Rotation, Cinderella's Castle, and A Video

I'm trying the five-day rotation Tama of Stitching Daze is doing, and, so far, I've been pleased. I didn't get much done on my last piece, but I did work on it. From June 25 to June 29 I worked on the Disney Alphabet Sampler from Clouds Factory.

Where I was when I started:

Where I am now:

I only added a character and a half, but at least it's something.

My next five day rotation piece is my start from yesterday, a blue and green chevron coaster from the summer issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework Magazine. I just wanted to work on something small and simple.

Part of the reason I didn't work much on the Disney Alphabet is because I was working on my Cinderella's Castle for A New Stitchy Start; I added about 600 stitches in four days.

I dream of the day when I'll work with a color other than blue. It's a long time from now.

I leave you with a video of Alex having fun giving the couch raspberries. Yup, the couch. Please pay no attention to the messy house behind her. Enjoy :-)
Edit: I accidentally had this on Private settings. Thank you, Heather, for letting me know! It should be fixed now. 

Shock, Sadness, Fear

I borrowed the title from Kathryn of Crochet Concupiscence because it says it all. The stitching community has lost a beloved designer, Wink of A Creative Being. She was so beautiful and sweet and wonderful. As a fellow navigator of the dark depths of depression, I was hit hard by the news that she lost her battle last week.

Her sister posted the news today; just click on the link above.

Kathryn posted a beautiful tribute post today; again, just click the link.

I don't have anything else to say. 

Fun With Floss and Fiber

I'm feeling much better today (thank you, everyone, for all the well wishes, always!), so we made a quick trip to Michaels. I needed some DMC floss and had a 40% off entire purchase coupon. Who could pass that up?

Now, who wants to come over and help me bobbinate 79 skeins?

I also grabbed a skein of Loops and Threads Impeccable yarn in Fern. I thought one skein would be enough to do the leaves on my Granny Rose CAL blanket but I was a little short. I only have eight more roses to make and I'll be ready to do the granny round and join them.

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

Smalls SAL and Some Fibro Funnies

The Fatigue and Pain Demons have been visiting me this week and really took over yesterday so I'm a day late with my check-in for the Smalls SAL hosted by Heather of Stitching Lotus. You saw my smalls last week but here they are again:

Free chart from Pixel Power

Boo Club from Lizzie Kate

Fibromyalgia is certainly no laughing matter, but if you can smile through the pain, fatigue, prickly skin, etc., it just might be a better day. Enjoy :-)

Photo Credit

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This one's my favorite; it wouldn't be so funny if it weren't true!

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

IHSW

I worked on two projects and started two new ones this weekend for IHSW.

Tama recently posted about her rotation schedule, so I've decided to give it a try. My first pick was the Book of Ink Circles free chart; I worked on that all last week and put the last stitches in on Friday.

Where I was on June 11:

Where I am now after four days of stitching (I skipped one):

After I put that away, my next rotation piece was Snow Belles by Lizzie Kate. I started this back in March but was unhappy with how it looked on the linen. So I restarted it Saturday on 14 count Aida in Smoketone. I'll be stitching all six of the charts in this series on this piece of fabric.

For my two starts, I tried to put a little extra time into them in honor of IHSW.

On Saturday, I started Q is for Quilting by Prairie Schooler.

On Sunday, I started Road Runner from The Official Looney Tunes Cross Stitch Book. There are seven more in this set that I want to start.

I hope everyone had a good weekend with friends and family, hook and yarn, needle and thread or all three!

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

First Five on Friday

I've seen this Friday series on many blogs and thought it looked like fun. It was started by Amy of love made my home. You share five things on Friday, either related or not. So, today, I have five random thoughts that I'm linking to Amy's Five on Friday post.

1. While scrolling through Pinterest (my not-so-secret addiction), I saw some posts on homeschooling preschoolers. My first thought: "How nice." My second thought: "Eek! That's only a year or two away!" As time seems to move at warp speed in my house, I've decided it's best to start researching how to homeschool a preschooler now.

2. I went to the new doctor on Tuesday, and I have to admit I was very impressed. He actually listened! Wow! He didn't treat me as if I were stupid or being a baby or making up my pain. He listened, took lots of notes, and gave me some prescriptions that should help. While he didn't officially diagnose me with fibromyalgia yet, that's the route we're taking with medication. If I improve in the next couple weeks, it'll be a good conclusion.

3. We survived our first week of night shifts. Tim's been home the last few days and goes back to work tonight. It hasn't been too bad; no one's getting much sleep, but I figured that. That's why we took the time off from school and have been cleaning and organizing. I've been tackling small areas every day and filling boxes to take to the thrift store. It's amazing how much stuff we have that doesn't get used.

4. It's IHSW this weekend, hosted by Joysze of Random Ramblings. I really haven't decided what projects I'm going to focus on stitching this weekend. I've been playing around with my rotation schedule, I've dropped a couple of SALs and added otheres, and I'm still doing starts. Whatever I decide, I'll show progress pics on Monday.

5. I've become addicted to Flosstube. I can't remember who first mentioned it in their blog, but I was intrigued so I headed over to YouTube to find out. For those of you who don't know, they're videos done by stitchers showing their WIPs, purchases and stitching techniques and tutorials. Basically a live blog. I love to pull up a video while I stitch or fold clothes; it's like watching TV but all about cross stitching. So far, my favorite flosstubers are Tricia the Left Handed Stitcher and BlimeyCatStitches.

Thanks for reading.

Blessings :-)

Gifted Gorgeousness June

On the 15th of each month, I post my stitching for Gifted Gorgeousness, a year long SAL hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. There are lots of ways for things to qualify; the chart or the fabric or the floss can be a gift from or for someone, just to name a few.

If you saw yesterday's post, you saw I finished the Phineas and Ferb chart I was stitching as a gift for my daughter. I also finished the Pumpkin Boo Club chart given to me by my friend, Linda. This last month, I added a lot to my Santa's 12 Days of Christmas by Prairie Schooler, another gift from Linda. This is a Sunday SAL I do with Linda and Kaye.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Thanks for reading and looking.
Blessings :-)

A Lot Going On This Week

We've had a very busy week with a lot going on. Tim started his night shifts; it's a mandatory rotation for all the mechanics. For the next four weeks, he'll work 10 PM-8AM Friday through Monday and be off Tuesday through Thursday. We made the choice to not try to school around this temporary schedule shift, so we're taking the time off. I'm hoping to be able to get some organizing projects done.

I've been having terrible insomnia, but, on the bright side, I've done a lot of stitching. I finished (yes, you read that right: finished!) three projects.

Phineas and Ferb by CloudsFactory

Started April 26, 2015 on 14 Count Aida in Sand

Finished June 8, 2015

I made this for Hope; it's one of her favorite shows. She wants to hang it in her room, so all I have to do is frame it. 

 Pumpkin Boo Club by Lizzie Kate

Started June 5, 2015 on 18 Count Aida in Oatmeal

Finished June 13, 2015

Because I didn't have any 1/16" buttons, I stitched Smyrna crosses over four squares for the eyes. I have plans to finish this one (and the other Boo Club charts I've started) as a little hanging ornament.

My Husband by Pixel Power (free chart)

Started June 1, 2015 on 14 Count Aida in White

Finished June 13, 2015

This one is also a future hanging ornament, but I'm thinking of making it a little more three dimensional by adding some fabric and batting.

Thanks for all the positive comments about my continuing desire to start new charts. I'm really having fun with it. I'm still doing one every other day, so here are the last three I've started:

Forgive Move On Three Little Words by Lizzie Kate

Book of Ink Circles (free charts) by Ink Circles

This one was a change from all the small ones I've started; it's been calling to me ever since I saw it last month. It's good sized (20 x 24 fabric) and I think it'll take me a year just to do the frame and another two to fill in all the boxes, but it's just so pretty.

 You've Got This Three Little Words by Lizzie Kate

I mailed the blue corner to corner blanket to my sister-in-law and none too soon; baby Luke was born today! Eight pounds, twenty inches, and his mom and dad, two brothers and one sister couldn't be happier. 

My next nephew is due is September, so I've started making his blanket.

I almost have all the squares done and have started joining them. I'm using the Squircle pattern from Dly's Hooks and Yarns (my favorite square), a J hook, and Red Heart Super Saver in Frosty Green, Cafe Latte, Aran, and Shades of Brown.

I'm still working on my rose blanket, slowly but steadily, but I don't have any new pictures.

And I started a baby blanket for one of Tim's co-worker's wives. She's also due in September, but she's having a girl so I get to play with girly colors.

I'm using the Wheel Lattice Square pattern by Dayna's Crochet, an H hook, and sport weight yarn in lavender, pink, yellow, and a pink, green, and white variegated. 

I'll leave you with a picture of my baby girl enjoying her birthday present.

 Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

Just Because

Yes, I know I have too many WIPs already. Yes, I know I should try to finish something. Yes, I know I'm crazy. But I started these cross stitch charts over the last week, one every other day. Just because.

My Husband (free chart from Pixel Power)

Be Kind Always-Three Little Words by Lizzie Kate

Pumpkin Boo Club by Lizzie Kate

Fright Boo Club by Lizzie Kate

I also started two semi-scrap blankets just because; I say semi because I will have to buy more Buff and Soft White to finish them. But the other colors are all scrap.

Squircle Squares - free pattern at Dly's Hooks and Yarns

Free pattern from Ideal Delusions

They fit nicely in this metal basket I got at a yard sale this weekend.

 

And yes, I know I'm crazy. But I'm happy.

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

Today's Inspiration

Photo Credit

Finding the Balance and a Finish

I'm still here, still dealing with daily pain. I'm learning to find the balance between what I want to do and what I'm able to do, and I'm getting to where I know what my limits are. I have another doctor's appointment in a couple weeks with another new doctor; it's been hard trying to find one who takes me seriously. It's frustrating, but I'm trying to have a positive outlook on it. This may never go away, but I'm alive, I have a wonderful family and lots of friends, and I do consider myself truly blessed.

I've had to back off from a lot of things. My level of pain varies from day to day so it's difficult to plan events. Most of my large projects don't get a lot of attention right now because it hurts too much to hold the fabric. I've been working on my little WIPs and have started a couple of new ones just because.

I did finally finish the blanket for my new nephew, Luke; he should be born any day now, so I need to get it in the mail ASAP to my sister-in-law in Florida.

I'm really happy with the border. I used this tutorial for adding a round of double stitches in Peacock. Then I did a round of half double stitches in Delft and a round of single stitches in Peacock. It measures about 33 inches square. 

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

Today's Inspiration

Photo Credit (along with a really good daily devotion)