Lost time.

Where does the time go?  Good thing I didn't think I was going to do a post a day during December!  I couldn't even get my November small and finish posted.

We remodeled an empty bedroom into a new office/den and I am SO DISORGANIZED!  It's hard to move your office space.  I had some built in storage and am now trying to figure out the right way to store stuff using an old farm house table as a desk.  It does not help that my cats LOVE this room and race in whenever they see me heading there.  As you can imagine, they are so very helpful, not.

I do have some finishes, though.

Making project bags is all the rage right now.  Since I've been kitting and starting all willy-nilly having some new project bags has served me well.

The pattern: Zippered Style File by The Quilt Company is a very easy and fun pattern that has taught me not to fear zippers. (It is just a project sheet so I can't show a picture and I also couldn't find a link aside from where a shop could buy a large quantity of these patterns...sorry.)  The instructions are clear and 'almost' fool proof.  Of course, if you zip the zipper shut then keep pulling the tab right off the end of the entire zipper before sewing the edges, you're going to have a problem. I only did that once (and then again while making the little Lazy Girl bags).

These bags use any combination of fabric you want between the front pocket,

the back pockets...there is one with a velcro flap

and one that you can just slip things into...

and the lining.

I kept looking at my fabric collection and seeing more and more options so I kept making them.

I pulled out my serger and gave it a nice work out.

I have gifted a few of these and filled the rest.

My next zipper adventure was using a Lazy Girl pattern called:  Sweetpea Pods.  This pattern uses a method where the zipper is taken apart and reassembled using only half of the zipper and the original pull.  These were also quite fun to make.

I gave some of these away, too.  They work well to hold little things in a project bag...like scissors.  I also filled them with pink Wonder Clips to give to some quilting friends.

Just in time for Bonnie Hunter's newest mystery I finished the one from last year.

I am not sure why it got neglected.  Probably between my Florida travel and costume making I just put it aside and never gave it a second thought.

I also remember not liking it all that much.  I'm not sure why.

On the cross stitch front I finished Tree Lot by Little House Needleworks.  I am a fool for any pattern with a tree in a truck or on the roof of a car.

I also finished Jeanette Douglas's Florida Sampler.

My HEAD got another page completed.  Because the background is just colors flowing left to right I sometimes go on over to the next page to end the color.  I learned from that tree that I better start practicing parking.  Even so, there were just so many random stitches that it took me forever to stitch that thing.

Did I mention how I decided to buy the down loadable pattern and the page breaks are different?  I completed page 1 from the paper pattern...which took up part of page 2 in the downloaded version.  Now that I'm following the downloaded pattern my pages are shorter.  I like using my ipad to follow a pattern, though.  I think the next page that falls all the way left is page 8.  I will be glad when I get there and find 25% of the picture already stitched!  

Believe it or not this post has taken me a week, or longer, to complete so I'm going to end it here and post my November and December finished items in another post.  

Happy Stitching.

Pam

A birthday.

Today is a birthday at my house.  Or, at the Boy Wonder's house!  

He is 24 today.  

Time sure flies.

Here he is taking a selfie...before the word 'selfie' even existed. I am going to guess he was 8.  

Happy Birthday! 

A picture...or 20... and everyone should have friends like this.

Where to begin.  It's only been a week or so since my last post but it's time to post about my October finishes and stuff like that.

But first...

I have to give a couple friends a high-five and a big thank you.

Yesterday I arrived at my Monday do-good community service locale close to 20 miles from home with a nearly flat tire.

The way things work in my house...in theory...is that I will iron the shirts and my husband will maintain the cars.  So, this city girl had little skills when it came to what to do aside from call AAA.  First I asked my friend Lisa to go get air with me.  Yeah Lisa!  She had the skills I lacked.  When it became obvious air wasn't going to solve my problem she hooked me up with a local tire repair shop and we took my car over.  Then, when the car wasn't finished after our day of good deeds...my two friends hung with me at the neighboring bar  coffee shop.  So sweet.  Everyone needs besties like this...can't thank you enough Lisa and Sally.

On to my October accomplishments.

My October small is Joy by Lizzie Kate from the 2007 JCS ornament issue.

Darn those dreaded corners.  If you don't put trim on the edge, no matter how accurate you are when sewing, the corners don't stuff or turn nicely.

My finish from my pile of unfinished pieces was this cute little Miss Crescent Colour's piece called Tick, Tack, Snow.  It finished up very nicely as an ornament.

I trimmed the edges with this bead-like trim.

I also stitched a Lizzie Kate that just called out to me from a basket of kits...Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle.  This piece gave my tons of fits.  While gently tugging a knot I ripped 2 threads in the fabric!  Oh, man!  There are a variety of possible solutions but I decided to put a piece of fusible web on the back...which was strong enough to hold the stitches... then I put a second piece on just to secure the stitches.  The 'Stitch a Gift' frame came with a piece of fusible batting that is also applied to the back of the piece.  Those stitches are not coming out.  I just couldn't get a decent photo to dare you to find the repaired area.  Because it's under the white thread the picture was just too blurry.

This finish also had to go into a couple of ice baths because first the green then the red ran.  The piece got a drop of water on it from my ironing board cover.  I tried to just work on that spot but then the red had to get into the act.  It was so close to going into the garbage.

I also took a couple finishes to be framed.  Lady Bug, Lady Bug came out so sweet.  I can't wait until summer rolls around again to hang it on the wall.

I think this dark green frame is one of my favorites. 

Since Christmas is coming I also took Country Cottage Needlework's Christmas Carol in for framing.

Love that light green frame and the little white insert.

I almost forgot two other little pieces I recently completed...

Liberty by Midsummer Night Designs.

And, Cat Tricks by With Thy Needle and Thread.

Poor kitty dressed up like a pumpkin!

That has certainly turned out to be a lot of projects finished all of a sudden.  Now I will probably go back to feeling like everything is taking forever.  I have quite a few large pieces in the works but am trying to take time away to work on smaller pieces now and again.  I've pulled several Christmas patterns that I hope to stitch in the next couple of months.

Happy Stitching.

Pam

September's small and finish.

I have stayed on track with a finish out of my unfinished pile and a finished small each month.  But, as the year goes on it is taking me longer and longer to get them finished...often into the first days of the next month.  October is liable to be a complete fail unless I come up with something fast.  It is an all around busy month.

My finish out of the pile is this cute little Christmas piece stitched earlier this year.  Primitive Stocking by Waxing Moon Designs.

My small is another patriotic piece.  Liberty Flag by Lizzie Kate.  I used all the same elements as the two previous patriotic finishes.

I now have a trio of matching little pillows.

I have not come up with a small yet for October.  I was looking through my old Just Cross Stitch ornament issues and think I'll pick an easy one since it's already the 20th!

Happy Stitching,

Pam

A little finish and a little organizing.

First, my table runner finish.  A fun fall applique.  I like any and all patterns that feature an old pick up filled with something....pumpkins, a Christmas tree, etc.

I bought a kit with the pattern at a nearby quilt shop.

I have to say, though, SHAME on my local quilt shop!  First, they cut width of fabric when it should have been fats.  Just fat 8th, no less.  Neither that truck nor the house can fit on an eighth yard width of fabric. I had to cut off part and make a seam to have the width.  Come on!  Secondly, nowhere did the kit say:  You better work on this with your stash nearby.  Or:  Warning!  Don't take this on a get-a-way or retreat because we have not included various bits of fabric that you'll need.  For shame.  And they do plenty of belly aching about how shoppers are quick to go to the Internet to shop.

Anywho, on to the cross stitch portion of this post.

I know we all struggle with how to organize our stuff.  Our patterns, our fabric, our ongoing projects and UFO's.  I am planning a major sewing room over-haul this fall/winter.  I have a wall of metal shelves that we will remove and replace with tall cabinets with doors.  I opted for the metal shelves in the first place because I like seeing my stuff.  I operate under the theory that out of sight is out of mind. Fast forward a bunch of years and my stuff has taken over and just looks messy.

So, first I needed to deal with a huge over-flowing basket of cross stitch patterns.

I bought a couple file boxes and created files for the more popular designers and a miscellaneous file for each season.

 
Some kits and books are in the back...Oh, look!  I worked hard to find that book with French words. I like foreign words in stitching.  I need to pull that book out and stitch something.

My boxes look so neat and tidy.  Then I spied some more patterns on my table.  Drat.  I hate to put them away because I really want to stitch these now!

But, what about the baskets by my upstairs stitching chairs?

Not one,

but two baskets of 'nexts'.

Wait...what about the basket on the trunk by that very same chair?  I really did cringe and wished not to look.

You have no idea what is in there!  Some big pieces, some patterns, and some kits.

I am trying.  Trying to stitch like a crazy person.  I can't say I'm not buying because there are new things every day!

I've been watching Floss Tube and I've gotta say...I have nothing compared to some stitchers!  Next year is a new year with a new plan to stitch more than I buy.  Seems reasonable, right?  We'll see.

Pam

Pictures a plenty.

I have framing and stitching progress!  I rarely snap a photo of a project in the works but for my HEAD there really does need to be progress photos as it's a project that will take a couple years.

First, the framing.  I am so excited to have this long neglected WIP done-done-done.

Glendon Place's Murky Manor sat in a box neglected for 5+  years.  I hauled it to Florida last winter and worked diligently.  I put it aside for a while and reluctantly got busy and finally finished it this spring.

The frame is a lovely rustic purple that matches the fabric.  The fabric that was TORTURE to work on!  I have a whole bunch left.  I am having trouble imagining what I might stitch on it.  It's 36 count, a bit small for me, and linen with no...what would you call it?...body?  So flimsy and floppy.

The next piece is Jenny Bean's Garden Sampler by Shakespeare's Peddler.

This was another piece that was not enjoyable to work on.  Not so much the stitching or the fabric...more the pattern.  There were missing symbols on the key and it was printed (copied?) onto cheap copy paper so it was a mess by the time I was done.

I chose another rustic frame...this one is really green, not the blue pictured, and matches the fabric nicely.

Finally, Up on the Rooftop by Drawn Thread.

This is one of those patterns that you knock out the alphabet in no time and then are surprised by how long the rest takes.

Another rustic frame but isn't that red just perfect?  I need to get a nap brush for Santa's beard.  It's on my shopping list for when I make another trip to my somewhat LNS.


I finally managed to pull out my HEAD.  Vibrant Vista's is my first Heaven and Earth Design.  I have long admired HEAD patterns and knew I'd start one someday.  I purchased this pattern along with a Christmas one.  I forget the title...Town Square maybe.  It's not available anymore but I hope I get through this one so I can do that one, too.

Below is my progress so far.  Page 1 and page 2.

 It doesn't look like much does it?  A funny thing happened between page 1 and page 2.  I discovered the Goodreader app on my ipad.  It was love at first use.  So, when Heaven and Earth had a sale I purchased Vibrant Vista's as a pdf.  The strange thing is that my paper version is large print so I bought the large print pdf version but the pages are spaced differently.  I thought I'd complete the full page 2 to match the paper version size but flipping from page to page on the app was a pain. (Really, just flipping from page 2 to page 9 to get the bottom of the design.)  Also, my paper page 2 divided the tree while the app's page 3 encompassed the whole tree top so I thought I'd just leave the tree until page 3.  Make sense?  Anyhow, that's why my page 2 block looks shorter than my page 1 block.  I am also trying out 'parking'.  When I get to the tree there are lots of odds and ends of stitches.  So far, I'm finding the stray threads a pain.  So, we'll see.

I am using the Magic Grid fabric available from the Heaven and Earth shop.  The blocks are 20 by 20.  I don't feel the need to only work within a block.  I can work across each color like a regular pattern but I do stop near the edge of the page...or just a few stitches into the next page.  I am trying to avoid the lines that form when you stop stitching in a straight line.

Finally, I have also been stitching away on my Jeanette Douglas Florida Sampler.

I think this section is the last of the complicated rows and also marks the half way point.  I have just started the two 1 over 1 parrots sitting in the trees.

My very cute little needle threader is hiding my initials.  Do I even need to write about those?  You guessed it.  Stylized letters and NO ALPHABET GRAPH in the pattern.  OMG.  Why is that optional when the initials are part of the pattern????????

So, to help with that I purchased this book by Leisure Arts.

I found letters that were sized correctly and worked with the overall look of the pattern.

The book is full of all sorts of alphabets from simple to fancy.  There are cute ones, serious ones, bold, and fine lettered ones.  I know I will get plenty of use from this book for years to come.

Hard to believe September is almost over.  Fall might actually be in the air this weekend in Western NY.  It's been a long hot summer, that's for sure.  Some fall weather would be very welcome in these dry parched parts of NY.

Happy Stitching.

Pam