Monday, December 29, 2008

New stash

First I would like to say that I hope that everyone who celebrates Christmas had a happy holiday. I would also like to wish a Happy New Year to everyone! I had a great Christmas, I was able to spend a lot of time with my family! I don't get to see them as often as I used to, now that I'm working :( It was a joy to see my nieces and nephew who seem to be growing so fast.

Almost a month ago my husband and I went to the casino for dinner and I won some money on the slots. Right away I decided that I would use my winnings to try Silkweaver fabric. I ordered 3 solo minis and 3 classic minis. The package was waiting for me when I got home after Christmas! The fabric is beautiful (click on the picture to see the colors a little better). I especially like Summer Breeze and Mountain Rose. I'm not quite sure what I will stitch on these wonderful fabrics yet, probably some of the freebies I've accumulated. I'm sure that I will be ordering more from Silkweaver in the future!


Thursday, December 18, 2008

Look what I got!

I entered one of Michelle's 25 drawings for December and I actually won! I received the gifts yesterday and I was thrilled. Not only was this my first time winning a stitchy gift, but it was my first time receiving a package from another country! As you can see from the picture, the prize included 5 skiens of DMC floss (4 color variations), a pair of scissors, some yellow dye, a christmans card, and some gum. Thank you very much Michelle!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Thanksgiving, a week late

I always have intentions of blogging about things right after they happen but I never seem to follow through on it. Thanksgiving was a week ago and I am just now getting to talk about it. My husband and I have only been married for a year and this was the first time that we've hosted a holiday meal! It was even more special because his family were the first visitors we've had to our new home (which we've only been in for two months). Including my husband and I there were 16 people in our home! Fortunately there were kind to us and the only thing we had to cook was the turkey! They brought everything else. Here is a picture of the tablescape. It was the first time we were really able to show off the china that we got for our wedding. Below is a close-up of a single place setting.

I will leave you with a picture of some stash I acquired awhile ago actually. I knew as soon as I saw Blackbeard's Princess, I knew I had to have it! I am the kind of person who really has to finish one big project before I can start another, so it will be awhile before I can begin this one :( I have to finish Crystal Symphony and The Stargazer first.



Friday, November 21, 2008

Update

I said that I would post a progress pic of Crystal Symphony, so here it is. My wrist has been bugging me for the past couple weeks so I haven't been getting a lot of stitching done. This one seems to be coming along slowly but I know I'll get there. The pic isn't that great because it is very dark here today, with all of the snow.
I thought I'd leave you with a picture of what it looks like today in my neck of the woods. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but it was snowing quite a bit when I took it. What looks like fog or mist is actually snow.




Sunday, November 2, 2008

Quick pic

I mentioned before that I had stitched La-D-Da's "Bushel and a Peck" for my mother for mother's day. Well, I found a picture taken just after she had opened her gift. The picture is of me, my adorable niece, Eva, and my sweet mother.


I am currently working on Crystal Symphony by Mirabilia. A progress pic will come soon. I am anxiously awaiting a package including Mirabilia's latest design, Bluebeard's Princess. I think she is beautiful and I can't wait to start on her.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Long time no blog

I guess I write these blogs more for myself than for anyone else because no one reads them. But anyway, they chronicle my stitching for me. It's been a long time since I've blogged because I went to New York and moved into a new house in a new state. I finished Mirabilia's "The Scent of Old Roses" yesterday! I started her on September 1st and worked steady until by New York trip at the end of September and then didn't pick her up again until a couple of weeks ago. I'll leave you with some not so great pictures of her.



Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A gift for a friend

I have a good friend that always says "D.I.D. Dream Inspire Do". Her birthday was in July so I thought I might stitch that phrase for her. Originally I was going to make it so that the words were together horizontally, so it would be one long phrase. But I was using an unfamiliar program and got the dimensions wrong so I had to stitch each one separately. Then I made it into a wall hanging that was comprised of three pinkeeps, without pins. It was my first time making a pinkeep and I definitely could have done better but I am pleased with how it turned out and she seemed to really like it.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

A couple new finishes

I finished La D Da's - The Tie That Binds! I started it on June 22nd and finished on July 1st. There were a few days in there when I didn't stitch on it. I am very pleased with how it turned out. I used some 32 count linen I had on hand and the recommended DMC threads. I bought a pretty green frame for it.



I would've posted this sooner but my hubby and I went to the UP the day after I finished it. And upon getting back I discovered that I had to go to school to get some work done on my dissertation.


Here is another finish that I did awhile ago. I plan on making it into a pinkeep. If you look closely you can see the backing fabric I plan to use at the top of the stitching.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Blooming Bride

IS FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I am so glad to say that I am finally done with Blooming Bride. I think that she is even more beautiful in person than she is in the picture that accompanies the chart. I have been working on her since February, so four months to finish isn't too bad. This past week has been spent attaching all of the beads and crystal treasures! There were so many, I felt like I would never finish. This is actually the first time I have stitched a Miriabilia on something other than the recommended fabric. Anyway, I will leave you with some pictures.

The big picture

Closer view of the bottom of the dress

Closer view of the top of bride's dress and torso

Close-up of some treasures and beads

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Blooming Bride Progress

My husband and I moved into a rental house on June 1st and I was without internet access until this week :( So I was unable to update my blog, even though no one reads it. This is exciting news for us because we've been living in separate states pretty much since we've been married. We've been trying to sell our house but have had no luck so far.

I have been lurking on some cross stitch blogs for a few months now and have been loving the work I see. It has re-awakened my passion for cross stitch and my dream of some day owning my own store. I have also purchased a sewing machine and would like to begin learning how to sew so that I can try out a larger variety of finishing techniques.
I have made a lot of progress on Blooming Bride and the end is in sight. Since I was without web access, this picture is from last week. Much more work has been done since then but I will save that for another post.

A closer view of some of the work.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Another first!

I have stitched my first biscornu! I am very happy with how it turned out. I used a pattern called Indian biscornu that I found here. I stitched it on 28 count tan DMC linen using Dinky Dyes Mango Tango. I forgot to bring the stitching with me when I went to buy the buttons but fortunately the ones that I picked out matched perfectly!



Monday, May 19, 2008

New finishes

I am very excited about my most recent finishes! They are Trail Creek Farm freebies; fall, winter, spring, and summer. I made them into ornaments. I used 28 count tan linen and the recommended DMC floss. They may not be the best finishes but they mean a lot to me because they are the first finishes I've done that weren't simply in a frame! Of course my pictures aren't the best but at least you'll get an idea of what they look like.

I simply but my initials and the year centered on the back of each of them.

I just wanted to share my excitement. I think I'd like to try a biscornu next.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Mother's Day

I found the perfect pattern to stitch for my mother! It's La D Da's Bushel and a Peck. My mom used to sing that song to my brother, sister, and I when we were litte. Luckily I found it in time to finish the stitching but she's going to have to go with me to get it framed. I tried to find a frame so I could do it myself but it's an odd size. I figure this way, I know she'll like the frame because she picked it out! Here is a picture of it. Pardon the wrinkles, I haven't ironed it yet.



Also, here is a more up to date picture of my progress on Blooming Bride. I've gotten quite a bit done in the last couple months. I don't have as much time to stitch as I'd like because I have to make sure that I don't neglect my dissertation. So, I just stitch when I take a break from writing.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Hello to me

I am 28 and a newlywed. I married the love of my life on September 8, 2007. I am a graduate student pursuing my PhD in Experimental Psychology. I am currently working on my dissertation, the last step before graduation.

I love to cross stitch. My mom had a friend at work that gave her a picture of a rose she had stitched. When I saw it I decided that I wanted to learn how to make something that beautiful. My mom's friend taught me the basics in her home and I've been stitching ever since. I started this blog because I just want a place to show my work.

Even though I've been stitching for years, I don't finish nearly as many projects as others on blogspot do. I usually do large projects that take me a significant amount of time to complete and I usually only work on one project at a time. Looking at some other bloggers sites has really ignited my passion to pursue other projects and types of finishes!

I am currently working on Mirabilia's Blooming Bride. This is a picture of my progress from a couple months ago. I'll put a newer picture up soon but I don't have easy access to my camera right now.



I don't expect to have a lot of readers but for those who do, thank you. I will enjoy sharing my work with you.