Not Sure What To Do...

I have had my blog up for about six weeks now. So far I have had very few views and to be perfectly honest, that is very discouraging. So here is the deal. This will probably be my last blog post. Well, not exactly my last blog post... I am pretty certain that I will be joining the wonderful world of #flosstube. When/if I decide to do that, then I will probably have a blog post to go with it. As far as blogging ONLY... It's just not worth all the time and hard work that goes into doing weekly posts. It really does make me sad because I started out being super excited about my blog. Oh well... It is what it is. So for anyone reading this, I thank you. Hope to possibly see you on You Tube soon!

Amber Borden, CNA

I wanted to share a little something I made for my daughter, Amber. She recently passed her Certified Nursing Assistant's exam and I made this to let her know how proud I was of her! 

I used 14 ct. aida cloth and an alphabet chart I had in my stash. She loves purple so I used three different shades. She really liked it, and again I would like to say just how proud I am of her!! Congratulations, Amber Dawn!!

Christmas Quilt...'Tis the Season...Almost!

So we are down to my last WIP. It is Better Homes and Gardens Cross Stitch & Country Crafts Christmas Quilt. I'm embarrassed to say that I have been working on it since 2010.  I don't have much left to do actually. I need to finish the block I am working on and then I have three more blocks left to do. So at least I am close! This is one project that I have absolutely loved working on! I love everything about Christmas, so naturally I would love working on these blocks! Here is a picture of the pattern book:

Better Homes and Gardens Cross Stitch & Country Crafts Christmas Quilt

The first time I ever saw this quilt was when my friend Susan, whom I used to work with, was stitching it. She had four blocks left to finish and she brought the pattern book and the blocks she had completed to work one day. I fell in love with them and knew right then that I had to get that book for myself. I searched and searched and finally found it on eBay. Luckily I won the auction and the rest is history. Susan had been working on her blocks for five years and I urged her to "just finish it!" I told her that it was gorgeous and she needed to get busy on it so I could see it!! She still thanks me for spurring her on to get it done.  :) I just wish I had a picture of her completed one to show you all.

If you like Christmas and cross stitching, I highly recommend this book. I'm pretty sure it can still be found on eBay or other buy/sell websites, even though it might take some time. I think it took me several months to finally find it. 

Here are pictures of the blocks I have completed:

Those are the ones I have finished so far. The next picture is the block I am currently working on, and almost done with:

The only thing left to do is putting "ornaments" on it. I plan to use some beads where the ornaments are called for.

I hope you all have enjoyed this weeks WIP post. My plan is to actually put all four of my WIPs in a rotation like many of you that are reading this do. I would like to work on each one for a week then switch to the next one. We'll see...and I will keep you posted.

Next week I will show you all my most recent haul! Until then, happy stitching!

Ed Hardy and a Wedding!!

Good morning fellow stitchers! I apologize for being a day late in my update. My schedule was changed a little at work and it threw my whole week off! There may be a few more changes at work soon, but I'm not sure yet. I may even have to change the day I publish, but like I said, I will keep you updated. I don't mean to sound so cryptic, but things just aren't set in stone yet. I'll keep you posted!

I know this is a cross stitching blog, but I really want to share something exciting that took place last Sunday! My youngest daughter, Amber, got married! She was a beautiful bride! Her husband's name is Lance and it's apparent that they are very, very happy. Here is a picture:

Now, on to the cross stitching! This week I'm showing you the WIP I am actually doing for Amber. She loves Ed Hardy's designs. I also like Ed Hardy, but not to the extent that Amber does. Here is the design I am doing. This is a picture of the book that the pattern comes from, and the design I am doing is the one on the front of the book:

30 Cross-Stitch Patterns from Ed Hardy

"Love Kills Slowly"

This next picture is my progress. I apologize for the hoop mark. Believe it or not, I actually removed the hoop when I was finished working on it. I know if Aishe (Sticky Stitch) is reading this, she is probably going to cringe! lol

"Love Kills Softly"

So this is my third WIP. I have one more that I will be showcasing next week. It is a set of Christmas quilt blocks and I have loved every stitch I have put into each block! This has been a wonderful project and I have two or three more blocks left to do. I can't wait to share it with you!! So until next time, happy stitching!!

WIP - Pinkie Pie

This week I am going to show you my second WIP. I am doing five of the My Little Ponies for my four-year-old granddaughter, Chloe, because they are her absolute favorites! I am still on the first one and her name is Pinkie Pie. Let me show you Pinkie Pie's picture:

 

I had to take an actual picture of Pinkie Pie because the pattern did not come with a picture of her, The only picture available was of the pattern only and we all know that we can't post pictures of patterns because of the copyright laws.

Now let me show you the progress I've made:

I apologize for the hoop mark and for the wrinkling around the edges. I wanted to get it all straightened out, but sometimes there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done. I'm sure you get the general idea of how it will turn out. Her mane and tail are pretty much outlined and I really don't have a whole lot left to do to get it finished.

There are five other ponies besides Pinkie Pie. They are Applejack, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash and Rarity. I will hopefully get them finished in time to give them all to Chloe for Christmas. I plan to either put them in little frames or in wooden hoops. I haven't decided for sure which one yet.

If you would like to cross stitch Pinkie Pie, here is the link to the free pattern for her: 

http://mylittlecscharts.deviantart.com/art/Pinkie-Pie-Cross-Stitch-Chart-345526261

The other ponies are also on this site in case you would like to stitch one of them. Pinkie Pie has been a very quick stitch so far, and the other ponies look as if they are going to stitch up quickly also.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my progress on Pinkie Pie. Next week I will be sharing the Ed Hardy design I am doing for my daughter, Amber. Until then, happy stitching!

My WIPs...

Hello, Stitchers!

First of all, I have decided to post my blog on Wednesdays. There is no special reason for Wednesday posts, it just sounds like a good day! If you guys would rather I post on a different day, just let me know and I will definitely consider it. After all, I am doing this blog for you!

I am going to start out with my works in progress. I had originally thought I would do all of them at once, but I think I will do one a week so that I can talk a little more about each one of them. I only have four WIPs, so we won't have too many posts on that subject.

The first one I am going to show you is Summer Sampler by Janlynn. I have been working on it for...a long time. Actually since May, 2010. I can't believe it has taken me so long, but as I am sure all of you know, life sometimes gets in the way.

So without further adieu...here is my main WIP...

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This is the Summer Sampler

And this is my current progress on the Summer Sampler by Janlynn.

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As I mentioned, I have been working on this one for over four years. It is not the only one I have been working on in that four years, but it is the main one I've been working on. As you can see, I only have a little bit left to do on it, and I will be really excited to get it finished! Unfortunately my working hours make it hard for me to stitch on a regular basis. 

In case you're wondering, I work in Long Term Care as a Licensed Practical Nurse and I work the 10 pm to 6 am shift. I try to do a couple of hours of stitching in the evening after I get up and before I go to work, but if I am really tired or if I have a lot to do before work I don't get to stitch in the evenings. So I do try and make up for it on my days off. Does anyone else face this problem of working the overnight shift? If so, when do you get to stitch? I'd be interested in hearing from you.

I will stop here, and next time I will show you all what I am working on for my four-year-old granddaughter. Until then, happy stitching!

Welcome To My Blog!

I would like to welcome everyone to "X Marks the Spot!" This is my second attempt at having a blog, and I do plan on this one being successful. This blog is about all things cross stitch. I am an avid cross stitcher. I follow all the cross stitch blogs I can find. I watch every cross stitcher on You Tube, and I hope to eventually put up a few videos myself. All in good time. Oh! And yes - did I mention that I cross stitch? Pretty sure I did!

In my next post I will try and let you know what my posting schedule will be. I plan on showing you my WIPs next time also. For those of you that don't know, a WIP is a "work in progress." I have a few. Not a whole lot - maybe four. I hope you will join me for that post!

If you have just stumbled upon this blog by accident, I hope you will stay and visit. Please subscribe if you like it. So until next time, happy stitching!!