Floss and a New Start

My web friend Draconayzia sent me the floss to start Spike - he's getting his beginning bright and early - or dark and late, depending on how the day goes - Monday morning! I'm just going to stitch him on regular white 14 count - he's a small pattern, and the stitching will be 3-4 strands, so coverage won't be a problem. I like 3 strands on 14 ct, makes it look very tapestry-like. And aida is good for these computer-generated patterns. They need a very sturdy base. I could do it over one on 20 count, but then he'd be tiny. I don't want that. Here's his floss and my discount fabbie.

And tonight's the night! I finally get to start 'Rose of Sharon' by Mirabilia! It's with a SAL on the Mirabilia BB. I can't wait! I'll be starting her at 6:30, after I finish catching up on all my emails and sites and such, so that I don't have to stop once I get started.

Whee!

And here's the update on my Nautical sampler! It no longer fits on my scanner. I just need to finish the red border down the left side and my March goal will be done - so I think I'll set another. I'm not sure if I'll try to finish the right side, or if I'll work on the boat or sailors that go in the middle...

The little red diamond and the red 'half' block actually have white around/next to them, it just doesn't show up very well right now. It's interesting to work on this piece - almost all my other projects have elegant, muted color tones. These screaming primary colors are a real difference!

SBQ

I joined the weekly SBQ group - though I haven't said anything to them yet! - and here's the question:

This week’s SBQ was suggested by Rachel and is:

What is your cross stitch weakness? (i.e., What do you have to have when you see it, even if you are supposed to be on the Wagon?)

Well, oddly enough, mine is 5x7 kits. I don't know why - I love big projects. But when I see a 5x7 kit my brain just goes 'oh, I could get that done in no time'! and I buy it. Especially if it's got animals on it. Go figure...

11:00 PM -
I went to my Mum and Dad's today to visit - Dad got the fourth season of 'Hogan's Heroes' for Christmas and just hasn't had time to watch it yet. We always watch them together - sometimes my sister does, too, and my Mum, but they don't like them as much as Dad and I do. And my DB hates that show! So, I needed something to stitch - I can't sit still and do nothing, and Archangel is too complicated to work on while watching something new.

Anyway, I took my 'Nautical' sampler - and I got six of the seven flags done! That's almost my whole March goal for this piece! Tomorrow I'll finish up the last one and try to get the red-line border done around them, and post a pic! I'm amazed, because even though they are simple, there are exactly 111 stitches in each square flag - so that's um... 672 stitches, because I got the first line of the seventh flag done, too. I also did a bit of the red border, so that's really even more stitches. If I wasn't so sleepy, I'd finish it up tonight, but I know I won't make it.

So, tomorrow, before I start 'Rose of Sharon', I'm finishing that last flag! Then I can have a whole new goal for March - maybe this piece will be finished sooner than I think!

March Goals

I'll be updating this post until I have fifteen projects worked out.

1. Stitch 15 hours on 'Archangel'
2. Finish the left border of 'Nautical' - this will mean finishing seven flags and the red line. I'm not sure if I'll include backstitching the flags in this goal or not. (done!)
3. Finish 'Chang Wufei's collar and a big chunk of his shirt. (done!)
4. Complete 500 stitches on 'Vash the Stampede'
5. Stitch at least two more books on 'Frederick the Literate'
6. Complete 5 hours each on 'Angel of Grace', 'Rose of Sharon', (done!) and 'Touching the Autumn Sky'
7. Start 'Spike' (done!) and 'My Baby Duck'
8. Finish an entire row of blocks on my lace tablecloth
9. Do at least two color changes on 'Crayon Ripples' but try for four.
10. Finish four blocks on my 'Arrowhead Puzzle' quilt project OR sew together the blocks I already have done.
11. Work on at least 3 UFO's besides 'Vash the Stampede' (done!)
12. start (done!) and finish 'It's Not Easy'

Help Me!

I need to stop finding new designers to moon over!

I discovered Bobbie G. Designs today, and I'll be adding about five of them to my wishlist. Like that isn't long enough already! It's getting to be pathetic!

Here's a link to see all the designs:
https://www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com/cgi-bin/Store/pageread.cgi?BobbieGDesigns

Here are the main ones I want:

Plus there were a few others I wouldn't mind having. But these three are my favorites. I love anything nautical, and anything with chickens. Maybe it's a weird combination, but I don't really care. I've been weird ever since I was born. Just ask me family.

On the stitching side, since I've gotten Wufei's neck done, I've begun on more of his shirt. I also finished another flag on my current Nautical sampler. Except for the backstitching, that is. Still waiting impatiently for Friday! Soooooooo want to start Rose of Sharon!!!

I've updated my webshots - again - with an album entitled 'Trade'. See anything you like, I'll trade it for something from my wishlist. There's not a lot in it yet, but it will be growing.

progress

I have moved beyond my goal - for once - and finished Wufei's neck as well as his chin.
Yay!
Some more work on his shirt and I'll post a pic.
I also got out my 'Nautical' sampler and I'm working another flag. they're pretty easy, and I'd like to get the border done so I can get to the boat in the middle.
The Rose of Sharon stitch-a-long starts this Friday - finally! - and I can't wait to start working on her. That's probably why I've gotten extra done on a few of my projects; it's the anticipation of starting something new. Always makes me work faster!

How Depressing

I added up my 2007 finishes, and got a grand total of 5.
Five!!!
And they're all fairly small ones.
Of course, I went from doing a lot of little projects to starting some big ones as I discovered that there were more patterns out there than the little ones my once-LNS carried, so that's part of the reason.
Still... five!
Argh!
I swear I'll do better this year!
*grumbles to self* How'm I supposed to justify all this stash...?

Whoa...

I saw this pattern for the first time today:
http://books.lulu.com/content/194019
Sistine Chapel
it's app. 3 1/2 feet by 6 3/4 feet - and that's apparently stitched over one on 32ct. On 'regular' aida, it would be twice that size. I don't even think they make aida that big.
1809 colors with 1200 blends.
I do NOT want this patten!
But it's fun to look at!
And here I thought 'Spartacus' was a complicated pattern!