#FrostedPumpkinFriday: Off to a Slow Start

So here is this week's #FrostedPumpkinFriday update of the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's 2015 SAL, Story Time. I didn't get very far this week {hangs head in shame} but that's because my mom asked me to help with the planning of the 2015 Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival, which her company Bear Thread Designs, just took over the management. I am super excited that I get to work with all of the vendors who will be participating. {YEAH!!}

Hopefully next week I will have a better chance to get some work done, but it is really exciting!

I’m excited to post weekly updates here at The Teacup Collector’s Cottage. I would love to see your progress as well. Feel free to post a picture or link to your project. Just remember, out of respect for the designers, please do not post photos of any part of the pattern.

Until our next cup of tea … 

#FrostedPumpkinFriday: the Cold (Old) Hard Facts

Its #FrostedPumpkinFriday!! I am so excited about this new SAL, Story Time Sampler, by Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. I didn't get as much done this week as I'd hoped to accomplish. I was hoping to get some stitching in today, but the TEAinTEXAS magazine has seen some growth this year and our 2015 issues are going to be the biggest one's yet! It's exciting, but with extra feature writing and last minute client additions, I didn't get to sit and stitch much. 

I've gotten a little further than this, but still not finished with the first frame yet.

Starting this project did make me face reality. I've been working on another project, my carpool project, on a high count thread fabric. I think it's a 28-count white eventweave and I'm stitching over 2. I work on it mostly in daylight (carpool) so I hadn't really noticed any issues. But when I started on this project with the "Storm" by Picture This Plus, the light grey and muted or pastel tones of the floss, I soon realized I'm going to need either glasses or a magnifying glass. UGH! I feel old. Two years ago at 35 I was told I needed glasses, but somehow this makes me feel old. Sure, I'm suppose to wear my prescribed glasses when I read, am on the computer, sew or stitch, but this just makes me feel so ancient. Well, that and my birthday was yesterday and there were a few old jokes.

But there is a happy note. I am absolutely, head over heels in love with Picture This Plus. From their site, you can see they have lots of selection and each one is gently dyed in small batches and the best part? They stitched the sides of my fabric piece so it wouldn't unravel!! Now, I'd like to believe I am special, but I'm pretty sure they do this on all their fabric cuts. But I still feel special.

I love the varigated patterns that turned up in my 1/4 yard f Storm. The greys are very beautiful. 

Well, I'm off to get some more stitching done before bedtime. Show me your Frosted Pumpkin Project! It doesn't have to be from the Story Time Sampler.

Until our next cup of tea ...

#FrostedPumpkinFriday: Let's Get This Party Started

EEK! I can’t believe its that time already! I signed up a few weeks ago for the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery’s Story Time Sampler Stitch-A-Long! The first pattern was scheduled to be released Jan. 15 (yesterday). I was so excited, I even set my calendar to remind me!

So yesterday, a little after 7 p.m. I logged onto my email to see what stitching happiness was waiting for me in my inbox.

Luckily, I waited until the Lil Monkey had eaten and was settled in watching TV with Daddy, because I opened it up and just like a favorite book, I was hooked!

So today, I officially start #FrostedPumpkinFriday on my blog. Last week my fabric from Picture This Plus arrived. It is a beautiful, hand-dyed grey 28-count Laguna in a light grey called “Storm”. I was in love when I opened the package. I’m a grey-and-pink kind of girl, so I was in heaven with this piece. Now the pattern called for a 1/8 yard cut, but I ordered1/4 yard when I saw the color.

I also picked up most of the DMC floss needed for the project earlier this week. The original was made with Weeks Dye Works, but the pattern provides the conversion numbers. I think hubby is less happy when I buy floss than when I buy stuff to start a new project, since I literally have containers of leftover floss from other projects. I guess that $.39 starts to add up in his mind.

I’m excited to get started on the project and even have a little more time that I thought because I recently decided not to go into the magazine office on Fridays. There are 2 computers and 3 desks, but have up to 5 staff members at any given time and with us blending and packaging teas on Fridays, a lot of the work space is used for orders and prepping for events. I can take a hint.

So it looks like on weeks I don’t have errands or meetings near the office and Lil Monkey’s school, I can be found at a nearby Starbucks sitting and stitching on this project. I may need to take donations for that … or alternate at the library. That’s kind of poetic, stitching on a Story Time Sampler at the library.  

I’m excited to post weekly updates here at The Teacup Collector’s Cottage. I would love to see your progress as well. Feel free to post a picture or link to your project. Just remember, out of respect for the designers, please do not post photos of any part of the pattern.

Until our next cup of tea … 

Story Time SAL Gets Us "Frosted" in 2015!!

A few months ago my friend Teresa introduced me to a new cross stitch pattern company, The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. When I explored the site, I instantly fell in love. So many cute projects! I had a lot of projects on my plate at the time and was unable to start something new without finishing a few, but I definitely added their Tea Time pattern to my wish list. 

Last week I saw a post introducing their 2015 Mystery Stitch-a-Long...Story Time Sampler where once a month participants would receive a portrait of some of our favorite characters from literature! What!?! Books and crafts! Who could pass that up?

So the next day, I signed up and received the instruction guide and supply list! Yeah! I am super excited to get started!! 

Some stories we'll be stitching up:

Alice in Wonderland
Little Women
Lady of Shalott
Sherlock Holmes and more!

The finished Story Time pattern measures 8.2" x 11.2" tall and 131 stitches wide x 180 stitches tall on 16 ct. aida or 32 ct. linen. 

I have so many projects that I rotate through, I think I will start a #FrostedPumpkinFriday post to keep me going. I'll try to post progress reports MOST Fridays and encourage you to post photos of your progress if you are participating in the SAL. 

If you are participating please remember to only post photos of your project, not the pattern. Artists work hard to create these patterns and in order to keep pricing  reasonable, we  must remember not to share their work with those who have not purchased it. If you have any questions feel free to post, or email #TheFrostedPumpkin directly at  thefrostedpumpkinstitchery@gmail.com.

Until our next cup of tea ...