Please Pardon My Absence

Well, it's been B - U - S - Y.  I think I worked 10 days without a day off, not the easiest to do at this stage in my life.  When I was younger, it wasn't that hard, or at least that's how I remember it. 

As a reward I gave myself a four day weekend to recover.  I had so, so, so many plans of things I wanted to do and didn't get to most of them.  I really wanted to do some blog posting, some stitching, some finishing, some work on the quilt for the baby, plus, clean, do laundry, (not so sure I wanted to do the last two, but let's just say I needed to do them.)  I did get some stitching done, and a bit of work on the quilt, but alas, no finishing.  In fact, Winter Fling is sitting where I left it weeks ago.  However, it looks like it will be winter for quite some time so I hope to get to it soon. 

The workload has eased a bit and I must say that I am rested after my four day weekend.  I left work early on Wednesday and napped the afternoon away.  I guess I needed to do that!

Somewhere in all this time the calendar page turned over to February.  And as I had hoped I did put away a January project partially stitched. This is how the January Cottage of the Month looked when I tucked it away until next year.

Cottages of the Month - January
Country Cottage Needleworks

And I'm ok with that.  I told myself that this year would be an experiment in focusing on a particular theme each month.  Next year I'll be able to pull this out, it will seem brand new and be able to finish it in very little time.  Admittedly, I did put this away late due to my preoccupation with making a living.

I'll share some more tomorrow. 

Keep on Stitching!

My First Giveaway

Here is a photo of the things I sent to Lynda, the winner of my first giveaway.  I can share this now that she has let me know she received the package.  Actually, she let me know several days ago.  It's taking me a while to catch up.

 



I hope to have stitchy updates later this week.  I have been working Nana's Garden (the quilt) and wee bit on Hare Pyns, and a little bit on January Cottage of the Month.  So many projects, so little time.

Keep on Stitching!

January Cottage of the Month

I have kitted this up to take the place of Winter Fling as my lunchtime/travel project.  I made a bit of a start so I don't have to do the pesky measuring but can just stitch.

I'm stitching this over one on 28 count.  Unfortunately, I don't know the name of  the fabric, just something I had in my stash.

January Cottage of the Month by Country Cottage Needlework

Keep on Stitching!

Weekend Wrap Up

This week I finished stitching Winter Fling by Heart in Hand.

He was fun and a great lunchtime/travel project.  For now I've put it on my sewing table.  One night next week I hope to get this turned into a little pillow for the basket.

Yesterday I went to my LQS named At Piece Quiltery.  I was in search of a project to welcome a new little girl into this world.  They had just what I was looking for.  Yesterday I began the stem stitching.  I will share more about this project when I get it finished.  I will say that after doing so much cross stitch I found it quite relaxing to stitch without a chart and to turn my fabric to make it easier to stitch.

I took Baby Girl back to Temple in Philadelphia today.  It will be quiet without her here again.

Have a great week.

Keep on Stitching!

Hare Pyns - Part 3

I made some progress on Hare Pyns on Sunday afternoon.  I'm liking the way it's looking.  I think that I will leave the dark green in the leaves alone.  I think that it gives the piece a bit of patina with the background fabric peeking through.

Keep on Stitching!

Sunday Summary

I finished stitching Sampler Months - January on Saturday night.  I wasn't able to sleep due to a three hour nap in the afternoon.   Here it is with the stitching finished. 

Sunday afternoon I finished it into this little pillow.  I had thought I would use the green snowman fabric when I first started the stitching.  I am happy with the way this turned out. 

 Except that when I put in the intended basket it looked a little lonely.  See what I mean?

So I headed to the attic and found this other bigger pillow that I had finished years ago.  Still not the look I want but it's a bit better.

Then I decided to look through the box of shame and I found the following pieces which I can finish sometime soon to add to the basket.

Then I needed a new lunchtime/travel project.  So I started Winter Fling by Heart in Hand.  This one will be a quick stitch.  I had to make myself stop stitching on this.  I hope to make some more progress on this at lunchtime this week.

Have a great week!

Keep on Stitching!

Samplermakers Saturday

Yesterday was Samplermakers.  A group of ladies who orginally got together to finish a project from a class they had taken and have been meeting ever since.  I found out about the group several years ago and love going.  They meet once a month, usually the second Saturday for about 4 hours.   A very informal group.  There are all kinds of things  being worked on.  Some ladies knit. Some stitch.  And some do both. 

I took along Sampler Months this time, my travel project.  It's amazing how much progress a girl can make on a small with project with a few uninterupted hours of stitching time! 

This month one of the ladies proposed that those who are interested and have Betsy Morgan's Toy Chest in progress complete the stitching on the scissor case before the May meeting at which time we will assemble them.  Sounds good.  Hope I remember to get that baby out between now and then and get that piece worked.

Keep on Stitching!