July Smalls and a Few Other Things

Happy Weekend!

It is time for another Smalls update...

(sorry, I am a couple days late)

Most of the small projects I have completed have been seen in previous updates, but I thought I would just recap...

Halloween Ornaments

Tiny Purple Spider

 

Little Witches' Hat

Mommy and Baby pieces

Mommy and Baby Fox

 

Hen and her Chicks

Other Projects for my Niece and Nephew

Green Dinosaur (I named him Frank.)

Kevin the Minion

Pretty Butterflies

Anna and Elsa from Frozen

Wow, that was a lot of projects completed this month!

Since I am all done stitching for my in-laws, I've been gathering supplies for a bunch of new starts.  I am planning on doing a "new start" Olympic Challenge...

So, I have been trying (very hard) to curb my desire to start a new project. (I am making myself wait until August 5th, when the Olympic Challenge starts.)

Instead of starting something new, I've been pulling out WIPs (some long forgotten ones, too)...

Up first, Dragon Age Inquisition symbol...

(where I left off)

And now...

Love watching this one come together!

And then, I pulled out my Woodland Sampler from Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery...

(where I left off)

(I don't even remember the last time I worked on this piece.)

And now...

The month of March is all done!

Had a lot of fun working on this piece again.

The reason I pulled that project out to work on, was because I purchased one of Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery newest SALs...

I couldn't help myself!  I know my aunts will love the National Parks piece, so I just had buy the pattern.

(I did stop myself at just the pattern, so I thought I did pretty good.) ;)

My stash has really been growing over the last couple weeks...

Lots of floss, some fabric, a box for my project bobbins and some clear bags (I think they may make nice project bags).

I've been buying lots and lots of floss, since I am planning on starting several large pieces.

(Hint on one of my starts...I have had to buy lots of DMC 3808.)

Well, I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend...

...I am off to bobbinate more floss and get more projects organized.

Have a good one, everybody!

Completed Projects

It is the middle of the week and I have some finishes to share...

Up first, the butterflies for my niece...

All done!

I think it came out really cute...

(Pattern designed by Daily Cross Stitch)

I decided to go with variegated blue floss for the little flourishes around the butterflies.  I would have used metallic thread, but I just didn't want the headache of working with that type of thread.

(This little project actually ended up being a bit of a pain; I kept miscounting and having to pull out stitches and restart.  At least it turned out cute in the end!)

Then I turned my attention to framing a few more projects...

Hen and her chicks, framed in an oval hoop...

Momma and baby fox...

I love all the mommy and baby pieces, but I definitely think this one is my favorite.

Anna and Elsa, from Frozen...

Lastly, I started backing the projects I had framed on the 17th...

 Not exactly my original plan, but I think it will work out just fine.

So, that is what I have been up to...

...I've also been planning some new starts that I would like to make during the Olympic Stitching Challenge...

...just making sure I have all the supplies that I need.

Excited to see where the challenge takes me...

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a great week, full of lots of stitching!

July WIPocalypse

Happy Friday everyone!

It is time for this month's WIPocalypse check-in...

...well, I am actually a couple days late, but I didn't have much progress to show, until now.

First, some exciting news...

...my sister-in-law had her baby yesterday morning!

Mommy and baby are doing great and everyone is very happy and healthy.

(She had a baby boy and they named him Keegan.)

So, I have to get going on finishing all the pieces I've made for them...

...and I do have a couple last minute pieces to finish stitching.

(Thankfully, I wasn't planning on sending the projects right after the baby was born, so I'm not in any huge rush.)

Okay, enough rambling and on to the stitching...

I finished the minion piece...

Love how cute he came out!

(Of course now my son really wants one of his own!  Good thing I haven't put away my yellow floss!)

Lastly, I started one more piece for my niece...

(that way my niece and nephew will have the same number of projects)

Lots of pretty butterflies!

Absolutely loving the colors used in this piece...

(pattern designed by daily cross stitch)

I am going to make a slight change...

...there are very light gray/blue stitches around the butterflies and I think I am going to use metallic silver instead...

...or maybe a light, variegated blue...

...not quite sure yet.

Well, that is what I have been up to...

...hope everyone has a great weekend and manages to stay cool!

(It has been super hot here in the Michigan...so glad I have air conditioning.)

 

Edit:  I forgot to answer the question...

Am I planning on taking part in the Olympic stitching challenge? 

I think I just might...

I will probably participate in the rotation challenge, since I love to work on lots of different projects.

Plus, I have lots of new things I would to start...

...so maybe, I will be doing a new start rotation challenge...

Definitely have to think about that one!

Completed Pieces

Happy afternoon everyone!

Just a quick update today, but an exciting one...

...I have actually finish-finished several pieces!

I washed up three projects last night, pressed them this afternoon and framed them in hoops.

I started with my cardinal piece...

(it was my guinea pig project, since I haven't tried to framed anything in a hoop before)

and the finished project...

YAY!

I think it came out really well.

(finished in a 4 inch hoop)

I was so happy with how it came out that I decided to finish a couple of the pieces for my brother and sister-in-law...

Up first, the whales...

(finished in a 5 inch hoop)

Lastly, I finished the bunnies...

(finished in a 5 inch hoop)

I had to leave a little extra fabric on the bottom, otherwise I wouldn't have had enough to "tuck" it behind the frame.

Other than that, I think it came out really well.

So those are the first three pieces I have ever framed in a hoop...

(this tutorial came in really handy and was really easy to follow: http://sewingseed.blogspot.com/2012/08/securing-your-needlework-in-hoop-frame.html )

All that is left to do, is to put some fabric on the back and they will be ready to ship to my in-laws...

(all except the cardinal of course.)

Well, that was my afternoon excitement...

...now off to finish the laundry...the exciting life of a mom and wife! :)

July Gifted Gorgeousness

That time again, for another Gifted Gorgeousness update...

(The gifted gorgeousness SAL is run by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching and this SAL features projects that have been gifted (like a pattern, floss, fabric, etc.) or pieces that you are going to gift to someone.)

I've been busy working on projects for my brother and sister-in-law and their children...

I have one last (well, I think last), mommy and baby pieces...

I finished the mother hen and her three chicks!

(Even completed their French knot eyes...

...not my best work, but I think they will do the job.)

Now to get all of the pieces cleaned, pressed and framed.

Since I've made pieces for my newest nephew, I figured I should make a couple pieces for niece and other nephew. (My older nephew will be getting the green dinosaur I finished last week.)

So, I made a piece featuring Anna and Elsa (from Frozen) for my niece...

The piece was stitched on 16 ct, dark pink Aida...

(I haven't worked on 16 ct. in a long time and it started out kinda rough, but I ended up really enjoying the whole process.  I think I may have to purchase some more 16 ct. fabric.)

I just hope my niece will like it...

(Pattern by Good Morning Maui)

Then, I started another piece for my other nephew...

It shall eventually become a minion...

(Pattern by Dazzling Doilies on Etsy)

So that is what I have been working on this past week...

...lots of stitching!

My sister-in-law is due any time now, so I really have to start finish/finishing the pieces.

(So much to do, so little time!)

Well, I hope everyone has a terrific weekend and thanks for stopping by my blog!

Quick July Update

Happy Saturday!

I have a quick update to share...

I finished my green dinosaur project last night!

I think he came out really cute!

And, Jo from Serendipitous Stitching asked to see the mommy and baby pieces that I have completed...

There are 12 designs total...

...not sure if I will get any more of them finished, but I may try to complete one more.

(There is a design of a hen with three chicks following her and I would really like to do that one, since my brother and sister-in-law are expecting their third child this month.

Oh...I am planning on framing the pieces in hoops and giving them to my in-laws as a new baby gift.)

Well, I am off to stitch some more and figure out something for dinner tonight.

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!