Category: WIP

My Time Stitching
Country Cottage Needleworks · cross stitch · Give-away · patterns · WIP

My Time Stitching

My Time Stitching17 Comments

Hello blogging friends! I’m back for my 6th day in a row with another quick post. I didn’t know if I could do it, but I did. It is the 6th and final day of my blogaversary celebration. My last giveaway will be at the bottom of this post. remember to use the special code word in your comment for today and the previous 5 posts. I will draw for all of the prizes on March 31, 2023 and post the results here on my blog. I truly don’t know where the last 11 years went, but I have had fun with this blog. I have enjoyed posting and sharing what I have been up to and reading your comments and getting to know you through your blogs, too. I have really enjoyed my blog and hopefully you have, too. So what have I been up to since yesterday?

Still stitching on Spring Basket. Sorry about the wrinkles, but I don’t really feel like ironing it just to get it all wrinkled again when I work on it later. It is a more involved stitch than I first thought, but I really am enjoying it. I thought about leaving the border off, but I think it really adds to the design. I just have to finish the border and decide how I want to finish it. The next time that I post, it will be a FFO (Fully Finished Object)

Now for my last giveaway. Another cross stitch pattern. Another favorite designer, Country Cottage Needleworks.

I have many of this designer’s patterns in my stash and I loved this one so much I purchased it twice, LOL. So now I am giving you a chance to win this one. Put code word Christmas in your comment if you would like a chance to win it.

I won’t post again until March 31 when I have picked all of the winners. Again I want to thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and leaving comments. I try to read and respond to each and every one. I have enjoyed sharing what I am up to with you the last 11 years and I look forward to many more. Thank you ❤

Happy Stitching!

ginny

Holly Berry Pixie
Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Pixie · WIP

Holly Berry Pixie

My Time Stitching20 Comments

Hello my blogging friends! January got away from me and I thought I had better make a post before February disappears! Though when February is over, I will be even closer to Spring. But I really cannot complain about this winter. Temps have been above normal for the most part and we have not gotten much snow. Yay!! I will take it! The days do seem to be going by so fast for me. Maybe that is why I hurt my back over the weekend. In too much of a hurry and twisted wrong. So, I have been taking it easy the last couple of days and getting in lots of knitting and cross stitching. Today I will share with you what I have been cross stitching on.

Let me introduce you to Holly Berry Pixie from Bella Filipina Designs.

I fell absolutely in love with this pattern when it was released in December. I could not get her in my hands fast enough! I ordered right away and then went stash diving to find the perfect fabric. And boy did I find the perfect fabric!

The fabric is more pink than this photo shows and I think it is very similar to the fabric shown in the design. It is 16ct aida from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics (the dyer is no longer dying fabric) and I think it has been in my stash just for this design.

My floss toss with the threads that I have on hand. I definitely think this fabric will work well with all of the threads. The pattern arrived on January 6, well before I expected and I started her right away. Well, after digging for a scroll frame first, LOL. So, yep, I have added another WIP to my pile. And I needed the break from the Fox & Rabbit Mystery SAL. I hope to finish this one so that it can be displayed on my wall, somewhere, for the Christmas holidays next year.

My start. I am loving every stitch of this one. I love seeing her come to life on the pink fabric.

The red just pops on the pink fabric. Her skirt is so cute!!

This is where I left her last night. I am loving this pattern so much. Even the berries 😉

So that is my first new start of 2023. I am hoping that I don’t get sucked into too many cross stitch starts this year as my pile is still driving me crazy. In fact, let me share my pile.

My Local Yarn Shop is doing a Bingo card to help knitters and crocheters get their yarny WIP’s February Finished Objects. The shop owner suggested gathering all of the WIP’s and putting them in a pile to see what we have. Since I am caught up on my knitting projects with just 2-current project and a travel project, and no crochet projects, I decided to pull out all of my cross stitch WIP’s. There is a blanket I had started that has to be abandoned because the fabric has yellowed 😦 And another project that was started that I probably won’t continue with. There is one more project that I will be adding for sure, but this is the pile. I would like to make good progress on all of these this year and maybe finish a few. My ultimate goal is to get back to one cross stitch project at a time. That is my ultimate goal every year, though, LOL Do you have a WIP pile? If so, how many? I’d love to hear about your WIP’s.

Happy Stitching!

Ginny

Still At Home, Still Crafting
Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Cross Stitch Patterns · Elegant Ladies · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Mermaids · Project Bags · Storage · storage bags · WIP

Still At Home, Still Crafting

My Time Stitching12 Comments

It’s been almost 4 months at home during this Pandemic.  I am sad, frustrated, depressed, angry and lost.  I am sad for all of those that have been sick with this virus and for those that have lost loved ones.  I am frustrated and depressed because I can’t go out and do the things I used to do or go to the places I used to go.  And I am angry because the numbers of cases are going up again and hospitals are reaching capacity in some states.  I cry watching the news, wishing I could magically make everything ok.  And I have periods where I just don’t want to do anything.  My husband is going back to work tomorrow, and I am really sad about this.  I will miss him being home and I worry about him being in a place where the risk goes up.  So I turn to my crafting to take my mind off of things.  So, what exactly have I been up to?

First, I want to talk about a product that I purchased on-line a month or so ago from a yarn shop.  I saw this product last summer at a fiber fest, but chose to spend my money on yarn at the time.  But it has been in the back of my mind as a great organizational piece.  How do you store your circular needles?  This is what I decided to use:

circular needle holder

Sorry about the poor photo.  It was the best I could get while it was empty.  It is hand made by Wonderfully Made and I thought it was a great idea.  So as soon as it arrived, I started pulling my needles out of their original packages and threading them onto the holder.

circular needle holder with needles 1

Now I am not so sure.  Now I will have to put the needles in a needle gauge to find the size I want (which was included with this holder)  and will have to measure to see how long they are.  And I always forget if I am supposed to measure from tip to tip or just the cable.  I think it was easier to flip through the packages in my accordion needle holder to find what I wanted.  It looks nice and I love the concept.  Maybe in time I will forget all of the packages.  What do you think?

In my last post, I forgot to post my May project bag.  It took 19 days to get to me by mail and from a driving distance of about 20 minutes.  It really took the scenic route.

May project bag

This is the front.  I love the pink and yellow watercolor top of this one.  And the striped border looks awesome with the Spring colors.

back of May project bag

Here is the back.  Just look at all of those pink boots!  So fun and totally a surprise.  And since then, I have received the June bag.  It arrived in record time, getting to me in a day.

June Project bag

I was over the moon when I received this one.  It is now my favorite 😉

back of June project bag

And here is the back.  SO SWEET!  Kristine knows me well.  And she does an awesome job with all of her project bags.  Different shapes and styles for everything you want to store.  She is Clevergirl Designs and you can find her on intsagram.  Oh, and this bag is already filled with a project  gifted to me from a very sweet friend.

june project bag filled

I can’t wait to start stitching this beauty.  I still need to find a fabric.  So for now, I am still stitching on Lady Mirabilia and here is how she looks this morning.

Lady Mirabilia progress 1

She is getting there.  She has been a joy to stitch and I find myself relaxing while stitching on her.  Unlike my knitting project…

wingspan progress 5

I pulled out the Wingspan yesterday and knitted 3 rows and was so done.  This pattern is not hard, just requires my complete attention and I feel like I hold my breath and really tense up during every row.  Ugh!  But it is my only knitting project on needles right now and I really would love to get it finished.  A few rows every day 😉  So far,  I am very proud of myself that I have not started anything new.  Still trying to get WIP’s finished.

I spent last weekend getting some of this and that done.  And I crossed 2 bigger projects off of my to do list.  I finally redid all of my cross stitch files.  They were still mostly in boxes from when we remodeled the basement.  They all wouldn’t fit in the 2 filing drawers I had planned, so they went into the old file cabinet and with a few more files added.

cross stitch files

It took 2 1/2 drawers, but they are like I want them.  And all patterns are filed.  Woo Hoo!

I also reorganized most of my yarn.  I put a lot of it in the 2 file drawers that would not hold all of my cross stitch files. the top drawer is all AJHC Wools yarn.  Just love her yarn.  The 2nd drawer is mostly 2 skein project yarns.  It will be fun to rummage through the drawers when I want to start a new project.

yarn files

My ottoman is also home to some pretty yarn,  Mostly one skeiners.

Yarn storage

So that is what I have been up to.  Trying to keep myself a little busy and away from the tv, except to watch Vampire Diaries.  How are you spending your time these days?

 

 

Stitching My Blues Away
cross stitch · knitted cowl · Mermaids · Shannon Christine designs · WIP · yarn

Stitching My Blues Away

My Time Stitching38 Comments

Hello my blogging friends!  We are only midway through January and so far the new year is not looking so good for me 😦   A couple of months ago I found a dark line along with a white line on our basement carpet.  Either hubby and I are in the basement just about everyday, but we couldn’t find the carpet wet.  Two weeks ago, I finally found it wet along the line, like a crack in the concrete line.  Oh No!  I just knew it was our foundation.  Last week we had the experts in and sure enough our foundation has been compromised.  As well as a crack in the block wall in the room where our well tank and water softener is.  So, we will need to have our basement waterproofed, which entails digging a trench around the perimeter of the basement, setting a sump pump into the floor and wrapping the walls from floor to ceiling, and pouring a new floor.  This also means that we will have to get everything out of our (finished) basement and storage room, have someone come in and tear off all the dry wall, wall mirrors and carpet, have the foundation specialists do their waterproofing and then having the guy come back and put dry wall back up.  During all of this our well tank will have to be unhooked and moved, so not sure how long we will be without water. We are also having new gutters installed, which is probably why we are in this position now.  Limited gutters on the house.  Then there is the task of painting the new drywall and getting new carpet.  And figuring out where we will put everything from the basement until we can get it all finished again.  Ugh. This process will start around the last week of February.  So not looking forward to it.  So, with this big expense, I am definitely looking to my WIP’s and stash to keep me busy for a long time.  So, here is what I have been up to, trying to keep my mind off of what is to come.

van goh pillow

I have been commissioned to do this pillow, so I started it on January 6.  It is definitely not something I would have chosen for myself. It has a color chart, which I absolutely hate and so much confetti stitching.  I have already had to rip several sections out and put them back.  I am blaming the color chart on this one 😉  It is being stitched on 11ct Aida, so I am hoping it will go quick, but so far it has been rather slow.  The 15th of January didn’t come soon enough so I could put this down and pick up this:

mermaid sal jan

Yesterday the last mermaid for this SAL came out and I had a start on her last night.  She is the January mermaid and I think she is my favorite.  Maybe because she is my birth month, or maybe because it is the last one.  Once I finish her, I still have all the beading to do and I just know it will be so sparkly and beautiful!  This was a very fun stitch for the year and I looked forward to each new mermaid every month. This is a Shannon Christine design and was put out by Fiberlicious.  The fabric is 16ct Aida Maldivian Dreams by Fiberlicious.  If you wanted to get in on this one, you may still be able to, not sure.  After the SAL, I do know that the charts will go up in price.

And lastly, I have been knitting on my travel cowl when I get the chance. And yesterday I had a chance to knit several rows while hubby had a little out patient procedure done .  He is doing well today.

teal and pink tweed cowl

I am using the Funny Rainbow pattern by Katia again.  The yarn is Kettle Tweed in Winter Blossom colorway.  I think this will look great with jeans and a black top.  I can’t wait to finish it.  Hopefully before winter is over.  It not, I will have it for next year.

So that is what I have been up to, trying to keep my mind off of other things.  I am really looking forward to Spring now.  The basement will be done and hopefully all back in place and warmer weather will be here.  So what have to you been doing so far this year?  I’d love to hear about it 🙂

Progress on the “J”
cross stitch · Fairies · Fairy Letter · Nora Corbett · WIP

Progress on the “J”

My Time Stitching26 Comments

progress-on-letter-j

Hello blogging friends.  Just a quick post to update my progress on the letter “J”.  I finished the cross stitching last night and have moved onto the back stitching.  As you can see, she fits perfectly in my 11 x 11 Qsnaps, so that gives you an idea of the size. And so far she has been a pretty quick stitch.  Warning:  There are lots of fractionals in the fairy.  I think her arms and legs are made up of entirely 1/4 and 3/4 stitches.  But even on aida, it wasn’t difficult.  Just a re-cap-She is one of Nora Corbett’s Fairy Letters and I am stitching her on 16ct Aida Sage from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

Today is cleaning house day, so my break is done and I have to get back to it.  I hope that you are doing something fun, like stitching 🙂  What are you stitching on today?

My September Happenings
cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · knitted scarves · Knitting · Nora Corbett · Pixie · scrapbooking · storage bags · Uncategorized · WIP · yarn

My September Happenings

My Time Stitching24 Comments

Hello my Bloggy friends!  It is officially fall where I am and the leaves are starting to change and there was a nip in the air this morning. The sun is shining brightly today, so it is a happy day.  I have been stitching and stamping and scrapbooking and shopping 🙂  So let me begin with my Iris project:

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If this is your first time seeing her, she is Iris Pixie by Nora Corbett.  I am stitching her on a One of a Kind fabric from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics in 16ct Aida. Johanna creates the most beautiful, one of a kind fabrics!  The best way to purchase them is in her Etsy shop; Fantasy Dyed Fabrics Etsy  It is so quick and easy that way.  What you see is what you get and very quickly, too.   I am finished with the bottom of the dress, except for outling and beading which will come later.  I have started on the wing, and not sure I am liking the colors.  The picture shows them a little more purply, but mine appear to be more gray.  But the Kreinik thread (the three darker dashes in the wing) are a Pewter color, so maybe they are supposed to be that way.  I will continue as the chart says, when I pick her back up, and see if I like it more.  For now she has been put aside so that I can work on another project. I can’t show much, as it is a gift but I will give you a peek:

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I know, not much of a peek.  But did you notice that I am using Q-snaps on this project?  Wow!  I want to say that I am using them because they are awesome and great and all that, but in all actuality I am using them because 1.  all of my scroll frames are in use and 2.  The 14ct aida I am using is a stiff opal and I didn’t want to use a hoop.  And 3.  Almost all of the design fits in the square.   I have been using it for almost a week and while it is not the comfortable feel of my scroll frame, it’s not too bad.   I can’t rest it on my knee and stitch 2-handed like I am used to, so progress is slow.  But that’s ok.  It’s a nice change and I do plan on using this same Q-snap frame for a HAED design that have barely started a couple of years ago.  Someday 🙂

This week I received some very happy mail.

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Five new lovely bags and grime guards for my last 5 WIP’s.  I can’t say enough about these bags!  They are by Deanna and you can find her Facebook page at Deanna’s Frame Covers and Storage. She does such a wonderful job creating these bags and covers for all of us crazy stitchers with way too many projects on our hands!  Her attention to detail is phenomenal, matching each fabric with the perfect lining and zipper.  She also makes covers for Q-snaps (I have 2 sets on the way!) and grime guards for hoops also.  Go and check her page out.  She even has ready made sets available for purchase.  And let her know you heard about her here on my blog 🙂

This week I finished another scarf 🙂

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  I am totally in LOVE with this scarf!  Do I say that about every scarf I make?  Probably.  But I really love this one.  These are usually not my colors, but I love the vintage, shabby chic look of it.  Now I want clothes to match it 😉  The browns, tans and creams and just a hint of pink here and there make it perfect for fall.  I’m not sure you can see in the photo, but there are sequins on the yarn that give it a little sparkle.  The yarn is Patons Pirouette and the color is called Sienna Sparkle.  So pretty.

Speaking of yarn, I went to Fiber Festival with a friend last weekend and found a sweet little yarn shop there.  They also raise Alpaca’s there and so I am assuming they dye and spin their own yarn to sell in the little shop there.   I couldn’t resist purchasing a couple of hanks of the softest yarn I could find in there.

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The sweet lady there was so nice to wind them into yarn cakes for me.  There is just something about a yarn cake that is so heavenly.  The yarn on the left is 100% Alpaca wool while the one on the right is 80% Alpaca and 20% Merino wool.  They are both so soft and I will have to find a scarf pattern for both.  I think the one on the right will be perfect for a infinity scarf.  I could have bought a lot more, but there is this huge stash of yarn at my house that has been growing that I really need to start using.  Someday, right?

I have also been scrapbooking and getting into the latest craze of Memory Planners.  I am totally sucked into Heidi Swapp’s world of Memory Planning.  I had purchased a planner kit many months ago and decided that it wasn’t big enough for me to add photos and journal like I want.  It was of a slimmer design.  So I decided to turn it into a little scrapbook for my husband who had to go out of town to visit his Father whose health was failing.  While he was gone, I created a little memory album of his trip with all of the pictures he texted me.  It was all finished for him the day he returned home and he was thrilled with it.

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Basically I took out the calendar pages and used some of the overlay pages and added stickers and papers and pocket pages.  I even learned how to use a new phone app called PicFrame that is great for making photo collages.  I was able to get all of the photos he texted me into the album and it is a nice keepsake of his trip to visit his family.

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So that is what I have been up to lately.  I also have some new cross stitch fabrics and patterns and threads that I have added to my stash, but they seem to be all over the place right now.  I even have some plans for some new projects!  Imagine that!  I am also getting the knitting bug now that the weather is starting to cool off. So come back and visit to see what I am up to next 😉  What kinds of projects do you have in the works or what fun new projects are you planning?

My Wednesday WIP Update
Books I am reading · cross stitch · Fabric · Nora Corbett · Pixie · WIP

My Wednesday WIP Update

My Time Stitching20 Comments

Happy Wednesday, my blogging friends!  Since I took some pictures and added them to facebook, I thought I would update my little ole blog while I am still on the computer.  So, here is my progress on Nora Corbett’s Iris:

img_2201-2

She is really starting to come to life and looking so amazing on that fabric.  It is a one of a kind from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics and is 16ct Aida.  Just loving her so far and amazingly not so tired of the gold yet 😉

Today I finished reading this:

img_2199-2

It took me a long time, but I must say it was a really good read.  It is actually 3 books in one and I don’t take a lot of time to read.  Mostly during my lunch hour when I can or when I am at the salon getting my hair done or waiting to get an oil change.  This is isn’t my usual type of read.  It was suggested by my husband who knew I would like it.  And once I could get past the boring battle stuff and the sometimes boring details from the author, it was a great read.  I really dragged out the last 30 pages or so as I really didn’t want it to end.  So if you like those books about knights, squires, paladins, elves, dwarfs and kingdoms and many battles, then  I do recommend this book.

So what are you up to this fine September day?

There’s A New Mermaid on the Beach
cross stitch · Cross Stitch Patterns · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mermaids · Mirabilia · Nora Corbett · Romanitc · Uncategorized · WIP

There’s A New Mermaid on the Beach

My Time Stitching42 Comments

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

md144

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!

IMG_1109 (2)

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:

IMG_1102 (2)

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?

My Mira Mystery Start
cross stitch · Mirabilia · Nora Corbett · WIP

My Mira Mystery Start

My Time Stitching20 Comments

IMG_0839 (2)

So this is my Mira Mystery start.  Not much, but still a start.  I have mixed feelings about this one.  I am stitching this on 16ct Aida Pink Impatiens by Silkweaver.  The color is actually a little darker than my photo, but the stitching colors are pretty accurate.  I am using the called for Specialty threads (Weeks Dye Works and Classic Colorworks)  I am thinking that they may be thinner than DMC because I am not getting good fabric coverage. Any thoughts on this?  Since I have so much $$ invested in this one, I will keep going with it.

So, what are you stitching on today?

Birthday Surprises and Ella Update
cross stitch · Elegant Ladies · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mirabilia · New stash! · Stitchy Gifts · Uncategorized · WIP

Birthday Surprises and Ella Update

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):

Stitchy birthday gift

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.

Stitchy gift from 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:

Ella update

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?