County Fair - ribbons!

Hi Everyone!

This year I entered 7 cross stitch items in my county fair.  While I did expect to get some blue ribbons (1st place), I also expected a white (3rd place).  Thankfully, I was quite wrong on the white!

Here's what I entered and won:

• Mystic Garden - HAED BB SAL from last year:  Blue
• QS Hummingbird - HAED:  Blue
• Whitework Sampler - from the Gift of Stitching online magazine (retired):  Blue
• Autumn Days - freebie pattern from Enchanted Needle Designs:  Blue
• Faith, Family, Friends - from Just Cross Stitch (I think):  Blue
• 12 Days of Christmas - by Teresa Wentzler:  Blue, Best of Section (purple), 2nd place Best of Show (red rosette)
• Heirloom Christmas Sampler - from The Victoria Sampler:  Blue, Best of Section (purple), 1st place Best of Show (blue rosette)

The Heirloom Christmas Sampler is the one I expected to get a white ribbon.  According to one of the ladies who aided the judges, it was the detail of the Christmas tree that decided that one was first place and the 12 Days was second.  :-)

I took a photo of just the ribbons because all but one of the projects have acrylic over them and would cause a glare.  Here's all my ribbons:

Happy Stitching!

 Stacy

Finishes and WIP photos!

Whew!  I've finally gotten 12 Days of Christmas framed!  I was going through some old computer CDs during the last couple of days and I found my first WIP photo of 12 Days.  It was taken on Jan. 9, 2006!  Well here's the finished product:

I also had another, much smaller, finish recently.  It's an ornament, Let It Snow.  This is a Dimensions kit.  No, I don't have a Christmas tree up year 'round (DH won't let me), I just started my Christmas shopping in January this year.  It's hanging on a small tree with a snow family at the base.  The tree and the ornament are both going to be presents for my mother.

 

And finally, here is my current progress photo for PTP Floral Arrangement.  I've finished page 8 which is the right edge and am filling in page 7 now.

 



As I mentioned, I found some old CDs with photos on them.  I also "lost" my personal webpage when we changed from a business to a personal account with my ISP.  I'm going to start posting photos of my completed works that were on my webpage to my blog for "posterity".  ;-)

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

A thoughtful post...

This post is full of my thoughts while stitching.  In particular, with regards to TW's 12 Days of Christmas.  As my loyal readers know, 12 Days has been the focus piece in my rotation.  Every other time I've rotated, I've switched back to this one so that I would eventually get it finished.

Well, 12 Days got it's turn again last week.  It was time to work on Day 10: 10 Lords a Leaping.

Since the borders are done over 2 using blended colors, I've been cutting long lengths of each color then threading 6 needles with all the blended strands.

I started by doing the borders for Day 10 and had threaded needles sitting there so I thought: 
"I find doing the borders boring, so I'll just do as much as I can on the Day 11 & 12 borders with these threaded needles."

When I finished using up the pre-threaded needles, I thought:
"I'm so close to finishing the borders, I might as well get them done.  I'll backstitch them too 'cause I hate backstitching."

After I'd finished the borders, I thought:
"The holly in the corners is easy to do, so I'll do the holly on all three remaining days."

With the holly all done, I thought:
"If I stitch the 'of Christmas' for each of the 3 days left, I can discard that page of pattern."

After I threw away the "of Christmas" part of the pattern, I realized that I didn't enjoy the lettering due to all of the backstitching, so I thought:
"If I get all the lettering done, I'll only have to do the inside area for each day.  That will speed up my progress when I rotate back to this project."

Once I'd finished all of the lettering, I started working on the center of Day 10.  It was going along so quickly, I thought:
"Hmm, why don't I just finish the other 2 days as well."

After all that thinking, 12 Days of Christmas is DONE!

Now I'm heading back to my craft room to see what my next rotation project will be.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

12 Days Progress Photo

Whew!  I just finished Day 9 on Teresa Wentzler's 12 Days of Christmas!

Since it's so early in the morning, it's 1:20am here, I haven't bothered to do anything beyond take the photo.

Without further ado, here is my progress pic:

I'll figure out what's next in my rotation later.  I'm off to bed now.

Good night all and Happy Stitching!

Stacy

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Well, not really.  Hubby made me take down all the decorations back on the 1st.

I am making progress on Christmas stitching though!  I had the Santa finish a few days ago and now I've completed another day on the 12 Days of Christmas!  Day 8 is now done!

I have no idea why, but this particular day stitched up so much more quickly than any of the others.  I guess I shouldn't question it, I should revel in it!

Here's a picture of the project so far (Days 1-3 are rolled up at the top):

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

12 Days of Christmas update

As those of you who follow my blog know, I have designated the 12 Days of Christmas as the focal piece in my rotation.  That means, every other time I rotate, I work on this one.

Well, I just finished it's most recent turn with the completion of day 7!  I am enjoying working on this project, but am relieved to be taking a bit of a break from it.  I know backstitching serves a purpose, but after finishing off one of the "days", I've had enough BS (backstitching, lol) to last me awhile!

Here's the photo of my current progress:

As you can see, I did make a start on the border of day 8.  This is due to the blended colors being used in the over 2 borders.  I cut identical lengths of the two colors needed and then combine each of  the six strands with the six strands of the other color and thread them into six needles.  I stitch with the blends until all six needles are used up.  I'm not sure this paragraph makes sense, but that's what happens!  ;-)

I don't know what will be next in my rotation, 'cause I called it quits for tonight.  Guess that means I'll be surprised at my next stitching session.

Happy Stitching!  To those in the US, I hope you and your families have a blessed Thanksgiving!!!

Stacy

Pinterest ~ WIP ~ Animals

Yes, I know that's a wide range of topics that I'm planning to cover!

First of all:  Pinterest.  Unfortuately, I've discovered that evil website.  ;-) 

Just kidding about it being evil...addicting does apply though.  If you would like to follow me on Pinterest, you can find me listed as stacy27c.

Now here are a couple of ideas that I discovered on Pinterest and have actually done.  The first is an ornament that I did as a small present for my niece's wedding.  The curls are created by slicing the wedding invitation up.  The only thing that I did differently from the original post is to use a knitting needle to wrap the paper around.

The second is a box made out of paper strips.  I actually made this to hold the ornament.  The post for that one I think is in Japanese but easy enough to see how to do it.  I used scrapbooking paper to make mine.  It took two sheets of 12" x 12" paper.

 


Next comes some WIP progress!  I worked on what is now my focus piece:  12 Days of Christmas from Teresa Wentzler.  I finished off Days 5 and 6 which puts me at the half-way mark!

Since that was my goal for this turn in my rotation, I've put it aside for a bit and my randomizer chose Rapunzel from HAED as my next WIP.

And now for the animals mentioned in the title.  I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest of the United States.  On the way home from church last week, my husband and I were treated to this sight:

For those who might not know what these lovely creatures are, they are Roosevelt Elk.  These are all cows (females) and calves.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Updates/Rotation

I haven't done much stitching or anything else in past weeks as I was spending time with my father who had brain cancer.  He passed away June 21 and his memorial service was July 2.  I miss him but am glad that he's gone to be with the Lord.

Now for some stitching updates.  I just finished the third page of the Sistine Chapel from HAED.  Here's a progress photo.

I've also decided to change up the way I do my rotation, slightly.  Since I want to eventually finish something, I've decided to have one focus project (FP) and rotate the others.  What that means is that I will be working on my FP, then a random WIP, back to the FP and so on. 

I chose my 12 Days of Christmas from Teresa Wentzler as my FP.  Since I finished a page on the Sistine Chapel, I've now gotten back to work on 12 Days.  Days 1-4 are completely done and days 5 & 6 have all the border work done.  I'm going to finish the centers on 5 & 6, then rotate to a different project.  The next time 12 Days comes up for its turn, I'll do all of day 7 then switch to another WIP.

For the WIPs, I will still use my randomizer app to choose which one is next.  The only difference now is that 12 Days will get worked on every other turn.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Stitching Updates

After having the flu, getting well, taking a 5 day vacation in Las Vegas, getting a cold and trying to get over it, I have managed to get some stitching done! I've even managed to take photos so that I can share.

First of all, I finished my January 1 stitching challenge piece, Night Train. I haven't chosen a frame for it yet since I want to stitch the companion piece Night Train II and then get identical frames for the pair.

Here is a quilt that I finished recently. It is a pattern of 9 patch squares alternated with blocks of single fabrics all set on-point. It is approximately a full size quilt.

After finishing Night Train, I started working on my UFOs again. This is Teresa Wentzler's 12 Days of Christmas. I managed to finish Day 2 and have the border ready for Day 3.

Since I finished a day on the 12 Days, I've rotated to my Wild Menagerie UFO (from Cross My Heart). There are 8 pages in this pattern. This photo represents 2 pages finished. The odd thing about this project is that I am stitching it sideways! While I have some big a** scroll frames, I didn't have any wide enough to hold this fabric normally so I rolled it with the left edge on the top scroll and the right edge on the bottom scroll. In the long run, I think this makes it more manageable to work with. As I am stitching, I have the pattern rotated 90° as well. I have made some progress since I took this picture as I am about 50% finished with the third page. Since the pattern calls for stitching on black fabric, there are large areas that do not need to be stitched which is making my progress seem faster.

Happy Stitching!!

Stacy C.