Looking forward and looking back

I've had several people ask about Secret Stitcher so I thought I would tell you a little bit more about it.  It's an activity our Guild does for those who want to participate.

Sometime around the first of December we fill out a form that lets the person you are paired up with know your likes and special dates (birthday, anniversary, etc).  Throughout the year you randomly send your person gifts (floss, charts, fabric, embellishments, maybe something made by you, etc.).  You usually you try not to let more than a couple months pass between mailings but you can send more often if you wish.

At the end of the year we have the big "reveal" at the Christmas party by stitching your person a Christmas ornament.  I try to make sure to I stitch my name or initials on the back of my ornament.  The ornaments are hung on a special Secret Stitcher's tree separate from the exchange ornaments.

When the person in charge pulls your ornament off the Secret Stitcher's tree, she will ask "who made this ornament?"  You go forward and take the ornament from her and hand it to your Secret Stitcher.  This is how your Secret Stitcher finds out who has been sending her random gifts all year long!

I also like to make an ornament for the person who has been sending to me as a little thank you.  You don't have to do this but I think it's a nice thing to do.  This is the second year I've participated.  I'll most likely do it again next year if the guild still wants to do it.

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Since I can't show you my recent ornament finishes I thought you might like to see what I stitched last year both for my person and for the person who sent to me.

This is what I made for my Secret Stitcher, who happened to be Jenny!

I added the words for Merry Christmas in Swedish to make it extra special just for her.

Design:  Scandinavian Julbok

Designer:  Unknown from JCS Nov/Dec 1988

Fabric:  28 ct. Lambswool

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  7/11/10

Finished:  7/11/10

This is my thank you for the person who had me as her Secret Stitcher, who happened to be Paula!

Design:  Christmas Heart

Designer:  Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin

 from JCS 2000 Ornament Issue

Fabric:  32 ct. cream scrap

Floss:  GAST Pine & Pomegranate

Started:  9/18/10

Finished:  9/24/10

Completed:  11/24/10

***

You might be wondering what the looking forward part of this post is all about.  One month from today I'll be another year older!  I really can't believe another year has almost passed.  Where does the time go?!

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit.  I really do enjoy each and every comment you take the time to leave for me.  They make me smile!  I hope everyone's week is off to a roaring start.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

P.S.  The looking forward part is also a hint reminder for a certain someone with whom I share a home and who is now reading my blog.  Ahem!

A non-traditional Turkey Day

My hubby aka Mr. Destructo and I had a non-traditional Turkey Day.  My hubby works opposite hours I do and every other Saturday.  As you can imagine, this arrangement makes home improvement projects especially difficult.  When we get the opportunity and good weather, we take advantage of long holiday weekends to try to bust out the necessary project or two.

So without further ado, we have the "before:"

Yes, Mr. Destructo has already gotten started in this picture.

Here we have "during destruction."  I was going to post a picture of the back of Mr. Destructo at work but I didn't think he'd appreciate that.  Love ya honey, mean it!

Ta-da!  Completed project!  Just in time to beat the weekend rain.

Seriously, when we took out the old door there were just a few rusty nails holding it in place.  No wonder the foyer was always cold!  I can't believe what a difference the new door makes.  That added window really lets in a lot more light than I thought it would too!

While we were working, look who came by to check us out!  This red dragonfly stayed on the bricks next to the door for a good long while warming itself no doubt.  I think it is a sign of good luck.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

***

I know most of you didn't stop by to hear me blather on about home improvement.  I actually did get some ornaments done.  Yep, I got three more ornaments completed as in ready to give away done!

Unfortunately, I can't show them to you yet.  There are too many folks who belong to both the guild and Tiara Club that read the blog and I don't want to ruin the surprise for them.

You'll have to come back another day to see them.  Be sure, I will post them!  I didn't put all that work into them not to show them off eventually dontcha know!

***

Well that's the update from my world.  I hope things in yours are good too.  It was hard jumping back into the routine today after five days off.  I could get used to staying home.  Oh well, I have to work to pay for my stitching addiction!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Happy Thanksgiving!

For the bounty of  the year,

For our loved ones far and near,

For the sweet Thanksgiving cheer,

I give Thanks.

- adapted from a vintage post card in my collection.

I'm going to take some time today and reflect on what I am thankful for.  I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving has a great day today.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

The Thread Basket SAL - DONE!

Design:  A La Belle Etoile

Designer: C Mon Monde

Fabric: 32ct Cobblestone

Floss:  DMC as charted

Week 4 Started: 11/14/11

Week 4 Finished: 11/20/11

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  I'm happy to report stitching with the peeps on Friday was a blast!  Not much stitching got done as I kind of expected.  We were a really rowdy group.  I drove home with my cheeks and belly sore from laughing.  Whoever said laughter was good for the soul certainly knew what they were talking about.  I seriously needed to laugh like that!

I wrapped up the weekend watching the NASCAR race and finishing up the Thread Basket SAL.  I really enjoyed stitching this one.  The deadlines were a new experience and I can safely say I've not busted out this much stitching in such a short time ever.  I'm proud of what I accomplished in these past four weeks.

I'm not sure how this one will be finished.  Christie suggested a pillow finish.  It is a good size for that.  We'll have to see what feels right when the time comes.

Speaking of NASCAR, how about that finish?  Wow, that was the best race I've ever watched!  It will be one for the ages.  Folks are going to be talking about that race for years.  I love a good car race, especially when my man wins both the race and the championship.  Congrats Tony!!!

Well folks, we are looking at a short work week in my world!  I work tomorrow and then I have five glorious days off for the Thanksgiving holiday!!!  I am anticipating lots of ornament stitching.  Well, that is after my honey and I put in our new front door.  Yep, I bet you didn't know I was a carpenter's apprentice as well as a stitcher.  I'm multi-talented dontcha know!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Inspiration in the hallway

You know you've been stitching a lot when you see a flier in the hallway and think "that would be a good cross stitch pattern."  Yep, that's what ran through my head when I saw this flier advertising a study abroad opportunity.  I snatched it off the bulletin board, made a scan and printed it out for the "to stitch sometime" binder.  Yes, I put the original back on the bulletin board too!

I couldn't resist.  Those who know me know I'm a huge Francophile and anything with the Eiffel Tower usually catches my eye.  This particular one just screamed "stitch me."  It just goes to show you should always keep your eyes open to inspiration. It can come to you in the strangest places and sometimes on your way to the bathroom!

I'm kicking off the weekend by going stitching with my peeps tonight.  It's our monthly Tiara club get together.  We always have a ton of fun.  Whether I get much stitching done remains to be seen.  It will all depend on how much socializing I do and how rowdy we get.  It's all good either way.

Have a good weekend everybody!

The Inspired Stitcher

First Ornament Finish

Design: Christmas Tree

Designer: Prairie Schooler (mini card)

Fabric: 28 ct Natural Light Jobelan

Floss: DMC as charted

Started: 11/1/11

Finished: 11/6/11

Completed:  11/13/11

 

Finally, I've finished my first ornament for the season!  It took me a while to percolate on just how I wanted to finish this one.  I finally decided on flat.  Husband said from the beginning is should be flat and several commenters did too.  So I went with it.  I also decided to go simple and not do any frou-frou.

 

I tried a new-to-me finish this time too.  I had already back stitched around the design in case I decided to do a stuffed finish.  The method I ended up doing came from the back of the latest JCS Christmas Ornaments issue.  I whip stitched the back stitches around three sides leaving the bottom open.  Then I glued some batting to a square of mat board that was cut about an eighth of an inch (about 3 mm) smaller than the stitched piece.  Once it was dry I carefully slid it into the open end and stitched it closed.

 

I actually like this method better than the way I've done it in the past and will most likely do this again.  It would be really easy to add beads to the edges as you go along doing it this way too.  You could also go back and stitch on some type of trim or twisted cord this way too.

 

And to think I procrastinated on this one.  Silly me!

 

Hope everyone had a good weekend.  Welcome to my new followers and thanks to all for stopping by today.

 

Until next time,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

The Thread Basket SAL - Week 3

Design:  A La Belle Etoile

Designer: C Mon Monde

Fabric: 32ct Cobblestone

Floss:  DMC as charted

Week 3 Started: 11/8/11

Week 3 Finished: 11/11/11

I wanted to do a quick post tonight.  Week #3 of The Thread Basket SAL is done!  Now I've got the rest of the weekend free to stitch on other things. Yep, I'm doing the Snoopy Dance!

For those that don't know what a "Snoopy Dance" is, check out the video below.  It pretty much sums up how I feel tonight! 
 

"Snoopy Dancing" my way into the weekend,

The Inspired Stitcher

Veteran's Day

Image courtesy VintageHolidayCrafts.com

Please take a moment today to remember our Veterans.  Better yet, if you know a Veteran or see one today tell them "Thank You!"  It is because of their sacrifices we are free.  Let us never forget!

With gratitude,

The Inspired Stitcher

Big Berry Scissor Companion

Design: Big Berry Scissor Companion

Designer:  Ewe & Eye & Friends

Fabric:  32 ct. Glenshee as kitted

Floss:  DMC as kitted

Started:  9/22/11

Finished:  11/8/11

Have you ever found something in your stitching bag that you forgot was in there?  Yep, that happened to me yesterday.  I started this one on the flight to Philly/New Jersey back in September.  Then I got side tracked with other things.

Since I finished up the PS Christmas Tree ornament, I found myself needing something to stitch during my lunch hour yesterday.  I thought about kitting up another ornament Monday night but just couldn't find the gumption to pull that off so I decided to dump out my stitching bag instead.  Well, out tumbled this one.  I had forgotten I had it in there.  Now I really need a finishing day for sure.  LOL.

Thanks for stopping by today and thanks for the finishing suggestions too. Happy stitching everyone!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Ornaments

Design: Christmas Tree

Designer:  Prairie Schooler (mini card)

Fabric:  28 ct Natural Light Jobelan

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started: 11/1/11

Finished: 11/6/11

Finally some progress on my ornament stitching!  This is what I've been hauling around in my stitch bag for my lunch hour stitching.  Normally this would not have taken that much time to stitch but when you only have 45 minutes or so to stitch (you got to eat for at least 15 minutes of that hour dontcha know) it tends to stretch on.  I just love stitching Prairie Schooler charts.

Now I just have to decide what finish to do.  Part of me thinks a stuffed finish and the other part thinks I should use some mat board and do a flat finish.  What do you all think?

***

Design:  Festive Redbird

Designer: Homespun Elegance

Fabric:  36ct. random scrap

Floss:  Crescent Colors, WDW and DMC as charted

Started:  11/6/11

Finished:  11/7/11

Since I got my "homework" done on Saturday night I treated myself to a new start on Sunday.  I knew this one would be a quick stitch.  It's been on my "to stitch" list for a while now and I'm so happy I finally got to stitch it.  This one is going to be hard to give away.  I really love it!  I know how I'll finish this one already.  I just need some time to work on it.  Maybe I'll see about that tonight.

Even though these are not finish finished, I wanted to share them anyway.  I actually feel like I'm making progress on my ornament list now.  It's a good feeling.

I'm also participating in Becky Bee's Christmas Ornament Challenge 2011.  The challenge will run from November 1, 2011 thru December 31, 2011.  The goal is to stitch Christmas ornaments in November and December and share them on the Blog set up by Becky Bee.  There will be a Gift Certificate sent to the winner of the challenge sometime in January. Pop over and check out all the goodness folks have posted so far.  It's really inspiring! 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Also, thanks for cheering me on.  This time of year things start feeling stressful when you stop to think about how fast time flies.  LOL!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

The Threadbasket SAL - Week 2

Design:  A La Belle Etoile

Designer: C Mon Monde

Fabric: 32ct Cobblestone

Floss:  DMC as charted

Week 2 Started: 10/31/11

Week 2 Finished: 11/05/11

Here's my progress on The Thread Basket SAL.   My goodness my needle has got to be smokin' right now.  I seriously have some flat-butt-syndrome going on too.  I spent a good four hours this afternoon and another two after dinner working on this one.  I've been stitching on this one all week in the evenings as well.  I am relieved I got it done in time for Monday!

Between the SAL and ornament stitching,  I haven't had much time to do much blogging this week.  I guess it's a trade off...either blog or stitch!  Since I'm on a deadline with this SAL, you all know what I've been doing this week!  I even skipped the guild stitch-in today so I could have a long uninterrupted go at it.  It paid off thank goodness.

I've also been stitching on an ornament on my lunch hours this week too.  I am hoping to get it finished now that I'm caught up with the SAL stitching.  We'll see how it goes.  Maybe the time change tonight will help too.  I am hopeful!

***

Last night was the monthly stitch-in at my LNS.  It's always a fun time and of course you have to do a little stash enhancement while you're there hanging with the peeps!

I picked up some floss for the ornament I hope to kit up and start tomorrow.  I also picked up the latest issue of SANQ.  I really ought to just subscribe.  Maybe I'll add that to my Christmas list.

I'm such a fan of Prairie Schooler charts too.  I don't care if they are golden oldies or brand new ones.  There's just something about them.  So of course when I saw these two minis I had to have them.  I also got lucky and found this old Designer Series chart in the free box.  Love that!

Our LNS has a couple of "free to a good home" boxes in the floss room.  They put charts there that folks are done with and want to pass along to other stitchers.  I always have to peruse the boxes whenever I'm there.  You just never know what gem might be hiding in there.  I got lucky this time.

***

Well, that's a quick report from this end.  As you can see, I've been busy stitching like a crazy woman.  It's all good!  As always thanks so much for stopping by and leaving me a note.  I think I need a cheering squad right about now.  LOL!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher