Sunday Stitching Day

I was going to title this post "International Travel Without Ever Leaving Maine" because on Sunday, I drove to Belfast, passing through China and Palermo on the way.  In three hours, I theoretically visited three countries all while in the geographic borders of Maine! 

Did you know that you could also visit Denmark, Mexico and Oxford? LOL  I always wonder if people were homesick or just not creative when they started naming towns in Maine.

I drove to Belfast to meet up with PJ at the Co-Op and spent a wonderful few hours stitching and getting to know another Maine stitcher.  Unfortunately, Barbara wasn't able to join us with everything going on but I hope the three of us can get together sometime soon.


Both PJ and I are stitching Christmas t Hawk Run Hollow although somehow I missed the fact that she was stitching hers over one on 40 ct.  We took a photo of our two pieces together and the size difference is kind of funny.  Her piece is just so fabulous over one.

Aren't the little skaters adorable?  They are so tiny.  This is going to be so wonderful when it's done.

Here's the progress I made on Sunday.  I'm really pleased with how much I've gotten done since finishing Block 9.  I want to keep that momentum going so I can finish off this piece and move on to something new.

 It was so wonderful to get to know PJ and she surprised me with a wonderful gift bag full of goodies. 

Barbara will have to wait a bit longer to get hers!  I wish I had been so thoughtful. Next time I will be better prepared.  We missed you Barbara!

Snowy Saturday Stitching

After I ran a few errands on Saturday morning, the snow that was forecasted started up around 1pm or so.  I watched some old episodes of Masterpiece Theatre's Sherlock on my pc and stitched away on Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow. 

The framing is completed and I started right away on Block 11.  I decided to tackle this block first because it is totally filled with stitching and I was afraid I would get bogged down/bored by all that black. 

I decided to work down in columns of 10 which doesn't make it seem so overwhelming.  Unfortunately, I realized after I got to the bottom that I had forgotten to mark out the framed row so I'm now one over than I should be. 

However I was not ripping out all of that stitching so I will just have to fudge the other side and hope it looks balanced!

Block 9 Completed!

Over Saturday morning coffee, last backstitching completed.  Immediately started stitching outlines for last 3 blocks.  Too tired to write more.  Happy.

Focused Attention

We've had way too much of this lately.

But the bright spot is that I've been able to devote a lot of time to this and I'm really pleased with my progress.

I'm really hoping to be able to complete this block by the end of the week.

To combat the winter weather effect, I bought these at the grocery store on Saturday. They were a bit travel weary and cold but they warmed up nicely in the house and they are such a lovely bright spot.  I'm looking forward to seeing some daffodils but those might be a ways off.

I hope you had something to brighten up your winter weather where ever you are!

2013 WIPocolypse Recap

I see that many are recapping all their stitching accomplishments.  I don't really feel like I accomplished all that much in the way of finishes.  I was able to complete one project on my 2013 WIPocolypse list which was Nora Corbett's Halloween Fairy.

The WIP project that got the most attention in 2013 was CHS Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow although I was unable to finish it during the year as I had really hoped.  Here's what it looked like in January:

And as of yesterday.  I was able to complete two blocks and 2/3rds of a 3rd.  Given that there were 365 days in the year, it really feels like I should have completed much more when I look at the whole project. But there's only 3 and 1/3 blocks left to complete so I'm quite sure I will finish this thing in 2014.  I'd better!

Next on the list was my HAED Storey Keeper and this doesn't show much visual progress either considering the number of stitches that go into completing each 10x10 square!  I think this will turn out to be some kind of 10 year piece - if not longer!  Here it was in January,

And where it was at 12.31.13

Poor Ann Sandles really got no attention for the year.  I had to restart the piece and quite honestly I'm thinking of scrapping it all together.  I think I should have ordered the original fabric because I'm not that jazzed with it how it looks on the fabric I found in my stash.  This photo was from May and the one below from yesterday.  Such a little bit of progress to show....

And the final project on the list was my CHS Alphabet.  It's the same dismal story as with Ann Sandles.  This is another project that's been linger way to long and it might be my focus after C@HRH.  We'll see!

This was the photo when I pulled it out in February and where it stands now.  Two and 1/4 blocks completed with a whole lot more left to go.

I added a 2014 tab and the current projects are carry overs from 2013 but I may edit it some more.  I would really like to add some new projects this year and definitely do some dedicated Halloween stitching this year. 

I hope your year is off to a great stitching start!