Another Day

Yesterday it snowed and now the temperatures are dropping.   Another good reason to stay home and stitch.😀😀😀

Yesterday started de-christmasfying the house.  Boy is it starting to look naked.   I know a lot of you take down your Christmas trees a lot earlier but it has been a tradition in our family to wait until after the 12 days of Christmas.

My DH was quite the good Samaritan yesterday.  After clearing our driveway he went to clear the driveways and entrances of our neighbours on either side of us and across the street from us.  Also, later on while walking the dog he helped another who got his vehicle stuck in the snow.

Yesterday I got hit by a "snowball".

via GIPHY

So I managed to make a significant dent on my Snow Sampler by adding 355 stitches.

I also worked on the Seasonal Celebration: Winter and started the Joy (Rovaris) Christmas Ornament from the 2017 JCS Just Christmas issue.

I am using the DMC Etoile threads on the ornament.  Using C816 for the 816 and 1 strand of Etoile Blanc with regular Blanc (because the Etoile is more of a light grey).  It is easy to work with and I like the addition of a little sparkle to my ornaments.

Well, that is enough for today.

Take Care and Happy Stitching!!!

WIPocalypse 2019 and more

Whoops!  I fell off the wagon again. (I haven't  posted in over 3 months).   Oh well, a New Year is always a good time for a new start.

Last year I joined the Facebook group WIPocalypse but failed to get organized enough to actively participate.   Today is the Kick-off day for 2019, which is as a good time as any to start blogging again.

We are suppose to start with an introduction.  So for those of you who are new to my to my blog or those who haven't visited in awhile (and why would you if I am not posting) my name is Loretta - I am married (going on 33 years), no children and currently have 1 dog (Buster/Buddy -a great dane/golden retriever and who knows what else mix).

I have been stitching since I was 16 and now that I am retired I have more time to stitch.  Which is good since stitching is my life.  Rarely a day goes by that I don't take a needle and thread to a piece of fabric. I am also a certified serial starter with more WIPs than I care to admit to.

My goals for 2019 are to:

1.  Whittle down my WIP pile (I think this is actually obtainable now that I am retired)
2.   Stitch more from my stash and curtailing new acquisitions (I have also joined the Facebook groups Stitch From Stash 2017-2019)
3.  Getting more of my finished pieces out of the proverbial "under the bed box" and out on display for me to enjoy.

My first finish for 2019 is Away We Ride by Blackbird Designs.  I really enjoyed stitching this piece.

A few of my current WIPs are:

Snow Sampler - Country Cottage Needlworks

Seasonal Celebration: Winter - Country Cottage Needleworks

Mystery Christmas Sampler - Lizzie Kate

Seasons in Chalk: Fall - Hands on Design (JCS October 2016)

Well that is it for now.   I had my SIL and her husband over for brunch today and now all I want to do is stitch and chill.

Take care and happy stitching!!!

Forgot a SAL

Hi All,

Yesterday, I forgot to post about another SAL I am participating in.  Probably because I only started it on Friday.  The hashtag for this one on Instagram is #storiesofthenorth1sal.   The design is by Ginger Gerald Design.

This was my progress as of Friday:

I first saw it the on a flosstube episode from Off the Grid Needlearts.  I loved it so much I had to order it.  Caroline was offering it for a limited time as part of the Evertote - Seagull Point Summer Kit.   Along with a PDF of the chart, I received the following cross-stitch project with a matching notions bag and

a set 4 gorgeous blue threads from Victorian Motto Shoppe:

The chart suggest 2 DMC blues but I am using the first 2 blue from the left.  They are called Caroline Calm and 6AM Sky.

Today, I thought I would also show some other Christmas Ornaments I finished this year that were not part of the Just Cross Stitch SAL.

The first is part of another tradition I started last year.  My DH does not embrace Christmas in the same way as I do.   Although he isn't a Scrooge, he doesn't revel in it. So last year I purchased the 2 Sue Hillis charts Bah Humbug and More Bah Humbug leaflets and have decided to stitch one ornament a year for him.

This is the one I did last year.  I love this one because it is reminiscent of the "Charlie Brown Christmas" trees we use to have before getting our artificial tree.  We refused to pay a fortune for a real tree that was going to end up in the trash after a couple of weeks.   I always felt that with lights and baubles any tree is beautiful.

These other ornaments are from charts by Homespun Elegance, Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Needleworks.

From top left (clockwise):  Homespun Elegance - 2013 Sampler - Your State Holiday Home, Country Cottage Needleworks - Fa La La , Little House Needleworks - Merry Christmas, Country Cottage Needleworks - Let Us Adore Him and Country Cottage Needleworks - Merry, Merry

I will sign off with a picof what I did today that was non-stitching related.  I made pumpkin puree.  Enough for 4 pumpkin pies.  I 💖💖 pumpkin pie.

Take care and Happy Stitching!!!!

SAL Updates

Last night I stayed up late (2:30am) to finish up Afternoon in Paris by Country Cottage Needleworks. A couple of weeks ago I had decided to make it into a pillow so I went online to find an appropriate fabric to use with it.

I found this on Esty (I actually ended up ordering it from a Canadian online fabric store - cheaper shipping.) The fabrics are part of Robert Kaufman's City Chic 2 collection by Anne Tavoletti.

(It doesn't show properly in the photos but the background is actually white.)

This morning I put this together.

I am rather pleased with the results.   I have now completed Day Twenty-Nine of the DUCJFC2016 and the Walk in the City with My Lady SAL. 

I will be working on the following in March for my other SALs.

JCS Stitch Along


Merry Christmas by Samplers Not Forgotton

Winter's Eve by The Prairie Schooler

2016 Christmas Ornie SAL (Theme: Santa & His Elves)

2001 Santa - The Prairie Schooler
 

 

 2016 Halloween Ornie SAL (Theme: Pumpkins) 

Knock, Knock by Marie Driskill (Blackberry Lane Designs)
 

 

This is how far I got in last year's DUCJC2015.

That's it for now.  Take care and happy stitching!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!!!!!

 

Afternoon in Paris and Frank-in-Stitches

Just a quick post to show my progress on CCN's Afternoon in Paris and Mosey 'N Me's Frank-in-Stitches.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!!!!!

 

Stitch-Alongs

Yesterday, I decided to stop at Day Forty in the DUCCJFC2016 because my WIPs were calling me.

I have join a few SALs in blogworld and on Facebook and so I will be working on those projects first.

On Facebook the Little House and Country Cottage Stitching Group is having a "Walk in the City with My Lady" SAL and one of the chart options for this SAL is CCN's Afternoon in Paris. Since I had already started Afternoon in Paris I decided to join this SAL. Here is my progress on it as of last night.

Another SAL on facebook is JCS Stitch Along where we are stitching 12 ornaments from 2015 issue of JCS Special Holiday issue. I running a bit behind but hope to be caught up by the end of the month.

 January is BRD's Snowmates which I am already stitching for my February choice in the Christmas Ornie SAL 2016.
 

February's ornie in the JCS Stitch along is PS' Winter's Eve. 

I am also in the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL 2016 but I haven't made any further progress on February's ornie since January 31st.

Well, that is it for now. Take care and happy stitching!!!

THANK YOU FOR VISITING!!!

 

DUCJFC2016 - DAY TWENTY-NINE

And now for something completely different.

After three days of showing basically the same picture, today's start is CCN's Afternoon in Paris.

I think I am really going to enjoy stitching this one. I am loving it already.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!!!!

 

DUCJFC2016: DAY TWENTY-THREE

Another day, another new start.

Today's offering is another ornament  from the CCN Classic Collection - Christmas Birdhouse. 

Another pretty one in my opinion.

 Take care and happy stitching!!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!!!!

DUCJFC2016 - DAY TWENTY-ONE

Wow! I am still going at it.

Today I pulled out another CCN ornament - Holly Jolly!

I love how bright and colourful this series of ornaments are.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!!

 

DUCJFC2016 - DAY NINETEEN

A quick post as it is almost my bedtime.

Today I started another CCN ornament - By the Chimney
 

Didn't have much time to stitch tonight as we had dinner at my mother's tonight. She made dampfnudel (a steamed bun with a crusty, salty bottom) and potato soup - yum yum.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!

 

DUCJFC2016 - DAY SEVENTEEN

Today I have a new start and a finish. I also have an update on Tis the Season.

I am really enjoying stitching this one.

My new start is a Country Cottage Needleworks design from their Classic Collection - Let Us Adore Him.

and my first finish for the year is Fa La La! © 2008 Plum Pudding Needleart.  It is a complimentary chart that you find here.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!!!

Day 9: DUCJC2015

Today's start was Christmas Cheer by Country Cottage Needlework. I am really enjoying stitching these ornaments and looking forward to the next one.

I stitched on this one this evening while watching movies with my DH (he is home tonight and the dog is in bed ;) ). So far we have watched The Great Sinner, The Cheap Detective and right now - Plaza Suite.

I am not sure what I will be stitching on tomorrow (or rather today as it is now past midnight).   I am wavering between stitching something new or pulling out an WIP.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!

 

Day 8: DUCJC2015

Good evening!

It is Day 8 of the DUCJC2015 and my start today is Christmas Cookies by Country Cottage Needleworks.

I got a lot done on this one tonight because I stayed up later than usual. My DH went out for the evening and neither I or the dog will be able to sleep until he is home safe and sound (we are funny that way).

She patiently waits by the door while I stitch.  Even if I went to bed she wouldn't move until he was home.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!!