A wonderful February day

Why is it a wonderful day, you ask?  Our family welcomed Grady Patrick to the world today! 

He was born a bit before 1:00 PM.  DNiece and he are doing well - nobody has said how dad is doing :-).  I am head-over-heels in love and can't wait to meet him (I'm planning to head to Michigan to see them in a couple of weeks).  Grady is baby #4 in our family in the last year (well a bit more) and we have one more coming in June.Speaking of the babies.  Here are Vance and Calder:

This was their 5 month picture.  They're not dressed as cowboys - they're both teething and very drooly.

And Jack:

He is definitely growing out of his baby looks and into a toddler.  He had tubes put in his ears a couple weeks ago and from reports is very much enjoying the sound of his voice. :-)

So, stitching.  I did a lot of stitching this weekend, on a lot of different projects.  I knocked four goals off my February acrostic, so feeling very good.

LOTS OF PICTURES FOLLOW:

The first piece I pulled out was Santa and the Mouse (this was a freebie on the HaED website a few years back).  I needed something for "0" and I worked on this 0 times last year.  Last time I had it out, I was here:

I added about 120 new stitches and got it to here:

I used the Pattern Keeper app and I really liked it.  I had to load my progress in but am really pleased with how easy it was to use and I was able to keep my place with no problem (well, once I figured out where I was).

Next I went onto Common Ground by Just Nan. It went from here:

to here:

I really enjoyed working on this one but was only able to get this far in the time I'd allotted.

I pulled Garden Fair out because I needed something for "2" and this only has 2 colors in it.

I'm stitching this with Anchor black as I have heard for years how superior it is to DMC black.  This is one-over-one on 40-count linen and I can't say I'm seeing much of a difference between the two.  The Anchor has thick and thin areas just like the DMC and because of that there are places where the fabric is showing through.  I'll finish this piece up with the Anchor since I spent the money but I don't think I'd make an extra effort to get it in the future.

I also pulled out Luna by Nora Corbett and got her from here:

to here:

I probably should have started her a little bit further to the right so that wing tip was centered in the moon - ah well...

I spent some time crocheting and almost have the shawl finished but I forgot to take a picture.

I spun the wheel on my decision roulette for my normal rotation pieces and J by Nora Corbett came up first.  I'm not putting a before as all I did was that bit of beading at the top of the J.  I forgot how much time beading can take and this is bead heavy. Of course it is, it's a Mira/Nora design.

Temperature Tree came up next:

The fabric color is much more true in the bottom photo.  I finished the January leaves and added the April branch and got a pretty good start on the May/June/July top of the tree.

That left Time for Seasons from By the Bay Needlearts.  It went from here:

to here:

That house reminded me why I don't care for 18 or 36-count fabric - I can't get the number of threads right.  One is too thin for most colors and two is just that bit too much. Doubling up on some and not others would look strange on this piece, so using a thinner needle so I can get the threads between the ones already there rather than splitting them.

Even with all that stitching, I got a bunch of time in on Magic Dreams. Boy by Cute Patterns by Maria and with the news of today, I need to spend all my time on it from now on.  It went from here:

to here:

Of course, just as I finished it off, I figured out that Grady was not going to be blond and that I should have done a conversion to brown.  Ah well again

Friday is my day off, so plan to finish-finish the Forever and Ever pillow and then stitch the weekend away - again.

Trying to get back on track

While not what I had hoped, two weeks since my last post is pretty darn good considering my summer schedule. I have a crazy travel schedule through the end of October so not sure I'll be able to keep up the every-two-weeks post, but will try.

So, I have two SAL check-ins.   is a bit late, but  is right on time.

 is hosted by Sharon at It's Daffycat.  If you have had trouble keeping up with other SALs, this is one for you.  Collect all those bits and pieces that you normally throw away in a pretty jar and once a month post a picture.  Why?  Because everyone needs a low stress SAL.

The top of my jar is filled with mostly sewing thread from the baby quilt top, but there is some embroidery floss there on top of it.  I hope to add more embroidery floss soon.

Today is check-in day for .  Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  You can add this one to the low stress SAL list too.  If you've ever been given a stitching gift, are working on one, or have a way to it a project into those categories, this is the SAL for you.  I have one gift piece that I started and two that I finished-finished.

The one I started is the Savannah Birth Record.  

A red bird and a bit of giraffe.  This is done on 28-count Platinum Cashel with the threads from the kit.  The fold will iron out when the piece is washed and ironed.

The two that I finished are the Mom and Dad for my Niece-in-law and Nephew.  I finished the stitching a while back but couldn't settle on a finished form. I went easy and did pillows.  

Here's the front of Mom:

And the back:

I love the backing fabric and wish I'd bought more for other projects.

And here's Dad:

The backing fabric reminded me of a tie.

I also did some stitching on my Smalls piece, but didn't finish it for August.  If you're interested in a SAL that focuses on Smalls check out  over at Stitching Lotus' page.  She's already said she's going to continue this in 2019, so I have my first SAL for next year lined up.

This is my version of Just Nan's Seasonal Gems I: Autumn.  There's still a bit to go on it, but I think I can finish it this month.

Other than stitching and finishing, I've been doing some paper crafting and crocheting.  I've started and ripped out three different baby blanket patterns but I think I've finally settled one that I like and will work with the yarn I have.  I now have a month to finish it.  

A finish, two starts and IHSW

After the grocery shopping and housework, I had a very productive . 

First up, the finish. 

This is Just Nan's Holly Bows.  It's done on 32-count Stone Grey Belfast with DMC and the beads from the bead pack that came with the pattern.  I really do like this fabric color and have a few patterns that would look really nice on it.

After I finished Holly Bows I put Goldie on the frame to put a few stitches in so that I could put it on my WIPocalypse list for next year.  The stitching was so easy that I did a bit more than a few stitches:

Goldie is my in-law's German Shepherd.  I took a puppy photo of her and put in an order with Heaven and Earth Designs for a special order stocking.  If you look really carefully, you can just see an outline of her ear to the right of the large stitched area.  I worked on this Saturday evening and Sunday morning and then put Japanese Zen Garden from Chatelaine on the stand (again to just put a few stitches in).

It was nice stitching a Chatelaine again.  This is stitched on 32-count Sky Blue Jobelan (after looking at the pattern there aren't areas of solid beading so the hand-dyed 32-count should be okay).  I am using Martina's DMC conversion for all the fibers except for a couple she didn't list a conversion for.  There are lots and lots of sparkly stitches that are charted in this bit, but even with all the PTB (Petite Treasure Braid) I have, I didn't have any of the ones called for.  I have an order in for the PTB, the two silks and the bead pack.  Not sure when they'll all show up but will carry on with the DMC I do have and fill in once I get all the goodies.

Goldie and Zen are the two pieces that I will focus on in 2018 as I would really like for them to be Christmas gifts next year - boring blog with just the two pieces - you have been warned.

The last Gifted Gorgeousness check in for 2017

Even though I have been talking about holiday preparations and 2018 stitching plans, it is hard to believe that there are only a couple more weeks left in 2017.  I am really not sure how the end of the year sneaks up on my like this every year.

As I am typing I am looking out the window and watching a pair of tufted titmice at the feeders.  They are very happy that I put out some shelled peanuts and chopped apples I found one at the back of the crisper drawer that wasn't so crisp earlier.  I think they're eating the apples and hoarding the peanuts.  If you're not in the eastern part of North America, here's what they look like:

  Not a colorful bird but so very cute.  I did not take this picture, but this one is a bit chilly as they aren't normally that fluffed up.  I can also hear a cardinal calling but haven't seen it at the feeder yet.

So today is the check-in for the last  for this year.  Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching and is a way for us to say "thank you" to those that have gifted us with stitching things, show things we're giving as gifts or anything else we can shoehorn into the subject.  It is a stressless SAL as you post as you can and Jo gives us plenty of leeway in our shoehorning.

Since last month's post I have been a stitching fiend for me anyway!  I had one finish that was a gift - A Glimpse of Santa -

and two finishes and a start, Kari's Snowflake, Snowgirls and Holly Bows (photos below in that order) that I am shoehorning.  Because I finished my obligation stitching this year, the stitching time freed up is a huge gift to myself so I'm counting these pieces

as part of the SAL.

 This weekend is also an  weekend, so grab a project and stitch.  Another no stress SAL that only requires that you stitch and post.  I haven't been too good about it this year, but I plan to give it a go again in 2018. 

I have pretty well pulled my 2018 stitching plans together and have a list of SALs that I am interested in for next year, but will probably take until midnight on January 1 to have it finalized.  My plan for the weekend is to finish Holly Bows and then start Goldie and/or Japanese Zen Garden.  See you Monday with an IHSW update.

A tired camel

After the last few years, I didn't think I'd every say it, but the Screaming Camel of Happiness is tired.  Yes, I have another finish!  Those that may be new to my blog, please do not think this is normal!  I typically go months and months without progress never mind an actual finish.  I will be back to that pattern soon enough but am enjoying this while I can.

Here is my completed Just Nan's Kari's Snowflake:

It's stitched on 28-count opalescent Desert Sky evenweave from Silkweavers with DMC, Kreinik and the embellishments that were included with the pattern.  I like the design, but oh my aching head, I had more frog visits on this piece than any in recent memory.  The design is less than 3" square so it's not like I had to count to much more than 5...  Anyway it's done and will soon be moving in with the other several dozen unfinished finished pieces.  Someday I need to sit down and figure out what to do with all of them.

After finishing the snowflake, I pulled out Just Nan's Holly Bows and got it to here:

This is stitched on 32-count Stone Grey Belfast.  I love how the colors pop on this fabric.  If you look closely you'll see something very unusual in this picture.  Yes, it's in a hoop.  I seldom use a hoop for smaller pieces but my hands were protesting after I finished the snowflake so I pulled the hoop out and clamped it in my lapstand.  My hands are happier and it is so much nicer to use both hands for stitching.  Fortunately the design fits within the opening so I don't have to move the hoop or really worry about marks.

Before I started stitching this weekend, I pulled fabric and threads for the two projects that will be my focus pieces next year Goldie a special order stocking charted by Heaven and Earth Designs and Japanese Zen Garden from Chatelaine.

I was heart sore to hear the news of Martina Rosenberg's passing this last week so when DSon picked a Chatelaine for me to stitch for him I was thrilled. What better way to remember a wonderful designer.  Unlike Goldie, Japanese Zen Garden was not a planned start, but sorting through my stash, I have most of the fiber (I'm using Martina's DMC conversion) and a large enough piece of fabric (32-count Summer Sky Jobelan) that I should be able to start in the next couple of weeks. 

I will be starting both Goldie and Zen this year as I want them on my WIPocalypse list for next year, so Holly Bows will be my last finish for this year and probably a while. 

Because the two new pieces are large and detailed (each in their own way) they will be the only two pieces in my rotation next year.  I may have to take some time out to stitch another wedding piece and am reserving Sunday mornings for small stitching just so I can have some finishes next year but you will be seeing mostly Goldie and Zen next year. 

So remember a couple of weeks ago I showed you this? 

Well the same yard looked like this

on Saturday.  Yes, winter has arrived in central Virginia.  It's all gone today but it was very pretty outside this weekend made all the prettier by the fact that I didn't have to go out in it.  No snow forecast for the rest of this week, but it is supposed to be very cold on Wednesday almost cold enough to pull out my New Hampshire winter coat and then warm by the weekend again.  I don't think I'll see the dandelion again until spring but with the weird weather we've been having I'm not sure I'd count it out.

I finally found my stitching mojo!

I am very pleased to report that my stitching mojo has returned from its walk-about and I am taking advantage of it.

Yes, we have another release of:

Pure, unadulterated joy



Snowgirls from Country Garden Stitchery is done:

 

 



I have tried for the last 10 minutes or so to get this to flip but even though it is saved landscape it still posts here as portrait every time, so I gave up.  Anyway, it's stitched on 28-count Mulberry Mix from Silkweaver with the called for Weeks Dye Works, the Weeks Dye Works replacement for the Gloriana and Mill Hill beads.  I used the White Blending Filament in the center one, but did not like the look so didn't use it in the other two. If you do this piece, I would suggest two skeins of WDW Conch.  I ran out about 1/4 way through the third snowgirl.  It would have happened sooner but I alternately mixed one strand of Conch with one strand of DMC 4150 and then one strand of DMC 950. I finished it up mixing one strand of 4150 and one of 950.  Even if using the called for 30-count I don't think you would have enough.  Your mileage will obviously vary, but I am a fairly stingy stitcher and there isn't enough of a difference between 28- and 30-count to cause the shortage so early in the piece.

To celebrate my finish, I started Just Nan's Kari's Snowflake and got to here with it:

I'm doing the rose color way this pattern has three different color ways listed on a piece of 28-count Opalescent Desert Sky from Silkweaver with DMC.  I think this is going to be another quick stitch so maybe another finish this weekend.  I do need to think about getting the stocking for my in-laws started but it is so nice to have these finishes that it's very hard to go back to something that is going to take months to finish.

Before I commence with the baking and crafting...

I must

I just love this picture and don't get to use it enough

and not for just one piece!!  Didn't see that coming did you?  A Glimpse of Santa is finished.  

None of the embellishments are the called for.  The original uses buttons and bangles that I could not find and I spent a lot of hours searching.  So off to Michaels I went and scoured their jewelry making section.  I found the moon charm which was a good replacement for the Mill Hill Treasure I wasn't going to do an on-line order for just that as I would have seen the shipping cost and decided to see how many other things I could order for the same cost and then, well, you know the story... I used Swarovski 4mm bi-cones to replace all the button ornaments on the tree and used DMC satin thread to stitch the lights rather than the called for buttons.  All in all I'm pleased with it.  One of my Black Friday stops was Joann's for fabric for the backing and I have a red and green that I am still trying to decide between.  

I finished the stocking Wednesday evening so decided to pull out one of my WIPs.  It was nice to stitch something that I wanted to rather than had to even though the *had* was something I put on myself.  The last time Just Nan's Florentine Floral made an appearance was October of 2015 and it looked like this:

today, it looks like this:

Because the button in the middle is so large and shiny my camera had a terrible time getting things right as it wanted to focus on just the button.  Anyway the fabric color is between these two pictures and the colors really sparkle against it.  I went through my Just Nan box and pulled out Kari's Snowflake to stitch next. 

In addition to sharing my finishes, this post is also my  and  check-in. 

WIPocalypse is hosted by Melissa at Measi's Musings.  A no stress, no pressure SAL, as Melissa says, it's for fun not a contest to encourage us to work on things we already have started. Both of the pieces I showed are on my WIPocalypse list.  Melissa is hosting again next year YAAAAAAA! and all the details are here.  She is also setting a challenge for herself to not only stitch WIPs but she is also going on a stashing wagon - no purchases except for bits and pieces to finish what she has or needles.  I will probably join her, although I do have another wedding piece to do yes, just when I thought I was done, The Hubs' niece announced her engagement last week so will have that on my list although if I start it now, it will be a WIP in 2018 won't it? Very helpfully, she gives us topics for discussion each month and this month's is:  What finishing style have you never tried but would love to do?  I've done a lot of finishing but the only thing I haven't tried yet is one of the Just Nan balls.  I have the pattern and fabric for Twilight Pearls but haven't started stitching it yet.  Here's a photo of a finished one:

http://anna-zont.blogspot.fi/2014/03/just-nan-twilight-pearls-leaf-ball.html

It's been retired and I couldn't find a picture on the Just Nan website so a Google search found this one.  I'm looking forward to stitching and finishing of this one someday.

 is hosted by Heather at Stitching Lotus and is, as the name implies, an encouraging nudge to love some of those smaller pieces we have.  I am a BAP type of stitcher, so the reminder to stitch something small and actually finish pieces is helpful.  What's a small?  Well, you get to decide - isn't that a wonderful SAL?   I had been stitching The Sampler Life SAL pieces for this SAL and haven't touched that piece in ages, so I didn't think I had a check-in for this month, but when I finished Florentine Floral I looked at the stitch count and it is 53X53 so easily within my definition of a small.   I haven't checked in with a smalls finish since July so I'm thrilled to share one this month.  

I have taken this week off from work to start and finish my holiday preparations.  Just about everything has to be packed and mailed to Michigan, so I want to get it done and off.  I have a plan that should have everything done and dusted by Saturday and it all starts today with card and box making and decorating.