Saturday, December 10, 2011

Final catch-up

First part of this post is long overdue.  I won a giveaway on Mel's blog a few weeks ago, and gave her my new address down in San Diego to send the surprise to.  It was a great welcome to see the brown envelope waiting in the pile of mail when I first arrived.  She sent me some great things.  First off was a really interesting chart by Raise the Roof I'd never seen before.  There was also one of the really cute Victoria's Sampler cottage series.  I stitched a few of these years and years ago, so it was nice to receive another chart in the series.  She included some 25 count fabric (perfect for those ornaments I've been wanting to do over 1) and some cotton flosses, and a beautiful card.  Mel, thank you so much for the wonderful surprise.  I know I sent you an e-mail right away, but you've patiently been waiting over a week for me to post a pic on my blog.

One of the first things I did when I got to San Diego was finish my iStitch Mystery SAL.  I still have no clue what I'm going to finish this as, since its really too big to be considered a "small," not really large enough I want to frame it, and I'm not sure I want a purple pillow.  Oh well, something will come along.  This was truly an enjoyable stitch and a very well run SAL.  Thank you Carol!

Some progress has been made on Lizzie Kate's 6 Fat Men, and actually more since I took this picture.  For now I'm not stitching the wording or any of the confetti stitches.  I have an idea floating around in my head with the song Winter Wonderland.

Here and there I've been working on some ornaments, and have another finish to show.  Not 100% sure since I can claim this one totally by myself, since I suckered my mom into doing the machine sewing herself "as a lesson on how to use her sewing machine."  Actually, make that a lesson on how to use one of the 3 machines she has (and I've actually used this one before).  It looks cute now, but this was one of those "never ever again" things.  Trying to turn a long and skinny piece, with curves, lined with interfacing, right side out was NOT fun.  It may not look like it, its stitched on 40 ct linen so was pretty tiny once sewed up.  Its an older Hands to Work design, which I don't remember the name of, but it was a chart with 3 different stockings on it.
Stitched on 40 ct linen with HDF silk
in Old Maid of the Forest and Examplar Crushed Berries
Now its time for me to admit a guilty secret.  I started Jenny Bean's Christmas sampler while I was still up in Ogden.  I just couldn't resist everyone else's beautiful pictures, and I had the perfect piece of linen for it, and the colors were just calling out to me.  Rarely do I stitch something in exactly what the designer calls for, but this is one piece I didn't make a single substitution on.  Not a huge amount done, and I  probably won't get it finished for this year, but that's fine.  It will definitely be done for next year.

Shakespeare's Peddler Jenny Bean's Christmas Sampler stitched on
40 ct PTP Legacy linen with the called for threads
We had a fairly clear day on Thursday, so I thought I'd make everyone that's shivering in snow a little jealous.  This is the view from my parent's back patio.  The islands are actually part of Mexico, and I can't remember their names.  Totally unedited photo, and no, that wasn't some super-duper zoom lens either.  Don't worry, its actually supposed to rain on Monday and Tuesday, so I do have to suffer some bad weather.  And it does seem strange going through all the holiday motions with it being in the 60s outside.  Dare I say it?  I might actually miss snow.

12 comments:

Kate said...

What a lovely post - super giveaway win. Love the L*K project and that stocking is just darling.

Margaret said...

I missed snow when I lived in Southern Cal, but I don't miss it now. lol! I wouldn't mind never encountering snow again. :D Nice prize from Mel, and I love your LK piece! Great start on Jenny Bean too! Congrats also on the SAL finish, and the pretty stocking ornie -- so cute! The view from your parents' house is gorgeous! Lucky!

Chris said...

Glad to hear things are settling down some. What a wonderful giveaway you received. I love all your projects, the ornament finish, the fat men and Jenny Bean.

Theresa said...

I totally understand your missing of snow. Although the weather is so nice here in SD, I do miss the snow sometimes, especially during Christmas. We are going to visit my family in Michigan this year, maybe we'll get a white Christmas~

What a wonderful package you got!!!! Just look at all those goodies~~ Love all your stitchings, and congrats on your SAL finish~~

Christine said...

Wonderful giveaway win and great stitching. The skinny stocking ornament is adorable

Lois said...

What nice stitchy pics! Love your little stocking ornament and can just imagine how tricky it was getting that one turned the right way out! Great start on Jenny Bean. What a great view from your parents' house.

cucki said...

hello dear, so happy to hear that things are settling down for you..
very sweet giveaway win..
i love the stocking so much..it is very sweet..i love the LK project..it is so lovely...
keep well,,hugs cucki xx

Lesleyanne said...

Lovely giveaway received. Your stocking is very cute. I love your progress on your L*K I am hoping to stitch this in the new year.

Carol said...

What a view from your parents'!! I would miss snow at Christmas, too, but the way we're going this year, we won't have any either...

Oh, my, I'll bet that stocking was extremely hard to turn right side out, Mindi! I went through that myself with a very narrow Santa ornament--just about gave up, but stayed with it and it turned out great. I love your stocking and the LK project is coming along so nicely...

Anonymous said...

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Not much time right now, but I definitely want to stop and visit your blog: full of promises !
Thanks for commenting on my blog.
What is the pattern at the top right of your banner ?

Michelle said...

Oh I'm loving your Jenny Bean! I really want to stitch that one...I just need a few threads for it. So pretty! And that stocking is adorable, but I can imagine it was troublesome!

dixiesamplar said...

Lovely win...bet you'll find something to do with all of that!

Loving your finishes and WIPs...beautiful work. I just finished a skinny piece that was a bear to turn out...nearly ripped the seams trying to get it turned right, LOL!

Snow??? Who needs snow? Gimme the good ole' sunshine any day of the week! LOL! I like snow, but after 5seconds, I'm done! My bones are too old for the cold, wet stuff.

Stop by to enter my giveaway, ends Friday!