But for the Buttons . . .

Official Snow Guide is FINISHED. I guess that makes it unofficially finished, an unofficial Official Snow Guide?

I'm trying to decide whether to do a small new start or work on a UFO or to pull another Crazy January project out of the tub. Hmmm . . . this is hard to decide.

Slow and steady progress

I am so sorry for the abysmal quality of this pictures. Long tall designs are hard to photograph and my wrist gets in the way and casts a shadow.



I'm getting there. I need to finish the shovel, so the part at the top and get the buttons, but I'll soon be done with this. I think I'm going to pull out one of the bigger pieces next and work on it.

It's been a smokin' debit card kinda week here. I got a small raise at work, and have my income taxes done, so I celebrated by, what else? Buying some new stash. I swear this will not become a habit, as so often occurs when people get a bit more money to play with. We took a 5% pay cut 2 years ago to keep our jobs, and I promised myself that, if I was ever given the money back, I'd be a better steward of the financial blessing than I had been in the past, and that is my goal, but I figured one time wouldn't hurt. I have been eyeballing the rotary cutter that makes the pretty edges since Vonna of Twisted Stitcher told me who made the one she uses. I figured I could afford it, just this once, particularly because I'd had such a crappy Monday. So it made its way into my basket at Michaels, along with some floss I needed for a small project I want to start (yes, I checked the bins, I didn't have the floss), and some ornaments for the Easter tree I'm starting.

My parents are collectors, and, growing up, we had a massive display of their East German-made wooden bunnies. I just loved setting out the pieces of it, and putting up the "tree", a bunch of pussy willow branches from their first house to hang ornaments on. We were told to be very careful of them, and I just dearly loved them. I want to have that here; I think it's possible, since Caesar doesn't go in the living room unless we're there, so I don't have to worry about a ravaging tail. My parents even still own the house the pussy willows came from, and my mom's OK with me going up and cutting off branches, so I'm going to try this. If I can mix stitched pieces with bought pieces, it ought to be pretty cute. I'll post a picture when I start it.

I also sent my Santa's Bunnies off to be finished by The Twisted Stitcher. She's finished it and it's coming home now. It looks so good in the pictures! I can't wait to see it here at home. I can't wait to enter it in the fair!

I hope everyone is having a great week so far. The Nashville show is this weekend. Is anyone else excited to see the new goodies?

Snow Guide Update

Here is a better picture of my WIP



I am really enjoying working on this one. It's very light-hearted and fun. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed that about Lizzie Kates.

Picture update

Left brain fixed the computer. He's a smart man, that husband of mine. This is why he and I work so well: while I'm running around, crying, he's trying to fix the problem, and I know to stay away.

I did work on some projects this weekend.

I picked up LK Official Snow Guide. After I put aside the idea of making it more realistic by saying, "2 inches, run amok, 4 inches, panic, 6 inches, tell the whole world you're sick of snow, 8 inches, abandon all hope", I worked on it. I am doing my own color changes on it, because I didn't like just using the two shades of blue. I am going to buy the buttons, as soon as I figure out which ones I need (LK didn't put the product numbers on the chart).



And more dragon progress. I'm all the way over to the other side now. And it will meet in the middle. I even covered the hole, and you can't see it. Woo hoo!


Hoping everyone is having a nice holiday. We're eating leftover Chinese food and watching Shawshank Redemption. Romance is real!

2 Days, 2 Starts

Here are the photos I promised of my, as yet unimpressive, starts for the challenge. I am going to try to label the posts to be a little more organized as I stitch these projects this year.

First up are the Winter Horses. I am calling them that, as they appear to have no name on the kit, other than a line number. And they're so pretty, they need a name. I like this design because it reminds me of the work of Sam Savitt, who was a well-known horse illustrator, along with Wesley Dennis, and CW Anderson. I don't know if this is his work, charted to cross stitch, but it has the feel in the friendly faces of the horses. I wish the work of those great illustrators would be licensed for stitching. I fell in love with horses because of their works, but to buy a print is a dream. I do own a portfolio of Anderson's work, but only one.




My progress on Official Snow Guide by Lizzie Kate. This should be a cute addition to our holiday decorations next year. Perhaps it will be a reminder of how we should approach snow, instead of running around, screaming. I did find out last night, though, it has buttons, but the designer didn't say WHICH buttons. I'm going to email her to see if she can tell me.


Today I am working on "Hope Perches," by Sampler Girl. I am using HDF and DMC marbled blue aida. If this works out, I hope to finish it into a pillow like the photo with some bird print fabric I bought a few years ago and couldn't figure out how to use. Maybe it was just waiting for me to stitch this? I will post a photo tomorrow.

And my last "finish" for 2010. I finished Snowy Pines into a felt-backed ornament last week. I need to figure out where I can purchase a fancy rotary cutter to make the pretty edges for these ornaments because I like them a lot. Pinking shears just aren't cutting it. Does anyone know? I know it's not the best finish possible, but it's pretty good, and I can't learn if I don't try, right?


I'm really hopeful about this year, stitching wise. I know the year never ends up being as long as it seems it will last in January, but I think I can get some really fun projects started and completed. I have a few SALs to do this year and I think it will be fun! I have a good feeling about 2011.

Needles up, y'all!