Last of Starts, YOTA and Snow!

I did not start 31 projects for Debbie's Ultimate Crazy Challenge but I did come close with 26 new starts. I am not sure how I missed 5, but I do know when I do this next year, I will be a bit more organized.   Now my job is to get some finishes. Here are the last 5 new starts:

 Lizzie Kate Boxer Cinderella is Proof

 LHN The Farmer's Daughter  

The picture is side ways.

 LHN Calendar Girls September

 LHN Calendar Girls December

I have completed LHN Calendar Girls January, February and March last year and I have April almost 2/3rds is almost done.  I have not start November.  The lettering is in 3 colors, so I might find an Autumn variegated thread to do the lettering.  

I have been stitching on Angie's SAL. Fleurs de Ciel.  I am almost done with the second flower.  I hope to have it done tonight and maybe start on the third one.  I need to have Part one done by March 10.  So Fleurs will be my main focus until I get the part done.

I do not have a progress on my YOTA SAL.  YOTA is being hosted by Pulled the Other Thread.  I read on one of the other blogs that the stitcher stitches on her piece for 30 minutes a day.  I will try to do that myself, because it is a good idea and I do want to get some of my UFOs done. Hopefully I will have a progress report on March 7.

It has been snowing so badly here in my world! The last 2 Mondays, my classes have been cancelled due to these snowstorms.  First was a blizzard and the govern put a travel ban on Connecticut highways.  The second storm gave us another 10 inches.  Tonight we are getting another storm and it won't be stopping until late Monday night.  They are predicting another 10 inches with this storm.  I may have tomorrow off too but I won't find out until 5:30 in the morning.  I know I will have to make up the days soon and they will be on a Friday or Saturday.  My teacher thinks most likely on a Saturday.  School on a Saturday! Boy, that will be so weird! Here is some pictures of the lovely white stuff.

 It was snowing on one of the last 2 snowstorms when I took the pictures.  I believe it was just starting.

 This pile of snow is right outside my kitchen window.  My window is above the kitchen sick. So that pile is very huge! 

 The snow on the left side of my patio. 

 A view when I am looking straight ahead from the patio door.

This is from the right side of the patio.  Another big pile in the corner. 

Thank you so much for stopping by and looking at my blog.  

Until next time,
Vicky

Stitching Challenge and YOTA

The first week came and went and I did stitch every day so far! It is amazing I was able to do that. I had a head cold this past week too.  I went to my doctor ( I was due for a visit in a week anyways) and he gave me some antibiotic and I am feeling so much better.  I did miss a day of classes.  When I got back, we had a test.  I did not do so well, but since it was my first low grade, it didn't affect my average grade by much.  I still have an A in the course. :)

I showed you my first two projects last week.  Here is the ones I had started this week except for todays (Jan 10).  I haven't stitch yet today.

 Day 3   a new start:  County Cottage Gingerbread House.  A pattern I got in an exchange.

 Day 4 was a WIP I picked up.  It is Nora Corbett's Lady Slipper.  The top picture is before and the one after is the new stitches added.  I will be finishing this one up this year.

Day 5 is a new start, Lizzie Kate Promise Me.  I will be finishing this one this year too.

 Day 6  is a new start, Lizzie Kate Time for God.

Day 7 I started on Waxing Moon Simply Americana.

Day 8 I started on Ink Circles Reflections of Paris.  Definitely a different style for me stitching but I so like it

Day 9 I started on Mirabilia Elizabeth.  I hope I can come back to her soon.  I love the fabric I am stitching her on.  The picture makes the colors very grayish but in person, it is a light purple with a hint of pink, blue and green.  It is gorgeous.

Since it is the 10th of January, it is time for a YOTA report.  I do not have a pictures but I will be working on Lizzie Kate's ABC Lessons, ( a picture is in the last post) and I want to work on LHN Pumpkin Hollow.  I will have pictures by next month, I promise.

This week I have a test on muscles and my oral presentation on Monday. On Wednesday and Thursdays is Final Exams.   Friday I go see my surgeon for my one year anniversary for my surgery. One way I am looking forward to it but I know what I been doing the last 6 months and not looking forward to the appointment at the same time.  Maybe it wont be as bad as I think it will be.  I have the weekend off from schoolwork.  Yes!

I will be back next weekend.  Have a great week!
Hugs, Vicky

Good bye 2014 and Hello 2015!

Hello 2015!  I have been missing in action for a few months in blogger land.  I have been busy with school.  Yes, I am going to school and being trained to work in a doctor's or hospital office.  I am liking the classes but a lot of work.  I am keeping up and my grades are high.  The only thing is my stitching is suffering big time.  2014 was a year of change for me.   I had my gastric sleeve surgery in January 2014 and my life changed so much!

I had signed up for ‎Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2015 (DUCJC2015 on Facebook.  I did not make a list.  I have so much stash I want to do, I am just taking a pattern or an WIP or UFO a day from my stash and working on it.  I hope I can do it.  With schoolwork and final exams coming in a couple weeks, my stitching will be very minimal, until Jan 16.  The idea is to stitch on something different every day in January, whether it will be a new pattern or a wip or ufo.

I joined Mel's Stitching from Stash again.  I was doing good on it the first 6 months or so last year and then I went berserk and went off the budget.   I am back on it and with school, it should be easier.  My mind will be on school until I graduate in July.  However, I did spend this month but less than $10.

I joined Angie's SAL for $5.00.  Since I joined today (Jan 2), the price will be coming out of my budget.  However I do have a piece big enough to start it on Jan 10.  It is very pretty.  I am going to try my best to get part 1 done in 2 months.  Even if I have to bring  it  to school and work on it on my lunch.  A few stitches here and there will bring it closer to the finish.

I joined the YOTA SAL too from Pull the Other Thread.   You work on a UFO and mention it on the first Saturday of the month, except for this month, it is on the 10th.  So I will be back on next week.  I do have  a few UFOs I want to work on, and I am sure I will find one before Saturday to work on one.

For Day 1 on DUCJC2015, I worked on Nora Corbett's Azure.  Last month I got her partner, Verde and the matching fabric.  Still waiting for the fabric but it will be here shortly.  I worked on Azure's arms and will be going back and finish her this year.

On Day 2, I worked on Lizzie Kate's ABCs Lessons.   I am going to finish this one this year too.  It has been an UFO far too long.  I finish stitching the last line and some letters.  Today I am starting something new which I will post by the end of the week.

On the week before Christmas, I got the most wonderful gift from a Secret Santa.   I saw this being sold on Facebook and asked the seller I will buy the kit after the New Year if no one buys it.  I was so surprised when I opened the envelope.   Shelley from California send it to me as a surprise.  I will be starting it this month.  Thank you so much Shelley!  It will have a special place on my wall.

Here is few pictures of me at Christmas or around Christmas.

 This is my sister Dawne and me on Christmas Day at her house.

 This is me a week before Christmas.  I had lost about 75 pounds this year and have so much energy.  I am faster than my Dad these days, lol. I do have a lot more work to do to get more healthier.

My father turned 70 on December 17, as well as his twin sister.  We threw a party for them and tried to surprised them.  My aunt's ex found out about it and told her about the party.  And than he had the galled to asked for an invitation!   She knew about the party for a couple weeks but didn't tell my Dad.  He knew something was up but couldn't figure it out.   This picture above is the family with my Mom's best friend, Marie. Starting at left, me, Dad, Marie, Amy, DJ and Dawne.

Thank you for visiting me and I am sorry for the long absence.  I will try to post more after January.  I will be my January Stitching at least once a week, and maybe more if I find time in the week.

Until next week my friends,
Vicky

Halloween exchanges and Autumn

Double Double by Lizzie Kate

JCS Halloween issue 2013

14 count Grasshopper (left) and Potter Purple (right)

DMC threads

Past week, I send some exchanges and a few had reached their new home.  The Double Double  ornaments above is designed by Linda Elbright of Lizzie Katie in the JCS Halloween issue. The grasshopper aida was send to RavenSong in the Stitching Sisters group. The purple aida, called Potter Purple, was send to Jennifer in AZ from The Stutcherhood group. I used the DMC threads.

Halloween by Glory Bee

JCS Halloween issue 2013

28 count Delicate Teal by Silkweavers

DMC threads

Halloween is stitched by Glory Bee for Mary Louise in IN.  The design was stitched on 28 count Delicate Teal using the recommended DMC threads. I do need to center my pieces a little bit better and stay away from the binders clips.  They are leaving indents on the ornaments and I don't know why.

 I received a couple ornaments too.  This pumpkin was stitched by Jennifer from IN. She used a velvet ribbon for the inside trimming.  On the back she machine embroidered my name and hers.  Awesome idea!  Thank you Jennifer!

This beautiful ornament was stitched by RavenSong in CA. I loved how she put it together. I love it.   The thread she used for the lettering is gorgeous.  I won't be surprise if it came from her own hand dyed threads. Thank  you RavenSong!

Last week I showed my progress on Autumn Encounter by Kustom Krafts. Well it was the only piece I stitched this week, but I made good progress.  I am pass the  half way point. Page 2 is coming out on Tuesday, so I am hoping to catch up by the time page 3 comes out. I am loving the colors!

I did take a few pictures of my area. Part of a a highway route goes through some mountains.  I took some pictures as we were driving by and no, I wasn't driving.  As you will see a lot of yellows and oranges and lots of greens still. The reds are not ready to come out yet, very late this year.

I hope you have a great week!

Hugs
Vicky

Heatwave, Torandos and Stitching Update

It's been 2 weeks since my last update.  First week of July was very hot and humid, leading to the 2nd heatwave for this year.  One of those days, 2 torandos touched down in Connecticut.   One by New York and other in central of the state.  No deaths or injuries,  just a lot of damage. I spend the 4th with some friends and was able watch the city's fireworks from their deck. I did start a new project but did not get too far. I was having trouble seeing the holes. I was in bright daylight but it was 30 count fabric. It shouldn't made a big difference dince I use 28 all the time, but it did this time. Here is my feeble start on  Country Cottage Needleworks Red, White snd Bloom.

Saturday and Sunday I picked up LK  ABC Lessons. I didn't do much but it is progress at least.

Last week the weather was crazy. It was so humid all week, sunny in the morning and storms in the after noon.  Last Wednesday,  another tornado touch down in the East of Connecticut and a microburst close by. A microburst is a storm with straight winds, where a tornado is circular winds. Again no injuries or deaths.






   I did stitch on my FNF SAL on Monday to Wednesday. I did finish the owl and back stitching and started the ghost. The ghost was suppose to have 2 arms done but I happen to miss a row in the arm by the A.  I was trying to stitch the bow and couldn't understand why it wasn't lining up. So I found it, un stitched the arm, and re started it again on Thursday morning before my appointments.

On Friday,  I took out Time To Go.  Between Friday and Saturday,  I put in 970 stitches. I finished page 1 and started on page 2. I can't hardly wait to get back to it in 2 weeks.

Sunday  I took out Gaze and almost finish the first 2 columns.  I stitched into 2:30 am. I was determine to finish the columns but I was making mistakes so I thought it was better to stop. However I did put in 775 stitches.

This week is going be our 3rd heatwave. The temperatures will be reaching near 100 with heavy humidity. I will be staying in my air conditioner and stitch. Have a great week!

Hugs, Vicky

This is Halloween SAL I am doing with a few ladies. I have a strong start.  I like stitching on it but its only on Monday to Wednesday.  By time Wednesday comes along,  my groove is going strong and I don't want to put it down.

What am I doing on Thursday to Sunday?  Well, I am doing some UFOs.  Sunday I picked out Lizzie Kate ABC Lessons.  I didn't get much done. It was very hot and humid plus my air conditioner didn't get into my window until Sunday evening.

This picture show I did finish the word friendship, the rose, the bu
butterfly and the letter Q. I will be getting back to this one in 2 weeks.

This is Halloween House and it went into  the garbage.  What went wrong?  Not thinking and being careless with scissors.   I stitched the left side on Friday and Saturday.  When I was stitching the pumpkin I realize I was missing a row.  It drove me nuts on where I lost it. The gate bars on the right, one with the big pumpkin, is off one stitch.  Now I figure I had to frog everything I stitched.  So I started cutting at top of the left, half way through, I yelled "You Idiot!!" to myself. All I had to do was frog the pumpkins, bottom of the gates, and the grass. Duh! I was almost done than the scissors slipped. By then i lost all my patience, which is hard to do, and threw out the piece.  I don't think I ever threw a piece out before. I did find another piece of fabric and dyed it a blue color. I will probably restarted Halloween  House in 2 weeks.

This house is a freebie from gazette94. I am trying to stitch on it a little each day. Last few days have not been successful.  There is a lot of blue. I do like the pattern.

.Snow by Shepherd Bush

Sassy Fabby's Berry Burst 28 ct  lugana

Recommend threads

I was looking for something in my stash and I came across this, almost finished. I even had 2012 in the corner.  I don't know why I didn't finish  it.  I know it was a Christmas gift from one of my exchanges in 2011 and I started while I was visiting my friend in Virginia. It came out adorable.

This week I will be working on Time To Go and Gaze.  I will try show my progress on Monday.  I was trying to do this week's update on Monday but blogger was not behaving very well. I will leave you with a couple pictures of the moon on June 23rd.It was beautiful and peaceful.

Hugs, Vicky