Taking a break

I am fine everyone. I am just taking a break. I hate the new Blogger. Google Reader is ending. I'm frustrated lol. Will be back!

TUSAL, Wipocalypse, Hodgepodge catchup

I am alive and well. When I hit post, the spacing is really messed up. The more I try to fix it the worse it gets. I apologize for this mess. For the first time, I over-committed myself with stitching and quilting deadlines. I have been stressed and it has taken the joy from my stitching. In order to meet my commitments I had to chose between stitching, quilting or blogging. Unfortunately blogging lost out. So here is my long overdue Wipocalypse, TUSAL and stitching, quilting post for the past 6 weeks and my early post for the current Wipocalype and TUSAL. My TUSAL glass. Round Robin #1 Cat's band sampler. I stitched the top right section. I really struggled with some of the stitches on this one but love the finished project. I got an email today that my Band Sampler is completed and on it's way home. I am sooo excited. Round Robin #2 T 2012 RR stitching. Don't you just love this Margaret Sherry hedgehog that I stitched. He made me smile. Here is the RR as it goes out in the mail. One more round and this RR is done. For the Valentine Fair Square exchange here are the squares I stitched. They are a Papillion Creations freebie. From Marcy I received these absolutely gorgeous squares. The Fair Square exchange is looking for new members. Please take the time to look at their blog and sign up. It is such fun to do these. For the Seasonal Exchange the stitching I did - a Gazette 94 freebie. Here is the exchange I received. This is a Lizzie Kate and my partner Linda is from Mexico. How cool is that! I cannot show you the winter exchange on the Stitched With Love Exchange group until notified that all are sent and received. The exchange I received is gorgeous and will post when I can. My Maple Leaf is finished and at the framers along with my Las Vegas Tree and Merry Xmas. Wait till you see the frames and mats for these. On the Quilting front. My mother's quilt has returned from the quilters and the binding is on. I will post a photo when I can get a full photo soon. I took a class called "Little Twister" and here is the result. Here is my mystery quilt for this year done. I still have to sandwich and quilt it but so far so good. With the leftover fabric I made a square for our raffle quilt. Here is that square. I received this wonderful soap frog at Christmas from a dear friend and forgot to post it. Isn't he precious! Thanks Deb. I had some thank you's to send to some wonderful people who have gifted me magazines, patterns etc. And so I took out my sewing machine. Here is the result. My newest purchases Just Nan's Christmas Mouse. I saw this little fellow posted on a blog and had to have him. He instituted a country wide search and was finally located at a needlework shop in California. Since then they have released the most darling bunny and he is on his way. The Cross Stitch Magazine with the Joan Elliott Diary with the help from a friend in England. CCN - Santa's House. Part 3 of 12 This Stitch Starter Ruler from Blue Ribbon Designs - no more starting too close to the edge of the fabric for me. And that's it for this post lol. No wonder I have been missing. Thank goodness the frog visits were brief during this time frame. May all your frogs come on a porcelain lily pad like mine lol. PS What the heck is up with Blogger????? Trying to post photos and get the spacing right was brutal. All my photos came up in words not pictures and so I had to work like the dicknns to get them in. I hope when I hit post this makes some kind of sense. Is it just me or is this really screwy?

First TUSAL of 2013 and catching up

Here is my first TUSAL post of 2013.

 All those pretty Kreinik threads are from my Maple Leaf. I'm making significant progress but will save the photo for next post as I'm close to a Happy Dance.


With all the holiday festivities and family fun, I noticed that a few gifts that I received have been missed.

I got to meet with Annette and Terri when I stayed overnight in Phoenix on my way home to Canada. The ladies collected me and off we went to dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. We laughed and talked our way through dinner. Annette gifted me with these wonderful charts.

I participated in an ornament exchange with my stitching group at home and this lovely ornament arrived in my mailbox. Thank you Clare. He is a handsome fella and will grace my Christmas tree next year.

From my friend, Michele - this pretty little tin arrived. Inside a PS Santa chart, a lighthouse magnet  a jingle bell and some wonderful chocolates.

Just before Christmas I sent out the following to my friend Cathey. Her little fella is getting to the messy stage and this bib will help keep the mess down lol.

My quilt group is hosting a ladies luncheon in January. We are making table runners that will be raffled. This will be my contribution.

On the stitching front.


I am participating in another exchange and this will be my exchange stitch - Snowman by Ursula Michaels. I still have to finish it into something - not sure what yet.

I have completed another Band Sampler RR. Here is the RR and my stitch - bands from Sweetheart Tree.

 And I have been stitching away on my Desert Mandala.

I have completed this left block. The specialty stitches were a bit of a challenge.

Then I beaded the rattlesnake. I accidentally switched a container and beaded him with grey beads instead of gold. I wrestled that sucker to the ground, removed the grey beads and added the gold.

 

What a handsome fella he is now.

I was grinching over the specialty stitches and a friend reminded me that all stitches are basically Needle Up, Needle Down. I laughed and agreed. I think that may be my new motto!

With a small visit from the frogs, I consider this week's stitching a success. I am now working on my AA Maple Leaf and will post next time.

It is almost time to head back to Yuma. We will be flying out early Saturday morning. It has been wonderful visiting with family but it is time to get back.

A New Stitching Year

Ahhhh - It is 2013 and the world didn't end. To me that means another year to share my love of stitching.
I have looked over my list from last year and made some additions and removed the pieces that were completed. The list looks small  for 2013 but there are some definite BAP's on that list.

On my list this year

My Chatelaine - Desert Mandala  - I would like to see significant progress but am realistic enough to know it won't get finished. Here is my progress to date. This is next in my rotation - starting today. Wish me luck - I'm working with Black Marlitt - my favorite - NOT!

My Etui
I have completed Page 1 and made a start on Page 2.  I would like to have this one done by year's end. The challenge with this piece is my eyesight. It is 36 count and I have to use a magnifier lamp which is not always readily available or my eyes are tired and it's not easy to see.

 My Sampler Gameboard by Drawn Thread - SAL with Facebook group

Here is my progress at the end of my first four day rotation.

 And lesson learned - pay attention to where you are starting. I am tight on the left side - about 1 1/2 inches and have 3 inches or more on the right - Whoops!

Alessandra Adelaide's Maple Leaf - SAL with my stitching friends from home.

Here is my slight progress on January 1st.

CCN's Santa's Village
Here is my start on House 1 - Santa's House

The fabric is 32 count Lugana - Ice Princess - from Under the Sea Fabrics


Also on my list

Simply Christmas - Waxing Moon - a gift from Marlene

Sweetheart Tree -  Red Pepper Scissor Fob - from my stack of Sweetheart Tree I bought on Ebay.

The rest of the list is on my sidebar.

I have several other things to show you but will make them a seperate post.

And as you can see, I really could do without frogs if I'm to stand any chance at all of getting some serious stitching done lol.

Take care one and all. I hope the beginning of this new year has been happy for you. My DH and I have been spending some quality time with our grandchildren and that makes our new year very happy.
 

Wipocalypse 2012 wraps up

What a stitching year this has been.

I have completed 14 of the 24 things on my list. I consider that a roaring success. In addition to those 14 things a number of other patterns came and went through my hands.

Round Robins 2012

CCN - The Nutcracker for a 50th anniversary sampler

2012 RR's
Zodiac - Leo
EMS - Wild Rose
Maple Leaf Biscornu
Holland
Canada scenes
Christmas Morning
Nutcracker
Christmas Tree

BAND SAMPLER RR's
Indigo Rose
Rainbow - Celtic Bands
Sweetheart Tree - bands in purple
Sweetheart Tree - Sentimental Heart
Celtic Banner
Sweetheart Tree - Pretty Posies
Sweetheart Tree - bands in pink
Sweetheart Tree - Blueberry Heart

UFO RR
Dimensions Tiger

MIRABILIA RR's
Stone Roses
Poppy
Midsummer Night's Fairy
Christmas Elegance
Spring Bouquet
Reindeer
Lily of the Woods
Tiger Lily

TRAVELING PATTERNS
Tribal Penguin
Good Things Come to those who Stitch
Shepherd's Bush - Tending the Blooms
ABCD Traveling Pattern

Count Your Blessings

And if you are still with me - I stitched

Adoption Sampler
JBW Teddy Bear Birth Sampler
JBW 1997 Ornament
Night Before Christmas - ornament
Point Loma Lighthouse
Sister Stitcher x 2
LHN - Acorn Hill
Just Nan - True Blue Heart
Las Vegas Tree
Magic - ornament
Nutcracker from Jo
Prairie Moon - Merry Xmas
Sampler Aux Bouquets
Hooked on Lighthouses
LHN - Summer Splendor
Sampler aux Bouquets Part I
Malcolm the Moose
Traveling Stitcher
Maple Leaf

I completed Page 1 of my Etui
I made good progress on my Chatelaine - Desert Mandala..


On the sewing side
I made 5 aprons
1 spiral table runner
1 on point table runner
Christin's lamp bag
Mikaela's quilt
30 bibs

All in all, a successful year.

The most successful thing this year - time spent with my family.

Here are my two sons and their families this Christmas

and Poppa and I with our grandchildren. 

 

Next post - my WIPocalypse for 2013. I have signed up for at least three SAL's. What was I thinking! With all the stitching I expect to do next year I hope it will be a frog-free year.