Stamp With Jen

A Long Overdue Update!

The last two posts I've made have been my monthly TUSAL updates, so all you've seen from me in awhile is all the ORT's that I've generated but not what I've been stitching on to generate those ORT's.  So, here's an update of all the stitching that I've been up to! 

First off, I finished By My Hand by Barrick Samplers.  I personalized it a bit and now it's off at the framer's who has a stunning frame picked out for it.  I can't wait to show you! 

Next up was Margaret Cottam.  She was a really fun stitch and perfect for fall with those rich jewel toned colors.  I must admit, I didn't have any plans to stitch her but then I saw one stitched up in person and fell in love.  I took progress pics along the way, so here is Margaret Cottam. 

Margaret Cottam was stitched on 35 ct. WDW Cocoa with the called for threads.  All I did was pick a tighter weave so she'd be a little smaller (and so I'd only have to use one thread to stitch with).  I was back in Wisconsin last weekend and picked out a fabulous frame for her at Lynn's of Madison. 

I've obviously been stitching a bunch and just too busy to post.  One of the reasons I've been so busy lately is that Sage and I are in the process of becoming a certified pet therapy team at one of the local hospitals.  We spent three weeks in class and are now doing paperwork and tests to finish our certification.  Here we are graduating from the program!  Next we will get certified through TD, Inc as a team and I will complete the volunteer training at the hospital and then we'll start visiting patients.  I'm looking forward to having my rescue dog help others in need! 

September TUSAL

Well, as usual I'm a few days late for my TUSAL post, see below that for a current snap of my jar.  After finishing Ann Sandles I was really unsure what I wanted to start next and then I realized that I had started "By My Hand" back in July too during my girl's weekend away with friends.  I picked that up the other weekend to stitch on during our Sampler Guild meeting and was immediately hooked again.  Here is where I am as of today. 

Just the deer and the words left and of course I think I'm going to personalize the words on this one.  Just need to find my graph paper to chart out what I want to use.  This has really gone quickly and I must say that I'm in love with working with silk again. 

I used to be one of the people who just couldn't justify paying more for silk but it's really because I didn't know what I was missing.  I like the overdyed cotton and of course I stitched my Elizabeth Sheffield all in DMC and love how that turned out.  But, the thickness and feel of silk just can't be beat.  And, the difference is obvious in my TUSAL jar.  If you look close you can see the thicker strands of silk on the top of the jar and right below it the thinner, curly layers of overdyed cotton.  Both have their place in my opinion but for a piece that I just want to love to stitch there's nothing like the feel of silk! 

Even though it's September it's still not too late to play along with the TUSAL game.  Just go to this post to sign up and to get started! 

 

A New Start and a Weekend Away

Last weekend several friends and I took a trip up to Breckenridge, CO for a weekend away and to celebrate a birthday.  It's only a couple hour drive from home and was such a fun and relaxing getaway weekend!  With all the stress this spring and summer a girl's weekend was just what the doctor ordered!  And, the weather cooperated with us too!  Instead of being oppressively hot and sunny like it has been at home, it was cool and rainy for part of our weekend which made for perfect stitching weather! 

We drove up Friday afternoon and Theresa and I were the first to arrive.  We sat out on the deck, admired the view and had fun going through each others stash while we waited for the rest of the group to arrive.  Here was our view from the deck.

 
We had such fun stitching out here on the deck and later in the day listening to the thunder rumble it's way in!  I worked a little on Grace Bridges on Friday evening and again Saturday morning.  I'm getting close to a finish on this one!  Here is my current progress.

Grace Bridges, silks on 36 ct. Lakeside Vintage Examplar

Sorry for the wrinkles and the light shining on the left side of the piece.  Oh well!  The next time I show this it should be finished!  Just the window outlining and one more peacock left!  I was really hoping to get this piece done by today so I could start a new piece for the olympics.  But, it won't be done and I'm going to start an Olympic piece anyway!  That means I'll have four pieces going...

During our girls' weekend, some of us decided to start new projects.  I was going to start One Nation which is going to be my Olympic stitching project but I've had an older Barrick Designs chart kitted up and ready to go.  It's called "By My Hand" and I just love it because it has two funky deer on it, it's very cute!

 

By My Hand, silks on 40 ct. Lakeside Vintage Buttercream

I was able to get the border in and start on the inside.  Alas, I've set this aside now to work on Grace Bridges and of course will be starting One Nation for the Olympics.  Maybe I'll sneak some work on Grace to get her finished up, maybe I'll work only on One Nation and maybe this piece and Ann Sandles will get some attention too.  I don't know how those of you with a WIP rotation keep up!  LOL!  I guess you'll just have to tune in and see what gets stitched on!!