Being productive

My last post on August 20th I mentioned that I would share Peace House by La D Da with you and well, I completely forgot!
Here it is,

Sorry for the wonky picture!  I used the called for WDW colors along with 40ct Pecan Butter from Lakeside.  It was a fast and relaxing stitch.
The time continues to fly by but almost 2 weeks ago my friend and I went to one of the best quilt shops in town and decided to do a quilt together.  Great idea!  She suggested we each pick out the needed charm pack and build our quilt from there.  OK!  Off we went to select our favorite colors and this is what I came up with

 

We settled on this pattern and I chose Blackbird Designs Field Notes.  This is my 4th quilt and I am not always sure what the terms are.  Like what is sashing?  LOL.   It was great fun to pick and choose and walk around the shop looking around for the perfect charm pack.  I felt the hunt was on!!  In record speed we both came up with gorgeous fabrics and I am looking forward to seeing her progress soon.  I couldnt wait however I wanted to start right away, but I had a few other priorities to get out of the way first.  I was so eager to start it!!!!!

After coming home and showing my husband what I had chose, we both agreed this quilt would be perfect for our bed.  But, with only 1 charm pack, it would be too small.  So darn it, we had to go back to the quilt shop!!!  With record speed, I went back Friday morning.  This past week Tuesday, I cut the sashing, squares and sewed them together. Wednesday the strips were sewn together and I realized even with the 2nd charm pack, I was still short 9 squares to make the size I wanted.  So, I went stash diving and chose another pattern that worked perfectly and ta-da!  Friday I sewed all the strips together and now I had 1 piece to move around instead of all the rows, numbered and organized.  I added the 1 inch border on Saturday afternoon and this past Monday night, added the final floral border.

I am so excited with the way it turned out, and I am interested in adding another border just to make it a tad bigger to drape more on the bed, but I have to choose the color.  Perhaps the same as the 1 inch, the grey color.  We shall see!  As for now, it is folded and ready to go to the quilter.  I have even chosen the backing already.
Whats next?!
I started working on Notforgotten Farm Weep Not.  I love these 3 Lori came out with and they are all a must-- but I had to make some adjustments from DMC.  I think the colors needed to be more murky and dirty and drab for the content of the piece, after all she is in a coffin!!!!!!  LOL.  I chose some awesome WDW threads and a lakeside linen.  I have the top floral done and I have to take a picture for you all to see how fantastic it is!!!
Until next time,

Happy Stitching!!

A small start

Another great weekend was had and I wanted to share my small start.   Sunday afternoon I began La D Da Peace House, with the called for cotton-- yes :)  but I did switch the linen.  I was really excited about how dark the colors were when I saw over at Maude and Mozart, if you go to her great blog, you will see that she has it all done and framed in a fantastic frame.  I saw it originally on her blog sometime ago when she was sharing her stash enhancement she got from a wonderful stitching weekend.  So, at that time I ordered it from my LNS.  I have had it now in the stash for a bit, but when seeing her finish, I had to get going on it!

I didnt really get far the first day, because something about counting with a bunch of people around you chatting, doesnt really go hand in hand, so I opted to wait.  Yesterday I got quite far and I am still excited with the colors.   Weeks dye Works are the cottons used and I chose Lakeside Linen 40ct Pecan.  I debated whether to use 45ct since it would be sooo stinkin cute finished stitch size 4" x 6 ", but I like the color of the 40ct linen better.  So Peace House will still be very cute 5" x 7" :)  I know, crazy.........
I am still working on the other multitude of WIPs, but at this point, have nothing further to update you on, it is sad right?  Well, maybe in a few days.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Mutilple items

A few things that need to be updated since the last time we talked about stitching.  First off though, my new little nephew is already almost 1 week old already!!  Amazing how time flies.  I remember watching my clock last week and announced that he was already 1 day old.  My sister and brother in law dressed him in this super cute little grey stripe outfit with a giraffe on it and took him to coffee hour at church yesterday.  Everyone was just thrilled to meet the little guy just 5 days old :) 
Today I wanted to share with you some stitching projects I have been working on.
First up is the La Da Da Stitchers Roll Kit; I have completed the stitching, now onto the wonderful finishing part.  I cant tell you how fast that will be complete-- I am not the best finisher, but we shall see.  Depends on how quick I want if off the pile!  (sorry for the wrinkles)

Next up is Birds of a Feather Le Printemps

I am enjoying the filling in of her dress, love the color I chose for her :).   I am looking forward to finishing the skirt soon.  I did notice that the bottom bands are more spread out and there are less of them.  The top ones are a bit compressed.  Although they are wider on the bottom....... I am looking forward to finishing with this color and using some of the other fabulous and bright colors I have chosen soon :)  I am so tempted to cheat and use them, but I feel like it will be a reward for sure!

Since the stitching is finished on the La D Da Stitchers roll, I needed another new travel project.  I managed to dig deep into the basement and stash dive for a bit.  What a hard choice!!!  There were so many beautiful options, but looking for the perfect 40ct linen project wasnt the easiest.  I was looking for something that wasnt quite as simple- or small, and something that would last a bit longer (however I am not sure how long it will last because once I really get into it, I might want to finish it asap--like with Elizabeth Mears)
So, wanting to stitch this next sampler has been in the top section of my basket next to my stitching chair for like 2 years, I decided to start stitching Jane Tindall from Needlework Press. 

Using the called for AVS and Florimell Silks along with 1 other addition a Ltd Edition Hankalicious from Gloriana (the dark red), I have started a new travel project.  Or what I call a driving project.  Call it what you will, it is only worked on while in a moving vehicle.  That all may change in the future, but you never know, there are so many others I want to work on while sitting still!!!  LOL.

Since hearing the horrors of running out of the specific grass color, I bought a few years back a hankalicious of it.  You never can have too much, however you might run out at any time.  I HATE this, and about 7 years ago, decided this had to change.  It wont go bad!

I wanted a specific shade of grey for Jane and I have had her kitted up with (what I think is) the perfect color from the old Birds of a Feather linen-- Sandpiper.  WOWZA is she looking good so far!  I cant wait to hit the road again.

Speaking of hitting the road, how many of you have ever done a United States cross country road trip?  East to West, West to East?  See anything that was so fabulous??  Any cross stitch shops that are a must stop?  Quilt shops? Antique Malls?  Landmarks?  Museums?  State Parks?  Restaurants?  Packing up the old car or truck, motorcyle, 5th wheel or Motorhome? Pack a lunch or hit famous road-side diners? How many stitching projects do you actually take???

I would like to know!!!!  I am just curious as my Husband and I are getting ready to pack up and head out!!

Up next

Thank you for all your kind words yesterday on my American Quaker Band Sampler.  Curious minds also wanting to know what is next up on the stitching front.

 

From this past Nashville market, from La D Da; Stitcher's Roll Key.  I am immediately drawn to kits when I see them, but remember each and every time I start one why I don't like them.  The linen is always the bare minimum and you hold your breath for the threads.  Linen is 30ct WDW burlap and I am not used to putting my needle up from the bottom and it falling out of the linen by the time I reach my hand up to the top to grab it.  LOL.  I use a hoop so one hand is always occupied.   I am thankful that this kit is using NPI and the numbers are given- easy to match if you run out.  I always like options however sometimes the design takes over (a must have) and you just make due with what comes with it.  I guess I am usually spoiled stitching on a piece of linen larger than a hankie and having a full skein of something.  Non the less though, I did purchase both of this years kits, even the Stacy Nash kit.  Overall the end result is what matters.  I love these little guys!!  They are stinkin cute!!!!
I think that once the easy part of the stitching is complete, the hard part will be for me is the finishing.  I would rather stitch queen stitches all day then finish something like this.  One of my friends said that is what they have finishers for. 

Almost finished with the top section, looking forward to hopefully finishing it today, but we shall see.  Le Printemps was calling me so I worked on her for the later part of the evening while watching The Impossible.  This movie is a true story about a family who was in Thailand in 2004 during the Tsunami.  Truly incredible, and worth watching.

I finished outlining the bottom right of her skirt along with the bottom and began filling in her dress.  It is amazing what only a few hours will do for you when you are focused. 

I cant wait to add more to her, she is so much fun!!
Enjoy your weekend, hopefully it is relaxing and full of stitching!!  Thanks for stopping by :)

O Birdy, Tylers Lion and a Gift

The time is flying Ladies and Gentleman.  Thanksgiving is almost here already and I think there are less then 40 days till Christmas?!  Amazing the amount of stitching that has not occurred this year.  Sad, I know, but there are a few positive things that happen in a case like mine. 

When you get together with some of your best buds, miracles do happen and stitching must get done right?!  Starting 2 very cool projects last week, not just 2 started, but several others kitted up and on the starting line up ready for the green light to fly down the fast track. 

Several of my favorite designers have continued to put out such super cute patterns, it is hard sometimes as I often say, to choose which ones to really sit and stitch on.  Right?!  I mean lets get down to brass tacs here.  We all, have every intention of stitching everything in our stash, because we are going to live at least 10 life times to get what we own now in our stash stitched, but in the 10 lifetimes that we do live, there are going to be like a billion new patterns we are going to want to stitch.  So clearly there is a tiny problem on ALL of our hands.

There are a few, rare and in between days that I think, do I really want to stitch this?  The rare answer is 'no'.  So I have to have it.  But, in all seriousness, (especially the rate I am stitching these days) am I going to get much of this stash tackled?  Now, not that I am going to even come close to putting the kabash on the stash enhancing, but perhaps, like at the beginning of this post, gathering up some of your best buds and really getting down to the nitty gritty of stitching, things might actually get accomplished.

So, without much further babbling, first up is Harry Tyler's Lion from Heartstring Samplery, stitching on 40ct Vintage Lentil with SNC thread- Blackened Grass maybe?  Either way, it is not the 'called for' items.  (Yes my friend, Of course I did :)). 

I have to laugh, this La D Da 'O Birdy' choice was such a fabulous impulse, and so much crazy laughing, and fluttering around,  that I will always have memories with this piece.  A few more then others.  Every piece has something special along with it right?  I can-- tell you that every piece that I have stitched, I can honestly tell you some of the best things about that time, but, good luck with that :) 

O'Birdy is finished, and stitched on 40ct Vintage Autumn Gold with some of the finest new silk threads one can stitch with.  You have done it again Ann, and we all THANK YOU for it!!!!!  Florimell silk hand-dyed threads are simply fabulous.  The colors are outstanding and it glides through the Linen with such ease.  Beware, with this thread and a certain type of speedy stitchers, we might find more progress!!!!!  LOL.

I chose to stitch my red bird in Florimell Antique Black, and the subtle color change is exquisite.  The variety in the greens is fabulous and the gold so rich.  I highly recommend trying this silk for sure, even if you try it in just 1 color, I can promise you, you will soon have a variety.  (And if you have enough patience, some might just fall into your lap.)

I finished stitching my bird last Friday, in the car, while thinking about the great times that came with this now priceless piece.  Thank you all involved!

Last but not least, my Husband surprised me with this DOVO sewing scissor case, in burgundy leather with threads, needle threader and a classic pair of DOVO gold scissors.  The best in the world.  This piece is such a great addition to my scissor collection and it is so small!  Less the 4" long the entire case.  I am so thrilled with this gift, I had to share it with all of you.  How thoughtful is he?  Adding to my scissor collection.  He truly is a keeper :)

Saturday Already?!

It is amazing to me how fast the weeks have been going, especially in the fall, when Holidays are fast approaching. I have seen some counters for the days left until Christmas. Really?! I remember in school, wondering how many days we had left before summer, and then summer was over in 5 minutes. Then we were back in school already. My mother always said, time only goes faster when we get older. She was right. Yes mom-- you were right-- again!! :)

I finished up Know Ye last night. What a fun little stitch. The pictures are crazy, showing 2 colors of the linen. I think that the top one looks closer to the Vintage Pear I chose. I might need to take photography lessons. I am looking to just play with stash this weekend, take it easy and let my poor fingers heal from all the stabs I give myself over and over again- in the same spot :(. Make piles and lists, and move stuff around. I am looking forward to this for sure.

Its a beautiful day, I think a walk in an order to. Hope everyone has a very relaxing weekend. Until next week!

Whats Next? Know Ye

I had so much fun last night looking at stash again, it was exciting to think, I was going to start something new! Yes, I am caving from my plan of completing another WIP.

All this A & E craze is getting to me, although very tempted to start Paradise Lost--it is kitted with all the goodies it needs....I thought I would do a smaller one for a change. I started La D Da's Know Ye last night after supper, and I am loving it. I am using the NPI that it calls for, but I had it kitted already with 40ct Vintage Pear Lakeside. It calls for R & R Sheeps Straw, which is also a great color, but I liked the pear better.

The best part about this one, I should be finished ASAP, so I get to rummage through stash again sooner then later!!!!!

EDITED TO ADD:  A few of you have commented on where to purchase this chart.  One of my favorite shops is Acorns and Threads in Portland Oregon.  Please see the link on the side of this blog.  They will be more then happy to order it for you!  It is a great pattern and a MUST have!!!!!!