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.

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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

Where did this last week go?

Hi all!  Just a quick check in to let you know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.  It's been a crazy week here with the holiday, my birthday and now New Year's Eve!

I wanted to post on my actual birthday but I had company!  I'll tell you more about that in a bit.  Then we ran a bunch of errands yesterday and my honey took me out for a belated birthday dinner since he had to work on my actual day!  Yep, I've been a busy bee around here lately!

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The mail man brought me a couple goodies I wasn't expecting ON my actual birthday Thursday.  Check this out!

It's a lovely pin keep from the very talented Lisa S!

  We both love Mary Garry's designs.

Here's a closer look!

Check out the back!  Don't you just love that lavender fabric she chose?! 

Thank you so very much dear friend!  I love it!!  I will always remember this birthday was so special when I look at this very unexpected gift of friendship!

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Here's the other package the mailman brought me ON my special day!  It's from my friend Patti (no blog).  She and I have birthdays really close to each other.  Her's is in a couple days.  We both "get" how crummy a holiday birthday can be so we make it a point to remember each others birthday.

I love the "No Peeking" box all the goodies were sent in.  Check out the wooden box!  I suspect Patti finished that one herself.  She does a great job on boxes. I especially love the Eiffel tower scissors and the crown fob!  Oh dear friend, you do know me well.  You were right, it is just so me!  Thank you so much for brightening my day!

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My other present was spending the day in the good company of my dear friend Jenny.  She drove up from Kentucky to spend the day with me since my honey had to work all afternoon and evening!  We started to day with presents.  Look what she brought me!

A box full of Hello Kitty goodness!  There's a key cover, an awesome wallet she got on her trip to Mexico, some sweet little heart buttons and a super cute stitched coin purse.  Can you believe she made the whole thing?  I'm still amazed!  What an awesome box o'birthday joy!

 Here's a closer look at the coin purse.

 It's just so dang cute I can hardly stand it!

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 Design:  Dalahast: The Goodwill Horse

from JCS Ornaments 2007

Designer:  Moss Creek Designs

Fabric:  32ct. Natural

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  12/21/11

Finished and Completed:  12/26/11

Here's what I made for Jenny.  We were supposed to see each other earlier in the month at the guild Christmas party but she was sick and couldn't come.  So I gave this to her after the holiday.  She says she's going to torment her hubby with it as he hates the Dalahast.  I think that's funny!

After catching up a bit and exchanging gifts we had a homemade potato soup and sandwich lunch.  Followed by homemade cheesecake dessert.  Yes, I cooked on my birthday but we did go out to a local Mexican place for dinner later which was awesome.

After we ate and chatted some more we spent some time looking up Hello Kitty patterns on the internet.  Jenny taught me a few tricks for searching that I'd never thought of before.  Let's just say the "to stitch" file just got a bit bigger.  LOL!

After internet time we spent some time stitching together and chatting more before heading out to dinner!  Needless to say it was a great day spent with a dear friend!  Thank you so much for making my day special Jenny!

I have to say I have some very wonderful friends and you've all made my birthday this year one of the best I've ever had!  I love that I've been able to celebrate practically all month long!

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Since tonight is New Year's Eve, my honey and I are going to keep it low-key this year.  I'm going to fix appetizers for dinner and we are staying in.  We are going to watch the Big Bang Theory marathon on TV and then we'll watch Marley and Me on DVD.  After our kiss at midnight for good luck (if we can stay awake that long) then it will be off to dreamland.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year's Eve!

Until next year (it's only a few hours away now),

The Inspired Stitcher

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Inspired Stitcher

Birthday "Twins"

I had another unexpected birthday surprise show up in yesterday's mail.  A card from my birthday "twin" Dottie that contained a skein of Belle Soie's Rose of Sharon silk!

When I joined the guild I noticed they published birthdays in the newsletter.  I always like to see if I can find someone else who shares my same birthday.  It's rare that I do.  I've only run across four other people in my lifetime.  Imagine how excited I was when I discovered Dottie and I are birthday "twins!"

I always send her a card with a little something tucked inside and she does the same.  Thank you dear Dottie!  I love the card and the super soft silk too.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Tiara Club Christmas

The Tiara Club Christmas party was a good one Friday night.  We started the evening at a Ruby Tuesday restaurant.  I had never been there before.  It was really good and I'd go again.  Luck would have it that one of my coworkers gave me a gift card just yesterday so now I can!

After we ate we went back to the clubhouse for our ornament exchange and some visiting.  I forgot to get pictures of all the ornament together but here is the ornament I made for the exchange.

Design:  Photo Booth Snowmen

Designer:  Bent Creek

Fabric:  Random scrap of 32 ct blue

Floss:  DMC as called for

Started & Finished:  11/24/11

Completed:  11/27/11

This is just one of the scenes from the Photo Booth Snowmen chart.  I love how the one snowman is giving the other one "bunny ears."  It reminded me of our usual merriment and naughtiness when we get together.  This chart has always made me smile when I see it stitched.  I really need to stitch the whole thing sometime.

Pam S. was the lucky recipient of my ornament this year.  She loved it!  I thought it was pretty fun that she got it since I got her pincushion at the retreat earlier this year!  Don't you love it when things like that happen?!

Design:  Sledding Friends Sled

Here's the super cute ornament I received made by the very talented Anna Mae!  Everyone was drooling over it.  I was so thrilled I was the lucky recipient!  She said she got the chart along with the sled at Dixie Darlin' when she was on vacation earlier this year.  Isn't it just the cutest?!  I just love it!

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I also got a little more birthday spoiling from my peep Marsha.  I really do have some very thoughtful friends!  Marsha and I share a love for Hello Kitty and she spoiled me for sure.  Check it out!

She gave me one of her homemade cards with cupcakes on it which I dearly love, some Hello Kitty chocolate dipped cookies and some pink hot chocolate.  Yes, I love chocolate!  Plus a very cool flower frog for my scissors!  Now I need to round them all up and put them in the frog.  Thank you so much dear friend you really know how to spoil me and you made my day!

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I hope everyone is having a good week so far!  We are getting ever closer to the big day.  I hope you aren't too stressed out.  I finished my shopping last night.  Yay!  I only have a few things left to wrap and I'll be done.  I still can't believe it's that time of year again already!

Thanks for stopping by today!

The Inspired Stitcher

Christmas Party Wrap-up

Firstly, I hope none of you took my post from yesterday as bragging.  That was really not my intention.  I was so filled with gratitude and excitement that I just had to share.  I hope that didn't come across in an ugly way.  Okay, I feel better having said that.

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I think I'll finally wrap-up the guild Christmas party festivities today.  I want to show you all the lovely ornaments and all the awesome Show and Tell!  It's going to be a lot of pictures so grab a cup of tea and settle in!

The tree ornament in this picture is the one I made for the exchange.  Pam M. got my ornament this year.

See the red and white ornament in the lower right?  That's the one I received in the exchange!  It was made by the very talented Joyce!

Here's a close-up!  Isn't it awesome?!  The best part is...it's RED!  Thank you so much, Joyce!

A very pretty one made by Nancy!

This one was made by Paula who was my Secret Stitcher last year!

I don't remember who made this one or the next one but I really liked them too.

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Next up is Show and Tell!  We really are a very talented group.

Here are some folks browsing the table!

These were made by my peep, Christie!

 This one was made by my peep, Marsha!  The frame couldn't be more perfect.

 

This one was made by Christy Y.  She sometimes sits with the peeps at Tiara Club.

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As you can tell from my past posts this week and from all this loveliness, it was a really nice party.  I think everyone had a good time and we got to see some really awesome stitching.  There's nothing like seeing things stitched up in person to inspire you!  I know my "to stitch" list got longer that day.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm crossing the river tonight to go to the Tiara Club Christmas get together!  We are meeting at Ruby Tuesday's for dinner and then back to our regular meeting place for an ornament exchange.

Yep, I've been a busy bee stitching exchange ornaments.  Now you know why I haven't been able to show you much lately!  I'm sure you don't mind being bombarded with goodness now though.

Have a great weekend all,

The Inspired Stitcher