November update.....

Time has flown by again but I have been stitching.

Might want to grab a cup of coffee...

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I attended the Pals Stitching at the Beach in

mid-October and had just started this

BBD design.  I have had the design for

years in my stash and it hit me one day

that I had the perfect PTP fabric in my

stash and so a start was warranted.

I finished it at the retreat and can say

this one was a fun stitch. 

BBD "Sunflower House" stitched on

40ct PTP Dwarf linen with Victorian Motto threads

A few of my favorite elements from this design....

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

I decided to stitch another part of these

design and I will have to say it

seemed to take forever.

There aren't too many elements in this

design so I'm not sure why it was

such a slow stitch.

I still have the last part to stitch and

hope to finish before year end.

Heartstring Samplery "Proverbs 17:17" from

"Three Little Proverbs" stitched on 40ct PTP Wren with

Victorian Motto and recommended threads

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I found this old design in my stash.   

It was a very quick stitch and hopefully

I can get it finished before Christmas.

Drawn Thread "Peace" stitched on 32ct Summer Khaki

with Victorian Motto threads

I didn't realize this ornament was full of

specialty stitches until after I started but

will say they weren't that difficult.  My favorite

was this little corner stitch, the Boucle stitch,

and will file that away for future use.

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

I also stitched another in the

"A Most Notable Name"

series from Jeannette Douglass.   I just

love these quick stitches and only

have one left to complete.   I hope she

will continue this series with a few more. 

I love the sewing themed designs and hope

to have these finished into cross stitch

 project bags so I can enjoy them all of the time.

Jeannette Douglas Designs "Button Betty"

stitched on 40ct PTP Legacy with recommended threads

As is the norm, the design looked so much

better stitched than the model picture.

My favorite part was the little row of buttons. 

These will definitely be stitched again as

I add them to a future project.

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

Lastly, I stitched these

Hands On Designs Chalk ornaments.

I just love these on this PTP fabric

but will say they were are difficult

without good lighting. 

Hands On Designs "Peace"

2015 JCS Ornament Issue

stitched on 32ct PTP Shadow with

Victorian Motto threads

The only thing I wasn't too happy with

was the white stitches.

I always find the white DMC difficult

to stitch as my stitches done seem to lay flat.

I do love the results though.

 Hands On Designs "Plenty"

2015 JCS Ornament Issue

stitched on 32ct PTP Shadow with

Victorian Motto threads

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

If you made it this far...thanks for visiting.

Hope you have enjoying some good

stitching time during this holiday

season.  Happy stitching...

Stitched goodies....

 

I'm back.   I make a promise to myself

each time I do a blog post that I will not

wait so long until the next one. 

Amazing how time flies.....

 

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

 

I first want to say I have time to write

this blog today

due to my office being closed.

We experienced horrific flooding over

 the weekend in South Carolina

thanks to Joaquin.  The devastation

we have seen in our city has been unbelievable

and the flooding continues due to

dam breaches.  Please say a prayer for

all of these families.  We made it through

Hugo and know we will make it

through this too. 

 

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

 

Just a few goodies to share.

I knew as soon as I finished this one that

I wouldn't wait to have it framed.

I still love it and have to say it is still

one of my favorite stitches.

 

By The Bay "Thirteenth Colony Parts 1,2 & 3"

 

I always gravitate to this molding

and thought it fit this piece beautifully.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

August turned to be a good month to finish

up some long lingering WIPS.

 

I started this piece back in 2012 as part

of the Crazy January Challenge.

I have picked it up several times over

the years but it just felt like a chore to stitch.

 

Plum Street Samplers "Halloween Hornbook"

Stitched on Lakeside Linen 35ct Parchment

w/Victorian Motto threads

 

I still don't know why I had such as

hard time with this one but I am so happy

I stuck with it and finished in time

for this Halloween.  Hopefully I can

get my gumption up to get it finished

before month end.

 

I am guessing these are some type of

morbid peacock and I just love

this one with the witch's hat.

 

I dove back into my pile of WIPS

and pulled this one out.

This was a freebie that I had miscounted

and just lost my steam.



Freebie--"Pear XII--Swan Song"

from Samplers and Santas Blog

 



I think I still have a couple more of

these to stitch.  I can say that I was glad to

finish this one and add it to my collection.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Well...if you made it this far, thanks for

visiting my small place in the universe.

 

I hope you are having a great stitching month.

Happy stitching.... 

Flosstube....

 

My. new. addiction.

 

Flosstube.

 

I can't even recall how I discovered Flosstube

but I have been watching for a few months now

and I am amazed how addicting it is.

Are you familiar with Flosstube?

In a nutshell it is stitchers making videos

talking about and showing their WIPS,

hauls, FFO's, UFOS.......

it is just fascinating!

 

I have been wondering for weeks why I find this

so interesting.  It is just another social media

outlet for stitchers to share.  I know Facebook

groups seem to be all the rage now but it

isn't my thing.  Like many I too find

Instagram the easiest way

to share my stitching and finishes.

 

Flosstube (a.k.a Youtube) is different. 

Although I don't know

any of the Flosstubers, I find it a nice distraction

at night while stitching.  It is almost like

having someone sitting with me as

I stitch and talking about stitching.

Granted it is a one-way conversation

it is amazing how much you can learn about

a person you have never met.  Even now

as I write this it still boggles my mind

why I like it so much.

 

I have learned a lot about myself too

from Flosstube.

 

I am very judgmental.

As Flosstubers share their stash and haul,

I often roll my eyes commenting that they

will never stitch all they have accumulated.

I know they will never stitch all they

have in this lifetime.

 

I am a hypocrite.

As I judge others about their stash

and inability to stitch it all in this lifetime,

I continuously add to my voluminous

stash that I will never stitch

 in two lifetimes. Bless my heart!

 

I obviously don't know the most

popular designers.

This could be a drinking game as you watch a

video.  It is almost with certainly that you will

find a flosstuber stitch at least one if not all

of these designs/designers:

 

HAED

Mirabilia

Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery Storytime Sampler

Box of Delights

Save the Stitches

Twisted Band Sampler

Rainbow Band Sampler

 

If you are unfamiliar with any of these

designers or designs, head on over to

Flosstube and you will soon be educated.

 

I am amazed that I don't find more Flosstubers

showing designers and designs that I

like to stitch.  I guess that is one reason

I am so amazed at my fascination.

I may see the occasional Lizzie Kate but

surprised you don't see a lot Blackbird

Designs or Plum Street Samplers to

name a few being stitched.

Even though I have no interest in these

particular types of designs, I still have this

feeling I am missing out....am I?????

 

Great source for new techniques/designers/supplies.

I have gotten some great tips and techniques

to make stitching easier.  I love exploring

new to me designers, fabrics, threads

and other stitching accessories. 

 

I am motivated to stitch.

Although I will never join the Flosstube

community, I do find it motivating and

have noticed my stitching during the

week has picked up considerably.

I found it a chore to stitch after work but

there is something relaxing about stitching as

I listen to others talk about their stitching.

I will take it...any stitching is good.

 

So....if you haven't checked out Flosstube,

give it a try.  I do warn you, though,

that it can be addictive.

 

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

 

I do have some stitching to share...

told you I was motivated!

 

I just love the A Most Suitable Name series

from Jeannette Douglas Designs. 

This is my fourth finish and I still have four

more to go and hope to start another this month.

 

Jeannette Douglas Designs "Alphabet Annie"

from A Most Suitable Name series

stitched on 40ct PTP Legacy with recommended thread

 

 

I love the little motifs on this one and

would be cute on a little pincushion.

 

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

 

I decided late Friday night to get a start on

Heartstring Samplery's Three Little Proverbs,

which has been kitted since last year.  

There are three designs and I decided to

put in a few stitches on the first one in hopes

I could stitch on it this upcoming week.

 

 

Heartstring Samplery "Proverbs 15:1"

from Three Little Proverbs

stitched on 40ct PTP Wren with Victorian Motto,

WDW and Sampler threads

 

Not sure how this happened but I couldn't stop

and put in the last stitch this afternoon.

 

 

I don't know what it was about this design

but I couldn't put it down. I just love all of

the little motifs and the color combos

are just so pretty and pleasing.

 

I love the message also and am anxious

to move on to the next one.

 

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

Well...if you stayed with me this long,

thanks for visiting my small corner

of the web.  Happy stitching.....

By The Bay "Thirteenth Colony"....

 

So excited to share this finish.....

 

By the Bay's "Thirteenth Colony"

parts 1,2 & 3 stitched as one.

 

I started this one back in early 2013 and I

can remember then the feeling that it

would take forever to stitch this.

I stitched on it here and there as the

mood hit me but something clicked

last month to get this one finished.

 

By The Bay "Thirteenth Colony"

Parts 1, 2 & 3

Stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen with recommended DMC

 

I decided I really wanted to finish this one

by the end of the month and with only had

Part 1 left to stitch it was definitely doable.  

Of course, I completely lost interest in stitching

it after making that decision.  Figures....

 

I made myself trudge on and, after some

marathon stitching the last few days, I put

the last stitch in this afternoon.

By the Bay "Thirteenth Colony Part 1"

I started in the lower right corner so I basically

stitched it "backwards" from right to left. 

Part 1 was the last one for me to stitch. 

 

Love the little sheep and houses.

By the Bay "Thirteenth Colony Part 2"

Love the trees in this one....

they reminded me of butter beans.

By the Bay "Thirteenth Colony Part 3"

 

This huge weeping willow took

forever.....

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Two of my favorite parts of the piece...

love this little island....

 

Love the little house with sheep.....

 

I did joke with hubby that this one had on

specialty thread in it....

"Hair of Black Cat"

.... especially the last part.

My cat couldn't resist sitting in my lap

while stitching so I spent a lot of time

pulling out little strands of cat hair. 

Guess it could have been worse.

 

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

 

Thanks for visiting and hope you are having

a great stitching weekend. 

Now I am off to find something

small to stitch.....

 

Red, White and Blue finish....





I decided to start Plum Street's

My Dearest Friend

but wanted to change the colors

to coordinate with some other

PSS stitched pieces.

 



 

Here is the original design.  It all started

with the flags and  I decided

to change the colors to be more realistic.

(FYI...there noses look so funny to me.)

 

 

After that it only seemed natural make it

more red, white and blue.



Plum Street Samplers "My Dearest Friend"

stitched on Lakeside Linen 40ct with DMC

I did omit the urn with flowers at the bottom

and I am happy with it.  This will definitely

be in the next framing trip.

 

Love this little horse stitched over one and

the small pop of Americana on the barn.

 

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

 

Thanks for all of your nice comments

on my framed goodies.  Well I'm off

to start something new to add to

the frame pile.  Next up is

"Wool Willi" from Jeannette Douglas'

A Most Notable Name Series.

Happy stitching...   

Framed goodies....

 

I always look forward to my birthday

since I treat myself to framing

some of my stitched goodies!

 

Deciding on what to frame is always

the most difficult part and I am

very happy with this year's selection.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

 

BBD "Bee Skep"

(Sorry for the horrible picture!)

 

 

 

CHS "Her Sampler"

 

 

Goode Huswife "Peacock Sampler"

(Not a good picture of this fabulous design.)

 

 

Sunflower Samplings "You May Delay"

 

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

 

I am off to stitch.  I'm working on Plum

Street Samplers' "My Dearest Friend" and

am so close to a finish.  Happy stitching!

Catching up....

 

Once again I have let time slip

away and not kept up with my blog.

I have been busy stitching and am

spending more time on Instagram.  

It is so much easier to quickly post

a pic and quick comment.

 

 

I finally overcame my laziness

and are a few finishes.

 

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

 

I picked up these designs at the

Pals Stitching Retreat back in the fall.

I just love these little designs.

 

Summer House Stitche Workes

"Fragments in Time" series

stitched on 40 ct. PTP Earthen

w/ Victorian Motto threads

 

My goal was to finish in the hoops,

as the models were framed, but I

didn't leave enough room on

the first one.    If I can find the

right frame or frames, I hope

to frame together.

 

 

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

 

I have loved the "A Most Notable Name"

series from Jeannette Douglas Designs

since they first came out.

 

I have them all kitted and finally

finished two....

 

"Prim Penny" stitched on 40ct PTP

with recommended threads

"Modest Mildred" stitched on 40ct PTP

with recommended threads

 

I hope to stitch two more in the next month.

 

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

 

I have had this kitted for two

years and decided to stitch another

of  these small designs from

With Thy Needle & Thread...

 

 

"Friendship Samplers" stitched on 32ct. coffee dyed linen

with DMC

 

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

 

I always have a Lizzie Kate to take

on road trips since they are

so easy to stitch.  It has been travelling

since the end of 2013 and I finally

just decided to finish it.

 

Lizzie Kate "Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle"

stitched on 14ct. mushroom Aida w/ DMC

 

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

 

Lastly, I have had this kitted for some

time and hope to display on my

"Colonial Stitches" wall  one day.

 

 

Plum Street Samplers "Be My Love 1759"

stitched on 40ct. Lakeside linen w/DMC

 

I did change the colors to coordinate

with two other stitches that I will

display together.  I just love this

one and have its companion,

"Pretty Pleasures", ready to go.

 

My interest in stitching colonial themed

pieces as been spurred by hubby

who is involved in a living history

internship this summer. He is loving it

and spends his weekends immersed

in the 1750's at Historic Brattonsville.

 

His most recent endeavor was in the kitchen

preparing a meal in an open hearth.

 

My wild Colonial boy....

 

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

 

If you made it this far, I promise to

be back soon with pics of some

recently framed goodies.  

 

Happy stitching....

 



Happy New Year.....

 

......and one month!

  

Can't believe it has taken me this long to post.

 I have been busy stitching in the new

year but no pics to post yet.

 

 ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~ 

I did want to share an exchange I recently

received from Cucki.  I participated in the
Fair & Square "Nature" exchange back in
the fall.  Due to a postal strike in Cucki's
country, our squares were delayed in
arriving.  It was a nice surprise right
before Christmas to receive my package.

 

 

F&S Nature Exchange

from Cucki

 

The design is so my taste and I hope to

finish these into a great little pin pillow.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~    *   ~

 

While I was looking through my photos

from the fall I found this finish I never shared.

 

WTNT "Hilda's Alphabet Brew"

stitched on 40ct PTP Doubloon

w/ Victorian Motto

 

I actually finished this at the Pals Stitching

at the Beach Retreat back in October.   

I decided I wanted to try something new and

make a small quilted wall hanging.

 

 

I have had this scrapbook page display

holder for about year and thought this

would make the perfect base.

A little black spray paint and my

finish looks like this... 

 

Can't wait until next Halloween...

 

The little hooks didn't work with my tabs

so I compromised with a dowel accented

with decorative caps.  I actually like this

better.   I will have to say this really tested

my math skills but I was happy with my

first attempt.  I think I am hooked, though,

so I will definitely do this again. 

 

 ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Hopefully I will be back soon with some

more finishes for Valentines.

Thanks for visiting and happy stitching!