Spring is flashing before my eyes.

Is it just me or does spring seem to be rushing past into summer a little early this year? Not to mention another week has flashed past too, without much to post.

I can't say I have much stitching to report, but I will share what I managed to do.

Here is my progress on Ida Mae Crow, what time I have had to work on this has been fun, The new magnifier clips on, I got it from Hobby Lobby with one of their 40% off coupons they post weekly. It's lighted and worked great at first but the light fades after being on for a while. Not a bad clip on magnifier though.

I did find fabric and made a little start on the Birds of a Feather chart I received. Love this Belle Soi thread. This is in my desk at work and I can take a few minutes during lunch to add a few stitches, a nice relaxer on a stressful day.

The only other stitchy thing I did was accumulate a couple more projects from the Inspired Needle, two of the 2012 Year of the Small kits she has put together. I admired the February one on several blogs, so I was happy to see where it came from and then I saw the Small Tokens from BBD that was picked for March and couldn't believe it wasn't already in my stash.

Before I sign off this evening, or morning sinces it's after midnight now, I will share another fish from our tank, or in this case fishes. We call them the twins, my sons theory is buy two fishes at a time because only one will make it, but we have a couple of pairs where both have done great. The twins are small but sassy and really brighten up the tank.

Happy Stitching CJ in OK

Lost in the land of WORK,

can't seem to find my way out. Glad to have a minute to at least post a quick message here. Little to no stitching progress made although Ida Mae has a head, that's about it. My Victorian Skaters remain in the basket by my chair and the new counted canvas piece sits on my desk.

I did receive a nice surprise from Laurie the "Birds of a Feather" chart with her remaining silks, I had won in a drawing a few weeks back, arrived. Thought I could stitch this up in no time but it to sits and waits with the others.

I have a major project to finish up this week and then another waiting it's turn due next month, I wish I was talking about stitching but sadly it's work.

But... then there is spring retreat with my "Just for Fun" friends. It's only a few days but that thought keeps me going. And new fabric will arrive in the mail in a few days maybe I can sneak in a little stitching time then. In fact, I 've decided, to take Ida Mae to work with me, maybe just maybe I can take a little lunch break and stitch just a few stitches. And then tonight find fabric for Birds of a Feather and put it in the car for emergency stitch times. It could happen, right?

Well off to work.
CJ in OK doing OK.

But wait  -  a fish awaits

This is Stipey, he is not my favorite because he is very aggressive and somewhat a bully in the tank. Even though Chubs is much larger Stipey thinks he runs the place. Even in fish tanks the bullies are present. He does these little nip and run moves, picking on the smaller and weaker, but occasionally Chubs will put him in his place and there will be peace in tha tank once again.

Ok, really have to go now. Happy Stitching!

Overcoming Negative Progress or

"casting out the frog".  That's right the frog came to visit and my poor Old Crow was completely stripped of it's top border. But I was determined and I stuck with it today, that mean old frog would not rob me of my planned finish. I just couldn't have a post with negative progress.

So here it is -

OLD CROW

by La D Da

finished 03/10/12

I just laid the frame, I will be using, over the top for the picture, but I love how it is going to look.

Next up is Ida Mae Crow and I picked up the fabric Wednesday, it is 35ct Straw from Weeks. I pulled the DMC threads this afternoon and will get started after I finish here.

Of course there was more than this little piece of fabric, from my visit to the Silver Needle. But a picture is worth a thousand words and here are several pics of my new stash items.



And this was after I sorted through and put several things back. The Celtic Friends came with the threads and little charm. I loved the Chocolate Roses and have already ordered the fabric (Chocolate Raspberry linen) and the Dinky Dyes silk thread Choco Latte. Maxim and Zoya will be a fun stitch and I signed up for the auto shipments of The Flock from SamSarah (there will be 12) because I want to make the wired stand ups of them done on perforated paper.

Panoply of Posies was an impulse buy and when I looked at it later, I realized the count was 250 x 250 stitches. That's a little more than I would normally tackle but the colors are great so maybe this summer I will try to step through it one motif at a time.

The Vera bag was on sale at 50% off so I had to have it for my spring retreat stitching supplies. The JoAnn's in Tulsa is very well stocked and I managed to find a new Ott Lite floor lamp for beside my stitching chair. If that wasn't enough I dropped by Stitches of Tulsa another great shop specializing in needlepoint and knitting. They carry Caron Waterlillies and I picked up all the colors I needed to start the Dance of the Tulips that I had already.

I plan to order the fabric for this one direct from PTP, so that one will start during spring break, if I manage to get a way for a long weekend.

Absolutely, no more stash shopping for me, until the April retreat and then I have to go shop at least a little with the girls.

Now to finish off with another fish intro. Here is Lithgow in all his glory. You saw just a glimpse of him swimming under Chubs last post, so you can tell he is one of the smaller fish in our tank. I thought he looked hairy, with his coloring and fin, so my son asked who the star on Harry and the Henderson's was, that's how he got his name, after John Lithgow. This little guy is my favorite because he is small but mighty.

Happy Stitching,

CJ in OK ;-)



Two weeks flew by Too fast

Work has kept me very busy but some progress has been made. Even a finish so I will start with that.

I finished stitching First Bass from Ink Circles Thursday evening. This was after I decided to take a day on vacation on Leap Day. It was a reward I promised myself after making it through the week before and month end close. I made it a special stitching day, and had hopes to head to Tulsa for a little stash therapy, but I was making such progress that I decided to stay where I was. So here is the result.

First Bass

by Ink Circles

finished 030212

So glad I didn't head to Tulsa as I will have to be there three days this week for work. I will get all my stash shopping done Tuesday and Wednesday evening and then head to my hotel room to stitch.

I do have a little more progress on Old Crow and should be able to finish this up while in Tulsa. Here's where it is right now.

My Victorian Skaters were stitched on a bit, but not enough to bother with another picture. It seems Sunday evening I feel quilty for not touching it all week and then stitch a bit before bed, maybe that will just be my process for this one.

I have an old counted thread project that I think I will start this week too, since I had a finish and then I have another crow piece to start when the Old Crow is done. That one is called Ida Mae (just happens to be my Grandmothers name) Crow from the Goode Huswife. I will pick up the 35ct Weeks Straw linen to get that one ready to go. I can show the patterns with my new starts next time.

There was fun with fish this week, as we added a new member to the tank. Since I have not shared about the fish before I thought I would show one fish at the end of each post, until you have seen them all.

This is Chubs the biggest one in the tank although

it's hard to really show how big he is. Maybe 7 or 8" long. He really looks more like

navy blue, but the flash bounces off his scales that are irridescent.

(Lithgow is peeking out from under him but I will introduce him later)



I tried to catch up on everyones blog posts, but only got through the most recent ones this afternoon. Always inspiring. Thanks, CJ in OK ;-)





Lots of Stash and some stitching

OK, so I went a little crazy with the stash this week. But it was really about three weeks of purchases that all caught up with me at my new place at once.

First this group of goodies from Stitching Bit and Bobs and the two missing magazines I found on eBay. It includes the final part of Margaret Cottam, All four parts of of Libertyville (because they were on sale), A Little love by L*K, plus her Flora McSample 2011 ornaments, and Tis Better from La-D-Da, which will be my next fun little one to start. It is just to cute.

And... then there was this bunch that I got from Silver Needle.

The DVD is to help me with a couple of kits I have from Teresa Layman. I have had her class but needed a refresher course to get me going again. Boughs of Holly is a Christmas wantabe but we'll see. The travel guide for my road trips from here to various retreats. Then you may see something familiar, another Flora McSample 2011 ornaments pattern. Yes, I bought it twice, so if any of you would like it just shoot me an email and I will pass it on. You know you like it when you buy it twice.

OK, now for the stitching progress. I warn you thinks were crazy at work this week so very little stitching was done between Monday and Friday.

First up is First Bass,

the picture is from Friday nights progress so I have a little more in this already, maybe a finish by next weekend.

The other project is Old Crow which I had a little trouble with because I was missing one thread color. Yes it is just DMC but I looked everywhere and didn't have 3787. So off to Hobby Lobby I went, but the bin for that color was empty.

But how do you leave Hoppy Lobby without anything, so I hit the clearance shelf, which means more stash, no projects in mind, just possible finishing things. For $5 I consider it a bargain.

The tassels are brown and cream and that fabric just jumped out at me, I may have to find a St Patties day project to use it on.

After all that running around and a second Hobby Lobby I found the 3787 and the Old Crow continued some. (..and two baskets came home with me from the second store too).

That's all for today. I haven't stitched any this week on the Victorian Skaters so I will try to squeeze that in this evening. First I have to go find a new desk chair, as my other one died in the move and this chair I am using just doesn't work. I want one that will double as a stitching chair, of course.

I tried to catch up on most of the blog reading and posting before I started this post but if I missed you then, congrats on the finish, good progress, feel better or nice to hear from you, whichever applies. I'll catch you next time.

CJ in OK ;-)

Saturday Stitch Day

Let's call yesterday "Stitch Day" because I was either stitching or doing something related to my stitching most of the day. Now I will admit I got a late start, I mean it was Saturday, but I made up for it by staying up late.

I'll start by showing you the progress I made on The Old Crow design from La-D-Da. Have I mentioned this is stitched on a Weeks Dye Works linen, that I just love? It's so soft and easy to stitch with. I am using the DMC colors rather than the Needlepoint Inc silks (NPIs) that it called for. After I got this started Mary Janes, the online shop, announces they will now be carrying NPIs. Not to be for this project, but I am glad to now have a place to purchase these great silk threads.

Back to my progress

This picture isn't zoomed in very well but you can click on any of the photos for a better look. I hope to finish out the branch and the border across the top today and have an update on Monday or Tuesday.

And..since I did finish that Graduation Day project I thought I would start something new. Then I had second thoughts, because all thoses old UFO's are still calling to be worked on. So I pulled out Victorian Winter another project started about three years ago. It's from a Cross Stitcher magazine (Feb 2009) and was designed by Lettie Eckberg. A friend had given me a big "wad" of this overdyed bluish burgundy color silk thread from a large hank someone had passed on to her and I had the blue/gray overdyed linen laying around, from who knows where, and a project was born. Here is my progress as of yesterday.

It was nice to stitch on this again and I bounced back and forth between this and The Old Crow for a while.

When I stopped for little stitching break (aka a nap), I ended up not resting, but instead looking through some old stitching magazines and came across this.

A series published by Just Cross Stitch in 2011, designed by Sally Hesketh. But after going through all the magazines, I realized I only had 2 of the 4 issues from 2011 to complete the series. So off to eBay I went, to search for the missing issues. Only one auction had what I needed, except, that I would have to buy all 6 issues from that year to get the 2 I needed. After a few emails back and forth with the seller, she agreed to sell me just the two I needed for half of her beginning auction price on the others. Good for me and probably good for her too. These should be on their way to me this week.

I will still need fabric and threads pulled together for this band sampler but I hope to start it in time for the April retreat with my friends as the top section is spring. We'll see.

OK, one more thing. Last night I got tired of the skaters and the Old Crow wasn't speaking to me, but there was this new project with fabric and threads all ready to start (I had taken it to retreat last fall and never touched it), and I think I could actually hear it calling out to be stitched.

I couldn't resist so here is my new start on Ink Circle's First Bass.

A family friend will get his degree in music this spring and he happens to play the bass violin, you know that great big giant thing with strings. I got to attend his senior reciltal and he was great. Since he's known me for a while (he was 9 or 10 when we moved here), he won't mind getting a stitched piece as a gift, and I think it will be pretty in a frame with a couple of mats to dress it up. He can always hang it in his music room - aka the extra bedroom needed to house that big giant stringed thing.

Well that's all for today, so back to stitching, although I may have to pause for some housework today.

CJ in OK ;-)

Graduation Day

Well it's not actually a Graduation Day, but the project I was working on was called 'Graduation Day'. Note I say "was" because I am done. Whoo Hoo!

Graduation Day

designed by Pam Waters

stitched on 28ct Natural linen

with DMC thread

It's not quite as fun to look at as the 'Men of Baltimore' was, but I still enjoyed stitching this vine border. Making all the twists and turn and still getting it to match up in the end was so rewarding, I practically lept out of my chair. My DS actually said he liked it, now that's amazing.

The only other stitching I have done is on the Old Crow, and it really wasn't enough progress to warrant another picture. Maybe by the weekend I can get in some serious stitching time. It is supposed to be cold and dreary with a chance for snow. Perfect stitching weather.

Although Saturday night is the Knit In at Gourmet Yarn and I may hang out there, to finish up a knitting project have that doesn't get touched at home. Who can knit when the stitching projects keep calling out?

I worked out my ordering snafu with the Silver Needle, so that order is on the way. I also emailed in an order to Shakespeare's Peddler and ordered online with Stitching Bits and Bobs. So lots of stash pictures are in the near future. I did end up ordering two of one design, which I will share with anyone that may want it later.

FYI, some of this pending stash will be little gifties for a few stitching friends so I will keep them hidden for a bit.

Happy Stitching.
CJ in OK ;-)

The MEN are Done

That's right. The Men of Baltimore are done, well at least as it refers to this stitched piece designed by CherryWood Design Studios. It was such a fun stitch and really went fast even for me. I admit that you really have to focus on the orange noses to see the snowmen in the middle.

Men of Baltimore

Cherry Wood Design Studios

stitched on 28 ct gingham

with Weeks Dye Work threads

I am thinking possibly a a box finish could be cute for this one, but I am up for suggestions.

Of course a finish means I can start something new. Ok, I may be disregarding the 20 - 40 WIPs I already have, but no matter.

This new one I purchased back in October along with the fabric. It's a La-D-Da design called Old Crow. I pulled the DMC threads given instead of the NPI silks to give it a more primitive look. That was done at Christmas as I planned to get started on it between the holidays, but never did.

Instead, today was the day, and if I hadn't been on my lunch break the crow would be much farther along.

FYI, don't you just love the Q-Snap wrap. A friend of mine makes these and I love the fabrics she picks.

I will try to make a little more progress and post another update in a day or two. I still have that green vine to finish up on the other piece, so it may be Friday before I have enough to show off.

Between stitching and work I have been enjoying all the blogs I've missed reading for so long. So many talented people with interesting ideas and beautiful projects.

Happy Stitching,
CJ in OK ;-)

A Golden Oldie

I was rummaging around looking for something  - FYI, I recently moved so I am still trying to organize and find everything  - and I came across this old, I mean 1984 old, design that I started stitching a few years ago. I still liked the saying and thought the border would be fun to stitch, plus the green works with the decor and I could really use something new to add to the walls in my new place.

It was designed by Pam Waters under the name Country Crafts and called Graduation Gift, although I am sure it is no longer available anywhere. I'd be happy to send it to someone after I am done stitching, just let me know.
 I had the words mostly done when I found it, so I finished up the saying and was able to make some real headway on the border, with only a few minutes here and there over the last two days to stitch.

Also in the mix right now is a design called Men of Baltimore from Cherry Wood Design Studios. It was a free pattern I saw stitched somewhere and I picked up the precut fabric. It's been fun and fast to work on with the Smyrna stitches and checked fabric. The four white blobs will be snowmen looking up as soon as I stitch on their orange noses, hence the name Men if Baltimore. I actually thought it was some kind of patriotic (red, white and blue) design when I first saw it.

Anyone who happens to read my blog, please let me know what type of finish you think would work for this.

The only other pic I had to share is a finish I had back in October of 2011. I finished stitching it while at a little local retreat we call "Just for Fun". Several friends from a few neighboring states drive in and we get a local hotel to provide a meeting room in exchange for the 5 to 10 rooms we take up. Then we stitch, and catch up, along with shopping and eating out for a few days.

I just popped the piece in the frame I intend to use, but I haven't mounted this yet (it won't be that crooked later, I hope). This piece was hung on our wall of honor at the retreat. It's a privilege we award to any stitched piece that is finished during our weekend together, and since I am a slow stitcher and a fast talker, I rarely add anything to the wall.  Maybe I will actually get it framed before we meet again in April.

Off to stitch this afternoon and evening while all the super bowl hub bub is going on. I already did my cross stitch sale shopping first thing this morning. A couple of new Lizzie Kate designs and part three of a La-D-Da series that just finished up. I even snagged, on clearance, a Raise the Roof collaboration with Crescent Colours called Libertyville. The stash is always in flux, I will either have to finish a few more projects, or get rid of some more of the older stash items.

Happy Stitching,
CJ in OK ;-)

FRESH START

Well I thought I would try this again. It's probably been a few years since I posted a blog entry so I may be a little rusty. But I want to share what I am stitching even though it is slow progress these days. I remember these post kept me inspired and on track with big projects.


Of course the best part is all the fellow bloggers with like interests that I was connected to. So here's hoping they are still around. But no more babbling, let's get to the heart of the issue here.


CROSS STITCH   ---


My hobby - craft - art - therapy - obsession.

Here is my latest finish, a counted canvas piece, and I can't even remember who the designer is. I picked up this complete kit even the frame while I was at the Celebration of Needlework in St Louis back in September. It was a fun piece to stitch, not very big so it went quickly. One Caron Watercolours thread and two solid DMC perles on the tan canvas, what could be easier. One day I will share some of the class projects from Celebration it was amazing. This was finished over the Christmas holidays.

FYI, this was one of my first pictures from my new little Nikon Coolpix that my son gave me for Christmas. I am still learning to use it so hopefully the pictures will improve with time.


I will post more tomorrow.

CJ in OK ;-)