Finish Friday - Andrea - Knitted Sweater

Just barely getting this in on Friday in Idaho!  No new submissions for this week, so you get another one of my finishes!  This isn't technically a Holiday item, because it was a birthday gift for my daughter's 10th birthday.  But her birthday happens to be in December, so it's close enough.

This fall she asked me to make some legwarmers for her friend's birthday, and when she was looking through my stash for the perfect yarn color, she fell in love with this jade green (Pagoda, Caron's Simply Soft).  I immediately knew I wanted to make something for her with it.

So I found instructions for this top-down raglan - it's custom-fit, so it requires a bit of math the first time you make something.  I bought another skein of the jade, and decided to add some white stripes to make sure I'd have enough and here it is:

This picture was taken at night, plus she's decided she doesn't like having her picture taken, so there was some wrestling involved to get this shot!  This is the first garment I've knitted, and I'm really pleased with the result.  You can't see the bottom, but the striping repeats in the ribbing.  I'm planning to use the instructions to make a sweater set for myself for work.

I had just a little bit of jade left over, so I decided to crochet a beret for her as well.  She pulls it down like a ski hat, because she's 10.  But she loves the sweater!

Finish Friday - Christmas Ornaments - December 14, 2012

I stitched these ornament sets a couple of years ago for a giveaway.  The top set is a blackwork snowflake theme - a "humbug", a little diamond-shaped ornie edged with Klosters, and a beaded snowflake that I made about 6 years ago.  The bottom set was a candy cane theme - a spiral-rope candy ring and a Hardanger cushion ornament.  There was supposed to be a humbug with this one, but I cut too close to the edge and the stitches started pulling out. :(  So I gave away the snowflakes and now the candy ones hang on my tree every year!
If you have an ornament finish to share, be sure to fill out the submission form!  I'm also looking for winter scenes for the month of January.

Finish Friday on Google+

Some of you may not know this about me, but I've worked in social media for almost 2 years.  Google+ is Google's way of combining what people search for with how they communicate.  They've recently added Communities (which are like Facebook Groups), and there are a very limited number of fiber arts communities!  So I added one called Finish Friday, which will allow for discussions of the various forms of fiber arts, as well as a section to ask for help with finishes, or to share tutorials.  We could even do events or hangouts (video chats) as a group!

I hope this will help us reach other stitchers who would be interested in sharing with us!

If you're on Google+ and you'd like to join this discussion group, click here - I have it set to "request to join" to make prevent spam. :)

If you're not on Google+, it's easy and free to join.  The site will walk you through it, but if you have any questions feel free to ask me, too!

Finish Friday - Yuana - December 7, 2012

Hello again, everyone!  Today's finish comes from Yuana in Amman!  Here's her story behind this piece:

"Its a cross stitch of a javanese wedding couple, white aida 14ct, dmc threads, size 37 x 21 cm. I bought the kit in Jakarta in 2003, I wasnt committed enough and when I miscalculated the batik skirt I decided to stop. When I went to Indonesia for holiday in the end of last year, I found it in my old bedroom. I decided to brought it back to Syria and finally when we moved to Amman in Feb 2012 I corrected it a little and finished it, finally after more than 9 years :) I decided to give it as a gift for my bestfriend back in Indonesia, I added her name and her husband, together with their wedding date :)"

You can read more about this piece in the post on Yuana's blog.  I encourage you to read this post, as it also describes how she and her family moved very quickly from Syria, and this piece was something she tucked in the one bag she took.  It's a beautiful story, and you have to scroll down to see her friend's wedding picture - so similar to the cross stitch kit she purchased 6 years before the wedding!

And the picture:

2013 Finishes Themes!

I'm very pleased to announce the themes for 2013 - you may still submit finishes that do not fit these themes, but priority will be given to theme-related projects.  Also, if I feel your finish fits a theme coming later in the year, I may delay featuring yours until that time.  That said, I love having multiple finishes to show each Friday, so even if your finish does not match a theme, that doesn't mean it won't be chosen!  And most of these themes are very broad for a reason. ;)

January - Winter Scenes

February - Valentine's Day - hearts, love sayings, wedding samplers

March - Theme 1 - Crochet finishes (March is National Crochet Month)

March - Theme 2 - Green finishes - green as the dominant color, shamrocks, celtic knotwork (any color)

April - Easter/Spring

May - Mother - gifts made for mother, sayings about motherhood

June - Garden

July - Summer Fun

August - Scissor Fobs

September - HAED

October - Halloween

November - Food

December - Ornaments

There is now a place on the form that shows the upcoming themes!  I love when I figure out how to do things!

We're still looking for Christmas themed finishes for December 2013 - ornaments, decor and gifts.  Fill out the form on the Get Featured page to, well, get featured!

Liebster Award!

Thanks to Shaunterria of ca11i0pe.blogspot.com for giving Finish Friday the Liebster Award!  Here's how it works:

Liebster is a German word meaning dearest, favorite or beloved. Liebster Awards are given by bloggers to other bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to spread the word and help newer bloggers gain wider recognition. 

1. Choose 5 bloggers with fewer than 200 followers to award the Liebster to.

2. Show thanks to the blogger who awarded the Liebster to you by linking back to their blog. 

3.  Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving awards to, with links to their sites, and comment on their blog to let them know that you have given them the award.

The hard part for me is always choosing the blogs to give to - especially because most of you have already received.  I'll do my best:

1.  Less Bitching More Stitching - the first post I saw here was a knitted "brain hat". You have to go see it.
2. It's All About Cross Stitch - she designed a birth announcement sampler of 2 football helmets.  In pink. Love it.  And she's an HAED lover like me!
3. Clydeside Stitching - a beautiful blog by a devoted mom (mum) who completes some great cross stitch pieces
4. Shelly from Craftgirl78 - I've been following her on Twitter for a while.  I can't believe she has less than 200 followers.  Go follow her!
5. My Cross Stitch Blog - how can you NOT follow a blog with a name like that?  This blogger has serious start-itis and a love for HAED!

Congrats to these bloggers!  Maybe some of them will join us here, and show off some of there finishes? *fingers crossed*

Finish Friday - November 30 - Debbie

Today's finish is from Debbie at Debbie's Cross Stitch.  Such a lovely piece, Debbie thanks for sharing!

Here's what Debbie says about her finish - "A Paris Kiss" by Vervaco, stitched 2 over 2 on 28 ct linen. The finished size is 10" x 13". I finished it in August 2011 for my daughter's 23rd birthday. I hope she can go back to Paris and reenact this scene with a handsome man some day!

Planning Ahead for 2013

I'm very excited - I'm making a calendar of themes for each month of the year.  While I love to feature multiple finishes each week, I'm going to make sure I place the theme finishes first, and the others will just be extra.

What do you think?  What themes would you like to see?  Comment here - if I don't use them in the coming year, I'll likely use them the next year!

Do You Have a Holiday Finish to Share?

We're heading into the season for celebrating and gift-giving, decorating and sharing with friends.  Do you have a holiday-inspired finish?  It could be a stocking, an ornament, a wall-hanging featuring a Christmas or winter scene.  It could be a gift for a friend or family member.  Christmas, Hanukkah, solstice, New Year's.  Knit, cross stitch, crochet, embroidery, sewn, quilted - if it's finished and reminds you of the holiday season, fill out the form on the Get Featured page, and get your piece shown in December!

Finish Friday - November 16 - Andrea

Today's second finish is mine!  This is a 15-sided biscornu, which I began in January of 2011.  I actually finished stitching the panels in April of this year, but I finally completed it this week.

This was inspired by Lesley at TinTockTap, and I used her finishing instructions.  But the panels are my design.  They're a little bit Quaker, and they use my favorite theme, playing with positive and negatives.  It's stitched on black 28-count Monaco with DMC threads, 2 over 1.

And here it is finished:

Finish Friday - November 16 - Chelle

First to be featured is Chelle of Life on the Domestic Front.

This is what Chelle said about this project - "It's cross stitched on 14 count aida fabric and is a little girl angel in a flower garden that is supposed to be heaven. I added the phrase "A beautiful angel plays in heaven's garden" and lots of tiny beads to make her shimmery in the light. It's the one finish I am most proud of. It is decorative and originally was intended as a gift for our friends, who lost their three year old daughter to cancer in 2010. I ended up keeping it because they are going through such a hard time and I didn't want to stir up more emotions. It's been awful watching what they have gone through and when I saw this piece, I just had to stitch it."

Thank you to Chelle for sharing this, and the story of this beautiful angel.

I Am Back - With Apologies

I never intended to disappear on anyone so long ago.  I've had some very trying personal things happen over the past few months.  While I'm not through it yet, I am now able to focus more on the things I enjoy.  I'm finding that working on my own projects and connecting with others in the stitching community is the best medicine.

If you submitted a finish a long time ago (April? May?) I still have that, and I'll be contacting you to see if you still want to be featured.  If you have any new finishes, I would love to get them scheduled.  I would really love to see some of your holiday finishes - whether for home decor or gifts.

I really am sorry if I let any of you down.  I know a few of you did a lot of work to promote this blog, and I greatly appreciate it.  I look forward to seeing all your work!

Finish Friday - April 13, 2012 - Rachel

Rachel submitted this beautiful finish:

Moonbeams & Stardust Witch - Stoney Creek Collection, 10/2007 Issue

Fabric - 32 ct Silkweaver Solo

Stitched 2 over 2 using DMC, Glissen Gloss Blending thread, Glissen Gloss Colorwash, Mill Hill Beads/Treasures

Rachel started this August 28, 2010 and finished in November 7, 2010.  So cute!

Finish Friday - April 13, 2012 - Julie

Here's another finish from Julie And Yes Dear:

Portrait of Christ by Sandy Orton, published by Praying Hands

PTP Chalice 28 count evenweave, DMC fibers

Here's what Julie says about her finish:

"Lots of blends in it (and for a bit, his face was very orange (Claudette said it looked like he had a bad spray on tan, giggle) but it looks better now) and frogged so much I almost put it away repeatedly.  It was cursed the whole time I was doing his face.  Put in ten stitches frog out five.  Put in twenty stitches, frog out ten.  Awful!!!  It was for my mom though, so I HAD to finish it."

Gorgeous, Julie! I think we've all had those kind of froggy projects!  Can anyone else relate?

Finish Friday - April 13, 2012 - Deborah

Thanks to Deborah for submitting a finish for this week!

Here's what Deborah says about her finish:

"I cross stitched Santa's 12 Days of Christmas by The Prairie Schooler, book #125.  I have only finished the 1st day of Christmas.  I plan to stitch all 12 on one piece of 28 ct mushroom evenweave, 2 over 2.  Each one is 3.5"x5", and the total finished size will be 12"x22".  This took me about two months, but I only stitch it on Sundays.

Beautiful, Deborah!  Can't wait to see the other 11!

Keep The Finishes Coming!

I love the submissions I'm seeing for this blog.  You are all so talented!  You've also been leaving very nice comments, thank you!

This week (tomorrow) there will be 3 Finishes featured.  Each person will have her own post - it makes it easy for me to schedule that way.  It's also easier for the contributors to find and link to their own posts, if they want.

Remember, to have your finish featured, simply fill out the form on the Get Featured page.  I'll review it and contact you when I'm ready to use it!

How To Add Text To An Image Using "Paint"

Hi everyone! I've had some questions from people on how to add text to their images - it's something I ask for all submissions so that you get full credit for the image.  Here are a couple of videos on how to do this with a Windows default program, Paint.

This program works well if you don't want to do any other editing to your photos (like cropping) - if all you need to do is add text so you can email it to me :D then this is the easiest method for you.

(Note: there are two videos because I forgot to include the instructions for saving at the end of the first video - if you already know how to "save as" you don't need to watch the second video.  Unless you really just like hearing my voice, then you can feel free to watch it.)

Finish Friday - April 6, 2012

Today's Finish Friday is one of mine!  Because I can, that's why!  And also to prove that all stitchy finishes are welcome!

A swaddling "sleep sack" I made for a shower gift:

Fiber - Caron Simply Soft in a Wedgewood blue (the label has disappeared) and Red Heart SuperSaver in "Aspen"

Crocheted in the round with half-double crochet and Crocodile stitch - with an "H" hook, I think

This is one of 2 fins that makes it a "fishy sleep sack"

I love the way this stitch looks on the back

This actually took me over 3 weeks to make, so I don't recommend something like this for a last-minute gift.  And it was just long enough that I couldn't take a picture of the whole thing without you seeing the rest of my messy desk. ;)

Thanks to everyone who has submitted finishes, I'll be going through those submissions this weekend and letting you know what else I need from you!

Welcome to the new followers!

Wow, 15 followers in the first week!  Welcome, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the first Finish Friday.  Are you thinking about a project you are close to finishing?  I know finishes always motivate me to put in a few extra stitches!

I'll be doing a couple of videos on how to add text to your pictures, because I know not everyone is familiar with that - I hope to have the first up by Tuesday (think of it as Tutorial Tuesday - I have a thing for alliteration).  I use more than one method, so I'll be showing you the different ways I do it.

If you have a finishing tutorial for any kind of stitchery that you are willing to share with the masses, let me know.  Let's make this a great resource and inspiration for stitchers everywhere to FINISH!

Finish Friday - March 30, 2012

Welcome to the first-ever Finish Friday!  A huge thank you to everyone for the visits so far!

This week, I'm featuring an ornament finish by a great stitcher, Julie and Yes Dear.

Candlelight, by Angel Stitching - 2008 JCS ornament issue
Stitched on 28-count white opalescent with DMC threads

Thanks, Julie, for submitting the first finish for Finish Friday!  It looks great, I love the sparkly fabric.  It makes it really special!

Now Collecting Finishes!

I've already had someone submit their finish for this blog - thank you!  I'm very excited to start posting finishes.

Just to be clear, if you have a blog (or website) and you give me that information, I will be linking back to you.  (There's a space for that information on the submission form.)  I'll e-mail you to ask for a photo, and verify that I have the URL correct for your site.

I'm also going to request that everyone who submits a finish put a watermark or text on their photo - I think the best is the URL of your blog or website.  That way you will continue to get credit (and maybe traffic) if the image is shared via Pinterest or other social networks.

Welcome to Finish Friday!

I can't believe there hasn't been a blog created to collect finishes from stitchers!  The goal of this blog is to celebrate all our finishes, small or big!  Whether you knit, crochet, cross stitch, embroider, sew, or any combination of the above you can share your finishes here.  Every Friday I'll share a collection of finishes.  I would also love to share finishing techniques.

If you have a finish you'd like to have featured, I've made it easy for you - click "Get Featured!" above, and fill out the form.  I'll contact you for a photo and let you know when your finish will be shown!