A lovely February finish

Project particulars

Design: Stitch till you're content by Doop Design

Link to design: out of print

Started: Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Finished:   Sunday, February 18, 2024 @ 3:00p.m.

Fabric: Zweigart 28 count Quaker linen in "light mocha"

Fibers: Needle Necessities #1841 Desert Vista, Week Dyed Work Deep Sea, GAST Forest Glade & Pink Azalea, Old Willow (no longer available) Raspberry Ripple, DMC 822 (for attaching beads)

Beads: Mill Hill 2004, 2012, 2047

I love this finish!  I did not use 1 of the charms that came with the design.  I used a mother of pearl heart button I had in my stash.  I attached it with 2 Mill Hill #2004 beads.  The scissors charm I painted with pink nail polish before attaching it.  The trim that I added at the top and bottom was given to me by my sister.  I love how it really sets the whole design and made it even more special. The instructions said to insert a needle into the design for a charm but I didn't want to do that.

I am not sure how or when I will fully finish this project, but when I do I will post it.

 

A dapper finish! ☘

Project particulars

Design: Lucky O'Green designed by Notforgotten Farms

Link to design: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1660023657/lucky-ogreene-pdfdownload-cross-stitch?ref=desktop_listing_share_button

Started: Thursday, February 8, 2024

Finished:   Tuesday February 13, 2024 @ 11:50a.m.

Fabric: Zweigart 32 count Lugana, color Bone

Fibers: Called for DMC

I finished Lucky this morning and I love this little mischievous guy! He was a fun stitch.  His red hair and beard plus his bouquets of shamrocks are my favorite parts of him. His appearance is unique to me.  I have never seen a St. Patrick's fellow quite like him and that was his attraction to me.  So, I would like to venture up to Hobby Lobby to see if I can find just the right frame for him.

Off to a new project!

 

A fine Irish gentleman is Lucky O'Greene!

Lucky O'Greene designed by Notforgotten Farms. Stitched by Cathy Sowers

I saw this photo of Cathy Sowers finish on the Facebook Group "Friends of Notforgotten Farms" and fell in love with Lucky O'Greene.  Cathy finished him so well honestly he looks a bit like my Great Grandfather Thomas Patrick Connolley.  I understand he was a red haired Irishman.  I only remember his funeral and I was 3 or 4 years old.  He came from a huge Irish Catholic family in Batavia, Illinois.  But I digress...

I purchased Lucky on Etsy and wanted to finish Baby Jesus before starting him. This morning was a slap stick comedy as I rounded up the prerequisite floss I needed.  I am in the middle of reorganizing my stash in my Happy Room so you can imagine.

 Project particulars

Design: Lucky O'Green designed by Notforgotten Farms

Link to design: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1660023657/lucky-ogreene-pdfdownload-cross-stitch?ref=desktop_listing_share_button

Started: Thursday, February 8, 2024

Finished:   

Fabric: Zweigart 32 count Lugana, color Bone

Fibers: Called for DMC

Baby Jesus has arrived!

 

Baby Jesus, a free design from Lavender and Lace, is at last finished.  We had a few disagreements and I did have to rip out a significant amount of stitches.  I also had some problems doing the back stitching on His head.  Plus in a couple of spots I got maroon colored pencil dust from my working copy onto the white floss.  I was afraid it might not wash out, but it did.  I used Great Value blue dish soap and washed and rinsed a couple of times and it did come out nicely.  The piece was pressed dry on a bath towel before the beads and metallics were added and it looks fabulous.  I am not sure how I will finish it but that it fine for now.

Project particulars

Design: Lavendar and Lace complimentary 2004 design (Baby Jesus)

Link to design: 2004 Christmas Design (tiag.com)

Started: Saturday, December 23, 2023.

Finished: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 @ 8:20 p.m.  

Fabric: 32 count Kiwi Illusion's Southern Sky

Fibers: Called for DMC, Mill Hill beads & Rainbow Gallery Treasure Braid

Progress on Baby Jesus & an old finish

 

Project particulars

Design: Lavendar and Lace complimentary 2004 design (Baby Jesus)

Link to design: 2004 Christmas Design (tiag.com)

Started: Saturday, December 23, 2023.  

Fabric: 32 count Kiwi Illusion's Southern Sky

Fibers: Called for DMC, Mill Hill beads & Rainbow Gallery Treasure Braid

Just a progress photo for myself.  The other framed angel was an annual free design from Told In A Garden.  This particular stitched angel was and is the annual free angel from 1993 and here is the link to that pattern which is still available: 1990 Christmas Angel (tiag.com) I know I stitched it with the called for DMC embroidery floss on 28 count linen.

I stitched mine in August of 1993 and I still love her.  She was framed at CC & Company in Blue Springs.  CC & Company is still in business and here is a link to that shop's web site: C. C. & Company - Needlepoint Kits & More in Blue Springs, MO (ccandcompanybluespgs.com)

I am never leaving my Happy Room once I get the kitchen & bathroom in there!

 

I have been slowly reorganizing all my leaflets this past week.  I intend to take most of them down to the basement and store them on my bookshelves down there.  They will be in alphabetical order by designer name.  Each designer will have a file folder filled with their leaflets. I had them that way at one time maybe 10 years ago but somehow didn't stick with it.  It was easy to find what I was looking for and also I avoided duplicating purchases.  Designers like Lizzie Kate and my beloved Just Nan have magazine organizers or in Nan's case a storage box with leaflets and kits in it.  Nan will not go downstairs, her designs are protected with my life and will remain in my Happy Room.  Magazines will be organized in magazine organizers according to name. Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament magazines will stay with Nan.

Freebie charts will also accompany leaflets in the appropriate file folder according to designer.  This is a lot of work but in the end, it will make me happy. I believe it will help me refrain from shopping for more stash.

I did get a Temu order last night. I had been anxious to get it.  I got some silicone baking pieces, like cupcake molds, ice cube trays and such.  I also got a felt piece for jigsaw puzzles and a nice pair of pink slippers with fleece like lining.  But then I got some things for stitching.  Straight pins with buttons on the heads, rustic looking jingle bells, 5 zippered project bags, tweezers, and a plastic project case. I saw these little booklets for saving money where cash is tucked in a pocket each week.  I thought those could work with floss for a project with a lot of floss colors. I could put a little label on each pocket with the color number or name. I purchased 3 of those books.

This is the progress on the baby Jesus I am working on.  I have a ton of projects I want to start.

Project particulars

Design: Lavendar and Lace complimentary 2004 design (Baby Jesus)

Link to design: 2004 Christmas Design (tiag.com)

Started: Saturday, December 23, 2023.  

Fabric: 32 count Kiwi Illusion's Southern Sky

Fibers: Called for DMC, Mill Hill beads & Rainbow Gallery Treasure Braid

I am looking forward to getting this stash project done so I can get my Happy Room reorganized and rearranged.  Christmas 2022 my husband won a 43" JVC Roku TV and he told me it was for me.  I know where I want it now. I just have to move things around to make it happen.  If I could move the bathroom and kitchen in my Happy Room I would never have to leave. Now that thought makes me giddy with happiness.

Long over due update of Gloria finish!

Project particulars

Design: Gloria Sampler designed by Patricia Andrle

Link to design: Cross Stitch and Country Craft magazine Nov/Dec 1995

Started: November 27, 2021

Finished: May 28, 2022@ 4:11 p.m.

Fabric: 28 count Lugana fabric in Opalescent White

Fibers: called for colors of DMC floss, Kreinik metallics and Mill Hill beads

Here is a link to a video of close ups of this beauty: (1572) Gloria is finished! - YouTube

Progress on The Steady Thread's 2023 Botanical SAL

 

This is the progress on The Steady Thread SAL.  I stitched on it in December.  I love how it looks to date.  It was a free SAL but now can be purchased with all proceeds going to charity.

Project particulars

Design: 2023 Botanical Stitch Along designed by The Steady Thread

Link to design: SAL 2023 OVER Announcement – The Steady Thread

Started: July 1, 2023

Finished: 

Fabric: 28 count Lugana33 in an unknown color name but similar to Anchor #28

Fibers: DMC 310 and GAST "Red Grape"

A Grinchy kinda finish!

I stitched and finished an ornament for my little sister.  She loves the Grinch.  It was a fun and quick stitch.
 

Project particulars

Design: An Ecliptica Design called "Grinch"

Link to design: Grinch PDF Cross Stitch Pattern, DIY Christmas Ornament, Gift, Beginner Easy Pattern, Instant Download - Etsy

Started: December 16, 2023

Finished: December 17, 2023

Fabric: 28 count Opalescence lugana in white

Fibers: Called for DMC floss colors

WIP Lavender & Lace

 

Heaven forbid this Lavender and Lace 2004 Complimentary design takes 9 months to be born.  It would seem I can find a million piddly things to keep me from working on this.  Ugh.  

I have been toying with the idea of darkening Baby Jesus's skin to more accurately portray his mid east heritage and then I pooh poohed it.  I recently saw a YouTube video of what Jesus would look like according to hints in the Bible and based on what average Mid Easterners look like today.  It was startling.  It then asked would I still follow Him.  The answer is yes. It isn't what He looked like that makes me love Him and believe in His teachings. This is a link to that video.  (1561) A.I. Reveals What Jesus Looked Like? You'll Be Amazed! - YouTube

Project particulars

Design: Lavendar and Lace complimentary 2004 design (Baby Jesus)

Link to design: 2004 Christmas Design (tiag.com)

Started: Saturday, December 23, 2023.  

Fabric: 32 count Kiwi Illusion's Southern Sky

Fibers: Called for DMC, Mill Hill beads and Rainbow Gallery Treasure Braid

Busy Santa finished & now resting comfortably until Christmas 2024!

Busy Santa by Stitchrovia was started August 11, 2023 and was finished November 17, 2023. It was stitched on 28ct lugana in mushroom with the called for DMC floss colors.  I added a personal touch and backstitched the toes of the boots to give Santa a more elfish feel.  It has a real vintage Christmas feel.  It was an absolute blast stitching it.  I bought the pattern on Etsy. These would make wonderful ornaments if stitched separately.

Project particulars

Design: Stitchrovia, Busy Santa

Link to design: Busy Santas Cross Stitch Pattern digital Format PDF - Etsy

Started: August 11, 2023

Finished: November 17, 2023

Fabric: 28 count Lugana in color mushroom

Fibers: Called for DMC floss colors

Lavendar and Lace free design start!

 

2004 Christmas Design (tiag.com)

I started on a Lavendar and Lace complimentary design on Saturday, December 23, 2023.  The fabric I am using is 32 count Kiwi Illusion's Southern Sky.  I am using the fibers and beads that the designer calls for. The free design can be downloaded as a PDF at the link posted above. Here is an image of the design as stitched by Cheryl Buckler on perforated paper. 

A crowd of Busy Santas are gathering at the Lilac Thicket 👀👀👀

Say hello to Santa #9!  He joins his fellow selves Santas 1-8.  Just a cute stitch.  Busy Santa from Stitchrovia.

 

Busy Santa gets busier!

 

Santa #7 is complete and I have begun Santa #8 who resides under Santa #7 who is hanging upside down.  Such a fun stitch.  Today I stitch!

Santa #3 makes us Santa We!

Santa #3 was finished last evening.  The cuteness multiplies as each Santa appears in Stitchrovia's Busy Santa.

 

Busy Santa and Canine Quotes

This is my progress on Stitchrovia's "Busy Santa".  I have worked on it for 14 days since starting it August 11th.  I really like it and have enjoyed watching it grow.  I have to say I am in love with all the little Santa's! Curling the toes of the boots up really has cuffed me.

The above photo is a must have for me.  "Canine Quotes" from The Scarlett House is just perfect and fits my home and life to a "T".  I will be ordering it when it becomes available at 123 Stitch! 💛💛💛
 

Meet Busy Sandi, I mean Santa!

Meet the new design I working on.  It is from Stitchrovia and it is called Busy Santa.  I had seen a vintage kit on E-Bay a while back.  It was one of those felt ornament kits where you cut out the felt shapes and then put them together to create a something.  It was maybe 12 Christmas Santa ornaments.  The toes of Santa's boots were curled up and he was engaging in various activities.  I loved it but not the price so I sadly did not purchase it.  I have been looking for it again.  I loved the vintage style Santa and the vintage colors and actually everything about it.  One day not too long ago I saw the above design on Etsy.  It so reminded me of that kit except that there weren't any curled toes on the boots.  I showed it to my mother and she said I could easily put in a few stitches to curl the toes.  I wondered why I hadn't thought of that.

So here we have my 8 day progress and roughly 19 hours and 55 minutes of stitching.  It seems probably a good 5 hours of that is unstitching.  More so then any recent project I can't seem to stitch things correctly to save my entire family's life.  It is definitely darling and I am in love with it.  I began this project  August 11th and have worked on it each day except August 17th.  I am stitching it on a mushroom colored 28 count lugana which adds to the vintage look.  And look, I curled his boot toes!  They look great!

Look at Santa's face!!!!  It is perfect!  The designer certainly is talented.  There is another one of Stitchrovia's on Etsy I want to stitch called Santa's Coming.  I haven't purchased it but I will when I am closer to finished with Busy Santa. 

Santa's Coming Cross Stitch Pattern digital Format - Etsy

The good news is it is football season and stitching season is in full swing as I cheer on my Superbowl Champions! 

 

Three working projects!

Rosewood Manor's Something Blue is a gorgeous sampler which I have barely started.  The fabric is a lovely blue frome Picture This Plus in 28ct Alchemy color.  It will use 15 skeins of Weeks Dyed Works in the color Parchment.  The design is 288 stitches by 177 stitches.  It is a stunning sampler design.  I have the right upper most flower completed.  I will work on this when I just want to stitch one color rather than other pieces that have multiple colors.

The Steady Thread is having a year long stitch along.  It is a blackwork project and each week a different blackwork pattern is released for a hexagon cell.  It is a gorgeous piece and you choose your colors and the shape of your cells.  It has a gorgeous botanical theme to it and a wandering vine border. The photo below is the work of  Crocettando from her blog here: More advances on Prairie schooler Santa and blackwork. | Crocettando (wordpress.com)

I chose a large pink evenweave I had in my stash and am using black floss and the highlight color The Gentle Art in Red Grape for inside of my cells.  As you can see I am not very far along.  I am numbering my cells to match the correct cell pattern when it is released.  I think it will be a masterpiece when I am done. Read about this stitch along here: Modern blackwork embroidery charts and blackwork embroidery kits – The Steady Thread

I am currently enjoying The Stitching Book Club's July free design found in the July Newsletter here: @Stitchingbookclub | Linktree   It is called Stars and Stripes.  I am stitching it on 28 count white Quaker which was in my stash.  I am using DMC floss in 321 and 3712 the called for reds.  The blues I am using DMC flower thread in 2826 and 2800. I was unsure about mixing the 6 strand floss with the flower thread but they look great.  I wish I had the red in flower thread. 

So that is what I work on at the moment. Happy Stitching!

 

Finishes 3, Lost Finishes 1

The Praying Hands bookmark was a free Artecy design that I had started a decade ago.  I put it down long ago and picked it up in April of this year.  I found I had made a mistake and went to start over but couldn't find the pattern.  I went to Artecy's website (http://www.artecy.com/) and purchased it because it was no longer free. In April I restarted the bookmark with the called for DMC floss on 28 count mushroom lugana.  I finished stitching it on May 24th 2023.  I need to finish the edges with a rose gold "metallic yarn" which I bought at Amazon (Amazon.com: Garbo Metallic Embroidery Thread, Rose Gold #55, 3050 Yard Spool). I am going to give it to my husband for his birthday in September.  It is meant for his Bible.

So the photo above does not show a completed design but there is a story behind it.  This is Pinker 'n Punkin "Ophelia Manor on Punkin Holler Lane". It is a free design here: Pinker n Punkin Quilting & Stitching: Ophelia Manor of Punkin Holler Lane- Companion piece to Willowisp Manor of Holler Lane- A Fall Freebie .

I started this darling project on Wednesday March 1, 2023 at 9:45a.m. on 28 count Dirty Cashel linen with the called for DMC floss.  I finished stitching it on Friday April 7th at 9:37p.m.  I rolled it up into a cylinder to reverse the curl in the fabric. The next day I began reorganizing my WIPs.  The last time I saw the cylinder it was on my love seat.  I have no idea what I did with it next and today it is still MIA!  Ugh!!! I had not photographed the finished project yet, hence the "in process" photo.

The most recent finish is Pinker 'n Punkin "Mollie William's Homestead" pictured above. Darling, darling, darling. On Thursday May 25th, 2023 I started this project on Zweigart 28count lugana in the color New Khaki.  I finished this project Wednesday July 19th at 2:50p.m. I do intend to finish this into a stand up. The link to this free design: Pinker n Punkin Quilting & Stitching: Mollie William's Homestead- A House Freebie

So that is a short, but truthful story of my finishes and I hope that all of your stitching is enjoyable and prolific.  

 

New free cross stitch link

 Free Pattern - Thomas Subandriyo Cross Stitch (thomashappycrossstitch.com)

Lovely large patterns free from Thomas Subandriyo Cross Stitch. Take care as not all the designs are free and may change from time to time.