There’s A New Mermaid on the Beach

April 27, 2016 My Time Stitching42 Comments

Mirabilia came out with a new pattern on the 15th, and Nora did not disappoint!

Introducing Aphrodite Mermaid. I just love her! And while I wanted her, I was going to refrain from purchasing her until I completed something. But my wonderful hubby went and ordered her, the bead pack and the specialty threads and she arrived in my mailbox on Friday. And while I tried to continue on with the Mira Mystery, Aphrodite was singing her Siren song and I couldn’t resist!

Now we all know that I am weak when it comes to mermaids, so a new start it is! I started stitching her Monday night. I am stitching her on 16ct Aida Kaleidoscope by Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. Just love all the colors in the fabric and knew it would be perfect for Aphrodite.

So this is how I left the Mira Mystery:

I spent so much time frogging this one the last few days I worked on it. So it was time to put it down for a rest. I am thinking I should put all of my WIP’s into a rotation so that I can get some finishes in. I probably have 8 or 9 cross stitch projects going now. Eeeek. I will tell you, working with DMC again is wonderful!! The coverage is so much better than the Weeks Dye Works.

So, how many projects do you have going right now? And does it bother you to have more than one project going at a time?

Uncategorized

An Awesome Giveaway On A Great Blog!

April 11, 2016 My Time Stitching2 Comments

Hannah over at Not Your Average Crochet is having an awesome giveaway on her blog to celebrate Spring! She is a fantastic crocheter and has created some of her own patterns. She is very knowledgeable in crochet, so if you ever have a question, she could probably help you out. Head on over and see how you can win this fantastic prize package! You can click on the link here.

Lots of fantastic goodies here! Tell Hannah I sent you 🙂

Afghans · Crochet · cross stitch · knitted scarves · Mirabilia · Nora Corbett · Romanitc · Uncategorized · yarn

Lots of Stitching Going On

April 6, 2016 My Time Stitching14 Comments

I have been so busy this week and getting quite a bit done, too. Yesterday I put together all of my tax stuff for my home business so that Hubby can start on the taxes this weekend. What a job. I promise not to wait until the last minute for this years taxes (fingers crossed I can stick to this one) I have also been getting in some stitching.

First, I finished this over the weekend:

The colors remind me of cotton candy! Love it. I have so many balls of scarf yarn, and my goal is to get them all stitched up by the end of the year. I have already stitched several and gave them away. But not a big dent in my pile yet.

I am still stitching on the Mira Mystery. I picked up section 3 over the weekend. I am still on section 1, so I had better get moving on this one. Here is where I left it last night:

I also picked up my back ordered Weeks Dye Works Threads so I am trying to fill in the blanks. Mostly the green vines and the darker green leaves.

While out shopping this weekend, hubby bought me these:

I’m not sure I would be any good at knitting and crocheting little things and turning them into something, but I love a lot of the items in each of the books. The items on both covers are really interesting and pretty. I’d like to give them both a go sometime.

And while out shopping, I picked up some yarn and a pattern for a baby blanket. I have a baby shower coming up in a few weeks and I wanted to make the Mama to be a blanket for her baby boy that will be here soon. Her nursery colors are Turquoise, purple and brown. I had quite the time trying to find those colors in a baby yarn or sport yarn. I spent so much time looking for patterns and then yarns to match. So I ended up picking worsted weight Red Heart Yarn. This is what I ended up with:

I already love the pattern and it was quite easy to memorize. So I will be able to take it on the go if I need to. Just hope I can finish before the shower. Oh and I am the photographer at that shower! No, I am not a photographer. I just love to take pictures. So the mother of the Mom to be asked if I would come and photograph the shower. I am really nervous about doing it. Not something I have done before. I have so many “what if’s” in my head, but now I am telling myself to just do what I would do at any family function. So I will try. Then I will teach the Mom to scrapbook the pictures so that she can make a scrapbook to give to her daughter when the baby is born.

So, that is all my stitching news for now. What projects are you working on?

cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Nora Corbett · Pixie · Uncategorized

Pixie Anne All Framed Up

April 4, 2016 My Time Stitching36 Comments

I picked this sweet thing up from the framer this last weekend. I was really surprised at how small she is. I think it is the smallest thing I have ever had framed! I think the frame is awesome! A little different than what I have chosen in the past, but I think it really sets Pixie Anne off beautifully. I can’t wait for hubby to hang her in my craft room tonight. I am having a problem picking exactly where I want to hang her. I have so much empty wall space to choose from 😉

In case this is your first time seeing her, she is Queen Anne’s Lace by Nora Corbett. This pattern was in the April issue of Just Cross Stitching Magazine. I stitched her on 16ct Aida Carmel Macchiato from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

Believe it or not, Queen Anne’s Lace was my very first Nora Corbett Pixie that I have stitched. I don’t know why. I have just about all of her Pixie patterns, but haven’t stitched any until now. At one point I was going to stitch 9 of the flower pixies on an afghan. I have since abandoned that idea since the beads would not be a good idea on a blanket and I just couldn’t stitch a pixie without all the beautiful beads and metallic threads. I wonder which Nora Corbett Pixie I will stitch next???

Who is your favorite cross stitch designer or what is your favorite subject to stitch? If you are a knitter or crocheter, what do you most like to stitch?

cross stitch · Elegant Ladies · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Nora Corbett · Pixie · Romanitc · Uncategorized

She is Pink and She is Finished!

March 17, 2016 My Time Stitching29 Comments

Isn’t she a beauty! I finished her last night and couldn’t be more happier with her. She is Queen Anne’s Lace by Nora Corbett. She is featured in the current issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine and is a FREE download on their site. I stitched her on 16ct Aida Carmel Macchiato from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. And while the stitching above is more true to the colors, the fabric is a bit washed out. Below is a better picture of the fabric.

This picture was taken last night after I finished her. The first photo I took this morning in natural light. What a difference. But I am so excited to have her finished and can’t wait to get her in to be framed. I am thinking something silver, to match my new craft room (which I love, by the way). So I stitched a little bit more on Ella last night after finishing Pixie Anne, and here is where I am with her:

She is coming along, but I am afraid that something else has caught my eye (as if we didn’t think that would happen, sheesh!)

I was going to wait until this Stitch Along was finished before investing in all the materials and the patterns, but I saw someone on the Wherefore Art Thou Facebook Group stitching it in pink, and that was all she wrote! The colors looked so lovely on her fabric. And I knew I had some kind of pink fabric in my stash. So while out last weekend, I just happen to run into the patterns and couldn’t resist! And I am going to stitch it in all the specialty hand dyed threads instead of DMC. As you can see, I picked up sections 1 and 2. Section 3 will be released on March 31, in Italy, where Nora Corbett will be attending the Casa Cenina shop. They are probably having a big party to celebrate the beauty who will come to life when the stitching is finished. Can you guess who it will be? Once I returned home with pattern and threads, I began the search for the perfect pink fabric. I had only one that I thought would compliment the lovely floss colors. Here is my floss toss. What do you think?

The fabric is 16ct Aida Pink Impatiens by Silkweaver. The recommended fabrics are Chocolate Milk and a Gray linen. With all the rich dark colors, I think it needs a lighter, prettier color fabric. I am so excited. I think I may be starting it this weekend if not tonight. I will be sure to post photos of my start. What new project are you looking forward to starting or what project are you enjoying at the moment?

cross stitch · Elegant Ladies · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Mirabilia · Uncategorized

Knit, Frog, Knit, Frog…

March 3, 2016March 3, 2016 My Time Stitching24 Comments

So, over the last couple of weeks, I have started this shawl about 12 times now and knitted back I don’t know how many rows. I am at the end of my last nerve with this pattern. Here is what I have knitted back on the needles and have completed row 17.

It is such a cute shawl, featured in the Creative Knitting magazine Wraps, Capelets & Cowls. Looking at my knitting and the pattern, I don’t think I am doing it right, but can’t for the life of me, figure out what I am doing wrong. It is just a bunch of yarn overs and K2tog and Make 1 stitches. And I am afraid to go any further for fear of not coming up with the correct number of stitches at the end of the row…again. The pattern is Roman Stripe, which I have never done before, but doesn’t seem to be difficult. In fact, the pattern says it is for “A Confident Beginner” giving it a ease 2 rating out of 6. I have been knitting for about 30 years, so I think I am beyond a confident beginner, but just can’t figure this one out. If anyone knows this pattern and can tell what I am doing wrong, I would greatly appreciate it. On a side note…I LOVE the Addi Turbo needles!! They glide so nicely and may just be my new favorite needles. I give them an A+ rating.

In between knitting on this and waiting for threads and beads for Pixie Anne, I have picked Ella up again. Here is where I left off last night:

She still has a lot of yellow, but it is so much more relaxing than knitting on that shawl! I am also still working on my craft room; adding things and organizing my supplies. Having fun 🙂

So, have you ever just scrapped a project because it wasn’t coming out like you wanted or had been working on it too long and decided enough was enough? I have done it once, and am seriously thinking about doing it again with this knitting project.

Craft Room · cross stitch · Nora Corbett · Pixie · Uncategorized

My New Craft Room, Injured Back and Pixie Anne

February 24, 2016 My Time Stitching37 Comments

So my new Craft Room is pretty much finished. I still have things to move in and some organizing to do, but I have a new room! Here is a before picture of my sons room before we had it painted:

And here it is after the walls were prepped and patched and painted:

My husband worked very hard putting all of my furniture together and set up. My first desk went in on move in day on Feb 7. And then the rest of the furniture arrived and started going in. My space kept getting smaller and smaller and I realized that everything I wanted to put in this room was not going to fit. But that’s ok. It’s going to be wonderful.

My other desk went in but when we opened the carton with the corner piece, it was shattered, so we had to wait for a replacement. And it came rather quickly and the decorating began!

I just love it! I have even created in it already. It is not finished. I am still waiting on some organizational shelving and I still have drawers and cubby’s to fill. But last week I injured my back-first last Monday night and then again Tuesday, bringing in boxes of furniture the UPS guy delivered. It was the worst back pain I have ever had and I have had a few. It’s still not 100%, but getting better a little bit everyday. I am hoping to get back in my new room tomorrow and fill up a few drawers 😉

I couldn’t even stitch last week, but in the last few nights I have put a few stitches into Nora Corbett’s Queen Anne’s Lace. She is so sweet and will be the first thing I hang in my new craft room when I get her finished and framed. I am stitching her on 16ct Aida Carmel Macchiato, a hand dyed fabric by Stephanie. Here is my progress on her:

Once I get the metallic pink portion of the right wings finished, I will have to put her down until the rest of the supplies I have ordered for her come in. I have had the silk thread and the rest of the beads on order for 2 weeks or so. She must be a very popular design. She is so sweet and I cannot wait to get her finished.

I worked on some knitting while my back was hurting, but I guess I couldn’t concentrate as I had to rip out many times and re-work. I hope to work on it a bit more this week and then I will post a picture.

So, while I was moving into a new craft room and nursing a hurt back, what have you been up to?

Craft Room · cross stitch · Nora Corbett · Pixie · Storage · Uncategorized

It Was Only A Matter Of Time

February 5, 2016 My Time Stitching28 Comments

Warning, this is a long post, so grab your favorite beverage and hang out for a bit 😉 I have put Ella down to make a new start. As the title says, it was just a matter of time before some beautiful design captured my full attention, making me want to put Ella aside. Here is my new start!

This is Nora Corbett’s new design, Queen Anne’s Lace. Right now it is a FREE PDF from Just Cross Stitch Magazine. Gotta love that! It will be in the April issue of the magazine but for now you can download it from JCS magazine site. It will be the first piece to hang in my NEW craft room when she is finished. More on the NEW craft room in a second 🙂 I am stitching little Miss Anne on 16ct Aida Carmel Macchiato from Stehphs Fabbys. Can I say I am already tired of green and want to get to the Pink? I am not a fan of green, but there is not as much as the yellow in Ella. Here is how I left Ella yesterday:

She is coming along, but not fast enough for me. So Pixie Anne is the perfect distraction.

OK, so I mentioned a NEW craft room. A few years ago, hubby was encouraging me to take one of our boys’ bedrooms for my new craft room. Our oldest moved out 3 1/2 years ago, and while the thought of a new craft room sounded wonderful, I couldn’t take over my son’s room. So last year, my youngest said I should take over his room, he will move into our oldest’s room and I can have my craft room. So I decided I would do it in the Spring of 2016. The last few months hubby has been pushing the idea and I have been thinking about how I would like to decorate it. I will be losing quite a bit when I leave my current room; like a desk, shelves above my head, cupboards to the right of me. You see, my current craft room is a narrow space in my laundry room, which also contains the furnace and water heater. Here is a glimpse into my current space:

I have made great use of the space I have had for 17 or so years. But I have really outgrown it. And the floor is concrete and is very cold. Here is the other end of my current room:

So a couple of weeks ago, hubby and I were at the office store and I ran into some furniture that just blew me away! I was originally thinking a new desk would be white, to match my current cube furniture. But this furniture I fell in love with is glass! And silver frame. So I thought about it for a few days, had taken measurements and went back to the store on the last day of the sale to take a final look. I even gathered some things from the store to put on my desk to see how it would all feel. LOVED it and ordered the furniture. That was on Jan. 30. That day, hubby also called a painter to come in and give us an estimate. The painter said he could start on Wednesday and be done by Sunday! What??? That only gave us 3 1/2 days to box up one room and move the other room in! It was moving way too fast. I thought I had until Spring to start on it. So, hubby and I began the move on Sunday and the painter arrived on Wednesday evening to an empty room that needed some patching and a border removed and prep for painting.

So I am SOOOO excited about my new room! I want the walls Pink (of course) and the trim gray. The carpet is a light gray, even though the photo looks like it is purple. After many times changing my mind, I made my final decision on paint swatches last night:

So many pinks and grays to choose from (there really are 50 shades of gray, or more! LOL) but I finally decided: Impatiens Petal pink and Software gray. Sorry for the blurriness on my color choices. So by Sunday, I think the painter will be done and sometime next week we can start putting my furniture together, which were delivered this week. I plan to have all of my stamping, scrapbooking, cross stitch and knitting and crocheting all in this one room instead of spread throughout the house. The room is not really that big, but bigger than the space I have now so I am looking forward to decorating and organizing it. My wonderful husband is totally responsible for this happening. If it wasn’t for him, I still wouldn’t be getting a room. Spring would come and I would still have reasons not to move the boys’ things. My boys are perfectly fine with what I am doing and my youngest was even here earlier in the week going through his things, and helping me move stuff. I am feeling better about the whole process and can’t wait to move in next week 🙂

If you are still here, thank you for listening to me go on and on about my craft room. Do you have a special place where you like to do all of your crafting?

cross stitch · Elegant Ladies · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mirabilia · New stash! · Stitchy Gifts · Uncategorized · WIP

Birthday Surprises and Ella Update

January 28, 2016 My Time Stitching23 Comments

So last weekend was my birthday and hubby spoiled me with a weekend get-away and some fun shopping. He also surprised me with a techy gift. Did you notice my new blog address?? I’m a dot com now! and I have my own email address attached to my blog so if you ever want to drop me a note, you can at ginny@mytimestitching.com

I received a couple of stitchy gifts for my birthday. I received these from my VBSF (Very Best Stitchy Friend):

Johanna knows I LOVE tea pots and tea cups. It is so perfect. If I had a needle, scissors and a hoop on my getaway, I would have already started this cute stitch. This will look lovely in my kitchen one day. And the beautiful pendant she made from clay. This photo really doesn’t do this piece justice. It is really gorgeous in person. She is so talented. Thank you so much, Johanna.

I received a surprise package all the way from Singapore from a dear blogging friend, Angela.

A beautiful stitch kit that will be perfect in my new craft room (coming this Spring). It says DREAM, sorry I covered that up with the cute little scissors. And a bag full of buttons and charms. I can’t wait to use them in my crafting. Thank you for thinking of me, Angela.

And now my update on Ella, the Frog Princess:

I feel she is going so slow. I have been working on her for about 4 weeks now and this is only the middle of the dress layers. I guess I have my wish to stitch on a lady with a big dress 😉 This is definitely a Big Yellow Dress. I hope to have much more done the next time I update her. In case you are viewing her for the first time, she is Ella, the Frog Princess by Mirabila. I am stitching her on Pandora 16ct Aida from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

So, are you working on a project that just seems to be slowly getting done?

cross stitch · Passione Ricamo · Uncategorized · Winter Whisper

Winter Whisper #2

January 27, 2016 My Time Stitching16 Comments

Where has January gone? It just seems like yesterday I was celebrating the New Year and now here it is, almost the end of January. Well, I guess that does mean that we are that much more into winter and closer to Spring 😉

I finally received the Hornbook and finished Winter Whisper #2 for my Mom.

The hornbook had to be ordered from a different company than the one I did for the contest, and this one turned out to be a Navy Blue instead of Black. The edges had the worn look of raw wood and it was smaller than the original one I had purchased. But I thought it would work. I used some white ink to make the worn edges more white and stamped the snowflakes all around. I glued the finished piece onto the hornbook. I made a bow from seam binding, glued it on and added a pretty, sparkly jewel. My Mom really likes it. I still have one more Winter Whisper to make, for myself, but have decided on a different finish. The Winter Whisper design is now available for purchase on Passione Ricamo‘s website if you are interested in stitching this beauty.

I had planned on adding more today, but I am out of time. I will post again tomorrow. Until then, happy stitching!

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