Book of Ink Circles - Update 2

Can't believe it is New Years Eve.  Another year has flown right by.  They seem to do that, the older we get! The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas seems to be closer together, unlike when we were children, the time between those holidays, seemed to crawl at a snail's pace.

Somehow, with all the cooking, shopping, returning, mailing, I still managed to stitch a bit on my latest project.  I am also excited, that for Christmas, I received a longer cross bar to my cross stitch stand, along with two more sets of velcro rods for my stand to work on some of the larger projects I have in my stash!

I also volunteered at some point to teach my son's girlfriend how to cross stitch, so that she can make a piece of Nautical flags that spells out my son's last name.  Thankfully, I actually had a book, that I held onto that has the cross stitch patterns for each flag in it.  Sure will come in handy!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and that the New Year is truly awesome!

Ink Circles - First week

Well, I decided to start a new project (already.)  This one is from a free pattern off of www.inkcircles.com  The pattern is called Book of Ink Circles, and it is done it installments that you can download and print out, as required.  The patterns download and print out beautifully so they are easy to follow and read.

I am doing this project for my oldest son.  When I saw this pattern, I thought it looked very masculine looking.  So.....it went into my "to do" list.  I purchased 28 ct. linen and am using the sampler hand dyed threads to give it some more dimension.  I hope my son will like it!

Framed projects

I am always so excited when I get the call from Michaels, that my latest cross stitch project are framed and ready for pick-up.  Yesterday, I picked up these!

 Moira Blackburn's Season and Time Sampler - Being donated to charity auction

 Rosewood Manor - Spring Quaker

Mother and Daughter Sampler - can't remember much about these.

Rosewood Manor - American Quilt Sampler - Finish!!!!

Somewhere about midnight last night, I placed the last stitch in this sampler.  WHOOPEE!  This sampler was actually a joy to work on, as each state square was completely different.  Used different colors, and the backstitching was positioned differently in each square as well.  It was well worth the effort, it turned out beautifully and I am certainly glad I made the effort undertake this one.

The finished size is 18 inches high and 23 l/4 inches wide.  I haven't a clue which sampler in my stash I will undertake next, but do know that I will also be attempting to knit myself a hat and scarf until I decide.

Rosewood Manor - American Quilt Sampler - Update 12

Whoosh!   Made it through Thanksgiving.  It was wonderful having my family here, and both of my younger two children.  Hopefully, the oldest will be able to spend some time with us at Christmas.  I have been really working away on this sampler.  Especially now that the remodeling is done, the cooking and cleaning has been completed.  And....most of my Christmas shopping is done too.   For once, I'm way ahead, not sure how that happened.  Course there is still mailing to do, and wrapping, and decorating.  Although, the tree is in the family room, just not decorated.  But...am super sure it will be done before Christmas.

Anyways,  it is getting towards the end of this particular sampler.  I took these pictures last week, and just haven't gotten around to updating my blog.  I can tell you that more progress has been completed, and I'm thinking by sometime tomorrow, that this will be a completed sampler.  I can hope!  PS.   Don't know why these appear upside down, because they are not saved on the computer this way, but I'm sure you get the jest.

Mount Vernon - Take along project

I always take a small cross stitch project with me, when I have a long ride in the car, maybe spending time on the boat, have to wait in an office.  Keeps me busy, and I don't realize that time is flying by.  I don't recall how exactly long I have been working on this particular chart, but even though it's not all that large, it took me awhile.  Especially since I only picked it up to work on it, when in the above situations.   But...I was bound and determined to finally complete this little memento of some of my traveling, or places I have visited. I have several more smaller projects that I picked up along the way, one very similar to this one of Woodlawn Plantation, which is where the embroidery exhibit is held each year in this area.  My kids purchased one of the outer banks, and I think I have a chart someplace for the last vacation in Ocean City, Md.  I only have a couple of these completed, and these are the few that I actually frame myself. Nice reminders when I am using my sewing machine, of the places and memories I have from the locations.

Rosewood Manor - American Quilt Sampler - Update 11

Well, I took a nap today, which explains why I am still up at 2:20 a.m.  Shouldn't do it, messes with my body clock, but I just couldn't keep my eyes open.

Michael's was having a sale on their custom framing.  So my husband suggested I pick out a few things to take into be framed.  I took in my last poster print of St. Michaels, Md., which luckily I already had a frame for.  Took in Moira Blackburn's Time and Season Sampler, which is the one I am donating for a charity auction, Rosewood Manor - Spring Quaker, and a set of mother/daughter samplers I had completed quite some time ago.  Supposedly they will be ready in two weeks.  Can't wait.  I forgot that I had so many completed projects.  I now only have two left, and that's one that is completed, and the one I am working on now.

I also received my six unfinished frames which I purchased on the internet.  I managed to get them stained and polyurathaned.  I purchased six prints of sea coral on e-bay which will look wonderful in the new bathroom.  Unfortunately, 3 of the 6 frames came with shattered glass, so I am awaiting replacement glass.  Hopefully they will send them with bubble wrap this time, which they failed to use, on the original shipment.

Progress on Rosewood Manor - American Quilt Sampler.  Three more states completed, as well as some fill in and new letters for the words.  I am trying not to think, what project will be next when this one is completed!  But....at least I won't have to go anywhere, as I have quite the stash!