Looking back, looking forward

Happy New Year, everyone!  Thank goodness we made it to 2014 in one piece.  I'm so glad to have 2013 behind me now.  I don't want to get into the details here but suffice it to say the last six weeks of 2013 were doozies and life got in my way!

I'm going to take this post to catch you up on the stitchy things that have happened last month since I didn't do a good job of keeping up.  Besides, I know that's why you come to visit me anyway.  So let's get going.

Design: “Joy Reindeer Floss Tag” freebie

Designer: marijke-steekjeskruisjes.blogspot.com

Fabric: 28 ct. natural brown scrap

Floss: DMC as charted

Started:  11/25/13

Finished:  11/25/13

Completed:  12/8/13

This is the "ornament" I stitched for my Secret Stitcher.  It was a Pinterest find.  I made it into a floss tag.  The floss ring is hanging on the back of the ornament.  I couldn't show it to you until after the guild Christmas Party on December 14th when we did the Secret Stitcher reveal.  If you want to see more ornaments and the show and tell, pop over to Marsha's blog.  She did a really nice recap.  I'll do another post to show the gifts given and received at the party another day.

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Lets look at some other finishes I had last month.

Design:  “Merry Christmas” freebie

Designer:  Threadwork Primitives

Fabric:   36 ct. iridescent white

Floss: DMC 115 & 367

Started:  9/28/13

Finished:  9/28/13

Completed:  12/8/13

I started this one at the Tiara Retreat and finished it with the fabric you see in the background.  I've had that fabric in my stash forever.  I think it goes really well with the stitching.  I had intended to give this one away but decided to keep it for our tree.  It really turned out cute and I just couldn't give it away! 

Design:  No "L" Sampler

Designer:  Eileen Bennett

Fabric:  36 ct. white opalescent

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  11/21/13

Finished:  11/24/13

Completed:  To be ornamentified

I picked up this chart on the "free to a good home" table at the Russellville Retreat.  Thank you, Kathy!  I really liked the humor in this one.  I stitched the "L" in a different stitch since it's my first initial.  When I get around to ornamentifying it, I'm going to use the fabric in the background.  It's cut out and ready to go.  I just need to find some time.  Anybody got some they can loan me?  LOL!

Design:  Mary's Sampler II freebie SAL

Designer:  Plum Street Samplers

Fabric:  40 ct. Light Examplar

Floss:  As charted (except the white DMC B5200)

Started:  9/29/13

Finished:  12/29/13

Completed:  To be framed later

This was my last stitchy finish for 2013.  I decided I was going to buckle down on my birthday and actually finish it.  All I had left to stitch was the berries.  I really enjoyed stitching it and watching the local peeps stitch this along with me.  It was also fun to see the different ones popping up in blog-land too.

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I've also made some progress on my Hornbook.  I can't wait to show it to you.  I'll save that for it's own special post.  I also want to show you the Foster brothers and their women all together at the Christmas Party.  I think that deserves its own post too.  Then there are my New Year's day starts.  Yes, that was plural.  I actually had a finish yesterday.  I'd also like to do my usual recap post as well.  So stay tuned there is more to come and hopefully life won't get in my way like it did last month.

For now, I want to wish each and every one of you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!  It is my wish that you all get to cross as many X's as possible this coming year.  You all continue to inspire me and I truly enjoy your visits!  Thanks for stopping by today.

Much more later,

The Inspired Stitcher