Weekend Goals

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Oooh, I hate this type of patron! Even worse: they're on a cell and completely ignorning two (or more) screaming and/or running around like mad children...

Anyway, no work this weekend, so I have several stitching goals that I'm planning, namely:

          1. Grand Abecedaire: complete part 2 (I just have to finish up the basket) and begin part 3;
          2. NOEL ornament: complete backstitching on red version and begin green;
          3. New project: (I need a new project like I need a hole in my head, but that's besides the point...) I have several (small and smallish) designs I want to get my fingers on, including
                  i. "Coffin buzz" (Plum Street Samplers freebie);
                  ii. "Cheetah needlework set", including biscornu, scissor fobs one and/or two, scissor case, and needlebook (Cross Stitch Happy freebie);
                  iii. "Trick or kitty treat" (Brittercup designs, from October 2008 issue of "Just Cross Stitch"); and/or
                  iv. "Fairy celebration 2008" - I'm thinking of stitching her on black aida with one of my new DMC colour variations threads, pale blue maybe? (Passione Ricamo freebie);
          4. WIPs & UFOs Stash: I want to take pictures of all my WIPs and UFOs that I haven't blogged about, and maybe even complete a stitch (or two) on at least one of them; and finally,
          5. Visit to Chapters (must...resist...temptation - nope, no good... ;-)

Oh, and the organization ascent has begun...

Ta!

Organizationville, here I come...

Like most stitchers, I have a lot of "stuff" (I tend to call it crap, but I then I call a lot of my stuff crap...not in a bad sense, just that there's a load of it...o-kay, I think it's time for me to get back on track... ;-)

Anyway, I am determined (ha, ha) to become at least a little bit organized. Therefore, having been inspired by Cross Stitch Nut's "most excellent" post on organization, this is what I am planning:

1. Projects (Planned, WIPs, and UFOs): all projects and kits to be placed into a bin, filed alphabetically by designer and then title, all in hanging folders (which are also labelled).

2. Magazines and Charts: separated into binders, which are then organized by title and then subsequently by date/year, including indexes of contents (both of magazines in binders and projects within each magazine)
* I have wanted to put all my mags in binders for the longest time, but didn't want to punch holes in them - it never occured to me to use sleeves (even though I use them for genealogy...duh!)

3. Floss: wound onto bobbins and organized by number into (currently 4) bobbin containers - each box will have i.) large label on top and side(s?) with numbers/thread types contained within (i.e. DMC 1-225; DMC Colour Variations; etc.); and ii.) an index on the bottom of the box listing no. of colour, colour name, and no. of skeins; specialty threads (which I have just started collecting) will go into a separate container.

4. Fabric (and other various bits): I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with them at this point in time... Any suggestions?

So how does everyone else stay organized? (and semi-sane ;-)

Stay tuned for the next development... ;-)

Ta!

Will you go dark?

Grand ABC, part 2 (almost) finished! ;-)

Thanks for all the comments on my part 1 finish - I really like the challenge of forcing myself to finish something on a deadline (usually deadlines and me do not get along! ;-)




I love the lacy look of the top right corner
I had an extremely good weekend stitching, except for the clocks moving forward (I miss my sleep! ;-) I've already gone through one skein of the 645, though I have a bit before I need to replenish the pink. I can't wait to get started on the squirrel (part 4) - I think he's so cute! But I'm being a good girl and going in order. I love seeing everyone's variations in colours on Claire's" blog - it's all so inspiring!




Score!



I should have got the white ones as well...
I walked over to Michaels today on my lunch break and guess what I found on sale? The DMC varigated floss packet (with 10 pattern sheets and 12 skeins of floss), which is regular $27.99, was on sale for $10! As far as I can tell, it's only missing one skein; everything is there. I also found some cute little bunny buttons at Walmart, as well as some purple fabric on sale.

And last but not least, my boo-boo (Betsy) got a new bed. Of course she wouldn't let take a picture of her actually sleeping in it... But now Charlie thinks he should have one too!




Nice and cozy (and easy to clean!)




Only one of three colour choices...




And yes, boo-boo is a "celebrity" - and she knows it!

Ta!

Grand Abecedaire, part 1 finished!

Finally finished part 1 of Claire's Grand ABC SAL! Yay! The picture is a little dark (when are they not! ;-) but I'm using DMC 245 (pink) and 645 (dark grey) on 25-count ecru linen. Now I only have three more parts to go before part 4 comes out!

Ta!

Cough, cough, sniffle, sneeze...ugh!

I've been fighting a flu bug since Sunday, and all I want to do is curl up and sleep (but instead, I wake up every two hours with blocked sinuses and a raw throat...). I went to work on Monday (since I not only had to open, but I also had programs all morning), but only made it until noon.

I had the bright idea that, since I was home, I would get a start on the Grand Abecedaire SAL. (Ha ha!) Three unsuccessful starts later (grrr), I've dropped the linen floss and have decided to go with regular DMC (grey and pink). On the other hand, my jar for the Totally Useless SAL, is nice and packed...


Do Halls wrappers count... ; -)
Nothing too interesting in here - mostly thread bits (lots of linen thread bits, though!), bits of aida and fabric scraps from the mini heart cushion and "Time for tea -with Max and me" (which I still haven't stuffed - eek!), some floss wrappers - oh, and a bent needle (I'm very hard on needles...) I wonder what next month will look like...? ;-)


One down, one to go...
Design: free pattern from Gazette94
Fabric: 18-count ecru aida from DMC
Floss: DMC 4200 (red/pink variegated)
Dimensions: 2.5" x 2.5 "

I finished up, except for a bit of backstitching, the NOEL ornament. I've never used the variegated floss before, but I'm nevertheless quite happy with how this one turned out. I'm planning to stitch a second one in green variegated floss, and then stitch the two of them together, maybe with some Christmas fabric as a small border? I haven't quite thought out all the logistics yet, I still have to pick up some green floss - and since I'm stuck at home with this bug, that's not going to happen any time soon...

Ta!

Tea, Christmas and Sharks...Oh my! ;-)

I finished the "Time for tea - for Max and me" design last night and got most of it stitched up - just have to stuff it and sew up the top. She ended up as a mini-cushion...


Second finish of 2009!
Designed by: La Chatelaine Designs
Fabric: 18-count ecru aida from DMC
Floss: DMC 310
Dimensions: about (can't find the ruler!) 3.5" x 3.5"

I modified the design a bit. I left out the cat's whiskers (they just didn't look right to me, either as full backstitch or half-backstitch!); I changed the sugar jar to a milk jug ('cuz I take milk in my tea...); left out the wording and added an alphabet along with my initals and the year; added a border of my own design; left out a row on her neck (it looked too long on the original...); and finally, my lady's a bit more....ah, bustier. ;-)


The fabric is much nicer in person...
The back: again I raided mum's fabric stash - it's a lovely soft pink with metallic green leaves; it reminds me of strawberries.

So on to the next project...



I began the NOEL ornament from Claire's blog (Gazette94). I'm stitching it for one of the girls at work who gives me a lift home sometimes - she loves Christmas - case in point: she has 28 different copies of The Night Before Christmas! Personally, I am so not a Christmas person - Halloween's more my cup of tea...

I also signed up (a few days ago - I'm behind the times!) for the "Grand Abecedaire" SAL as offered by Claire. I picked up some linen (ecru, I think) and I'm going to try out linen floss - I've never worked with it before, so it should be interesting. I must get stitching - I'm three months behind! ;-)

And finally, as we have a mini-blizzard outside and everyone else is napping, Betsy and I are watching "Shark Week: 20th Anniversary Collection."


"Mmmm....fish"


"Well, what are you waiting for? Fetch them for me!"
Ta!