Starting to post again, YEA!!!

I am going make a concerted effort to post more regularly.  

I am working on an 18 x 18 counted needlepoint.  Took a two day class with my ANY (American Needlepoint Guild.  It is a monochromatic sampler of sorts.  It had a ton, just ton, of pre stitching.  Everyone picked out a different color.  I was first drawn to old golds, but had a lot of problems with the colors, so I switching to purples.  At first I picked out only dark, royal purples, but quickly realized that there was no contrast to the piece if I did not get different hues of purple, which I did. My girlfriend in the class brought me some burgundy wine reds that went with the purples, so I changed my colors to purples and these beautiful wine red colors.  I have done a few of the 37 rectangles.  It will be a long WIP, but one that is coming out just beautiful.  Will post a picture soon.  

This is just a short blog.  Need to start somewhere.  I will post a picture of this counted needlepoint soon.  

Yours in creating a beautiful life,

Adria

February is done!

Here is February! I ordered a steamer yesterday to help (hopefully) get the creases and wrinkles out better than my iron. I have always been rather frustrated about those darn wrinkles. I will be getting the frame and foam core from the framers tomorrow or Thursday. When I have it done I will post a picture of how it looks in the frame.

Happy stitching,
Adria

WIPocalypse 2012 Challenge

I have decided to join the WIPocalypse challenge. Melissa has organized this stitch-a-long.

The WIPocalypse is a stitch-a-long playing up on the joke that the world will end in 2012.  It's short for Works In Progress Apocalypse.  The goal for the WIPocalypse is to make progress on our projects.  On each full moon I will post an update of my progress. The dates are listed on Melissa's WIPocalypse blog page. I am doing this to better organize my crafting projects.

You can read more about this at Melissa blog up above.

I have organized my stitching list into WIPs, SALs, wish list future starts and those in my first tier stash. All projects listed below (excluding crochet projects) have fabric, threads and embellishments (when need) with each chart.

Below is my list. I am more than likely going to adjust the lists during 2012.

CRAFT PROJECT - 2012

CROSS STITCH

SALs
Little House - Elizabeth Hancock sampler (ordered)
Country Cottage Designs - monthly cottage series (January done, February started)

WIP
Cross Stitch
Drawn Thread - Random Thoughts
Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Nov/Dec 2011 - Star of David
Little House - Summer Splendor
Just Nan - Spring Frills Humbug
La D Da Designs - Dragonfly Pinkeep 

Needlepoint
Counted - Amish Trip Around the World Quilt Nancy's Needle
Unpainted - Stitch sampler of 15 dogs

Crochet projects
Shawl (dark denim with flecks of lighter blues)
Lapghan (burgandy, navy and gray done in a tweed pattern)

WISH LIST Future Starts
Ink Circles - Metamorphosis
Little House - The Family Sampler
Blue Ribbon Designs - Botanical Blessings
With Thy Needle & Thread - Mystery Sampler (in 3 charts)
Homespun Elegance - Bird 'n Blossom Pinkeep
Barbara Ana Designs - Fur-ever friends
Lizzie Kate - Live Love Laugh (new version)

Crochet - cotton ripple wrap in dark purple

First tier stash

Little House - New England Winter
Blue Ribbon Designs - Read Between The Lines - A Bookmark Sampler
Sunflower Seed - Storklette Scissor Holder
With Thy Needle & Thread - Flag Day
Lizzie Kate Designs
- Life's A Beach
- Stitching Forever
Just Nan - Bluebird Alphabet

CROCHET
Ripple afghan (not sure of colors)

That's all for now!

Happy and Healthy New Year to all!

Adria

This is my latest cross stitch finish. It is the January cottage from Country Cottage designs. It is done on a 32 count belfast natural linen. It was easy to do, took about 5 days of actual stitching.

It is part of a series of cottage designs that will come out monthly. I am going to do all twelve and rotate them in and out of the same frame monthly. I have two other designs, one finished and one not, that are going to be grouped with this one. Finished is 4 birds, one for each season. The other 4 (just started) are alphabets done for each season. Both designs will be rotated seasonally.

Did a 16 mile bike ride with husband, Jerry, the other day.. It was on a walking, running and cycling path by a dry wash. A lot of straight stretches with some hilly places where the path goes underneath an overpass. It was a crispy cool day, great cylcling weather. I really enjoyed myself. Can not wait to go again. I am really enjoying riding!! I am quite a site in spandex. Maybe one day I will post a picture of that, but not today.

Keep well,
Yours in stitching,
Adria

Dinner!

Had hanukkah dinner with son and his girlfriend tonight! Everything turned out great. I always make too much food, but he will take home the leftovers. We always enjoy spending time with our kids. If you ask me what I want as a present, I always say "just time with my kids, that is all I need."

Birthday and friends

I just celebrated a milestone birthday.  It was the best ever.

I spent the day doing the things I love.  I watched my husband play in a tennis match.  Went to the gym to work out.  Got a flu shot (finally) and a shingles vaccination shot and then went home and did some cross stitching.  I prepared some projects by wrapping threads, cutting fabric and stitching around the perimeter to prevent them from fraying.  At night we watched two of my favorite movies, Love Actually and the new version of Pride and Prejudice (my most favorite love story ever!!).



 My girlfriends took me out to a great birthday dinner last night.  On my plate there was a beautiful bouquet of yellow and pink roses.  When I opened the fabulous card I was overwhelmed by the sentiment and the generosity of the gift.  I have taken up road cycling (with spandex & all).  The gift certificate was for a local cycling shop and will be put to good use.  Thank you my dear friends: Ginger, Lisa, Cathy, Irene, Sherrie, Nancy, Terri, Deena and Emlee.  You will never know how much I appreciate your friendship and love.  Thank you all so very much!!

I am waiting for my January cottage pattern to come in from ABC Stitch.  It should be here today or tomorrow.  I have already prepared my fabric.  Can't wait to start!  I am part of the SAL for these patterns from Country Cottage designs which will come out monthly.  Some of the 100 or so participants are doing them on one piece of fabric, while me and others are doing them individually to put in a frame and will change them out monthly.  I am doing it on a Belfast 32 count natural linen.  It is a light brown color with darker flecks in it.  It should look beautiful.  Will post pictures of the finished project.

Yours in stitching and life,
Adria

No stitching done today. I am getting ready to do Family Sampler by Little House. I am excited to put my own stamp on it. For those of you who know this pattern, I have plotted out my name, the capital R and the way I am setting up the family on the line near the top. I am changing the colors of my dress and the colors for my husband and sons clothes. He will be in gray and my kids pants will be blue, so it looks as of they are in blue jeans.

Also gathering up threads for a pattern from the last Cross Stitch magazine. I ordered some 28 count crystal stellar material from picture this plus that just came in. It is really beautiful. Will post pictures as soon as I get some of it done.

Stay well and have peace of mind,
Adria