I Have a Another Finish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Started this back in 2015 when it came out as Mystery SAL.  I only got this far when I put it away.

I decided to pull it out again for Bewitched Stitches' (Facebook) Summer of Salem SAL. Once I started stitching on it again, I fell in love with it.  So without further adieu here is the completed piece.

I also stitched another piece for the same SAL.  I started it during Stitch Maynia this year.  It is called Salem by VerbenaCS (Etsy).

The  stitched piece in the pocket watch is part of Lizzie*Kate's Nevermore.

The Spooktacular Boo Go called for 250 stitches yesterday and 300 today so I made significant progress on BBD's Away We Ride.  The house is almost done.  I should receive my GAST for the door in the mail next week.

Till next time!!!!

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

Counting Stiches

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Do you count your stitches? I never did until last month after joining The Ultimate Cross Stitch Group on Facebook.  Which is quite surprising since I have always been a numbers gal. I was a bookkeeper for most of my working life and I always want to know how many km I walked or biked.  I also wear a Fitbit.

I am not counting all my stitches.  That would be too much for even me but I do enjoy having 1 or 2 focus pieces and seeing how much progress I can make on a chart just by adding 50 - 200 stitches daily.  As I mentioned before, last month I focused on Welcome Santa (a piece that had been sitting on my WIP pile for a few months) and just by following the daily stitch calendar provided by the Group I managed to get over 3000 stitches in and the next time I pick it up I can start on the border and the backstitching.

This month I am doing 2 counting challenges within the group.  I am once again doing the Every Day Counts S@L and my focus piece is Five Little Pumpkins by Petal Pusher.  I am 544 stitches as of today.

They also have an October event called Spooktacular Boo Go.  Every day from the 1st to the 24th a stitch count is revealed on "Boo Go" card and you have to stitch that amount on chosen piece and post a picture.  My chosen piece is Away We Ride by Blackbird Designs which is also a SAL and part of my Dark October stitching.

Yesterday was #witchywednesdayxs so I pulled out Early Witches and since I am so close finishing I worked on it again today.   All I have left to do is the border at the bottom and a little on the side.

Finally, I think somebody wants me to finish the Stoney Creek Halloween charts because when I spinned the wheel this morning, guess what?

Since the Early Witches will be done soon I will be moving it to work on Wednesdays.

Take Care and Happy Stitching!!!!!

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Cats, Cookies, Sauce and Stitching

Munchkin

Smore

Spent some time with these 2 little cuties this morning.  I thought I might be spending the whole morning with them but the reason for my being in their home was concluded quicker than I expected.

I am a member of Girl Guides of Canada and our District Mint Cookie Order was delivered today.  I had to fill in for the owner of these two because she had to attend to a family matter.

The cookies were scheduled to arrive between 9 &12 and I figured with my luck they would come closer to 12 than 9.  However, within 15 minutes of my friend leaving the delivery truck pulled up to the front of the house,  All 625 cases of cookies were unloaded and stored in the garage before 10.  I thought I would get some stitching while waiting (came prepared with 3 projects) but  all I got done was the needle threaded.

Once I got back home I decided to try out Priscilla's Roasted Tomato Sauce (Yard Sauce).  My chief tester (my DH) thought it was great.

After that I finally got down to some stitching.   Today being #witchywednesdayxs I pulled out Early Witches by The Primitive Hare.  I really loving this piece.  I originally started it in 2015 when it first came out as Mystery SAL but for some reason only got this far before pulling it out again in August for the #summerofsalemsal at Bewitched Stitches (Facebook).

I have put down my needle for the night and this is where I am as of  now.  Definitely in the homestretch.

I am ready for my head to hit the pillow!!!  Goodnight!!!!😴

Take care and Happy Stitching!!!!!!

Summer is over, I'm retired and I'm back!!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone!!!!!

It has been a looooonnnnnggg time since I lasted posted - almost 2 years.   As stated in my post title - I have recently retired and I am still adjusting to this new phase of my life (the past 3 months I have spent mostly out at our trailer so up to now it has been more of an extended vacation).  However, one thing I thought I would like to do now that my time is my own, is to start blogging again.

I know that the big thing now is Flosstube.   While I have contemplated doing one I am not sure I am ready - too many ifs, ands and buts.

I love watching Flosstube, though.  I am latecomer to the Flosstube scene - only started to watch them on a regular basis in January.  Unfortunately (or fortunately) I am the type that needs to see everybody's videos right from the beginning.   Therefore, I have been doing a lot of binge watching as I add to my list of favourites.   I really enjoy listening to fellow stitchers talk about their stitching and how it makes them feel (a lot of which I can relate to), seeing what they are working on and how they finish them (Yvonne (The Night Owl Stitcher) and Priscilla (Priscilla & Chelsea) really rock.) and getting a peek at their current stash and recent acquisitions.  The only problem I have with Flosstube is it what is has done to my wallet😀.

If you are familiar with my blog you will know that I am a Serial Starter and more of a process stitcher rather than progress.  While I love finishes (who doesn't and since I generally work on small to medium size projects, I get enough of those throughout the year). I mostly love how stitching makes me feel (contented) and being able to stitch on whatever I want when I want.   No deadlines for this gal and no guilt at how many WIPS I have (they will get done when they get done.)

While I am still working on establishing a routine in most aspects of my new retired life, I have establish one in my stitching life.  It is a result of becoming more active on Instagram (@lorettacarmensusanna) and watching Flosstube.   My weeks generally works like this:

Sundays(#santasundayxs) and Mondays(#merrymondayxs)

On Sundays & Mondays I work on anything Christmas related.  Christmas along with animals and birds are my favourite themes.   As you may recall I like to do a variety of Christmas ornaments that I put in a basket and let my family pick one for themselves.

This is how my basket looks right now and I am still working on adding some more.

I currently stitching on ornaments a friend asked me to stitch for her when she saw the ones I stitched last year.  I normally don't do this but since they are smalls I am okay with it.

   

They are the Penquin 1 & 2 by Vee and Co Cross Stitch Designs.  I am doing 2 of each design.  I finished 1 (still needs to be fully finished) and started a second.

Altough the fabric looks bluish on my screen it is a more greenish opalescent 28ct fabric.  It was in my stash with no label so I don't know where I got it from or what the actual colour name.

Tuesdays & Thursdays (#surprisewipseptember)

On these 2 days I use a android  app called Decision Roulette to pick one my many WIPS to work on that day.  I don't have all my WIPS entered on the wheel yet but I am working on it.

Wednesday (#witchywednesdayxs)

Wednesdays are reserved for Halloween stitching.  I am currently working on Early Witches by The Primitive Hare.   It was originally a Mystery SAL in 2015 that I joined and that is close to being finished. (See I told you that the WIPS would eventually get done.)

Fridays (#fallfridayxs)

Currently Fridays are for Fall Stitching.  Eventually I might do other seasons of the year.  My current project is Seasons in Chalk Art: Fall by Hands on Design (based on the Artwork by Priscilla Blain) from the October 2016 issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine.

 Saturdays (no #) 

Saturdays are reserved for Canadiana stitching.  I recently finished the Canadian Patriotic Snippets by Jeannette Douglas Designs and now working on Cross Canada Cross Stitch by Many Flowers Design Company (no longer available.)

Well, I think I have rambled on enough.  I will be back (hopefully tomorrow) with more pics and what I have been up to stitchywise.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!

DUCJFC2016 - DAY THIRTY-FIVE

Today's "start" is a WIP/UFO for 2014.   Early Witches by The Primitive Hare.

At the rate I am going I a may have it done before I die. ;)

Below is the before & after pictures when I pulled it out for last year's DUCJC.

This is how much progress I made on it tonight.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!

 Thank you for visiting!!!!!

 

Day 10: DUCJC2015

It is past midnight now but on Day 10 I was still on track with my stitching for this challenge.

I decided to work on a WIP.   It is a Halloween Mystery SAL from Primitive Hare that I didn't get very far on last year.   It is called Early Witches and below are my before and after pictures.  I  am pleased with my progress on it.

If you wish to see how it will look when it is completed, click here.  This blogger completed it in a much more timely manner and it looks great.

Later today (Day 11) I will make a new start on Tribal Maple Leaf © 2011 Jamie Larson (White Willow Stitching).

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

Thank you for visiting!!!!