January Starts

Better late than never, right? :-)

I had several new starts in January, participating thus in the Guilt Free January. It actually happened by chance. First new start was Chatelaine’s White Nights in St. Peterburg on New Year’s Day (stitched on Sugar Maple Fabrics' Angel Kisses):

After finishing the first part, I started Damier, the freebie that Maryse will release over the course of the year. The fabric is Silkweaver’s Spanish Moss:

And when the first part was finished, I started Chatelaine’s Sweete Bag. I stitch it on black Belfast, and after finishing part 1, I decided to take a break, as the black fabric is very demanding on my eyes.

I then started a clock with a Provencal theme. By that time I realized that I had already made several new starts and decided that January really should be Guilt Free January. So I decided to finish the numbers and what comes inside the numbers (stitched on 36ct linen):

After that I started Chatelaine’s Christmas Mystery V. I found English Rose Jazlyn (28ct) in my stash and it was perfect for this:

Second to last new start was The Fortunate Traveler (on 32ct Belfast).

No more progress on the Traveler, as I needed to start Deepest Love, on the last day of January. This is the first progress pic after the first day and first hour of stitching :) The fabric is, if memory serves correctly, Silkweaver's Ocean Fantasy:

I really enjoyed starting all these. Some of them have been waiting a long time to make it on my WIP list. I'll share more progress pics on Christmas Mystery V, Damier and Deepest Love later.

Hoppy Easter! And other ornaments...

This is a Dragon Dreams freebie which I stitched and finished last weekend. Cute, isn't it?

I participated in a Finnish Christmas ornament exchange and received this beautiful ornament made by Leena. Thank you! It is the Chains of Love Ornament designed by Terry Louise Kermode and published in The Gift of Stitching December 2007 issue.


And this is the ornament I stitched for Marja. It's by Brittercup Designs, from JCS Christmas Ornament Issue 2005.


And the following two I made for Christmas. This one was for my goddoughter, the design, by Blue Ribbon Designs, is from the Gift of Stitching December 2007 issue.


And this one I gave to my cousin. It is from 2007 Christmas Ornament issue (more info to come when I have them at hand).

A new start

After a long while (I had a rough autumn and just about forgot about this blog), I thought I would make a new start, so here are finally some pictures...

My first finish of 2008 (just after an hour into the new year :-) was Chatelaine's Mystery X, Secret Victorian Garden. It took about 280 hours to finish, from January 2007 to January 2008. I will attach the bicones after washing the piece.


Later in the day I finished this small design (from a Lanarte kit). It started as my travel project last autumn and took overall only a few hours to stitch:


I have several new starts in January. I'll post pictures of them later next week.

Checking in

Wow, it's been a while... *and still no photos*

I reached all the goals set for May (during the summer, if not in May). Mystery X has progressed to 8th part, all eight panels of Japanese Octagon Box are done, the tiger design is finished and the materials for the Ultimate Needle Book are ready.

My goals for September are:

- Stitch part 9 of Mystery X
- Finish part 4 of Taj Mahal
- Start Anniversary design for parents
- Continue with the Guardian

I dug the Guardian out of it's hiding place last week and noticed that it is practically almost complete. So I'm aiming to finish it before the turn of the year.

The Anniversary design needs to be finished by November. I have it kitted, but need to cut the facric and zigzag it. The problem is that my sewing machine is, well, out of order. One simple piece quit working, but considering that the machine is 40 years old, I'm not sure how simple it is to replace. There's this one sewing machine shop/service that I'm counting on, I just haven't had time to pop in there yet.

I have stitched Taj Mahal quite a bit this summer. I didn't set any official goals during the summer, so I didn't really have any idea what I would stitch once each new part of Mystery X was finished. So I dug out Taj Mahal, and I'm very much enjoying stitching it. Part 4 is almost complete, just a few more beads.

Another look at the monthly goals

So, what did I accomplish in April: I finished parts 3 and 4 of Mystery X, and the sixth panel of Japanese Octagon Box. I also crocheted few rows to the doily and finished some small cross stitch projects. Pics to come soon... ;-) *runs for cover*

As for my goals for May, hmmm...

- Stitch part 5 of Mystery X
- Finish one more panel on Japanese Octagon Box
- Finish the small tiger design
- Decide on the materials for the Ultimate Needle Book
***
- Continue the crochet doily

A small update

Parts 3 and 4 of Mystery X are finished! I'm all caught up, yes! Photo is still in the camera... I really should change the name of this blog, as so far there are no photos here...

April goals

Once again the time to set some stitching goals for a new month. I didn't reach my goals in March: I did stitch both designs, but I just didn't finish them... :-)

So, here are my April goals:

- Finish part 3 of Mystery X (some stitching and all the beading still to do)
- Stitch part 4 of Mystery X
- Finish the box panels of Japanese Octagon Box (five panels finished so far)
- If I have time, I'd like to continue with Taj Mahal and/or the Guardian
***
- and also a non-stitching goal: continue with the crochet doily

I also need to rinse the variegated silks from St. Petersburg kit, and finally decide on the fabric.

March Goals

I reached February goals, and set similar goals for March:

- stitch part 3 of Mystery X
- finish Japanese Octagon Box panels and lid

I haven't had much time to stitch this month. Or, rather, I was too tired to stitch. But now, as the move is over, and almost everything has found it's place in the new apartment, I've started stitching again. JOB is a bit over half done, so there's still plenty to do before the end of the month.

February Goals

My goals for February are quite modest, as I'm preparing for a move later this month (or next month) :

- Stitch part 2 of Mystery X
- Continue with Japanese Octagon Box

*****
I did quite well in January:
- Finished Mystery IX (the picture is still in my camera)
- the Pug Puppy was finished and framed by my cousin's birthday (that picture is still in the camera, too)
- I also managed to finish part 1 of Mystery X
- I did a partial inventory of my stash; I listed all my Chatelaines :-) I'm currently inventorying the rest of my stash.
- I also had time to stitch a third panel for Japanese Octagon Box

Happy 2007!

Happy New Year!

I decided to post my stitching goals for January here, hoping it will help me keep organized:

- Finish Mystery IX
- Start Pug Puppy (should be finished and framed by early February!)
- Start Mystery X
- Make an inventory of current stash

At least these should be accomplished, anything else will be a plus... :-)