Red, White And BBQ With A Sweet Tulip

Woohoo! It's a twofer post today! I have a finish AND a WIP to share with you all. This small finish means that my unofficial yearly goal of 12 projects has been now met, which equals to one per month. I have a couple of projects lined up for the next month or so, so I am hoping I can hit 21 finishes this year. While I only have one Bin O'Shame finish this year so far, that's better than none, yea? 

I am also quite happy that I managed to procure this as a kit and for around five dollars. Gotta love a sale! :)

At any rate, here is the finish for today:

Design: Sweet Tulip 

Designer: Jeannette Douglas of Jeannette Douglas Designs

Fabric Used: 28 count Chai Tea jobelan by Wichelt

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours cotton floss in Gingersnap, Nutmeggie, Manor Red and Wild Berries. The Gentle Art Sampler Threads in Brick Path, Dried Thyme, Espresso Bean, Portabella and Summer Shower. 

Stitchers' Notes: Began Monday, July 23, 2014. Finished Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Kit purchased secondhand. Substituted included fabric for the 28 count Chai Tea jobelan by Wichelt . Stitched one floss thread over two fabric threads.

My latest WIP is more patriotic than the original design. I dug through my Leaflet Silo and found this small design, which I dearly love. I loved the original as it was, however, I decided to tweak it just a wee bit so that it displayed the colors of July in a patriotic manner. While it was not completed in time for the 4th of July, it will be early for next year, so that's nice. :)

Well, at any rate, time to WIP it! :D

Design: hd-42: July (Red, White, and BBQ): a year in chalk

Designer: Cathy Habermann of Hands on Designs

Fabric Used: 30 count Ink Spot Black by R and R Reproductions (discontinued)

Fibers Used: The Gentle Art Sampler Threads in Chalk, Geranium, and Presidential Blue. 
  

Stitcher's Notes: Substituted the called for 30 count Weeks Dye Works Gunmetal for the Ink Spot Black by R and R Reproductions in stash. Added  The Gentle Art Sampler Threads in Presidential Blue to make it a patriotic styled project. 

Time to bolt for the door to clean up my area and see if I cannot put the spurs to this latest WIP. I hope everyone is having a great week. 

Happy stitching!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

A Slice Of Summer Finish

Well, that was sure quick! I had a lot of fun with this project and love stitching Waxing Moon pieces. They go so quick and turn out exceptionally well. 

Well, here it is! 

Design: A Slice Of Summer ( out of print)

Designer: Jacquelyn Fox of Waxing Moon Designs

Fabric Used: 28 count Carolina linen from Charles Craft in Sand

Fibers Used: Anchor six strand embroidery floss in 246. Crescent Colours  cotton floss in Hickory Sticks and Sunshine Girl.  The Gentle Art Sampler Threads in Hibiscus. Needle Necessities #1091 Independence Day (retired floss). 

Accouterments: Mill Hill beads in #42014 Petite Black seed beads. Gold bees of unknown manufacturer.

Stitchers' Notes: Design is OOP and retired due to the frame and buttons being no longer manufactured. Stitched with supplies in stash. Needle Minder by Puffin and Company 

Time for me to be off. Hope everyone is having a great week. Happy stitching!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

First Blackbird Designs Finish For The Year!

Wow! That went super quick! I really enjoyed stitching this piece. I had a lot of fun plotting out what color was going to go where and why. I am thinking of stitching the Quaker Family Register in these colors, however, I will have to get DH's input. As this will contain both sides of the family's initials and dates, I think that is only fair. :)



Well, at any rate, here is the latest finish and the 10th finish for 2018:

Design: The Lily Of The Valley 

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Fabric Used: 32 count Belfast linen of unknown manufacturer in white.

Fibers Used: Au Ver a Soie Soie 100/3 Spun Silk in 004, 037, 124, 126, 197,  561, 603, and 705. Kreinik silk serica thread in Light Charcoal, #8073. 

Accouterments:  Mill Hill bead in #42014 Petite Black

Stitchers' Notes: Design taken from the book And Blossom As The Rose. Fabric and fibers chosen from in house stash and converted from the called for Weeks Dye Works thread and Picture This Plus fabric. Left off border. 

As of Monday, June 25, 2018:

Finished Wednesday, June 27, 2018:

Well, I had best be off. Tons to do today. I hope everyone is enjoying a good  week. Happy stitching!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Finally Finished!

Woohoo! I finally have my ninth finish for the year and the very first one from the infamous Bin O'Shame for this year! I am very, very happy with this finish. It is so bright and cheerful and I am so happy that I stuck with it. I began this project in August of 2007, so I am a bit overdue, yea? I would love to find a bright royal blue frame for it. I think it would set the piece off nicely. 

Well, at any rate, here is the current finish and the very first finish from the Bin O'Shame for this year:

Design: Japanese Anemones

Designer: Sheila Hudson 

Fabric: 14 count summer yellow aida by Wichelt 

Fibers Used: As provided in the kit. There are no DMC or Anchor numbers on the floss, so I will have to do a match at some point, as I want to stitch this one again as it's so bright and cheery. This is the cover kit from issue 187, June 2007 UK Cross Stitcher magazine. 

Front Cover Of The Magazine:

As of Thursday, June 7, 2018:

As of Tuesday, June 12, 2018:

Time for me to clean up my stitching area and grab the next project out of the closet. I hope everyone is having a great week. Happy stitching! 

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

May Cake Finish

I finished this guy up just in the nick of time. With this finish, this concludes the 'Spring' birthday cake freebies from Brooke Nolan of Brooke's Books. I am waffling on continuing with the Summer series, or if I should pick up something from the Bin O'Shame. I have not had a finish from the Bin O'Shame in quite some time. (Almost a year, I think). I really do need to get back to it, as I am soooooooo close to finishing them all up. 

Well, at any rate, here is the second finish for the month of May and the eighth for the year. 

Design: May Cake

Designer: Brooke Nolan of Brooke's Books

Fabric Used: 32 count Belfast linen from Silkweavers' in Dusk 

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 as called for in the chart. Anchor six strand embroidery floss in 02, Brightest White. 

Beads Used: Mill Hill beads in #02031 Citron,   #42101 Purple and #03050 Champagne Ice Antique Glass seed beads. Kreinik #4 braid in 007 - Pink.

Stitchers' Notes: Design from the 12 month series of monthly Birthday Cakes. Finished Tuesday, May 29, 2018. Left off border. Substituted DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117  B5200 for Anchor six strand embroidery floss in 02 Brightest White. Eighth finish for 2018.

Time for me to be off. I need to clean up my area and check on dinner. Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. Happy stitching!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

April Birthday Cake Finish For May

My latest finish is way late for the month of April. This is due to getting socked with allergies and living in an apartment building with inconsiderate smokers. I am hoping that the situation gets rectified soon, but who knows?

At any rate, I have managed to finish this guy up. I am pleased with the way that it has turned out, although for whatever reason, this one was a bit fiddly to work on. I am not sure why, but that's the way it goes. 

Here is my first finish for May and my seventh for the year:

Design: April Cake

Designer: Brooke Nolan of Brooke's Books

Fabric Used: 28 count natural Cashel linen of unknown manufacturer

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 as called for in the chart. Anchor six strand embroidery floss in 02, Brightest White. 

Beads Used: Mill Hill beads in #00479 White and and #03050 Champagne Ice Antique Glass seed beads. 

Stitchers' Notes: Design from the 12 month series of monthly Birthday Cakes. Finished Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Left off border. Substituted DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117  B5200 for Anchor six strand embroidery floss in 02 Brightest White. Seventh finish for 2018.

Welp, time for me to be off. Tons to do today and I need to get my next project put together. I hope everyone is having a great week.

Happy stitching! :)

Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Happy Birthday March Cake Finish

Happy day, all! I chose this latest design because this series is one that I have wanted to stitch as soon as the series began. There are so many applications for these designs. And I love the use of color and beading that Brooke Nolan uses in her designs. 

I am also excited to use a large piece of fabric from my LNS' inventory sale. Once a year they have a 'fabric by the pound' sale and this past December, I purchased 2 pounds of fabric in all counts and colors for $10.00. I could not pass that up! This year I will have to see about saving up more loose change for the end of the year inventory sale. I didn't get a whole lot this past year, but I love what I did get and really, two pounds of fabric is none too shabby. :)

At any rate, here is my latest finish:

Design: March Cake

Designer: Brooke Nolan of Brooke's Books

Fabric Used: 32 count Belfast linen from Silkweavers' in Dusk 

Fibers Used: DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 as called for in the chart. Anchor six strand embroidery floss in 02, Brightest White. 

Beads Used: Mill Hill beads in #00479 White and #02011 Victorian Gold. 

Stitchers' Notes: Began, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Design from the 12 month series of monthly Birthday Cakes. Finished Monday, March 26, 2018. Left off border. Substituted DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117  B5200 for Anchor six strand embroidery floss in 02 Brightest White. Sixth finish for 2018.

Time for me to be off. I hope everyone is having a great week. Happy stitching!

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Respectfully submitted,

C.

A Little Gray Hare

Given the fact that my birthday is soon, I find the title of this newest start to be très amusant. :)

I snagged this latest start on one of my buying groups on Facebook. I managed to get it at a very reasonable price, especially given the fact that Linda Ebright of Lizzie Kate announced her retirement almost a month ago. Like everyone else, I have been searching for those charts to fill in the gaps of the collection. My latest stash acquisition game involves getting stuff as cheaply as possible. I understand free markets and capitalism, but it's not as if I do not have a metric boatload of other things to stitch. If I manage to get it at a good price, then so be it. If not; oh, well. That is the way love and capitalism goes. :)

Well, at any rate, here is my latest start. This makes #5 for the year thus far. That is almost halfway to my 12 pear year goal, so I am happy about that. :)

Design: A Little Gray Hare limited edition kit

Designer: Linda Ebright for Lizzie Kate

Fabric Used: 28 count vintage Antique Green by Zweigart

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Babbling Brook, Carnation, Cinnamon Stick, Collard Greens, Eiffel Tower, Ivy League, Mango, and Rouge. 

Accouterments:  Mill Hill beads in#42014 Petite Black and #42101 Purple

Stitchers' Notes: Began Thursday, March 8, 2018. Finished Thursday, March 15, 2018. Chart purchased secondhand. Fifth project for 2018. 

Time for me to dash. It's time for some organizing and getting my act together. I hope everyone is having a great week. Happy stitching!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Fleur d'Orleans Finish For WIP Wednesday 03.07.2018

I really loved stitching on this piece. It went very, very quick and I thoroughly enjoyed the process of stitching it. I am really happy that I decided to bite the bullet and use the Kreinik cord in #102C Vatican Gold instead of the Access Commodities Soie d'Alger in 521. The delicate vermeil coloring adds to the richness of the silks that were used. I think this is another chart that I am going to keep as opposed to passing on or selling outright. I can see stitching this in many different colorways. 

Well, on with the show! 

Design: Fleur d'Orleans

Designer: Tracy Horner of Ink Circles

Fabric Used: 36 count smokey white Edinburgh linen by Zweigart

Fibers Used: Access Commodities Soie d'Alger in 234 and 1326. Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Old Crow. Kreinik cord in #102C Vatican Gold. 

Stitchers' Notes: Began Monday, February 26, 2018. Converted called for silks to in house materials. Finished Wednesday, March 7, 2018. Project #4 for 2018.

Time for me to be off. I need to clean up my stitching area and then choose another project to either begin or pick back up again. 

I hope everyone is having a great week. Happy stitching!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Woohoo! Another Finish!

I am very, very happy that I managed to finish this little guy up before the end of the month. It went a LOT quicker than I had anticipated and I had a lot of fun stitching it. I am not sure how I will finish this off, but for now, the stitching is done and I have my third finish of the month. 

Design: Keep Love

Designer: Shepherd's Bush

Fabric Used: Weeks Dye Works' 30 count linen in Charlottes' Pink

Fibers Used: As provided in the kit. 

Stitchers' Notes: Kit purchased complete from a Facebook cross stitch selling group. Left off wording. Third finish of 2018.

Time for me to be off. I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Happy stitching! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Victorian Thistles Bookmark Finish

I have managed to finish up my second project of the year. That is one per month, which is ok, considering that work has been crazy busy here lately. I purchased this on one of my selling groups on Facebook. The kit generally retails for around $15.00 US. I managed to snag the entire kit for around $5.00. I had a lot of fun stitching this. I am waiting on the glue to dry on the felt backing, so that it may be included in my bookmark collection. 

Well, at any rate, here is February's finish. And actually fully finished this time! :D

Design: Victorian Thistles bookmark

Designer: Textile Heritage

Fabric Used: 15 count aida band

Fibers Used: Unknown. As provided in the kit.

Stitchers' Notes: Finished Wednesday February 21, 2018. Complete kit purchased from a cross stitch stash selling group on Facebook. Second finish of 2018. 

Well, time for me to be off. I hope everyone is having a great month. Happy stitching! 

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

No Mas (No More)

I hope everyone had a good Christmas. DH and I drove to Las Vegas to visit with family and friends, so I had some stitching time. I managed to get Project 30 stitched up just in the nick of time. I doubt I will be able to get another finish under my belt before the new year, as I have managed to get sick over the holiday. Las Vegas does not have the best air quality :/. 

Well, at any rate, here is Project #30 in all its' glory:

Design: Allégresse and Holly 

Designers: Dany Chevallier of Danybrod and Luli

Fabric Used: 32 count Belfast linen Fabric Orphan No. B301 (closest to Herald) by Picture This Plus

Fiber Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Vanilla Pudding

Accoutrements: Jolee's Jewels Swarovski 6704 20mm Snowflake Aurora Borealis Crystal. 

Stitchers' Notes: Began Tuesday, December 12, 2017. Finished monday, December 25, 2017. Project number 30 for the year 2017. Fabric is a fabric orphan purchased from Stitchers' Village. Please note that the Allégresse design was a purchased chart and the Holly chart is a freebie. 

As of Sunday, December 24, 2017:

As of Monday, December 25, 2017:

Well, time for me to be off and away. I hope everyone is having a great last week of 2017. Happy stitching! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C.