I Believe I'm On a Roll

   Shocking but true, I have another finish!  I am making an effort toward finishing up some wips and I have another finish since my last post.  It was about 1/3 done, which seems to be about where I lose interest on most pieces, so it needed some significant work.  Add to that, the constantly changing colors and it might be an outright miracle that I finished this one at all!!  But I persevered and I put the last stitches into The Pink Sparrow Sampler by WTN&T last week.

40 ct. Lakeside linen with called for threads

Might I just add, I did press this piece.  I don't know what the deal is here and it happens to me all the time.  I pressed it with steam on the linen setting and it looked really crisp.  But as it cools, it looks like it was wadded into a ball!  Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
  So, this one took a week longer than I thought it would because I had some misadventures in computing along the way.  The latest Windows 10 update crashed my computer 3 times and even my techie son couldn't get it back up the third time.  I spent some hard earned but well spent  money with the Geek Squad and they got it back up, eventually.  It still isn't right but is functional so I am limping along until my DC son can get home and get it back up to snuff.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!
  Moving on,  I got my red Santa back from the framer.  Yeah!!!!!  He  is gorgeous if I do say so myself!

One Starry Christmas Eve by WTN&T
40 ct Weeks Aztec red linen
w/ my cotton conversion

It did take longer to get it back than the framer said it would but since we had a snow storm in the middle I figure I should cut her some slack!
   Alas,  these finishes do not keep me from starting new pieces.  I know the idea is to finish wips but what is life without new starts??!!  My January 1st start was Ann Wallace by the Scarlet Letter. Love, love, love this one and look forward to working on her this year.

This is how far I have gotten.  Keep in mind that I don't have a regular schedule for my rotation, just work on things in the rotation when I feel like it.

40 ct. Peeps Lost Sheep by Dames of the Needle
w/ called for DMC

Next up is barely worth a picture at this point and probably won't be finished until next year.

I bought this and kitted it as soon as it became available to us normal folks and I plan to make this my 35th wedding anniversary sampler.  Hence, the long time period I have to work on it.

Last but not least is my most recent start.  I kitted this one as soon as it came out too and I think it needs to be stitched!! I love these colors and I splurged on the silks.

40 ct. Lakeside Meadow rue
w/ called for silks

It's worked in Belle Soie which is not my favorite silk.  It is taking an extraordinary amount of time to stitch since the lengths used have to be cut so short to avoid fraying.  But in the end, I think it will be worth it since the colors are so vivid.  I start adding the red today and look forward to that pop of color!

So that's it for me for now.  I am planning to pull some more wips out of the bag too so I hope to have another finish in the very near future.  I'll  keep you posted!  Laura

Missing but Not Lost

  It's hard to believe it is nearly the end of January already.  I know it has been a while since I last posted but it isn't because I have lost interest, I just can't seem to keep track of the time.  My grandmother used to say that time went by faster as you got older  and I, of course, just thought she was giving me the business.  I was young and bored and probably whining at the time.  But it sure is true and my blog postings, or lack there of, are proof of it!
  So, we had a lovely Christmas and I used the week after to get organized and stitch.  I don't take down the decorations until 12th Night so I am pretty much doing as little as possible during that time and getting a lot of stitching done.
   I was still working on Christmas stitching and I managed to get a first finish of the new year during that time.  Behold, One Starry Christmas Eve by With My Needle and Thread in all its glory!

Stitched on 40 ct. Weeks Aztec Red with my own cotton conversion.  Love this one!!  It is currently at the framer and I can't wait to get it back.  It will be on loan to my LNS for a while but I already have a spot picked out for it in my house for next Christmas.
  I have been investigating some of my UFOs recently and I have plans to finish off some of those in the coming year but I am trying not to be too hard on myself  or have anything written in stone about those.  I love them all and will finish them eventually but I tend to put pressure on myself and stitching becomes like work.  Then I beat myself up over the things I haven't accomplished and I don't want to stitch at all!  So, the list is loose and I hope to get a lot more pieces finished this year then I did last.
    My current WIP is about half finished now.  It is a piece I've had in my stash for quite a while and I thought it would be a fun, quick, stitch and it has been.  I've made only minimal color changes and I have enjoyed every stitch.  If we get the big storm we are supposed to get this weekend, I may have it finished by Monday!

40 ct. Lakeside Woodsmoke
(the original not the current permutation!)
with mostly the listed colors

This one is Quaker Addict by a mon ami Pierre, a lovely little company that was driven out of business by internet piracy.   Too bad since she really had some lovely designs.  I was able to buy some of her designs directly from her as PDF files before she closed up shop and I came across them recently while searching for something else on my computer.  I have several others that will reach the top of the pile eventually but for now, I am loving this one.
  I have several other pieces going right now but none that are far enough along for posting.  (Those Facebook groups are so enabling!) I will save those for next time and hope to have more to show by then.  Until then,  hope you are enjoying your stitching as much as I am!  

Laura