TUSAL and DreamCatcher

It's that time to Check in with ORTs for this month. Check out DaffyCat's blog for more information.

The above pic is my monthly ORTs collected since the last check-in. The are a combination of quilting thread from the Table runner and some blocks, Autumn Mandala, Thanks Clip, and the Dream catcher project. 

This is the jar that holds my cumulative Orts for the Year. 

I also have made enough progress on the abbreviated Dream Catcher project. This project was originally was a stamped lap blanket kit from Herrschners. com. I started on it as it but it was very tough on my fingers so much so that I was punching holes in my fingers even with extra sharp needles. I decided to grid out the pattern and transfer it to some cream AIDA. 

The only change that I have made from the original pattern is to add some half cross stitches in the feathers. Otherwise, it seems to be working delightfully well.

My plan is to work on this a little bit more and some baby blanket knitting. There will be a later post recapping feb goals and laying out some for March.

Happy stitching everyone!

IHSW checkin and 2 Happy Dances!

Last weekend was International Hermitting and Stitching Weekend and I managed to get some stitching done in a variety of forms! (if you want info on IHSW, check out the button on the right hand side).

First, I completed a small Cross Stitch project called "Thanks Clip" By Cherry Wood Design Studios that I picked up at my LNS sometime last year. I didn't have the Weeks Dye Works fabric in Guacamole so I used a Piece of 30ct. WDW in Cappucino instead. I think it looks good with that color as well. It was a Kit that came with Dinky Dyes Silk floss. It was my first time using the silk and I loved it!

Here is a picture of the overall design so that you can see the finishing with the provided clip includes the word Thanks.

Second, I also did some stitching work on the Dream Catcher Lap Blanket. This was a stamped lap blanket kit that my dear MIL bought me to make for my FIL. Unfortunately, I was punching holes in my fingers trying to use the kit as it. So on Saturday morning, I began putting a grid on the paper pattern that came in the kit so that I could transfer the design to a large piece of 14ct. Cream AIDA that I have in my stash. I was bale to put about 200 stitches into the Project over the rest of the weekend so all was not lost. When I make some more progress, I will post some pictures on here. I will say the transfer to AIDA has my hands thanking me. :)

Finally, I was able to finish a Quilt Project this weekend (Finally).

The table runner for my mom is about 54" long with 4 panels running down the center that have black sashing vertically between them and wine cork and purple square borders horizontally above and below them. I can actually say, I am really happy how this one came out. The binding was worrying me but I chose black and machine binded it so that she can wash it in her washing machine. I did some straight-line quilting along the sashing. Hopefully she likes it.

I also finally made Sidney the penguin into a pillow for the spare room bed for now. He may make it into my room before you know it.

I used some spare Batik Fat quarters and a spare 12" pillow form I had lying around. All from my stash :)

This week I am hoping to make some headway on the Baby Blanket that is due in the next month because there are 2 more coming in the next 2 months.

Happy Stitching everyone!

Stitch from Stash February 2014 Report

This month Mel L from Epic Stitching gifted those of us in the Stitch from my Stash SAL with a splurge weekend with a budget of $100. That is where I did the all of spending for the month. Here is my summary of spending thus far:

Budget spend: 

      Left over from January - $2.57

      February budget - $25.00

      Splurge Weekend Budget - $100

           123 Stitch: 7 patterns - $55.62 (with Tax, no shipping)

           Beauty and the Beast Kit - 21.20 (50% off Coupon)

           Little Mermaid Kit - 21.50 (50% off coupon)

           Tax on the kits - 2.56

           Total splurge weekend and February spend: $100.88

     Carryover to March - $26.69

The projects I have worked on are as follows:

New Starts from Stash: knitted Striped Baby Blanket

WIPs or UFOs worked on: Autumn Mandala, Table runner for my Mom, Blanket for my brother,"Thanks Clip"
Finishes from Stash: Autumn Mandala

Happy Stitching Everyone!

Happy Dance for Autumn!

I was finally able to put the final stitches in the Autumn Mandala. While I was stitching this one, it was my least favorite but now that it is complete…I LOVE IT! This leaves me with only the Winter Mandala Left to complete. I will get started on that one sometime in March.

Autumn Mandala - Ink Circles
2 over 1 - DMC threads
16 ct. White Aida

I started a small project on Monday but did not make it far enough to take pictures.

I also updated my Wishlist page as my MIL and husband kept bugging me about what crafty items I might want. :)

All in all it was a productive weekend.

Happy stitching everyone!

WIPocalypse Check-in and Stitch from my Stash Splurge Weekend

WIPocalypse is sponsored by Measi and is a SAL where we stitch on 10 Projects throughout the year and report our progress on the New moon of every month. The February Check-in falls on today - VALENTINE'S day.

First, I want to give a shout out to my DH who has been taking care of me through a few medical scares recently. I couldn't' ask for a better husband then the one I have and I feel he needs to know that and see it in print.

next the topic for today's check in:

How many projects do you generally feel comfortable having in progress at one time? Tell us about your one-at-a-time or rotation habits.

Generally, I like to have 1 large, 1 medium and a few smalls in progress for cross stitch projects. I am also a knitter, crocheter and quilter so i have those projects in progress as well. For example, I have 2 blankets cast on in knitting, 1 pair of socks, 1 set of wristlets, 2 dish rags, and a shawl. I have 2 sets of placements, 1 quilt top, and 2 table runners in progress in quilting. Finally, I have one crocheted hat on the hook. I like variety but I do keep a running list of projects as well. I do the same for my wish list and supply inventory.

Now for my Progress on WIPocalypse projects: Due to the emergency room visits for a few medical issues, I have not stitched as much as I would have liked. Sitting was very painful, but I did manage some progress on the following.

1.) Autumn Mandala:

January Check in

February check in

2.) When you wish upon a star:

January Check-in

February Check-in

Hopefully this weekend I can get the Autumn Mandala finished and possibly the baby blanket I cast on for a friend who is pregnant with a little girl.

I am also taking part in Stich from my Stash sponsored by Mel at Epic stitching. This weekend is a splurge weekend where we have 100 US dollars to spend on whatever we want with no strings attached. Thank you MEL!

I placed an order for a few Patterns off my wish list (just realized the one on here is not updated :(, so i will do that sometime in the next few days):

1. 99 - Ink Circles
2. Landmarks of America - Stoney Creek
3. Landmarks around the World - Stoney Creek
4. Let's Have Fun with Warn - Imaginating
5. Let's Do Wine - Imaginating
6. Bubbles - Imaginating
7. Let's Cross Stitch - Imaginating
8. Let's Party - Imaginating

I spent 55.62…so I have some more left to spend this weekend when I go out with my mom.

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!

Forgot the Pics and Monthly Goals

I realized it has been awhile since I posted and I still forgot the pictures! :( I apologize to my followers and anyone else that reads this post as it will be sans pictures. I have been working on a variety of projects since my last post almost 2 weeks ago. (YIKES…I didn't realize it had been that long). I started a baby blanket for a friend who is have a little girl. It is about 5 rows in so not much to show as of yet but I will try to remember to take a picture this evening. I need to add the binding to the table runner for my mom and it will be complete, all piecing and quilting is done. I started a new dish cloth and am about 6 hours away from completion of the Autumn Mandala. So this leads directly into my goals for the month of February.

1.) Complete Mom's Table Runner
2.) Complete Autumn Mandala
3.) Complete Dish Rag
4.) Blog at least 1 time per week
5.) Stitch from my stash.
6.) Complete Half of the Baby blanket

Happy Stitching Everyone!