Stash Diving

Sorry in advance for the quality of most of these photos!  I took them in a hurry as I want to post this quickly and then get to work on finishing  my "Sampler Farm".  Even though those last stitches seem to be taking me forever, I promise I am going to finish it before I start anything new.  That doesn't mean of course that I can't think ahead.  I want to work on something small--wanting a bit more instant gratification.  I was thinking along the lines of something by Prairie Schooler, but when I went looking I found loads more UFOs I might work on rather than starting an entirely new project (though that may happen, too).  Here's what I found (and I do love looking through my stash!).  A warning--some of the photos I am about to share with you were started years (and I do mean Years ago).

I started this one last summer (or maybe even the summer before?).  I love Just Nan, but she does use a lot of color changes for very small motifs and I think I tired of this one too quickly.

 

I had this idea in mind when I pulled out these charts.  I would stitch one small design for each month of the year choosing the design I liked most from each chart and then finish them into little accessories.  I finished January through March and then stumbled with April and didn't quite finish the year.  Though I do love bee skeps, so July (not sure which month that is actually) just needs to be finished.  A pinkeep maybe?  Any ideas?

 

I was zipping right along with this one and loving it, but then I decided I didn't like the look of her face and set it aside.  Silly, I know.  Maybe I should reconsider.  I do love Little House Needleworks and I don't think I've finished one of her charts...though I have started several!

 

This is one of my oldest UFOs.  It's actually one of the very first charts I ever stitched when I started working on linen.  I think I set it aside as it is riddled with errors.  Who would know, of course.  I really should finish this.

 

I've stitched some of these gloves before, but gave them all away.  I was thinking I could do one or two for me and then stitch that little rabbit that's in the corner of the far left chart and make it into a fob and have a little set.  I also want to stitch the little "Rain Rain, Go Away" design.  I also stitched that one and gave it away, but I'd like it for myself.  I might finish it as mattress cushion (what is the proper name for those?).

 

I love these tiny designs.  I stitched these years ago, too, and never got around to finishing them--I have the little frames.  I didn't stitch the sunflower, though, as it is all french knots, which I find extremely hard to do.  I have another chart with small designs and wonder if I can kit them up and start stitching?

This is only missing three star buttons.  It's fairly small and I was thinking of making it into a cushion (whipstitching the front and back together), but I don't really want tassles on the corner (I like tassles, but I am lazy about making them).  Is there anything else that looks cool that could go on the corners?  Maybe I should just look for nice fabric and make it into a pillow/pin cushion?

 

Last one.  Another bee skep, that I was probably going to make into a fob.  My enthusiasm just fizzled away on this one.  And the red, white and blue strawberry--most likely I didn't get it done by the Fourth and just set it aside.  I've also made strawberries and given them away, too.  I'm being greedy these days and wanting to keep everything for myself. 

The sad thing is, these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to UFOs or projects that are stitched but not yet finished.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this.  I also have far too many books started as well!

Oh, and I've not forgotten about my Mystery Sampler (or my Houses of Hawk Run Hollow either), but that is a long term project that I will pick up again as soon as my "Sampler Farm" is done!

Comments

[Gaby]

Hi Dani,

isn´t it great to dash through your stash finding lots of treasures??? I also did that some time ago...I found lots of UFOs, some I still love and some...well...we´ll see...your actual stitching is great too...love the sampler....

Hugs,
Gaby

[Debbie]

There has to be nothing better than stash diving. You always find great things when you do that! I'm redoing all my charts and finding all kind of things to stitch (now finding the time is the challenge). I love the Lives with Creatures piece - you should finish that one!

[Dianne]

I love all of your little projects! FUN!

[tessa.chaplin@fusion.com.au]

Danielle - when I was learning to do a french know I would use a cushion assistant!

Put the cushion on your knee, lie the linen on top - now you have both hands free.

Wrap the thread around the needle, insert the top third of you needle into your linen and therefore your cushion, making sure you place the needle where you want the french knot to be.

Pull the thread wrap firm and push it close to the cushion. Now carefully pick your linen up from the cushion with the needle still a third sticking our from the bottom. Holding the wrap firmly with one hand on top of the linen, use your other hand to pull the needle right through.

Give it a try Danielle, you will be a fan of french knot once you have your cushion assistant giving you some help!

[Danielle]

Hi Gaby--I love looking through stash when I haven't done it in a while--it's amazing how quickly I forget what I was working on. The ones I pulled are all designs I'd like to work on again and it's nice that they are already started! :)
Debbie--Live with the Creatures is one of the first charts I started using linen. I need to press it and start stitching again. I think there is not really much to finish and the mistakes are mostly with the placement of the motifs and who's going to know anyway??
Dianne--Thanks. I need some fun projects the moment, so I can't wait to pick one to work on.
Tessa--Thank you! I had never thought of doing something like this and never come across the suggestion. I am going to try it. French Knots are my weakest area when it comes to stitching--I can handle if there is one or two on a design, but the sunflower chart has lots and lots of them. I'm willing to try anything to make French knots easier! Thanks for sharing it! :)

[Giovanna]

I have lots of projects started too - funnily enough, the smaller they are, the longer they seem to get abandoned, lol. Lots of lovely stuff in your pics.

[Danielle]

Giovanna--Isn't that the truth! I'm hoping that as several are close to being finished I might get a little instant gratification out of a couple! :)

[Jaimie]

Why haven't I ever seen this before!! I didn't know you had a separate blog for your needlework! This is so wonderful. We have alot of the same stitching taste. I have tons of PS also. I will be back!

[Suzanne]

What a lot of lovely UFOs you have. I worked on most of my little projects at the beginning of the year and finished them all up. If you need some help in finishing any of them or finishing them into something let me know, I am happy to help. I love stitching and finishing little pieces.

Still working on my mystery sampler. Today is Good Friday and I plan to spend my whole day stitching. Well that's the plan anyway!

[Danielle]

Jaimie--I've had my stitching blog for several years, though the last couple I've been bad about updating it as I hadn't been stitching much. Now that I am at it again, I am trying to update once or twice a week and so far it's been working. And I will be starting a new PS project soon!
Suzanne--I've fallen behind in my Mystery Sampler, but now that I am done with my Sampler Farm I plan on spending much more time with it! I need to check in and see how your stitching i going, too. I was just thinking about you today! Thanks for the finishing offer!! Some things I am more comfortable doing than others. I am always looking for suggestions! I've got loads of unfinished (well finished with the stitching) designs that I need to pay a little attention to, so I may come to you for advice!! I am taking Monday off from work and hope to get in extra stitching (and blog reading) time this weekend, too.

[Brigitte]

Stash diving, what fun! I love to see these pictures of all your WIPs, and there are some really great pieces. Whenever I see a collection of WIPs on some stitchers' blogs I just want to take them all and finish them. As if I didn't have enough WIPs myself, lol.

[Danielle]

Brigitte--It is fun seeing what everyone else is working on--and tempting too!