Check out what I got today!

Well, I didn't do much of anything, stitching-wise, yesterday or today, but look what I picked up at the mall earlier this afternoon! (What? It was 40% off!)



And it came with this:



This one I'm gonna have to make up for my best friend, who is as addicted to coffee as I am...

Day... 3 1/2? Cut me some slack? Please?

So, no stitching done today. No sewing, no cross stitch, nothing, nil, nada, nyet.

Okay, that's not *entirely* true. I did knit a bit.




After several years, I have only ever mastered a plain knit stitch. That's right; I can't even purl. This limits me pretty much to things like scarves & afghans, like the half-done scarf in this pic.




Isn't that pretty yarn? I love the self-striping stuff. I don't have the label anymore, but I remember I bought it at Michaels, and I think it was store-brand stuff -- though don't hold me to that. This scarf will likely go to my middle daughter, who's all about pink. Not sure how I birthed someone so girly, but there you go!

Tomorrow I will do some more of my challenge pieces. I guess I will need to work on two to catch up!

Day 3!

Well, many of the stitching projects I chose for the 2012 challenge are cross stitch, but I also chose some quilting projects I'd been putting off. I mean, hey, it still involves needles, yeah?

The first project -- really a set of projects! -- is a bunch of doll quilts I'm making. I'm not entirely sure what I will do with them when they are done, but I may sell them.




I have 18 little 9-patch doll quilts in this pile! All of them are made with 5x5 charm squares from Keepsake Quilting. (Check the sidebar; I think there's a link! Their stuff is awesome!)







Hmm... fabric, thread, pins... Has anyone seen my NEEDLE?!!












1 doll quilt top down, 17 to go! :D

day 2!

The most difficult thing so far about this 2012 stitching challenge is deciding which piece to do each day! I know some of the participants wrote out lists so they'd have an order, but ... I didn't, clearly.

Today's choice was a lovely peacock cushion in beautifully bold colours.



Isn't that gorgeous? And it's all whole stitches and NO backstitching! And, if all goes well, I will actually finish it some time before the end of the year. Although... I didn't get a whole lot done today, so not really the most auspicious start...



What can I say? I got distracted by the Sims 3! :)

2012 cross stitch, day 1!

Well, it's official: I really need to learn to use thimbles, because ow.

I have 2 different stitching challenges that I joined for 2012 -- one you do a different pattern every month (I haven't started this one yet but am doing a flower-of-the-month thing) and the other you do 15 projects of your choice over the year.




Why, yes, this is organised!














Also, look at all this lovely embroidery floss just waiting to be used.










The first project I chose for my 15 challenge is this floral pic. I made this years ago as a trivet, but I gave it to my mother. I really want one of my own though! This is how it should look when complete.










This is what I've got done so far. No, really -- it's supposed to look like that!






In the middle of all this stitching, Emily comes in and asks if I have any zombie patterns that she could stitch. Sadly, I don't, but I guess I will have to find her some!

Gearing up for a stitching challenge!

Well, as pretty well everyone & their dog already knows, tomorrow marks the beginning of another calendar year. I can't say I'm that excited, as my husband & I are not really into celebrating New Year's, but I *am* looking forward to one thing in particular -- more stitching! See, on Facebook (which apparently is *not* just for games, LOL) I joined a stitching challenge group. For the first 15 days of January 2012, we each start a new project (15 projects total), and then over the course of the year we complete all those 15 projects. Most are cross stitch but we're a liberal bunch; anything with a needle is welcome. So I have cross stitch & quilt projects on my list.

I'm going to be posting my progress here (with photos!) for anyone interested in being amazed by how slow I stitch. :P

End of 2011, already?

Wow, here it is, nearly year's end, and I finally decided to post on here. I really do tend to forget I *have* this blog! So, here's what's coming up & what's new in my life:

New:
-- not a hell of a lot!

Upcoming:
-- lots of stitching projects on the way!
-- also, I am planning to actually get writing again. I say that frequently, in the hopes that eventually it will happen!