2013 Woodland Sampler - Completed!

I stayed up late Sunday night to try to finish up the last few stitches on my 2013 Woodland Sampler. I didn't start my sampler until June, but then I went crazy stitching and got caught up with everyone else in time for the August pattern.

I've shared my progress along the way, and now, here it is - finally completed!

I didn't really have a plan for what I would do with the completed sampler once it was done, but now I do! I'm going to frame it (or have it framed), and I'm going to hang it up in my son's room. He has been excited about this project since I started it, asking what all the animals are and celebrating with me when each month's frame was completed. I feel like this is a project that would fit in a child's room perfectly. If you want to stitch up your own Woodland Sampler, it's not too late! They even included an alternative 2014 block design at the end for you. You can get the pattern here, and since all the pattern emails have gone out already, you get the whole thing all at once!

The 2014 sampler, Once Upon a Time, is fairy tale themed. The first pattern email will be sent out this Friday, and I can't wait to start stitching! When the year is over, I plan to hang it in my soon-to-be-daughter's room. Keep an eye out for updates on my Once Upon a Time sampler, and if you like to stitch, join me in making it! I'd love to see yours.

Christmas on Gingerbread Lane

I've been working on a lot of projects recently, but they all take a lot of time! I post a lot of progress picture on Instagram, but it feels a little silly to devote a blog post to a small amount of progress on a large project. I finally have a new finished project to share with you (and some time to write about it)!

I still need to iron it and frame it, but my most recent project finish is this beauty:

This cute pattern is Christmas on Gingerbread Lane from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. I usually use embroidery hoops to finish my projects (which are a lot smaller), so I have never mounted and framed my stitching. I'm excited (and a little nervous) to do it with this project. I bought a red metal frame from Jo-Ann's when I got to use a coupon on top of the crazy frame sale, but I'm not sure if I want to use it. Since Christmas has already come and gone, I have time to get this project framed before I pull all my Christmas decorations out for next year, so I guess I have time to find the "right" frame for it. I also need to order some mounting boards for this project and a few others. I think it'll be fun to do something new!

If you recall, I have also been stitching up the FPS's 2013 Woodland Sampler. I am so close to finishing it! I just have the December frame and the bonus frame left to stitch up. I was really hoping to have it all done by the end of the year, but since that is tomorrow, I don't think it's going to happen. Either way, I can't wait to share that finish with you!

I love making my own patterns, but it has been a lot of fun stitching up FPS designs and sharing them with others I've connected with from all over the world online. So, I already have everything ready to stitch up their 2014 Once Upon a Time Sampler (starts on January 10th)! Do you want to join me?

Woodland Sampler - November

I've been trying really hard to keep up on my Woodland Sampler, especially since we are so close to the end of the year. There's only one more pattern release day to go! Unfortunately, I spent too much time stitching on a few nights and my tiredness led to some mistakes on my November frame. I didn't feel like picking the stitches out and redoing the affected sections, so I just left them and tried to make it look nice. I think I did a good job. I know that no one will probably ever notice (unless they have stitched the pattern themselves maybe), so I'm not going to worry about it. Well, I'll try not to at least!

I've Been Bad

So, I've been a very bad blogger, and I'm sorry. I haven't posted in two months and it makes me sad. It all started because I wasn't feeling well and wasn't really getting anything done that would be worthy of writing about. As you probably know, when you don't feel well, it's hard to get the motivation to do things.

I'm working on a lot of projects and will have a lot to write about, but things might get a little crazy in March . . . because I'm pregnant! We're expecting a little girl this time, and I am so excited!

I've been feeling better (although I still get really tired on most days), and I have been getting a lot more crafting done.

I have only really progressed on one of the projects I last updated you on, my Woodland Sampler:

Woodland Sampler

Since my last update, I stitched up my September and October frames. I am currently working on the November frame and hope to finish it this week.

Wild Olive's Summer Stitching Club

My top is finished (expect for trimming it), but I still don't know exactly how I want to finish it. I have so many projects going right now, that I'm not going to worry about it until next year.

Wild Olive's Autumn Stitching Club

It's still going on right now (I think this is the last month), but I haven't started working on it. I know that once I get started, I'll probably fly through stitching up the designs. At least, that's what happened with the Summer Stitching Club. I may end up waiting to start this until I finish up all the handmade Christmas gifts I have planned.

ABC Quilt

This project has been on hold for too long. Maybe I can get in gear and finish it in time to give it to my son for Christmas. The timing would be good because we recently switched him to a toddler bed, and he doesn't have a nice blanket for it yet. It might be too much work to finish in a month, but I'm going try.

NEW PROJECTS IN THE WORKS

Eloise Baby Sweater

My first handmade item for the new baby is the Eloise Baby Sweater from MooglyBlog. It's adorable, and I am almost finished. I need to finish 1 1/2 sleeves and the neckline. Then, I get to weave in a million ends. That part won't be fun, but I'll be excited to have it all done and waiting for my little girl. Here is my last progress picture:

Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar

BetterOffThread is running a Quilt-Along for this advent calendar designed by Elizabeth from Oh, Fransson! for SewMamaSew. The Quilt-Along started at the beginning of September, but I didn't hear about it until today! They are working on their binding this week, and I am just getting started.

Their final link up, which enters you to win some nice prizes, is on Monday, November 25th. I'm hoping I can get mine done in time to join in the link party.

So far, I have chosen my fabrics. I had a ton of fabric set aside for Christmas projects that will match/complement the family Christmas stockings I made two years ago, so that will make things a lot easier - no running to the fabric store before I can get started! I may have to trek to JoAnn's to get some white fabric for the sashing, but I'm hoping I can scrounge up enough from my stash to make it work.

Here are the fabrics I'll be working with:

Heartmade Holidays Ornament Swap

I'm participating in a handmade ornament swap hosted by Ashley from Heartmade Life. I have two ornaments to make and send to my swap partner by this coming Monday, November 18th. I think I finally know what I am going to make. Now, I just need to get them done!

My Sister's Birthday Present!

My sister's birthday is this Friday, and I have had a handmade gift idea for her for a LONG time. I have had everything I need to make it for a LONG time. I need to get it DONE! I'll be visiting her for her birthday, and I want to have it in hand, ready for her to open, when I get there. She might be reading this, so I'll post about her gift next week. :)

Cross Stitch Kit Giveaway

Last September, I wrote about my custom QR Code pattern being mentioned in Cross Stitch Crazy Magazine. I was super excited and thanked the magazine for mentioning my shop on the CSC Facebook page.

Someone responded to me, and I ended up swapping a few emails with a woman at the magazine. I set up three cross stitch kit giveaways with them, and my last giveaway issue is out now! I got my copy of the magazine in the mail today, and I just had to share.

I already sent out a Rainbow Rain Cloud Kit to a lucky lady who won the first giveaway. The winner of the second giveaway will be chosen next week, and they'll be receiving my Saving Planet Earth Kit. Lastly, in the newest Cross Stitch Crazy issue, my Caffeine Molecule Kit is up for grabs! The winner will be chosen on May 1st.

I really hope the winners like their new kits!

Weekend Wrap-Up

I've been behind on posting because I have actually managed to keep myself super busy with productive stuff the past few days. Here are the highlights of my weekend:

1. Celebrated my dog's 3rd birthday by taking her to the dog park to get some energy out and to the groomer to get a pedicure.
2. Cleared a bunch of super tall weeds from our front yard. It no longer looks like it's been neglected for three years, and you can see the flowering plants and trees the weeds were blocking now.
3. Finished stitching some more new QR code cross stitch pieces.
4. Stretched all of the already stitched pieces I had laying around and started preparing them for finishing the backs.
5. Finished putting together my new and improved light box. Hopefully this is the winning design.
6. Took some product pictures using my new light box.

I still have a few more QR codes to stitch up (more color options). Then, I need to stretch, finished, and photograph the new product line. I'm hoping to get the new items in the shop this week. No more slacking!

The final version of my light box (I hope)!

Only 5 more to stitch up

Weekend Wrap-Up

It's been busy at our house the last few days, but I've managed to squeeze in a little time to stitch here and there. I thought I had finished all of my samples for my newest QR Code items, but I may have to stitch up a new one in blue.

After spending hours trying to match up embroidery floss colors with the colors of the ribbon I plan to use, I discovered that I didn't have enough of the blue ribbon I found in my stash. It's a fairly common brand, but after visiting both craft stores in my area, I came up empty. Both stores carry the brand, but they had three other blues - one is too light, one is too dark, and the other is more of a teal instead of a blue.

I was super excited about having the perfect colors chosen, but now I have to figure something else out. In the meantime, the next step for these little guys is to get them stretched and framed in hoops and finish the backs. I'll post pictures when they're done.  :)

Some new QR Code cross stitch pieces

My blue ribbon saga of sadness:

Still searching for the perfect blue ribbon

Weekend Wrap-Up

I've been slightly more productive since my last WIP post. Besides the regular shop stuff, I reorganized my supplies (in a haphazard sort of way, so I'll have to do a better job next time) and finished two custom patterns. I've also made a teeny, tiny dent in the huge "Patterns To Be Finished" list and managed to squeeze in a little stitching.

Here's what I'm working on now:

A little QR Code love  :)

Design Block! Grr . . .

I have been working on a pattern for a week now and have found myself blocked, mega-blocked even. I make myself take breaks when I start to get frustrated so I don't just give up on the pattern entirely, but I really need to get it done to meet my deadline.

Any advice?

Herp Derp

Last weekend's work in progress was actually completed on Monday, but I didn't get it stretched and photographed until Friday morning. Then, we were gone most of Friday and pretty much all of Saturday for my sister's graduation ceremony and party (Congrats again, Allie!).

It's meme-tastic!

Memes are interesting things. Who knows why some of these things get so popular, but it's hard to avoid them. This is the first of the memes I plan to stitch up.

I just added this pattern to the shop today. Hopefully I can get the kit up tomorrow.

Weekend Work In Progress

I keep finding myself getting stuck on new cross stitch patterns. I get an idea, start charting it out, and inevitably get stuck on a minor detail (How big should this part be? What color combo looks best? Where should I put this thingy? etc.). All work stops on that pattern and I end up starting work on another new idea so I can feel productive.

This has been going on since I opened my shop in February. So, four months later, I was looking through my in progress pattern files and realized that I have upwards of twenty patterns I have started but haven't finished.

I'd love for my shop to keep growing, so it would really be nice to get more patterns finished and listed. I am always thinking about how to improve and add to my shop, but the saddest part of this work-halting routine I have gotten myself into is that with so many unfinished patterns, I haven't been able to do the thing I enjoy the most, actually stitching up new pieces.

So, I vow to buckle down and finally finish some of my in progress patterns. I finished charting one yesterday and started stitching it up last night. Here is a sneak peek at my work in progress: