Enchanted Fairy - 45 hours (almost)

This is just shy of 45 hours, but close enough. I feel like I've made some good progress in this 5 hour block.

As much as I'm enjoying this piece, I'm starting to wonder what I'm going to do with it once I've finished it. I have no idea where I'm going to hang it or what part of my house it will match. How about, no where! This is becoming quite the concern with most of my pieces I've stitched. Will they match the decor of the new house?

Thanks for looking. Here's to hoping I'm not too long with another update on either this piece or Wildflower Rhapsody.

Wildflower Rhapsody - 40 hours

I'm back!

I've been trying to commit to my stitching a little more the last couple days. It's amazing what you can accomplish if just given a desire and the time to spend.

I'm so happy to have found my stitching mojo again. I know there are some that have commented on other blogs about their missing mojo. Well, rest assured your mojo just may be on the way home to you. I thought mine was lost forever, but it seems not to be the case. I couldn't be happier to know I'm working towards another finish.

As with each time before this and for every time to come, thank you for your encouragement and kind words. It is for my adoring public I strive to be the person you 'see' before you. It is with you in mind, I pull each thread and cross every 'x'.

Wildflower Rhapsody - 35 hours

Hard to believe I actually have a stitching entry on a stitching themed blog. Who'd a thunk it?

I've been so busy with life lately that I've had no desire or better yet, time to stitch. I'm working evenings this week and I was determined to make progress towards another picture block! I did it and couldn't be happier.

I'm going to focus on this piece until it is finished, as much out of a desire to get it finished as I am because the only other piece in my possession is Halloween Fairy and I'm in need of supplies for her.

So, Wildflower Rhapsody it is, all in it's mish mash point of completion. Is it obvious that I have issues with focusing on one thing. There is a plant pot that is partially finished, one that is 99.9% done and then the water jug started. I'm avoiding the flowers a little bit because are beautiful yet nasty to work on all at once. I guess every stitch needs to be crossed so how I do it shouldn't matter right?

As always, thanks for looking!

Wildflower Rhapsody - 30 hours

I've been neglecting my stitching in a major way this past month. Last night I tried to rectify the situation with showing a little love. Sorry for the creases, I am too lazy to iron them out.

I brought myself to another 5 hour block on this piece. I love the way it is coming together. The colours are gorgeous, albeit a little tedious always switching colours unfortunately.

Here's to hoping the next update is not months in coming.

As always, thanks for looking!

Wildflower Rhapsody - 20 hours

Ta-da! Another installment in my ongoing love affair with Wildflower Rhapsody.

I'm stitching this with no rhyme or rhythm. I want to see it come to life, so I'm all over the pattern, not finishing or filling in as I would normally do. The colour changes are insane, but that is typical Paula Vaughan. It is those very colour changes that draw me to her patterns in the first place, especially since I get bored quickly with solid one colour pieces.

It will probably be next weekend before I will be back with another update, and that may only be a 5 hour addition and not the normal 10. If I bore you with updates I apologize.

As always, thanks for looking and for all your comments.

Happy stitching days to you!

May Successes and June Stitching Goals

Wow! What a stitching month May turned out to be, much to my surprise.

I stitched on the following pieces:

1. Jobs Tears - 12h 20m - finished
2. Halloween Fairy - 5h 10m
3. Enchanted Fairy - 7h 30m
4. Bubbles - 8h 10m
5. Wildflower Rhapsody - 13h 25m

The final total for May is 46h 35m. WOOHOO Not only was it a good total, but I was even able to have a finish in the mix. That is super exciting. My list is getting smaller! I will have to consider ever having more than one piece on the go once I get this current list cleaned up.

As for what I want to accomplish in June, who knows. I may just continue to work solely on Wildflower Rhapsody and see how close to the finish I can get. I think that is a great plan... work on this piece and this piece alone. That will get me another finish and then I can figure out what piece to knock off the list next. Oh, so exciting!

Happy stitching days to you!

Enchanted Fairy - 20 hours

Another blob of pastel stitches. This time I'm displaying my most recent update of Enchanted Fairy. She is coming along nice enough, but with not a lot of time committed to her, there isn't much to show.

I am going to choose another focus piece now that Job's Tears is complete, but rotate through my other pieces a little more consistently than I have of late. It seems as though I love every piece once I work on it and that is the case with this piece, as with Bubbles.

I started this piece for a reason and I now remember why. The colours are so soft and it moves relatively quick. It feels in some ways, as though I'm stitching on Middy again which I loved working on at the time.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Happy stitching days to you.

Job's Tears Complete

Job's Tears - Paula Vaughan

Dec 23, 2004 - May 11, 2008

Stitching Time - 99h 40m

I can't believe I'm finally finished! It is my oldest WIP and I couldn't be happier to have it finished. As much as I'm excited to have another piece over on to the finished side of my list, I am really going to miss working on this one. It has been a constant companion the last couple weeks. It was never that I didn't want to work on this piece, but I got into a really bad place of starting a lot of piece quite quickly after this one, so this one just got pushed to the backburner for such a long period of time. Poor thing!

I do love the feeling of being finished a piece, and the feeling of accomplishment especially when putting away all the floss bobbins. That is almost as exciting as getting things together when preparing for a new start.

I'm thinking my next piece I'm going to push to finish will be Halloween Fairy. I'm hoping only another 10-15 hours and her and I will be crossing the finish line. Let's hope, anyway.

Thank you for all your support over the last few years while I plugged away on this.

Happy stitching days to you!

Job's Tears 80 hours

I've been working away on Job's Tears, not with as much progress I would have hoped this month. I was really hoping to finish this piece this month, although I know now as the month is quickly coming to a close I'm not going to get it done. I'll keep plugging away in hopes of finishing it up in the early part of May. I got caught up in obligation stitching this month which really slowed me down. May shouldn't bring many interruptions of the stitching kind, as much as I can't say the same in regards to my everyday life.

I know there are possible changes surrounding the intended recipient of this piece, so I know I made a good decision when choosing to focus on this piece until it is completed.

Thanks so much looking and all encouragement you offer on each and every piece.

Happy stitching days to you!

Halloween Fairy - 30 hours

I've finally hit another 10 hour block on Halloween Fairy. It seems to be a long time since I've updated her which makes sense only working on this piece 1 hour per week and some weeks forgetting about her or not making time.

I think I'm going to run out of 2 colours, Dandelion Stem and Black Coffee. I'm not overly concerned because I'll just order more. I'm planning on working what I can until I run out of these two colours and then I'll put it aside while I await the 2 replacement skeins.

As much as I really like this piece I've been struggling with mistakes, the major reason I'll run out of 2 colours. I know my head was all over the place at various times while stitching her. In spite of all the mistakes (now corrected) I can't wait to see her finished, not just to put this mistake ridden piece behind me, but because I just love it!

Thank so much for looking.

Happy stitching days to you!

Mid Month Check Up

I'm really struggling with having no camera to post pics. I would be able to post a 30 hour pic, but I not able to do so. In place of posting a WIP pic, I'll have to torture you with a mid-month update of how I'm doing in achieving my stitching goals.

So far, I've worked on the following 4 pieces.

Halloween Fairy - I've worked 3 hrs 5 minutes (goal - 3 hrs). This little beauty now has a head, both arms and legs. I'm short on a one, possibly 2 colours. I'm not sure when I'm going to be ordering the floss I need because I don't want to place an order for $4.00 and then pay ridiculous shipping fees. I'll try and wait it out and see if I *need* something else to go along with my one little floss.

Rose of Sharon (Finisher's piece) - There is an additional 6hr 55 minutes done on this piece. I was hoping to contribute 10 hours, but not sure if I will bother now. Since it is being sent on to another person, if I don't think I can finish up a section in 3 hours, I may not even start it since the colour continuity is always a concern of mine. I will try to get a pic on here of my progress. No promises though.

Special Piece - 3 hours 30 minutes contributed (goal - 10 hours). I was thinking I could add 10 hours to this piece, but this piece really isn't all that big and I know there are a lot of people signed up to contribute so I'll restrain myself and not be a hog. Probably another half hour should finish it up for me.

Job's Tears - 1 hour contributed so far (goal 8 hours). I don't think I'll have any trouble meeting the 8 hour goal on this one. I couldn't stitch much more on it last night. The lighting was terrible so I had to pack it in before I was really expecting. I have this week to stitch in the evenings and then again this weekend when I'm at work.

Bonus Goals - Summer Breeze 5 hours and Enchanted Fairy 5 hours. I haven't even thought of them yet. It is still early. I might just surprise myself and get something done on one of them. Watch, I'll pull out Summer Breeze and then be inspired to work on it longer than 5 hours. Just my luck. Soon enough it'll be in the rotation and then it will drive me crazy. Isn't that always the way.

I think that's all I have on the go stitching-wise. Back in another couple weeks with the final totals.

Happy stitching days to you.

Love With A Capital L

Love With A Capital L

February 25, 2007 - March 31, 2008

216 hours 25 minutes

I put the final stitches in this last night. I was so relieved to finally have it completed. Lily says to me, I would have thought you'd show more excitement! LOL I was more relieved it seemed than excited.

I should apologize for the picture quality. I didn't have time to mess around and get a good pic. I had to take Alyssa's camera to her since I've been borrowing it for months, and I was just about to walk out the door when I finished this and snapped the shot.

As happy as I am to have it finished, it is weird to not be focused on it any longer. I was sitting looking at it last night and thinking how strange it will be to no longer be working on it. Funny how you push to get something finished and then as soon as you have completed it, you miss it. The one thing I will not miss is the frogging! There were more frogging in this piece than any other piece I've ever worked on. I'm not sure why, but it was annoying as all get out. I had to keep reminding myself how beautiful it would be once I was finished, so just work through the frogging and try not to get discouraged. I probably added an additional 15-20 hours to the total because of mistakes. Oh well, it's done now.

I have to thank a few people in helping me get this finished. Velda, for the floss and Pam for the floss along with many others that offered to send my their remaining skeins of 321. I used 1o skeins of DMC floss to complete the pattern minus to large 'L'. I know it used more floss than I would have due to the frogging, but I never imagined I'd used 10 skeins. I'm surprised to say, I still love red!

I'm going to put this away for a bit before I look towards framing it. I just can't justify the money right now, but I will not let it languish in my closet with numerous other pieces waiting to be framed. I will not.

Thank you to everyone that leaves a comment. I truly appreciate them. I thank you for seeing me through this piece. It has been quite the journey and your kind comments over the past year have inspired me and encouraged me to keep plugging away.

Happy stitching days to you!

Love 190 hours

Finally! I have something to share that is stitching related. Now, isn't that something!? This is how my piece looked mid-way through my morning stitching. I'm so anal retentive I took my camera to work with me so I could snap a shot at the precise 190 hour mark. I'm cute though, right?

I've since finished the 'E', as well as, 'Never F' I'm really so excited about this piece again. I'm not going to jinx myself, but I feel good things. Really good things.

As with everything else in my world as of right now, thanks for hanging in there with me. Ya'll rock!

Happy stitching days to you!

Love with Capital L - 170 hours

I'm back with an update of sorts. It is backwards progress I made this rotation. I'll not take the blame for this one. It's all that darn frog! I've had my way with him once for all on this piece. He has been exhiled from my home to not return while I'm in the process of finishing up this piece.

You can faintly see the outline where I pulled out my stitches. There is never a good time to discover a mistake, but this close to the finish just seems all the more painful to me. Oh well, all is gone and done with now. I'm moving forward on this piece in a positive manner and soon enough I'll have my first finish of 2008. Imagine that would ya!?

Thanks for looking and your kind comments.

Happy stitching days to you.

January Comes To A Close

January saw a month of many changes. It is hard to imagine the first month of this new has drawn to a close. Time flies and I know this to be true more now than ever.

January started off with a bang. I did my Resolution Run, which seems like ages ago. I started out strong at the gym, that has since faltered. I didn't start off because of New Year's Resolution, but because I want to slim down again, but more importantly I want muscle definition back and to feel healthy! Krista is a great support, but I've rebuffed her invites to the gym that a few days ago, she didn't even ask me along. Poor thing! Hugs, hon!

Todd and I looked at a house, loved it, looked at it again, bid on it and lost it! Damn it! It was THE house. Now we're in the process of figuring out what to do next. Do we buy, do we build? Oh, the decisions of a woman on the go! Since the whole house thing has begun, I've barely slept which is part and parcel why I'm struggling at the gym. No excuses, just what I see to be a cause for my lackluster drive for life right now.

This first month of the new year has seen the start of renovations on my house. I ALMOST have a completely renovated bathroom. It won't be too much longer and it will be finished. I have new doors on all the rooms with new knobs. Looking very spiffy, if I do say so myself. The basement now has a drywall ceiling.

January stitching progress was amazing considering how much I worked and how much work has been done around my house. I was able to stitch 41 hours 40 minutes on 3 pieces. I worked on Job's Tears, Love with a Capital L and Halloween Fairy. I eliminated 3 pieces from my list of current WIP. I just don't think the one gift will be well received, and the other 2, I don't see the person/people enough to commit this kind of time into a gift for them. I feel a little bad for that, but maybe in the future if the relationship changes with the last 2 pieces, I can pick them back up. All three pieces, I love they are, Paula Vaughan's Here Comes the Bride, Hydrangea Harvest, and Mirabilia's Middy. It made me a bit sad to scratch them from my list, but the flip side is I also felt a tremendous weight lift off my shoulders.

February is going to be another busy month. I'm hoping to have the renovations completed on my house and have it on the market by mid February. Todd and I will then have no choice but to make a decision about what we're gonig to do.

February stitching is going to be a good month too, I can tell already. I have 3 pieces that are so close to finished. I should see 2, if not 3 pieces finished. It will be the 3 of the 4 pieces I worked on in January. I think the closest to finished would be Love with a Capital L, followed by Halloween Fairy, then Job's Tears. To say I'm excited is an understatement!

Happy stitching days to you all.

The Winds of Change are Blowing Again

FOCUS PIECES
Love With A Capital L - still a focus piece, but waiting a bit to work on another of the focus pieces

Hydrangea Harvest - scrapping this as an idea for a friend. I don't know that the gift will be well received, so I'm putting it away for a bit. May or may not finish it for myself.

Job's Tears - my main focus piece for a friend. I may need to give this gift much sooner than initially anticipated.

Summer Breeze - want this to hang above my front door. If I sell this house, this piece will go on a back burner, further back than it already sits.

Wildflower Rhapsody

Enchanted Fairy



UFO PIECES
Halloween Fairy

Treetop Sampler

My Stocking

Giggles Girl

Middy - never see the person this is being stitched for, why bother?

Angel Proclamation

Be Warm Be Welcome

Bubbles

The Bride - never see the person this is being stitched for, why bother?

So, as always, things are changing around here. I love the quiet contemplation that will sometimes accompany my stitching. I know, when I stitch something for someone I want it to be well received and in a few of the pieces, I don't see the person enough to feel it is worth my time and effort. The same applies with a whether a gift is truly appreciated or not.

For today, this is where I am in regards to what I want to accomplish and in what order. How many times am I going to tinker with my list? Oh, probably at least another dozen times before this year is out. Flighty little thing, I am!

Headless Fairy Wonder

My headless Halloween Fairy. I was only supposed to work on her for an hour today, but I was sailing along so well, I couldn't put the needle down.

I love how she has no head! I do this with many of my pieces. I know, V, it freaks you out. Just wait until I my next piece and it has a face and no eyes. You love that even more, eh? The reason for this headless wonder is because I start some pieces in the middle and I dislike stitching up so much I work over and down. Notice she has one arm and one leg. She is quite talented a fairy to be able to be so beautiful and balance so gracefully.

When I was almost finished stitching her today I noticed there is a mistake somewhere in her bodice. I will have to figure it out our next time together. Like it or not the wee girl might be getting herself a breast reduction. Poor wee thing!

Thanks so much for looking.

Happy stitching days to you.

150 Hours of Love

I'm back with another update - woohoo! I couldn't be happier with how this piece is coming together. My estimate is another 40 hours should see this one put to bed.

I am a bit concerned with how poorly I counted in centering this. It is very much closer to the right side of the fabric, as you can see quite easily. I've from some others that are stitching this piece they had the same calculation problems. Hmmmm

I believe there is a mistake at the beginning of the 3rd row you see there, the beginning A. I'm not 100% so I've just stopped that area for now and am working on another section until I'm certain things are done properly or incorrectly.

As always, thanks so much for your positive comments and taking the time to post to me.

Happy stitching days to you!

Love with a Capital L - 140 hours

Love is really moving along in all ways lately. You can't believe how happy I am to know my instincts were right about this one. This piece has come to mean so much to me for so many reasons.

You stitchers out there, or some of you anyway, may understand the dreaded feeling of those last few sessions with a piece. Questioning whether it will ever get finished, until you're really close and then it's full steam ahead. In light of recent happenings in my life, I now have a renewed desire to get this piece finished and it will be a new found appreciation for my life that I do.

Stitching is a time consuming, and for the most part, a very relaxing and therapeutic past time. Thus far in my life there has yet to be a piece that represents as much of that to me, than this one. It stands alone in its significance of my life and personal growth. This is now a piece I will look back on and truly feel blessed to have stitched at this particular time? Is that what makes a piece an heirloom?

Happy stitching days to all!

Stitching Plan Version 125

I think I'm funny, eh?

I'm always messing around with my approach for tackling all the pieces I currently have started. Trust when I tell you there are many. 15 pieces is insane no matter how you look at it. 15 pieces! What was I thinking? I don't think I was thinking, but I was definitely starting. A little funny again, eh?

I'm now dividing my huge list in to 2 lists, a focus piece list and a UFO list. I will work primarily on the focus piece until it is complete and work 1 hour per week on the UFO list piece until it is complete. My focus list pieces will be long completed before those on the UFO list, so I will then move some of those pieces up to my focus piece list. Follow me so far? I don't forsee many more starts in my future (funny, eh?), so I'm thinking this 15 should start to shrink rather than grow in the next year. Without further adieu, here is my lists:

FOCUS PIECES
Love With A Capital L
Hydrangea Harvest
Job's Tears
Summer Breeze
Wildflower Rhapsody
Enchanted Fairy

UFO PIECES
Halloween Fairy
Treetop Sampler
My Stocking
Giggles Girl
Middy
Angel Proclamation
Be Warm Be Welcome
Bubbles
The Bride

This post was prompted by the fact that I've worked on Halloween Fairy for 2 weeks in a row, 1 hour per week and I'm amazed at how much I've accomplished in only 2 hours. This is going to be a lot of fun. Why didn't I think of this before? Oh, I know, I was too busy starting things to worry about finishing things. I'm really very funny, I think!