Friday, May 18, 2012

IHSW, Jane and the Frog Prince

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my new followers!! I would like to start off by saying thank you for all your well wishes and comments on my last post.  The cold has left the building and I'm back in business!! I've been quite busy with work, cycling and my hubby's birthday which was yesterday.  I have been doing a lot of stitching in the evenings too, which has been wonderful!!
IHSW Plans 
I hope to work more on Jane, since she's been having most of my attention lately.  I think I just need to focus on her as much as I can so I can try and finish one BAP.  You see, I have a couple of other BAP's in the wings and I would love to start them, but feel that I need to finish one of the two I'm currently working on.  If I have too many BAP's on the go, I feel antsy for whatever reason.  Reading too many books at once also gives me that feeling.  Oh, and on the topic of books, I've read 95% of War and Peace!!!!! I've only been reading it on transit and can't wait to finish it in a couple of weeks!!

Right, IHSW.  So I'll be working on Jane, maybe TBF, my secret project and finishing a finish I started when I was sick but couldn't actually finish it.  You know what I mean!!! The finishing fairy almost left the building, but I've got her held back and seated drinking some tea.  I'm not letting her go quite yet! Then, the Frog Prince visited this morning.  He is quite pesky I tell you! All the stitching I did this morning I had to take out.  This has been the first time in a long time the Frog Prince has been a problem.  Don't worry though, I got him handled and he's gone now!!! Here's my Jane as of noon today.
And the flower that the Frog Prince messed around with!
I am really loving Jane's flower garden that has sprung up.  Each flower has been a lot of fun to stitch, even with the frogging!! I'm working on some birds around the flowers right now...kinda itching to get back to it!!

Now onto the Tea Bath Fairy.  In my last post I said I finished the handle.  What I meant to say is that I finished a full page that had the handle in it.  I worked on TBF for quite awhile.  I'm surprised it doesn't look like much progress.  But then again, it's an HAED! Sorry for the wrinkles but I don't want to iron it until it's finished and I can wash it. 
Before I get into some info about my giveaway, I want to share with you a little thank you gift I stitched up for Melissa at Words and Blooms.  She has been so generous to me, giving me all sorts of lovely linens and for awhile now, I have wanted to make her something special.  I stitched up a lovely freebie design from Threadwork Primitives. I stitched it on one of her linens, using GAST and Carrie's Creations threads. I am happy that she likes what I made for her and that it turned out rather well!! Her picture of the little pillow is much better than mine, so go take a look.  She has a lovely blog and often shares amazing photos of her incredible garden and her two cute kitties!  Hugs for you Melissa!!!

Poll and Giveaway Details

On the side under followers, I have entered a poll for all of you to do!! A couple of posts ago, I mentioned that I wanted to do a 200 follower giveaway and stitch a Gift of Stitching design.  So, I had an idea! Why not have all of you decide which design I get to stitch first for the giveaway?! Sounds like fun?!!! Please choose one and I will close the poll in the next week or so.  I've chosen some small designs that won't take me long to do or finish.  Here are the designs and some pics/links of what they look like:

1.  Lizzie Kate's Plant Love  courtesy of The Stitching Gift website
2. LHN's Bee Pinkeep courtesy of The World's Largest Collection of Smalls (and it would just be the center   design which is also in the GOFT magazine.
3. Prairie Schooler's Summer courtesy of The World's L. C. of S.
4. Blackwork with Nancy Pederson.

So go ahead and take a look at these lovely little designs and help me choose!!!

One more thing.  I have received the Knotgarden kit.


YAHOOO!!!


However, I still need to make my scroll rods before I think of starting it.  I'm on the fence about it though. Having three major projects, I dunno.  But the silks! And the bling!! They are calling me!! Maybe I can put TBF outta rotation for awhile and start Knotgarden. We'll see!!


Oooooh!! Look at that!!!!

Titus says good bye and don't even dare think about stealing his toys!!!!

Hugs and I will try and catch up with all my blog reading/commenting this weekend!!!

Anne

34 comments:

Mouse said...

ohhhh bee pin keep prettyyyyyyyy please ..lol
well done on keeping up with every thing and your stitching progress too :)
love the wee pin pillow you made as well ... and helloo Titus :) love mouse xxxxx

Parsley said...

I have a little vote for the 'blackwork'. LOVE Titus!! Oh my word, he's a beautiful boy!

This is 'Autumn/Parsley'. I've reopened my old blog and Parsley is back HOME. Hope you'll visit there. HUGS Have some tea ;-)

Barbi said...

Great progress on your projects! I would totally vote for the LHN Bee pinkeep!

mdgtjulie said...

Ooooh, Ann, Titus is so gorgeous. I love long haired cats, and have never had one. I try and get the one that's least likely to be adopted, and so far, they've all been short haired. Good progress on your stitching. I'm signed up for IHSW too. Hoping to get some more done tonight. I did a lot earlier today, several hours worth (about two forty five to six), so I'm happy with my progress so far. Now I'm trying to get caught up with blogs. None of the designs you chose really speaks to me. Sometimes, I see something and there's an instant, OMG, I need that feeling. But none of yours are grabbing me. Sorry I can't help you out... Hope you're having a lovely day!

Tricia T said...

Wonderful stitching! I hope you'll have a nice hermitting weekend!!!

Tricia

Shirlee said...

Titus is adorable! Sophie is sitting here beside me & while I was reading your post I noticed her keen interest. I think she has a crush on Titus : ) Your giveaway is very generous! I voted for the PS Summer design : ) Your WIPs are beautiful! You do great stitching! Knotgarden looks like it will be breathtaking!

Barb said...

Your sampler is coming along very nicely! Love the colors.

butterfly said...

So happy for you that the cold has left.
Wow Jane is looking wonderful.
Your RAK is so pretty.
Love to be in your give away and I love all the designs and would be happy with any, thank you for sharing.

Julie said...

Jane is really coming a long now and your pillow is just cute.

Look forward to seeing the start of your Garden.

Anonymous said...

Jane looks great!

Your Knotgarden stash is beautiful all together like that.

Lovely shot of handsome Titus.
Hope you have a good weekend!

Margaret said...

Ah Jane. So beautiful. Keep those frogs out of the garden, whatever you do. Silly frogs. Love how the Tea Bath Fairy is going too. I voted in your poll! You're so sweet about your giveaway. Love seeing your Knotgarden kit. I love getting kits! lol!

Sarah in Stitches said...

Good luck with all your projects - they're coming along really nicely! :D And give Titus a little hug for me. I miss my kitties so much!

Vickie said...

Hi Anne! I voted for the blackwork :) Three major projects!! Oh my goodness! Don't do it Anne!! ;)

Chris said...

Beautiful post Anne! I am glad that you are feeling better. Maybe I got this cold from you?lol!
Jane is really lovely. I am loving your progress. What a wonderful gift you sent to Melissa.
The Knot Garden kit makes you want to drop everything and play with it now!!
I hope that you and Titus have a wonderful weekend1
I voted :)

BeckySC said...

WOW!! Jane is looking gorgeous :)

rosey175 said...

Oh man, I voted for that pinkeep. Everything about that screams gorgeous to me!

Um. How have you not gone blind stitching Tea Bath Fairy. HOW. I go blind on hardanger! XD

And Titus. If you could get past the claws and just bury your face in the soft belly fur...!! (I only occasionally am allowed that honor with my own fur babies 'cause they must know I'm being silly.) Oh, fuzz therapy. Miracle cure for everything.

Meari said...

I voted!

Nice progress on Jane and TBF. I think you should start Knotgarden (terrible enabler, aren't I?). Cute giftie you made.

dulcinella said...

Not too eady to choose, but I think the pinkeep is gorgeous. Your stitching looks so precious, really elegant. The gift you made for Melissa is very beautiful. I noticed she was very happy with it:-) happy stitching sunday

Kaisievic said...

Glad to hear that you are over your cold. And Titus is so handsome. I choose Prairie Schooler's Summer although they are all lovely designs. I like the idea of a poll for choosing which design you will stitch as a Giveaway. I hope you don't mind if I steal it sometime.

Please enter me in the Giveaway or is it too early?

valerie said...

Happy Birthday to your Dear Hubby Anne! Great progress on Jane. You've gotten so much done and I love that funky flower garden! And TDF is really coming along too!

Oooo, new stash! Chatelaine bling! lol I can't even think about starting mine until I finish Fairy Moon...which will be a while! lol

I'm passing on your giveaway since I won your last one! =)

Hope you have a nice Sunday!

Catherine said...

You certainly have been busy. All of your stitches are looking good! I need to get back to my needle and thread! Your gift for Melissa is so sweet. Love the look on Titus' face! I voted in your poll!

Kathy Ellen said...

Beautiful progress on 'Jane', even though the Frog Prince was hopping among your flowers:)

Melissa must have been thrilled with the beautiful pin pillow that you stitched for her. Oh.... 'Knotgarden' is going to be beautiful! Decisions, decisions!

What a lovely idea to stitch one of the Gift of Stitching designs for your giveaway. "Bee Pinkeep" is beautiful, and my very favorite pick!

Veronica said...

Happy Birthday to your DH.

Eep... Don't you just hate the frog prince. Let's hope he doesn't find his way back for a very long time.

Jane is looking real lovely. Would love a pic of the whole thing. What's her stitch count anyway? I know she's huge. I think you got quite a bit done on TBF :)

I hope you start Knotgarden soon. I can't wait to see a WiP ^.^

Hugs,
Veronica.

P.S. I vote for LHN Bee Pinkeep :)

Annie said...

Jane and your HAED look great!

And that little Threadworks freebie really worked up into something beautiful. How did you ever think of such a gorgeous color to use! I've seen that freebie and paid no attention but I had no idea that it could look as good as that in the right colors!

I've stitched that Prairie Schooler Summer design... really fun as all PS pieces are. But you should go where your heart leans.

Melissa said...

The silks are so pretty! Jane's flower garden looks so cute. Great job :)

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

Beautiful stitching, and the lovely cat

bisous de FRANCE

Kasey said...

Your stitching is beautiful!! Love that I found your site.

Melissa said...

Oh, that Mr Titus is very photogenic. I think he knows he looks very handsome! ;-)

Lovely stitching, Anne. And I know - thanks so much for your pin pillow once again. I so love it!

I hope this rain doesn't last too many days before the sun returns. I did sleep really well last night though!

Joysze said...

Awww TITUS.... TITUS... TITUS... TITUS!!!! What do you mean there's more to the post? HAHAHAHAH!!!!

Ok ok.... i voted for pinkeep, it's so pretty!! :D... and hubba hubba on those silks. Yanno, if you wanna wait on it a little, we could sync up and have a Chatelaine start SAL with you doing that and me doing Serengeti. :D

HMBW!!! and HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY to Lee!!!

geeky Heather said...

Those silks for Knotgarden are BEAUTIFUL!! And the BEADS!!!! How can you resist starting?? =)

Caitlin @ Naughts Cross Stitches said...

ooo gorgeous stitching :D I voted for the bee pinkeep I think it's really cute :D

Cristina said...

Wow!! I love your Jane.. is so elegante and with delicate colors! The gift for Melissa is absolutely wonderful, I like very much Threadwork Primitives.
My vote is for the bee pinkeep ^^
Congratulations to your husband, and hugs for you and Titus!!

EvalinaMaria said...

Plant Love! It is the cutest design ever.

Valentina said...

In that pic your Titus looks cuter than ever!!! Can't wait to see you start Knotgarden.