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!  

Progress with Lady of the Flag

We have barely 2 weeks left in 2018. I am not sure if I am filled with happiness or horror at how quickly it has gone.  This weekend has brought us unusually warm weather, in the 50° range.  The sun is shining so brightly and cheers us all up.  I wish there were bright green leaves still on the trees. The sky is amazingly blue today with no white clouds at all.  Yesterday morning our cedar tree in the backyard was festooned with red cardinals.  How beautiful they look perched in those deep green boughs.

I want to share the progress of my Mirabilia "Lady of the Flag".  The first photo is the last image taken on December 5th.  The second image is my progress as of today.

Progress is slow but steady and I am enjoying myself.  Leslie and I stitch via Skype every Saturday morning and the time just speeds by.  

That is all I have for now, just sharing the progress.  God Bless all of us!

Tis the Season (of stitching of course!)

I've got my stitch on...do you?

Life here in the Lilac Thicket is beautiful as the holidays quickly approach.  We have had our first snowfall of the season.  The weather has been warm and the weather has been frosty. Mother Nature just can't decide what she is aiming for here. I think she is a typical woman.

I found myself a couple of great little bargains, one being the pumpkin basket pictured above.  I love the double handles and the touch of bittersweet around the opening.  It was 70% off at Michaels as was the sweet plaid ribbon.  The "Home" was a $3.00 find at Dollar General.  It is simple yet has a touch of bling for the winter season.  You can also see some progress on my "Autumn Still Life".  

Saturday my bestie Leslie, a true Scottish lass, and I Skyped and we started our stitch along on Mirabilia's "Lady of the Flag". We are both stitching it on  Primitive Hare's "Constitution" 30 count linen.  I am stitching it as charted. Leslie on the other hand being a rebel has reversed the pattern.  She also is going to make the head of the lady a wee bit bigger.  I think her head is fine. By the way the blue and white hoop cover on my Lady is a steering wheel cover from Dollar Tree.  I bought 3 of them when the new location opened and have yet to find them since. They had honest to goodness project bags up there and I bought 6 of them.  Again, haven't seen those since either.

I gave into temptation and purchased Mirabilia's new Lady Justice.  I absolutely love her.  I had Sue Hillis' "Hello Halloween" fall into my cart.  I just couldn't resist all those skeleton's in a pick up truck heading off to rattle their bones at some spooky haunted cemetery any longer.

Leslie and I were talking about how my stashing habits have changed.  I have been to the LNS only once this past year.  I really have been making due with what I have.  I have so very too much stash and have a lot of bills stacked up as we are still paying off Orin's medical bills from his cancer scare/miracle earlier this year.  I still have more spending I need to cut out, waste less, do without or whatever. We live in such a consumer driven culture, it is hard sometimes to not get caught up in it.  I have found myself more and more being really critical about things I want to purchase.  I ask myself do I really "need" it.  Will I use it or will it just sit for years before being given away or thrown away. I find Orin and I eating more at home and really cutting down on processed foods, making more and more from scratch.  Last month I tried my hand at making laundry soap. Tide pods are 22¢ per load and my from scratch detergent is 8¢ per load.  I cannot tell the difference in the clean laundry. I am looking at this as a challenge and a choice, a new life style so to speak.  God is guiding me well so far.

I am so thankful for those who read my blog of nothing.  I know others think I a boring person, which I am but I am really a boring BLESSED person and honestly that is DAMN terrific. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and give all your gratitude to our Creator.

Designs I covet!

Hands On Designs "Rose Cottage"

Love this design, yes because of the lovely pink flowers but the home looks so sweet, cozy and inviting, just like my home.

Châtelaine Designs "Irish Mandela"

Oh I am an Irish lass, the blood that flows thru me is as green as the grass in County Cork, Ballin Rostig is where my heart beats!

Reflets De Soie "Les Rubans Rouges"

Explain to me why anyone would need a "reason" to love this stunning sampler!  Oh I covet big time!

Primitive Hare "Bee Happy"

I love Isobel's primitive style and I love the mixture of motifs in this piece.  The beehives are sweet and I love the old fashioned lady dressed as the bee keeper with a crown.

Mirabilia "Renaissance Mermaid"

I am captivated by this lovely mermaid, her flowing hair, her beautiful blue color and the mandala hanging from her hand. 

Erica Michael "Mermaid Berry"

Yes, more mermaids but they are so endearing.  I love the little crab, the fish and the swirly waves.  They would be a treasure in my stitching tool box.

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.

Stitchy Happy

We have a finish here in the Lilac Thicket.  I have finished Cottage Garden Samplings "Snowflakes are kisses from Heaven".  This is part of the "My Garden Journal" series.

This was stitched on Zweigart 32count Lugana in the color "Platinum".  It was stitched with the called for fibers from DMC, Weeks Dyed Works and Gentle Arts Sampler Threads.  I started it around December 23, 2016.  I finished the design stitching on 1/18/17 and signed it today 1/19/17.

I very much enjoyed stitching this piece, the fabric was lovely to hold in my hand as I stitched.  I particularly like the cardinals in this design.  As I was working the border I realized I had 2 blocks more than I should but it came together and you can't tell.  I did have problems with knotting on the WDW Icicles color which is used for the snowdrop flowers. I straighten my floss with a damp sponge and apply Thread Heaven but still had knotting problems.  I had some issues with my counting as I stitched the last 5 snowflakes and ripped stitches out to my frustration.

Plans have not been made as to how I want to fully finish this.  I am leaning towards a stand up.

This piece reminds my of my little brother Rick who died in May of 2014.  I will forever think of him when snowflakes fall.  He will be sending his kisses to the family that dearly misses him.

My next project is to finish the Mirabilia Holiday Cherub for 2000. It is a complimentary design at: http://www.mirabilia.com/category/free-graphs/ It about half way finished and I would like to finish this before a new project is started. Here is my progress so far:

I have stitched this with 28 count white cashel and the DMC called for except for the blue sky which on the chart says "black" which is 310.  Since I am stitching it for a new baby girl I wanted it to look like a blue sky and I cannot tell you which specialty thread it is.  I stitched it diagonally so it would give the illusion of a mottled sky rather than in horizontal or vertical lines which you get stitching that way.

I washed this and the picture is taken while it is damp.  To the left of the upper wing you may see a yellow stain.  My husband moved this on the table and it was laying on a damp yellow sponge.  That sponge discolored the white fabric.  I should have washed it right then but I didn't and it has been sitting a couple of months.  Some of the stain is gone.  I am going to look to see if I can find a stain remover that may take the rest out.  Lesson learned.

Two different designers are going to be offering series this year that I am interested in.  The first is offered by Little House Needleworks and it is the Early American's Series.  I have signed up through Stitches 'n Things for the auto shipment.  Here is a preview picture of that series.

The second is the 12 Days of Christmas which is being offered by Hands On Designs.  I have ordered the called for floss and fabric.  I am having the auto ship feature through The Silver Needle for this series.  Here is a preview picture of that series:

I did order thru Etsy two of Sandra Sullivan's Homespun Elegance designs.  They have been shipped.

I look forward to receiving these shortly. I have really had my interest peaked in primitive style stitching and we can only blame one person for that.  The Primitive Stitcher on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp_zQ6Dh2bWgk7aZB3SjGfw

So for now I am going to wish you stitchy happiness.  Sandi Jo