WIP it out already!

One thing that alot of us have a hard time with is WIPs.  I know there are some very disciplined stitchers out there who work on only 1-3 at a time but that is not my case.  I used to be that way and over the years have picked up some bad habits!!  LOL.  I LOVE to start projects, but I also LOVE to finish them.  I love bringing them to the framer and enjoying the fruits of my labor.  I decided that my list of WIPs was really out of control, well its beyond out of control and that a few of them I have going I havent even put on the list because I thought I could get them done faster.  Obviously we all know how that goes also :(.   Not like I haven't done anything the last couple of weeks-- finishing  up the quilt top shown last week;  I also stitched up a model for the LNS of  With Thy Needle and Thread Ltd edition kit from St Charles 2013.  I chose a great Lakeside Linen and used the called for WDW colors. 

I am going to make some adjustments for my own Ltd sampler-- of course revisions are always fun-- different count linen and change some of the colors.  But I am not ready to stitch it again just yet.
I wanted to get a few things out of the way as I mentioned earlier.  First up is a finish of the new BBD LF series Wild Berries.  I finished this up yesterday morning.  I added the date 1928 for the birth year of my fathers mother.  I think personalizing each one is a great idea, makes you think about which one will fit for each person.  Since there are 12 in the series, there is amble designs for all of my family :)

I used 40ct Vintage Pecan Butter Lakeside and weighed stitching it in silk but since it is such a small project, the idea of changing it to silk made me tired.  There are 13 colors in this little guy!!!!!!  No thanks, I chose again to use the called for cottons.  For little designs going forward,  I am going to weigh my options before I choose the silks.  I have made the decision already to stitch the BBD LF series in cottons.  I know already I will stick to silks for the Hollyberry Farm series.  I know I am just rambling now, but I am kind of over it.  HA!!!  I know I know.  I am not going to give up my silk snob status, but for every 20+ silk projects, a cotton one wont kill me :), just makes me twitch a bit!!!  HA HA!!!!!! Joking :) 
Next up is a project started a bit ago and I want put it to bed also.  These projects laying all over the place next to my stitching chair are starting to really get to me. 

This one is called Poor Jack from Birds of a Feather.  Totally OOP, but a classic and a staple for the Halloween collection.  I have wanted to stitch this forever, and I have finally gotten my wish.  Thank you very much :)  Using mostly the called for colors, I did add a color for his pants and using BOF Sparrow Linen I can hardly stand it.  I just LOVE IT.  The colors almost glow they are soo bright.  The center of the design stitched up in 2 days, however the border is taking forever, clearly, it isn't done yet.  Maybe I need to either start stitching earlier in the night, or stay up later to make some serious progress, or quit my job...... the last isn't going to happen!  I only finished 5 1/2 squares last night.  Bummer!  But by the end of the week hopefully. 
Next up after this in the pile I don't know, but I will keep you all posted shortly :)
Hope everyone is have a great week so far!

Another day, another stitch!

While stitching the 2nd half of this piece, I was thinking of different initials I could use instead of the charted ones. It was not that hard, although which 7 would I want to use? I came up with 6, and used the year as the 7th. I know it is much more personal, and I should do it more often, but I usually think about changing them when I am good and done...who wants to rip out? Thank you again Brandy for this great piece of linen!!


How many colors do you think that this new piece by Eileen J. Bennett has in it? Looking at the picture, to me there are maybe 4 different DMC colors. There are in fact 12. 12!!! Amazing, the slight variations, so I chose to stick with the suggested colors given on the pattern. They are all really beautiful when I layed them out. I chose 40ct Liberty Gathering Grey linen from R&R. I love the smell of the linen, call me crazy!

Tonight I was invited to my first ever Guild meeting. How fun is this going to be?!!! I can only imagine what I am going to witness. A wonderful group of people, all there for the love of needlework!

This, is what is next!

Happy Monday everyone! How was everyone's weekend? Hope some stitching was involved :). I had a great one, lots of activity and some stitching! Last night after finishing the Black Forest early on, the question was, as it always is... What is next? My friend Brandy gave me this luscious piece of linen on Saturday, and we both decided to stitch a design from CHS- Quaker House Samplers. We changed the colors to WDW thread (Charcoal, Pewter & Whiskey), just to give it a bit of variation. Here is my start!

(PS, a few of you have been asking about this linen, it is an old piece of Birds of the Feather Sparrow, in 28ct. My friend Brandy found it deep in the stash!)

Oldies but Goodies

Last year I completed these cute little Birds of a Feather pieces, the first piece is "Bloom Where you are Planted" done on 28ct Birds of a Feather Meadowlark linen with Weeks & Gentle arts threads. The bottom piece is "Schoolhouse Sampler" done on 32ct Birds of a Feather Onyx linen with Weeks & Gentle arts threads. Both were a nice treat to stitch!!

Update, Blackbird & Chartmakers

It has been a couple of weeks since I have posted something new, and it is high time!! The top picture is the Blackbird Designs "Underneath the Sunlit Sky", Loose Feathers #26; 30ct Sea Fog R & R Linen, Gentle Arts & Weeks Threads......I was stuck on the "buttonhole stitch" on the trees around the house (hard to see in the picture). What a bugger!!!!! I did this stitch last year, but since I don't use the stitch that often, I had a hard time remembering!!! Overall, it turned out really pretty!!

The Second picture, is Chartmakers Tombstone Angels "Abigail Adams". A great, simple project, of course, not to make anything easy, I switched the DMC to Belle Soie Silks, as shown on the left of the picture. I am so pleased with the turnout, using 32ct BOF linen, a tiny scrap, of course you know we cant ever throw those away!!!! She will fit nicely with "Thriller"!!!! Don't know what Thriller is??? I will have to post a picture!!!! Stay tuned!!

Willies Quaker Band Sampler

I have a variety of projects I like to do, and it keeps it really interesting. The first picture, is Monasterium Designs Willies Quaker Band. I happened to find a piece of Birds of a Feather Sparrow Linen 32ct, long and lean, had to have it, but had no idea what I was going to stitch on it!! My friend Roz, came up with this great project, and with the help of Jeannine, Kim and Roz, chose Weeks Dye Works & Gentle Arts threads, and just love how it turned out!!