It’s that time again: the new moon and time for a picture of my bits and pieces as part of the Totally Useless Stitch Along (TUSAL). If you are interested in joining, check out this post on DaffyCat’s blog for more information.

This month, I took a picture of my(very few) orts sitting in my Lateran Moon ort catcher. There is hardly enough to bother moving the over to my glass jar (which I emptied at the start of the year).

TUSAL - January 2012

This new moon also marks Chinese New Year. Gung hay fat choy!

Don’t worry. I always check with my husband before I post pictures with Chinese characters. I’m pretty sure I’m not saying anything rude to you.

So, best wishes for your health and continued prosperity. And, hopefully someone surprises you with a little red envelope!

TUSAL – January 2012 is a post from Reflections in the Pond

Lee of Lakeside Stitcher has posted this month’s Stitching Blogger question. It is:

Do you have a favourite Irish or Celtic stitched piece?  If you don’t, what about a piece that represents your heritage?  Or maybe a family tree style sampler?  Think about it, then tell us the story of your piece and show us your photos, if you have them.

Given that my background is partly Irish ( and partly Scottish, with more than a dash of Swiss, German and American) , I was a bit surprised to discover that I haven’t really stitched anything Celtic. There was Teresa Wentzler’s Celtic Cross ornament in 2008 (which I did an awful job of finishing).

Celtic Cross by Teresa Wentzler

I also stitched (and poorly finished) TW’s Celtic Inspiration ornament.

Celtic Inspiration ornament by Teresa Wentzler

There are quite a few Celtic-inspired designs I would like to do. TW’s series comes to mind, as does Lavender and Lace’s Celtic Christmas, and Oak Tree Biscornu from Cross Eyed Kat.

I’m also planning on stitching Lavender and Lace’s Mother’s Tree one day. I’ve traced my maternal line back to the eighth generation preceding me. But I’m loath to start it in case I eventually turn up more information. (My dead end is Sarah Mae Brunner (b. 1747 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, d. 1770 Washington, Maryland, USA.)

My husband is Chinese, and I have stitched a few Chinese-inspired pieces for him. You saw Kitchen Blessings the other day. I also did Pinn Stitch’s Chang Er Moon Goddess.

Chang Er Moon Goddess by Pinn Stitch

March 2011 Stitching Blogger Question is a post from Reflections in the Pond

I completely forgot about the Stitching Blogger Questions that Lee over at Lakeside Stitcher posts. (Thanks to Anna at Stitch Bitch for the reminder.)

This month’s prompt is:
We like to stitch things for people we love.  Show us and tell us about one (or more) of your favorite needlework projects that expresses your love for someone.

As sappy as it sounds, I only stitch for someone else if I love the. (Okay, exchanges are different, but you know what I mean.) And I have stitched a lot of things for a lot of people. I’ve stitched ships for my dad, Santas for my mom, I even stitched a Spitfire for the boy I thought I love (and I did get it back after he cheated on me).

It is difficult for me to say what is my favourite out of all of these projects. Perhaps it is The Wedding, which I’ve stitched twice. The first time (and no picture, sadly) was when my best friend from middle school got married back in 2000 (I think). And I stitched it again in 2005 when my husband (a boy who really did love me, and who I love with all of my heart) and I got married.

The Wedding from Lavender and Lace

There is one other piece that I feel expresses my love for someone:

You Were Hatched by Teresa Wentzler

This is now framed and hanging in the little man’s room. I love him fiercely, and I hope he will always know that.

February 2011 Stitching Blogger Question is a post from Reflections in the Pond

I’m sure a lot of you cross stitchers out there have heard about Crazy January. The idea, for those who don’t know, is to take the traditional guilt-free January to new extremes. So, instead of starting a new design or two, you start one new design for the first fifteen days of January. 15 start! Holy cow!

With a WIP list that contains well over forty entries, I couldn’t take part in Crazy January and still stay sane. But, that doesn’t mean that I haven’t given it a little bit of though. So, here’s what I would have stitched if I was crazy (or maybe I should say, crazier):

1. Velveteen Rabbit by Lynn Nicoletti
2. Gingerbread Stitching House by Victoria Sampler
3. Growth Rings by Ink Circles
4. Santa’s Dragon by Dragon Dreams
5. Rapunzel by Teresa Wentzler
6. Peacock Tapestry by Teresa Wentzler
7. Stitcher’s Trove by Enchanting Lair
8. Wheel of the Year by Joan Elliot
9. Celtic Sewing Box by Enchanting Lair
10. Living with Charm series by Lizzie*Kate
11. Green Flip-It series by Lizzie*Kate
12. one of the Brooke’s Books witches
13. Yo Ho Ho Ho by Sue Hillis
14. My Needle’s Work by Little House Needleworks
15. Voodoo Girl by Haberdashery Designs

How’s that for an eclectic list? My tastes are varied, and all of these are things I would love to stitch really soon, but I know I probably won’t.

In coming up with this list, and thinking about how things go at Christmas, I’ve decided that I will be taking a few things off my “stitch it one day, hopefully soon” list: the stockings for myself, my husband and my parents. I love the stocking I made for Baby Man, but it is really small.  So, at the after-Christmas sales this year, I picked up a nice selection of blue and silver stockings that rest of us can use. Maybe, one day when I have more time, I will knit everyone stockings. But, until then, store-bought for the adults and the cross stitch stocking for Baby Man are just fine.

So, anyone want to buy/trade for some Dimensions stocking kits?

Virtual Crazy January is a post from Reflections in the Pond

There is a new stitching meme making the rounds. Andie started it, and I have seen Erica and Lindsay answer it. And, now it is my turn:

1. What are you stitching at the moment?

Well, I’m working on several things. (You know me.) But the piece under my needle at this particular moment is Mill Hill’s Snowflakes from the 2010 Holiday collection.

2. How many finishes have you had this year? Small? Medium? Large? Extra Large?

I have finished two large projects, two that I would consider medium, and eleven small so far.

3. Do you think you will finish any more in the next month and a half before the end of the year?

I’d like to finish up another three or four small designs before Christmas.

4. If you could buy 1 thing for yourself what would it be? (Doesn’t have to be stitching)

Well, if I could buy anything reasonable, I’d get myself a new heavy-duty ball winder. But, you know, I mustn’t want that too much, since it isn’t even on my wish list. I guess the real answer would be more books. I really, really love to read.

5. What is the best thing you have ever stitched?

The best? Hmm, I’m not sure whether to define this the most complicated piece I’ve done, the one I like the best, or the one that I had the best time stitching. I suppose, if I had to pick something, today it would be my Chang Er from Pin Stitch.

6. Do you like making lists?

Goodness, me, yes. Do I follow them or even remember I have them? No…

7. Do you stitch in rotation (how does it work?) or OAAT?

I stitch whatever strikes my fancy, whenever the spirit moves me.

8. What is the next thing you plan to stitch?

After finishing up my holiday stitching, I’d like get back to Enchanting Lair’s Kitchen Blessings and Victoria Samplers’ Christmas Treasures.

9. What is your fave ONS? And why?

I shop at ABC Stitch (mostly for the sale section) and Stitching Bits and Bobs (when they have a general % off sale).

10. Do you have a stitching chair?

No, like Sheldon Cooper, my location is left side of the couch. I have a tabletop Daylight lamp and all my supplies on the end table.

11. Do your children/pets get into your stitching things?

So far, Baby Man has been very good and not really touched anything. I’m not sure how long that will last.

12. Do you participate in any stitching forums?

I occasionally post on The Wagon, TWBB and Mirabilia Stitchers. Most of my forum time is spent over on Ravelry.

Stitchin’ Questions is a post from Reflections in the Pond

I thought I would jump on the meme bandwagon and answer the first of Lake Stitcher‘s new Stitching Bloggers’ Questions, a monthly meme.

Suppose we say that there are two types of stitchers.

There are those who enjoy the “process” of stitching.  They stitch for stitching’s sake and if something gets finished, so much the better, but it’s not necessarily the end goal.   Primarily, it’s the application of needle and thread to cloth that makes them happiest.

Then there are those who are “project” stitchers.  They move steadily through their projects, certainly enjoying their stitching time, but finding their greatest joy in the completed stitching.

If you had to pick one to describe yourself, which type of stitcher would you be?  I imagine that we could all say that we fall somewhere in between, but really think hard about this and try to pick just one.  And once you’ve decided whether you’re a Process or Project stitcher, tell us if your recognize that approach in other parts of your life.

This is a debate that surfaces amongst the knitters and crocheters of Ravelry occasionally, and has been touched on by several knitting authors.  Since I first came across this idea in the knitting world, I thought I would answer this question looking at that craft first.  Since I am a new knitter, my knitting is partly about the process: learning new stitches, working with new yarns, that sort of thing.  But also because I am a new knitter, it is mainly about the products or projects.  I love having a finished pair of socks that I can wear, or a lovely cardigan that gets complements. So, while I do enjoy the process, it is mainly about the finished project.

Stitching is a little bit different.  I do love my finished projects, but I have so  many now that projects sit unframed or unfinished (as in turned into an ornament or what have you) for a long time.  It is more about the act of putting needle to fabric, of trying new speciality stitches, or taking a class for a new design or with a favourite teacher.  Maybe that is why I have so many half-done stitching projects, were as when it comes to my knitting I only have one large and one small project on the needles. (Oh, and the lace shawl, but that is hibernating because lace and toddlers don’t mix.)

May Stitching Bloggers’ Question is a post from Reflections in the Pond

I’ll start you off with a little Hope.  I’ve made great progress on this panel.  And while I won’t say it is easier than Teresa Wentzler’s Love panel, I will say that Jennifer Aikman-Smith’s panel is less complicated and therefore it is much quicker to stitch.  I still need to do a rectangle of beaded rice stitches and finish off the border, but I may  have it done by the end of the month.

Hope Panel

My Knitting Olympics project is coming along well, too.  I finished the right front today and seamed up the shoulders, which means I got to sort of try it on.  I think it might be a touch big, but it is hard to tell when the side seams aren’t actually sewn in.  I’ve cast on the first sleeve, and I’m forging ahead although I am sure I won’t finish it before the closing ceremony of the Olympics.

And for a bit of fun, I thought I would share a knitting meme I came across somewhere a while back.  I know that not all of you knit, but if you do and you do this meme yourself, please let me know.

Instructions: Bold for stuff you’ve done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you’re not planning on doing.

A Knitting Meme and Some Hope is a post from Reflections in the Pond

It is funny how the month of December seems to fly by.  First it is Christmas cards that need to be mailed and decorations that need to go up, then it is get-togethers, and before you know it is the big day.  Then there are the after Christmas sales and finally we say good-bye to the old year.  But, as Ferris Bueller says:

Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

With the end of the year and the end of the decade (depending on which school of thought you belong too) around the corner, I’ve had that quote in my head quite a bit.  (Okay, I’ll confess, I recently heard it again in an episode of Good Eats, and it really did strike a chord with me).  So, in the reflection kind of mood, I came across a meme on Melissa’s blog The Daily Mel.  She got The Final Week of 2009 Meme from the Sunday Stealing blog.  And, I figured, it is the perfect meme for me to do today.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

I tried some new knitting techniques, learned to crochet, and tried to be a good mom to a toddler.  All new things for me this year.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I’ll talk about this over the next couple of days.  But, in a nut shell, I did pretty good on my 2009 goals and I have some planned for 2010.

3. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?

I will be staying at home with my husband, a shrimp ring and a good movie. Baby Man will be sound asleep in the next room.I’m not really a fan of big parties, and we have a family get-together early on New Year’s Day.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

We didn’t travel this year.  Baby Man isn’t quite ready for that.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Well, I suppose I could say world peace and an end to hunger, but that is a given, right?  I would like to have more patience and more sleep.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

That would be Baby Man’s first birthday.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I’m not really sure.  Maybe knitting an entire sweater jacket.  I never expected to be able to do that.  (Gosh, that sounds a little sad, doesn’t it?)

9. What was your biggest failure?

Losing my temper so often and not reaching my goal weight because I got lazy.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No, everyone was pretty healthy this year.  Baby Man did have roseola.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I think that I would have to say pre-ordering the Gaian Tarot deck.  And, actually, my husband bought that for me as my Christmas gift.  I have to wait until March to get it though.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Food and housing.  Okay, beyond that it went to yarn and cross stitch stash. Yikes.

13. What song will always remind you of 2009?

I’m not sure.  Maybe something from Glee like Last Name or Gold Digger.  (Yes, seriously.)

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Losing weight and teaching Baby Man things.

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Complaining and buying things I don’t need.

16. What was your favourite TV program?

Glee, Ugly Betty and Good Eats.

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Nope.

18. What was the best book you read?

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Glee?  Yeah, I don’t listen to a lot of music beyond our local classical radio station.

20. What was your favorite film of this year?

We only went to see one movie, so I guess I would have to say Star Trek.  And it was a pretty good movie.  Much, much better than I expected.

21. What did you do on your birthday?

Dinner and a movie with my husband while my parents watched Baby Man.  He also bought me a great purple leather jacket.

22. What kept you sane?

Knitting, crocheting and cross stitch.

23. Who did you miss?

The people who have moved away (Chris & Jane, Haun & Mey) and my grandparents (who all died many years ago).

24. Who was the best new person you met?

I haven’t met too many people this year, but I would have to say a couple of neighbours from down the hall.

25. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:

Sometimes you have to do things even if you don’t want to, but it really does make you a better person.  Oh, and your parents are right when they say you will understand things better when you are a parent yourself.

Final Week of 2009 Meme is a post from Reflections in the Pond

Anna over at Stitch Bitch is trying to get a new meme started.  She’s asked us all to dump out our stitching bags and share pictures.  I don’t have a stitching bag.  I use a lovely little basket that I bought from Pottery Barn several years ago after Halloween.  It has a lining decorated with a spider and a web, and of course I forgot to take a picture of it once I emptied everything out.

Here’s my basket as it came out of the closet:

As you can see, I don’t sort by craft. There’s Baby Man’s aborted entrelac scarf, a sewing pattern for a dragon toy, and a whole pile of cross stitch stuff.  (I also have a knitting bag  which holds my current project(s), knitting needles, and yet  more cross stitch projects.)

Here’s everything that was stuffed into my basket:

Let’s see, there are empty bags from completed projects, the kits from the 2008 Creativ Festival (2009 projects are elsewhere), rings and eyelets for floss tags, the magnifier from my lamp, an empty tub of FrayBlock, a tape measure, card stock and perforated paper, a knitting pattern, ball bands from yarn, lots and lots of cross stitch projects, the Dinky Dyes for Stitcher’s Trove and DMC for the Wheel of the Year pillow from Bewitching Cross Stitch, DMC colour card, and oh so much more.  I’m a little embarassed by it all.  All the more so since my husband sat in the living room and watched me pull all this out. Yikes.

That lone bag in the background is what I am using to store Baby Man’s stocking.  I’m very close to finishing all the stitching, so hopefully I will meet my goal for this month.

Please share what is in your stitching bag, and don’t forget to go to Stitch Bitch and leave a link in the comments.

Also, in my last post I offered to send stitching goodies to three people as part of the Pay It Forward chain.  So far I’ve only had two people say they are interested.  I can’t do a draw with only two people!  And surely there are more of you who read my blog and are interested in receiving and sending out stitching goodies.  Please head over to this post if you’d like to take part.

And, lastly, today is Day 10 of Missy Ann’s 13 Days of Halloween.  Stop by her blog to enter!

What’s In My Basket is a post from Reflections in the Pond