TUSAL - MAY

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 and summer has finally hit my neck of the woods.  We got up to 87 degrees yesterday and I passed a clock that said it was 92!  I know this is nothing compared to what some are experiencing though.  Mind you, I'm not complaining, just making an observation.  After the horrid winter we had I never thought it would ever get warm or hot again!  Ha!

 

Here's a look at this month's ORT pile.  It's not very big this month but not for a lack of stitching.  I've actually been stitching down to the nub so as not to waste floss on the Hornbook project.  I've got a plan and need every little bit.  Stay tuned!

 

The biscornu in the picture is one I made over Christmas break 2009 and finished it on New Year's Day 2010.  It's a freebie by Casey Buonaugurio called "Frog Biscornu."  It makes me smile every time I see it.

 

 

Here's a look at this month's contributors:

 

Gift stitching x2 to be revealed soon (Done)

"U is for Unicorn" on the Hornbook Bestiary (Done)

"V is for Vulture" on the Hornbook Bestiary (Done)

Row #6 boxes on the Hornbook Bestiary (Done)

"W is for Whale" on the Hornbook Bestiary (In Progress)

Snooty Parrots by Barbara Ana Designs ( In Progress)

"Quaker Faith" by Little by Little Designs (In Progress)

 

 

As you can tell from the list, I've devoted most of my stitching time this month to the Hornbook with the tiny exception of some gift stitching.  This gift stitching is actually a friendship round robin that was started back in February.  I'm hoping to get mine back any day now!  I won't be able to share it for a little while yet but I promise I'll show you as soon as I'm able.  It's going to be so cool to see all of these together!

 

Hopefully next time we visit I'll be able to mark the Hornbook off the list as done.  We'll see how that shakes out.  Thanks for stopping by today!  Happy Wednesday everyone.

 

 

More next time,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

Hornbook Bestiary Progress

Holy smokes, folks!  Can it be two whole weeks since my last post?!  Life got in my way for sure.  I've certainly been doing some stitching though.  I'm pleased to show you more progress!

Progress as of 4/27/14

 

Progress as of 5/4/14

I had good intentions of posting as soon as I finished "U is for Unicorn" but well, that didn't happen.  I think this one might be one of my favorites!  Next up is "V is for Vulture" and there's a story with that one.

Just as a refresher, this is what the vulture block looks like on the chart picture.  I know you are supposed to go by the chart most times but...

This is what it looked like when I did that.  Hmm...I think there's a problem here.  I don't know about you but the vultures in my area are not blue/gray and the one in the chart picture isn't either!

Now that's better!  Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the color number for the blue/dark gray is 3843 and the chart symbol is one vertical line.  The color number for the medium brown I used is 3834 and the chart symbol is two vertical lines.  I can totally see how this could have happened.  So if you ever plan to stitch this one, "heads up."  You might like the blue/gray vulture...me, not so much.

Progress as of 5/18/14

 

Here's where I left off last night before bed.  I made it my personal mission to finish the last row's boxes and wasn't going to sleep until I did it.  It feels so good to finally see the end!  I even took some time yesterday afternoon to chart my signature.  I can't wait to stitch it.  I think it's going to look really cool.  Can't wait to see if you think so too!

Just for fun, I took this picture when I had to roll down more fabric for the last row.  I can hardly believe I put all those stitches in this one.  It's pretty amazing to think about all that tent stitch over one!  Needless to say, I feel like I'm a tent stitch master now.  LOL!

I appreciate you cheering me to the finish on this one.  It's so very close now.  I may have to focus just on this till for a while.  I'm pretty motivated to finish it.

Thanks for stopping in today.  Hope everyone has a good week.  I'll try not to let so much time pass between visits.


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

As promised...it's available now!

 

As promised, I wanted to let you all know the Speak to the Earth Sampler is available now!  Go to Kooler Design Studio and check it out!  I like that you can get it as a PDF download or an old fashioned chart.  Yay!

Just thought I'd pop in real quick and share the good news.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.  We have a guest lecturer visiting our guild's meeting tomorrow.  I can hardly wait.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Snooty Parrots Progress

My time spent with the Snooty Parrots (who have yet to appear) has been interesting to say the least.  Let's have a look at where we stand as of this past weekend.  But first a refresher...

Progress as of 3/10/14

 

Progress as of 4/25/14

 

Friday night I decided I really needed to just sit down and finish up April's assignment on the Snooty Parrots SAL.  I put the last apple in just before bedtime.  Then I folded it up and set it down on the end table.

Half fixed 4/27/14

Saturday morning I got up and the light was still a bit low in the living room where my stitching nest is situated.  When I looked over at Snooty in that light, I couldn't see Adam and Eve!  All I could see was their hair and leaves.  Oh my!

You see, I had to substitute my fabric for something else since I couldn't find the called for fabric and that started the whole ball rolling.  Up until this point the colors have all shown up just fine.  I knew I'd have to sub the called for color for A & E since it blended in too much.  I thought I'd chosen one that would stand out okay.  Nope, not so much!

So some self imposed frogging ensued.  If you look at Adam, he's stitched in DMC 950.  See how he practically disappears!  So I tried DMC 3771 on Eve.  Wow, what a difference!  She's got a better tan than he does that's for sure.  I liked it much better.

Finally fixed 4/28/14

So here's the happy couple with matching tans and the restitched apples on the upper branches of the tree.  I knew I'd better get this sorted out right now since there is more of this color later on in the sampler.  I sure wouldn't want to have to frog it later.  It was bad enough having to do it this time.  Sometimes you just have to use some trial and error before you hit on the right thing.

Hope everyone is having a good week so far.  The weekend is in sight now!  Woo Hoo!  Thanks for stopping by today.  I always enjoy your visits.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

P.S.  Jour de mai heureux! (Happy May Day!)

TUSAL - April

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 (a day late)!  Finally spring has sprung in my neck of the woods.  I've never welcomed this season more than I have this year.  I've even taken my first motorcycle ride of the season.  I know it's spring when my honey wants to go for a ride.  I love all the flowers that have finally opened up too! 

 

 

Here's a look at this month's ORT pile.  The floss tag is one I made from this freebie offered by Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods on her blog The Dandyhare.  If you are interested in my stitching details on this one, I posted about it here.

 

This month's contributors were:

 

Gift stitching x2 to be revealed later (Done)

"S is for Sheep" on the Hornbook Bestiary (Done)

"T is for Turkey" on the Hornbook Bestiary (Done)

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

"Quaker Faith" by Little by Little Designs (In Progress)

"Name Tag Class" by La D Da (Needs Finishing)

"Snow Crystal Fob Kit" by Priaseworthy Stitches (Needs Finishing)

 

This month's pile has a lot of peach in it due to some self-imposed frogging I did over the weekend.  I had to sub a fabric color which in turn brought on a floss color sub that then prompted me to frog and sub again.  I think I've finally landed on a keeper though.  I'll share that in another post when I show you my update.

 

All in all it was a very productive stitching month.  I finally feel caught up again.  Just in time for May 1st.  LOL!  I hope your month was productive too.

 

 

More next time,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

Hornbook Bestiary Progress

It's been over a month since my last progress post on the Hornbook Bestiary.  I've made some signigicant progress.  I've now moved onto the next to the last row!  This post is going to be filled with pictures.  There's a lot to see!

Progress as of 3/23/14

 

Progress as of 3/27/14

 

Progress as of 3/29/14

 

I managed to finish "R is for Rabbit" while I was off sick and started row #5's boxes!  Only one more row to go!

 

As of 4/26/14

 

I started "S is for Sheep" on 3/29 and then put it aside to work on other things.

I decided this weekend I was going to finish it up.

 

As of 4/27/14

 

Then I got on a roll and decided to start "T is for Turkey" on Saturday after I finished the sheep.

I finished him up yesterday morning.

 

 

Here's a closer look at the two latest additions.  I'm certainly getting better at whipping through these squares.  Two in a weekend!  Now I'm halfway through this row and soon to be onto the final row.

I can hardly wait!

 

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Well folks, we are all caught up on the Hornbook.  This wasn't the only stitching I did this weekend.  Nope, I worked on the Snooty Parrots and made some more progress on my Quaker challenge too.  I'll update you on them later.  Hope everyone has a good week!  Thanks for stopping by.

 

More soon,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

Secret Stitcher

I came home Friday to a rather large box waiting for me.  I knew I wasn't expecting anything.  Hmm...who could it have come from?  Then I opened it and knew!

My Secret Stitcher sent me an Easter box just in time for the holiday!  Just look at all these beautiful goodies!  I love everything.  The roses are little note cards and the spool is blue braided ribbon.  Then there is the cute bunny floss pallet.  Lets have a closer look.

Here's a closer look at this precious duck holding three juicy silk flosses!  The colors are Cake, Fresh Raspberries and Petticoat Blue.  I just love Belle Soie silks.  They are so soft just like the sweet duck holding them.  Yes, the duck came out of the box just like that too!  So sweet!

Does my Secret Stitcher know me or what?!  These chocolates are to die for.  Yes, there are some left but I did have to try them right away.

See this book, it's really a box!  Let's have a look inside.  There's wonderfulness in there!

Check this out!  My favorite needles and this amazing pin cushion! Oh. My. Goodness.  Just look at that pin keep!!!  We have to look at that closer.

This is my favorite thing in the whole box!  I am just in awe.  I wish you all could see this in person.  It is just exquisite!  It has a nice weight to it and I love the colors.  Aren't those pins just too dang cute too!

I recognize it as a Blackbird Designs piece.  It's called "Topiary in Bloom."  I've had my eye on it for a while and now I have a super special one.   I have this displayed where I can see it while I stitch. Thank you so much, Secret Stitcher!!!

Secret Stitcher, you spoiled me rotten this time.  I appreciate everything you sent me and especially the pin keep.  To think you took that much time to make me something this beautiful, I am humbled!  Thank you doesn't even seem to cover it.

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Thanks for stopping by today and allowing me to share.  I'm truly one lucky girl!  I hope you all have a good week.


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher