Stoney Creek Horrific Halloween Update

 He Everyone,

I hope that you are all having a great start to the new year and that you have had tons of stitchy/craft time.  I had today off and I hope to stitch later on tonight, even if it is for a few minutes.  I am trying to spend as much time as I can with my college sons since they go back to Louisiana in a few days.  It was a great visit, but it is always too short.

I have tried to pick up my stitching for at least 30 mins a day.  I am happy with the progress on this wip.  It was started in September 2021 and I put it away for awhile.  I love Halloween, but I was unsure if I loved the project. It was free charts from Stoney Creek back in 2018.  I got all 6 parts with buttons but I think I am only going to stitch 4 of them.  

I worked on the witch in part 3 (July 2018) and think she is wonderful.  I decided to skip part 2 because I really didn't care for it.  Here she is close up.

There she is with part one.  To the left of her will be a cauldron that I will work on next.  I love backstitching but I decided to complete the backstitching before moving on to the next image so that it feels more complete.

Well thanks for letting me share my update.  Not sure what will be on my needle but I will update you next week.

Thanks for all the comments and views. 

Happy Stitching,

Mary

October's Smalls Check In

Good Morning everyone,

It is hard to believe this is the last Friday in October.  I hope you had a great month and were able to get lots of stitchy time in.

Thanks again to Mary at Mary's Thread for hosting this fun SAL.

I have 2 Halloween projects that I started and completed this month.  The first one is the completion of October's - A Year in Cupcakes by Durene Jones on Etsy.  I only have 2 more to do and then the set is complete.  I have really enjoyed stitching this series.

I also finished this Halloween Stitch Along from Cute Mermaid Designs.

Sorry the photo quality is bad but it is the called for colors on Lime Green 28ct Linen.

Thanks again for looking and have a great month.
Mary

Update on some Halloween Stitching

Hi y'all,

Hope you are having a wonderful spring day.  It is gorgeous outside and the temps are perfect.  I was actually able to go for a walk.  I hope you have had lots of stitchy time.

I decided on April 29th that I would participate in Stitchmaynia.  Nothing like waiting til the last moment, huh? Stitchmaynia is a group on Facebook and they host a month long challenge during May.  You are able to do any kind of variation you want. Normally you would stitch 19 new starts (18 last year), but there was no way I could handle starting that many charts at one time.  So I decided to concentrate on some of my larger wips.

So here we are in May stitching on Halloween.  I love Halloween so it is no hardship.  I pulled out The Key by Stitchyfish Designs.  It was in the 2016 JCS Halloween issue.

Here was my starting point:

I was able to accomplish quite a bit in 4 days.  There were 3 days where I couldn't get to it but I was able to work on smalls.
Here is my ending point for this wip. 

So now the entire outside border is compete and I am very happy with my progress.

My next wip for the week is Swans and Shears by Tempting Tangles.  I'll be back next Tuesday with a progress report.

Thank you so much for looking and have a great week.
Mary

October Smalls Check-in

Good morning and Happy Halloween everyone,

I hope you had a really wonderful October.  Wow! it seems this year is really flying by, but then again, I seem to say that every year.

I want to thank Heather over on Stitching Lotus for hosting this fun SAL.

I do have 2 small projects completed but one isn't FFO'd just yet.  

The first one is the October mini bunnies from Handblessing Designs and was in the Sept/Oct 2018 JCS issue. I stitched it on some random 18ct Aida (I forgot the dyer) that I had in my stash for many years.

The second finish is Sugar Skull with Flowers by Medina Designs and it was in the 2016 JCS Halloween special edition.  I loved stitching on this. I just used scraps of floss and fabric from my stash so it isn't the called for colors in the chart.

I wish I had more to show but I am currently stitching Season's in Chalk: Christmas by Hands on Design and it was in the 2016 JCS magazine.  Hope to have a finish for November.

I hope you have a great November and I will check back soon.

Thanks,
Mary

I am back with some finishes

Good morning everyone,

Wow!  The time has really flown and I can't believe it has been 2 months since my last post.  I hope everyone is having tons of fun this summer and getting some stitchy time in.

I have been very busy and have finished several things since we have last visited each other.  The first thing I want to show you is my Seasons in Chalk, Stars in Stripes by Hands on Designs that was in the July 2016 JCS issue.  I am doing each one and will make them all into pillows. 

I am currently working on Seasons in Chalk Christmas out of the Dec 2016 JCS issue.  Here is an update after working on it for 4 days.  It is so much fun.  I dyed some Charles Craft 14 ct Opal Aida in black and I am really happy with the results.

I also did the mini bunnies from the May/June 2018 JCS issue.  Here is May:

Here is June:

I ffo'd the skull and I just love how it turned out.

I was working on Ink Circles pattern called Cirque de Triangles but I just couldn't get into it.  I am sure we have all been there before.  So I cut off what I stitched and went looking for a pattern that I could still use the floss and fabric for.  I found this Mandala by Heritage Stitch on Etsy.  It reminds me of the Spiralgraph toy I had as a kid.

I also started on this baby sampler for my great-niece Eden.  I have finished all the leaves and just need to finish the trunk and the tree will be done.  There will be some woodland animals at the bottom.  I found this on Etsy and the store name is NikkiPattern.

Last but not least is the free pattern on Lakeside Needlecrafts website.  I am really enjoying this one.
It is done on some 28ct Monaco evenweave I hand-dyed last year.

Thanks so much for looking and catching up with me.  Have a great weekend.
Mary

April Smalls Check-In

Hi everyone,

Can you believe it is that time again.  Time to show you all my work (especially smalls) for the month of April.  Gosh, where did the month go?  It totally flew by.

Thanks again to Heather, at the Stitch Lotus for hosting this fabulous SAL.

Well, the first small I want to show you is out of the April JCS 2018 issue.  It is the April mini bunnies by Handblessings. I used Carrie's Creations Thread in Baby Blue and Koala Claw and misc. yellow DMC. 

Second finish, Think Winter by Lizzie Kate.  I hand-dyed some 14 ct Aida for this one.  I used a mixture of various hand-dyed floss I had in my stash.

Third finsh, Winter Silhouette by Handblessings Design and it was in the Dec 2013 JCS issue.  I dyed some 28ct Monaco Navy.  Hard on the eyes but I love it.  I also added beads for the snow.

Last finish, I participated in Garette aka Coffee Stitcher's birthday SAL on StitchMaynia.  This was my only finish.  It was by Monsterbubbles and was in the 2009 JCS I believe Aug.  I hand dyed 28 Monaco and used misc DMC.

Here is progress on my Season's in Chalk by Hands On Designs Flag.  It was in the 2016 JCS. It is on Joblean.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend.
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

Small Halloween finish

Good evening,

I usually have a basket full of kitted smalls to work on when I have extra time to spare.  I decided to try to match up patterns to sewing fabric in my stash so I can thin it out, so I can buy more beautiful fabric. I finished this today and made it into an ornament. The fabric on the back of the ornament is a bunch of eyeballs so this pattern was perfect.

It is called Pina Ghoulada by Hot House Petunia Designs and was in the October 2015 JCS issue.

I don't think I mentioned my 2017 goals/plans but I want to stitch larger pieces and I want to make 1 for each of my 3 sons and hopefully my husband too.  I am currently alternating between Circle Des Cirque by Ink Circles and White Tigers by Stoney Creek.
Yes, this pattern of the White Tigers is driving me crazy with all the color changes that Stoney Creek is known for, but I know Blake will love it when I am done.  It didn't help that I had to frog out a pretty large section because I was a stitch off. Hopefully, the frog is gone for good.

Lastly, I joined Theme-Tas-Stitch hosted by Ramblings of a Biscornu Addict.  The theme for February is to stitch and try to finish a UFO/WIP.  I am maybe 2/3rd's into Winter Flower (it is an ornament with beading) and I have been dragging my feet for months.  I hope I can compete it by check-in on the 21st.  I don't have a lot of experience with beading and I don't like the way it looks but I am determined to finish it to gain experience.

I hope you all have a great weekend.
Mary

Happy Halloween and a quick finish

Happy Halloween.  It is one of my favorite holidays and Fall is my favorite time of year.  I love how all the leaves turn vibrant shades of oranges and yellows.  I love everyone dressing up and being creative.

I have a finish today and it is my last Halloween finish for 2016.  It was for the One Day Challenge that Honeybee graciously host on the 123stitch! message board.  It is fun and there is no pressure whatsoever.  This freebie is from 2010 and is called Ectoplasmic Kiss by The Cricket Collection.  Although it is no longer available, if you go here and click on the free design as she rotates very cute freebies.  The colors were more pastel but I changed the green and orange to match the ribbon.  I love how it turned out even though making circles is challenging. It might not be perfect but I still think it is cute.

I went to Michael's this morning and picked up these goodies.

I am not ashamed to say I love a good deal and I really scored on this trip.  Their Halloween/Fall items are 70% off and I got all of this for less than what the basket sold for regularly.  I am going to use the basket to store some of my kitted WIPS for downstairs.  My husband likes me to sit with him and it will be easy to reach in a grab a quick project.

Here is a close up to the metal spiders.  Can't wait to use them next year!

I also purchased a few things from Etsy.  I am telling you as soon as I joined Instagram a few months ago it really opened my eyes to new designers, charts and Floss tube.  I purchased 2 Thanksgiving charts (Happy Thanksgiving from Cloudsfactory and Happy Thanksgiving from Redbeardesign).  They are so cute.

Goals:  My goals for November is to continue to stitch on Happy Camper.  Thank goodness my SIL wasn't in a hurry for this.  I also want to stitch Happy Thanksgiving from Redbeardesign and November from Hands On Design since I only have 3 more months to go.  Yech!

Well thanks for reading and I hope you have a safe and fun Halloween.
Mary

Good morning,

I hope everyone is have a wonderful day.  I spent the last 2 hours doing some finishes and it feels great.  Here is a picture of all of them together.

Eek by The Stitcherhood was made into an ornament.  It was stitched on hand dyed green 28 ct Monaco by me with DMC 310. It was in the autumn JCS 2013 issue.

Boo To You was also made into an ornament. It was stitched on 28ct linen. It was a freebie from a group on Facebook.

I finished stitching October by Hands On Design yesterday and made it into a pillow for my basket.  I hand dyed some evenweave in orange and tan.  I have 3 left in the series to complete. This was in a 2014 Cross Stitch and Needlework Magazine.

I am still working on Happy Camper and have the One Day Challenge left to complete that Honeybee is hosting on the 123 Stitch! message board.  October's theme is Halloween and I have the perfect chart that I kitted up yesterday.  I will do it tomorrow.

Thanks for looking at my blog,

Mary

A Halloween ornament finish

Good morning,

I hope it is as lovely where you are as it is in Western Kentucky.  I picked up pinecones this morning so my boys can mow the lawn tonight.  Hopefully, the grass will dry out by then since it was damp.

Well, I finished this freebie a few weeks ago and finished it into an ornament this morning.  It was for a monthly challenge and this months theme was fall.  It is called Autumn Witch by the Snowflake Diaries here.  Her blog is lovely.  This is what I started with.  I hand-dyed some evenweave with chili powder.  It is a very pastel shade of rusty/peach.  I have plenty left over to make the Sugar Skull pattern from the 2016 JCS Halloween issue.

Here is how it turned out.  Luckily, it turned out how I envisioned it.  Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out for me and I have to alter or scrap a piece.

I had to wait until my package from 123stitch! to arrive with my favorite needles.  I personally love Piecemakers; it just feels so good in my hand and they are sharp.  I needed some 28's so I could put the beads on.  Here is in it's current state.  It is called Paris from Monsterbubbles from the 2007 JCS ornament issue.  I omitted the some of it so it would match this beautiful fabric I found at Walmart a few months ago.

I love the black, grey and pink combination.  I know you can't tell but it is really sparkly. 

Lastly, here is an update on Happy Camper.  I accomplished a lot, especially the white on the top of the roof.  I was falling asleep but now it will be more fun.

Well, I hope to get my ornament done next week so I can show you.

I hope you have a great weekend.
Mary

Ornament Finishes

Hi all,

Hope you are having a wonderful week.  I decided to tackle 3 finishes that I have stitched this year and make them into ornaments. 

First, an old freebie by Trail Creek Farms that is no longer available.

Second,  Celtic Rose that was in an old JCS ornament magazine.  I know you can't tell but I used green sparkly thread and is prettier in person.

Lastly, an old freebie.

Well, I am running out of things to finish so I need to hurry finish some things.  I am working on another Christmas ornament and Happy Camper. I also tea dyed some fabric with green tea that is subtle but a nice neutral off white.  I

I hope to have more things to show you next week.
TFL,
Mary in Kentucky

A Halloween Finish

Good Afternoon,

There are 3 things that I love (besides family) and they are Fall, Halloween and Pillows.  Well 2 out of 3 isn't bad.  I made a promise to myself that I was going to do better about completely finishing my projects.  As long as they don't need framed, they were going to get turned into something wonderful.

Now since I have moved to Kentucky I have a Hobby Lobby and a Michael's within 5 mins from my house it has become easier to keep my promise.  I purchased some purple dye and 28ct Monaco fabric and dyed myself some fabric.  It was messy but a whole lot of fun.

I stitched this cute San Man Originals finish a few months ago and made it into a pillow yesterday.  The back is really cute Halloween polka- dotted fabric.  Oh did I mention I love circles and polka dots?

Thanks so much for looking and have a great day.

Mary in Kentucky

A small Halloween Finish

Good morning,

I just finished this ornament and it was so much fun.  It looks way better in person and can't wait for fall.

It is called Stitching Witch by The Stitcherhood.  It was in the Oct JCS 2014 issue.

I was going to sew last week but lost my bobbin case when I went to change out my thread color.  I am notorious for losing things, and I don't even try.  I had to order another one from Ebay.  Now I won't be able to do more finishes until next week.

I have been stitching up a storm on Happy Camper and I will show you more on Friday.

TFL and have a great week.
Mary