TUSAL update....

Yeah!!!  Today is our TUSAL update.  If you want to join, it is easy to do.  Just click on the link on the side bar or HERE. 

Here are my ORTs for the month of March.  I have done some small projects along with some bigger ones but these are the ORTs from my stitching.

Here is what my ORT jar is now looking like filled up with all the ORTs from this year already!  Wow!  I can't wait to see how it will look by December.

I have been stitching on MBT The Apostle's Creed along with 4 other ladies.  I was behind in my homework for last month so I've been trying to play catch up this month for the next time we meet at Sampler Sunday at Attic Needlework.  Here is where I'm at the moment but I hope to get more stitching done this past week.  My MS (Multiple Schlerosis) was making me extremely fatigued this past week so I did not get as much stitching done as I had hoped.  But I'm feeling better so hopefully you will smell the smoke from my needle this week.  LOL

Here is another WIP of mine that I pull out to work on as well.  This is The Primitive Needle A&E.  I was dreading stitching in that darn snake and if you know me I H-A-T-E SNAKES!  I don't like to stitch them either but I just loved this pattern so I just prayed while doing it.  ICK  But it goes along with the chart so I stitched him in and got past it.

Now I'm off to stitch for the rest of the day.  YEAHHHH  Hmmmm which one do I want to work on??  Until next post.......HAPPY STITCHING!

Just Nan SAL Update.....

Today is the date to post our JN SAL for the month!!!  YEAHHH  I actually stitched mine while away on retreat last month in preparation of trying to stay ahead of the game.  This month's project I chose to stitch up Winter Violets Whimzi.  It is stitched on 30ct Weeks Lilac linen.  I love the color of the linen but I find that purples are extremely hard to photograph.  This linen was nice but was not stiff.   I did iron the interfacing like Nan suggests when finishing.  The linen just still seemed limp when I finished ironing it and is easily stretched I found when framing this whimzi.  Here is my finish for this month but I have a couple more JN projects that I am stitching on as well for this SAL.

One project that I pulled out and worked on this past weekend was the Queen of the Needle Sampler Case.  I had started it right away when it came out from The Silver Needle but that was right before we were to move for an overseas assignment and sadly.....it got packed away til now.  I am sorry for any wrinkles as this was just hurriedly photographed at the last minute this a.m.  It is being stitched in the silks that came with the kit.

Another JN UFO that I have pulled out to work on is called Sweet Remembrance.  I love the delicate soft colors that JN uses in her projects as well.  Once again...I apologize for the wrinkles.  This fabric that I'm stitching on for this project is 28ct Star Sapphire Jobelan.  I LOVE the soft blueish green tone of the fabric.  I just wished the pictures did the fabric justice of how they REALLY look.  So reach in your mind's eye and just "see" what the actual true color of the fabric is.  I may have to start photographing my projects outside in natural sunlight since we are in so much abundance of it here in AZ.

I also want to share a picture of my most FAVORITE Just Nan piece.  This one is soooo special to me because my best friend stitched it for me.  But......there is a story that goes along with it.  My best friend Karen and I met 18 1/2 years ago when we both were stationed together at Scott AFB.  She and I both had small babies at the time, and we shared the love of cross stitching so our friendship was an immediate success!  We would meet for lunch and let the kids play together or sometimes one of the babies would be sleeping while the other played.  So it made for a perfect stitching time together.  As we were about to move to different bases, Karen and I both ended up stitching THE SAME EXACT PIECE.....True Friends chart......for our gift to each other.  However, the funny part was that only our LNS was in on the whole process!  Our shop was Mom & Me of Lebanon, IL and her name, Karen also, knew what my best friend Karen was stitching for me and I for her.  Well, it made for such a fun laugh when we exchanged our present of our stitched gift to the other one! 

I've already picked out my next project for April as I'm trying to stay ahead of the game and my SALs.  I thank Zeb for doing this JN SAL in helping me get all my JN stitched up and out of their binders or gift bag storage (see previous post of how I store my JNs to see what I am talking about). Plus.....for collecting all the "missing Just Nan" charts that I've either wanted to buy and didn't at the time that they came out.

Happy Stitching everyone!

2014 Smalls SAL Update for March

Today is the day to post our Smalls SAL post.  You can find the link to how to join in my side bar or you can just click on the link HERE.

This month I decided to stitch up something new from SB from the Nashville Market called Spring Box.  It REALLY was a quick and easy stitch and only took me 3hours to stitch it.  I am not sure if I'm going to put it in the box but rather maybe make it into a stuffed hanging pillow for decoration.  That is why it is not totally finished yet either.  I was having a hard time deciding HOW to finish it.  What do you think???  Buy the box to put it inside or make it into a hanging pillow???  Leave me a comment and let me know how I could or should finish it. 

Here it is:

Also this month I have finished another small project.  It was my afternoon stitching while waiting for the kids to get out of school when picking them up in the afternoon.  It is LHN Wisdom Sheep Virtue.  It is stitched on 36ct Lt. Examplar fabric using DMC threads.  However, the only correction is that I used white for my sheep.

Once again....he is not finished as I have all my fabrics for the sheep to be finished.....hopefully one Friday here soon.  Don't worry.....I will show pictures when I do get them all finished.

Another finish was a small ornament that I stitched for my dad's Christmas present this year while at my Sedona retreat.  It is another deer project for him.  Hmmmmm seems like I'm on a trend for my dad each Christmas.   It is from the chart Prairie Schooler Winter Wind.  My dad and I love deer and at his house they do come up to the house close to eat.

Now I need to figure out WHAT to stitch for my mom's Christmas ornament for this year.  That is all I have to share for today for smalls.  I had HOPED to get one of these pretty things finished but in due time they will. 

Thank you for stopping by once again. 
Happy Stitching!

It's Finally Friday and an Easter Treasure Hunt

Wow!!  It's finally Friday!!  I love that song and no.....I won't post a You Tube link for that song because I'm sure it's already stuck in your head by now!!! 

As I was reading my blog links instead of stitching at the moment, I came across an Easter Hunt Blog hop.  I was reading on Jo's blog about her annual EASTER TREASURE HUNT BLOG HOP.  You can click the link to find out more about this fun filled event and yes.....I did sign up to do this.  I've already printed off 3 charts and now to decide WHICH one I want to stitch to be able to share a picture with you on the Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop. 

I just LOVE Easter and especially those Bunny Big Ears that I buy my family every year for Easter.  However, I told my daughter she had to buy her own Bunny Big Ears as it just would not make it if I mailed one to her to TN from here in sunny AZ.  It would be more a Bunny Big Blob than Bunny Big ears!  Here is a picture you are confused by what I'm talking about for Bunny Big Ears.

Now if you have NEVER had one......it is well worth the money you spend on this delicious treat.  I started this tradition when my daughter was a little girl of buying one for everyone in the family and then for both kids later.  But......  I have a story too that goes along with Bunny Big Ears that you might find funny.

One year, I put it out for everyone to have on Easter Sunday morning.  I came home later to find that my husband had taken a HUGE BITE out of my Bunny Big Ears!  ACKKKKKKK!!!!!!  WHAT????  He didn't???!!!  Nooo???  But YES.....HE DID!!!!!  I looked at him .... all mad.... and asked him why??  He said he thought it would be funny to see my reaction!  Well he saw it!  I didn't stay mad though and no.......he didn't let me take a bite out of his Bunny Big Ears to replace what he had eaten out of mine.  So......not to worry.  I waited a WHOLE YEAR to get him back.  Yep......you probably guessed it by now.  I took a HUGE BITE out of his Bunny Big Ears the following Easter and left it for him to find after church that Sunday.  He looked at me and just laughed!!!  He knew I had been waiting a whole year to get back at him for eating on my Bunny Big Ears the previous year.  So yes.....that year.....revenge did taste very sweet!  I am not a vengeful person in the least nor do I promote it but they knew then.......don't mess with mama's chocolate!  We have laughed about this every year since!!!  So all in all.....what was a bad situation at the time turned out to be a funny story to remember every year.

Now I'm off to pull out some stash for these new charts I've printed off working copies for and see which one I can stitch up quickly enough and finish for Jo's Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop.

Happy Stitching!

JN Gingerbread Jingle Mouse!!!!

Good morning everyone!  I am here to share my JN Gingerbread Jingle Mouse finish.  Poor thing has been stitched for a while now but I just finished him the other day.  He really wasn't that hard to finish either as Just Nan gave great finishing instructions for those of you who say they just can not do finishing work.  Trust me.....YOU CAN!!!  Now I need to get the first one stitched up so he won't be lonely.  That would be the JN Gingerbread Mouse that came out in 2012.  Fortunately my fabric for him is a little darker than this mouse so I will know which one is which.  This is NOT MY JN finish for this month.  I have that to post later on in the month when it's time. 

So here he is.  I've taken pictures of him 3 different ways so you can hopefully see all around him.

 

I JUST LOVE HIM!!!!  And no Kimberly.....you will NOT find him wrapped up as a Christmas present this year.  I promised that I would send you no more mice gifts!  LOL  (This is a joke between Kimberly and me but she does read my blog and is my best friend!)

I do have some more xstitched pieces finished but not photographed at the moment so I will do that this weekend and hope to share more pictures and posts this coming week.

Happy Stitching everyone!!!

Sew Adorable!!!!

Oh Carol has come up with another cute design called Sew Adorable!!!  And IT IS ADORABLE TOO!!!  This cute design could be stitched with whatever thread you have in your stash for those participating in the Stitch from Stash.  Of course, you would have to buy the chart but she makes that sooooo easy also.  You can see her newest design HERE at this link.  The cost is very affordable for those participating in the Stitch From Stash.  I am not but probably should be.  However, I am trying to help those of you who are participating in that SAL. 

I went to the Attic yesterday for our monthly Bag Ladies meeting to sit, stitch and chat the morning away with my friends.  I worked on MBT The Apostle's Creed as I was WAY BEHIND in our SAL for this months part.  I will hope to have an update on that SAL in the next few days. 

My son is on spring break this week, and we've been trying to do some fun things as well like taking him to lunch on our AFB and to the movies.  He is mainly enjoying sleeping in most days but what kid doesn't enjoy that.  I just wished I could sleep that long.  Then last night, he and I were having a movie marathon as we watched Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End and then onto the 4th movie in the series Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides.  Of course.....I was stitching while watching the movies with him and stitched more on my Apostle's Creed SAL.  He and I like to stay up late watching movies and this was the perfect opportunity to do that.  Yes.....we made it to 1a.m.  Why not????  I stitch way better late at night if you know me really!!!!  Ask my stitching friends when we go together on retreats!!!  lol

I'm off to do some small finishing work today in hopes of being able to share with you as well.  I will also try to take pictures of the smaller projects I finished when I went to Sedona retreat recently as well.  Oh my.....I need to share some of those photos with you too!!!  Deb was my late night stitching buddy 3 of those 4 nights!!!  Thanks Deb!!!

Happy Stitching everyone!

Another Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe contest for Spring Floss!

Oh how did I ever miss this contest too???   I would SOOOOO LOVE to win some of her floss to try out.  Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a contest to win some Spring Floss and who really can't use floss???  EVERY STITCHER needs some kind of floss whether it be cotton or silk to xstitch with. 

So to enter her contest, please go to her website HERE and enter to try and win some Spring Floss.  When you do, please tell her that you saw the contest posted here on my blog.  And really......who doesn't love to win something once in a while???!!!

Good luck everyone!

Contest at Wisdom with Needle and Thread

Oh my!!!  There is another contest on a blog that I follow at Wisdome with Needle and Thread.  Kim had her husband make some adorable thread keeps and hornbooks!  She designed a special design for a hornbook that she said she still needed to chart out but did you see the cute cat, bunny, and shamrock thread keep!!??!! 

Anyway, be sure to read the rules for the contest here at this link so you can enter.  When you do enter her contest, please mention that you read about the contest on my blog. 

Happy Stitching everyone!

Contest at The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe!!!!

Nancy Turner is having a "Pick a Sampler chart give-away" over at The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.  She has 8 new sampler charts out and will be giving some away but you have to FOLLOW THE RULES to enter to win.  I am a follower of hers and am helping her get the word out about her contest. 

If you are a follower of my blog and go to enter her contest, PLEASE tell her in the comments that you saw her contest here on my blog! 

Happy Stitching everyone!

My belated TUSAL report and JN for February

I am very late in reporting my TUSAL for February.  My sincere apologies but I did go away on an awesome stitching retreat with some ladies from the Attic Needlework up to Junipine Resort in Sedona, AZ.  I will report more on that in the coming days.  I just need to get caught up on sharing pictures with yall.  (Yes....some of my southern slang makes its way into  my typing.) lol

Here is my February TUSAL Orts that I DID REMEMBER to take a picture of before I left on my little retreat. 

Yep.....that shows all the little ORTs that I had from the projects I worked on in the month of February.  Some of those projects would include  The Scarlet Letter HK Smith, MBT The Apostle's Creed, JN Cherub Garden whimzi which I will show you here in a few minutes, plus all the little gifts I gave to my roommates at the retreat which I will show you another day.

Here is my JN Cherub Garden that I thank our infamous Zeb for posting for me since I was away.  The area I went to had limited WiFi connection but I did not take my computer nor my iPad.  I wanted a total get away from any and all internet connection and just xstitch for the whole weekend which I was able to do.  I did finish 2 projects and xstitched on 2 other projects but I will share those on another day's post.

As I told Zeb, I don't know why I haven't stitched this darling little one before now since I have loved it for so long.  I am soooo thankful that Zeb is doing this year long JN SAL as I am now getting back into stitching all those wonderful charts I have collected all these years. 

But that is all for now.  I'm off to stitch the night away on MBT The Apostle's Creed.   I hope to share an update here in the next few days. 

Happy Stitching!