Thread-A-Day - Tribal Anchor Update #1

It's been a busy two weeks in the Stitchnmomma world....work, travel for the holidays and TONS of stitching going on!

I went back to OH for 3 days the weekend prior to Christmas to spend with my son and his girls.  I did take a new design model I'm working on, but didn't get much done on it.  Unfortunately I was unable to take my Tribal Anchor, as I pack really light (like only a backpack light), and there was only room for one small project in my bag.

I started the Tribal Anchor on December 11th, and in the past 17 days, I've stitched on it 11 of those.  

I have gotten quite a bit done with it.  There's one more area that needs to be stitched at the top, but I'll have to move my Qsnap for that, so I'll eventually get to it.  

And if you're thinking this is a lot of progress for just "11 threads", well that's because I've done more than 11.  I'm doing 3 threads per day on this piece, only because it's one of 3 gifts I need to have stitched and finished before the end of March, which definitely requires more than 1 thread per day.  I'm working on gift #2 at the same time, but I can't show that one as the person it's for follows most of my social media posts, and as soon as they see it they'll figure out it's for them.  The 3rd piece will be started as soon as the Tribal Anchor is completed.

In addition of the gifts and future design models I'm working on, I've also been trying to do a little bit on my Pinwheel Halloween Quilt model each week.  This is my progress as of last night:

Since the last time I shared a pic of it, I finished doing the green segments on the 2nd block and have started putting in the patterned segments on the 1st block, as well as stitching some more on the border.  I'll keep plugging away on it and will post another pic in about 1 month.

It's Sunday, and lots of stitching time ahead of me, which means I need to get off the computer and get busy.  Until the next time...Happy Stitching!  :)

Thread-A-Day - Tribal Shamrock Update #2

I've been quite the busy beaver with my stitching the last couple weeks and am happy to say I've kept current with my thread-a-day stitching.  I missed 3 days, but only because I realized I was off by one thread on my fabric and had to do some "reverse stitching", which I didn't want to try and rush in the mornings before work.  I saved that for the weekend while I was at a stitch-in, picked it all out and then caught back up to where I should have been.

This is my progress as of this morning.  I'm probably about 60-65% done with the design.

In other stitching news, as mentioned above, I was at a stitch-in near Death Valley again last weekend.  As usual, it was a great time with good company, lots of laughs and plenty of stitching going on.

I finished the November/December pincushions and shipped those off this week for finishing.  I'm expecting to have the chart released in the next week or so.

I've also been treating my next silhouette design as a thread-a-day.  It's also currently in the 60-65% range of being done.  

And because you can never take too many projects with you to a stitch-in, I decided to take along my Pinwheel Halloween Quilt.  Unfortunately I haven't given it any love since the middle of August.  :(  After finishing my pincushions, I decided to give myself a week off before I started any real serious stitching on my next design model, which means I've put a few extra stitches in the PHQ.  This is my progress as of this morning.

Not a ton done, but I have started on the first green & purple pinwheel, along with some stitches on the black border.  I'll try to get some of the non-solid colored pinwheel segments done prior to posting my next update on it.

I've also made the decision, in an effort to keep my stitching more relaxed and not feeling quite so much like work, that all new design releases will be done on the 1st and 15th of each month.  If something isn't done for a release date I'm not going to stress over it and will just have it ready for the next one.  Hopefully that will also allow you, my awesome fans, know when to expect to see new designs.

With all that being said, and my relaxation week of reading, TV watching and casual stitching over, it's time for me to start charting my next design and get busy stitching the model.

And if you happen to be stitching any of my designs, and are on Facebook, please feel free to join our group there to share photos, chat, etc.  

Until the next time...Happy Stitching!

Thread-A-Day - Wings and Things - THE FINISH!

OMG!  Can I just say how excited I am to actually stitch AND finish a piece that isn't one of my design models and is just something I stitched strictly "because I wanted to"?!?!  Now, please don't take that the wrong way that I don't like designing and stitching my models, because I absolutely do, or else I wouldn't be doing it.  In all honesty though, it has been YEARS and YEARS since I've done something just for me.

So, since the title gave it away...drum roll please....

Let me proudly present, my "Wings and Things" finish!!!

Some of you may be looking at it thinking the colors are just all wrong.  Well, again, this piece was for me, and I absolutely love color!  And purple and green together are great Halloween colors, right?

I personally think it turned out to be a great mix of cross stitch companies:

• chart by Ink Circles
• chartreuse floss by Weeks Dye Works
• glow-in-the-dark braid for the web by Kreinik
• spider charm by Lizzie Kate
• fabric by Stitchnmomma

And in case you're reading and saying "what spider charm?", here's a close up of it:

Now, I just need to get it framed and give it a place of honor on my walls.  I'm personally thinking a brushed silver/pewter frame, but we'll see what happens.  We all know how ideas can change.

I'm going to continue with my thread-a-day projects, as it's been so much fun stitching for myself again.  I also feel like it's bringing more joy to stitching my model designs, as those aren't quite feeling so much like "work" the past few weeks.  My next project will be my "Tribal Shamrock" by White Willow Stitching.  That will also be a great mix that will include fabric by Silkweaver Fabrics and floss by The Gentle Arts.  I'll share update #1 on that piece in the next two weeks or so.

Thanks so much for going on my little thread-a-day journeys with me.   And until the next time...Happy Stitching!

Thread A Day - Wings and Things Update #1

It's been 2 weeks since my post about starting a thread a day project.  It's been going really well, and I'm actually only one day behind on it.  Here's a current photo of "Wings and Things" by Ink Circles.  Stitched on a fabric I hand-dyed myself using Weeks Dye Works in Chartreuse and Kreinik in Grape glow-in-the dark for the spider web.  I'm officially done with 1/4 of the design.

In addition to doing "Wings and Things" as a thread a day, I decided I would add the model for my "Pinwheel Halloween Quilt" as another thread a day...when I have time.  Unfortunately I'm about 5 days behind on this one.  Maybe I can make up some progress on this one over the next 2 weeks before I do my next status update.

I really like the orange on this piece.  I'm stitching mine use the overdyed alternative floss, which is "Carrot" by The Gentle Art.  I can't wait until I move onto the second pinwheel and can start stitching the the overdyed green I chose!

In other stitching notes, I'm continuing to add my already released designs to Patterns Online, which provides instant downloads.  As of today, 25 of my 43 released patterns are now available on this site. I'll continue adding another couple each week until they're all done, as well as all new designs are automatically getting uploaded.

On a personal note, I've decided I've spent too much time in the last year not being physically active enough.  As incentive to get back on the fitness wagon, I've signed up to do some charity 5k races.  I have two next month in September and another in November.  There has also been some talk with one my new friends here in Vegas about doing a half marathon next August.  Now that will be a goal to work towards!  I realized this morning how out of shape I've become when I attempted to do my 75 minute yoga DVD and after 34 minutes my arms & legs were shaking so badly I could no longer hold the poses.  It's very sad to me as I used to do that DVD 3x per week, as well as pilates, walking & weight lifting.  I WILL get back into shape, and we decided as long as I can still hold a needle in my hand, then "noodle limbs" are quite alright.  :)

I'll be back in two weeks with another thread a day update.  And hopefully before then, I'll have a new design to share with you also.  Until then...Happy Stitching!

Pinwheel Halloween Quilt Cross Stitch Pattern

Last year I released my Pinwheel Christmas Quilt design...probably the only type of quilting I'll ever have the nerve to do.  I really enjoyed it, as well as the people that participated in the SAL I did with it.  I decided I would do other themes and make it a series.  I'm happy to announce I now have the 2nd theme available...the Pinwheel Halloween Quilt.

Since quite a few people used overdyed threads on the Christmas version, I decided to give an overdyed alternative for each of the solid pinwheels.  They also happen to be the same colors I'll be using.

If you're interested in purchasing this design, or any of my other quilt themed pieces, you can find a retailer here.  

Until the next time...Happy Stitching!

Wordless Wednesday - October 31, 2012

Photo Courtesy of Digital-Photography-School.com

Pattern of the Week - October 20, 2012

I've been working on the model for my "Swirled Heart" this week and have shared some pictures of it on Facebook and Twitter.  I had a fellow tweeter reply to one of those shares complimenting me on the piece and asking me if it was an "AAN".  I had no clue what they were talking about, so of course I went to Google, and I'm sooooo glad I did!

It turns out "AAN" is Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks.  I'm absolutely in love with her designs!!  I actually sat and scrolled through all 195 of them on the 123stitch.com site.  I've added several of them to my wishlist.  And since Halloween is right around the corner, I decided to use "Zucca" as my Pattern of the Week.  Just click the picture and you'll go to where you can purchase the pattern.  :)

Punkin Chunkin

Years ago I saw a show on the Discovery Channel called "Punkin Chunkin".  It was really pretty cool.  People build different types of contraptions that hurl pumpkins through the air to see who can get them to fly the farthest.  They have several different categories, including trebuchet, catapults and air cannons.

It amazes me how far you can get a pumpkin to fly!  The current world record in the Adult Air Cannon category is 4,483.51 feet.  That's like 3/4 of a mile (a mile is 5,280 feet)!!!

Unfortunately since I got rid of my cable package we can't watch this year's episode.  :(  Guess I'll have to wait for additional videos, like this one, to come out on YouTube.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTr4nwsYRv8&feature=youtube_gdata

And if you're in the Bridgeville, DE area you should try to get down there and see it.  It is November 2-4th this year and is something that is on my Bucket List as a fun event for sometime in the future.

Awesome Pumpkins

Tomorrow will be the First of October, which means Halloween is right around the corner.  

I have many childhood memories of Halloween parties at school (yeah, they've banned those now as to not "offend" anyone), dressing up for trick-or-treat and of course pumpkin carving.  Each year I used to think I was going to create a masterpiece.  Alas that never happened.  My pumpkins usually looked sad with simple triangle cut outs for the eyes & nose and boxy looking teeth.

Several years ago on the Food Network they had one of their challenge shows with giant pumpkin carvers.  I was completely amazed at what they could do with them.  It got to where I looked forward to the new challenge show each October.  

Sadly I'll miss it this year (but love the savings on my cable TV bill!).  Instead I went searching for some other awesome pumpkins on the web that I could share with y'all.  All the photos below are from Masterpiecepumpkins.com.  Hope you enjoy them and why not try something different with your pumpkin carving this year.  :)

Freebie Friday - September 21, 2012

Last week's downloadable patterns seemed to be a HUGE hit, so I figured I would try to make more of them available to you.

This week I've selected a candy corn pattern of my own creation, which is perfect for the upcoming Halloween season.  It's a really quick stitch with maybe 2 hours of stitching time.  You can stitch it on plastic canvas or perforated paper to make into an ornament or magnet.  

Just click the picture and it will take you to the link to download the pattern. 

And while you're checking out patterns, feel free to stop by my Etsy shop and take a look at the original designs I have available there.  

Happy Stitching!

Pattern of the Week - July 28, 2012

I promised several weeks ago that not all of my posts would be cross stitch related, that I would expand them to cover all types of needlework.  This week I'm featuring an embroidery pattern from my friend Jen over at SewJenaissance.

Halloween will be right around the corner and I think Jen has done a fantastic job of combining jack-o-lanterns with matryoshka dolls.  You can get the pattern here and at $5.00 (regular price) it's quite a bargain.