Final February Finish

I just couldn't hold myself back. I wanted to finish this project in the worst way, so here it is: Snowman Button Sampler from Homespun Elegance!



Okay, I should have straightened those buttons before I took the picture - and I noticed that the shading on the snowman's face is vertical, whereas the rest of the body is horizontal! It doesn't bother me enough to rip and re-stitch, so it is what it is!

Quick review of February's goals:

Continue working on SAL's - Apricot Elegance, Game Board Sampler and Miss Mary Mack (Worked on both Apricot Elegance and Game Board Sampler)

Work on a project from WIP bag (It wasn't exactly a WIP, but I started and finished Snowman Button Sampler)

Stitch an ornament with Friends Gather (I completed Glory Bee's Seasons Greetings from 2005 JCS Ornament issue.)

Start on house exchange project (Started; sorry, can't show this one until complete!)

Participate in other Friends Gather challenges (Hopefully next month - unfortunately, due to some unexpected events, my month was thrown out of whack.)

Not bad if I may say so myself. Will post March's goals in tomorrow's update.

Wish I had More to Report

Had a busy weekend - On Saturday we celebrated my nephew's third birthday. He's such a cute little guy and quite a character. Girls, watch out! On Sunday, my daughter played in a one day tournament - three basketball games! Needless to say, these activities didn't leave much time for stitching, but it was good to be with family and friends!

Here's an update on HE Snowman Button Sampler. As you can see, he is almost done; in fact, I had hoped to finish this one in February. That probably won't happen, but it will be finished soon!



The photo below is of two gifts I received in February from my "not-so-secret" stitchers. The not-so-secret stitcher program is coordinated every December through Shakespeare's Peddler. Several years ago I signed up and got connected with Jan in Evansville, IN. We've continued to write to each other ever since. In February, Jan sent me the Minnesota heart from Victoria Sampler along with two tubes of my favorite color of lipstick (Jan sells Avon). This year I put my name in the hat again and got connected with Robin who lives in Brainerd, MN. Robin sent me this beautiful hand knit scarf. It's so soft! Aren't they great friends?



Tonight I'm going to work on DT Game Board Sampler a little bit more. I completed one square yesterday, but would like to make a little more progress on it. Bine is stitching along with me on this one!
I'll try to post a progress picture tomorrow!

Progress Made!

I finally got my act together...a couple of weeks ago, Katrina asked if I might be interested in a SAL for Spot of Summer (it is summer in New Zealand). I told her I would stitch Spot of Winter with her. To my surprise, the pattern was missing from my chartpack! I haven't resolved that issue yet, but I also had Spot of Autumn in my stash, so I told Katrina I would stitch that.

Truth is, I wasn't really in the mood to stitch Spot of Autumn, so yesterday I went out and purchased Spot of Spring. I finally got it started and will now be stitching along with Katrina on Thursdays!

Olympic Fever

Sorry - no time for stitching updates - I'm watching the Olympics! Stitching updates will be posted tomorrow or Sunday!

You Are Curling

What you lack in athleticism, you make up for in concentration. And while curling isn't much more of a sport than bowling, you *can* win a gold medal for it!

What Winter Sport Are You?

Sunday Evening Already?

Gosh, where did the weekend go? Mine certainly flew by!

On Saturday morning, I had the pleasure of meeting Linda N at a local bakery/coffee shop. Linda is leading the Apricot Elegance SAL for the Stitching Smalls Yahoo group. Shortly after starting this project we both realized we were in MN and then quickly figured out that we lived about 2 miles from each other. Small world, isn't it? Linda had the opportunity to go to Nashville and so it was fun to hear all about it. We admired each others progress on the Apricot Elegance project.

Due to family commitments and my daughter's basketball tournament, I didn't get too much stitching done this weekend. Today, I stitched three squares on the Drawn Thread Game Board Sampler that I'm doing with Bine. (Will post updated photo next week-)

Last night, I worked on the Homespun Elegance Snowman Button Sampler - all that's left is to finish the bottom mittens, stitch the top mittens and to stitch the snowman.

I'm also going to stitch with Katrina on the Drawn Thread Spot of Summer/Winter. Katrina is actually doing summer and I'm stitching winter. Well, I was going to stitch winter. Imagine my surprise when I opened the chart pack on Wednesday night and - there was no pattern! I think it was a printing oops! The inside pages are blank. So, since I don't have time to go back to the needlework store right now, I'm going to switch and stitch Spot of Autumn with Katrina. She started on hers last week; I won't be able to start until this week!

Has anyone made any purchases since Nashville? I have already received "A Most Noble Pursuit" from Elegant Stitch. I've ordered the "Red Desert Scissors Pocket" from Elegant Stitch too. Other than that, I've just got a wish list going. It's getting pretty long...

Thanks to all who have stopped by and left a comment. Have a great week!

Midweek Stitching Update

Hello dear friends. Thanks to everyone who has visited my blog and left comments. I enjoy hearing from each of you!

Happy belated Valentine's Day to you! I was feeling a bit under the weather yesterday and wasn't able to post. Here's a pic of a Hardanger valentine heart that I stitched for a couple of friends. Becky received hers, but I'm not sure about the others yet, so I won't mention any other names right now! :)



In addition to getting caught up on the Apricot Elegance SAL, over the weekend, I stitched an ornament. "Seasons Greetings" is a design from Glory Bee and it was included in the 2005 JCS Ornament issue. I made some substitutions on thread colors (using up some of that stash!) This one is quick and easy! I'll worry about finishing later...



Finally, I've been itching to stitch this one for awhile now and since I'm fairly caught up on other projects, I started the "Snowman Button Sampler" from Homespun Elegance. I've made pretty good progress. The alphabet is all stitched. I'm using the 28ct Amber linen and the Sampler/Weeks fibers as indicated on the pattern.



Now I need to pull out DT Spot of Winter and try to make a start on it tonight. Katrina is stitching DT Spot of Summer and we're going to try to complete these together. Time to get busy on my exchange pieces too - I have some fabulous ideas.

Please keep two of my blogging friends in your thoughts. One special friend is recovering from surgery and the other recently had her computer stolen out of her home. I'm hoping that everything works out okay for both of them. Until next time...happy stitching!

Apricot Elegance Update

I was a tad bit behind on this SAL, needing to complete weeks 4, 5, and 6. While watching (actually listening to) the Olympics last night and tonight, I was able to get caught up. The color is distorted - it's hard to get a good picture when it is 9:30pm - but at least you can get some idea as to the progress I've made. There won't be another lesson on this until next weekend, so now I've got time to work on other projects.

This weekend my daughter is playing in the basketball tournament sponsored by our team's association. I worked two hours in concessions today and need to volunteer an additional four hours in admissions tomorrow. It takes a huge chunk out of the weekend, but volunteers help to keep the costs down. Our association relies on profits from this tournament to keep our program fees affordable. We only have to do this one weekend each year, so it's not so bad.

I'm looking forward to enjoying the Olympics this weekend and throughout the week. We are huge sports fans and especially like to watch the hockey games and the figure skating. Do you have a particular Olympic sport that you enjoy watching during the Winter Olympics?

Have a great Sunday everyone and take care!

...and then there were five....

I seem to be on a roll here - on Tuesday evening I completed two more of Essy's Friends. These are quick and easy to stitch and finish resulting in instant gratification! My latest two finishes are #2 Shoot for the Moon (center) and #6 from Shepherds Bush (tin pin to the right). I have two left to stitch and finish and then I will be caught up.



I hope to get back into my regular routine soon. I need to work on my mint green version of Apricot Elegance. I'm three lessons behind, but I think I could catch up quite easily. And then there's Miss Mary Mack....hmmm, perhaps this weekend. Definitely not a night-time project!

Dear friends - thanks again for your support these past few days. It meant a great deal to me.

...and then there were three...

First, thank you all for your kind comments and your expressions of sympathy. It's been a tough couple of days for me and I appreciate your support.

Tonight was spent making many phone calls. I had many things that I should have done, but felt like I needed to relax a bit, so I pulled out the latest installment of Essy's Friends from Elegant Stitch. It came in the mail this past weekend. The design is from Sampler Cove and it's called Halle's Heart. It's an original quaker motif stitched on 32 ct. Awareness Pink with two strands of Threadgatherer Silk 'n Colors in lavender. It is finished in a square tin pin. As you can see, I've completed three of these so far - I still have four of them waiting to be stitched!

Progress Made Plus Another Finish!

While watching the Super Bowl tonight (actually, I stitch and listen) I finished up another small Hardanger doily. This smaller design was a snap to stitch; although I started it last month and just finished it tonight (other projects got in the way!) The design is from Satin Stitches by Donna M. Olson and is from the Time for Tea - Jasmine chartpak. I used a pale pink Hardanger fabric and a soft pink pearl cotton thread from Needle Necessities.


I also made progress this weekend on DT Game Board Sampler. I had some catching up to do - my goal is to stitch two squares per week. Last Sunday I didn't stitch on it at all. So last night I completed five additional squares (so I'm now one square ahead!) Bine and I have been working together on this one. I might finally be catching up to her!

This past week was a very difficult week for me. My last living aunt passed away yesterday after spending the week in the hospital. I was very fortunate to have spent time with her this past week in the hospital, particularly four precious hours on Friday night. She was very special to me and while I know that it is a blessing that she no longer endures any pain or suffering, it's very difficult for me to let go. We particularly missed her today - she was a huge football fan and would have come tonight to watch and celebrate the Super Bowl with us. Auntie Florence - I will never forget you!