AAN Halloween Mystery SAL Part 2 finished!

So the SAL ended a long time ago but I didn't get to finish with everyone else because of 2014's craziness. I'm still going strong, though, and hope to finish this for Halloween this year!

Those are parts 1+2 of 7 total parts. I'll be stitching them between page finishes.

Speaking of which, I will not be stitching another page of Middle Earf right now. H³ has a very complicated pattern picking system which he has recently revamped. Let me try to explain.

I have a lot of patterns on the go right now. There are patterns that I'm stitching for H³ (Flapping Parrot, Middle Earf, and Library Adventures) and there are patterns that I'm stitching for other people and/or myself (QS Curl Up, Mario, Riding the Wave, Medieval Shelf, Greek Mandala, Space Traveler, Empress, Stormy, and Trick or Treat) along with my focus piece which is College. So far, H³ has been pretty much picking only the patterns that are for him for me to work on when the other day he realized he really shouldn't be doing that. So, he will alternate between picking a pattern for him and picking one of the other patterns. As such he has decided that I should work on another part of Greek Mandala this time around. Picking patterns is serious business!

Besides that not much going on here. I have a job interview at the beginning of February so cross your fingers. Happy stitching everyone!

College #58 + ANN SAL part 1

I managed to get at least 100 stitches in on College every day except 1 this week, and I think that's awesome considering everything going on.

Before:

After:

About 2,200 stitches left on this page, and I'm hoping to put a good dent in it today. Handsome Helpful Fiancé has already chosen the next pattern for me to work a page on, but won't tell me what it is until I finish this page.

Also, I finish part 1 of AAN Design's Mystery Halloween SAL! Part 2 has come out already and I started working on it today, but here's a quick photo of part 1:

It's stitched on 32 count, I want to say Belfast, "Winter Solstice" from Steph's Fabbys.

I do have to admit that in a moment of weakness and needed comfort I ended up purchasing Ink Circle's "Cirque des Cercles." And I'm already in love with it. Going to make working copies of the chart tomorrow or Tuesday and plow right into it. I am, however, stitching on black fabric. Which could be a disaster. But we'll find out!

I'm finding a lot of comfort in my stitching these days, which is good because my life, right now, is a little bit stressful. I found out from the venue that all events through July are cancelled and August through October are on notice pending a reconstruction schedule. They offered to let me out of the contract if I so choose, but as of right now pretty much everything for Saturday weddings is booked. We have also already booked the group rate for the hotel which would cost a lot to cancel, the invitations are ordered and paid for, and several family members have booked hotels and international plane tickets. At this point, we're going to stay with this venue unless we hear otherwise. I'm feeling a lot better about the situation, and my coordinator is very helpful and communicative about updates and changes. So I guess unless I hear otherwise, I'm going to assume business as usual. I will say please put out good thoughts and lots of crossed fingers that everything will be ok. Positive energy is an amazing thing, and I could use some of it right now.

On the school front, I've finally got a good start on my graduation portfolio. Basically, it consists of a bunch of essays: Introduction, Statement of Philosophy, Competencies A-N, Conclusion, and Affirmation. I can do everything out of order, and I'm starting with the competencies. So far I have turned in and received credit for Competencies A and C. Today I will try to write another one (haven't decided which yet, though). As of right now I'm feeling pretty good about it and I feel that although it took me a while to start, I still started early enough to be able to get it done, as long as I keep doing it.

So with that I should probably go work on it...

The stats:
Pounds lost: 5.2
Days until end of school: 51
Days until wedding: 195
Estimated completion for above chart: 8/15/16

Happy stitching, everyone, and thanks so much for the support I received from last week's dire post. It is very, very much appreciated.

A Finish!

Hello!

I know I've somewhat abandoned this blog, but I haven't actually. It hasn't been for a lack of desire to blog, but more for a lack of time. Summer session is winding down right now which means projects, due dates, and finals (yay?). Once this semester ends, though, I have 30 weeks left and then no more school! Which will happen in May!

But in the meantime, I've started and finished St. Valentine Passerolli by Alessandra Adelaide for Handsome Helpful Fiancé (who is also a hero). A hero? Well, there have been some problems at the library lately with a creeper who won't leave and today it culminated in police action, a ticket, and Handsome Helpful Fiancé having to come in around closing time to walk me to my car. Ugh. I hope that's the end of it, anyway.

But here's the stitching!

Hope you guys like it! It was a fun, easy stitch and I think is rather adorable.

I'd say more right now but I'm actually a bit rattled and need to relax. Not enough time to stitch (date night!) so I'm going to play Oblivion for a bit (Skyrim prequel - Handsome Helpful Fiancé bought it for me as an early birthday present so I can play on my laptop while he uses the XBOX). So there you go.

I hope you're all having a better day than I am. I'll be giving away some scraps of 25 count soon as I have a lot left over from the birdies and I know some of you do small projects - maybe storykeeps or something, so keep a lookout for that.

Also, I must mention my friend's awesome wonderful new Etsy page: Buffalo Nickel Goods. She makes her own jewelry using vintage stuff and it's really awesome. Everything is one of a kind, affordable, and really unique without being over-the-top. So I highly encourage you guys to check it out.

Happy stitching everyone!

A Finish!!!

I'll save the finish for last, hehehe

First of all, I want to let you all know that Lesli from Fabulous Frogger is having an amazing giveaway - an HAED chart, fully kitted with fabric and floss. So hop on over there, follow her blog anyway because it's awesome, and enter the giveaway! She's by far one of the most generous bloggers I know.

Secondly, I received the floss I won from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe! Here it is below, pictured on the piece of fabric I bought to back the throw pillow I'm going to make out of "Tiny Rose Garden Mandala"

In order from left to right they are "Persimmon Dark," "Summer Russet," "Candy Pink," "Squash," and "Taupe." I love them - I just have to figure out what to stitch with them! I'm thinking some sort of small, monochromatic sampler or other monochromatic design. But we'll see - you'll definitely be informed of my decision.

Now for the result of the secret stitch. I decided to stitch an anniversary gift for Boyfriend. So, without further ado, here it is!

Albero innamorato by Allesandra Adelaide

Stitched on 25 count antique white Evenweave

2 threads over 1 with DMC

This explains all the green in my TUSAL cup! It was a fun stitch and came out really well, I just wouldn't do it in two weeks. It was more work than I bargained for. But Boyfriend loved it (he got me a lot of Arctic Zero ice cream which is awesome because 1. I love ice cream and 2. It's 150 calories PER PINT .... you read that correctly. He also got us champagne which we will share on our actual anniversary tomorrow). 

Not much to update on Texas news. We found movers but we're waiting on a start date for Boyfriend. He's done all his drug tests and physicals so it's just a matter of waiting and figuring out where we're going to stay. We're currently trying to work something out with a couple who is renting out their home for a month since they're travelling and ask that whoever stays there just pays a fraction of the rent, the utilities, and feeds their two cats. We're hoping that pans out and if it does we might end up driving out there in a week or so. Yikes! 

At Boyfriend's right now so in between packing up all his stuff and trying to get everything done, I'll be stitching on College.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Memorial Day Weekend, remembering all those who have given so much.