March 2016 Update

Hello everyone,
I'm a little late with my March update - Hopefully I can get back on track this month.
This month, I have some smalls a little progress on the new start gold petite and some stash to share.

Brrr ©2011 by Linda Stolz dba Erica Michaels Designs
28ct Silkweaver Reflections Winter Skye
Ice Dragon Premium silk hand dyed fibers (Vickie Clayton)
Stitch Count: 42 x 42, 1 over 2
Cross Stitch

Savoir faire © 2003 Blackbird Designs
28ct Picture This Plus Fog Cashel
DMC, GAST and Weeks Threads
Stitch Count: 40 x 45, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Lazy Daisy, Smyrna

Queen Bee free pattern ©2013 The Prairie Schooler, Inc.
18ct Black Aida
DMC Threads
Stitch Count: 33 x 40, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch

A year of Celebrations - March   Published in Cross-stitch & Needlework March 2014 (www.c-sn.com)
Designer Cathy Habermann of Hands on Design
Fabric: 32ct Summer Khaki Belfast  (DMC 613)
Threads: Weeks, GAST, Crescent
Stitch Count: 50 x 50, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Lazy Daisy
Hopefully I'll make the time to stitch up all the months in this series.

Dimensions Gold Collection - Petites Kit # 8720
Christmas in the Adirondacks © 2003 Dimensions
Designed by Martha Edwards
Stitch Count: 90 x 122 varies over 1
18ct Aida
Cross Stitch, Half Cross Stitch, Backstitch, Blended
Color Chart

I put down my Dimensions kit when in mid March I got my reminder e-mail from Jen at Funk & Weber Designs requesting bookmarks be sent out soon. Since I had some time, I decided to stitch up another few bookmarks for the Stitching for Literacy program - and I have been spending some time getting them 'finished'. I'll show them all in my next post.

This Space Rocket bookmark is included in the Leisure Arts Bookmarks Galore  66 Designs ©1997
Fabric: 18ct Back Aida
DMC Threads
Stitch Count: 27 x 105, 2over 1
Cross Stitch, Backstitch

I was intrigued by the finishing of this one - so I chose this Celtic Corner Bookmark
Published in Cross-stitch & Needlework Spring 2016 (www.c-sn.com)
Designer Elizabeth Spurlock
Fabric: 14ct White Aida
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 27 x 27, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch

I thought this Flower Owl will make a pretty bookmark
Plaid Bucilla Kit #45749 ©2014
Fabric: 14ct Aida
Threads: Included in kit
Stitch Count: 29 x 31, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch, Backstitch, Long Stitch, Running stitch, French Knots





New Stash:
I ordered the new little hedgie from Just Nan as well as the limited edition Flying High Stitching Case by Just Nan.







Bucky has been feeling a little under the weather for the past week - He hasn't been sleeping well at night - can't seen to stay settled and he's puffing a lot - almost like his nose is stuffed up. It might just be a cold - waiting to hear from vet - time will tell.

Sam has been sleeping fine as you can see - she likes to use DH slippers as a pillow /play toy.

It's been lightly snowing today so they have been enjoying their time outside.

For those that stayed with me until the end... It's time for spring and a thread giveaway - some micro spools of HDF, a skein or 2 of Carries creations, some Victorian Motto sampler threads, to name a few. Doesn't matter where you live to enter just leave a comment with your email and I'll have DH choose a winner on the 24th.

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

December stitch from stash update

Hello everyone,
It's been an eventful month.

Earlier this week was my 50th birthday. DH ordered me a beautiful bouquet of red velvet roses and some dipped strawberries.  My dear brothers sent me some flowers and gift cards to Michaels and A.C. Moore. (I'm so looking forward to using them on some floss for my HAED projects that I want to start next year).







Earlier this week was also another special day - one year ago Bucky and Samantha came into our lives and they have filled our house with love ever since. (They had some special treats that day).

Dear Husband had his surgery - the infection was deep. He had a few complications which resulted in a longer hospital stay. He is home now on IV antibiotics for 42 days total. The Dr. had to exchange the poly of the artificial hip and now we are hoping that he responds well to the antibiotics. Won't find out until January if he needs another operation to remove the hip and put in a spacer.

So now I'm sure that you are waiting to see how I did stitching from my stash for the challenge hosted by Mel at Epic Stitching.

I can happily say that I survived the year-  and I didn't spend anything this month. :)

I am happy that I was able to stay under my monthly budget this year. Thanks Mel for all your hard work. I am so glad I was part of this wonderful group.

I'm looking forward to another year of stitching from my stash.

Most of my time was busy with DH hospital stay and travelling to his weekly Doctor appointments but I did work on 2 freebies from the Cross Eyed Cricket.

First Up is Korny Kiss compliments of The Cricket Collection © October 2014
Fabric: Off White 16ct Aida (part of a grab bag)
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 35 x 40, 2 over 1

 

Next is Red-Nosed Kiss compliments of The Cricket Collection © August 2013
Fabric: Off White 16ct Aida (part of a grab bag)
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 35 x 40, 2 over 1

I still have to find the jingle bell for it - I know I bought them last year... just have to find where I put them.







That's all for now.
Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

 

October Stitch from Stash Update

Hello Everyone,

Thanks so much for all your kind comments.

It's time for my monthly update for my stitch from stash hosted by Mel at Epic Stitching.

October has been a busy month - We celebrated 16 years married in early October. DH surprised me with two Blackbird Designs hidden in a card - Reward of Merit Pinkeep In Full Glory, and Reward of Merit Pinkeep Peace Rose.

DH is now home recovering from his total hip replacement surgery.  His staples come out at the end of the month and then he will start outpatient therapy.
 

I did get a small amount of stitching done - I found this design all kitted up - I don't know why it took me so long to work on it.
 

Howlers Spooky © 2009 Charland Designs Inc.
Fabric: 12" 70mm Limited run hand dyed banding - Mandarin Madness
Threads: Weeks Dye Works, DMC, Kreinik#4
Stitch Count: 36 x 145, 2 over 2
Finished with Pewter Halloween Bat Mini Bellpull by Charland Designs Inc.

 

 

 

and...

Autumn (Freebie) © 2010 The Stitcherhood LLC
Fabric:Silkweaver Solo 28ct Cashel from October 2003
Threads: DMC and hand dyed Var lt pumpkin and "D" green from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe
Stitch Count: 28 x 80, 2 over 2

 

Mel offered us Special Exemption for the Nene Thomas charts at Heaven and Earth Designs that were to be retired on October 15th. I took advantage of this exemption- adding to my already sizable stash of Nene Thomas charts.

Lullaby, Prophecy, Lord of Snows , Mini Power and Prestige, Mini Astranaithes, Mini House Divided, and Mini Lovers (left this one out of picture).

I suppose that I shouldn't admit to the HAED Nene Thomas Charts that I already have... but here goes: Mini Queen of Shadows, QS Direwood, Mini Asiria, Mini Chorus, Storykeep Winter Wings Owl, QS La Victime, QS Whispers, Storykeep Dragon Moon, QS Storykeep Winter Wings, A Chance Encounter, Memento, Firemoon, Storykeep Ravens, and Corsair Daemira. Just a few - LOL!!!

Some of these will be perfect to work on this winter. and yes, winter is coming - October 19th we had our first day of  snow flurries - a bit early this year.

So after my online shopping for Heaven and Earth charts, I did a bit more online shopping - this time at The Floss Box. I ordered biscornu pack #32 (which consist of biscornu patterns #549 to #556) and 2 other biscornu patterns: #599 and #656.

 I spent a total of $12.50

Mel also offered us a bonus amount of $50.00 to count before our monthly budget. I'm going to save that for next month.

Here's a few more smiles from Bucky (left) and Samantha (right).

Until next time,

Have a wonderful day!

Lisa M.

 

May Visitors and Stitch from Stash update

Hello everyone,

Thanks so much for all your kind words.

Spring has finally arrived. In early May, our hummingbirds and rose breasted grosbeaks returned along with this lovely visitor who stayed for a few days at our feeders.

Our apple trees and crab apples have just started to show blossoms, and our pesky black flies have shown up.

Now, for my monthly update for my stitch from stash hosted by Mel at Epic Stitching. This month I spent most of my time working on the model stitching piece. I still have a bit more to go until it is done. I stayed off our computer so I can happily say that I stayed within my budget and still did not spend one cent.

I did finish the stitching on 3 smaller pieces that I had in my travel bag.

Snow Country Sleds © 2010 by Cynthia Stalcup Smelcer dba Foxwood Crossings
14 count brown perforated paper
DMC Threads
Stitch Count for each sled 17 x 31, 2 over 1
I still have to trim the perforated paper and attach them to the sleds, but they are mostly done.



Bucky and Samantha update: they don't like thunderstorms, they had their first encounter with a few  frogs that were out at night (I think they were more scared than the little peeper), they haven't figured out where the owl is - not for lack of trying, and they met our neighbor's Maine coon cat.

Until next time, have a wonderful day!
Lisa

Stitch from Stash update for January

Hi Everyone,
Last post I mentioned that I joined Mel's group at Epic Stitching  of 130 stitchers who have committed to keep our stash spending to $25.00 or less each month. This idea sounded great to me as I have stash spread out in every room of our home, and we plan to renovate another room this summer to turn it into my craft room. Often I know I have something but just can't seem to find it - whether it is a thread I need or a pattern I know I purchased. So I am trying to put projects together, and make my shopping lists for those that are incomplete.

Part of this challenge is to  report our success or failure to stay within our budget on our blog by the 28th of each month.

This month I am happy to report as a success - mostly since we've had so many days of shoveling and chopping ice that I didn't get out to spend any money. I even managed to stay away from my Internet stash shopping - although I still have a December birthday gift card and a couple of Christmas gift cards to use up.

I did however get to do a small amount of stitching. Sorry my pictures are a bit dark - guess I forgot to turn on the flash.

First up is this Shepherd's Bush freebie I found here.

Happy Snowman © Tina Herman 2014
Fabric 28ct periwinkle colored evenweave from a grab bag
Threads: Called for WDW except for the linen color (I know I have it - just where is it?) substituted DMC ecru, and the called for DMC thread
Mill Hill Petite Beads
Stitch Count: 33 x 46, 2 over 2

I know I have multiple packages of snowflake buttons...hmmm...where did I put them?

So this is going into my finishing basket where hopefully I'll soon find the buttons I want so I can finish it up.

Next up is this lovely complimentary mini chart that I received last year with an order that I placed from Rosewood Manor.

Snowflake Trees II © Karen Kluba 2013
Fabric: 28 count Antique White evenweave that was part of a grab bag
Threads: DMC
Mill Hill Beads
Specialty Stitches: Algerian Eyelet
Stitch Count: 60 x 60, 2 over 2 and  1 over 2


I also worked a bit on my WIP HAED Forbidden Doorway - just not enough progress yet for another picture  (now at 12,222 stitches).

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