End of the Year Wrap-Up

I am relieved that 2010 is almost over.  Moving across the ocean and the continent is difficult.  That was stressing for all of us.  Then my dad passed away in September.  Two life changing events within a couple of months has left me a little off-balance.  It seems to be taking a lot longer than usual to get settled here in DC.  So I started off my stitching year well, and it kind of fizzled at the end.

I didn't get very far on my goals for 2010 list.  I completed 2 out of 11.  Oh well.

• 1. Nativity Shepherd 3
• 2. Nativity Camel
• 3. Eagle Sampler
• 4. Cedar Hill- Faith Hope Love
• 5. LK Family
• 6. Home of the Brave- COMPLETED 1/22
• 7. Masquerage- 1 page
• 8. Eloquent Christmas
• 9. LK Land That I Love- COMPLETED 1/14
• 10. LK Time for God #141
• 11.Surprise #1

Even though I only finished a couple of my goals, I did get 26 pieces completed.  Here is the list.  Sorry I don't have a summary post with pictures of each piece.

• 1. American Flag by Pine Mountain- Jan 12
• 2. Land That I Love by LizzieKate- Jan 14
• 3. Home of the Brave by R&R Reproductions- Jan 22
• 4. Cat-o-Lantern by Bent Creek- Jan 29
• 5. Starry Night by Heart in Hand- Feb 7
• 6. Snowman Stocking by Thistle Threads- Feb 18
• 7. A Year with Charm: March by LizzieKate- Feb 20
• 8. Cabin in the Snow, by Hob Nobb Designs- Mar 11
• 9. Work Pray Trust, by LizzieKate- Mar 13
• 10. This House Believes in Santa, by Homespun Elegance- Mar 20
• 11. Bitty Baskets ABC Sampler, by Samplers and Such- Mar 21, 25
• 12. Thanks Be To God, by Sisters and Best Friends- Mar 24
• 13. Welcome Mini-block, by Hinzeit- Apr 1
• 14. Children are People, by LizzieKate- May 6
• 15. Spring Sampler, by LizzieKate- May 11
• 16. A Year with Charm: February, by LizzieKate- May 11
• 17. Family by LizzieKate- May 23
• 18. Sweet Cabin, by Glory Bee- May 27
• 19. A Year with Charm: January- Jun 4
• 20. A Year with Charm: April, by LizzieKate- Jun 4
• 21. Liberty, by Heart in Hand- Jun 4
• 22. Autumn ABC's by LizzieKate- Jun 8
• 23. A Year with Charm: June, by Lizzie Kate- June 16
• 24. A Year with Charm: May, by LizzieKate- June 19
• 25. Thank Heaven for Little Boys by LK- Sept ?
• 26. Pumpkin Harvest by the trilogy- Sept ?

Here is what the Nativity looks like now.

I participated in the TUSAL for a while this year.  I haven't posted a picture in quite a while, but I have been keeping all of my ORTs and thread snippets.  Here is the grand total for 2010.

For 2011, my goal is to get back into the stitching habit.  I am planning to work on my left-over WIPs to try to get most of them finished up.  I have to work on the nativity set to try to get it finished before my kids get married!  I think I am going to have lots of small quick things to work on too, since I still feel like I can't focus on a big complex project.  So those are my goals for 2011.  

Thanks for visiting my blog.  I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May God bless you in many new ways for 2011.

(c) 2010 There A Stitch

Third Finish for 2010

Another goal for the year done.  I finished up America: Home of the Brave last night.

Home of the Brave, by R & R Reproductions

(Memorial piece for 9-11)

sewn on 28 Ct Sea Fog Linen,

using WDW whitewash, twilight, ST Buckey Scarlet, and DMC 336.

The Week in Review

For UFO Tuesday, I worked on Thanks Be To God.  Here is almost what it looked like when I started.  I added the top letters before I thought to take a starting picture.

Here is what it looked like Tuesday evening.

Here is a picture of my TUSAL, all of my thread snippets from 2010.

Over the weekend, I plan to stitch some of Cat-o-lantern.  This is a pattern I absconded from my Mom's stitching stash.

I figure I will work on something small and quick for a little bit, then hit the nativity patterns. Thanks for checking out my blog!  Hope you get some good stitching time this weekend.

(c) 2010 There A Stitch

Saturday Update

Here is my stitching update for January 9, 2010.

First off, America- Home of the Brave.  I stitched this on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday.  This pattern is coming along pretty quickly- there isn't much to it.  I will probably get it finished in the next week.

Next, I spent Tuesday working on a UFO, the Bent Creek America pillow.  This pattern is driving me nuts!  I really dislike stitching on a pre-made pillow case. I will not be buying anymore patterns like this- again!!  But, I have decided that I will complete this one rather than try to give it away.  I figure a couple more Tuesdays and it will be done.

Friday is usually my day to stitch while the kids are at lessons.  I was planning to start one of my goals for 2010, Land that I Love by Lizzie Kate.  However, I forgot to put a needle in the kit!  Ooops.  So this one got started on Friday night while the kiddos were out playing with their friends, and Hubby was playing Speed Racer on the Wii.

Next up, I will have to start one of the nativity pieces.  I am trying to decide between a shepherd and a camel.  I also have to determine if the piece of fabric I have is big enough for 3 pieces or only 2.  My goal is start one of them next week.

Happy Stitching!

(c) 2010 There A Stitch

Making Project Kits

I spent Saturday afternoon putting together kits for my goal projects.  In the interest of using my stash, I have made a few color changes.  I put together kits for all my goals except the nativity pieces.  Those are waiting.  However, as I was organizing, I came to a realization.

I will _never_ stitch the Lavender and Lace Angel of Spring.  It is a beautiful pattern.  I really love it.  But I will never ever do it.  I won't stitch the other angels either.  They are just too big and too ornate, and really don't fit into my decorating tastes.

So I have decided to bless someone with the patterns.  Several people have contacted me already, and I will be sending the angels on to their new homes.

Stitch Progress

I didn't quite make it.  I wasn't going to stitch anymore until 2010.  However, New Years Eve, we finally had some down time, and I pulled out America to work on.  Here is the latest picture.

(c) 2010 There A Stitch

Goals for 2010

Here we are at the start of a new year.  This is going to be a pretty busy year for my family.  Hubby has a new job lined up.  We will be moving from Maui to Northern Virginia this summer.  It will take 6-8 weeks for our household goods to ship.  So we are going to have a busy summer.

In the meantime, I am deciding what my stitching goals are for 2010.  I am thinking about being a stash-only stitcher this year.  (Of course I have access to my own personal stitch shop through my mom's stash!)  So yesterday I made a couple of quick orders to accumulate some fabric, and also some silk floss.  I think I will also try to work through my freebie patterns.

Finally, I have been toying around with designing my own patterns.  I would like to try to design one a month- I know, in between my stitching and reading and homeschooling and moving and whatever else is going to be keeping me busy this year, I am sure I will find some time!

So here are my specific stitchy goals for 2010:

• 1. Nativity Shepherd 3
• 2. Nativity Camel
• 3. Eagle Sampler
• 4. Cedar Hill- Faith Hope Love
• 5. LK Family
• 6. America- Home of the Brave
• 7. Masquerage- 1 page
• 8. Eloquent Christmas
• 9. Angel of Spring- 1 page
• 10. LK Land That I Love
• 11.Surprise #1
• 12. LK Time for God #141

I think that's enough to keep me busy this year!

(c) 2010 There A Stitch

2009 Summary

Here is my list of goals for 2009.  Original list was posted in Feb 2009, I modified it in July.  Here is the final tally.

2009 Goals- Modified July 2009

• 1. FINISHED! Leisure Arts Heirloom Nativity Angel
• 2. FINISHED! Leisure Arts Heirloom Nativity Shepherd #2
• 3. FINISHED! 1 page of Masquerade
• 4. FINISHED! Surprise miniblock #1
• 5. FINISHED! Surprise Miniblock #2
• 6. FINISHED! Leisure Arts Heirloom Nativity Wise Man#1
• 7. FINISHED! American Soldier Memorial
• 8. Eagle Sampler
• 9. FINISHED! Christmas present #1
• 10. FINISHED! Christmas present #2
• 11. FINISHED! Birthday Surprise

Pretty good year, I think.  I also did 23 other pieces this year!

I will be removing this list off the sidebar to make way for my 2010 Goals list.

 Thanks for checking out my blog this year.  I appreciate all your comments and encouragement!

(c) 2009 There A Stitch

Another One Done! Number 28!

Finish number 28!  Also, number 11 of my goals for 2009.  I finished up Blue Jean Bear for my BearLover (DD2).  This is for her birthday in January, so I have plenty of time to get it finished.

Blue Jean Teddy

Leisure Art Designs stitched on 14 count linen

with DMC floss from pattern

100th Post!

Wow- this is my 100th post on my blog.  I started this blog on February 2, 2009, as a way to record my cross stitch progress.  Thanks to the inspiring ladies and gentlemen of I-Love-Cross-Stitch, I have been motivated to stitch, stitch, stitch.  I finally realized that the patterns weren't going to stitch themselves!  LOL

It has been a while since I updated.  My stitching has slowed down the last couple of weeks.  The holidays are coming up, and homeschooling is keeping me busy, so stitching time has fallen off a little.   But here are some progress pictures.

First, Blessings Be Thine.  I really love this pattern, and it is turning out very pretty.  But it is rather intricate, even if it doesn't have a lot on it.  It seems to be taking a long time to make only a little progress.  I may have to take a break from it for a while.

My next update is the Eagle Sampler.  I actually had to start this pattern over.  I had not centered the pattern in the last piece of fabric, and it was not going to fit.  So now I have started it with the house, and it is coming along rather slowly as well.  This is one of my goals for 2009, so I will have to get cracking on it to get it finished by the end of the year.

Lastly, is the Blue Jean Bear pattern,  This is a birthday present for my youngest DD.  Her birthday is in January, so I need to really work on this one.  I have to stitch this one at night, to be sure that she doesn't see it!

 

  

So that is all the work I have been up to for the past couple of weeks.  I better get crackin' on my last two goals for the year.  Only 9 weeks til the end of the year! 

Stitchin' Update

Well, here we are at the end of another week.  I did get some stitching done on my last two goals for the year.  

Here is goal #11- the birthday surprise.  He finally has a smile!

Next is the Eagle Sampler, goal #8.

 
Last is my progress on Blessing Be Thine.

That was all the stitching I got done this week.  BearLover, my youngest DD, developed strep early in the week.  That kept us pretty home-bound for most of the time.

October 16 was our 10th anniversary.  Dear Hubby, I love you!  Thanks for a great decade.  Here is to many more together!

 

(c) 2009 There A Stitch

Weekend Update

This week I spent most of my time stitching Blessings Be Thine.  I really love this piece!  I can't wait for it to be finished.  

I need to get busy on ny last two goals for 2009.  I will probably be pulling them out to work on over the weekend.  Hopefully I will have some update pictures soon.

Thanks for stopping by!

End of a Busy Week

Finally the weekend! Whew! I am tired. I finished up 4 different projects this week. Down to 2 more goals on the year. The finish line is in sight! I already posted the pictures of my finishes, so I won't post them again. Here is how I finished up the week.

This is my progress on goal 11- the birthday surprise. This is Blue Jean Bear, for my youngest DD BearLover. It is for her birthday in January. I want to have it finished so I can get it framed while we are at my parents' house for the holidays.


My new start for this week: Blessings Be Thine. I have had this pattern for several years and really wanted to stitch it. So when I finished the wiseman, I decided to start it.

(c) 2009 There A Stitch

Another Goal Completed- Number 25 done

Woo Hoo! I have finished my nativity wiseman! I now have 12 of 17 pieces for the entire set completed.



(c) 2009 There A Stitch

Finish Number 24!

Woo Hoo!!!! I finished Home of a Needleworker. Fixed the mistakes this morning, and got the rest of the stitching done today. The kids were playing with their neighborhood friends as the public school kids were off today.

Home of A Needleworker, by Little House Needleworks
stitched on 28-count antique ivory linen
Sampler Threads Barn Grey, Cherry Wine, Evergreen, Oatmeal, Pumpkin Patch
Sable, and Weeks Dye Works Cocoa and Purple Haze

I only have 3 more goals to complete before the end of the year. I better get to putting a face on the wiseman!

(c) 2009 There A Stitch

Updating My Goals

I have been back home for 10 days. I haven't stitched a thing. Not a thing! Nothing! Part of it is that I am feeling tired still, and I figure I would probably just make mistakes. The other part is that I didn't get to do any school planning for my two DD's in June. So the last few days, I have been planning and organizing our school stuff. In two more days we leave for our original trip home. So now I am in full packing mode.

However, today I did look over my current WIPs. I think I am going to be adjusting my 2009 goals as well.

2009 Goals- Modifidied May 2009

* 1. FINISHED! Leisure Arts Heirloom Nativity Angel
* 2. FINISHED! Leisure Arts Heirloom Nativity Shepherd #2
* 3. FINISHED! 1 page of Masquerade
* 4. FINISHED! Surprise miniblock #1
* 5. FINISHED! Surprise Miniblock #2
* 6. Leisure Arts Heirloom Nativity Wise Man#1
* 7. American Soldier Memorial
* 8. Eagle Sampler
* 9. Christmas present #1
* 10. Christmas present #2
* 11. Gift #1
* 12. Christmas present #3
* 13. L&L Angel of Spring 1 page

The surprise gift isn't going to happen now. I am disappointed about that one too. I am only planning on two Christmas gifts now. Plus I am reconsidering the L&L Angel of Spring. I am balking at stitching it over 1. I think I will need to get some new fabric for the whole set, and use my other fabric for something different. That will change my goals for the rest of the year.

I have reduced my WIP rotation to include four other projects besides my current unfinished goals.

1. Home of A Needleworker



2. Star Sampler, by Blackbird Designs using Cranberry Bog material by R & R Reproductions and ST Banker's Grey floss



3. Home Sweet Home on the Welcome Friends by Karen Hyslop, The Cross-Eyed Cricket, on 32- count Belfast linen in driftwood, and DMC floss 221 and 413.



4. Uncle SnowSam, by The Stitchworks. Sorry don't know the fabric count, using DMC blanc, 311, 321, 433, and 783.

A New Start

Well, I have started something new. I can't tell you about this one, since it is going to be a surprise for someone. This is also the only picture I am going to post since it will be easy to figure out what it is going to be pretty soon.

One More...Almost

I have had some stitching time while hanging around the hospital. I have mostly finished the soldier memorial piece. I would call it finish number 16 1/2. I will finish the lettering when I go home next week.

June 19th Summary

I have had a lot of stitching time here at the hospital. Both my parents slept most of the day yesterday, so I had a lot of quiet time to be able to stitch and stitch. Here is my progress since getting here on Saturday.

This is the Eagle Sampler. I finished the eagle last night and started on the flag.




This is the Easter block that I am stitching for Mom. The fabric has some pretty bad folds in it. I hope they come out!



This is my newest start, Home of Needleworker (too), by Little House Needleworks. I saw this one on several blogs and just had to get it. I have changed some of colors. I am using ST oatmeal, cherry wine, pumpkin patch, cocoa, sable and evergreen. They are close to the colors in the original patern picture, and I didn't have the ones it called for.




This is my progress on the soldier memorial. I am about to run out of blue again! What a dork I am sometimes.



An update on the family front: My Dad had his surgery on Wednesday morning. He was pretty out of it the rest of the day and we were having issues with controlling his pain that day. Thursday he was doing better. Now Friday he has been up a couple of times walking today. He is still having some pain and tenderness. Fortunately my brother will be spending the night here at the hospital tonight, so I won't have to be up every 2 hours.

Thanks for your prayers and concern.

(C) 2009 There A Stitch. All Rights reserved.

Adding Goals

I have decided to add some other patterns to my goals for 2009. I am planning on sewing at least 3 Christmas presents. Those need to get finished sooner rather than later, so I have plenty of time to get them finished. Since they are going to be surprises I won't be posting any pictures of them until they are delivered.

I also added the Eagle Sampler I started this week to my list. It is a pretty pattern, and I would like to finish it this year. So I have added it into my rotation.

I am starting another memorial for an American Soldier. This memorial is for LCPL Blake Antonio Magaoay, who was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq, on November 29, 2004. I will be posting some information about LCPL Magaoay, as well as the pattern, soon.

I noticed that I did not add a goal for my Lavender and Lace pattern, the Angel of Spring. I think I will have a goal of completing one page of the pattern.

That will give me 13 goals for the year. I have finished 5, one for each month so far. Better get stitching!

Got Another Finish

Wow! I am on a stitching roll! If I don't say so myself...I actually finished this late on Thursday night, but because Fridays are so crazy, I didn't get to post it til now.



And I figured out that this actually makes 10 finishes for me this year. I forgot about one of my secret finishes. It is actually something for my mom for Mother's Day. And it is late, because I didn't have a big enough box to mail it! Sorry Mom!

Goal Picture

I can finally post a picture of one of my completed goals. This is goal #4, the first surprise miniblock pattern. It is for Hubby for his birthday. It is on Sunday, but he is currently out of electronic doodad range, since he is camping with Miss TwinkleToes (DD#1) and his brother. So I can put this picture up without having to worry that he would see it. (Not that my wonderful Hubby is checking out my stitch blog- haha!)



His birthday is on Sunday, and I am so excited about it. I am getting him a Wii, and he doesn't have a clue! I decided I would get him the ugliest Hawaiian shirt I could find, and wrap it up all nice and pretty, so he can open it with his brother here. But I am going to put the clues for a treasure hunt in the package for him to follow. I can't wait! It is going to be so much fun!