Sunday, March 28, 2010

Catching up...

Hey all,
Quick post to catch up. :)

I finished Easter Parade. Such a cute, fun stitch. I love eyelet stitches, and this design is full of them. I also love the purple border (GAST Berry Cobbler).

I broke down and ordered the rest of the NPIs I needed for CaHRH. I had been trying to order them a block at a time as needed to spread out the cost, but we know from my last post that obviously that wasn't working for me. I finished both blocks 2 and 3 this month. I have started block 4 and would like to complete it and block 5 during April. The bazillion white snowflakes on block 4 are already getting to me however.

I also started a couple of things...
Rise and Shine by Bent Creek. This is a cute little all inclusive kit that came packaged in a coffee bag. This will look cute hanging in my kitchen eventually.

And I started the Blackbird Designs series Anniversaries of the Heart. I am following Nicole's lead and stitching these on 40 ct. Meadow Rue (I hope she doesn't mind me copycatting). I am looking forward to all of the personalizing that I will get to do with this series.

I also rearranged my WIP storage. I had been keeping tons of projects in mesh project bags stored in a basket in my sitting room, which was fine and working, but messy looking. I had so many that I was having a hard time narrowing my focus. So I decided I needed a different solution that would allow me to have variety but not too much as to be overwhelming. I repurposed a little 7-drawer cart that I had been using for scrapbooking. This has been perfect. I have a project per drawer. The drawers are lidded so it is very easy to pull a drawer and go stitch in any room. All the supplies needed for each project are in the drawer, so it stays pretty organized.

If you look carefully in the above picture you will see a cookie sheet next to the drawer unit. I have found that I prefer using these with magnets to hold my charts and keep my place. I have one of the smaller boards that is specifically for stitching, but found I like this better. It looks a little silly, I guess, but it works.

My stitching has taken a backseat lately to reading. Michael surprised me with a nook as an early anniversary gift. I love it. I don't want to put it down. It is so much fun (and a little dangerous!) to be able to shop for books anytime. I have been keeping myself in check though. I am trying to order one book at a time and wait until I have finished it before ordering another one. Currently I am rereading "Voyager" by Diana Gabaldon, and I am enjoying it just as much the second time around, as it has been several years since I last read this series. I am really enjoying the free sample feature that you can use with the nook/Barnes and Noble. As I see books that I think I would like to read eventually, I download the sample chapter so that I will remember the book and be able to check it out more in depth before committing to the purchase. I thought I might would miss holding an actual book in my hand and turning the pages, but not a bit. If you have a favorite book that you would recommend, I would love to hear about it. I am always interested in reading new material and new-to-me authors.

One more week of work and then we are off for a week of spring break!! I am hoping to travel a little and do some home improvement projects...more on that later.

Until next time.....




17 comments:

  1. Wow--you have lots going on, and I like your organization solutions. Most of my WIPs are in separate mesh project bags, but I agree with you that the display leaves a little to be desired. I just bought 2 more mesh bags, but I really need to think of some other solution. I love Easter Parade (it has a rabbit!) and its little eyelet stitches--such beautiful soft colors.

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  2. Beautiful WIPs! I like your idea of the cookie sheet for your chart -- with the raised sides, you could keep things from rolling off too! As for the Nook, congrats! I have a Kindle, and I agree. I don't really miss turning real pages. I do enjoy a real book once in a while though. :D

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  3. Your fingers have really been flying, Kellie!! Would you believe I still haven't finished Block 3 on CatHRH! Just have the right border to go, though, so I should be on track for completing it before the end of March. I love your Easter Parade finish--perfect timing for next week...

    Easter blessings to you and your family...

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  4. Wow Kellie you sure have been busy. Lovely wips and your Easter parade is just adorable!
    Enjoy your spring break, mine starts 2 April and I can;t wait.

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  5. Busy busy! I love your new storage solution and the cookie sheet tip is brilliant. It makes perfect sense! Your needle must be working like crazy to get 2 blocks on CaHRH done per month and still have time to work on other things. Your Easter Parade finish is wonderful and like you I think the border is really nice.

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  6. Kellie, Super ideas~~ I love the cookie sheet idea...I actually use a lap board (for laptops) b/c I like the soft cushion on the botton of it...But, your idea is great~~And, the scrapbook storage unit....since I do much less sbooking than stitching, I should convert mine too..hmmm... AND, I actually saw Nicole yesterday and she was doing her BBD stitching on the Meadow Rue and it is beautiful...I think you will be really pleased~~~ Take care, Faye

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  7. Wow Kellie, look at you!! You're zooming along so well on CaHRH. It looks great. I love your Easter Parade finish, too! Woot! Rise & Shine is a great design... I stitched it a few years ago and am wondering now where it is. Enjoy the Nook. I've been considering a Kindle.

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  8. Easter parade looks fantastic. I think this is such a sweet design.

    I love your progress on CaHRH I have been trying to hold off buying this one, but now that I hear Kathy is no longer going to be designing I am going to finally buy this one, I like your idea of buying the silks just a block at a time. They can really add up.

    Take care and happy stitching!

    Natasha

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  9. YOur projects are looking fabulous girl!!! I have never seen a "nook" before, they look pretty cool. I love the fun new tools they come up with nowdays. I have one of those storage carts also, but mine is overflowing with everything!!!! Sounds like a little spring cleaningis in store for me....ugh!!! I would rather work in the dirt!

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  10. wow! your stuff looks awesome! and you're organized to boot :)

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  11. Hi Kellie, wow...I like your organizing solution. What an excellent idea, and the cookie sheet, well, I'd would never have thought that up. Great suggestions.
    Wonderful progress on your wips. Enjoy spring break!

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  12. Look at your pretty Easter Parade :) And all you WIPs, I just finished a Rise and Shine for a client, I believe she hung hers in her kitchen too ;)
    Organization is GREAT! I love to organize :)

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  13. Those NPI for HRH are expensive! I added it all together once, and for just one it ran $150 for the fiber and fabric- ouch!
    I organize my projects the same way, in the same drawers. How funny!
    For my charts, I always copy the chart and put the originals away in a three ring binder with plastic sleeves. I keep the copies I'm working on in a plastic pocket folder. I pull a chart out and use my two needle minders to hold it on the front of the folder. It's easy to sit on my lap or on the couch or the console in the car, and it's stiff enough that I can use a highlighter to highlight what I've stitched.

    My husband has a Kindle, and he never goes anywhere without it. It's very handy.

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  14. Kellie - you have been a busy lady! I just love your Easter Parade, you finished it just in time.

    And your CaHRH is just beautiful - the colors are so rich in this one. Btw, Stitching Bits & Bobs has their NPI on sale.

    I can't wait to see more of the BBD series - the first two are just lovely.

    What a great way to organize your WIP - mine are all thrown into a drawer and I wade thru them on occassion. Your cookiesheet idea made me smile. I tried the little magnetic board and didn't like it but I do have plenty of cookie sheets.

    Congrats on your new toy. I love listening to books and am firmly attached to my Zune. What genre do you prefer to read?

    Have a wonderful Spring Break - I hope you get lots accomplished and have time for fun, too.

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  15. Easter Parade looks great and so do your WIPs! Love the idea for the cookie sheet!

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  16. Lots of great stitching going on!

    I balance things with my Kindle by using that and our Local library's request system. This way, I get to enjoy the convenience of e-ink with AND the diversity and page-turning of paper books. :D

    I'm still on the fence Re the Anniv. series; want to see more before I decide if I'm making a massive grouping or just Snow Garden alone, lol! :D

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  17. Love this post!!! I am going to go clear out one of my stamping drawer thingies like you did!!!!!!! I love your blog!!

    The Nook looks excellent!!!!! Have you read any books by my favorite author Elizabeth Berg??? Ruth Reichel? Rick Bragg? I could go on and on!

    Happy weekend Kellie!

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