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?

Black Forest Pixies · cross stitch · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · New stash! · Nora Corbett · Pixie

A Pixie Finish and More Fabric

May 31, 2016 My Time Stitching21 Comments

Isn’t she a sweetie? I finished her Sunday night. She was a pretty quick stitch, taking me only 19 days! I just love her and can’t wait to get her framed. She is Blossom Collector by Nora Corbett. She is one of the Black Forest Pixie’s and my first Black Forest finish. I stitched her on 16ct Aida one of a kind by Fantasy Dyed Fabrics. Here are a few more pictures of her:

Speaking of Fantasy Dyed Fabrics, I picked up a few more of her beautiful fabrics:

This one is a beauty! 16ct Aida in Blues and purples with a hint of brown and cream. Love it! I have plans to stitch Nora Corbett’s Sweet Pea Pixie on this one. I also picked up this one:

This one is 28ct Monaco, beautiful blue and white with a hint of purple. I do love the colors, but this fabric looks like linen to me and not sure I would ever stitch on it. I do not like linen at all.

I also special ordered this one:

I think that this has to be my most favorite color combination; pink, blue, green all in pastels. I do keep coming back to this combination. This 16ct Aida piece was a bit small for what I wanted, so I have re-ordered a 2nd piece 🙂 And I am keeping this one. I just couldn’t send it back! I LOVE it too much. This one I plan on using for 2 of Nora’s beautiful Pixies: Lily and Rose. The other larger piece that I will receive is for a Joan Elliott mermaid. If you haven’t checked out Fantasy Dyed Fabrics, or haven’t visited this week, check it out! She is always adding more beautiful fabrics and this week she added some gorgeous Opals!

So now I am back to stitching on Aphrodite mermaid and still loving her and her colors. I will post an update photo of her this week. So what project are you working today?

Black Forest Pixies · cross stitch · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Nora Corbett · Pixie

A New Fabric Dyer Has Emerged!

May 11, 2016 My Time Stitching16 Comments

My very best stitchy friend has decided to give dying fabrics a try. She knows what we all want in a hand dyed fabric; We want what we see and we want it quickly. She sells one of a kind fabrics on her Facebook page and Etsy shop. You can find her on Facebook at Fantasy Dyed Fabrics. And she will ship to you within 3 days! Now that is service! So go check her out and join her group so that you will see when she adds new fabrics to her page and check back often as she will post photos of new fabrics as she dyes them.

I received one of her fabrics in the mail yesterday and couldn’t resist stitching on it right away. So this is my new start on her fabulous fabric.

This is a 16ct Aida pale blue fabric with gray and magenta. I thought it would be perfect for Nora Corbett’s Blossom Collector. She is another one of Nora’s sweet Pixies from the Black Forest Pixies.

So go and check out Fantasy Dyed Fabrics and let me know what you think.

cross stitch · Cross Stitch Patterns · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mermaids · Mirabilia · Nora Corbett · Romanitc · Uncategorized · WIP

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?

cross stitch · Mirabilia · Nora Corbett · WIP

My Mira Mystery Start

March 23, 2016 My Time Stitching20 Comments

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?

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?

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?

Hand Dyed Fabrics

Updated Fabric Stash

June 24, 2015June 24, 2015 My Time Stitching25 Comments

I promised someone that I would do an updated post of my hand dyed fabric stash. So Diya, this is especially for you 🙂

Here are all of my beauties from Hand Dyed Fabrics By Stephanie. She is my favorite dyer and I love collecting her FOTM every month. Several of her fabrics are on scroll frames being stitched on. They are all so beautiful.

This is a smaller pile of prettiest. There are fabrics here from Polstitches, Picture This Plus, Sunny Dyes Fabrics and Under The Sea Fabrics. All are also very pretty.

Seeing the fabrics standing was a much better way of organizing them, rather than having them stacked, which is how I had them before I pulled them out to do this post. So I have put them back into my trunk so that I can see them all at a glance. How pretty! And now it will be much easier to see what I have when looking for a fabric for a design 🙂

This is my biggest stash bin. These are all from Silkweaver fabrics. Some are smaller pieces, but it is nice to have a piece in Aida so I can see how it takes the dye. Most dyers don’t show their dyed fabrics on Aida, which is what I like to use.

So there you have it. I guess you could say that I have a bit of a fabric hoarding problem 😉 Oh well. I could do worse things. Fabric and color make me happy. What is in your favorite stash?

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