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!

Periodic Commission

A close friend of mine is graduating with a Masters degree in Textile chemistry after a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering. While we were eating lunch a month or so ago, she asked me if I could make her a periodic table quilt wall hanging. I thought about it for a minute, asked a bunch of questions, busted out some graph paper to map it out and said yes. Well I gave it to her on Saturday for her graduation party. I made a collage of the finished work and some close-up shots.

I really love how it all came out! The best part...it was all from my stash! Back to the needles of a large variety for Christmas!

Happy Stitching!

Amazing Giveaways

Just wanted to drop a quick note about the AMAZING giveaways at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe in her 12 days of Christmas Giveaways. She is so amazingly generous with her products. Go check her out!

Happy Stitching!

5 More

While I had the patterns out, I finished the ornaments for next year for my Niece and Nephew. (Sorry I couldn't get the picture to rotate.)

2017 Ornaments

I also was able to get a few other designs completed for my grandma as well.

All of the ornaments were take 100% from my stash.

I have joined the Facebook Stitch from my Stash 2017A group these can count on my finishes for the warm up. I got a total of $5.00 of credit for the 3 for my grandmother and then another $4.00 for the gingerbread people. That is a total of $9.00 to add to my budget. :)

I have already lined up the kits and/or kitted projects for the rest of the year. :)

Happy Stitching everyone!

Finally a Finished Pair!

Earlier this year I posted that I finished 1 sock of a pair. One of my goals for 2016 was to learn how to knit socks. Last week I finished the second sock of the pair. Below you can see the two of them together.

First Socks - finished 11/25/2016 - Deborah Norville Sock yarn (I think)

2 ornaments Complete

Well I finished the 2016 ornaments for my Niece and nephew last night. I decided to get a head start on the 2017 ones as next. I used the caller for DMC from my stash and AIDA I had on hand. the patterns are from a Leisure arts book.

I made them the first 2 Gingerbread people last year and 2017 will finish the set. This month is looking to be a good craft month from an accomplishment perspective.

I also decided to take part in the Stitch from my Stash 2017 group. I am giving myself $10.00 for a monthly budget. I am allowed to continue the one Fabric of the month group that I have been a part of for over a year. I am also allowed to pay for framing and finishing as needed. My Stitching retreat is also already paid for so that is covered. The trunk shows are going to be interesting for me at the retreat as I will need to rely on my 10.00 budget and any Christmas gifts I my get. (YIKES)

I also decided to carry this budget through to all my stash related purchases for crafting, including yarn and fabric. I will be allowed to pay for long arming of quilting as needed.

I am still trying to understand how I feel about classes? I was thinking of taking a quilting class so who knows?

I also will state that the budget started November 1 for me.

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!!!!!