March 5, 2023

SAL Update

I worked on J’s Christmas stocking a bit this time. This is where I was last time:

And this is where I am now:

Not a lot of progress but some. If I work on it a little bit every day for the next three weeks, the stitching should be done. Then the back stitching. Keep your fingers crossed!

The other stitchers taking part in this SAL are linked below. If you have time, please stop by their blogs and see what they’ve been doing.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen,

Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

February 12, 2023

SAL Update

I have completely lost my stitching mojo for this project. There really is no reason – it’s not on time out or anything – I just haven’t been stitching on it. Other things have claimed my attention. Oh, well, I vow to get some done on it for the next update!

Please take a look at the other wonderful stitchers participating in this SAL:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy,

AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

January 22, 2023

SAL Update

Not a lot to report this time. After the last big rain here we discovered water on the floor of our sunroom (my studio) and when we pulled some of the cabinets away from the wall, we discovered mold. UGH! I’ve been packing up my studio trying to figure out what I will need in the immediate and what I won’t. HINT: I’ve already packed away some things that I needed! It’s very slow going and always with the use of a mask.

This is where I was the last time:

And this is where I am now:

I managed to get a little more done on the bottom part of the stocking and although I took a picture of the top part, I realize that there is nothing new up there.

At first I was so bummed (I still am) but now I’m trying to look at this as an opportunity. None of the personal items are affected and for this I am truly grateful. In going through all the cabinets (yes, the whole room has to be emptied) I am taking time to organize (in boxes) and then give away things I’m not going to use. Today we have to take an entire wall of 8 foot cabinets off of the wall and move them – I’m not excited.

I know the others who take part in this SAL will lots of lovely things to look at!

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen,

Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

January 1, 2023

Happy New Year and SAL Update

Happy New Year everyone! We have had a lovely vacation with the whole family. We left on 12/24 and stayed at a beautiful cabin in Tahoe – 10 of us for 9 days!! We head home today. There is no better way to spend the holidays than with family.

Now for the SAL update. There was quite a bit done this month. This is where I was last time:

And here is where I am now:

Santa’s face, beard, hands, cuffs and part of his jacket.

I hope your holidays were fun and relaxing! Here’s to a very stitchy New Year!

This SAL is hosted by AVIS and is not like other SALs in that we are not all stitching on the same project. Instead we work on a project of our choice and post about our progress once every three weeks. I really like this kind of SAL and am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful group of stitchers. If you get a chance, please check out their stitching.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy,

AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

December 11, 2022

December SAL Update

I am so happy to be working on this project. It seems to be coming along nicely, I guess that’s what happens when it’s worked on regularly! Here is where I was at the last update:

And this is where I am now:

Since the canvas is painted, it’s pretty hard to tell what has been done.

The entire tree has been done (sans some of the ornaments), the fireplace, parts of the stockings and some of Santa.

The cat has been started and some more has been added to the presents. I might not get as much done in the next three weeks because of the holidays and family in town, but I’m still going to try to work on it most days.

The people in this group are what make this SAL so fun. We get to choose our project and then show our progress every three weeks. It’s super fun to see what everyone has been up to. If you get a chance, take a look at the others participants:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen,

Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

November 20, 2022

Oct SAL Update

I’m excited about this update because I worked on the Christmas stocking!

This is where I was the last time I updated. I have worked on this for about an hour everyday for the last three weeks and this is where I am now:

The painted canvas makes it very hard to see the progress in a picture. The top portion of the stocking is done.

I think it’s a little clearer in this photo. It took me a little bit to get used to the “tent” (?) (half cross stitch). The dragging of the thread on the back to make sure everything is covered is also new to me.

Left side closeup

Right side closeup.

It’s really fun to see how much progress can be made in just three weeks. Providing I actually work on it!!

Please stop by and see what the other stitchers in this SAL are working on:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy,

AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

October 9, 2022

October SAL

The Christmas Stocking is completely complete!

I found fabric for the back and made it up into a stocking. The hanger is braided yarn.

It doesn’t show up very well, but the back is quilted. The lining is a very cute Christmas penguin fabric and my daughter LOVES penguins. It feels so good to finally have this done! My daughter will be so excited to see it hanging from the mantle this year.

This stitch-a-long has helped me so much in getting things complete. That’s definitely true for the last two Christmas stockings I have completed.

Please take a look at the other people participating in this SAL. They are such talented stitchers creating beautiful works of art.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

September 18, 2022

September SAL Update

I’m excited that I have made a decision on my next big project for the stitch-a-long! I waffled back and forth between several projects. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to start something else big or do a few small ones first. Well… I finally decided on this,

This is the kit I bought for my youngest child (now 17 years old!). It also marks the last of the stockings for my kids (I still have to do one for my husband).

This will be a change for me as this is needlepoint. I have played around with needlepoint here and there. I’ve never tackled anything this big before, but I’m actually excited to do it.

I dove right in. It appears to be going pretty quickly. This represents about an hour of work.

This SAL that I am a part of is so wonderful. The stitchers involved are so talented and supportive. We post once every three on a project of our choosing. If you have a moment, please take a look at what the rest of our group has been up to:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny,

Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

August 7, 2022

August SAL Update

Ta Daaa!!!

The goal was to just finish the cross stitching on the toe. Well, with just a bit more time, the stocking is complete! Now to sew it up. That is the goal for this next three week check up.

Please check out what others in this SAL are stitching:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny,

Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy

July 17, 2022

July SAL Update

I feel like I managed to get a fair amount done this time. This is where I was at our last update:

And this is where I am now:

The goal for this update was to have finished the outlining in this section before I needed to move the hoop. Yes! I did it. I did something different for the backstitching on the ties for Santa’s bag. I wasn’t very happy with the way the outline looked on Santa’s list – it is choppy and looks strange with the long stitches and then the short ones. The outlining for the ties in the pattern call for it to be done the same way. I decided to couch down the outlining threads instead of back stitching them. I really love the way this looks and will probably go back and redo the outlining for the list so it is the same.

There is only the toe left to stitch. My goal for the next three weeks is to get the cross and half cross stitching done in this area, then do the outlining for the following check-in. Meaning that hopefully I will finish with all the stitching on this project at the September check-in. Wish me luck!!

This SAL is very unique in that the members are not stitching on the same project. We pick one thing and work on it and report back each three weeks. In this way, it motivates us to finish – this is working well for me with this project!! Please take a look at all the other stitchers participating in this SAL:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie

Connie's Creations

My little place on the web to share my creative spirit.

christmas stocking

SAL Update

SAL Update

SAL Update

Happy New Year and SAL Update

December SAL Update

Oct SAL Update

October SAL

September SAL Update

August SAL Update

July SAL Update