I finished 2 dishrags since the start of the year. They were completed on my road trip to see my inlaws as they were for my MIL. They were made with Knitpicks - Dishie Yarn and the called for needles for guage but the pattern is something I made up as I was knitting.

The Colors are ones that she requested as she redecorated her kitchen. She is also the one who taught me how to knit and can't knit right now herself due to arthritis.

Happy Stitching everyone!

Holiday Gifts part 1

Every year 3 friends and I exchange gifts for the holidays. I am always trying to outdo myself on the homemade side and I made fabric baskets this year.

I filled the fabric baskets with a Christmas Ornament and some dishrags which are always requested.

I loved making these and am actually planning on making a few more for some last minute gifts in the next few days. I also may be making a few for a retreat in the new year as well.

Happy Stitching Everyone!

October Roundup and November Goals

I wanted to Drop a line on Progress from my October Goals and layout my goals for November.
At the beginning of the month I planned to:

October 2016 Monthly Goals:

1. No craft stash shopping - SUCCESS
2. Blog once per week - FAIL - I should have known as I went to Las Vegas for Vacation from the 21-26.
3. Finish a dish rag a week - SUCCESS - See Below
4. Complete Pretty Little Italy - SUCCESS
5. Finish Purple Zig Zag Quilt top - FAIL - I decided it was more important to get my cross stitch pumpkin done. (see Below)
6. Start ornaments for the holidays. - SUCCESS - but I forgot Pictures :(

Dish Rags:

I am now up to 8 for the year but I have not even begun to make a dent in my dishrag yarn. I have decided that this will be a goal of my upcoming year. I think I may make it a yardage goal but more to come.

Cross-Eyed Cricket Patterned Pumpkin:

I used the called for DMC and a lighter 28ct which all came from my stash. Evenweave than the model on the chart and the one in my LNS. It was a delightful stitch and went much faster than I thought it would.

I was also able to take 3 quilts to the longarmers and 3 pieces to my LNS to get framed (they were having one of their twice yearly sales).

As for November, here is what I have on tap:

November 2016 Monthly Goals:

1. No Stash or Fabric Shopping
2. Blog once per Week
3. Finish 4 more dishrags
4. Complete 4 ornaments
5. Bind quilts for Niece and Nephew.

Hopefully not too stretching.

Happy Stitching everyone!!!!!

The First sock

So I finished a sock....only one though. The other is still on the needles. We shall see if it comes out the same size as the first one. I keep finding myself having issued where I joined the stitches in the round showing up in my stitching. This is something I need to figure out. I also need to figure out kitchener stitch. Hopefully the second sock will help me practice. Here is my lonely single sock.

I also finished a dishrag for January :)

So at least some of the goals for the year are on track!

Happy stitching!

Fabric Boxes

I was able to finish three fabric boxes for friends for Christmas gifts. I filled them with corresponding Keyfobs (not seen in the pics) and some dishrags per their requests. They like to have homemade dishrags for their use. All of these were made 100% from my stash.

Fabric Boxes

Close-up fabric Box

I am currently stitching on One Nation. I should have a progress pic soon.  I have completed 5 pages of 8.

Happy sttiching!

30 days of "Starts" - Final Check in

I have come to the end of my 30 Days of "Starts" in honor of Debbie Faris Bryant (SoCal Debbie). Many members of Blog Land are taking part in the Crazy January Challenge where they start some new cross stitch every day for 30 days starting January 1. I knew that I had a work trip planned for later this week so I wanted to start my 30 days on Christmas this year. I was also was allowing myself to work on WIPs in any crafting genre that I take part in whether it be Knitting, Crochet, Cross Stitch, and/or quilting.

1/13: Snowman w/sleigh - again from the Herrschners kit.

Snowman w/sleigh
Herrschners Ornament Kit

1/14: Snowman w/Dog - again from the Herrschners kit.

Snowman w/dog
Herrschners Ornament Kit

1/15: Dish Rag - Block #6 - Pointed Arrow

Pointed Arrow Block - Lily's Sugar and Cream Yarn

1/16: "99" by Ink Circles - I realized late in the game the pictures I took of this one disappeared from the first day so I only have a progress pic from last night. That means this is progress from about 7 days...not just one. This one is for my DH's man cave so I am trying to get it dome sometime this year.

99 - Ink Circles
Called for DMC on Cream Linen

1/17: Bear Ornament - This is great traveling stitching. I got 5 of these small kits a few years ago and am finally taking the time to stitch them. The Bear is first and he is going to be Cute. The finishing on this one will be interesting as I need to make it into a 3D tube. (insert face palm here) I will make sure to take pictures as I finish them.

Bear ornament - Dimensions Kit

1/18 : NOEL ornament Finish - This one needed a few cross stitches and all of the back stitch. I think it came out Amazing!

NOEL ornament
Scrap Piece of fabric
My choice in DMC floss

1/19: Purple Zig Zag Quilt Blocks - It started with the table runner and now I want nothing but to make more quilts in this pattern. I started making a quilt with white strips paired with a purple/blue Batik jelly roll from my stash. The pattern is sitting on top of some of the block below.

Purple Zig Zag Quilt blocks

I also have all the strips sewn together. Some are waiting to be ironed before they can be cut.

Rest of the Strips

1/20: Binding for Barcelona Quilt - This should have been completed so long ago but at least I am making some progress on it. I used white thread to sew the binding together because I didn't even pay attention when I started and I didn't feel like tearing it out as it won't be seen.

Barcelona Quilt Binding

1/21: Apron - Fabric Cut for an apron for myself.  The muslin on top is what I used as a template.

Apron Fabric cut

1/22: Dishrag - Block #7 - King's Crown

King's Crown - Lily's Sugar and Cream Yarn

1/23: Dish Rag - Block # 8 - Bachelor's Puzzle

Bachelor's Puzzle - Lily's Sugar and Cream Yarn

1/24 (and Final): Batik Squares Cut and Ironed: I gave my male cousin who just graduated from college a choice of a quilt or cash as a present and he chose a QUILT!!! I couldn't believe it but I am really happy. I cut some of the below fabric from scraps and some came from layer cake pieces I had left over from a project a while back.

Batik Squares - AB's Quilt.

Well here are my Thirty Days complete. I am going to post a later this week for some finishes etc.

Happy stitching everyone!

30 Days of New Starts - Check-in #3

If I have realized anything in the plan to start/work on different things every day for 30 days...I need to plan...plan...PLAN. I am living by a spreadsheet that I have set-up for myself and I made sure not to inset too many large projects as I always want to work on them more that a few hours each night. As for what I have been working on, here we go:

1/8: Cocoa Mug Cross Stitch: This kit is so much fun. Each of the 6 is relatively small and gives a great sense of accomplishment.

Cocoa Mug - Dimensions Kit?
From my stash

1/9: Red and White Ornament: This ornie is one of my go to designs for each year. There are just so many color ways that can be played with that I am always trying something new.

St. Charles - Ink Circles Designs
Scrap of Linen and Floss from my stash

1/10: Purple baby Blanket: The first baby blanket of the year needs to be completed by 2/9 for a work friend who is having her third child. She is so excited because (in her words), "when you are on #3, no one thinks of really doing anything for you." I am glad I can make her happy.

Purple Blanket
Caron - Simply soft
Basket weave pattern on size 10 needles

1/11: Dish Rag - Block #5 Pinwheel

Pinwheel - Lily's Sugar and Cream Cotton

1/12: Snow Man Ornaments - Ski's - This little guy is from a Herrschners Kit and has a snowman riding on Skis. I made some great progress for only working on it 1 day.

Snowman on Skis
Herrschners ornament Kit

Well, it looks like I am all caught up on my 30 days of projects. I am slightly amazed at what I have been able to accomplish once I put my mind to this endeavor.

Happy Stitching Everyone!

Check on 30 Days of New Starts

I had planned on making new starts every day from 12/25 - 1/24 in honor of Deborah Faris Bryant who passed away earlier in 2014 unexpectedly. She was the first blogger I came across when I started blogging and wanted to do something to honor her memory. I wanted to check in on the things I have worked on/completed since Christmas:
12/25 - Dishrag (easy travel crafting for me)

12/26 - Dishrag (again easy travel crafting)

12/27 - Table runner - I started piecing together the block following a pattern from Jenny Doan at Missouri Star Quilt company.

12/28 - Santa's Office - I worked on this one from 12/28 until today so far. I really enjoy it so I am keeping it on the Q-snaps. This is the picture as of Today. :) I have had this one kitted up ready to go for over a year.

Joan Elliot's Santa's Office
World of Cross Stitching Magazine from my stash
16ct. White AIDA and called for DMC

12/29 - Dishrag

12/30 - Dishrag - I decided to start working through a dishrag pattern book from Leisure arts that are quilt block patterns. This is the first one that I completed - Amish Diamond

Amish Diamond - Lily's Sugar and Cream Yarn

12/31 - Dishrag - Block #2 from the book. - 9 patch

9 patch - Lily's Sugar and Cream cotton

1/1 - Dishrag - Block #3 - Dutchman's Puzzle

Dutchman's Puzzle - Lily's Sugar and Cream Cotton

1/2 - Dishrag - Block #4 - Variable Star

Variable Star - Lily's Sugar and Cream Yarn

I have a few things in the plans for the upcoming days. It will be a lot harder when I go back to my real job on monday but I am really liking the production and seeing my cotton yarn stash reducing.

Happy stitching Everyone!

Yearly Goals Check-in and 2015 decisions

As we get close to the end of 2014, I wanted to check-in on my goals for the year. I set them last in December of 2013 and I added my status on them in purple below:

1.) Adhere to stitch from my stash SAL.  - COMPLETE. I adhered to the rules of the SAL and feel like I made some changes to my spending habits. I also promised myself that I would save my money for a new sewing machine and was able to purchase that they day after Christmas I got a PFAFF quilt expression 4.2 and I love it. I am sure there will be pictures of it forthcoming.
  
2.) Complete "The Lady and the Flag", the ABCs of family, 2 other mandalas, and my adaptation of the Dreamcatcher lap blanket.

• The Lady and the Flag - COMPLETE
• the ABC's of Family - no progress
• 2 other seasonal Mandalas - COMPLETE
• Dreamcatcher - COMPLETE

I think if I hadn't picked up quilting as another hobby seriously, I would have completed the ABC's of Family but overall..I think I made a Huge dent in the projects I wanted to get finished.
3.) Complete ornaments for the whole family (7). - COMPLETE. I actually finished 8 of them this year. 
4.) start 2 bigger projects: Noah's submarine and Brigid's shamrock. - No Progress - I kitted the projects up but did not start them - again I blame too many hobbies. :)
5.) finish/finish the advent calendar. - COMPLETE - I totally forgot that I even put this one on here but I finished it right before the end of the year. 
6.) complete piecing together 2 quilt tops, 4 sets of placemats and coasters, and 1 Christmas table runner. 

• 2 Quilt Tops - Completed 3 actually, 2 of them were longarmed, and one of those was bound and given as a gift this Christmas to my grandmother.
• 4 sets of placemats and coasters - completed 3 placemats and 1 coasters
• 1 Christmas Table runner - completed 1 for christmas, and 2 for gifts.

7.) 3 knitted baby blankets: (1 already assigned) - COMPLETE
8.) learn to knit socks. - Not Complete

All in all, I think it was a productive year. I am hoping and planning on doing more in 2015. So here are my goals for this year:

2015 Goals:

Overall: 
1.) Stitch from my stash on all types of crafting
2.) Complete my craft room
3.) inventory patterns and kits 
4.) Work on something new (either a start or a WIP) on any crafting every day from Christmas to january 25th - (i had to adjust the days due to a work trip) - to honor Deborah Faris Bryant

Yarn: 
1.) Complete 4 baby blankets - 1 is spoken for and 3 more (boy, girl, and neutral) to have in reserve.
2.) Learn to knit socks
3.) knit a pair of socks for my hubby
4.) Complete 2 hats for friends
5.) Complete 4 ft on my brothers blanket
6.) Complete 18 dishrags ( I need to get my reserve of this type of yarn down)
7.) Complete hitchhiker and 2 more shawls/wraps

Stitching:
1.) Complete ABC's of Family
2.) Start Brigid's Shamrock and Noah's submarine
3.) Complete 12 ornaments
4.) Complete 4 other larger projects including the Santa from H*ll

Sewing/Quilting:
1.) Learn Free Motion Quilting
2.) Complete 3 quilt tops - (1 is already spoken for)
3.) Bind my first quilt
4.) Complete purple quilt for my aunt.

The list is daunting but I feel like I am up to the task.

Happy Stitching Everyone!

TUSAL #2 (late again) & Turtle Trot Check-in

I realized late yesterday that I had totally missed  the TUSAL post on 1/30/2014. I decided to take a pic of my Jar on 2/9/2014. If you are wondering about the TUSAL, check out the button on the right side of my blog or click here.

The bulk of the ORTs in the jar are from the Autumn Mandala which coincides nicely with the Turtle Trot Check - In. The only project that I have had time to work on was the Autumn Mandala.

My previous check-in on it was the following:

Autumn Mandala by Ink Circles
16ct. AIDA
DMC 2 over 1
1/21/2014

I have worked heavily on it in between some travel for work and feeling under the weather to get this far:

Autumn Mandala
2/10/2014

I also found time to start and finish a dish rag:

Dish Rag
Lily's Sugar and Cream
2/7-9/2014

I also cast on for the baby blanket for the little girl my friend is having. Hopefully my next post will have some progress on it.

Happy Stitching everyone!

Progress Report!

November has been a month of much stash addition but not as much stitching. Here is my progress report for the month thus far post IHSW:

1.) 2 dishrags complete out of the target of 4. I used some random cotton I had for the one on the upper left and the bottom right used some Bernat Handicrafter.

2 Dishrags complete - 11/18/2013

2.) Summer Mandala: Completed all of the Black outline and started filling in the color.

3.) MOD coasters: The entire cross stitch is complete on this one and I started the back stitch. This one is part of my WIPocalypse projects.

MOD Coasters - Progress as of 11/18/2013

I was just informed that my friend who is having twins is having her C-section today. So I will be moving the completion of the second baby blanket for her twins to the top of my list. hopefully my hands will hold up :)

I am treating this upcoming weekend as another IHSW as well cause I can…and then I am off the entire American Thanksgiving week. So that will be prime crafting time for me.


Happy Stitching Everyone!

IHSW Check-in

My Goals for the weekend were:

1.) Cast on for one of the 3 blankets on my to-do list: Did not complete, but I did cast on and start 2 dishrags that I need to complete.

2.) Finish 1 set of wristlets: I finished one and started the other.

progress as of 9/22/2013

3.) Make some progress on another WIP - MOD Coasters

Progress as of 9/22/2013

start of the weekend status

4.) Make some progress on 'The Lady and the Flag"

At the start of the weekend

Progress as of 9/23/2013 - I added some more to the flag & her arm.

All in all the weekend was a productive one :) Goal for this week is to finish the dish rags and wristlet.

Happy stitching everyone