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Over on Cross Stitch Crazy, it seems the theme for 2013 will be "reconnecting" and reconnecting with my cross stitchery is really in my goals for 2013. In addition, I want to get some finishing done, to bring down the size of that stack of stitchery which

I didn't get as much done as I had hoped this week --- mix in a damaged rotator cuff (i'm on massive doses of ibuprofen in the hopes that it will allow it to heal without further intervention) , Girls Night Out on Tuesday, quilt guild on Thursday, and a

This International Hermit & stitch Weekend coincided with the Cross Stitch Crazy week-long Stitchathon ... AND weekend house guests. Still, I managed to squeeze in 2295 stitches over the week, 752 of which were on the weekend and resulted in the

First completion this month was the sock from Janet Perry's "Mittens & Mini-Socks". It's called "Jewel" and is posted here... Second was the companion mitten for "Jewel", completed January 21, 2013: Also completed on January 21 was the January

(funny, I usually like backstitch in blackwork but the light oclor of that gray is driving me nuts) another completion of a small piece... It's lesson 11 in the "Color Through the Ages" twinchies by Janet Perry, and uses DMC 310, 3706, 5282 and E677. I

This month's "theme" is to introduce myself, my projects, and any goals I have for the year. Born in New Jersey, I grew up in Southeastern Ohio and attended university at Bowling Green State University (B.Sci. in biological science, 1964), University of

What I have to show here isn't a whole lot different from what I reported for WIPocalypse but there has been progress in two projects... The inner border of "Red Thai Mandala" is now complete and that pesky hard-to-see DMC318 blackwork is finished~ YAY

Here is my version of inverted feather stitch... Two rows in a variegated perle (#5) on linen...

One completion this week... the February block for the 2013 Crazy Quilt Journal Project: And two WIPs... "Red Thai Mandala": and the February 2013 Bead Journal butterfly (the white areas will be beads...): Doesn't look like much but those beads

Here are my two attempts at Raised Herringbone:

I only stitched two days this week --- Girls' Night Out the concert (which was wonderful: Toledo Symphony adn combined Bowling Green State University choruses doing Carmina Burana) pretty much scuppered Tuesday and Friday nights, respectively; and

Another stitch I really enjoyed once I started on it:

My February butterfly (I'm calling it "I Heart...") is done! Encrusted with two shades of red, one translucent pink and opaque white seed beads, body in red bugle beads and antenna stitched in three strands of white embroidery floss. I added two heart

This is the latest in Janet Perry's Mittens & Mini-Socks class: "Quince"! The threads used were DMC cotton floss: 335, 677, 420, 677 and variegated 4050. Mitten to follow...

This week sucked, stitchery-wise, as there were all sorts of "interruptions"! Monday waiting for the furnace inspector to come, Tuesday "Girls Night Out", Thursday quilt guild meeting, Friday an appointment with a general surgeon about my esophageal

Stitch 53 is the Herringbone Square and Stitch 54 is the Laced Herringbone Square. I decided to make a border line, using the laced herringbone square every other stitch:

This week has been focused on Take a Stitch Tuesday (Stitches 53 and 54 posted earlier), Red Thai Mandala (where the outer border is about half-finished: My contribution to the "Encrusted Crazy Quilting" class - week two, seam treatments: and a base

I should have done this yesterday but the entire day was basically given up to an esophageal endoscopy (to convince the insurance company that I really DO need to take meds for my esophageal reflux! Here's hoping as it wasn't a pleasant procedure!)...

It is called the buttonholed herringbone stitch: and I'm not totally happy with the outcome --- it isn't in smooth curves like the example and tends to stand up like chenille after a bad washing! Sooo, I've clearly done SOMETHING wrong here but I

Last week, Sharon B issued a challenge, the first for 2013's TAST, to use any four of the following stitches in an original project: Herringbone square, laced herringbone square, back stitch, straight stitch, detached chain and French knots. I did

In between an esophageal endoscopy (which pretty much wiped out Monday as a useful day - but so far as I know, this was also a positive result) and a mammogram (which really set my Wednesday off to a WONDERFUL start --- but at least it was a positive

Elizabeth Almond's "Red Thai Mandala", originally published in The GIft of Stitching, issue 61, March 2011. Stitched with DMC floss and Mill Hill seed beads on DMC 28ct white linen, Here is a closeup of the beading detail:

Ooops --- someplace, I can't figure out where, I miscounted and my larger blocks aren't large enough! SO the twinchie is 4 stitches short of being 2"! When I'm not so pressed for time, I'll try another and get the proportions right! Called "Vintage

It's been a busy, if disorganized, week for me but I did complete a few pieces and made some progress on some WIPS... The completions were: "Red Thai Mandala", "Vintage Kitchen" from "Color Through the Ages", and stitches 56 and 57 (Sailor Stitch and

Two more "small" finishes for me... My "Mug Rug" which is 9 x 12, and (GET THIS) I did some needleturn applique on the front and QUILTED IT MYSELF! WAHOO! MY FIRST EVER QUILT, even if it is only 9 x 12! LOL I even applied the binding by machine, at

Getting ready for National (and International Quilt Day), I was trying to clear the decks of several pieces in progress as well as pack for a guild work day. I managed two completions on Friday, the 15tth! The first was a very small sample of the TAST

A productive week --- lots of smalls finished and progress made on some long-term WIPs. The completions already posted to this blog, were my March Crazy Quilt Journal Project Block, a mug rug for quilt guild, the Mt. Fuji sock for the "MIttens &

With as much as I got done LAST week, I certainly slumped off this week. No excuses --- I just couldn't get motivated. But I did stitch a little. I finally got started on the March Bead Journal butterfly (about time, don't you think, given that March is

Despite the snow on the ground and the below freezing temperatures, it is officially spring, and daffodills are trying to poke leaves above ground. So this month's Bead Journal butterfly is called "Promise of Spring", even if that promise has yet to be

WIPocalypse - March 27, 2013 This month's WIPocalyspe themes are : Designer – Chatelaine, Style – Springtime, Colors – Green and Yellow. Well, I don't have any Chatelaine pieces in progress although I do believe I have one chart in my stash...

Played around a little with the 59th stitch in Take a Stitch Tuesday using #5 perle: And decided to apply it to the "frame" in my Sumptuous Surface Embroidery piece, using a heavier weight of perle: Miscounted the "spokes" in the darker woven

A week of "catch-up and I actually got to a point where I was caught up on EVERYTHING but "Sumptuous Surface Embroidery! I played with a design for part two (color) of the exercise: The fabric I chose is an overdyed from Silkweaver which I have had

This week's "report" is more of an unraveling than a wrap-up...Thanks to house guests on Tuesday/Wednesday (one can't just run off to one's stitching place when there are people to entertain, and since these people were welcome guests, I was even less

The Diamond stitch:

Even though I had a nasty cold, I could concentrate on free-stitchery so I managed to get two pieces done so far this week. First was my approach to the TAST stitch 61 - the Up-and-Down Feathered Buttonhole Stitch: I even attempted a beaded version

A busy week this week, trying to clear up lots of little ods and ends and I think I did pretty good with my list. I completed two Take a Stitch Tuesday "assignments",and my April Crazy Quilt Journal Project block, both posted earlier this week. But

Tuesday's stitch was the Raised Cross Stitch Flower (AKA Whipped Cross Stitch) and here is my sampler, using three different threads (from left to right, DMC six-stranded floss, DMC #5 Perle, and a boucle baby-weight knitting yarn): The "Flip" mitten,

Despite having a week full of obstacles to stitchery (dilated eyes on Tuesday, absurdly early risings on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday), all of which made it impossible to focus properly on anything requiring counting and acute vision, I did manage to

For April the themes were: Designer – Mirabilia, Style – Samplers, Colors – Blue and Orange. Well, I do have some Mirablia charts but I haven't stitched one, ever. I do have some sampler charts, but I haven't been into samplers for a while so there are

Here is my take on the Scroll Stitch, using #5 perle (purple), six strands of DMC cotton floss (dark red) and boucle baby yarn (pale pink): I did have tension issues on this one, especially when I neared the end of a strand of thread, so the "scroll"

Not a lot to report on that hasn't already been posted. The only thing I have worked on since completed the TAST assignment has been my April BJP butterfly: Sadly, what with eye surgery today (and next Monday as well), I suspect April will NOT be

Given that my eye isn't at top focus yet (it was still dilated after 48 hours *and* it's flashing/shimmering when light hits my peripheral vision since the lens hasn't settled in yet), I didn't do much in the way of stitching (or posting). I did complete

My right eye finally began to clear up Thursday, late in that it no longer was dilated. But I was still a little fuzzy around the edges, vision-wise and brain-function wise until Sunday. Of course, my left eye is now fuzzy around the edges (although it

To be honest, I can't think what I did this week: The concert/luncheon with the Toledo Symphony's wind quintet was on a Tuesday, as was a post-op follow-up with my optometrist. I went to quilt guild Thursday because my husband agreed to drive me (I don't

My last week on drops for the left eye and an eye exam has resulted in new glasses (should be in in a week or so) which should solve any additional problems I have (except for the peripheral vision shimmer which still sometimes strikes without warning).

Fancy Hem Stitch --- one colorway, two ways! I think this would be fun to play with with different threads, beads, etc... but I used perle cotton because that was what was at hand.

This month's themes were ... Designer – Blackbird Designs, Style – Humor, Colors – Purple and Brown And I don't have a single project in ANY of these themes. And what with eye surgery on April 29 and May 6, and subsequent recovery time (got new

With my new glasses (fitted on Wednesday), and the left eye still bothering me a little, I decided to do something that didn't need a lot of "focus" --- I stitched up the last seven "base" blocks for Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2103: And I plugged away

Here's my take on the Slipped Detached chain stitch --- three ways:

I did get in a couple of days of beading but it's hard to get remotivated after having laid off the needle for so long... My May butterfly is progressing but clearly won't be done in May! The June Crazy quilt block is "built" but not stitched on,

This week's stitch took me a while to decipher but once I experimented with the double chain, I worked out what to do and here is my attempt at a Buttonholed Double Chain: What I discovered is that a) you have to watch to be certain you don't twist the

Better late than never, I suppose, and the colors didn't work out quite like I had hoped ( was aiming for daffodils but the oranges didn't quite mesh), but here is my May butterfly:

I finally got in some stitching this week. My eyes sort of lose focus after a couple of hours, though and so I couldn't do long stretches of stitching. But the flashing and aching eye muscles appear to be a thing of the past (knock on wood). Besides

And in only two days! The Casey Buonaugurio design, "The Taco Sampler", on 32 ct pale yellow linen with DMC floss: The major problem --- the white (Sour Cream and Onions) is too close in value to the linen to show up well.

Crested Chain Stitch: I had trouble keeping the stitch straight and of the same width down the chain but at least I figured out how to do it (after frogging it three times!). I could see using this as a crazy quilt seam treatment if I can ever get it

Besides catching up with TAST, finishing the piece for the fair ("The Taco Sampler") and taking nine finished pieces to the framer on Saturday, I did squeeze in some stitching as well this past week. I managed to get the main part of the outer borders

The stitch for this week was the Bullion Buttonhole stitch... My take on this stitch is here: It LOOKS like a buttonhole stitch with bullion knots on the vertical spines but... not totally sure I did it right. Oh well... This week is a break week so

This month's themes were: Designer – Teresa Wentzler, Style – Summer, Colors – Black and Green ... and again, I don't have a single piece in progress that fits in with those themes. Also, I still seem to be in recovery from that eye surgery as my eyes

I did stitch this weekend... I finished Stitch 71 for TAST on Friday and the June block for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project on Saturday. Then I started on the 12 x 12 block I hope to enter in the county fair next month in the category called "Pink"...

A week of attempting to catch up *and* get ready for the fair. It helped that this weekend also coincided with WIPocalypse and International Hermit and Stitch Weekend for June... so I got two things completed (TAST #71 and June Crazy Quilt Journal Project

I don't know where this week went! I KNOW I stitched but I don't have a lot to show for it. I seem to have gotten sidetracked into reading and sleeping late (because I can't get to sleep until late.) Oh, and the local HOA Girls' Night Out on Thursday

The wrapped coral stitch was this week's TAST:

Gosh, am I ever sick of rain! 14 out of the last 16 days its rained at east a little, leading us to the 8th wettest June in local history (but July is still behind on water, possibly because the airport met station is in one of those "scattered shower"

Got the July block finished on Monday - yet another monochromatic red block!

Here is a close-up of TAST 2013 Stitch 73, the Portuguese Stem Stitch: and here is page 3 of TAST 2013, which includes, in no particular order, Buttonhole Bar, Coral, Fancy Hem, Slipped Detached Chain, Buttonholed Double Chain, Crested Chain, Bullion

Progress is slow this week. I did get the weekly TAST finished and the July CQJP block as well... but ontherwise, only a few beads were stitched on the June BJP butterfly: Coming up in the near future is submittal to the fair (July 27,) Quilt Day at

Only a couple of nights beading on the June butterfly this past week --- and not a lot to show for it: Spent my free time watching the entire series 1 of "Endeavour" from start to finish... and am chuffed that there will be a series 2! But it sure

I hate to admit it but most of this weekend was taken up watching the entire series 1 of "Endeavour". As my husband said, it's addictive! And I LOVE that theme music.

This month's themes are : Designer – Glendon Place, Style – Animals, Colors – Red and Yellow. Well, I have stitched two Glendon Place designs, but none of their designs are in my WIP bad. Similarly, no animals, unless you count the itty bitty blackwork

This week's stitch was the Zig-Zag Chain - a fairly easy stitch which will come in handy the next tine I want to couch rick rack! I like this one! Here it is --- the start of the next "page" in my TAST sample book:

Saturday, I took my fair entries to the check-in booth, and they were either judged yesterday or will be today. SO I will be able to find out tomorrow, on the fair's official opening day, what, if anything, I won. Otherwise, the only stitching I did

Knowing the issues I had with many of my entries (I knew that some didn't really fit in with the category I entered them in and others had some major technique issues which could result in them placing out of the running) , I held off until today to

This week's TAST stitch was the woven zig-zag chain. Basically, you weave thread in and out of the zig zag chain we did last week! I had some tension issues on my chain which showed up in the weaving but I see where I went wrong and I like the look. This

Other than going to the fair to work quilt day and check on my needlework, all I managed to accomplish this week was: purchase of the necessary stretcher bars for L auraJ. Perrin's "Purple Daisy", which arrived this week, complete with the first weeks

The "standard" Vandyke stitch is on the right top. I played around with this stitch a little, varying the lengths of the "barbs" to create different "shapes": Sure does use up a LOT of thread! But I like the possibilities of creating a sort of ribbon

I just couldn't face that June beaded butterfly so I decided to try a change of pace, especially since I was traveling this past weekend (went to a stamp expo with two friends) and needlepoint is easier for me when traveling, Of course, I didn't count on

Here are a scattering of woven cross stitches, this week's TAST stitch: If I were better at random, this would make a great background using thinner thread than the perle cotton I used here, I think.

Wednesday and Thursday were no-stitching days (we were either on the way to, in, or on the way back from Stratford, Ontario to see some Festival plays) and Friday was a "recover-from-the-bus-trip" day, I didn't really stitch much this past week. It

WIPocalypse (August 20) This month's themes were: Designer – Long Dog, Style – Smalls, Colors – Blue and Red. I have never done a Long Dog design. Don't think I even own one.I suppose my TAST, BJP and Purple Daisy could be considered "smalls" --- for me,

My version of cloud filling, stitch #78 for Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST), in two shades of purple #5 perle cotton:

I put in a few hours on Friday night to get this August Crazy Quilt Journal block done: It looks unbalanced to me (that peacock is too "horizontal, maybe?) but maybe, when assembled with it's 2103 compatriots, that will cease to be an issue. Not

Another August finish: This was an email class by designer (and instructor) Laura J. Perrin.

Last week, I was fighting the cough to beat all coughs, but after my WIPocalypse summary showed how little I had accomplished in the past month, and with International Hermit and Stitch Weekend being this past weekend, I determined to get some finishes

This week's stitch was the Chained Cross Stitch and here is my version: