Monday, August 22, 2016

Final Olympic Stitching Update and WIPocalypse...

Happy Monday!

First, I want to say a huge "Thank You" to everyone that commented on my previous post, about the loss of my kitty Dahlia...
...all the comments and warm thoughts were greatly appreciate.  It has been a bit of a rough week, but I've been keeping busy with work and stitching. 

Speaking of stitching...
...the Olympic Stitching Challenge is complete!
And, here is a look at what I have been working on the last couple of days...
DAY FIFTEEN 
Another "Follow-Up Friday"...
I decided to put in some more stitches on the Pokemon piece for my son...
(where I left off)

And now...
Another character finished and a new one starting to make an appearance.

Close up of the newly finished Pokemon...
...a shiny Flareon. (At least that is what my son tells me.)

And, a quick peek at the next character...

DAY SIXTEEN
I decided to start another large project...
...this one is a DoNaStitch pattern, called "Sweet Peacocks". (It is part of the love bird series.)

Not a huge start, but I'm happy with the progress I made...

There may be some wondering why I haven't started a DoNa fairy tale pattern, since I did mention starting one when I was planning this challenge.
Well, I had every intentions of starting the Frozen fairy tale piece, but I've had trouble getting all the floss I need.
I've been trying to buy a lot of it locally, but there just never seems to be enough in stock.  I will be placing an order to 123stitch soon, for some fabric, so I'll purchase my missing threads at that time.
Hopefully I'll get some new starts finished and I can add a fairy tale pattern to my rotation.

And the last day...
DAY SEVENTEEN 
I actually found the pattern, purchased it and started it on the same day...

This is the newest pattern from Fuzzy Fox Design, called "Bella, the Pretty Coral Mermaid"...

Obviously, my mermaid is not going to be coral...
...I changed the color on her tail and seashells, since I like more green/blue tones and I thought it would look better on the lavender fabric I am stitching the piece on...
Really looking forward to finishing this piece!

So that has been my Olympic Stitching....
...lots of great projects started and one finish!
I think I would call this a successful challenge.

The WIPocalypse question for this month...
Have you ever read any fictional books that involve embroidery?  If so, give us some recommendations?
I have not read any books that involve embroidery.
At one time, I did find some mystery series that had a knitting or stitching theme, but I never did purchase the book(s).
I'm afraid I don't read as much as I should (or used to)...
I just never seem to have the time anymore. 


Well, I must be off...
...getting to be dinner time.
Hope everyone has a terrific week!

Friday, August 19, 2016

Olympic Stitching Challenge - Update #3

Good afternoon everyone!
It has been quite the eventful week here, with lots of stitching progress to share and a bit of sad news...

but, lets start with the stitching...
I am still hard at work with my Olympic Stitching Challenge...
DAY EIGHT
Today was a Friday, which means it was time for a "follow-up" project...
I decided to pull out my Princess Bride movie quote piece and I finished it!
Seriously love this piece!  Can't wait to frame it and hang it.

(Pattern designed by Unexpected Hobby on Etsy)

DAY NINE
Decided to start Halloween Typography from 2016 Halloween issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine...


I am really loving these typography pieces!

DAY TEN
 I picked PlatoSquirrel's Kawaii Macaroons to work on...

Not a ton of progress...
...I was quite busy that day, packing my son up for a last minute summer trip.
I am looking forward to getting back to work on this piece...it is going to be adorable when finished.

DAY ELEVEN
Worked on another cactus from the October 2016 issue of Cross Stitch Crazy magazine.

Love all of the cacti featured and hope to have them all stitched soon.

DAY TWELVE
I picked something small to work on...
...the next tiny spaceship, designed by dinosaurspaceshop on Etsy...

I didn't get as far as I wanted, but my hands were a bit sore that day, so I stopped stitching early.

DAY THIRTEEN
Today was "Work in Progress Wednesday"...
...time to work on any project, as long as it wasn't started during this challenge...

I pulled out my dream-catcher owl...
(where I left off)

And, where I am now...
Quite a bit of progress...

(The pattern came from an Etsy shop, but I'm afraid the shop is no longer available.)

DAY FOURTEEN
Decided to start a much larger piece than I normally work on...
Working on the background for now...

(Pattern designed by Fuzzy Fox Designs on Etsy.)

So, that is my stitching progress for the last week...
...I think I am doing quite well!

Lastly, some sad news...
On Tuesday, we had to put down our oldest cat, Dahlia.
I'm afraid her health had been fading over the last 6 months and reached a point of no return this past weekend.
It was very hard to say goodbye to her as she had been my faithful companion for the last 11 years...
...but, she had a good, long life (she was 17 years old) and I know we did what was best for her...
I will certainly miss her, though.



Anyway, I do hope that everyone has a good weekend, full of stitching...

Friday, August 12, 2016

Olympic Stitching Challenege - Update #2

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic week.
It has been a pretty good week in my neck-of-woods, lots of stitching and we finished back to school shopping on Monday. (Always nice to have that done.)

So onto the pictures...
DAY THREE
Very cute snowman!
(Can you tell I am ready for cooler weather?!?!)

This pattern is one of four seasonal designs created by BisforBumblebee on Etsy.

DAY FOUR
A cute, green cactus from the October 2016 issue of Cross Stitch Crazy magazine.

Not a huge start, but my family and I spent the day shopping...
...so, we didn't get home until late in the afternoon and I was just exhausted. (Not used to shopping for the long.)

DAY FIVE
Adorable kitties from 8bitstitching on Etsy...

Looking forward to getting back to work on this one.

DAY SIX
(WIP Wednesday)
I decided to pull out Ariel...
(I really tried to get her other eye finished, but I just ran out of time.)

Actually got quite a bit finished...

(where I left off Ariel)

DAY SEVEN
 Majora's Mask (from the Zelda game), designed by Cat Confetti on Etsy.

(This little mask was a huge pain to stitch!  So many colors in such a small space.)

This is another piece for my son...
...I honestly have no idea what the masks actually are, but he loves it, so that is all that matters.

Well, that is what I've been up to this week...
...today is going to be follow-up Friday, so I am hoping to finish one of my new starts.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!


Sunday, August 7, 2016

Olympic Stitching Challenge - Update #1

Happy Sunday everyone!
I hope everybody has had a fabulous weekend.

Are you guys enjoying the Olympic games?
I have actually been enjoying them quite a bit!  It has been fun watching them with the satellite dish, because I've been able to see a lot of different events. (Plus, I can pause the TV and then skip the commercials.)
I am really loving the women's rugby games...
...very interesting sport.

I am also participating in the Olympic stitching challenge, that is being held by Melissa from Measi's Musings. I decided to do the rotation challenge, but I took it a few steps further...
...I am doing a new start rotation challenge, with a few added extras...
Wednesdays will be WIP days. (I will work on any WIP, but it can't be a piece I started during this challenge.)
And, Fridays will be Follow Up Fridays...meaning, I will go back and work on a piece that I started during the challenge.
Otherwise, everyday will be a new start.

So, on to the pictures of what I have started these last few days...
DAY ONE
This is a piece for my son, that features different evolutions of a Pokemon character.
(I will be honest, I have no idea what/who the character actually is, but the piece is really fun!  The little characters are adorable and there will be lots of fun colors coming up.)

The first character stitched up really quick and I love the sparkle of the metallic gold thread that runs through the fabric.

Started the second character...
(Pattern designed by 8bitstitching on Etsy)

DAY TWO
Quotes from the movie The Princess Bride...
(One of my family's favorite movies!)

Over half way done with this piece...
(It stitched up really quickly.)
I just love all the colors!
(Pattern by Unexpected Hobby on Etsy)

So there you have the first two days of my Olympic stitching challenge...
...having a ton of fun with the challenge and looking forward to the rest of it!

I do have one more project to share...
...some work on my Big Bang Theory piece. (I stitched on this piece on Thursday, before the Olympics started.)
-where I left off-

-where I am now-
YAY!  Raj is all done!

This piece is so much fun to work on!
(Pattern by Good Morning Maui on Etsy)

Well, I am off to start on my project for today...
...hope everyone has a great day and upcoming week!

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

August TUSAL

Time again to show off all the lovely ORTs from the past month...
My cute ORT jar, getting nice and full again...
(I emptied it last month, since it was getting a little too full.)

And, a close up of all the ORTs...
I really love all the pretty colors!

So, I have been stitching some more on my WIPs...
Up first, my Dragon Age piece...
(where I left off)

And now...

Almost finished with the first page...
...only 3 pages left.

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

And now...

...close up
Actually making some good progress on this one...
...really loving how it is coming together!

Well, I am off to pick up my son from science camp...
...hope everyone has a great week!