February 2020 challenge final (week 4)

Hi everyone,
It's time to share what I've been up to this week.

Embroidery.com's Love to Stitch  Challenge. Only thirty minutes a day minimum stitching time during the month of February. You can read all about it here.





February 22nd (sunny and warmer)

decisions...decisions.. what to stitch next?
How about this design for baseball season spring training ?
New Start

Baseball Player Silhouette © 2019 Stitchnmomma
Fabric: 28ct Silkweaver Bayou Linen
Threads: DMC (Substituted 3021 for the black to give a softer feel)
Stitch Count:98 x 80 , 2 over 1
Cross Stitch










After 40 minutes









 February 23rd (some melting has started. sunny and above freezing)

Today was a busy day. An unexpected day of shopping for Mom & Dad as their coffee pot went on the fritz. Nearest big box store to pick up another one is about 50 miles South.

I haven't touched this since last October - I ran out of the onyx thread.. ordered more but never picked this up again...
Nevermore [Snippet #S120] © 2015 LizzieKate
Fabric: 32ct Lugana Poltergeist by Silkweaver
Threads: WDW
Stitch Count: 58 x 35, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch





After 1 hour









February 24th (Beautiful day today. Sunny and in the mid 40's)

Dad had a medical appointment today as he injured the bottom of his foot. Borrowed a wheelchair to get him to my car after treatment. Mom had a grocery shopping list made out since there  is a grocery store close to Dr. office (about 30 miles from here).  Long day.

Driveway is a slushy mess..but more mix of freezing rain/rain/snow on the way and it's a better base if we leave it.

Too tired to stitch this evening.
So this is Pass Day #2.

February 25th (rainy..dreary temps in the 30's making everything slippery)
I remember a Russian doll pattern that I saw in one of my magazines that was a must stitch... Spent part of today looking for the pattern - still didn't find it.  LOL!
Instead...


Nevermore [Snippet #S120] © 2015 LizzieKate
Fabric: 32ct Lugana Poltergeist by Silkweaver
Threads: WDW
Stitch Count: 58 x 35, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch

After 1 hour





February 26th ( another messy day... snow / rain/ mix/windy)
Macey woke me up at 4:30 am with a deep loud bark. She heard some snow break off the garage roof for the first time. Loud noise when it came down. Still a  lot more to go. Hopefully not while I'm asleep.

Back to this one.. almost finished... Stitching time was limited as I really needed a nap.

Nevermore [Snippet #S120] © 2015 LizzieKate
Fabric: 32ct Lugana Poltergeist by Silkweaver
Threads: WDW
Stitch Count: 58 x 35, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch

After 30 minutes

   




February 27th (heavy rain, mix, change over to 2" heavy wet snow..windy and much colder this evening to make everything freeze and be very icy)

Happy dance ! Finished up 

Nevermore [Snippet #S120] © 2015 LizzieKate
Fabric: 32ct Lugana Poltergeist by Silkweaver
Threads: WDW
Stitch Count: 58 x 35, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch
Time: 35 minutes



While still looking for my magazine in our basement, I found this UFO.
Since it was nearly complete, I grabbed it and brought it upstairs

Floral Cross  © 2003 Jeanette Crews Designs No. 1251 Decorative Crosses by Ursula Michaels
Fabric: 14ct Navy Aida
Threads:DMC, Kreinik #4
Substituted: #102 kreinik for the 221, also blended 336 with 340 1 strand each, and 931 for 930.

Stitch Count: 80 x 80, 2over 1 and 3 over 1 in a few places
**I remembered that I put this away because I used three strands the last time I picked it up and everywhere else prior to then I was using 2 strands. I chose not to pick them out as they were scattered  over the side finished section.
I also put it aside as the cross stitches are reverse    / (bottom arm) then  \ (top arm), of the normal way I stitch. I must have been reading something about the placement of the top when I started this piece.  
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, fractional stitches, blended threads





After 34 minutes











February 28th (ugh.. driveway is icy as it froze overnight.. snow squalls and periods of sun - I think I need to invest in some good snow shoes as my feet keep dropping down when walking Macey)

Floral Cross  © 2003 Jeanette Crews Designs No. 1251 Decorative Crosses by Ursula Michaels
Fabric: 14ct Navy Aida
Threads:DMC, Kreinik #4
Substituted: #102 kreinik for the 221, also blended 336 with 340 1 strand each, and 931 for 930.

Stitch Count: 80 x 80, 2over 1 and 3 over 1 in a few places
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, fractional stitches, blended threads

Time spent:1 hour

February 29th (Mandatory stitching day- blustery..temps in the 20's with a lot of wind)
Final day for this challenge This has been sitting untouched since October (I had to dig out a few more strands of threads).

Cross My Heart Inc.CSB-73 © 1992  Between the Pages Designs by Nancy Klipfel
Stained Glass Window
Fabric: 18ct cream aida
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 28 x 98, 2 over 1
Cross stitch, back stitch, Fractional Stitches
















After 1 hour 30 minutes  (8 color blocks)













Stash:

I stumbled on a clearance sale while looking at all the gorgeous Nashville sneak peaks. These 4 jumped into my cart.

Abby Rose; "My Soul is Fed"
Chessie & Me : Patriotic Stitch Book
Just Nan: Needle Tweet Lila
Primitive Hare: Christmas Queen of the Needle




Sewing: February birthday girls received their peek-a-boo pouches. (sorry about the lighting - I forgot to tuen on the flash)

Outside all folded up

Inside when fully opened

Started working on my March birthday girl's pouch.

Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

January 2020 A new Year

Hi everyone,
It's time to share what I've been up to this month.


Stitching:
Finished!

Dear Santa It Was the Dog © Cross Stitch Wonders
Created from original art by Black Cats Media
Fabric: 28ct white evenweave
Threads: DMC, and I changed the dog to sulky 1070 as the DMC color was too light
Stitch Count: 120 x 120, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch







Started

Winter Forest
Ornaments of the Month 2011 - No.11 © 2011 Designed by Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 28 ct mystery (cocoa- I think) Linen
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 45 x 60, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch

Last year ended with freezing rain/ice and the new year started off the same. I fell a second time in a week while walking Macey. Tripped on a buried tree branch that had fallen down and was covered in snow/ice. Jammed a few of my fingers when I landed.







This past week was our January thaw. It was so nice to have 5 days in a row with no precipitation of any kind... and milder temps. We managed to get most of our errands done including getting Macey to the vet for her shots. Because of my falls followed by colder temps for the first 2 weeks of the year, Macey's walks have shortened considerably. She is on a diet - at least until she loses the extra weight. We cut back on her food a week earlier... but she still tipped the scale higher than she should at 86#. We are waiting for her heartworm re-test results -  should have them tomorrow.

Most of our snowfalls have been in the 5-6" range.. although last night we had mostly mix of heavy wet with sleet and freezing rain.. ending as an inch of snow.









My Jeep was back in the shop just before the rain/freezing rain 2 weeks ago. Went to the local store for DH, then checked in on M&D. Went to leave and it wouldn't start. Battery was fine.. starter tested fine...turns out the wire connection to the starter had corroded and broke off.

I joined the birthday club again this year. We send each other a card and a skein of floss (assigned number)  for each birthday girl. This year we have a theme.. autumn with a touch of winter/Christmas. Since my color was in the Christmas range, I decided to make something to send with the floss. (Actually since I couldn't find my organza drawstring bags that I put away). I searched online and decided to make the birthday gals a peek-a-boo pouch in Christmas fabrics. This was my first time using vinyl. Not too bad for a first attempt. Time to pick out fabric for the February gals - maybe this time it will be a small project pouch? Hmmm... time will tell.
These are the ones for our January gals.

Outside all folded

Open to show inside


I tucked the skein of floss inside with 2 other floss skeins and a christmas-y charm.

Both ladies were thrilled with their gift.













Speaking of gifts, I received a lovely Christmas Card and skein of floss from one of the ladies in last year's birthday club. It was mailed from Indiana on December 17th. It arrived in upstate NY on January 17th.


Lastly, I decided to take part in the Embroidery.com's Love to Stitch  Challenge. Only thirty minutes a day for the month of February. You can read all about it here.




This week I've been spending my nights going through my stash and getting fabrics ready with the patterns. I'll wait to pull threads that day. Not sure if I will start something different each day - or if I will work on something until it's finished. I do hope to sneak in a few of my UFO's/WIPS.

New stash:
Both for the Australian Bush Fire Appeal.
ETSY Fiddlesticksau here.
The Little Stitcher here.
  


Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.