Tuesday 5 June 2012

WIPocalypse post and busy needles

What a productive month this WIPocalypse has been for me.

I finished
Malcom the Moose
Night Before Christmas
Point Loma Lighthouse
Just Nan's Summer Stroll
and
Dreaming Fairy on my Mirabilia RR.
I'm quite proud of this past month's accomplishment..

I also completed two travelling patterns
Tending the Blooms and it travelled off.

Travelling Pattern #2
Count Your Blessings was recently won by Ariadne
This is my stitch of the pattern.















Ariadne  is a relatively new blogger and is hoping that people will visit her blog and that she will have a stitcher ready to stitch the design when it is done. The pattern went off in the mail to her today.
I took a photo of the pattern so you can see some of the wonderful ladies who have stitched this one and where I have signed before I sent it off. It is a very well travelled pattern started by It's Dafffycat.



I stitched on a Band Sampler RR. Catherine Stickler of Indigo Rose is the designer for this band sampler.
I struggled a great deal with this one but I am happy with the end result.



I picked up my Desert Mandala and gave it some serious love. I have now completed the cactus all the way around and have started the backstitching.


I did a little stash shopping.

Mirabilia's Summer Queen


and some 9x13 ornament cuts from Silkweaver














I was the recipient of this beautiful piece of cross stitch. My friend Adriana - who is now 95 - stitched this one and gifted it to me this past week. I am so honored to have her stitching in my home.


I was away for the weekend at a stitching retreat. The weather was lousy - pouring rain, windy and black skies. As my BFF Beatrice said "Thank goodness stitching is an indoor sport!" Even the frogs stayed indoors and perched right on my shoulder. The second RR that I spent an entire evening stitching on had to be ripped out as I was one stitch off. I have not had the heart to pick it up and start again.


Here's hoping all those frogs drowned in the pouring rain. Until next time.

26 comments:

dulcinella said...

That is a huge progress! I love your stitching and it is wonderful to see the designs come to life. The desert mandala is awesome! I'm sorry to hear frogs were there, but I didn't send them. Must be a frog sister or brother of the one that is making me unpick lots,of stitches too:-)

Mouse said...

ohhh well done on your lovely finish of the TP ... saw my wee writing on there heheheh .... love your present of your friend too
and nice stash enhancement too :)
and well done on the stitching front :)
off to go and look at your friends blog :) love mouse xxxxx

Chris said...

What a wonderful post! Great progress, wonderful stash and a retreat too.
I love the piece that Adriana gave you. What a special gift.

Chris said...

What a wonderful post! Great progress, wonderful stash and a retreat too.
I love the piece that Adriana gave you. What a special gift.

Cathy said...

Nice update. I hope I am still stitching lovely pieces at 95 like Adriana!

Ariadne said...

I am so glad I won the travelling pattern, I hope it arrives soon so that I can stitch it and send it on before I leave for my summer holidays! Thanks for mentioning my blog I hope cross stitchers will come along!AriadnefromGreece!

Bette said...

You have been busy, girl. I love the Desert Mandala. I might just have to get it out and begin work on it when I'm done with Quaker Gone Tropic.

Anonymous said...

You really are busy! Love the finish, your works in progress and that lovely stitching by your 90 year old friend. What a lovely piece. I hope the frogs leave you alone so you can pick up that piece again. I see you are a winner again on This and That! You are one lucky girl. Congrats.

Linda said...

Great stitching. I love the Desert Mandala.

Linda

Daffycat said...

Oh, Kathy...thank you so much for the glimpse of my traveling pattern! How I enjoy seeing all the names of my friends who've stitched this. *hugs*

Karen said...

Love your Desert Mandala! It is beautiful!

I love Adriana's gift to you! The white on the red is stunning. I did this same piece as a gift for my parents some time ago, but on blue fabric. I really like the red.

Lovely new stash! It is always nice to have lots of ornament cuts around.

Crazee4books said...

Dear Kathy,

Your stitching achievements for May are mighty
impressive, and leave me feeling like a bit of an
underachiever. Oh well. I plan on working on
that.

I see that there are more traveling patterns
making the rounds these days and your
finish of Count Your Blessings is lovely.
I adore that red house!!

Your Desert Mandala has grown quite a bit
and looks fabulous!! Those cactus all
around it are way cool looking.

Lucky you to have another wonderful
stitching gift from Adriana. That winter
scene is so beautiful on that luscious
red fabric. Love it!!!!

I enjoyed seeing the reno of your bathroom
and am impressed that you and Leo did
much of the work yourselves. The floor
is fantastic and everything looks wonderful.
We've been renovating here too and I'll be
posting pictures on my blog soon. The
best part of a reno ... is when it's done!!!!

Cheers!

Carol said...

Gulp--your 95 year old friend stitched that amazing piece, Kathy?! Oh, my, I can only hope to still be stitching at 75!!

Lovely stitching on your Desert Mandala--wow! And great stash, too... Think I'll have to investigate those ornament cuts from Silkweaver--you sure got some yummy colors :)

Heather said...

Wow! That is a lot of finishes. Yay for you!

The gift from your friend is lovely. I hope I'm still stitching at 95.

Lesleyanne said...

Sorry to hear the frogs paid you a visit. A gorgeous stitched gift from your friend. Lovely new stash and great stitching.

Patty C. said...

You've been busy!

Paisley said...

What a list of accomplishments for the month! Your needles have been busy!

Veronica said...

Very productive month, Kathy :D Pretty finish of the traveling pattern :) That is one cool pattern with all the words left by other stitchers on it.

Pretty RR and the colours on your Desert Mandala is jut gorgeous! Lovely stash and gift too.

Hugs,
Veronica.

Stitching Noni said...

Wow! What amazing progress. I love the desert mandala - the more I see the more I want to get it and stitch it!
Lovely design from your friend - hope I can still stitch at 95!
That travelling pattern has been busy :o)

Dani - tkdchick said...

Kathy what a SPECIAL, SPECIAL, SPECIAL gift from Adriana you're such a lucky girl!

What fantastic progress you've made this last moon cycle!

Lynn said...

Wow, that's quite the achievement for this month! I was more of an under-achiever this month. Just too much going on.

Desert Mandela is amazing! This one is just so unique. Will it hang at your place in Arizona when you're finished?

You are so fortunate to have something stitched by Adriana displayed in your home! She is an inspiration to us all.

What a shame that the weather didn't cooperate for your weekend on the Bay. Beatrice's comment was so true!

Gems said...

wow you have made fantastic progress this month - you should be very proud of yourself! I love the present that you friend stitched for you, its just gorgeous.

I hope you have a great weekend - seeing all your stitches has spurred me on to carry on with my UFO!

Gems x

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Wow, you've had a great month! Lovely to see the Travelling Patttern again. I stitched the names round the edge of mine. Guess I'd need more space now!

Off to follow Ariadne now.

Meari said...

Wow, that's some GREAT stitching!

Miss LindaLee said...

What a wonderful newsy post, and you certainly have been stitching up a storm. Way to go girl! I love your finishes.

One of these days, I hope to get to a stitch get together. They always sound like so much fun. It must be so neat to spend a weekend with so many other ladies that love the art of stitching.

Keep up the great work with your blog. By the way, I love your new bathroom!

Brigitte said...

Wow, that was a stitching month! I can't believe how many finishes you had. Not bad at all!
I love love love the Sesert Mandala. It looks gorgeous with all the cactus all around and the night scene in the center. Great design. and great stitching.
Enjoy your new stash!