January Wrap Up and Smalls SAL...

Good afternoon everyone!

I hope everybody is having a great January and yippee, it is Friday! (Can never be sad on a Friday!) :0)

As for me, I have been extremely busy with work, which is both terrific and crappy at the same time...

...it is terrific, because it means lots of extra funds for my stitchy stuff, but crappy, because I don't get a lot of time to actually stitch. (Painting, distressing and packing jars takes a lot of time away from my cross stitch stuff.)

Luckily, I have gotten some time to stitch, so I have some updates to share...

First, I finished Princess Jasmine's portrait...

Love how this one came out...

...can't wait to actually frame it.

Up next, I finished the piece I started for the Monthly Magazine SAL...

It turned out very cute and I am hoping to make it into a little pillow.

(I received a sewing machine from Santa for Christmas, so I am hoping to learn how to use it enough, that I can make a few pillow ornaments with my cross stitching.)

I have started working on a neat little project...

...it is a temperature block sampler.

I've decided to make this for my aunt for Christmas, so this represents the temperatures in Houghton, MI. 

It is fun project and I look forward to seeing the color patterns that come through as it is stitched.

(You can find the pattern for the temperature blocks at Stitchnmomma on Etsy.)

And then, I finished my mini Sherlock piece last night...

(I started this piece in June 2016.)

I think I may try to finish it into a cube...

(Pattern is from WeeLittleStitches on Etsy)

Next, my update for the Smalls SAL...

Cute, little princess Merida...

...I think she is just adorable!

(Pattern is from Stitchline on Etsy)

And then, last, but not least, I did try my hand and dying some fabric with permanent color dye...

I absolutely love it!  I think I am hooked on dying fabric. 

I have so many colors that I want to try...

...now, just to find the time.

Well, that is all from my stitchy spot.

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Happy 2017..

Good morning fellow stitchers, I hope the new year is treating everyone well.

Once again, I apologize for not being around much, but things should be much better now.  My wonderful hubby surprised me with a new computer for Christmas, so I should be able to update my blog regularly. (Well, I will try my best to keep it updated!)

I may not have been able to update my blog a lot, but I have certainly been stitching up a storm. (I've been lucky to be able to spend most evenings stitching.)

With the new year, I also went back to check on how I did with the challenges I signed up for in 2016...

...well, I pretty much failed!  I tried to keep up, but the wheels fell off around April/May, so I am not planning on participating in many challenges this year. (I just have a couple planned so far and I will post more those plans later.)

Otherwise, lets move on to some stitchy stuff...

I honestly don't know where to start, since I am behind on updating my blog....

...so, I thought I would start with a few pictures of pieces I finished late in 2016.

Up first, "Round is a Shape" ...

(Pattern designed by SpruceCraftCo)

I started this piece over Thanksgiving, as it seemed the appropriate time of year...

...The piece stitched up very quickly and I really enjoyed working on it.

The next piece, I stitched for my hubby...

(Pattern designed by Good Morning Maui)

I had meant to finish it into an ornament for our tree, but just ran out of time. (Hopefully I'll have it ready for next Christmas.)

Then, I decided I wanted to make some snowflake ornaments...

I didn't get as many finished as I was hoping (will definitely start earlier this year), but I am happy with the ones I did complete.

(The red snowflake was given to my son's secret Santa recipient.)

List of the places I got the patterns: ILoveMyDesigns, NataliyaEmbroidery, and ZindagiDesigns

Lastly, one of my proudest finishes this December...

...shiny Eevee Evolutions for my son.

(I finished this on December 30th, around 10:30pm.  I was very determined to have it completed, before the start of the new year.)

A few close-ups of the characters...

(Pattern designed by 8bitstitching)

I had a lot of fun working on this piece, even though, I know nothing about Pokémon...

...the characters are adorable and I loved the bright colors.

And, before I close out 2016, I did start something exciting...

I started dying my own fabric!

The pieces pictured above have all been dyed with coffee or tea...

...I have really enjoyed the whole process and am looking forward to what new colors the new year will bring!

So, onto my stitching in the new year...

First, one new SAL...

...the Monthly Magazine Pattern SAL...

Very simple, you start a new pattern from a magazine each month.

And, this is my first start...

It is from the February 2016 issue of Cross Stitcher magazine.

(If you are interested in more information about this SAL, you can join the Facebook group.  The name of the group is Monthly Magazine Pattern SAL.)

Then, I have my first finish of the new year...

Portrait of Princess Belle...

...really, really love this piece!  I have a framed picked out, just have to find time to completely finish the piece.

And, I started the Princess Jasmine portrait...

...hoping to complete this one, within the next couple days.

(Pattern (for both) can be found here: MyCrossStitching)

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

...like I said, lots of stitching.

I hope everyone is having a great week and a terrific 2017!

...Hope to be back with another update soon!