Jul 15th Monday Update - Finished Mill Hill

 It's a HOT Monday here in Indiana after a HOT weekend. I was luckily able to hide inside the AC and get a lot of stitching done last week. Let's see on what...

Monday was a no stitch day. Computer work. Laundry. Groceries won the day. 

Tuesday I started the next Zodiac Mill Hill kit for Fred added 857 stitches. Pisces. Wednesday I added 606. Thursday I put in the final 154 stitches...

Finish #21

Pisces

MH16-1826

From 2018 Mill Hill Kits

Stitched on Perforated Paper

Using Kit Threads and Beads

Started July 9th, 2024. Took 3 Days.

1,617 Total Stitches.

 

 After finishing that up I picked up Beer Dragon. Time for the monthly 500 stitches. I added 68 Thursday, 301 Friday, 139 Saturday, and 523 Sunday. So a total of 1,031. I finished page 5 and got a little start on the 6th page which is the last page in this row of pages.

So this is the farthest right side now. Wohoo!!!

Saturday against all my whining we had a day out haha. I really notice I've been enjoying hermit life more and more. I run out to get groceries or do laundry but am really really happy to return home and hide. The real world is just crazy! But I don't want to enjoy having a good time. So we woke up Saturday and went to our local farmer's market. I had heard about it and we've been talking about going since we moved here. But something always seems to come up. Spike is even allowed. It was hot but it was a really nice time. We will definitely be back later when it cools down. We went to get hair cuts. Then we came back home so Fred could mow the grass. The forecast was rain and HOT so he wanted to do it before all that. 

When he was done we all loaded up again and headed to the cigar bar. They were having a BBQ food truck that we liked. So we went and visited with our friends and ate ourselves miserable. The heat won though and we left before too long. Bev was released from the hospital and they were on the way to visit my Grandpa so we headed over there. Hospice has been called in now for the making him comfortable. He needs a surgery that they can't do because his age and how bad his health is. So unfortunately we will lose him soon. He is my last Grandpa. I'm his oldest grandchild so have always joked about being number one and he would just smile. Then Jeremiah is the oldest great grandchild. So we knew we were the favorites. He was awake enough to ask me for a big hug. He was glad to see Jeremiah and said There's my man. It was emotional but I'm glad we were able to say Bye. Now it's a waiting game. Right now my family is doing okay. I think my Grandma is in denial she keeps talking about when he's better. Dad is handling it well. Sadly they had a very hard relationship most of my dad's life.

Sunday I got to do something I've always wanted to do...

I've been researching zucchini recipes since we have so many from our garden. I seen a zucchini muffin you could do in the air fryer. I've never made muffins before but I've always wanted to. So I made the first 6. I was yelling and smiling the whole time. My first muffins with my zucchini out of our little garden. Then I tasted them.....THEY WERE DELICIOUS!!! So that made it even better haha. I will definitely be making more of these as soon as it's not 300 degrees outside haha. Guess I could just bake them without the air fryer haha.

Plans. This week there is a Christmas in July challenge. I need 500 on a Christmas themed piece. I picked Christmas Celebration Sampler from Frosted Pumpkin so I'm excited to work on it. This coming weekend is IHSW. I don't know if we are doing anything or not. We did lose at least one tree in all the storms we've been having. I haven't walked the whole property but I'm sure there are more. So we will see if we end up doing work or not. If not....stitching time haha.

Have a great week. Love yourself. Hug your loved ones. Find any reason you can to smile.

Jul 1st Monday Update

Here it is the first Monday of July. How? 7 months into 2024 already. I just wish the rest would SLOW down. Let's see what I was up to last week.

Monday I started another new piece. I mean I haven't started anything else lately right? Shush haha. The Pirate from Cottage Garden Samplings just had to be mine. I mean pirate! Hello? I worked on it Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm using 36ct Mirage Edinburgh Linen. I loved how it was a dark and I hoped the snowman white would pop better. I love it so far...

1,274 stitches so far. Thursday I got to working on Thanks to the Brave by Erica Michaels. Worked on it Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Sunday I put the last stitches in. 

I found a little frame while shopping at Hobby Lobby Saturday so I tried it...

Love it!!! Oops forgot to give info on the piece...

Finish #19

Thanks to the Brave by Erica Michaels

Fabric 40ct Silk Gauze

Threads GAST Black Crow, Roasted Marshmellow, and Weathered Barn

Started March 1, 2024. Took 10 Days.

7,065 Total Stitches

A friend of mine got me interested in a new hobby...

It's a felt kit from Merry Stockings. From a mantel series so it makes a little shelf display. I've always been intrigued by felt kits. So I figured why not. I received it Saturday morning. Of course I needed some supplies so off to Hobby Lobby I went...

Some batting, sorting containers from the sequins, new scissors, some of the clips everyone is using, and I needed some floss of course. I will hopefully start it soon. My left wrist is hurting really bad probably tendonitis and I want that to heal up before I even try twisting and holding that felt. Luckily it doesn't hurt too bad to hold my Q-Snap. Not that I would let that slow me down haha.

I have 3 new starts planned for July...

I have this one planned for today. I would think it will be pretty fast so hopefully I'll finish it this month. I'm using 28ct New Khaki Lugana and Weeks Dye Works threads Liberty and Americana. I also have one like this that says Freedom. A LNS posted them on their Facebook page in April 2020 and I just knew my little patriotic kiddo would like them. 

Two Mill Hill kits will be started this month. Pisces which is Fred's Zodiac. The other is another Jim Shore gnome this one is called Mushroom Gnome.

Life update. Our little garden is doing fantastic...

Zucchini and Cucumber galore. I see a lot of baby tomatoes growing as well. Any time now. Yummy!! We like having the zucchini on our grill. So delicious.

Bev update. She was released from the hospital. They think the antibiotics treated whatever the infection was and her numbers are slowly building back up. They also did a bone marrow test because they wanted to check her overall cancer. Right now she still shows as cancer free. So last discussed they want to do one last round of chemo just to keep it gone. Then we don't know other than to switch to watching and maintaining. Still more to learn. She seems to be doing okay. She is sick of not being able to see. I sure wish that could come back. She does beautiful embroidery and she misses it badly. I simply can't imagine. Thanks for all the extra prayers and thoughts sent for her. I appreciate them a lot.

I'm off to stitch. I love the beginning of a month. I get all excited about my stitching plans. Let's do it. Have a great week. Happy 4th of July to my US readers. We are going to be a little laid back. Supposed to be HOT and stormy. My BFF is busy doing some things with his new love haha. So he won't be here. So should be hopefully laid back. Maybe I'll even get to stitch! That would be lovely. I have a challenge to stitch 1776 on a Patriotic piece. I would love to get that done.

Love yourself. Find reasons to smile. Stay safe in the weather.

Jun 17th Monday Update - 3 Finishes

Welcome to another Monday update. Let's see what I worked on last week...

I had 3 finishes in 3 days!!!

Monday I finished up All American by Primrose Cottage...

(16) June 10, 2024

All American

by Primrose Cottage Stitches

Fabric 25ct Vintage Country Mocha

Threads Suggested DMC and One Weeks Dye Works

Started Sept 15, 2022. Took 16 Days.

After finishing up that one I started my June pick for my monthly mix up. Love Beer by Hinzeit. I knew it would go quickly since it's small. I added 110 Monday and finished with 551 Tuesday...

(17) June 11, 2024

Love Bits: Love Beer

by Hinzeit

Fabric 32ct Lambswool

Threads Suggested DMC with Charm Included

Started Jun 10th. Took 2 Days.

661 Total Stitches.

 

Wednesday I worked on Taurus Mill Hill Kit and had yet another finish after 342 stitches including mostly beads...

(18) June 12th

Taurus 

MH16-1812

From 2018 Mill Hill Kits

Stitched on Perforated Paper

Using Kit Threads and Beads

Started Sept 26, 2023. Took 6 Days.

1,591 Total Stitches.

It was a busy busy week but we got everything done we needed/wanted to get done. Saturday the weather was perfect. The heat was lower than all surrounding days. 80 degrees and seriously perfect. Light wind. So the band was a success.

I have no idea how many people were here. Just guessing maybe 75. Some friends came we haven't seen for way too long. We enjoyed our time so much. Sunday the heat got bad so everyone hurried to pitch in to get everything back to normal and headed home. This week we have dangerous heat all week so it was perfect that everything was great last week and event day.

So no stitching since Wednesday. I am itching to get back to it. Plans for this week. I am going to work on the Winter SAL from Stitchonomy for a challenge event where I need 500 stitches. Then Thursday I want to start the Summer Line Up from The Trilogy in honor of the first day of Summer. Over the weekend I might work on Yggdrasil but haven't fully decided yet. I have The Pirate from Cottage Garden left on my challenge list but I just might leave it till next week. 

It's IHSW this weekend and Fred had a radio field day from 2pm Saturday to 2pm Sunday. Supposed to be hot hot all weekend. So doubt any other plans will pop up. Should get good AC stitching time haha. Bev went up to the hospital today to get her last round of chemo started but her bloodwork came back really low so she was sent home to rest. They will try again next week.

Jun 10th Monday Update

Fred has this week off so I have no idea what day it is. But according to my phone it's Monday so here's a Monday update haha. Let's see what I worked on last week.

Monday I worked on Patriotic Gnome Littles by Waxing Moon Designs. Finished the one I was working on Balloon Girl and started Celebrate Gnome the bottom middle guy...

Tuesday was spent on Christmas Celebration Sampler from Frosted Pumpkin. I started and finished the T block and added more to the right side border...

Wednesday I got the 300 needed for Halloween Potions by Les Petites Croix De Lucie for the month...

After I finished that I pulled out Beer Dragon by Paine Free Crafts. I wanted to add 500 for the month. Thursday I completed those stitches. I'm Day 98 into this beauty now...

Friday I worked on Taurus Mill Hill Kit. Added 400 for my monthly goal. Close to a finish now...

Saturday I got out All American by Primrose Cottage. Time to finish it off. Maybe today. After 814 Saturday and 624 Sunday this is all I have left...

The bottom part from the WHITE square is all what I added. It really goes quickly. I enjoy this one a lot and definitely have a love for Primrose designs after this beauty.

Saturday Fred took me up to Fort Wayne to the LNS (local needlework store). A friend has a stitch day from 9:30 till 12:30. I think there was 10 or 11 of us. I really enjoyed my time visiting with the girls. Fred runs off to do some of his own things in case you were wondering haha. Then we came back and Fred mowed here so that helped me get lots of stitching time Saturday. 

Sunday we were doing some work here with my dad. Spike has been doing really well off leash for short times so I let him off. He ran to the pond and then darted into the woods right by us. Several minutes went by and he didn't pop out to see where I was like normal. So I started calling for him. Nothing. We all started looking for him after 20 minutes. I was one worried dog mom. Then I saw a deer pop out of the woods by the pond. Yep Spike was hunting that darn deer. So thankfully after about 30 minutes he popped back to get a drink from the pond and tell me how much fun he was having. I grabbed him and told him he scared me to death. Least he came back sooner than later. 

So the band we have every year is coming this Saturday the 15th. Lots of do. So that's why Fred took off work. Then since he's off I got some appointments scheduled and now we have a crazy full week haha. But today the chores are done so I need to get off here and STITCH. 

Have a great week. Love yourself. Smile!

May 20th Monday Update

Howdy all. It's hot out today. So AC running and all chores done as soon as possible. Let's see what I stitched on last week...

Monday was my 45th birthday. So I decided to spin a new start. Jeremiah spun Luck of the Irish by Primrose Cottage Stitches on the Tiny Decision wheel. I added 327 on Monday and 667 on Tuesday so a total of 994 this time...

I'm using 32ct Platinum Lugana and the suggested DMC which is only 3 colors. Another chart I got when I was at Always in Stitches before retreat this year. My needles were flying. Do you think it's the Irish in me? Haha.

Wednesday was time for another new start. This time the wheel picked Lady Liberty by Keslyn's. I added 476 stitches...

I'm using 32ct White Jobelan and Gloriana Silks Crimson and Pacific Dark Blue. I was getting ready to start and thought wow this fabric is HUGE. I realized that I forgot to tell the lady when I ordered the fabric I was planning on stitching it over one. Oops but I'll cut it and use the fabric for something else. No crisis with being too big now being too small would have been a different story all together haha. So here are my little tiny stitches...

If you can't tell I started on the upper left wing. This will help the thread last longer as well since I can use just one thread. 

Wednesday and Thursday I spun Halloween Potions by Les Petites Croix De Lucie. I wanted to add 500 to it this month. Ended with 513...

This one seems to go really slow because a lot of color changes. But it sure looks cute when stitched. Reminder I'm stitching it on 32ct Light Mint Lugana with suggested DMC.

Friday after I finished up my stitches on Halloween Potions I switched to another acrostic spin. Taurus Mill Hill kit came up. The prompt for this one was To the Party and since Taurus is my birthday zodiac I thought it was a good fit...

I had started this one Sept 26th, 2023 for a stitching challenge. So I had one day into it...

I added 159 Friday, 341 Saturday and 144 Sunday. I finished the main dark green symbol finally haha...

It was a great one to work on in between projects this weekend since it was IHSW but we had a lot of outdoor stuff to get done.

Sunday after I finished up the symbol I got back out Thanks to the Brave by Erica Michaels. I wanted to add 200 this month for the acrostic Letter E...

 

Added 243 stitches to the background fill in. That part definitely takes the longest. But helps the letters POP. So it's worth it. 

So I happily got a lot of stitching done all week. I have two new starts left on the two Wednesday's left in May. Irish Blessing Bell Pull and The Mandalorian. Can't wait to see what he spins first. Both I'm excited to work on so not really a bad choice between them.

I have to share the lovely Faith a dear blog friend of mine gifted me a GC to 123stitch for my birthday. So I happily went shopping. I got fabric for a project that I will probably be starting next month...

I think this will look like a stormy night and really help the snowman pop bright. I also got a big piece of 32ct Vintage Country Mocha and some replacement Q-Snap snaps. I had one break on me the other day. It's barely sticking together. Thanks Faith!!!

I also got a beautiful Petunia from Campground family. Then Fred brought me a few Spider plant babies from work...

So evidently 45 let me reach the I want a plant phase of my life haha. We are looking forward to Memorial Day and then Bev and Dad have decided to take Jeremiah to a casino for the night. He hasn't had a night with them since last August so he is very excited to take a trip with them again. Bev sure deserves it. They have 4 friends meeting them and staying too so it will be a lot of laughs. They are going on my Dad's Birthday the 29th. Okay I'm off to read some email and get off this computer so I can stitch. 

Have a lovely week. Stay safe in the weather. Smile. Love yourself.

October 2nd Monday Update

Last week of September so last week of the Go Stitch Challenge. Let's see what I worked on...

Monday - Make up for 23rd Letter B - Boba Fett this time...

Few more stitches Monday on Make up for 24th Letter D Dragon Eye by Eva's Designs...

Tuesday -- More make up added 202 stitches to call Day 24 complete

 

Then Day 25 Letter T was a new start...

Taurus Mill Hill Kit. This is for Jeremiah and me both which is nice. 

205 added for the day to be complete

Day 26 Letter D was called so back to Dragon Eye for 202 more stitches...

Wednesday I was caught up again. Letters J which I don't have so a Go Stitch day...

Time for a start on the last Hello Four Seasons Gnome. The Autumn one...

Added 403 stitches

Thursday and Friday -- Day 28 Letter I but It's a Mermaid Life wasn't calling me at all. I heard loud screams from my WIP tote. Beer Dragon needed me so Go Stitch day instead. I put in 291 stitches Thursday. Friday I added 109 more to complete the 400 needed. Day 29 was B which was perfect I had 400 more to finish the page. So I did double my required amount to finish page 4...

Saturday the last day. Day 30 Letter S. So I pulled out Stitcher's Code SAL again to work on that part 6...

I got the front down to missing a backstitch kind of border and then backstitch outline to put it together.

So I completed the Go Stitch Challenge completely. I was so happy to have it done and even in the month. I did have a few days I had to make up but I did the makeup quickly. 

Sunday I worked on Season 2 from Hands on Design October piece...

Now for some Go Stitch stats. I worked on 17 different projects. The last week I got 2,235 stitches. Total for the month I got an amazing 10,563 stitches!! I had a blast. Of course I did nothing else at all well except for moving on the weekends which completely made up for the lazy weeks. The new Semi Sane challenge is just to keep track of stitches. We earn puzzle pieces for every 1,000 stitches. There is a team of 12 stitchers playing along. Right now we have a 20 piece puzzle. You get the puzzle piece when each 1,000 stitches is posted. Then you assemble the puzzle. If completed we can receive another puzzle to do. Yesterday was the first day and I was really busy but it seems fun. The team aspect is fun so far. Next month there is a solo one I seen. These are fun little pushes to stitch more. Like I need that haha. I'm so in love with my stitching.

Unfortunately though I fell off the wagon of being healthier. I've gained all the weight I lost back. It's very frustrating but I've been letting myself be stressed with the emptying of the house. So that's done now. I'm ready to get back on track. Even though the exercising takes away from my endless hours of stitching. I want to be around to stitch for as long as possible. So back active I go. I really have to focus on eating better so I'm definitely going to work on that better. Plus better house keeping haha. My mom never had good house cleaning skills. We have promised each other we are never living like we did so I've decided to start now with better cleaning skills. We bought an awesome new sweeper. I am going to do some things I've not done like clean the windows. Found out how easy it is to pop the screens out. So tomorrow I have a new skill to learn. It's sad I was just never taught that stuff. Never a priority. 

Fred put up 4 shelves my Grandpa made. I LOVE them. I got out all the Halloween decorations and excited sorted through them...

I literally cried happy tears. As if our happy place couldn't get any better. I just can't wait to decorate for all the holidays. Plus I can display a lot more of my stitching. Shelf space was very limited before. My dad was the one who suggested shelves. Duh. Love them!!!! Plus I have my favorite Halloween things and Mom's favorite things. She has a lot more fall stuff so after Halloween I'll have a completely new decoration theme. Then ohhhh Christmas!!! Love it!!!

Okay I need to get off this computer. Thanks for reading my crazy updates haha. I love this blog. I love my readers. I love life. So have a great week. Love yourself. Smile. Find happiness. I have and am!