Goals for 2014

As 2013 comes to a close, I wanted to highlight some stitching goals for 2014:
1.) Adhere to stitch from my stash SAL. Click on the link in my sidebar for more details. I am trying to adhere out for all crafts. I will be posting on here at the end of every month how much I spent and what I have used from my stash.
2.) Complete "The Lady and the Flag", the ABCs of family, 2 other mandalas, and my adaptation of the Dreamcatcher lap blanket.
3.) Complete ornaments for the whole family (7).
4.) start 2 bigger projects: Noah's submarine and Brigid's shamrock.
5.) finish/finish the advent calendar.
6.) complete piecing together 2 quilt tops, 4 sets of placemats and coasters, and 1 Christmas table runner.
7.) 3 knitted baby blankets: (1 already assigned)
8.) learn to knit socks.

I am someone that lives by deadlines so hopefully the above list will keep me on track!

I want to wish you all happy New Year! Happy stitching!

SALs for the New Year!

I have finally decided what Stitch-a-longs I was taking part in for the coming year:
1.) TUSAL - Check out Sharon at It's DaffyCat for the details.
2.) Stitch from Stash 2014 - Hosted by Mel L. At Epic Stitching. I have made a commitment to only stitch from my stash for 2014. I have also extended it to include sewing, crocheting, and knitting as well.
3.) WIPocalypse - Hosted by the wonderful Measi at Measi's Musings. I have highlighted my WIPs that I am going to be working on throughout the year on my left sidebar.
4.) TurtleTrot - hosted by Claudette of BAP Attack. We post our progress on 10 WIPs by the 10th of each month.

I think I have all the posting dates in my calendar for the upcoming year.

Happy stitching everyone!

IHSW update: Sewing finishes and some Some stitching progress!

My main cross stitching project recently has been "The Lady and the Flag." I have not had time to make a huge amount of progress but I am going to try to work on her through the 26th and then move onto something else.

My last progress report on her was dated 10/6/2013 and looked like this:

I has spent the last few sessions prior to the October progress report on her upper body. I decided that I would work on the lower portion of her dress and the Liberty banner.

I apologize for the lighting picture but it is quite dreary here.  I have decided she is going on my WIPocalypse list for 2014. She is too beautiful to not be completed already.

I also completed some placemats as well.

These are some patriotic placements that I finished for my inlaws. My FIL spent a lot of time in the military and I know they will love them.

Then I also worked on a set for myself. I wanted a fun geometric pattern so I found these fabrics that I enjoyed. the first one has corners that are a little messed up but by the second one, I mastered Mitered corners. I am sooo excited. It will make the Table runner I am making for my mom so much easier.

I also wanted to explore English paper piecing. So I took a few fat quarters I had sitting around and start that process. I made about 21 hexagons sitting in front of the TV on friday night watching the movie "Miracle" about the 1980 US hockey team.

Here's My progress thus far:

Finally, my dear husband loves to latch hook and has completed a wonderful Santa that I felt deserved it's time to shine too:

Happy stitching and for those of you that celebrate the holidays - Happy Holidays!

Finish to Share

I  completed the Cowl I was knitting for my aunt the night before last and remembered to take pics of it last night.

I used Beautiful Fantasy Naturelle Yarn from Plymouth yarns in a purple and a variegated blue, purple, and Green (#1560 and #1314). The Pattern was called Calm Seas cowl and was a free download on Ravelry.

This weekend is also the last International Hermitting and Stitching weekend. I wish you all happy stitching and Happy Holidays!

WIPocalypse Check-In

On February 4, 2013, I generated the list below when I joined the 2013 WIPocalypse. I added in progress pics if I have them.
1.) Celtic Cross - Ink Circles
     I have no progress to show on this one. The fabric was not the right choice and decided to start over with a different fabric.
2.) Sweety - Alessandra Adelaide
    This became a victim of my cutting my finger and bleeding on the white background. Thankfully, I was only about 300 stitches into the pattern. I will definitely be doing this one this year.
3.) Craft Street - Magazine
Complete:

It looks beautiful on my wall :)

4.) Flower Cards
at the start

Last progress Pic:

5.) Snowman Ornaments
- no Progress on this one

6.)ABC's of Family
   All that was added this year was the I, C, and Heart portion in the square next to the I.

7.) Nativity Set
  - I completed all the back stitching except on the camel and 1 of the wise men.

8.) Dream Catcher Lap Blanket
I realized  that I do not like stamped cross stitching at all. I am in the process of transforming this pattern into counted cross stitching.



I loved taking part in this stitch-a-long but I realized that I need to be better at taking progress photos. In 2014, it is a goal of mine to be better at keeping up my progress.


I am also trying to determine what SALs I will be taking part in besides TUSAL and WIPocalype 2014. I have joined the Stitch from Stash hosted by Mel at Epic Stitching.

Happy Stitching!

Progress on the Last Christmas Gift

The last Christmas Gift that I needed to complete is a Cowl I am making for my Aunt. I had originally started it as a scarf  shown below and I didn't like it at all.

For some reason it wasn't speaking to me. SO I decided to make it into a cowl which looks like this:

I love this knit and it is going so well.  Hopefully I will have a finish soon.

Happy Stitching!

2 Finishes to share

I had mentioned 2 post ago that I completed the Summer Mandala by Ink Circles but I had not gotten around to taking a picture of it until this past weekend.

Summer Mandala
Ink Circles
16ct AIDA, 2 over 1, suggested DMC
completed 11/29/2013

This weekend I spent my time working on a design for a co-workers daughter who is 12. She was running for student government this fall and came up with a powerpoint slide that had her name and words to describe herself on it. Her mother thought this was a wonderful example of her positive view of her self and wanted to reinforce it in whatever way she could. She asked me if I would stitch it up for her to hang in her room.

 I used the many font books that I have in my stash to make the worlds different and then combined them all with a similar color palate that was a combination of WDW, Gentle arts, and DMC threads. I did blur out the girls name for her privacy. You will have to let me know what you think.

Happy stitching!