In Time for Christmas

I actually finished this several months ago, except for the "finishing".  The arrival of Christmas has spurred me to finish Madi's stocking so that it can be hung. I bought enough felt in the same color to finish all the stockings if I ever get them all completed.

Time for Change?

I think I am getting to the point where it's time to take a break with this never ending project. I can't remember when I started it. A couple of years ago I think. I know I have completed several projects in the mean time. But this project is totally stitched. All full stitches with lots of shading. So it takes a lot of time to figure out where I am when I start back. I think I am going to start the second in the stockings for my family. Who is the lucky one this time. I'm not telling.
Anyway, here is where I'm leaving off from Winter Moonlight

Framed

Here's my Seaside Wedding framed for the couple-to-be.

The Last turn

I will finish this by the wedding! I realize that saying this almost guarantees a major problem developing in the next few days. But I do feel confident. I'm always nervous when I'm stitching something that has to meet in a particular place. Like a border or in this case a heart. There is a line of stitches that creates the design. It met exactly where it was supposed to the first try. I did have to buy an additional skein of embroidery floss, #739. That's okay. I have so much floss that one more won't kill me, but it does amaze me that when I have ten boxes of the stuff, there is always a couple that I have to replace whenever I'm working on a project.

Here's Seaside Wedding

Another Finish

Last night I put the final stitches in what I'm planning to finish as a pillow for my sister. She loves dragonflies and gardening. So, I thought of her immediately when I saw this design. This is a series of stepping stones with sayings on them. I don't think I will continue with the series though. It uses a specialty floss that I don't think makes that it is worth the extra price of the floss. So, she'll just get the one.

I almost gave up

A couple of days ago, I had a night of insomnia. I hate lying there, unable to sleep. So, I got up. Watched tv, read, played computer games and finally picked up my stitching. I stitched away. This is a fairly uncomplicated pattern, but suddenly, there it was. A Glaring Mistake. I noticed it when I was stitching the top line of one of the bottom blocks. It was off by one when compared to the backstitched verse. I looked and looked and could not see where the mistake was. I was afraid to even think how many stitches I was going to have to remove to fix it. I am not one of those stitchers who can overlook a mistake. As I said, this was a glaring one, if only to me and I knew it would be mocking me as I stitched forward, especially as I did not know where the error was, so I couldn't compensate somewhere else, even though this pattern as I said is not that complicated. So, in the midst of my insomnia, I made a decision. I was going to stop working on this project. It is not often that I do quit once I start, but this was not a project that "had" to be done, and I did not want a project full of angst. So, I regretfully put it away, fully intending to never look at it again.
But, in the full light of day, I decided to give it one last try. And lo and behold, the error was in the backstitched verse. Not in the stitching itself. A fairly easy error to fix. It did involve taking out most of the verse, but that isn't a real struggle for me. Especially, when it could have been many, many stitches of the specially dyed floss that is so expensive. I was so happy and am now back on track. Picture later.

They can get married now

I won't be standing there when the minister says, Does anybody have a reason why this couple should not get married, saying "Wait, I've got a few more stitches". It's done now. And signed, sealed and only needing to be framed. Pardon the wrinkles and folds, but it is complete.

I've started back on a smallish one for my sister. She's the one that I'm afraid might not welcome anymore creations. She once asked me if I thought Mama might be getting tired of getting my work. But she is going to get it anyway, want it or not. I saw it and thought of her immediately. So there!

Seaside Wedding

I will finish this project before the wedding. I realize that just making this statement almost guarantees that I will have a complication in the next few days. But it is coming along. The wedding is in October and I am almost through with all except the backstitching. I don't know the couple well enough to know what their style is, so I hope it is something that will appeal to them. The beach seems to be a very popular theme these days.

Making progress, but on hold for now

I think I've made pretty good progress on Winter Moonlight. But it's once again on hold. I've been asked to do a wedding piece for a family member. So, while the wedding date is a few months away, I like to get it completed before the wedding. I've heard too many tales of by the time the piece is finished, so is the marriage. While I'm not worried about that in this case, I think it's a good idea to have to wedding piece finished by the wedding date and birth pieces to be ready for personalization by the time the child is born, if it's at all possible.

So, so long Winter Moonlight. Be back soon!!!

Winter Moonlight

I can't remember when I started this. It has been an ongoing project for a while. I know I was working on it when I got the commission for Wanda's grandsons. But it may have been longer than that. It is a beautiful Christmas picture which I plan to keep for myself. I love Christmas trees and I love the beach and this has both. It may get sidetracked again before I finish it, but I am back onto this one. I know I have stockings to stitch, but this one will make me happy. I did a beaded copy opicture for Bonnie a few years ago.
Here is where I'm at today.

Angel Cats Stocking Finish

Today I put the final stitches into Madi's Christmas stocking. Still left to do is the making of the stocking itself. But, I am so glad to have this one finished. I think I get tired of everything that takes a lot of time and has a lot of mistakes that I have had to correct. This kit proved exceptionally challenging. But here she is. For my Madi Girl.

The Winner

I donated one of my recently stitched items to my local African Violet Society, as a prize for our recent show. Here is a picture of the winner, Barbara Odgers with her prize.

Finished-Framed-Delivered

I took the memorial to Lance Eakes parents on Memorial Day. I think they liked it. I hope to find time to do another one soon.

Back Stitching Yuck!!!

I hate back stitching. It is so tedious. But as much as I hate it, I have to admit, that usually it makes a tremendous difference in the appearance of the piece. I am basically through with the stitching of Madi's Christmas stocking. I have a few places where I have missed a stitch as well as the metallic stitching. I started stitching with the gold braid at the top, but noticed that with all the handling it was getting, that stitching was coming out and/or becoming frayed. So, I decided to do that last. So, I'm backstitching, filling in and doing the braid now. Once that's done, I have to figure out how to make it into a stocking. I've never done that before, but I don't think it will be a problem. I don't intend to use the red fabric that came with the kit. It seems flimsy and cheap looking. I plan to put some sort of backing on the stitching to make sure the stitches don't get pulled out. Probably an iron on interfacing. Then, I'll probably use red felt for the back of the stocking.

Now to get it framed

Here is the completed project, minus laundering and framing. I'm pretty happy with it, but it would have looked better if his name were shorter. The family wanted his entire name, no initials. So,  that's what I did.

Next of Kin contacted

I finally talked with Lance's father yesterday. I will begin the personalization this weekend. Then find a mat and frame. I hope to get it to them within two weeks.

Memorial Project Update

I am now awaiting confirmation that my hero's family does want a memorial. I think this project took me less than three weeks from start to finish. Well, not completely finished. I'm waiting to do the personalizing until I get the confirmation.

Memorial Project

I think I am making good progress. A couple of hiccups here and there. I know I shouldn't stitch when I'm tired. It makes for stupid mistakes.

But I am back on track and once I get the stars in place inside the heart/flag, I will be able to just fill in the blue. that will give it a more complete look.

New Project

No pictures yet, but I have begun a new project. I've put Madi's stocking on hold for a while. It's months and months until Christmas anyway. I'm about eighty percent through with it.
But, for a breather, I've started a new project. I've begun to stitch a memorial for a fallen soldier from the Iraq war. He is a local fellow, but I didn't know him. The design seems to be working up fairly quickly. I've done a good amount of the navy blue, in the first direction only. I'm going to try to get as much of the design half done as possible, so that I can take it with me when I am in the car. This design only has four colors of floss, so that is going to make it much simpler to stitch.  More later......

Quick Project

A hostess gift for Barbara, our long distance TAVS member. It was a quick stitch, less than 2 days. It took that long mainly because I had to wait until I could hit Michael's for a couple of floss colors that somehow I ran out of. I have at least twelve boxes of floss but was missing two that I needed for this one project.

I've Started the Third Kitty

There are three kittys and three mice. I have completed two cats and one mouse. I think I'm making real progress. It seems to be going faster than it was for a while.

Progress Made

I think I'm finally further than I was when I started over. I  think it's going pretty well, but I have to say I think that this project is not going to give me the sense of satisfaction that I was hoping it would. That's a shame because I want anything that's for Madi to be filled with positivity. Is that a word? But, it has her name on  it and I'm determined to make it hers. I just hope that I will feel better about it after it's finished. But here is the project as it stands a couple of days ago. It doesn't  photograph very well in it's unironed state.

Time to Brag

But not on myself.
Today, I finally received the replacement floss for Angel Cats. Not only did they send me the orange kitty floss, which was all I was expecting. They sent me the entire list of floss, all separated and labeled. PLUS, a new piece of fabric. Because I have had such problems with this kit, I have decided to start anew. The replacement fabric is a little larger than the first. Also, I won't have to worry about whether the colors merge with the DMC. I am happy again with Madi's angel kitties. I have already kitted it up and taped my fabric. Now to get started on stitching. This time, I'm starting at the top and going down. No in the middle for me this time.

February Finish

Last night I finished the bookmark I have been working on. I got the chart from the internet. It was a freebie. Instructions were in what looks like Russian, but it was so simple that I had no problems. I did convert the floss from Anchor to DMC. I liked how it turned out.

Almost.....

I have had a productive weekend on my latest cross stitch project. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow. I think it will be finished by then. I guess I'll have to either have some stitching down time or start another project if the replacement floss doesn't come tomorrow. If it doesn't come this week, I'm changing the design. It's leaving me with very negative feelings. I can't have that for my Madi's project.

Still Waiting

I contacted the kit manufacturer a couple of days ago. She assured me my replacement floss was on the way. She said the bad weather had slowed things down. But, that is not helping me. I've well over half finished with my small project and I have had very little time for stitching during the past few days.  I really believe in positive feedback when it is deserved. For instance, whenever I need replacement floss from Dimensions, I get it before I even expect it. They are so on top of things. But this company seems to be run by one person, who is badly overworked. I won't mention names, because I still have hope and I do want to give everybody a fair chance, but I for sure will not purchase another kit from this company.

Is it a Sign?

Last week I wrote about all of my troubles with the kitty cat stocking. I have been impatiently awaiting the arrival of the replacement floss. It still has not come. I refuse to put anymore time and energy into a project that seems doomed.
So, I have started a smallish project. A bookmark that only has about ten colors and no backstitching. So far, I have about a fourth of it stitched. The only negative is that I'm using 18 count fabric. Not the best for my almost 60 year old eyes. But it does have the advantage of seeing the actual progress as I work. I don't have to work for days to be able to see what I have done.
But, I'm wondering. Is the fact that there is yet another delay in Angel Cats mean that it isn't meant to be? I'll have to wait to decide for sure if I don't get the replacement floss by the time I've finished the bookmark.

Grrrr

This project is going soooo slowly. Not only have I seemed to have lost my enthusiasm for Madi's stocking, (how could I, it's Madi's) but the stocking itself seems to have decided to thwart my every stitch.
At the very beginning, I tried sorting the floss that was included in the kit. Nothing and I mean Nothing was correct in the kit. I couldn't match the colors in the usual way. Plus there were three symbols in the personalization that had no corresponding color of floss. So, I did my usual thing when confronted with a kit issue. I found the company online and contacted them, explaining my delimna. I never heard a word. But about a week later, (after I had decided to convert the floss to DMC, via Cyberstiches) I received a big manilla envelope in the mail with a handful of floss and a chart. Not the Angel Cat stocking that I am stitching, but a Snowman stocking that doesn't bear the slightest resemblance. It isn't even close in the numbers, which makes me really wonder who's manning the helm. So, I recontacted them, telling them that while I appreciated the effort I had already solved most of my problem, one still remained. I did not know what colors to use for the personalization. Almost immediately, I received a reply telling me to use 666 and 703. Well that looked pretty close, but there were three symbols. I decided to overlook that and continue stitching.
Fast forward to last week. I finally got to the first kitty. I picked this kit because two of the kitties were orange kitties. Like Madi's. Misty, Tom & Jerry. This kit had two orange cats and one gray. I had already thought about making all of the kitties orange, but then I started stitching. The substituted colors were totally wrong. The dark rust was really dark brown and the orange cat was turning into a muddy mess. Soooo, I contacted them again. Immediately, I got a response offering to send me the proper colors. We decided that she would send me the proper colors, sorted and labeled. So now I am waiting for them to arrive. I have frogged all the kitties and am trying to work on other areas while I am waiting.

New Year, New Project

Now that I am finally back into stitching mode, I'd like to have more to show than I do at the moment. As I said in an earlier post, my goal is to stitch a Christmas stocking for each member of my immediate family. That will be a total of six. Giving myself a year to do each one will  leave time for other projects, and hopefully, I won't get discouraged before I finish.
I've started with Madi's. She's the youngest and should get her stocking first. She's the only child and really, she was the most helpful in picking out her theme. I'm already beginning to second guess myself though. She wanted angels. And they have lots of cats. So, I found a stocking with angel kitties. I hope she'll like it. I've gotten some done on it already, but even I can't make any sense of my stitched areas at this point. So, no point in posting a picture until I can see some actual progress.

Final Twin Pics

Here are the pictures of the twins birth pieces, framed.....