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!

Throwback Thursday....

While going through "The Bin"

(the place unframed finishes live),

I found a couple of vintage finishes languishing

on the very bottom.  Time to bring them

back to life (at least briefly) on my blog.

My oldest.....

I still have this book but am too lazy to look for it!

Good old ivory 14ct. w/ DMC

Circa early 1980's

This was probably my first "big" project when

I started stitching.  I was definitely a teenager

when I started stitching it...maybe 15 or 16. 

My grand plans were to finish it as a wallhanging

 but it was not mean't to be. 

 

I remember the design had two colorways...

pink or yellow. I picked yellow to match

my teenage room... too bad it never

made it to the wall.

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

Another oldie...

D Morgan "Home Again"

Stitched on 14ct w/ DMC

Circa early 1990's

I stitched this one in the early 1990's during

my lunch hour watching the Young & Restless. 

I just knew this would hang in my house

someday.   Not sure why I liked this one so much,

but needless to say, it has never seen my house!

My favorite memory of this one involves the

original chart, which I still have.   I used to

drink Slim-Fast for lunch

(back in the good days when it was a powder and you had to mix it in the blender).  

I left my container in my car one day and the

southern heat caused pressure to blow the top off

and spitting my remnants all over my chart,

which was laying on the seat.  

Thank goodness my stitching was spared!

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

And even older....

P Buckley Moss "Sisters"

Stitched on 18ct aida w/DMC

Circa mid 1980's

I know I stitched this one in my teenage years and

only remember it seemed to take forever to

finish.  Pretty sure it was all of the half stitches

on18ct aida as well as the backstitching.

This was to be the first of many P Buckley Moss

designs I planned to stitch. I love her style. 

Unfortunately, it was the only one.

I still like this one.

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

And lastly...

I still have this book too but am too lazy to look for it.

Stitched on 14ct aida w/DMC

1990

It is easy to see this one was stitch in 1990.  

Yes...it the proverbial "country" design that I

know we all have in our stash as well as finishes.

I do still like it, though, with the bright red

and greens of the melons

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

Psst....I have a confession!

I used masking tape on my edges when I first

started stitching.  I can only imagine that I read

that somewhere because I can't imagine I

would think to do that at 15.

Yes....it has been stored that way all of these years

and I just tooked it off.   Sigh...I know.

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

Well....how many of these have you stitched???

Thanks for visiting and happy stitching!

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! 

Pretty little things....

I decided Mother's Day weekend to take a

break from my Nantucket Sampler....

actually the dang border.  

I plummaged through my stash and came up

with some smalls to take my mind off the other.

First up a little Blackbird Designs......

BBD "Remember Me"

stitched on 35ct WDW Straw

w/ Victorian Motto hand-dyed thread

I recently ordered a lavender thread pack from

Nancy and just loved this soft toned thread.  I

think it makes the perfect complement to

the golden linen.   This one makes the 

perfect pin pillow.

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

La D Da was next up on the hoop....

La D Da "Count Your Blessings"

stitched on 30ct WDW Mocha

w/recommended DMC

I saw this one being stitched in action at Pals this

past October and it looked so much better

in person.  Not sure why it took so long to stitch

this one but am happy I finally got around to it.

Another little pillow to remind me each

day of this wonderful sentiment.

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

While looking for some Americana designs

to stitch last week, I came across this

one and decided I just had to stitch it next. 

BBD "Morning Star"

Stitched on mystery 40ct linen

w/DMC

This is the sweetest design.  I love the colors

in this one and almost hated to see it end.

 

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

My little helper....Pork Chop

I'm so lucky to have help when staging my photos.

For those you enjoying the Memorial Day
weekend, I hope it is a good one.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you

have a great stitchy week!

Nantucket Sampler....

I had a good stitchy weekend and finished

up another Crazy Challenge piece.

Elizabeth's Garden "Nantucket Sampler"

stitched on 40ct khaki linen

w/DMC

This turned out to be a great little sampler

to stitch.   The finished size is only 6" x 3"

but this little sampler packs alot in it.   Although

I used DMC, the subtle thread changes in some

areas almost gives it an overdyed look.  I did give

my finish a little coffee soak to help tone

down the ecru border just a bit.

I love this little scene with the red house and

ship.  The bird and peacock are a little on the

large side but seem to make the sampler complete.

This design has been languishing in my basket

for many years and I am very happy it is stitched.

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

With summer fast approaching, I hope to sneak

in a few little Americana smalls.   As always....

thanks for visiting and happy stitching!

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....

Look what I got.....

I was lucky enough to win Angela's blog

giveaway and the mailman was nice

enough to deliver it today!

Having exchanged a few times with Angela,

I knew this box would be finished to perfection. 

And it is.

This one is an extra special treat since  

Angela's mom stitched the design and

Angela did the finishing. 

I have two stitching spots and I always have to

haul my scissors, readers, needles, etc. from

one spot to another.   This perfect for all of my

accessories in my downstairs spot so that I

just have to pick up my stitching and go.

Thanks again Angela....this will be a treasure.

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

If the road to you know where is paved

with good intentions, I am driving the bus.

I had good intentions in starting Colonial Garden

but found myself in a quandry.   Although I

love it on the dark linen, I was leaning

toward stitching the lighter version. 

Since I can't make up my mind, I decided to

pull out another Crazy Challenge piece. 

Elizabeth's Garden "Nantucket Sampler"

I was still in the seafaring mood so I decided to

stitch on this until I figure out my linen dilemma.

I love the design but am iffy on the border.   The

white is just too "white" so I think I will give

it a tea bath once done to tone it down a bit. 

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

Well I'm off to stitch....thanks again for visiting.

Hope you are having a stitchy week.

Throwback Thursday....

Thank you so much for your wonderful

comments on my previous posts.... 

they really do make my day!

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

While visiting my mom awhile ago, I really

took note of how many stitched treasures

(her eyes rolling) 

of mine that grace her walls.  It got me

thinking about how I wish I could have started

this blog many years earlier.   Well... actually

I guess I was "blogging" on paper....

My stitching journals

Like many of you, I kept a "journal" of sorts in
a yearly calendar documenting my stitching days.

  My "blog" posts

I love my blog.....

just for the fact it is now my "stitching

journal".  I can look back over the last few years

and see what I was stitching and I am surprised

how I can remember what was happening in my

life at that time.   I've been toying with the idea

of sprinkling stitched pieces from the past so I

could enjoy them on my blog and decided there
was no time like the present to start.

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

In keeping with the seafaring theme this week,

here is one of my favorite finishes from 2000.

The Need'l Love Company

"Ship of Life"

Started: 1-16-00 Finished: 4-9-00

I remember I originally started this one on 14 ct

cream aida......don't ask me what I was thinking.  

After stitching a little of the wave, I quickly

realized this just wasn't right.   I restarted on

32 ct. linen with DMC.   At the time, this was

a very different stitch for me....this was my

first sampler of sorts.  I am so glad  I

stitched this on linen and stuck with it.

To this day, I still love this piece.

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

BD "The Lighthouse"

Stitched 1999

I just loved the older Bent Creek designs and

probably have most of them between 1998

and 2006.  I especially liked the Word Samplers

and this is one of my favorites.   I attended one

of the now defunct cross stitch festivals where I

was able to pick up the frame.    I didn't have a

LNS and remember being in awe of all the

cross stitch "stuff" available to buy.  O how the

world has changed thanks to the wonderful web!

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

If you made it this far, thanks for visiting.  

I would love to know if anyone

else has these stitched and on their blog.