Stitching along .....

I have been catching up on a lot of unread blogs while on holiday.  There are a lot of busy busy stitchers out there!  I have been inspired by a few beautiful pieces that are underway - and am excited to see that they have stitchalongs.

Soooooo, with a little trepidation, I have joined the following groups:

Melissa from Happy Quilting is hosting a Quilt-a-Long for her gorgeous quilt Starburst. I have the rest of today to decide on my fabric choices so that I can enjoy Step 1 with everyone else tomorrow.

Monique of Open Gate Quilts is also holding a Quilt-a-Long - with 6 well known bloggers joining in with different colour options - stitching "Blogger Girls Block of the Month".  Six blocks will be posted, one each month - with two options; a quilt of 6 blocks, or a quilt of 12 blocks, using each pattern twice in a different colour formation.  I intend to make the 12 block option.

                                            

Lastly (as if that isn't enough) - I have decided to work to my own schedule and stitch a Christmas ornament each month using Little House Needleworks (and others) patterns.  I have been inspired by the primitive trees featuring cross stitch ornaments that I have seen across blogs and Pinterest these last weeks.  I am anxiously waiting for my first order to arrive with these little ornaments .....

As a journal for myself, I will be uploading pics of each of these elements as I progress ...........

Inspiration .....

Spent some quality hours in the garden this morning, trawling Pinterest.  I am inspired by a series of images from an older blog where the author celebrated her 39th birthday by stitching "39 squares".  I am very taken by this idea and have decided to commemorate my "big one" by stitching 49 Squares.  There are 209 days left of my 49th year so stitching a square every 4 days should keep me on track to achieving this memento.  Now I have a couple of days to decide on a base fabric, a colour pallette and a stitching direction ......  I'm so excited.

I looked through my (rather large) UFO cupboard earlier in the week, and found this little project I started (here is where I hang my head sheepishly) back in 2009.  

Embarrassingly, 45 minutes of stitching time saw it completed.  After hand washing, there was a slight colour run, but I rather like the 'antiqued' look this has left.  Just waiting on a frame now to complete the project and enjoy it over the coming year.

Words of wisdom

I found this on my current addiction - Pinterest - yesterday. Words to live by this year!




Creatively - Dawn

The word for 2013

Is

CREATE

........ Happiness; Opportunities; Relationships; Visions; Destiny - but most importantly, with my hands.

This will be the year I reignite my passion for textiles and hand creations, this will be the year I create passion for all that I do. This will be the year I create the life and lifestyle for my 50th year.

Day 1 and I CREATED!

A simple button bracelet - 3 of my 'loves' : the colour green; sewing ephemera and jewellery making. Great start to 2013