March Update

First off, Happy St Patrick's Day! I'm not Irish (or maybe I am for just today?) but I do have a table cloth that's got clovers on it, so I totally count that as holiday decor!

I haven't gotten much stitching done recently honestly. We've been busy making friends and going to the gym. Tonight we're headed out to a Meetup.com event for board games. It's being held at a local cider place. Maybe we'll make some friends there.

I finished the R I was working on for a friends wedding. I've just charted their last name for below, I'm not sure how I want to represent the date yet though.. write out the month or just use numbers? Thought?

I started the Dimensions Peacock kit (sorry it's sideways):

I switched out the fabric for a sky crystal linen that was a gift a Christmas or two ago:

I won't have to do all the background now! Which also means I'll have a ton of teal/blue thread left.

I also pulled out my Glendon Place Tiramisu pattern for a few nights:

It prompted me to order some fabric form CraftyKitten for the Cherries Jubilee pattern too (Tiramisu is also on a CraftyKitten piece, Plum Pudding is not) ... I still haven't finished one but I'm already planning on the third one to start. I make a mistake and it ticks me off so I stop stitching on them. Mostly because I have to fix the mistake in these patterns since they are so symmetrical.

Side note, I hate scroll frames. They just don't have enough tension in my opinion, but I did do some digging and trying different things and determined the best way for me to get tension was to do an S type roll, where it's over the top on the top and goes under on the bottom. I found the tension much better that way. Does anyone else have any suggestions for tension?! I have two of these frames that I never use because of the tension...

I also bought a magnifier/light! So here's a picture of my stitchy spot:

You can see my Lowery frame and my new light. It's great, I tried 3 other magnifiers before I bit the bullet and ordered this one. It's not the most attractive thing ever, but it allowed me to work on my Ink Circles Damask Square pattern so much more easily!

I also made those pillows this past month! They even have zippers. They go well with our sofa's blue velvet pillows that we had bought at Tuesday Mornings to go with the carpet we are now using in our living room. New place meant we had to rearrange our carpets to fit different spaces, our blue one is our largest and no longer fits in any of the bedrooms. I'm planning to make two more pillow covers at some point. I still need to buy two more pillows.

I worked on my Damask Square yesterday, it's on 40 ct crystal silkweavers fabric with Peacock Weeks Dye Works floss (1 over 2):

I've decided I love stitching with just one strand of thread, there's no worries about laying the threads right, they don't get tangled! It's so much easier with the magnifier though. I'm still young, but I'd like to be able to still see 40 years from now thanks! I also pulled out a hoop to use last night for this and I remembered why I hate hoops, those marks! It was only in the hoop for like an hour but left a nice ring... I'm going to have to find more random pieces of my q-snaps for this... I bought a 14in one but it's really just way too big. I should have bought another 9x9 instead.

How's everyone elses' stitching been going!? Is everyone ready for Spring? I sure am!

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Stitchy Project Bag!

Hi ya'll! Probably didn't expect to see me back so soon. :)  I have a couple things to show you (instead of my usual 0 progress).

First off is some stitchy progress:

Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery - Pumpkin Passport

Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery - Pumpkin Passport

I made a few changes to the pattern, nothing too serious though. I changed the girls hair to some Weeks Dye Works cocoa (I think) to match my own a bit better, I'm also a fan of purple so the shirt needed to be updated. I also think I'm going to make the bridge gray instead of the "sand-ish" color that is charted and maybe use con krenik in the Eiffel Tower.

I'm still behind, but that's okay it's not a contest and I have alllll year. :)

Also, I made that navy Q-Snap cover! It was my first one, my mom made the cream-ish ones for me, but I needed a weird size for the Pumpkin Passport project. I think it turned out super well, I'm going to have to make more of them! 

I have a friend getting married the first weekend of June so I'm stitching their initial:

I'll add their last name and date too at the bottom I think. I love how it's turning out. This is the second time I've used this alphabet and I still think I need to make one for myself.... One of these days.

I saw these cute project bags on a Facebook group and they were selling for $45! I like to spend money on stitchy things, but that was a little steep so I decided to try my hand at making one. While it's not perfect, I actually like my version better than the example I was working from (my zipper is hidden, quilted the front in a diamond pattern and added a binding all the way around are just a few of the things that I added).

I'm super excited about how it turned out. You can see that there's a pocket for your scissors (I added interfacing so it would hold up to throwing your scissors in there) along with the pattern and floss. The other side is for my q-snaps. It's currently holding an 6x9 frame. I have a couple changes I'd like to make for my next attempt (including buying a rotary cutter so I can cut in a straight line...). I'm definitely going to make another one and I'm debating making a tutorial as well. I'm by no means an expert but it was really not very difficult, and it only took two evenings (or prob a Saturday afternoon). Would you be interested in a tutorial?

Thoughts? Would you spend $45 for a stitchy project bag or would you rather make it yourself?!

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2016 Updates

Hi all! It's been a long time again. I actually moved from PA to NC over Christmas so it's been pretty hectic again. We're getting settled in but we're not fully unpacked. We still need to buy some master bedroom furniture but I'm being picky and want to find something perfect which means all of our clothes are living in laundry baskets basically... Anyways, you're here for some stitching updates!

I managed to finish the Cafe Latte that I was working on for my last post:



I now have three of them done, but only two on this piece of fabric:



I also finished stitching this ornament for a friends daughter, but I haven't finished it into an ornament yet (I'm such a slacker):



I doubt she'll even remember (Olivia is 3) that she got it after Christmas was over.

I've worked on Plum Pudding a bit:





It's coming along slowly. I get super frustrated every time the frog comes around on this one since you have to fix it instead of fudging it. I think I goofed up somewhere so it got put away until it calls my name again. I do want to finish it, I love it so. I'm more of a smalls person though. I don't like things to take too long. ;)

I also finished this Lizzie Kate design:



I started it back in 2015, but I have stitchers' ADD for sure.


I started the Frosted Pumpkin's Passport project:



It's super cute so far. I love the sparkly fabric I chose (32 count raw/gold Belfast). I convinced two of my friends to do it as well. One of them has never cross stitched before, I think we're going to Skype and stitch together. :)

I also have a little bit of stash, my husband got me a gift card to 123stitch:



I didn't want to go crazy so I just got a couple things. I'm itching to start that peacock kit (with a linen instead of the aida).

What's everyone else been up too??

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Way too long!

OMG guys, it's been so long! I really didn't mean to be absent for... months. I started a new (great) job in February and for awhile it was just so busy that when I got home the last thing I wanted to do was jump on the computer and write a blog post. Or check email. Or Facebook. Or anything really. It's really calmed down since then, either I know more, or it's just not as busy, Or a combo of both, any which way I'm back for an update today at least.

I'm in the process of packing up the townhouse that my husband and I have been living in since 2007 (for him, 2009 for me) so we can move to sunny North Carolina! We are both keeping our jobs and will be work from home employees. The hubby has been since he got his new job in August, but it'll be a first for me. I'm excited and sad at the same time!! We don't have an official move in date yet (the apartment we're renting is still being built) but I'm thinking by this time next month we'll be North Carolina residents!

Anyways, you read my blog for cross stitch news! I had been so busy with work that I really haven't gotten much done. :( I did finish a couple things, and start a few others and leave some behind in the dust. You all know how it is!

Most recent first (since that's what I can remember!)

I just started my third design in Angel Stitchin's ... coffee series, Cafe Latte:



That means I also finished two, Hot Cocoa & Espresso, but I'm going to have to dig up the pictures somewhere... they are all packed now.

I also finished this little ornament from one of the Just Cross Stitch Ornament editions:



And this little lady was a freebie on Durene Jones' Facebook page in October:



I finally finished this guy too (I started back in.. 2013 I think):



I started Glendon Places' Friendship Compass (and then stopped, I have ADD ...):



I started Damask Square by Ink Circles (on 40 count, my eyes!):



And I did work on my Plum Pudding by Glendon Place, there's just no way I'll get it done for the SAL that I was hosting. I'm still going to draw for the winner though! Sorry I poofed and didn't have regular check ins.



I think there are a few more things sprinkled in but I can't track down pictures right now. :) I'll update when we move and I find them again :)

How is everyone else's year been? It's almost over, it's gone way too fast!

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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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Glendon Place Stitch Along Check In

Sorry guys for being MIA lately. I started a new job and it's been taking up more time than the old one. I've still been stitching and even finished a piece! I'll eventually post about it, but I just wanted to get this quick update out.


Here's where I'm at with my Glendon Place Plum Pudding:

It's coming along slowly, but then again I had put it away for awhile to work on other projects.

How's everyone else? What did I miss??

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Winner!!

Thanks everyone for entering to win a selection of cross stitch goodies from me! In total between the blog and my Instagram account I had 48 entries!

I wrote everyones' name down with a number then used www.random.org to pick the winner:

Congrats Sharon H (who is mysticstitches on Instagram & http://witchyknits4ewe.blogspot.com/) Please send me an email with your contact information so I can get this package out to you!

Thanks everyone for entering!!

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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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Sweepstakes time!

I missed last week because of being on vacation, but I'm back early this week with a Sweepstakes to honor my 1 year blog anniversary AND hitting 800 followers on instagram! All you have to do is leave a comment below letting me know that you are interested. I'm going to keep this open until Saturday February 28th at midnight EST and I will chose a winner randomly on Sunday March 1st.

This is open worldwide, I will ship anywhere!

I am opening this both to blog comments and to instagram, so if you do both then you'll have two chances to win! You can find me on Instagram @xstitchhaven. There is a photo to repost and a hashtag as your entry.

Here's a picture of what you can win:



Included are three patterns, Lizzie Kate Flip It "Halloween (#F17)", Lizzie Kate Snippet "Winter Wishes", and Little House Needleworks "Season of Love"; three skeins of floss, Weeks Dye Works Grape Ice and Aztec Red and threadworx 10341; a huge 18 x 27 inch piece of 32 Lugana from Picture this Plus, in the color Heather. I have stitched all three of the patterns that I am giving away and they were all great quick stitches with easy to follow patterns. There are no marks on any of the patterns, they all look brand new, two are even still in their original packaging.

Feel free to share with your friends and don't forget, if you are on Instagram as well, repost the picture in my profile for a second chance to win!

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Winter Wishes

I have a finish!!! That makes two for January. It would be totally awesome if I could get two done a month. I'm not holding my breath though!

Here's Winter Wishes by Lizzie Kate





I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I think it's quite darling! I didn't buy the "official" snowflake charm, which was silver. I instead opted to buy this Mill Hill set which had 4 charms. I think it looks just as cute. I also changed the smoke from the blue charted to gray, made more sense to me. None of the colors were the called for ones, I just kinda went with what I had in my stash. :)

I don't think I did any work on the Plum Pudding, but here it is anyway, I know you all love it as much as I do. ;)



And a closeup:



My goal is one page every two months, and I'm very very close to finishing the first page. :) You can see the darkest purple petal in the lower right hand corner, I've almost reached the center of the design with that motif. It seems to be going more quickly than my Tiramisu was. Not sure why.

I bought these both on eBay (photo credit to Glendon Place):

Baked Alaska

Cherries Jubilee

I got both of them with shipping for $14. I'm so excited about that. I think I'm going to change the Baked Alaska colors to shades of teal instead of the blues charted. And Cherries Jubilee I'm going to keep the same. Someday. After I finish Plum Pudding & Tiramisu. :D

I also managed to do some more hardanger. Not much, but I did my first cutting!!! It's more work to hide those stupid threads than I thought it would be.



I practiced in the upper left corner, I have a bunch of cutting to do in the diamond shaped one on the right. I'm still practicing before using the new threads I bought. I also think I want to work on 25 count instead of the 28 I'm currently using. It's a bit too small in my opinion for the size threads I have. I think I've got some 25 count hiding around here somewhere.

That's it for this week! Hoping everyone had a wonderful January and that February will treat you well!

PS I'm planning a giveaway for passing my 1 year blog anniversary AND for hitting 750 followers on instagram (xstitchhaven). I'm still sorting out what's in the package. Stay tuned!

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