After Christmas Sew Along 2014

I am participating in SewMuch2Luv's After Christmas Sew Along again this year.

Here is what I've finished so far this week!

Red Santa cross stitch by Birds of Feather...I've already stitched the Black Santa and will move onto the next one soon.
 

 
I love this set of Santa's and can't wait to finish them all.

I also, have another project I'll take a picture of tonight!

You can see all the participants posts on the Flickr group here.

Something Something

It's been a bit stressful at work this week (staff reductions). So I haven't been very outwardly energetic. But I do have a few updates. I was able to spend some time in the garden Saturday morning and found the pepper plants has burst forth another gallon of jalapenos. So instead of jalapeno relish that I'd already canned, I made jelly. I hope everyone likes a little spice in their Christmas this year!
On Sunday, the hubs and I and his friend Austin went out shooting sporting clays at the gun club. Here's our stroller for the guns..yes for the guns..hahaha what will they think of next?
The hubs has been out of town this week so I was able to watch a movie I'd been wanting to see - "Water for Elephants" - well let's just say the book was better. I stitch when I watch TV - here's a little ornie I'm making.

Can you Tell What it Is?

Originally uploaded by amysgreatadventure

I stitched this last night while watching TV. I picked up the new Cross Stitch Magazine and this was one of the free patterns in it. I had the aida from my thrifting with Sue over the Christmas break, tons of miscellaneous threads that I'd picked up at JoAnn Black Friday sale - so I went for it. I like it but do you know what it is?

Over the weekend I did this little piece. It's a part of the Welcome Bow pattern that Karen sent to me. But I did a few alterations to make it more specific to what I want to use it for. I'm pretty happy with the little chicken.




Also, the hubs read my post on the truck quilt. He advised that I need to design the quilt for a specific spot in the guest room. Also, he put in a order for two table runners for the guest room (no he doesn't live in there, but he dresses out of there and keeps his toys in there - bows, arrows, helmets). He suggested using some of his old Carhart jeans. I'll have to marinate on these for a while.

On going Christmas Projects

Last year I learned how to cross stitch. The year before I learned how to needlepoint. Two things I had always wanted to know how to do. My first needlepoint project I learned how to do from Dorothy (she's married to the hubs second cousin) up on Bowen Island. Behind their marina is a wonderful needlepoint shop that I bought a great kit of Canadian wild flowers. One afternoon we went out on Dorothy and Rondy's boat the Moxie and while the men chatted and got us to the other island, Dorothy helped and taught me to do the needlepoint.

It took me 9 more months to finish it. It traveled with me to Europe, Brazil and I don't remember how many other places.



I then found a local needlepoint shop that I just adore. They are so patient with me and help me to learn. They looked at my finished wild flowers and were confident it was ok to bind into a pillow. It now rests on the guest room bed at our house. The next year I did a black and tan dachshund for my hubs for Christmas in memory It too rests on the guest room bed.

So I felt like I'd "learned" needlepoint so I wanted to tackle cross stitch. I went to my local shop and said I need to learn how to do this. They sat me down and showed me the basics. How to make the back look as good as the back, how to pick floss, find the center, etc. I'm really enjoying it.

Here is my first project. Black Santa by Birds of Feather patterns. Now I'm working on Red Santa - then Green and Gold Santas. I just need to figure out what to do with the Santas after I get them all done.

Traveling and Crafting

Originally uploaded by amysgreatadventure

I travel some for work - sometimes a lot. After 7 years of working for the same company, I have found ways to entertain myself when traveling.

Long flights and loads of hours in airports or hotel rooms has driving me to needlepoint and cross stitching.

I've been working on the stitching, "Women Are Angels, When someone breaks our wings, we continue to fly. On a broomstick, we're flexible like that."

So this is how far I've come on this project while flying.

I may finish it by the end of the year...The linen is a pale butter cream yellow and the thread is charcoal hand died floss.

I may frame it for my sister if she is super lucky for christmas.