Shimmering Mermaid--FINISHED!

I finished Shimmering Mermaid a few weeks ago, but I am just now getting around to posting a photo. Life has been busy and blogging has taken a backseat, but hopefully it is getting better and I will be posting more often.

I decided to leave off both the border and the compass. I prefer just her without the other things distracting from her. I was never too crazy about the border, and to me, the compass placement looked too crowded. I am very happy with my choice and think she will look lovely as she is. I hope to have her framed, but I am not sure where I am going to hang her.

Shimmering Mermaid

Mirabilia

Started January 2009

Finished Friday, September 11, 2009

Recommended DMC, Kreinik, and Mill Hill beads

Fabric: 32 ct. Blueberry by Silkweaver (hand dyed)

Since I finished her, I have been really unfocused, picking up multiple projects, stitching for a bit, and moving on to something else. This happens to me almost every time I finish something. I have a hard time finding my groove on something else for awhile. I haven't made enough progress on most of the ones that I worked on to show pictures except for two...

I made a meager start on Mirabilla's Fairy Moon (I am not sure that this is even picture worthy, but I wanted to document the start for myself). I started this one as soon as I finished Shimmering Mermaid on September 11. I am stitching it on 28 ct. Dawn by PTP.

And I was a lucky winner in Ehandcrafts' Labor Day sale and won a Lizzie Kate Boxer kit. This one is called Autumn Cottage. I love it. I started it on the first day of fall (9/22) and hope to finish it today.

Not sure what I will work on next.... I may go back to Fairy Moon for awhile or I might try to finish block 2 of Shores of Hawk Run Hollow before the end of September (the END of September! Where did September go exactly? It has flown by!)

I am so excited about all of the new stuff coming out. I have pre-ordered two early favorites....

Plum Street Samplers' Paradise Lost and Carriage House Samplings' Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow. I am so excited about both of them, although I think the silks for each will eventually bankrupt me. LOL! I also ordered fabric for Paradise Lost. Thankfully, I already have the fabric that I need for Christmas HRH.

I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the new designs. I am have heard that Lizzie Kate is releasing a Christmas ABC, similair ABC lessons, which I think I will like.

I saw this on Hoffman's yesterday, and it will be hitting my wish list soon as well...

Isn't that gorgeous!! It is by Rosewood Manor and is called Quaker Diamonds. I LOVE it!!! And I love stitching with Valdani threads.

I saw where Goode Huswife has released a boy crow Ira Ray to go with Ida Mae, and her third book which is the Colonial Gardening series.

So what are your favorites so far that you have seen that are being released at Market this year? What are your "must haves"?

We have fall break coming up in one week. I am so excited! Looking forward to the time off. We are planning to go to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg for a three night stay. We are staying at the Inn at Christmas Place which we love, and I am looking forward to visiting Dixie Darlin' while we are there. My parents are going with us. They are as excited as we are. :)

Sorry this has been really, really long. If you are still reading, thanks for hanging in there. Shorter posts to follow, I promise. :)

That's it for today. It is a rainy Saturday here in my little part of Kentucky. I don't mind. I plan to stitch all afternoon. :)

Have a great weekend!

Happy Stitching,

Kellie

Frogs and Stash

It seems I have spent most nights this week frogging various projects rather than stitching them. The only WIP that I feel I have made barely noticeable progress on is Shimmering Mermaid. I stitched a little more of her hair and started some of the metallics in it. I have discovered that when I am stitching a Mirabilia design, I much prefer to stitch the metallics, beads, and backstitching as I go instead of saving it all to the end. I seem to actually finish them instead of leaving them in a bag completely stitched but lacking beads, metallics and back stitching (ahem....Autumn Queen).

I received some stash orders this week. It has been really fun going to the mailbox this week. :) I ordered several charts/kits; some new from Market, and some that I have had my eye on for awhile.

From L-R: The Sampler Company Red House Sampler, Country Cottage Needleworks Bayside Bungalows, Lizzie Kate ABC Lessons, Cross-Eyed Cricket Dickens Mittens: The Last Word, Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers Two Hearts, Country Cottage Needleworks Beach Cottage, Shakespeare's Peddler A World Rejoices, 36 ct. Lakeside Linens Buttercream fabric for Weary World, GAST Winter LE threads for Weary World

I also ordered some mesh project bags. I loved the way Nicole at Nicole's Needlework has organized her rotation. I hope she doesn’t mind that I copied her system. I had a few of these bags already and purchased a few more so that I would have seven—one for each day of the week, and I added tags with binder rings to the loops like she did as well. This is a great system. I am showing you a picture of mine, but all the credit for the idea goes to Nicole.

I am looking forward to a stitchy and relaxing weekend. My parents are going to come down tonight, and we are going to go out to dinner at a local restuarant. Jacob has an Upward basketball game Saturday morning, and we will go to church on Sunday. The rest of the time I am looking forward to stitching my fingers off. :) I would love to get a lot accomplished on Simply Live tonight. It will probably be the first finish in my rotation, and I am just itching to start one of the new ones that I have gotten this week. But I am going to be good…I am going to finish one of my rotation projects first and then put one of the new projects in that daily slot.

Happy Stitching!

Kellie