TUSAL - August

It's TUSAL Day!

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

 

 

Holy smokes folks, a week from today is September first!  Really?!  I feel like I've been waiting for summer to get here and it never did.  Well, not until the last few days when the heat finally arrived.  We've gone all summer with it being cooler than usual and now you can cut the humidity with a knife.  It's always something!

 

 

This month's ORT report is full of good things. The ORT pile doesn't look like much but trust me, there's been a whirlwind of finishes.  I finally got to the point that I only needed a few more stitches and I could wrap up a couple things so that's just what I did.  It feels so good to have all but one BAP done now.  I'm looking forward to working on some smalls now!

 

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

 

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

"Quaker Faith" by Little by Little Designs (Done!)

"Summer in Bloom - Drum Pinkeep" by BBD (Completed)

"Turkey Block" from Lizzie Kate's Autumn Alphabet (Done needs finished)

 

Well it's a short one this month but I'm pleased with the report none the less.  I hope everyone has a great week!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Parrots Update

I'm finally able to show an update on the Snooty Parrots.  They've been sorely neglected this summer but I buckled down and am now up to the current month's assignment.  Can I get it done in a week?  Well...that remains to be seen.  LOL!

Progress as of July 8th

Last Saturday we had a Tiara Club all day stitch and I made some real progress there.  On Monday I got together with some of my quilting friends and I stitched some more.  Then on Wednesday our guild had its monthly evening stitch-in and I started my August assignment.

July's assignment as of August 19th.

 

I didn't take a picture of the August assignment start.  It's really nothing special yet.  Just the green part of the vine on the right.  I'm tempted to keep going on it to the bottom but who knows if that will really happen.  I am anxious to stitch the parrot though.  Its coloring is slightly different than the one on the left side.  You'll have to check that out next time.

 

I'm going into the city tomorrow with a quilting friend to see a quilt display at one of the local museums.  It should be a fun outing.  I hope you all have a great weekend too.  Thank you for your visit today!

 

 

Until next time,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

BBD Pinkeep Drum...DONE!!

Ever had one of those finishes where you just need to do this tiny little thing and it would be complete but for some reason you procrastinate it?  Yep, that's me on the BBD Pinkeep Drum.  I've had the stitching completed for a while already.  I'm happy to say I finally completed it last night.

Progress as of July 20th, the last day of the Russellville Retreat.

Stitching completed July 27th.

Then I started the construction on July 27th too.

I have to say that putting this together was a lot easier than I'd anticipated it to be.  I followed the directions that came with the chart pretty closely.  The only thing I changed was I left the cardstock circle inside the drum and added a couple layers of batting between it and the linen for the top and bottom.  I didn't want the drum to pooch out.  Yes, that's a real technical term isn't it?!  I like the way the top is relatively flat now.  I also filled the bottom with about an inch or two of poly beads for weight and used fiber fill for the rest of it.

Design:  Summer in Bloom - Pinkeep Drum

Designer:  Blackbird Designs

Fabric:  28ct. Silkweaver Days Gone By

Floss:  GAST as charted

Started: 7/18/14

Finished:  7/27/14

Completed: 8/14/14

Our retreat kit came with silk ribbon to ruche along the edge but I really wanted to work with chenille again.  I really enjoyed using it last time.  I had ordered some from the LNS but got to rooting around in the stash and came across this.  I love how it matches the fabric perfectly.  I had another option that was more of a rust color but it wasn't wide enough.  This chenille came from Victorian Motto in case you are wondering.  I know not all LNS carry this stuff.

So there you have it, friends!  I'm so pleased with how this turned out.  It's the first drum finish I've attempted and it won't be the last.  I really love working with the chenille too.  It hides a multitude of stitching sins.  LOL!  I'd highly encourage you to give it a whirl if you get the chance.

I hope everyone had a good week and I hope your weekend is just a nice.  The Tiara Club is getting together for an all day stitch tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to hanging with the peeps!  Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Quaker Faith - DONE!!!

I am so happy to report that my absence from the blog was because I've had my nose to the grindstone finishing up my Quaker Faith!  I made some more progress on it at the LNS first Friday stitch-in and decided I just needed to buckle down and finish it already.  So that's what I did!

Here's my progress on 7/14/14

Here's where I was Saturday around noon.

Design:  Quaker Faith

Designer:  Little by Little

Fabric: 35 ct. Jackalope

Floss: DMC as charted

Started: 1/1/14

Finished: 8/10/14

To be framed...

Here it is finished as of about 9:30 last night!  I changed the initials on the right side to reflect those of my parents and paternal grand parents.  It seemed fitting to honor them.  I left the "P" on the left to represent my honey.

A special thanks goes to Melissa over at Words and Blooms. I had entered her giveaway back in 2012 and found out on 5/8/12 that I'd won this kitted chart!  So I wouldn't have stitched this beauty if it weren't for Melissa's generosity!  Thank you so much, Melissa!!!

This finish also serves a dual purpose too.  I am now finished with my commitment for the local Queen City Sampler Guild's Quaker challenge!  Now all I have to do is get to the LNS to get her framed.

This finish kicked my week off to a great start.  I'm going to get back on the Parrots now and I've even started thinking about Christmas ornaments.  I can truthfully say that after committing myself to three BAPs this year, I'm going to try not to do that again.  I really do miss my smalls and ornaments.  Live and learn!

I hope everyone has a great week!  Summer is sadly winding down but I'm looking forward to the Shepherd's Bush Retreat in October so it's not all bad!  Have a good one and thanks for stopping by to see me today.


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher