Thursday, November 29, 2012

New Year Planning

TGIF, my friends!
In between working on some Christmas ornaments, I have made some progress on the german sampler, SM 1678.  I think another week or two and it will be complete :)

SM 1678

My new favorite thing is doing these pic collages.  I had wondered how many of you did this on your blogs and finally have found a great site, PicMonkey, that creates collages without downloading any programs (I am always hesitant to download things, you never know!).  Nowadays you can find anything on google!   What did we do before Google?!?

And on to the exciting news about Nicola's challenge!
About a month ago, I started thinking about 2013 and planning which designs I wanted to work on and had quite a pile lined up... and then along came Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year Challenge!  

Soooooo, my original plan was put on hold when I saw all the wonderful designs that the Scarlet Letter has to choose from!   The challenge is to celebrate Nicola's special birthday year by stitching Scarlet Letter patterns, either a WIP or new start, throughout the year.  She is having AMAZING monthly giveaways to celebrate thru the year.  There are already 70 participants and each sampler I see is more enticing than the next!  It will be so much fun all of us stitching together and sharing, and meeting new friends with the same passion.  I hope you will join in on the fun, there is a link in my sidebar that will take you to the blog where all the details are posted.  Caution!  It is easily addictive when you see all the beautiful samplers the group will be working on!   I am jumping in with both a WIP and a new start!

My WIP, SDW Sampler, is coming along, it is a SAL project I dedicate time to once a week.

SDW Sampler

And then I have ordered up some new charts as well.... Dona Dorothea, Dorothy Walpole, and the first one I am planning to stitch, Ann Grimshaw 1818!

Ann Grimshaw 1818
What a GORGEOUS quaker!  It is charted with black thread, although I am thinking of switching that up and perhaps using a complimentary color from my Mary Wigham sampler.   I can't tell you the countless hours I have spent looking at colors!  Crazy, I know!  Around and around in my head, pick a color!, pick a color! lol!   If you have a suggestion, I am open to all!   What is easiest is to just stick to the instructions! :D

Today I received a package from Gabi!  I was fortunate to win her giveaway, it was a Little House Needleworks chart, The North Wind.  What a sweet design, I love anything with birds on it, so I will have fun stitching this one for sure.  Thank you so much, Gabi!!!


We are expecting some snow here this weekend, perfect for staying in and stitching!  And, I will get to the movies I am sure, another time at Skyfall, and I am too embarrassed to say how many that is!, but I have a BIG crush on Mr. Bond  :)    

I hope you have a fun and stitch-y weekend!  xxxxxx


19 comments:

Nicola said...

What a lovely gift. The North Wind is a fun and quick stitch, I love mine.

Have you decided on your fabric for Ann?

Mii Stitch said...

Great updates & will definitively have a look at picmonkey :)

Chris said...

Hey Krista!
Your sampler is looking so lovely. I really like the colors.
Thanks for the info on PicMonkey I will definitely be using this.
I love the Quaker that you have picked for the Scarlet Letter Challenge. I have this one in the stash but I am going to focus on finishing a couple that I have started first. Hopefully I will get a post up about it this weekend. I also need to figure out how to add a gadget about it on my sidebar.
I hope that you have a great weekend!

Giovanna said...

I just love that sampler you're stitching - great progress!

Catherine said...

Beautiful stitches!! Love the piece you are planning on doing for the challenge too!

Julie said...

The flower sampler is just lovely.Bet the colours are even better in life.
I was never into Samplers and Quaker stuff,but done love them,so look forward to seeing your start on Anne.
Thanks for the Pic Monkey link.I too have been wanting to do this,and didn't have a clue where to begin.Me and Techno don't always see eye to eye. ;)

Shirlee said...

The samplers are gorgeous!

Vickie said...

I would have to agree with Julie, I hesitate to do collages and things. I need it simple.
You are doing fabulous work Krista.

Margaret said...

Beautiful! As you know, I just love that sampler!! Great on the collage too. I have to bookmark that one. I haven't tried that one before. Your WIP looks wonderful as well! SDW is one of my favorites! Good choices on the challenge pieces too. And yay on the prize!

Katrina said...

LOL, I am a freak about the color thing!!!! I saw someone stitching Ann in red and I've seriously contemplated that. I also like GAST Blackboard, it's a lovely blueish black. I have Dona Dorothea all kitted!!!! Your samplers are both so pretty!!!!!

Tania said...

Your stitching is very beautiful! Have a nice evening with Mister Bond ;-)

Elaine said...

Beautiful stitching! I dare not start another SL sampler until I have finished our SDW SAL - I have too many other projects on the go!
PS I may have a 'small' crush on JB too!

Anne said...

Lovely stitching! Happy stitching too ! :)

Carol said...

Lovely work, as always, Krista!! And I like your collage... I always use Picasa for my collages, but will have a look at Pic Monkey, too... Yes, whatever did we do before Google?!

Mary said...

Krista, I think you and I have very similar taste in stitching projects, because I've just fallen in love with SM 1678. It's been so much fun to see it come to life on your blog!

Thanks for sharing the PicMonkey site. We use SurveyMondkey and MailChimp at work, but this one was new to me....and a lot more fun!

Siobhán said...

What beautiful progress on your samplers! I have so much fun contemplating colors, it's a delicious thing to obsess about, isn't it? I have a notebook somewhere with combos that I've liked that other people have used. I want to stitch Ann Grimshaw eventually. I kind of went off Quakers after stitching up a few but want to stitch that one in particular. I can't wait to hear what color you come up with!

Beehive Needleworks said...

Dear Krista...Your samplers are absolutely lovely! You have enchantment tucked into your stitchy fingers! I shall look forward to seeing the finishes, as well as the colours that you choose. I feel certain that all shall be stunning!
Peaceful stitching...
Judy x

Anne said...

Oh wow Krista! Your SM sampler is so stunning and nearly complete! I'm pretty excited about Nicola's challenge too. You've chosen some amazing samplers to work on. Love the Quaker design!!

Love to Stitch said...

WOW! I love this sampler :) It is tough working on so many nice samplers isnt it?!! Great progress on SDW. I am too thrilled to be apart of this great challenge Nicola has put forth! I am going to check out the Pic Monkey-- looks awesome! Thanks for sharing.