June 2016 WIPocalypse Check-in

I realize that it has been a very long time since I checked in for WIPocalypse. As a matter a fact, January was the last Check-in for me. In that time, I realize how important monthly goals and check-in's like these keep me on task and productive. So I am going to use this time to get caught up on what I have done stitching wise and the always delightful questions:

February 2016
Question: If you have any of your pieces on display in your home which attracts the most plaudits?
Answer: I do have a few things hanging in my house. The one that always attracts attention is the ABC's of Food.

ABC's of Food

I think it captures the attention because it is in my Kitchen which is always where people come first.
February Stitching: Completed Pretty Little Washington DC

March 2016
Question:  Do you use hoops, stretcher bars, lap stands or Q snap frames and why?
Answer: I typically use Q-snaps unless they are small ornaments pieces where I use a small Hoop. The Q-snaps are light and easy to hold. The hoops are as well. I tried a lap stand in the past and I felt very hunched over while using is.

March stitching: Completed Pretty Little Chicago

April 2016
Question: What do you listen to while stitching?
Answer: This is a funny one. It is rare that I listen to any music or any books. If I do Listen to music it is typically musical theater casts albums, rock or country music so I can sing along. My favorite thing to do while stitching is to catch up on my TV shows that are recorded on my DVR - in the summer that is usually reruns of Criminal minds, CSI New York, NCIS franchises or Law and Order Franchises. I think I have seen everyone so I don't watch I just listen for background noise.  I also watch movies I have DVR-ed. 

April Stitching: Completed Pretty Little New York

May 2016
Question: What were you stitching this time last year and have you finished it?
Answer: I was working on a cross stitch stocking for a friend and it is definitely completed. I finished 2 of them last year.

May Stitching: A big Fat Nothing.

June 2016
Question: Do you find yourself more productive with stitching in summer or winter?
Answer: In General, I am more productive in the winter. This spring and summer are especially rough as I am traveling a lot for my day job and have not found to balance quite yet to be crafting a lot. There are some changes in the day job that I hope will help but they will not be happening until August 1st. I am going to just keep trucking until told otherwise on my crafting.

June Stitching: I am currently working on the last 33 bottles for Ink Circles "99". My hope is to have it completed by the end of the week. The rest of my finishes can be seen here and here.

Footballs even in the offseason...Quilting is always in season!

I love sports and so does my husband. He is also super supportive of all my craft adventures. As such I thought he deserved something nice from his wife. I decided a Quilt for him to cuddle with while watching sports was the best next step. Hence the Footballs Quilt (pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew).

I changed the pattern by using solid sashing that was 5" wide on the horizontal and vertical in a gold batik with 5" cornerstones in maroon batik. Those are the colors of the University of Minnesota which is where I was going to school when I met my husband and are his favorite college team.

The next quilts are for my niece and nephew. I made dolly quilts for my niece and then they proceeded to tell me they were cold and wanted their own blankets too. :)

Happy stitching everyone

Slainte!

My Cross Stitch project for the Monthly Stitch-in at my LNS has been Slainte by A. Fox Original. I used Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Floss in Holly Leaves. It gave it a nice gradual Varigated look.

 The fabric was left over from the butterfly pillow/cushion that I made for my grandmother in in 2014. My hope is to frame this one and put in my entry way. I am also happy to say this was a total Stash stitch.

I just put "99" back on the Q-snaps as I only have the bottom 3rd to finish or 33 bottles to go.

Happy stiching everyone!

Another City Finish!

I finished Pretty Little San Francisco by Satsuma Street on Tarnished Silver by Under the Sea Fabrics!

Pretty Little San Francisco on Tarnished Silver

 

I should have another finish to post in 24 hours too!

Now that I am home for a stretch I can see the finish line in site on a lot of things.

Happy Stitching Everyone!

I have a reason...I Promise

When I realized that I have been posting once per month vs. the once per week that was my goal I wondered if I had a viable reason for the lack of communication? I figured capturing all of what I realized here with a plan on how to explain it would be a great exercise for me. 

My posting initially dropped off in March, so here is what I realized:

March 6-10th: I was traveling to GA for work
March 23-25: testing at work with no time to craft
March 29-April 1: Testing at work
April 4-7: travel to GA for work
April 14-22: travel to Ireland for Vacation
April 28th: Mother had surgery
May 3-4: GA for Work
May 9-20: GA for Work

In the Past 11 weeks, All but one of them have been busy with Work Commitments. That does not make up for the fact that I did not communicate that but what it dis make realize is that I need to make sure I am taking time for myself during these events.

As a result, I have been making time to craft (and stash build) when I can. I have also been purposefully looking into the local stores where ever I am :)

For Example, in Ireland I found 2 places for Yarn:

I was interested in Irish Wool and Irish Dyers and I found them: O'Maillie's in Galway City and This is Knit in Dublin had a great selection. The picture above shows the finds from This is Knit.

This is Knit in located in the Beautiful Powerscourt Townhouse just off Grafton Street. They carry many Irish Dyers and also have their own line of specially dyes Yarn called Townhouse. They are the Purple skien and the variegated Purple, blue and Green above. I also found a beautiful Yellow Yarn from Hedgehog Fibers and the teal from Dublin Dye. The light Green skien is Irish Wool from a local Irish Dyer. Irish wool is usually rough but this felt good to me.

O'Maille's House of Style was a beautiful store on High Street in Galway City. They are rather famous for having styled the costumes for "The Quiet Man" which was filmed near the store. I was able to purchase some more of the Irish Wool yarn (like the green Skien Above) and some soft Donegal Wool Spinning Co. Yarn. I didn't take a picture of if but it is amazing. My husband found a great hat too. The owner was a veritable encyclopedia on Irish Wool.

I was also able to visit a weaver while in Ireland.

McKernan Handweavers was beautiful. This wall is amazing. The best part what that it had 2 doors that opened to their weaving room. My mom had visited here about 4 years earlier and they had expanded a lot which gives me hope for the knitting arts. I found some great scarves there too :)

So While this doesn't explain the whole time I was not communicating it does cover a 10 days. :) I had to start somewhere.

I will be sharing further updates as I travel to get back in the swing of things.

Happy stitching everyone!

Long Time no Post

Well I am back from a whirlwind few weeks of travel for 7 days and then I am traveling again. But I do have a quilting progress to show:

I am working on "Touchdown" by Cluck Cluck Sew. It is super intricate in comparison to all other quilts I have worked on but I do love football. The end result will be for my husband.

One of my trips was to Ireland for the first time so I will be downloading you all on that in the coming few weeks.

For stitching...I am currently working on Pretty Little San Francisco by Satsuma Street.

Happy Stitching Everyone!

Pretty Little New York Complete!!!!

A quick post while on a work trip - Pretty Little New York by Satsuma Street on Tarnished Silver by Under the Sea Fabrics.

Pretty Little New York - Satsuma Street 

Happy Stitching everyone!