Stitchaway here I come!

It's that time again!  My bags are packed and I'm ready to go.  I'll be MIA for a couple days and I'm so ready for it too.   Thankfully this time I don't have to drive that far away.

Our LNS hosts an annual retreat at a local state park's lodge.  It's practically a stone's throw away from here too!  I'll be joining the peeps later today for plenty of stitching and mischief.

There will be shopping too!  Oh yes, there will!  The LNS sets up a satellite store to feed our addiction serve our every need and I've got a couple gift certificates that are burning a hole in my pocket.  Thanks to my honey and one of my peeps!   Yep, ye old stash is going to be enhanced this weekend for sure!

As has become our motto, "What Happens at Stitchaway, Stays at Stitchaway!"

I'll be back with tales to tell and pictures to share!  Everybody have a great weekend and I wish you all a grand case of Stitch Ass as Siobhan says.  Save me a seat girls I'll be there as fast as I can!!!

More later (once I come out of the woods),

The Inspired Stitcher

It just made my day

Before framing

With framing

Some of you may remember when I stitched this picture for a coworker's surprise gift for his wife.  We'll he brought it in so I could see it framed!  Needless to say it made my day.

The frame he picked is just georgous.  It's shiny and has streaks of grey in the black.  You should be abel to click on the picture to see it.  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  He told me his wife was totally surprised and really loves it.   I'm so glad they are both so pleased with it.

I autographed the back of it for him.  He says he's going to tell her he got the "artists signature" for her birthday.  He's so funny!

Anyway, I just had to share!  Hope you all are having a good day too.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

A random act of kindness

Just look at what the mailman brought me!  That dear sweet Becky Bee gifted me with a random act of kindness!  I feel so honored to receive this little cupcake pincushion.

Here it is closer!  Isn't it just the sweetest thing?

This couldn't have come at a better time.  We had just returned from my father-in-law's graveside services when my honey brought it in from the mailbox.

Becky didn't know this was going on when she sent this to me.  It was one of those serendipitous things that sometimes happens.  Needless to say it really brightened an othewise somber day.

Thank you so very much dear friend for thinking of me and for unknowingly making my day a little better with your kindness.  It will bring a smile to my face and make me think of you each time I look at it.  It is appreciated more than you can know.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

WIPs

I was reading Karen's blog over at Stitching and Sharing and it got me to thinking about my WIPs (work in progress).  She inspired me to get crackin' and record my WIPs today too.

I think this will help me keep track of what I still have to finish stitching.  It will be fun to see how I progress.  So here goes in order of oldest to most recent.

Design:  I Sigh Not For Beauty

Designer:  C Street Samplerworks

Fabric:  32 ct. Dirty Linen

Floss:  My conversion to NPI and HDF

Started:  3/5/11

This project was one of Ellen Chester's 2011 newsletter SALs.  As you can see I made a little more progress since the picture in my post the other day was taken back in October.  I spy the beginnings of a house!

I really have really enjoyed stitching this one and will miss stitching it when I'm done.  Have you ever stitched something like that?

Design:  ???

Designer:  ???

Fabric:  7 ct. Monk's Cloth

Floss:  DMC

Re-Started:  5/1/11?

Does anyone know the designer or design name of this one?  I've been working from a sketch from an old snapshot since I can't find the chart.  Doh!  I'm just sure nobody else has ever done that.  Winks!   Umm...yep, moving on now.  LOL

Seriously, I don't know what posessed me to do this on Monk's Cloth.  At this point there's just too much work done to toss it so I'll most likely continue on with it.  It's obviously been bagged long enough.  Just look at the raveling on the edges.  Geesh!  It really is true, once you stitch on linen you never go back!

Design:  Jolly Jack

Designer:  All Through The Night

Fabric:  30 ct. WDW Putty

Floss:  WDW as charted

Started:  9/9/11

This one I started at the Tiara retreat and I bought the fabric when I was at the Shepherd's Bush retreat in 2010.  There's just something about that pumpkin!  I'm a sucker for vintage looking jack o'lanterns.  Love those oak leaves too. 

Design:  What A Cut Up freebie

Designer:  Patrick's Woods

Fabric:  32 ct. antique white scrap

Floss:  My DMC conversion (1over 1)

Started:  10/12/11

This one needs some frogging before I can finish it up.  I've been putting it off since it's over 1.  It's not good to try stitching over one late into the night/wee hours of the morning.  Ask me how I know?  Yep, that's why there's frogging to do.

Design:  Santa's Buddies (from 2009 JCS Ornaments)

Designer:  Angel Stitchin

Fabric:  28 ct. lambswool

Floss:  DMC and GAST as charted

Started:  11/27/11

This one is really close to being done and I'll most likely finish it soon since it's been my lunchtime stitch.  Even though the holiday is over, I'll still at least finish the stitching.  Whether I ornamentify it before the holidays roll around again remains to be seen.

Design:  Blue Ribbon Sewing Box

Designer:  Patrick's Woods

Fabric:  32 ct. antique white as kitted

Floss:  Silk as kitted

Started:  12/29/11

This one has been such an enjoyable stitch thus far and is working up nicely.  I'm loving the happy colors in it.  I think this will be another one that I'll miss spending time with when it's done.  I'd like to get it done in the next eight weeks.  We'll see how that shakes out. 

So there you are, all my WIPs in one place.  That was actually kind of fun to do.  Did any of you record your WIPs somewhere?  Leave me a link in the comments and I'll come check them out.

Thanks so much for your visiting with me today.  I hope you got a kick out of seeing what's up in my world.  Happy stitching!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

2011 Stitching Report

Seeing everyone's 2011 stitching reports made me go through my timeline (more about this another day) to see how I did last year.  So here's the tally:

40 starts
34 finishes
20 completed pieces (4 need framed)
6 WIPs carried forward to this year

Not too bad I think.  I'm not really a serial starter so that accounts for only having 6 WIPs.  The peeps tell me that will change.  I don't know about that.

My personality is really more suited to starting something and sticking with it until it's done.  I also get overwhelmed if I have too many things going at once.  For me, stitching is supposed to be fun not filled with pressure dontcha know.

"Beauty" Progress as of October 2011

Of those WIPs, this one is my first BAP (I Sigh Not For Beauty) and I'm really close to being done.  I got a bit sidelined when the Sherri Jones' class grew closer.  I really had a mental block on all that tent stitching.  It was a first for me to do so much of it in one piece.  Thankfully I think I've got the hang of it now.  Although I still have trouble changing direction sometimes.

Speaking of classes, I also had the good fortune to take two classes last year.  One with Ellen Chester and the other with Sherri Jones.  Here are the projects we worked on:

Lucet and A Silk Purse by Sherri Jones

This is one of my WIPs that will be carried forward into 2012.  I still need to get the hang of making the lucet cording with consistent tension.  Once I master that the finishing should be a snap.  Stay tuned!

Long May She Wave by Ellen Chester

The other was a class that a group of my peeps and I arranged with Ellen Chester.  We are lucky that Ellen is local.  Ellen taught us more than how to make the needlebook but also the history of the flag and hornbooks (a personal favorite of mine)!

I was also able to attend three retreats last year!  The first one was hosted by the LNS and it's an annual event held in January.  As a matter of fact, this year's retreat is going to be next weekend!  I can't wait.

The second one was in Russelville, Kentucky (more about it here and here) and the third was our Tiara Group's retreat (more here and here too) held in southern Indiana.

Overall, I think it was a good year and I got a bunch done.  I think one of the best things was starting this blog.  It's helped me keep track of things.

I've made some wonderful new friends from around the globe and been inspired beyond measure by your wonderful stitching.  I'm looking forward to another great year!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

A new start and 2012 BAP Challenge

Design:  Carre d'Abeilles

Designer:  Jardin Prive

Fabric:  40 ct. Cream

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  1/1/12

I hope the new year has gotten off to a good start for everyone.  I wanted to share with you my New Year's Day new start.  It's Carre d' Abeilles by Jardin Prive!  I'm doing it on 40 ct cream 1 over 2.  I love the colors in this one and of course the bees!  I've not done a square mattress style finish yet so I'm looking forward to getting it to that point.

***

I'm also getting caught up on some blog reading and ran across Becky Bee's 2012 BAP Challenge.  Becky is so good at inspiring us all to keep stitching.

The challenge is to start and finish at least one large sampler by the end of 2012.  It must not have been started before January 1, 2012 and must be done by December 31, 2012.  It also must be at least 10 x 12" or have a minimum stitch count of 175 x 200.  The size can differ if you stitch it over one just so long as the stitch count meets the requirements.

Those that complete their sampler will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift certificate from an online shop of Becky's choosing.  She also asks that those participating send her updates whether by a blog link or an emailed picture.

Project 2012 - Antique Sampler by Ellen Maurer-Stroh

Here's the one I'm thinking of doing.  It reminds me of Berlin wool work which I've always admired.  This is an online SAL offered by Ellen Maurer-Stroh called Antique Sampler. 

I had actually been contemplating starting a BAP (Big Ass Project) since my visit with Jenny. She and I ran across this lovely while cruising the Internets for free charts. Imagine that?!

It is 292 x 220 stitches and depending on what count fabric I choose, it could be around 18.15 x 13.75" on 32 ct or 14.6 x 11" on 40 ct.  I haven't pulled anything yet since I just decided to do this like right this minute!  We'll see which way it goes depending on what's in the stash.

What have you started stitching for 2012?  Tell me about it in the comments or send me an email.  I'd love to hear about what's inspiring you right now!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Happy New Year!

 

 I want to wish each and every visitor a very Happy New Year!

 I hope 2012 brings nothing but good luck, prosperity and many hours of happy stitching!!!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher