Mini Finish and WIP busting

I finished the first block of Shores of Hawk Run Hollow over the weekend. :)

After seeing Siobhan's beautiful finish on her blog, I am more motivated than ever to start block 2. :)

But in the meantime, I decided to go through some WIPs (I have ahem....quite a few). I found several that are very near completion. So near completion that a few days or possibly a week's worth of stitching would finish them. I pulled one such from the pile yesterday morning and stitched all day. I am hoping to possibly have it finished today or tomorrow. It is Snapperville by Bent Creek.

I have a little more of the border to do, and the snaps and buttons to the border, and it will be finished.

I started this one, I think, back in 2006. I had went on a stitching hiatus after my son was born in 2001. I barely picked up a needle for five years. I was busy and not motivated. In 2006, I started to rediscover my love of stitching. One weekend, my husband and I had dropped Jake off at my parents while we went on a day outing. I convinced him to stop at a cross-stitch store in Louisville and let me look around for a bit (he is always a good sport about these kinds of things). I saw this Bent Creek piece displayed in the shop as a framed model and really liked it. After some hand wringing at the total cost of this project (at that time I had a non-existent stash...so I had to buy everything to complete it...my, how times have changed! LOL!), I bit the bullet and bought the whole thing. I promptly started stitching it and then put it aside for all these years, and I am not sure why. I think I ran out of one of the overdyeds and by the time I ordered the threads, I had moved on to something else. Fast forward to now, and I think this piece is about to see completion. All this to say, that I will always associate this piece with finding my way back to stitching.

We are home today. Jake is recovering from a virus. I decided to let him stay home today and have a day of rest before going back to school this week. Our little county is getting over-taken by swine flu and whatever this stomach virus is that Jake has contracted. It makes me want to wear an oxygen mask to work and put one on my son. LOL!

I'll leave you with a picture of one of my other boys...my sweet Boo.

Have a great afternoon!

Happy Stitching,

Kellie

Shimmy

Long time, no post...

I am still trying to get back into the routine of school/work. My workload has increased some this year, and right now, I am just exhausted and overwhelmed. I know it will get better, given time.

I have been trying to stitch some in the evenings. It is what helps me keep my sanity. I have been working on Mirabilia's Shimmering Mermaid for the last couple of weeks and while my daily progress seems minimal, I can see progress. I would love to have this one finished by the end of August. I think it's possible if I just stick to it. I have a bad habit of getting bored and wanting to switch to something else or start something new...

Here's what she looked like the last time I posted her picture sometime in July....

(This one shows the fabric color a little truer than the second picture).

Here's what she looks like now....

I am stitching her on Silkweaver's 32 ct. Blueberry lugana. It is a real soft medium purple color fabric. I love it. I am using the recommended DMC, Kreinik, and Mill Hill beads. I love Mirabilia designs. I just wish I could stitch them faster. :)

I love weekends. Tonight DH is at the first football game of the season (he's a high school varsity coach). Since it is an away game, DS and I opted to stay home and just enjoy the evening. DS will probably end up next door at cousin's house before the evening is over, but I plan to stitch while watching TV or listening to an audiobook. I am trying to listen/read the Outlander series again before the release of Echo in the Bone in September. Diana Gabaldon is one of my favorite authors and the Outlander series is my all-time favorite series. Absolutely. Love. These. Books. I found the first four unabridged on Audible.com. I am in the middle of Dragonfly in Amber (the second book) right now. I highly recommend them....historical fiction, time travel, set in Scotland and the US in the 1700s, romance, drama, humor, unforgettable characters...good stuff, I tell ya! :)

Tomorrow the plan is Sunday School and church with a luncheon afterwards. Our church is in the process of hiring a new music minister. The hiring committee has invited all that participate in the music ministry (I sing on the praise team) to meet the candidate. I am looking forward to it. I can't wait to have a regular full time person back in that position and to begin rehearsals and performing again. I love it.

I hope that all of you reading have a fabulous weekend. The weather here is excellent...low 70s and partially sunny. Makes me excited for fall that is just right around the corner.

Until next time...

Happy Stitching!

Kellie

school, finish, shores, molly

Today was the first day of school. Only 184 more left.... LOL! (I'm kidding...I don't start counting down this early). All three of us had a great day. I am especially glad that it was such a good day for Jake. He had a rough start last year, even though it all ended up turning out okay. He has a fantastic second grade teacher. He really likes her, and our families know each other well, so that makes it even better.

I have been stitching like crazy since I last posted. I finally finished Bird in the Bower. I had run out of one of the NPIs.

I also decided to stick with the 36 ct. 1 over 2 for Shores. I am loving this now. The coverage is better than I first thought. I tried stitching a portion of it with 2 strands and decided that I liked the 1 strand better. I would like to stitch a block of this each month and perhaps finish it before school starts again next year. That is my goal for now anyway.

I have also stitched a little on Molly. There are some designers that I pretty much like anything they create. Kathy Barrick-Deiter is one of those. There is something about her designs that I am just drawn too. (Not to worry, Siobhan, I know YOU are her #1 stalker, I mean, fan! LOL!). I wish she would design a boy with a dog to go with Molly and her cat. I have emailed and begged. :)

(iPhoto is not cooperating with me today...sorry about the sideways picture)

I have also worked on Quakers and Quilts and started Nora Corbett's Sunflower Fairy in the newest Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine. I will show photos of both of those next time.

Not much else to report. Everyone here is complaining they are hungry (they expect me to work AND cook dinner, what gives?), so I guess I will go see what I can rustle up for supper.

Hope all of you are having a great week!!

Until next time....

Happy Stitching!

Kellie