What am I stitching on?

 Actually I have been working on stitching free designs.  They are quick and provide the variety I am looking for at the moment.

Meet Yankee Doodle Duckie.  He was designed by Handblessing and honestly I never had seen him until recently when I found a bunch of old newsletters on-line with lots of older free designs in them. I  started him on June 22, 2021 and he was finished June 30, 2021. He is stitched on Zweigart 28 count lugana in white.  I used stashed Six Strand Sweets floss in Mulberry Wine, Patriot Pop, Bluebery Pie (2 different color lots), Toffee and Spiced Orange Cider.  His eyes are black petite beads.  He is so blessed cute and he makes me smile.  The link to Yank is: NewsletterJune_2011.pdf (myfiberworks.com)

This design is called Flag City by La D Da and it was stitched in 2018.  I just fully finished it into a hanging pocket. I hung it on our front door with some red, white and blue flowers which I had.  I love how it turned out. The vintage pillow ticking fabric I had purchased at Hobby Lobby is just perfect for it.  The link to this free design is here: Free charts from La-d-da Cross Stitch Designs

Next in my parade is a Heart in Hand free design from Cecilia Turner called Spooky.  I started this on June 7, 2021 and finished it on June 8, 2021.  I stitched it on a hand dyed fabric from an unknown company however the color was called Over the Hill 27 count linen.  I used Weeks Dyed Works Merlin, the purple black color; Gentle Arts Ruby Slipper for the orange red; Crescent Colors Honeycomb for the gold and DMC white.  The wee ghost's eyes are French knots.  It was a fun little stitch.  Finishing is unknown at this time.  The link to the newsletter the free design was in is: spooky-2.pdf (heartinhand.com)

I love this bookmark, it is perfect in my bible.  This design is called Alleluia and it is designed by Nancy Bandzuch.  I found it on a site called Catholic Sprouts.  I started this design on May 19, 2021 and fully finished on June 20, 2021.  I used a silk floss from Silks 4 You, a maroon to raspberry color PR044 and Rainbow Gallery Fyrewerks Metallic Braid #F3. I  stitched it on Crescent Colors 28 count evenweave in the color Vanilla Bean.  I moved the cross from below the wording to before the wording to make the bookmark longer.  Then I stitched the buttonhole stitch all the way around with DMC perle cotton #12 in white.  This took forever because I kept putting it down.  I fringed the ends and as I said I couldn't love it more. The link to this design is here: Free Alleluia Cross Stitch Pattern for Easter | Catholic Sprouts

This design is from a new designer to me, Pinker 'n Punkin.  I adore her free designs.  This design is called Bee Sampler and I started this on June 9, 2021 and finished it on June 20, 2021.  It is stitched on Weeks Dyed Works 30 count in the color Parchment.  I used Gentle Arts Sampler Thread color Wood Trail for DMC 434.  The rest of the floss was Old Willow Sampler Threads, Quaker Swan for DMC white,  Black Cat for DMC 310, American Quaker Gold for DMC 783 and Chocoholic for DMC 838.  I had so much fun stitching this and plan on stitching many more of Pinker 'n Punkin designs.  The link for this free design is: Pinker n Punkin Quilting & Stitching: A Little Bee Sampler - Freebie

So this free design caught my eye.  It is by Alita Designs and it is called 4th of July Heart.  I really liked the way the stripes flowed.  So I pulled some Valdani floss in Natural, Rich Wine and Sea Deep.  The Valdani floss reminds me of the old flower thread by Ginnie Thompson and DMC.  It has that linen floss look but stitches more nicely.  Remember DMC linen floss, it didn't last on the market very long. It was awful to stitch with.  I chose  a fabric in 28 count, a Country French linen in the color Goldneedle.  I started it on July 1, 2021 and you can see where I am. 

I really like how it looks.  I am thinking I will stitch "1776" instead of "4th of July".  Here is a link to this free design: 4th of July Heart cross stitch pattern (alitadesigns.com)

So you can see, as I now can, that I indeed have been busy.  I was intending on reorganizing my Happy Room this week as hubby is on vacation and prowling the house.  I wanted to let him prowl and I would hide away in here.  Well I have barely started the reorganizing...lol!  I hope your summer is wonderful and your stitching sublime.   Until next time, God Bless!

Fabulous Friday Cross Stitch plans

God has blessed me with a wonderful Friday. I have pork in slow cooking in the oven.  I love pork however we usually don't have it in the house as hubby doesn't eat it.  I am going to visit Hobby Lobby tomorrow and check out the Simplicity patterns which are on sale for 99¢  I plan on baking a cake this weekend and make homemade pizza.  I hope to connect with my best friend, Leslie, and we will stitch together via Skype. The thrift shop is calling my name and I must respond.  Sunday is my wedding anniversary.  I have been blessed with 7 amazing years with my perfectly perfect husband Orin.  He has brought peace, joy, happiness, contentedness to my life and I will be forever grateful for this perfect life he has gifted to me.

Doodle Dog Primitives sent out their newsletter with a fabulous resource for the stitcher.  A floss conversion chart for Valdani floss to DMC floss was linked to the article.  Here is the link: 

https://doodledogprimitives.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Valdani-DMC.pdf

I really like Valdani floss however it is pricey and this conversion provided by Valdani makes the job of converting so much easier.  I have also added this link to the Inspiration section on the left side of my blog.

I have also been adding images of finished Just Nan freebies to my Just Nan Complimentary Design List page.  I have a lot of her freebie patterns and a good many allow them to be reproduced to be shared however not electronically.  Contact me if you are interested in a copy of one of her free designs and if the copyright allows I will reproduce and send it to you for a self addressed stamped envelope.  I will NOT copy all and send them to one person.  I will send only one or two per person.

Luli has a new entry to her blog.  She has the most perfect cherry free design.  I thought how perfect it would be as a border to a kitchen towel or a set of curtains.  The cherry motif is 30 stitches high and 29 stitches wide. The design calls for 7 DMC floss colors.  Check it out here: http://ioluli.blogspot.com/

So I have started my La De Da free design "Flag City".  I am stitching it on a scrap of 28 count Picture It Plus in the color Cauldron.  I am using 1 strand of floss.  I am really liking how it looks.  I am usually a 2 over 2 girl.  I will be working on this over the weekend.  I have enjoyed this small project.

Eight days remain in June and please enjoy each and every one.  God Bless!

Fricking Fabulous Freebies

https://dmc-usa.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Th%C3%A9r%C3%A8se+de+Dillmont+
Vintage motifs by Theresa de Dillmont.  Great air ship, train, fisherman, bicycling men, antique automobile, hot air balloon and some wonderful sets of alphabets and numbers.


http://creativeworkshopsfromhetti.blogspot.nl/p/reebies.html
Stitches in Blue from Holland has sweet smaller designs.  There is a Happy Birthday flag, a stitched square which folds up into a humbug chicken and lots of tiles which make up a lovely pillow in blue. Click on the title of the free design rather then the picture and the site will take you to the blog entry where you get a nice image of the chart. This designer also has a link to their Etsy shop.


http://romyscreations.blogspot.it/p/freebies-by-romys-creations.html
Romy's Creations from Italy has smaller simple designs.  There are seasonal and holiday themed designs. There are some needlework themed designs.  Charming offerings at this site.

http://thelittlestitcher.blogspot.nl/p/freebie.html

The Little Stitcher from Italy has some really sweet designs.  "No Place Like Home" with a pair of Dorothy's red shoes is wonderful.  "Merry Christmas" has a snow frosting on the letters and a primitive feel with deer motifs. Plus many more free designs are offered. This designer also has a link to their Etsy shop.

http://ilcassettodeibottoni.blogspot.it/search/label/free
This Italian site has a definite primitive feel to the free designs offered.  There are several pages to browse.  The translate button was not working.  Look for "post piu vecchi" at the bottom of the page to see the next page of free designs.


http://threadworkprimitives.blogspot.nl/p/freebie-patterns.html
There are 8 primitive free designs offered from this Netherlands based site. It is hard to pick a favorite but I love the urn full of shamrocks and the "All Hallows Eve". This designer also has a link to their Etsy shop.


https://cosmichandmade.wordpress.com/free-charts-2008/
There are 8 small designs offered by Cosmic Handmade. There are stitching sisters, sweet strawberries, follow the light, spring carrot patch, bird quartet, winter berries, breast cancer awareness and autumn sampler.

http://stitchingandscribbling.blogspot.com/
Midsummer Night Musings offers 4 free designs. Small primitive type designs. Lady Baa Baa, Sweet as the Flower, Lovebird and Jingle Sparkle Joy.


http://la-d-da.net/freebies.html
Most stitchers are familiar with the delightfully primitive style of La D Da, it is one of my favorite designers. Lori offers 12 free designs on her site. She also has a corrections tab on her site to check for chart errors.


http://www.cross-stitch-patterns.eu/
Haftix is a most unusual site, stitchers submit their own designs for sale and free.  The vast majority are free for download.  Depending on your preferences you can find some quality designs for free. Be prepared to spend oodles of time perusing this site.


https://thedustyrabbit.blogspot.it/
This Italian site is absolutely adorable.  The designer creates figures thru felting and they are amazing.  If you scan down to her tags on the left, click on freebie.  I counted 8 designs, most Halloween.  If you love Harry Potter you must grab the Mandrake freebie! This designer also has a link to their Etsy shop.


http://needleknowledge.com/free-patterns/cross-stitch-counted-thread/red-quaker-sampler/
This is a most amazing design, the Red Quaker Sampler! I definitely want to stitch this.  There are a couple of other free designs to take a look at. The site itself is a great reference site.  Look around and bookmark it in your favorites.

Stitching in progress and ancient finishes

 I am enjoying stitching on Pumpkins Three from La-D-Da.  The fabric is an unknown color but 28count using the Valdani floss, Chocolate Brownies.  It looks great and I am glad I chose the Valdani rather then black DMC.  I think it gives a much more interesting effect.

This is my progress on Twisted Threads Bitty Bunny.  Over one is a challenge made better by my new Ott light.

The following are pictures of some of my finishes.

This is the most ambitious finish of my stitching career.  It is O Come All Ye Faithful by Counted Illuminations/Patricia Andrle.  It took me a year to stitch and was finished in October 1995.

This small angel is an Alma Lynne design.  It was stitched prior to 1996.  I had given it to my Grandmother and when she passed in 1996 I asked for it back.  Two years ago I gave it to my dear friend Dorothy with the stipulation should she proceed me to Stitching Heaven I want it returned.

 This was a free design which was stitched on Navy evenweave, navy blue being my husband's favorite color.  I believe the silk floss is Vicki Clayton's Turkey Red.  This was stitched in 2012.

This is a C Mon Monde design.  The design is called "Un Tour Dans Mon" which translates to "A Ride in My Bag".  She is stitched on 32 count Enchanted Night from Color Blooms.  She is darling and I kept thinking she reminds me of a Mary Poppins character with the umbrella. 

A free design from AutyTM.  It is the 2011 Patriotic Quaker heart.  I used Crescent Colors Wavy Navy, Red Manor and Honey Bee.  I was surprised as the Navy ran when I washed it, I would have expected the red to.  You don't really notice it.  I did love the Manor Red color, very deep and rich.

This is a Mirabilia design.  I changed the fairy's skin to brown to reflect the ethnicity of the lady who I gave it to.  It hangs in my Matron of Honor Beverly's home. 

The above two pictures are the front and back of a door knob hanger.  It is a Birds of a Feather (I believe) design and was stitched as a tribute of a granddaughter's love for her grandfather who passed.  It was stitched in August 2016.

This is a Heinzit design which was stitched several years ago.

This was a free design and I have no idea who the designer was.  I believe I changed the floss colors.

This pair of mittens are called It's Snow Cold and the designer is me.  Notice the blue lips.  Yes a snow ball hides his pride and joy.  I have never designed anything but this was an entry for a mitten contest and I should have won but didn't.

This is a Barbara Ana complimentary design.  Love the colors.

This is a very old finish. I don't remember who the designer is, I know I still have the leaflet.  It was stitched back in the late 1980's. I haven't stitched on Aida in ages.