TUSAL and a finish!

First up, this month's TUSAL.  Yes, I KNOW I am days late in posting this.  My right arm has been killing me from working like a madwoman the past two weeks, so I have been limiting my computer use to work only and hardly stitching.

However, I DID manage to finish Morning Brew!

Hodgepodge Cottage Morning Brew

Fabric: Lakeside Linens 32 ct Vintage Winter Sky

Threads:  Crescent Colours

Started:  11/6/11

Finished:  11/30/11

Next up is Lizzie Kate's Ho Ho Ho Quick-It.  Everything is ready to go!

And I have five finishes waiting to be put in my scrapbook.  And I have all of the materials for them.  Just waiting to get a chunk of time, and my new mini paper cutter, which should arrive today via UPS.

Progress

I was able to stitch a bit on Morning Brew this weekend.  Note to self:  DO NOT cut your fabric until you are done stitching the piece!  I do not have enough fabric by the mugs to put it in a hoop, so I am stitching in hand for the outside row of mugs.  I couldn't tell you the last time I stitched in hand!

And on Saturday I received October Word Play back from Deb at Artistic Needle.  Another great job!  I wanted a ruched ribbon around this one.  I am going to stitch the other ones on 40 count fabric, though, so I can put them in my scrapbook.

Back from the retreat!!

I had a wonderful time at the Montpelier Needlearts retreat in Laurel, Maryland this weekend!!!  Friday involved checking in at 1pm and receiving your goody bag and either a coffee cup or regular drink cup.  It was so hard to choose which ones to take, as there were many beautiful ones.  Here are the ones I chose:

Inside the goody bags were lots of charts, needles, and thread.   Later on we also received this great pair of scissors, and they were purple!!!!

Jill and I shared a room and we met two great women, Sandy and Malissa.  Lots of good food and laughs all weekend.  And, of course, some stitching and stashing!  I did finish JBW Designs Sleigh French Country Ornament.

JBW Designs French Country Ornaments (Sleigh)

Started:  11/6/11

Finished:  11/12/11

Fabric: 32 count Cream Belfast

Thread:  ThreadWorx 1089

And I was able to get all the words stitched on Morning Brew.  You can see one of my stash purchases on the fabric, a martini glass needle minder.  LOVE IT!!!

The other purchase I made was the fabric for Plum Street Samplers Beans, Beans chart, Lakeside Linens 36 count Vintage Autumn Gold.

And I won a Lizzie Kate Boxer Jr kit, Candy, as a door prize!

On Saturday we visited the Montpelier Mansion Needlearts Show.  Wonderful pieces of stitching on display!  And the mansion was great to see.  

All in all a great weekend!  We will be back next year!

Quaker Moon Finish & A New Start

Yesterday I finished Quaker Moon.

Bent Creek Quaker Moon

Started:  10/10/11

Finished:  10/30/11

Fabric:  Recommended 32 count Summer Khaki Belfast linen

Threads:  Recommended WDW, GAST, and CC

I also started Helga Mandl's Autumn Pinkeep from the October 2011 issue of The Gift of Stitching.  I am stitching it on 32 count Antique Ivory Belfast using the recommended ThreadWorx #1042.

October Word Play Finish!

I finished With Thy Needle & Thread's October Word Play today. 

With Thy Needle & Thread October Word Play

Started:  10/10/11

Finished: 10/24/11

Lakeside Linens 28 count Light Exemplar

Recommended GAST and WDW

Jill and I traveled to In Stitches in Alexandria, Virginia yesterday for one of their lock-ins.  We had a great time!!  In our welcome packet we had a JABCO pin.  I decided to put it on one of the handles of my clear tote bag.  

Here is the stash I purchased: 6 x 6 Q-snap, Zecca needlework magnets, Lizzie Kate's Ho Ho Ho Quick it (love this!!!), With Thy Needle & Thread's November Word Play, and the recommended fabric for Little House Needleworks Little Miss Sunshine.  Also in our welcome packet was a $5 coupon and we received an additional 20 percent off our purchases! 

I brought along Bent Creek's Quaker Moon and made some progress.  Two people bought this pattern because they liked mine so much!  I always find it amazing how different a piece looks stitched compared to the photo.

I forgot my camera.  Boo!  I wanted to take some pictures.  Next time!  I now keep my camera in my clear tote bag, so it will never be forgotten again!

Strawberry Shortcake Wallhanging

Deborah at Artistic Needle finished this for me into wallhanging.  Her finishing is so perfect!  I just love it. 

In peace, love, and stitches,
Danielle

A finish!

I finished Bloom this morning!  For such a small piece it seemed to take me forever to finish it!

Bloom (Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine)

Fabric: Lakeside Linens 40 ct. French Lilac

Threads: Crescent Colours, Gentle Art Sampler Threads, Weeks Dye Works

Started: 3/19/11 - Finished: 3/28/11

This was the view from our hotel balcony this weekend in Ocean City, Maryland.

And this was the view on Sunday morning when we woke up!  Overnight Ocean City received 3 inches of snow!!! We had to clean our car off before coming home!!!

BF having breakfast on Saturday morning at the hotel restaurant.

And this was me getting ready, hair still wet, in the process of putting makeup on.  BF thought it would be funny to get a pic of us in the mirror.  I guess he was getting bored waiting for me! 

We had a great little weekend getaway.   I did venture into Salty Yarns on the boardwalk but did not buy anything, as I have PLENTY of stash already.  I love just walking in and seeing all of the stitched models on the walls. 

In peace, love, and stitches,
Danielle

Strawberry Cake Finish!

 
Country Cottage Needleworks Strawberry Shortcake

Fabric: Lakeside Linens 40 ct. Buttercream 

Threads: Crescent Colours

Started: 2/28/11 - Finished: 3/18/11

I also received some stash in the mail today!  The newest CCN thread pack in the cake series, Lemon Chiffon Cake, and some Lakeside Linens 40 count linen (Vintage Meadow Rue, Vintage River Willow, French Lilac) and some threads for a future project.

 

In peace, love, and stitches,

Danielle

Another finish!

 
Lizzie*Kate Snowman '10 Snippet

Fabric: 28 ct. Dirty Cashel

Threads: Crescent Colours, Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Art Sampler Threads, and DMC

Started: 1/13/11 - Finished: 2/5/11

A finish!!

I finished Live Simply last night. My second finish for 2011.

Lizzie*Kate Live Simply Quick It

Fabric: 28 ct. Toasted Almond Cashel

Threads: Weeks Dye Works and DMC

Started: 1/16/11 - Finished: 1/25/11

My next Qsnap project will be La-D-Da's 'Tis Green from the July/August 2010 JCS ornament preview issue.  

However, mine will be 'Tis Pink, as I am using Weeks Dye Works Emma's Pink on 28 count Toasted Almond Cashel.

 
My latest great makeup purchase was, surprisingly, at The Dollar General store near our home, where I went with the intention of only buying washcloths.  But I stopped to look at the makeup and saw this lipgloss for $1.  So, throwing caution to the wind, I bought it, and it's fantastic!!  The brand is L.A. Colors and it says "moisturizing lipgloss" on the label, and it actually is!  I bought Altered Beige, but I am going to go back and get more colors.  I think they had three or four altogether.  I love it when I come upon stuff like that!

If you have been reading this blog from the beginning you know I love to read. However, this year I have had trouble finding a book that captivates me enough to finish it. Thank God for the Kindle app for my iPad that allows me to sample a book before buying it. It is very disconcerting, as I want to read a good book.

So, this morning I was awake very early and decided to peruse the Kindle section of Amazon and find me a book. And I have! My favorite genre is the mystery/thriller one, and I also like young adult/teen books. Crossing by Andrew Xiu Fukuda fits both, and so far it is very good. And only $3.99 to boot! I will post a review when I finish the book.

We are supposed to be hit with a snow storm tonight. Bah! Someone on Facebook posted that the kids in our area this year have been deprived of snow days, so we need more snow. Get out of town I say!! (and that is a much nicer way to put it than what I am really thinking) The children in our county have already had the last two days off for semester break. They need to go back to school, for the sanity of the parents if nothing else.

When it snows heavily most times BF has to work overtime, I have trouble getting the dogs to go outside, and if we lose power I am not able to work or do much of anything. So, in short, snow, snow, go away, and never come back another day. 

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday! Only two more days until the weekend and American Idol is back on tonight!

In peace, love, and stitches (and an anti-snow dance),
Danielle

Another finish!

Finally finished!  If I take this long with every project I won't have many finishes this year!  LOL.  My favorite part of this project is the candy cane stripes.   

Lizzie*Kate Where's The Party? Quick-It

Fabric:  28 ct. Willow Green Cashel

Threads:  Crescent Colours and Weeks Dye Works

Started:  12/20/10 - Finished: 1/13/11

Next is LK's Snowman '10 Snippet!!!  

 

In peace, love, and stitches,

Danielle

A finish!

It's finished!  I was up early this morning, again, and finished this one right up.  Now on to Where's The Party?

Lizzie*Kate Last Minute Christmas Kit

Fabric:  28 ct. Toasted Almond Cashel

Threads:  Crescent Colours, Weeks Dye Works, and DMC

Started:  12/14/10 - Finished: 12/19/10

  

Have a great Sunday!  5 days until Christmas!

In peace, love and stitches,

Danielle