flopsykitten stitchin'

Back to my sampler

2012-04-25T13:27:00.000-04:00

I am back to posting about the sampler I am doing for my mom in honor of my grandmother. Here is where I am as of last night:

I just love how those angels look! To be honest, I was anxious to stitch them - they make me smile, and I need that right now!

My giveaway is still underway - check out my "Picnic in the Park" post - I'm really proud to be a part of this great design, and I hope you will all spread the word so I can give away the Aida as well as the floss! Only 42 more followers needed!

Picnic in the Park

2012-04-18T10:19:00.002-04:00

I am thrilled to announce a brand new embroidery/quilt pattern by Melissa Stramel of Lilac Lane! It is called Picnic in the Park, and I think it is simply GORGEOUS! Okay, perhaps I am biased a teensy bit (I model stitched a bicycle for her!), but see for yourself!

And here are some closer shots of the finished product:

I just LOVE how detailed the quilting is! And the colors are a dream! I'm so proud to be a small part of this fantastic project! And because I model stitched for her, I can tell you the pattern is so easy to read and really fun to stitch! Melissa is a fantastic quilter, and she makes adorable dresses for her girls (and their dolls!), so please take a look at her blog - you'll find plenty to "ooh" and "aah" over!

So, in honor of this wonderful occasion, I announce my first ever giveaway! All you have to do is go to Melissa's blog and show her some love by leaving a comment on her Picnic in the Park Pattern post. Then, leave a comment on this post letting me know you did so. One lucky winner will win all the DMC floss needed to stitch this project. You don't have to be a follower of my blog, but if I reach 100 followers by the end of April, I will also include the 14 ct Aida needed to stitch the project!

The winner will be announced on May 1, so you have plenty of time to enter, and please spread the word!

~Kat

A long overdue update

2012-03-28T14:30:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in so long! I promise to do a better job of updating my progress. I have been stitching a model, and I just finished it Sunday evening, so I was able to pick up my "In Memory" again, and it has brightened my spirits considerably. I miss so many aspects of Mom - her sense of humor, the way she always cheered me on no matter what I was trying to accomplish, her advice, her gentle nudges when I needed them. Just too much to list, and I have been feeling the loss so much. Stitching this keeps the tears at bay...

As of 2-22-12

As of 3-7-12

As of 3-14-12

As of 3-28-12

Update and a Model

2012-02-08T08:43:00.000-05:00

Here is my latest update on "In Memory"

This is still getting very little love on the 123 stitch board, but tons of love from me! I have finally reached the band with the angels and that band is FULLY stitched, so it is going to take an age and a half to get that completed.

As much as I hate to put this down, I have a model to stitch! I started it Sunday and it is going very quickly! At first, I was unsure of the design and the colors, but once I put floss to fabric, I realized why I am a stitcher, and not a designer. :) I'm hoping to have this completed by early next week, and back to it's owner by next weekend.

This weekend Mischief and Mayhem have their first annual Valentine's Day party. Small guest list, but that's okay, because the cats just run upstairs and hide while the hubs and I get stuck doing all the work! Hope you all have a great week!

~Kat

Whoops!

2012-02-02T09:10:00.001-05:00

I completely forgot to post yesterday!

This week was tough for me. I had to go start cleaning out my mom's house and get it ready to be put on the market in the spring. I live 4 hours away, so it will take a while to get everything done. It was a hard and sad weekend, but I was able to relive some good memories too.

Because I was so distracted, the frog came to visit. He's gone now (I hope Mayhem ate him!), so here is my meager progress:

And here is Mischief and Mayhem, saying goodbye to the frog:

"And STAY OUT!!!"

Have a nice day, everyone!

~Kat

Another Wednesday update

2012-01-25T17:24:00.000-05:00

Plugging along, and doing a fairly good job at keeping my emotions under control. I find myself anxious to complete each motif, but dreading completing the entire sampler. I don't know if that makes any sense...

Mayhem was a good boy this time and stayed away from the camera. But, in case you missed him,

And his equally handsome brother Mischief,

Together, they are best buds!

I just love that shot!

~Kat

Another Wednesday update

2012-01-18T17:52:00.001-05:00

Here is where I am with Mom's sampler. I may have messed up on the left side border - for some reason, I thought it was going to be a tighter fit, so I am a wee bit close to the left edge. I'm confident my framer will be able to work with it - he's excellent! Here's a pic:

MAYHEM!!! GET OFF!!!

Better, but a bit wrinkly. I love the tiny little butterflies!

Memorial Wednesday

2012-01-11T10:02:00.000-05:00

Here is my progress on "In Memory"

I'm using Vicki Claytons HDF, and I am really liking the conversion. It's not EXACT, but close enough for my taste. This is 11 days progress, and I am really enjoying it so far. My biggest challenge, of course, is the extra fabric. I don't have a scroll rod or a stand, so my hoop tends to be quite heavy. I don't dare cut the excess until I have reached each corner so I will know for sure where to cut. I'll plug along for now.

A very nice lady out there in blogland (BeckySC) announced recently that she is hosting a BAP SAL, with certain requirements (found here), and if you finish by December 31, 2012, you will be entered into a drawing for a $100 GC for stash! I figured since I met the requirements, I may as well enter. She has over 100 participants, so winning a GC is a long shot, but it's nice to know I have lots of company stitching large projects!

I am also posting progress on the Remembrance SAL thread on the 123 stitch message board. I am kind of co-hostessing this SAL with another very kind lady who is a member of the board. We encourage anyone who wants to stitch a piece in memory of a loved one to join in and post progress. It's nice to be able to share memories and stories about my Mom.

In Memory

2012-01-04T20:41:00.000-05:00

Here is the sampler I am stitching for my Mom. It was supposed to be her Christmas gift this year, but she passed away 3 days before I was going to start it.

I started it on 1-1-12, and here is my progress as of today:

I am missing her so much I really thought it would be hard to work on, but I am thinking of her with every stitch, so it is the closest I come to spending time with her. I will post updates on Wednesdays.

6 fat men update

2011-12-18T18:50:00.001-05:00

Here is my progress on 6 fat men. I have been trying to get in the Christmas spirit, but it's going to be tough this year without Mom and Scott's mom. To have lost them both this year is so hard.

I surrender to the 6 fat men!!!

2011-12-08T15:52:00.000-05:00

It finally happened. I have been looking at the Lizzie*Kate 6 fat men series for a while, but thought, "No, I have so many other things I need and want to finish."

So I soldiered on... for a while... But then I thought, "I don't have to do the entire series, maybe just 'Snow Day'". $$$

Tried not to think about it any more, but then my sister came for Thanksgiving and we went stashing, and 'Snow Friends' fell into my basket. $$$

But, "I'm not doing the whole thing, just those two", I said to myself. Until last night, when I realized if I stitched it over one on 28 ct, I have juuuuuust enough Night Magic by Sassy's Fabbys to accomodate the design.

Phooey.

So, I printed out the free border, and started it:

I still only have the 2 charts, but the rest are on my wish list. I'm committed now!

(Those little white tootsies belong to Mayhem, who was trying to get to the penny.)

In Memory

2011-11-30T11:02:00.000-05:00

I planned on stitching this as a Christmas gift for my mother, to honor HER mother. My plan was to start it on September 1, my birthday, as it is a special day for both me and my mother. Mom passed away on August 29 (my father's birthday - he would have been 74). After much thought and many, many tears, I have decided I will still stitch it to honor my grandmother, and also to honor my mother, though her name will not be featured.

This is "In Memory" by Midsummer Night Designs, featured in the July/August 2008 issue of Just Cross Stitch. I will be starting it on January 1, 2012. I miss you terribly, Mom.

A Halloween finish!

2011-11-14T16:14:00.000-05:00

I know Halloween is over, but this will be for next year! It's called All Hallows Mini by Waxing Moon Designs. The model was stitched in black on a cream colored fabric, but I had a small cut of 28 ct black Lugana, and some glow in the dark DMC, so I went with it!

Here she is:

It's hard to see it glow in this photo, but trust me, it's BRIGHT!

~Kat

Test

2011-11-13T08:30:00.001-05:00

Testing to see how easy/hard it is to blog from iPad.

ETA: Super easy!

Family Sampler

2011-11-09T12:48:00.000-05:00

I finished my Family Sampler by Little House Needleworks! I took a bit of a break from all stitching - my mom passed away on August 29th and I have been heartbroken ever since. One day I'll post about it but for right now, I just want to show my finish and pretend she is still with me. I miss her terribly.

So, here it is:

And here is a close up:

I love how the kitties turned out! My husband stitched his hair, so it was a true family project! I started it on 10-6-10, and finished it 11-6-11. Can't wait to have it framed!

Progress on The Raven

2011-08-24T11:50:00.000-04:00

So after I finished my anniversary piece, I picked up The Raven by Lavender Wings again. I started this on 10-31-10 as part of a SAL with the 123 message board group and once I got the birds stitched, I put it down to concentrate on My Family Sampler. Well, Halloween is fast approaching so I decided to pick it back up. The words took about a week to do, mostly because I have to remove my glasses to work on this piece - it's a bit small and I'm nearsighted (I can't see far away - is that nearsighted?) My goal is to complete this by 10-31-11 so I can start the new Raven piece by La D Da - since there is only a very simple boarder left to stitch, this should be no problem. I'm going to use the same material, so they will be companion pieces.

My Sunshine

2011-08-16T15:06:00.000-04:00

La D Da is another one of my favorite designers, and here is my latest finish!

This will be an anniversary gift for my husband this year. We sing this to each other all the time!

Cat Lessons update

2011-07-03T21:58:00.001-04:00

I have been so busy! I'm still working on My Family Sampler, but took a break to personalize my Cat Lessons for People with the names and birthdate of my sweet kitties, Mischief and Mayhem. Hope you like it!

Mini Happy Dance

2011-04-01T15:38:00.000-04:00

So I completed the border on My Family Sampler this week and everything met! I'm so excited! This is my first project with such a large and fairly complicated border, and I have been worried since I started this project (in October!!!) that it would not meet and I'd have to figure out where I strayed. Here is how it looks:

Now all I have left is to finish the houses, add the people and the kitties and the date (not sure why I skipped that) and find a place to put my initials and date. This has been a fun project to stitch and it will feel odd to work on a smaller piece, but I'm itching to do something small again!

My Family Sampler

2011-03-08T22:06:00.000-05:00

Here is my latest progress photo. The roof is finally done! I feel like I have been flying since completing the roof. I'd love to get this finished this month, but time will tell. I am saving the people for last - my husband is going to put in a few stitches, so this will truly be a family project!

Under construction

2011-03-04T11:42:00.000-05:00

I am still working on the roof of My Family Sampler. I am anxious to get this house completed - I know I am making progress, but it just does not feel like it!

I did get some more of the border done, and well as the left tree (minus the leaves), the words on the left of the bottom tree and the box that outlines the capital of the surname. I am so anxious to get to the third corner! But, I am forcing myself to finish the house before I move my hoop again.

test

2011-02-28T18:34:00.001-05:00

I'm posting from my phone. Testing!

What I have been up to....

2011-02-15T13:29:00.000-05:00

Long time no post! I have been stitching up a storm, though! I have been working dilligently on My Family Sampler. I have spent a great deal of time working on the house:

And here is what it loks like so far:

Well, Blogger won't let me show you what it looks like so far. Phooey. Suffice it to say, it is big and wrinkly! I'll try posting the full shot in tomorrow's entry.

I also started and completed LHN's "Ladybug Ladybug", and that will be a gift for someone who may or may not read this, so I'll hold off on showing that (like I have a choice, Blogger!) until later.

I'm itching for a new start. I shouldn't start anything new, I have PUHLENTY of things I need to finish. But I may just do it anyway. :)

I'm still here!

2010-11-23T14:12:00.000-05:00

I have been stitching and stitching and stitching! But, no photos yet. Rest assured I am still around and will be back to more regular blogging after Thanksgiving!

Finished! (Amy, look away)

2010-11-04T21:47:00.001-04:00

I finished this for my sister, Amy today:

Two Girls by Industrioushead

Started 10-20-10, finished 11-4-10

Stitched on 28 ct white monaco over one with the recommended DMC

This will be her Christmas ornament this year. Now I get to go to the fabric store to find the perfect backing fabric!