Busy Stitchy Girl

A toast--today I finished projects 15-17 of my 25 project challenge!

You can see this month's ornament here.

For my small project, I stitched a bookmark from Tea with Jane by Sampler Girl and stitched two tea cups from a chart found at My Aunt's Attic (Jane and I needed something to put our tea in after all). This is my favorite way to finish a bookmark--I picked up this idea from someone at the TWBB years ago (check the Gallery--it was either Shondratasha or KTCatt) The challenge for me was to stitch the two different sides together without going off center. I used Antique Blue Permin linen with Six Strand Sweets in Blueberry Grunt, Daiquiri Ice and Espresso. And I even used one of my platinum needles (if they only came in petites I'd be happy). It came out beautifully and I will use it on my new Terry Pratchett book as soon as I can find some time to read.

I also finished my Love Quilt Square. It looks great, but I don't want to even think about how many different colors are in that bottom section. Actually, there is quite a lot of confetti in this piece. It comes from a Cross Stitch Pattern a Day Calendar and I'm not certain I'll stitch any more designs from there. The key had symbols that weren't on the chart and the chart had symbols that weren't on the key. It required way more guessing and thinking than I really wanted to do. However, the result is cute and there are several adorable charts in there, so I may foolishly attempt another calendar design. Just not in the near future.

I hope it brings the little boy a smile. A creative mind at work suggested the checkerboard border, which looks fantastic. It's a bright red (the boy's favorite color) with a charcoal grey.

I will resume my regularly scheduled WIP slaying tomorrow. I've done a great job finishing projects this year. Much better than last year. I'm still hoping to finish one of my Chatelaine's this year though. I'll be cutting it close I think.

Post SAL Blues

It was weird stitching on the blues after working on the browns for so long. Can you tell I actually stitched a bit on Bedtime Story or does it look the same?

Well, maybe Angie will finish them someday.

Sigh

Quick pre-SAL scan

I should write a long post full of deep thoughts upon my return to working outside the home and chock full of lovely things I'm stitching, but I have no time at the moment. I need to take Kian from Chas so he can get Angie ready for bed and then work.

But here is Bedtime Story by Sara Butcher pre-background SAL at the HAED board. I think I'm at just over a half page. I hope I can remember where I am. I'd be completely lost if I didn't grid. I don't anticipate much progress since I'm travelling this weekend. And I'll be stitching the world's smallest Christmas ornament this weekend too for that SAL.

I really need to post a scan of the post SAL challenge project. I hope they still counted me this month even though I only posted a stitch count rather than a photo.

And I picked up Midi 1 this week. The lady is done minus some of the backstitching. I may actually finish it this year! I hit such a nice groove with it today that I hate to put it down for the SAL.

If I find some time, I'll be posting photos of my many WIPs soon.

Last Day in Paradise

Tomorrow I return to work. I'll be jumping in deep straight away with a trial and a few other hearings. I'm not looking forward to seeing how things were scheduled in my absence.

Even with all the stress, I've loved being home with the kids ad Chas. I know I'll cry a little tomorrow though I know Kian will be fine with his Daddy.

I wish that I could be the one to stay home with the kids. I miss so much just seeing them for a few hours each day.

I hope the kids understand someday that I had to return to work. I hope they feel close to me and they don't feel abandoned. I don't want to be an outsider to my kids the way my Dad was when we were growing up.

Sigh. This is one of the parts of growing up that really stinks. Financially, I can't do what I really want to do. I must be responsible and go back to a job that I do love; I just don't love it nearly as much as my family.

September Goals

I'm so pleased that I finished Tina's book last month. Everything else suffered in my failed bid to finish a tuffet in one month. For September, I plan to start and finish a small design just to prove to myself that I can actually complete something other than an ornament in a short time.

Here are my goals for this month:

1. Stitch a bit on the tuffet
2. Stitch a bit on Midi 1
3. Stitch a bit on WG
4. Acquire more supplies for Midi 3
5. Stitch a bit on JG
6. Stitch a bit on Stealing Oats.
7. Finish and mail the Love Quilt square.
8. Stitch a bit on the Rose bookmark
9. Particpate in the SALs at the HAED bb (i'm so excited about the background SAL!!)
10. Stitch an ornament at the fourth weekend SAL
11. Stitch a bit on Santorini
12. Stitch a bit on Japanese Lady
13. Stitch a bit on one of my TW WIPs.
14. Start and finish a small project--either the pirate dragon mini or the mother freebie
15. Obtain supplies and finish Amethyst Mystery.