Canadian Bear - FINISHED

Okay no "work in progress" pics for this one.  It was just too easy and fun to stitch up that I didn't want to stop to take a picture or scan it.  It took 2 weeks but it really was only 8 days of stitching.  Now it's done.

I use 14ct gold Aida, stitched 2x1 full. 

Here he is:

New Start: Oblivion

I started a new project this month.  It's a pattern I made from the Oblivion video game icon at the same time I made the one for Carcassonne.  I think I like this one better and it might turn out better, but we'll have to wait and see.  I think I might make this one into a small pillow.  Because of that I'm doing it in 3x1 on 14ct Aida.  It's 70x70 stitches so it's not very big.

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.

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:

NEW START: July Bear

I started to stitch the June Bear before I had all my eye surgeries.  I wasn't sure I would ever stitch again.  I could so I finished that Bear probably back in 2005 or 2006.  I really wanted to stitch all the month bears and use them as a calendar some how.  So . . . . even though I haven't finished any of my current projects I went ahead and started another one of these.  I picked which one I would do several months ago and I couldn't wait.  It's the July Bear (with the flag pole and the fireworks in metalic threads - yeah me!).  Below is the front and back cover of the booklet.  I think when this one is done I'd like to do the October bear next because it's just so cute.

 I've been working on it for just over 2 weeks and this is how much I've got done so far.  I'm not looking forward to the doing the metallic threads but now that I have some beeswax they might be easier to use.  I'm doing it on 14ct, 2x1 full, Silver Aida.  It's not a shiny silver just a dull gray/silver color.

Cherish Teddies - USA Bear FINISHED!

So every time I picked up this project to start stitching I told myself to get a progress pic . . . but it’s just so cute and easy that I just wanted to be stitching it.  So here’s a finished picture.  It was really fast and easy until I got to some of the backstitching.  It was really hard some times to tell if a line was backstitch or a grid line, especially the thicker 10x10 lines.  I eventually had to look at the finished picture on the booklet and see where my piece was different.  Once I figured that out I could match it up with the pattern and see the lines.

Cherished Teddies - USA Bear

So I'm stitching the Cherished Teddies International Bears based on the country I've been to.  I started with Japan since I was born in Okinawa.  I've now started to work on the USA bear.  Unfortunately the only other countries I've been to are Mexico and Canada so I'm going to have to start visiting other places if I want to stitch more of the bears in the booklet.

Here is what it is suppose to look like:

I'm doing it on 14ct Lt. Oatmeal (Fiddler's) Aida in 2x1, full stitches.  This is what I've got done so far (it's 2 hockey games worth of work):

Carcassonne update

I told myself that I couldn't start another project and until I'd finish something I've already been working on.  So . . . I pulled this project out and I've got plans for it when done.  I need to change the colors in the "C" because I didn't like what I picked when I made the pattern.  Hopefully I can pick something that will work.

14ct Aida, 2x1,  full

Chinese Symbols - #1 done=Love

So the first of my Chinese Symbols are done.  I'ts LOVE on 14ct Solo fabric from Silkweavers.com.  I love their fabric.  I've got a bunch more and I figured I could do about 1 a month.  The threads will all be DMC rayon/silk and it's not the easier thing to use.

14ct 2x1 full

Wreath for all Seasons - update

So this UFO (Unfinished Object) got pulled out because I couldn't stop thinking abou it.  I've really enjoyed working on even when it was giving me trouble.  I actully can't wait to start some of the backstitching because it's going to really make things pop.  It will be a pain in the butt but then what else is new?

2x1 full 14ct kit

More ornaments done

I'm almost done with my ornaments.  Here's just "a few" I've finished recently.  Some have the names on them already because I made them specifically for that person.  The others don't have the names because I either a) didn't know who they're for, or b) forgot to stitch the name before I took them out of the hoop. 

More Ornaments

Here are several more ornaments that I've finished.  I've done 13 so only 9 more to do.  And I've started painting the frames again for the Zodiac pieces.  Unfortunately I'm starting to get that "holy crap I've still got a lot to do and I'me not going to get everything done in time" feeling . . . and it's only October.

Cherished Teddie - Japan FINISHED!!!

I didn't think it would be this easy to stitch up.  Even the backstitching wasn't as bad as I had fears.  I'm not saying I liked it either, but it's finally done.  Now I can wash it and store it away with all the other projects I've made for myself that I haven't framed.  I think I need to do something about that.

Year of the Rooster redo

Here's the redo for the Year of the Rooster.  14ct light blue Aida, 2x1, full.  Now I'm done stitching them . . . . again.  Hopefully I won't run into any problems when I try to frame them that would cause me to restitch one again. 

More ornaments done

So I've got 3 more ornaments done for my Christmas project.  That makes 7 so far.  Only 15 more to go.  At least to stitch anyway.  I've still got to stitch the names and year on the backside, sew together and stuff.  Hopefully I'll get them all done in time.  This whole Christmas present project has taken up a lot of my time that I'm getting tired of it.  And I'm having to restitch 2 of the Zodiacs because the grid lines wouldn't wash out.  I've got one of them done but I still have one more to do.

Cherished Teddies - Japan update #2

This project has been much easier than I expected, especially with all the quarter stitches that had to be done.  Every time I pulled the project out and said I should get an update pic before I start stitching again I would just tell myself I'll do it later and then I start stitching.  Well, it's done . . . sort of.  The regular stitching is done and I only have the backstitching left to do. 

I hate backstitching so I'm happy to put it off for awhile so I can redo a couple of the Zodiac projects because the gridlines wouldn't wash out.  I'm having to redo the snake and rooster that I had done on the dark green fabric.  I tested the marking pen on the red and dark blue and it came out just fine so I thought it would be the same for the dark green as well.  I was wrong. 

Once I finish those I will get back to this one to do the backstitching and finish up so I can start another project.  I love starting new projects.

Cherished Teddies - Japan

I got a book called Cherished Teddies Around the World and it has a bear for a lot of different nations.  I loved it and thought I'd stitch them all.  But which one to start first?  I thought I'd do them in order of the nations I've visited.  I'd start with Japan, because I was born there.  Then the USA, because I live here.  Then Mexico, because I've visited there first.  And finally Canada, because I've visited there too.  And that's about it.  How depressing is that?

So . . .

I've decided to make it one of my "bucket list" items to visit all the places represented by these bears and then stitch up the corresponding bear to hang on my wall.  I doubt that I'll get to all of them but at least it's worth a shot.

Here's the book:

I'm doing the Japanese Bear first.  This is what it's suppose to look like:

This is how much I've got done so far (14ct Mint Aida, 2x1, full):

Chinese Zodiac - ALL FINISHED!!!!!

I can't believe it.  I'm all done stitching the Chinese Zodiac characters for my family.  All I've got to do now is paint the frames, frame them and stitch and assemble the xmas ornaments I'm making.  I might actually be done months before xmas gets here.  And the best part is I'm not having to scramble around finding the money to buy gifts.  They'd already be done.

Here's the last one.  It's for me.  Year of the Dog.  14ct lavender Aida, 2x1, full.

Year of the Pig

My next to last finish.  Yeah!  It's the Year of the Pig on 14ct Mulberry Aida, 2x1, full.  I thought it would look absolutely wonderful on this fabric but it didn't turn out as well as I would have liked.  I think a lighter fabric would have been much better.  I don't know how I'm going to do the frame for this one.  It's for my niece and her room is all in red.  I'll figure something out eventually.  I only have one left to do and it's mine so I can take all the time in the world . . . but I'm not.

You know the feeling you get when you get so close to finishing a project.  Suddenly, a project that you once dragged your feet through gets faster and easier to do.  You become hyper-focused on the project and excited to finally see it finished . . . and the chance to start something new.  That's how I feel about this one.  I'm almost done with the next one after only working on it for 2 days.  I could finish it tonight.  Then I've got a bunch of small ornaments to do (although they have a lot of backstitching on them which I hate) and then I'm done with the stitching part of this xmas gifts.  I can't wait to dive into the painting again.  For some reason I don't feel like painting while it's super hot here.

Year of the Sheep (4) FINISHED!

This is my last Year of the Sheep and it's finished.  AND I changed the colors.  I think it turned out better than the rat that I changed colors but I should have picked a darker brown for the color and inside the ears so the transition stands out more.  I also should have used a darker brown for the backstitching.  I'm still happy with it and I'm not going to nitpick about it.  Now I only have 2 left to stitch.

14ct red Aida, 2x1, full