Pics of Gift Stitch & Goblin Tree Update

Here are some pics of the stitching I did for my friends & I that traveled to France this Summer.  First all 4 of them together:

 Here they are individually.

 They have bee given and greatly appreciated!

(bows head thankfully)

Now for Goblin Tree news.  I've completed page 16!  In honor of my page finish I took her off the rods for a full pic.

Only 4 more partial pages to go!
Thanks for having a look.
Stitch On!

Gift Stitch Done & Tiger Update

I know it's been a while since I've posted here.  It took much longer to stitch up the gifties than I had thought.  But they're done and framed now.  I'll post pics of them here after I've given them.  But I'm back to Siberian Forrest and I have an update!  Page 3 came out at the start of July, here's where I am with it:

I'm loving him!  Fun to stitch and he's watching me the whole time, making sure I do a good job.  I'm going to stay with him until I finish the page.

Hope you are having a lovely Summer.  I've been out at the pool every day that the sun shines.  It's been very hot and humid here, and lots of pop up thunder storms.  We need the rain, so it's not all bad.

Stitch on!

It's a Surprise

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  I am stitching, but they are gifts so I can't publish any pics yet.  When I'm all done, framed, and the recipients have received their gifts, I will publish pics.  Until then you will just have to wonder.  ;-)

I do have some pics for ya, not stitchy pics though.  I recently spent 4 wonderful days in Paris with 4 friends.  Here's a link to my photobucket Paris pic folder.
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y295/CrazyForCrossStitch/Paris%202012/
I haven't gotten all the captions up yet.  There are over 200 pics there so it's going to take me a while.  Enjoy these till I can get some stitchy pics up.

Siberian Forrest Page 2 Complete

Finished page 2 last night.  I think he's amazing!

Siberian Forrest Page 2 Start

Siberian Forrest Freebie page 2 came out, and I've started on it.  I have to say that the detail in this piece is amazing.  A true testament to the charting skills of the HAED Team!  I can't wait to get to his other eye.  Stay tuned!

Goblin Tree Page 15 Complete

I know it's been a while, but I wanted to post a page finish.  And here it is, page 15.

One more full page and 4 partials to go!
She's off he scroll rods now, taking a short break.  I'm working on Siberian Forrest (2012 QS Freebie) Page 2 of that came out Friday.  I love the detail in it and I'm going to try to get a page finish on that one too.  Just started working on it yesterday, and I've got about 500 stitches in.

Hope you all had a lovely Easter!
Thank you for looking.

Blog Award!

I've been honoured with my first blog award! It's very exciting and I'm very grateful to Thea (Gizzimomo) at Gizzimomo's Stitchy Place for the nomination! THANK YOU!

Liebster is a German word meaning favourite, dearest or beloved. The Liebster Blog Award is awarded by bloggers to other new bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to help spread the word about their blogs and to help them gain wider recognition.

The Liebster award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting.

1. Choose 5 up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers to award the Liebster to.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blog so they know about the award.

4. Share 5 random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

Here are the five people and blogs that I've chosen to share this award with.....

1. Rachel at TimRachel's Blog is a fellow HAED Admin over at the HAED BB, and today just happens to be her Birthday!  (HB Rachel!)

2. Scotty at Diary of a Manbroider who's another HAED stitcher.  I know he has a few more than 200 followers but you must check him out, fantastic stitching!

3. Theresa at October Lace's Stitching Notes. Yep, another HAED stitcher.  She will be starting the amazing  Sistine Chapel on April 1st.  I can't wait to see her progress!

4.Vani at My Stitch Diary, another HAED stitcher, and a lovely lady.

5.  Sara at My Cross Stitch Corner HAED Stitcher, board member.  Check her out.

And here are five things you may not know about me......

1. I can't knit. I've tried, but I just can't hold 2 needles at the same time!
2. I used to love to crochet, before I found cross stitch.
3. I LOVE spinach.
4. I was a JV and a Varsity Cheerleader in High School.
5. I will be traveling to Paris this year!

Goblin Tree Update

I wanted to have a page finish before I posted, but it's taking a while.  So here's the latest update on GT.  I have touched the bottom of page 15, even if it's only one stitch way down there at the bottom....

I'm continuing work on it this week.
Happy stitching to you all!

Page 14 Complete

Pay no attention to the wrinkles.  I was trying to get a pic in sunlight, and I couldn't flatten it out that well.  Since I finished page 14, I figured it was time to take it off the rods and get a full pic.  You can see I've started page 15.  Pages 15 and 16 are the last full pages to be stitched, after that there are only 4 half pages to go.  If I can concentrate on this, I may be able to finish it this year!

Goblin Tree Update

Page 14 is almost complete.  I'm going to stick with it at least until it's done. 

Here's Looking At You

Siberian Forrest Freebie 2012, 1st page finish!!!!  I stitched this page in 1 month, the quickest I've ever completed a page on a HAED.  It's a little wonky due to the fabric clips I used to keep the fabric tight on the scroll rods.  That will wash out in the end.  I am happy dancing!  Goodness, I don't know what I'll be working on next.  I have many wips to choose from, guess it will be a surprise.

Siberian Forest Start & Goblin Tree Update

Here's a quick pic of Siberian Forest (I took it with my phone).  

Started on 1/17/12.  

Zweigart Linda 27 ct. white (pre-packaged)

DMC 1 X 1

There's a lot of confetti stitching on this first page, but it's not as bad as I had thought.  I'm kind of in a groove with it.  I'm keeping it going this week. 

My update on Goblin Tree below.  (this is from 1/6/12)  I'm going to try to complete it this year!

Looks like a little more the halfway through page 14.  There are 20 total pages of chart in this one.  I'm going to try to concentrate on these 2 wips this year until at least one of them is completed.  It's so hard with new releases coming out all the time grabbing my attention. 

Here are a few that are nagging at my brain.  I figured I would share them with you so I won't be the only one suffering!
Christensen's Purple Dragon, I don't have this one in stash yet, I am trying to resist!  You should stop by the WIPs forum on the board and see a few of the fantastic starts on this puppy!  
Others not in stash but I'm drooling over:
Meilissa Dawn's Snowflake Daydreams
Marta Dahlig's Judith
Irina Garmashova's  My Darling
Then there's the ones that are in stash that are screaming!

Sue Clyne's Dear Prudence a cat, with the name of a Beatles' song!
Da Vinci's Sistine Chapel OMG!  That's all I have to say!
And Patty RAKed me with Ravenscroft's QS Bubbles and  QS Sea Unicorns!
So what's a stitcher to do?  I have to plug my ears to silence the noise so I can finish something!

Happy New Year

Welcome 2012.  I hope you and yours had a wonderful Holiday Season.  It was fairly quiet here and that's the way we like it.  I managed to finish one more goal before 2011 fell into the history books.  Here he is, Phuan page 1 completed:

So I only made one of my half yearly goals for 2011.  But one is better that none!

Here's the wrap up:

2011 Full Year GOALS

1. Finish Fragile Heart SAL COMPLETE!
2. Finish TT SunWorshipper Cat 3 COMPLETE!
3. Finish Chesterton SK SAL COMPLETE!
4. Complete one more page (at least) on Goblin Tree: Pages 1 thru 12 finished. COMPLETE!

2011 ½ Year GOALS
1. Finish 1 page Bewitched (page 1 started).
2. Finish 1 page Phuan (page 1 started).  COMPLETE!
3. Start Catfish and finish (at least) half of the page.

I'm currently stitching on Goblin Tree for the Retired Artists SAL on the HAED Board.  She's so much fun to work on, and I'm glad to have her back on the scroll rods again.  I think I will try to finish her this year!  I have the first page of the 2012 Freebie QS SAL in my hot little hands, but I haven't even kitted it up yet.  I chose Siberian Forest by Kayomi Harai.

Big surprise, right?  I picked a cat!  I will have to dedicate some time to pulling floss and picking a fabbie.  It would be nice to actually keep up with the pages as they come out, for a change.  I haven't figured out my 2012 goals yet, but you can bet that Siberian Forest will be amongst them.

So here's to a happy and productive new stitchy year!

Merry Christmas

(repost)
For some this time of year may have little meaning or may be a sad time.

For myself, this is a time to rejoice for all I have received, reverence for those I have lost, and to give in the spirit of Christmas.

If you find stress in this season, take a moment in silence and listen for the true spirit. Lend yourself to those whom are in need. Then without a doubt, the true spirit and peace of Christmas will fill your heart.

Thank you for a wonderful year.
May You all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year.

Phuan SK Update

Progress so far.  I don't have page 1 done yet, but I really want to complete it before the end of the year.

Stats:

Phuan                          Lesley Anne Ivory © HAED

Freebie SK Jun. – Dec. 2011

28 ct. English Rose      DMC floss 1 X 1, full cross

Started June 17,2011    Kreinik Blending Fil. 002HL   

Stitched by Louanne S.               Dec. 11, 2011

Fragile Heart Completed!

Here she is!  All washed, pressed and ready for her close up!  I finished her Sunday night.  I've now completed all my yearly goals.  My half-yearly goals look pretty shabby, I'm not even close on those.  So here's the goal wrap up so far.

Yearly Goals

Finish Fragile Heart SAL - Complete

Finish TT Sun Worshipper Cat 3 - Complete

Finish Chesterton SK SAL - Complete
Complete one more page (at least) on Goblin Tree, Pages 1 - 12 complete. Completed page 13 and 1/3 of page 14

1/2 Yearly Goals
Finish 1 page Bewitched (page 1 started).
Finish 1 page Phuan Freebie SK (page 1 started).
Start Catfish and finish (at least) half of the page (page 1 started). 

Hope you're all doing well with any goals you've set for yourselves this year.  Can you believe this year is almost over?
Joyous Stitching to you all!
Hugs!

Fragile Heart Page 4 Complete

Here she is!

Page 4 down.  I've been working on her since last time I posted.  Since it's a yearly goal to complete her, I figured I'd better get my butt in gear.  I'll continue with her this week, till Thursday night.

Friday morning the rare 5th weekend Retired Artist SAL starts up on the board.  It only comes around about 4 times a year.  Goblin Tree is a retired chart so she will come out for a while.

Things around here have been so busy lately.  I've been dieting and I'm down 26 lbs.  I have about 8 lbs. to go, yet, but I had to get myself some new clothes.  I'm only 5" tall, so for every 5 lbs. I lose, I go down a size.  I started at a size 12 (well, almost bursting out of 12s), I've worked down to a 6.  Now the 6's are hanging a bit.  I have to wash and machine dry everything.  Gone are the days of hanging jeans out to dry for fear that they would shrink.  Now I'm trying to shrink them!  Who woulda thought?  So anyway, I've been out and about, shopping most days after work.  I haven't gotten a lot, but what I have purchased has been hard to find.  I'm not a teeny bopper, but I'm not an old lady either.  Who are these designers making clothes for?  They all look like they're for my 18 yr old niece or my 84 yr old MIL!  What to do if you're somewhere in the middle? (SIGH)

Well, that's enough for now, possums.  Have a Stitchy Week!

Goblin Tree - Linda Ravenscroft - 30 Sept. 2011 Update

I didn't get much time to work on her, but here's the before and after for last week.
Before:

After: 

After all these years I still love working on her.  I wish I could just continue and finish this page.  But, this week's SAL is Freebies & Smalls, so Fragile Heart is about to come out and play.  I have one yearly goal yet to complete and that's to finish FH.  I'm not anywhere near that goal, so I have to get stitching on it.

That's all, for now possums.  Have a delightful stitchy week!

Better Late Then Never

I've been busy.  Had my SIL and niece over the weekend.  We went into NYC for a show and dinner.  Saw Prisilla Queen of the Desert, and had dinner at Chez Josephine's.  It was a great day.  I recommend both the play and the restaurant, so if you haven't been, go!  You won't be sorry.

DH bought a car on Wed.  He hasn't had a car in his name since we've been married, 15 years.  I've been telling him to buy a car for a few years now, but he didn't want a car payment.  He finally found one, not on purpose.  He went to a dealership trying to get a part for his work van and saw one on the lot that he really liked.  He got a Hyundai Genesis.  He really wanted something comfortable, and this car fits the bill.  I can't believe how nice it is.  It's not anything that I would ever have even looked at, but it fits him to a T.  He's happy with it so far.  I hope he stays happy with it at least till he's finished with the payments :-)

Last week was the SK SAL, so Phuan came out for a while.  As stated, I was pretty busy last week so my progress was meager.  Here's the before & after pics:

I was so excited to get to the start of his ear!  Then I went to post my update over on the board in the Phuan thread, and saw what all the other stitcher's pieces look like.  I feel like I got nowhere.  Oh well, I didn't have a lot of time to stitch, but I'm a slow stitcher anyway.  It's not the end point, it's the journey that's important.

This week is the Themed SAL, the Theme is Halloween or anything Autum-ish (not a word, I know).  So you probably already guessed it.  Goblin Tree is on the scroll rods.  I have another busy week this week.  Something every day after work.  But my old friend is there and I have managed a few stitches so far, and hope to squeeze a few more in before Friday morning.  Stay tuned!

QS Artur

Last week was the SWIP SAL on the board so I broke out QS Arthur, I hadn't touched him since March 2010! Here he is before:

And after:

Doesn't look like much but confetti rules this piece. I don't mind though, the detail is amazing, IMHO. He will take forever to finish, at the rate I stitch, but he's worth it.

This week is the SK Freebie SAL so Phuan is on the rods....

Some news this past week: Fudgey (Jeannie-Maree) has retired from her duties as Administrator.  I, along with Rachel and Nance are now helping Michele out with the duties there more than we were before.

As a farewell gift Michele and Bob have charted a QS Freebie of the piece that brought Fudgey to HAED in the first place.  You can find the chart, Sea of Roses, HERE.

Unfortunately, I got only one comment on my last post (thank you Ali) .  I was hoping for a bit of a better turnout.  Please look into your heart and re-read my previous post, I really would love to have your help.

It's a chilly 52 this morning, here.  I turned on the heat in the house, first time this season.  I'm still hoping for Indian Summer tho!  It would be nice to curl up in a blanket and stitch, but I have errands to run today.  Then we're taking some friends out for dinner tonight, in honor of her Birthday.  Maybe tomorrow I can stitch all day.

Have a great stitchy week!