Itchin' to get stitchin'.......

Our round robin is underway....... I sent my cloth off (tuesday) and I just received my first cloth to stitch in. It's gorgeous - I'm nervous! The pressure of being the first one to stitch on someone's cloth is a little more than I expected.... Where do you start? What if she does not like it? AHHH!!!

Mardi's cloth is beautiful (already) - it is cut from the same cloth as mine from RUBYFLOY. So it's happy, familiar cloth to me.... I think I need to think about it for a bit before diving right in..... I'm just hoping I don't over think it..... (danger.... woman thinking.....)

Below is the little sign in book I made for my sampler..... I LOVE the paper..... I have been pack-ratting it around with me for a while and I knew that I would find the perfect use for... and I finally did!! Yah!

The book pages consist of mini envelopes - I stitched the envelopes(plus 2 pages) to the book. I have been "collecting" the little envelopes for a while... so I was excited to be able to use a bunch in one sweep! Helps me clear out my stash...... so I can go get more..... (NO!!! chants the DH)

Each lady is to choose an envelope and leave a "little note" hopefully about what they stitched and why. I know it will treasure the book just as much as the sampler. I LOVED Linda's book, she is soooo JUNE cleaver!! After visiting her blog... I always say... now - why didn't think of that......

I hope you have a happy weekend!

xo,

amt

39 squares!

FINALLY - I finished.... my original post said - when I started to stitch-along...... a Day late and dollar short.... in my case I was about 39 days late (haha - maybe not not 39 days days.. but close..) I lost count at which square I was at .... so here are a few of my favs

notice the MAQI beads..... stands for our family's first names...... They are hanging on a clothes line :) - later I added a cloud

above the peace sign.... a NEST - we have a had a lot of nesting activities around here lately.... seemed appropriate to stitch that!

look at the owl!! I got CRAZY and tried a NEW stitch.... called "smyrna" ... you stitch in a line weaving and knotting and leaving hoops dangling from that line... then later go back and cut the hoops to leave strands of thread to create the hairy chest of the owl.....

some other stitches - I attmepted were corded buttonhole stitch .... I stitched in a circle with yellow threads and turned it into a sun. I also attempted ribbon! look above the pink button (that's supposed to be me... I got that button in NYC - garment district) anyhow above the pink button is a folded ribbon flower. After I stitched it I got a book on ribbon stitching... go figure!

here she is....... FINISHED!! (yah for me...)

Did you see that she is starting ANOTHER stitch along? (100 squares!!) Holy smokes! I think I will be stitching along - but not "officially" and maybe a few less squares.

a new technique book I am playing with....

it's might be a little more advanced than I am ... but you gotta start somewhere right?

stitch happy,

amt!

stitchin' along......

The stitching continues in a very footloose and fancy free sort of way.....

Squares fourteen, fiveteen and sixteen:
14: a filler of vintage ric rac (from RUBYFLOY), ribbon (i like to call dingle balls) and velvet scallops :)
15: a mommy drink (because sometimes I just need to unwind...)
16: the peace sign (how I feel after I unwind :)

Squares seventeen, eighteen and nineteen:
17: button sun and rainbow
18. lucky shamrock button
19. a vintage shiny accent - I stitched a circle around it.... do you think it needs more?

Square twenty..... ( above 20 -you can see the faint makings of squirrel)
20: a snail :)

Squares twenty-one and twenty-two:
21: butterfly (don't be afraid to spread your wings and fly!)
22: tulle flower - not sure if I really like it? what do you think???
I am DANGEROUSLY close to "catching up " with the rest of those stitching ladies over at 39 squares

Presently - We are off on an adventure filled spring break with those non-stop energy filled boys.....my stitching is packed and right on top of all the things I don't really need to bring along...with me! I'll be looking for inspiration in those RED streaked rocks of Bryce, Zion and Arches.

Below is my attempt at a shabby flower...... One of my besties.... Linda... sent me a link to this great little vimeo... you should really check it out.... Very inspiring.... Linda is pretty inspiring herself!! you really need to go check out her tutorial on chiffon flowers.... I have all the supplies but I have yet to give it shot.... but you can bet I'll be posting my results soon :) On the shabby flower - I used some special gathering from a few friends... Ribbon from Katie and more ric rac from Nathalie.....


Nest update..... Lovely mamma dove is STILL providing me with my daily dose of patience... I really don't know how she does it... I don't have any new shots because she's hard to see BUT I check on her everyday and I absolutely LOVE to wake up to her "love dove" on the fence wall near by, He stands so valiantly tall and puffs out his chest feathers for her! Then I peek up to she her tail feathers ruffled slightly over the edge of the hanging planter. It's one of the sweetest things I have EVERY witnessed. In a moment of weakness, I gave her a worm...(it was a one time thing) I was super nervous about it because I did not want her to think I was invading her space... while technically I was invading .... so I decided from here on out.... I would let nature take it's course.... and allow her to feed herself on her own terms.... But I really wanted to give her something for all the joy she is giving to me..... like I said she is teaching me patience.....

I hope spring finds you with a HOP in your step.
;)
xo,
AMT

a flutter of fabric...

I had a real live "grown up" play-date yesterday....
A dear and very TALENTED Cortney came over to play yesterday.....

we had some fun..... cutting fabric butterflies.... we joined forces (and fabric) to make some delightful and flighty necklaces....


cortney's necklace...

It's gorgeous isn't it!! I really love how she put her's together.... it's just the right size!!
Anna's necklace....

While I am very in LOVE with these butterfly necklaces.... I am not sure I personally have enough style to actually pull one off? This one might be a gift to a very lucky birthday girl in my life. I am not over these butterflies... I plan to make one for me... but maybe a little smaller...

meanwhile.... I am still stitching!

squares nine and ten.....
#9 -a cup of coffee - yes - it's sumatra - extra bold (fairly traded and organic! - I'm hip aren't i?)
#10 - a moonlight night...

squares eleven, twelve, thirteen
#11 - a spring tree
#12 - Quinton
#13 - Marz
I made some additions to some of my squares.... I have been ohhhhhing and aweeeeing over the flicker site for all the girls stitching along... and getting some serious inspiration!! I'll post my changes soon. I'm in love with stitching! It's fun, fun, fun! Have you tried?
xo,
amt