So Close to My Goal

I was able to finish the May Quaker Square today. I'm hoping this got all of the frogging out of my system for the foreseeable future - it was getting a bit scary how much backtracking I had to do.
I'm very happy with how this one came out. I can start the June square tomorrow. I've picked a pink that is slightly darker than the fabric for that one. This will be the last of the squares on the pink fabric. The next set of six will be on tan.

I was able to finish all of the exchanges for which I've gotten my partner information. I'm waiting to ship one on Monday - I just found a box for it.

During this week off I was hoping to clear out my backlog of smalls and make some progress on at least two of my larges. I'm close to that. I'm planning to work on the Log Cabin canvas work project tonight, so that will make my goal for the two larges. The only small I still have left floating around it my "Forget Me Not" beading kit. I was working on that for a while today while I was sitting at my garage sale - it's rough trying to do a beading project without a table to set the beads on. Maybe I'll try that one again tomorrow. I'm not thinking that I'll get that one done before Monday, but still I can't feel bad about the huge amount of stitching I did this week in addition to all of the other fun stuff!

Off to the Log Cabin...

*sigh*

I picked up the Quaker Square for May a couple of hours ago. After finishing the alphabet around the border and a couple of the butterflies I realized that I had the N and M one block too close together. I'm looking at a nice time of frogging. :-P I think I'll do something else for a while. Not that I have too many more days to get this done! May is running out fast.

Abstract Stitching

Yesterday I started working on the Autumnal Abstract again. It's been a while! I was able to make massive progress despite cleaning the house, adding gravel to the driveway, going for ice cream and all of the other vacation-y type things one does.

Today I'm trying to decide what to work on. I think I shall have to get in a bike ride. I should put this project aside and either finish up the Fair Squares exchange or hop on the Quaker Square for May.

Picking Up a WIP

I finished the first block of my Fair & Square exchange #7. I started a bit on my second block, but ran out of steam on that one. I'll work on it a bit more tomorrow I think.

Today I received my partner information for the Cross-Stitch Exchange Seasonal Exchange. Tomorrow I'll have to start thinking about the pattern I'm going to work for that. I guess I should pick a finishing technique first.

This afternoon, post BBQ, I pulled out my Autumnal Abstract project to work on. It's a border-line BAP that I just barely got started in early January. Almost 6 months later I've worked through a pile of projects and decided to pull it back out. I swapped out the Aida that came in the kit for Sand colored Lugana from Silkweaver. This should keep me going for a while. The question is: Will I ever get to the May Quaker Square??!!

One WIP Down

I finished Willie Whippet yesterday! I put in the last stitch around 9pm last night. I almost started working on the Quaker Square, but I was bushed and ended up going to bed. I'm hoping to work through a few more of my WIPs this week and hoe out the queue. I'm getting a big back logged.

Time for lunch, then more stitching!

My Happy Inventory

I've slowly been adding patterns to my inventory page. There's nothing like an organization obsession! I do have to admit that I feel better having them out there where I can look at them without having to pull all the charts. Now I can spend my time obsessing about how I'm going to prioritize them and whether or not I'll have enough time to get them all stitched before I lose control of my body or mind.

Best hobby ever!

Doggy Update

Here's the update on Willie Whippet. I've actually made it quite a bit further last night. :-)

More Than Half Done

Friday was a scramble. DH was getting ready for a bike race on Saturday and I was getting all of the papers together for one of the rides I organize. I don't think I did any stitching on Friday. I can't actually remember though.

DH and I drove over to the cycling events together with the dogs. I ended up being crammed into a pickup truck with 160lbs of dogs for most of Saturday because of rain, so I didn't get too much stitching in. I was able to work on an ornament for a bit that day.

I ended up finishing the ornament on Sunday, the big stitching day for the weekend. I spent most of the day on the Willie Whippet project and was able to make it well over the halfway mark with that project. I'm hoping to get a photo tonight so I can post that progress.

I'm really racing to get Willie finished soon since I was planning to get it to my friend last year. Also, I have a ton of projects that I really want to start on. Since I now have nine projects started I'm feeling a little guilt over not getting to all of them. I really hate starting rotations because I feel like I'm not making progress on anything!

I'm starting to put together my list of things to deal with while I'm on vacation for next week. Looking at what I have to do, I'm wondering if I'll have any time to stitch! Moving new gravel to the driveway, moving more fill to the yard, fixing the garage door, cleaning the filing cabinet, setting up the veggie garden, organizing the craft closet, inventorying my patterns, finally getting around to changing the fishes water (he's going to grow legs and attack me in my sleep at this rate)... there's just so much!!

Stashy Day

Yesterday I received my Nordic Needle order in the mail :-). Last time I was perusing the catalog my eye was caught by the pretty colors and I flagged a bunch of stuff to get. And I waited and waited until I could pay for the order up front (hoorah responsibility) and them placed the order. OK maybe I wasn't so responsible because next month I don't know what our cash flow situation is going to be. But at least I'll have some projects to work on to keep myself busy while I panhandle.

I also made some more progress on the Willie Whippet project last night and today. It was minimal, but still progress. I'm feeling good about the stitching. This stuff is too fun.

Weekend Workout

This weekend I was able to accomplish a stunning amount on my projects. The previous post detailed the start on my Willie Whippet and the finish of the stocking.

On Sunday I concentrated on Willie. I shocked myself with the amount I ended up completing. I need to stop by a store today to get the four missing colors so I can back fill the missing stitches on the nose. I hope I can finish this quickly! It's starting to look like Willie already :-).

I took a little break from Willie to go for a short bike ride. I also worked on the Log Cabin canvas project I started a week or so ago. That's going to be something I work on every so often. I can just tell. It goes quickly though since it's a canvas project. I love the textures of the different fibers.

I also put together a few more projects with fabric. I should update my kits page with those soon. I'm starting to add the patterns I have laying about the house on the new patterns inventory page. I still haven't quite figured out the way I'd like to organize those; I'm sure something will work itself out. I have a scary (to me) number of projects I want to work on. Baby steps though! I can only work on one at a time, even if I have six or eight started.

Not I just need to figure out when I'm going to take some vacation so I can sit around the house and stitch for a week. Aaaaah!

Stocking is Done!

I finished DH's stocking! I was able to put in the last stitch yesterday about 5 minutes before we were headed out the door to go to the LNS. Now I need to get mine done (after I get through a few other projects) and get them both finished in time for the holidays. Could be tight - these things take time!

I stopped by the shop yesterday for the Stitcher's Reception for the annual show. There weren't too many people there so I sat down and stitched a bit. I also picked up a couple of cute new patterns and some silk threads for the Bristol Fashion sampler I'm hoping to work on soon (Long Dog Samplers). I couldn't help myself. It appears I have a bit of an addiction ;-).

DH picked me up from the shop and we headed to my in-laws for dinner with our grandparents. On the way an SUV almost cleaned my poor little Honda's clock when I slowed to make the left turn up the hill and he was dazzled by the dirt-bike stylings of the kids next to the road. Fortunately I was on my toes and crept forward and into the other lane just enough to let him get around my right and the oncoming pickup to get around my left. Meanwhile DH got out "Dude?!" before he realized what was going on - wheeee! Nothing a little turkey won't cure :-d.

This morning I made some progress on the Willie Whippet design I created for one of the women in my dog club. I forgot to pick up the four missing colors, so there are a few holes I'll need to go back and fill on Willie's nose. I'm pleased with the progress I've made so far. I really needed a break after the few hours that I've put in today, so I hit up the housework a little and am hoping to get some of the patterns I have inventoried. This is one exciting life I lead!

Chugging Along

Last night I was hoping to get a little stitching in, but I got home from helping out at the dog club so late it just wasn't an option. I did end up dragging my butt out of bed at the usual time this morning and was able to get a bit more done on DH's stocking.

This WIP is a couple of days old. I've finished all of the train cars that are here and the last 1.5 hearts. I started the train engine this morning. Since I don't have anything planned this evening, I'm hoping to get the rest of the bottom finished tonight. I do need to get out tracking with the dogs though.

I finally updated almost all of my WIPs. There is one more, the Letter I, that I didn't get a picture of, but the progress on that is so minimal I can probably just pretend I never started ;-).

I'm still trying to figure out how (or if) I should inventory all of the thread I have floating around. I had started inventorying all of the DMC cotton 6-strand I have, but I decided it was just too much of a pain. I really didn't feel like measuring it all. I suppose I could weight it and create a conversion for approximate length based on weight. But then that just seems a bit too much like work and not hobby!

The next step is to inventory the patterns I haven't done. Now I need to figure out if I want to include pictures in that. I love how I make work for myself.

Kit Inventory

Yesterday I was wondering how many kits I have floating around the house, so I decided to go find them all and post them here as an inventory. These include patterns for which I've gathered the materials. I was wondering about all of my patterns too, but that list can wait until next week (or so).

So here they are:
1) Autumn Bouquet by Herrschners










2) Let it Snow Table Topper by Dimensions







3) Poinsettia Tree Skirt by Needle Treasures






4) Born Free by DMC












5) Willie Whippet by Me :-)

6) A Quaker Game Board by Papillon Creations











7) Tuscany Mandala by Châtelaine









8)Noah's Ark Sampler by Teresa Wentzler









9) Dragon Heart by Karen Weaver










10) Safari Sunset by Cross My Heart








11) Classic Roses by Bucilla







12) Robert's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush











13) Power of the Serengeti by Dimensions






14) Fire and Ice by Kustom Krafts Needleworks











15) Wreath of Roses by Dimensions The Gold Collection











16) The Guardian by Teresa Wentlzer







17) Water Dragon by Janlynn











18) Bristol Fashion by Long Dog Samplers (fabric only)











19) Mythical Dragons by True Colors











20) Bittersweet Summer by Leisure Arts (fabric only)






21) Broadway by The Silver Lining (fabric only)









22) Edith Wolford by The Silver Lining (fabric only)

Missing My Couch and a Contest

It's a boring day at work today. Days like this I'd almost rather not get paid and just hang out on my couch stitching. But who knows when a crisis will need my attention ;-). I should have brought a project with me. Not that stitching here wouldn't be unseemly.

While I was wandering around the stitching-net today I found a contest at Stitch Pink. The Stitch Pink blog is raising awareness of breast cancer screening. Remember, if you have boobs you should get screened - even boy people get breast cancer.

I'm planning to work on the santa stocking tonight after Ellie and I fail our doggy obedience test. I really don't have that much more to do on it. I just can't seem to find the focus to get it done. When I finish this one I'll have to figure out how to work in the one for me. I picked Robert's Stocking for mine because Santa is wearing skates - and he's green. I love green.

Two Finishes and Some Stash

Friday I went to my LNS for the bi-monthly stitch-in. As usual the ladies were a blast to hang out with. I was able to wrap up the Kitty Cat Row once I got the thread I was missing.
Of course, while I was there I couldn't resist prepping for another project. I'd like to start the Erica Michaels Sampler Book. I got the pattern as a gift at the stitching retreat. I might not start until the year is over and I'm done with the Quaker Square since it would make a nice monthly installment type project. I picked up all of the fabric for the project. I figured I should do that all at one time so everything matches, somewhat. It's a lovely little grouping. Right now I'm figuring out what order they will be appearing in the book and marking them so I don't forget.

Yesterday morning, before I set up for our garage sale, I was able to assemble the baby sampler for my friends. DH delivered it during the day. I'm not sure if they noticed that it arrived - they're a little busy with the bairn right now. Getting it finished made me feel a lot better about everything though :-).

After the sale I just wasn't in the mood for cross stitching, but I wanted to work on something, so I started a canvaswork project that I'm really excited about.

Santa's Feet

I decided I should just finish the Santa project before I start the Quaker Square - we'll see how long that plan lasts!

I had made some progress since the last time I posted a WIP. I haven't worked on it in a couple of weeks. This morning I finished the feet. I'm hoping to get through a couple more stars and maybe the bottom of the project tonight at the stitch-in. However, the last few letters in the Kitty Cat row is first on the agenda.

I'm looking forward to the stitch-in tonight. I have projects to drop off for the annual Stitcher Showcase. I also have to pick up some fabby for an exchange. Before I head over I'll be hitting Kohl's to use the last of my X-mas gift card from my mom. I hate shopping for clothes, but I like having clothes that don't look like crap at work (mostly).

So Close...

This morning I almost finished Kitty Cat Row. I ran out of one color and so I was left with the last few letters, a collar and some whiskers to finish. I'll be able to finish it tomorrow night at the LNS stitch-in.





Now that spring has arrived I've been slowing down with the stitching a bit. I'd like to get more time in, but between dog classes, biking and the chores I've been stuck with just a few morning sessions. But it is time to start the next installment of the Quaker Squares :-).