Framed Pieces

I recently picked up a few pieces that I had framed. As usual Jackie at A Stitcher's Garden did a phenomenal job with the framing!

Stash Splash

Well here it is... the pile of stuff I got from this year's stitching retreat:

Patterns galore, silk threads, needle cases, a pair of scissors, notes cards, all sorts of stuff!! Now I need to neatly put it all into my disturbingly large stash pile.

This is one of the projects we did in class. I was able to finish it not long after the retreat.

It was a blast working this project from Olde Colonial Designs.

On the second day we started a project from Amy Bruecken Designs. I've only just started this one, but will post something when I get it done.

We had a great time, as always, with lots of laughter, plenty of chocolate and great designers! Thanks again to Jan and the crew for putting on a stellar weekend for another year... this was my 6th :-).

A Small Finish

Nope I still haven't gotten photos of the stuff from the retreat... although I thought about it. Then I forgot.

Instead I finished the retreat sampler from this year:

I was poking around trying to find some floss last night and came across the unfinished retreat sampler from 2012, so I started working on that last night. I should be able to finish that today (I hope) and assemble it with the pincushion box that I _finally_ got from Gail (my fault, not hers).

I also got around to getting an image of the WIP I've been focusing on. My mom picked this up for me when she was visiting the national parks in the Southwest US. It's a pretty neat little project and doesn't involve much thinking, so it's a great road project.

Anyhow, since I have no idea when I might get around to the photos of my stuff from the retreat, I would like to say that mom did a great job at the retreat. I was really proud of her...she had a lot of new things to learn and had a blast doing it. She only got frustrated a few times. Now if I can just get her to stop crowding me ;-).

Hopefully more to come soon!

Teaser

This past weekend was the stitching retreat at A Stitcher's Garden. I'm planning to post a bit about that event soon. I have started working on the commemorative sampler... this is what I have done so far:

A Holiday Finish - Early?!

I did it! Yesterday I finished "Bright" by Monsterbubbles. So this means that, for the first time ever, I have finished a holiday project before the holiday which I was intending to finish it for. How's that for a confusing sentence? Guess I should never do that again if it's so hard to explain! So here it is:

Now, what should I do next?

I'm planning to take up on Nova again. This is the ridiculous canvaswork project that I started a couple of years ago. That one stalled out because I ran out of one of the DMC colors I needed and I just never got around to buying it. Also, I have a little piece that was designed special for me by Lori of La D Da. I really want to get that one done so I can send it back to her as a thank you!!!

Closing in on a Finish

Well I've been quietly stitching in the background for a while. It's been rather busy here, but I actually have been finding some time to get to my favorite chair between helping my BF who just had hip resurfacing surgery, completing construction on the bedroom in my new house (a wall went down and two new closets went up), working towards my blue belt in karate (only a month to go before my test), preparing for two new puppies, training the one I have, organizing an international speedskating meet and Oh yeah... my job. HAHAHAHAHA

Yeah that's right - I've really needed the stitching time so the fabric can take all the stabbings I want to dole out :-).

I've been primarily working on "Merry and Bright" and hope to have it done in the next couple of weeks. I'm hosting a garage sale this weekend, so it might actually get done while I'm doing that if I get the kind of foot traffic I had today...not too much.

Here's what I have completed at this very moment:

I had to make a visit to A Stitcher's Garden last week because I had run out of the red for the words and one of the other colors. Of course this was an exceedingly dangerous trip and as usual I was unable to walk away without a damage hit to my wallet. And this is why:

This is just about the neatest thing ever for someone who is a math geek in geometry. Now I have the difficult task of attempting to stick to my stitching plan. Currently it is to finish Merry and Bright and move onto completing "Nova":

And work on the Sampler Book project. OK so how am I supposed to wait to work on the Quaker Ball while I'm dealing with those... how!!!

Need to Sit!

Well I haven't been stitching much. I haven't decided who I feel about it. I'm enjoying all that I'm doing, but I miss making things. Lately, between dog club stuff, karate stuff, skating club stuff, renovating my new home and prepping for my BF's surgery...well I think that speaks for itself.

However, I couldn't resist getting this chart that was made from a painting I commissioned of my pup:

Jo Lynch painted it and Heaven and Earth Designs converted it to cross stitch.

And, I couldn't leave the HAED site without getting another chart...as if I'll ever have the time to stitch all of this stuff:

This is such a lovely piece!

There's a stitching retreat coming up that I really really want to go to because I've missed so many. It's been a long time since I've had the chance to chat with my stitching friends. But it happens to be the night my BF comes home from the hospital. Maybe his sister can sit for me - I hope!!