Still rolling!!!!

I can hardly believe it !! I framed another piece!

I'm going to come clean and tell you that this Amish piece was done about 15+ years ago!!! It was in the stack of "to be framed or finished some day." I'm not working on any stitching for fear that I'll lose my motivation to finish the stack, but I haven't lost my mojo. I've got a whole binder full of patterns to ponder.
For years we rented a house on Keuka Lake which is one of the Finger Lakes in NY. The house was next to my sister's cottage. Now we vacation in her new lake home. There is a large population of Amish and Mennonites in the area and it isn't uncommon to see them at the supermarket or to see their carriage and horses sharing the roads.


















Thanks for stopping by and taking a look! I love all your comments- thanks a million!
Hugs and Stitches!
Jean

I'm on a roll!

I hope you're sitting because I have another "finish" to show you!!!! I can't even believe it.
Here it is!!

This is Lizzie Kate's Peace, Joy, Love in my own choice of DMC floss colors. I wanted it less Christmasy. I really like how it came out.

Here are a few close ups.























I also made the table runner and have a picture of it but it needs to be ironed - ooops!!! I'm sure you'll forgive me if I don't go back and iron it, take a picture and download it!!






Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs and Stitches!!
Jean

Another framed piece!!

I can't believe I framed another piece! I finished the stitching in December and didn't get around to framing till now. It is a RAK instead of a Christmas present, but that's ok! I'm proud to have that off my pile of "waiting patiently to be finished" pieces!!

This is Peace - a retired freebie from San Man. It was really fun to make (after the horrible white portion of the dove which seemed to take forever!) I love the scroll work and the purple French knots.

Thanks for stopping by! I know I haven't been posting too often lately, but I'll be better about it now that I'm on track!
Hugs and stitches!
Jean

Here's Rochester, New York!

Remember a while back, I was lamenting that an old piece had stains and rust on it? Not all the stains came out, but it isn't too obvious to the untrained eye. The rust didn't come out, but I just stitched over the few spots where the stitches were rusty and it covered it ok. It would have been better if they were full x's instead of 1/2 cross, but nonetheless, it's done. I noticed it shows in the photo if you click on it, but luckily in real life it isn't as obvious!

I bought the frame for FIFTY CENTS!!! I couldn't believe it! It's hard to find the right size frame for longer pieces - they're all pretty standard, but this was an OOPS at Joanns. There aren't many I've found that work out, nor for such a cheap price!

That's the good news. The bad news is I cut the acid free foam core for mounting just enough too small that it barely covers the opening. It doesn't show but I have to play around on the back to wedge the piece in tightly. I'm saving it to give to my husband. Like I said earlier, this was a very early piece I stitched and I can really see a difference in my stitching from then to now.

I am on a kick to get things framed and finished. I really want to start a few new things, but it will have to wait. You know my fantasy of the finishing fairy showing up. Well, maybe, just maybe a finishing inspiration has come over me!

I'll show you another piece tomorrow.

clarification

Thank you for all your input about kits. It seems as though everyone just kits up using a skein for each color as indicated on the chart.

My question was more about cutting lengths of floss and putting them on a floss card and wondering how to estimate the number of strands (or lengths) of floss to use.

I have done it this way for years but usually it was for smaller charts. When I started cross stitch years ago, I started by doing kits and they would come with all the floss cut in strands to separate and put on the enclosed card with holes in it. I assumed that people were doing that too, when they said the kitted a piece.

It's been interesting to hear that most people just toss a whole skein in the bag for the project and it sure makes a lot more sense than the way I've been doing it! Especially with DMC which goes on sale often for a pretty cheap price! When I have used the overdyed, I always just put the whole skein together with the project.

Speaking of overdyed floss, I need to invest in some. It gives such a lovely result! I hardly have any at all. I'll have to remember that for my birthday.

I haven't shown the pieces I have been working on as they are gifts. I need to send them out but just haven't gotten around to them. As I assembled them into finished projects, I was thinking - I should do a tutorial! I sat back and closed my eyes till that crazy thought passed - especially since I cut my fabric out too small BOTH times I did this project!! You probably heard me screaming around 2 o'clock EST!!!! Sorry!

I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts. I certainly enjoy all your comments and I appreciate that you have taken time to leave them!! You're the best!
Love and stitches,
Jean

How do you estimate?

Thanks for the responses to my previous post.

I am still looking for how to estimate how much floss to use if I want to make up a kit. Any advice?

Tell me how you do it!

I'm having trouble figuring out how to estimate floss when I'm starting a pattern or setting up a kit. I always run short. So, here's where you come in. I'd like to hear from you veterans how you set up your kits and projects.

I'm not a fan of bobbins. I tried them and don't like how curly the floss gets. I use floss bags. Other than floss bobbins - how you you organize your floss for a project? I usually punch holes on an index card and label the color floss and the symbol from the chart.

I can't wait to hear how you fellow stitchers organize your projects!

Thank you in advance for you input!
Love and stitches,
Jean

Progress!

I have finished a PIF but haven't sent it out yet. Hence- no pictures. I am pleased with how it came out.

Thanks to Tracy's detective work, I was able to order the Spring Lamb kit pictured below. I didn't realize that it was all beaded until I got it. I made one of these in the past and really liked it. I have to be very careful not to drop the beads- that's torture!!! I am looking forward to starting it in the next few days.

Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your kindness leaving comments.

Hugs and Stitches!
Jean

Totally impressed!!!!

Thank you Tracy for finding the lamb pattern. You are FAST!!!! Cyberhelpers are the greatest. Hope I can return the favor!!

I'm working on a PIF piece right now and am almost finished. It's been a fun piece to stitch and I'm trying to figure out how I want to finish it. I have a day to mull this over.

I'm over my stitching slump. I think this PIF got me back in the mood. Pretty soon you will see some finishes!!!

Thank you for stopping by and leaving me comments. I'm not seeing many people in this deep freeze so it's always great to hear from you!

need help

Does anyone recognize this pattern? I'm in love with it. It was on a French blog and the post just mentioned "Mill Hill" - I've searched many ways but no luck. Hope someone out there knows this piece!

I am now working on finishing up my PIF's. I still have some time, but I'm getting it done. Speaking of...... Katrina- you won my PIF last July and I never heard from you. Are you still interested? Contact me please!

Another snowy, cold day. Soup is in the crock pot. I got the beef browned, threw all the ingredients in and started enjoying the aroma. Walked past the crock pot only to discover I never turned it on! I must have been smelling the browned beef!! I also have a spaghetti pie all ready for supper! Yummy!

Cleaning up!

I have been reading some blogs and there seems to be a theme- people sick and people cleaning. Luckily I am only in the cleaning group at this point except for a sore back. We are cleaning out 25 years of accumulated clutter. It was kind of fun at times - I came across the kids baby books and they are really enjoying them. I know some people do a great job with child one, less with next and the last has comments in the margins of the other books. Not me! Each book is chock full of stories and anecdotes. We laughed so hard. I did this for many years with each of them - minimum of 5 years and I'm so glad I took the time. If you are a young mother reading this - get your hands on a journal or baby book with lots of blank space and write and write. I used to set aside a time each month to update. It didn't take long and the joy of seeing the kids reactions now as young adults is priceless. Even if the kids are older - start. The remembered friends and events from when they were in 4th grade and beyond and treasure those tidbits as much as the baby updates. Our favorite parts of all three books were the misprounounced words: griefcase (briefcase), Hot Donalds (McDonalds), washslosh (wash cloth), gooster chair (booster chair), Hellophone (telephone) to mention a few.

I'm struggling to finish Noel. I'm not in the spirit but don't want it ending up a UFO. How many of you like receiving Christmas ornaments during the year? I need some input here!

We have 2 cats and they are NOT mousers. It seems when the cold weather comes, we have a few squatters and end up having to set up traps. Sweetie is a riot. She will bring us the mousetrap with the mouse in it as if to say "I caught a mouse! I love these things (mousetraps)!!" In a way it's preferable to them bringing me their carcasses to admire and praise without the trap attached.

I hope you are all warm and cozy! It's bitter cold here 9 degrees. Brr! Thanks for stopping by!

WIP's

It's time consuming to download my photos as I have to hold the cable until they are loaded. What a drag! Nonetheless, I am committed to showing more of the progress I am making on pieces as I love seeing photos on other people's blogs. So, here goes.

Here she is - I'm really enjoying stitching her (thanks for the inspiration, Staci) I switched to backstitching and am enjoying it even more- I can manage the smaller curves nicely. I went out and bought buttons for her for the end.









Here's my freebie Noel that I started around Christmas and somehow lost the Christmas spirit. I am thinking - who wants to get a Christmas piece now? We're so saturated from the early appearance of Christmas in retail, it's hard to maintain that innocent anticipation after 4 months. I love Christmas, don't get me wrong!! Maybe I'm just ready for some Valentine excitement at this point. I'll hurry up and finish it and move on. I'm really liking this piece, too.




Has anyone seen the gorgeous piece Daffyduck has designed for her daughter's birthday? It's worth taking look. She is generously giving us her chart for free - Thank you, Sharon!!!

Another cold day in Rochester- I'm definitely going to set a cross stitch goal for the next few days and hopefully, you'll see the fruits of my labor!

Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your friendship and support.

Still working on it!

I actually finished one of my pieces. It's a gift and I took pictures but you'll have to wait to see what I made.

I started on a freebie last night - the tracing paper wasn't cooperating. I tried pencil and the design kept disappearing!! I had to laugh- it was a comedy of spooks making my markings disappear! I was watching Mr. Mom - an old favorite that I found on TV while I was stitching - still enjoyed it after all these years.

This piece is embroidered. I forgot how much I like embroidery. I saw this piece on Staci's site in October and just got the notion that I needed to do one, too! Gotta love those freebies! I'm using 2 strands of DMC floss on white flannel. You can almost see the design if you look hard! I am using an outline stitch, but maybe a backstitch would be better. Maybe I'll use both- the backstitch is a very versatile stitch.

I appreciate your stopping by and as always, enjoy your comments. In this freezing cold, you are my only outside contacts!! How sad is that! We just finished a single digit cold spell which lasted a week- you folks in the north know what I'm talking about!! Brr.....

Back in the saddle again!

Tnanks for all your supportive comments. I picked up the Noel I was working on and put in a few stitches. It was fun to be stitching again!

I made a few "Draft Dodgers" yesterday and today. I live in a older home (about 90 years old -seems hard to believe!) and some of the windows are drafty. It's in the single digits here in western NY and frigid. I could feel the air seeping through the kitchen window and set off to make some draft stoppers - fabric tubes filled with kitty litter. I learned a few things in making them - estimate a wider piece of fabric than you think you will need. If you fill the tube pretty solid (to give it the weight it needs), it isn't as wide as you think it will turn out! It's rounder and higher and that makes it narrower (if that makes any sense to you!). I had to make a second one and if truth be told, I should have made it even bigger, but it is working ok. I used the first one on the middle sash of the window which didn't need the same width as the sill. I'm pleased! I also came up with a great idea for a funnel. I needed a funnel with a wider bottom to accommodate the kitty litter I was pouring in. I took a 20 oz. soda bottle and off the bottom third. The opening at the neck went into the tube and was easy to hold and I used the bottom of the bottle as a scooper! It was a cheap solution and worked really well. The only thing I would've done differently is tie a scarf around my nose and mouth. The dust from the kitty litter kind of aggravated my nose and lungs a tiny bit. I also learned a trick on-line. I've been making these for years and never thought of this. One site suggested ironing interfacing on the fabric and I used that idea. It keeps the fine dust particles from sneaking out of the weave of the fabric. I guess you can always learn new things!

Here's another thing I like to make for myself and the family - different size cozies. I sew a two pieces of fabric together in square shape or rectangle (or other shape like a kitty) and fill it with uncooked rice and stitch it shut. Warm this in the microwave and put it on sore joints or muscles. I like to put them on my forehead or cheeks when I have a cold to help drain my sinuses and it feels really good. Don't fill them too full and they will shape around the body part. In these parts, we warm them up just to warm up our hands or feet when it's this cold out! It's a nice moist heat (believe it or not) and feels wonderful. Slip one in bed while you're brushing your teeth and it warms you right up! Flannel is my favorite fabric to use, but any fabric is suitable. Now if you are out there saying "I wish I knew how to sew!" help is on the way. You can fill an old sock with rice, put a rubber band tightly to secure the rice and pop it in the microwave. Not fancy - that's for sure, but it works! When the rice gets really old and smells slightly burned (this doesn't happen for a long time!), just replace the rice or make a new one! Hey - you could use my new bottle funnel to fill the rice!