Turtle Trot Progress - March 2015

Here's my first update for the Turtle Trot Challenge in 2015, hosted by BAP Attack.  I worked on three of my projects this month.  I wasn't able to do a lot of stitching this month but I did make a little progress.

1.  "Flutterby Trio" by Gail Bussi - I started on the fourth butterfly that will be used for a baby quilt that I am assisting with for a friend.  This was a new start so there is no photo of previous progress.

Finished Design

Progress as of March 2015

2.  "Simply Sunflowers" by Paula Vaughan - This is a design that I have had for many years.  I finally got started on it this past month.  This one is just for me!  This one was also a new start and there is no photo of previous progress.

Finished Design

Progress as of March 2015

3.  "Especially for Ewe" by Durene Jones - I decided not to work on the "Fire Goddess" design by Joan Elliott, at least not just yet.  Instead, since I have not recently worked with the charity stitching group that I am a part of, I decided to work on a small design that will be made into a quilt.  The theme of this quilt is "springtime" so I chose a little lamb standing among daffodils as my project.  It's being stitched on light blue Aida cloth.  I'm not a big fan of stitching on Aida as I prefer evenweave or linen; however, the light blue fabric should fit the design very well.

Finished Design

Progress as of March 2015

Next posting is April 10, 2015.

TUSAL Update - February 2015

February jar of ORTs

Hi once again!  It's TUSAL time again!  

I've slowly been unpacking my craft items over the last several days and have been able to settle down in the evenings to work on my "Scenic Bridge" piece as well as another butterfly by designer Gail Bussi.  This should be the fourth and last one that I need to complete before passing them off to a friend to complete a baby quilt.  It's a joint gift from the two of us for another friend who had a baby girl back in October 2014.  The move caused me to be seriously delayed in getting my part completed so this will be a belated gift for an almost 4-month old.  I don't think she'll mind if it's a bit late.  I hope not anyway.  

The next posting is due March 20, 2015.  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 link on the main blog page.  

As always, Happy Stitching!!!

Joining Turtle Trot 2015

So as usual, I'm a little late to the party.  Hahaha!  Oh well.  Better late than never as they say.

Anyway, I decided to join the Turtle Trot Challenge for 2015, hosted by BAP Attack.  Check out her blog by clicking here or clicking on the link on my main page.  

Here are the Turtle Trot rules:

1. Pick ten pieces to stitch for 2015.

2. Post progress pictures on the 10th of the month.

3. Link up on the BAP Attack monthly blog post so we can all admire your progress and cheer for you.

4. Hop around and see how far everyone's gotten and cheer for them.

Now the hard part...trying to decide what to choose for this challenge.  I think I'll go with the following for now:

1.  "Scenic Bridge" by Barbara Sestok must go on this list.  I've been trying to make myself work on it for a couple of years now.

Finished Design

Progress as of 2.10.15

2.  "Flutterby Trio" by Gail Bussi - Printed in The World of Cross Stitching magazine #204.  I'm actually doing these as separate butterflies to be used in a small quilt for a friend's baby girl.  There will be four butterflies and one square with her name and birth date.  I've completed three butterflies so far but still need to work on the fourth one.  

Finished Design

3.  "Simply Sunflowers" by Paula Vaughan - Printed in Paula Vaughan's Bouquets & Blossoms book.  This one has not been started yet but it's a design that I've been meaning to do for myself for several years now.  Time to get it started!

New Start on the Sunflower Design

4.  "Winter Cardinal" - Information for this piece will have to be provided later.  The pattern is still packed up from our recent move to Charleston.  It's almost finished so hopefully, I'll be able to wrap this one up soon and get it framed.  It's a gift for Christmas 2015.

Progress as of 10.4.13

5.  "Summer Fairy" by Joan Elliott - Again, the design itself is still packed up. Got to find it before I can continue working on this one.  The joys of moving!

Finished Design

Progress as of May 2012

6.  "Fire Goddess" by Joan Elliott - Not to sound like a broken record here, but the design is still packed up.  This would be a new start.  I actually haven't even ordered the fabric yet!

New Start for this Finished Design

There is a possibility that I may not start the "Fire Goddess" until late in the year or even into next year.  If that's the case, I may remove it from the Turtle Trot list and include another UFO or two once I unpack the rest of my items.  Living surrounded by boxes is getting old and I really want to settle down and start stitching on a more regular basis again. [sigh] Little by little, we are getting unpacked so hopefully, it won't be much longer!

Scenic Bridge Update - 2.10.15

Finished design in Magazine

Soooo....I didn't finish the Scenic Bridge project for Christmas 2014 as I had originally hoped.  But I had a good reason!!!  Moving!  At least that's what I keep telling myself.  Ha ha ha!  I've mentioned before that I really don't like this design that much as it is definitely not my style preference but it's perfect for the person it's being stitched for.  It's "Scenic Bridge" by Barbara Sestok and the design appeared in the August 1998 edition of "Cross Stitch & Needlework" magazine.  I've had a hard time making myself work on it but I've definitely made some progress since our move to SC.  I packed all of my other projects so if I wanted to cross-stitch, it has to be on this one as it's the only one currently unpacked!

Here's my progress thus far along with a photo I recently took of the finished pattern in the magazine.  I have made a couple of changes to the colors and the background fabric but everything else is the same.

Previous Progress as of 5.11.14

Current Progress as of 2.10.15

The Big Move is Over!!!

We are officially moved and now reside in beautiful Charleston, SC!!!  We are now ready to begin the next chapter in our lives.  Our moving day was Friday, 1/23/15.  The movers we used did it all in one day.  They packed us up in Atlanta during the morning, drove the 5 1/2 hours to Charleston that afternoon, and unpacked us that evening.  What a long day!  The weather was absolutely horrible for moving.  It rained from the time we started in Georgia until we went to bed in South Carolina that night.  It was still raining the next morning and part of our parking lot was flooded.  Lowcountry.  I see why they call it that now!  I'm actually surprised that more of our stuff didn't get damaged or wet but the movers really did a great job of working quickly and covering everything up.  There is absolutely no way that we could have done this without them.  The peace of mind was well worth the cost.

The furbabies were quite a bit stressed and wigged out on moving day but they are adapting very quickly.  The cats have especially done well.  They were really scared on Friday but by Saturday evening, they acted as if they owned the place!  The dogs are taking a bit longer, still trying to establish some type of routine.  We all are working on getting used to a much smaller place and having no back yard but we are doing well.  Boxes are slowly being unpacked and we are figuring out what is around our area.  Hubby and I haven't done much site-seeing yet but we did go to Folly Beach today because the weather was so beautiful.  Here it is February 1st and it's 67 degrees and sunny outside!  Gorgeous!  This was Max and Casey's very first visit to the beach/ocean.  I think they enjoyed their trip and wore themselves out!

TUSAL 2015! January Update

Once again, I am joining the TUSAL Challenge!  This year I decided to add my ORTs to a Ball Mason jar instead of my usual small wine glass.  Since we are moving in only a few days (three days actually), I haven't done much cross-stitching in the last month and now almost all of my craft stuff is packed up, ready to head to Charleston.

The next posting is due February 18, 2015.  I better get stitching again soon after our move or my jar will be empty!  

If you're not sure what the heck a "TUSAL" or "ORT" is, be sure to check out the link to the TUSAL challenge hosted by Daffycat by clicking on the link on the main blog page. 

The New Moon dates for 2015 are:

January 20
February 18
March 20
April 18
May 18
June 16
July 16
August 14
September 13
October 13
November 11
December 11

Happy Stitching!

Christmas Fun and a Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2015!  Wow.  2015.  Hard to believe.

Casey, ready for her close-up

Christmas this year was spent in North Carolina with both my family and my husband's family.  It was great to see them both within a day of each other.  Usually, it's two separate weeks.  We normally spend Christmas with one family and visit the other in January.  This year, it worked out so that we saw both families in the same visit and it was great!  Everyone seemed to really love their gifts, including the fabric Christmas ornaments that I made.  But most importantly was getting to spend time with each other.  Being in Georgia for the last 14.5 years has limited our time with both families.  This is one reason why we are looking forward to our move to Charleston; we will be able to see everyone on a more frequent basis.

And speaking of the new year, earlier today we celebrated Christmas with our furbabies who were unable to go with us to NC for our family holiday celebration.  We decided to wait and do a separate celebration with them on New Year's Day.  They all seemed to enjoy opening gifts (with a little help from the humans) and getting new toys and treats.  I've included a few pics of them enjoying the morning.

I hope that you also had a wonderful holiday!

Max and Casey getting new toys

Sissy and Trundle checking out the stockings

Trundle has claimed his stocking of toys

Sissy decided it was nap time

Max, sporting his new bandanna and waiting for a treat

Pip, watching everyone and investigating the gifts