TUSAL - March

It's TUSAL Day!

(For those not familiar, click on the word TUSAL above or the link to the right.)

It's hard to believe another month has passed but it is so!  You know what that means, it's TUSAL time again.  I'm actually starting to see some hints that spring just might eventually make an appearance.  The daffodils have started poking through the dirt and I swear yesterday's all day rain has made the grass start to turn green.  Maybe it's wishful thinking too.

Here's a look at this month's ORT pile.  The scissor fob in the picture is an oldie but goodie from The Drawn Thread called "The Spring Keeper."  If you want to stitch it yourself, you can find the freebie here (click on "Free" then "The Spring Keeper").

Here's a look at this month's contributors:

Gift stitching x5 to be revealed later (Done)

"Name-tag Class" by La D Da (Done)

"Q is for Quail" on the Hornbook Bestiary (Done)

"R is for Rabbit" on the Hornbook Bestiary (Done)

Row #5 on the Hornbook Bestiary (Done)

"S is for Sheep" on the Hornbook Bestiary (In Progress)

"Snooty Parrots" by Barbara Ana Designs ( In Progress)

"Quaker Faith" by Little by Little Designs (In Progress)

Well folks, not a bad looking list of accomplishments there if I do say so myself.  I'm hopeful to continue my roll on the Hornbook.  I'm so very close to done now.  I'm really excited to see it through.  I get to start on my April "Parrots" installment on Tuesday and I keep plugging away at the Quaker on my lunch hour.  Every stitch gets me a little closer to finished!

Hope everyone has a good week!  Thanks for dropping by today.

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

An Anonymous RAK

 Dear friends what a week it has been.  I started the week with the mailman bringing me this beautiful anonymous RAK and I'd wanted to post about it the next day.  But it was not to be...

Tuesday I woke up not feeling so hot.  I attributed it to allergies and went on to work.  Well, the longer the day got the worse I felt.  By the time I got home I was in full on sick mode.  I missed three day's work and I've just today felt well enough to get out of the bed much less turn on the computer.  Yep, it's some nasty stuff.

Here's what the card said.  I know this friend was worried about me since I hadn't posted all week.  She had another dear friend check on me. Such sweetness.

Here are the contents of this lovely package!  Someone knows me pretty well.  I love that sweet little sheep and the polka dot scissor sheath is right up my alley.

The fabric and ric-rac wrapping will get put to good use I'm sure!  Maybe as finishing materials for this lovely chart.  I do love my bees!

Here's a closer look at the charms.  They are so very me!  Love them too.

I've needed a new purse mirror for a while now.  Check out my old worn out one on the left and my snazzy new one on the right!  Dear friend, how could you have known? I love that my new one has a tea pot on it!

Speaking of tea, here's the tea that was enclosed.  Believe me, I've been drinking a lot of tea this week.  It's helped my stuffy head.  The tea is also a clue to who might have sent this package of sweetness.  :-)

Thank you so much dear friend!  I love all your sweet gifts and your kindness touched me so.  I only wish I could have done a proper post sooner.  I'm hopeful I will get to feeling better before Monday.  I do feel a bit better today so the prayers are working.

Thanks for stopping by today for a visit.  Thankfully you can't catch my cold reading my blog post.  I wouldn't wish this yuck on anyone!


Be well and until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Hornbook Bestiary Progress

I realized I hadn't given the Hornbook any attention this month and not much last month either.  I  decided this past weekend would be dedicated to remedying that.  As always, once I sat down and focused on it I got on a pretty good roll.  Here's where it stands now.

Progress as of 2/1/14

 

Progress as of 3/23/14

I had actually started working on "Q is for Quail" weekend before last and then spent some more time with it at the guild's stitch-in on Wednesday.  Mostly I needed to finish the fill this past weekend.  I got that done yesterday morning.

Here's the little quail close up.  I think it needs the little plume feather on top of its head like the ones around here have but maybe this is a different variety.

Progress as of 3/23/14

Since I finished the quail early in the morning, I decided to keep going and  got a really good start on "R is for Rabbit."  If I'd have had a few more hours in the day, I probably could have finished this one up as well.  I'm hopeful I can get it done in the next day or so.

Here's the weekend's progress close up.  I really like that rabbit.  You probably can't see it but it's a blue eyed rabbit.  Once I finish the rabbit, I'm once again up to the point of needing to add another row!  That means there are only two more rows to go and I'll be done!  Woo hoo!!

I've been giving thought to how I want to add my name to this piece.  I'd once thought about stitching the "L" & "P" in different colors for my initials but I've since come up with something I like better.  Now to chart it and see if I like it.  Then there's the issue of whether I'll have enough floss to actually do it if I do like it.  Oh decisions, decisions.   Stay tuned!

I hope you all had a productive weekend and the up coming week is good too.  Thanks for stopping by today and sharing my joy!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

All day stitch-in, progress and a finish

Last Saturday our guild hosted an all day stitch-in.  It was a really nice day to get out and go stitching.  We saw lots of beautiful things being worked on that day.  Our show and tell theme was spring and/or spring holidays.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves and chime in where I can!

Most of these were my buddy, Marsha's.

See our shamrocks!  I love the ric-rac on Marsha's pillow.

 

I love the "He is Risen" piece!  My friend, Nancy did that one. 

She said it's really old.  I think it's really lovely!

My friend, Meem did this one.  She said she had quite a time finding that hardware.

This is another one of Marsha's and I've fallen in love with it.

I watched Ms. Peggi work on this all last year!  It is Just Cross Stitch's anniversary piece.

This is one by my buddy, Linda.  You can't tell in the picture but the mermaid has a ruby in her belly button!

 

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Our guild is also doing an optional Quaker challenge.  We were asked to pick a Quaker chart and let the newsletter editor know our chart's name as well as fabric and floss choices.  Progress updates will be published in the guild newsletter throughout this year.  We've already had a few completions!

Ta da!  Our very first Quaker finish!  It's also by my buddy Linda.  She said she started this in January and worked on it during all those snowy days we've had.  It's so pretty!

This one was done by Pat A.  I've contemplated this one for years!  It's in my stash.  Someday!

Here's the progress I've made on mine.  I've completed the left side and am now working on the bottom section.

I also had a finish! I worked on this at the stitch-in and finished it up on Sunday morning.  This is La D Da's Name - Tag class piece.   I loved stitching that bottom section.  The floss that came in the kit is called Planet Earth Silk.  I really liked working with it.  It didn't shred or fuzz at all.  Very nice!  Now I'm ready for next month's class!

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Well friends, we've officially made it to spring...at least the calendar said so yesterday! So far the air is still cold and the sun is warm.  I have seen green leaves poking up in my flower beds and that gives me hope.  Have a good weekend everyone!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing you all a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

 

Snooty Parrots Progress

Lately, I've been spending my time with Snooty Parrots.  I'm pleased to report I've finished my March assignment already this month.  This one is such a joy to stitch and I love the colors in it.

January/February progress as of 2/16/14

 

 

March progress as of 3/10/14

 

I actually got to start this installment on the 1st this time.  I stitched both Saturday and Sunday weekend before last and a good bit of this past Sunday on it.  I had was determined to finish it up Monday night as I didn't have that much left to go.  I even stitched a wee bit ahead on those lower case letters.  I had to finish up that thread dontcha know!

 

Here's a closer look at the March section.  I really love that pot of flowers!  I can't decide what the round flowers are supposed to be.  Carnations? Morning glories?  Maybe a Tudor rose?  I love the rhubarb and cranberry colors together.  It took me a while to figure out what that little gold critter was too.  A friend of mine told me it's a lion.  I knew it had to be a cat of some sort based on the tail.  LOL!

 

Now I have to put it aside for another month.  I could be tempted to work ahead but I won't.  I have a some pre-stitching for a class project coming up soon so I know that will keep me busy for a little bit.  Hopefully it will go quickly.  As all of us stitchers know, there's never a lack for things to stitch. It's the choosing that takes some doing sometimes.

 

Well, it's short and sweet today folks.  Thanks for stopping by and do come visit again!

 

Until next time,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

The Secret's Revealed

The secret is finally out!!  Now I can share with you a very fun project I was invited to participate in last year.  It's been really hard to sit on this one but it turned out so nicely!  I'm sure it was well received too.

As you know I've been stitching the Hornbook Bestiary as part of Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year.  Last year on February 24th I received an email inviting me to make a square for a special quilt for Nicola. It was presented to her this year as a birthday gift and a big thank you from all of us stitching along with her.  We wanted to give something back to Nicola for her generosity and to celebrate her bringing us all together on this Scarlet Letter journey.

We were asked to stitch a 6" square using a motif from the Scarlet Letter sampler we are/were stitching and include a post card with good wishes we wanted to share with Nicola.  The cards would go into a memory book for her.  I think I had the easiest choice since my sampler was charted in blocks already.  I picked the "N is for Nightingale" block!  Let's have a look close-up.

 

Design:  "N is for Nightingale" from The Hornbook Bestiary

Designer: The Scarlet Letter

Fabric:  32 ct. cream

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  3/7/13

Finished:  3/25/13

I had to make a little creative addition to this block thanks to Ms. Shelby.  If you look at the block below and compare it to this one, you'll notice there are a few more leaves.  That's because someone decided she wanted Nicola's block and pierced a hole in it with her teeth!  I had to wrestle it away from her, wash it, and reweave a couple of linen threads in there.  Then I covered the weaving with some extra leaves.  Talk about heart failure!  I love my girl but some days...

If you'd like to see the whole quilt and a cool video of all the blocks, pop over to the Our Scarlet Letter Years blog and have a look!  My block shows up around 2:49 on the video.  There are 48 squares in the quilt.  There are 9 countries over 6 continents represented!  Australia, Canada, France, Scotland, Spain, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and 21 States in the US.  How cool is that?! You can also click here to see Nicola actually receiving her gifts.

Thank you to all who had a hand in the making of this surprise quilt.  It turned out lovely!  Also, special thanks to Nicola for inviting us all to come along and share the journey through your Scarlet Letter year.  Every big-0 birthday should be this much fun!

Thanks for dropping by today for a visit.  I'm so glad I could finally share this year-long secret with you.  Hope everyone is having a good week so far!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - February

It's TUSAL Day!

(For those not familiar, click on the word TUSAL above or the link to the right.)

Well folks another month has passed and it's TUSAL time once again.  It also means we are one more month closer to Spring!  March 20th to be exact.  I'm really ready this year.  More so than any other year as a matter of fact. Unfortunately, in my corner of the world, we need to hunker down for yet another round of nasty tonight.  Oh joy!

 

Here's something nicer to think about, this month's ORT pile.  It's closer to normal size this time around.  The pincushion in the picture is a finish from last year seen here.  It's also a freebie found here in case you are feeling festive and want a quickie little project!

Let's have a look at this month's contributors:
 

"Snooty Parrots" by Barbara Ana Designs ( In Progress)

"Quaker Faith" by Little by Little Designs (In Progress)

"Glory House" by Chessie and Me (Done!)

"Be My Valentine - Love Letter Needlekeep" by With Thy Needle and Thread (Done!)

"Be My Valentine - Lovebird Pinkeep" by With Thy Needle and Thread (Done!)

It's a modest list this month since I've been spending a good bit of time with the Parrots.  It doesn't appear that much has been happening when I list it out but believe me the needles have been busy.  I really do like keeping a list like this.  It helps me track my progress and keeps me accountable.

I know TUSAL day isn't the most exciting post I do all month so I especially appreciate your stopping by today.  Hope your weekend is off to a roaring start!

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher