What I've Been Up to ...

Hello My Friends! 

So what have I been working on this past month. Well I must admit, stitching has been a challenge the last month and a half. I have been working on this ATC that should have been quick and easy. But when I selected the pattern, I didn't realize the TONS of french knots it had. Now normally, they don't bother me too much, HOWEVER, stitching french knots on 18 count aida, that are placed in the CENTER of the square instead of at the corner of the squares and that has been a big challenge. It is really hard to poke the needle from the bottom up into the fabric and then go back down thru the same hole. And like I said, there are a bunch of them. I also have a couple of coasters to mail out soon. 

Another project that I have started is a pattern called Transformation by Tilton Crafts. Shelley, the owner and designer of the pattern, asked if I would do this pattern as a model stitch for her. It's a beautiful pattern that Shelley did an awesome job on. The artist is Victoria Frances. So I have started working on this pattern. I just love it. 

Here is what it looks like ... 

Isn't she gorgeous?! I just love this pattern. The pattern is 300 x 435, so it's a larger pattern. I am starting in the bottom left corner.

So I made a decision. As some of you know, I have some projects that I have started and not finished. One of them, I was never really into. Another I liked the pattern, but was not super excited about. So I'll probably either never finish it, or it will be a long while before I ever go back to it. So I am putting them, not only on a back burner, but up in the back corner of a shelf, so to speak. Those two are Pale Rose and Hold on to Hope. Both were supposed to be stitch a longs with someone else and those stitch a longs never really happened. So I'd rather concentrate on projects that I really want to do. And I definitely have other WIPs and UFOs that I absolutely love and really want to get finished.

Speaking of WIPs and UFOs ... a friend of mine on Facebook has created a new group called Wednesday UFO Cross Stitchers. The object of the group is that every Wednesday we will all work on a current or unfinished project and we will all support and motivate each other so that we can get our projects finished. I think this is a great idea and I am really excited about it! To have a set day to work on these projects may be just what I need to get some good finishes under my belt and actually complete some of my goals that I list for myself each year. So if any of you are like me and need that extra motivation and want to share some fun and progress, and if you are Facebook, just click on the link above to request to be part of the group. There are a lot of very nice people in the group! I've added a tab at the top of my blog where I will post my Wednesday progress.

And with that (today is Wednesday!), I am off to get some stitching done!

Happy Stitching, Crafting & Blogging to you all!

Until Next Time,
♥ Margie ♥

News, Updates & Progress

Hi there fellow Stitchers, Crafters & Bloggers! 

I hope you are all doing well today. I have been doing fairly well. I've been trying to find a part time job while the kids are in school. So far no luck. With my daughter having autism, I have to be home when she gets home. She is 16 now and it's not like she can go to after school care. So I can only be available for work while the kids are actually in school, unless my husband is off work, then I can work anytime on those days. I have applied at Michaels, Joanns, a few local stores. Nothing yet. There is a Hobby Lobby going to open up it's first location here where I live, but not until approximately the end of October. Another option, if they don't mind my schedule restrictions, is a seasonal store called Spirit Halloween. That one of course, if they hired me, would only be until maybe a few days after Halloween, of course. And it definitely would be a lot of work. It's so frustrating. I don't need much. Just 20-25 hrs a week would be great. It would be so helpful to our household income. That alone would cover enough bills to give us a little bit of breathing room. I have been given the suggestion of working at the schools so that I'm working only school time hours. And that is a great idea. But the school where my son goes, isn't hiring and there are all kinds of budget cuts in the school district that my daughter's school is a part of. Anyway, enough of that. 

As for stitching, I have taken part in a monthly coaster exchange, which I think will be fun. I have one finished and ready for the mail that will go out tomorrow. Found the pattern for the next one. And also I'm doing an ATC exchange. I have missed doing those so I thought I'd get back into it. Currently stitching up a cute pattern for that. It has a large number of french knots, which normally wouldn't bother me at all, except with this pattern, they are right in the middle of the square rather than the corners of the square. So it makes it a bit tedious. Stitching on 18ct with a 24 needle, makes it a lil bit hard to get the needle up thru the middle of the square and then back down thru it. Once it's finished, I'm sure it will look great tho. I don't want to post any pics of any of this as of yet bcuz anytime I post an entry to my blog, it posts an entry on Facebook, and they are on my friends list. So once they receive their goodies, I will post pictures. 

I haven't really had time to work on Hope lately. Once I get the ATC and coaster finished and mailed, then I'll work on it. I'm still working on adding all the grid lines with the fishing line. I really hope it helps make the stitching go at least a bit faster. 

On a side, and rather sad, note, today an amazing man and actor passed away today. Michael Clarke Duncan died at the very young age of 54. Two months ago, he suffered a massive heart attack and was in the hospital bcuz of it. It was said in an online article, that his fiance, Omarosa, left his hospital room for just a minute, and when she returned, he had passed away. So sad. Mr. Duncan was most known for his role as John Coffey in The Green Mile. He also had roles in Armageddon as Bear, Planet of the Apes as Attar, The Kingpin in Daredevil, Balthazar in The Scorpion King, as well as many other roles and voice roles for movies and video games. He grew up in Chicago's south side and resisted drugs and alcohol by constantly applying himself in his school work. He truly was a good man and will be missed by many. Whenever I watch The Green Mile, I always cry at the end. Now that sadness takes on a whole new meaning. My condolences go out to his family, friends and loved ones. RIP Michael. 

 

Well, time to get the kids ready for bed and then in bed and then get their lunches made for school tomorrow and get some laundry done. So that's all for this time! 

Happy Stitching, Crafting and Blogging Everyone! 

Until Next Time,

♥ Margie ♥

PS ~ I ALMOST FORGOT!!! My friends that I designed & stitched the Football Helmets Birth Announcement piece for are going to be in town this weekend for the baby's FIRST BIRTHDAY!!! As soon as they told me this a few months ago, I decided to wait until they are here to give it to them so that I can see them faces in person when they open it. I'M SO EXCITED!!! I'll post pics of them opening it and with it after Saturday!!! :)

Where Does the Time Go?!

Hi Everyone! 

Wow! I can't believe that we're already about 2/3 of the way thru 2012 already! I don't know about all of you, but to me it just seems that time goes by faster and faster the older I get! I sure could use an extra couple of hours everyday. 

So I am still working on HAED's Hold on to Hope. I haven't gotten much actual stitching done. But I thought I'd give gridding a try. I see many others doing it. And it seems to me that it will make things go a little smoother when stitching. I posted in one of my Facebook groups, asking others what their favorite gridding methods are. There were several responses. Some said to use the already gridded fabric from DMC called Magic Guide. But to get that I would have to order from the UK, and I just can't afford that right now. Between shipping and the currency conversion, it would cost quite a pretty penny. A couple people said they just use regular floss to grid. I have tried that on smaller pieces, and I end up getting the gridded floss caught up in the stitching and it becomes a mess. Some use a quilting pencil that is supposed to wash out easily when the fabric is washed. This makes me a little bit nervous bcuz I worry that it will not actually wash out and all that stitching will go to waste. One person said they use the Crayola washable markers. She said it always washed out completely and works great. I do like this idea, however, just like with the quilting pencils, I am nervous about it not washing out completely. Another suggestion is to use fishing line to grid the fabric. Now this idea, I like. I don't have to worry about it not washing out or getting caught up in my stitches of the pattern. And once I am finished stitched the pattern, I just had to cut the fishing line knot and it will pull right out. So that is what I've decided to go with this time. I may try the other gridding methods later on. But for now, the fishing line seems to be the best method that will work for me. So that is what I am working on right now, is gridding the fabric for Hold on to Hope. I will admit, I had some difficulty threading the fishing line onto a needle. And not using the needle was more difficult. But I was able to finally get it on the needle and it's going along nicely now. It is a bit of a tedious task. But I do feel it will be worth the work. I bought the fishing line at Walmart. They didn't have much of a selection of color. I didn't want clear, bcuz I want to be able to see the grid lines easily. So I bought this transparent green. It's not too bad. But I think the next time I need to buy some, I will check the sporting goods stores instead of Walmart, so that I can find the red fishing line, or some other brighter, more visible color. 

Anyway, next topic. Do any of you use a method called "parking" when you stitch? I have seen several people using this method, and to be honest, it confuses the heck out of me. For one, I don't know how the floss colors don't get mixed up. I mean, there are so many floss colors that are so similar, so how do they not get mixed up? Also, if you do "park", how do you not keep from getting the "parked" strands of floss caught up in the strand of floss that you are stitching with? Please share your thoughts and feedback on this, as I would really like to know. 

Most of you have seen that my existing WIPs and UFOs are quite large patterns. So, I've decided that to break up working on these larger pieces, I am going to get back into doing the ATC exchanges that I used to do, as well as a coaster exchange. I am in groups for both on Facebook. And I think it will be fun to do the ATC exchanges again. And the coaster exchange I think will be lots of fun and exciting too. The first ATC exchange, is a fairy theme. And I must say, it is not easy finding a fairy pattern small enough for an ATC. The theme for the coaster this month is flowers. I came up with a cute idea for the flower, but I don't want to give it away here yet, as I don't know if the person receiving the coaster will see or read my blog. After she receives it, I will post a picture. 

Well that is all I have for now. I'm off to stitch and grid! Happy Stitching, Crafting and Blogging to all! 

Until Next Time,

♥ Margie ♥

Current Projects ...

Hi there Friends and Blog Followers! :) 

So I've been working on a couple of things. One is a "Christmas in July" pattern that looks like quilt blocks. Those participating stitching one block each day from July 1st thru July 25th. One of my stitching friends on Facebook, Sunshine Stitches, designed the pattern and she posts the pattern for each block, one per day, on her blog. We are on Day/Block 18. It has been really fun since it's a small quick stitch each day. We get to select our own colors for the pattern. I have selected a few colors both solids and variegated. 

Here is where mine is after stitching Day/Block 18 ... 

Only seven more days/blocks to go!


The other project that I have been working on is, well, I've finally started HAED's Hold on to Hope! :) I've started in the bottom left corner of the pattern. I am having fun with the piece. Although it seems I always forget about how much confetti stitching there is in all of the HAED patterns. I have no idea what I'm going to do with this piece once I am finished. I don't know if I'll keep it for myself, or give it away to someone as a gift. But I do have plenty of time to think about that as I stitch it. I am stitching this one as an SAL with one of my online stitching friends. She is awesome & such a great friend. I wish that we could meet in person, as she is one of my best friends. 


Anyway, this is what Hold on to Hope will look like when finished ... 





And this is where I'm at after finishing my first page ... 





Still, obviously, have a lot to go, but at least it's progress. :) I'm already working on and making progress on the next page. I am moving to the right and then will move up. 


Well, that is all I have for now. 


Happy Stitching and Crafting Everyone!!! 


Until Next Time,
♥ Margie ♥
 

A Finish & One Stitching Goal DONE!

Hi Friends and Blog Followers!!! 

YAY!!! I have my first stitching finish of the year! It only took me half of the year to finally get it finished lol. 

But here it is ... my very unique Football Helmets Birth Announcement for my very dear friends! :) I am so excited about this piece and cannot wait to hear how my friends like it. I'm going to include a note attached to the wrapping paper that they have to call me before they open it so that I can hear their reaction. Or they can use a webcam or a video chat app on their phones lol.

I still have to wash, iron & frame it. I have a really pretty white frame that I think it going to look really nice with this piece. Once I have it washed, ironed & framed, I will post another photo. So what do you think? :) 

Now I can get busy with HAED's Hold on to Hope. I started it this past Saturday afternoon while we were at a party for my son's baseball team. But I was only able to really get in a few stitches. 

Well, that's all I have for now! 

Until Next Time,

♥ Margie ♥

My First Attempt at Hand Dying Stitching Fabrics

Hi there Stitching & Crafting Friends & Blog Followers! 

I have been seeing people hand dying their own stitching fabrics over the years and plus seeing it online to buy and at needlecraft stores. I've always loved it and have been thinking about trying it myself for quite some time, but never had the guts to actually try it. Well, today I took the plunge. :) I wanted to try to create a marbled look with a light yellow and a light green for an HAED pattern that I am going to be stitching called Hold on to Hope. I used the bucket dye bath method and RIT Lemon Yellow and RIT Kelly Green. And although it didn't come out anything like I had wanted it to, I do still like it. However, I will most likely not be using it for the pattern that I had planned it for. I think it came out too dark for that pattern.  

Here is what the pattern looks like ... 

Here is the first hand dyed fabric that I made. I first put the fabric in the bucket dye bath with yellow and then put it in with the green. If you look closely, you can see a little bit of marbling in the colors. 

Here is the second hand dyed fabric that I made. With this one I put the fabric in the bucket dye bath with the yellow. And then I used a spray bottle with the green to give it more marbling than the last one.  

I don't think the first fabric will work out with the HAED Hold on to Hope pattern bcuz I think it may be too vibrant in color. I think MAYBE the second one might work. But I'm not 100% sure. I would really like some feedback on this one if you could please. I appreciate it lots! :) 

Looking forward to hearing what you all think. 

Happy Stitching & Crafting! 

Until Next Time,

♥ Margie ♥