Home and Catching up........

 We're home from our trip; it's 4:30 AM and here I sit doing a quick blog post. Guess I'm still on Ireland time! ☘

We had a wonderful trip and I'll be posting about that when I have more time. But, I wanted to announce the winner of the Joy and Good Cheer chart.

 It is Vickie!!!! I'll be getting the chart off to you today...enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Happy Easter........750

 

A happy Easter to all......I had hoped to get my Samplings 1 and 2 eggs FFO'd in time, but sadly was distracted by other projects and preparing for our trip to Ireland. I am not one who can force themselves to work on something when it doesn't suit me.....I like working on what I want when I want. I guess I don't have much self discipline and am not particularly goal oriented. Oh well, "I am what I am and that's all that I am" as Popeye would say. 

Here is what I have been working on......remember the branches I showed in my last post..... well, this is what became of them.

I have a wooly tree!!!!

And, here is my first ornament for the tree.

This project is by Attic Heirlooms. You can buy the tree kit and then opt to purchase an ornament kit every month or print the instructions out for free each month. But they are only free for their corresponding month, then there is a small fee. I did but the tree kit and have enough left to make a second tree. I am printing out the free pattern every month and using wool/beads I have on hand. 

I framed my Joy and Good Cheer piece in a small frame I had in my stash. The stitching is 2 3/4 X 1 3/4....I just love it. I stitched it on 40 ct. Earl Grey linen, over 1, by Grace Notes. This was my first time using her fabric and I really like it! The fibers were a combo of WDW, CC and Anchor.

I worked a bit on Live on Little and am about 1/3 of the way done.

And I put in some stitches on my Leap Year piece, Cardinal Points. 

I also started two projects that are going to be my travel projects. I like to get them started ahead of time so I am ready to go when I may have down time.

L. is 1889 Alphabets by Needlework Press....R. is Santa's Delivery by Teresa Kogut

Santa enlarged

I chose these because the one is on 28 ct. banding and the other on 18 ct perforated paper. I can see both without magnification. I'm counting on these for the airport and plane. My wish is that I have no time for stitching while actually in Ireland...but I will be prepared. LOL

I will end by wishing you a Happy Easter with your families and/or friends and a small Easter display I have here at home. The purple eggs with pink flowers were made years ago by the grands. 

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Leaving on a Jet Plane......747-749

 Greetings friends! It has been a busy travel month...first Nashville, then a visit to NC to visit Jax and his parents...... 

He'll be going on his first camping trip next week, so we got him a little play tent for his birthday

........followed by a day at home and then back on the road to visit my parents. 

We surprised them with a special visitor

While visiting my parents, we went to a Peep Show, where everything displayed was made from Peeps. Here are a couple of the better ones:

We are now at home and preparing for a trip to celebrate our upcoming 50th anniversary. We are heading to Ireland!!!! We've wanted to make this trip for a while, but Covid and life got in the way. We decided this was the year to make it happen! So, lots to do and plan for , which makes me anxious, but I know it'll all work out in the end. 

Here are to finishes I forgot to post earlier...my February and March ornaments for the #12in24ornamentstitchalong hosted by Carol @ Stitching Dreams. On the left is Noah's Christmas Ark VI (deer).....stitched on 28 ct. Straw/Grey Gingham, over one, with WDW and GAST. On the right is Christmas Eve Deer by the Prairie Schooler, found in The Gift of Stitching magazine. I did this on 32 ct. blue with white dots Belfast with WDW and GAST fibers. 

I've managed to get some car stitching done and actually FFO'd the piece this afternoon. This is I'll Keep You Warm All Winter Long by Val's Stuff. It's stitched on 14 ct. perforated paper...my car go to....with Anchor and DMC. I sewed a piece of felt on the back with my sewing machine...easy, peasy finish! This will serve as my April ornament in the #12in24ornamentstitchalong.

I did a tiny bit on my Leap Your project, Cardinal Points....one little dragonfly. 

I've also been working on a non cross stitch....Wooly Feather Tree by Attic Heirlooms. My friend, Lisa, enabled me on this one and here is what I have so far....lots of wooly branches that have to be attached to a trunk.

I bought the tree kit and it was very generous...I have enough to easily make a second tree. Then I can download a free pattern every month to make tiny ornaments to hang on the tree. I have not done much wool work, and this has been fun so far. I'm trying to use scraps of wool that I have in my stash, though you can but a monthly kit for that. 

Another little finish is Joy and Good Cheer by With Thy Needle and Thread. My version was sticthed, over one, on 40 ct. Earl Grey Linen by Grace Notes. I used a combo of WDW, CC and anchor.

Our friend, Marilyn aka Murf, gifted me the chart and I said I would pass it on when I was done. So, if you'd like the chart, please leave a comment stating your interest and I will pick a name when I get back from my trip. 

Check out these cute little hangers I found at Hobby Lobby in the clearance section. I may paint them and hang in my sewing/craft room.

I will close with this cute saying I found on FB...a little late for St. Patrick's Day but in keeping with my upcoming trip.

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Back to Reality.......

 I am back from the Nashville Needlework Market...actually got back on Tuesday. It's a long drive.....10 hours from my house, but Sally and Sara have already driven 4 to get here, so a total of 14 hours for them. We split it up into two days and I happily stitch in the back seat while poor Sara does all the driving. We hit some heavy rain on the way out...not fun!!! We shopped for 2 1/2 days and Sara brought a load back for Salty Yarns.

I have to be honest, not too much "jumped" out at me; maybe I'm just too saturated with stash.  But, having said that, it is exciting to see all the designers with their new releases. They put a lot of time and effort into setting up their "rooms", on top of the expenses to travel/ship to Nashville. That's why we need to support them if we want them to continue. So, of course, I did order some things from Salty Yarns!!!  I'm waiting on one item to come in before Sara mails my purchases, and I'll share when I get them. I'm not going to say much else about it since a LOT of other people have already down wonderful reviews and posts. 

I did a bit of stitching while there. My car project was A Haunting We Will Go by Douglas Designs. They are on perforated paper with DMC and Kreinik Glow in the Dark fibers.

In the hotel rooms, where I had access to my magnifier lamp, I worked on Live on Little by Plum Street. The house building is going slowly...guess I'm having trouble with my sub contractor!!! LOL

Once home I started on Samplings 1 by With Thy Needle and Thread. I want to get this and Samplings 2   (shown in last post)  FFO'd by Easter. 

I did this on a 40 ct. mystery linen with the called for fibers.

I may have to change my tune about things "jumping" out to me at Market. Here is what I bought yesterday at Liberty Hill Needlework's Market Days. This is the new shop in Williamsburg, VA and Susan was jam packed with Market goodies...... it's just too darn hard to resist!!! I think part of the problem might be that it is so overwhelming at Market and we are moving quickly through the rooms to get to everyone. Yesterday I could take my time and peruse the multitude of baskets, boxes, displays etc. that Susan had in the shop. 

I do hope you were able to find new projects from Nashville. Let me know what "jumped" out at you!

I am trying to keep up the the Book of Days again this year. I failed miserably last year and am hoping to do better this year. Here is my January and February.

 We are off to the traveling Banff Film  Festival tonight with friends. Rich and I have gone the last two nights and have enjoyed all the films. At $7.00 a ticket for over 2/12 hours of interesting films, it is truly a cheap date!!!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

All My Bags Are Packed.......

 .......and I'm ready to go to Nashville!!! Sally and Sara from Salty Yarns have kindly asked me to go and help them out again. They should be here in about 1 1/2 hours and then we're off. We split the drive into 2 days with today being a short one for me. They'll already have 4 hours under their belt by the time they get here. I am excited and hope to see lots of wonderful new designs. I have tried not to look to much at posts from shops/designers so I can be awed when I get there. 

Since I'm unsettled while I wait, I thought I'd do a quick post about some recent, and upcoming,  stitching. I am continuing on my Live on Little by Plum Street, but it's packed so I can't show it. 

I am in a Secret Stitcher exchange with the DVHSG and my SS sent me this for Valentine's Day...and I had to jump right on it.  I have pretty much given up on getting any real "winter" weather here,  so a spring piece seemed appropriate. It was a complete kit from Scattered Seed Samplers called Springs Messenger Pinkeep.  It came with 36 ct. Vintage Country Mochas linen and DMC fibers. The original was stitched over two and with a size of about 5X7. I cut the fabric in half and did it over one, so half the size. I like it  much better petite!

Sticking with a "spring" theme and with Easter being early this year, I stitched Samplings 2 by With Thy Needle and Thread. This was done on a 40 ct. mystery linen with a combo of GAST, WDW and DMC. I'm on to Samplings 1 now. 

Have you heard about the Leap Year SAL? A friend told me about it and I was sucked right in!!! Can you hear the big WHOOSH?????  The idea is that you pick a BIG project to start on February 29 and then you have 4 years to finish it...by leap year 2028. I narrowed it down to three projects and finally decided on Cardinal Points by Long Dog Sampler. I had been drawn to this sampler...totally not my style or color palette... for years, but it was hard to find. Then one day on FB, someone was selling the chart with all the GAST fibers...a total of 24 and I was able to buy it. So now I have 4 years to complete.....doable don't ya think?

There is a FB page to join, if interested, called Leap Year SAL 2024 to 2028. 

I hope you all are checking out the new designs and such from Market and pre-ordering from your favorite LNS. Have a great week and see you on the flip side!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

The Halfway Point in February........

 I hope you all had a nice Valentine's Day....ours have become very low key....after over 50 celebrated together. Here is an example of how low key.....my valentines from my hubby.

Talk about recycling...these are the old notepads we used to give out when we had our home inspection business!!! He knows my morning routine well, and these were found in all my usual "stops' in the morning....in my oatmeal box, the utensil drawer, near my mugs, under the top of my lap top...you get the picture!!! It was a fun "treasure" hunt for me. For my part, I bought him a mocha shake from Arby's...his favorite and made spaghetti for dinner!!!

On the stitchy front, I had a great time in OCMD for the Salty Yarns Super Bowl sale weekend. I think I've been going to this for at least 17 years! There were about 18-20 ladies who came and rented airbnb's. We would meet in the shop class room and stitch and chat; people came and went at their leisure. We had a pot luck dinner Saturday night and shopped...shopped....shopped. 

I got some goodies including a pair of red Cohana scissors...I couldn't resist the 30% off. Here is the rest of my stash enhancement.

I immediately fell in love with Lila's Studio's Autumn Sampler and bought some fabric. I'll pull fibers from my stash at home. Someone pointed out the verse..... " Autumn is as joyful and sweet as an untimely end"....I'll be changing that. :) The colors are luscious and I really want to get it started...but I'm going to hold off a bit....too many irons in the fire!

I drove up with my friend, Lisa, and we did a little antiquing up and back. Here is what I found:

Sled for finishing, two bobbins, a pack of bone buttons ,a small milk bottle I'm going to use as a pincushion, a towel which will probably become a project bag and a pack of Star Wars milk caps which may, or may not, turn into floss tags

And yes, there was some stitching...I went between two projects...Live on Little and Amy Mittens Advent calendar mittens. 

It took me all day Sunday to get that much of the roof done!!! It's 46 ct over two.

This goes much quicker...25 ct over two with a wool fiber. 

Since I've been home, I've been working on these:

Noah's Ark by Plum Street

 Bristol Soiree by Sassafras Samplers

My friend, Lisa, gifted me this huge project bag and some bottle brush trees. I am a lucky gal...thanks Lisa!

Well, I think that's all for me today. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week and can squeeze some relaxing stitching in. Nashville Market is looming and we have to make room for all the new goodies!!!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

And We're Into February.....745-746

 

And 2024 is under way...so hard to believe we are already down a month. It's been a busy month on the one hand....and a quiet one on the other. While on the quiet side, I've gotten quite a bit of stitching done...nothing major....just small fun projects with fun finishes. I'm attempting the Book of Days again this year ( I only made it to May last year) and here is my January.

I'm logging what projects I work on what days and adding stickers!!! We'll see how it goes this year.

I finished the stitching on the Summer House project from the recent Sassy Jack's Winter Soiree. I stitched it on 40 ct Vintage Country Mocha with two Vikki Clayton silks. I pulled the design for the bottom from a chart by The Workbasket called Cartouches.

I FFO'd two winter projects that worked in two cute finishing "objects"..... for lack of a better word..... that I had bought a couple years ago. First is Cardinal's Winter by Robin Pickens. I stitched this on 32 ct. natural linen with Vikki Clayton silks. Robin is a new designer to me on Etsy. I saw this design somewhere on FB and had to have it. I love the colors of tranquility of the piece. I had this sled on hand and the design fit perfectly. The size is 4 X 6".

The next finish is my January ornament for the #12in24ornamentstitchalong hosted by Carol of Stitching Dreams on IG. It is Heaven and Nature Sing by Petal Pusher...another new to me designer. I stitched this on 32 ct black Belfast linen with GAST fibers, over one. I orignally started it on a 30 ct. navy blue linen, over two,  but the colors just weren't popping. I am so glad I switched to the smaller size as it fit perfectly in an adorable stand I found at Michaels after Christmas 2022. 

Today being February 1st, I am starting my Winter Cross Stitch Camp project sponsored by Sherri the Colorado Stitcher. Our theme this year was to stitch something with a bird or animal. I chose  the deer ornament from Plum Street Samplers Noah's Christmas Ark VI to do. I have done five of these already for the grands. I will admit to a little "double dipping" as I plan on this being my SAL ornament for February too. 

Here is my camp badge on my camp project bag, made for me by my friend Lisa.

We will be celebrating my parents birthdays this weekend; they will be 96 and 92. They were born on the same day, four years apart. Then I'll be heading to OCMD for Super Bowl weekend. I've been going there this weekend for the last 17 years. There is a small contingent of ladies who have also been coming that long, though people come and go depending on life circumstances. Salty Yarns has a great sale, so stash enhancement will definitely be on the agenda. I will try my best to keep it in line as I know Market is coming in a month. 

Who is your pick for Super Bowl...if you are a football fan. I was hoping, being a Baltimore girl, that the Ravens would be in it. I don't really care...it would have been a Baltimore pride thing!!! I said I would switch to the Chiefs if the Ravens lost, but am miffed at Mahomes and Kelce for the way they treated  Justin Tucker, the Ravens kicker.

I hope your February is enjoyable and we should all dedicate the extra day to stitching...what do you think?

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship.

Stasi

PS I'm surprised no one noticed I had the month of December on my calendar for my January posts...I sure didn't!!! LOL