Turtle Trot and WIPocalypse

This month both WIPocalypse and Turtle Trot happen today. So let's see what's been going on since July 14th when it was the last WIPocalypse and July 10th the last Turtle Trot.

Cut Thru Pirate Ship by Bothy Threads - Worked on 2 days.
Before...

After...

Advent Animals SAL - Worked on 10 days trying to catch up.
Before I had finished # 1
Now I have finished through # 6 the pictures are in my finishes tab above if you would like to look at them.

Dog Wisdom by Bucilla - Worked on 3 days.
Before...

 After...

Seasonal Word Pieces by Cricket Collection
Before I have them all finished except for Autumn. So I decided I better get it marked off the list too.
Here is where I was last time I worked on it which was October 31st 2012.

Here I am now...

None Days - 12 We had our long camping trip and no stitching was done. Also I just got back from 3 days of garage sale shopping in Ohio so nothing there either.

Well that's my check in for both SALs. Now to get to my relaxing day of stitching and TV. Tomorrow I have 300 loads of laundry to do (okay maybe a little more than the real number haha). Tuesday we are starting Jeremiah's school year.

Caught Up

I'm caught up now. This is the latest released cutie from the Advent Animals SAL from Brooke's Books. Her name is Cashmere Camel. I think one of the most fun parts of this SAL (other than stitching them) is waiting to see what the next animal is going to be. We've had a cat, polar bear, mouse, dog, hedgehog and camel. What's next?!

This weekend we are hitting the road for the Lincoln Hiway Sale. It goes the whole length of Ohio on Lincoln Hiway. All along the road there are just garage sale after garage sale. I forget how many we stopped at last year. I'm going to do my best to keep track of how many we stop at. It's so much fun. Mom, Jeremiah, and me will hit the road Thursday morning and be back Saturday evening probably. We are really looking forward to it cause you never know what you will find. Hopefully I'll find some stitching stuff.

Relaxing Weekend

This weekend was nice and relaxing. Well sort of. Saturday morning we tackled some weeds. We made quick work on it though and was ready to relax the rest of the day. I pulled out my Dog Wisdom kit. I haven't worked on it since April so it was time to get some daylight. I got a lot done! I was up by the bone and the Learn New Tricks part. I love it when the needles just seem to take off and fly.

Saturday in the middle of the night I went to roll over and move my leg and my leg decided to get a major cramp. So I woke from my peaceful dreams screaming bloody murder. My poor dog came running to see what was wrong and my hubby said What What?! I was able to get out My leg My leg. He grabbed it and straightened it out and oh it hurt but I needed it. The knot will be there for a few days. I keep joking about guessing I need permission to move my legs next time. Then this afternoon I was walking back from the bathroom and ran the same leg into Jeremiah's reading table. OUCH! It turned pretty colors right away and just keeps getting prettier as the day goes by. I swear I'm doomed. I told hubby I just need a padded room but I think I would find a way to hurt myself in there.

Oh well at least I got a lot of stitching done haha. We also got a lot of TV watched. Is anyone watching the new series called The Strain on FX? Oh I just love it. There are just way too many good shows on nowadays.

Number 5 Done

Number 5 is done too now. I just love this little one. Hedgehogs are just so cute! The next one is an adorable camel but of course my ink just ran out so she will have to wait until a trip to the store is made.

My camping trip was a blast. Hubby and me snuck over Tuesday night. It was hot during setup but we kept hearing there were going to be some storms and then the weather would be perfect. We got everything setup and quickly fell asleep. 2:30am I got woke up by rumbling thunder in the distance. The lightning show was simply gorgeous. The rain then decided to dump on us so I quickly woke up hubby. He was running around outside in just his pj shorts trying to keep our roof from holding water. One time he got a nice cold shower when it all dumped right down his chest. After that the weather was just perfect. We did end up getting some sprinkles of rain here and there but nothing to ruin our time at all. I had a blast getting to know some new people and getting closer with several others. It was a wonderful time indeed.

It's that time of year again. I've been seeing a lot of friends post pictures of their kids going back to school. I am so very thankful that Jeremiah doesn't have to go to public school. It just didn't work for him. We looked at the calendar and picked August 12th for our start day. We are both really excited to start again. We just love his books and they make learning so much fun. I think even he is getting bored with Xbox everyday haha. My mind is already whirling with fun ideas for this year. Well I'm off to look through my WIP box and see what needs to be stitched.

2 More Little Finishes

Guess what IHSW brought me?

2 more little finishes. I finished Day 3 and 4. Love these little guys. We got a TON of TV shows watched off the DVR too. We had so many we needed to watch. It was a very nice weekend. Now I just have to survive the next 2 days. Actually day and a half. We leave tomorrow after Fred gets off work. It's our party camping trip. It's the one time a year where we act more foolish than normal haha. No kids. No responsibilities. It's crazy fun. Jeremiah will have fun here with mom. They have a lot of plans already. We will be there till Sunday and then drag ourselves home. Hope everyone that joined in IHSW got a lot of stitching done.

Little Finish

I have a little finish to report...

I'm doing the Brooke's Books Advent Animals. She just released #5 so I figured I better get busy so I don't get too far behind. So here is Peter Polar Bear. The design had I Love Coco but a lady on a Facebook group changed it to say I Love Xmas so I asked permission to copy her. I really like it a lot better for me personally since I'm not a coco drinker.

This weekend is IHSW (International Hermit Stitch Weekend).I've been busy the last several ones but I think I'll have lots of time this weekend. I can't decide what I want to work on. I thought I would work on something else but then I thought maybe I'll work on these Advent Animals. Guess we'll have to see what happens. Pick up your needles and stitch along with us.

Stitching Questions

A fellow stitcher blog that I follow by Shebafudge posted these fun stitching related questions. I really enjoyed reading her answers and thought I would follow along...

Q1 - How did you start?  Who introduced you to cross stitching?
I was always a crafty person. I love walking through craft stores trying to find what I wanted to do next. I did latch hook rugs. Needlepoint. I noticed the counted cross stitch section was larger (at that time) than the needlepoint section so I stopped to take a look. There was a dragon and I just had to buy him and try it out. I taught myself and have been in love ever since. After I had my son in 1998 it was something I would pick up and do every night while sitting watching TV.

Q2 - Favourite theme or designer

I love fun bright colors. I thought I would love Teresa Wentzler until I realized how HARD her patterns are haha. I seem to change a lot. I love Bothy Cut Thru's. But I really tend to jump around and just stitch whatever I like most.

Q3 - What brand of floss do you use?

Good ol DMC. I enjoy the pretty threads and have used them for a few pieces but DMC is just fine for me.

Q4 - What is your fabric of choice?

28ct Jobelan Evenweave seems to win a lot. I do enjoy using hand dyed when I can find a piece that works. 

 

Q5 - Do you use a needle threader or are you a floss licker?

I'm a floss licker haha.

 

Q6 - What brand of stitching frame (or hoop or otherwise holder) do you use?

I fell in love with Q-Snaps a long time ago and have used nothing since. 

 

Q7 - How many projects have you finished?

Wow I have no idea. I haven't kept as good of records and I wish I did. Just a quick count of 2006 and 2007 already had me over 100 so alot! I've done a lot of smalls though back then. I used to do exchanges with little 6x6 blocks of stitching. I would finish about 50 things a year. Now that it's just my own pieces or a few things for others I do about 30 things a year.

 

Q8 - How many completed works are hanging in your house?

20 right now. LOL big difference from the last question. I have a few baskets of ornaments and what nots.

 

Q9 - Do you stitch for gifts or for yourself?

Mix of both. I've done a lot of things for my mom but since we live together I guess it's for our house haha. 

 

Q10 - Favourite finished cross stitch piece

Wow I have so many.

My first finished Heaven and Earth designs makes me really proud.

Q11 - Worst experience whilst stitching?
I did model stitching for a long time for several different designers. I really enjoyed it until it became a job. I had a piece that I just hated and each stitch made me hate stitching. I didn't even want to work on my own stuff any more. When I realized what was going on I quickly quit and promised myself not to do it again. So far I've stuck to it haha.


Q12 - What do you love and hate about cross stitch?
I love how it calms me down. Something about forming a picture with X's makes me happy. I hate that I can't finish the 3,000 pieces I want to finish haha.

Q13 - Have you introduced anyone else to cross stitching?
No I don't think so.

Q14 - The first project, did you finish it?

No but I think I was close. I have no idea where it even is now. It was a Dimension Charts and Charms piece. This is what it was supposed to look like...

I think I had it almost done maybe. I wonder if I kept it after all these years. Maybe I'll find it one day.

Q15 - How do you store your floss?
2 ways. I have a bunch on plastic bobbins in Jammers. They used to be sold at Walmart in the Hot Wheel section. I have 3 of those. Then the ones not on bobbins they are in ziplock bags in 2 of Fred's boxes (my hubby has huge feet so that means he wears huge shoes and I get the awesome shoe boxes).

This was fun. Thanks for posting Sheba I enjoyed answering.

      

July WIPocalypse

Over the weekend was WIPocalypse but I was busy watching DVR and stitching away on what I hoped to be soon was a finish (which it was!). The last WIPocalypse check in was June 16th so let's see what I've been doing since then...

Snow Drifters by Stoney Creek (I want to do 2 Designs) - Worked on 2 Days
Grow Together by Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) - Worked on 2 Days
Summer by The Cricket Collection - Worked on 9 Days and finally finished!
Christmas Snowfriends Banner by Stoney Creek - Worked on 3 Days
None -- 12 Days (At least my none number is better than last check in!!)

The pictures are in the post below this one other than my new finish...

This is Summer by Cricket Collection. I have Spring (on my wall now haha) and Winter already mounted. Autumn is the last one I need to do to be finished with this series. Now I have to see what is screaming the loudest for me to stitch it. I also purchased this cute chart...

It's from Artecy called Halloween Minis. A friend on Facebook was selling it and I just had to help her out by buying it of course haha. I think I'll do them as little individual ornaments instead than one big piece.

Now let's see what the topic question is this check in...It’s halfway to Christmas.  Do you start your holiday stitching this early?  If so, what do you hope to accomplish this year?
I'm the kind of person that works on what I want to work on when I want to. I don't really do gifts of stitching for the holidays so I guess I would start that now if I had a deadline. Since no deadlines I stitch whatever is screaming loudest. Hope everyone has had a great month and got a lot of stitching done. See ya next check in.

July Turtle Trot

I just have to start the post with a cute turtle picture because it's Turtle Trot Time. On the 10th of every month we post an update on 10 projects we have on our list. I'm proud to say I finished one which means I get to replace it with something else. So let's see what I've been working on since my June Turtle Trot post.



I worked on 5 of my 10 picks.








Let's go to the Beach by Imaginating
Before...

Finished...

Snow Drifters by Stoney Creek (I want to do 2 Designs)
Worked on Have a Ball
Before...

After...

Grow Together by Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED)
Before...

After...

Summer by The Cricket Collection (Trying to finish!)
Before...

After...

Christmas Snowfriends Banner by Stoney Creek
I had not started this piece so here is the after...

If you joined in the Turtle Trot I hope you had a successful trot too. Wonder where we will be on our projects next month. Guess we'll have to stitch and see.

Time for Christmas

I figured this weekend deserved a new start. Fred was gone for the weekend with his amateur radio club. They had a camping geek weekend haha. So I pulled out my Christmas Banner by Stoney Creek. What a fun piece to work on but it made me really wish for snowy winter weather haha. This is the first page complete. It was a short page. It was a lovely stitching DVR filled weekend. I got a TON of shows watched. Fred had a very nice weekend even though it was really hot and humid. They made a lot of over seas contacts and got a lot of points so he was happy. Well I got a lot to do this week cause we have company coming this weekend. Can't wait! Hope everyone has a great week.

Summer

After my last post I said I was going to work on one of my HAEDs. I put some stitches into Grow Together but it's just a blob so no update picture yet. Then I decided Summer better get some stitches considering Spring is still hanging on my wall haha.

We had so much fun last weekend. We went up to northern Michigan (Roscommon area). We drove up and met friends and went the rest of the way with them. It was a gorgeous weekend. Low 70's and the night time temp was in the 50's. Perfect camping weather. If only ever camping trip could be like that. We did the Road Rally geocaching event. There was 53 caches and 192 miles of off roading crazy fun. It was a blast. We laughed and bounced the whole day. We always joke about our vehicle being allergic to Michigan. It seems like every time we go up there something happens. Well our truck made it fine up and back. When we got up to our friends house they had our trailer we store our camping gear in. Carpenter ants had decided it would make a good home so they were EVERYWHERE! They ate holes in our rain fly. We got them all cleaned out and luckily the damage was minor. Those crazy little ants were at least the only bad part of the weekend.

Monday I had a text message from one of my close friends. Her mother has passed away from cancer. Cancer just sucks. It takes the best people. My heart just breaks for my friend and her family though. So if you can spare any thoughts and prayers her name is Amber. I know she can use them.

Fred is going away this weekend. His amateur radio club is having a radio event all weekend. He is camping with his geek friends haha. So I get to watch my DVR and stitch. Now to just decide what I want to work on. Too many choices screaming STITCH ME but at least that means I have the mojo. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Snowman?

This week we've had the AC on high. It's been HOT outside. Yesterday we had a heat index of about 100 today is going to be another hot and humid day too. So what to stitch on during the heat...

Snowmen of course! I got the top snowman finished on Stoney Creek's Let's Have a Ball piece. They look so funny without their carrot noses but I have to wait till I'm finished to attach them. There is one more snowman and some more flakes and words. So happy I finally made progress on it though. I think I'm going to work on one of my HAEDs for a few days. We are going on another camping trip this weekend. At least it's supposed to be cooler in northern Michigan!

WIPocalypse

I missed the May WIPocalypse check in. So here is a summary of what's been going on since April 15th.

Cut Thru Ship -- Worked on 2 days
99 -- Worked on 1 day
Summer -- Worked on 2 days
Let's go to the Beach -- Worked on 4 days and finished!!
Non stitching days -- a shocking 53 days!!!!!

So you can tell I've been doing a lot more no stitching than stitching but I'm back at it. Thursday I picked up Let's go to the Beach and my needles finally took off again. I think I needed an almost new start. I had worked on it in Feb. Here is where I was then...

Here it is after last night's finish...

This piece was also on my Turtle Trot list so I will replace it with another one. Now let's see what the WIPocalypse question was for this time... Have you ever been to a stitch gathering such as a retreat or a festival? If so, tell us about it! Yes I have been. I'm in a local Indiana group called Hoosier Stitchers. We have yearly get togethers and I've always really enjoyed them. It's so much fun to get together with people who love the same hobby and I've learned so much. I was then in another group and we got together a few times. One time I traveled to Arkansas even to attend the retreat. It was fun but a difference of opinions ended with me leaving that group. A few years ago some friends were talking about PALs. It's in Myrtle Beach, SC. I had never been there and we LOVE the ocean. So I told Mom there is a retreat on the ocean and off we went. It's been a blast. I've been there 3 times now and already have my spot paid for this coming year. I think I'm off to stitch. The mojo is back!

June Turtle Trot

Love this picture. It explains my stitching progress really well too. I put my stitched down April 6th. I didn't pick it back up till May 29th!!!! Since then there has been more none stitching days than stitching ones. We have officially reached our busy time also there was a vacation in there. Anyway it's the 10th *cough* 12th of the month and it's time for a Turtle Trot update. We have a list of 10 projects we update our progress on the 10th of each month. I only worked on 3 of my 10.

Cut Thru Pirate Ship

Before...

After...

99 Bottles of Beer

Before...

After...

Summer by Cricket Collections

Before...

After...

So no bragging for me this time about my huge progress. But I've got a lot done in my personal life. Been on vacation. Been on camping trips. Got a lot of landscaping done which ended in my first case of poison ivy ever. Of course I'm an over achiever and the first time I ever get poison ivy I get it all over my face including my eye. So off to the doctor I went. I had to get a shot and meds since it was right by my eye. The swelling finally went down at least and the meds are helping a lot with the itching. Just been busy with no end in sight with all the fun we have planned. When I sit down I notice I just sat there and watch TV. Don't fret my stitching is still a dear love in mine. I'll be back at it soon I'm sure. Thanks for stopping by.

2nd Camping Trip and an Update

We did it again. The weekend after our first camping trip we headed off again. Our tent and trailer on the left and my friend's tent is on the right. We have wonderful friends. They have a gorgeous property right along a river about 2 hours north of us in Michigan. They invited everyone up for our 2nd Memorial Day camping event. Last year went so nice we were very happy to go again. Jeremiah decided to stay home with Grandma instead. He was missing his Xbox too much haha. It was a very relaxing fantastic time. Saturday we even went on a wonderful kayak trip. It was Fred's first time in a kayak and he really enjoyed it a lot.

The only bad thing about the weekend is our truck acted up again. We've been trying so hard to squeeze more time out of our truck. It's a 98 and really starting to show it's age. Our friends really helped us out (yet again) we tried to fix it but realized it was the transmission and not just a quick easy repair. So our friends kept our trailer and we limped home. We made it but couldn't shift into overdrive the whole way. $1,800 later it's fixed. Ouch. But again hopefully this means we'll make it a little longer with no vehicle payments. We've been busy with catching up on outdoor yard work. It's looking good. Just a few more spots to take care of. We have another camping trip coming up June 20th weekend. Life is good just really really busy.

I did actually stitch finally. I hadn't picked up a needle since April 6th I think. Way too long!!! I put a few stitches in the Pirate Ship. Yesterday was our 13th wedding anniversary so I worked on 99 in honor of my hubby. So finally X's are being made at least too. I hope everyone is doing well and is having a great summer.