2010 Fright Night Finish

My latest finish is not the project that I recently started. I haven't been feeling all that hot due to the wildfires and as consequence, could not concentrate on such a dark fabric. I chose instead to stitch something else on a light colored fabric. The project should have taken no more than a week, however, I managed to stretch it out to three weeks until completion. These things happen I suppose. At least I have another finish for the year, which brings the total to 26 finishes for the year. Not exactly huge numbers, but then again, there has been a lot going on this past year. :)

At any rate, on with the show!

Design: 2010 Fright Night Quaker Halloween

Designer: Sandra Dering for SanMan Originals 

Fabric: 28 count Cashel linen in Fog by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Access Commodities Soie d'Alger in Noir, 234, 521, 633,  and 1336.

Accoutrements: Mill Hill beads in #00167 Christmas Green and #02033 Brilliant Orange. Toho 11/0 glass seed beads 1951-48 High Metallic Purple

Stitchers' Notes: Created for the members of the message board for the 2010 Fright Night festivities. Unfortunately, this chart is not for sale or trade as it is a .pdf file. 

I must be off. I hope everyone had a great weekend. 

Happy stitching!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

A Quick SMO Finish And A New Start

I managed to start and finish this guy up in one day. This is a really, really old design of Sandy's, 2005 to be precise. What I cannot remember is if this was a part of the Fright Night festivities or if this was just a random Halloween freebie. I suppose it doesn't matter in the long run, however, I do like to be precise in these things. 

I have wanted to stitch this guy up for a long, long time now, however, I just never got around to it. I'm glad I did, because it is such a fun little project. Try as hard as I might, I could not photograph this piece correctly. The fabric is a very pale purple and unfortunately, it appears as gray. Even on a sunny day! Ah, well. These things happen, yes?

Design: Creepy

Designer: Sandra Dering for SanMan Originals 

Fabric: Picture This Plus 28 count cashel linen in Sprite (DMC 3743 Variegated) 

Fibers: Access Commodities Soie d'Alger in Mode, Noir, 234 and 1336. Kreinik #4 001 silver braid. 

Accoutrement: Mill Hill beads in #00167 Christmas Green. 

Stitchers' Notes: This is a MEMBER ONLY freebie for the 2005 Halloween festivities of the SanMan Originals Message Board. It is not for sale or trade! Started and finished on Tuesday, September 12, 2017.

My new start is also another halloween related SanMan Originals project. If I recall correctly, this was a Secret Shop purchase in 2011. I tried to resist stitching it on the fabric that I chose, as that piece was earmarked for another project. That is, until I realized, that I would not be getting to that project any time soon. Then I figured, there are a few other projects that I wish to use that fabric for, and when I get around to the intended project (Sacre Coeur by Jools Line of Long Dog Samplers, for the curious), I will just order another piece of fabric. :)

Well, at any rate, here is my start so far: 

Design: Ghost White Pumpkin

Designer: Sandra Dering for SanMan Originals 

Fabric: Picture This Plus 28 count cashel linen in Gothic

Fibers: Access Commodities Soie d'Alger in 2143, 3441, 3842, and 4534. Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Icing and Shepherd's Pasture.  

Stitchers' Notes: This is a 2011 Secret Shop purchase. As it is a .pdf file, unfortunately it is not for sale or trade. Began Tuesday, September 12, 2017. 

Well, I must be off. I hope everyone is having a great week so far. Happy stitching!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

A Not So Quick Finish

Given the calendar date, and my schedule being what it is, this is probably my final Halloween related piece for the year. Although, I should never say never, as I was proven earlier this year by having a couple of quick finishes that I was not anticipating on finishing!

I really enjoyed this piece and look forward to the companion pieces that are in the magazine. There are three others that are just as fun as this one and I am looking forward to finding other over/hand dyed fabrics to stitch them on. 

Well, on with the show! :)

Design: Haunted Mansion (my name for it) Spooky Silhouette

Designer: Shannon Wasilieff of Shannon Christine Designs

Fabric Used: Unknown. I am almost positive that it is 32 count Belfast linen by Picture This Plus in Mirage from their Crystal (opalescent) line). 

Fiber Used: Rainbow Gallery Splendor 12 ply silk floss in Black (S801).

Accoutrements: Mill Hill beads in #02031 Citron

Stitchers' Notes: Design one of four from issue 246 of the World of Cross Stitching magazine (October 2016 issue). Design on page 86. Substituted the called for Polstitches fabric and DMC Embroidery Floss Art. 117 in 310 for in house materials. Substituted called for French knots for Mill Hill beads in #02031 Citron.

Time for me to be off. Lots to do today. I hope everyone is having a great week! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Labor Day Weekend Finish

Thank heavens it's September! We are having our first bit of cool evening weather this Labor Day weekend and I love it. This really is my favorite time of the year and I look forward to it every year, without fail. 

This latest finish is another project that I really have wanted to do for a long time now. I purchased it several years ago and finally got out the supplies to stitch it up. It went fairly quickly and I enjoyed changing out the flosses to what I had in stash. This, I think, will be another design that I keep as I can see myself stitching it several more times. 

Here are the fruits of my labors:  

Design: Halloween Tree: Spooky #TR187

Designer: The Trilogy 

Fabric Used: 32 count Belfast linen in Legacy  by Picture This Plus

Fibers Used: Carrie’s Creations in Hearts on Fire, The Gentle Art Sampler Threads in #1040 Black Crow, #0570 Bittersweet, #0470 Buttercrunch, #7015 Sarsaparilla,  SanMan Strands #048 Candy Corn,  Weeks Dye Works cotton floss in ##2237 Hazelnut, #2316 Iris, #2196 Scuppernong, #1091 Whitewash. 

Accouterments: Mill Hill beads #42014 Petite Black seed beads

Stitcher's Notes: SanMan Strands is a discontinued floss line. Left off buttons and wording. Converted some of the called for flosses to those in stash. Began Sunday, August 28, 2016. Finished Saturday, September 3, 2016.

I also managed to dye another piece of fabric yesterday. I love how it came out. I think I need to find a more primitive type design to stitch with this fabric. It turned out fairly dark, however, I do love the contrast with the lighter spots.

This is a 32 count Belfast linen, in a color that I am calling Dark Honey Ale:

Well, I had best be off. Time to clean up my stitchy area and find another fall/Halloween related project to stitch. I hope everyone is having a happy Labor Day weekend! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C.

Getting A Head Start On Halloween

While I am awaiting another loaner chart from the Blackbird Designs Lending Library , I decided that I could wait no longer to stitch on a Halloween or Fall related piece. I have been really indifferent towards stitching, despite the  happy dance that occurred when I procured more long sought after Good Huswif and Primitive Needle designs. 

I saw this one in the 2016 Just Cross Stitch Halloween bookazine (Issue four, Volume 9) and knew right away this was the next piece that I was going to stitch. I do not have a sewing machine in order to make this into a pillow as it is finished in the bookazine. But perhaps with the forthcoming fall and halloween merchandise that is already appearing in Michael's and Joann's, I will be able to finish this in a different way. 

At any rate, here is the latest finish:

Design: The Skeleton Key

Designer: Lee Fisher of StitchyFish Designs

Fabric Used: 36 count Edinburgh linen by Hand Dyed Fibers in 

Xenops 5315 (equivalent to DMC 762, very pale grey)

Fibers Used: Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk in Old Crow

Stitcher's Notes: Chart featured on page 85 of the 2016 Just Cross Stitch Halloween bookazine (Issue four, Volume 9). Began Thursday, July 14, 2016. Finished Saturday, July 16, 2016.

Well, time for me to go. I need to clean up my stitching area and find something else to stitch on. 

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

Pre Overnight Shift Finish For Now

I've taken my time with this one for whatever reason. I think I have hit fall/Halloween stitching overload at this point. I am not sure if this latest finish is actually 'finished', as I think it may need something else. DH likes it the way it is, I think 'something' is needed. What I do not know, but there you have it! So, at this point, it is finished for now. 

Design: Creepy Cocktails

Designer: Pinoy Stitch 

Fabric Used: 32 count Cashel linen in Fog by Picture This Plus from their Crystal (opalescent) line.

Fibers Used:  DMC in 154, 164, 208, 209, 310, 327, 413, 414, 415, 444, 606, 741, 772, 907, 947, 3346, 3706, 3825, 3853 and B5200.

Beads Used: Mill Hill petite beads in #00275 Coral, #42010 Ice, #42027 Champagne.


Stitcher's Notes: Began Monday, October 12, 2015. As I did not place the wording correctly, the bowl full of eyeball snacks is in the words of the late, great Bob Ross, a 'happy accident'. 



As of Wednesday, October 14, 2015:

As of Friday, October 23, 2015:

I had best be off. I have a ton of stuff to do today before I do my overnight bunk. Happy weekend to you all! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

This Is Halloween, This Is Halloween! WIP Wednesday

Boys and girls of every age

Wouldn't you like to see something strange?

Come with us and you will see

This – our town of Halloween!

We are big fans of not only Halloween, but The Nightmare Before Christmas in this house. I love the tale of Jack and Sally. When I saw this latest start, I immediately imagined Jack Skellington and Sally ordering one up after a long night of frights on Halloween. This one is a lot of fun to stitch. 

Well, here is what I have so far:

Design: Creepy Cocktails

Designer: Pinoy Stitch 

Fabric Used: 32 count Cashel linen in Fog by Picture This Plus from their Crystal (opalescent) line.

Fibers Used:  DMC in 154, 164, 208, 209, 310, 327, 413, 414, 415, 444, 606, 741, 772, 907, 947, 3346, 3706, 3825, 3853 and B5200.

Beads Used: Mill Hill petite beads in #42010 Ice.


Stitcher's Notes: Began Monday, October 12, 2015.



As of Wednesday, October 14, 2015:

Well, I had best be off. Lots to do today and this isn't going to stitch itself, haha! Hope everyone is having a great week! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

#35 And A New Start

Here is another one I should have waited to post as I managed to finish it up the same day that it was posted. Although, in my defense, when I had posted yesterday, I was still waffling as to whether or not I wanted to add any of the smaller elements around the design, or perhaps stitch the raven one over one one on the right side. I decided that where I was was a good stopping point, so I just left it as is. When I was finished, I cleaned up and had to wait until today for good sunlight in order to take a halfway decent picture. It took a bit longer to finish than it should have, however, the one symbol that the designer chose to use was a giant plus sign  that takes up almost the whole block. As such, it makes counting out stitches a bit difficult. Ah, well. These things happen. 

At any rate, here is the tiny finish that I had last night after dinner. I enjoyed stitching the piece. 

Design: Thine Is The Trick And The Treat (retired and out of print design)

Designer: Prairie Moon (retired designer)

Fabric: Fleur de Luce Hand Dyeds (that's me!) 28 count Monaco fabric in Storm Clouds 

Fibers: Hand Dyed Fibers in Old Maid of the Abyss , Six Strand Regular (discontinued floss line).  Access Commodities Soie d'Alger in Blanc.

Stitcher's Notes: Last stitched Thursday, November 4, 2010. Please note that at this time, this chart is not for either sale or trade. Since completed, this is now #35 from the Bin O'Shame.

As of Thursday, November 4, 2010:

As of Friday, September 4, 2015:

Finished late Friday, September 4, 2015:

Afterwards, I was looking for another project to stitch and didn't feel like stitching anything out of the Bin O'Shame. There *was* a project that I wanted to stitch, however, I could not get a good read on the floss toss I was doing. So, I elected to wait until another time to stitch Plum Pudding Needleart's Blessed Be. This design has been in my stash for quite some time and one that I really am in the mood to do. Since I could not get a good 'read' from the fibers and floss that I had pulled for Blessed Be, I decided to go ahead and stitch something completely new. I decided that instead of kitting something up, just grab something from Kit Mountain, which is what I am calling the several bins that are storing the projects that are all kitted up and ready to go. This way, I get to start in on those bins before my anticipated start date of January 1 for next years' stitching goals. Woohoo! Two lists tackle in the same year! Go me! 

Well, at any rate, here is the project that I chose for my overnight weekend:

Design: Cats For All Seasons Autumn Cat (3 of 4)

Designer: Nancy Javier and Barbara Finwall of Banar Designs for Better Homes and Gardens

Fabric: 14 count khaki aida of unknown manufacturer

Fibers Used: Unknown as provided in the kit

Bling Used:  Mill Hill beads in #02031 Citron

Stitcher's Notes: Once completed, the Spring Cat is the last in the series to stitch. 


Began Friday, September 4, 2015:

Well, I had best be off. I need to take care of a few things before I can get back at it. Happy weekend everyone! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

The Overnight Shift On Flashback Friday

This is my weekend for the overnight shift. I generally choose projects that are easy to stitch on and do not require a great deal of concentration. I also have the house fully cleaned, errands completed and meals laid out for the entire weekend. I decided on this project as I am itching to stitch on fall/Halloween related projects. I decided that I am not a fan of this color combination and that I would only stitch a portion of the design. I will probably make turn this into a flatfold or perhaps an oversized ornament. I am thinking that when I go to stitch the entire piece as it, it will probably be stitched on 32 count Belfast linen in Legacy  by Picture This Plus, from their Crystal line with black silk floss. That seems to be my 'go to' for a lot of Halloween pieces.  

Well, as this piece has been waiting to see the light of day for almost 5 years, I guess I better get on with it :). Here it is, #35 from the Bin O'Shame:

Design: Thine Is The Trick And The Treat 

Designer: Prairie Moon  (retired designer)

Fabric: Fleur de Luce Hand Dyeds 28 count Monaco fabric in Storm Clouds 

Fibers: Hand Dyed Fibers in Old Maid of the Abyss , Six Strand Regular (discontinued floss line).  Access Commodities Soie d'Alger in Blanc.

Stitcher's Notes: Last stitched Thursday, November 4, 2010. Please note that at this time, this chart is not for either sale or trade. When completed, this will be #35 from the Bin O'Shame.

As of Thursday, November 4, 2010:

As of Friday, September 4, 2015:

Well, I had best be off. I hope my US folks have a wonderful Labor day weekend. I wish everyone a happy weekend! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C. 

A Late Halloween Finish

I have a confession to make. Stitching the Mermaid Azure really took a lot out of me. I had a deadline for her as I knew I had a lot going on in October until the end of the year and I really wanted to have her finished. As consequence, I burnt completely out on stitching. With the exception of to tiny finishes consisting of a floss toss and a tiny fall finish, I have had the urge to stitch abandon me completely. It's ok I suppose, but it really bothers me when I have all of these lovely things to stitch and I just do not have the urge. 

I managed to score a SanMan Originals Secret Shop purchase and when it arrived, I knew I had to do it immediately. I thought if I had another quick finish under my belt it would cure me of the Non Stitching Flu. I had a lot of fun tweaking this one. I started and finished this one today. It's late for this years' Halloween but it's early for next years'! :)


Welp, at any rate, here it is:

Design: Poof, Oops Meow 

Designer: Sandra Dering of SanMan Originals

Fabric: 28 count white opalescent Lugana by Zweigart

Fibers Used: DMC 310, 550, and 702. Kreinik metallic thread in #4 braid #015, Chartreuse. 

Bling Used:  Mill Hill beads in #02031, Citron

Stitcher's Notes: This was a Secret Shop design from 2008, limited number design. 

Well, I had best be off. I've got some stuff that needs attending. Hope everyone is having a great week! :)

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Respectfully submitted,

C.