Happy 2012, a finish and winter blooms

I want to wish everyone a grand and wonderful 2012.

I have not posted in a long time. I have however finished one very special cross stitch project. I can now show it here since I was finally able to gift it to my Sweetie's mom.

I finished "Celtic Noel" designed by Lavander and Lace. I'm not sure of the kind of linenbut it was a 40 count. I stitched it 2 over 2, except the face and hands which I stitched 1 over 1.

I started the cross stitch in July 2011 and finished it the last week of September 2011.

I added the border and bias buinding and maded it into a quilted wall hanging.

I truely enjoyed the stitching of this!


I was pleased and excited to find my Christmas Cactus in bloom this year. Only a few blooms but more than it has ever had before. I love how they look. in bloom!! I hope they will bloom again for me.

I always loved my grand mother's Christmas Cactus. Every year it would be filled with blooms.

Having mine bloom brought back memories of family gatherings at my grandparents home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. The whole family would gather there (well, at least as many as possible). Aunts, Uncles and Cousins, all crammed into my grand parents home. We had anywhere between 20 and 30 people there.

We always had good times when the family got together. I miss those gatherings! At times i really regret the miles that seperate me from the closeness of my family, mostly at the holidays.

What I have been doing

I have been having a crazy year! My stitching progresses in fits and starts. I am currently trying to figure out how to finish a gift that is intended for the SM's mother. In the mean time I have not started anything new. so for now there is nothing to report. 

Blog hopping and some stitchie finishes..No pics though

Merry Meet!

I have been doing a lot of blog hopping and reading lately. I know that i have not been posting very much about my many hobbies, but that is because life has been a bit crazy. I have finished a few different cross stitch items.

My favorite has been "Celtic Christmas" designed by Lavender and Lace. I love the colors in it and it swas a nice simple stitch for me. I started it July 14th and finished it September 9th. Yes both in 2011. I really love the look of it. I made two changes to the pattern. 1.) I did the face 1 over 1 because I felt that it looked smoother and blended better. 2.) I added a few extra beads around the outside boarder. I wanted to put my own stamp on it and i had so many beads left

I also finished up a Quaker Sampler that I sort of made up on the go. I have several different patterns and I wanted to make my own design. It is stitched 1 over 1 on linen that I had left over from another project (not sure of the manufacturer or the count). Since there is so much repeating between the patterns I just sort of pulled the ones that I like to stitch from about 4 different ones. I like how it came out.

I have also been working on "Quaker Halloween Sampler" by Cherished Stitches. Once again I am making it my own by using a bunch of different threads that make me feel "Holloweenie". so far I really like it. Once again it is a bit of fabric that I have owned for a long time. It is a Charles Craft that looks like Burlap. I am also stitching it 1 over 1. I do not know what colors I have been using, but they are all DMC 6 strand embroidery floss.

So that's what I have been stitching. I will post some pictures as soon as I get a new camera. The old one has breathed its last and been put to rest.

Merry Part,
Tina

I found another site that I have been devouring!  The authoress is so talented not only in her designs, but also in how she finishes her work. Pop over and give it a loook

Trying something new

I have been wanting to learn appliqué for a long time now. I took the plunge and bought a few blocks from the JoAnn's old block of the month on clearance. I am working on the 6th block of the "Tulip Twist" collection.

For this being my first ever attempt at this technique I am not to disappointed at how it is coming out. I will improve as I continue to work on this. I will post photos as soon as I can get to my computer.

Another Cool Blog

3 Creative Studios is a really cool site, They have lots if cool techniques and challenges that i think are appropriate for many different skill levels. They also have lots of cool tutorials, block of the months, and other fiber art related activities. So cool. Stop by and Check them out

Another cool idea

Melinda has a quick and easy steno book cover on her blog. I am definately going to give this one a whirl.

Again I started reading her blog from the beginning. She has been blogging since 2006!!! Lots of great Eye Candy!!!! Don't we all LUV Eye Candy!!!!

Pop over and take a look. She does beautiful work with fabrics and other textiles. Fun read