So many options

It has been a little over a week since I finished SDW and what a big decision it is to decide on what to stitch next!  So I pulled out a bunch and really stitched on 2 this week.  First up is Birds of  Feather Le Printemps (OOP), one of four in a series of seasons. 

She is so bright and colorful-- so far out of the box which is fun to do once in a while :)  I am stitching her on 45ct Vintage Maritime white (one of my very favorites) along with a silk conversion a few years back.  I have 1 more flower to go on the top left page, then 3 pages to go.  Then the thought is, do I continue on with this series?  I have L'Hiver (winter) started........
But easily sidetracked, I also have picked Peace by A Stitchers Hands back up.  When this pattern was first released in 2008, 3 of us kitted it up immediately.  Well, needless to say, all 3 of us still have it has the largest WIP in our baskets.  Well, its high time to invest some stitching time in it.  

Stitching it on 40ct Lakeside Sienna Night, 1 over 2 threads, with a overdyed silk conversion.  Yes, you are reading correct, it is a BAP.  I love the colors I chose for it.  The best part is, each of the original 3 that kitted it up, we each chose 40ct linen, but each a different color.  I LOVE this idea and each one is just so gorgeous.  I hope to keep my momentum going on this one, I would love to actually see it finished :)  Someone mentioned there has been some stitchers on Facebook that have been working on it; I am not on Facebook so I havent seen their progress.  But its kind of fun there are others stitching on it also!!
I would love to see that list of WIPs get smaller, but it is so hard as you all know.  It is terrible.  You finish one and want to start 5!!  LOL.  Time to get stitching on one of these great projects, so until next time!  Thank for stopping by and have a super week!!

Poor Jack

This weekend was a busy one-- of course how many weekends arent?  Fun was had all around and I finished up Poor Jack on Saturday night!

 Finished on 40ct BOF Sparrow with cottons :)  Cross it off the list!!!!  Another WIP done under the belt.  Get er done!!!!!!  LOL.
Next I picked up Weep Not from Notforgotten Farm.  Like I mentioned in earlier posts, I changed the DMC to WDW and GA threads for more of a murky, drab feel.  After all, this topic is not supposed to be bright and cheery!!!!!! I chose Lakeside Linen Vintage Cedar Plank-- Which BTW is one of my new top favorite colors!!!!  On 40ct this piece is stinkin cute.  I'm looking forward to finishing this one this week also.

Who knows what will be after this!!  So many WIP options.  Stay tuned until next time.
Can you believe it is fall already?  A friend of mine told me a couple days ago that Christmas is only 3 months away.  WOWZA~!!  I cant believe where this year has gone.  Time to step into high gear!!  LOL
I hope all of you have a great week :)

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!

29th January Project- Start

To start off, thanks to all of you who have been commenting on my blog- Isabella is getting quite the attention these days, isnt she going to be something?  There are some many of you wanting to stitch her, or who have pulled her out to continue working on her, or walked over to the finished sampler on the wall to gaze at her.  I encourage all of you to start her.  It is from the Sampler and Antique Needlework Magazine Summer 2010 issue, and there are some out there yet!!!  She isnt a large sampler, so it would be great in any count and if you are considering trying a smaller count, she would be a great example to start on.  But, Isabella had her day on Friday right? 
What about Anne Wells?  Who is Anne Wells?  I really have no idea who Anne is, but I think her sampler is darn cute.  Last night I started Birds of a Feather- Anne Wells.  It is an out of print pattern that I have had for a few years.  I chose Birds of a Feather Barn Owl 36ct Linen along with the called for WDW threads.  I know you are all shocked it is on 36ct--- do you know how stinken' cute she would be on 45??!!!!  But, I have all of this linen, and why not use it already.  Just because I am obsessed these days with 45, doesnt mean that the other gorgeous colors in larger counts have to take a back seat.  Besides, using the larger counts only makes room for more 40 and 45.  Not that 'space' is really an issue :)

I have almost the top half done, and it looks and is easy, just the counting in between the letters is frustrating, because they are all thrown all over the place and some are 10 spaces, others are 12 and some even 13.  I forget and have to recount several times-- which is the idea, but we were watching the tube and listening also distracts the voice in my head shouting 10. 10 already, dont you listen?  10!!!   I am not sure, so I re-count, yes 10.  You want it to be right!!!!!!  Like the rest of you, HATE ripping out. 
Everyone enjoying there weekend so far?  Almost February!!!  I am looking forward to it for sure :)  Have a great day.

5th January Start

A fresh new day is here and isnt it a beautiful?!  I am excited to tell you about my new start yesterday.  Birds of a Feather L'Hiver.  This is one of 4 in the series.  A very long time ago, I bought these patterns,  I was only stitching on 32ct, maybe 36ct but never ever would consider 40.  At that time higher counts existed I am sure, but had no interest in them, so who would have known?  I kitted all 4 of these beauties up with 32ct linen.  After doing some measurements , I realized that these finished pieces would have measured out to be 19" x 24 " each, and that isnt framed yet!!!!  Well, knowing now what I know about frame costs, and minimal wall space, I elected to re-kit these 4 up.

I chose to use 45ct linen on each of these girls, using a color I thought worked best for the season.  Choosing 4 colors of linen seemed more interesting to me, then stitching all 4 huge projects on the same color.  Why not switch it up?  AND, the finished design size is going to be 13" x 17".  Can you believe the difference!!! Also, I converted all the WDW and GA colors to Gloriana, Silk n Colors, Waterlilies, Belle Soie, Dinky Dyes and Northern Lights.  Again, why not?!

L'Hiver, is the one I chose to start yesterday on Vintage Fawn Lakeside.  The color in the pic is SO off, that it looks like Pear on my screen.  You get the idea though.  The red for her coat is so vibrant, and looks fabulous with the dk brown hair, I cant wait to stitch on her more.

But, today is a new day, and I have decided not to start something new today, but break into the WIPs that I had planned on for this month, and see what happens.  There are so many calling me from across the room, it is hard to keep them all quiet :)

So many options

How has the week been going for everyone?  School has officially been in for a few weeks now, things are starting to pick up and time continues to fly by right?!  Amazing that Fall is almost here and the weather is still beautiful.  Well, at least where I am, it has been getting cooler in some spots, I have seen leaves starting to change color already (and I think it is way to early for that, but sometimes I loose perspective!)   I enjoy the Fall season, alot of wonderful things have happened in the Fall time, and I am sure will continue to do so :)

On Thursday night of this week, I went into the basement and wandered through my stash.  Looking for yet another new thing to start, and perhaps finish and so on and so forth.  I found a few things and I am so excited to share.  First of all though, I havent been stash diving in what seems like forever, and it was SOOOO MUCH FUN.  I just love doing that once in a while, not feeling quite so guilty this time for 'wasting' stitching time.

I pulled out several things, and added them into the pile of 'WIP' I plan on stitching the next few weeks.  Sometimes I get easily bored with projects that I have started already, and I really like them, just for some reason they are a cramp in my stitching style......

First up (the top picture), I finished a small on Wednesday that had been started oh so briefly this summer.  I added a little bling to it.  Not positive the pattern, but I know it is my first use of the Weeks Dye Works Linen 40ct Straw.  Now, nothing negative to report on this first attempt and finish,  I must say I am still a Lakeside Linen lover.   But, why did I stitch on WDW linen?  I am always about color.  I have my limits, but choosing the perfect color for any of my projects is one of the most important things.  I used Acorn Woods Silk n Colors thread, 1 over 2.  Mill hill beads, etc. etc.

Next up pics are the color ring of Sanctuary by Drawn Thread.  I chose 40ct Lakeside Linen Vintage Pear for this piece with a variety of Silk threads,  and yes, they were adjusted accordingly.  I have put the top row in, a few more stitches until I turn the corner, but I was eager to stitch other stitches besides the traditional 'x'.  I havent really done much with stitches outside the box, yet, I have a few in the works, I thought this was a great choice and I was inspired with the color of linen from my friend's completed piece.  She did an abolutely gorgeous job :)

Saturday morning I started working on Birds of a Feather Christmas Memories ornaments and got 3 out of the 4 done.   Super cute and super easy.  I chose Lakeside 32ct Vintage Autumn Gold with the called for Weeks and Gentle Arts threads.  I added a Crescent Color, but thought the Christmas Tree needed a brown stump, not a red one :).  I have to finish the 4th one and get some stars for the corners of them.  Sew them into ornaments and put them in a box for future use on my tree.

2nd to last, my updated Rosina Payne pics, I have not worked on her to much this week, too busy with real work, but I was anxious to show you how she was coming along.  I couldnt find a quarter, so I used a dime instead to show perspective in her size.  She is still so fine and dainty isnt she?  I can hardly get enough time on her.  I did start the letters above and will give you updates next week.

Last but not least, I have kitted up (several weeks ago) a sampler I have wanted to start for so long, and now have the opportunity to do so.  2 actually, but the picture above shows the color palette for 1.  It is from Mary Beale- Her Sampler.  Andrea from Deep Fried Cupcake is actually stitching and almost done with this gorgeous sampler.  What are the odds of seeing this beautiful sampler at the same time I was interested in it??!!!!  WOW!!!  What an inspiration, she is doing the most incredible job on her sampler.  Looking forward like most of you, to see her finish.  Stay tuned for the start of this beauty, she is going to be worth it for sure!!!!!!!

Enjoy your week~!

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!!