What I've Been Up To. . .

One shouldn't wait so long to blog because it takes that much longer to get caught up. Sometimes blogging seems like such a chore. It can be so time consuming and I would rather use my time to be productive.

Anyway, this first piece I stitched for my husband's niece, for her high school graduation. I loved how it turned out and I think she will too. I know her mom will like it!

"ABC Lessons"

Lizzie Kate
32ct. English Rose Linen
DMC #3041, #987, #3687, White, #938
GAST Evergreen, Nina's Threads Caribbean
WDW Whiskey, Crescent Colors Secondhand Rose
Date Stitching Started: 5/20/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 5/27/2011
Date Finished Completely: 6/6/2011

This next piece, is the Blackbird Design that is in the current issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework (July 2011).

"Land of the Free"
Blackbird Designs
32ct. Coffee Dyed/Baked remnant
Use same substitutions as MamaJoan except Swamp Water instead of Bark
Date Stitching Started: 5/28/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 5/20/2011
Date Finished Completely: 6/6/2011

I am trying to do some Patriotic pieces and did manage to get a couple done last week.

"God Bless America"
Lizzie Kate
32ct. home dyed red linen
DMC white, 3820 and 3750
Date Stitching Started: 6/12/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 6/13/2011
Date Finished Completely: 6/13/2011



"Uncle Sam Zippie"
Bent Creek
28ct. Straw/Gray Graziano
DMC as charted
Date Stitching Started: 6/14/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 6/14/2011
Date Finished Completely: 6/14/2011

I have also been working on some items for our annual retreat which is fast approaching in August. Our theme this year is Pink Flamingos...FUN! I won't be able to share these until then.



I started a new sampler, Plenty and Grace by Primitive Traditions. This is charted with Belle Soie--16 of them. That is just a little more than my stitching budget these days so I am substituting good old DMC. I am stitching it on 36ct. count with 1 thread. Here is how far I am.


I love the concept with this sampler, kind of a family history of sorts. Because we only have 1 child, I am going to add him also. This will take me awhile, but I really am enjoying it.


For almost 3 years, I have been stitching pink and blogging on "When Pink Matters", tributing my good friend Shari, who passed away in May 2009 of breast cancer. I went to the blog today as I forgot to enter my last couple of pink stitches only to be saddened by finding out that this blog had been deleted. What? Angry and disappointed am I. I was about the only one posting on there but I had quite a tribute going. If only I was given a heads up I would have "captured" my postings somehow to save them. I will have to start again somewhere else, I guess. :(

That's all I have for today. Hopefully it won't be as long for an update next time.

Thanks for visiting and Happy Stitching!

JillMN

Stitching Pink

"Sweet Heart"
Blackbird Designs
28 ct. Pink/White Riviera
DMC as charted with GAST Pink Azalea
Date Stitching Started: 3/5/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 3/7/2011
Date Finished Completely: 3/12/2011

Elisa posted on her blog some items she wanted to trade. One of them was this.


I was lucky enough to trade some fibers I had in my stash for this. I do already have the scissors. I can't wait to stitch this up!

Have a great weekend and Happy Stitching!

JillMN

Pink and Red

I was able to do my pink and red stitches for November these past couple of days. For the pink stitch, I did Blackbird Designs "Buttons and Blooms For The Cure". It is stitched on 28 ct. Pink Carnation Linen with DMC, Weeks and GAST.



It turned out quite nice and doing the button hole in the center of the one flower was very fun!

My red stitch is one of the Stitch Your Heart Out designs. It is "The Heart is the Spirit of the Home" by Homespun Elegance. It is stitched on 32 ct. home-dyed (coffee/baked) linen with DMC as charted except the red, I used Weeks Mulberry.



I'm off to gather up my next project!

Happy Stitching :)

JillMN

I Have Been Stitching!

Even though I have taken up knitting, I am still stitching. LOL!

Lenna received my Halloween fair squares that I stitched for her.


I stitched Homespun Elegance's "Boo Tyme" with one of Nina's Threads called Punk. I thought it turned out pretty cool!

I stitched up a cute little freebie pincushion for my October pink stitch.



This is stitched on 30ct. WDW Almond Bar with Needle Necessities #632. I love how this turned out. Pink with brown is yummy!

I also stitched and finished the new Sampler Roundy from Shakespeares Peddler.




I stitched mine on a piece of 32ct. something from my stash. I used the Weeks as charted except Cherry Wine for Cranberry and I just used black floss. There is no color change in the Black WDW so I don't see that necessary.

I just finished mine as a pincushion and am quite pleased with it.

All of the buttons used in these pincushions were from my mom's button stash.

* ----- * ----- * ----- *

I do have one knitting finish that I must share. What cross stitcher doesn't love a cool tote bag?
I tried my hand at making a felted bag. Here is a picture after the knitting was done.


And here is a picture after the felting process.


Your knitted piece reduces approximately 30% after felting. This was so much fun and I will definitely be doing this again.

I have an exchange that has been somewhere out there in the mail system for 2 weeks. I sure hope it isn't lost.

Happy Stitching!

JillMN

A Different Pink Stitch

I have been doing a bit of beading lately, so I decided to "bead" my pink stitch this month. The Japanese symbol on it means "forever", which I thought was very appropriate.




I love making these needlecases, they are so much fun.

I am busily getting ready for my retreat which starts on Tuesday and ends on Saturday. It is being held at Joans house. The first day we are going to put together our Ackworth Friendship Books that we have stitched this past year. I will be posting during the retreat so be sure to check back.

I am so excited. I am particularly excited about the goody bags that I put together for my fellow retreaters. I hope they will be as excited with them.

Have a great week!

My "Pink" Story

It was a year ago May 7, that my good friend, Shari, passed away from Breast Cancer. In October of 2008, I started stitching pink in her honor. I stitched pink that entire month. Since then I have stitched 1 pink item a month. I have also received some pink items from friends, which I very much appreciate. Here is my pink stitch for May.


It is "Bluebird" from Blackbird Designs. It is stitched on 32ct. Lambswool linen with Silk N'Colors Frosted Auburn. The buttons were from my mom's stash.

I thought I would share a current picture of my pink basket and all of the items that reside in it.




It is almost the weekend, YAY! Big weekend of stitching for me and I can't wait.

Thanks for visiting!

Weekend Results

I spent most of my weekend "kitty proofing" my stitching stuff. Kirby really likes threads and fobs and linen, etc. It gave me a chance to somewhat organize my stash again. I probably don't need to buy another pattern--ever! LOL! I'm sure I am the only stitcher with this issue.

I did manage to stitch and finish 2 things. First, I completed my pink stitch for April. I stitched "Flower Tape Measure" by BBD. It is on 30ct. Coconut Macaroon with Boisenberry Belle Soie. I finished it as a small mattress pincushion.



Then I stitched another BBD, this one I have wanted to do for awhile now. It is called "Vintage Pincushion". I stitched "1928" which is the year both My dad and mom were born. I will be displaying it with a great picture of them that I got for Christmas from my older sister. It is also stitched on 30ct. Coconut Macaroon with #10051 ThreadWorx.


I apologize the the bad photos. I need a new camera in the worst way. It is one of the many things on my Mothers Day list--I sure hope my boys come through!

I just have one more things on my goals for this month and that is my block for CaHRH.

Thanks for all the comments on my CA Wells block. Even though that took more time than I had anticipated, it was very fun to stitch. A few of you asked what colors I used. It is stitched on 30ct. White Swan Linen with Silk "N Colors Giualia's Dreams, DMC #729, DMC #154 and DMC #12 B5200.

Hopefully I will be back in a couple of days with my finished block.
Have a great week!

April Already!

Where does the time go? The older we get the faster time goes by it seems. I am glad winter is over.

Another thing I am very happy about is that my bestest stitching friend, Joan, is moving back to Minnesota in 2 DAYS! Joan moved to South Dakota last June just 4 days before my dad passed away. She has been back at least 1 weekend every month except January, but it just hasn't been the same. Our little stitching group will be able to resume our weekly gatherings. Welcome home Joan and David!

I had stitched my "Pink Stitch" for March earlier in the month, but I was unsure on how I wanted to finish it. It finally hit me.


This is part of Primitive Bettys Spring freebie Tulip Time. It is stitched with Belle Soie Carnation on 40ct. Antique White linen.

REVIEW MARCH GOALS
1 Pink Stitch--DONE
Spring Exchange--DONE
Stitch 1 Gift--DONE
Stitching something for ME!--DONE

I kept my goals quite simple because that gift I stitched was the hardanger cloth I did for Joan and I knew that would take some time.

APRIL GOALS
1 Pink Stitch
1 Red Stitch
Block 4 of CaHRH
Start CA Wells Sampler Block

I have stitched a couple more things but I have to do the finishing on them.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I appreciate all the comments.

Happpy Stitching :)

Quaker Block

Yesterday, I decided to take a little break from my Hearts Left Behind Sampler. I did my pink stitch for February. I have wanted to make one of these blocks for awhile.





I stitched this on 25ct. Floba with Vicki Clayton "Hibiscus". It is a freebie pattern found here.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Tomorrow is December 1?

How did this happen? I can't believe how fast time goes. Especially the last month is like a blur. It wasn't enough what I went through with my mom, I ended up with strep throat last week over Thanksgiving:( I am a little behind in my stitching but trying hard to catch up.

I have a few finishes that I can share. First, my November pink stitch. I made one of the Cats Whiskers cupcakes. I received a package of the cupcake bottoms for the beCAUSE it's Pink Exchange from Chris.



This was a very quick and easy stitch but it is very cute!


My November issue of the 2009 Christmas Challenge was a freebie I found here.



This was very fun to do. I love that it's not just another square ornament.

I actually did 2 ornaments this month. I also did this one.


This is a freebie from Aurelle. It is stitched on 28ct. white lugana with silver, with DMC Variations #4210 and #4045.


Over the years of my "stitching career", I had stitched several things for my mom. These are starting to come back to my house. I will start by sharing this one with you.



I must have stitched this about 20-25 years ago. Some of you might remember this doll. This was a pattern in a Cross Stitch and Country Crafts magazine. Just the face is cross stitched over 1 on 25ct. My mom kept her under a clear plastic protective cover so she is still beautiful!

That's all I have for today. Thanks for stopping and thanks again to all of you who have left the most comforting comments on my mom's passing. I really appreciate it.

Happy Stitching :)

Truly A Friend

Today I received an unexpected package in the mail. I was puzzled but was absolutely thrilled when I discovered it was a Random Act of Kindness from Faye.

Faye says she felt driven to make a few things for my "pink" basket that honors my friend, Shari. How thoughtful! I am truly touched by this.


The pouch is a freebie from Plum Street Samplers using DMC hot pink floss. The overdyes in the pinkeeps are Carrie Berry and Little Pink Peony by Crescent Colors. They too are shop freebies that she has collected over the years. And the scissor fob she made hoping I would have scissors to attach it to. Of course I do!

Thank you, Faye, for being so kind and taking the time to make these beautiful things for me. You are truly a friend.

September's Pink Stitch

I just finished my pink stitch for September. This was such a fun and very quick stitch. It is Prairie Schooler's "Stitch to Win" (Pink House). It is stitched on 28ct. Antique White Cashel Linen with DMC as charted. I finished it as a floss tag and am thrilled with the results.

UPDATE: I have had several inquiries about the heart eyelets. I get them at Michaels in the Scrapbook area. They come in a pack of white, red and pink hearts.


Unfortunately I don't have any pink rings and I'm not sure if they make them in pink. I might have to get my pink spray paint out. Where is David when I need him? LOL!

I've been getting alot of stitching done lately and am happy about that. I'll be getting alot more done as my hours at work are being cut for the next 3 months. I have to take 7 full days off and will have multiple weeks with 4 hours less, all with no pay. Good thing I have plenty of stash! Monday is my first day off and plan on doing some finishing.

Thanks for stopping by and tomorrow is the big drawing for the Sisterhood pattern.