Sunday, February 26 Weekly Recap

 Good Sunday Afternoon,

Greeting from HOT, SUNNY Florida! The temps are in the low 80's today when predictions of getting into the 90's by midweek. Sorry to the Northern folks dealing with all the snow. I'll send you some sunshine. The morning hours flew by but now I'm here to recap my stitching week! Not much progress to show but anything is an attempt at moving forward!

I'm still stitching the 'seed packs' by Stitching With the Housewives and as I stated in the previous post I ran out of #3865. I put it on my 'to do' list and I finally walked down to Michael's on my lunch break on day only to find out the they had NONE! Boy o boy was I upset! This meant I'd have to take a trip to JoAnn Fabrics (approx. 12 miles away). So I gathered up my coupons + my birthday coupon, made a list of things I need or will need and headed there on my next day off from work. I'm shopping along and come to the cross stitch aisle only to discover they don't have any #3865 either!!! Now I'm raging, because this now means I'll have to order online if I have ANY chance at finishing these 'seed packs' before spring arrives. Monday, March 20, 2023.

Here is a previous stitched piece ~ STRAWBERY SEEDS by Stitching With the Housewives.I'm waiting until I have all the packs stitched before fully finishing them. By the way I planted strawberry seeds this morning in my garden box. I'll keep you posted on how they do. 

So, I came home with $137.00 of 'other stash' (pillow forms, interfacing, stuffing, fat quarter fabric, jelly roll, cross stitch fabric (fiddler's cloth 14ct), ....you get the picture. All because I was going for thread!!! I immediately placed on online order with 123Stitch for 6 skeins, then I added some JABC pins for a finish I spoke about last Sunday (Block Party 4th by Hands On Design) and then Primrose Cottage has a new bee chart that they are releasing at the Nashville Market so I needed to get the bee pins for that. Had to justify the shipping charges...that package will arrive Tuesday, February 28th. So at least the thread is on it's way! Hip Hip Hurray!

I then was viewing Hands on Desgins recent flosstube #78 and she showcased her new releases for Nashville...well that was another rabbit hole I fell into. I had decided to do all four seasons of her BASKET designs. I ordered her Spring Basket as a preorder so decided in the meantime to get all my goods together for the entire series. She uses just 3 pillow forms and interchanges them seasonally, hence the purchase of pillow forms at Joann's! I've decided to stitch all the seasons on 14ct fiddler's cloth therefore the pillows will be bigger than the 10'' she takes about in the tutorial, also on flosstube. I will just need to order the SUMMER basket after market, just in case I see something else I 'need'.

I've also decided that I want to try my hand at making a quilt this spring. I chose a beginner chart by Primrose Cottage called Gingham Squares (available on their Etsy shop). I purchase an ADORABLE fabric bundle by Primrose Cottage, and the jelly roll (from Joann's) will go along with this fabric. Will probably start in late April as I have a full few month ahead. More later on that.

This morning I kitted up my traveling piece...Lizzie*Kate's ABC's of Faith. I will be stitching this on 14ct antique white aida using called for DMC threads, Weeks Dye Works and on Classic Colorworks as a substitution thread. I'm only taking one piece to work on while on vacation instead of the normal 10 pieces I bring and barely have time to touch any of them. We have 2 long flights so I'm hoping to do most of my stitching then.

The one main piece that I started stitching this week (as I'm waiting for my thread to arrive) is Heart in Hand ~ BLOOMING TINY TOWN. Stitching on 14ct antique white aida using the called for DMC colors. I have just about all the houses 'built' and then I'll move onto the flowers and trees. This is a really cute 'spring' piece.

While I was puttering around in the kitchen this morning I made a batch of Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookies but added walnuts as my daughter and I like anything with nuts. Enjoying one now as I type this out. YUMMY!

I only found a few FREEBIES this week...they one I really like is Rouge by Crocette a gogo. She is on FB @crocetteagogo.puntocroce and Instagram @ricamidimarula. Looks like a nice spring stitch.

That's about all for this week...remember make yourself happy! Do what YOU want to do!

Until next Sunday.

♥Elizabeth 

Sunday February 19 Weekly Recap

 Good Morning Blog Followers!

Happy Sunday morning! This week has a few fully finished items and many items fully stitching and stitching pieces in the work! Sit back with your favorite cup of something and read away. I've got my coffee nearby so here we go!

Last Sunday I was up in the 'craft room' after posting my blog and fully finished BLOCK PARTY ~ 4TH by Hands on Design. This was a challenge piece for me as I participate in Flags on the 4th hosted by Primrose Cottage. The 4th of every month you stitch a flag so that by the end of a year's time you will be able to fill a dough bowl or such and have 12 patriotic flags. I had seen this piece by HOD and just knew that I had to stitch it. I wasn't keen on the 'greenish/yellow' fabric that it showed on the chart so I dug around in my fabric stash and stumbled across this piece of 14ct demin aida and got busy doing a floss toss to see if the called for colors would work on this fabric. BINGO! They did, so away I started stitching! This was a piece that took some time but I finally finished stitching it and now it was time to FULLY finish it. I have never done a finishing like this but I must say I am quite proud of myself and even Cathy Habermann commented that she 'loved it stitched on this fabric'. Thank you, Cathy...that means alot to me. I did not use the enclosed wool piece that was included with the chart as I wanted to show off the demin fabric. I will eventually order the button pins to 'poke' in the top.  (ok, I just put them in my cart @ 123Stitch).

I then went onto finish WREATH SWAP 1 ~ MARCH by Stitching With the Housewives. This was a few days of stitching time and then a quick finish to have ready to swap out on my HOME is where the wreath is piece. 

I then fully finished FEBRUARY  WORD PLAY by With thy Needle and Thread. Have had this piece stitched for years and finished into a hanging pillow only to realize that I wasn't happy with the finish! So I 'frogged' out the fully finished pillow and did a simple finish to display on this easel. I can switch them out monthly.

I then tried my hand at some cute quilted Valentine hearts by Erica Made. She has a blog and website with adorable quilting projects that are great for a beginner like me!

Then the  final fully finished item was 1776 by Primrose Cottage for her FLAGS on the 4th SAL. This was a free chart if you are subscribed to her newsletter. I had been watching her flosstube and someone commented that this would be a cute chart for a needleroll. Years ago I had stitched and made a few needlerolls and had forgotten about them. What a cute addition to my collection for Flags on the 4th.

Stitching for the week ~

I finished stitching my March BARN STAR by Lori Holt using Fat Quarter Shop's color redition. I just need to quick fully finish it and it's ready to swap out on my little black barn. 

I started stitching the SEED PACKS by Stitching With the Housewives this week only to find out that I had NO 3865 in the house at all! Out of 3 tackel style storage boxes and a drawer full of duplicate threads, there was NONE to be found. So, I decided to 'color' stitch the 5 charts and will go to Michael's tomorrow on my lunch break and get the much needed threads. Here are the charts I have 'color' stitched so far.

Under my needle right now is DAISY SEEDS by Stitching With the Housewives, once again just stitching the colored parts until I get that much needed 3865!

FREEBIE FINDS ~

I found a few freebies this week that I am interesed in stitching. LUCKY by Rovaris. Looks like a cute little quick stitch for a pillow finish. I don't have many St. Patrick's Day things so this will be a nice addition.

I also found HAPPY EASTER by Cherry Hill Stitchery. I can't wait to stitch this one up!

LIZZIE'S LUNCHBOX STITCH:

This is a new category I came up with to show you what I'm stitching on at lunchtime when I'm at work. This week's piece is I CAN I WILL by Silver Creek Samplers. This was a free chart I mentioned in a previous post. Stitching on 14ct fiddles cloth using the called for dmc threads.

Well I think I've rambled on enough and hope that I have insprired you to make some time for yourself today and pick up that needle and 'poke' that fabric.

Till next week!

♥Elizabeth 

Sunday February 12th Weekly Recap

 Good Morning Blog Readers,

Happy Sunday morning to you! It's Super Bowl Sunday! Although I am not a football fan I do have a pot of chili simmering on the stove for this evenings' meal along with cheddar bay biscuits that I'll make later this afternoon. I've also got my RED VELVET cake in the oven baking as we are celebrating Valentine's Day today as I have to work 2-11pm Valentine's Day. :( This receipe was posted 2 weeks ago on this blog.

Well let's get started with this week's recap of things I finished stitching and things that I fully finished.

I started this week off with posting my quilted barn star by Lori Holt,  using the floss suggestions from Fat Quarter Shop to have a monthly piece that I could change out. I purchased a wooden barn from Michael's months ago, painted it black and now will change of the barn star every month. These stars are stitching on 14ct white aida using DMC threads.

I then posted my tier tray with the FEBRUARY 14th piece by Primrose Cottage Stitches. This was a previous finish from last year and I look forward to bringing it out every year. Stitched on 14ct pink aida using called for DMC threads.

I fully finished a cute, quick stitch by Kate Stitcher called LOVE postage stamp. This was a free chart that she posted a few weeks back and I believe I referenced its whereabouts in last weeks recap. If not, I will edit this blog post and post it for you. I stitched it on 11ct white aida using the called for DMC threads. I finished it into a cute little ornament for my Valentine's tree, using left over fabric and ric rack from my stash. 

What's Under My Needle Today ~ I finished stitching HOME is where the Wreath Is ~ MARCH by Stitching With the Housewives. I stitched it on 14ct black aida using the called for colors. It will go upstairs today and be fully finished so it will be ready to display March 1st!

I am also working on March ~ Barn Star by Lori Holt with Fat Quarter Shop's color redition for the month. GREENS! A new DMC 14 and 16 I had to purchase at Michael's this week as I didn't have either in my stash of floss. I should be able to finish that piece up this evening after I come down from the 'finishing room' this afternoon.

FREEBIE FINDS ~ 

Create Every Day by Teresa Kogut. This was a Nashville 2020 Freebie.

La-D-Da ~ Hand & Heart: https://la-d-da.net/pdf/Hand&Heart-freebie.pdf

From the Heart ~ Love Mini Quaker: https://www.fromtheheartneedleart.com/free.charts.html

SodaStitch ~ Valentine Gnome: go to her FB page to download the pdf chart

Charts for Sale:

Heart in Hand ~ Merry Making Mini: Flower Fun  (no button) $5.00 includes shipping within the US

Heart in Hand ~ Throwback: Checkeredbird (includes leftover beads) $6.00 includes shipping within the US.

Hands On Design ~ Stitch Some Happy $6.00 includes shipping within the US

All these charts are gently used from a non-smoking, no pet home. You can send me an email using my email address posted at the post of my blog page. Payment can be well concealed cash (at your own risk, money order or PAYPAL.

You can see all these charts on 123Stitch.com for pictures.

Thought for the week ~ Do what you LOVE and LOVE what you do! (unknown)

See you next week!

♥Elizabeth 

Sunday, February 5th Recap

 Good Morning!

I did an experiment during this past week and found that I didn't have time to post DAILY to my blog like I do to my FB page (Lizzie's Stitches) or my INSTAGRAM page (pocketofstitches), so I've decided to sit down on Sunday's with my cup of coffee and do a weekly recap of the week! Here we go!

I started last week of with the stitchy finish of FEBRUARY ~ A YEAR IN THE HOOP by Small Town Needleworks (a new designer to me). I stitched this on 14ct black aida using the called for DMC threads. Not sure how I will fully finish this piece but for now it's on the finishing table.

Next, was  FEBRUARY ~ WREATH SWAP 1 by Stitching With the Housewives. I did my 'home' piece on a 12 X 12 scrapbook frame that I've had forever in my stash and decided it would be perfect. This year I would like to 'finish' stitching this series and be able to 'swap' it out with the other monthly things I display in my house. This was stitched on 14ct black aida using the called for DMC threads.

I  posted a previous finish from 2009 and had to actually do some research to finish out the designer. It was SamSarah Designs, I had a friend of mine finish it into this lovely pillow and it is the image picture I use on my FB page. (Lizzie's Stitches).Stitched on 14ct cream aida using the called for DMC threads. The buttons were purchased separately from the chart.

New came February 2 ~ Ground Hog Day. This is an old (2007) freebie from Bent Creek. Just love this happy little gogher who sees his shadow again, year after year! Here is Florida (where I reside), we don't follow this guy because it's always 'beach like' weather here. We might have 2-3 REALLY COLD days here, but nothing like what they have up north. Sorry you Northern folks!

I showed during the week what was currently under my needle.  MARCH ~ WREATH SWAP 1 by Stitching With the Housewives. Pretty colored tulips will cover this pieces when it is finished. Stitching on 14ct black aida using the called for DMC threads.

Saturday, February 4th is FLAGS ON THE 4TH hosted by Primrose Cottage. Every 4th of the month I stitched something that has a flag on it. Yesterday's stitching was a free chart by Lindsey at Primrose Cottage. She has released 4 charts to those of us who subscribe to her newsletter. These are small little charts that could be displayed on your coffee table in a dough bowl, or like me I'll be displaying mine in an oblong galvinized bucket that I've collected along life's path. Can't wait to fully finish them all that I have stitched on display them.I stitched this piece on 14ct navy aida using my choice of DMC threads. (347, white and 3752).

This brings us up to date on my weekly stitching. Today as soon as I finish here I'll be headed up to the 'finishing room' for a better part of the day to finish 4 projects that are on the sewing table ready to be put together. Of course, I'll share photos next week right here, or you can see my daily posts on FB and Instagram.

Before I leave, here are from FREEBIE FINDS that I came across this week:

FLAGS ON THE 4TH ~Primrose Cottage (newsletter)

DO EVERYTHING IN LOVE ~ Silver Creek Samplers (.com)

X'S AND DOUGHS ~ Shannon Christine Designs (website)

LOVE YOU ~ Erin Elizabeth Designs (website)

Have a great stitchy week and see you here again next Sunday! 

XXX's,

Elizabeth

Hello~ It's February!

 It's February! Happy February 1st!  The month of hearts and love!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

2/2 Groundhog Day

2/14 Valentines Day

2/20 President's  Day

2/22 Ash Wednesday

PREVIOUS FINISHES:

This was a chart from Sam Sarah Designs, stitched in 2009!

                                   If I remember correctly, this chart is by Bent Creek. I'll keep

                                   researching to make sure!

WHAT'S IN MY NEEDLE NOW:

I am currently working on MARCH ~ WREATH SWAP 1 by Stitching With the Housewives. I would like to fnish this series this year. 

RECIPE OF THE MONTH:

Red Velvet Cake

Cake Batter:

2 1/4 cups cake flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1-2 tablespoons red food coloring (I use the whole little bottle)

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsps white cider vinegar

1 cup buttermilk

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease 2 (9 inch round) cake pans; line bottoms with wax paper and grease paper. Set aside. (I use a regular sized bundt pan, sprayed with non-stick spray)

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flor, baking soda, sanlt and cocoa. Transfer to a piece of wax paper.

In saame bowl, beat sugar and oil on low speed of an elecric mixer until well combinded. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add food coloring, vanilla and vinegar and beat until blended. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Keep mixer speed on low so you don't overbeat and toughen cake.

Divide mixture between two prepared pans and bake in center of over 23-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comees out clean. Remove pans to wire racks to cool.

Cool about 5 minutes before removing cakes from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Use can use this cake plain (no frosting), or frost with a whipped buttercream frosting or with a cream cheese based frosting!

ENJOY!

INSPIRATION: 

As I was reading Stitching Dreams blog, I was so inspired to read that as you finish your stitching piece, get up and fully finish it! Don't put it in a drawer or in a spot that 'you will get to later', you'll never fully finish it! Get up and fully finish it NOW!