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!

Round Robin & Hugs and Kisses

It has been awhile since I had received a mailing for the International RR. I finally received two - Ann's and Simone's. Here are pics of the hearts that I stitched on their samplers. I used Cherry Bark by GAST on Simone's and DMC (can't recall the number) on Ann's.

Simone's RR

Ann's RR

I've also made decent progress on Hugs and Kisses. I am loving it more and more as I complete each motif.

Each Day is a New Beginning is at the framer's and should be back any day now. I also spent part of yesterday afternoon finishing one of the February stockings by Blackbird Designs. It's so cute! I still have to make the hanger and finish the other stocking though, so I'll wait to post pictures until that is done.

Well, I'm off to go for my (almost) daily walk. Have a great day!

Long time, no blog

Hey everyone! Hope you are all doing well out there in stitching land!

Since my last post, I have finished stitching and backstitching the Letter L. She looks awesome so far! However, I am frustrated to no end with the beading! I have beaded before without issue. Now it seems that beads that are in the same row do not want to line up. After about the fifth bead or so, consecutive beads start to move either higher or lower than the bead before it. I'm not sure why it is doing this. I'm using invisible thread to attach the beads. I will never work with this stuff again if I can help it!

The only thing that I can think to try is to start at the other end of the row and work in the opposite direction. Perhaps someone has a suggestion for me to try?

I also received Hugs and Kisses in the mail a couple of weeks ago and have started on it. My LNS doesn't carry any fabric by Lakeside Linens, so I am stitching it on a cream-colored fabric called Edinborough. The fibers are Gloriana Threads. This is my first time stitching with silk threads. They sure do have a wonderful feel to them, but I was blown away by the price. They are definitely cost-prohibitive, especially for someone who is unemployed! But I did want to try them at least once.

I have finished the central motif and am starting on the one above it. I chose this design because the colors complement my bedroom well, which is decorated in green and red.

This weekend I am headed up to visit my parents. My sister, niece and nephew will be going to. It is approximately a four hour drive, so we don't usually get to visit too often. It is very quiet there and the pace is much more relaxed, so I will certainly be getting some more stitching done.

Take care everyone!

Look at what I won!

I'm very excited! This morning I received an email from Belinda at Blue Ribbon Designs (actually, I received it last week and thought it was her newsletter and was planning to read it when I had more time). She told me that I was selected as one of the winners in a contest she had held a few weeks back. I am one of those people who never wins anything. Instead, I usually watch other people around me win.

As a winner, I was allowed to have any one of her charts for free. I picked Hugs and Kisses.

Hugs and Kisses
by Blue Ribbon Designs

This is my favorite BRD chart, and I don't have it yet. I almost missed out on receiving the chart, as she was getting ready to pick another name since she hadn't heard from me. Thank God I read that email in time! The chart also comes with designs for needlework smalls. I am going to start with the sampler first. Hopefully it will come in the mail before the weekend. I plan to start on it right away. :P

I haven't been doing much stitching lately, as job hunting is taking up most of my time. Still, yesterday I did manage to finish the fairy on the Letter L. Here she is, minus any beads or backstitching.

It would be awesome if I could get her done before my new Blue Ribbon Designs chart gets here, but I think that is probably too ambitious.

Hope your stitching is going better than mine! See you next time!