TUSAL

Haha, my stitching train almost totally derailed this month! I am working on a freebie and a surprise project, so if I get time I'll post pics during the week.

BUT - I did add a tiny bit to my ort jar. As you can see, I went overboard from last time, and chose a huge fancy crystal vase this month. It IS a month for flowers, and I thought it looked pretty with my heart fabric. (My in-need-of-paint walls are another matter - don't look.)

Anyway, here are my orts. It's sort of hard to see my threads, but they are there!

Thanks to the people who stopped by and commented on my first finish! I plan on visiting blogs this month of other TUSAL members to see what you all are up to!

First finish of 2011!

I'm so excited - I have never finished something so early in the year before!

This is the first installment of OakHaven Designs Months 2011 SAL. I omitted stitching the month at the bottom because I'm waiting to see how the others look before I decide if I want to use them as monthly patterns. I love this little guy!

Designer: OakHaven Designs
Pattern: Months 2011 - January
Fabric: 28-ct Powder Blue Meran
Threads: DMC as charted, except I substituted 3750 for the recommended 937
Started: January 4, 2011
Finished: January 5, 2011

TUSAL

I haven't actually been added to the TUSAL list on daffycat's post, but since it's time, I'm posting anyway. Here is my first mostly empty jar for the Totally Useless SAL. I'll probably get something different to store these in, I just used what I had for now.

You can join the TUSAL here.

Let's Try Again

After so long a silence, all my (few) readers have left! It's to be expected, of course, and I've come to the realization that I'm not really a "blogger", like some of the beautiful stitching blogs I follow.

Still, I do want a good way to keep records of my stitching. I re-joined the Fair & Square exchange, and am anticipating being in a stich-a-long or two, as well as an exchange or two. I am firmly determined to make this the year of stitching without guilt, and I don't want to lose track of what I accomplish.

I also want to join the TUSAL run by daffycat. It sounds like fun, and there is a giveaway! Hop over to her blog and see what it's all about!

So, here are my planned stitching projects for 2011:

1. Fair & Square rounds - all the regular rounds and special holiday rounds if I feel up to them at the time.

2. The Queen's Sampler: Elizabeth I by Plum Street Samplers. (This was my New Year's start.)

3. 2011 SAL by OakHaven designs. You can check Tonia's Yahoo group here.

4. Valentine's Day card exchange on the SanMan Originals message board.

And, here is my progress on my New Year's start:

The Queen's Sampler by Plum Street Samplers
32-ct Light Chino by R & R Reproductions (think this is discontinued)
DMC as charted
Started: January 2, 2011

Oh, and I forgot to put the pattern in the picture - here is what the finished product will look like:

More exchanges

I wanted to show you the gorgeous pinkeep I received from Mylene for the HoE LHN exchange. (Isn't it funny how we stitchers have our own "secret language"?)

Here is the front, which is one of my very favorite LHN designs, "Night & Day".

And the back, which Mylene fashioned into a useful and adorable scissor pocket. I definitely want to try this technique soon!

And here is what I sent to Nic for the same exchange.
This is from Garden Pleasures (LHN, of course). I just love how this one turned out. The colors were fantastic (I mostly used what was called for. There may be a substitution or two in there, but I didn't keep track.)I love the little butterfly I added, too. The backing fabric, the green & gold - it just all came together so nice, it's one of my favorite finishes so far. I am glad Nic said she likes it, too.

One of the threads I used in there was Dried Thyme by Weeks, I think. My floss was one I've had from waaaay back in the day, and I just adored how it looked. But when I went to my LNS to get more, it's a completely different color! I don't expect them to keep dye lots consistent over a decade, of course - but I was disappointed that the Dried Thyme I love is no more...

Bliss stopped by my blog and commented that we are both working on the Lizzie Kate doubles. Of course, she just finished hers! I feel like I am stitching only for exchanges, and now the Halloween RR. I am going to have to get myself to stitch a little more so I can leave room for other projects. Otherwise it starts to feel like I "have to," which of course means, I immediately don't want to! Anyway, the post on her blog where she courageously breaks down the cost of the project was motivating. I am grateful to live in the U.S. where most things are affordable. At least our falling dollar gives our over-the-lake neighbors a small advantage!

And thank you, Vonna, for your kind comments on the exchange items in my last post.

I have one more thing to show - my recipient finally received what I stitched for the LiveJournal xstitchexchange community's Seasonal Exchange.
This is Summer from L*K's A Banner Year series. I got the pattern from a friend after she'd stitched it, so I didn't have the little fish button called for, and I couldn't find anything to swim in and out of the seaweed on the bottom, but I still think it turned out well. The fabric shown is what I used for backing. It really looks like sand!

And that's it. I'm finally caught up. I'll have an update on my stitching for the Witching for Stitching RR after the weekend.

Thanks to those of you who stop by to look and read. I enjoy being able to my love for this craft with you.

Surprise!

Two posts in a row! Don't expect that to continue. :op But I did want to get my other pics posted.

I participated in my first exchange at the Yahoo! Prairie School Fans group. This is what I stitched for Patricia (no blog that I know of).
Taken from Spring Samplers by Prairie Schooler
Stitched on 28ct Potato Annabelle. I don't think they make this fabric anymore, which makes me sad because I really love it.
Threads of my choice, but they mostly match those called for.

I love the idea of the twisted ribbon on the side, but the sheer ribbon allowed some of the the side to show through. I'd probably need to ruche the ribbon a lot more next time. Also, I experimented with using cotton batting instead of hi-loft batting, and I forgot to put anything in between the layers to hold the pins in! I have been making pinkeep after pinkeep in an attempt to get better, trying out different methods and materials. I'm a slow learner... But I think I'm finally getting the hang of it, because my latest pinkeep, which you'll see as soon as I receive word it arrived, turned out pretty nice...

And here is what I received from Dixie for the same exchange:

I love how she stitched our initials and year on the backing fabric. Lovely finish. Thanks so much to Dixie, who I don't believe has a blog.

Next up is the Hooked on Exchanging Little House exchange. I will save it for tomorrow, so I don't overwhelm my many readers. ;)

Let us just stipulate...

... that I may be a stitcher, but I am definitely NOT a stitching blogger!

Anyway, I have some finishes and exchanges I want to show off.

First, here is my Round 7 square for Nicky R.Motif from Medallions by Rosewood Manor
Unknown Needle Necessities floss & unknown 32 ct linen

And here are Nicky's squares for me:


Next up is what I sent to Joan for the now-defunct To You From Me with Xs exchange. Thanks to Joanne for hosting this summer fob exchange.



Adapted Blue Moon from Small Samplings by Brightneedle
Unknown 28 ct pale blue evenweave
DMC, Weeks, & GAST of my own choosing
My first one over one, and, if wisdom prevails, my LAST. It turned out beautifully, but was not a joy for these tired eyes. I love how the colors turned out, too.

Next, here is the adorable fob I received for the same exchange from Michelle. Unfortunately, I can't find Michelle's blog at the moment.


I want to say thank you to the generous souls who have stitched so many lovely things for me lately. The shelving unit in my living room is dotted with gorgeous pieces and I am just so appreciative.

Thank you, too, to any reader who may still be hanging around this dusty corner of the web. :)

I have more, and maybe I will get around to posting them sooner rather than later!

New Exchange Blog

Forgive my double posting, but I totally forgot to include this. Joanne has also started a new exchange group. This will be a quarterly exchange, and it looks like folks will vote on a theme each time. This time, we are doing a beach themed scissor fob. I have the BEST idea for this, I can't wait to get started! I *think* the first deadline is today, so check it out.