Wednesday, January 29, 2020

And the WIP Parade Continues

I think we left off with #11, Needle and Thread by Brenda Gervais. Keep in mind that I’ve already finished three WIPs since the first of the year: Sweetheart Pincushion from Blackbird Designs, 12 Days of Christmas from Satsuma Street, and Needle and Thread from Brenda Gervais. I don’t think there will be any more finishes in January.

WIP #12 Alphabet Blocks from Carriage House Samplings. Don’t judge me, but I think I’m going to start this one over. I’m stitching with two threads over two on 36ct linen. That should explain why this is languishing in the WIP pile.


WIP #13 Feliz Navidad by Blackbird Designs. I think this is 40ct Picture this Plus. Not a big fan. It’s like stitching on 46ct.


WIP #14 Christmas Sampler from Prairie Schooler. I like the linen. I should really finish this one.


WIP #15 Another Prairie Schooler, Book #79, Christmas Village.  All those green trees!


WIP #16 Four Seasons Band Sampler from Sally Hesketh.  This pattern was in a Series of Just Cross Stitch magazines several years ago.


Just when you think it is safe to go into the craft room. I found more WIPs. Oy vey.



Sunday, January 26, 2020

Mary Miller - A Little More Progress

Not much stitching happened this week; it was a busy work week. I did spend a few hours with Mary Miller this weekend though. I’m almost finished with the top section of alphabets and words.


I’m itching to start something new, but I’d really like to get this sampler finished first. I have a few more WIPs to share too, but I’ll need to photograph them first. :)

Hope you have a good stitchy week.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Productive Weekend

Tomorrow I return back to reality after enjoying a really productive weekend. Five framed finishes and two WIPs finished!

Here’s the most recent WIP finished - it’s Needle and Thread from With Thy Needle and Thread. I still need to add buttons and thread the needle.


Here’s an updated photo of 12 Days of Christmas - wrinkle free!


I also had time to start on another block on Village of Hawk Run Hollow.


I probably won’t be back with another update until next weekend. Have a good week!

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Sunday at the Ranch

Another great breakfast...

I was able to finish 12 Days of Christmas by Satsuma Street.  Please excuse the wrinkles!


We had delicious white chicken chili and cornbread for supper. No picture...

The fun ends tomorrow.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Saturday at the Ranch

Breakfast: fruit, scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon and french toast.  Yum!



Today, my Partner in Crime helped me with some framing. These five pieces have been waiting to be paired up with their frames for a long time.  Mission accomplished.







Dinner: Parisien Chicken with spaghetti, asparagus, broccoli and tomatoes, salad.  Bonus not pictured - we had bread pudding for dessert!



One more day!

Friday, January 17, 2020

Friday at the Ranch

Breakfast: fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, pancakes and toast!


Worked on this WIP from With Thy Needle and Thread.


Supper: ribs, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad and fresh rolls.  Sorry mom, no picture!

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Thursday at the Ranch

Dear Mad Tatter,

As requested, I’m posting an update for you on the first day at the Ranch. Today was a good stitching day. I started and finished the block “12 Drummers Drumming” from Satsuma Street’s 12 Days of Christmas.


I have one block left - number 11. I wasn’t excited about stitching that one and that’s why it is the last one left. My plan is to stitch it tomorrow or Saturday and then we’ll have a finish!

Tonight’s supper - Chicken Pot Pie!


Big snow storm coming tomorrow.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Stitchy Update and a Purchase

It’s Sunday night and it’s snowing outside. We have a very snowy week ahead of us.

I’ve continued to work on Mary Miller. I’m committed to the linen, so I may as well keep going!


There’s a second hand furniture store south of the Twin Cities. I follow their posts on Facebook. On Friday they posted this picture. Do you see it? It’s an old (antique?) Coats & Clark thread cabinet. It’s not in perfect condition, but the price was right making it perfect for me!  I brought it home and cleaned it up and I love it!


Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, January 11, 2020

And Then There Were More WIPs

Judy, please just look away.

Let’s resume the WIP review and see how many more projects are in that basket of shame.

#6 Dutch Beauty from Permin of Copenhagen. 40ct cream linen with DMC. This was one of those FOMO (fear of missing out) starts. I should be able to finish this in 100 years.


#7 Christmas Garden from Blackbird Designs. This is like the third time I’ve re-started this one. Don’t be surprised if I restart it again. The Attic’s model was beautiful and I want mine to look like theirs!


#8 Feliz Navidad, another from Blackbird Designs. I think the 40ct Picture This Plus linen got the best of me.


#9 Strawberry Fields Stitching Bag from Hillside Samplings - it’s a classic. I really should just finish it! Too bad that the rest of the stitching is all over one.


#10 His Eye is On the Sparrow from Heartstring Samplery.  I thought I had more finished than this. This is the second start on this one.it’s no wonder I can’t get things finished; I’m always starting projects over!


Don’t worry, the parade isn’t over yet. More WIPs to come.

Wednesday, January 08, 2020

Tuesday, January 07, 2020

Stitching Letters

I decided to pick up Mary Miller again tonight.  Stitched a few more letters. Please excuse the wrinkles.


Diane asked about stitching in hand vs. using a frame. It’s been a long time since I’ve used a hoop or frame. I find stitching in hand to be the most comfortable for me. I use the sewing method; I’m not a fabric “stabber.” I think you might have better control of your tension with a frame though. Do what works best for you! I hope you enjoy stitching again!

Monday, January 06, 2020

Oops I Did it Again

That WIP I posted last night...I started it again. This piece of linen is a keeper. I’ll try to get a better picture tomorrow night.


Sunday, January 05, 2020

A Finish and Two Wips

What was a WIP on Friday night is now a finish! Two football games provided ample stitching time to get this finished. The design is called Sweetheart Pincushion and it is from Blackbird Designs. The linen in this photo is more accurate than last night’s photo; it’s 36ct Tango from Picture this Plus.


I was too busy watching football last night to dig in my WIP basket(s), so I pulled two WIPs out tonight.

WIP#4 is from Homespun Samplar and it is called the Strawberry Sampler. I didn’t like the linen I started it on (PTP Doubloon - too orange) and so I started over. This might be Wren from PTP.


WIP#5 is the Snooty Parrot Sampler from Barbara Ana. I’m stitching it with silks. I should really give this some love.

Happy that the Titans won last night and the Vikings today. Hoping for a Seattle win now. Let’s hope I can keep up my stitching and blogging momentum during the week!

Saturday, January 04, 2020

Last Night’s WIP...

...is today’s stitching project.  If I work on this one more day I think I can finish it.


Friday, January 03, 2020

Two Finishes and WIP #3

Well, I haven’t fallen off the blogger wagon yet. The Mad Tatter should be pleased. Diane, I’m excited to hear that you are going to try cross-stitching again. You go girl! Can’t wait to see your progress.

I have a finish! Thought it might happen last night, but I needed about two more hours to get it done. I started stitching this in early November with grand plans to have it finished in time for Christmas. Well, it didn’t make it for Christmas 2019 but will be ready for Christmas, 2020. Here is the December Word Play from With Thy Needle and Thread.


But wait! I have two more finishes! These are from back in December when I was a bad blogger. Both of these designs are from the Prairie Schooler chart “January” (Chart #177). You might recall that I stitched the larger design last winter. It still needs to be fully finished.




Today’s WIP is from Blackbird Designs. It’s the Sweetheart Pincushion. A very sad start. This project needs a little love. The linen is called Tango from Picture this Plus.



That’s it for tonight! Thanks y’all for visiting!

Thursday, January 02, 2020

WIP #2 Mary Miller 1842

I put a few more stitches in Mary Miller 1842. The photo is a little dark, but I ironed the linen so that it would look lovely in the photo! I stitch in hand, so my linen is usually pretty wrinkled. This design is from The Scarlett House and is available as a kit from the Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI.


Robin...the mystery sampler in last night’s post is stitched on 40ct Beachwalk from Under the Sea Fabrics using Threadworx floss (10421).

Thank you all for your kind comments!  I was hoping to share a finish tonight, but I need one more night of stitching to finish it.

Here’s a photo of the Mad Tatter and me, taken on Christmas Day.


Happy New Year!

Wednesday, January 01, 2020

New Year, New Start and WIP #1

I started the New Year with a new project. For the past three years, Linen and Threads, a needlework store in Australia, has published a complimentary mystery sampler design on their website. The first three didn’t really call my name, but this year’s design intrigued me and so I decided to join in the fun.

On the first of each month (actually, the last day of the month due to the day/time difference between the U.S. and Australia) they publish a portion of the design. Between yesterday and today, I was able to stitch January’s installment!


Here’s an update on an ongoing WIP (work in progress) that I started back in 2017. It’s from Satsuma Street and it’s called the 12 Days of Christmas. Between Christmas and New Year’s Eve I stitched the Eight Maids of Milking block.  As you can see, I have two more blocks to go.


Not making any promises, but maybe I’ll show up a little more often on this here blog.  Happy New Year!