Thursday, June 30, 2016

June Smalls Update

Happy Thursday!
Today is check-in day for Stitching Lotus's Smalls SAL...
(I've missed the last couple check-ins, so I was really pleased that I had time to get some "smalls' completed this month.)

My "smalls' projects for this update are from the Etsy shop dinosaur spaceshop...
Mini Star Wars spaceships!

There are 6 different patterns and I have completed 2 of them...
...mini Millennium Falcon

(Just to show the size of the finished ship.)

...and, a mini Death Star


Having a lot of fun working on these projects...
...they are really cute and stitch up fairly quickly. (The 2 I've completed took around 4 -5 hours each.)

...

Besides my small projects, I've been working on a few other projects...
My princess Ariel piece is coming along really well.
-where I left off-

-where I am now-
"EYE see you!"

(Pattern by Stitchering on Etsy)

Then I started a new mommy and baby set...
Mommy and baby fox...

(Pattern is from Cross Stitcher magazine, issue number 302)

Lastly, I started a new project...
It will be a cute, green dinosaur...

(Pattern is from Daily Cross Stitch)

So, that is what I've been up to...
Otherwise, it has been a rough couple of days.  My back went out, so I haven't been able to do much and I think I've come down with a touch of the flu.  Hopefully a little rest and I will be as good as new in a couple days.

Thanks to everyone for stopping by and I hope everybody has a great weekend.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

June WIPocalypse and Stitching Marathon

Once again, it is time for WIPocalypse check-in...
(I apologize for being a day late, the dates keep sneaking up on me.)

So, to start off this WIPocalyspe update, I have a finish to share...
The first oriole is all done!

(The pattern was designed by Fuzzy Fox Designs, for my blog.
You can find the pattern HERE.)

I was going to stitch all 3 birds on one piece of fabric, but I came up with a different way to finish them...
...so, I'm stitching each one separately.
(I just hope my "finishing plan" works!) :)

Then yesterday, I decided to participate in the "Longest Day Marathon", posted about by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching...
I didn't "officially" sign up anywhere, because I wasn't sure if I would be able to participate...
...work can really throw things off...
...but I was able to get all my work done by 2:00pm, so I thought I would give the WIP marathon a go...
(My list and stack of projects...)

I stitched in 30 minute intervals, with a couple breaks for dinner and doggie mom duties...
...I also concluded the challenge around 8:00pm, so I could have some time to play my video game.
(My husband got me addicted to the game Dragon Age: Inquisition and I only get to play it, once my son is ready for bed.)

Anyway, enough rambling...
...on to the stitching
Project One: 
The Sherlock Gang (regular size)
-where I left off-

-and where I am now-
  His coat is done! :)
(Pattern by Wee Little Stitches on Etsy)

Project Two:
Big Bang Theory
-where I left off-

-and where I am now-
Raj has a face!
(Pattern by Good Morning Maui on Etsy)

Project Three:
Tribal Owl
-where I left off-
-and where I am now-
Bottom of his tail feathers have been started...
(Pattern from the 300th issue of Cross Stitcher magazine)

Project Four:
Hogwarts Kids
-where I left off-

-and where I am now-

Neville has a face!
(Pattern by Tiny Needle on Etsy)

Project Five:
Small Cats
-where I left off-

-and where I am now-
More purple...
(Pattern by Durene Jones on Etsy)

Project Six:
"Bears and Not Bears"
-where I left off-

-and where I am now-
(Pattern by Crafty Like a Fox - Reddit SAL)

Project Seven:
Ariel
-where I left off-

-and where I am now-
I have to be completely honest, the large gap (above her nose) was actually filled in on Saturday....
I forgot to get pictures of it...
...so, all I did yesterday was the wispy piece of red hair and the blocks of skin going above it.
(Pattern by Stitchering on Etsy)

Project Eight:
Dogs
-where I left off-

-and where I am now-
Coming along pretty well!
(Pattern by Gentle Feather on Etsy)

And that is what I got done yesterday...
...not too shabby, eight projects worked on.
I will say, 30 minutes goes by A LOT faster than I thought.  I couldn't believe how quickly the time ran out and I did have a hard time putting the projects down...
I really wanted to keep working on each one.
Oh well, it was a fun challenge, not sure I would do it again, though.

Lastly, the WIPocalypse question for this month...
"Do you find yourself more productive with stitching in summer or winter?"

I'm not really sure...
Usually, I find myself more productive in the winter, since it is cold and snowy...
but, my shop tends to be busier in the winter months, so I don't have as much free time for stitching.
I have been quite productive this summer, because my shop is a bit slower...
so, I have more time for stitching.
I guess it depends on how busy work keeps me.

Thanks to everyone for stopping by and reading...
hope everyone has a great week!

Friday, June 17, 2016

Friday Wrap-Up

Happy Friday everyone!
I hope everybody had a great week.

It has been a pretty good week for me, very busy...
...and some stitching progress.

First, I have another finish...
..."Proud Little Peacock" is all done!

I think he turned out very cute!
I did learn that trying to complete a French knot outside, when it is a bit windy...
...not a good idea.  
It took me four tries to finally get the knot to look decent.

Next, I went back to work on the foxes...
(where I left off)

(and where I am now)
I think it is coming along a quite nicely.
(Pattern is by Fox You are So Crafty on Etsy.)

My only problem with this piece is that I cut the fabric a bit too small.  I have enough room for all the stitching and for what I have planned to finish the piece, but it doesn't fit well in my hoop.  I can stitch the foxes just fine, but finishing the border is going to be a challenge.
Oh well, I will just do my best.

Then I went back to work on my "You Are my Sunshine" piece...
(where I left off)

(and where I am now)
(Pattern designed by Stitchrovia on Etsy.)

I think it is coming along pretty well.

And lastly, a new start...
Mini Sherlock characters...

(Pattern designed by Wee Little Stitches on Etsy.)

Well, that is what I've been up to...
Hope everyone has a great weekend, filled with lots of stitching!

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Another Finish

Happy Thursday!

I have another finish to share...
(and, I had to share, because this piece was kinda a big pain and I'm glad to have it done)

The piece was my 3rd Stitch Maynia start and it is the mother and baby bunny pattern from the Cross Stitcher magazine, issue number 302...
(designed by Diane Machin)

I think it came out really well, but it was a struggle the entire time.
The ears on each bunny are off a bit, but I don't think it is noticeable.

Otherwise, just glad to be done with the piece.

Now on to the next set of mother and baby animals...
...not sure which set, though...
We will just have to see...

Well, I hope everyone has a great day and a weekend full of stitching!

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

TUSAL and More

Hello everyone...
...I am back with my TUSAL update for June (sorry, a little bit late), a couple finishes and some stitching progress.

My ORT jar...
It is getting quite full.
I'm debating if I want to keep filling the jar or start fresh for the second half of the year...
...decisions, decisions...

And, a close up of my ORTs...

Now, on to my stitching...
First finish was my 6th Stitch Maynia start...
..."Kawaii Spices" by PlatoSquirrel on Etsy.
(where I left off)


And now...
All done!

I actually completely restarted the piece, because I wasn't totally happy with my first attempt.  Much happier with how the second version turned out.

And, my second finish was another PlatoSquirrel pattern...
...Kawaii Food cross stitch pattern.
(where I left off)


Here it is all done...

Really like how it came out!
Now to figure out what I am going to do with the finished pieces.

Lastly, I worked on princess Ariel a little bit...
(where I left off)

And now...
I was hoping to get a bit more done, but the piece is coming along well.

So, that was my weekend...
...hope everyone had a great one!