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

Common Ground Needlebook...Done!

Friends, I'm on a roll!  Sunday I put the last stitch in the needlebook and Tuesday I completed the finishing.

This one has special significance for me since I've had it in the stash since 2007.  I fell in love with the needlebook the minute I saw it in an advertisement two years before I seriously took up stitching again.  I ordered the chart from the LNS and the finishing kit from Silver Needle.

When I actually looked at the chart I felt overwhelmed.  Keep in mind this was before I got comfortable stitching on linen.  So I carefully tucked both the chart and the finishing kit away in a box.  That's where they stayed until I gained some confidence with linen and honed my finishing skills. I'm so glad it's done and now I can enjoy it!

Design: Common Ground - Needlebook

Designer: Just Nan

Fabric: 28 ct. Tattersall

Floss: DMC as charted

Started:  1/3/15

Finished: 3/15/15

Completed: 3/17/15

This was the first time I'd used Tattersall and I have to say, I really enjoyed working with it.  I found I could count my starting points really easily off the white threads that were woven into the fabric.  It was also fun to work on lower count fabric after stitching on 40 ct. samplers lately.

Here's a look at the whole thing before the finishing commenced.  I added my initials and date. That spot seemed to be the best place to put them.  It looked bare to me without something there.  I always try be diligent about signing my work.  It's the historian in me, I can't help myself.

 Here's a look at the outside.

And the inside.

 

The back.

I like how the closure is on the back instead of the front.  The corded tassel is a fun touch too.  It's conveniently hiding the spine stitching that keeps the two pieces of padded mat board in their separate sides.  Clever!  I'll definitely do this type of finish again.  It was a lot easier than I'd anticipated.

For those who might be wondering, this is one of a set of smalls that came with the "Common Ground" sampler chart.  The chart is an oldie from back in 2002.  I'm thinking at some point I may stitch the other pieces in the set and maybe even the sampler itself.  We'll see.

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I hope you enjoyed seeing this finish.  Who knows what I'll pull out of my Mary Poppins bag next.  I may even dig in and do some finishing.  Tomorrow is TUSAL day and I think it will be a good report this time around.  Hope your day is good.  Thanks for visiting.

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Frosty Snowflake...Done!

Folks, have you ever gone rooting in the stash and run across an abandoned project?  I see heads nodding.  That's what happened to me.  The day I finished Snooty I went to my stash looking for something and ran across this.  I'm fairly sure I got derailed by the holidays when it got abandoned.

 

Photo not of it's found state but rather taken upon finishing

Now you all know I usually try to finish what I start in a reasonable amount of time, especially smalls or ornaments.  Since I'd just completed a biggie, I decided I might as well jump in and finish this little cutie.  I had all of Frosty's face stitched and a good part of his hat so there really wasn't all that much left to stitch!

Design: Frosty Snowflake (JCS 2013 Ornaments)

Designer: Needle Bling Designs

Fabric: 25 ct. avocado Lugana 1 over 1

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  11/24/13

Finished: 3/8/15

Completed: 3/8/15

The fabric in the background is what I used to back it.  I couldn't believe my good fortune to have some ribbon in the stash that matched the fabric so well too.  So here we are, a finished ornament!  Now I can say I've finished at least one ornament this year that I'll keep for myself even if it took me a couple years to get around to it.

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 I hope everyone has a good week.  Thank you for stopping by for a visit today.  Who knows what I'll finish next.  I appear to be on a roll.  LOL!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Snooty Parrots...DONE!

I am doing the happy dance today!  Why you ask, because I can finally share with you a finish and not just any finish...Snooty is finished!!!  Did you all hear me Saturday night?  Yep, that was me making all that racket.  Let's have a look.

Design: Snooty Parrots

Designer: Barbara Ana

Fabric: 40 ct. Light Mocha

Floss: DMC and GAST

Started: 1/26/14

Finished: 2/28/15

To be framed...

I know this SAL was over in December but I kept pressing on.  I decided last week that I was going to finish this sampler before March rolled in and that was that!  I really didn't have much left to do on it so I buckled down and got to it.  I'm so relieved to have it done.  Yay!

I only made a couple changes to the original design.  I decided not to put the extra initials on it.  I think it looks okay without them.  I noticed several folks in the SAL chose not to as well.

The other change is the addition of the clouds around the angels.  Ellen and Jana from my guild were also stitching this and we decided we'd like to distinguish ours somehow.  Our guild had a lovely lecture on Norfolk samplers last year.  We learned that one of the characteristics you find are angels in clouds!  The idea was struck and there you are.

We laughed that 100 years from now some historian is going to wonder about our three samplers and try to find meaning to the angels in the clouds.  Tee hee!!

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So there you have it friends, my first finish of 2015.  I'm so pleased to share it with you.  As they say, better late than never.  I hope you all have a wonderful week.  Thanks for stopping by to share my joy 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 

Stitchaway Retreat Recap

I'm back as promised to recap the Stitchaway retreat.  This year I was only able to go for Friday afternoon and all day Saturday due to work needs.  Funny how life gets in the way of our stitching sometimes.  LOL!  Let's start out with gifts...

 This is the super cute ornament I received from my peep, Patti.  She knows me well and knew I'd love it.  She said this was a freebie she found on Pinterest but I've not seen it before.  Isn't it awesome?!

Here's the back.  I don't know if you can see it, the key has the word "Paris" on it.  The finishing is exquisite!  It was finished by the super talented Faye over at Carolina Stitcher.  Thank you so much Patti and Faye.  I absolutely love it!

While we are on the subject of gifts and this time birthday gifts, Anna Mae gifted me with these fun things.  Check out the gingerbread man earrings.  I just love everything but my favorite is the owl paperclip.  Thank you so much, Anna Mae!

Here's what Meem gave me for my belated birthday.  She knows I love Hello Kitty and these were spot on!  The lunch box is mini size and my feet are always cold.  Both are just perfect for me.  Thank you so much, Meem!

I couldn't resist sharing these things.  I just had to honor their thoughtfulness and express my gratitude!

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Every year there's a "free to a good home" table.  These were "gifts" from unknown friends. I love the sheep in turkey clothing.  My peep, Evie snagged the acorn sampler for me.  I really liked the two bunny charts and of course the bees!

Another tradition is the boutique with trunk shows. This picture was taken on the rare moment the shop was not crowded.  Oh so much temptation in there!

I just had to share this picture that was by the check out table.  Our theme this year was friendship and tea.  Barb's British friend emailed this picture to her and she thought it was a scream.  We had an informal contest to give this well endowed lady a name.  We settled on Tea Tea with the Ta Ta's.  That's one impressive rack she's got there!  If anyone knows anything about this mystery lady, please share.

Here's the stash that just had to come home with me from the den of temptation.  You know I love Prairie Schooler.  One of the Russellville peeps was stitching these at our retreat in November so I just had to have it.  Heart in Hand was one of the trunk shows and I fell in love with this Valentine's sampler.  It came with fabric and buttons!  The other HIH chart was in the dollar bin.  The blue fabric is for a chart I bought myself for my birthday.  You can't tell from the picture but it has sparkles in it.

These were some pincushions the shop made up to show you how you could use the freebies in our welcome packet.  Love the teacups!  I thought I'd share with you in case you might like the idea too.

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Next up is show and tell!  I only took a few pictures this time.

Last year we were given the chart for this one and some floss with the charge to do something with it and bring it back this year to share.  Well, there was a group of over achievers that actually remembered to do it and could actually put their hands on said chart/floss.  Ahem...I was not one of those people.  LOL!  Seriously, though these two are really pretty.

I thought this was a neat way to display several small stitched pieces at once!

This one the stitcher designed and stitched this one herself.  How amazing is that?!  Very cool!

I really liked the words on this one.  I don't think I've seen it done up and have no idea who designed it.

I saved my favorite for last!  This was done by Leslie LaFleur of Under the Sea Fabrics.  Leslie is a member of our guild and hand dyes the most incredible fabric. She did the fabric in this piece too.  It has wonderful sparkle but of course I couldn't capture it.  She's also a fan of Nora Corbett and hosts the Mirabilia retreat.  Here attendees gave her a gift certificate for framing by Jill Rensel.  It's just stunning!

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Progress as of 1-17-15

As promised, here is my progress on the Parrots!  I finally got past building the house.  Oh yeah!  I am actually a little bit farther along since I took this picture last weekend.  I've now got the box above the house done and the lady to the right of the house.  I'm hopeful!

Progress as of 1/17/15

This is my start on "Heaven Above" by Midsummer Night Designs.  Last year at the retreat my friend, Susan H. had completed this sampler and shared it at show and tell.  I had watched her work on it all year and was just in love.  I complemented her on the beautiful finish and she gifted me with her chart!  I was just so thrilled and humbled.  So I collected the fabric/floss and saved it to start this year at the retreat in honor of Susan's gift to me.  I hope to be able to share my finish next year!

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So there you have it, the recap.  I hope you enjoyed all the goings on.  It was a fun retreat and I really enjoyed spending time with my peeps.  Thank you so much for visiting with me today.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher