So many stockings, so little time!

So I think it's fairly obvious by now that I am not very good at posting on this blog on a regular basis. :P However, the flipside of that is that I have a lot of stitchy news to report!

Here is a picture of the stocking that I finished. The only thing it's missing is a hanger.

Sweetheart Sampler
by Blackbird Designs

I had also finished stitching another of the stockings, but I made a tragic mistake. I stitched the stocking too close to the first one! That means that I did not have enough material for a seam. Oh, I was not pleased with myself at all! So I fretted about this for awhile and then decided that there was no other option but to stitch the stocking over again.

Following from that mistake was the decision to forego the fabric that I stitched the first two stockings on, and instead purchase cuts of the R&R fabric that the patterns called for. I had to mail order those since nobody seems to sell R&R fabric around here. When I received the fabric I decided to go back to the beginning and start stitching the January stockings. I have one finished so far - Auld Lang Syne. I think that instead of finishing these into stockings as I go, I am going to build up a pile of them and finish them all at once. We'll see if that ends up being a wise decision or not!

Auld Lang Syne
by Blackbird Designs

This morning I received a package of charts that I had been anxiously awaiting. Have a peek at what I ordered -

In case you can't see it that well, my haul included:

• April, May, June & July stockings by Blackbird Designs
• Merry Christmas By The Letter by Lizzie Kate (first two charts)
• Love Notes by Plum Street Samplers
• Quaker Turtles by With My Needle

The types of charts that I enjoy stitching have changed dramatically. Before, I very much preferred stitching large designs like the Celtic Ladies by L&L. Although I still love those designs, I now find myself being drawn mostly to seasonal charts. I want to eventually be in a position where I can swap out designs in my house depending on the time of year. I think that's why I love the stockings so much, and also why I ordered Love Notes (reminds me of Valentine's Day) and the Lizzie Kate charts. Actually, I didn't realize that the main Love Notes design was a pincushion! I'm still going to go ahead with my original plan and frame it and hang it on my bedroom wall. Of course, now Blackbird Designs has come out with August and Halloween stockings (which I must have!), and the next sections of the Lizzie Kate charts are out. Ah, a stitcher's "work" is never done!

My Hugs and Kisses WIP has not been forgotten. I have put some stitches into it, although I think it's going on the backburner for awhile until I get some more stockings done.

I've also stitched my heart on Marian's RR as part of the ongoing Friendship Sampler RR.

Marian's RR

I have actually met the lady that I mail each RR to. She lives near my mother-in-law and I met her this past summer while we were up camping that way. This weekend, I am attending a stitching retreat at her home. I am excited, as it is my very first retreat! I am planning to sit outside by the water since the weather is supposed to be glorious, drink wine spritzers, chat with the ladies, and stitch stockings all the live long day!

In other stitchy news, I still have not gotten Each Day is a New Beginning back from the framer's. It's been exactly two months today! I will not be taking any pictures back to this store for framing. First the framer was on vacation, then the store was closed, then I was away so wasn't able to pick it up, and now the store seems to be closed again. I can't leave a message because the voice mailbox is full. It's too bad. The owner of the shop is a nice lady and quite helpful, but I can't get past how hard it is to get hold of her and how unreliable the store hours are. Tsk, tsk.

Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend. I hope you have beautiful weather too!