Thread-A-Day - Tribal Anchor THE FINISH

I have a confession to make....I stitched more than 1 thread-a-day on this piece on the days I did stitch on it.  I know, it's sort of cheating, but I have several gifts I need to have done by the beginning of March, and I wanted to make sure I wasn't running behind.  I started the piece on December 11th and finished it on January 9th.  I also had about a full week in there I wasn't able to stitch on it at all.

I love the look of the piece and all the little motifs that make up the anchor.  This will either be finished into a pillow or a wall hanging, so we'll have to see what Rita does with it.

I also promised I share a picture of my Tribal Shamrock once it was finished.  I've found living in a small 1-bedroom apartment that it's important to have functional finishes, unless I want to take up every inch of wall space (which I don't), so I Rita turned this piece into a basket front for me.  Don't you just love it?!

Today (Sunday) I'll be working on a color conversion for my next thread-a-day and starting it.  Unfortunately it will be a secret thread-a-day, as it's a gift for someone that follows me online and I don't want them seeing it.  I'll take pics of it every two weeks just like I normally would, and then do a start-to-finish post after they've received it.  And the only reason for the color conversion is to match their home decor.

So, with that being said, I believe it's time for me to get off the computer and get down to business with my stitching.

Until the next time...Happy Stitching!

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 THE FINISH

Ahhh...the great feeling that comes with finishing a project.  :)

Yes, the Tribal Shamrock is DONE!  I started it on October 20th and finished it on December 10th.  I made a couple of slight tweaks to the pattern where I thought it was needed.  This is what the finished piece looks like.

The fabric is looking more blue than green in this photo.  I'll send it off for finishing with my next design model(s) and will anxiously await what she does with it.  My instructions will be simple...pillow or wall hanging of some sort, your choice.

And we all know, as soon as you finish one piece, you MUST start a new one.  Not only did I start a new one, but I have my next 3 thread-a-day pieces picked out, along with the required fabrics and flosses.  So you're probably wondering what my next thread-a-day piece is, huh?  Well, here it is:

 

 

TRIBAL ANCHOR!

I'll do updates on this piece here on my blog, but won't really be discussing it on my FB page.  It's a gift for someone.  That person doesn't follow my stitching stuff, but better safe than sorry.  :)

The fabric I'm using is a 28 count Colonial Blue Lugana I had in my stash (remember, I am supposed to be on a "stash diet").  The fiber is an overdyed thread, which I personally think is the best option when doing a piece like this.  It is Needle Necessities #173, which I had to buy, and WILL account for in my stash diet.  I've done two days of stitching on it and really like how the fiber and fabric look together.

So with that, I think it's about time to get off the computer and get on with a full day of stitching.  I just love lazy Sundays!

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 - Tribal Shamrock Update #1

Unfortunately as a designer I will probably never be as popular as Lizzie Kate, Nora Corbett, Joan Elliott, Ursula Michaels and many other greats.  With that being said I've decided I need to quit putting so much pressure on myself to keep up with them (I do have to work a full-time job and all to pay the bills).  Since I've forced myself to face that realization, I've decided I need more "balance" in my stitching life.  And if I haven't said it already, I must tell you that going to a thread-a-day piece has been one of the best things for my stitching life I've done in a long, long time!  It feels great to know I've given myself permission to quit worrying about cranking out new designs as quickly as I can and just to enjoy the stitching I'm doing.  Not only am I enjoying the pieces I'm stitching for myself, but I'm enjoying the design models I'm stitching much more also.  They no longer feel quite so much like "work".

I started my Tribal Shamrock 20 days ago, and haven't missed a day yet!  As you can see from this picture, it's coming along quite nicely.

I'm more than 25% done and am loving every minute I get to stitch on it.  If I stay on track, this should be done well before the end of the year and I can move along to my next thread-a-day project.  :)

In other stitching news, the November Patchwork Pincushion is complete and the December is about 60% stitched.  I'm hoping to have in done in the next day or so and get those shipped off for finishing and the pattern release.  I'm also about 33% done with the next dog silhouette.

So, since I went out and walked a Veteran's Day 5k this morning (hills included) without the use of my knee brace, I think I'll walk myself back to my recliner and get on with my stitching. 

Until the next time...Happy Stitching!

Thread-A-Day - Tribal Shamrock

As discussed in the post for the "Wings and Things" finish, I'm really enjoying this thread-a-day concept.  I 'm devoting a little bit of stitching time for projects that aren't my design models and still getting plenty of stitching time on the "work" pieces.  I'm finding as I'm stitching on one piece I'm already planning out what can be my future thread-a-day projects.  And this is a really good thing since I've just put myself on a STS diet!

When I was about half done with "Wings and Things" I already new that Tribal Shamrock would be my next piece.  I've had the pattern and floss in my stash for several years.  And I figured some fabric I purchased in one of the sales this summer would be the perfect piece to use.  This is what I'm starting with:

• Design - "Tribal Shamrock" by While Willow Stitching
• Fabric - "Jungle Boogie" by Silk Weaver Fabrics
• Floss - "Forest Glade" by The Gentle Art

Since I'm trying hard to be good to myself with my stitching, I didn't let any moss grow under my feet on my next start.  I finished "Wings and Things" on Monday, October 19th and immediately started "Tribal Shamrock" the next day.  So far I haven't missed a day.  Here's my progress through Sunday, October 25th:

I love watching it coming together and so far it's been a joy to work on.  I just have to remind myself it's a "thread a day" and I'm not allowed to keep working on it when I should be stitching on design models.

I'll share another update on it in about 2 weeks.  Until then...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 #3

My stitching time over the past couple of weeks has been sporadic.  I have days that I get home from work and don't even want to touch my stitching, and would rather lounge in my recliner with a good book.  Then I have days that I'm doing other things and am not at home to be with my stitching.  However, the days that I DO stitch, I'm truly enjoying them!  There's nothing worse than stitching because you feel like you should be doing it, but you're no into it.

So, sadly to say, I'm still technically about 4 weeks behind where I should be (if I were doing a thread a day), but at least I'm making progress.  I'm now officially past the half-way point.  Woohoo!  And to think if I were sticking my my schedule, I'd be about finished by now. 

Since I am behind, I've been taking this piece with me to my stitching groups to use that time to try and catch up.  I've been getting plenty of compliments on the color scheme I'm using, and others are looking forward to seeing it finished.  And, I'm still on the hunt for the right spider charm/button to use on it.  

For those of you that might be seeing this piece for the first time, I'm using Weeks Dye Works "Chartreuse" and Kreinik "Grape" Glow-in-the-Dark #4 braid on a piece of Ultra Dark Violet 14 ct aida that I hand-dyed myself a couple of years ago.

I'm feeling rather inspired today with all my stitching, so enough chit-chat and time to get back to it.  Until the next time...Happy Stitching!

A Weekend Stitch-In and "Wings and Things" Update #2

This past weekend I attended a weekend stitch-in with some of the ladies from the local EGA chapter I joined when I moved to Las Vegas.  It's held in the "middle of nowhere" on the edge of Death Valley, in a town I had not only never been to before, but had never heard of (Amargosa, NV).  I figured why not go and have a good time.  Lots of stitching was done, and it was a nice place with great views.  I thought I'd share a few of the pics I took with everyone.

This is the view I had from my seat.  The seat was nowhere near as comfortable as my recliner at home, but the view was 10x better, LOL!

 A neat cloud formation over the mountains

This is the pond out back that we could see from the veranda.  They call it a "lake".  Lots of ducks around the pond area all the time, including a really cool black & white one that I really should have taken a picture of.

The other portion of the pond.  The owner of the casino likes to collect antiques from the earlier days when it was a big mining town and was being settled, so you'll see those scattered throughout the property.  There are quite a few interesting ones around the pond area.

I've never been to California, so on Sunday morning when I was walking with one of the other ladies before breakfast, we decided to walk to CA so I could have my picture taken.  And we did walk past the sign just to make sure I was officially in CA.  And you're probably thinking "she WALKED to California?!".  Well, let me share a little secret with you...the casino we were at is less than one block from the CA border.  In fact, you can see the sign I'm standing at from the room we were stitching in.

A couple of pics of the view we had on our morning walk.  It was soooooo much better than the views of gym equipment and 2 flat screen TVs I get on the treadmill at my apartment complex!!  And surprisingly it was a "cool" morning, so the fresh air was a nice change of pace.


And yes, stitching was done.  I'm actually running behind on my stitching.  I've been extremely busy with life the last few weeks (including a trip back to OH over Labor Day weekend to see my son and his girls), and my hand and wrist have been giving me some problems.  My Labor Day trip was a great time to give my body a rest and let some healing occur so stitching can happen without pain.

While I was at the stitch-in, I finished the September/October Patchwork Pincushion models (they're already in transit to SnowBerry NeedleArts for finishing), started my next silhouette model and got some stitching done on my "Wings and Things" piece.

As you know, "Wings and Things" is supposed to be my thread a day piece.  Unfortunately that hasn't been happening.  I have been keeping track of my days though, and was able to do some catch up while I was there.  As of this morning, I'm officially 3 weeks behind, so it will now become two threads a day until I catch up.  I'll post another update for you in about 2 weeks.

So that's all my pictures I have to share with you for now.  In the next 2 weeks I'm expecting to have both the new silhouette and the next in the Patchwork Pincushion patterns released, so be sure to keep an eye out for those.

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!

Steps to Recovery for a Cross Stitch Addict

Hi, my name is Kelly and I'm a cross stitch addict.  Even though I do get lots of pieces completed, I think I'm continually starting more than I really should be.  Especially when I need to be stitching models for my new pattern designs.  I'm taking the first steps towards recovery of my addiction... 

Step #1 - Take inventory of all my WIPs.  
Oh, I started that and it was just too overwhelming!  I gave up counting when I got to 15.

Step #2 - Separate WIPs between Stitchnmomma pattern models and pieces by other designers that are "just for me".
OK, I think this one is a little more manageable, although still a little overwhelming.

Step #3 - Pick one piece that will be a "thread a day" piece
Easy enough!  I picked for my first one "Wings and Things" by Ink Circles. (See photo and more info below)

Step #4 - Complete selected thread a day piece, return to step #3 and repeat. 


I've never done a "thread a day" piece, but I think it will be an easy way to start working through my huge stash of WIPs and actually see progress while still working on getting pattern models completed.  For those of you that haven't done this either, the process is an easy one...pick a piece and stitch one strand of thread a day on it.  You're always welcome to do more, but you need to do at least one.

Recently I started "Wings and Things" by Ink Circles.  I'm stitching using Weeks Dye Works chartreuse on my Very Dark Violet (DMC #550) aida fabric.

I'm not particularly fond of stitching on 14 ct. aida, but when I finally achieved this color of fabric (after over 1 year of trying to do it) I decided I needed to keep one piece out of the batch for myself.  At the time I didn't know what I was going to stitch on it, but knew I would eventually find something.   In all honesty I had wanted to do an Ink Circles piece, but all of them I liked were too large for this piece of fabric.  Then a few weeks ago, one of the ladies I stitch with on Saturdays showed me the "Wings and Things" chart.  I knew it was THE ONE!  I flipped the package over to look at the design dimensions and was beyond thrilled that it was small enough to fit.    And because y'all know I like bright, bold colors, I chose the charteuse floss to use.

This is my progress as of yesterday, August 1st.  I have almost 1/4 of the chartreuse stitched.  For the spider web in the center I'm using Grape Glow-in-the-dark #4 braid by Kreinik.  I'm also on the hunt for a super cute spider button or charm.  If you happen to know of one, please share the info with me.  :)

(close up of stitched progress)

I'll continue stitching and will do my best to post and update every week or two.  I'll have to see how much progress is made with doing just one thread per day.

Until the next time...Happy Stitching!