June's Fully Finished SAL

Hi y'all,

I just want to thank Rachel at Ten Hour Stitcher for hosting this wonderful SAL. 

I am happy to say that I have a fully finished project this month.  I stitched this project last year for my son Brentley.  To be honest, this wasn't the original project I was going for.  I started Ink Circles Cirque des Triangles but I kept making mistakes. I decided to scrap the project but I still had a ton of fabric left and a lot of Carrie's Creation overdyed floss.  I then went to search for the perfect pattern and I found one on Etsy. 

A few months ago I was at The Goodwill store and happened upon this frame.  I always try to pick up the square frames and anything else that is unusual.  It was originally a medium brown color but we decided that a white frame would make the project stand out.  We had to wait until the weather was warmer and then Bill (my husband) spray painted the frame white. 

My son has been on vacation to visit my family in Florida, so we took that time to repaint his room.  As you can tell, his favorite color is green.  The picture is now hanging in his room, waiting for him to get home tomorrow.  I think he is really going to love it.

Well, that is all for now.

Thanks for looking,
Mary

January smalls 2019 check-in

Good morning everyone,
The fabulous Mary at www.marysthread.com is hosting this wonderful SAL for 2019.  We check in the last Friday of the month and show all of our smalls.  It is a ton of fun and I can't wait to see everyone's work tomorrow.

I thought I would get a jump on posting this today since I have a few things to show you.

First is 2 Stars and a Stag from Blue Ribbons Design.  It is in the Aug 2018 JCS issue. I used the called for DMC colors on 32ct Lambswool Joblean.  I accidentally made the border the darker green so I flipped the greens around.  I love the darker green as the border.

Next, I finished Chilly Frillys from Little by Little Designs and was in the 2009 JCS ornament issue.  I chose this because I participate in the Christmas Ornament SAL by Kaye at Kitten Stitching.  This fulfills the January requirement.

I used the called for DMC threads on a scrap piece of 32ct Belfast linen. 

Next, I am doing the A Year in Cupcakes by Durene Jones.  You can find the pattern in her Etsy shop.  I am doing each month individually and rotating them in this frame.  I am using the called for DMC threads and 28 ct Monaco fabric.

Thank you so much for looking and I really appreciate all the kind comments. 
Mary

3 finishes for the end of the year.

Good afternoon everyone.

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful, stress-free December.  We are keeping Christmas low key this year.  Other things that happened in December was a surprise party that my sister gave my mom for her 70th birthday.  I snuck down to Florida for a few days so I could spend it with the family.  I then headed back to Kentucky so I could be here for my son, Brentley's 12th birthday. 

Even though I have slowed down somewhat with my stitching, I still managed to finish 3 things.  Yea! 

Well the first thing I have to show you is the last of the Mini Bunnies series.  February is all set and ready to go.

I just love adding buttons when I can, and this was so much fun to put together.  I used DMC variations #4211 for the border.  Fabric is misc evenweave that was probably ant. white.  I dabbed some Chia tea to make the white bunnies stand out.  I had to be careful because one bunny was already stitched.  I think they stand out more.

The second finish for the month was the Mandala I have been working on.  We decided to paint the frame white so right now I have only pinned it in place.  Once the weather is better, it will get done.  Brentley really liked it.

Fabric is 32ct Belfast linen and Carrie's Creation Thread in Highland Hills.

Lastly, I finished this ornament but haven't had a chance to FFO it yet.  It is called Two Stars and a Stag by Blue Ribbon Designs.  It was in the 2018 Aug JCS mag.  Hope to show it complete next time.

Fabric is 32ct Lambswool Joblean and called for floss.

Thanks so much for the support you have shown me this year.  I hope you have a safe and happy Christmas and New Years and I will check back with you next month. 

Mary

2 framed finishes.

Hi y'all. 

Can you believe I am back so soon?  Well I have 2 framed pieces to show you and I am so excited.

This first one was something I stitched at least 10 years ago, and I finally got around to framing it.  I believe it was in an old US Cross stitcher magazine.  It was done on Sassy Fabby's and she hasn't been dyeing fabric in a long time.  I found a frame at the store and spray painted it brown and took the glass out. 

I just love stitching food.  It is so much fun.

The next thing I finished was The Spider and the Fly Mystery SAL by Tempting Tangles Designs.  It was so much fun to stitch.  I stitched it on some 32ct Belfast Linen that I dyed myself and the called for floss.  I found the frame at Michael's and just love how it turned out.

Thank you so much for looking and I appreciate all the kind comments.

Have a great October and I will catch you back here on October 26th.

Mary

August Smalls SAL check-in

Hi y'all,

I hope you have had a really great month.  August really flew by with my kids going back to school on August 9th.  I also had a short visit this week from my sister Dawn and my mom.

Here is what I have done this month.

I completed Star Wars.  I purchased this on Etsy and started it in April.  My son Blake really likes it.

I also completed August Mini Bunnies from Handblessing Designs.  It is in the August 2018 JCS issue.

I also completed all the animals on the baby sampler.  1st was the bunny.

Next was the fox.

3rd was the deer.

Last was the bear.

I finished it and framed it so that my sister could bring it back home to Florida.

Thanks for letting me share.
Mary

2017 Smalls SAL- Last one for 2017

Hi everyone,

I am here to post a few smalls I have completed this week for the 2017 Smalls SAL hosted by Heather @ The Stitching Lotus.

Heather is hosting this SAL next year and you can join anytime.  It is really a great motivational tool to get smalls done.

The 1st one I completed was Ho Ho Ho Santa from Prairie Schooler.  It was in the 2014 JCS Ornament issue.  I stitched it on Hand Dyed 18ct Chia Tea Aida by me and misc floss to match my fabric.

The bottom is a little messed up on the white but the stitching looks good so hopefully that overshadows my mistake.

The 2nd finish is called Swirly Hat by SanMan Originals and it was a design on the message board.  Sadly, she has fallen ill and the message board hasn't returned but I still think about her and hope she is doing ok.

This is stitched on some old 18ct Aida.

Lastly, I FFO'd both houses as gifts for in sister-in-laws.  I hope they like it.

The only difference is the first one has more grass and then I decided why do I need to stitch all of this grass?  So I recharted it and think it looks ok.

Well that is all for me.  I have been sick so haven't wanted to stitch anything big and with my sons and husband home until Wednesday, Jan, 3rd I know I won't get a lot of stitching done.

I hope you have a fun New Years and have loads of time to stitch.

Mary

August 2017 Smalls SAL check-in

Hi y'all,

Heather at The Stitching Lotus is hosting a smalls SAL throughout the year.  You can join at any time and is a lot of fun.  I keep forgetting when we are suppose to post so I am a few days late.

I have been really busy and have several things to show you.

#1- Storm Trooper ornament by DJ stitches on Etsy.  I made this for my son Blake who loves Star Wars.

#2- 1 out of 2 Blackwork designs by Seba Designs that was in the Sept/Oct 2009 JCS issue.  I wanted to try Petite Treasure braid.  It was wonderful to work with considering it is metallic, however, there isn't much on the card and had to omit some of the design.  I still love how it turned out.  You can't tell, but I found some Swartzkof crystals on clearance at Michael's and used some as embellishments.  I will do the other ornament with blue braid and crystals.

Next, of course I had to do something Halloween since Fall/Halloween is my favorite time of year.  I finished this yesterday so I missed out on Theme - Tas - Stitch furry themed.  Would a rat be eligible?  Oh well, he is cute anyway.  I omitted the border.  It is called Rats! by The Stitcherhood on 28 ct Monaco dyed my me.  It was in the 2016 Halloween Collectors Edition.

4th and last is my August section completed on Connie Gee Designs 2017 SAL.  I used Carrie Creations floss in Key Lime.

How it looks so far:

Here are 2 pictures I framed myself.  1st is the Ink Circles I completed in May.  I found a frame at the store and spray painted it black. (Sorry about the glare)

Lastly, Here is a finish I did about 10 years ago or so.  I love it. I don't have info on it but I believe it was a SAL on a blog.

I do have some projects on the go and I hope to have pictures next time to show you.  Thanks for looking and have a great day.
Mary

2 finishes and a WIP update

Good morning everyone.

Hope everyone is doing well.  I am just trying to prepare myself mentally for winter, the holidays and the cold weather.  This is my least favorite time of the year because I detest cold weather. I am a Florida gal through and through and much prefer 80's to 30's.

At any rate, enough of that.  Now on to the good stuff.  I finished and framed Happy Camper this week.  It took me 5-1/2 months to complete this and is a BAP to me.  It is 8x10 of solid stitches.  I posted a photo for my sister-in-law and she loved it.  I will probably wait until after the rush of the holidays to mail it to her.

I did the framing myself.  I ordered the frame and mat from here and I couldn't be happier.  The quality is excellent.

I also have a small finish I did for my November challenge.  It is a freebie from here.  I used the some of the dyed Monaco I showed you last time and I really love it.

I have some WIPS in the mix; some smalls for the weekends.  My main upstairs WIP is Circle des Cirque.  It is on 14ct black aida and Carries Creations Bluebird.  I am a little over 1/2 of the way done.

Well for the rest of the month I hope to get done December and January of the 2014 Hands on Design charts that were in the CS&N magazine.  These are the final 2 I need to do.

My goals for 2017:  I am trying to work on larger projects.  My sons have been complaining that I haven't made them anything.  So I will be working on this.  As far as smalls, I really need more Easter/spring designs so I am going to concentrate on that and christmas ornaments.

Let me know what your goals are so we can motivate each other.

TFL and have a wonderful day.
Mary