Tis the season....

The Christmas season is upon us as we

begin the wave goodbye to fall.

I had a pretty good stitchy autumn since

last we spoke.

October's installment of the

Prairie Schooler Alphabet

was a mermaid.

Prairie Schooler "M is for Mermaid"

stitched on 40ct linen with DMC

Honestly I was not looking forward to

this block due to the large

chunks of color.  I was surprised to

find the blues and greens were a

nice change of pace from 3371. 

This is one of my favorites thus far.

Yes...November is over and I should

have the next installment, N is for Nest,

finished but I am can't find my

motivation to stitch finish it. 

Good thing about being an adult is

I can stitch a little bit at a time

until it is done.  My goal is to finish

N and O is for Owl by December's end.

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

A favorite finish in the month of October

was Heartstring Samplery "Proverbs 8:11".

This is a three-part series and I stitched

the other two parts in 2015 and decided I

really wanted to finish this one this year also.

 

Heartstring Samplery "Proverbs 8:11"

stitched on PTP 40ct Legacy with recommended hand-dyed threads

I loved this series from the first time I saw

them not only for the messages but for

the softness and beauty of the designs.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I decided to throw in two more Christmas ornaments too.

Summer House Stitche Workes "Barn Star Ornaments"

stitched on PTP 40ct Ale with Victorian Motto Red and WDW Bark

I love these little ornaments and hope

to finish as bowl fillers.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Who doesn't love Lizzie Kate and I was

gobsmacked as soon as I saw her

"String" snippets.  Is this not the cutest?

Lizzie Kate "Merry String"

stitched on 28ct over one with DMC

I wanted to one to be small for an ornament

and I envisioned this one to be in a drum fashion. 

It turned out to be the size of a

Christmas tree ball which was perfect.

Oh my.... cuteness overload!

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

As Thanksgiving neared I couldn't

resist these two cute designs any longer.

Homespun Elegance "Turkey Tyme"

stitched on 40ct mystery linen with recommended threads

Lizzie Kate "Sampling Thanksgiving"

stitched on WDW 30ct Straw with my own thread conversion

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Holding on to fall a little longer, I stitched

this Blackbird Design from last year. 

 BBD "Bittersweet September"

stitched on 40ct mystery linen with Victorian Motto threads

I just love the burst of orange on this

design....the over one stitching

for the alphabet not so much.

My friend Charlene shared a tip to

use a #10 beading needle for the over

one and I will say it did go a lot quicker.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Thanks for visiting today and

happy stitches....

Framed goodies.....

 

It's a birthday tradition of mine to treat

myself and frame some of my stitched goodies.

Love this year's lucky ones.

 

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

 

Threadwork Primitives "Bee's Gathering"

 

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

BBD "Autumn Silhouette"

 

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

BBD "It's Berry Time"

 

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

 

 HE "Land of Peace & Plenty"

 

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

Plum Street Samplers "Colonial Garden"

 

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

 

Thanks for visiting!  

I am off to stitch and hope to be back

soon with another finish.

 

Hope you have a great week and happy stitching.



Out with the old....

 

I am happy to start with a clean slate

this year but wanted share the

last of my 2013 finishes.

 

Summer House "Simple Abundance"

Kit from 2013 Pals Retreat

 

A new to me designer, Summer House, was at the

Pals Retreat this year.   I really liked her designs

and came home with a bag full including this

cute little exclusive retreat kit.  I stitched the

end of October during a football road trip

and forgot about it until rummaging

through my finishing pile.

 

 It is destined to become a pinkeep.  

 

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

 

Homespun Elegance "Majestic Bird"

stitched on 32ct coffee dyed linen

w/ Victorian Motto threads

 

I found time to sneak in another ornament

finish while travelling for Christmas celebrations. 

 

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

 

After taking stock of what was languishing

in my stitching bag, I do what any

stitcher would do and start something new!

Threadwork Primitives "Merry Winter"

stitched on 40ct coffee dyed linen

w/ Victorian Motto threads

 

So cute....can't decide if I will finish as a box.

 

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

 

I want to document what is so patiently

waiting in my stitching bag.

Hopefully this time next year I can look

and relish them as finished.

 

Threads of Gold "Shining Star" ornament

CHS "Matter's Choice"

Dames of the Needle"Ode to Mary"

Plum Street "Halloween Hornbook Sampler"

 

Not worth a picture:

LHN "Thirteen Colonies"

With Thy Needle "Snow Day"

 

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

 

I am off to start Scarlett House's "Ann Topley".

Thanks for visiting and I do hope you

have a great stitching year!

Where has time gone...

 

I can't believe it has been 2 months since

my last post.    Work has been consuming

my life but I think the worst may be

over so I can make more time to stitch. 

I do have two small finishes to share.

 

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

I joined the Spring Seasonal Exchange

and stitched this for Laura.

HE "Bird N Blossoms" Pin Cushion

Stitched on 32ct. w/ DMC

 

Such a cute design and think I need

to stitch again for me!

 

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

 

Another co-worker retired ...the fourth in a year....

so I wanted to make a little momento

to celebrate the occasion

 

LK "When We Do"

Stitched on 32 ct. w/Victorian Motto

 

This sweet design was suited her perfectly.  

Another one I need to stitch from myself!

 

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

 

I have been able to sneak a few stitches here

and there on some small designs.  Since

I have a free day on Sunday, finishing

will be on the to do list!

 

As far as stitching, June was sweet enough

to share this darling design after she

finished it.  Isn't it cute? I hope to put the

beginning stitches in to it tonight.

 

Hope you have a nice quiet stitchy weekend!



Welcoming spring...

 

Spring is starting to make an appearance
here in South Carolina evidenced by the fine
yellow haze outside.  The tell-tale signs, though,
are the sneezing, stuffiness, and puffy eyes

.....oh how I strongly dislike spring!

 

But I do love spring stitching and was happy
to find this in my mailbox from Dawn 
for the Spring Seasonal Exchange.

 

The sweet little design is just perfect and

I love  the "happy" fabric Dawn used. 

It is now taking up residence where my

snow people formerly resided and I am

glad to enjoy for a few months!

 

 

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

 

I have been stitching on two of my large

projects the past few weeks but I did take

some time this week to stitch up

a gift for a retiring coworker.

 

Homespun Elegance "Friendship & Blossoms"

stitched on 40ct. coffee dyed linen w/ overdyed threads

 

I just love this design and it turned out so cute

stitched on the smaller count.  I really

enjoyed working with Sharon these

past few years and hope this will make

a nice reminder of our friendship

while she relaxes the day away !

 

 Great use of my Spellbinder scallop heart die!

I have started keeping my scraps of linen
"just in case" I can think of a use for them
and decided to make a little heart tag
 for the back.   After stitched, I used one
of my dies to cut out the scalloped heart.   I
love how it turned out and will now be
hoarding all of those scraps!
 

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

I do hope everyone had a great Easter weekend
with family and friends.   As always,
thanks for visiting and happy stitching!

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!

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!



Halloween in July....

First, I must say I just enjoyed my first

tomato sandwich of the summer.

It was the perfect tomato sandwich.

What makes it perfect?

Sunbeam Old Fashioned white bread

(yes...it has to be Sunbeam & it has to be fresh)

John's Island tomatoes

(from the SC Lowcountry...they are the best)

Duke's mayo

(yes....it has to be Dukes)

Think I will enjoy another as soon

as I finish this post!

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

Okay...back to stitching.  I have another

Crazy Challenge finish...lucky number 7!

Primitive Needle "Kindred Spirits"

stitched on 35ct. WDW parchment

w/CC & Victorian Motto

Everybody needs a little halloween in their June!

This little design was so deceiving!  I thought

I could knock it out in a day or two but it took

me over a week to get it finished. 

(Maybe too much t.v. watching and not enough stitching!)

Now I just have to figure out what to do with it....

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

My time before has been preoccupied

with this little beauty and I thought I would

share a progress pic.  

Homespun Elegance "Peace & Plenty"

stitched on 40ct mystery fabric

w/ DMC

I just love the colors in this one and can't

wait to get back to it.  I have decided to use the

same color scheme for Plum Street Samplers

Colonial Garden since I think they will

really complement each other.

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

I have also recently acquired some new

goodies though it is bittersweet.

I was sad to learn that Counted Stitches, one

of my favorite shops, was closing the end

of June.  They were so sweet to deal with

and I will definitely miss my annual trip

for their Christmas Sale.

Hubby & I had a trip planned a few Saturdays

ago so he was persuaded to take a small detour

so that I could visit with them one last time.

Their sale started at 35% off so I couldn't resist! 

(I think I am set for life with HE brass buttons.)

My diginity will not allow me show the full

haul but here is just a glimpse.  

(I did some serious damage.)

I also got some goodies from Jill who was nice

enough to share some of her hand-dyed threads.

I just love pink & brown and I hope to put

them to good use very soon!

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

Well I won't bore you with comments on how

hot it is here in SC since you are probably just

as hot if you are in the good ol' USA.  

Perfect stitching weather, though, so I

am off to see what trouble I can find.

As always....thanks for visiting

and stay cool!

My busy needle....

My needle has been busy this past
week stitching smalls.

Aury "Patriotic Heart 2011"

stitched on 40ct khaki w/

WDW & Victorian Motto

Finally got around to stitching this freebie and

hope to finish into a box top.

Threadwork Primitives "Happy 4th"

stitched on 32ct LL Navy Bean

w/Victorian Motto and WDW

Another great design from Nan.  I did 

make a little change in the berries.

Homespun Elegance "Crow Patriotic"

stitched on 32ct LL Navy Bean

w/WDW

Just love the crow and flag!

Homespun Elegance "Summer Fun"

stitched on 32ct LL Navy Bean

w/ WDW

I love this little sheep... so much fun to stitch.

Homespun Elegance "Summer Patches #4"

stitched on 32ct LL Navy Bean

w/ WDW

Just had to stitch this one for my little buddy!

Homespun Elegance "Summer Patch #3"

stitched on 32ct LL Navy Bean

w/WDW

Nothing says summer like sunflowers and watermelon.

HIH "Summer Bird"

stitched on 32ct LL Navy Bean

w/WDW & Sampler Threads

I still need to sew the little bee button on but

love this little birdie too!

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

Now I just have to figure out the

finishing on some of these

... hmmm...

think I will stew on it a little longer.

I think I have had my fill of smalls for now. 

Off to see what I can get my needle into next.

Thanks for visiting! 

Homespun Elegance goodies....

May has been a lucky month!

One of my favorite blogs is

Plain & Fancy Merchant 

(Homespun Elegance)

and she was celebrating her 500 followers

with a great giveaway and sale!    Lucky me won

her giveaway and look at the goodies I got....

I have a large collection of Homespun Elegance

but was delighted that I had none of these!

Sandra also included these goodies.  

The little sheep is just precious.

   As soon as I saw the bookmark design, I

immediately recognized it.  I have had the

Sheltering Tree in the my basket for a very

long time.   I think this is a sign that it is time

stitch it!  If you haven't checked

Homespun Elegance's blog, please do...

she always has some great offerings.

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

 Evidenced by the abundance of HE designs

I own, Sandra has always been one of my

favorite designers.   The "colonial" feel to her

designs is timeless.   To extend the celebration

on her blog, she offered a very generous sale

on her designs so I seized the opportunity 

to add to my collection. 

Land of Peace & Plenty

This has to be one of all time favorites.

Originally published in 1990, Sandra decided to

reprint some of her OOP designs and this one

is now available.   This one is timeless to me and

I can't wait to get it stitched.   I think it has also

 helped me decide on the fabric choice for

Plum Street's Colonial Garden.  

You will just have to wait and see!

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

I have been busy stitching so I will be

back soon with some finishes.

Hope you have a great stitchy day....