It's Here!

Shores of Hawk Run Hollow

Freebie Finish

We've been plagued by an intermittent internet connection among other not so fun things, including my first (and hopefully last!) root canal. Ick! Finding the desire to sit down with my cross stitch has been tough but I did manage to put the final stitches in this cute freebie from Lizzie Kate the other night.

You Have Stolen My Heart
an exceptionally old freebie from Lizzie Kate
stitched with Gentle Arts Sampler Threads on 28-ct. lavender Quaker Cloth

I've also been trying to finish up another of my ancient UFOs, Just Nan's Winter Roses. As much as I love getting things done that I've been wanting to do forever, I'm really feeling the need to start something new. As in something that was published in this century!

UFO Sited!

I've spent the last few days working on several of my UFOs, and I'm proud to report I actually finished one of them! This one is (was!) my oldest UFO and one of my earlier projects. My guess is I started it sometime in late '80s. The chart was in one of my cross stitch magazines, and because my oldest son loved kites I had to stitch this one for him! Plus it was designed by Susan Winget! I remember I stopped working on it because the fractional stitches were such a pain on aida. And then there were the French knots! I couldn't make a decent French knot if my life depended on it! I tried and tried. See...

What a mess!

So, almost 20 years later, here it is!

Do All Things With Love
designed by Susan Winget for Leisure Arts (not sure which publication)
stitched with DMC on 14-count cream aida

Season of Rest HD

Season of Rest

by Little House Needleworks

stitched with DMC on 28-count Antique Ivory linen

I'm thrilled with how fast this one went! I'm finding the trick with me is to stay with one project until it's done. I have too many UFOs that are close to being done, but I put them down to start something new. And speaking of UFOs, my plan today is to go through my closet and find one or two to work on. Who knows, I might even find my sheep blankets!

Is it the weekend yet?

Hope everyone's Friday is going well.

Mine?

Could be better...

I also learned that it's a good idea to empty out the previous day's leftover coffee before starting a fresh pot. There's only so much room in one of those carafes!

On the bright side, the tracking info for my Silver Needle order from their New Year's Eve sale is showing "out for delivery"!! Woohoo!!

Season of Rest

I wanted to post a quick progress picture of Season of Rest. I've really settled into a routine here lately, stitching in the den every evening while I watch my son playing Oblivion on his X-Box. For some reason I find the game music and sound effects very relaxing... I just can't explain it!

I'm off to the dentist now for a cleaning and check up. I know I have at least one cavity, and I'm more than a little nervous about the whole visit! Wish me luck!!

First Finish for 2008!

Winter Fields

December 2007 Secret Needle Night Kit

stitched on 10-ct. Betsy Ross Linen (Twilight Blue?)

with various Rainbow Gallery fibers

I was determined to spend no more than a week working on this and managed to put the last stitch in around 11:00 last night! The Silver Needle is doing a series of these little farm scenes, one for each season. They started with one for autumn last year, and it was such a hit they decided to continue with one for winter. Spring and summer will come out later this year.

Next on my agenda is Season of Rest from Little House Needleworks. We went out to eat last night to celebrate my daughter's 21st birthday, so tonight it's pancakes for dinner! We're all still stuffed and craving something simple! I should be able to get in some quality stitching time, too!

SBQ: New Starts

This weeks’s SBQ is:
Are you starting something new to celebrate the New Year or participating in “Guilt Free January?” If so, what are you planning on starting?

No 'Guilt Free January" for me. New start all the way! And here it is...

It's the December Secret Needle Night kit, called Winter Fields. I just love these kits with their huge needles and ginormous holes! Gives me a break from having to use the magnifyer! I took this one out to the park with me yesterday while I waited on a realtor to show the house. A peaceful 45 minutes, even if it was a bit on the chilly side.

We are waiting on the house guests from hell to arrive. The most socially inept people I have ever met. They weren't supposed to come until Sunday but called to ask if they could come today instead. And so it starts... LOL!

Happy New Year!

I hope 2008 is a safe and happy year for everyone! I know this year has some big changes in store for me and I'm looking forward to some "out with the old and in with the new"!

I'm not going to make a list of stitching goals for 2008 because it's impossible for me to plan that far ahead. But I will try to stick with making monthly goals, like I started in December. Of course, I failed miserably in the end but I did start off really well and that's all the reason to keep trying!

Here's my December list and how I did:
1. Finish The Stars Are Brightly Shining ornament. Done! Hooray!
2. Finish St. Nicholas Needleroll. I worked on it, but didn't finish.
3. Finish finish above needleroll. Nope.
4. Start and finish Woolly Tyme blanket for December. I can't even find the darn things! I think I must have packed them already. :-(
5. Finish finish above blanket. Nope.
6. Work on Winter Sampler. Nope.

I promise to do better this month! Here are my January goals:

1. Work on Winter Sampler.
2. Start/Finish Season of Rest (LHN).
3. Start/Finish Winter Fields (Secret Needle Night).
4. Work on reducing my UFOs.
5. Find Woolly Tyme blanket kits!

Now the big debate is whether or not to try the 50 Project Challenge again. I love the idea of stitching only from my stash but 100% abstinance from any new purchases is so hard! I think I'm going to redo my list for this year and try to break it down into something more manageable, where maybe I get to reward myself with one new chart for every five projects I complete. Or maybe I should make it every ten projects since I just spent $200 on new goodies... *blush*!