I Sigh Not for Beauty - FINISHED!

People, did you hear it?!  Yep, that was me whooping it up last night about 6:30 when I put the very last stitch in "I Sigh Not for Beauty!"  Yes, a miracle has happened.  It's done!  Let's have a look.

Design: I Sigh Not for Beauty

Designer: C Street Samplers

Fabric: 32 ct. Dirty Linen

Floss: My own conversion of NPI and Hand Dyed Fibers

Started: 3/5/11

Finished:  2/5/17

Completed: To be framed at some point

The linen color isn't showing true to life in this picture since it was dark when I finished.  I also didn't iron it either.  So yes, that's a wrinkle you see there.  It's straight off the q-snaps people!  I was just so dang happy to get this done already that I simply couldn't be bothered.

Ever reach that point with a project where you just want it over already?  Um...yeah, that would be me with this one.  Don't get me wrong...I love the design, love the colors, love the fabric and floss but I was just over it.  It had haunted me for way too long and it needed to be finished.

The bargello grass went really quickly once I got going and the satin stitch border...can we talk about that for a minute?!  I clearly surprised myself with that one.  I guess I haven't done a lot of satin stitch and had no idea how fast it would work up!  I started the green at the guild stitch-in on Saturday and finished it up when I got home.  Yesterday I was bound and determined to bust out the cream side and that's just what I did!

I can't even put into words just how happy I am to have this one done.  Talk about shame stitching, this one has been shaming me for the last couple weeks.  I mean look at those dates, one month shy of six years I've been futzing around with this.  Oh puleeze!  But thanks to the gentle nudging of my peep, Christie and the cheering of several of you...I've finally finished this!

Now I can honestly say that I only have a few WIPs going and some unfinished class pieces.  I guess class pieces don't haunt me as much as WIPs do.  I'm not sure why.  I guess I look at class pieces as a learning experience. If I finish them at some point okay, but my main point was to learn something and I did that in the class.

As for WIPs, I've come to realize that I don't personally feel comfortable having at ton of WIPs going at once.  For my own personal sanity I need to keep it minimal.  I'm not saying there's anything wrong with having a lot going on at once if that's your thing.  It's just not mine.

I've also learned that I don't like having a lot of big projects going at once either.  It just not in my comfort zone.  Right now the WIPs I do have are what I would consider small or medium sized.  That's not to say I won't ever do another big project, but maybe not right away.

So friends, that's a long winded reflection after a really big finish.  I'm happy to have it done and am looking forward to sharing more finishes.  I appreciate all your support and encouragement.  What a nice way to start the week!  I hope yours is off to a good start too.

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Louisville Weekend

This past weekend some friends and I decided we would beat the winter doldrums and getaway to Louisville, Kentucky for a few days.  We always have a good time when we do things like this and this time was no exception.  Just a little side note, I forgot to get pictures of the places we visited so I'll be inserting links instead for your viewing pleasure.  Okay, back to the trip!

We started our trip with lunch at Cafe Classico.  I had the panini Italiano that was just wonderful.  After we were all refueled and satisfied, we ventured up the street to see our friends, Saundra and Carol at The Finishing Touch.  We just love those two girls!  Needless to say, nobody left empty handed!

I had a list this time and most of it was fabric and threads.  Of course a couple charts just jumped into my hands as they do dontcha know.  Here's a peek at the stash!

First up, fabric!  I don't usually buy this much fabric at once but I wanted to kit up a couple things.  Not like I don't have enough to stitch for the rest of my life already.  So yeah, the upper left is for "Things Unseen" buy Lizzie Kate it's 32ct. Pecan Butter.  Going clockwise, is 36ct. Dapple.  At the time I was thinking of using it on "Mermaid Fraktur" by Plum Street but I'm thinking I might want some sparkle.  The bottom two are 32ct. Creme Brulee and 30ct. Tiger Eye both for "Thyme to Gather" by Hands on Designs.  The beads are for a Nora Corbet design I can't remember the name of at the moment.

Here are some random flosses that go with the above projects.  It's always nice to see the floss in person.

These are the two charts that jumped into my hands.  I really like the "Little Sheep Virtues" series and have seen several stitched up that are just darling.  I was fortunate to receive one from one of my lovely blog friends a few years ago.  You know who you are.  :-)

We ventured on to the hotel after that and settled in for the evening.  I decided I would stitch on a different project each day.  Since I'd already started "Chocolate Box" I decided that would be my Thursday night/Friday afternoon stitch.  Here's were I got on it.

Progress as of 1/14/17

I managed to get two more pieces added and a third started since you saw it last.  I need to do some embroidery on the blank one on the bottom.  This chart is just so much fun!  One of the girls that was with me had stitched this one before and showed me a picture of her finish.  I'm definitely doing a cube finish after seeing hers.  It's going to be so stinkin' cute!

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Friday morning we got up, headed out to visit quilt shops and had breakfast at Krispy Kreme!  I can only eat a couple of those scrumptious things before I start getting the sugar shakes but oh are they worth it!

The first shop we visited was Among Friends Quilt Shop.  It's in the same parking lot as Krispy Kreme.  How convenient!  I ended up getting a couple pieces of fabric for another "Vonna Bag" and maybe a project bag for my knitting.

I couldn't resist that Downton Fabric!  I "killed the bolt" on it and the pink was also in the same clearance section.  I love that it looks like a knitting pattern.  The two grey pieces are for the linings.

Next we ventured up the street to pop into Barnes & Noble.  I love me a good bookstore!  The closest big bookstore to me is about an hour away so I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to poke around.  I couldn't make up my mind on what to get so I finally decided on this cute little pocket size coloring book.  Yes, it was the bees that got me.  You all know I love me some bees!

About this time we were all getting hungry so we found a Chipotle for lunch.  I do love their burrito bowls and those chips...oh yes, please!  I like pretty much any Mexican food really.

One of the peeps has a Sonic addiction.  She goes twice a day for her special drink.  On the way that morning she noticed a new-to-us quilt shop called The Cozy Quilter.  So while we were out, we decided to stop in and poke around.  It's a cute place.  It's small compared to the first place we visited.  I couldn't resist these two fat quarters.  Who knows what they'll end up being...maybe another project bag since I'm on a roll right now.

We made it back to the hotel mid afternoon and settled in for some stitching.  I started out working on the "Chocolate Box" and then I switched to "I Sigh Not for Beauty."  Here's where I got on it.  I ended up working on it both Friday and Saturday.

Progress as of 1/14/17

When I got to the over one word section, I decided to bag it until I got home.  The light I brought really wasn't bright enough to do over one on that dark fabric.  I feel good about what I accomplished though.  I only have the words to do and satin stitch the saw-tooth border now!  I'm feelin' a finish coming on.  I just need to buckle down!

Progress as of 1/14/17

After I bagged "Beauty" Saturday night, I got this one out.  It's my second new start of the year.  It's a freebie by Notforgotten Farm called "Flag Maker."  I'm stitching it with the called for DMC on 32ct. Vintage Cedar Plank.  I got all that done in one sitting.  It's an easy stitch!  Pop over to Lori's blog and get yourself one.

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Progress as of 1/15/17

I also can't resist sharing my knitting progress.  My husband said I can't wip out knitting when I'm with the stitching peeps but I did it anyway.  I'm a rebel like that dontcha know.  I've learned I can knit really easily in the car, as a passenger of course!  The bridges and overpasses don't cause you to stab your fingers like stitching on 40ct does.  Just sayin'!

For the knitters among us, I'm using #7 (4.5mm) Knitter's Pride Nova Platina tips with a 24" cord.  The yarn is Classic Elite Yarns Liberty Wool in the "Magic Carpet" colorway.  I've knit a lot more on it since this picture and I'm almost ready to bind off!  Squeals!

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As an aside, while we were stitching Saturday night, I saw someone go out the door with a puppy.  One of our peeps, was out smoking when she saw it too.  She told the owner there was a whole room of dog loving ladies that would love to see him.  So she brought him in so we could gush over him.  He was a little hard to get a good picture of since he was wiggly and on the move but look at that sweet face!

He's an 11 week old English bulldog and oh so sweet!  There's nothing like that sweet puppy smell and puppy kisses.  Needless to say we were all smitten!

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Well that brings me to the end of our weekend away.  We packed up Sunday morning and headed back to reality.  I had such a nice time.  It's always fun to spend time with the stitchy peeps.  It was also nice that Monday was Martin Luther King Day and I had the day off.  Miss Shelby was my Velcro pup all day long.  I think she missed me.

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I hope everyone is has had a good week.  Thank you so much for stopping by and for all your sweet comments.

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

The October WIP Experiment

I bet you were wondering how the experiment went for the month of October.  Well, since it is the last day of the month, I thought I'd report in.  So here goes!  It's been a month of discoveries.

So here's the tracker for the month.  I didn't stitch as much in a month as I thought I might but it's an improvement.  I'm beginning to see a pattern.  Sundays seem to be the day I do the most stitching.  I also seem to get on a tear with a project and work on it over the course of several days before moving on.  I didn't even touch the mermaid or the watermelon so we'll focus on the ones I did spend time with.  So lets take a look at them!

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"I Sigh Not for Beauty"

Progress as of 9/30/16

Progress as of 10/31/16

Well, it's nothing to get too excited about but it is still something, I suppose.  I did finally take it off the ginormous Q-snaps I had been using and switched to my 11 x 11" ones.  Definitely more manageable for couch stitching.  Now to get that plant it's match on the other side and more of those little flowers in and around the vine.

"Heaven Above"

Progress as of 9/30/16

Progress as of 10/31/16

As you can tell, this was one I got on a tear with.  It also helped that I attended the Tiara Club retreat a couple weekends ago and worked on this all afternoon that Saturday (I only went for the day this time).  I'm actually really into this one at the moment.  I may even work on it some more tonight.

Oh yeah, about the random "h" on the right, stitched purely for placement so I could stitch those rosebuds.  You know how it is when you still have a color on your needle and you want to finish the thread.  C'mon, you know you do it too.  Another random factoid, I have to stitch sentences.  I can't stitch partial or random words.  So yeah, the "h" is driving me nuts but I had to do it.  It's a quirk of mine.  Yes, I'm weird.  There, I admitted it.  LOL!  Moving on...

"Colonial Santa"

Progress as of 9/30/16

Design: Colonial Santa  (circa 1988!)

Designer: Homespun Elegance

Fabric: 27ct. unbleached brown linen

Floss: Medici wool and DMC as kitted

Started:  9/9/16

Finished:  10/22/16

Completed: TBD

Yep, I had a finish this month!!!  I finished this at the Tiara Club retreat.  I can't wait to do the finish finishing it.  I'll actually have a new one for the tree this year before Christmas even!  I know, shock of the world.  This one will remind us of our 20th anniversary trip we took to Williamsburg this year.  Yay!  So cute!

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I also did some finishing this month on a project I'd worked on earlier this summer.  I'll share it in another post since it doesn't relate to the WIPs I'm tracking. 

I've decided I'll continue this experiment in November too.  I'm all about whatever I can do to motivate me and this seems to be working.  Who knows, maybe there will be another finish.  I hope you enjoyed seeing my progress and maybe this will inspire you too.

Thanks for stopping by to visit today!

Happy Halloween!

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

  

Preparing for October...an experiment

I don't feel like I've stitched much at all this year and this here blog shows it.  I've decided this stitchy slump of mine has got to come to an end.  So I've decided to try something different to maybe motivate me to work on my WIPs.

This fall I've jumped on the Bullet Journal bandwagon along with everybody else.  In the past, I've kept various digital and analog planners so trying this method sounding interesting to me.  It's been a couple months now and can see some advantages.   I've always liked to do hand lettering, draw and of course, I like to write too.

I had an epiphany the other day.  Why not make a tracker in my journal where I can note my progress on my WIPs?  So as I work on each WIP, I'll note it in the tracker.  At the end of the month I'll have a better idea where my time was spent.  I'm not going to put any pressure on myself.  I'm treating this as a learning experience not a marathon/competition to see how much I can bust out.  This is supposed to be for fun dontcha know.

So to kick things off, lets have a peek at where I stand on the ones I want to track in the month of October.  Starting with the oldest to the newest.

This is "I Sigh Not for Beauty."  I started this one as a SAL with the peeps way back in 2011.  I'm fairly sure I'm the only one who hasn't finished.  Christie, this one's for you! She's been gently nudging me all year to get crackin' on this one.  As you can see from the picture, I could pretty easily get it done if I really tried.

Next up is Heaven Above.  I've been working on this here and there this year.  I've finally moved onto page three of four!  From this point forward it's pretty much all letters with a few motifs sprinkled in here and there.  I really love this one and I really like stitching letters!

I haven't worked on this one since the Mirabilia Retreat in the spring.  It's one of Nora Corbett's mermaids.  It's charted as an "E" but I'm going to lob off a couple legs and turn it into an "L."  As anyone knows who's stitched one of Nora's designs, there are a lot of color changes which makes for slower stitching...or at least I go slower.  LOL!

Then we have the Watermelon restart.  I could easily get this one done.  It's a quick stitch.  I've been using it as my "car" project this summer when we've gone on a couple trips.  That large count really lends itself to stitching while in motion.  Although, bridges and overpasses are a wee bit bumpy no matter what count you are stitching.

This one is an oldie from Homespun Elegance.  It's called Colonial Santa and it was a kit.  I found him when I was doing some recent de-stashing.   I'm sure I picked it up in a free box somewhere.  Whoever de-stashed it before I got it had started the coat.  So far I've only gotten a  tiny bit of the beard done.  This one is interesting because it uses Medici wool floss.  That's a first for me.  It's quite springy floss.

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So folks there you are, my current WIPs.  Let's see how this little experiment goes.  I think it will be fun to see who gets the most attention this month and maybe even who gets done.  I'm an optimistic little thing dontcha know.  LOL!

I hope wherever you are you are getting to spend time with needle in hand.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great weekend and a great October!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Acorns and Beauty

A couple days ago I mentioned a round robin I'd been invited to join. I want to show you my portion of the piece. I'm only showing you my part since I didn't ask the others if it was okay to show their bands.  Maybe when it's all done I'll show you the framed piece.

We are doing this to cheer someone up who has been through quite a bit these past couple months. I think this is a really neat idea and am so glad I was invited to participate. I think she'll like it.

I used the colors for the vine section from the acorn tin topper I did a while back.   I just randomly chose to use yellow on the top band since it blended well with the band above it.

The vine is from an old Mill Hill chart called Antique Acorn Sampler.  I really liked the charted colors but they really didn't fit in with the colors that had already been used so I improvised.  I'm pleased with the way my band turned out.

Those who know me know I'm always saying to folks "you can do it" (said in my best cheerleader voice).  The recipient has the best smile too so I felt these words were fitting for her and the situation.

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I also wanted to show you a progress pic of my "I Sigh Not for Beauty" sampler.  Affectionately know as my "Beauty" sampler.  Here's where we left off:

Here we are as of the last stitch-in:

Sorry about the wrinkles up there. She got her glamour shot just as she was that day...hot off the top Q-snap!

I know it doesn't look like much progress but there really are a lot more stitches in there than last time.  Building a house is time comsuming work dontcha know!

Well folks, that's all I've got for ya today!  I hope you are having a good week.  I'm looking forward to a long holiday weekend!  I get to spend four whole days with my honey.  I can't wait!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Progress is being made

Carre d'Abeilles - Jardin Prive

as of 1/20/12

Carre d'Abeilles - Jardin Prive

as of 1/25/12

Here's my progress on my bees.  I've been stitching on this during my lunch hour only this week.  This week it's been my sanity saver.  Nuff' said!  I actually finished the second side strip today at lunch but was too lazy to take its picture.

Blue Ribbon Sewing Box - Patrick's Woods

as of 1/5/12

Blue Ribbon Sewing Box - Patrick's Woods

as of 1/25/12

This one I worked on quite a bit last weekend and have stitched a couple nights this week on it.  I think I'll finish it up pretty soon.  I really seem to get speeding along on this one when I pick it up.  I can't wait to see this one all put together!

I Sigh Not for Beauty - C Street Samplerworks

as of 1/20/12

I Sigh Not for Beauty - C Street Samplerworks

as of 1/25/12

Last but not least is Beauty.  The house is almost done!  I worked on her last Wednesday night at the guild's stitch-in and again last night at my monthly Stitch n'Bitch night at my house.

Funny thing about Stitch n'Bitch, we started out as a UFO (UnFinished Objects)group that was a splinter group from the local quilt guild.  Well, one thing then another happened and the four of us that have continued to meet broke away from the group.  We decided we enjoyed our nights together too much to stop meeting so now we just take turns hosting in each other's houses.

Some nights everyone is quilting and some nights it's a grab bag.  Last night there was one who finished the binding on a quilt she's been working on for four years.  Another finished her lunchtime cross stitch project (no it wasn't me) and the other was ripping apart some quilt blocks she'd gotten in an exchange because none of them were the same size.  Me, I worked on building a house!

Oh and we solved the problems of the world while eating M's too!  You just gotta love your girlfriends.  Laughter is so very good for the soul!  I hope you've laughed today even if it's at yourself.  Thanks for visiting with me today!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Stitchaway Retreat

Hey all!  I'm back as promised with a proper post about the retreat last weekend.  I can not believe we have blown through another week already.  I guess having a holiday on Monday might have helped it speed by!  So let's get to it...go grab a cup of tea, this is going to be a long post!

Here's where we spent the weekend!  Can you see the steam coming out of the chimney on the left side of the lodge?  Yep, it was really really cold this past weekend and we even had some flurries too.  None of this mattered because we were all tucked away in the stitch room cozy as can be!

Here are the gifts the LNS gave us!  See that big strawberry on the right, our hostess made us all one of these!  Can you believe that?!  It's just too cool especially since I collect strawberry emerys.  I have a basket full of them.  Somehow I don't think this big one is going to fit in the basket.  LOL!

In the back is a frame, chart and all the floss plus the beads for a Lizzie Kate design.  The box next to it is pretty cool too (see below).  The three charts and thread winder in the front were a gift from Rosewood Manor!

Here's the box's inside.  Look at all that strawberry goodness.  Let me just tell you it smelled wonderful!!  See that pattern in there?  It goes with the floss and the buttons on the lid.

When it's stitched up, it will go on the lid like this.  Isn't that just too dang cute?!

Speaking of gifts, here's my gift from Bunny^Hop.  She made several of us felted baskets and filled them with goodies.  She knit this herself too!  I'm amazed since I do not knit.  See the tiny acorn button?  Love that!  Thank you so much sweetie!  It was so thoughtful of you to make these.  We miss seeing you too!

Here are some pictures of the "store" our hostess sets up for us in one of the conference rooms!  There were six trunk shows there!!!  There was Kathy Schmitz, Homespun Elegance (one of my faves), The Workbasket, Rosewood Manor, JBW Designs, and Designs by Lisa.

Just look at all this potential new stash!

Jenny actually took a bunch of close up pictures of the trunk shows.

Go pop over and see them but come right back!

Here's what came home with me.  There's no way I was getting out of there without spending those gift certificates.  There was just way too much temptation for me to resist dontcha know!

Check out my fancy new pink hot/cold mug!  Love that!  It's pink!!!!  I got some buttons from Rosewood Manor but I'm not going to use them for their intended purpose.  We'll see how my crazy idea for them pans out.  You'll have to stay tuned for it.  So here's what's in the haul:

Chessie & Me - Scarlet's Pincushion
Stitch Happy pink hot/cold mug
Homespun Elegance - H is for Halloween
Rosewood Manor - Bag o'buttons
Clip Bytes:  To Do/Joy

Here's a group pic of most of the peeps.  See Senior Frog?  He's hiding behind a light there.

Here are the other two peeps that escaped the above picture.  Betcha two didn't know I took that one.  I'm naughty like that!

There's Senior Frog keeping an eye on the M's.  You know we can't stitch without the M's and Senior Frog's ever watchful eye.  Thankfully he kept his friends away from us most all weekend.

There was plenty of silliness this weekend too.  Check out my buddy L.  Looks like P is sayin "what the heck?"

Here's some more silliness.  Marsha and I's attempt at a self portrait.  Just look at that photo bomber in the background.  We laughed so hard I thought the tears were going to run down our legs over that one!  That girl just cracks me up.

Believe it or not, we really did get some stitching done.  Here's proof!  Check out that house and those second floor windows.  I'm really glad I worked on this piece and made some visible progress.  I am just soooo close on this one I just can't stand it!

I really love the way this one is turning out too.  I actually finished the side piece but didn't get a picture of it.  It's become my lunch time stitch now but I may work on it this weekend.  We'll see.  Those bees just make me swoon and those pink flowers too!  Did I already say I love pink?  Um...yep I really do!

Here's the make it and take it we did on Sunday morning.  How stinkin' cute is this?  I just love it.

Here's where we made these little lovelys.  Yes, that is a real fire and it was really cozy sitting there making our strawberry's French knot seeds too!  It was a great way to wind up our strawberry themed weekend.  We were all sad to see it end but we are looking forward to next time.

Well folks, there you have it!  Thank you for reading down this far. Thank you so much for visiting with me today.  I appreciate each and every comment and email.   I hope you all have a great weekend.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher