A is for Altemeyer

Greetings Friends,

Yesterday was a glorious day...14 hours of peaceful stitching. 

I took my dog to the groomer at 8:00 a.m. was home by 9:30 and parked

my caboose on the couch until about 11:30 last night. 

During my marathon stitching session I finished the "A" from M Designs.

I was inspired to stitch this piece after seeing Yvonne's "S". 

This piece was one of my many starts in 2011.  Deciding to dedicate some of my time to finishing those "starts" I decided to tackle this one first.  I really love this design and have a perfect place in my living ready to display the finished product. 

The problem is...............Now that it is finished I'm not so sure I like the colors. 

Has this ever happened to you? 

I think my problem is the fibers I chose.  All the color variation makes an already busy design TOO busy.  The picture tones it down a bit but the gray variations run rampant.  When I finished I held it up for my husband to see and asked him if he could tell what it was.  He looked intently begging for an imagine to appear before his eyes so he wouldn't have to say he couldn't tell what it was.  Bahahaha!  Poor man.  I finally cracked up laughing and let him off the hook. 

Now my dilemma is whether to frame this piece.  I'm hoping it will grow on me....

M Designs "A"

I hope everyone is off to a great start in 2012. 

It is hard to believe that January is almost over.

Thank you for stopping by and your sweet comments.  Hearing from you makes my day :-)

I did want to let you know that I try very hard to respond, thank or just say hi to anyone who comments on my blog posts.  If you don't hear from me that means your reply is set to "no reply blogger" and if I don't already have your email address I can't reply back. 

Regardless, please know that I appreciate the time you take to stop by. 

Keep on stitchin,

Nan

Look Out.....I'm on a ROLL!

Happy Sunday Friends!

I finished stitching this cutie patootie JBW design last night. 

It was a quick stitch and turned out super cute (I think ;-)

I'm on a stitching and finishing roll this weekend.  If only I could stay this motivated. 

JBW Winter Collection

Snow Hats

28 ct. White Jobelen

Suggested Fibers

I added the pom poms on the top because these hats

remind me of one a had when I was little. 

My hat had a sparkly ball on the top. 

I hated wearing that hat when I was little but it brings back fond memories now.

Thank you so much for stopping by and your sweet comments. 

I love hearing from you and appreciate you allowing me to share my stitched pieces with you.  Have a great week and I'll be back soon, assuming the stitching mojo continues.

Keep on stitchin'

Nan

January Finish

Greetings Fellow Stitchers,

I have my first finish for the new year! I've noticed this design on many blogs and I'm delighted to share my version of it with you.  I've decided to stitch the series separately and can't wait for each new month.  I've already kitted February and can't wait to see March. 

I'm sitting here in a quiet, peaceful house this evening so I decided it was a perfect time to work on finishing this piece.  I cut fabric, ironed, adhered batting to the cube and sat down to start pinning.  Wouldn't you know it.....I had about 10 pins, it usually takes about 25 for a cube this size.  So, I called my neighbor who sews and has a craft room to die for.  Surely, she would have some pins I could borrow, nope.  So she called her mom, nope.  Her sister, nope.  I couldn't stop now so I hopped in the car and trekked the 15 miles to the nearest wal-mart.  I went directly to the pins and picked up all 5 containers of satin pins on the shelf.  No way I'm running out of pins for a very long time.  As I turn to go, low and behold......the fabric got me.  Of course you can't go into the fabric dept. and not look.  So in the process of picking up pins I also found some finishing fabric I liked even better.  (I also picked up some Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day fabric while I was at it. ;-)

While I was on a roll I decided to cruise the ribbon selection.  I found the cutest sparkly snowflake ribbon to finish off the design.  I guess my trip to wal-mart was worth it after all. 

I like this finished product better than what I had planned on using. 

 

Now, I need a good camera.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I appreciate your sweet comments.  I hope the new year is off to a great start for you.  Next weekend I am off to a stitching retreat in Ohio. 

I can't wait to see the girls and spend some time stitching and stashing.  Until next time......

Keep on stitching,

Nan

A Final Finish for 2011 (The Year of Good Intentions)

Happy New Year's Eve!
It is hard to believe that another year has come to an end.  I've been incredibly blessed this year.  I hope that 2012 brings you many blessings and of course, lots of time to stitch.

I have been busy finishing the first of the Prairie Schooler Limited Edition Kits. 

I have long hoped to stitch the entire series. 

This is my final finish for 2012 and a great way to end the year.

The year 2011 was apparently the year of good intentions.  For years I have only stitched small pieces.  I have several larger pieces I have framed and hanging on my walls but I haven't started a large project for a long, long time. 

I think I like to stitch small things because I like to do my own finishing. 

This year I have broken my dry spell and started several large projects.

Take a look at what I've gotten myself into.....

This is the retreat piece from Jan at Tree of Life Samplings. 

It is absolutely beautiful and has a place reserved in my stitching room. 

Hopefully 2012 will bring a finish to this piece.

How well I remember my good intentions with this piece.  I ordered this early in 2012.  I fell in love with Rose Quaker and had my friend Karen go to the attic and pick out fabric and silk fibers.  This piece was my first attempt at over 2 on 40 ct. 

I fell in love and stitch mostly on 40 ct. now.

I made good progress on this piece but haven't worked on it in a while. 

This is another of my delusions of grandeur.

One Nation is absolutely beautiful.

I am stitching it over 2 on 40 ct. 

I started Gem Show 3 this Summer.

I didn't make very much progress but still have high hopes.

Here is my Lizzie Kate Halloween piece.  I've finished 3 blocks. 

I'm stitching it on 27 ct. stitch band with hopes of finishing it as a bell pull.

And.....my last big project of 2011.  Christmas Quaker Bellpull.

I started this piece late in November.  I haven't made a lot of progress on this one either.

The good thing is as I pulled these pieces out to take pictures I realize that I still love each one as much as the day I started it.  I see big accomplishments for 2012........

Here's to a productive, healthy new year,

Nan

Gobble.....Gobble.....Blah!

Happy Turkey Hangover Week!

     I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving.  I love this time of year when we spend time with our family, relax (hopefully) and eat til our pants no longer fit.  Thanksgiving was a time of overindulgence for me.  I know I will be miserable after the turkey, noodles, rolls, sweet potato casserole, ham, pumpkin pie, etc, etc.   I just can't stop myself until I feel, well....BLAH!  Thank god for elastic. 

During Thanksgiving break I was able to finish this little cutie.  

Thanks to Karen for the idea to finish the box off with a bow. 

Turkey Love

Plum Street Samplers

Now I'm off to start on Christmas. 
I absolutely refused to start a holiday until one is finished. 
Therefore, I probably give the appearance of being behind. 
 I started on Stickideen von der Wiehenburg's Christmas Quaker Bellpull this week. 
I'm fairly certain it won't be complete this year but I've loved every stitch so far. 

Thank you for stopping by to visit and catch up.  I appreciate your visits and comments.

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

I Made it Home in Record Time...

I didn't get a ticket, I didn't speed (much) but I'm pretty sure I made record time getting home with my stitched pieces.

The First Thing I Did...
when I came home with my framed pieces today was actually hang them on the wall. 
I have been waiting on these pieces since September and was so excited to finally have them in my hands that I couldn't wait to get them up so I could admire them every time I walk by. 
The two framed pieces are designs that I stitched this summer.  I started free bird at the OOE retreat and purchased Bless This House on the way to the retreat.  I think these two pieces are part of the reason I haven't had many blog posts this summer/fall.  It took quite a while to stitch them and then off to they went to the framer. 

La-D-Da 

Bless This House

Plum Street Samplers

Free Bird

The frame is actually a very deep red that matches the fibers in the design. 

The camera doesn't quite capture the real beauty.

~Thanksgiving~

Thanksgiving is a favorite of mine.  I love to stitch for Thanksgiving and

I am delighted to have finished Thankful Quaker. 

Bent Creek
Thankful Quaker

Bent Creek

Thankful Quaker

My holiday shelf is starting to fill up.  I've combined Autumn and Thanksgiving. 

One day it will be full for each holiday.  *Crossing fingers and stitching furiously*

I hope the upcoming holidays are joyous for you. 

 It is hard to believe that it is time to stuff the turkey and deck the halls.   

I came across this picture on a friend's facebook page and found it refreshing and hilarious. 

Every year I am amazed at how retailers try to out do each other. 

I notice that a lot of Black Friday sales are starting at midnight Thanksgiving night. 

Will you be joining the millions of people trying to grab the deals?

I'll be back soon with more finishes.  I dedicated most of the Fall to preparing for the Pals Fall Fling.  I have pictures to share of friends and finishes but they are on another camera and I can't find the cord. 

Until then...

Keep on stitchin,

Nan

Harvest Moon

Hello Friends,

I have been inspired by the Fall like weather and have

been stitching away on seasonal designs.

As my weekend draws to an end I have one more finish to share with you.

Harvest Moon

by: Threadwork Primitives

Tree of Life Fabrics ~ Double Dyed Cocoa

Victorian Motto Chenille ~ Pastel Gold

Suggested Fibers

I couldn't wait to stitch this cutie. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

I, like most of you have spent the day remembering and honoring the memory of 9/11. 

God Bless America,

Nan