Sunday, July 29, 2012

BBD "Tis the Season"....


Christmas in July....

After my last finish a few weeks ago, this design
was just screaming in my bag "stitch me"!

BBD "Tis the Season"
Stitched on 40ct Purely Primitive
w/ Victorian Motto threads & DMC

I was very happy to oblige and mostly enjoyed
stitching it.  I changed all of the threads to
my choice of Victorian Motto and especially
love the look of the leaves and vine.

The contrast between the white thread and
the fabric is so slight the light stitching almost
looks tone on tone.   I am happy with it, though,
and now need to figure out if I want to frame it.


This had to be my favorite part since I
stitched it twice!  Counting seemed to be a big
issue and I seemed to rip as much as I stitched.



I also made a change by eliminating the verse and
replacing it with more snowflakes.   I did like it
with the verse but decided I wanted the design to
be a little more discreet with the Christmas feel.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I did take a week off from stitching for a little
vacation out west with hubby.  We had a great
time and I will have to share some sights later.

As always...thanks for visiting and I hope
you are staying cool and stitching!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Sweet RAK from Charlene...


I was surprised to see a small package
in the mail today.  My first thought....
OMG I forgot to mail an exchange.

I was relieved to see it was
from a stitching pal. 
Charlene (Needle in Hand) sent me
the sweetest pin cushion with
a strawberry emery...just because.


The color palette is so friendly don't you think?
Her finishing is perfect too with the blue chenille.

Perfect spot for my needles.
The perfect finishing touch...
this little strawberry emery.

I am lucky enough to stitch with Charlene
a few times throughout the year since
she is also a Carolinian. I consider
myself very lucky to be one of
her "sister stitchers"!

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Hope you are having a great stitching week. 
happy stitching....

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Peace and Plenty....


I had another good stitchy week and
I in love with this finish.

Homespun Elegance "Land of Peace & Plenty"
stitched on 40 ct Lakeside Linen
w/ DMC

Although this was designed in 1990, it has
certainly stood the test of time. The
color palette is just so soothing...
it was a joy to stitch.


Oh to be a swan floating in a lake....

Having grown accustom to stitching simpler
designs, it was a nice change to have so
much solid stitching. The repetitive
stitching of filling in the hills and house
was so relaxing after the work day.



There is another design featuring a colonial
couple but they will have to patiently
wait a little while longer to be stitched.


~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~ 

The title of this piece definitely makes me
think how thankful I should be.   I can't
imagine what the folks in Virginia have gone
through not having power in this heat!   
My heart definitely goes out to them
and reminds me to say thanks each day.

As always...thanks for visiting
and happy stitching!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Celebrating the 4th....


First, I have to say thanks for all of your wonderful
comments about my recent finishes.   I especially
am glad to see many of you also appreciate a great
tomato sandwich!  I wish I could package them
up and treat the rest of you.  Maybe one day....

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Now for the stitching.  I wanted to
share a couple of finishes I was
able to get done just in time for the
July 4th celebration!

HE "Patriotic Crow"

I wanted to do some finishing this weekend but
refused to get out the sewing machine so
anything I did had to be no sew.

I was able to put my Big Kick to work again and
used a square template to cut my stitched piece
and the scallop to cut my background.   Thanks
to my hubby for picking the fabric colors...
I think he did well!

Aury "Patriotic Heart 2011"

I finished this little box last year using
scrapbook paper in anticipation of using
it for this stitched heart.  It only took a
year to get it stitched!  So glad to add
this one to my americana collection.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I am also excited to show another
Crazy Challenge finish.

Goode Huswife "Three Crows"
stitched on coffee dyed 40ct linen
w/DMC

I have stitched this one off and on for 6 months
but just couldn't get into a groove with this one. 
I love this design so it was frustrating.  I decided
to pick it back up Sunday and it just fit like
an old glove!   I loved doing the satin stitch
even though it seemed to take forever. 

Unfortunately, I got off track and my border
didn't work out like the design so I had to
fudge a little on the right end.  Though my
crows aren't exactly centered, it will do!

I also had to do something about the fabric.  I
changed the called for colors to yellows and 
decided to use white linen.  Once done, it just
wasn't "right" so I gave it a nice, warm
coffee bath and that did the trick. 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

We have a very low key celebration planned for
the 4th and I hope it includes lots of stitching!