Updates . . . lots of updates

Okay, I've had some technical issued that have prevented me from posting for awhile but I've got that all worked out.  At least a temporary work-around until I can get something more permanent in place.  Instead of doing an individual post for each project I've worked on I'm going to lump everything here to make it easier for me.  So here's goes.

First update:
This is actually a finish.  Yeah!  Although in looking at the scan I might have missed some outlining on the white hair piece on the right side.  I'll have to look at the pattern and see.  This is Japanese Beauty #1.  She hasn't been washed or ironed but that can wait until I'm ready to frame her, which probably won't be until I get the other one finished (of course I have to start it first).

Second update:
This is also a finish.  Yeah!  I'm so glad to cross this one off my WIP as it's be languishing there for years.  It's Music Violin (at least that's what I call it).  It's been washed but not ironed.  When I did the strings for the violin it was pulled tight in the hoop.  Now that it's out the strings are flopping everywhere.  If you pull the fabric tight they straighten out so that's something I'm going to have to make note of when I take it to get framed.

Third update:
This is also another finish (notice a trend).  Yeah!  It's Carsassonne.  Also another "been on the WIP list for a lifetime".  I not sure if I'm totally happy with the 'C's colors, especially the lightest one, but I'll think about it for awhile until it's time to frame it.  At that point I just might give in (it might look better after it's washed) or pull the lightest color out and redo it.  We'll see.

Fourth update:
This is also another finish.  Yeah!  It might be a start too.  I don't know if I every took the time to post a starting thread or update for this one because I started it right around the time I starting having problems with posting and putting pictures in.  Anyway.  Here it is.  This is Winter Window Scene.  I'll be doing one for each season.  They're meant to go along with the Seasonal Village scenes.  This one was actually much easier to stitch up than what the pattern looked like.  The pattern make it look like it was going to be horrible to do.  But I was pleasantly surprised.  I'm not so sure I'll be able to say the same thing about Spring's window.  We'll see.

Fifth update:
Okay, this one isn't a finish . . . but I'm getting close.  This is a full page completed on Spiral Fractal.  I took this project with me when I went on my cruise to the Bahamas.  It was nice and relaxing to site on a comfy chair and look out the window as we cruised by places.  I could have done without the blaring music coming from everywhere on the ship.  There very little of the purple color left to do so the rest is mostly greens and blues.  I hope to finish it this year and cross another one off of my WIP list.

My goals for the rest of the year is to finish up as many projects as I can.  Whether that be the whole project as a finish (preferably) or maybe a page or two for the larger projects.  Also I wanted to not start so many new projects but that goal has gone out the window already this year.  Results will come at Christmas time.

Stitch from Stash 2014

There's a challenge out on the internet to "Stitch from Stash" for 2014. That means no new acquisitions to your ever growing stash pile . . . unless it's under $25 each month. While I missed the deadline to sigh up officially, I'm going to try doing this for myself (and my budget) this year. So far I've spent about $15 on threads and $20.42 on patterns from PatternsOnline.com. I'm done for awhile until I can figure out how to the do the Christmas presents for the family this year.

Winter in the Village - update

So with the temps outside hovering around 115 degrees all the time I needed something to help cool me off.  This project came to mind.  As I stitched it I could think of buildings covered in snow and cold winter mornings with your breath frosting in front of your face.  It help . . . somewhat.  I still sat sweating on the couch as I stitched but it took my mind off of the never-ending heat.

I was only going to stitch the church and then move on to another project but after finishing the church and the trees next to it, it was still pretty earlier in the evening that day and instead put this project up and starting another I stuck with it.  After finishing the Beauty Shop I had to do the trees next to it so I could do all the backstitching for the two buildings.

I started backstitching at the light pole and worked my way back over to finish up on the church.  It took 2 days of stitching to do it all.  I was so fed up with backstitching (which I hate to do) that I couldn't wait to take the fabric out of the qsnap and put it away.  It wasn't until a couple of days later that I realized I forgot to stitch the words Beauty Shop on the sign.  Oh well.  I still have to do all the stuff underneath the buildings so I guess I'll do it then.

This project is officially too long for my scanner.  What you see is all that will fit on the scanning bed.  I guess when I finish it I'll have to use a camera or my phone.  I don't know how to get pictures from the camera to the computer and phone takes terrible pics, but since I've moved on to another project I guess I've got time to figure that out. 

My goal would be to finish this project this year.  It's doable.  And it would be one more WIP I can cross off my list.

Crimson Omen - 3 pages done

I finished another page on this project and I LOVE how easy it is to stitch.  I wish I had started all of my larger projects in tent stitches instead of doing some of them as full stitches.  Things would be going so much faster if I did.  I think there's only a page and a half left for this top row.  Even though I'm working on this as a thank you gift for a friend I love it so much it's going to be very hard to give it away when done.  I'd love to do another one for me but I've got so many other projects I'd like to do I don't know if I have the time to repeat one.

July Bear - FINISHED!

I finished my July Bear project.  I made some changes to the threads and I think everything turned out.  I used silk thread for the flag pole instead of the metallic.  The blue metallic firework thread wasn't the right color but it was all I had and I don't have the money to go out and buy thread that I find difficult to work with.  I also swapped the positions of the gold and red fireworks.  I just didn't want to do the red firework right next the the red in the bow.  The fireworks pattern didn't change, just the colors.  I found this one easier to stitch the bear colors than the June Bear one I did so long ago.  The June Bear's feet were horrible.  This one . . . not so much.  I think I might do the October Bear next, if I can find the right fabric for it.

It needs a good washing and then it can be added to my "Projects Finished UnFramed" pile or PFUF as I like to call it.

I didn't finish it before the 4th of July because I wasn't in the mood to stitch even though I was so close.  I think I finished around July 7th.

Crimson Omen - progress update

I've finished page 2 on this project and when I was done I wasn't very excited about how it looked.  When I look at the scan it looks much better.  I guess I was just too close to it to look at the whole picture instead of individual colors.

July Bear - progress update

So I'm making progress on my July Bear.  The flag pole was suppose to be stitched using metallic thread but I didn't want to do that.  I used gold DMC silk thread instead.  I'm getting a little bored of this project so I want to put it aside for awhile.  But on the other hand I'd like to get it done before July (not that I have any money to get it framed).

Here is my progress: