July- Smalls SAL Update

Good Afternoon,

Sorry for the delay but I totally forgot about the last Friday of the month.  It just kind of sneaks up on you all of a sudden.

Thank you Mary at Mary's Thread for hosting this SAL.  I love stitching smalls, especially on the weekends when my stitching time is limited.  This month I decided to do my own version of Christmas in July.  Since I didn't have any wips, I chose to work on Christmas Ornaments this month.  I always have the best intentions on stitching tons of ornaments, but somehow it is never the right time until December.  I go to set up the Christmas tree and then get disappointed on my lack of homemade decorations.

Well, I was able to complete 4 but I only took pictures of 3.  I will have the opportunity to ffo them next month when the boys go back to school.

What I love about stitching ornaments is that I can use random or scrap floss and material.

I chose to select projects out of the 2010 JCS Ornament issue.

#1- Star by JBW Designs.

My only change was that I omitted the word Star.  I used random 28ct Linen that was tea dyed and Limited Edition Carrie's Creation Silk floss in red.

#2- Joy by LadyBug Lane Designs

My fabric was 32ct White Chocolate Linen and misc red floss.

#3 Regal Red Christmas by Milady's Needle.

My fabric was the same 28ct Linen that was tea dyed.  I chose to use an old hand-dyed floss in my stash.  Can't remember who, but it is over 10 years old.  I used a color called Evergreen to match the backing fabric for the ornament.  I had to alter the design because the skein was small (about 5 yards) and it was too big.  They used a 40 count.  Overall, I think it looks pretty.

My plans for the next month, I am in the process of doing another Christmas ornament and I hope to get it done over the weekend.  I have a biscornu wip that needs done and I also need to do July and August for the Year In Cupcakes series.  Then I will be up to date.

Thanks so much for looking and all of your wonderful comments.
Mary

Finally A Finish

Good Afternoon,

 I hope everyone has had a great weekend and had plenty of stitching time.  I really haven't stitched since last week when I finally finished my larger project.  My son Blake, is off of dead period and is now in football practice full time.  We also attended our last football camp for the year.  It was quite an experience that I am sure we will have to do again next year.  

Anyway,  I have a finish that is larger than a small and that isn't a ffo.  Because of this, I decided to make a new blog post.  Besides, I was too excited to wait until the end of the month.

My finish: 

The Key

By: Stitchyfish Designs

From: 2016 JCS Halloween Special Edition

Floss: DMC 310

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Linen (hand-dyed by me)

My son, Brentley, decided that he would like this once it was finished.  I did make some changes per his request.  I omitted the wording at the top and changed the bottom to gate.  He also didn't like the key dangling from the crow's mouth. I now see I have some of the bottom railing of the gate to do.  I will do that tonight.  

Eventually, this will get framed.  I will probably wait until after school starts which is August 9th this year.

Well that is all for now.

Thanks for looking and I always enjoy reading your comments.

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

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

Season's In Chalk-Christmas Finish

Good morning everyone,

I hope you have had a wonderful November thus far.  We had about on inch of snow last week, far earlier than normal. Glad it is gone for now but I am sure we will get more once Winter is on its way.

I have a finish that I finished a few weeks ago and I forgot to share it with you all.  I am happy to say Season's in Chalk-Christmas is done.  My son Brentley would like to have it so eventually I need to buy a frame.  I plan on starting Fall next,

I dyed some Opal 14ct Charles Craft Aida black using Rit dye and I just love how sparkly it turned out.  Trying to get into the festive season.

Thank you so much for looking.  For those of us who are celebrating Thanksgiving this week, I hope you have a wonderful holiday.

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

September Smalls Check-In

Good Sunday morning,

I hope everyone had a really great month.  Our weekends have been filled with high school football on Friday's and the rest of the weekend dedicated to college and pro football. We finally got some much needed rain, however, it dropped the temps about 20 degrees and I wasn't quite ready for 60's and 70's yet. 

So onto the smalls I have for you this month.  Thank you again to Heather at The Stitching Lotus for hosting this Smalls SAL.  I am so glad I have some things completed because my eyes started straining so I had to slow down my stitching so I could get my eyes checked.  I just got my new glasses on Friday so I am ready to stitch as usual.

First is a finish I did at the end of August but fully FFO'd this month.  It is called Joy and is by Hands on Designs and it was in the 2017 JCS ornament issue.

I used 28 ct Monaco in Hunter Green and changed the coral stitches to light pink Mill Hill beads so I could match up the pink beads around the ornament.  I love how it turned out.

2nd finish is September's mini bunny by Handblessing Designs and is in the Aug/Sept 2018 JCS issue.

I used scrap 32ct sand linen. Gentle Arts Dark Chocolate, Carrie's Creation Desert Bloom and DMC 712.

3rd finish is A Star, A Star from The Sunflower Seed and was in the 2007 JCS ornament issue.

It is hard to tell but the gold is metallic and their are beads around the outside border.  It was such a fun stitch.

Well that is all for this month.  I have another small finish that need to be FFO'd so I will show you that next time.  I am 98% done with The Spider and The Fly mystery SAL by Tempting Tangles so I will post that sometime this week. 

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments and I hope you have a great October.
Mary

July Update- Smalls SAL 2018

Good morning everyone,
Thanks again to Heather at The Stitching Lotus for hosting this event.

I hope you had a really wonderful July.  This month has really flown by, especially this week, because of school preparation.  My kids go back to school on August 9th. 

Here is my first finish of the month.  It is July Mini Bunnies by Handblessings Design in the Aug 2018 JCS.

My fabric was too soft (I used Joblean in Queen Anne's Lace) and I couldn't get the bunnies to cooperate so I just added another star instead.  It is such a cute addition to my basket.

My second finish was Baby's First Christmas from Frony Ritter Design and was in the 2016 JCS Christmas Ornament issue.  I did this for my husbands Nephew and wife since they had a sweet baby girl at the end of June.

Lastly, I finished Persuasion by The Sampler Girl and it was in the Feb 2009 JCS issue. I love the sentiment of the words because we all need that reminder sometimes.   I just realized that all my finishes were from the JCS magazine, haha.  I do tend to stitch a lot of things from there.  Anyway, I just need to find a frame for it.  I loved stitching this one.

Thanks so much for looking and have a great weekend!
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

January - Small's SAL 2018 check-in

Hi y'all,

How are you doing?  I am doing great!  I have a finish to share with you but it isn't a small.  I guess if  you breakdown the 2 flowers I did into 2 smalls I can get away with it.  Right?  haha.  I am sure you don't mind me sharing this since I don't have anything else to show.

The lovely Heather at the stitchinglotus is again hosting the Smalls SAL and it is so much fun.  Here is a link to her blog in case you are interested.

Well as promised, I have completed the Season's in Chalk by Hands on Design "Summer" that was in the June 2016 JCS issue.  I dyed my own 28 ct Monaco and changed the color of the flowers from the original.  I decided to make it into a pillow.  I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a pillow form. I just need to get motivated to get behind the sewing machine. 

My conversion for the flowers were 791, 794, and 798.

I am currently working on a Sunflower biscornu for next month's finish.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

Mary

November Smalls SAL check-in

Good Afternoon everyone,

Thank you again Heather @thestitchinglotus for hosting this monthly SAL.

I apologize for always being a day or two late.  This month I got sidetracked by Thanksgiving.  In the USA we always celebrate this tradition on the third Thursday of November.  It is a time to gather with friends and family with a thankful heart.  We usually do not travel this time of year so it was just my husband Bill, my 3 sons and myself.

Everyone who celebrated, I hope you had a wonderful holiday and for those who do not I hope you have had a terrific November.

I have exciting news!! Jo at Serendipitous Stitching has interviewed my for Blogger of the Week.  I am not sure when my turn is but I was so humbled.  I am somewhat neglectful of my blog but I will get better.

Well, I only have two smalls for the month and the first one is the completion of November for Connie G's 2017 Rainbow SAL.  I finished the circle and quite a bit of the brown.

I ordered a special pillow form from Ebay that should get here in about a week.  I cannot wait to have this done to give to my son Brentley.  It has been so much fun to work on.

My second one is Brewhaha with some alterations.  This is a freebie Here and it is from Plum Street Samplers.

If you guys watch Flosstube or on Facebook then you know about the SAL called Nomostitchmo and is a spinoff of nomowritmo.  You stitch 50 stitches a day on a project which is the perfect motivation to finish the second house.  My husband said I could stitch it for February instead of for Christmas which I am so happy.  I didn't think it could get done for Christmas.  Here is my progress so far.

I am striving to complete it by Jan 1st and I feel confident I can do that.  I also pulled out my seasons in chalk in Summer by Hands on Design that was in the 2016 JCS.

I am having so much fun with this one and can't wait until it is finished.  This is another wip I hope to finish by Jan 1st.

I asked my mother what her favorite flower was and she said Tulip.  I am really surprised that Nora Corbett didn't have a Tulip fairy however, 123stitch! had this one and she liked it.  I am waiting for it to arrive.

I ordered the beads, Kreinik and 32ct Lugana in Taupe from Stoney Creek.  I also picked up the DMC floss at Michael's.  Aren't they pretty?

Well that is all for now.  I probably won't have anything done for Theme-tas-stitch so I will catch you on December 29th for the final check-in of 2017.

Thanks again for looking,

Mary

September smalls check-in

Good day everyone,

Hope you had a wonderful week since I last checked in.  I participate in this wonderful monthly Smalls SAL hosted by Heather at Stitching Lotus.

I finished 2 ornaments this week.  They are both by Turquoise Graphics and Designs and were in JCS magazines.  I am really trying to make my Christmas ornaments sparkle, shine and glimmer.

I worked on these wips and made pretty good progress but I got called out by my husband for not working exclusively on the 2 houses I need to do for Christmas presents.  I hang my head because it is true, so for now I need to get them out of the way.  It is just a lot of color changes but I know it is worth it; I just need to suck it up.

Here is my progress on Summer by Hands on Design.  Sorry for the lousy picture.

Here is a new small I am doing on the weekends.  It is called Happy Thanksgiving by Redbear Designs on Etsy.  I dyed some 28ct Monaco with Tan and Camel.  It is really cute.  I will probably frame it in a wooden hoop and buy a display stand.

Last but not least is the before picture of the house:

And the after picture:

Thanks again for looking and all of your kind comments.  It really means a lot to me.

Hugs,

Mary

September Theme-Tas-Stitch

Hi everyone,

Hope you are having a great month and Happy Fall Y'all.  It is the beginning of my favorite season: Fall.  It is still hot here (in low 90's) but I am not complaining at all.

Thanks again to Kerry at Ramblings of a Biscornu Addict for hosting this SAL.

The last 2 weeks flew by.  I did manage to get some smalls completed but not that much on my larger projects.  Oh well, one day at a time.

The first small finish I did was the September section of Connie Gee Designs Rainbow SAL.  I used Carrie's Creation Thread in Sapphire.

The second one I just FFO'd today was Christmas Eve Delivery by the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  It was in the 2015 JCS Christmas issue.

Cording is not my strongest finishing skill.  Do you all have any tricks you can share?  I have watched Vonna's tutorial but I thought you might have some other tricks to share.  It isn't bad; I would say just average.

Here is a non-stitchy finish I completed this month.  It is a very easy table runner you can find here

Well, I bit the bullet and joined Flosstube.  If you are interested, you can find me here as Mary Cat Stitches.  I just thought it would be a great way to interact with others.

Well that is all for now.  I hope you have a great week and I will check back next week for the 2017 Smalls SAL update.

Thanks for looking,
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