Happy New Year!

Heart of Elizabeth by Gay Ann Rogers will be my first Crazy January project for 2013.  I think I finished 8 of the 15 from last year.  Will I get more done in 2013? 
The jewel on the left needs to be removed and restitched.  Gay Ann has promised help in the New Year to get the beads in properly.  I hope so as I need to get this piece to the finisher!!!

Merry Christmas Ornaments

Ok, so this is early, but I celebrated early this year.  I finished this ornament for my DS.  I may have to take it back as it turned out much nicer than my photo shows.

This is a photo of Merrily, Merrily by Barbara Jackson.  It is a Shining Needle Society class.  The basting was terrible as it is 40 count linen.  But I finally got it done and put in some cross stitches.  Of course, I can't follow directions and I used two strands of floss.  It is staying in although I will do the rest with just one thread.  It will be one of my "new projects" for 2013.
I do plan on joining the crazies at Crazy January Challenge with a few modifications.  No 15 new projects!  I would go crazy if I did that.  I plan on doing WIPs next year.  Will post them as I decide.

Hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year.

Why I haven't Finished My Challenge

 

Back in January I signed up to start  15 new projects the first 15 days of the year, and complete them.  Ha!  I have finished 8, I believe, but started many more over the year.  This is one.  It is a quilt for my mom.  The plan was to have it done before her birthday which is at the end of the month.  The picture above is of all the fabrics I hand-dyed.  The picture to the left is the blocks I have pieced and cut.  Today was to be a massive sewing day, but alas, all the squares needed to be recut.  Yuck!  Thanks to my friend Sue who helped and Cheryl who helped lay out the blocks.  I managed to get 3 rows done and I hope to get it all pieced soon.  Hope springs eternal here at Beth's Needlework Stash!  DS #2 has offered to help and DD already helped stack and label rows.  DS #1 is offering moral support...

Spring Goes to the Basement

But only over Christmas.  There is too much happening to leave it out and I am afraid it may get bumped.  I will work on small projects when I am not to busy.

Winter Woods Finished!

Ta dah!  It is not in the frame yet, but my boys said they would help with that.  It is a gift for my MIL.  The beads really added a lot.

Paisley Stitch and Zip Finished!

I finished this a while ago and I don't think I posted a picture.  I like the Stitch and Zip projects.  Almost done with my last Christmas ornament!

When do I do the Background?

I started this as one of my Crazy January Challenges, but it won't get done in time.  I like it and I love the Needlepoint Silk that came with it, but how do I do the background?  Basketweave?  Something more open?  I am not sure what I will do with it, but  the background will need to get done.

Western Boot

Glad you liked my new photo.  I do want to finish Solar Flare, but it must wait until I get Spring Splendor done!
This little Mill Hill bead kit needs to be turned into an ornament.  I need to back it and add a hanger.  Reminds me of my time in Texas as a college student doing the two-step.
I finish a lot of these little Mill Hill bead kits.  Maybe I should make a dent in my stash and just work on them for 2013....I think I would get bored.

Snowflake needs Beads

This little Mill Hill ornament just needs beads.  I wonder how many Crazy January Challenge pieces I have left?  This is one and it needs to be done soon so I can hang it on my tree.  I am fighting the urge to frame up a new piece.  I have all those pieces started in my basement and things that need to get done, yet I want to do something 'different.'

Frustrated

I spent tonight adding another jewel on my Heart of Elizabeth.  I thought I had it in the right spot, but it is too close to my first jewel..  This is my second attempt at this jewel and I thought I could get it right.  No such luck.  So Heart will go downstairs.  Not because I don't want to finish it, but because I have some gifts that need to get done before Christmas. 
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and did not eat too much turkey.

Needs Beads

It has been over a month since I posted a picture of  Winter Woods.  It still needs the white floss and then the beads.  I will get this done for Christmas! Thanks for all the comments on Heart of Elizabeth.  I hope to get back to it soon.  It needs the jewelry that Elizabeth I wor.  A girl needs her bling!

Collar Done

I have finished the colllar or ruff on Heart of Elizabeth.  I have started adding the beads.  It is more time consuming than I thought it would be, but I love how it looks.  I will work on Spring Splendor tonight!

Pulled Work is Next

I finished the blackwork a while ago and have been working on the ruffle of the Heart.  I had planned on working on this piece last night, but was more than a little depressed.  Why?  My dd's cat was hit by a car, which made everyone sad.  But even worse was the email that a young friend who has been battling lymphoma will be going home to heaven soon.  He is about the same age as my ds who had leukemia and they are friends.  (DS is doing well, thank God.)  Pulled work is not a favorite of mine and I need to concentrate to do it correctly.   Last night was not the night for it.  Hopefully I will be able to work on Heart tonight or maybe even Spring Splendor.  Does mood affect what pieces you work on?

Spring is getting a Flower

As you can see, I have worked a little on Spring Splendor.   I think the instructions were wrong.  Or I did not lay my silk properly.  Either way, the back petal in the above photo is too dark.  I am leaving it in as I am very behind.  I will add a lot of darker silk to make it a better contrast.

Goldwork Leaf

 Well, I  was able to pull half the threads to the other side before I had to quit.  Hopefully the other half will get done tonight.  It is not perfect and I see at least one that I may redo, but it will be ok.  I am learning.  I do not need to be perfect.  I need to enjoy the process.  If I don't repeat these things often, Spring Splendor would be flung across the room and then placed in the local EGA garage sale!!!

Progress on the Blackwork

 I thought you would like to see what a difference a few stitches make when doing blackwork.  The top photo has a little difference between the right and left sides, but look at this next photo:

The additional stitching really adds dimension in my opinion.  Hope you were able to purchase something at Gay Ann's E-Week Sale.  I think it is still going on...No affiliation.  Just a satisfied customer.  Yes, I had to get Echoes of Elizabeth!

Gay Ann Rogers' E-Week Sale

E-Week is here!  I LOVE the Echoes of Elizabeth sampler.  If you have never stitched a Gay Ann piece, I can highly recommend her charts.  They are excellent.  Here is the link Gay Ann Rogers 
I have done a little more on my Heart, but have yet to start the ruffle.  Tonight, maybe?

Gay Ann's Challenge

Gay An Rogers is getting ready for her E-Week sale.  She asked if people would "stitch for her" as she was unable to put a needle to canvas.  I took some time last night and finished the other side of the bodice/sleeve.  It needs another layer of blackwork which I may do tonight.  I hope to take some time and work on my quilt today too.  It is raining and therefore a little too dark to pull out Spring Splendor.  But I hope to post a picture of my progress on it next week.

A Little Bit of Blackwork

This has another layer of blackwork to add dimension.  I am not a big fan of blackwork, but this has a great effect on the "sleeves".  I really look forward to doing the ruffle.  Hopefully I will get some work done on Spring Splendor this evening.

The Beginnings of a Leaf

I have finished one section of a leaf, but had to quit putting my gold threads under because I was getting tired last night.  I will try to finish up tonight so I can start on the other side.  It is not perfect, but I am satisfied with how it looks.

More ripping than Stitching

First, thanks for the comments on Spring Splendor.  I hope to take some pictures and post my progress tomorrow. 
I did not make much progress on Winter Woods.  I have ripped the lower left corner twice because I miscounted.  Yes, it would make a difference.  I have to redo it as I made my crosses go in the wrong direction.  Sigh.  I think I need new glasses for these old eyes.  And better lighting.

Some Spring for your Fall

This first picture is of all of Spring Splendor.  It is so that I can see any progress I have made-not much...

I have started the couching on the tulip leaf.  I have enjoyed what I have stitched so far, but our fearless leader, Dorothy, warned that this part gets tedious.  I like it better than laying the silk.  My goal is to work on Spring Splendor when I have to take my kids to church for Christmas program rehearsal.  (Yes, it starts in October.)  I do not help with the production itself and hope to use the hours at church wisely.

A Little Sparkle

I have started on the plaited stitch on my heart.  I need to add more tent stitch, but wanted to put in a little more bling.  For those of you who like Gay Ann's pieces, her annual E-Week sale is coming this month.  I will try to post the dates when I remember to look them up!  Or you can just pop over to her website and check it out yourself!  Gay Ann Rogers

Heart of Elizabeth-Gay Ann Rogers

Gay Ann challenged us to start our Elizabeth pieces, but I can not start a new piece.  But Heart is framed up so I will start stitching 12 a day on it.  Not very exciting right now, but I think it will pick up soon.

Canning, dehydrating, extracting and other stuff...OT

I thought I would answer your questions in this post.  My kitchen is almost done!  I have a sink, stove and frig.  I am happy.  The dehydrated fruit came out great.  I especially liked the pears that I dipped in a honey/water mixture and then dried.  My oldest likes them too.  Thank goodness I have a bunch in the freezer.  I have managed to can salsa, tomatoes and tomato sauce.  Also did get some applesauce canned.  I am not sure how much I did of each-I normally keep track-but I do know I am almost done.  The last batch of tomato sauce is cooking now and I just shredded and froze a ton of zucchini.  I can smell the batch of bread that is baking in the oven now.  (The kids keep asking when it will be done.)   The photo is of my oldest son's honey.  This is just the first batch he extracted and bottled.  He needs help with another harvest and we may have to do it one more time.  I must be crazy!!!  I will get back to stitching and posting pictures-maybe even tomorrow!

Winter Woods-Sept 24

Not much progress, but I hope to show some new projects soon.  Hope springs eternal

Winter Woods-September

All stitching has come to a complete stop here.  Why?  My kitchen is being redone and it is canning season.  Pears, apples, tomatoes and peppers are all ripe and ready to put up.  Since I don't have a sink, I am dehydrating everything possible.  Hopefully the kitchen will be done soon and I can resume stitching. 

Winter Woods-This Month

It has been almost a month since I posted a picture of Winter Woods.  I try to stitch a little every day on it, but it is hit ans miss.
Garden Path is almost done although I have been warned that finishing the edges isn't tons of fun.  But I am too close to quit now!
I saw another Spring Splendor in progress.  It is so beautiful!  I hope to be able to stitch on mine this evening while I wait for ds at church.

Another Tulip

This tulip is on its side, but I think you get an idea of what I did.  Yesterday I was very unhappy with it, but today I stitched with some of the ladies in my group and they thought it was fine.  I keep repeating to myself, "This is a learning piece.  I am learning as I stitch.  Relax and enjoy the process."  So it is still upstairs and not in the basement.

Daughter's Finish

My daughter could not wait to finish her needle felt project.  Mine is lingering in the basement....

Needlefelting Part 2

These are the pieces I made at the local  EGA's needlefelting workshop.  I need to harden up the flower and both pieces need beads, lots of beads.  And stitching too!  Abi from High Prairie Fibers taught the workshops.                                                             

Needlefelting Workshop Part 1

My local EGA had Abi from High Prairie Fibers do two workshops on needlefelting.    The top photo is of the flowers dd made during the morning session.  The bottom photo is of the scrapcloth she made in the afternoon.  She has decided to free-motion quilt the scrapcloth and make it into a purse.  The orange flower will be added to the purse.

Very Little Stitching

I thought I would have time for Spring Splendor, but life got in the way.
Winter Woods is slowly coming along.  I like to see the photos I have posted previously so I can really see that I have made some progress.
I wanted to post something about the new classes offered through Shining Needle Society, but my allergy medicine is fuddling my little mind.  Maybe tomorrow...

Garden Path by Marie Campbell

Last night I worked on Spring Splendor, and ripped out stitches on Spring Splendor.  It took 3 tries to get my gold to look ok....I will try to post a picture of it tomorrow.
This piece is a Designers Across America from EGA.  It was offered in the March 2012 newsletter and many ladies in my local guild signed up for it.  It is a nametag when finished and is completely beaded.  I love to bead and was able to get almost everything done.  But now I am at the "boring" part.  Above the heart and where my name is placed, a zillion seed beads need to be stitched on individually.  I am working on it when my brain is tired and I can't count.  Hopefully this piece will not end up in the black hole known as my basement where many UFO's languish.

A flower finished!

I was able to finish the last petal and start on a new tulip on Sunday.  The problem with this piece is that it requires lots of concentration.  I cannot just pick it up and start working.  But with the heat this week I will have an excuse to ignore my garden.

Another Petal

I finished another petal on my tulip.  Hopefully I will have time this week to get the last one done.  Thank goodness I do not have to help extract honey this week.  Although  the garden is crying for attention.

July Wipocalypse-Winter Woods

 

I have not made much progresson this piece, but I have been trying to get a few stitches in a few days each week.  I would love to finish this in time to give to my mother-in-law for Christmas.

Busy Bees

Last week was very busy.  I helped with VBS and helped ds extract honey.  I have done some stitching, but very little.  Hopefully after the 4th of July, I will have a little more stitching time.  I am not holding my breath.

Start of my Color Project

The Sumptuous Surface Embroidery class has been so much fun!  It ends this week and I am sad as I did not have a chance to finish my second piece.  Sharon B is offering a crazy quilting class, but I am overbooked as it is.  Maybe next year.....I highly recommend the classes.   You learn tons and the price is right.

Winter Woods

I am not stitching every day on this piece, but I do get a little done every week.

Beginnings

This is the beginning of my second project for Sumptuous Surface Embroidery.  I will be adding lots of texture with stitching.These are the threads I pulled to use for my project.  I will, of course, add beads...