Stitching by Stephanie

Day Off....??

2012-01-27T06:57:00.000-08:00

So I took today off from work because tomorrow is my Birthday (loud sigh). My daughter is taking the commuter train down to Orange County so that we can spend the day together. Our jam packed day will begin at 8:45 am and end at 8:00 pm tonight. We have appointments at two bridal salons and are going to try and fit Disneyland in (at least to walk Main Street) and then her fiance and my bf will join us for dinner at Benihana's. Needless to say, there will most likely be any stitching going on, unless I get a second wind.

I am bringing my camera with me today so will try and capture some photos from my day and post them tomorrow.

I don't know what my bf has in store for my Birthday tomorrow....so stay tuned.

Cheers,

Stephanie

Planning, planning and more planning!!

2012-01-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

Just want to say that planning a wedding is more work then you would think. There are so many details that you never think about, like small straws for the bar...lol. With that being said, I have been trying to work exclusively on Our Wedding by Lavender and Lace, since I have a hard deadline of October 13th (wedding day). Here is m meager progress. I am working on everything but the white of the dress, then will add that last.

Hope everyone had a Happy New Year. I try and go to Portland, Oregon for New Years, we love the change of seasons from Southern California. For those of you that have never been there is an awsome needlework store called Acorns and Threads. So my routine for Portland is to arrive in the am get a car and head directly over to Acorns and Threads. This time I brought with me several patterns that I have wanted to kit up. To me it really makes a difference to be able to see the linen and play with the silks. This was one of the highlights of my trip.

In case you have not been I thought I would post a couple of pictures.

Great restaurants....

Amazing architecture..

Beautiful knitting shops...

Wonderful city vibe...

Of course it was vacation so what is there not to like about it, but I would truly like to retire there.

Will try and post more frequently...till next time. Cheers!!

Engaged!!

2011-10-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

So my one and only daughter Shauna is officially engaged!! The date has been set for October 27, 2012 and will be in a 100 year old barn on her future in-laws property. We are aming for barn meets chic, with chandeliers and antique plates. The planning has begun and has consumed a lot of my time. It is pretty incredible how much goes into planning a wedding. I never had a wedding, so it makes it more special. Oh, and yes I am stitching something for her wedding. I pulled out a pattern that I purchased years ago (I guess for this moment) Lavender and Lace "Our Wedding", and have a new start. I figure I have 1 year and that it will help me get my mind off of all the crazyness.

As soon as we have the colors picked out I will post pictures, along with my progress of Our Wedding.

Thanks for following me....happy fall!!

Way too long!!

2011-07-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

I know it has been such a long time since I have posted. I was sort of waiting to get my Village at Hawk Run Hollow framed. In the meantime, I had a "staycation" which allowed us to have some work done around the house. Since I work from home most of the week having my office re-done has been great. We had crown moulding added and new windows installed. I changed the color of my office and now have a wall dedicated to my samplers.

I purchased two antique samplers that are at the framers and will pick them up this weekend and will add them to my sampler wall. I started Houses of Hawk Run Hollow and am on the 2nd block, I am having a really hard time sticking with it. I have so many others that I want to start, so I might start an A & E sampler and swtich between the two. I will let you know what I decide to do and post some pictures of my progress on HoHRH (and whatever else) I decide to start......lol.

Thanks for sticking with my blog, even though I have not been posting frequently. I am really going to try harder to post each week.

Hope everyone is having a great summer!!

Cheers,

Stephanie

Back to Basics

2011-03-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

Ok....so I admit it, the 15 projects in 15 days just made me insane. Granted it is always fun to start something new, but to me it has been overwhelming. I hate to say this buy I really have not been in the stitching mood, really trying to get motivated again. I have decided to just concentrate on one or two projects instead of 15. My first goal is to finish the back stitching on VoHRH, yeah, yeah, I should have done it while I did each box but since I use Q-Snaps I didn't want to mess anything up. Hopefully the BS won't take too long. In the meantime I have been securing more stash, mainly A & E's. I will take pictures of them and post soon.

The weather in Orange County has been pretty spring like with the exception with the wet weekend we had. It is supposed to be 89 degrees tomorrow and hot for the next 2 days, I guess we can't complain.

I hope everyone had a terrific St. Patrick's Day!!!....and now looking forward to Spring!!

Thanks for hanging with my me during my absence.

I joined!!

2011-01-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

I know it has been awhile since my last post but with the holidays and work....you know the drill. I did however join the "2011 Challenge", 15 new starts in 15 days. The only modification I made is to alternate new starts with WIP's, otherwise I will have too many WIP's...lol. With all my good intentions of starting this challenge I threw my back out, the funny thing is I don't really know how I did it. I have been reading some of the blogs and a lot of people have decided to join the "Challenge" and some have modified it but none like One Stitch at a Time. She is doing a new start a day for the entire month. I really love that idea and can't wait to see her progress for the entire year.

The following is a list of my starts and WIP's so far:

1. In the Forrest by La D Da
2. Summer Ball by Sandy Littlejohn-WIP
3. Marblehead Sampler from Sampler & Antique Needlework Spring 2007
4. ?
5. ?

I realize I am a day off, I was not able to stitch on Sunday because of my back pain, so I will make up the day along the way.

I got a new camera for Christmas the Canon EOS Rebel T2i and am planning to take a lot more pictures of my needlework. If I feel better today I will take pictures of my starts so far and post them tomorrow. I did have an organized list of projects I wanted to start but I decided to start on ones that I have kitted up already. So at this point I am taking it day by day, which I kind of like, makes the day a mystery as to what my new start or WIP that I will bring out.

An update on my VoHRH, I finally finished all the stitching now I am going back and doing the backstitching. Since I am using Q-Snaps I decided to save the BS for last but I should have this completely finished soon.

Thanks for reading and following....check back for pictures!!

Cheers,

Stephanie

Closer to the finish...

2010-11-22T15:36:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been plugging along on VoHRH and well into the final box. This definietly will be an acomplishment when I am finally finished.

I have also been busy collecting stash and deciding what my next start will be. A few of the patterns that I really want to work on call for NPI, of couse the colors that I don't already have.

I am also desperately looking for the Just Cross Stitch October 2008 Issue. If you know of anyone who would be willing to part with it please let me know.

There are a few patterns that I have seen completed that I would really love to stitch.

I am getting ready for Thanksgiving, so will start baking tomorrow and Wednesday. My daughter and her BF and my BF's mother will be comming over. This is my favorite time of year and am really looking forward to having a lot of stitching time this long weekend too.

Here is wishing everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Cheers,

Stephanie

Pictures and Stitching

2010-11-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

As promised a picture from my office window in San Diego, as you can see it was a beautiful day yesterday in San Diego....well almost everyday is!

I'm sad to say I am not finished with box 11 on VoHRH, but I am getting closer. I hope to be able to finish the door and start on the grass tonight. So within the next day or two I should be on to the final box of this piece. For those of you who have not stitched this piece the final box is completely filled in....so that should be fun.

I have also been aquiring more stash and trying to decide what my next start will be. The picture below shows La D Da's "Something Wicked", Exampler Dames "And They Sinned" and "Paradise Lost" by Plum Street Samplers.

And last but not least for today a picture of Vegas, when not sleeping keeping a watchful eye over my stash.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day....thanks for checking my blog!!

Stephanie

Tuesday in San Diego

2010-11-09T08:38:00.000-08:00

On the train in route to San Diego. Although it is a beautiful ride, it is my least favorite day of the week. I work from home 4 days a week and go into the office on Tuesdays which is located in downtown San Diego, so I guess i can't complain too much, just a really long day. Those of you that are familiar with SD it is very close to Sea Port Village. The weather is very fall like and cool today. I will try and take a picture with my phone and post it when I get home.

As for the "great" VoHRH, I am getting closer to finishing box 11. I will post a picture later tonight or tomorrow of my progress. I have also been adding to my stash lately with a lot of Blackbird Designs. I have the anniversary designs by BBD partially kitted up and am dying to start. I just really want to finish the village before I start anything else.

I am still slowly but surely organizing my silks with the floss organization system that I talked about in a previous post. I just hate taking time away from stitching to organize floss....lol.

I am getting closer to my stop, but I will post either later today or tomorrow with some pictures.

Cheers,

Stephanie

Happy Saturday!!

2010-11-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend so far. The temperature has finally dropped in Southern California. It has been in the 90's most of the week and I believe there is a chance of rain later this afternoon.

We are going to visit my BF's mother today who lives in Temecula. We are going to breakfast and then to a movie and will be back early for the 7:30 pm USC game tonight.

I'm going to bring my VoHRH with me hoping I wll get to do a little stitching. I am getting closer to finising filling in the school house and am hoping I will almost have the block done by the end of the weekend. Maybe wishful thinking on my part, but I can hope. I also need to bring out Quaker Christmas to try and finish that one at some point. I will take pictures of both tomorrow as well as a kitted up new project.

Have a great Saturday stitiching!!

Stephanie

VoHRH Update

2010-11-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone's Halloween was safe and fun. For the second year in a row not many trick or treaters, only three to be exact. I really don't think I will be passing out candy next year sense I seem to get stuck with it...lol.

My Yorkie Vegas in his monkey costume.

It has been pretty warm in Southern California the past few days but the temperature is supposed to drop significantly this weekend. I am really looking forward to watching college football and stitching.

I am making more progress on the 11th square on VoHRH. I really cannot wait to finish this piece it really seems like it is taking a long time. I guess if I just worked on it solely and not my other WIP's it would be done by now.

I hope everyone is having a great week and getting ready for the hollidays.

Cheers,

Stephanie

Sorry for being MIA!!

2010-10-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

It has been so long since I have posted that I am really embarassed. I guess I have just let life get in the way. I have stillllll been working on Village at Hawk Run Hollow and am on the next to last box.....YEAH! I have a bunch of WIP's waiting to be finished and of course my STASH that is calling me. I am posting a picture of my progress on box 11 of VoHRH. It is not the best picture, but I did not want to take it off the Q-Snaps. Hopefully I will be able to make progress this weekend. I said that about box 10 and it just seemed to take forever. I guess I can't be too hard on myself, this piece is huge and I do have this thing called "work" that interferes with my stitching time.....lol.

I also wanted to share a system to organize silks and specialty floss. The system is called Annie's Keepers, maybe some of you are using or have heard of it before. It has a strip similar to a pendalfex file that fits into a plastic file container. There are plastic keepers that you label with the color name, etc. and they hang in the file box. No more wondering if you have the color or not and I have heard it is better to let the floss breath rather then having them in plastic bags. When you kit up a project they keepers have a hole at the top so you can put the floss on a ring. I have not finished setting this up but am including a picture so that you are able to see what I am talking about. I ordered mine from Acorns and Threads in Portland Oregon they are really helpful and have them in stock most of the time.

Hope everyone has a great and safe Halloween. I will try and post my progress on Monday.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Stephanie

Oh....GO USC!!! Fight On!!

An Update

2010-06-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted anything in awhile. Still recovering from my hip surgery so just now being able to get around more. I have continued to stitch on my WIP's and am down to the last three blocks on Village of Hawk Run Hollow. I have also started "272" (The Gettysburg Address) this is another huge project and am trying to put more time into Tuscany by Chatelaine.

I have found another hobby too....Quilting!!! I am going to a local quilt shop this weekend to have them help me start my quilt. I really would like to be able to make a quilt for my daughter for Christmas this year...I will see how it goes. The quilt that I am going to work on doesn't look too dificult. It is kind of fun changing things up too.

Cheers!!!

Slow Progress!!

2010-02-23T07:08:00.000-08:00

As I posted a few weeks ago, I recently had surgery on my hip and am still on crutches. It has been really frustrating not being able to get around like normal. To top it of , yesterday I believe that I broke my middle toe on my good leg.

At least I have been able to make more progress on VOHRH. I am finally on box 9 out of 12 and almost done with it. I have been trying to just work on this one WIP so that maybe I can finally have a finish. I haven't been able to post pictures but might be able to use my camera later today.

Thanks for following my blog....will post again soon, hopefully with pictures!!

Recovering from Surgery!!

2010-02-05T08:47:00.000-08:00

I had arthroscopic hip surgery yesterday to repair a torn labrum and remove a bone cyst. It has been something I have been battleing the past year with. I am so glad I had the surgery even though I will be on crutches for a month. I will be off work for the next week, so hopefully I will be able to get some stitching done. Won't be able to take any pictures of my progress for a few weeks, but hope to come down to the final few squares of Village at Hawk Run Hollow.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Stitching along.....

2010-01-27T09:49:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I have updated my blog. I was out of town over New Years and just trying to get back into the groove of things. I have been trying to get stitiching time in but not as much as I would like.
I am scheduled for surgery on my hip for next Thursday the 4th, so maybe when I am recovering I will get to work on my stitching.

On a kinda fun note it is my birthday tomorrow. My BF is taking me to a french restaurant for dinner, I am really looking forward to it. His B-day is on Valentines Day so I am going to try and do something special this weekend for him since I am supposed to be on crutches for a month and probably won't be able to get around much.

I am going to take pictures tonight of my progress on Village of Hawk Run Hollow and will try and post tomorrow.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T06:38:00.000-08:00

I woke up this Chrismas morning to it being 32-degress outside, very cold for us Southern Californians, but makes it feel more Christmasy. I hope all of my friends and fellow bloggers have a very Merry Christmas and are able to enjoy time with their family and friends....oh and maybe a little stitching.

Merry Christmas to All

2009-12-23T06:32:00.000-08:00

I have seen this Christmas "survey" on several blogs and decided that it would be fun to answer the questions!

Eggnog or hot chocolate? Both, and I love them equally.....and love to spike them with a shot of brandy and 1/2 a shot of Bailey's.....Yummmmm

Does Santa wrap the presents or leave them open under the tree? Santa wraps them. One of the fondest memories I had as a child of Christmas, was my gifts from Santa. My mother used to by the same wrap for all of Santa's gifts, so it was different then the wrap used for the gifts from my parents. I used to always think wow, these came all the way from the North Pole for me.

Colored lights on a tree or white? I love both. When I was growing up the most popular lights were the large colored lights (they did not even blink), but the tree was beautiful with the tinsel that my Dad painstaking placed individually on each branch. Since I have been an adult we have mostly used white lights.

Do you hang mistletoe? No. Don't know why not, but we never have.

When do you put your decorations up? Usually Thanksgiving weekend, but I will say that it is now a progression. It seems I am adding to my decorations each year, right down to Christmas week.

What is you favorite holiday dish? Cranberry Mallow Yam Bake

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No, wait for early Christmas morning, make coffee or hot chocolate and sit by the tree and open gifts.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? In the past with white lights, matching ornaments (red and gold mostly) and personal ornaments that I have collected through the years. This year my place is really to small for my tree, so I bought this wonderful tree that is decorated, but is in a topiary pot. (I will try and take a picture later today and post).

Snow: Love it or hate it? Raised in Southern California, I have never had to live in it, so I would say I love it.

Can you ice skate? Since I was raised in the late 60's early 70's most girls tried to follow Peggy Flemming. So yes, I did take ice skating lessons, would love to buy skates again and try it, but don't want to end up with a broken something.

What is you favorite holiday dessert? Pumpkin Pie.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? Watching all of the christmas type movies that we own, and going to see the Rose Parade floats being decorated. I was actually fortunate to work on the float for our city that won that year. Working on the float was something I always wanted to do.

Candy canes: yum or yuck? Yummm

Favorite Chrismas show? A Charlie Brown Christmas.

A Rainy Day in Southern California!!

2009-12-12T07:23:00.000-08:00

It is very rare to have a rainy day in Southern California, specially on a weekend. I am really looking forward to being able to put on a movie and stich most of the day. I have not been able to work on my stitiching this week becuase I have been sick with a bad cold.

I will try and post pictures early next week of my progress. Stay warm and enjoy the holiday spirit.

Updated Photo of WIP!!

2009-12-02T11:29:00.000-08:00

As promised here is an updated picture of my progress on "Athena". Hopefully, I can stick with it so it will no longer be a WIP.

Long overdue!!

2009-12-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

I really feel that I have been ingnoring my blog, but in actuallity I have really been trying to work on my stitiching so that I would have something to update. With Thanksgiving and all the preparations that go into it my stitching time has been limited. I have been able to work on "Athena Goddess of Wisdom" and will post a picture later today. I have had a hard time sticking with this project, there is a lot of detail, actually more than I thought. I have so many other projects calling me.

I will take a picture of my progress and will post it later on today, so check back!!

Great Giveaway!!

2009-11-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

I came across a blog by Angela that is having a huge givaway. The drawing will be December 10th. Please visit her blog at http://hookedonstitches.blogspot.com/ for how to enter. Oh, and good luck!!

Old UFO now a WIP

2009-11-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

I found another UFO that I was hoping to finish before this Xmas, well that is not going to happen, but I did bring it out last night.

So far this past week I worked on four of my UFO's. I have set my stitiching rotation Bagatelle, Athena, Pretty Pumpkins, Village of Hawk Run Hollow and A Quaker Christmas. I have determined that most of my projects are large, which means I don't have a lot of finishes. I used to work on one project at a time, but decided have the fun was buying and kitting up the project and starting it. And after all isn't this supposed to be fun. Thanks goodness this is not my job or I would be starving....haha

Happy Haloweeeen!!

2009-10-31T09:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, I did go out and purchase a Haloween costume for my Yorkie, Vegas. He really does not like wearing it. I think he would prefer to eat the tail. Here is a picture that I would not be able to capture again if I tried.

I bet you thought he was a mouse!! He is supposed to be a monkey! Happy Haloween!!

2009-10-30T12:46:00.000-07:00

Not that I need anything else to stitch, but I was wondering if anyone has this pattern or kit that they would be willing to part with? It is an OOP design by Candamar Designs called "Teapot Stack". Just thought it was very whimsical, and I love the colors.

Progress on Quaker Christmas

2009-10-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

I finally decided to put some time into "Quaker Christmas". I don't think I have worked on it since last year at this time. Remember I have been trying to stitch on something different each night, well I have to admit I did work on this for two nights.

Going to pull something out of my WIP's to work on tonight. Maybe the Village oft Hawk Run will call me. I will try and post and updated picture of VOHR tomorrow.

Stitching rotation

2009-10-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

I decided to try a stitching rotation to complete my WIP's or at least make a dent on them. Last night I set the "Pretty Pumpkins" aside and picked up "A Quaker Christmas" by By Gone Stitches. I will post a picture either later today or tomorrow of my progress. Now what should I work on tonight, that is the question? I have "Village of Hawk Run Hollow" by Carriage House Samplings, "Marquoir Bleu et Rouge" by Gigi and Carinne, "Athena Goddess of Wisdom" by Mirabilia or "Summer Ball" by Sandy Littlejohn. FYI that is not all my WIP's, if I could just finish one of them that would be great. So check back tomorrow and I will share which one I chose to work on and share my progress.

Progress on Pretty Pumpkins

2009-10-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

This is my recent picture of my progress on "Pretty Pumpkins" by Glendon Place. I am really trying to stick with this one with a lot of other projects calling me. Hopefully this weekend I will be able to spend more time on it.

Another Cross Stitch Blog!!

2009-10-08T13:31:00.001-07:00

This is my first post on my new cross stitch blog!! I have had a blog at Wordpress...Stephaniesblog.wordpress.com for a few years but have decided to try Blogger.