A little plaid for Christmas

Design: Peace by Lizzie Kate, JCS 2003
Fabric: 28ct tea Monaco linen by Charles Craft
Threads: DMC 304, 310, 500, 3781, and 3820
Start/Finish: 11/1/2011
Finished as no-sew cube: 12/10/2011
Notions: foam cube, red pearlized heart pin, and plaid fabric

Egads! I didn't think when I started this project this afternoon that it would take me sooooooo long O_o"

Apparently, I can't make a decent bow to save my life. I was looking up videos online to get some help, but eventually gave up and went with a simple loop.

This is my first attempt at a cube finish. I think it's a fun way to finish a cross stitch design without resorting to a sewing machine, but I still need some practice :)

Hope you are having a fabulous weekend with your craft projects!

Until next time ^_____^

Peace

Design: Peace by Lizzie Kate, JCS 2003
Fabric: 28ct tea Monaco linen by Charles Craft
Threads: DMC 304, 310, 500, 3781, and 3820
Start/Finish: 11/1/2011

A small start and finish tonight while I was watching Ever After on DVD. It's one of my favorite fairy tale adaptations.

I need to find a silver charm for the middle of the design!~

Until next time ^____^

December 25

Design: Dec 25 by Lizzie Kate (JCS 2010)
Threads: DMC white, 699, 907, and 3688
Fabric: 28ct phoenix Cashel
Start/Finish: 12-19-2010

Sewing Update ♥

Valentine pillows - front


Valentine pillows - back


Christmas pillows - front


Christmas pillows - back


Fall/Halloween pillows - front


Fall/Halloween pillows - back

Pillow finishes:
1. Be Mine by The Sampler Girl
2. Love by Plum Pudding Needleart
3. Noel Bunnies by Stitch Ideas (Japanese craft magazine)
4. Happiest Holidays by Sue Hillis
5. Winter Sampler by Little House Needleworks
6. Halloween is a Hoot by Bits N Pieces
7. Fall Squared Snippet by Lizzie Kate
8. Gather a Harvest by Lizzie Kate
9. Jack O'Lantern by Casey Buonaugurio

I decided to go ahead and finish my pillows while watching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I know, geek to the core! At least with these pillows finished I'll be able to start on some Christmas stitching ^__^

What do you think?

Until next time ^____^

Gather A Harvest

Design: Gather a Harvest by Lizzie Kate
Threads: Recommended DMC
Fabric: 28ct cream colored Zweigart
Start/Finish: 10/17-20 & 25/2010

My aunt and I are debating in a friendly way, of course, about whether I should finish the bottom motif of this design, but I really love the pumpkins by themselves without the blocked leaves at the bottom.

I was hoping to get some 'finishing' done this weekend, but alas I was busy getting ready for Halloween and attending a wedding so those plans went out the window. Maybe I'll get something accomplished this weekend if I don't get sidetracked with other things.

Until next time ^____^

Pumpkins progress

Hi, everyone! I hope you are enjoying the work week so far. I've made some more progress on my Gather A Harvest design and thought I'd share it with you.



I think I like the second pumpkin's color better than the pumpkin in the middle of the design. I hope to work on the design tomorrow. Hopefully, I can get it finished by the end of the week and maybe, just maybe, I'll get it 'finished' into something this weekend ;)

Until next time ^____^

For the Love of Pumpkins!

Design: Gather a Harvest
Threads: Recommended DMC
Fabric: 28ct cream colored Zweigart
Start: 10/17/2010

I started this design after stitching a bit on my LHN Rose in the Morning this afternoon. The colors I am using are a lot darker than the alternative, which is GAST, but I think it works for the pumpkins ;)

I hope you have enjoyed your weekend!

Until next time ^____^

Autumn ABC's

Design: Autumn ABC's Snippet by Lizzie Kate
Fabric: 28ct antique white linen M.C.G Textiles
Threads: Recommended DMC
Start/Finish: 8/24-25/2010

The weather was perfect for stitching this morning. Just a little hint of cooler temperatures, tempting us with the promise of Fall.

Until next time ^____^

Fall and a cute little crow

Design: Fall Squared Snippet by Lizzie Kate
Threads: Recommended DMC
Fabric: Unknown count & color
Start/Finish: 8/21/2010

Hi, everyone! As you can see, I've been quite busy today with some stitching. I loved this design and the little crow button from Just Another Button Company gives it such character.

I'm not sure what color and count this fabric is. I think it might be 28ct, but I can't remember. I bought this linen and some other darker brown fabrics earlier this year (maybe last year) for some Halloween designs. Of course, I never got around to those designs so I dug out this linen to use for Fall Squared.

Thanks to Brigitte for your lovely comments on my Trail Creek Farm designs. Yes, they are all in the same series. I couldn't resist finishing them all ^__^

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend with your projects, etc.

Until next time ^____^

Early start of spring!

This afternoon I stitched this little cutie! I've never stitched a Lizzie Kate design, but I saw this one at my LNS and couldn't resist purchasing it ;)






Design: Spring ABC's by Lizzie Kate
Fabric: 28ct antique white linen M.C.G Textiles
DMC: 727, 987, 3687, 3740, and 3853
Start/Finish: 2/28/2010

What do you think of my Spring-themed display? I bought the bunnies at Hobby Lobby. I had a hard choice to make from all the cute bunnies they had, but I came away with these two! I love the one on the right. He reminds of something that Hayao Miyazaki would have in one of his animations.

I purchased a white ceramic pitcher at Michael's this morning for 50% off! I got some hydrangeas to fill it up!

Did you guys watch the hockey game this afternoon? I was stitching this design while watching it ;) It was a great game! I was hoping the Canadians would win since it was taking place in their homeland! I'm glad they did!

On a closing note, I loved watching the Olympics! Thanks to Canada for hosting such an amazing Olympic Games ;)

Until next time ^_____^

Silky goodness!

Yesterday, my aunt and I were lucky enough to get across the bay to Pensacola to one of our favorite needlework shops, Needle Delights.

It was the last day of their 20% off sale so I went a bit crazy, but in my defense some of the items, when I get them stitched up, are potential Christmas gifts ;)


This pic doesn't do any justice to the Belle Soie threads O_o"

I got several JBW Designs that I hadn't bought yet from Needle Delights. I didn't see 'A Very Merry Spring' at the store so I don't know where I'm going to get it because it wasn't available through Merchant mall ^-^"

I also bought Lizzie Kate's 'Fall Squared' and LHN's 'Schoolgirl Lessons.' And my first batch of Belle Soie threads!!!!

Oh, my goodness!! They are lovely. I bought them for a design that I'm making for Christmas. I bought Cranberry, Collard Greens, Noir, and Vanilla Pudding. When I got them, I couldn't stop touching them. They are so soft! I started my pattern last night using the Noir threads. (sigh) How can you go back to DMC after working with such soft threads?!? LOL I can answer my own question, expense! The Belle Soie threads are worth it though ;)

My design called for 40ct vintage river willow linen by Lakeside, but they didn't have that color at the store. But the staff at Needle Delights was very helpful by showing me alternative colors to go with the threads :) I ended up getting 32 ct platinum linen at their recommendation. I decided on 32 ct because I'm used to working on that count and I've heard that the higher the thread count, the worse it gets for your eyes. LOL I'd like to save mine for as long as possible. I'm already wearing glasses on a daily basis anyway!

The two JBW Designs of the Sweet Nothings line at the bottom of the photo were two charts that I bid for on eBay. 'Five Little Pumpkins' and 'Smiling Jack-o-Lanterns' are two of the cutest designs I've seen in her Sweet Nothings line. I can't wait to start them ;) It's a shame that most of her earlier designs are out of print!! I wish JBW Designs would publish a book with all her out of print designs, I would buy it in a heartbeat!

(sigh) I still haven't received the patterns I ordered in the mail. The lady at Needle Delights said that the mail has been crazy lately, especially since she sends every package by priority mail. She was telling my aunt and I that a package to Panama City was taking a week to get there! Yes, I would definitely say something was going on with the postal service!!

Well, maybe I'll get lucky tomorrow and it comes in the mail ;)

Have a great Sunday! Happy stitching ^__^