Thursday, April 07, 2011

A Big Update, Long Overdue

I'm really trying to keep it together after the loss of Bear, so I've kept busy stitching. Though I'm a very slow stitcher, I have managed to have a few things come together at approximately the same time. I'm finally doing a rotation that I worked out with the help of several girls who offered suggestions. I really think it was actually Shelleen who helped me the most. I work on two UFO's a month and two WIP's a month, then just on Sundays, I work on a Halloween/Autumn/Thanksgiving project, and on the 25th of each month, I start on a Christmas ornament. The latter two are done as SAL's with a Yahoo group I'm on, Stitching Sisters. I'm thinking because of being so slow that I should start one on the 20th of each month to insure a finished ornament before the end of each month and still allow for my other rotation stitching.

Also, as I finish things, they go into an increasingly larger pile to be either framed or sewn into their respective finished forms. I need to gather small print fabrics and other notions to take a week or two and put everything together. I haven't had many pieces framed lately because of the expense, but I need to begin having things framed, even if it's only one a month. If not, I'm afraid that all the things I've stitched will end up in hands that know nothing of the work involved and get tossed eventually.



These are shots of one of my UFO's: "Winter Sampler" by Little House Needleworks.


This is my ornament for the month of March, "Snowy Pines" by Little House Needleworks.



The results of my Sunday SAL, "Haunted House" stocking by Blackbird Designs. D'ya think I'll find Halloween fabric to make this into a stocking? Don't think so this time of year. I've started on the 2nd stocking from the same book:
This stocking is named "Whooo's Knocking At My Door."





Here are some things I've also been working on:

Another UFO, a kit, "Goldfinch Gathering." This is what I pulled out of hiding in the abyss under the basement stairs. This has now been put back out of sheer frustration. I did finish the bird, but any pitiful progress on starting the fence post has to be frogged (one stitch off).

I found that one of my problems is that I don't really like stitching on 18ct aida any longer, so who knows what will become of this piece. I really love the colors in it! And to top it off, there is not enough thread to finish it all. No great loss, though, as I bought is for about $4 quite a few years ago.



Another UFO I've had for a couple of years, "The Library" by Little House Needleworks. I am not pleased with the stitching that is shown in this photo, as I was half blind because of  Sjogren's Syndrome, which is secondary to my lupus. Thank goodness you can't really see how bad the stitches are, but they are very distasteful to me. Though I use artificial tears, they weren't helping at the time that this part was stitched because my large tear ducts were opening back up after having had them cauterized so that they healed over (closed) to preserve moistness in the eyes. I had them re-cauterized in late December 2010, and my eyesight is much improved so that this part of the design is going to be frogged after I finish the rest of this piece. I really like this design, so I'm sticking with it if it takes me a couple of years!
And here is the same with a bit of progress stitching that is acceptable to me.



This will be the second time I've stitched this one. The first one went to my daughter after having it framed for her. Here is the first one:




And yet another WIP, just recently started:

This is the cutest lil' thing - Country Cottage Needleworks' "Bunny Hop."
My next post will be a "catch up" as well, with the S.A.B.L.E that I've hauled since my LNS's Super Bowl Sale till now.

Signing off with a photo of my oldest kitty, Pib (Pain In the Butt), whom we call Pibbie. She's a pitiful little 15-year-old tortoise-shell kitty that no one but a mother could love.

35 comments :

Von said...

Through all your challenges you've put your needle to the linen and kept going. And look at all you've accomplished. I hope you're feeling a little better and have found a new normal since Bear's been gone. Hugs!!

PrepMom said...

Nice finishes and WIP,s so sorry about your furbaby... Looks so much like Little Holmes Kitty

crossstitchbibs said...

Nice finishes and I like your rotation idea - might have to try something like that myself. Your Pib looks like my cat Chippie. Chippie is one of four kittens that I have that are one year old today. Chippie was the only female, of the three males two are solid black and one is solid gray with long hair.
Janet Stanko
crossstitchbibs@yahoo.com

Tricia T said...

How fun to look at your finishes and WIP's! I have the LHN Snowy Pines in there, Winter Lineup is on my wish-list, my DD has The Library, and I have Bunny Hop. :-) I love your rotation idea. And it's fun that it's a sal, too. That helps keep you motivated!

stitchesnscraps said...

What lovely finishes and wonderful progress! So glad you are stitching thru your troubles! It does help! Kudos to you! Hugs to you!

Melissa

Kristi said...

What beautiful projects!! And PIB, too (I may have to steal that name one day. It would be perfect for my 6-year-old female mutt but, alas, she already has a name *sigh*. I'm so sorry to hear about Bear--it's painful, I know, but I'm glad you've found some solace in your stitching and your WIP are wonderful. Thanks for sharing them.

Nessa G. said...

Tortoiseshell cats sure do have attitude, don't they? :) You're working on so much! **Hugs**

~*Sharee*~ said...

Hi hun, you've diffidently been a busy bee; your needles are smoking...I've lost my "stitching mojo". I hope it comes back soon...

Hugs, Shar

Mouse said...

HI :0 love the rotation idea :) lovely work you been doing and starting ....and you say you are a slow stitcher ??? can't wait to see your sable ;) love mouse xxxx

blueladie said...

'...no one but a mother could love' and you're a GREAT mother! :) Love your stitching, your blog and hearing about everything. Take care. love & hugs, Cathryn

Rita said...

Beautiful stitching!

Emily in NC said...

Lots of WIP's and UFO's to keep you busy.

Sunshine said...

Great idea about the rotation. It's really helped me to stay on track too. Love the Goldfinch design. Please don't give up on it. I'd love to see your finish.

Petites xxx et Cie said...

Your finishes are just perfect! And your WIPs so nice!
Love
Françoise

Sally said...

{{{hugs}}} Nancy. I hope yo start feeling a little brighter soon.

Your finishes and WIPs are lovely.

Unknown said...

I love your finishes and keep going on the UFO's and WIP's you are doing great. I love the look of your library piece.

Pam in IL said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Linda said...

Nancy, So glad your back. You have some awesome stitching going on. Keep it up. I'm still working on Alphabet Blocks. UGH!

Linda

chrisstitches said...

Hey, PIB could come here if little paws stay out of fishtank. Scooby would NOT like that!
Cute projects.....snowman, birds, Halloween, can't remember them all....but loved them, nonetheless. follow you on blogger. no blog of my own.

EvalinaMaria said...

Lovely stitching and I'm sorry to hear about your furbaby.

Thank you for posting a link to Stitching Sisters. I just joined!

Shelleen said...

I love all your WIPs. Especially the winter one. I had a tortie kitty that we lost at the age of 18. She was always our favorite cat.

Nancy M said...

You've finished and are working on some great projects.Keep up the nice work!

Bekca said...

Wow, you certainly have been busy with so many projects on the go and finised. The rotation idea doesn't work for me, I like having one large, one medium and one small project on the go at the same time. That's enough for me to be getting on with! Hope this new plan works well for you and I hope you're getting back to normality :) Hugs!

Shelleen said...

Glad you could find a way to fit in all your stitching time. I love winter sampler and actually had it in my hand at the LNS. But it isn't on my wish list so I put it back :-(

Shelley said...

Glad to see you back to blogging and stitching. I hope the rotation works for you and you can complete lots of beautiful pieces to share with us...everything looks great so far :)

Pib is a cutie

Carolyn NC said...

Lovely finishes and stitching. And yes, we have a cat that only a mother could love, too...and that's debatable! LOL

Meari said...

Great stitching, Nancy. I hope the rotations help you. I just work on whatever suits my fancy at the time, lol.

Kay said...

I have to say great minds think alike! I have snowy pines in my to do pile as well sometime soon. You have gotten some beautiful finishes done, I love all your work, you have been keeping busy!

Niina said...

Oh so many beutiful pieces!

MaryT said...

You have really made wonderful progress Nancy and i love every piece you have done and are working on. Me thinks I must have the Blackbird Designs stocking now! LOL

Mary Louise

Vikki Gable said...

Love all your pieces. What are you looking for as far as halloween fabric? Bright, primitive, etc. I think about you all of the time, One of these nights I'll have to call and bother you!

Bekca said...

Hi Nancy, if you get a chance, take a look at my blog. I think you'll be glad you did :)

Justflo said...

What a lot of great WIP's . I keep trying the rotation idea but end up doing the one's that tug at me most.

Happy stitching toy you.

Dani - tkdchick said...

I had to put my older cat Cuddles down at the beginning of March, boy did that send me for a tailspin! I'm still upset by it now so I understand how you're feeling.

You've got a lot of wonderful finishes adn WIPs going on there!

#HeatherMakes said...

Wonderful stitching and I love your LHN and CCN stitching!