Hospital Stitches

I said I wasn't going to do anymore smalls this year. However, they are wonderful for passing the long hours in ICU.

So, three weeks in hospital equals three small finishes.

First is one. "Chalk it up" by Design Works Crafts. It's 5x7 on black 14 count cotton Aida fabric. (There seems to be a little glare on the photo. Not sure why.)

I'm not a big fan of the chalkboard craze but I really enjoyed stitching this because.... Hello..... NO confetti, NO color changes. It took only minimal concentration and I really like the saying. Being in the hospital that long felt like we had moved in LOL.

Next is a Fizzy Moon card that came free in my World of Cross Stitch magazine.

And another little card from TWOCS magazine. I gave this card to a wonderful lady I met in the waiting room. It was so nice to have someone to talk to! She is such a sweet, kind, caring and generous woman. I was truly blessed to meet her.

A Frosty Finish

I finished "the snowman" this weekend.

I don't think I am going to start another small right now. Probably going to just finish the year working on the birds and my HAED. (Unless one just jumps out at me LOL.)

A Halloween Finish

This one was so much fun to do. I really want to do a Blackwork chart and have added that to my list for next year.

September Review/October Goals

In September I made some good progress on my HAED, Letting Go.

August 30,15

Early in September I bought a new stitching frame and it has made working on this much easier.

I added quite a bit of just a couple (very similar) colors.

I am working on small ornaments (or gift tags) for my grandsons. I finished the E and will finish the A today or tomorrow.

I made visible progress on my Summer Birds.  I am hoping to have all four seasons done by June.

August 30, 15

September 30, 15

I finished this little boot....

October's Goals:

1. Continue working on HAED

2. Add 10 rows to my blanket

3. Finish blue snowflakes

4. Finish Festive Rudolph

5. Finish the A gift tag

6. Continue working on birds

7. Post at least weekly to this blog

August progress report

August wasn't a very productive stitching month, but I did manage a little bit.

My HAED, Letting Go, is moving forward very slowly.
July 30th.......

August 30th......

I finished the blue butterfly card (shown in a previous post) and I'm almost done with this bunny card. Just finishing up the backstitching today so I guess it  will count as a finish later today.
August 24th....

August 30th.....

***5:25 pm update***
I finished the backstitching.

This and That

Things have been busy here (but aren't most summers busy?). I finally got too tired of my night job and quit. Now I'm looking for a new job. My Husband isn't getting many hours with His job so He is also looking for something better. It's kind of stressful but thank goodness for savings accounts. LOL.

I did manage to finish this butterfly card this weekend.

And I started this little rabbit card.

I have only added a few stitches to my 4 seasons birds.

And I'm getting frustrated each time I try to work on my HAED Letting Go. It is so big and awkward. I had it in my floor frame for awhile but the frame is only 22" and this fabric is 25". You can see where I folded it on the right side. Because it was folded it made the tension off and the left side kept slipping out of the rods. I tried stitching in hand but it's so much fabric! So today I am ordering a new frame. It's a 36" frame. It will definitely hold this and I don't ever see me stitching anything bigger than 36"!!!!

After taking this picture, it hit me how far I have to go! The part I've worked on is just one page.  I really want to spend more quality and quantity time with this WIP. I hope the new frame helps.

A few smalls

I finished a few smalls during the past week. I was hoping that this would get me going again on my HAED and it did! I've been working on it daily and hope to have an awesome update at the end of this month.

Finally finished my birthday bunny.

And these two little birds.

And last but not least, this letter B as a gift for a friend.

March Review

I didn't get a lot done on Letting Go for the Stitchy New Start. I did take out several rows of the stitches that I want to change to tent stitches. Hopefully I will get more done in April.
This is where I was at the end of February...

And now at the end of March...

I did start a new chart, Four Seasons Birds.

And this is where I am. (I am actually a little further but I didnt take a new photo.)

I also finished this little one for my mom.

And I finished the flower pot kitten that I posted earlier.

My new peacock chart was a free download so I didn't spend any money this month. I didn't work on my blanket so no new photos of that yet. I haven't ordered my Christmas ornaments or the Alpine Mandala yet. I didn't plan to start those until July so I'm still on track with those.

Overall I'm doing pretty good with my goals. The one that is suffering the most is my blanket.

In April I hope to get a couple more smalls done, see significant progress on the birds and letting go, hopefully work on my blanket (but it's getting really warm and I'm not sure I will.) I also plan to start a walking program. Be sure to check back later for all the details!

A finish and a new start

I finished this little card from TWOCS while I wait for the March magazine to come in.

And I started this last night. It's a Janlynn chart and was given to me by a friend.

With Love

I finished the card that came with TWOCS February issue. I love this little guy! But hated the back stitch in the flowers. This is one I took with me to work and only stitched it on breaks, so 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there. I'm glad it's done and now I wait to see what comes with the March issue.

I feel like I'm stitching so slow! Everyone has all these new charts posting to there blogs everyday. But I think it's because of all the starts for the January-February challenge. I just can't make myself start that many and not work on them til they are done LOL. I am going to try to rotate just a few. Going to pick them out today and maybe start them!

Therapy Birds are done!

I finally finished the piece for my therapist. It is one I put together from birds and alphabets in TWOCS issue 224. Here's how it went....all I need is to frame it.

And all my "chicken scratch" trying to figure out spacing LOL. 

January Smalls

Here are a couple of small charts I'm working on as well as the "mom" one I mentioned in last nights post.

And here are a few smalls that are complete:

And here is how I have them displayed in our bedroom:

EOW (End of Week Review)

Warning: Since I haven't posted much all week I am going to stuff this post with several things.

First of all my 2015 First Finish... This poppy card that came in my World of Cross Stitch Magazine.

My progress on Letting Go for the Stitchy New Start. I've done about 2500 of the 237,000 stitches.

Week 1 of my "One a Week Photo Challenge". This week challenge: Macro in the Kitchen. This is our cheese grater.

I have a couple more things to post but Hubby just got home and I want to spend some time with Him. I will try to get the other stuff done in a day or two.  Hope everyone is having a great weekend.