Abscence makes the heart grow....

I have fallen down on the job of keeping up with this blog. I have lots of photos and I have been stitching like crazy but....

Let's catch up on the stitching first:

1. BusyBee Needlecase: I stitched this little gem for the Spring Retreat. The pattern is from a blog (http://www.xstitchhappy.com). I think it turned out pretty good.

 

2. Village Bakery by Mill Hill: I am stitching the Christmas Village by Mill Hill with my friends at Fancy Works. So far this is the only one I got done. I am behind as usual (a day late and dollar short). [The model is Poonchi the Shih Tzu. Ain't he cute?]

 

3. Ornament Trio: I stitched two of the ornaments from this magazine piece for an exchange. This is the first time I created any ornaments on my own. I tried a few new things. I used DMC silk expressions (rayon) and did the finishing myself. They are not perfect but I did like them especially the colors.

 

4. Sugar and Spice Birth Announcement by Brooke's Book Publishing: A good friend of mine had a baby girl back in February. (I posted the beginning of this previously.) I just love this design and can't wait to give it to my friend.

 

4. Whatever! by Amy Bruecken Designs: This was a chart chosen by the Child. He begged and begged and begged. Now it hangs on his door. Liz Stapleton of Fancy Works did a wonderful job of finishing it (I will have to post a picture of that later).

 

5. God and Chocolate by the Stitching Bear: I stitched this piece for a friend in scouting who was going through a lot. Things are better now but chocolate is forever. Once again Liz Stapleton of Fancy Works did a magnificent job of finishing my stitching. Its even better looking in person.

 

 

 

6. A Star Graduate by Trail Creek Farm: I stitched this wonderful little doodle for my Baby Brother, Jit. He graduated high school in June and has started college. I can't believe he is 18 now. I haven't finished this piece but it will be a sachet for his underwear draw with lavender from a Michigan farm. Got to keep him smelling good. I'm going to clean it up and make it into a pillow very soon.

 

7. Outrageous Owls by Glendon Place: I didn't stitch the whole design, but took two of the owls to create a little needlebook for a exchange. It turned out really great.





 

Well that is all that is done. I am working on two small projects (Wicked Wanda from a magazine and Let's Purr by Ursula Michaels). I hope to be working on a large commissioned piece soon. I'm very excited about it. I hope it comes out exactly as I picture it. But then again they rarely do. That's the joy and frustration of stitching.

 

Now on to other things that have gone on in the mean time.

 



1. The Garden: Mom and I went all out in the garden this summer. Below is a picture of the corn when it first started. Bobby loved to hide in the corn on a hot summer day. Eventually the corn and everything else in the garden was taller than mum (which isn't hard to do).

 

2. The Child and I have been having lots adventures with the Cub Scouts. There were two weekend camping trips, one of which was rained out. It was the first time the Child ever slept in a tent. Then we had Cub Scout day camp. The Child earned 4 belt loops in three days. Now it is the school year and we are both very busily checking things off the scouting list.

 

 

3. As busy as I am, I have gotten some knitting in. I completed a hat and a pair of fingerless gloves for one of the boys. When all else fails I work on my very fluffy baby blanket (sorry no picture).

 

 

4. As mentioned above, my baby brother graduated from high school and started college. My father asked me to make my baby bro a quilt. His favorite color is black. I just could bring myself to make a black quilt. So the quilt is black and white. I have never had a quilt long armed quilted. It turned out really well. I went to Sheila's Sew Time to get it quilted. They were absolutely brilliant. Here are pics of the progress.







 

5. Finally some very good news....... Mom bought a new car!

 

 

There is probably more I could add but this post is long enough as it is.

Cheers!

 

Jessica



T - 17 days till retreat! Boy do I need it

Retreat is fast approaching and I am working on something small and cute for the gals at retreat. I hope they like it because I have been stitching my little fingers to the bone.

I need to come up with a good dessert that will go with Taco Salad. Any suggestions?

My Fractal is growing but so far only in the black. Very boring visually but I keep telling myself that it will be wonderful when its done.... oh in a 100 years or so.

This is the beginning of the Sugar and Spice birth announcement. I know Retreat will be a good place to work on this. I may even get it done.

All I want to think about is the Retreat but I have so many things pulling me in all sorts of directions.

     1. I need to figure out a quilt for my brother's high school graduation. I already have some cool black and white fabric to start with. However my father says that my brother tears apart all of his blankets and comforters as he sleeps. Apparently he is VERY restless. I normally just patchwork quilt the back of my quilts and connect the fronts and backs with sewed on buttons. (I am self-taught and only do patchwork.) This, of course, will not hold up to my brother. ANY SUGGESTIONS? I am thinking about old fashioned mattress covering and having it long-armed together. Would this work?

     2. My father asked me to go over his contract with the book publishers and answer several questions he has. I have been putting this off. Stitching is much more enjoyable. I talked to my father last night and I have promised I will do this this week. Ugh!!!!

     3. Cub Scouts!!!!! I think that is enough said but I will elaborate. I have been a leader for a few weeks now. I still feel like I am operating in the dark. I can't believe that I am in Scouts again after all these years. I am going to try to get ahead and plan the meetings more than a day in advance. I hope I am doing an okay job.

    4. HOME.... The list of things I need to do at home is 37 items long but I am never home to do any of it. The major categories are gardening, cleaning, cleaning, and organizing. Now that Mom is home, I need to step up my game.  I worry that in her rush to get things done she will try to do something that is really a two person job and injure herself (again). Plus there are time limits like with the garden. If we don't get the veggies in soon we won't have any food to eat until August. Not to mention that the cats do like clean litter boxes on a regular basis.

     5. Work... my number one distraction away from all the things that need to get done. I spend 20 hours or more a week with "the child"and I am exhausted afterwards.

Sorry about the verbose explanations/complaints. I feel better already.

T - 17 DAYS TILL RETREAT.

Two starts, have you heard?

I am still over the moon about my two finishes. Now I get to start some fun new things. Here is the very first stitch of my brother's fractal.

 

By the end of the first evening of stitching I had this much done.

But I have a long ways to go.

My other new start is Brooke's Book Publishing's Sugar and Spice Birth Announcement.

The Hoosier Stitchers Retreat is 24 days away. Better get to work on my retreat pieces. I can't WAIT to see the girls and laugh and laugh and maybe occasionally stitch. I need to think up some dessert.

And I need to plan (or help plan) my 20th High School Reunion. Oh my too much going on.

Mom retired last Friday. I got us some foster babies to play with. The kittens are not even as big as my hand. They are so cute.

I hope everyone has as much fun as I do.

Jess



Another Finish...

I'm on a roll... I have had another finish all in the same months.

Of course I still need to remember to put away my needle when I'm done. I was so excited that I finished last night I forgot all about the needle. That is until I just poked myself in the arm.

Much Love,
Jess

A Finish, a kitten, and a collection for the bedroom

I had a FINISH!!!!! Yeah!

My kitten, Pooh Bear is helping with the modeling. This piece has been added to my JBW collection.

I love these designs SO much that there is a special place in my bedroom for them all to get hung. It has been a good week. I have made some serious progress on another piece.

I anticipate finishing the Brittikitty stocking later this week. Then I will get the joy of picking a new project. I love going back through all my stuff and imagining the next big finish.

Have a great week (even if it did start with snow).

Love in Stitches with Whiskers,
Jess

WiP Wednesday HAPPY DANCE

I am SO so happy. I had a lovely day yesterday (even if I had to work in the evening). I took a bath. I read a book. AND I stitched.

I may even be able to get this piece done by the weekend. As long as I don't have too much help from my furry friends.

In other news, my fractal arrived. I have promised to stitch my incredibly geeky brother (BA in Physics) Fractal #55. It should only take me.... oh.... 5 or 6 years. I am still waiting on the Ink Circles that I mentioned earlier to arrive. I will be stitching it on delft blue with WDW old glory. Should be interesting.

Photo update

Here is a photo of the piece I finished a while ago. Mom helped me with the finishing. I think she did a good job.

 

Thank you Mouse for the picture. I'm glad this ornie has a home in your house.

Shh its a secret and a finish...

YEAH! I had another finish. I finished a Widgets & Wool Primitive design. I can't tell you which one because it is a secret. This is an exchange piece. I can't wait to mail it off once its finish finished. Will add picture soon.

Now I am working on a piece just for myself. I gorgeous JBW butterfly. I dyed the fabric myself at last years Spring retreat. Can't wait to go to this years retreat. I will definitely have to dye some more fabric for all the projects I want to get done.

I spent money today on a whole bunch of new charts. Shhh don't tell my mother. Some of the new charts were from market. This purchase inspired me to go through all my charts. I got all of my binders out and spread them everywhere. Wow there is so much to do and so little time. But it was like a candy buffet; lots of oohs and ahhs.

Stitching is way too much fun.

This little LNS went to market...

You gotta love MARKET. The wonderful ladies at Fancy Works (my LNS) went to market and came back with all sorts of goodies. I went post-it note mad.... I want this.... I want that.... I want it ALL!

As some of you know I was stuck at the garage with my car on Wednesday. What was wrong? NOTHING. Who knows why the car completely died the night before. Best guess was that one of the connectors to the battery was a smidchen loose. Oh well, I got some stitching done.

Last night I decided to start an INK CIRCLES. Greta was my inspiration, and Katie M. was her inspiration. Who's next?

Take care everyone.

Jess

Git er dun

Dear Friends and Strangers,

I have been having a great week and half. My cold is gone and I have been stitching, working, and playing.

 

I finished to fingerless gloves for one of Nate's fellow cub scouts. Nate's den saw the fingerless gloves I knitted for another little boy before Christmas. They each wanted a set for themselves. I have finished the first pair; three more to go.

The piece under the gloves is an exchange piece. That is why you are only seeing the backside. I'm trying to preserve the mystery.

I have made progress on my Mill Hill stitch along. I fear that I am the last one to work on it, but Greta assures me that she just skipped this one. I need to finish the bakery by the end of the month. Then it is the tea house. Next will be the booksellers. The fourth piece is yet to be determined (get a move on Barb).

The world has gained two precious babies. A little baby boy has joined my cousins family. Then a little baby girl has blessed a friend of mine. Yeah babies!!!!

This little lady in the picture has helped me before. She is such a great cat and I enjoy spending time with her whenever her parents are out of town. Watch out for more pictures of her.

Photo update from earlier post

Here is the photo from my challenge/exchange piece that I did earlier in January.

I have never done anything this tiny. I was very proud of myself. I hope you enjoy this Gillie. I also made one for Greta.

Okay, I know it has been a while. Why? Because I haven't made much progress on any of my stitching. I have been overwhelmed with household stuff. The roofers came today to fix the hole in the ...... roof. ;-) I have had a migraine since Friday.

Oh yeah and my birthday was last week (on Wednesday). The young man I take care of took me to Olive Garden for dinner. He even paid. Mom baked me spice cupcakes and then ate more than I did. I do think Holly, our dog might have stolen one. But the biggest event of last week was THE HAIRCUT. 

I donated 12 inches to Locks of Love. I'm still not use to the new do. I have over-poured the shampoo. I have brushed air. The short hair has also really confused the kitten. He doesn't know where his midnight plaything went. No more Pooh Bear trying to take off with my hair.

I need to rededicate myself to my stitching soon. But it will have to wait until after I visit my Aunt and Grandmother this weekend. And I clean the litter boxes. And sweep the floor. And do the laundry. And.... and..... and..... Maybe one day things won't interfere with my passion. Maybe.

Love,

Jess

Good start to January

I have had a great start to my January: feeling good and healthy,  had a finish, made progress on a w.i.p. (work in progress), shopping in Brown County, Dad's book is one step closer to being published, and I'm having a travel-free day.

I am really thankful that I am relatively healthy. I have several friends and acquaintances that have the flu or pneumonia. I hope they all get better super fast. I am also grateful that I haven't fallen in all this ice and snow. Two of my clients fell and bruised their elbows. Then my mother jammed her finger while trying to turn a light switch on. It has been crooked for over a week. Finally, she went to a specialist. Now she has to wear a splint for 6-8 weeks. As stitcher it was really hard to see her hand this way. Once again I am grateful it wasn't me. I will definitely have to help out at home more.

No picture of my finish, but trust me it is very wonderful. The piece is for an exchange so..... will post a picture much later. Liz at Fancy Works (http://fancy-works.com/) to help me finish. Thanks Liz for all the wonderful work you do.

I've been working on the Britty Kitty Stocking (see picture). I had to sit it down in October and November but picked it back up in December. Also been stitching it a lot while watching the Child slowly eat or do his homework or play soccer.

Mom and I went to Nashville, IN to buy some socks (see picture) I have been talking about for months. But of course we couldn't just get socks. Mom bought me a wonderful knife for my birthday (later this month). I have been wanting a knife to travel in my car with me. My new knife will shatter the window and cut the seat belt in the case of an emergency.

Dad is self-publishing his book, Isan. I approved the cover yesterday. I still have to read the galleys. This book has been in my life for several years. I will be so happy when it is done.

I love my job (see pic) and I enjoy driving around in my car (my personal-space pod). But every once in a while I like being just in one place. It is also more conducive to stitching if I'm not driving.

Good luck everyone and stay positive,

Jessica

I started a new project. It is a real challenge for me. 32 count over one. I am using two threads. I think this is called""Petit Point". I need to go home today and find my magnifying lamp. No picture because I will be sending it for one of my exchanges. Greta is SSSOOOO enabling me to both buy and stitch for exchanges.

addictions

Haven't stitched in several days. I am suffering withdrawl. Did get some knitting done which took the edge off. Maybe today will be better. Currently I am working on the Britty Kitty stocking.