Stash Report Weeks 21 - 24, 2014

I can't believe that I took a four week break from blogging. This might be the longest break that I have ever taken from blogging. Not much has been going on.

Last month's cross stitch night had adorable favors and gluten free and dairy free goodies for Becky's birthday.



And I have been stitching on my Halloween Spooky Sampler and making great progress. Maybe that is all that I have been doing in the past month. lol



I have used a little fabric for the backing for one of the wedding quilts. It's on the frame right now about half done.

I have brought in a bit of fabric in the last week - some for client quilts and some for quilting samplers. I'm counting it all though and I will count it in the next week or so when it is busted.

Fabric added this week: 10.94
Fabric added YTD: 35.08

Fabric used this week: 2.47
Fabric used YTD: 47.30

Net Fabric Used: 12.22


Maybe I can get some more posts up this week. :)

Saturday with Friends

Today, I got to spend the afternoon with some quilting friends! We went to lunch at the Hammel House in Waynesville and then stopped in at the Fabric Shack. Lunch was awesome! I had a Kentucky Hot Brown and devoured it. I forgot to take a picture of it, but it was wonderful!

Here is the gang after shopping at The Fabric Shack.



Then, Brooke took me and Kara to Keepsakes in Sharonville. Kara is the reason that I have gotten back into cross stitching and I have never been to Keepsakes, but Brooke and Kara have both been within the last couple of months and they were more than willing to shop with me. What a couple of great friends!!

I picked up the Weeks Dye Works floss for the Once Upon a Time sampler that I signed up for. I haven't started it yet. I have seen some variations on the border and I picked up the Graphite and Whiskey for that. I also picked up Garnet instead of Blackberry. I like the way that it will pop a little better.



I also picked up the materials for this pattern that I picked up years ago in Wisconsin. More Weeks thread for this project.



And then Brooke helped me shop by showing me this pattern - Halloweenies! Of course, I had to pick it up and everything that I would need to make it.



I might be a little obsessed right now! :)

Change of pace

I got a little tired of working on the Gingerbread Lanes cross stitch so on Saturday, I started the Halloween Sampler. This is my first time working on linen and I had to rip out stitches a couple of times.

I started in the middle with the limb and then worked on the grid lines. The border is where I figure that if I can make it all the way around and my stitches line up, I should be good with the transition from Aida to Linen. :)



I'm loving all the details in the border - the bats, the skulls and the black roses. I was having trouble with all the design though and finally found a secondary use for the frame cover - pattern holder! I folded the pattern on the grid lines that have been stitched and tucked the pattern into the frame cover. The cover holds the edges of the pattern nicely and it is enough out of the way that I can stitch, but close enough that I don't have to move the project out of the way to see where I need to go next.



The other bright spot is that I don't have to disturb Max when he is napping with all of my back and forth. :)

Gingerbread Lanes

I've been working on cross stitch just a bit in the last few weeks and I have finally finished the second house on the Gingerbread Lanes.

I have slowly started the third house, but I can't spend too much time on it as the quilting has picked up again.



At least I have time this year to work on it before it should be done for the next holiday season. ;)

New Year's Day 2014

Vicky always posts on her blog that whatever you do on New Year's Day, you do all year so be sure to take some stitches.

So I did!

I worked on some binding on the Road to Ashland quilt. This is for my cousin who is attending the university.



I worked on my Gingerbread Lanes cross stitch. Making some great progress when I find the time. :)



I made 2 more Split Nine patch blocks. I am more than halfway done with the blocks. Woo hoo!!



And I got the t shirts interfaced and squared up and started laying out the quilt. This is going to be a big one!



I hope that means that I will end up with some finishes (the binding) after working on UFOs and blocks. And that I can work some cross stitch in as well. I should have done a bit of knitting!

What will 2014 bring for you?

Week Update

I can't believe that I haven't posted all week. Things are getting cold in Southern Ohio and I think that I am settling into hibernation mode and I need to snap out of that.

In this past week, I have knitted a little. I am a about 2/3 of the way through the leg.



I've been cross stitching. I started the snowman last weekend and was here on Sunday morning.



And this is where it is now.



I also got the fabric for the 2 samplers from The Frosted Pumpkin.





I also finished the binding on Easy Street. Maisy helped.



Finally, I upgraded to an iPhone. I am missing the Droid. The iPhone and I are still bonding. Maybe it will happen. There is no going back now.



And not to leave the other pups out, here are Maxie and Lula. :)



And now, I need to go and finish the quilt on the frame and get the next one ready to go.

Cross stitching is back!

I feel like I have been bombarded with cross stitching from the Frosted Pumpkin on Instagram in the past few weeks and I finally broke down and ordered a couple of sampler patterns. I also ordered the recommended fabric and it looks like it is going to take a while for it to be shipped. It's that special!

So Thursday night, I checked my floss stash and looked through my cross stitch kits that I saved from last year's purge and decided that I needed to finish up my UFO so that I could start the adorable Frosted Pumpkin samplers without a guilty conscience.

Friday night and Saturday morning, I worked on finishing the back stitching on this bear.



I don't remember why I was making this one and I don't plan on hanging it in my house. I'm wondering if anyone would like it. I will wash it and press it and ship it out....

And since that was finished and I can't start the samplers until the fabric comes in, I started this adorable snowman.



Now, I just need to make sure that I keep up with the quilting. :)

Surprise find!

As you may or may not know, I purchased a Handi Quilter Avante during the IQF Show in Cincinnati last weekend. It will be here next week (!) and I have been working on cleaning out my basement to make room for the 12' frame that I selected with the purchase. Today, I will make a trip to Goodwill and earlier this week, I listed a few more things on Craigslist.

I have this milk crate of mostly cross stitch pamphlets/books with a few plastic canvas, doilies, and a few other odds and ends.



As I was fanning out the booklets to take some pictures, I found these gems!



Ten Charley Harper cross stitch patterns! All but one booklet has 3 different patterns.

I'm glad I noticed these while I was taking pictures. I got these on a separate listing because they are so different!







Anyone interested? Leave a comment!

Hey, Cross Stitchers!

Several years ago, I inherited a large stash of cross stitch items when someone passed away. There were cross stitch kits, stamped cross stitch kits, hard cover books, pamphlets and patterns that fill up a milk crate and lots and lots of miscellaneous cross stitch fabric.

Now, I like to cross stitch, but not this much! I have gone through everything and taken out what I really like and would make if I get back into cross stitching in the future. And I have sold all the kits that I didn't want to keep and I am left with the books, pamphlets, patterns and fabric.

I am thinking that someone out there might possibly have a use for this fabric. Please!! Someone have use for this fabric!

I have it all listed on Craigslist, but I thought that if I showed some pictures here there might be a reader who would be in the market for it. Or who might know someone who knows someone who has a mother who needs it all.

Aida cloth blanket or baby afghans

4 placemats and 4 napkins matching set with navy blue stripe

A bunch of doo dads

And here is where it gets interesting... there is so much cross stitch fabric, but the only stuff that I am familiar with is Aida. There are many sizes of Aida, but I think there is linen, even weave and Hardinger, too. And many colors!



close ups



Most of this below is larger pieces. Like 1 yard cuts of Aida.





I am willing to ship and negotiate. I had things priced for the yard sales and sold a bit of it, but there is still a lot left. Anyone interested?

Monthly Accomplishments - January 2011

Time to list my finishes, half starts and semi-serious attempts at crafting and sewing!

1. Came up with Crafting Goals for 2011
2. Started the Year of the PIGS. By the way, feel free to join in at any time!
3. Signed up for a class at the April International Quilt Festival with Regina and made plans for the rest of the weekend while she is here.
4. Worked on the Bear cross stitch for a good while
5. Finished block 3 and block 4 of the Midget blocks
6. Made 1 mug rug
7. Made a mini quilt top
8. Quilted a poinsettia table runner
9. Listed a ton of Stampin' Up items on Craigslist - part of my Goals for the year
10. Finished the binding on the One Good SIS Deserves Another quilt
11. Quilted and bound the Sibling Reverly Quilt
12. Got to the heel turn on my two at a time socks. No picture though.
    

I think that this year, I am going to pass on keeping track of my hours spent doing the various crafts that I do. The work that I produce is enough of a record of what I am doing and that is all that I am worried about. :)

And finally, the books read in January.... There is one book that I read in 2010, but it was left in my 'To Read' list so I am making a record of having read it.

1. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon - This is the third book in the Outlander series and I thought it was awesome! Towards the end of the book - like the last 200 pages or so - I just could not put it down! The action was captivating and the descriptions Gabaldon gives are wonderful!
2. The Double Cross by Clare O'Donohue - This was a 'manual' read and it was a pretty good read. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down! I can't wait for the next installment in the series.
3. U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton - It's amazing how I can listen to these books with 2 or 3 years in between and it is just like coming home to an old friend. I love Grafton's writing style and sometimes, I just want to be Kinsey! Judy Kaye is a fantastic narrator and her reading fits Kinsey perfectly!
4. Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer - I have been waiting for Strohmeyer's books to be released in an audio format, but I think that with this type of book, I will read them much faster in regular book format. I am catching up on 3 of her books right now. Fun reads and quite humorous! Light, chick lit that has really helped with the winter blues these fast few weeks! ;)
5. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon -  Oh, my!!! This was a pretty great addition to the series! I'm excited to see how the next book unfolds, but I am trying to hold back from starting it right away. I need to savor them a little! lol
6. House Rules by Jodi Picoult - This is the one that I don't think that I mentioned before. I really enjoy listening to Picoult's books. This one was a take on a 17 year old autistic boy and how he integrated his fascination into his life and the repercussions of the integration. Very eye opening for someone who doesn't interact with people with autism on a regular basis.

OK, that's it for me for January. I'm hoping that in February I won't have to worry about losing my quilting mojo for a couple of weeks like I did in January. :)

Stash Report Week 2, 2011

Well, the sewing around here has been pretty minimal so far this year. So my report still hasn't changed.

I did pick up the bear cross stitch yesterday and then couldn't put it down. Here it is before..



And here it is after I stitched yesterday.



I'm so ready to be done with this thing! Although, now that I am working on it, I am thinking about the other kits that I have and if I will start another one.... Isn't that awful? lol

I do have plans to sew today. I have a few things to work on. I better get to it!

Fabric added this week: 0.00
Fabric added year-to-date: 0.00

Fabric used this week: 0.00
Fabric used year-to-date: 0.00

Fabric Used: 0.00

Although Maxie thinks that more time cross stitching would be lovely!

Packages received

Last week, I got a few packages in the mail and I hadn't shared them yet.

First, I got the rest of my thread from Sew Thankful. What great service and delivery they have! The items back ordered were a purple variegated King Tut and a cone of Masterpiece which I love to use for piecing!



Then, I got this odd shaped box.



In this box was the tracks for the quilting frame. This will totally take care of the 'ride' for the carriage on the frame. It should be smooth sailing with pantos from here on!



While this next item is not a delivery, I did take the time to wash it so that I can try and work on it and get it finished before the end of the year. This is the bear cross stitch that is my #12 Goal for this year. I also pressed it last weekend and I think that having it freshly washed and pressed will make it easier to work on. All that is left is the detail work - the back stitching and some french knots. So far, the only part that has any back stitching is the upper left corner around the watering can.



Maxie says, "Woo hoo for deliveries!"

2010 Quilt Goals Revisted - Post 6

I’m doing a series of posts (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) on my progress so far on my 2010 Quilting Goals.

Goal 10 – Knit 1 pair of socks

While it may have taken me an excruciating amount of time and energy, I have successfully completed this Goal! And I am halfway to the finish line of completing it again! But the Goal is only for one pair and anything else is a bonus.

Goal 11 – Knit 12 baby caps

To date, I have finished 3 baby caps. I started the 4th on Sunday. I got a pattern from one of my hospitals that they like their knitters to use and because I am dumping them off on delivering the caps to a co-worker to deliver to the hospital, I figured that I could at least try using their pattern. It is the same basic pattern that I was using before, but it’s using thicker yarn and it yields a cap quite a bit larger than one for a NICU baby. The other big difference is that the needles that I have to make the larger size are plastic needles and I have discovered that the plastic needles don’t play as well with one another as the bamboo needles do. I think that I may need to upgrade my needles in this size…

In order to meet this Goal, I must make at least 1 baby cap a month. At this time, I believe that it is too soon to tell if this Goal will be met by 12/31.

Goal 12 – Finish bear cross stitch

I know that I started this cross stitch within the last 8 years because I did not have it until after I moved into my current residence. I am just as certain that I have not worked on this for a prolonged period of time in the last 3 or 4 years. I know that my road block is the back stitching. Generally, the back stitching is my favorite part of cross stitch because it just makes the piece come together. It gives the piece the definition that it was lacking throughout the process of creating the x’s with the multitude of thread colors. For this piece, the back stitching showed itself to be a formidable enemy!! Instead of just making stitches that were over one hole and up one hole, I found myself trying to figure out where the stitch should end! Should it be down 10 holes and over 1? Or down 20 and over 19? What a mess!!



I wonder if I could find someone to finish it up for me….. Any takers? ;)

If I made an effort with it, I could probably finish it in a week if I worked on it in the evenings. It also makes me wonder what I should do with the rest of my cross stitch kits that I have. There are only so many finished wall hangings that you can having hanging in your house…

The pups say...

"We slept under this new blankie last night!!!"

Doesn't it look great on the bed?

My Mom, the Knitter?

When I told my mom last October that I had signed up for a beginner's knitting class, I swear she moaned and said, "Oh no!!"

Growing up, my mom was pretty crafty. She would crochet blankets and cross stitch. I remember watching what she was doing and being entranced by how quickly her fingers would move while crocheting. It was mesmerizing!

I don't remember how old I was when she starting teaching me crafts, but I'm sure that it was more of a way to keep me out of her hair while she was working on her things. I know from experience now that it is a little bothersome to have your concentration broken constantly by someone saying, "HEY!" while pulling on a sleeve or pant leg.

For whatever reason, Mom taught me how to use the needle and yarn to make little boxes with the plastic canvas. Once I mastered that, we moved on to crochet. Of course, I never finished anything, I just made rows and rows and rows of double crochets and then pulled it out when I ran out of yarn. I was just happy to be sitting next to Mom, hook in hand, looking busy!

The next craft to be taught was cross stitch. Cross stitch was THE CRAFT for me for the longest time! I have a few framed pieces in my house and have given away my share of kitchen towels and baby bibs. And I have quite a stash of Aida cloth, kits and patterns waiting patiently to be worked.

I had a brief stint with stamping in the early 2000's before moving onto quilting. Mom did the stamping with me, but I dropped it like a hot potato as soon as I found a shop that taught quilting classes for a reasonable amount. Mom didn't have an interest in quilting until she saw the quilts and things that I was working on. (In her defense, I didn't take up quilting until after they moved to Florida.)

Right around the time that my parents moved to Florida, I found out that Mom had attempted knitting. Once. Only one time! And it was a baby blanket that she started for me! I didn't let her lack of enthusiasm for knitting dissuade me from taking the classes. And once I learned the basic stitches, I LOVE knitting.

After the first class, I found the blanket that Mom made and I took it to the class to show off. The teacher said that she did great work and was shocked that Mom didn't continue knitting. She thought Mom was a natural!



Heck, even I started small with dishcloths!! I think that Mom was very ambitious with her blanket for me! Even if it did take her more than 20 years to finish it!

Thanks, Mom, for sharing your love of crafting with me!

2010 Crafting Goals

I didn't make any goals for 2009. I tried to work on UFOs and I thought about starting on the kits that I have in the room, but I don't think that I am ending 2009 in better shape than when I started. I'm OK with that though. :)

I have decided on what I want to Focus on for 2010.

1. Use 100 yards of fabric more than what I bring in. I want to show that I actually busted some stash in 2010!
2. Finish a project before starting a new one. I'm talking about before starting big projects like quilts, table runners and purses. Little things like small bags and travel cases wouldn't count for this because they can be done in like an hour and are great for fast gifts. But I can’t keep starting quilts without finishing anything!
3. Organize Stash Room. And keep up with it. I feel like keeping the stash and scraps and crumbs organized will make them work for me.
4. Use scraps and crumbs. ‘Nuff said!
5. Make a project using applique. I have several table runner kits that I bought without realizing the extent of the appliqué on them. If I can just finish one of these without any problems, it would give me the confidence to do the rest!
6. Use 10 new patterns or books from my personal library or free downloads that I haven't used before. This really shouldn’t be a problem!
7. Make 12 charity quilts. With all of the scraps and crumbs I own, this shouldn’t be a problem either.
8. Don't buy any new books or patterns. I can’t help it if they are gifted, but I shouldn’t be buying any new ones if I can’t use any that I already have.
9. Complete the Granny Square afghan. Right now, this is my only crochet project going. And it shouldn’t take more than a year.
10. Make at least 1 pair of socks. After the 1 pair is made, I will decide on whether I should make any more. But any more than 1 will be a bonus! :)
11. Make 12 baby caps. I have the yarn for them already and they are super quick so this should not be an issue.
12. Finish the Bear cross stitch and decide on what to do with the rest of the cross stitch kits and materials being stored. I have been storing the kits and books and cloth for too long. If I’m not going to use them, I don’t need to keep hoarding them!
13. Get rid of the stamping stuff in the basement. CraigsList will become my friend this year!
14. Get to 1,000 posts on my blog and have a tremendous giveaway!

I think that this is a pretty good list. And I think that it is pretty attainable if I keep my mind on the goals!

These will be added to my side bar and I will try and remember to update the results regularly. Or at least once a month! ;)

It's all Linda's fault....

Saturday was the first day of the Tri-State Shop Hop. The day didn't start out strong, but it sure ended after a lot of customers and new faces. I think that I only sat down for a 15 minute lunch and 5 minutes after Barb brought me back a Frosty from Wendy's. And then maybe a minute to try and stretch my back out. Barb and I also may have found a way to start a new quilt, but more on that if it happens. We are very excited about it - that much I can say.

But that wasn't Linda's fault....

After Barb and I closed the shop, I headed up the street to Half Price Books. On Friday, I had finished a book b y Carolyn G. Hart. It was Design for Murder and the second book in her Death on Demand series. I loved it! I checked my library for the next few books on CD, but since the books were written in the 80's I guess they haven't all been put to audio. I actually bought all of the paperbacks that were in the store.



I've already started the next book, but that wasn't Linda's fault either...

When I got home from the shop and the book store, I started some potatoes for dinner. By the time they were ready, I was having trouble walking across the family room to the kitchen. There was nothing but pain and stiffness from my heels to my knees. And my lower back was very tight and sore. I decided that I would treat myself to a foot massage. I have a foot bath that I have used maybe once before and it was just lovely! I put in a bit of peppermint oil and just let my feet soak for 30 minutes with the bubbles, heat and massager. Then, I dried them off and put lotion on them. It was wonderful!!

I was so pooped from working all day that I went to bed at 11 and slept until 10:15 this morning! I was awake from about 4 til 5, but it was awesome to just sleep that long with minimal interruptions from the dogs!

Now, this is where Linda gets blame...

This morning, while I was reading blogs and working on my Stash Report, she IM'ed me and asked if I wanted to run to the local yarn shop to sign up for the classes that we had discussed. I tried to say no, but she wore me down and picked me up an hour later. We headed up and signed up for the Beginner classes and got information on other classes we want to take. I have always wanted to learn to knit to make socks. A lot of the blogs that I am reading are by knitters and I am very envious of the pretty socks that they make!

Here is the yarn that I got to practice with and to make something with at the end of the first set of classes. It is shades of purple and green variegated.



When we left the shop, we drove through Hamilton (yuck!!) and went to lunch. Once she dropped me off, the dogs and I settled in for a nap. When I woke up, I decided to work on a cross stitch that has been sitting around for a few years. All I have left is the back stitching and I figured that if I am taking up something new, I should finish something very old.

In conclusion, I am going to blame Linda for signing up for more classes and not getting anything sewing related done today! Thanks, Linda! I had a blast! :)