Gone but still going...

Hello!  :)

I know I haven't posted in awhile again. I've actually been busy but just haven't stopped long enough to write a post. Sometimes I procrastinate because I haven't taken pictures yet, and you know a post isn't a post without pictures.  ;)  Then sometimes I have the pictures ready but then finished more items and need to take more pictures. Lol! It's a never ending cycle!  ;)  I'm here now though and basically up to date with all my pictures.  :)  I know I'm rambling . . . so sorry! Here's what I've been up to . . .

I joined a new yahoo group of cross stitchers from Southern California called SoCalCrossStitchers. Shortly after I joined they scheduled a stitching get-together. I was so excited. I was going to get together with a group of ladies who like stitching as much (if not more) than I do. The night before I was packing my bag to bring with me the next day and realized that I needed a case for my reader (stitching) glasses. I didn't want them to get scratched afterall. This is what I came up with . . .

Of course it's pink.  ;)  I had no pattern so I kind of figured it out as I went along. Here's a view from the side . . .

I used some flannel for the inside to keep the glasses safe and protected.

It works great for my pink polka dot reading glasses.  ;)

I'm happy with how it turned out although next time I will make it a little wider. Maybe round the bottom corners and a strap that snaps would be nice to attach it to the handle of a bag or anything else I'd like.  ;)

After the glass case I needed to make a cover for my 8" x 8" q-snap frame. Got to keep that fabric covered and clean!  ;)  I choose an aqua print from my stash.

It turned out good and works great.

Next time I will finish the seam a little different and start with the fabric a little longer. Not too bad for my first try without a pattern again. I also made a red cover for the 11" x 11" q-snap frame I purchased the next day. I also picked up a 17" x 17" one and still need to make a cover for it.

After all that sewing I was ready for the next day. I went and met some wonderful ladies and had a great day of stitching and chatting.  :)  The project I worked on was my Lizzie Kate Very Scary (mystery) Sampler. If you recall I last stitched on this piece on back in August. Wow! Here's where I left off . . .

I had stitched parts 1 & 2. When I got ready to stitch part 3 I realized something. I messed up!  :(  I started the project too low on the fabric and didn't have enough room for part 3. I got really frustrated and put it away. Other ladies in the group were working on theirs so I pulled mine out again. I looked at the pattern to figure out what I needed to do so it would fit on my fabric. It was so easy to adjust it. I couldn't believe it. It had frustrated me so much before. Now I had it all planned out and stitched away. I stitched Saturday at the get-together, that night when I got home and again on Sunday.

I was really liking how this part was coming out. I kept stitching on Monday and managed to finish it on Tuesday night.

I love the kitty! He's sooo cute!  ;)  Here's the completed piece.

I'm not sure how I'm going to finish it up yet. For now it's going into the finished pile with the rest of them.  ;)

I was on such a stitching rush that I started a new project that same night. Here's where I left off . . .

This is a new pattern from Little House Needleworks "Little Sheep Virtues- Hope". It's part of a 12-month series that I'm doing. This is the 1st month. The next one is due out the end of this month. For now I'm thinking of finishing them all together in a quilt with homespun fabrics. I actually managed to finish it yesterday (Wednesday) but haven't take a picture yet so you'll have to wait to see it.  ;)

It was nice to stitch again for myself. This weekend I do plan on starting a new project and also continuing with my next piece for Sandy Hook. Thanks for hanging with me through such a long post. Hopefully I'll be back sooner next time.  ;)

Until next time . . .

It's Giveaway Time!!! :)

Hello!  :)

Welcome to sewingly along!  :)

Today's the day!  WooHoo!!!  :)  Please join me for a

Organized by Michelle at Quilting Gallery. Thanks Michelle!  :)  The official blog hop starts Sunday morning, August 26th, shortly after midnight, eastern time. There are LOTS of bloggers participating with each having their own giveaway! There will be LOTS of great stuff to win!  :)  Go to the official Blog Hop Party page to check out the list of all the bloggers participating after midnight tonight!

We will also be celebrating my 1 year Blogiversary!!!  :)  In honor of my 1st blogiversary I'll be giving away TWO prize packages! Yes I said  two! These prize packages are provided by me (I have no sponsors).


The 1st prize package is for the Quilters/Sewers ~

This package includes a charm pack of Moda's "little apples" by Aneela Hoey, a package of long pearlized pins, a package of sewing themed buttons and a kitty cat pin cushion made by me!  :)


The 2nd prize package is for the Cross Stitchers ~

This package includes a "With thy Needle & Thread" pattern- "May Word Play", a 9" x 11" piece of 28ct Quaker Cloth, a skein of DMC White floss, a package of DMC Tapestry needles (size 28), 3 brass charms (butterfly, bee, dragonfly), and a kitty cat pin cushion made by me!  :)


Here's a close up of the kitty cat pin cushion . . .

and the back . . . 

The pin cushion was made by me from a portion of the Lizzie Kate Halloween Mystery Sampler, part two bonus design. It's stitched on 28ct light orange spice evenweave, with a black/orange backing with a hint of purple. It's filled with crushed walnut shells to keep your pins & needles sharp and clean.  :)

So are you ready to win one of these party packages?!!! 

Here's what you need to do . . .

• Leave me a comment telling me which package (Quilters or Cross Stitching) that you'd like to win! That's all you have to do!  :)
• For a Bonus Entry follow my blog and tell me you do in a separate comment! I love my followers! :)

These two giveaways are open internationally. They will remain open until midnight, pacific time, Monday, September 3rd. I will choose a winner on Tuesday, September 4th, with the help of the help of the random number generator. I will email the winner and post it on my blog. If you are a no-reply blogger please post your email in your comment or you will be disqualified. 


Thank you so much for visiting and celebrating my Blogiversary with me! I love having you here!  :)

Lots of luck to you! Please come back soon!  :)

Until next time . . .

Lovin' Lizzie Kate! :)

Hello!  :)

I managed to finish up the Lizzie Kate Halloween Mystery Sampler part 1 & 2!  Yea!  :)

Now I'm ready and waiting until the last part (3) is released. I can't wait!  :)

With each part of the sampler there's a bonus design included. There's a cat that's part of the bonus design that comes with part 2. I fell in love with him the minute I saw him! He's so cute!!!  :)  I decided I just had to make him up into a pin cushion so I can look at him all the time! Here he is!  :)

I stitched him on 28ct Light Orange Spice Evenweave. I love how he turned out!  :)  Here's the back . . .

Isn't that just the perfect backing fabric?! The pin cushion is filled with crushed walnut shells to help keep your pins & needles sharp and clean.  :)

Be sure to come back here tomorrow, Saturday, August 25th, for your chance to win one of these kitty pin cushions of your own! I'll also be adding a few extras along with it!  :)

Until next time . . .

Friday Night Sew-In & Ort Report

Hello!  :)

I had a wonderful Friday Night Sew-In Stitch-In last night! I managed to finish up part one of the Lizzie Kate Mystery Halloween Sampler. Here it is . . .

There are some straight stitches that will go in the triangular border. I'll add those later since I'm using a hoop to stitch this. I'm now ready to start part two.  :)

Yesterday was the day to share my ort's. You can read about them here . . .

I've been adding lots of threads to my jar. I'm finding myself pressing them down more now, as the jar's getting pretty full.  :)

This weekend is also the . . .

I'm going to keep on stitching and will be back Monday with a report of all the stitching I get done over the weekend.  :)

Until next time . . .

Long time no post :(

Hello!  :)

I can't believe that it's been over 3 weeks since my last post! (Non Traveling Stash that is.) I knew it'd been a while but just didn't think it'd been that long. I'm so sorry for my absence! It's been a busy time for me plus it's been HOT!!! It's usually not humid in Southern California and right now it's over 100 every day plus high humidity! Yuck! Heat and I don't get along and humidity and I definitely do not get along. I start sweating instantly and get overwhelmed with heat. It really sucks! For the past few weeks I've basically been sitting around working on various cross stitch projects for Christmas and other holidays. I wanted to post about them as I completed each project but it was too hot to get up and take the pictures. Plus I was lazy too. (I'm always full of excuses!)  ;)

The first project I finished was the last one I told you I was working on.

It's "Christmas Is..." by Lizzie Kate. It's stitched on 28 ct Ultra Very Light Antique Blue evenweave. I basically kept the colors the same. I'm not too sure about the pink string on the mittens. It was supposed to be a light blue but it blended into the fabric too much. What do you think?

The next project I completed will eventually be an ornament.

It's "Snow in Love" by Little House Needleworks. It's the hunky dude and I enjoying the snow!  ;)  This one is stitched on 28 ct Beige evenweave. I really like how this turned out. I kept all the original colors.  :)

After this I wanted a quick project. I was waiting on some over-dyed threads to arrive and needed them for the other projects I wanted to work on. In the meantime I stitched this up . . .

It's "Happy Haunting" by Lizzie Kate. I stitched it on 28 ct Light Tan evenweave. This one will probably become a pillow. I'm not too sure about it but I think I'll like it more once I add the perfect fabrics to it.  :)

After the Halloween project I received some of the threads I was waiting on. I stitched this ornament up.

It's another Little House Needleworks ornament. This one is called "All Dolled Up". It's stitched on a 28 ct Beige evenweave. I changed some of the colors. I will be adding black beads for the Snowman's eyes and buttons. I'm happy with how it came out!  :)

Then I worked on my Garden exchange piece for the "Stitched With Love" exchange. I loved the way it turned out! I wish I could show you but I have to wait until everyone receives their packages . . . sorry.  :(

The next project I did was the one I was waiting on the threads for. The moment I saw this design I just had to get it and stitch it up.

I'm so happy with the way it turned out! I love it!  :)  It's a design by Homespun Elegance called "Delivering Plenty". It turns out there's a whole series of these "delivering..." designs. I'll definitely be doing more of these! I stitched it on a 25ct Gray Green evenweave. I'm not sure of the correct color of the fabric as it was part of a variety of fabric ends that I got from a shop owner. I will be adding some buttons for the cart wheels and a charm or two. There was supposed to be a squirrel on the turkey's back but I didn't like it so I left it off. You'll have to wait and see how I finish this one off.  ;)

Remember the swap project I told you about? Well I liked it so much that I decided to stitch one up for myself. I actually finished stitching the piece today. I still can't show it to you though . . . so sorry!  :(  I can show you what I'm starting on tonight though.

It's the Halloween Mystery Sampler by Lizzie Kate. It took me a little while to decide whether I wanted to do this one or not but of course I decided "Yes!". I have part one & two of the design already. The third (& last) part will be out at the end of the month. I'm hoping to have the first two parts finished by then. I'm stitching it on a 28ct Mushroom evenweave instead of the Tin Roof fabric it called for. I am using all the original threads though. I'm hoping it will turn out nice!  :)

The last few weeks I actually have managed to get some sewing done too. Not a lot because of the heat though. I've discovered that my dining room, which is where I sew, is very hot. It just doesn't cool off in there. By the time I finish sewing I'm soaked with sweat (yuck!) I was wondering why I haven't been sewing much this summer and I now know this is why. I'm dying to work on some projects that have been waiting for me so I hope it cools off soon so I can get back to some sewing. I'll be showing you one of the items I did finish later this week. The other sewing project will have to wait longer as it was for the swap I mailed off.

Well that's it for now. Be sure to come back later in the week to check out my sewing plus some fun stuff I have planned.

Until next time . . .