Linda's January Smalls SAL and TUSAL

Hi Blogger Friends.  I joined the smalls SAL this year being hosted by Stitching Lotus.  She hosted an ornament SAL last year.   Click on the link for all the info.
I just finished this an hour ago.  I think I need to start sooner next month.  It's hard to believe that this little design has 1800 stitches in.  It was a lot of fun to stitch.  My first finish and its still January.

Woof Block - Lizzie Kate

14ct Beige Aida

Started 12-13-12

Finished 1-29-14

Its Totally Usually Stitch along time.  You can read all about it on Daffycat's Blog.  You would think the jar would be fuller with 27 starts this month.  I guess I really gotta stop using the floss down to nubbins.

Thanks for looking.   Linda

Starts 23 - 25

Hi Blogger Friends.  Three more starts and only six left.

Day 23 - Jungle Baby - Diane Arthurs

Day 24 - Splish Splash - Diane Arthurs

Day 25 - Thankful String - Lizzie Kate

Thanks for looking.  Linda

Linda's January Stitch from Stash

Hi Blogger Friends.  I really don't know why I joined this SAL.  I have NO willpower.   We are suppose to just stitch from stash and not spend money this year unless we absolutely need something.  Or we need floss or fabric for a certain chart we already have, etc.  We do get a monthly budget of $25.00.  Well, I'm not doing to good at it.  It is being hosted by Mel of Epic Stitching.  You can read all about it HERE.

Amount Spent:  $25.00
New Starts from Stash:  24
WIPs or UFOs worked on:  3

I bought the Disney chart, a piece of fabric and DMC floss.  This is my start.  (You can see all my other starts in previous posts)

Thanks for looking.   Linda

Grow Your Blog

Hi old and new blogger friends.  We are here today to tell a little about ourselves and increase are readership and followes.  This is being hosted by Vicki at 2 Bags Full.  You can read all about it HERE and go check out all the participants.

My name is Linda and I am 64 years old.  I have been married to the love of my life for 21 years.  We have 10 cats - Mr. D, Morris, Miss Murphy, Moon Dragon, Midnite, Mocha, Sparky, Snowflake, Smeegol and Sassy.  We also have 2 not so small miniature Schnauzers - Max and Rocky.  We live in California in the sierra foothills.  I am a 19 year breast cancer survivor.

I taught myself to knit in the mid 60's in high school.  I made a small ripple blanket and never wove in the ends so it sorta had fringe on one side.  I made a sweater and a couple vests.  I got married in 1970 and taught myself to do needlepoint.  I have done several pieces. I also do latch hook rugs and I love to put jigsaw puzzles together.  In 1972 I taught myself to crochet.  I have made over 300 items including baby clothes, toys but 75% afghans/blankets.  I bought a book called Lacy Granny Squares and it became my favorite square to crochet.  I have made over 3,000 of these squares.  (that is Morris in the pic)

First needlepoint piece.

In the mid 80's my than LNS owner finally convinced me to try counted cross stitch.  I had always resisted saying I couldn't see those little tiny holes.  lol    Still today I remember stitching the first piece.   Again I am self taught.  I found the center got started but for the life of me I could not poke the needle in the hole from the back to the front.  I finally had to turn the fabric back and forth as I stitched.  About half way through I could do it without having to turn the fabric.  1500 kits and 1000 charts later you might say I am obsessed.

I hope you enjoy browsing through my blog and become a follower.

Thanks for looking.   Linda

Starts 20 - 22

Hi Blogger Friends.  Here are the next 3 starts.  Only 9 left.

Day 20 - Mountain Lion - Spirit of Nature Series - Mike Vickery  (this will be a fun and quick stitch)

Day 21 - Disney Heroes #16 - Alina's Cross Stitch - I have added this one to my Turtle Trot SAL 2014 page and removed Fredericka.  I figure if I can keep up doing 100 stitches a day I will have it done in 434 days. Knowing me it might last a few days.  I have 197 stitches done with two shades of brown and you can't tell the difference in the colors.

Day 22 - Joyous Elves - Ursula Michael

Thanks for looking.   Linda

Starts 17 - 19

Hi Blogger Friends.  I'm almost 100% all well.  I just still have a lot of pain on the top of my left foot and the ankle.  I might just have to live with it.  Here are my next three starts.

Day 17 - Peace Sampler - Diane Arthurs

Day 18 - Winter Welcome - Diane Arthurs

Day 19 - Summer Welcome - Diane Arthurs

I even made a little progress on Fall Welcome.  The girl now has a face.

Spring Welcome - Diane Arthurs - I bought this as a kit in 2004.  That was before I knew who Diane Arthurs or Imaginating was.  I probably stitched it in 2006.  (You can click on any pics to enlarge)

Thanks for looking.    Linda

VMSS Giveaway

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having an awesome Valentine Giveaway.  You can sign up for HERE.

The drawing will be on February 14.  Please tell her that I sent you.

Linda

Starts 14 - 16

Hi Blogger Friends.  I'm still keeping up with my January starts.  Some days I manage to get more done than others.  Here are the next three starts.

Day 14 - Wolf - Janlynn Kit

Day 15 - Holiday Blues - Ursula Michael

Day 16 - Borealis Polar Bear Cubs - Kustom Krafts

I have come to the decision that I need my brain tested for the stupid virus.  I HAVE way over 100 pictures started and why or why am I starting 31 more.  Like the Polar Bear Cubs.  I must confess that I really did enjoy stitching on it even though I worked on it for hours and didn't get much done.
Four of my remaining starts are what I consider BIG and one HUGE.  This is where I need the stupid test.

 Look what I bought and will start by the end of the month.



This so reminds me of a HAED except not as detailed.  You can read about it HERE.  She has tons of great charts.  I'll tell ya if I were about 40 years younger I would own everyone of the Disney charts.  I'll have to see how many years this one takes before I get any more.  (Don't hold me to that though) lol

Thanks for looking.   Linda

Starts 11 - 13

Hi Blogger Friends.  I'm still keeping up with my starts.  I'm just having a terrible time trying to narrow them down to 31.  I have started most of the smaller ones.  Now I just have to be brave and start the bigger ones.  lol

Day 11 - Dear Santa, I Can Explain - Lizzie Kate

Day 12 - Autumn Cardinals - Diane Arthurs

Day 13 - Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs - Walt Disney Characters in Counted Cross Stitch - Paragon Needlecraft 1980

Thanks for looking.   Linda

Starts 7 - 10

Hi Blogger Friends.  I continue to feel a little better each day just not at 100% yet.  I have been keeping up with starts.  I even managed to stitch on my Saturday SAL but on Friday cause I thought it was Saturday and than decided that today was Monday.  Must be all the meds.  lol

Day 8 - The Cat Did It! - Stitchy Kitty

Day 9 - Cat Hair - My Big Toe

Day 10 - The Dog Did It! - Stitchy Kitty

Fall Welcome - Diane Aruthrs

Thanks for looking.   Linda

Linda's Turtle Trot SAL January Update

Hi Blogger Friends.  Another fun year of the Turtle Trot SAL begins.  It's being hosted by Claudette of BAP Attack blog.

Rules:

1. You must have a blog, because you'll be posting links to it. If you don't have a blog, you can still work on those old projects, lol. You just won't be eligible for the contest.

2. Pick 10 unfinished projects (why not 14 for 2014? I can't cope with where this will end up - 43 projects in 2043? Yikes)

3. Take a picture of them and make a blog post by the 10th of January.

4. Each month, by the 10th, post whatever progress pics you have.

5. Post a link to your progress post here.

Last year I finished 3, tossed 2 and took out 1.

Here is this years picks:

1.  Blue Bird Floral - Diane Arthurs - started 12-18-12

2.  6 Fat Men - Lizzie Kate - started 1-29-12

3.  Fredericka - Carriage House Samplings - started 3-3-12

4.  Happy Camper - Diane Arthurs - started 2-26-12

5.  Summer Season - Sandra Cozzolino - started 9-24-12

6.  Mermaid Myrna - Diane Arthurs - started 9-22-12

7.  Dog Lessons for People - Lizzie Kate - started 2-29-12

8.  Autumn Season - Sandra Cozzolino - started 12-19-12

9.  Spring Alphabet - Lizzie Kate - started 2-29-12

10.  March Sampler - Waxing Moon Designs - started 1-22-13

Thanks for looking.   Linda

Starts 5 - 7

Hi Blogger Friends.  I kinda sorta feel a tad bit better.  Some days are better than others.  Here is the last 3 days of my new starts.

Day 5 - Doggie Door Greeter - Vee and Co. - I must say I am very sorry.  This is a traveling pattern and I forgot I had it.  As soon as I finish it, I will offer it to another stitcher.

Day 6 - Spirit Sampler - Diane Arthurs

Day 7 - Blessings Sampler - Diane Arthurs

These are a set of 4.  I stitched this one several years ago.  As you can see, I left off the words and will do so on the other 3.  This one was also done on the dark fabric.

Thanks for looking.   Linda

Starts 1 - 4 and TUSAL

Hi Blogger Friends.  My leg is doing a little better.  However, I spent most of last week coughing and throwing up.  Went to the doctor Friday and he has decided that I have asthma and/or COPD and put me on 2 different inhalers.  You know, I swear I was healthier when I weighed 50 pounds more.  Maybe I should start eating again.

Here is my first sad TUSAL report.  I learned that you don't get a lot of stitching done by spending three weeks in bed.  Those clear ornaments have the last two years worth of orts in them.

Day 1 - Snow Day - 6 Fat Men - Lizzie Kate

Day 2 - February - Flip It Stamp - Lizzie Kate

Day 3 - August - Flip It Bit - Lizzie Kate

Day 4 - September - Flip It Block w/charm - Lizzie Kate

I'm really struggling with my stitching.  These should each be a couple hours of stitching and they took me about five hours each.  My arms just feel like jello.  I hope that feeling goes away real soon.

Thanks for looking.    Linda