When Peter and I got married, I bought two cross stitch stocking kits. I finished Pete's stocking this morning, five days after Christmas, just seven Christmases after we got married.
Now, to be clear, I have definitely not worked on it that whole time.
In fact, added all together, it probably only took a few months of evenings to finish.
But it was definitely a labor of love, and I am so proud of how it turned out! Merry Christmas, Peter, I'm glad you finally have a homemade stocking!
Labels: needlework
Today is the first day of June, and that means my last month home with Ben has begun! I am so blessed to have six months off with my new little boy, but in a way I think it is making it even harder to think about going back to work. I am tempted to have an ambitious list of projects to finish for June since it is my last month at home, but I know I'll want to spend a lot of time just cuddling and playing with Ben, so I tried to keep it tame.
June Goals:
1. Finish Ben's
circle quilt.
2. Quilt top for my sister's new baby.
3. Throw pillow for nursery glider.
4. Nursery artwork.
Not actually that tame when I write it out...May Goals:
1.
Finish the stroller blankie I put on hold.
2.
Clean up guest room.
3. Finish wedding embroidery.
Just barely! See above...4. Nursery artwork.
Nope.5.
Throw pillow for guest room.
Labels: monthly goals, needlework
We went to a beautiful wedding last March, as in March of 2009, for my husband's cousin, and I never made them a wedding gift. When we were in Colorado for our ski trip I was able to get a good start on a little doodle sampler for them, and finished it up and finally got it framed.
I think they will like it - they had a beautifully colorful wedding, including the bride in an orange wedding dress. They are both musicians (Jen is a professional opera singer) so I think the quote is especially appropriate. It is nice to have this done!
Labels: needlework
I'll probably jinx it by saying so, but Ben goes to bed pretty easily around 8pm. One last feeding and he's out for the night. So that leaves me some sewing time in the evening, and hand-stitching is nice because then I can hang out with Peter, too. This wedding present is an unfinished April goal, but at least it's on the hoop!
Labels: needlework, wip
I finished my buttons for the Feeling Stitchy swap and they are going in the mail on time! I am just a little bit amazed that I didn't drop the ball on this.
I am very happy with how they came out. I love the doodle stitching I see on flickr (like
this or
this) and thought I'd try that for these buttons.
A little bit of fabric (didn't make the photo), some floss, sweets, and the buttons, on their way to Sophie in England!
Labels: needlework, swaps
I estimate I am about 2/3 done with this stocking now... As long as I don't put it away again, I can pretty much guarantee it will be ready for Christmas 2010!
Labels: needlework, wip
In addition to making decent progress on my December goals, I am making a dent in the
stocking cross stitch, also. It is so satisfying to see the scene emerge on the blank cloth...
Labels: needlework
It is getting harder and harder to motivate myself to get off the couch and go into my sewing room. When is this fabled nesting supposed to happen? With all the motivation to finish projects and deep clean? Haven't experienced that yet. Instead I've just been propping my feet up and resting my cross stitch frame on my big belly and stitching. Books on my iPhone make this especially enjoyable. I still don't think I'll be finishing this stocking by this Christmas, but maybe I'll surprise myself!
Labels: needlework, wip
For Mother's Day I made my mom these sweet embroidered towels. I can't pass up a chance to make a handmade gift!
Her "main" present is dinner and a movie - tickets are already purchased for Star Trek this afternoon, I can't wait.
The pattern for the towels came from
doe-c-doe who often posts free vintage embroidery patterns.
These are slightly modified to keep the towels simple. I know she'll love them!
S2F2 Update:
1. QBB Quilt Tops (x3)
2. Quilted Pillows
3. Baby Blankies (x2)
4. Flutterby Quilt
5. Wedding Quilt
6. Mother's Day Gifts
one two
Labels: needlework
Well, we survived the flood yesterday, though when we finally ventured out we saw plenty of stranded cars, stuck even after the water receded. I heard we got 6" of rain in about an hour! While the storm raged, I finished putting together the sweet
little elephant for my cousin's new baby.
This is a cousin on Pete's side of the family, and she named her little boy Charlie just like my nephew! David is a family name, the baby's grandfather, Pete's uncle.
It's a little more identical to
Corinne's than I had planned, but I love it. I hope little Charlie, and Charlie's mom and dad, like this little embroidery to commemorate his arrival!
Spring to Finish Update:
Here are my challenge goals:
1. Baby Blankies (x4):
one two three four
2. Quilted Pillows
3. Flutterby Quilt
4. Wedding Commission: 16 of 20 blocks done
5.
Elephant SamplerLabels: needlework, sewing
When I saw this adorable
elephant pattern from
So September I knew I had to get it started for one of the many baby gifts on my list. I'm changing up the color scheme a little and I hope to personalize it with the baby's name and stats when he arrives. So cute!
(And yes, finishing this is now goal #5 on my
Spring to Finish list!)
Labels: needlework, wip
I can't stop making these tiny samplers. I love them! Instant needlework gratification.
Labels: needlework
Here is one of the ways I plan to use the
mini samplers - leave them in their hoops and hang them on the wall!
Labels: needlework
These tiny counted cross stitch samplers are very satisfying. This is a little of what I worked on during the Super Bowl on Sunday!
Labels: needlework
I have never been able to figure out the french knot. Something finally clicked as I was finishing up my little
sampler.
All done - ready for framing.
Labels: needlework
My latest "TV Project" - sweet bunny towels from
this transfer set. The towels are just some I found at the
store - it was a little tricky to stitch on the waffle weave and I'm not sure how useable these actually are, but they're cute!
Labels: needlework
At our annual holiday dinner for one of my organizations we always do an ornament exchange. When I ran across
these star ornaments from last year, I knew I had to try. I think Molly's are cuter, but I still like this one!
Labels: needlework, sewing
I found this neat little trunk at Hobby Lobby a while back. I store my threads in here for current hand stitching projects, under our end table in the living room, so I can grab a little hand-sewing when I find myself on the couch in the evenings.
It's a good plan, and it works sometimes. Maybe my November resolution needs to be no TV without a project...
Labels: needlework
I think I'm obsessed with felt and the blanket stitch. This is the project I've been stitching on at night. It's nice to have something pretty to look forward to when I pay the bills!
Labels: needlework, simple pleasures
