Hello? Anyone out there??

I won't going on about how long it's been since I've update my blog.  I'm going to try to keep it more up to date this year.  I do have to say that I'm surprised that I still remember how Blogger still works!

Here is my first finish for the year:

Frost Blue by Blackberry Lane Designs

Finished as directed on designers website

Stitched one over one on 28 ct. Monaco

with recommended threads and beads

Currently I'm working on a design by Satsuma Street called Pretty Little London.  I first saw this design finished on the blog Whilst Iris Naps and just loved the colours.  My daughter is a real anglophile so she's excited about this one.

Happy Stitching!

Queen Bee

I made this box for my mom for her birthday. It's one out of 2 whole finishes for 2012! I didn't even make my annual ornaments for my family. Not a very productive stitching year for me, but 2013 is going to be different :)

I stitched this piece in particular because my stepdad calls my mom, myself and my daughter Queen Bee, Big Bee and Baby Bee respectively. It might have something to do with our forceful personalities. Ha ha!

-Queen Bee by Little House Needleworks
-Stitched with recommended floss and fabric
-Finished as a box, trimmed with Crescent Colors chenille trim

Gingerbread Cottage Progress

Last weekend I went to visit my mom and took Gingerbread Cottage by CCN as my travel project.  I managed to finish most of the cottage while visiting.

I'm stitching this with 2 threads on 36 count fabric.  So I managed to anwer my own question regarding CaHRH and I'll be ripping out what I've stitched so far and starting again.  Tossing the fabric isn't an option as it's a customs colour/cut by Lakeside Linens and set me back a pretty penny.

Enjoy the Super Bowl, if you're watching. 

Gift for my Aunt

I've been close with my Aunt Jean for as long as I can remember.  When I was a kid I loved going to her house for sleepovers with my cousins and to just spend time with her.  She is the person who introduced me to cross stitch at 14 or 15 with a huge carousel horse pattern with blended threads and a million colours.  Needless to say, I never finished that project but my love of cross stitch has remained.

My aunt is always doing nice things for me, we talk on the phone a lot and email each other frequently too.  I decided I really wanted to make something for her to display this winter.  (I'm also sending her a cookbook we talked about last week and an iTunes card.)

Frosty Flakes by Little House Needleworks

Fabric:  30 ct.  Straw Linen by WDW

Fibre's:  as charted

Embellishments:  #02014 Mill Hill beads

Finished as an ornament

A view of the twisted cord I used for finishing.  (I used thick chipboard coasters from Michael's as my finishing form this time.)

View of the back.  I started using homemade iron on tags instead of stitching on the year and my initials on my projects.  Way faster and convenient too!

It's a dreary, rainy day here today.  Just how I like my winter days!  I'm making a pot of Loaded Baked Potato Soup.  Make this soup!!!!  It is so delicious.  One piece of advice, use really good quality bacon.  I didn't once and it was not a good result. 

Have a great day. 

Advice Needed for CaHRH

I started Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow in October and I'm feeling the urge to get back at it. I'm stitching it on 36 count linen with one strand of floss.

The advice I need is this. I'm not too happy at all with the coverage of one strand but I don't want to frog what I've already stitched. The coverage that is seen in my photo is deceptive. So, do I:

1. Continue on stitching with one thread even though I'm not too happy with it?

or...


2. Start stitching with 2 threads part way through the first block.

or...

3. Rippit, ribbit! 


What do you think? I'm anxious to hear your advice.

Prairie Schooler Giraffe

I finished up my final Christmas ornament this morning.  How bad is that?  I'm almost an entire month behind.

Book No. 71 by Prairie Schooler, Two by Two

Fabric:  Mystery 36 ct. linen

Fibre's:  as charted

Embellishments: Ruched ribbon

I added some holly and beaded berries to make it look more Christmasy:

My daughter didn't mind about the lateness at least and she thought it was so cute.  She loves giraffes so this was perfect for her.

I am definately starting my ornament gift stitching WAAAAAY earlier this year.  No more late gifts!!! 

Hey Sandra:) do you recognize the little zipper bag in the background of my pictures??

My lucky kids got a snow day today.  It didn't snow too much but they're calling for freezing rain this afternoon.  I guess the roads were pretty bad this morning.  My kids go to private school and they have kids driving from all over the place to get there so when it's bad, it's a snow day. 

The cities east of us had all their schools closed since Wednesday, even the public ones which is unheard of! 

Take care everyone and have a nice weekend!

Winter Squirrel

This is the ornament I made for my son this Christmas (though the actual finishing wasn't done until 2012.  OOPS)  I always forget how busy I get before Christmas.  I think I need to set a reminder in my calendar that says "Start Stitching Ornaments" to come up the 1st of November every year.

Winter Squirrel by The Victoria Sampler

Just Cross Stitch 2011 Ornament Issue

Fabric:  28 ct. linen

Fibres:  some as charted, some what I had in my stash

Embellishments:  #02063 Mill Hill Sead Beads, Poblano Pepper Crescent Colors Chenille

Finished as an ornament

This finish is my new favourite!  I love how crisp and professional it looks, plus it's way faster than when I put together a pillow ornament.  I used my awesome diecut chipboard pieces for the form again.

Candy Cane Ornament

Here is the ornament I made for my mom this Christmas.  She just loved it.

Fabric: 32 ct. Platinum Belfast linen

Fibres: as charted

Embellishments:  white Mill Hill Beads on berries, Kreniek metallic thread around berries for definition

Finished as an ornament

Candy Cane by Madame la Fee

click here for the FREE chart

I have to say I'm so pleased with how this turned out.  I used chipboard pieces for the finishing form and it worked perfectly.  It's really sturdy and thin too.  I went to my local scrapbook store, bought the chipboard and used their dies to cut out the ovals.  (The chipboard, which is like a thin, sturdy cardboard, came in 8x10 sheets and cost just over a dollar per sheet.)

I whip stitched all around the design to get it nice and tight on the form, did the same to another oval with coordinating fabric, glued them together and finished it with silver rick rack.  Does anyone know if this method would work for square ornaments too?  I have a hard time getting them tight on the form with nice, square corners.

Take care!

Christmas Ornament for my Stepdad

Here is what I stitched for my stepdad for Christmas.

It's Merry Moose by Mill Hill. I finished it as a hanging ornament instead of a magnet like the kit intended. I just love the beaded garland around his neck. This is a design I will actually stitch again...which I don't do :)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Winner!

The winner of my giveaway for a copy of Cross Stitch for the Holidays is:

Cindy of Cindy's Cross Stitching Ornaments and Projects!!!!  Congrats Cindy.  Email me with your address and I'll post it ASAP.

I've started on Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow:

A small start, but at least it's started!