Busy Time of Year, But Still Stitching

December 11, 2017 My Time Stitching20 Comments

Hello blogging friends! How is your December going? Can you believe it is almost the middle of December already? I have gotten quite a bit done, but still a few things left on my to do list. I am reserving my evenings to stitch so that I can relax after the busy days. So what have I been up to? Well, first, I finished the stitching on the Chandelier SAL from AAN.

I love how this one has turned out so far. I say so far, because where the little metallic stitchings are, there is supposed to be some bling 🙂 I am still waiting on an ornament pack from AAN. I hope it arrives soon as I really want this one to be finished so I can get it framed. I love chandeliers with all their sparkles and shine. I want this one to have lots of sparkle. So when I receive those embellishments, I will be sure to update you on this one. Stitched on 16ct Aida Winter Solstice from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

Next up is the Wherefore Art Thou piece from Nora Corbett.

I did a little stitching on this one. I am really sad that, in person, the pink fabric really shows through the stitching. The only thing I can determine is that the weeks dyed threads and colorworks threads are thinner than DMC and so the coverage on Aida is not as well. If I were to start this one again, I would definitely do it in DMC instead of the hand dyed threads. I am trying to keep plugging away at it since I have invested so much money into the hand dyed threads, but it is really hard. The fabric is 16ct Aida Pink Impatiens by Silkweaver. So I put her aside and started a new project.

This is Angel White Trumpet from the Poison Pixie series by Nora Corbett. This one really called to me. I knew I wanted to start her as soon as I received her. I had this perfect fabric. 16ct Aida, one of a kind from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics. I worked on her for about 3 evenings and then decided I needed to get back to the Mystery Sampler to do the December section so I can get it finished before the end of the year.

The December section is awesome and maybe the largest band. I do hope to get it done by the end of the year. I am stitching this one on 16ct Aida Castleview from Silkweaver. The threads are London Fog from Sullivans and DMC 3888. There will be a new sampler in 2018 by the same designer that designed this one. I do plan to do it, but want to see the first section to help me decide on fabric and thread colors.

Before I go, I wanted to share a post that I saw on another blog this morning:

“Hey Everyone!
In the Spirit of the Holidays, Sam Bee here at Bumblebee Acres is humbly asking you for any help you might be able to give. I am offering these two patters for sale, and all proceeds will go towards my fundraiser. I additionally have a fundraiser page, if you would like to share, read more, or (Bless your heart!) Donate more!
I am attaching the Link to the Fundraiser here: https://www.youcaring.com/samanthatroia-1033946
I am also copying & pasting my story he…

You can also read about her and visit the Bumblebee Acres blog and read more and see the scrumptious yarns they have for sale. I purchased the pattern this morning and am still deciding on some of their yarns. If you want to help out this gal, you can make a donation or the purchase of her Joyful and Cozy pattern has all the proceeds going to help her get the insulin pump that will give make things easier for her . I am not affiliated with this company and I don’t know Sam Bee. I am just passing on the info to help someone out.

So, that is what I have been up to. Along with decorating the house, putting up the tree, cleaning and purging as I go, Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts and finally getting my Christmas cards finished today. So how are your December plans going and what are you doing to relax at the end of your busy days?

Afghans · Crochet · cross stitch · Fairies · Hand Stamped Cards · Passione Ricamo SAL · temperature blanket

Crazy Busy, But I’m Still Stitching

July 5, 2017 My Time Stitching30 Comments

Wow! I can’t believe it’s been so long since my last post! And where did June go? I swear just the other day it was June 1 and now here we are in July! Summer please slow down 🙂 So even though I have been going at full speed almost every day the last few weeks, I have managed to get my regular stitching in 🙂 So here is what I have been up to:

Here is where I am with Moon, Sweet Moon, Mystery SAL by Passione Ricamo. I am stitching her on 16ct Aida OOAK from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics. It is actually a gray color with hints of purple. Bad photo, sorry. It is really beautiful in person. Unfortunately, this is no longer a SAL. Someone has passed the first few sections onto the internet, illegally, so Laura ended the SAL. So sad for someone to do this. She has released the full pattern to each person that signed up, with watermarked pattern in their name. This is how it will look when finished:

It is so beautiful and I am so sad to see it end as a SAL. It is now available for purchase on Laura’s website if you are wanting to stitch this beauty. You can find it here. I am waiting on threads for the moon, so I have put her aside and picked up this one:

This is the Linen and Threads Mystery Sampler. I can’t begin to tell you how I much I LOVE stitching on this piece. I have just started stitching the April section, so I am a bit behind. But it is such a relaxing stitch. I am using Sullivan’s variegated thread London Fog and DMC 3888. The fabric is 16ct Aida Castleview by Silkweaver. I am hoping to get this caught up before getting back to something else or starting something else. If you would like to stitch this piece, it is a FREE SAL put out by Linen and Threads and the January through July sections are on their website. Here is another view:

I have also been adding a row or two, now and then on my Temperature blanket. I am somewhere at the beginning of April and here is how it is looking so far:

I’ve added another row of yellow and a row of light purple. Hoping there will be more of these colors as I am really getting bored of the darker ones. This is nice to work on when I have a few minutes here and there. It is getting too big to carry around, so I will keep adding to it now and then and hope to also get caught up with it, too.

In my last post I told you briefly about a new stamp obsession of mine. Here are some cards using products from Heartfelt Creations:

Here is a close-up of those beautiful 3-d flowers!

And this one is my favorite:

I am having such fun making 3-d flowers with glitter, and frosting and beaded centers. I need to play more 🙂 I have also added these 3-d flowers to my scrapbook pages. I will have to get photos of those for next time. Right now it’s time to go play 🙂

What are you busy playing with these days?

cross stitch · Mirabilia

Winners and Ella Update

April 5, 2017 My Time Stitching30 Comments

Good morning, blogging friends. Another cold, cloudy day here and snow on the way…in April! Though that is not so unusual here in Michigan. But I was really hoping for Spring.

I pulled names for my blogaversary give-away and they are as follows:

The Knitting give-away: Nicola Florence

Cross Stitch give-away: Gretchen Parker

Congratulations, ladies. Send me an email at ginny@mytimestitching.com with your addresses and I will get your prizes out to you. So sorry for the delay.

Now for an update on my stitching. I have been steadily stitching on Ella and am making pretty good progress on her.

I am almost finished with the ruffles and then I can move onto her waist and arms and I am so excited!! She is really beginning to come alive.

In case you are seeing her for the first time, she is Ella, the Frog Princess by Mirabilia. I am stitching her on 16ct Aida Pandora from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. Just LOVE how she is turning out.

I also have a new app I have been playing with on my phone. It is called Xstitch. Have you heard of it?

I heard about it in one of the facebook groups and it sounded like something I needed. So I bought it for $2.99 and started playing around with it. It was a little confusing, because I wanted it to do somethings a little different. You can keep track of your WIP’s and supplies, keep an inventory of fabrics and threads you have. It doesn’t have a list for Sullivan Threads or Mill Hill beads and treasures. You can keep track of charts and kits and wish lists. So I have been adding things little by little to the app so I can keep track of what I am working on, and where all of my threads are. I also am going to add all of my inventory and projects that I have kitted up and ready to go and to keep track of charts I have and any supplies that I have for that chart. It will be nice when I go to the cross stitch store, too. I can keep a shopping list on it, too. So have you heard of this app or are you using it? What do you think of it?

Afghans · cross stitch · Elegant Ladies · Fairies · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mirabilia · yarn

My Framing is Such Joy

February 23, 2017 My Time Stitching37 Comments

Hello blogging friends. Hubby took 1/2 a day off today and he surprised me by taking me to the Rocking Horse to pick up my latest framing.

Isn’t it lovely? I was so afraid of how it was going to turn out because my framing session was not enjoyable. And I didn’t have it framed like the model in the store because I felt it was too much green. My fabric is a darker green than theirs, and I am not a fan of green. So I went with the red mat. And then I was afraid it wouldn’t match the stitching, but I really like it. The frame was my first choice. I didn’t even look at any others and I think it is perfect. So now to find a temporary hanging place for it. Just for a while so I can enjoy it a bit. So sweet.

I am still waiting for threads for the Mystery Sampler. My LNS says they are on back-order from the manufacturer, so no telling when I will get them. However, a very sweet gal on the sampler group has offered to send me 3 skeins that she has as she is undecided about her sampler. Stitcher’s are such sweet people ❤ While waiting on threads, I have been working on Ella. Here is where I left her last night:

Not too much added since my last post, but every stitch counts, right? The empty area in the dress is getting smaller, so I am excited about that. Once I finish the bottom of the dress, I will have to move the scrolls up and work from the middle up. But that will be a lot less stitching than the bottom. This photo also represents my fabric perfectly, as it is a beautiful sunny day with 60 degrees! It is 16ct Aida Pandora from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

I also started my Temperature blanket the other day. What is a temperature blanket you ask? Well, it is a blanket that is crocheted or knitted, with each row based on the high temperature of where you live. So I found this color scheme on-line and tweaked it a bit for my blanket:

I ordered my yarn from LoveKnitting and if finally arrived on Thursday. I am using Stlyecraft DK instead of worsted weight. Here is my start:

I am using a G hook and chained 250 stitches. I decided to do my blanket 3dc, sk 2. Then do 3dc in the skip 2 space of the previous row. Today, while in the car, I noticed my blanket is bowing and my ends are not even. I should have started with maybe an I hook and then switched down to a G after my foundation row. I will have to brush up on my chaining on the ends and where to stick my hook for the first stitch. So today I will be ripping this out and starting over. I will probably be doing a different stitch, too. Something where I can make sure I have the right amount of stitches every row. My crochet skills are still not very well without a specific pattern and some visual tutorials, so I will be sure to have all that when I re-start. It will be a fun blanket to stitch on every day or do a couple of rows once a week, based on the high temps. If you are wanting to get started on your own Temperature blanket, you can knit or crochet, whatever pattern you want, whatever yarn and color scheme you want. I do believe that Lion Brand also has some info on their website. For the high temperatures, there is a website called weatherunderground.com that you can get the history of high temps in your area.

So, what are your needles creating today?

Pixie · Sampler

Iris Framed and a New Sampler Start

February 9, 2017February 9, 2017 My Time Stitching23 Comments

This last weekend I picked up Iris from the framer. The frame is darker than what I ordered, so we will see if it grows on my.

I ordered a brown frame, but this is more black. It is the correct number, perhaps they used a different color stain than the corner I chose. I will see how I like it after some time. There are also a couple of large beads in her hair that are turned sideways. That may bother me more than the frame. We shall see. In case you are seeing her for the first time, she is Iris from Nora Corbett, stitched on 16ct Aida from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.

In my last post I told you I started the Mystery Sampler from Linens and Thread. I was stitching it in DMC 310 – black, but was not liking how I could see the fabric through the stitches. So after looking at (and buying) many different variegated threads, I found one that I liked with my fabric. So here is my new start on the sampler.

I could not get a good picture of the colors, but I am using Sullivans London Fog. Which is a gray/blue/purple thread. I have decided to add some solid accents, such as the dragon which I stitched in DMC 3888. The fabric is 16ct Aida Castleview from Silkweaver. I am really liking how this is working up. If you are interested in stitching this design, it is a Stitch A Long from Linens and Thread and it is FREE. The January and February parts are out now and a new section will be introduced the first of each month until the end of the year. Here is a closer picture:

I have also ordered yarn to start a temperature blanket and I am excited to get crocheting on that when the yarn arrives. More on that when I get it started. So what new project have you recently picked up or are dying to start?

Fairies · Fairy Letter · Nora Corbett · Uncategorized

First Finish for 2017

January 12, 2017 My Time Stitching25 Comments

I finished this sweet little fairy last night. I just love how she turned out. And she was a pretty quick stitch, too. Taking me only 11 days to complete. She is Nora Corbett’s Fairy letter J and I used the conversion from The Rocking Horse. Stitched on 16ct Aida Sage from Hand Dyed Fabrics By Stephanie.

This morning, I found this on my porch.

I had posted on my facebook page earlier in the week that I wanted seashells instead of snowflakes. And some sweet person actually brought me seashells and just made my day. So thank you to the sweet fairy who left me seashells. I just love them ❤ My heart is so filled with joy from such kindness.

cross stitch · Fairies · Fairy Letter · Nora Corbett · WIP

Progress on the “J”

January 9, 2017January 9, 2017 My Time Stitching26 Comments

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?

cross stitch · Fairies · Nora Corbett

My 2017 New Start

January 5, 2017 My Time Stitching22 Comments

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were wonderful and that your New Year has started off with a bang! I didn’t go out anywhere. I stayed home and hung out with hubby and played Indoor Corn Hole! Yep, got it for Christmas. I just love that game. Ever since playing it at the zoo two summers ago during Summer Zoomance. It is quite expensive to get a nice set, so we haven’t bought one yet. But hubby found an indoor one and bought it for me for Christmas. For those of you who don’t know what corn hole is, it is basically like horse shoes, but you throw a beanbag into a slanted piece of wood with a hole in the middle.

It’s pretty fun. If you like horse shoes, you would like this. So that is what we did New Year’s Eve, while waiting for the ball to drop. At midnight, I kissed my hubby, toasted the new year and started a new cross stitch project.

This one is going to be Nora’s Fairy Alphabet – letter “J”. I will also be doing “O” and “Y”.

While these letters look pretty, I will be doing a conversion from a local cross stitch shop and it will look like this:

I fell in love with this piece a few years ago and purchased everything I needed to complete. When I was going to start it a month or so ago, I realized the fabric was 28 ct and I really didn’t want to work on 28 ct so soon after mermaid 😉 So I looked everywhere for a green I wanted and settled on the 16ct Aida Simply Sage from Hand Dyed Farbics by Stephanie. The color is actually a little brighter green than my photo. I just couldn’t capture the true color. If you are interested in the conversion of these letters, you can find it here.

That’s it for me. It’s cold and I am going to go and stitch for a bit, under a warm blanket 🙂 I hope the new year is a wonderful one for all of us. Did you start a new project to bring in the New Year?

Fairies · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mermaids · Mirabilia · Nora Corbett · Passione Ricamo · Pixie · Uncategorized

What I Was Up To When August Flew By

September 1, 2016 My Time Stitching19 Comments

Hello friends! Are you feeling like me and wondering where in the heck August went? I blinked and it was over, sigh. I did get to stitch, but first let me show you Aphrodite, back from the framer:

She turned out so beautiful. She is Mirabilia’s Aphrodite and I stitched her on 16ct Aida Kaleidoscope from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. Sorry about the light spot on the first photo, but it does show the frame better. But don’t like the frame too much. When picking this piece up, I was informed that the frame has been discontinued. Too bad, as I really like it. I tend to pick the same frames over and over, without realizing it. I guess I won’t be picking this frame again. I haven’t hung her on the wall yet, but I think I have a spot for her.

After I finished Aphrodite, I pulled out Passione Ricamo’s A Journey Into the Deep. I worked on it until August 21, 2016, which is when I couldn’t resist a new start any longer. (No pictures of A Journey, sorry) I started Nora Corbett’s Iris Pixie. Here she is after about a week of stitching:

Lots of browns and golds on this one. I am hoping to finish her before I get so bored with these colors. Can you see a bit of a leg on the right of the design? I am happily moving over to the right side of her dress. She will be a beauty when I finish her. And hopefully I can finish before I get the urge for a new start. Passione Ricamo just came out with her new design “Guiding Fairy”, which I have already purchased and have fabric on the way.

Speaking of fabric…I know, I know, I am addicted. Here are my recent purchases from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics:

All are 16ct Aida and all of them except the top right one are small cuts for pixies or witches. The top right is my chosen fabric for Mirabilia’s Rapunzel. Another one I can’t wait to start 😉 Did you see those cute tags, attached with a button, hand-stitched to the fabric? How sweet is that? Johanna is doing an amazing job at dying beautiful fabrics. If you haven’t visited her facebook page, do so by clicking here. She only sells one of a kinds, so what you see is what you get.

Another fabric I received this week is Tropical from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

This is 16ct Aida and is the August Fabric of the Month. Don’t worry; if you love it, she will probably add it to her website soon so that you can order it. I just love the colors. Maybe because they remind me of summer and I am trying to hang onto the last little bit. Some day, a very special design will find it’s way to this fabric.

And last week, this little fellow came to visit:

The first hummingbird I have seen at my house this summer. It was during the rain and he fed from every remaining flower on all 3 of my hanging plants. So he was here for quite a while and actually visited 4 times that day. He even flew over to my sliding glass doors where me and a friend were standing, watching him. He hovered in front of us, as if to say hello and went back to eating the sweet nectar. I haven’t seen him since. But I was able to get some pretty good photos for my scrapbook 🙂

So what have you been up to during that speedy month of August?

Books I am reading · cross stitch · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Mermaids · Mirabilia · Passione Ricamo SAL

What I am Stitching, Reading, and a Finish

August 3, 2016 My Time Stitching20 Comments

So the days have been quite warm, with high humidity. So staying in and getting things done is what I have been up to. Over the weekend, I finished Mirabilia’s Aphrodite.

Isn’t she a beauty! I will say that I did not like the beading on this one. I love to bead, but these beads were just too far apart and sometimes carrying my threads was not an option. So finishing the end threads was a real pain, and the back of my work is a mess! I just hope that I didn’t stretch some threads too far as to interfere with the framing. I am so glad to have this one done. I just love her hair! So different than anything Nora has done before. She is stitched on 16ct Aida Kaleidoscope from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. I could not have chosen a more perfect fabric for her. Here are some more shots of her:

Since my trip to Mary Maxim, I have been wanting to get some knitting done. I did finish a project, but forgot to take a picture of it before I gifted it. And remember this shawl I started sometime ago?

Well, I had to rip it out and start over again, as I was doing the yoke with the larger needles and was supposed to be using a smaller needle. I didn’t want to run out of yarn, so thought it best to start it over. Here is where I left it last night:

I have 310 stitches on there and every other row is a different pattern. I did have an extra row in there, but realized I skipped a row, so had to knit back a row and that is where I stopped. When I pick it back up, I will change to the larger needles and hope and pray every row, that I have the correct amount of stitches. Fingers crossed for me 😉

And remember this shawl I started a while back also?

Well, after trying to go on with it, I just wasn’t ending up with the pattern as I was supposed to at this same point. I had started this shawl about 10 times. So this time was the breaking point and I have since ripped it all out and ditched the pattern. I did, however, find another pattern to use this yarn with and can’t wait to start that one after I finish the other shawl. And the new pattern has beads! I will be stringing them on before I knit and knitting them in as I go. I have not done that in years! Can’t wait!!

I am also trying to find time to keep reading this book that my hubby suggested for me:

It is a huge book, with very small print. It is actually 3 books in one. Not my normal style of reading, but since hubby suggested it, I thought I would give it a try. I think I have been reading it since February! I only read if I take time for lunch and then I only get a couple of pages in since the print is so small. This is where I am in the book:

I am more than half way through, so it should be downhill from here, right? It is not the greatest book I have read, but I am anxious to find out what happens to Paksenarrion, the main character. She is a soldier and has fought in many battles. She has left the military, and is on the road to becoming a paladin. So I am very curious to find out how it ends. I can’t wait to be done with it, as I have the first of a Mermaid series arriving in my mailbox today, and I am quite excited to start it.

And, I promised an update on my last few fabrics I have received from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics:

Such beauties!!! I just can’t help myself. I have been trying to cut myself off, but I am totally addicted! I just love all of her fabrics and have a pixie planned for everyone of these. Since finishing Aphrodite, I have pulled the Passione Ricamo SAL #2 out and have put a few stitches in, but I think this weekend I just may start Iris Pixie on the fabric on the far right. The fabric is so perfect for her, it is amazing!

So what new project have you started or what new products have you added to your stash?

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