Floss Giveaway

Nancy over at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a give away ending New Years Day. She is giving away 2 sets of 15 skeins of hand dyed floss. Tell her that I sent you.

Last TUSAL of 2011

Here is my last TUSAL for 2011. I'm hoping for 2012 that I do more cross stitching then knitting or crocheting.

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

WIPocalypse

This is a pic heavy post so if you want to leave I understand.

I have taken pics of all my WIP/UFOs that I wish to work on in the coming year. I also have a crochet project that I'm working on but since it needs to be done by February I didn't add it to the list. I will be listing them on my WIPocalypse page and then posting pics of updates on that page also.

 First pic is of Bird Alphabet (for my mom)

 Birdhouse Collection (for my mom)

 Birth Sampler

Believe (for my sister)

 Earth Song (for me)

Gettysburg (for me)

 A Long Winter's Nap (for my DH)

 Love (for my BIL and his future wife)

 OHD 2008 or 2009 monthly SAL (for me)

 OHD 2009 mystery SAL (for me)

 The Quiltmaker (for me)

 Millennium (for me)

 Silent Journey (either for me or my sister)

Riding the Wave (for my cousin)

A new challenge

Well I've decided to join in Measi's 2012 WIPocalypse. I need all the encouragement that I can get to do some stitching on my WIP/UFO in 2012.

While I have everyone here I have a confession to make. I haven't picked up a cross stitch project or needle in I don't know how long. What I have been doing is crocheting and knitting busily on Christmas presents.

2012 TUSAL

Daffycat is hosting the 2012 TUSAL again. So if you are looking for a fun non-stressful blog game with prizes then com join here.

The 2012 Totally Useless Stitch-a-long is launched for sign-ups!

If you would like to join the SAL for 2012 leave a comment on this post. The rules are simple:

1. Get a glass container and save your thread clippings or ORTs (Old Ratty Threads!) Some stitchers include fabric trimmings, thread bands or any other stitching cast-offs they gather. You may continue filling this jar throughout the year OR you may empty the jar and start over each month ~ no firm rules here!

2. On (or about) each New Moon take a picture of the ORTs in your jar and post it to your blog. This is a blog game so YES, you MUST have a blog to be included.

3. Yes, you can use your current ORT jar or jars. This is no contest...the stitcher with the most ORTs doesn't win!

4. You should post a picture each New Moon, even if there has been no "progress" to show.

5. Label your Totally Useless posts with "TUSAL" to make it easier for me to find your posts at the end. If you don't know how to "label" your posts email me.

Please DON'T comment on this post if you are not joining the stitch-a-long! Since some of you have multiple blogs, please tell me the name of the blog you will be posting your updates to. I will add your name & blog link to the list in this post. If you have commented and you have not been added to the list within a few days...I may have overlooked you...email me! Questions? Feel free to email me! International bloggers are welcome!

Some changes to the SAL from last year:

1. New participants are welcome to join at any time, yes, even in December of 2012!

2. I am not accepting stash donations for a prize this year but there will be prizes ~ probably something stitched by me.

3. Edit to clarify things a little: You DO NOT have to post an ORT Report every New Moon to be included in this SAL. This is only meant to be FUN not WORK. However, you MUST be ON THE GUEST LIST to be included in the giveaway.

4. A request: I notice there are a lot of bloggers completely in the dark about your Totally Useless posts. They see lots of people posting pictures of ORT jars but they have NO IDEA why. They might want to join in the fun too! Please put a LINK to this sign-up page when you make your TUSAL posts. A link in your sidebar is great but ONLY if your readers SEE it and realise what it is. If you need to learn how to create links email me. I can teach you how!

There are 12 2012 New Moon Dates:

January 23

February 21

March 22

April 21

May 20

June 19

July 19

August 17

September 16

October 15

November 13

December 13

TUSAL for November

Here is my TUSAL for November I know it's late but with the holiday season upon us its been very busy. I work retail at a major retailer so it's been go-go for about a month now and I don't see it slowing down until after January. Needless to say I haven't been stitching like I want too. I have knitted a couple of scarves and I'm working on a crochet baby blanket that I should work on some more if I ever want to get it done in time for the baby shower in Feburary.

TUSAL for October

Here is my update for October. I had all plans on posting on the 27th but I had misplaced my camera cord. I found it today when I wasn't looking for it, as is the case most times.

I haven't been stitching like I want too lately but I recieved work that one of my husbands cousins is pregnant so I'll be crocheting a baby blanket for her.

TUSAL update for September

I've been working on my sister's baby sampler so you can see some light purple floss in there. I haven't been stitching very much due to a sinus infection that has wiped out all my energy so all I want to do is sleep. I'm feeling better now so hopefully I can get back to cross stitching and crocheting.

Finally a stitching update

 Here is my progress on the wedding gift for my brother-in-law and his wife to be. I have the O in LOVE done.

I've started a birth sampler for my sister who is due anytime now. She picked out the pattern since she doesn't know what she is having it's out of Stoney Creek's Jungle Babies. I'm also thinking of doing the afghan that's in the booklet too but haven't decided.

TUSAL and new stash

Here is my TUSAL for the month of August. I know, I know it's a little late but at least I didn't forget about it like I did some other months. Below is some new stash that I picked up at Hobby Lobby while I was on vacation. I'll be doing this one for my brother-in-law and his soon to be wife. 

I wanted to do it for my husband and I but DH doesn't like it so I'll have to find something else for us. The only thing is we don't have the same tastes so it will be interesting to see if I can find one to match both of us.

Some crocheting and some stitching

I've been crocheting up some dish clothes. I've started a pot holder that isn't very far along so I didn't snap a pic.

Here is A Long Winter's Nap. The missing colors at the top are colors that I need to pick up this week. I'm gonna take a break from my HAEDs so I can find and work on a wedding present for my brother-in-law and future sister-in-law.

TUSAL update for July 30th

Here is my update for the July 30th New Moon. As you can see I have done some more crocheting and some stitching which I will post in a different post.

TUSAL Update for July 1st and some crochet

Here is my July 1st TUSAL. As you can see there is some yarn in there from my blanket that I finished for my cousins baby shower. You can see the baby blanket below. The color is pink, you can't see it very well in the picture.

Some Stitching

I have done some stitching in the last couple of months. Here is page 2 done except for the Kreinik which is on order from Needle in a Haystack along with fabby to start another HAED.

I've filled in some of the stitches here on Long Winter's Nap. I will be working on this one once I'm done crocheting, I can't wait. I really enjoy stitching this one except for all the extra fabric since it's a bigger HAED.

TUSAL Update for June

Still not much stitching going on since I'm still not done with that crochet blanket. I'm hoping to be done with it this weekend since I have less then 20 rows left.

Page 1 Done

Here is page 1 done. There are 7,840 stitches on this page alone. I've now moved on to Earth Song and trying to complete page 2. It's almost done and I'll post a pic when I get it done. I have a question that I hope someone can answer for me. I need Kreinik #4 DMC #032 and I don't know where to get it. Does anyone know where do get some?

TUSAL Update for May

Here is my May TUSAL. I've been working exclusively on my HAED Believe.

April's TUSAL

Another New Moon has come and gone. I haven't been stitching as much as I would like but the flower beds have been calling my name to be weeded. I need to find a happy balance between outside activities and stitching.

Finally a pic

I had to breakdown and buy a new camera since I couldn't find the disk for my camera at home. I bought a cheap digital and this is the first time using it so I'm hoping the pics will get better in time. Here is the pic of Believe as of this morning. I'm starting to fill in the butterfly slowly.
I have had to work on this slowly since I have to crochet a baby blanket for a cousin who is having her first baby in September. I'll post a pic when I'm finished with the blanket. I'm also knitting scarves for my mom to sell at craft shows. She only has one left so I've been busy knitting those. I'll say good bye for now and hopefully I'll post again next week.

Another update

I have another update but this time without pics since my camera is not working like it should. I have been stitching on Believe. I'll post pics as soon as my camera is working. I've been sick with the flu for about 3 days now and I'm getting tired of it. The good thing about being sick is the good diet plan it puts you on.

First finish and WIP update

First up is Gettysburg. His face and hat are done and I'm working on his coat.

Next is Believe my HAED. I'm slowly working on this one. I was going to work on Gettysburg until I got it done but with everyone talking about theirs I decided to work on mine. While HAED had their 40% sale I bought a couple of patterns and after I downloaded them I found another one that I had saved so now I have 6 HAEDs but only 3 started.

Finally here is my first finish for 2011. I know it wasn't on my projects page but I had started this one before the new year and had to wait for some extra cash to get a couple of the colors that I needed to finish it. It's called Dear Santa from the Tiny Tidings XI booklet designed by Lizzie Kate on some unknown fabric.

TUSAL Update for March

Here is my TUSAL update for the March New Moon. Not much for the month but some. I've been stitching on my HAED so not much orts since I have lots of confetti stitches.

New blogger and her giveaway

While reading blogs early this morning I stumbled across a new blogger mentioned on Colorado Stitcher's blog. Her name is Peg and you can find her here at Lightening Fingers....not! She just happens to be having a giveaway for her birthday. She is giving away a basket full of goodies that includes the basket. The drawing is March 7th so go take a look at her wonderful stitching and enter her drawing.

TUSAL Update for February

Here is my update for the TUSAL on It's Daffycat blog. I'm about a week behind updating for this but I live in the mid-west and got about 14" of snow last Tuesday and had to dig myself out so not a whole lot of computer time was to be had last week.

Snow, Snow and more Snow

It's been snowing since Monday at mid-morning and still snowing as far as I know. I haven't stuck my nose outside since about 3am. My poor dog doesn't even want to go outside and he likes the snow. Tomorrow I'll measure and see how much we have. In this pic you will see how it's been piling up on the rail of the deck. The snow on the deck is what we have scooped so the dog will go out. I can not wait until spring.
I have been doing some stitching but I've been reading more lately. I wish I could read and stitch at the same time but I don't like listening to books on tape so I'll have to figure something out.

Here is the latest pic of Gettysburg that I took on Tuesday the 1st.

First 2011 update

I know it's like the middle of the month but I really haven't had a lot to say so I've been stitching and reading. I've been working on my Gettysburg WIP from many, many years ago. I've been racking my brain trying to think when I started this. I'm sure it was when I still lived with my parents which was like 10 years ago. (Hanging my head in shame and slowly shaking it from side to side)
I've been told by my husband that I couldn't buy any more patterns or kits until I finished one. I don't think he knows how many patterns and kits I have in my craft room. I was tempted to buy another HAED during their sale over New Years but was denied. So I'm trying to work like crazy to finish one. Problem is that I have no small WIPs.

Here is what Gettysburg looked like when I picked it up on the 2nd of January.

And here is what it looked like when I snapped a pic early this morning. The white spot on his face will be his eye. I just haven't stitched it yet.

Carol's Giveaway

Carol over at Carol's Stitching and Stuff is having two giveaways. One is for her stitching friends PS Snowy Nights with DMC floss and some fabric. The other one is for her knitting friends some beautiful yarn. Her drawing is on January 16th.

TUSAL Update

I've joined the TUSAL (Totally Useless Stitch A Long) that Daffycat is hosting this year. Here is my pic. The jar that I'm using is a cherry jar that I've washed, if I fill this jar up I'll find another jar to fill that is bigger or just use another cherry jar. (I do love my cherries.)