I may not be blogging as much but I'm still stitching. I had a lot of obligation knitting and I still have some obligation stitching to do but the due date for the stitching is in March so I have a bit of time. Between that, work, and writing (I'm on fictionpress!) it's been extremely busy. Plus normal life stuff. I bought a new car. I have a new nephew. Work is insanely busy. Life goes on.
But I have 10 more hours stitched on the Wizard's Implements!
Before:
After:
The spiral stitching method H³ has devised has made stitching all black more interesting and it's a good travel piece, too, because I just have to pack black instead of all the colors. Makes it easy.
Once my obligation stitching and knitting is done I hope to have more stitching updates. November and December are our busiest seasons at work, though, so it's usually a madhouse (case in point, yesterday was the day after Thanksgiving and I received 200 e-mails).
Happy stitching, everyone. I hope whatever holidays you celebrate are safe and free from stress and strife.
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Wizard's Implements - 001
10 hours of stitching on The Wizard's Implements is complete and I have some progress to share but it feels pitiful:
The whole chart has a total of 216,825 stitches. Of those, 105,413 are black. That's 48.61% of the chart. By the time I finish stitching the first color, I will be almost halfway done with the chart.
I'm going to be stitching black for quite a while. H³ has asked me to stitch in his "spiral" method, working inwards. So that's what you see above for page 1. Slow and steady progress!
Also, I didn't realize this since I got the kit as a gift, but this is 28-count fabric. It's an interesting switch from 25-count but it's definitely smaller. I think I prefer my 25-count but I'll stick with this until the end.
Since I'm very behind on my Legendary Creatures Alphabet SAL I'm going to do the next letter now for May.
On the iPad front I bought the iPad and I got the GoodReader app and I love it! It's working out very well for me and I'm quite satisfied with my purchase.
Happy Stitching!
The whole chart has a total of 216,825 stitches. Of those, 105,413 are black. That's 48.61% of the chart. By the time I finish stitching the first color, I will be almost halfway done with the chart.
I'm going to be stitching black for quite a while. H³ has asked me to stitch in his "spiral" method, working inwards. So that's what you see above for page 1. Slow and steady progress!
Also, I didn't realize this since I got the kit as a gift, but this is 28-count fabric. It's an interesting switch from 25-count but it's definitely smaller. I think I prefer my 25-count but I'll stick with this until the end.
Since I'm very behind on my Legendary Creatures Alphabet SAL I'm going to do the next letter now for May.
On the iPad front I bought the iPad and I got the GoodReader app and I love it! It's working out very well for me and I'm quite satisfied with my purchase.
Happy Stitching!
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Medieval Shelf #13
I'm not a very good blogger anymore. Work took over my life and I've been making baby blankets like a fiend and haven't had much time for stitching. Plus I think my stitching bug left me for a time. But I went to HAEDcon this past weekend and it reignited the stitchiness so I managed to finish page 1 of Medieval Shelf. I think I'm going to give this to my nephew when it's done. Should be done just in time for his 18th birthday.
Before:
After:
I definitely had a brief fear that my corners weren't going to match, but they did!
HAEDcon was great. I drove from the Bay Area all the way to Seaside, OR up 101, which took just about 15.5 hours. I was hoping for great ocean views and got nothing but fog all the way from Eureka north. Coming back I drove through Portland and took I-5 South so it was only 11 hours. If I can go again, I will fly.
Other than that I got to meet some really awesome artists. Randal Spangler, Jeff Haynie, Hannah Lynn, Aimee Stewart, and Rob Carlos. Michele and Bob Sayetta were also there, of course, which was a treat. I got to meet Lesli, who I've had a blog friendship with for over half a decade and only just met her last week. It was wonderful. Besides the stitching, the artists, and the people, I got to spend a week vegging on the beach, eating fish and chips on the sand, and drinking wonderful coffee. All in all it was great. I started David Hoffrichter's "The Wizard's Implements" per the direction of H³ and will show off a photo of that once I've made about 10 hours of progress. I'm stitching it using Extreme Cross Country (ECC) which I've wanted to do for a while so I'm excited for that prospect.
I'm also considering buying an iPad to aid in my stitching. I know it may sound crazy but I'm a bit old fashioned when it comes to stitching and all my charts are being printed on paper. This is starting to feel wasteful and inefficient and I think having an iPad, EZ PDF Reader, and a nice stand would aid in the situation. And maybe save my eyes the trouble of staring at a tiny chart. Net, I think it would be a good stitching investment.
Anyway, I hope to blog sooner than 3 months next time. Until then, everyone, happy stitching!
Before:
After:
I definitely had a brief fear that my corners weren't going to match, but they did!
HAEDcon was great. I drove from the Bay Area all the way to Seaside, OR up 101, which took just about 15.5 hours. I was hoping for great ocean views and got nothing but fog all the way from Eureka north. Coming back I drove through Portland and took I-5 South so it was only 11 hours. If I can go again, I will fly.
Other than that I got to meet some really awesome artists. Randal Spangler, Jeff Haynie, Hannah Lynn, Aimee Stewart, and Rob Carlos. Michele and Bob Sayetta were also there, of course, which was a treat. I got to meet Lesli, who I've had a blog friendship with for over half a decade and only just met her last week. It was wonderful. Besides the stitching, the artists, and the people, I got to spend a week vegging on the beach, eating fish and chips on the sand, and drinking wonderful coffee. All in all it was great. I started David Hoffrichter's "The Wizard's Implements" per the direction of H³ and will show off a photo of that once I've made about 10 hours of progress. I'm stitching it using Extreme Cross Country (ECC) which I've wanted to do for a while so I'm excited for that prospect.
I'm also considering buying an iPad to aid in my stitching. I know it may sound crazy but I'm a bit old fashioned when it comes to stitching and all my charts are being printed on paper. This is starting to feel wasteful and inefficient and I think having an iPad, EZ PDF Reader, and a nice stand would aid in the situation. And maybe save my eyes the trouble of staring at a tiny chart. Net, I think it would be a good stitching investment.
Anyway, I hope to blog sooner than 3 months next time. Until then, everyone, happy stitching!
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Medieval Shelf and Legendary Creatures April
So I realize that it has (once again) been a very long time since I last posted. Everything has changed since March 27th (date of last post).
March 28th I received a text message from H³ stating we need to move out. I don't know if you remember but we've been living at my parent's house since August 2014 - the entirety of our marriage. Things like that wear on you. He told me which apartment complex he was looking at, which told me he'd done his research. I checked it out. The complex was dog friendly, close to where we were now so we could continue with our commuting situations, near a lake, everything was basically perfect. So we made an appointment to tour it that Saturday, the 31st.
Saturday morning we went and looked at the place. We were looking to rent a one-bedroom and they had two apartments ready for immediate move-in. We looked at them both, picked out the one we liked better, and applied right then and there. I was a bit wary about the cost (Google "Bay Area Housing Market" and it will explain everything) but we were approved and signed the lease. Now to tell our parents.
That same day my sister and brother-in-law were coming over for Easter dinner. Perfect time to share the great news.
Except my sister announced she was pregnant with her first before I could say anything. So in one day we decided to move out and found out we were going to be an aunt and uncle. But we made our announcement anyway and that was that.
The following week was my review at work. This was the "make it or break it" review that would determine whether or not I would be looking for another job. Not because I thought I was going to get fired but because I really needed a raise and if I didn't feel like the raise they gave me was sufficient I would start looking. I had a minimum number in mind before going in.
Suffice it to say I will not be looking for another job. They not only gave me a raise, they blew any expectations I had out of the water. The raise was massive (over 30%) and I got a promotion and up in job title as well as a bonus. I still work a LOT but I'm somewhat less bitter about it because I'm getting compensated appropriately.
Then we went on vacation to NYC for a week and when we came back we moved into our new place.
Things have taken a few weeks to settle down. We're finally unpacked. Xena was a little depressed for the first few weeks but I still take her to visit my parents and zoom her around the backyard. There's a dog park in the complex and although she's very frightened of other dogs we're slowly socializing her and she's already made a doggie friend she absolutely loves. With time, I think, she'll adjust well. She also loves to take walks by the lake across the street and I take her there almost daily. I've started running again and the SF Half is at the end of July. I've got great trails here and don't ever have to even cross a street during the course of my training runs. H³ and I have our own space, albeit it's a small apartment but still, and we're getting along much better. Even my parents and I are getting along better.
All in all that's been my last month and a half in a nutshell. Amazing what a difference a few weeks can make.
I haven't had much time for anything, even stitching, but I'm slowly getting back into it. I recently finish April's SAL and I'm also going to post the Medieval Shelf from a few months ago I never got around to posting.
March:
April:
And our doggo enjoying the lake:
Happy stitching, everyone!
March 28th I received a text message from H³ stating we need to move out. I don't know if you remember but we've been living at my parent's house since August 2014 - the entirety of our marriage. Things like that wear on you. He told me which apartment complex he was looking at, which told me he'd done his research. I checked it out. The complex was dog friendly, close to where we were now so we could continue with our commuting situations, near a lake, everything was basically perfect. So we made an appointment to tour it that Saturday, the 31st.
Saturday morning we went and looked at the place. We were looking to rent a one-bedroom and they had two apartments ready for immediate move-in. We looked at them both, picked out the one we liked better, and applied right then and there. I was a bit wary about the cost (Google "Bay Area Housing Market" and it will explain everything) but we were approved and signed the lease. Now to tell our parents.
That same day my sister and brother-in-law were coming over for Easter dinner. Perfect time to share the great news.
Except my sister announced she was pregnant with her first before I could say anything. So in one day we decided to move out and found out we were going to be an aunt and uncle. But we made our announcement anyway and that was that.
The following week was my review at work. This was the "make it or break it" review that would determine whether or not I would be looking for another job. Not because I thought I was going to get fired but because I really needed a raise and if I didn't feel like the raise they gave me was sufficient I would start looking. I had a minimum number in mind before going in.
Suffice it to say I will not be looking for another job. They not only gave me a raise, they blew any expectations I had out of the water. The raise was massive (over 30%) and I got a promotion and up in job title as well as a bonus. I still work a LOT but I'm somewhat less bitter about it because I'm getting compensated appropriately.
Then we went on vacation to NYC for a week and when we came back we moved into our new place.
Things have taken a few weeks to settle down. We're finally unpacked. Xena was a little depressed for the first few weeks but I still take her to visit my parents and zoom her around the backyard. There's a dog park in the complex and although she's very frightened of other dogs we're slowly socializing her and she's already made a doggie friend she absolutely loves. With time, I think, she'll adjust well. She also loves to take walks by the lake across the street and I take her there almost daily. I've started running again and the SF Half is at the end of July. I've got great trails here and don't ever have to even cross a street during the course of my training runs. H³ and I have our own space, albeit it's a small apartment but still, and we're getting along much better. Even my parents and I are getting along better.
All in all that's been my last month and a half in a nutshell. Amazing what a difference a few weeks can make.
I haven't had much time for anything, even stitching, but I'm slowly getting back into it. I recently finish April's SAL and I'm also going to post the Medieval Shelf from a few months ago I never got around to posting.
March:
April:
Designer: Cloudsfactory
Pattern: 2018 Legendary Creatures Alphabet SAL
Fabric: Picture This Plus "Nocturne" in 32 count Belfast
Stitched: 2 over 2
Floss: DMC and Weeks Dye Works
And for Medieval Shelf, before:
After:
Designer: Heaven and Earth Designs
Pattern: "Medieval Shelf" by Randal Spangler
Fabric: 25 count Evenweave
Stitched: 1 over 1
Floss: DMC
And, of course, how could I leave you without a photo of the new apartment:
Happy stitching, everyone!
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Medieval Shelf and Legendary Creatures March
I should have two updates for you for Medieval Shelf but my camera batteries are dead and I haven't charged them or taken a more recent picture so that'll come in another post.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Designer: Heaven and Earth Designs
Pattern: "Medieval Shelf" by Randal Spangler
Fabric: 25 count Evenweave
Stitched: 1 over 1
Floss: DMC
You can see that I've gridded Medieval Shelf mid-page. I'm trying out Sulky thread for gridding since I'm toying with the idea of extreme cross country and I needed a gridding thread that was more flexible. So far so good! Not sure what H³ will have me rotate to after this but I'll pull the row out all the way to the end and cross country it and see how it works.
I also finished another month of the Cloudsfactory Legendary Creatures SAL. It took me way longer because March has been absolutely insane at work but I just finished it tonight so hot off the hoop!
February:
March:
Designer: Cloudsfactory
Pattern: 2018 Legendary Creatures Alphabet SAL
Fabric: Picture This Plus "Nocturne" in 32 count Belfast
Stitched: 2 over 2
Floss: DMC and Weeks Dye Works
I absolutely love it so far and each letter is a really quick stitch which makes me feel accomplished.
I have two more bits of news. One is that I signed up for the San Francisco Half Marathon again this year. Watch for me on the news as they wheelbarrow me away from the finish line, if I make it that far.
The other is that I'll be going to HAEDcon this year! I'll try to blog from the con and am super excited about it. Maybe I'll even see some of you there!
So with that, I'm going to bed. For the first time in weeks I didn't work overtime today and it's not for lack of need, but due to super burnout. Vacation in two weeks! WOOT!
Happy stitching!
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Legendary Creatures SAL - February
I finished the Cloudsfactory Legendary Creatures SAL for February!
I for Ifrit and N for Nessie - loved every stitch and can't WAIT for March! It's nice because it's a little finish with every letter and they're pretty quick stitches.
I don't have much to report right now but I WILL have an update on Medieval Shelf soon!
Designer: Cloudsfactory
Pattern: 2018 Legendary Creatures Alphabet SAL
Fabric: Picture This Plus "Nocturne" in 32 count Belfast
Stitched: 2 over 2
Floss: DMC and Weeks Dye Works
I for Ifrit and N for Nessie - loved every stitch and can't WAIT for March! It's nice because it's a little finish with every letter and they're pretty quick stitches.
I don't have much to report right now but I WILL have an update on Medieval Shelf soon!
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Legendary Creatures SAL - M & Medieval Shelf 10
Two milestones today! I finished January for the Legendary Creatures SAL - the letter "M" for Medusa:
Now I have to wait until February for the next part! I have no idea what the next letters are going to be or what they will stand for.
I was also home sick today, most of which I worked (of course) but I did manage to get a little bit of stitching time and finished up my ten hours on Medieval Shelf.
Before:
After:
Designer: Cloudsfactory
Pattern: 2018 Legendary Creatures Alphabet SAL
Fabric: Picture This Plus "Nocturne" in 32 count Belfast
Stitched: 2 over 2
Floss: DMC and Weeks Dye Works
I was also home sick today, most of which I worked (of course) but I did manage to get a little bit of stitching time and finished up my ten hours on Medieval Shelf.
Before:
After:
Designer: Heaven and Earth Designs
Pattern: "Medieval Shelf" by Randal Spangler
Fabric: 25 count Evenweave
Stitched: 1 over 1
Floss: DMC
I'm going to keep going with this until a page finish and then rotate to... something else! Whatever H³ chooses!
Besides that just working away here per the usual. I'm feeling much better now than I was this morning so probably a good thing I stayed home. I always feel guilty because I think I'm not "sick enough" to stay home but ultimately it's probably a good idea and nobody really wants you to come in when you're sick and get everyone else sick.
Either way, I'll come back and post again in 10 hours' time. Until then, happy stitching, everyone!
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Legendary Creatures SAL - L
So far in 2018 I'm keeping to my resolutions:
- I've lost 5 pounds so far (still going strong)
- I'm not working on the weekends (I keep myself very available Monday through Friday, often working until 9 or 10 every night)
- I'm relaxing more (took the day off Tuesday to take the dog to the vet and then I'm going to the spa)
- Stitch more (yes yes yes!)
There's a few more I haven't met yet, but it's only January 14th so I'm still hopeful.
Along the stitch more vein, the Cloudsfactory Legendary Creatures SAL has started with the first two letters (L and M since we're starting in the center of the fabric) having been released on the 10th. I finished L yesterday and today I'm starting M:
- I've lost 5 pounds so far (still going strong)
- I'm not working on the weekends (I keep myself very available Monday through Friday, often working until 9 or 10 every night)
- I'm relaxing more (took the day off Tuesday to take the dog to the vet and then I'm going to the spa)
- Stitch more (yes yes yes!)
There's a few more I haven't met yet, but it's only January 14th so I'm still hopeful.
Along the stitch more vein, the Cloudsfactory Legendary Creatures SAL has started with the first two letters (L and M since we're starting in the center of the fabric) having been released on the 10th. I finished L yesterday and today I'm starting M:
Designer: Cloudsfactory
Pattern: 2018 Legendary Creatures Alphabet SAL
Fabric: Picture this Plus "Nocturne" in 32 count Belfast
Stitched: 2 over 2
Floss: DMC and Weeks Dye Works
I'm also going to try to remember to do those little blurbs under my stitching photos this year. The next part of this SAL gets released February 1. I absolutely love it so far and am very, very happy I decided to sign up.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful 2018! Happy stitching!!!
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