Paper Snowflakes

I have been working on Paper Snowflakes this week.  I just love this design!

I finished up the deer yesterday.

40 ct. Vintage Pecan Butter, Various over-dyed cotton threads (1 over 2)

Knitting and Stitching

Since starting work I have to knit and stitch when I can.  Lately it's been in the car before work or during my lunch hour, with marathon stitching on Saturday.  Saturday is usually my day to do nothing!

I finished a pair of socks...

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock (size 2 dpns)

I used this pattern - An Anklet a Day.  

I also started Hourglass Throw by Brooklyn Tweed.  I have had this yarn in my stash forever!

Debbie Bliss Merino Aran (size 8&9 needles)

I have also been working on Manor at Peacock Hill.  I decided to change the called for green colors for the peacock to a more teal color to match the pattern picture.  The colors I chose are GAST Brethren Blue and CC Shamrock.

35 ct. Olde Town Blend (various cotton over-dyed threads, 1 over 2)

I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out.  I also couldn't resist starting another With Thy Needle & Thread project - Paper Snowflakes.  

40 ct. Vintage Pecan Butter by Lakeside (Various cotton over-dyed threads, 1 over 2)

I'm loving it!  Too bad I can't stitch at my desk! :)

Myrtle Beach

I just got back from a great weekend at the Cross Stitch Pals retreat in Myrtle Beach.  I believe this was my forth time attending at it was so much fun!  It was so good to see everyone again.  It was cloudy and rainy, but it didn't matter - it was perfect stitching weather!

View from my room Saturday morning

I didn't get many pictures at all. I was too busy stitching, talking, and laughing! I did get a picture of a finish I had while there...

With Thy Needle & Thread "August Word Play"

Fabric: 40 ct. Vintage Pecan Butter

Threads: GAST

Started: 8/13 - Finished: 10/19/13

New Start!

After a long week at my new job, I decided to treat myself with a new start!  I got With Thy Needle & Threads's Manor at Peacock Hill in the mail last week and decided to start on Saturday.

35 ct. Olde Town Blend, GAST, WDW & Valdani (1 over 2)

I got more stitched, but unfortunately, it had to be ripped out.  I'm back on track and will take another picture soon.  Hope you all had a good weekend!

I got a Job (almost)!

I'm sure you all have noticed that I made my blog private (I have decided to reopen my blog as of 10/29/13).  I made that decision because I was in the process of getting job (which I have now gotten).  I have been stitching and knitting a little bit.

I started Paulette's 1837 Crown Sampler using Katrina's conversion a few weeks ago.

40 ct. Vintage Examplar, GAST and WDW threads (1 over 2)

And I have been slowly working on August Word Play (we'll see if I can finish before October).  

40 ct. Vintage Pecan Butter, GAST threads (1 over 2)

I have also been knitting dishcloths and socks.  Only the socks haven't quite been working out.  I have been mainly ripping.  I did finish one, but it was a little tight.

In other news... I found a knitting and stitching group near me.  It has been so nice to meet up with people nearby!  Well, hopefully, it won't take me so long to update again (I've been saying that a lot lately).  

Summer Vacation is Over!

We had a very lazy first half of our summer vacation and the second half just flew by!  We went up to Michigan for 10 days and then spent a week in Florida.  I uploaded our vacation pics to my Flickr Album the other day.  We had so much fun and the boys were sad to start school on Wednesday.  They are missing those lazy days very much!

While in Michigan I started Little House Needleworks "Needleworker" pattern, which I got when we made a quick stop at The Stitch and Frame shop in Rock Hill.

I finished it up after we got home from Florida.  It was a great vacation project!  The fabric being 35 ct. made it easy to stitch anywhere.

35 ct. Abecedarian Blend, Crescent Colours threads (1 over 2)

Happy 4th of July!

I have a small finish today!

June Word Play

Even though it's for June it's still a little patriotic.  We cooked out today and promptly got rained on, so we had to run in the house with our soggy paper plates!  I took this picture after the rain cleared up...

I hope you all have a very happy and safe 4th of July!

A little Behind!

I just finished two models for Plum Street Samplers, which is why I haven't been posting. After I finished the models I decided to get back to my May Word Play and I got it finished up last night. I'm going to get started on June next and then finally get caught up with July. :)

40 ct. Vintage Pecan Butter, GAST threads (1 over 2)
I made it up to my somewhat LNS today to get some threads for various projects and the newest SANQ.


Now that I'm back I plan to sit and stitch until it's time to make dinner! :)

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Eyelets

I got Dorothy Walpole back out and worked on some more Eyelet Stitches.  There seem to be hundreds of them!!  This was my progress on Monday...

And this was Tuesday...

40 ct. Vintage Pecan Butter, AVAS threads

I decided to take a little break from eyelets to start something small - May Word Play.  Here are the beautiful threads on the linen.

This was my progress as of yesterday...

40 ct. Vintage Examplar, GAST threads (1 over 2)

Today, I let the boys play hooky and I took them up to Myrtle Beach to see their grandma and great aunt and to swim in the hotel/condo pool.  Check out this view!  It was a beautiful day, but very hot!  Thankfully, there were some indoor pools too!

I hope to get the May Word Play finished up soon and then get started on June (and get back to those eyelets too)!

More Works in Progress

Wow!  Three posts in three days!  I haven't done that in a long time.  I thought I'd share a few more things that I've been working on a lately.

I got a little bit more done on Frances Pool.  I'm done with the bottom part of the sampler now...

40 ct. Vintage Lt. Examplar, GAST threads

Next, I finished up the dog in the middle of Charlotte Clayton.  I keep putting this one down because of all the color changes.  I will get back to it soon though!

40 ct. Vintage Sand Dune, NPI threads

Last is Dorothy Walpole.  I got some of the eyelet stitches done above the bargello.  I definitely want to get back to this one soon too.

40 ct. Vintage Pecan Butter, AVAS threads

I hope you all have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend!

Two New Starts!

I'm really going to try to be a better blogger and post more!  My first new start is "I Sigh Not for Beauty."  I really fell in love with sampler after seeing Cathy B's finished sampler.

I'm using a combination of Belle Soie and NPI silks.  The fabric is 35 ct. Straw linen by Weeks Dye Works.

I also decided to start "Isabella Fox."  I saw Cari's sampler when we met up in Florida and fell in love!  It's so gorgeous!!

I'm using a combination of silk threads and 40 ct. Vintage Sand Dune linen.  

Sarah's House Finished!

I decided to work on Sarah's House over the weekend to try to get it finished up.  I put the last stitch in today.  I don't know why I neglected it for so long.  It didn't take long to finish once I got started again.

Blackbird Designs "Sarah's House"

Linen: 40 ct. Vintage Examplar

Threads: Belle Soie, Dinky Dyes and Silk 'n Colors 

Started: 7/24/12 - Finished: 5/22/13 

The only change I made was I stitched the large alphabet in eyelet stitch like the original sampler.  

Ruth Bacheler Finished!

I finally have a stitching finish to share!  I started Ruth way back in 2009.  I actually started it three different times until I was happy with the colors.  I'm so glad I got back to it and got it finished!

The Scarlet Letter "Ruth Bacheler 1717"

Linen: 34 ct. Cafe au Lait Legacy Linen (coffee/tea-dyed)

Threads: DMC

Started: 5/09 - Finished 5/7/13

The DMC threads I used are actually a conversion given to me by Katrina.  She has a great eye for color and I know she won't mind if I share that conversion with you...


The called for color is on the left (next to the symbol), the color I used is on the right. The initials in the parenthesis are used for the Irish stitch points and Bargello.  
L (R) 326 – 304
X (GG) 734 – 834
O (P) 224 – Same
colored in circle (DO) 733 – 730
- (W) 746 – Same
V (G) 320 – 502
upside down V (LG) 3053 – Same
C (BP) 309 – 899
I (PG) 834 – 676
+ (LO) 734 – 733
S (blue) 809 – 3752
 (dark brown) 3371 - Same

Lots Going On!

Well, we've owned this house for a little over a month now and it's still hard to believe that it's ours.  We finally got around to painting the table and chairs black.  We were going to go through all these steps and we ended up just using spray paint and I think they turned out great (and again, when I say we, I mean Chris).  He did a great job!





Here is a slightly fuzzy picture of how the table and chairs looked before...

So much better!  They were pretty beat up!

Chris also painted the barstools to match.  These are just cheapo stools from Wal-Mart!

We just got back from Florida where we spent spring break.  We spent Easter weekend with my dad and then the week after with my mom.  The boys had so much fun in the warm weather - swimming and playing outside.  They were glad to be out of the cold and so was I.

While in Florida, I picked up a couple things at IKEA.  First, I found the cutest bed for our guest room/bonus room.

And then I found a pretty outdoor umbrella for our patio set.

I would love to get this table for our (empty) dining room, but that will have to wait a bit...

I'm having fun decorating our new house, but now I'm ready to stitch!  I have been working on Ruth Bacheler quite a bit lately.

34 ct. Cafe au Lait Legacy Linen (coffee and tea-dyed), DMC threads (2 over 2)

I also started Dutch Beauty.  I keep asking myself what I'm thinking starting something so big!  It's so pretty though, and I think it will look great over my bed one day.  I really decided to start after seeing Paulette's finish.

I'm stitching it on 40 ct. Bisque, which I coffee-dyed to make it a little more cream and I'm using DMC threads.

Hopefully, we'll start to get into a routine now and things won't be so crazy. :)

We've Been Busy!

Finally, things are getting back to normal around here. Before we moved in my husband was coming over to the house to paint after work and on the weekend. This is the kitchen before...
It wasn't bad, it was just a little dark. This is the kitchen after....
We (my husband) painted it Repose Grey by Sherwin Williams and added new stainless steel appliances. I think it brightened it up nicely.

My husband also painted the dining room. This is the before...
And this is the after...
It's also painted Repose Grey by Sherwin Williams. We're very happy with how it turned out. We just need some furniture in there now!

We also painted the bedroom. And when I say we, I mean my husband. I picked out the paint, he did all the work. I just offered moral support and food.

Bedroom before....
Bedroom after....
Chris painted it Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams. I love the color. It's so soothing! I can't wait to get my samplers hung up in there (we also need some new lamps)!

The last thing I did was get new cushions for the patio furniture. The ones they had on there were pretty old and faded.
Oreo loves hanging out on the cushions in the sun. I was able to get a couple stitches in out there too!
But then it turned cold, so I've been doing all my stitching inside. I have been working on Ruth Bacheler (pictured above) and Dororthy Walpole. Maybe I'll get them finished this year??

Thanks for letting me share my new home. I'll share more pictures soon!

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