Finishing and a RAK

This past weekend I actually got some finishing done.  I know, can you even believe it?!  I had to excavate the cutting table first before I could do it.  Let's just say that was a job that was long over due.  There's plenty more work that needs done in my sewing room but I'm all about the baby steps.  It didn't become a disaster in one day and it sure isn't going to get put back together in one day either.  LOL! Anywho, you didn't come here to listen to me rattle on about my slovenly ways.  Let's get to the good stuff, shall we?!

This was my main accomplishment!  I actually finished the bee.  The fabric you see in the background is what I used to back it.  I found this weekend before last at a new to me quilt shop.  It matches the peachy pink floss perfectly.  I'm still on the fence whether I want to put any trim on it.  We'll see...

Design:  Christmas Alphabet

Designer:  Prairie Schooler

Fabric:  28ct. natural

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  1/14/16

Finished: 1/15/16

Completed: 1/24/16

As you may recall, I left space on my linen when I stitched the ornaments for the peeps to do one for me.  I decided to get to it weekend before last.  I knew it would stitch up quick and I'm happy to now have one of my own.  I actually feel like I'm ahead for this year...ahem...yeah, always looking on the bright side, I am.  LOL!  This would be my second finish of 2016.  Oh yeah!!!

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I also had a wonderful RAK (Random Act of Kindness) show up in my mailbox Saturday!  I had a "heads up" from Robin in VA (no blog) it was coming but with snowmaggedon hitting I actually didn't expect to see it till the middle of this week.

Here's Miss Nosey Pants checking it out and giving it kisses.

Here it is without the snout in the picture.  Isn't it just so sweet?!  Thank you so much Robin.  Your kindness really touched me.  I absolutely love it.  It now lives on the mantle where I can see it from my stitching nest.  You made my day!

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I hope everyone had a good weekend and if you were impacted by the snow storm I hope you are well and safe now.  Winter is here for sure.  Thanks for stopping in for a visit today.


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Hello 2016

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope your holiday was good.  Ours was super relaxing. This post is going to be a recap of my holiday season.  I'm going to group things a little differently this time.  I hope you like it.

Design: Christmas Alphabet Book #64

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Fabric: 28ct. natural

Floss:  Called for DMC

Started: 11/26/15

Finished: 12/28/15

Completed: 12/28/15

First, let's have a look at my last finishes of 2015. These are the ornaments I made for the peeps this year.  I really had fun stitching each one of them.  I was pleasantly surprised when I found the organza ribbon in the stash that matches the rust colored floss.  I backed them with the same small gingham I used for the QCSG ornament seen here.

You might be wondering what's up with the empty square in the first picture.  I had thought I'd stitch one for my tree but ran out of gumption.  I did however kit it up when I was doing the finishing for the others so I have everything I need when I decide to stitch it.

This year we couldn't come up with a date in December for the peep party so we decided to do it on the 2nd which also happens to be the birthday of one of the peeps' too.  It was an extra special get together!  We also decided to do a lunch and everyone brought a part of the meal.  This was our lovely table setting!

Here's a close up of our table favors.  Loved how it looked like a Christmas pudding complete with a cherry!  This was a Pinterest success I'm told.  Too cute!

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Here's where I'm going to group the gift pics a little differently.  Some of these were my belated birthday gifts and some where Christmas.  When I got them all out to photograph them for the post I noticed there were "themes" so I grouped them that way.  I think we all had some similar ideas this year.  You know you are a tight group when that happens. Here we go, in no particular order!

As you know, I love my Hello Kitty.  This storage box is just so super cute.  I'm going to have to decide what special things will live in it.  Too stinkin' cute!

I'm showing this by itself close up because of the pin on the bow.  It would have gotten lost in a bigger picture.  It's so tiny and cute!  I sure wish blogs had a smell button.  This soap smells amazing!

Next up the edibles category!  Yes, this is not everything.  Some of it got eaten before I ever left the party.  Check out that huge Lindt chocolate frog!  Holy smokes that's a big one.

I just had to show you all a close up of the tea bag in case any of you would want to do this for a friend gift.  I thought the saying was super cute.  I know several of you are tea lovers too.

Next up is what I'm calling containers and bees.  The pouch was handmade and I just love the fabric choice.  Anything with an Eiffel tower on it is right up my alley.  Love the stash jar.  I've already got a plan for that.  Then of course there are bees.  I do love my bees!

I'm calling this group my notions group.  The needle minder and fob came from the same person.  I'm already using them.  Love the pincushion and waxer too.  The mandala bracelet could also be a fob.  Cool!

Then there were charts and a couple kits.  Oh. My. Goodness!  Do my peeps know me well or what?!  The very best part is I don't have any of these.  The strawberry has a fun story behind it.  My peep, Linda bought this when we went on our grand adventure last spring.  She picked it up at Mary Koval's quilt shop.  I was with her when she got it.  Sneaky sneaky!

Last but absolutely not least are the ornaments!  This acorn was tied onto one of my presents.  You know I love my acorns too.

I wish you could hit that smell button on this one as well.  I think it must be coffee dyed or something.  It smells so good!

This one is super cute!  I was asked which sled I wanted stitched for me and I said surprise me.  Oh and what a pleasant surprise it was too.

This one was really popular at the last Tiara stitch-in.  Several people had stitched it for show and tell.  I was really drooling over them and now I'm lucky enough to have one of my very own.  How cool!

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Well folks, that's a wrap!  I hope you enjoyed seeing the goodies from the party.  I continued my personal tradition of a birthday start and I had a New Year's Day start as well.  I'll save them for another visit.  This post has gotten pretty lengthy.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope your 2016 is off to a great start!


More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Guild Ornament - Finish!

This year our guild's Christmas party is super early for reasons I'm not totally clear on but I suspect it has to do with our guest speaker's schedule.  We will have Theresa from Heart's Ease Sampler Workes coming to lecture on designing our Guild's anniversary sampler.  No, I'm not stitching it.  It's a BAP and I'm limiting my self to one at a time.  I've learned my lesson.  LOL!

So anywho, tomorrow is the party.  Typically we have it in the first half of December. I am not ready to even think about the holidays yet but I did manage to stitch an ornament for the annual exchange.  Want to see what I came up with?  You know you do!

Here's the chart I used.  This chart has so many possibilities!

Here 'tis with the stitching finished...all but the initials and date on it.

Design: Christmas Alphabet Book #64

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Fabric: 40ct. mystery scrap

Floss:  Called for DMC

Started: 10/18/15

Finished: 11/2/15

Completed: 11/4/15

I chose to use the initials of the Guild in this configuration so it would end up square.  I chose the 40ct so it would be relatively small or at least an appropriate ornament size.  The fabric in the background is what I used on the back.  I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.  So if you are a guild member reading this, you could be the lucky one to get this cutie.

I'm planning to take a bunch of pictures tomorrow.  I have a feeling the show and tell is going to be fantastic and I'm hoping there will be lots of ornaments on the ornament tree too.  Stay tuned!

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Thanks so much for visiting today and listening to my rambles.  I hope your weekend is good and you get to put a needle into something.  I know you all can barely stand it that I've actually posted twice this week.  You just never know about me.  I'm a wild one like that.  LOL!

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Russellville Retreat Recap part 2

Let's pick up where we left off last time. My travel peeps and I have a tradition of exchanging little gifties when we go to a retreat together.  This year was no different.  Here are the lovelies I received!

See the needle book, that is what I made for them.  It's from the Tilda book called "Sew Pretty Home Style."  Its a super cute book and was just as easy as can be to make.  I might have to make another one of these! I love the pillow hanger.  It was stitched especially for me in one of my favorite colors, red!  The green scissor fob is a super creative thing that came in the green bag with the box of mints.  It has a needle threader, strawberry emery, and thread ring all attached to a six inch tape measure.  How cool is that?!  I have some super creative peeps!

Every year Queen Bee sets up her "boutique" in the parlor for our perusal.  Of course you have to bring home souviner stash!  Here's what I just couldn't live without this year! I've had my eye on the Hands on Design chart for a while.  You can't really tell but the fabric piece is polka dots.  I want to use it for the needle case chart.  The other chart is a Lizzie Kate.  I love the saying.

On Friday night we decided to have our usual planning session for the following year because some of your New Mexico and Texas folks had to get back home for various reasons.  It just wasn't the same with out them after they left us.  Waves to you girls!  That's actually when we got the pins and the journals I showed you yesterday.

Our beloved Queen Bee made us the lovely pins with the help of some worker bees back in New Mexico.  Each stitched bee was colored differently so they all looked a little bit different.  Kinda like all of us...each a bit different but all stitched the same.

Since some of us departed early we decided to do our exchange before dinner on Friday.  Talk about a talent showcase.  Holy cow we are a talented bunch!  As usual, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves and chime in where I can.

This is what the Queen Bee picked!

I made this one!

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Design: Mini Card Freebie

Fabric:  30 ct. Dark Chino

Floss: DMC 3865, 993, 580, & 725 (1 over 1)

Started & Finished: 6/26/14

Completed: 7/4/14

 

This is what I got!

 

 Queen Bee made this one!  I love this so much.

My peep, L made this one. Does it look familiar?

My peep P made this bracelet.

 

 

This is where we had dinner Saturday night.  It's a B & B called Federal Grove.  It was the most amazing house!  We were taken on a tour to see the rooms.  We are thinking we may have to change locations so we were on a scouting mission.  I doubt this will work for our needs but the food was amazing!

Yes, I'm one of those people who takes pictures of their meal but only when it's an outstanding one I want to remember!  The meal was served family style and there was no menu that night.  Everyone that came for dinner was served the same thing.

We had the salad choices of broccoli salad or tomato, cucumber, and onion salad.  The meat choices were country ham, meatloaf, or fried chicken.  The vegetables were cheesy ranch potatoes, carrots, friend apples, corn and/or green beans.  The desserts were German chocolate cake, banana cake with a maple drizzle (what I had), chocolate pie, or berry crumble.  It was to die for!  Good old fashioned country cooking at its finest!

 

On Sunday morning those of us that were left met back up at the "hive" for a little more stitching and the door prize draw.  We are all given a number at the beginning of the weekend and each day several numbers are drawn until we are down to two.  The winner is drawn on Sunday morning before we leave. This was the prize!

 

Queen Bee stitched this Little House design and attached it to one of those hanging toiletry organizer things.  Her thought was to put your stitching things in there for on the go stitching.  I think it's absolutely darling!  Unfortunately, I was not the winner.  Our worker bee from Toledo was the lucky lady!

 

Around noonish we started putting the room back like we found it and helped the Queen Bee pack up.  I shoved off a little early so I could get back on the road.  I had a long five hour solo drive ahead of me.  I always worry about getting through Louisville but it went well this time.  I arrived back at the ranch around dinner time.

 

I always look forward to this retreat and am always sad to leave.  Our time together goes so quickly and we always have so much fun together.  Our group has gotten to know each other so well over the years and it feels like a reunion when we get together.  Waves to the worker bees reading!  Miss you all!

 

I hope you enjoyed my recap posts.  I always enjoy a good travel adventure and I enjoy sharing it with you as well.  I hope you all have a great weekend.  I think I'll stitch some more.  Won't you join me?

 

 

Until next time,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

Queen Bee

My peep, Marsha gifted me with the chart and fabric for this little cutie a while back.  She and I both dearly love anything bees!  She and I made a pact to keep an eye out for it for each other.

Design: Queen Bee mini card freebie

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Fabric: 28 ct. even weave

Floss:  as charted (1 over 1)

Started:  4/29/13

Finished:  5/2/13

Completed:  5/29/13

The minute I saw it on the spring Market previews I knew exactly what how I wanted to finish it!   I had intended to complete this one sooner but it got lost in the shuffle that is my messy stitch room.  When I did some much needed sorting this past weekend it resurfaced so I finally got it finished.  It took me all of about five minuted to finish it up too.  Silly girl!

Here it is close up!  I ran across this pocket watch a while back and knew I'd find some thing to put in it.  This seemed to be the perfect chart when I laid eyes on it.

Here's the packaging in case you want to find one for yourself.  I found mine in the scrapbook aisle at the local Hobby Lobby.  I'm sure the online scrapbook shops probably have it as well.  I'd do a search for "Tim Holtz idea-ology pocket watch."

Just for fun, here's Marsha's version worked on the very same fabric stitched 2 over 2 and mine done 1 over 1.  I really find it interesting to see them side by side like this.  It really gives you perspective on how the size changes.

Thank you so much, Marsha for gifting me with this little cutie!  I'm so lucky to have a friend who shares the love of bees.  We enable each other quite often!  LOL!


Thanks for your visit with me today.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  I'm looking forward to mine.  It's going to be a busy one packed full of lots of fun!


Until next time,

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

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?

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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