Stitching Update

While I love staying in touch with my stitching friends from all over the world, the past week I've been doing my best to stay away from the computer in the evening and weekend....stitching, stitching, and stitching (while glued to the TV watching the Olympics).  I just love watching all the amazing athletes doing things I couldn't dream of doing!   GO USA!!!!!

So, here's my updates for this week.

TUSAL

Yep, it's time to post the TUSAL (Totally Useless SAL) photo for February.  I admit I'm sure I chose far too small of a container for this undertaking!  Yikes!

BRIDE'S TREE SAL

I'm happy to say that I finished my February heart ornament tonight!!  My 5th finish for 2010!

"Love" by Barbara Smith Cooley

Free Chart from Plum Pudding NeedleArt

Stitched on Silkweaver 28 ct Jobelan Solo (marble lavender)

DMC Thread

Backed with purple fabric from my stash

CHATELAINE ROSE GARDEN MANDALA SAL

I spent some time during the weekend working on this one.  I'm finding it fun, but a low stitch (probably the stitcher, not the design!)

LHN MONTHLY ORNAMENT SAL

Still working on the January ornament, but I hope to finish it up by the end of the month.  I stitched the girl yesterday.  Ok, so I'm a couple months behind.  I received the charts and fabric really late, plus I have waaaaaay too many SALS on the go!  Yikes!

HAED DRAGON LUCK SK SAL

HUGE mistake to be doing this 2 over 1 on 25 ct!  I will NEVER do this again!  If I stitch another HAED, it will be 1 over 1, and perhaps on a smaller count fabric.  This one is making me nuts; of course, the fact that I started in the top left, where it is all very dark colors, doesn't help a bit.  Right now, it just looks like a very tight, thick, dark blob!

OAKHAVEN MONTHS 2010 SAL

I got this one caught up and finished February over the weekend. 

LAST UP, BENT CREEK SNAPPERS

My traveling UFO turned WIP is coming along a bit, thanks to some recent trips to Denver.  I'll be going to Denver tomorrow for a meeting and since I'm not driving, may get a few more stitches in, we'll see.

DH and I did make a trip to Diversions, a needlepoint store in Denver on Saturday (thanks much to the stitcher who told me about them!).  They had the Needlework System 4 stand.  More about that later...

Until then, Happy Stitching!

Vicki in CO

 

What's New Wednesday

STITCHING FOR A CURE

I am so excited to show everyone the quilt that was made as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.  Here's a photo of the completed quilt:

I stitched the yellow block, top row, third from the left.  I chose this particular block in memory of my grandfather who died from bladder cancer. Woo Hoo!  It means so much to me to be a part of this fundraiser.

Check out Donna's 'Stitching for a Cure' blog HERE for more information on these projects and to get involved.

LHN MONTHLY ORNAMENT SAL

I finally received my fabric and made a start on the first ornament in the new LHN series.  It's called 'Fa-La-La' and it's so cute!  Need to get busy with this stitching if I'm to keep up; I hope to have the first two ornaments stitched by March 1...we'll see how it goes.

LAST NIGHT'S STITCHING ON MY UFO

'EVERYONE NEEDS THEIR OWN SPACE' BY KUSTOM KRAFTS

I'm sooo close to finishing the top and starting my way down the left side!  This one is so much fun to stitch; I don't really understand how it became a UFO in the first place.

 Current Photo - as of 2-9-2010

Progress as of 2-7-2010

I think tonight I'll work some on my Chatelaine Romantic Rose Garden SAL project; I haven't made much of a start on that one yet. 

Happy Stitching!

Vicki in CO

Virtual Stitching Update and New Stitching Glasses

STITCHING UPDATE

Yesterday I participated in a virtual stitch-in.  DH and I ended up needing to run a few errands in the morning, so I didn't get started with my stitching until noon, but I still made good progress.  I ended up spending the entire time working on  the 'Bouquet for Cheryl' SAL that I'm doing with some other stitchers on Sticher's Showcase. 

Here's what it looked like when I finished up last night:

And this is what it looked like when I started stitching yesterday:

Neither of these photos show the nice light lavender fabric I'm stitching this on.  I am enjoying this stitch so much!

I almost forgot, I pulled out a UFO to stitch on during a couple trips I made to Denver this past week, it's the Bent Creek Snapper Series.  I'm stitching them vertically on stitchband.  This is how it look as of 2-5-2010:

Last time I stitched on it was 2-18-2008, here's how it looked then:

I think this will be my travel project for the moment; it's small enough to transport easily, and I really do like these designs.

I need to get busy the rest of today stitching on my Oakhaven Months SAL for February, and also on the February heart ornament for Bride's Tree SAL.  I'm waiting on fabric to arrive from 123 Stitch to start the LHN ornaments and also for the Prairie Schooler ABC Stitching Bee.

Oh yes, my small LNS had a Superbowl Sale yesterday; everything in the store 20% off, and one item (your choice) 50% off (with the postcard they mailed you).  I looked around a little, but actually only purchased two small Val's Stuff charts, a couple WDW threads I needed for a chart.  I used the 50% off for a cute scissor fob that has a spool and thimble on the end.  Only spent $18 total, so I was a very good girl indeed. 

FLOOR STANDS FOR STITCHING

I'm seriously considering purchasing a new floor system called 'Needlework System 4' that I've heard about. All the reviews I've seen for this system seem to be extremely positive. Have any of you used this system? If so, what do you like and/or dislike about it?  You can check it out HERE

I currently have the double-sided wooden floor stand by American Dream Products and while I like it for stitching a project that is currently set-up in it, it is NOT 'portable' to move around from place-to-place easily, or set up to easily switch projects.

I'd love to hear your comments on floor stands!

NEW STITCHING GLASSES

I took the afternoon off work on Friday and DH and I made a quick trip to Denver to go to a store that specializes in products for people with vision issues.  The stitching glasses my eye doctor came up with for me were woefully inadequate for my needs, so I decided to try something else.  They had just what I needed! 

After trying several different strengths of glasses, I came home the proud owner of a slightly expensive but extremely functional pair of glasses that werre made in Germany.  They have prism lenses and are +8 diopter strength!  BUT, I can actually SEE to stitch up to 40 ct without any other magnifying aid!  Woo Hoo!  The other nice thing was, I was able to purchase them on the spot; didn't have to place an order and come back in 2 weeks to pick them up.

Now, these glasses mean that the focal length is fairly short (I think that's the right terminology), so I need the stitching 8-10" from my eyes in order for it to be in focus.  I did find that a challenge yesterday while trying to

stitch with my lap stand.  If I'm stitching with a smaller q-snap, hoop, or in-hand, it is not an issue at all.

As you can see from this photo, the lenses are very thick on the inside.  However, these are actually not as thick as the lenses I wore all day every day for the past 57 years before my cataract surgery; and my lenses before were very thick on both ouside and inside edges.  So, they don't feel like much to me.

Until next time - Happy Stitching!

Vicki in CO

PIF Winners!

I said I would draw for this PIF on February 1; I just didn't have a chance yesterday to post the results.  DH drew three names for me from those who posted comments saying they wanted to enter.

Drumroll.....THE WINNERS ARE:

1. Donna
2. Carissa
3. Gillie

I have an e-mail address for Donna, but I need Carissa and Gillie to please contact me.  My e-mail is in my profile.  Winners, let's keep this PIF moving forward....please post it on your blog and watch your snail mail for some stitching goodies from me. 

Happy Stitching!

Vicki in CO