Another little finish

I am addicted to the BBD stockings, really I think I am. I find these little things such fun to stitch. They are colorful, they are quick to stitch even for someone like me who is a really slow stitcher. Really, what is not to like. I finished another one Thursday night at stitching group. I have been stalled on stitching them for a little while just because I had picked up a couple of other things, but once I pick them up I can't put them down. As soon as I figure out what I did with the fabric for them I will work on the other 2 stockings for February. These are travel pieces for me. I take them in my work bag as I have to wait a bit for my ride home after I get off work. Not much but a few stitches at a time add up.
I have gone back to stitching on Dorothy Walpole. I just love the colors on this one. I am still just at the top on the alphabet but it is such a great pattern.  I would love to have her as a finish this year.
I am frustrated with needing supplies and not being able to get them quickly. I am stitching a gift for a friend. I was done with the stitching and washed and ironed it ready to put the beads on and take it to the framer in time for her birthday. I made it to the very last small section and there were not enough of two of the colors of beads. Reason number one why I rarely buy kits. Now I will have to order those beads and wait for them to come in the mail.  That means it won't be ready by her birthday. Sigh. I really miss being able to just drive to a LNS and get what I need. Oh well, I am lucky to have great online stores to order from that will send me even just a couple packs of beads when I need them. I can't wait to get them as I really want to get this piece framed and delivered. I won't post a picture until she gets it but I will eventually post something.

Hope you have some stitchy time in your day. I am off to work on Sally Munro.
Marjo

Time flies...

I don't know where March and April went. I can't believe it is already May. I did start the month with a new finish. I always try to do the SAL with Ellen Chester's newsletter group. I almost always start one of them. Finish, not so much. I am proud to report I have actually started and finished one of the two chosen samplers. I did the Trenner Darning Sampler and enjoyed every stitch. I used Devonshire Cream and a beautiful rose colored AVAS silk. I love the way it turned out and am really thrilled with it.  I love the accomplishment of a finish no matter the size of it.

I am starting the other design, Rachel Hyde for the SAL as well. I got the pattern, fabric and threads and hope to start it over the weekend.
I am going to start back on Sally Munro as well. It has a lot of rice stitches (the entire border is done in rice stitch) and I find that a fun stitch to do as well.  I am enjoying the history lessons provided with this class. I will update with a photo on Sally next time but I am afraid there is not much to see.
Hope your day is full of stitching.
Marjo in Alaska

Some stitching progress

I did order some new books all stitching related. One came today "Seventeenth and Eighteenth century fashion in detail" by Avril Hart and  Susan North. Over 200 pages of drawings and color plates of the embroidery detail. Better than I had even anticipated. I have purchased a couple of other stitching related books.

Stitching is slow going around here. Mostly because I am working so much overtime that by the time I get home I am too tired to stitch. It is that time of year where the light gets longer so that makes stitching easier on the eyes. I have purchased way too much stitching of late. I have so much I want to stitch and so little time to work on it as well.  I am really enjoying my class with Sally Munro. The webcast was confusing to me to log into (my fault entirely) and I am glad it is reposted on the website for reviewing. I love the colors on this and really want to finish it but no way am I going to be able to keep up with it. I have not been able to keep up with Amy Mitten either just not enough hours to stitch. I am downloading it all and will keep working on it. I do love both of them. I think I will just do class stitching until I am all caught up. I will add Dorothy Walpole back once I catch up and Mary Wigham. I have to get more disciplined. I have two small pieces that I am working on in between as well. I love doing the BBD stockings but even those are behind. It is all okay. I love every stitch.

I need to start shopping my own stash. But it seems every time I say that some new design comes out and there goes my resolve. I want to get the new LHN Lisa Snow sampler. Love the roses across the bottom of that. I need to wait a bit though. These classes are going to take up most of my stitching time for the next while. But that never stopped me from looking.

My last progress picture from Mary Wigham. I love the colors and they are even nicer than this picture shows. 

This is my updated Anniversaries of the Heart. Very little progress on this. I am stitching it on 40 count with recommended colors. 

I did want to thank two people who left comments on a previous post giving me an award for blogs that have less than 100 followers. I really appreciate it. 

I hope you are all getting lots of stitchy time in this week. I promise to post more pictures soon. I really am stitching more than I am blogging. 

Hope you have a stitchy day.

Dorothy, you'll have to take my word for it

Dorothy Walpole

At this point Dorothy Walpole is just a green border line. I had changed out the fabric since I did not like the fabric that I got with the design. I used Vintage Pecan Butter and it is a great color. I have worked across the top part of the border so I could be sure that the piece would fit before I got too much done. I am enjoying this piece and look forward to getting more time with her. I hope to spend Saturday's working on it as normally that is the day I spend the most time stitching.

Winter Carnation BBD

I am loving the BBD stockings. They are so much fun. I finished Auld Lang Syne stocking. It is a cute thing. I moved on to the second stocking from January named Winter Carnation and finished that during the Super Bowl. Great colors that are cheerful for this grey time of year in Alaska. I think the birthday one which is the third one from January will be one I make more than once. How cute to put a small gift in and give to friends as a keepsake. I think I will use them as gift tags. Quick fun stitch.

Be My Valentine Drawn Thread

I have signed up for several classes this year. I just love learning about needlework. I am taking the Amy Mitten class on thread winders. I got the fabric and thread packet in the mail today. I am looking forward to starting it. I would love to keep up with it and finish on time with the class . I have also signed up for Sally Munro with the Essamplaire. I hope to get started with it on time as well. The kit has not yet been received for that but I am sure it will be here soon. Not like I don't have something to work on in the mean time. That is why I did not start any other large projects except Dorothy Walpole this year. I knew I was going to take some classes. I just got my chart of Ann Dale from the Attic. It is missing a couple of colors that were back ordered.  That is for a SAL that is being run by the Attic. I intend to do both SAL from Ellen Chester's annual newsletter stitch a long. I have wanted to do a darning sampler and the other sampler is just lovely.  I have one more class upcoming that starts in May. It is an 18 month long class on Needlework Caskets. I have always wanted one and this seemed the best way to get one -  take a class. I am really looking forward to each of these classes for different reasons. Most of all because I love needlework  and learning about needlework is something I particularly enjoy.
I have gotten some small seasonal charts. One of the ones most recently received is a Valentine small design by Drawn Thread. The colors are just gorgeous. I want to do a small seasonal Valentine display for next year. I have some pincushions, some free patterns for smalls and a little pillow. Along with this will be a few small framed pieces including this new Drawn thread, a new Shepherd's Bush and new little Lizzie Kate. I think they will look great together.
Hope you have some stitchy time in your week.
Marjo

Snow and stitches

bird feeders and house out back

Out my front door

Kori enjoying the snow

We are in serious need of some shoveling. It snowed again yesterday, but that is okay because that means it warmed up enough to snow.  The first is shot is out the back door, the second the front steps and the third is the back with the dog who has made a path to under a tree when there is enough room to move around. The sky is blue today and bright sunshine makes for a cheerful day. I am looking forward to some stitching time and the next few shots are of my Blackbird design stocking. One finish and the next two are different shots of the small progress I have made on the second stocking. These are quite fun and I am loving stitching on these in between the big projects I always seem to choose. 

Blackbird designs auld lange syne

Winter Carnation BBD

Hope you are enjoying your stitching as much as I am,  Hope you have lots of stitching time in your day. Marjo

a little bit of progress

I have been stitching a little bit on the monthly teacup designs that were out a couple of years ago or so. I collected  them but never stitched them. I stitched this yesterday. There are lots of reflections from the magnifier-  we are adding more light but not that much yet so evening pictures are always after dark. That is the top of the cap and the handle of the cup. I am going to keep working on this tonight. I would love to get this finished and move onto another month. At this rate it would be February's cup. I have also been stitching on Dorothy Walpole, my January 1st start. I am loving this. I decided to move all the way across the top because I wanted to be sure I had cut the fabric correctly.  I was afraid I was too narrow but no, it is good.

I am also working on the monthly January Blackbird stockings. I just picked one up last night. It was great fun and hope to finish it tonight.  I am so enjoying these designs.

Santa by Homespun Elegance is coming along. I have taken it with me to my stitch group but it works for me for late night stitching when I am tired.  I am waiting for the thread to come in for the bag Santa is carrying but I still have plenty to do.
Hope you have some stitchy time this week.
Marjo

Progress of an odd sort

Homespun Elegance Gifts to you

I am sure this will be perfectly clear what I am stitching on this week, or maybe not. I have been working late hours and by the time it is stitching time here at home  I have been too tired to work on small count fabric so I decided to pull out this Santa from Homespun Elegance and put some stitches into it. It is on huge count fabric and boy does it eat up the thread. This is his shoulder (in case you couldn't tell) and there is much more to fill in. I found as I was working on this that I do not have all the thread for it. So another order had to be made. Having to place an order just for thread is one of the biggest aggravations of living in Alaska. So instead of moving on  to his bag of goodies I had to go back to his red coat. I guess I could have moved over the other way toward the beard, I will head there when I pick up later.

Sally Munro Essamplaire

Tonight was supposed to be our stitch night but the weather is so bad we just decided to stay home. I have read all the blogs I follow, looked at all the stores I like online and signed up for the Essamplaire class as well. Just what I need is another project but I have loved the look of this one since it came out in a previous newsletter. Picture is from the Essamplaire website. I enjoy taking classes as I always learn so much and I have always enjoyed the classes from Essamplaire.
I leave you with a picture from my drive home, this female was headed into the hospital stopping for a snack as I was headed home, note the blowing snow out there....that is why I am home stitching.....
Hope you have some stitchy time in your day.

Marjo