TUSAL - March

Well folks here we are again, it's time for the March TUSAL report.  If you are new here and unsure what that means, go here to see the definition of TUSAL.  I use this as an opportunity to keep track of my progress from month to month.  So what's been happening this past month?

This month's contributor was:

"Chocolate Box" by Little House Needleworks (In Progress)

Still in WIP stage:

"Letters from Mermaids - E" by Nora Corbett to be made into an "L" (Didn't work on it this month)
"Mermaid Scissor Fob freebie" by Cross Stitch Happy (Didn't work on it this month)

I really have no excuse for not getting the scissor fob done.  I guess I just wasn't feeling it or something.  I don't have any idea what's my deal is with the Nora mermaid either.  So....

Since I only worked on "Chocolate Box" this past month, I thought you might like to see a progress picture.  I'm planning to put some beads on this instead of knots and confetti stitches.  I think the bling will give it some pizazz.  I've got the cream colored beads I want to use for the outer border (yet to be stitched) and will look for some pink ones (for the tops of a couple chocolate pieces) at a new-to-me shop I'll visit the end of the week.  More on that next time.

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So what has captured my attention if it isn't stitching?  Yep, you guessed it...knitting! I know this is a disappointment to the non-knitters in the crowd.  What can I say, I'm obsessed right now!  I've been learning so many new things, it's wonderful.  Anyone who knows me knows I have a thing for learning.  So I've really been having a lot of fun lately.

I finished my first sock ever!  I'm still in awe of that and I've started its mate.  I've also started another "pair," actually just one but it will be a pair eventually, using some interesting self-striping yarn.  I also started another cowl and some finger-less mitts.  Yes, my hands have been quite busy.

I need to get one of these finished because I'm not comfortable having this many things going at once.  Yes, that's the same way I feel about my stitching.  It's my own brand of crazy and I'm okay with it.  It works for me!

So, it's a short and sweet TUSAL this month.  I can hardly believe the end of March is here already.  I hope whatever you are working on you are enjoying.  I appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to spend a few minutes with me here. Hope your week is good!

More next time,
The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - February

Well folks another month has flown past us!  I'm back for the February TUSAL report.  If you are new here and unsure what that means, go here to see the definition of TUSAL.  I use this as an opportunity to keep track of my progress from month to month.  So let's get on with it, shall we?

This month's contributors were:

"I Sigh Not for Beauty" by C Street Samplers (DONE!!)
"Watermelon" charted by me (Bagged until summer)
"Letters from Mermaids - E" by Nora Corbett to be made into an "L" (Didn't work on it this month)
"Mermaid Scissor Fob freebie" by Cross Stitch Happy (Didn't work on it this month)
"Chocolate Box" by Little House Needleworks (In Progress)
"Flag Maker freebie" by Notforgotten Farm (DONE!)
"Happy Hearts freebie" by Little House Needleworks (DONE!)

I'm really happy about having some finishes this past month.  I'm especially happy to have "Beauty" finally done.  It really is a pretty sampler and it seemed a shame to not finish her up.  I'm hoping to have a couple more finishes soon too.  I worked on "Chocolate Box" all weekend and am seeing some nice progress.  I just love the pink fabric I chose!  I'll have to do a progress post soon.

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On the knitting front, I've had a couple starts and have made some really nice progress on them as well.  Here they are:

"Oats Cowl" by Tin Can Knits (In Progress)
"Adult Basic Sock" by Dierdre Wallace (In Progress)

I started knitting the "Oats Cowl" as my lunchtime knit.  I'm almost halfway done with it maybe more.  You know how Prairie Schooler patterns are comfort stitching, this one feels like a comfort knit.  It's a lot of straight knitting in the round with a bit of garter stitch thrown in for interest.  It's nice and squishy.

Can we just talk about the sock?  THE SOCK!!!  I cannot believe I am actually knitting a sock.  I owe much gratitude to Carol Fun, sock knitting extraordinaire, for her encouragement!  Girlfriend, you rock!  I am so in love with the yarn I picked too.  I'm doing this as a class at the LYS.  I can't wait for our next class session this Saturday.  We are going to work on turning the heel.  Can. Not. Wait!

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I'm finding myself having to choose how I want to split my time now that I've become a knitter too.  It's a good problem to have.  You know why?  It means my creative mojo is in full force and flowing strong.  I haven't felt this creative in a very long time and I'm over the moon about it.

I hope you all are having fun with whatever you choose to do in your creative world.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I appreciate your visits.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - January

For several years I participated in Daffycat's Totally Useless Stitch A Long.  Last year I didn't do it.  But I've found it was really helpful when I was doing it.  It's basically a round up of what you worked on from one new moon to the next which amounts to about a month's time.  Here's last year's link if you aren't familiar.  I've decided I'm going to try to do this again even if Daffycat doesn't have one this year.

The benefits for me have been that I can keep myself accountable to the things I've got in progress and to remind myself to post pictures of the things I've finished.  I can't tell you how many times I've referred back to previous TUSAL posts to see when I worked on something.  So without further waffling, here's the report for January 2017!

This months contributors to the ORT pile were:

"I Sigh Not for Beauty" by C Street Samplerworkes (In Progress)
"Letters from Mermaids - E" by Nora Corbett to be made into an "L" (Didn't work on it this month)
"Mermaid Scissor Fob freebie" by Cross Stitch Happy (In Progress)
"Chocolate Box" by Little House Needleworks (In Progress)
"Flag Maker freebie" by Notforgotten Farm (In Progress)
"Watermelon" charted by me (Bagged until summer)

I feel like I've made some significant progress on "Beauty."  I thought I was closer to finished last weekend until I realized there was the yard to put in.  Drat!  I need to work the bargello grass under the house and the satin stitch saw tooth border.  Oh well, I'll keep plugging away. 

I haven't really touched the others since the Louisville trip.  I've mainly been concentrating on "Beauty."  I've made it a personal goal this year to get this one done.  Besides, I've already given it a 2017 date so this thing is getting done this year!  I'm going to do this Christie!  Keep cheering me on!

I also decided to bag the "Watermelon" for now.  I'm just not feeling the watermelon vibe in January.  It will be there waiting for me when I feel more like summer stitching.  Are you a seasonal stitcher too?

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I've also decided I'm going to include my knitting progress and finishes in my TUSAL reports too.  I want to keep a record of them as well.  So for the non-knitters in the crowd you can skip to the end at this point, it's okay I understand.

"Liberty Cowl" by Lambikins Hideaway (DONE!)
"Garter Stitch Dishcloth #3" by Interweave Press (DONE!)

Yep, I've finished two knitting projects this month.  I'll do a separate post with the details. 

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In other news, the Tiara Club is getting together tomorrow for the first time this year.  I'm planning to take "Beauty" with me and make some more progress.  I'm also thinking I'll start a new knitting project this weekend too.  I'm really enjoying the return of my creative mojo!  Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you are all well!

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - August

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 we are right smack dab in the middle of August already.  Back to school in these parts is only a little more than a week away.  Seriously, just where did the summer go?!

This past month has been odd for me stitching-wise.  I feel like I haven't put needle to linen much.  It's almost as though a slump is coming on or something.  Not sure what is up with that.  Here's a look at what I have been working on, although you'll find it isn't much.  LOL!

This month's contributors were:

"Speak to the Earth" by Donna Kooler Designs (In Progress)
"Heaven Above" by Midsummer Night Designs (In Progress)
"Butterfly Needle Case & Fob" by JBW Designs (Needle case Done! Fob in Progress)

I know this won't come as any surprise to some of you but I just discovered Stoney Creek's online store. What led me there was a Google search to find the companion pre-finished needlework book that goes with the needle case I got in the Russellville Exchange last month.

My peep, Patti, had made the "Butterfly Needle Case & Fob" set for the exchange and I fell in love with it too.  Stoney Creek had both of them!  You know what happened next.  Yep, stash enhancement!  I had actually wanted the JBW "Antique Vases" set when it first came out but hesitated and then it was gone from the LNS.  I imagined it was sold out everywhere until that Google search.

I need some advice on the fob portion of the "Butterfly"set.  I've gone through some of my sampler charts and looked in my file of online freebies I've saved looking for inspiration.  I'd like to put either a pretty "L" or my initials or something on the back.  It just doesn't feel right to me to leave the reverse side of the fob naked.  What do you all think would look nice?  Can you point me in the direction of something pretty?  I'll do a post when I get it all sorted and finish finished!

Thanks for stopping in for a quick visit today.  I hope all is well with you.  Tomorrow is an all day stitch with the Tiara Club.  I'm hoping to be inspired by all the goodness the peeps will be working on when we see each other.  It will be fun to get together and catch up too.

Happy World Cross Stitch Day everyone!

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - July

It's TUSAL Day!

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

It's TUSAL time again.  I'm several days late this month.  I wanted to get my Russellville recap posts in first.  I know nobody minds.  This is really just a check in for myself anyway.  I know it's not the most exciting post I write.  LOL!

Here's a look at the ORT pile for this month.  Lots of red in there from the Getaway project and lots of tan from the spool fobs.  The wooden strawberry in the picture is from my peep, Linda.  She ran across it and thought of me.  I just love it!

Here's a look at this month's contributors to the pile.

"Speak to the Earth" by Donna Kooler Designs (In Progress)
"Heaven Above" by Midsummer Night Designs (In Progress)
"Count Your Blessings" by La D Da (Done!)
"Shaded Spool Fobs" Inspired by Faye x4 (Done!)
"Basket of Memories" by Blackbird Designs (In Progress)

It's been a good month for stitching even though I've been traveling a lot this month.  I'm making good progress on both my long term projects.  I plan to do an update post on "Speak to the Earth" toward the end of next week and I may even add "Heaven Above."  I've been working on both lately.

I love making gifts and I'm so glad I was able to finally share them.  It was also fun to finally be able to share the project bag Queen Bee made out of our stitched pieces.   I didn't mention it in any of my previous TUSAL recaps so I wanted to mention it here so I would remember it at the end of the year.  We are on the downward slide now.  I don't even want to think about Christmas yet!  Yikes!

Well folks, it's a short and sweet one today.  I hope everyone had a good weekend and has a good week as well.  Keep smiling and stitching!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - June and some progress

It's TUSAL Day!

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

Here we are on TUSAL day again.  Can you even believe we are half way through this year already?!  It is finally starting to feel like summer around here with all our notorious Midwestern humidity.  All you have to do is look at my wild mop of hair to know it's true.  LOL!  I didn't think it would ever get warm again.

Here's a look at this month's ORT pile and the ORT report below.  I see lots of blue in that pile up there from the project bag!  It was a good month.

Here are this month's contributors to the pile:

"Speak to the Earth" by Donna Kooler Designs (In Progress)
"Heaven Above" by Midsummer Night Designs (In Progress)
"Love My Stitching" by Hands on Designs (Done!)
Russellville getaway exchange piece (Done...to be revealed next month) 

Speaking of my new project bag, I'm so happy I actually got it finished this past month.  Oh yeah!  I've really been enjoying it and am really pleased with how it turned out. I can see myself using those finishing instructions again sometime! 

"Speak to the Earth" is progressing nicely as we saw in this post!  It's actually starting to look like something now that we are about half way into it.  I really love all the colors and soon I'll be stitching the animals on the bottom part.  I can hardly wait.

I decided to give "Heaven Above" some love this past week.  I hadn't worked on it much since my push to get the project bag done.  I'm going to devote more time to it this month now that I have some of the super secret gift stitching done.  I still have a tiny bit to do yet.  The Russellville getaway is coming up next month so I'd better get crackin'!

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 Progress as of 5-5-15

Progress as of 6-15-15

 

Just for giggles, I thought I'd throw in a progress update on "Heaven Above" too.  As you can see I really didn't set the world on fire but each stitch is one more closer to done.  Now the bird has a body and I really like the new purple.  The heart was fun to do too as were the two flowers.  I'm almost done with the first page!

 

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Well friends, we are caught up now.  Hope all is well in your world and you are enjoying the slower pace of summer.  Thank you for visiting with me today.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - May

It's TUSAL Day!

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

 

Hello stitchy friends.  Here we are at TUSAL day again.  I know I'm a day late but I have a good excuse.  More on that later.  LOL!  It feels like we just did a check in the other day.  Then again, I'm still amazed we are nearing the end of May too.  This year is speeding by us.  My granny used to say the years fly by the older you get.  I used to think that was just old people talk but now I believe it!  Does that make me one of the old people?  Hmm...oh, never mind.

 

Okay, enough of the silliness.  Here's a look at the ORT pile for the month.  The box above was made by my peep, Linda and gifted to me when she was my Secret Stitcher in 2011.  It's one of my favorite things.

 

Here's the list of this month's contributors:

"Speak to the Earth" by Donna Kooler Designs (In Progress)
"Heaven Above" by Midsummer Night Designs (In Progress)
"Love My Stitching" by Hands on Designs (In Progress)

Yep, it's a pretty boring list...isn't it?  Nothing much new to report this month.  I've been plugging away on all three.  "Heaven Above" has the most noticeable progress but you saw that already in my last post.

"Speak to the Earth" is coming along.  I'm toying with the idea of changing the queen stitches on this month's assignment.  Mine just don't look that good.  I don't mind doing them but they just don't suit me on this one.  We'll see how that shakes out.  

 

"Love My Stitching" is getting ever closer to being finished.  I'm a little more than half way there.  I'm thinking I want to change one of the motifs to my initials.  I need to chart that out to see if it will fit.  I was also lucky enough to find the perfect dot fabric for the lining this past weekend.  Now I really want to speed this one along so I can do the finishing and actually use it!

 

You may be wondering where I found that fabric?  My peep, Linda and I took a road trip last weekend to Pennsylvania to the Penn Dry Goods Market.  I found the fabric at a quilt shop in Bedford on the way home.  I plan to do a full report once I sort out my pictures.

 

One of the many trip highlights was getting to meet Chris of Tot Hill Farm Stitches while I was at the market.  It was just so fun to actually meet one of my blog friends in person.  Chris is just as sweet in person as she is on her blog.  Waves to Chris!

 

Hope your week is off to a good start.  Thanks for stopping by today.

More soon,

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - April

It's TUSAL Day!

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

Well folks, spring has finally made an appearance in my neck of the woods.  We had storms last week and it seems to have helped everything grow!  I missed posting on Saturday when the actual TUSAL date was because I was road tripping.  It was the perfect day for a drive!  Some of my quilting friends had pieces displayed in a museum a couple hours away so I just had to go see them.

Here's a look at the ORT pile for the month.  Not too shabby a pile if I do say so myself.

Here's the list of this month's contributors:

"Speak to the Earth" by Donna Kooler Designs (In Progress)
"Heaven Above" by Midsummer Night Designs (In Progress)
"Cross Stitcher's Count" by Rose Sartore (Done!)
"Love My Stitching" by Hands on Designs (In Progress)


Yes, I've started a new project since our last TUSAL check-in.   The floss on the ring above are the colors I'm using.  I bought this one last summer at our Russellville Retreat and have wanted to stitch it ever since.  It didn't help that Stasi showed her finish back in February and it's haunted me ever since. So I decided it would become my lunch time stitch.  I'll do a progress post soon.

I also started and finished a quickie project for our annual getaway in Russellville for this year.  Our Queen Bee is going to finish the stitched pieces into something special for us but we won't know what it is until we get to the retreat!  I just love surprises like that.

I'm still pluggin away on "Heaven Above."  I'm currently working on the blue background fill behind the stars.  I had a visit from the frog a couple of Sundays ago too.  This set me back since the error was on a motif that I'd counted off of for several other motifs.  Rats!  I hate when that happens.

I'm still loving "Speak to the Earth."  I still have a hard time putting it down when I'm finished with the month's assignment.  I'm down to the point I need to work a row of queen stitches.  There was a frog visit there too and in the same weekend I might add.  I don't mind the queens it's just the placement had me a bit off.  I'm back on track now.  Whew!

So there you are, it's not too exciting this month but progress is being made and that counts in my book!  Hope you are moving things along in your stitchy world too.  Thanks for visiting today!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - March

It's TUSAL Day!

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

It's that time again!  This past month has been quite a productive month for me.  I feel like lots of things are moving along nicely.  I seem to have been on a finishing roll lately.  Now that certainly is a good feeling.  Let's have a look at the ORT pile and well talk about it more down below.

I decided to get out the spring decorations in honor of yesterday being the first official day of spring. Not a bad looking pile if I do say so myself! 

Here's this month's contributor list:

"Snooty Parrots" by Barbara Ana Designs (DONE!)

"Frosty Snowflake" by Needle Bling Designs (DONE!) 

"Common Ground - Needlebook" by Just Nan (DONE!)

"Speak to the Earth" by Donna Kooler Designs (In Progress)

"Heaven Above" by Midsummer Night Designs (In Progress)

Can I get a collective woo hoo from the blog-o-sphere?!  Yes, three finishes since our last check-in is such a good feeling.  I still shake my head at myself over that snowman ornament.  I still can't believe I abandoned that with so little to do on it.  Oh well, stranger things have happened in my world...believe me!

I'm so pleased with how the needlebook turned out too.  It feels good to know I have the skills now to stitch it and finish it.  I really have come a long way.  It just goes to show that some things are worth the wait.

Then there's Snooty, oh I could go on and on about that one.  I'm so very happy to have that one finished.  I'm currently investigating framing.  I really want to do it up nice.  Stay tuned...I promise to do a reveal post once I get it framed.  Right now, it's safely tucked away waiting patiently for that day to come.

I'm still plugging away with the peeps who are working on our "Speak to the Earth" SAL.  My favorite part of a SAL like this is seeing them all together.

I haven't given "Heaven Above" much attention this past month.  I'll have see what I can do about that.  It's just so pretty and now that Snooty is finished maybe this can get bumped up in the rotation.  We'll see...

So there you have it, friends, the monthly update.  It's been a good one for me.  I hope this month has been productive for you as well.  Thanks for visiting with me today.

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.)

Hello friends!  Here we are at TUSAL day again.  I have to admit there hasn't been much new in the way of stitching happening in my world since our last TUSAL check-in.  Life seems to have stepped in my way.  Nothing catastrophic, just the usual daily grind stuff dontcha know.  Oh well, it is what it is!  There could be worse things, this I know.

Here's a look at the ORT pile for this month.

Let's have a look at the contributor list:

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

"Speak to the Earth" by Donna Kooler Designs (In Progress)

"Common Ground - Needlebook" by Just Nan (In Progress)

"Heaven Above" by Midsummer Night Designs (In Progress)

Hmm...same suspects as last month, I see.  I can truthfully say I have moved each of them along since our last visit so even though the list is the same there has been progress made. To keep this post from boring you to tears, let's have some visuals to illustrate what I mean.  Here we go...

Progress as of 1/12/15

 Progress as of 2/15/15

You may have noticed the date on the Snooty Parrots as 2014.  I decided to put last year's date on it since that's when the majority of the work was done and the year I participated in the SAL.  What do you do when projects overlap years?  I'm curious!

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Progress as of 1/12/15

Progress as of 2/15/15

Speak to the Earth is coming along nicely.  It's a project I don't want to put down once I pick it up.  If it weren't for doing it as a SAL, I'd be tempted to keep on going with it.  I'm sure you've had projects like that too. 

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Progress as of 1/12/15

Progress as of 2/15/15

I spent this past weekend working on the Just Nan needle book. I was inspired by this post to pick it up again.  I could easily finish it up if I kept up the current pace with it.  Saturday is an all day stitch-in so just maybe...

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Progress as of 1/17/15

Progress as of 2/15/15

Last but not least, Heaven Above, oh how I love this one too!  I love that blue in the corner.  Does it remind you of anything?  Yes, memories of the Hornbook Bestiary came flooding back when I started that corner!  Oh yes indeed.  LOL!

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Now that was fun, wasn't it?  I always love to see people's progress pics, especially on BAPs or SALs.   I hope it won't be so long between our next visit.  Thank you for stopping in today. I hope all is well in your corner of the world.  I've missed you all!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher