A primitive vintage free design finish!

Design: Ewe and Eye and Friends "Alphabet Heart"

Link: newsletter-j-f25.pdf

Started: Saturday, February 1, 2025 @ 11:40a.m.

Finished: Wednesday, February, 5, 2025 @ Noon

Fabric: Heatherfield 26 count in "Hickory"

Fibers: Weeks Dye Works in Juniper, Kudzu, Lancaster Red and Red Pear, Gentle Arts Sampler Threads in Presidential Blue

Notes: I love the way this turned out.  I enjoyed stitching on the Heatherfield. I did start this piece using the Kudzu but ultimately did not like the way it was showing up on my fabric color.  I left it in the center of the right heart but then used the Presidential Blue for the letters and the left heart.  Also, the little red square to the left of the left heart was to be satin stitched and I didn't care for that so I horizontally I wove in 3 lines to give it a patch looking texture. It was a fun little stitch which challenged me. I kept miscounting and had to rip out to redo several times. The red outline wouldn't meet up perfectly if the alphabet was not perfectly placed.  I would someday like to finish this in a shabby chic type of pillow for a bowl on my dining room table.

 

In Honor of our beloved fur babies!

Design: Shelter Block from KiraLyn's Needlearts

Link: Shelter Block - KiraLyns Needlearts

Started: Saturday, 11 January 2025 at 5:15p.m.

Finished: Wednesday, 22 January 2025 at 12:30 p.m.

Fabric: 28 count Brittany evenweave in the color "bone"

Fibers: Used the called for DMC stranded cotton 003, 434, 436, 523, 598, 676, 801, 807, 3371 and white.

Notes: I enjoyed stitching this to commemorate the rescue and rehomed dogs and cats I have had the honor to love and care for.  They have been a huge part of my life and that of my beloved husband.  Here are some of my babies, PJ, Whitney, Jamie, Maggie, Gadget, Muffin, Kamahamaha, Tricky Ricky, Tina, Rosie, April, Noah, Allie, Otto and currently our baby Kasie Jo.  I did personalize my finished piece using a heart charm from a mismatched pair of earrings in place of the "O" in "Adopt". 

Our beautiful Allie who died June 8, 2023 and our heart Noah who died November 10, 2022.

Our current sweetheart Kasie Jo.  Rehomed with us July 1, 2023

The first finish of 2025!

Design: Winter Wonder designed by Sweet Wings Studio

Link: Not available for sale until late 2025, this is a Sweet Wings Patreon design. Here is a link to Sweet Wings website: Sweet Wing Studio

Started: Wednesday, 18 December 2024

Finished: Saturday, 11 January 2024

Fabric: 28 count Monaco in the color Blue Glass

Fibers: Classic Colorworks Lettuce Leaf, Caribbean Waters & Aunt Marie's Violet. Six Strand Sweets Blueberry Pie. Weeks Dyed Works Sky & Peoria Purple. DMC 003, 828, 890, 950, 3863, Ecru and B5200.

Notes: I enjoyed stitching this Patreon design.  I have never been a Patreon member of a cross stitch designer.  I am thoroughly enjoying it.  I love the blues in this piece and love my fabric choice. This was a joy to stitch! Oh, I did substitute the called for Classic Colorworks Blueberry Tart for a Six Strand Sweet Blueberry Pie that I have in my stash.  I also used DMC 828 for the Classic Colorworks Blue Beadboard. I adore the floss choices of the designer, Susan O'Bryant! At one point I thought I was crazy because the quilt star in the lower left was wonky. I couldn't figure out where I stitched it incorrectly.  After some frustration I realized it was charted incorrectly!

Comfort and Joy is finished!

 

Design:  Comfort and Joy by Sweet Wings Studio (exclusive Patreon design)

Link:  Sweet Wing Studio | cheerful cross stitch designs made with love | Patreon

Started: Saturday, November 30, 2024 @1110

Finished: Tuesday, December 17, 2024 @2050

Fabric: 32 count Jobelan in the color Parchment

Fibers: GAST Shutter Green & Otter Creek, Classic Colorworks in Hickory Sticks, Peanut Brittle, Pebble Beach and Red Ribbon and lastly DMC 927 and Blanc

Notes: I enjoyed stitching this first Patreon exclusive design from a new favorite designer.  I love the style of the designer Susan O'Bryant. The older I get the more I enjoy the spiritually inspiring designs in the cross stitch world.  This piece seemed to take a longer time than usual to stitch.  I love the red in the design.  It is so warm and happy!  My Mom, who is 88 years old now, is increasingly needing help or encouragement to take care of herself.  She got quite ill a couple of weeks ago and it scared me badly.  She is better now and raring for Christmas. Hopefully after the first of the year I will have more time to stitch.  God Bless all who read this and may you find love and contentment in the coming new year!

A sweet free design finish!

 

Design:  Forever In My Heart "Snowflake 2001 Needleroll"

Link:  November 2024 newsletter Newsletters | Fiberworks

Started: Monday, November 18, 2024

Finished: Tuesday, November 26, 2024@1230

Fabric: Zweigart 28 count Lugana in Navy Blue

Fibers: Waterlillies by Caron in Pearl, Kreinik #4 Braid in color 032.

Notes: The free design calls for beads.  I did not like the way the beads looked so I used the Kreinik braid to stitch small Smyrna crosses over 2 threads.  This gave the piece some sparkle and I really liked how it looked. For the center I used a single earring I had that was missing it's mate.  I cut the back off and centered and stitched the clear nylon thread I have, to attach it to the lugana.  I love how this looks.  The photos I took did not do it justice.  I asked my very talented little sister to photograph this project and she did a much better job.  Thank you Ginger! Love you bunches!

A Sweet Wing free Christmas finished!

 

Design:  Sweet Wings "Merry Little Christmas"

Link:  Gallery 1 — Sweet Wing Studio

Started: Monday, November 11, 2024

Finished: Monday, November 18, 2024@ 1130

Fabric: Silkweavers Limited Edition 28ct Quaker linen color is similar to DMC 3753

Fibers: DMC blanc, 931, 3362, 3862 and GAST Lexington Green

Notes: I was having a stitching malaise and nothing sounded appealing.  I joined Sweet Wings Patreon and decided a small free design of hers sounded fun. Enjoyed this bitty stitchy!

A small Christmas finish!

Design:  Cross Eyed Cricket "Wreath" 

Link:  No link, a free handout from 2000

Started: Saturday, November 2, 2024@ 1614

Finished: Wednesday, November 6, 2024@ 1341

Fabric: Brittney 28 count in color "Bone"

Fibers: Old Willow Stitchery "Solitude Green", GAST "Dried Thyme", Rainbow Gallery "Very Velvet" in V231 and SJ Designs Glass Beads size 11/0 #154 "Sweet Cream"

Notes: I started this and was half way done when I realized I was off and the wreath would not meet correctly.   I could not figure out where I went wrong and I pulled it all out and gridded the fabric.  I was a quarter done and realized I was not going to have enough of the Old Willow floss.  So I started looking thru my floss and found a GAST color that was virtually the same so I started toggling between the 2 so it would appear to be the same color.  That was successful as now I can't tell you which is which.  I loved the Very Velvet's texture and look, but crossing my stitches made the bow look bad.  So I decided to give couching a try.  I had never couched in 40 years of stitching but I am really pleased with how it looks. The beads show up with a green cast but they aren't they are a yellow/white color.  I am not sure how to finish or if I will ever fully finish this.  I really like it. 24 years ago I picked up the free handout at Just Needlin' which is no longer in business, unfortunately.   

 

A great fini!!!!

 

Design:  Witchy Stitcher "Leave Me Alone I'm Cross Stitching"

Link: Leave Me Alone I'm Cross Stitching ~ PDF Pattern | The Witchy Stitcher

Started: Thursday, September 19, 2024

Finished: Thursday, October 31, 2024 @ 1812

Fabric: UnKnown, 28 count hand dyed evenweave in the Anchor floss color range of 1033 & 1034. The darker parts have purple in them.

Fibers: DMC as called for.

Notes: The fabric is darker than it appears in the photo. I loved stitching this.  The chart was a dream to work with, large and clear. The last motif I stitched was the top bat just left of center.  I was so excited I was done and then discovered it was one square too low.  Knowing it would bug me forever, I ripped it out and restitched it.  The last 2 days of stitching I had vertigo and it is a challenge to stitch with the world swirling by! I am not sure how or if this will be fully finished.  I am leaning towards a pillow!

🕷🕷Leave me alone, I'm Cross Stitching!🕷🕷

Most of Witchy Stitcher's designs are too dark in subject matter for my taste.  I found this one to be absolutely light and fun!  I haven't been very diligent stitching this past month due to health matters.  I am feeling better and trying to get back into a stitch all day, everyday mode!  I don't think I will have this one finished before Halloween, but that is okay!  I do have to say Witchy Stitcher's PDF charts are wonderful and large and so easy to read and stitch from.  I think a lot of designers could take her lead!

🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷

Design:  Witchy Stitcher "Leave Me Alone I'm Cross Stitching"

Link: Leave Me Alone I'm Cross Stitching ~ PDF Pattern | The Witchy Stitcher

Started: Thursday, September 19, 2024

Finished:

Fabric: UnKnown, hand dyed evenweave

Fibers: DMC

Notes:

Local Rides Only broom has landed!!

 

The witch's broom that I stitched the "Local Flights Only" sign for has found a resting spot in my sister's home!  She loves it and it has a place of honor in the entry way of her home! I think it looks quite happy there.

I also found this paper machete cat head bucket on Etsy and will run it over to her today.  It is so ugly it's cute. It's from the 1990's, stands about 5" to the top of the head.  It can hold candy or nothing!  Happy Halloween decorating!

👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻

Fully finished!

I promised photos when I fully finished the Notforgotten Farms "Local Flights".  It is far from perfect but it is cute.  I found the broom at Temu for less than $10.00.  I liked this one because the bristles look like a real broom.  Others were plastic with wire inside to allow bending.  The back of the sign is tan and black check.  I tacked a black elastic ponytail elastic and satin ribbon to use as hangers.  The trim on the edge is elastic netting which I purchased thru Walmart.com. The broom handle is 2 pieces that fit together and the bristles are the third piece.  It is about 4 feet tall, so it is pretty real looking.

I don't know how sis is going to hang it, that remains the mystery. 
 

A fun free finish!

 

Design: Romy's Creations "Cross Stitch Every Day"

Link: Romy’s Creations | August 19th... it's again Monday and it's again freebie's time | Facebook

Started: Tuesday, September 3, 2024@ 1800

Finished: Monday, September 9, 2024@ 1400

Fabric: Zweigart 32ct Lugana in Mushroom

Fibers: GAST in Dungarees & Old Willow in Vampire's Kiss (Old Willow floss line is no longer available)

Notes: A fun little free design available on their Facebook group.

Romy's Creation free design finish

 

 Design: Romy's Creations "I have not heard your voice"

Link to design: (20+) Romy’s Creations | MONDAY'S FREBBIE @everyone | Facebook

Started: Wednesday, 21 August 2024 @1330

Finished:  Monday, 2 September 2024 @1145

Fabric:  28 count Zweigart Cashel linen in Vintage Beige

Fibers: Anchor Stranded Cotton Multicolor in # 1325 purple to raspberry pink with some blue

Notes: Started with Six Strand Sweets by Jessica Burr in Snow Cone which is no longer available.  I felt it was too light on my fabric so I found a deeper shade in my stash.

A very quick stitch finish! 🎃🎃🎃

 Design: Notforgotten Farms "Local Flights"

Link to design: Local Flights Pdf/download Cross Stitch PATTERN From Notforgotten Farm™ - Etsy

Started: Sunday 19 August 2024 @1930

Finished:  Monday, 20 August 2024 @2000

Fabric:  28 count Silkweavers lugana in "Candy Corn"

Fibers: DMC Flower Thread in 2371 & 2916 (I love working with flower threads!)

Notes: I added to the design the word "only" and the cat on the lower left.  I know it's a sketchy looking cat but I felt I needed to balance out the design.  Here is an image of the design as designed by Lori Brechlin. 

I found a witches broom on Temu for sale and will attach the sign to it.  The broom is really cute and I paid less than $10.00 for it.  This will be a gift for my sister who is a Halloween freakoid!  I will post a fully finished photo when it is complete.

Freebie Fondling Folic!

Danger Will Robinson! Danger!  Gangs of freebies are rioting, at least at my Lilac Thicket.  I pulled out the stitched freebies I could find and lined them up to get mug shots.  Some are still available and others are not.  Gosh this was fun fondling them in a very disturbing way if I was a non-stitcher!  

A 3 year old finish!

 

I realized I had never posted a finished photo of Mirabilia's Day Nymph that I finished October 14, 2021.  I had started it long before that and put it down for some time.  Of course this photo does not do it justice, she is really beautiful with all the beads.  I stitched her on Zweigart 32ct lugana in Cinnamon Roll with all the called for beads and fibers. I also stitched her skin over one which can be a disturbing activity.

I learned quite a lot about stitching in a variegated floss color when I stitched the inside of the panes on her wings.  I wanted the wings to look natural and so I stitched in puddles to create just the color effect I was looking for. I think the wings look wonderful!  

I will say I also learned I despise pony beads!  They are large, unwieldly and very funky to attach.

Day Nymph is still available for purchase.  Here is a link to it's sale page at 1-2-3 Stitch: Day Nymph - Mirabilia Cross Stitch Pattern - 123Stitch.   I very much recommend this great on-line shop!  

Another freebie finish: Cross Eyed Cricket "Autumn Acorn 2022"

 

I really did enjoy this stitch project. I worked like a possessed stitcher yesterday to finish it.  I stitched the bottom third below the houses sitting on the gold metallic yesterday.  The only thing different about my stitching from the called for is the gold metallic I used.  I like Treasure Braid better than Kreinik.  It is much easier to work with. I also love the fabric color.  This is the same fabric I used for Day Nymph.

Design: Autumn Acorn 2022 by The Cricket Collection (Cross Eyed Cricket)

Link to design: Complimentary Design — CECricket (This free design will change at some point)

Started: Wednesday, August 7, 2024 @1300

Finished:  Sunday, August 18, 2024 @2230

Fabric:  32 count Zweigart Lugana in Cinnamon Roll

Fibers: As charted w/DMC except used Treasure Braid by Rainbow Gallery #PH03

A "palette cleaner" stitch and finish!

 

This is a fun quick stitch and a lot of personal customizations.  I used black beads for the seeds on the strawberry.  I also accidently stitched the width incorrectly due to a counting error which left too much space for my taste on the left hand side.  So I added some small buttons I had in my stash.  The back stitched steam may perhaps be too light but I wanted it to look like steam and not smoke.  This was a fun "palette cleanser" stitch.  Not sure what I will work on next but I am delighted with this project.

Design: Strawberry Jam and Biscuits Stamp from Pinker 'n Punkin

Link to design: Pinker n Punkin Quilting & Stitching: We Have a Swarm and a Strawberry Stamp Freebie

Started: Sunday August 4, 2024 @1735

Finished:  Tuesday, August 6, 2024 @1500

Fabric:  28 count Zweigart Cashel linen in "Flax"

Fibers: Six Strand Sweets in Spice Drop and Rock Candy; Olde Willow in City of Bristol Brown and Quaker Gold Star; Dye is Cast in Blueberry, Fuschia and Juniper; DMC White and 310; Mill Hill petite beads 42014.  All fibers except DMC are no longer available. 

Embracing Our Mistakes, an article from Victoria Sampler's Newsletter

 

Embracing our mistakes in Cross Stitch Making mistakes in cross stitching is a common and natural part of the crafting journey and can stem from various reasons. For instance, miscounting stitches is a frequent issue, especially with intricate patterns where losing track can lead to misplaced stitches and inaccuracies. In order to avoid this most common tendency, I recommend that you baste all around your project with a sewing thread before you start. Also, baste a horizontal and vertical thread in the middle of your fabric. Your basting stitches can go over and under 4 fabric threads to help you count! Then as you stitch, check back frequently to see if it aligns with your pattern. Using the wrong color is another common mistake, often occurring when threads are not organized or when the pattern uses similar shades. Misreading the pattern or skipping a symbol can result in errors, particularly with complex designs. Using a printed copy of your pattern and marking each stitch so you know what you've done, really helps. Also, there are now digital pattern apps like "Pattern Keeper" that allow you to keep track of your stitches.

When we realize we've made a mistake, it's easy to react and feel frustrated, disappointed, or even disheartened. These emotions are valid, but they don't have to derail our progress or enjoyment. Here's how to get back on track quickly. The first step in handling the emotions that arise from a mistake is to take a deep breath and remind yourself that errors are a part of learning and improving. It's important to give yourself a moment to process your feelings and approach the situation with a calm mind. Once you're ready, assess the mistake and plan a methodical fix. Using small scissors or a seam ripper, carefully remove the incorrect stitches. Take your time to ensure you don't damage the fabric. To maintain momentum and motivation, try to correct the mistake as soon as you notice it. This prevents the error from feeling overwhelming and keeps you engaged with your project. You always feel better once things are under control. Remember, every fix is a step towards mastering your craft, so embrace the process and keep stitching with confidence!

Long overdue Eva progress post

 

This is the progress of Eva as of the end of April 2024.  My frustration level was in the dangerous category.  So many ripping outs of multiple places and then stitching over one on the skin and going to back stitch that over one just made my patience explode into a million nano sized bits.  The outline is for the moon that I want to add but I want the back stitch done first and that isn't gonna happen until possibly the new year.  I keep thinking that the Holy Spirit is bug a booing this.  Anyway, I will finish it eventually but thought it was long overdue for a progress picture.  I have been stitching other designs which you can see in posts below. 

Design: Eva designed by Nora Corbett

Link to design: Nora Corbett Eva (Bewitching Pixies) - Cross Stitch Pattern - 123Stitch

Started: Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Finished:  

Fabric:  Picture This Plus 28 count Lugana in color "Haunted" (similar to DMC 3768)

Fibers: As called for