Assessing February Goals, Setting March Goals.

FEBRUARY GOALS  An extra day wasn't enpigh to meet all my goals/

1,  Complete at least 5 sewing or assembly finishes. I've finished four pieces: A is for Autumn as a pin pillow,  mini Love Bird Sampler as an ornament, a Stylized Christmas Tree on a pink background as Piper's annual ornament, PS Eagle and Shield as an ornament, 

2.  Continue work on Jacobean Elegance Afghan.  NO.

3.  Start the next Workbasket Quaker animal.  Kitted but not started.

4.  Get back to Work on Making Waves.  NO.
5.  Finish Scherzo.   Finished 2-15-16.

MARCH GOALS

Complete at least 5 sewing or assembly finishes.

Continue work on Jacobean Elegance Afghan.

Start work on  Workbasket Quaker Bear.

Continue work on Making Waves.

UFO/WIP Progress Report

My latest progress report is pretty sketchy: one finish and one progress loto/  I did fimish a onish a one day wonder [see yesterday's post]/ 

1. Lori Birmingham's Pansy Garden Nantucket Style Basket (2005 CATS project)
2. Catherine Jordan's Pretty Picot Edges (2006 CATS project)
3.  Karen Bovard's Filet Lace (2006 CATS project)
4. Peyote stitch bracelet (Willow Tree, Boothbay Harbor , Maine)
5. 2007 Stitcher's Hideaway at Mystic Victoria Sampler projects: a stitchers pocket, biscornu, needlebook and fob
6. 2009 Stitcher's Hideaway at Mystic Brightneedle's Ghoulies and Ghosts Etui and accessories.
7. 2010 Stitcher's Hideaway at Sturbridge.  Victoria Sampler's Sturbridge Box and accessories.
8. 2012 Stitcher's Hideaway Martha Washington Sampler.
9. 2013 Stitcher's Hideaway Victoria Sampler's Christmas Sampler
10.  2014 Stitcher's Hideaway Brightneedle Kindred Spirits Sewing Journal.
11. Primitive Needle's Witch's Hollow.  Started  2 -27 - 16. 
    
12. The Jacobean Elegance afghan - with 15 more squares to be stitched.
13. Making Waves needlepoint project - with more than 3/4s of the bargello rows and more than 2/3s of the eyelet area to be stitched.
14. My own design, Fertile Circles needle book, the back panel needs finishing.
15. My own design, Beach Find Pansies, to be completed and incorporated into an embellished crazy quilt squareAnother needlepoint project, Rice Pudding, using many variations of the rice stitch.
16. Yet another needlepoint project, an Owl, again a project using lots of specialty stitches.
17. Piper's Christmas stocking  adapted from a Dimensions kit.
18. HAED's The Tangle Fairy, barely started
19. Country Cottage Sunflower Sampler. Started 2 - 20 - 16.  Finished 2 - 25 - 16 
    

Sunflower Sampler, Hummingbirds, Etc.

I finished this little sampler Thursday evening, using the recommended GAST and WDW floss and substituting additional WDW floss for the DMC as follows:
DMC 436   >   WDW Bright Leaf
DMC 469   >   WDW Ivy

I did eliminate the bees from the design since I thought a little more negative space was needed.  Samplers, in my ever so humble opinion, need to  breathe.  

I have started and finished another small, Crossed Wing Collection's Summer 1999 Hummingbird.  I had all the recommended DMC and GAST threads but one, GAST Lavender Potpourri for which I substituted GAST Hyacinth.  As I frequently do, I made a few adjustments.  For a softer look I have eliminated the outlining backstitch on the leaves, flowers and bird: stitching 3/4 rather than the charted 1/4 stitches.  I am stitching all the stems in GAST Pine rather than DMC 870, again for a softer more natural look.  I think I shall finish this as an ornament for the summertime display.

And, I finally chose my next BAP start, Primitive Needle's Witch's Hollow.   I had a little over half the recommended WDW floss and three of the four recommended GAST flosses.  I will spend a little time after posting this entry researching substitutions for the remaining threads.  I have such an extensive stash of over dyed cotton flosses from WDW, GAST, Crescent Colors that it seems silly to buy the missing charted threads when I may very well have a similar color in another brand..  I am stitching this on a 36 count linen from Silkweaver called Rock Quarry.

California Girl

My daughter's flying visit has come to an end with a luncheon shared with my Mom, my youngest son, my husband and my sister-in-law.

UFO/WIP Progress Report

My latest progress report is a mixed bag.  I have been stitching borders around a dozen or so old finishes, prepping them for sewing and assembly finishing  - the better to see the edge of a piece and stitch even margins all way round.  Still, some progress has been made.  I have even managed to tick an item or two off the list.  And add a few new starts as well.

1. Lori Birmingham's Pansy Garden Nantucket Style Basket (2005 CATS project)
2. Catherine Jordan's Pretty Picot Edges (2006 CATS project)
3.  Karen Bovard's Filet Lace (2006 CATS project)
4. Peyote stitch bracelet (Willow Tree, Boothbay Harbor , Maine)
5. 2007 Stitcher's Hideaway at Mystic Victoria Sampler projects: a stitchers pocket, biscornu, needlebook and fob
6. 2009 Stitcher's Hideaway at Mystic Brightneedle's Ghoulies and Ghosts Etui and accessories.
7. 2010 Stitcher's Hideaway at Sturbridge.  Victoria Sampler's Sturbridge Box and accessories.
8. 2012 Stitcher's Hideaway Martha Washington Sampler.
9. 2013 Stitcher's Hideaway Victoria Sampler's Christmas Sampler
10.  2014 Stitcher's Hideaway Brightneedle Kindred Spirits Sewing Journal.
11. The Jacobean Elegance afghan - with 15 more squares to be stitched.
12. Making Waves needlepoint project - with more than 3/4s of the bargello rows and more than 2/3s of the eyelet area to be stitched.
13. My own design, Fertile Circles needle book, the back panel needs finishing.
14. My own design, Beach Find Pansies, to be completed and incorporated into an embellished crazy quilt square
15. Whispered by the Wind Scherzo.  Started 1-13-16.  Finished 2-15-16.
    
16. Another needlepoint project, Rice Pudding, using many variations of the rice stitch.
17. Yet another needlepoint project, an Owl, again a project using lots of specialty stitches.
18. Piper's Christmas stocking  adapted from a Dimensions kit.
19. HAED's The Tangle Fairy, barely started
20. Morning Glory The Sheltering Tree.  Finished 2 - 17 -16.    The shadow effect [stitched over one, no less] was a cha;;enge but well worth the effort.
    
21. Bent Creek Swirlygig. Lately my new smalls starts all seem to be miniature samplers.  This one was fun and relatively quick to stitch, a two dat wonder, if you please. Finished 2 -19 =16.
    
    
    
22. Country Cottage Sunflower Sampler. Started 2 - 20 - 16.
    

As to sewing finishes, I have managed a few more this week: 
A is for Autumn as a pin pillow
Mini Love Bird Sampler as an ornament
A Stylized Christmas Tree on a pink background as Piper's annual ornament
PS Eagle and Shield as an ornament

I hope to devote my stitching  time over the next few days to sewing up the finishes I mentioned at the beginning of this post and completing the Sunflower Sampler.  And, by the end of the week pick up a languishing BAP, The Jacobean Elegance afghan and start work on my next Workbasket Quaker animal, the Bear.

And Still More Finishing

I an working on finding my dining room table beneath the piles of fabric, stitched pieces, trims, and fusible interfacing.  I managed to finish two more items yesterday, bringing the total up to 12 for 2016 thus far.

I am pleased with my first oval ornament. PS Queen Bee.

But not as pleased with the stand up Easter Egg Sampler.  I'll be making some changes as I use the same basic technique for an Easter Rabbit stand up.

I am hoping to spend some time today on the rabbit stand up and running up 2016 Trick or Treat totes for the grandchildren.  I like to have things ready far in advance so as Halloween approaches I'll have plenty of time to find the right goodies and mail everything to the West Coast.  

I finally figured out how to use the automatic needle threader on the Pfaff sewing machine so changing thread color will be easier.  I really prefer my antiquated [48 years old] Dial and Sew but it's going into the repair shop for work on the tension assembly.  I've got to hope it's not quite at the DNR stage just yet.

A Little More Finishing

A surprise visit yesterday by my daughter from the West Coast had us occupied until a little after 2 pm.  We'll see her again on Saturday when we try to gather the larger family for a brunch.   She leaves again on Sunday and has many people to see, places to go in the interim.

I spent the rest of the afternoon on sewing and assembly finishing with these results:

I want to make an ornament for each of my three grandchildren.  This year's theme will be Christmas trees.    First up is this little beauty for my diva of all things pink.  I've photographed it atop the backing fabric.  Hey, I know pink isn't a traditional holiday color but the diva will like it.

Next, a mini Love Bird Sampler for the January [wedding anniversary] through Valentine's Day display.

And then there's this Prairie Schooler promo card for the patriotic display from May 31 to July 4.

Finally. there's this pin pillow, stuffed with ground walnut shells and trimmed with chenille.

I got as far as prepping the cardboard for the Queen Bee ornament, the first oval shape I've attempted.  We'll see how that goes today.  This ornament would meet my goal of 5 finishes in a month but I plan to keep doing finishes until I can see the surface of the dining room table/  Who knows, I may even use the table for a meal!

Gallery Post - Town Square Series - 2016 Update

Starting in 2013, I got serious about trying to stitch one of these charts each month as an ornament. Though I still have a few more that need finish-finishing, these represent the bulk of my work on the series.

So far I have stitched and finish-finished 31 of the charts.  I have stitched one more that is awaiting transformation into an ornament

I 'll probably select four more charts to bring the number up to three dozen.

The Antique Samplers Shop by Barb Allen for The Needle's Work Antiques

The Bakery by JBW Designs

The Book Shop by Mosey and Me

The Button Shop by Cecile McPeak for Just Another Button Company

Cafe du Monde by Leslie Wristers

The Church by DebBee's Designs

The Creamery

The Cross Stitch Shop by The Cross Stitchery & MSF

The Fiber Shop by The Heart's Content

The Fire Station by Wild Heart Designs

The Fishmonger

Flocking to Knit

The Flower Shop by My Mark

The Frame Shop by East Side Mouldings

The Gourmet Shop

The Honey Shop by Shepherd's Bush

Milady's Tea Shop by Milady's Needle

The Pet Shop

The Post Office by Knotted Tree Needle Art

The Primitives Shop by Prairie Moon

The Quilt House by Nancy Pfeiffer

The Saloon by Crescent Colors

Sandi's Sweet Sjop

The Shoe Shrine by Sam Sarah Design

The Silversmith by Charland Designs: by some weird trick of the light, this fabric is not showing its true blue color.

The Star Theater by Heart in Hand

 The School House by La-D-Da

The Town Clock by Cricket Collection

The Town Hall by Weeks Dye Works

The Toy Shop by Olde Colonial Designs

The Train Depot by Val's Stuff

And this is the backing fabric that I have used for all the ornaments .  IRL it is a bit of a darker navy blue.  When I rn out of the star dotted fabric, I used a bavy with white [olka dots in the sa,e scale.

A reader, in a recent comment, asked me to explain the Indy Town Square SAL.  The simplest way to do so is to direct you to the SAL blog .  I don't know if the charts are still available.  If they are, obviously I think they are well worth obtaining.  So many people have jumped on the various more expensive versions of a townful of buildings, e.g.: the various Hawk Run Hollow seasonal series and the LHN Cottage series and the Santa's Village series.  I got 42 charts of buildings for the investment of $5.  It seems a better bargain to me than any of the above.    And the variety is amazing since, not only are there 42 different shops and public buildings, each is designed by a different designer.  I am stitching mine as ornaments but people can stitch them as block style samplers like the HRH series, as afghans, or as separate smalls.  It's an extremely versatile set of charts.  I am maintaining unity in my ornament collection by using one of three very similar light to medium blue linens to stitch the ornaments and using the same backing fabric and homemade cording made from coordinating shades of blue DMC floss.   I am not sure I will stitch every chart in the series but I do intend to stitch at least three dozen.  I am not generally much of a shopper so visiting shops in cross stitch serves as my version of retail therapy ... with the added benefit that it is not nearly as expensive as the real deal.

Candlemas Day/Groundhog Day

I am providing you with a link to Julie's blog for some interesting background on the day.

Assessing January Goals, Setting February Goals

It's been a good start.  In addition to meeting two of my goals I started and finished three additional projects: Homespun Elegance. Birds and Bees. Samplers and Such. ABC Sampler, Mystery Sampler, French Style.  I also started and am nearly finished with Whispered by the Wind's Scherzo.

January Goals

• Complete at least five Sewing Finishes  Four complete and one nearly so.

I assembled and trimmed two Town Square ornaments: The Creamery and Sandi's Sweet Shop.

And I made a small pin pillow from Homespun Elegance's An Elegance of Owls, trimming it with some soot colored chenille.

And I turned the Samplers and Such ABC sampler into a jar lid, overlaying two different braids to trim the edges of the lid.

• 
  

• I started om A is for Acorn, making another pin pillow, though this one will be stuffed with ground walnut shells.  I have yet to decide on a trim,  I'll have to do a liile stash diving. 
• Continue work on Making Waves  NO.
• Continue work on Slow Down Sampler.  FINISHED.
• Continue work on The Jacobean Elegance Afghan  NO.

FEBRUARY GOALS

Complete at least 5 sewing or assembly finishes.

Continue work on Jacobean Elegance Afghan.

Start the next Workbasket Quaker animal.

Get back to Work on Making Waves.
Finish Scherzo.