Coffee and Cross Stitch

Shores of Hawk Run Hollow | Cross Stitch

Friends, it's been a while since we chatted.  I am very much a homebody, but I gotta tell ya, being home a lot for the past foreverandaday is taking its toll.  One good thing about being home more, is that I've been able to finish up some very long-standing WIPs.  Shores of Hawk Run Hollow is, by far, the longest WIP I've ever had.  I moved to the DC area in 2015...and brought this WIP with me.  That's a long time to have something in progress.

This past year, I treated myself to the NPI silks to do Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow, but absolutely refused to start it until I finished Shores.  One of the main reasons that it took me so long to finish it, is because I made a counting error on Block 1, which caused me to be off in Block 2.  I didn't catch it, however, until I was almost done Block 2, since I'd stitched the blocks going down before going across (if that makes any sense at all).  So, I had to rip out ALL of Block 2 and restitch it once I figured out what my mistake was and where, but was SO mad at myself, I left Block 1 alone until I was ready to deal with restitching it.  Turns out, I wasn't ready to fix it until I was done all the other blocks.  I didn't fix it until after I put the final stitch in Block 12.  And even then it took me about 2 weeks to get myself together and rip out half of Block 1 to fix and redo.

I think the middle block is my favorite.  I love that anchor.

Block 1.  My nemesis.  How funny is that seagull, though?  Just chillin on the rocks.

The finished piece!  Now I can move on to another gigantic project.  I'm not sure if Autumn will be next, or if I'll move to another Mirabilia...decisions, decisions....

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!  

Finally Friday | Cross Stitch

What a rainy, cold Friday.....but at least this week is over and we can celebrate the weekend!  Yes!

First things first.  You may have noticed the layout of my blog changed quite a bit.  I realized that my blog was not reader friendly on mobile devices, and since I'm sure many of you are reading this on an iPad, iPhone, or some other wonderful mobile device, I want you to be able to see everything properly.  

So, I had to switch things up a bit, and make sure the design was user friendly for everyone, whether you're reading this from your home computer or your phone, and hopefully my posts will be in a much easier to read format from here on out.  I need to figure out a few things to re-personalize it since most of the design elements that were here had to go, but for now, I think it's pretty ok.

Now.  Onto more important things - stitching.

I have a quick WIP update to share on Shores - not much, but it's something - 

Building houses on 40 ct. fabric is killer - it's so dense on such small count fabric.  But, I'm loving how it's coming along.  I need to pick up another project or 7 to stitch between this one, because I need to be able to finish something sometime.  It's gonna be a while before I'm taking this to the framer.....

I hope you have a wonderful Friday!!!  Any big plans for the weekend?  Will you be working on any crafty things this weekend??  Do tell!

Monday. Monday. Monday. | Cross Stitch

Weekends go entirely too quickly.  Just sayin'.

The best part about this weekend, though??  I finally made it down to In Stitches, my new LNS!  I haven't been shopping for stitch stuff in so long because of my move, so I was like a kid in a candy store when I walked in.  There were so many patterns available for me to gawk at, including new ones from the Nashville Market, that I spent the better part of an hour just wandering around looking at everything.  I must've been asked at least 3 times if I needed help....I guess I looked a little ridiculous walking around just staring at everything.  HA.

Also, they have SO MUCH THREAD.  SO MUCH.  I was literally drooling at all the options.

I stealthily took this from behind a rack of patterns.  This isn't even nearly everything they have.  I literally gasped when I saw all the silks, which were down and around the corner from this wall of Classic Colorworks, Weeks Dye Works, and Shaker Threads.  I need to take inventory of the silks that I need for certain projects and head back asap!!  There was just so much to look at, and the models stitched around the store were gorgeous.  Also, the framing section is outrageous - they have more frame choices than I've seen anywhere, and they're absolutely beautiful.

Needless to say, I came back from my trip to In Stitches totally inspired to start stitching. 

I worked some on my Shores of Hawk Run - I'm working down and then across, so the next block I started is the one right underneath Block 1 - 

And then I decided I needed a break from the 40 ct, and started a patriotic piece from Heartstring Samplery -

 It's called Sweet Land of Liberty.  I'm stitching it on 32 ct. Heroic from Picture This Plus, and I'm literally flying through it.  I always forget how much quicker I can stitch on 32 ct. vice 40 ct.  I love the big red flower in the middle...and something about those blue flowers really catches my eye, too.

How was your weekend??  Were you able to stitch or create this weekend?? 

 

Dreaming of Summer | Cross Stitch

This warm spell we're having has me totally dreaming of summer.  Long days on the beach.  Margaritas for happy hour.  Flip flops all day every day.  You know the drill.

Zac Brown says it best - "I got my toes in the water/Ass in the sand/Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand/Life is good today." They have a new album coming out soon, btdubs.  Preordered that bad boy in a moment of INEEDSUMMER...which was also probably around 0400 on Sunday when I couldn't freaking sleep....but I digress....

Since I can't sit on the beach just yet, I'll have to settle for a little summer stitching.  I finally finished block one yesterday of "Shores of Hawk Run Hollow."  I forgot how long it takes to stitch dense areas on 40 ct fabric.  

Oh, how I long to be laying on a beach listening to waves hit the beach.

 That sun! 

This little gull!  Just chillaxin on the rocks.

Onto the next block!!  Hope you're all having a great start to the week!