Gifted Gorgeousness - April Edition

Here we are for the April installment of Jo's Gifted Gorgeousness.

click to join the fun!

I'm still plucking diligently away on Muppet letters which will be a gift for a good friend ('s first baby). These letters were tweaked from this and this alphabet image which I ran through KG-Chart.

Can you guess them?  K worked up quickly (comparatively) though his one eye looks a little weird.  Will probably go back and fix that.  I am hoping next GG this piece will be done.  Probably won't be though.

Sorry for the slight blur. And cat hair. And short post.  Until next time.

FotM - March Edition

Here it is, APRIL. Jeez. Here is my update for Alyssa's Flower of the Month SAL... updating February in  March  April. :b Wish I could say I have a finish but alas, it was not meant to be. I did make some progress though.

before

after

This piece came with me on our anniversary vacation. I parked myself under an Ott lamp my friend set up and whiled away the morning hours before our day really started. Also present is the cute little owl needleminder that my friend loaned me and I accidentally came home with! I realized this after I fished it out of its travel bag to take the picture. Eek!

Also, the more I look at it, the more I feel I'm no where near halfway like I had previously thought. Wishful thinking on my part. :b  New goal will be to catch up after May as I am pushing hard on (and getting a little tired of) Muppet letters.

January! February! March!

But here is proof that I do indeed have March done!  I was way, waaay ahead of the game on the daffodils as I finished stitching it in September of 2010!  I don't believe I used any of the recommended floss colors because I had just started cross-stitching at the time and did not have a lot!  I think the flowers turned out great but the leaves may be a bit off. :)

finally

Daffodils are my favorite flower, hands down. I'm pleased to say the ones in front of the house have finally started blooming! These were here when we moved in, as well as the hyacinths. I have since continued down the sidewalk as I can't seem to live someplace without planting more daffodils. ;)  These particular ones are still in somewhat of a "recovery mode."  I think the previous renters were mowing down the leaves much too soon so there are not a whole lot of flowers.  Since we've been here, they've more than tripled the blossoms though!  Next will be thinning them out.

I love spring.

March TUSAL, IHSW(?) and Special Fabric!

Aloha, world! I am completely timely, right? Well, at least I have a good excuse this time. This past week was our 2nd anniversary so my husband took some much needed time off and we disappeared! We went to stay with a couple of good friends and explored a different part of the US, lazed about their house with video games, and visited not one, but two cross stitch stores.

First off, welcome to my new followers!  I am creeping ever closer to that elusive 100 mark and that just tickles me blue. :D  I'll be catching up on blogs over the next week or so~

I will admit to being completely derpy about this month's IHSW!  I couldn't even remember if I signed up (I did not).  As most of the weekend was spent traveling, not a whole lot of stitching went on.  However!  The violets came with me on our trip. I suppose I got a lot accomplished on them though not enough to finish.  I keep telling myself this piece is now about halfway (possibly more since it's bottom-heavy) but man. It seems like I'm getting nowhere fast on it. And now that we're back, it will probably be neglected again as I try to cram more Muppet letters into my life hahaaaaa. sigh

But cross stitch stores! Stores dedicated to cross stitch! Who knew there were such wonders in the world! And to top it off, they were freshly filled with goodies from the Nashville Market! I was good. I limited myself to $20 and wound up with $23 of delicious fabrics and flosses I would never be able to find around here. It could've been much, muuuuuch more, especially as there was a large piece of delicious blue and sparkly fabric that I fondled for a long time before sadly putting it back.  I was informed by Madame Enabler that the shopkeeper would cut a smaller piece but something that lovely must be kept whole!  Right...?  I'll probably kick myself forever for not getting it. :)

two Silkweaver fabrics and four WDW

I picked up two fabrics and four skeins of discontinued Weeks Dye Works to try.  I'm a bit frightened of the fabrics because they're 32 count which will probably result in me stitching about 2" from the fabric.

Silkweaver - blue/purple 32 count evenweave

The first is this lovely blue/purple hand-dyed evenweave that I had to take outside to get even a little close to the right color.  It's not very large ( 9" x 13") but at 32 count I could probably get a lot of use out of it especially if I decided to go crazy and do over-1.  Who needs eyes?!  :D

Silkweaver - 32 count evenweave

And the other, the other.  Oh, the other.  13" x 18" SPARKLES.  This picture does not do it justice.  It is a lovely creamy white. With SPARKLES.  Oh, I could just hug it.  I think it screams a winter piece.  Maybe a redwork.  Or, knowing me, bluework.  Or I may just frame it as is because SPARKLES.

three chart leaflets and a card kit

And since cross stitching seems to be much more plentiful in that area, there were a few thrift store finds as well!  I found a few Christmas leaflets, a little card kit, and a welcome chart.  The welcome design is really pretty but my favorite are the towel designs.  There are some real cute ones in there and I spent a whopping $3 for the lot.

layers upon layers of ORTy goodness

And here's my TUSAL update! There's quite a bit of yellow Muppety goodness in there with a healthy cap of February violets sprinkled on top.

I hope you have a wonderful day and SPARKLES! :D

Gifted Gorgeousness - March Edition

Hello again! Here is my March installment of Jo's Gifted Gorgeousness. Still plugging away on the Muppet letters; I've reached the great milestone of having one part of the child's name finished! I apologize in advance for the somewhat sparse post, privacy being what it is and all. But here's one new letter for your viewing pleasure!

meep meep meep meep meep meep!

Beaker and Bunsen! :D They're some of my favorite Muppets and I'm quite pleased with how this one charted up. I may go back and play with Bunsen's glasses some, though. They seem small and too round! Or I might just be being picky.

Until next time! :D

FotM - February Violets

I'm late, I'm late! Here is my check-in post for the Flower of the Month SAL hosted by Alyssa at Brownie's Chair~

As you can see, not a lot. :( I am still spending a lot of energy on the Muppet letters. I have the March Daffodils completed though. I still have time to stay on track!

Short post because I am absolutely drained today. Plus I still need to cook some supper. Anyone want some chicken katsu curry? :D