Memorial Weekend

In the spirit of this weekend, I decided to stitch up this little patriotic piece. And I just happened to have a frame in my stash that worked. A very fun and fairly quick stitch.

Glory House
Chessie & Me

36ct. Antique White linen

DMC's I chose

Date started stitching: 5/26/12

Date finished stitching: 5/27/12

Date finishing complete: 5/27/12

Staci, wthe daughter of my good friend, Shari, who passed away 3 years ago from breast cancer, is getting married in July. I attended her bridal shower last weekend and found out that her wedding colors are pink and camouflage. A little different but it is fun to be different. I had already decided to stitch Bent Creek's Wedding Row for her and it would work great to stitch them in her colors. I decided to start it earlier in the week so I could have it done when a framing coupon came out. I finished it on Friday.

I made my own camouflage thread by dyeing a brown DMC variegated in Apple Green. It turned out perfect and I love how the sampler turned out. I think they will love it!!!


Well, I am going to go get another project to work on. I hope everyone is having a great weekend and getting lots of stitchy time in.


JillMN

More to Share...

While browsing the blogs one day, I came across a very cute Peacock freebie from SAMPLERS and SANTAS. I decided to stitch one up for myself. My stitching friend, Chris (no blog), gave me these really cute little frames so I thought I would do it 1 over 1.

Needlekeep
Samplers and Santa
30ct. Antique White Linen (1 over 1)
DMC as charted
Date started stitching: 3/19/2012
Date finished stitching: 3/20/2012
Date finishing completed: 3/20/2012

This turned out soooo cute! I added some narrow lace at the bottom to balance out the sides within the frame. I even added this to my new blog header. Thank you Samplers and Santa!


I discovered that I am in need of some "spring" kind of pieces so I pulled an Easter Sampler out of my stash.

Easter Sampler
Heart in Hand
32 ct. Summer Khaki Linen
GA Maple Syrup & DMC's as charted
Date started stitching: 3/21/2012
Date finished stitching: 3/22/2012
Date finishing completed: 3/22/2012

I love this too! Oops, I forgot to sew on the buttons so I had to glue them on, oh well. Very fun!


I had stitched my Spring and Summer rows from Bent Creek a couple of months ago. I put them together JUST in time for spring!




These are back to back just like I did my Fall and Winter Rows.


I am going to start something new today after I run a couple of errands.

Thanks for visiting and all the wonderful comments. I appreciate it!

Have a great weekend!

JillMN

Red Stuff

I heard that Becky K. received my red exchange for the FTT Stitch Red. Here is what I sent her.

Winter's Night Drum

Blackbird Designs
32ct. Antique White Belfast
DMC #115
Date Started Stitching: 1/26/2012
Date Finished Stitching: 1/28/2012
Date Finishing Completed: 1/30/2012

This was very fun, a little putzy on the finishing but worth it. It said to fill with sawdust, but who has sawdust laying around? I used crushed walnuts.


Keeping with the "red" theme, I started a new project this past week. I probably should have joined that group this year that you just keep starting new projects! Anyway, it is the Bent Creek Red Thread Snappers. A very trustworthy blogger friend and I switched patterns for 1 very large project. I am going to try and do 1 square a week. We will see. Here is my first week.


This should be alot of fun and I can't wait to see it all come together.


That's all I got for now. Have a great Sunday!

Happy Stitching :)

JillMN

What I've Been Up To

It's been awhile since I posted so I thought I had better catch up.

After surviving my retreat, I figured I better finish up my Bent Creek Rows since I only had 1 left, Summer.

Summer Row
Bent Creek
32ct. remnant
DMC as charted
Date started stitching: 1/23/2012
Date finished stitching: 11/26/2012

This will be finished together with Spring Row just like I did the Autumn and Winter Row.



My progress is continuing on Carriage House Samplings Alphabet. I said I would work on this on Sundays, which I do, but am doing just 1 square a week.


This is still very fun to do and am very excited for the additional 24 new colors of DMC Variations that are coming out. That will make 60 colors...maybe I can use a different color for each letter!


And, just this past week, I started a new project. I have been wanting to do one of these 15-sided biscornus for quite some time. This is a free pattern by Gitta's Designs. I am not very far but here it is.


These square stitch up quite quickly so hopefully this won't take too long.



Today I had a great stitch day with my good friend, MamaJoan. When I got home, I had a couple of nice surprises in the mail.

First, I received my Friends Through Threads Stitch Red Exchange. Marie was my partner and she never dissappoints anyone.


She says this was a free pattern from Casa Mia back in 2007. It is stitched 1 over 1 on 40ct. linen! Beautiful! I absolutely just love it. I think I definitely have to get that new Dinky Dye scissors that is white with red hearts on it! Thank you so much Marie!


I also received a little package from Ruth B. Ruth is a very diligent participant in the Fair and Square Exchange blog. I had a "Stitch Red" exchange on there but wasn't able to officially participate as someone dropped out. She is so sweet. Here is what she sent me.


I love these and am very excited to have a peacock design in red to add to my red collection in honor of my mom. Ruth did these for me out of the goodness of her heart. Thank you so much Ruth! I can't wait to finish these up!


Well I think that's about it. Whew! Thanks for visiting and I appreciate all of your comments.

Have a great weekend and Happy Stitching!

JillMN

Retreats Are Productive

Last weekend I was fortunate to attend a retreat with my stitching buds. I was able to get quite a few things done.

First, I started Carriage House Samplings "Emma Sampler", which appeared in the June 2005 Just Cross Stitch magazine. I saw this on Suzanne's blog and had to do it. My paternal grandmother's name was Emma so I decided to change it all to her name. I just love the colors in this one.

Emma Sampler

Just Cross Stitch June 2005
40ct. cream linen
DMC as charted
Date Starting Stitching: 1/12/2012
Date Finished Stitching 1/13/2012

In my other favorite pasttime, I am participating in a Mystery Sock KAL (knit-a-long) on Ravelry and the first clue was issued last Friday. I knitted up the right one and after I came home, I did the left one. The next clue will come out tomorrow.




Then I started Bent Creek's Spring Row. I just have Summer left and these 2 will be finished back-to-back just as I did Autumn and Winter.

Spring Row
Bent Creek
32ct. linen remnant
DMC as charted
Date Started Stitching: 1/14/12
Date Finished Stitching: 1/15/12

After I came home, I decided to start Winter of the Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers. This went pretty quick after the Autumn one.

Blackbird Designs

Loose Feathers
36ct. coffee dyed linen
DMC as charted
Date Started Stitching: 10/15/2011
Date Finishing Stitching: 1/18/2012

This I really love. It was a 3-part pattern. I just have to find a frame now.


It is quite cold here today. Right now it is -8 degrees F. I am staying in. I am preparing for another stitch day tomorrow at MamaJoan's.



I want to thank all of you who left me comments on my previous posting. I really don't like doing that kind of stuff on my blog but I had to get it out there. And now I am done with that.


Have a great day and Happy Stitching :)

JillMN

Autumn Row

Well, my "stash stitching" has begun. One thing I've wanted to do for a very long time is the Bent Creek's Seasonal Rows. Since these are pretty quick stitches, (and why have I waited so long?) I decided to start with Autumn. As I was stitching, the thought crossed my mind that I already stitched Winter, did I? I did not find it on my blog, however, it is in my listed of 2010 finished stitches. I went to my box of stitched pieces and sure enough, there was winter.

Another thought I contemplated as stitching was how I was going to display these. I knew where, I just wasn't sure how. I probably would have to special order a frame as it is quite an odd size...nope, don't want to do that. Since I will have Autumn and Winter, I decided to put them together. Here's what I came up with.


Turn it around and you get...

Autumn Row

Bent Creek
32ct. linen remnant
DMC as charted
Date Stitch Started: November 1, 2011
Date Stitch Completed: November 2, 2011
Date Finishing Completed: November 4, 2011

What do you think? I love it. Less to store and very inexpensive to finish.


Now I am going to stitch the final part of my SAL I am doing.

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

Happy Stitching :)

JillMN

What I've Been Up To

It has been over 2 weeks since I last posted some progress so I thought I would catch up a little.

I am current with my stitch-a-long with iStitch Carol. If you want to see my progress, you will have to go here.

After received my JCS Christmas ornament issue, there was one ornament I had to do for my sister. It is The Victoria Sampler's "Peace on Earth".

Peace on Earth

The Victoria Sampler
32ct. remnant linen
DMC/Beads as charted
Date Stitching Started: 9/15/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 9/23/2011
Date Finished Completely: 9/23/2011

Since I've had to pick up a few supplies along the way, I just couldn't pass up these.


While trying to decide what kind of a fob I should do for this scissor, I decided that it needed something "above" the boots. I got my creative juices flowing and this is what I came up with.

Witchie Zippie

Bent Creek
27ct. Eggplant Linen
DMC #153, 166, 310, 610, 728, 729, 740 and 3022
Date Stitching Started: 10/3/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 10/3/2011
Date Finished Completely: 10/3/2011

Isn't it cute? It turned out just as I had pictured, I love it!


I also made a gift for our pastor and his family. They moved last weekend and they are having something for them at church next Sunday.

Psalm 145

Little House Needleworks
32ct. Toasted Almond Belfast
DMC #3685, 898, 712, 221, 3012, 433 and 3013
Date Stitching Started: 8/17/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 10/1/2011
Date Finished Completely: 10/3/2011

And, last but not least, currently I am working on Lizzie Kate's "6 Fat Men".


This piece is alot of fun. I have all of the freebie border stitched and 2 of the 3 designs that are currently out.

Next time I am not going to wait as long to post, it is too time consuming. :)

Thanks for visiting and Happy Stitching :)

JillMN

What I've Been Up To. . .

One shouldn't wait so long to blog because it takes that much longer to get caught up. Sometimes blogging seems like such a chore. It can be so time consuming and I would rather use my time to be productive.

Anyway, this first piece I stitched for my husband's niece, for her high school graduation. I loved how it turned out and I think she will too. I know her mom will like it!

"ABC Lessons"

Lizzie Kate
32ct. English Rose Linen
DMC #3041, #987, #3687, White, #938
GAST Evergreen, Nina's Threads Caribbean
WDW Whiskey, Crescent Colors Secondhand Rose
Date Stitching Started: 5/20/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 5/27/2011
Date Finished Completely: 6/6/2011

This next piece, is the Blackbird Design that is in the current issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework (July 2011).

"Land of the Free"
Blackbird Designs
32ct. Coffee Dyed/Baked remnant
Use same substitutions as MamaJoan except Swamp Water instead of Bark
Date Stitching Started: 5/28/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 5/20/2011
Date Finished Completely: 6/6/2011

I am trying to do some Patriotic pieces and did manage to get a couple done last week.

"God Bless America"
Lizzie Kate
32ct. home dyed red linen
DMC white, 3820 and 3750
Date Stitching Started: 6/12/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 6/13/2011
Date Finished Completely: 6/13/2011



"Uncle Sam Zippie"
Bent Creek
28ct. Straw/Gray Graziano
DMC as charted
Date Stitching Started: 6/14/2011
Date Stitching Finished: 6/14/2011
Date Finished Completely: 6/14/2011

I have also been working on some items for our annual retreat which is fast approaching in August. Our theme this year is Pink Flamingos...FUN! I won't be able to share these until then.



I started a new sampler, Plenty and Grace by Primitive Traditions. This is charted with Belle Soie--16 of them. That is just a little more than my stitching budget these days so I am substituting good old DMC. I am stitching it on 36ct. count with 1 thread. Here is how far I am.


I love the concept with this sampler, kind of a family history of sorts. Because we only have 1 child, I am going to add him also. This will take me awhile, but I really am enjoying it.


For almost 3 years, I have been stitching pink and blogging on "When Pink Matters", tributing my good friend Shari, who passed away in May 2009 of breast cancer. I went to the blog today as I forgot to enter my last couple of pink stitches only to be saddened by finding out that this blog had been deleted. What? Angry and disappointed am I. I was about the only one posting on there but I had quite a tribute going. If only I was given a heads up I would have "captured" my postings somehow to save them. I will have to start again somewhere else, I guess. :(

That's all I have for today. Hopefully it won't be as long for an update next time.

Thanks for visiting and Happy Stitching!

JillMN

Weekend Stitching

Yesterday I had kind of a busy day--including going to see Toy Story 3, which is a great movie. I didn't get to stitch much yesterday either :(

However, I was quite productive over the weekend. First, I finished my 6th CaHRH square.


I really love this block. There is alot going on. Here is how it looks now--half done!


On Friday, my friend, Joan and I had a full day of stitching including a trip to our LNS. We both purchased the Lizzie Kate Summer Fob 2010. Joan did hers right away on Friday but I did mine over the weekend.



I love this design! Since I bought the Spring one I have to continue with the others, right?

On Sunday, I started something new. Summer Snappers. I have had these for a long, long time. I do have winter done though.

I have a few errands to do this morning and then some stitching for me.

Have a great day!

A Finishing Weekend

I spent most of my weekend doing finishing. It's amazing how time consuming that can be. But I did finish 6 pieces of stitching and that is a great feeling.

First I finished this pincushion. It is Blackbird Designs Summer House Pincushion.



This is stitched on 30ct. Coconut Macaroon linen with Nina's Threads--Eggplant and Amber. The buttons are from my mom's collection.

I framed 4 pieces. This first one I stitched in 2003-2004. What's even worse, I have had the frame since then. Now that it is framed, and hung, I am kicking myself for not doing this earlier. It looks so nice.


This is the first Snapper series from Bent Creek. This picture is about 42" long. It took me about 1-1/2 hours to pin and an entire box of pins! I am really loving it however.

This next piece is an LHN. I switched up the colors from how it is charted.


I stitched this some time ago so I don't know what materials I used.

This piece I stitched for the Blackbird Design contest, which everyone entered. If I remember right, They provided a basic chart and you were to add at least 1 bird. I stitched this in memory of my paternal grandmother, who was the original peacock lover. It is stitched with Weeks "Peacock" thread.


The "lace" that is on this piece is tatting that my grandmother did. The jewels are an earring that was hers also. I can't be sure of the buttons, my mothers collection consisted of both of my grandmas plus hers. They look old though. I am really pleased with how this turned out.

I next piece I framed, I stitched in memory of my mom and dad.

This is called "Hearts Left Behind" by Hester's Needle. It is stitched as charted on a piece of 32ct home dyed linen.



I did finished 1 more piece, however, it is being mailed out today for an exchange so I can't share it until it is received.

Thanks to my good stitching friend, Joan, who let me purchase these frames (except the big one) from her stash. They are all just perfect!


Thanks for the great comments on my spring fob. I couldn't find a tutorial for rouching a ribbon. You run like a basting thread throught the middle of your ribbon and pull together, like gathering. Then, attach it to your stitching piece. You will need lots of ribbon due to the gathering.

Also thanks for all the well wishes concerning the job situation. Not fun.

Now I am going to start a Pink Stitch!

It's Finished!

I'm sure you're probably sick of seeing this, but it is done! And I love it! I will be framing this one.

Since tomorrow is October 1, this finish came at a good time. Tomorrow I can set my October goals and start right in on them. I have 3 exchanges to stitch for that are due at the end of October.

Thanks to those that took the time to go over to Corinna's blog and say hi. She does some great work.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

I Have a Kitty!

On my Snapper! Don't anyone get too excited, it is not a real kitty. LOL!

The Kitty is #4 of 5 on The Branch Snapper. I just have one more little part to do. YAY!!!




We have a new blogger. Corinna has finally given in and created a blog. It is called Cup of Stitches. Some of you may know Corinna from the Fair and Square Exchange blog. She has been a member over there for quite awhile and has done some beautiful squares. If you have a minute, please go over to her blog and say hi.

That's all I have tonight. It is about time for bed. Thanks for stopping by.