Spring...the season of new beginnings!

My plan was to get back to my blog when Spring arrived. I am a couple of weeks past but here I am.

I am not going to go into why I haven't blogged in over 7 months. Just alot of everything! I have got quite a bit of stitching done these last 2 weeks however.'

First is Blackbird Designs, Strawberry Garden Sampler. I stitched this with the threads as charted on 32ct. Cream Belfast.

I chose not to put in all of those lazy daisy stitches. I thought it looked too busy. I am very pleased with how this turned out.

Then I couldn't wait to stitch up this new one from Hands On Design, Stitch Every Day. This one I stitched with the DMC equivalents and it is on 32ct. Raw. I will be finishing this one as the drum and it is going to go on my desk at work!

The next one is one of Plum Street Samplers, A Friend Loveth. This one I did with DMC's also. This is on 32ct. but I don't remember what color linen.

North Pole Express is a free pattern from Little House Needleworks when you buy the charted threads. I got mine from 123stitch.com. I thought it was so cute and it was a very fast stitch!

Now to decide what to work on next? I will start something new but I am going to start some kind of rotation with my "And They Sinned". I would like to get some serious progress done on that.

Well, thats it for now. Hopefully I will be back next week with more to share! Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stitching!

JillMN

I Wish I Could Just Stitch!

Life has been kind of busy the last 5-6 days I haven't had too much time to stitch. However, I had a very nice stitching day last Wednesday that my friend, Chris (no blog), hosted. I got to re-visit with some old friends and meet some new ones. It was quite a lovely day. I started this piece there.

 

Hannah's Small Basket

Blackbird Designs

30ct. Park City Blend

DMC's as charted except home-dyed

Date started stitching: June 6, 2012

Date finished stitching: June 10, 2012 

I'm not sure how I want to finish this so it will go into the "finishing" box.

I was on a little road trip this past week and made a quick visit to...

 

We were on a time deadline to get home so it was a short visit. It is not far at all off of the main highways nearby. It is a cute little shop. Lots of patterns, good selection of fabrics, and a fair amount of treasures! It is worth the stop. There is a quilt store that is connected to it but I did not go over there.

That's all I have for today. Thanks for visiting and Happy Stitching!

JillMN

Quick Update

I participated in Round #29 of the Fair Square Exchange. I haven't done this for awhile and I am so glad I got to join this round. My partner was Pam K. and her squares are GORGEOUS!!!

Pam says the sampler is mostly by Madame Chantilly. The large peacocks are her adaptation of a Midsummer Night Design's peacock. The threads are HDF and the fabric is Cream Belfast. I LOVE THEM!!! Thank you Pam!

I stitched part of a Blackbird Design pattern and added her initial.

Sunday I received part 2 of the Papillion Creations "Around the World in 80 Stitches". I finished the stitching today.

I have completed my secret stitching now and can get back to "me" stitching!

Thanks for visiting and I appreciate all of your wonderful comments!

JillMN

Mildred's Sampler

Mildred's Sampler

Blackbird Designs

40ct. white linen

Home-dyed floss

Date started stitching: April 20, 2012 

Date finished stitching: April 26, 2012

Date finishing completed: April 28, 2012 

The original pattern shows this stitched in 1 color. I used a bunch of my home-dyed threads and brightened it up a bit. This was stitched for Joan as she was my partner in a Friends Through Threads Friendship Exchange.

Happy Stitching :)

JillMN

Awake the Dawning Day

Awake the Dawning Day
Blackbird Designs
28ct. Iced Cappuccino linen
WDW fibers as charted
Date started stitching: 4/2/12
Date finished stitching: 4/13/12

Ok, I can't get great pictures today. Anyway, this is done. I thought I had a frame for it, but it isn't going to work, even with padding it. So, I will have to go on another frame hunt!

The weather is just gorgeous here today! Although it sounds like it may take a drastic turn later tonight. It is 69 degrees right now. I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

JillMN

Where Flowers Bloom...Framed!

Where Flowers Bloom
Blackbird Designs
(A Schoolgirl's Work)
30ct. Abcedarian linen
GA Blue Ridge Mountain, Sonora Desert, Adobe, Cedarmill Brown and Picnic Basket
WDW Cherub
DMC #543
Date Started Stitching: 3/1/2012
Date Finished Stitching: 3/4/2012
Date Framed: 3/11/2012

Well it didn't take me long at all to find a frame for this piece. It had a ding on it and some marks so I distressed it around the whole thing and then added an embellishment of a combo of 2 buttons. I intentionally framed it lower in the frame as I think it looked better. Very happy with it.


Not much else going on. I still seem to be in a little kind of a funk. Trying to get out of it.


I bought myself some treats the other day, and I think I should warn you all. Do not buy these. You will not like them. Really. (notice the bag is empty?)



Have a great week!

JillMN

Where Flowers Bloom

After finishing my Busy Needle, I perused through my stash of Blackbird Designs patterns to find a new stitch. I was on the automatic for the loose feathers a few years back so I have just a few. While browsing through A Schoolgirl's Work book, I came across one that made me think of a friend who recently lost her dad. I decided to stitch this up for her.


I did have to switch out a few colors as I do not have very many Crescent Colors and I AM stitching from stash, ya know! I am very please with it and I hope she will be too!


Had a great time at our stitching day yesterday. Caught up with some old friends and made some new ones. Cathy has a few pictures if you would like to see.


Now I begin my quest for a frame!

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

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 Loose Feathers

Well, again I'm stitching on this piece behind the 8 ball. I saw that the Winter part is due out the end of this week...that is like NOW! Even though I am experiencing one of the WORST colds I have ever had, I managed to get this stitched up!


I didn't bother ironing it. I'm sure this won't be finished in 2011, however, I am stitching the date in each section. I really like this piece. Down the road I can see stitching different elements from this for other things.

Hopefully I will be well enough to go to MamaJoan's and stitch with the girls tomorrow.

Happy Stitching :)

JillMN

Summer Is Done!

Literally...right?

Last week I had seen that the Blackbird Designs Autumn Loose Feathers was due out soon so I thought I better get the Summer one done ASAP!

OK, to be honest here, as I was working this, it just wasn't doing much for me. Several times I contemplated just stopping altogether. But I carried on. And now that it is done and pressed...I LOVE IT! There will be 3 designs total and can't wait to get Autumn.

Summer Loose Feathers
Blackbird Designs
Date Stitching Started: October 16, 2011
Date Stitching Completed: October 21, 2011
36ct. Coffee-dyed linen
DMC as charted

I was lucky enough to be another giveaway winner. This one was for the Gentle Arts Sampler Threads that are used in Blackbird Designs Casting A Spell. It was sponsored by Gentle Arts through Needlework Retailer.


There are 5 colors for this design. When you left a comment for this giveaway, you were to also suggest another GAST color that would be good for Halloween. Mine was Kiwi. There were kind enough to also include that also. Thank you Gentle Arts!


I have noticed alot of knitting going on with fellow bloggers. I, too, have been doing my fair share. I recently made myself matching beaded neckwarmer and mittens.



OK, the neckwarmer picture is turned sideways...not sure why. Oh well. These are going to be so nice and warm for winter! They are knitted with a wool Malibrigo yarn.


I also just finished a pair of very warm and comfy Slipper Socks.


These are knit with a very fun yarn with is part wool called, Jelly Beenz! I love that name.


Well, I guess that is it for now. Thanks for visiting.

Happy Stitching :)

JillMN

SAL Update and a Finish

This morning I received part 2 of the iStitch SAL. I just finished stitching it up!

I am really enjoying this and am very happy with my thread choice. It is kind of hard to pick threads sometimes when you don't know what you are stitching!


I have completed the finishing on my Peacock Pinkeep.

Purple Pinkeep
Blackbird Designs
28ct. Gingham Linen
Straw/Natural
Belle Soie Tortoise Shell and Purple Paradise
Date Started Stitching: August 11, 2011
Date Finished Stitching: August 13, 2011
Date Finishing Completed: August 20, 2011

I am anxiously awaiting the new Blackbird Designs book, "A Schoolgirl's Work Samplers from Museum of Art". It should be here tomorrow.

Have a great weekend and Happy Stitching!

JillMN

Retreat 2011...Flamingos

Our annual retreat was this past Tuesday through today at my friend, Joan's house. Our theme was flamingos.


The first day, Tuesday we did the finishing on our group project. We stitched a square for each of us from the LHN Diary Series.





This is our friend, Chris, who participates in our group project and comes the first day for the finishing.


We always exchange goodies which is great fun and this year was no different. Here is the goodies that I gave everyone. I also gave everyone a flamingo pin made with Swavorski crystals. I had hung mine in my van so it didn't make the picture.


This was from Joan...


These were from Lori...


These were from Jackie...


And from Cathy...


Cathy was only able to come for a little while on Thursday night, Friday morning before work and after work. She donned the flamingo hat after a day at work.


Here are the projects that I worked on. First, I got caught up on my Hardanger Stitch-a-long.


Then I stitched up this patriotic piece by Sam Sarah.


I then started "Peacock Pinkeep" by Blackbird Design. I did almost all of the stitching at retreat. When I got home today and finished the stitching and then began the finishing process. I need to get some chenille trim yet so I am only showing the top of this piece.


Here are a couple of the special treats we had. Cake from Sam's club...got to love that! And, virgin Pina Colada's...YUMMY!




My kitty missed me so much and once I got settled in back home, he could finally relax. He was out like a light!


Well that's it. Another retreat come and gone. Lots of stitching and too much food!

Thanks for visiting and happy stitching!

JillMN