Wrapping up 2011

A final post for 2011 -- no last minute finishes unfortunately, but I did make some progress on my Tree of Stitches, and I expect a finish early on in 2012 (well, after I've started all of my UCJC projects in January).

While visiting my parents over the holidays, I managed to get parts 6-9 finished.

I don't love the Jerusalem Stitch. I HATE the Floral Stitch. I didn't actually do the Norwich Stitch; I chose to do the Woven Cross-stitch instead, which looks AMAZING, even if it was tedious and a pain in the ass to do. For my Star Stitch, I chose to do the diamond eyelet version - which is fine, but not that exciting.

One day I may try this tree again, but I'll only use my favourite stitches -- but that won't happen anytime soon!

This past year I saw TUSAL (Totally Useless Stitch-a-long) posts all over blogland. I didn't sign up in time, so never posted any pics, but I did participate "in spirit" and I collected all of my ORTs throughout most of 2011.

Pretty isn't it? It's cool to look at all the layers of colours in this jar and remember what I was stitching at the time. I've signed up on Daffycat's blog and will be participating in 2012. Just think how varied it will be with all my UCJC stitching!! Such fun. :)

Thank you to all who have followed me, commented on my posts, and generally made me feel good about my forays into creativity. I have enjoyed sharing my efforts with you. I look forward to another fun and colourful year with lots of finishes!

Happy New Year everyone!

The Final IHSW of 2011

This past weekend was the final IHSW of 2011 -- my pics are a little late, I'm sorry. I was working and travelling a lot so that I could have some down time at my parents' place for Christmas.

And so, during my belated IHSW weekend (I didn't manage to stitch at all until Monday and Tuesday) I completed parts 5 & 6 of my Tree of Stitches (by Abi Gurden). Part 5 was the Rice Stitch, which I neither loved nor hated. Part 6 was the cushion stitch, which I loved! Easy, fun, and SO PRETTY. I thoroughly enjoyed stitching the past few days - a nice change from the confetti frustration of Drama Queen that I normally deal with.

The tree (parts 1-5 - sorry it's a tad blurry):

Close-up of the stitches:

Another challenge card

I've decided to enter another challenge! I just love the colours in this week's challenge over at The Play Date Cafe, so I'm going to rustle up some courage and enter a card.

The colours and inspiration are:

And my take on it:

It didn't turn out quite how I had thought it up in my head, but it has some elements I really like. I dusted the black snowflake with some perfect pearls to add a little shimmer and soften the starkness of the black ink. And the bling practically just jumped onto the card.

Edit: I just realized after I posted this that the challenge colours match the colours of my blog !! No wonder I was drawn to this challenge! Hehe.

Disappointment, Christmas Cards, UCJC, and My Boy

I have lost my stitching bug. It's gone -- been MIA for almost a week now. I was working like mad trying to finish page 3 of HSH, and as I got to the last 5-7%, I got bogged down. Not because of confetti or anything like that, but because I HATED the colours. I was stitching pinks and purples, a wonderful change from the array of mustards, oranges, and browns I'd previously been working with. I should have been delighted, delirious, or over the moon!! But, I hate the colours. They look nothing like they should and I think it looks hideous. I was so upset that I had to stop stitching and tuck the piece away. I don't know what to do with it now. Bleh.

See what I mean? (Here's a close up.) Compare it with the pic in my sidebar. Not even remotely close. Grr.

I (of course) didn't make enough Christmas cards in the last 3 months, so I have been a little frantic trying to make a few last minute cards. I used Versamark to do a subtle holly and berries pattern on the background, but it didn't work out quite as well as I hoped. I'll try clear embossing next time, that might give it a little more oomph.

This next one is for my parents. It's simple, but I really like it. Some of the best fussy cutting I've done to date.

The trick is to use distress inks on the little white edges to cover them up (worked like a charm), then I spritzed it with shimmer mist. They look magical now!

I have been preparing for the 2012 Ultimate Crazy January Challenge. I have 30 of the 31 projects kitted up and ready to go. The only one I'm missing is Metamorphasis by Ink Circles, and I still need the chart, fabric and threads! I'm hoping my LNS comes through for me before January!

See -- my semi-organized piles! (And my treadmill put to good use.)

Lastly, I have pictures of my boy to show you. I've never done this before, but he's so freaking cute, I just couldn't resist. He's a 5-year-old Miniature Schnauzer named Toka.

He hates the rain, so sometimes I let him run inside instead.

PS -- IHSW is coming up this weekend. It's the last one of 2011. Cross your fingers that my mojo comes back in time!

Do you see what I see?

That's right! The roof!! The roof!! Woohoo!!

I needed a break from the confetti nightmare that is DQ, so I pulled out my long neglected Home Sweet Home and put a dent in page 3. Page 3 was about 30% done, and now it's 90.4% complete. (Overall I have 15,103 stitches stitched.) You can now see the peak of the roof and part of the tiny top window, and all that's left on this page is to fill in the pinks and purples. I am so EXCITED about pinks and purples after all the orange, mustard, and brown I've stitched on this piece.

I also have a recently made card to share. I hate making sympathy cards :( but I think this was a simple and elegant design. Plus I had a chance to use my new Perfect Pearls for the first time. (Side note - I LOVE VERSAMARK. Where has it been all my life?!?)

There is something so appealing about a clean, simple, and neutral card with a single pop of colour. Variations on this might be forthcoming. :P

It's STASHMAS !!!

Today is STASHMAS!! It's a "stitching holiday" created by the members of crossstitchforum.com to celebrate all things stitchy and delight in the giving and receiving of stash!

I received my gift from Octoberlace, and it is wonderful! Thank you!!

I received a beautiful piece of hand-painted 28 ct lugana from Crossed Wing, and a smaller cut of hand-painted fabric from Dovestitch. I got a pack of Piecemaker neddles, and she slipped in a Bohin needle (her favourite) for me to try. I got a great butterfly pattern with some simple hardanger in it too. It doesn't end there! I got some Carrie's Creations and Threadworx threads, some thread sorting cards, a notebook and some lovely bags of tea. (Which is perfect, cause I love to sip tea and stitch!) How spoiled am I?!?

Below are pics of the stashmas present that I sent to Noctifyre.

And I stitched my first ever humbug just to commemorate Stashmas!! (This is one of Kell's designs.)

All packages should arrive full of stitchy goodness -- seriously!!