Saturday, January 24, 2015

1 section down 23 to go....

...or 5 blocks down 129 to go. 

I had no idea I was going to enjoy this so much.  I had it in my head that this was like back stitching and I very muchly dislike back stitching, but I now know this is nothing like back stitching.  Once you get the pattern worked out in your head you hardly even have to look at the paper pattern.  If you are thinking of starting this but hesitant for whatever reason, just go for it.  

 And here is how much fabric I have left to fill in.  It's going to be huge!

Right now I have framing ideas for this one, but the cost of framing something so large might change my mind.  But I have visions of this being a family heirloom so I really want it framed properly.
On the Save the Stitches introduction it calls this project a "stitch dictionary", and that is what got me so excited to do this project.  I love the idea that maybe somebody, years down the road looking at this will see stitches that possibly have been forgotten, but I saved them here on this fabric.  That is what "Save the Stitches" means to me, I am literally saving the stitches.

So everybody, go save some stitches of your own, spread the stitching bug and have lots of fun doing it :)

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Move over cross stitch!

I was sure I wasn't going to like blackwork, or greenwork as my sister is making me call it "so I don't confuse her"  :)  But boy was I wrong.  I was sure I wasn't going to like using the same color for forever and the pattern just looks so complicated but I followed McKenzie, thelovelyarray from youtube, which is where I first seen this pattern, and she said to start at one corner and follow it around.  So like this:

                                                   x
                                               x      x
                                           x             x
                                      x                      x
                                 x                               x
                             x                                       x
                         x                                               x
Start here -> x                                                        x <- finish here.

Then just keep filling the rest of that block in and it worked great.  Once I got the first few star things done on that first row, I had the pattern down pat and hardly looked at the paper pattern until I got to the next row.


I love it, I have a place picked out where I want it to hang and which way I want to hang it.  So 1 down 133 to go.... 

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Another new start... this is becoming a habit

I broke down at stitching group last night and started Save The Stitches.  I didn't get much done because...


...we were learning how to make Dorset buttons.  I am so lucky to be part of a group of such talented people who are willing to share their knowledge with the rest of us.  If you are not a part of a stitching group you should see if there is one in your area, I can't promise they will be a good as the one I am a part of, but I promise you will have a good time!

This was fun to do but it took so long!!  There was a lot of thread to be wrapped around that ring.

 Another one of the members spent Christmas with her family, and there was a shop close by that sold tatting needles so she picked me up a set.  Can't wait to try these out!
And a little bit of progress on Hannah Lynn. I can't seem to get back into the grove on this one, but I need to because I would like to add at least 1 page to the SAL... it is not looking very good right now.


Hope everyone has a good day doing whatever makes you happy!  :)

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

TUSAL and day 78 Hannah Lynn

Hello stitching buddies!!  Here is my first TUSAL.  It is pretty sad looking but I know my contributions to my ORT jar are never going to be very big.  I use the thread until it isn't long enough to go through the fabric anymore and I cut my thread very long, so for every ort in there, there should probably be 2 if I cut my thread the proper length.  But I live on the edge (probably more like cheap and lazy :) ha!) 
 Day 78 Hannah Lynn - not too many stitches yesterday, I finished Don't Cry Because It's Over yesterday so I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time on this and I went to donate blood last night and all I want to do after that is sleep so that is what I did.
Happy Stitching!!

Monday, January 19, 2015

Quote SAL is finished!

It is all done!!  I think I will frame this and hang it in my bedroom so I see it every morning.
"Don't cry because it is over"
Inspirational Boxer by Lizzie*Kate
Stitched on 30ct Natural Linen with Weeks Dye Works thread
Started Jan 16,2015
Finished Jan 19,2015

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Day 75-77 Hannah Lynn and Quote SAL start

They were having a great conversation about whatever was going on out the window.  
Day 75
 Day 76
 Day 77 - And a full view of the whole thing while I move the Qsnaps.
 Day 1 start of the Quote SAL on Cross Stitch, Its fun!!! facebook group.  Don't Cry Because It's Over by Lizzie Kate.
After I took the picture I noticed my E was a row too short so....
 This is my day 1 frogging picture haha.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Day 71-74 on Hannah Lynn

Day 71
 Day 72
 Day 73
 Day 74
This seems to be slow going right now.  I would like to get a whole day to just sit and stitch this.

I have stumbled across some new designers that you should check out.  I think I may put some links in the side bar so check back as I plan to add more.

Paine Free Crafts - Same idea as Heaven and Earth, artwork that has been licensed and made into a cross stitch chart.  It is completely legal and the charts are gorgeous.

Eclectic Bloke Designs - Same as Paine Free Crafts - artwork into cross stitches.  Equally as gorgeous.

Sew sew n sew - I have a new love, I am counting off the stitches until I feel I have finished enough wips to start this pattern.  And that alphabet, and the 4 seasons, and, and, and....  I want all of them.

On this Cross stitch, It's Fun! facebook group there are Stitch-A-Longs all year long and this first one I am participating in starts this Friday and it is stitch a quote.  I will me stitching my winning LizzieKate "Don't cry because it is over, Smile because it happened"  I am super excited to start it.

Thanks for reading and Happy Stitching!!