JULY Update

 June’s finishes included Monica, A pincushion doll, Flag of Stars and Anjour Pears. I started the finishing on Monica so far the skirt is stitched up, and the apron finished except for some apron strings or other form of attachment. Next time I work on her I  need to construct her body, and complete the  work on her apron and skirt. 

Monica, A Pincushion Doll, GPA

I’m not sure how I be finishing Flag of Stars. Maybe I’ll come up with something before Veteran’s Day.

Flag of Stars, Bent Creek

Fabric has been picked out for the finishing on my pears. I want to stitch at least one more before I tackle the finishing.

Anjour Pear, Annie Beez 

I was trucking along on Christmas Garden then noticed I had a counting error or two. Okay it’s really 3! Don’t know how that happened, must have been stitching late at night again. One entire motif has to come out. It’s too close to the basket of flowers. I also have one error on each side of the center. They may stay. Time will tell. I should work on this 2 more days to complete my July WIPGO but I’m not feeling it right now. Nine more days to go, there is still a chance.

Christmas Garden, Blackbird Deisgns

For 24 Hours of Cross Stitch Weekend (July 19-21) I concentrated primarily on One Dozen Quakers and Mabel Tuke 1779. I got more than half of the bottom panel done. Anxious to get this one in the finished column.

One Dozen Quaker, Last 3 big motifs are done as well as the border. Now to finish the personalization and add the remaining small motifs.

Mabel Tuk 1779, Sassyfras Samplers

#Stitchthesummerolympics starts on Friday. I don’t have all my projects selected yet but I’m ready for the first 4 days (challenges). 

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

March 2024 Progress

Four of my Year of WIPs were the focus of  my stitching in March. 

What Remains, Blackbird Desings

Nativity, Bent Creek

One Dozen Quakers, Rosewood Manor

Another Year Creeps By, Ink Circles

I’ve been making good progress on each.

The latter half of the month was spent doing pre-stitching for an in-person class. The project, a huswife, was taught by Jackie of It’s Fine-ally Finished at Sassy Jacks Stitchery in North Carolina. It took me all of the 3 weeks prior to class to get my stitching done. There were 25 in the class and we had a great time assembling the project and decorating the wonderful box made by Mr. Miller.

Eternal Flame, It’s Fine-ally Finished.

A wonderful finish.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Gwen

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March WIPs and Finishes

 Time for the March Check-In for the Fully Finished Gallery SAL.

The goal of this SAL is to motivate stitchers to get their stitched projects fully finished, banishing the stuffed drawers and under the bed boxes that are full of items to be finished.  

I only have one FFO to share. I completed the stitching in February and the finishing in March. Snowmen Are Cool is an older pattern by Waxing Moon Designs. The snowman button from Just Another Button Company was substituted for the one on the model. I wasn't able to find the featured one. 

Snowmen Are Cool

Waxing Moon Designs

I've worked some more on One Dozen Quakers. It's so much fun working on it that is hard to put it down and move on to the next project. 

One Dozen Quakers

Rosewood Manor

The right most motif is done, now to move to a larger Q-Snap to complete the right side border.

Christmas Garden

Blackbird Designs

I worked on the basket/urn of flowers on the top area of Christmas Garden. Hopefully I will have better success when I tackle the top border again. I've taken it out at least three times it seems. Need to work on that counting mojo.

This month I'm also working on 2 Ornaments for Challenges. I working on 2 of my 12 Days of /Christmas Stockings.

 

12 Days of Christmas 

Annie Beez Folk Art

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

January/February 2024

It’s hard to put all that I worked on in January and February in one post, so I’ll just be sprinkling them in as I go along. In the mean time here are the first 4. 

The houses on the left still need their roofs, but I’ve started the antler on right side.

Dancer, Barbara Ana Designs, Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher Magazine 

The top border of Christmas Garden is giving fits. I think I have taken it out at lease 3 times now. Still working on the top portion of the design and will get back to the border later.

Christmas Garden, Blackbird Designs

Almost met my goal if finishing this block in February, so close.

Another Year Creeps By, Ink Circles

I didn’t take a before picture, but this is my progress so far. The gold on the A is the wing for my my still headless angel. The shepherd and sheep are done and on to the next set of letters.

Nativity, Bent Creek

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

 

Easter Treasure Hunt 2023

 Time for another blog hop. 

Jo, Serendipitous Stitching, is giving us a chance to share our stitching. Since Easter will soon be here we are hopping around the blog world collecting letters to make a phrase. We also get to view some fabulous stitching/crafting along the way. 

If this is your first stop you will want to go to Jo's blog so you don't miss any of the participating blogs

Start: https://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com

Since this is the Year of The Rabbit I thought I would share 3 rabbit projects I stitched in the past.:

Blackbird Designs, Easter Parade

Easter Holiday Hoopla, Brenda Gervais

Spring Hare Etching, Heart in Hand

Oh, Yes you're here for a letter.

;

Hop on over to: https://lifeoutsidethewashingbasket.blogspot.com/ to continue with the Treasure Hunt.

Happy Easter!

September-October 2022

Winter Wonderland was my start for the September Designer Focus. Designer is Glendon Place. I only managed a portion of the border and a start on the antlers. I have a bit more of the border on the right than this picture. Will continue working on this to see how far I can get.

I also worked on Monica, Mabel Tuke, Cinnamon Stars, and Lady Justice. I had a start and finish on Hands on Design Hello September. 

October's start and finish was Cricket Collection's Why Is It? Cricket Collection was GaRon Designer Focus for October. 

Why Is It?

Cricket Collection

This year I was able to attend Friendstitch. This Zoom retreat held by Heart in Hand and Bent Creek was a blast. I was in the morning session. The projects, videos and swag made it a great experience. I look forward to attending next year. 

Christmas Bird - pre-stitched project

 Two ornaments from the Friendstitch Retreat.

I stitched and finished some Halloween pieces most are in the previous post. I also finished the last part of Casting A Spell, Blackbird Designs. It's now ready to be fully finished for next year. My box is painted and ready to go.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

 

June 2022

 I managed a lot of stitching days in June, but I only have three finishes. 

Blackwork Angel, Prairie Schooler

Noah's Christmas Ark I, Plum Street Samplers

Six Geese, Celebration of Needlework 12 Days of Christmas SAL

My Second Fully Finished was Hello Summer a Fat Quarter Shop Stitch Quarterly Cross Exclusive from 2021. It's mounted on a board from Shantell 141.

My WIPGO Number 16 Hello Summer, Plum Street Samplers was finished. No progress on Ann Rogers, number 9. 

July's numbers are 11, and 18. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

 

May 2022

May was Blackbird Designs Focus Month. My main focus was to be What Remains, I made some progress but not as much as I had hoped.

What Remains, Blackbird Designs

 I had started Secret Garden some time ago, and decided it was time for a revisit. I had made the most progress on the alphabet strawberry, with a modest start on the box top as well. 

before

I realized that things were not working out as charted. I couldn't find my counting error for anything. I finally gave up and put the whole thing in time out. When I took it out again I finally found my error. I restarted on a new piece of fabric with DMC 321. I managed to get through the counting this time and have an fully finished strawberry. I'm still working on the ribbon topper, can't seem to get it just right.   I will most likely frog the original strawberry and re-stitch. I want to have a strawberry to match the box top. Just need some more Turkish Red. 

Secret Garden, Blackbird Designs

DMC 321

I also worked on top of the drum for Peacock Pinkeep. I stitched the band for the drum but never started the top. I had a good portion done when I realized I was stitching on the wrong side of my fabric! Then came the question start over or continue? I gritted my teeth and frogged then restarted. I think in this case it was worth it. I'm loving it. 

(This fabric is not photographing well. It looks much better IRL)

Peacock Pinkeep, Blackbird Designs

40ct Vintage Autumn Gold

Belle Soie:Tortoise Shell, Peacock

A rocky start to my focus designer but not a bad ending.

I finished Hello Summer, by Plum Street Samplers. I did leave off the words.

Hello Summer, Plum Street Samplers

I also stitched and finished 5 Rings, May's ornament from Celebration of Needlework's 12 Days of Christmas SAL.

My new start was Winter Cometh, Summer House Stitche Workes. Hope to complete this soon.

Winter Cometh, Summer House Stitche Workes

Thanks for stopping by, I'm off to check out the new WIPGO numbers an update my board.

Gwen

Mid-November Progress

Do you see what I see? 

Name Tree

M Designs

A near finish on my ornament for DN!

I just need to finish the first letter of her name and the tree stand. Then on to the beading.

12 Days

Hands On Designs

I finally finished stitching day 11 of Hands On Design's 12 Days. I used Kreinik #4 Braid  to give the pipes a brass look. One more to go and this 12 Days of Christmas series will be done.

Nessie Michell

Michelle Baddeley

Jacob of Modern Folk Embroidery and many other IG stitchers have been stitching #blacksamplernovember. I am stitching Nessie Mitchell by Michelle of mommalovesyougb (IG) for this hash tag. My goal was to complete the first row this month. Well I managed to get the first and second rows done.

Earlier this month I finished The Cat from Casting a Spell by Blackbird Designs. I am so close to having all the projects done from this book that I decided it was time to paint my box.  

The Cat - Casting a Spell

Blackbird Designs

The box has 1 coat of black and 2 coats of Burnt Umber. I wanted my box more dark chocolate than black. Next up I plan to do some distressing and then adding some wax to seal the box. 

Today I received fabric and spool for the IStitch Advent Stitch. I got some of the plain white and a piece with a green edge. I just need to pull threads. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen