A Fun Mug

I try to stick to needlework on my blog, but I had to post this mug that I received from Calamity ware

 It makes me smile to drink my coffee out of this huge mug. Yes, that is a giant toad attacking a pagoda. Things could be worse....

I was trying to make a mask pretty for wearing around town. Not so sure I like my needle painting job. I need to take a class with Trish Burr...

WIPocalypse for April

I think this whole stay at home order has gotten me out of wack as we say at my house. It just feels weird. Not that I do much anyway, but the whole world seems to be at a stand-still.
Does that mean I get more stitching time? No! I still have a house that I pretend to clean and a garden that needs planting. That is ok. I like my life. I do miss seeing my friends and I would like to go see my folks. It will happen soon enough, the good Lord willing.

I forgot to post that this is the brain child of Melissa . She always asks a question and this month is our longest running WIP or UFO. I was thinking about that the other day. I thought it might be Venetian Delight by Ro Pace or my Illinois Needlepoint canvas, but I think it is this Florentine Ornaments group correspondence course by EGA.

I think I should try to finish this....



Anyway, I didn't stitch on much this month. I did keep pace with the Linen and Threads Mystery Sampler here

And I am making progress on My Beloved, MH 1656 by Hands Across the Sea Samplers

Did you know that Nicola has been posting PDF charts to her online store? If you are in need of another chart.....
I may have stitched on something else...It seems like I did, but I can't remember what it was. Anyway, I hope you are having more luck than I am finishing projects and staying focused.

Are You a Lefty?

I  am not, but I found these YouTube videos online and thought some might enjoy watching.

 On the Other Hand
Ariane is stitching Sue Spargo's Toned-Down Circle Sampler. She is doing for those who are left-handed. I find her creative process interesting. Also, to take a class from Sue is on my bucket list. I may just bite the bullet and do it in 2021. Although I wonder if the 2020 online class is still open?

This is my little wool piece that my local guild was stitching before the pandemic. I think it is done and living in the basement. Really should fully finish it...

Gifted Gorgeousness

Well, it is time for Jo's monthly post on Serendipitous Stitching about things we have received as gifts or that are gifts for others or anything that we can squeeze into the gift category.  My piece fits into the last category. Nicola Parkman from Hands Across the Sea Sampler received this antique as a gift from her husband.
Here is where I am on this piece:

I am making progress slowly.  I don't think this will be done by June, but I hope I can get close to the end.

Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop

Our friend Jo over at  Serendipitous Stitching hosts this fun Blog Hop every year. Start at her blog and follow the clues and you will have an Easter phrase. Go back to Jo's blog and leave the phrase as a comment. It is fun and you get to see a lot of fun stitching.

So here is my spring/Easter stitch.
The first is an old Shepherd's Bush needle roll. Can you see the little bunny?

 I also have out this Mill Hill bead kit. The toads are out around here so I thought it would work. I love the colors.

And what you are really here for:


 Happy Hopping! Here is your next blog  http://www.marysthread.com/

April 8 and It's Time For The Totally Useless Stitch-a-Long! (Oops! Too early for April!)

 So what is the TUSAL, you may ask? On the new moon of each month we post a photo of our orts-bits and bobs left over from stitching. That is it. It is fun to see what everyone else puts in their orts into.

As you can see, I have a bit of blue in my jar. I think it is from ripping my Inchies border out several times....

Edit: I looked online to see when the next New Moon was and today came up. But today is the full moon. Sigh. I'm blaming this on the virus-which I don't have, thank God.

100 Day Project-Again

Well, a new round of the #100dayproject has started. I am going to try to keep up with the challenge this time. The last round, I was working on my art quilt. I think I was tired of posting an image that looked the same as the day before....(Reminder to self:get back to my art quilt...)

I am nuts so I am doing two projects. the first is to stitch every day for 100 days. I pretty much do that so it isn't a real challenge. My goal is to stitch on My Beloved, MH 1656 until it is complete.
 Why? It is my challenge piece for my local guild. And our projects are due in June. Totally Finished. Framed. I really don't think mine will be framed, but I hope to have it completely stitched by then.
Here is where I am today:

The next row is going to be a huge challenge as it is Montenegrin Stitch, which I have no idea how to do! But first I need to get that pineapple in with all its little satin stitches.

My other project is #100daysofheart2020  I plan to stitch a heart on a piece of muslin for the next 100 days. (I won't post daily so as not to bore you!) Here is my start:

I have learned one thing-I don't like sewing through the fusible I used on my heart. I need to find a Plan B for getting those hearts onto my fabric.

 

Easter Fun

I'm am sad that we will not be able to attend church in person on Easter Sunday. I had actually planned on visiting my folks in Albuquerque. We were going to leave on today. Sigh. I won't travel to see them for a while, but hopefully will get a trip in before the end of summer.

But I will be attending church virtually. If you don't have a place to worship, join us Easter Sunday at Wildwood Church . 

Anyway, I wanted to share a few things with you. First, Jo at Serendipitous Stitching is hosting an Easter Hop. I  believe the posts go up on Good Friday. It is a fun thing to do.

The other thing I wanted to share is this:

If you do not follow Fiber Talk on Flosstube, you may want to do so. It is great way to connect with other stitchers and learn some new information.
Anyway, stay safe.

People's Choice for April

The first weekend of the month Jo at Serendipitious Stitching hosts a SAL where we choose the topic each month. It is called the People's Choice SAL.

This month we are discussing Modern Samplers. I think the ones put out by Linen and Threads 
count as Modern Samplers.

I need to start on April. Go look at the fun samplers Jo posted....