on a With Thy Needle and Thread pattern "Birds of a Feather" I started this years ago when it first came out. I love the colors and I know it will look great on a wall. The problem has been the stitching. The border seems to go on forever and I am always fussing about how the stitches look. It is on 35 count with two threads. If I were to start again I think I would only use 1 thread. I am forcing myself to make some progress today since the July Once Upon a Time will be out tomorrow.

Happy Stitching!

~aj

 

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Saturday Morning...

I am awake. I have been for an hour because I am so excited that it is Saturday! My plans for the day are to attend a hot yoga class. That is it. There is so much potential that I can't stand it! So I thought I would make myself stop reading everyone else's blogs and update my own.

This was a very busy spring. I managed to only work on my Once Upon A Time Dampler each month. I am more than halfway done with June and hope to finish it over the next few days. My giant WIP pile is calling to me and I have had to fight daily urges to sign up for the Frosted Pumpkin's Mystery Halloween Sampler.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend and enjoys their first day of SUMMER!

~aj

 

 

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Stitches and Shadows

Wow! The Grow Your Blog Party was great! Thanks to everyone who stopped by and left comments. It has been fun visiting your blogs and seeing everyone's creations. I am feeling so supported by my new followers that I am planning a give away for later in the month.

This was a rather slow stitching week for me. I worked all week and went out of town for the weekend. It was really cold again so I spent precious stitching time making stews and chilies to warm the soul. I did get more than half of my October block of Woodland Sampler done. Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery just keeps charming my needle. Their little critters have a way of coming to life as soon as I back stitch the eyes!

I worked so hard last weekend to finish the border on Frosted Pumpkin's Once Upon A Time. It has been killing me to not start stitching all the super cute monthly designs... Perseverance - I will finish this border this week.

My weekend had very little stitching time because I got to have a dream come true... I went to see Punxsutawney Phil! It was amazing! My dear friends took me for my Christmas gift. They even signed me up for the Groundhog Club so that I could meet Phil. He is the cutest weatherman and seems to take his job quite seriously!

I know the pic is a little fuzzy but time was precious!

This week I think I may have extra time to complete projects due to a winter storm starting tomorrow night. My goals are to finish October, finish the OUAT border and stitch January. Thank goodness Phil got me this extra time by seeing his shadow!

~aj

 

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