Shopping at HAED

So I had a headache when I got home tonight...long week, not much sleep, that tends to catch up to me. I tried to start stitching on Birdhouse Neighborhood, but just couldn't focus well enough tonight and decided after the fourth or fifth time of ripping out stitches that tonight was just not the night to do it...so I went shopping at Heaven and Earth Designs instead!

I ended up buying four patterns...I couldn't resist the half price sale, and considering the size of these patterns, this is a huge bargain!

Angel of Compassion by Selina Fenech

This one is part of a set of four angels...this one was my favorite, though I think eventually I'll pick up all four.

Butterfly Rose Cross by Brigid Ashwood

This cross just spoke to me. Roses are my favorite flowers, my daughter loves butterflies, and I just adore the rustic feel and the colors on this piece.

Daisy by Selina Fenech

I chose this one to represent my two years of being my daughter's Daisy Scout leader! It's such a simple image, and I just love it!

Flames of Desire by Lee Anne Seed

This one I purchased as a gift for one of my good friends for me to stitch for her. She's admired my work for awhile and asked if I would stitch a piece for her, and this is the piece we picked out!

I know I'm not going to start any of these until I finish my WOCS project, but I'm very excited...even if these four didn't put a dent into the nearly 300 charts I've put on my wish list...ha! I am determined to look at all 7000+ charts to see what else there is to add to my wish list...a little bit at a time!

Until next time!
~Katy

WOCS: Birdhouse Neighborhood

So Tuesday was not a good day......Hubby started his out of town trip for his new job, an employee of mine unexpectedly gave me her notice while we're already down two employees, and by the end of the day, I was utterly exhausted. I couldn't even pick up a needle to work on a project. I felt it today, though. It's amazing how much this has become a stress reliever for me. A couple of hours with a project in the evening after the kids are asleep with the television on and a glass of wine beside me makes a lot of stress go away. I have come to realize, though, that to keep me interested, I definitely need to keep a rotation of projects. Heaven and Earth Designs is having a 50% off sale and I may just have to mosey on over there to find some other charts to keep me interested......

But anyway, tonight I was itching to stitch after the kids went to bed, so I started my newest World of Charity Stitching project called Birdhouse Neighborhood by Kooler Design Studio.

The Entire Design

I'm actually only stitching the log cabin birdhouse on the end on the right with the bird and the base. I'm not going to do the berries above it because of the size requirements for the square. I do like the piece as a whole, though, and it's part of my Best of Kooler Design Studio book, so I can easily see myself coming back and doing the whole piece in the future! Here is my progress as of this evening. Instead of the Ivory Aida called for, I'm using Antique White, but I'm otherwise not making any changes to the pattern besides cutting it down to size:

WOCS Birdhouse Neighborhood as of 8/8/12

The other side effect of hubby being gone is that I have a hard time going to sleep without him, so I'm up WAY too late stitching...but there are definitely worse things, and that is why I'll be stopping at Starbucks in the morning on the way to work!

Until next time!
~Katy

More European Bistro

It's becoming a nightly routine. My husband and I put the kids to bed, I settle down with the Olympics on TV and stitching in hand and just have an enjoyable evening stitching and watching great performances. What am I going to do when the Olympics are over?? I'll find something to watch, I'm sure, haha!

I finished up the half stitches in this window and moved on to other colors. I was not a fan of the black half stitches by the time I was done with them - five threads per half stitch just is too much and made me feel like I was pulling a knot through the fabric each time. I like the effect though. My favorite part so far, though, is the cute little wine bottle that's on the bottom that will eventually be on the table......probably because I like my wine!

As of 8/6/12

I am going to scan and print out my pattern for my WOCS birdhouse tomorrow and will likely pick that up to get it started tomorrow if I can. I'm also drooling over the selection at Heaven and Earth Designs, which is having a half off "Stash Enhancement" sale the rest of this week starting tomorrow. There are some absolutely stunning (and intimidating!) patterns at this site and I'm building up my wishlist. I may just have to indulge with a pattern or two with the prices half off!

I did have a nice piece of mail today waiting for me from 1-2-3 Stitch! today:

Goodies!

Sorry for the glare! I picked up the Halloween Time book from Stoney Creek because I've seen so many cute Halloween projects on various blogs. I've never really been big on stitching for Halloween in the past, but I think I may have been bitten by the bug! I also got the St. Peter's design from the John Clayton International Series by Heritage Crafts. I've been to Rome on two different occasions in my life, including an entire semester during my sophomore year of college. St. Peter's was one of my absolute favorite locations to visit and I love this pattern! Can't wait to start working on it!

Until next time!
~Katy

Half Stitches Go Quick!

Just a quick post before bed tonight......tomorrow, hubby starts a new job for a day before going out of town for training from Tuesday through Friday......I normally stitch after the kids go to bed anyway, and I tend to go to bed much later when he's not home because I can't seem to relax well enough to sleep. A long week of him away may mean more stitching, we'll see!

Anyway, tonight's update of European Bistro is full of half stitches. Lots of threads used for each color, anywhere from three to five strands depending on the shading, but I like the effect, knowing that this is looking through a window pane from a distance, so things will of course be a bit more blurred. I'm pleased with the progress tonight!

Lots of Half Stitches!

We'll see how far I get on this one this week. I want to start my birdhouse for WOCS this week as well, I just need to make a copy of the pattern first! I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend and that the upcoming week is a good one!

Until next time!
~Katy

I Won!

Yay! I'm very excited! I found out I won one of the drawings for the giveaway at My Stitchy Ramblings and I've got some great charts coming my way! I'm so excited! I will definitely share them when they arrive! Thanks, Karen, for a great giveaway (and your Hunky Friday is great too!)

Until next time!
~Katy