Cross Stitch Acronyms

BAP	-	Big arse project
BF	-	blending filament
frogging	-	undoing stitches . . . “Rip-it! Rip-it!”
HD	-	happy dance - announcing a finish to your friends, acquaintances, and/or a cross stitch bulletin board
LNS	-	local needlework shop
NSLNS	-	Not So Local Needlework Store
on the wagon	-	a period of time where one avoids any new acquisition of stash
ONS	-	Online Needlework Store
PRUDE	-	Person Resisting Unnecessarily Diminishing Existing stash, i.e. someone who refuses to StRIP.
RAK	-	random act of kindness (Usually to do with giving away stash to someone with or without them knowing :D )
ripping	-	see frogging
RR	-	Round Robin
SABLE	-	Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy
SAL	-	stitch-along, where two or more stitchers work on a design at the same time
S.E.X.	-	stash enhancement experience; needlework-related purchases. Must always be spelled with periods to avoid being listed on the “bad” web search engines!
stash	-	your personal needlework supplies
StRIP	-	Stash Reduction Implementation Plan, usually done when SABLE has been achieved. Typically, no new purchases are allowed for a set amount of time and/or until a certain amount of stash is used up. A person who does this is a StRIPper. See on the wagon.
SWIP	-	WISP
UFO	-	unfinished object; haven't stitched it in a while & don't plan on soon
WIP	-	work in progress
WISP	-	work in slow progress

Meet Rose

She's a locally bred cockapoo, currently 11 weeks old. We've had her since she turned 8 weeks. She's almost completely housebroken but still has an accident or two every few days. I still can't pick up my stitching, though, because every time I take my eyes off of her she finds a way to get into trouble!

Delaware State Fair 2010

I entered four of my projects in the State Fair this year. All four placed!

- My "Letters From Nora: L" (bottom left) won 3rd place in the "Counted cross-stitch with embellishment on linen" category.
- My "Cheaper Than Therapy" won 2nd place in the "Counted cross-stitch picture, over 50% lettering, on linen" category.

- My "Alphabet Pumpkin" won 1st place in the "Counted cross-stitch sampler, on linen, under 5” x 7” category.

- My "Halloween Fairy" won 1st place in the "Counted cross-stitch with embellishment on Aida" category.

Framed

Mirabilia's "Crescent Dreams"

Framed at Joann's Fabrics 

Nora Corbett's "Letters by Nora: L"

Framed at Joann's Fabrics

First Two Finishes of 2010

Mirabilia's "Crescent Dreams"

Stitched on Enchanted Fabric's "Raindrop Mystique" 32ct opalescent Lugana

Started February 2010. Finished June 28, 2010.

Nora Corbett's "Letters by Nora: L"

Stitched on a Silkweaver Solo 32ct Lugana

Started December 2009. Finished June 28, 2010.

After having beaded for four hours a day for the last two days, I am officially sick of beading. No more beading for at least a month!

All Moved In...Almost

I haven't had much time for stitching these past few months. Paperwork, packing, moving, unpacking, and cleaning has taken up most of my free time. Despite the fact that we officially moved in at the end of March, we're still transporting stuff over from our parent's homes. Our spare bedroom has become a storage area for the yet-to-be-unpacked boxes. 

My favorite room in the house is my computer/craft room. I have my own computer desk, a craft desk, and a large closet full of crafting supplies in organized storage bins. It couldn't be any more perfect!

 

This is the birth announcement for my boyfriend's cousin's baby after another six hours of stitching (sixteen hours total). All that's left to do is the rest of the moon, the placement of the text, and the beaded stars. The text, of course, will have to wait until after little Braiden is born, which won't be long now. Within the next week or two, I think. I need to hurry and get the rest of the moon done!

Babies and Broken Needles

 

I've decided to make Mirabilia's "Crescent Dreams" into a birth announcement for my boyfriend's cousin, who will be having a baby boy later this year.  With the exception of the hat (which I changed from yellow to blue), I'm stitching it as charted on Enchanted Fabric's "Raindrop Mystique" 32ct opalescent Lugana. This photo was taken after about ten hours of stitching.

About six hours into the project the eye of my gold-plated DMC tapestry needle snapped off. I threw it away and replaced it with one of the more expensive gold John James tapestry needles I bought last summer. Less than an hour later the eye of that needle snapped in half. Today, sometime between hours eight and nine, I broke my second gold John James needle. I'm now on the third and final needle of the pack, which is already beginning to bend at the eye. Given the price, I'm quite disappointed. The less expensive and readily available DMC needles are much more durable.

Goodbye Enchanted Fabrics

I'm quite sad that Enchanted Fabrics is closing shop, but I understand why it needs to be done. I'll miss Lori's creations. I hope her new job works out well for her and her family.

I just placed my final order: $139.90 worth of fabric. If I weren't in the process of buying a house I'd have probably splurged a bit more. I tried to stick with colors and combinations that aren't similar to those made by Silkweaver. 

- 27x36 32ct Painted Cafe Mocha Lugana
- 27x36 32ct Painted Champagne Cocktail Lugana
- 13x18 32ct Cafe Mocha Mystique Lugana
- 13x18 32ct Painted Slate Lugana
- 13x18 32ct Smoky Haze Flair Lugana
- 13x18 32ct Painted Spring Meadow Opalescent Lugana
- 13x18 32ct Witching Hour Flair Opalescent Lugana
- 13x18 32ct Black Orchid Flair Opalescent Lugana

Now I only have to hope I don't end up regretting not picking up some more colorful pieces while I had the chance. ^_^;

Mom's Commission

 

I started this one sometime last year as a favor for my Mom. She wanted something that she could gift to a friend that wasn't as time consuming, expensive, and extravagant as my usual projects. I'm not going to say exactly what it is in case they see this post, but I will say it's a piece by M Designs. It's being stitched on 28ct "Touch of Ecru" by Stony Creek using Weeks Dye Works "Twilight" cotton floss. The current photo is the progress after one skein of floss. 

Belated Updates

My boyfriend and I have been looking into buying our first house and it's taken up most of my time these last few weeks. Hopefully I'll have a few minutes to myself once we pick one and start the paperwork. We need to have a contract signed by the end of April to get the $8000.00 tax credit. Here's to hoping we find one in time!

Right before our house-hunting began I managed a few more hours on "Swirly Sampler". I finished the end of the alphabet (V, W, X, Y, and Z) and started the large, right-most star.

 

Today I did an hour or so of beading on "Letters From Nora: L". Sadly, it doesn't look much different from the last picture.

 

I wouldn't mind the beading half as much if it the beads in the vines weren't in such long rows. Stitching beads in rows makes me grumpy as I can never get them to fit just right. I end up having to improvise and I'm always afraid that someone will notice that the beads don't quite line up with the stitches.

Crabby July

I finally got around to finishing the July block of Raise the Roof's "Crabby All Year". I started the piece last January with the intention to finish each block in its corresponding month. I fell behind in April because the big field of grey on the tax-sheet was driving me insane. I tried to catch up again, but ended up giving up putting it away for a while. Finishing it is one of my goals for this year.

Just five months left to go and all twelve months worth of buttons to add. I can't wait for that part. The buttons are extremely cute!

Alphabet Without an S

Another four hours into "Swirly Sampler" has added the letters P-Q-R-S(tar)-T-U and some swirlies.There is actually an S-shaped "Swirly Star" charm that's supposed to go attach over the star but I'm having trouble finding it. It didn't come with the pattern and I can't seem to locate it online. I'll have to inquire about it next time I'm at my LNS.

"Letters From Nora: L" Progress

 

Here she is after 23 hours. I've finished all of the stitching and about 1/4 of the beading. This little girl has a TON of beads!

First New Start of the Year

Five hours into Bent Creek's "Swirly Sampler". We have a moon, two stars, and the letters K-L-M-N-O.

Impulse S.E.X.

I picked up this pattern today from The Strawberry Sampler while I was out running errands. I'm a sucker for pumpkin designs!

"Zucca" by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks

Floss Toss for "Swirly Sampler"

Weeks Dye Works Cocoa, Schneckley, Rust, Charcoal, Blue Spruce, and Molasses on 'Sterling' Lugana from Picture This Plus.

Stitching Goals for 2010

1. Finish "Letters From Nora: L" 6/28/10
2. Finish "Crabby All Year" (July - December)
3. Mirabilia's "Thanksgiving Harvest Fairy"
4. Bent Creek's "Swirly Sampler"
5. M Design's "Daryl Tree"
6. Nora Corbett's "Bluebell"
7. Lizzie Kate's "Living with Charm" series
8. Mirabilia's "Crescent Dreams" 6/28/10
9. ??: Random Project that strikes my fancy
10. Complete 20 hours of stitching on at least one WIP not already listed