TUSAL Progress - October Update and My Birthday

Yes, yes....I know.  If you have been paying attention, you probably realize that I skipped the TUSAL progress post for September.  I have no excuse other than I simply forgot. :-(

The update for October is actually not due until tomorrow (10/5/13) but I thought I would go ahead and post a photo while I was thinking of it.  This month's jar/glass actually contains two months worth of threads.  As you can see, I have quite a few ORTs and have been making progress on several projects.  I even completed a couple of small cards for Halloween which can be seen in an earlier blog post.

This month's TUSAL photo is sitting beside some beautiful flowers I received for my birthday from my parents.  They are quite lovely and actually are in the shape of a birthday cake.  The rose in the center represents the candle.  I included a photo of the entire arrangement but it's hard to show the shape.  I had a great birthday and even took today off from work as a gift to myself.

The next posting is due November 3rd.  If you're not sure what the heck a "TUSAL" or "ORT" is, be sure to check out the link to the TUSAL challenge by clicking on the list on the main blog page.

WIPocalypse 2013 - September Update

I cannot believe that it's already time for the September update!  This year is going by waaaay too fast!  It's going to be 2014 before we know it.  I'm actually a little late with this month's WIPocalypse post as it was actually due on September 19th. 

I did make a little progress this month on a couple of cross-stitch projects as well as in completing several rag wreaths and candle-rings and working on my first latch hook rug.  It's been a busy month for crafts!  Here's what I worked on this  month.

Progress from the end of May 2013



Progress as of September 28, 2013

A fabric Candle-Ring for a good friend who loves the GA Bulldogs (UGA)

A small "girlie" wreath for a friend's 4-year old daughter who loves zebras

Three Halloween wreaths for sale at the Calico Craft Designs Etsy Shop

Almost finished with a Winter Cardinal piece I'm doing for my Mom for Christmas

And last, but not least, I did work on the "Summer Fairy" by Joan Elliott.  Below is the photo taken shortly after I started on it in May 2012.  I haven't taken a new progress photo yet and will probably wait and add it for the October update.

 

 

Happy stitching until the October update on the 18th!

Two More Halloween Cards

Today I finished two more Halloween cross-stitch cards.  I think they turned out pretty well.  I'm particularly fond of the one with the ghost.  I played around with the colors and think the green worked out just fine.  The original pattern did not have any color behind it but since I was stitching on white evenweave fabric, I had to provide some type of background to make the ghost pop off of the fabric.

I think I'm going to stop with the five Halloween cards.  I'll probably start working on Christmas holiday cards soon.  I'm still looking for some really cute but small patterns.  The Halloween ones worked up pretty quickly so I feel like I'm making some progress.  Hence, why I have those WIPs and UFOs still sitting out there I guess!  LOL! 

WIPocalypse 2013 - August Update

As promised last month, I made quite a bit of progress on my cross-stitching.  No empty TUSAL glass for me next month on September 5th!  The catch is that the progress was made on other projects and not those on my current WIP list!  LOL!  Oh well.  I did start and finish a couple of small items that I have turned into cards for my Calico Craft Designs Etsy shop.  I don't have a lot of experience making cards and I thought these for Halloween came out pretty well.  What do you think?

Happy stitching until the September update on the 19th!

Who Loves Candy Corn?

That sugary sweet candy that you typically only see during Halloween. The distinctive white, orange, and yellow striped, corn kernel shaped candy that reminds you of trick or treating, costumes, and Halloween parties. Who doesn’t love candy corn?!?! I love the cooler weather and beautiful colors of autumn. I love the Halloween decorations, the costume parties, and of course, candy corn. I wanted to create a fabric wreath that reminded me of this beautiful time of year.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been working on a large rag candy corn wreath and a candy corn fabric candle ring. Both ended up using eleven types of fabric! These will be going into my Calico Craft Designs Etsy shop but I am definitely going to have to make another one just for me. As always, let me know what you think. Feedback is always appreciated.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

TUSAL Progress - August Update

I'm a little ashamed to show my TUSAL photo this month.  It's quite pitiful. :-(  I'm pretty sure I could come up with a few good reasons but I'll just show the photo and chalk it up to being busy.  Better luck next month!

The next posting is due September 5th.  Be sure to check out the link to the TUSAL challenge by clicking on the list on the main blog page.

WIPocalypse 2013 - July Update

Unfortunately, as evidenced by my currently empty TUSAL glass that you will soon see (August 6th), I have not done very much cross-stitching this month.  To be honest, up to this point, I have not worked on anything.  I know, I know...bad, bad, bad.  But I will be back with updates on August 20th, I promise!

Look What I Won!

Thank you very much to SoCal Debbie of "Debbie's Cross Stitch" blog!  I was entered into a drawing for a free "Let's Do Coffee" chart and I was chose at random as the winner!  I'm so excited!  I can't believe I was actually chosen.  I have the perfect person in mind to receive this design as a gift.  And I may stitch it for myself as well.  I'll be sure to post a few photos of my progress once I get started. :-)  Here's a photo of Debbie's finished design from her blog.

Check out SoCal Debbie's post by clicking on the link below:

http://debbiescrossstitch.blogspot.com/2013/07/lets-do-coffee-winner-and-new-giveaway.html

TUSAL Progress - July Update

It's TUSAL time!  Earlier this week on July 8th was the monthly TUSAL challenge update.  Unfortuately, I've been a bit busy this week studying for a test, working on my school project, and dealing with a lot of work at the ol' J.O.B.  I just now was able to get a moment to post my ORTs and progress for the month of July.

I did make a bit more progress this month and have a few more threads to show for it.  I've been working with a lot of pink apparently!  I've added a couple of photos of my ORTs with some pretty fabric that I'm using for a couple of charity pieces I'm currently working on.

The next posting is due August 6th.  Be sure to check out the link to the TUSAL challenge by clicking on the list on the main blog page.

Cat Pillow Design is Finished

I was finally able to work on and complete the second half of the two-part stitching project needed to make the cat pillow for the WOCS stitching group.  I finished the first part, the cat face, in mid-June.  I just completed the "Hug Me" tag earlier this week.  I had picked out matching fabric back in mid-June that will be sewn into the body of the cat.  Since I myself cannot sew a single stitch, I'll be sending both cross-stitched parts and the fabric to someone from the WOCS Yahoo group who will turn the design into a cat pillow for charity.  Although, I won't get to the see the finished pillow in person, I'm looking very forward to seeing a photo of it before it gets sent out to someone to enjoy!

Happy 4th of July!

It's a cool, very rainy day here in Atlanta.  So cool, as a matter of fact, that it seems much more like early spring than the middle of summer.  It's a nice break from the heat of previous years but the rain does tend to limit outdoor activities.  Even so, I'm looking forward to enjoying grilled burgers later today and spending time with my husband who is still recovering from surgery but is getting better every day.

I hope that you too can enjoy this wonderful holiday with family and friends and that no matter what the weather, you have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Red, White, and Blue "Geeky" Moment

Ok. I'm going to be a geek here for a moment.  A "Big Trouble in Little China" movie geek to be exact.

A few months ago, I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased several things to make a 4th of July wreath for 2013.  I don't ever actually recall owning or making a wreath for Independence Day so this year I wanted to change that and put out something festive.  I finally got around to putting it together this weekend and I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out.  I think that it will be great for Memorial Day and/or Veteran's Day as well.

So how does this relate to my geeky movie moment, you ask?  Well, I had spread my items on my kitchen table and was looking everything I bought when I started thinking about all the red, white, and blue that was going to go on my wreath.  For some strange reason, a quote from "Big Trouble in Little China", a favorite movie of mine from years ago that I still watch periodically even today, popped into my head.  (It's a guilty pleasure.)  The line is, "Here's to America's colors, the colors that never run."  My geeky brain thought that this was very appropriate for the upcoming holiday and fueled my efforts to get this wreath completed as soon as possible.  I finished it up this morning, gluing it into place and proudly displaying it on my front door.

It's a silly reference but it got me motivated to complete my wreath.  Now, I think I'm going to go watch the movie with my hubby.

WIPocalypse 2013 - June Update

I'm back in school.  That's my excuse for this month.  *wink*  I haven't been cross-stitching a lot lately or doing anything crafty for that matter.  I started back to school about 3 weeks ago, summer classes that last for about 9 weeks.  I'm a Horticulture student and identifying plants and creating a project notebook of 100 plants, as well as taking care of my husband after surgery has been taking a lot of my free time.

I did manage to work on one project, however.  I finished the cat face for World of Charity Stitching and I am just starting on the "Hug Me" tag that will go on the finished cat pillow.  I even picked out some pretty cool fabric to go with the colors I chose for the face and tag.  I've posted the cat face and I'll add a photo of the fabric once I've completed the tag that goes with it.


Last stopping point

Just an in-progress photo

The finished kitty face

Happy stitching until the July update on the 22nd!

TUSAL Progress - June 2013

This past Saturday (6/8/13) was the date for sharing the monthly ORTs for the TUSAL challenge.  As seems to be the case here lately, I'm a bit late with my progress posting.  I didn't have a lot of time this month to dedicate to cross-stitching or my other crafts.  My husband has been recovering from major surgery and I've had to do a lot more for him around the house.  I never really realized just how many little things he does until he couldn't do them anymore.  I've also started back to school again so my free time is a bit more limited.  Anyway, here's my updated photos for this month.  Not quite as many colors as last months but still pretty.

 

 The next posting is due July 8th.  Be sure to check out the link to the TUSAL challenge by clicking on the list on the main blog page.

 

Happy Stitching!

Charity Stitching - Cat Pillow

So today I signed up for a really cute cat pillow through the World of Charity Stitching (WOCS) Yahoo group.  You cross-stitch the face and a small message that says "Hug Me" and it gets sewn into a cat-shaped pillow body.  I started on it right away as I'm excited to see how it turns out!

Previous pillows made by WOCS' members in 2012

My Starting Point

The pattern was created by one of the group members and we're currently working on several to hand out at a retirement facility.  I am not normally one that enjoys stitching on Aida cloth as I find it way too stiff but it is a requirement for this particular project.  I chose a 14 count fabric from Charles Craft called "Platinum".  I went back and forth on what color to make the eyes but I chose a seafoam green/blue.  I chose a pretty pink for the ears and I have another, lighter pink picked out for the nose.  The design includes two flowers just outside of the design that almost look like cheeks.  I'm still trying to decide on what color to make the flowers but I'm leaning toward a peachy/coral.  The matching message will be in the same colors and I'll have to find a coordinating fabric for the body.  Unfortunately, I cannot sew at all (one talent I never acquired) so my cat will be put together by one of the ladies in the group.  I'm even thinking about doing a second one!  I can't wait to see what they look like when finished!  I'll keep you posted.

A Late Spring Afternoon at Gibbs Gardens

The Main Entrance

Earlier today I decided to head over to Gibbs Gardens, north of Atlanta, GA, to see how the garden has progressed since I last visited in March 2013.  When I was there before, it was to see the daffodils (they were gorgeous) so there were not a lot of trees with leaves or any other type of flowers.  Spring had just really started.  I had been getting photo updates on facebook from their page and it looked beautiful.  So beautiful I just had to go visit again. 

I was not disappointed.  Gibbs Gardens is a spectacular garden set in the North Georgia Mountains.  It's only been open to the public for a couple of years.  I thoroughly enjoy visiting them when I can and I'm so glad that it's only about 45 minutes from my house.  The gardens always have something different in bloom and it definitely changes every time I visit.  Currently, the hydrangeas are just starting to really to bloom and the knock-out rose bushes were covered in pink and red flowers.

I've included just a few of my photos and trust me, it was hard to pick just a few.  I took a TON of pictures in those couple of hours that I was there.


Be sure to check out their website by clicking here.

The Japanese Garden

The Rose Garden

The Monet Bridge