The Places I Have Shopped

I happened across this meme while randomly loading blogs via Blogger's "Next Blog" feature. I'm afraid I have no idea who to credit. Sorry!

The Game: Make a list of all of the LNS and NSLNS locations that I have physically visited and made purchases from.

In Delaware: 
Stitches That Count, New Castle
Sea Needles, Bethany
The Spinning Wheel, Fenwick (closed)

In Maryland:
Salty Yarns, Ocean City
The Stitching Post, Baltimore
Needlecraft Corner, Baltimore 

In Pennsylvania:
The Strawberry Sampler, Glen Mills

WIP Progress - Part II

Nora Corbett's "Bluebell" as stitched on Silkweaver's "Skye" 32ct Opalescent Lugana.What can I say? I really like the color blue! This photo was taken after about eight hours of stitching.

Mirabilia's "Deepest Love" as stitched on Silkweaver's "Cascade" 32ct Lugana. This has been my Beach Vacation project for the last four years. I take it with me down the beach and work on it when we're inside. I have no idea how many hours I've logged stitching it, as I really don't bother to keep track. It just is.

WIP Progress - Part I

I haven't picked up Mill Hill's "Vanilla Cupcake" since the last post. A major portion of its progress was made while I was sitting in a lawyers office (a situation that I can not publicly comment about) and I haven't been able to bring myself to pick it up since. However, it DOES make a good travel project so I will probably find myself taking somewhere if I know I'll have the time to stitch.

Here's "Swirly Sampler". The entire right-side of the pattern is now complete. Now it's time to finish the first half of the alphabet.

Janlynn's "Baby Monkey Birth Sampler" is a lot more complicated than I gave it credit for. The color changes in the sock monkey are insane! I'll be able to breathe easier once the second monkey is finished. The rest of the pattern should be a breeze.

WIPocalypse 2012

Current WIPs that I will be focusing on:
1. Janlynn's "Baby Monkey Birth Announcement"
2. Bent Creek's "Swirly Sampler"
3. Mill Hill's "Vanilla Cupcake"
4. Nora Corbett's "Bluebell"
5. Mirabila's "Deepest Love"
6. Raise the Roof's "Crabby All Year"

New projects that will be added upon starting:
7. Disney's 101 Dalmatians "Pup & Teddy Bear"
8. JCA, Inc.'s "Deck The Stalls" Christmas Stocking
9. Ink Circles' "First Bass"

2012 Stitch-Alongs

I decided to join two stitch-alongs next year to keep me challanged, as though finding time to stitch after the baby comes won't be challenging enough!

1. The Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long
 Posts must be made on the new moon: January 23, February 21, March 22, April 21, May 20, June 19, July 19, August 17, September 1, October 15, November 13, December 13

2. The WIPocalypse
 Posts must be made on the full moon: January 9, February 7, March 8, April 6, May 5, June 4, July 3, August 1, August 31, September 29, October 29, November 28, December 28

Delaware State Fair 2011

I only entered two pieces in the State Fair this year. They both placed!

- My "Miss New Years Fairy" won 2nd Place in the "Counted cross-stitch with embellishment on linen" category.

- My "M-Designs Personalized Name Tree" won 1st Place in the "Counted cross-stitch item on linen, 8"x10" or over" category.

Puppies, Cupcakes and Sock Monkeys

I'm slowly getting back to stitching now that Rose is learning independence. She still has some clingy days, but most of the time she'll let me do my own thing while she naps elsewhere in the house.

Last month I started working on the Vanilla Cupcake kit from Mill Hill's Buttons & Beads Spring Series. While I'm not too fond of working with perforated paper, I've found that works well for a travel project because I don't require as much light to see what I'm doing. Here it is so far after about fourteen hours of stitching:

I'm also starting a birth announcement for my cousin's baby, who was born this past December. I've actually started this project twice before, but each time changed my mind about the piece and switched to a different design. This time, I'm positive that this is 'the one'. Upon finding out that my cousin LOVES sock monkeys, I've chosen this kit from Janlynn to do for his baby girl, Sophia:

"Baby Monkey Birth Announcement"

Designed by Linda Gillum for Kooler Design Studio

The kit came in the mail today (thanks 123 Stitch!) and I hope to start on it tomorrow. I plan to do the project as charted, except I'll be switching out the kitted 14-count aida with 32-count opalescent lugana. I love my sparkly fabrics!