Short and Quick October Stitching

Not much stitching was done in the latter portion of October, but I did manage two finishes.

 The Simple Gifts Scissor Spool and Pop of Halloween by Bent Creek.

The Simple Gifts Scissor Spool, Jannette Douglas.

 Stitched and ready to be fully finished and attached to my spool.

Pop of Halloween by Bent Creek

Instead of a tree, I finished my Pop of Halloween as a pumpkin patch drum.

An Aztec Stitch sample.

The Aztec Stitch featured on a lot of Mexican Samplers and some Spanish Samplers was a stitch I had never done. A friend demonstrated the stitch to a group of us. It looks difficult but was very easy to learn. This sample of the Aztec Stitch (on the left) and a pomegranate motif will be made into a scissor fob.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

Overdue Catch Up

 I've been very delinquent with my updates. Can't believe I've let so much time go by. 

During the month of July, Put A Bird on It and Woodland Wonder were my main focus pieces. This led to a finish of Put A Bird On It in August. That was my third finish for my The Year of WIPs Challenge.

That leaves 2 more projects to complete. Now I'm working on Simple Gifts Scissor Spool. This was a kitted exclusive from Homespun Needlework (Cross Stitch and Samplers) on FB. Looking for ward to getting this done and FFO'd. 

Simple Gifts Scissor Spool

Jeannette DouglasI also started Pop of Halloween from Bent Creek. It's designed as a small to be framed but I want to adapt it to a small drum. I worked on this a little more and added the pumpkin stems and the background crosses on the top, now I'm working on the sides of the drum.

After a really good stitching month of July. My stitching mojo slacked off a bit but as mentioned before I put the finishing stitches in Put a Bird On It.

Put a Bird On It 

Modern Folk Embroidery

I did some stitching on  AD 1757, Watergarden, both still a long way to go, and Simple Gifts. Simple Gifts should be finished soon then I will concentrate on Day of Jubilee. I should have SG finished in October and will then focus on Day of Jubilee.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Gwen

June

 June was all about Put a Bird on It and a few new starts.

I finally passed the 50% completed mark on Put A Bird On It. I’m close to finishing Big Blue. This motif is massive. Once I complete this motif I’ll have 6 more motifs to work on. 

 My new starts revolved around some travel I was fortunate to take in June. I’ve had a start on Reflections of London, Reflections of Ireland, and Reflections of Scotland. Each of these Ink Circles charts are about the same size and I’m stitching them on 32ct Fiber On A Whim, Moonstone. 

I managed to reach the top right corner of Reflections of Ireland using DMC 4045. Love the greens in this skein.

The real life thistles I’ve seen IRL seemed to have a blue tinge but ’m really loving working with this DMC 4505. The Thistle turned out really nice. Now I can see the dragons on each side. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

May Stitching

 During May I touched quite a few projects. Unfortunately, no finishes. I worked some more on My Stitching Treasures. I’ve stitched a few more boxes and worked on the border. Once I complete the top border I’ll just need to fill the remaining boxes.

My Stitching Treasures

Jeannette Douglas

I’m about a month behind on my goals for Put A Bird On It, but I’m sure I be able to catch up. I will miss this month’s Zoom Stitch-In but will make it up soon.

Put A Bird On It

Modern Folk Embroidery

I had a new start as well, Organized Stitchery, by Shaded Stitchery.  I’m stitching on 32ct  PTP Fog with the called for DMC. I stitched this with my friend for Mental Health Care Awareness. The affirmations are really inspiring and I love the layout.

  

Organized Chaos

Shaded Stitchery

I’ll be continuing with my WIPs, Day of Jubilee, I Love Fall Most of All, Another Year Creeps By,  and try to get some stitches in on Simple Gifts. I think it’s time to add this one to the rotation.

Thanks for stopping by,

 Gwen

Catch Up Time

Time to Catch Up

In March I worked on about 10 of my WIPs. I completed the stitching and fully finished my Easter Babies Berry from Erica Michaels in time for Easter.

During April, I continued working my WIPs with only one new start. I started The Beaded Dragonfly Tile, Chatelaine Designs. I’m stitching it on 32ct black lugana. Lots of light needed while working on this one. I’m loving the colors on the black fabric, there will be lots of beads on this also.

Beaded Dragonfly Tile

Chatelaine Designs

Working on Day of Jubilee by Silver Creek Samplers, and hoping I have started on a piece of fabric that’s large enough.  After measureing at least twice or 3 times now I’m wishing I had chosen a larger piece of fabric.

Day of Jubilee

Silver Creek Samplers

Almost at the half point with My Stitching Treasures, Jeannette Douglas. This is finally showing a lot of progress.

My Stitching Treasures

Jeannette Douglas

April finishes were block 3 of Autumn at Hark Run Hollow, Mill Hill Snow Angel, and Peacock Pincushion, Cottage Garden Samplings.

Autumn at Hark Run Hollow,

Carriage House Samplings

Mill Hill Snow Angel 

Need to attach the wings and add a bead wreath to the arms and this will be fully finished.

Peacock Pincushion,

Cottage Garden Samplings

***

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

 

 

February, Part 2

While I’m anxious for Spring I’ve been working on Winter Wonderland, a freebie from Primrose Cottage.

Winter Wonderland

Primrose Cottage

My Stitching Treasures, Jeannette Douglas is one of the projects on my Year of WIPs. Hope I can find some of the right size.

My Stitching Treasures

Jeannette Douglas

For March I plan to work on the lower left area next.

After frogging several rows of the peacock; I was able to restitch and make some progress on Peacock Pincushion. I still need for stitch some more feathers and fill the others. Hope to finish this in March.

Peacock Pincushion 

Cottage Garden Samplings

I didn’t meet my February goal for Put a Bird On It or The Watergarden. I will need to put in quite a few stitches to catch up. 

My new start was Quiet Strength, Keslyn’s. I picked this pattern up when I visited Acorns and Threads back in August. 

 

I’m working her on 40ct white with the called for DMC. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

Mid February Stitching

 Most of my January stitching was on BRRINGO calls. This year I did my first BRRINGO challenge, the brain child of Carolyn and Robyn - FB Magazine Monthly Challenge. The projects selected were based on prompts from Carolyn and Robyn. Each numbered project was randomly placed on a Bingo board.  Each day as a number was called the challenge was to work on the called project for 1 hour or 100 stitches. At the end of the month I had a Blackout.

  I’ve finished 2 projects from my BRRINGO  board and made some progress on a few others. 

Get In The Spirit - Brittercup Designs

Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue 2009

Told In a Garden Angel - 1986 Freebie

Motif from Simple Gifts - Jeannette Douglas

This finish was a needle book for an exchange.

I thought I took a picture of the finished project before mailing, Can’t find it in my photos so I guess I didn’t.

This is my current progress on Put a Bird On It, and The Watergarden. 

Put a Bird On It -Modern Folk Embroidery

SAL with EJ of Sunshine Stitchers (FB)

The Watergarden - Chatelaine

SAL with FiberartsAmy and Maggie (FB)

I’m also working on Peacock Pincushion and Moonstone Garden. Pictures with next update.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

Auld Lang Syne

December’s stitching was extremely unfocused. Most of my December stitching was on my reproduction sampler, AD 1757. I managed to stitch and fully finish one ornament, and had 3 starts.

Oh Holy Night, Shepherd’s Bush Kit

One new start was Simple Gifts Scissor Spool. This Jeanette Douglas design was kitted by Shepherd’s Needle for the FB group Homespun Needlework (Cross Stitch and Samplers) hosted by Julie Kursave. 

On  the 15th I started a new SAL with EJ of the Sunshine Stitchers. We have a great group of stitchers working on this 2024-2025 SAL, Put a Bird on It by Modern Folk Embroidery. This is my progress so far.

Put A Bird on It, Modern Folk Embroidery

My third start was The Watergarden, a Chatelaine mandala! Yes, I’ve started by first Chatelaine mandala. I have avoided these for many years but, I caved and will be working this with StitchingArtsAmy and Maggie in the FB group Chatelaine Watergarden SAL 2025. This was to be my New Year start but Maggie posted the first stage early so I took advantage and got an early start. 

The Watergarden, 

Martina Rosenberg, Chatelaine

I’m stitching on a 32ct fabric that I dyed.

Happy stitching in 2025 and thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

November Update

 So I ran out to steam last month. I did a lot of stitching (at least it seemed that way to me). I didn’t do a very good job of recording what I worked on. One thing for sure was that I worked on was AD 1757. This reproduction from my class at Sassy Jacks has caused me a lot of pain in the last few weeks. I had to made some modifications in order to get past a major mistake that I made. There was to reversing (frogging)for me, I had done to much when I realized my error. Just today I completed Section 4 in a manner that was acceptable to me. Now on to the Dividing Bands and Section 5. Fingers crossed that I’ll have better success from here on. Yes, I know that Band 3 isn't complete. I'm not a fan of that stain stitch alphabet, but I'll come back to it and get it done

AD 1757, reproduction

Black Swan Studios

Some of my stitching time was spent on Peacock Pincushion, Cottage Garden Samplings and my Fall Soiree piece from Sassy Jacks.

Peacock Pincushion

Cottage Garden Samplings

Fall Soiree, Dutch sampler

Sassafras Samplers

 My only completion was Doodles: Thanksgiving, Heart in Hand.  

Doodles: Thanksgiving

Heart In Hand

Not sure how I will finish it yet.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

October

I had a chance to shop in a physical store in October. While visiting a friend in San Antonio we went to Comfort, TX to visit The Tinsmith's Wife.

Knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, and  punch needle are some of the craft supplies carried at the store. There are also lots of models for inspiration and an area for classes. If you are in the area it's well worth the visit.

 Along with my Mill Hill cats and beaded Jack from last post I managed two more finishes. I finished Autumn Row by Bent Creek and Pumpkin Row by October House Fiber Arts. I'm not sure how I will finish Autumn Row; must likely some type of framing. Pumpkin Row will be finished as a skinny mini pillow.

Autumn Row

Bent Creek

Pumpkin Row

October House Fiber Arts

My new start is Thankful, Bent Creek. 

Would like to finish this one this month.

My progress on Peacock Pincushion. I'm loving the colors on this very much.

Peacock Pincushion

Cottage Garden Samplings

I need to get some stitching done tonight.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen 

BOO!

 BOO!

It’s the Eve of Halloween.

Not much Halloween stitching got done in 2024.

My 2 Mill Hill cats and a beaded Jack were the only things that were completed.

Mill Hill Magic Kitty

Mini Jack, Cheryl Bryan, Hooking to the Beat

Mill Hill Haunted Kitty

Something of my previous finishes.

I’m still working on Another Year Creeps By. I’ve a small start on Halloween Square Dance 2, Heart  in Hand. I need to stitch Halloween all year long to make a dent in the to-be-stitched pile.