May Update

I haven't been super busy but I have managed two more finishes for 2015 as well as working on my Glendon Place Plum Pudding & a new Ink Circles design. Hopefully no one minds my switch to a once a month update. I just can't find time to update every week anymore.

Here are my two finishes:

I have two more in the series to compete. I'm unsure if I will want to frame them separately or all together in one frame, but I'm planning to find a spot for them in the kitchen.


Here's my new start, Damask Square by Ink Circles:


It's on 40count sparkly fabric from SilkWeavers with Peacock floss from Weeks Dyed Works. It's sooooooo tiny I can only work on it in good light, with my reading glasses on for short periods of time, but it's going to look so great when it's done. I'm almost a fourth of the way done. :)


And last but not least, Plum Pudding update:





What's everyone else working on? Have any bug summer stitching plans??

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Small Update

I really didn't get any stitching done in the past two weeks. I quit my job, went on a week vacation, then started a new job, so I've been pretty busy. I was planning to finish this little Lizzie Kate before Valentine's Day but it didn't quite work out that way, no rush. It'll just be early for next year!



I changed up all of the colors. I only have one of the called for colors (purple haze, which I haven't even used yet). I'm using a selection of Cosmo floss, Weeks Dye Works and Sampler Threads from stash. I think it's turning out super cute. It's being completed on a mystery piece of linen from my stash. I did another Lizzie Kate with it as well, the Halloween piece from October. It's really not my favorite I've decided. The threads are pretty "wiggly" and it's difficult to keep the tension the same. I prefer even weaves over the linens, depending on the project of course!

Speaking of fabrics, my Quarterly Silkweavers Fabric of the Month came!!! They have about a million different ways to sign up for their fabrics, I chose the "classics" line in either line/evenweave counts higher than 28 for 3 13x18 pieces per quarter. And here's my first quarter selections that they sent:



It was extremely difficult to get all of the colors to show up, the one one the left is actually pink-ish, it's called "Brandied Pears" the blue is a solo color (which means it's not in their regular line up) and the tan one is "Moon Dust". They are all crystal newcastle linens (40 count) which I've never used, but it could be fun to stitch with! I really love their classics line because the shading is so slight on them. I have found that I don't really like the fabrics that have a tie dyed look. Just my opinion. I will have 3 more shipments of this, I decided that it was better on my wallet just to do it 4 times a year. I still get fun new colors though!

What's your favorite type of fabric to use? Leave your answers in the comments!!!

PS don't forget to enter my sweepstakes!

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Merry Christmas Eve!

Hello everyone! And Merry Christmas Eve (or merry Wednesday!) to you & your loved ones.

We've been pretty busy, Sunday was my husband's aunt's Christmas dinner. He's got 3 little cousins now and they are always quite entertaining. I ate too much, per usual. It's so easy to do when the food is amazing! :)

Tonight we're going to my in-laws house for presents and dinner. Then tomorrow we're going to my aunt's for dinner and I'm having my parents over to view Japan vacation pictures (I'll post some soon, I promise!) and eat some desserts. THEN on Friday we've got a surprise party to go to. It's a never ending busy schedule. Well, ok, it's over after that and hopefully no longer busy.

We finally made NYE plans. We usually stay home on the sofa. I cross stitch, he plays video games. Well we were going to go to this great restaurant for our anniversary (Jan 5th, we went last year and loved it) but they will be closed for January. But they are having a pre-fixed menu for NYE. And they are BYOB! Score! It's pretty expensive, but we're going to say it's for our anniversary too. That makes it better... I think!

I finished my co-workers ornament at about 8 o'clock on Sunday to give to her on Monday and she decided to work from home on Monday! I gave her a hard time, but she did come in on Tuesday so I was able to give it to her, I barely left enough room between the two designs on the fabric to cut them out, but I think he turned out super cute! Sorry, no back pictures. I didn't think about it!

Right after this, I ran out of bobbin thread and couldn't get the silly thing out, so I'm waiting until tomorrow when my mom is coming over to help me out and finish my second finish of the week. I'm still new with this whole sewing machine thing! I did also manage to finish the presents one, but I'm not sure if the mom reads my blog or not, so I'll be safe and not post it until next week.

I managed to finish stitching a grumpy cat ornament:

You can't really tell from the picture, but I used wisper thread for the hat to make it fluffy, DMC light effects for the star & some blending filament for the snow flakes in the sky. It's quite nice in real life.

I think my next project will be for our 2nd anniversary, it's cotton, so a stitched piece totally makes sense. I'm going to do "Wedding Row" by Bent Creek. I'm thinking about using my two favorite Weeks threads, peacock & taffeta. Which are almost our wedding colors. It won't be a secret since I do all my stitching with him sitting on the sofa beside me.

I was messing around with our fancy camera and took a some what  pretty Christmas tree picture that I'll leave you off with today! Enjoy the day everyone! May your day be merry & bright!

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Finish & Christmas Decor

Hi all! I managed to do some stitching while also putting up some Christmas decorations. Since we were out of town for half of November we didn't get started as early as usual and because of that I only put up like half of our stuff. We have a Christmas village set that isn't going to make it out this year. It takes an entire day to put it up and I just don't have the time this year. It seems like an every other year type of thing!

Here are some decor pictures:

My mother in law gave us these adorable mini wooden Christmas ornaments. I had to go buy a little tree for them. My husband was trying to convince me that this tree should be just for cross stitched ornaments, but, I don't have enough for it's own tree yet and I think this tree is too little. :D

I managed to get my Fleur de Lys Tree by Scissor Tail Designs finished! I really want to get a frame for it,. Some things just scream frame me, and I think this is one of them. I think it'll fit in a 5x7 frame so I'm going to try to get out to a TJ Maxx. I'm thinking an antique white frame? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Fleur de Lys Tree - Scissortail Designs

Fleur de Lys Tree - Scissortail Designs

Fleur de Lys Tree - Scissortail Designs

I really want to get more ornaments completed next year, so I started a blog page just for that. The goal is 12 (one a month) but I listed out a ton so there would be options for me to choose from. You check it out over here!

I would also like to get some other projects finished (like both of my Glendon Place patterns (Plum Pudding & Tiramisu), my Chatelaine (Mini Mandala VI), and my Halloween Black cat). Does anyone else think I'm a crazy person? I bet if I tried I could finish it all, but I get distracted easily by new patterns... Oh and I have a collection of mugs that I want to stitch up. So many patterns so little stitchy time!

Quick reminder about the Glendon Place SAL! You don't have to start stitching, but you will need a post about what you're going to work on the week of January 15th. You have until then to decide! Let all your friends know! The more participation the more exciting it will be! 

How is everyone else enjoying December? Have you tried to make stitchy goals for 2015?

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October Mini Mega Madness II

If you recall I joined a challenge for October, Mini's! While I haven't gotten much stitching done, it was on a mini! Go check everyone out on Pull the Other Thread's blog.

Here she is:

Wee One - Pumpkins - Heart in Hand

Wee One - Pumpkins - Heart in Hand

I am using the recommended threads, but it's turning out a lot darker than the model picture. I did wonder that when I was looking at the threads when they arrived in the mail. I'm not upset, just surprised. I like it. I think it will get made into a mini pillow as well when I am finished. I'm hoping to finish it up by next week.

I haven't been able to do much stitching lately because my left hand has been hurting. I think it's a combination of typing at work all day and holding a hoop. I am really considering buying a Lowery stand. Or a Needlework System 4. Or a Needle Needs frame. I think I'm leaning towards the Lowery because of the three it takes up the least amount of space. Do any of you readers use any of these? I did order some crafting compression gloves as well so I am going to try that first. Much cheaper at only $12. Fingers crossed it will solve the problem.

I did manage to stuff my Lizzie Kate finish that I showed last week:

It still needs a good pressing to get out the lumps. Next time I have the iron on I'll do that as well.

I posed it with my very own blown glass pumpkin! My husband and I took a 2 hour glass blowing glass back in 2012 and we each made 2 pumpkins (this one is actually my husbands'). I love taking them out every year and thinking about how much fun we had. My husband actually bought us a glass blown Christmas ornament making class for my birthday (which is later this month)! I can't wait to go, but I'll be waiting until December when it's offered.

While out at TJMax I found this little guy and I had to have him. I haven't found a place to keep him yet, but he is so cute!

That's all for now, hope everyone is doing well! How is everyone else coming along with their Mini stitching?!

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Show Your Stash: Threads

I was reading some blogs and I came across Anna's and I decided to play along. Here's my answers:  

What thread do you usually stitch with? I'm pretty much a DMC girl because it's so easy to find around here. I really enjoy Weeks Dye Works and sub in some to a lot of my smaller projects. I have some silks for specific projects, but I can't really warrant $4 skeins most of the time. 

When you shop for threads, do you buy on impulse or do you buy only what you need? I'm a mix here. For DMC, I only buy on my list because I am only missing about 50 colors to have a full set, so chances are I will buy one I already have. For silks, list only. Classic Colorworks, Weeks, Threadworx, Sampler Threads, etc I try to buy on a list, but I also pick up things that are pretty. I have a small collection so I am pretty good at knowing what I already have. I also have a "Floss Checklist" app on my android phone to check against.  I also use Google Doc's for my DMC. I'm crazy like that (it's so I can print out the list if so desired).

How do you store your thread? DMC/Anchor/Cosmo are all on bobbins in those plastic floss keeper boxes:

Everything else is in a Floss-A-Way bag with an index card for stability, in the top box in this picture:

How do you sort it? Sorted by manufacturer then by color name (Alphabetical) and DMC/Anchor/Cosmo is by number. I love the rainbow way but then I would NEVER be able to find anything. 

What tips do you have for building a stash? Buy slowly, it's not a race and your wallet will thank you.

How much is too much? What a silly question. NEVER. 

How do you whittle your stash down when it's gotten too large? I'm still collecting. It's not too much... yet. However, I do like to give away patterns that I've completed and do not plan to stitch again. Friends are always a good place to start! 

Do you have a current favorite in your stash? I really like Weeks Dye Works Peacock and Taffeta. My two favorite colors. :) 

Come join us and leave a link to your answers in the comments either here or over on Anna's.

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