A Christmas finish!

 Hey Everyone!

I had a finish last night that would qualify as Christmas in July.  This is Nutcracker Sampler from The Nutmeg Needle.

Now I'm off to see how my stuff did at the fair.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Framed! 4&5 of 5

 Hey!

Last night, I framed the 4th and 5th pieces I plan to show in our county fair.  They are Night Train and Night Train II by Elizabeth Spurlock.  I believe they are both out of print (check Etsy or Ebay if you’re interested in either).  I know I finished Night Train in 2008, so it only took 16 years for me to complete the set.  Yes, I can be a bit of a procrastinator.  ;-)

I’ll let you know how they do in the fair (July 31-Aug 3).

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Framed! 3 of 5

 Hey!

I got the 3rd one framed today.  I’m a Christmas fanatic, so I had to stitch this one.  I almost always have something Christmas-related in my rotation.

This one is so simple, but poignant and I love it!  Projects 4 & 5 are a pair, so I’ll be posting them together when I get them framed.  Oh, all the frames were purchased from arttoframes.com (no affiliation, just a customer).

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Another small finish

 Good evening!

I just had another small finish.  This one is called Chelsea and is from the May/June 2010 issue of Just Cross Stitch.  This measures about 4.5” square and I’ll be mounting it in the top of a wooden box.

This is quite blingy (it’s not a word, but I’m using it anyway…it fits!).  There are metallic braids, 3 colors of regular Mill Hill beads, and big Mill Hill beads.  It was so much fun to stitch!

Next up, I’ll be working on another new start—Nutcracker Sampler.  The next project that I’ll be putting on the scroll frame that I just took this finish off of, is going to be Hearts and Roses from a back issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Quick finish

 Hey!

I had a very quick finish!  I completed this sampler, Secret Garden, from Lesa Steele Designs last night.  I did change the style of the Hardanger wraps as I didn’t care for the way it was in the pattern.

That freed up my 14” scroll frame and my randomizer app chose PTP Hummingbirds from HAED as the next project for that frame.  I’ve pulled the threads, printed the color key and first page, and verified that I have the fabric I’ll need for it…eventually.

The randomizer chose the next project that I’ll work on as one called Chelsea from an old issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine.  I got started on it today.  It’s another small/quick project.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

New small finish

 Hey Everyone!

I had switched to a quick project while waiting for a magnifying lamp to arrive.  My eyes aren’t what they used to be, though most of the time I’m fine with “cheaters” from the dollar store.  That being said, full crosses on 34ct is apparently not something I can see well enough.  I had a hard time seeing the single missed stitches especially.  So this is what I finished during my little break:

It’s from an old issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine.  I did correct the grammar and changed “fresh” to “freshly”.  It would’ve driven me crazy if I’d left it alone.

I did also do some tidying in my craft room.  I’ll probably post some before and after photos once I’ve finished.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Wedding Sampler framed!

 Hey Everyone!

Just a couple of minutes ago I finished framing my Wedding Sampler!

Now I just have to wait for August so I can enter it in our county fair.

That’s all I have for now.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Wedding Sampler…nearly finished

 Hey Everyone!

I have the Wedding Sampler finished…nearly.  I ran out of beads!  ugh!  I’ve ordered them already so I can finish it once they get here. It needs about 20 more beads in the bottom border.

As you can see, I’ve already “signed” the piece.  It will not be showing once I frame it.  It will be straight as well when framed.  The beads are causing some slight, temporary warping while it’s still on the scroll frame.

I have also worked on rearranging my craft room while I was working on this, and I will be making a separate post about that…later.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Wedding Sampler…more progress

 Well, I’ve made a little more progress on my wedding sampler—enough that I have to roll my scroll frame!

I had to rip out my name from the previous photo, ‘cause I somehow was off-center with it.  If you’ve ever had to frog over 1 stitching on 32ct., you can understand how painful that was.  I even managed to cut one of the fabric threads as I was ripping out stitches.  I fixed it, and unless I use a magnifying glass, I can’t see it.  For anyone who wants to try to spot it, it’s in the middle of the “a” in “Marie”.

As you can tell, I could have stitched a little more before rolling the scroll frame, but on the columns I stopped where I will repeat the stitching to extend the pattern downwards.

Happy Stitching!  

Stacy

Wedding Sampler progress

 I’ve been making good progress on the TW Wedding Sampler that I’m stitching for mine & hubby’s anniversary.  It will be 30 years in August which is the pearl anniversary.  I think it’s appropriate that this has a bunch if cream colored beads on it.  Based on how far along I am, I should be able to finish it, including framing, before our anniversary.  Ideally, I want to enter it in our county fair in early August and have that be the first time he sees it.  He takes great pride in all my craft endeavors and loves to see the ribbons I earn.  Here’s the photo of my progress:

I did have to modify it from the original as both of our names were too long to fit without putting the surnames on a second line.  That means I have to extend all the borders.  Thankfully, I was able to spot that there is a repeat in the greenery/ribbon border so it’s not as difficult as I expected.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

First Finish of 2024!

Woohoo!  I have my first finish of the year!  I present to you Wings of Repose [retired chart] by Nene Thomas, charted by HAED.

I stitched it on 32ct., 1x1, half cross stitches.

My next project will take me back to Farewell to Anger also from HAED.  I’ll do a page on it and then see what comes next.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

I'm still here!

Hi to those of you patient enough to stick around!

I am still here!  I have still been working on my various crafts, just for some reason I have forgotten to share any of them.

Here are some updates (life, crafts, whatever).

In November 2022, hubby took me to Disneyland to see it decorated for Christmas.  I've been there multiple times, but never for Christmas before.

We spent Thanksgiving on the Oregon coast.  Yes, I know it's a Christmas setting, but it was at our hotel.

In early December last year, hubby took me to Leavenworth, WA.  It was phenomenal!  There was obviously snow on the ground, but the passes were clear, so no worries with driving.

I finished my Christmas string quilt last year in time to have it out during the holidays.  I’ll see if I can get a better photo, this is the only one I could find.

I finished (as far as I was going to) Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt from 2021 (a year late).  It wasn't really my favorite color palette and I was too lazy to do the final border.  My sister likes it though, so she'll get it after I get it quilted.  Maybe she'll even help quilt it once I get my "new" longarm figured out.

I finished a wall quilt to hang during the Summer.  I didn't get a photo of it after I quilting it, but here it is assembled.

I finished Night Train II by Elizabeth Spurlock.  That means I have the set done now.

Night Train I (finished in 2008):

Night Train II (finished a couple of weeks ago):

In February of this year, hubby and I attended our industry's convention (Awards and Personalization) in Las Vegas.  The convention was at Paris Las Vegas and that's where we stayed.  It was our first time attending since 2008!

This update is rather sad, in August, hubby and I had to put down our cat Spooky who was just one month shy of 17.  Here she is under the Christmas tree while I was decorating it three years ago.

On October 7, hubby and I adopted 2 kittens (sisters) from our local PAWS.  Meet Freya (striped) and Dolly (gray and white).  They were 3 months old when we got them.

I started another One Block Wonder quilt.  Here is the fabric I'm using:

....and here is my progress as of yesterday:

I promise that I'll try to update more frequently, rather than 14 months apart!

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Farewell to Anger update

Hi Everyone!

I finished the third page on my SSMC Farewell to Anger a couple of days ago.  I'm stitching this 1x1, half stitches on 40ct. fabric.

I skipped using my randomizer this once because I have a project on a different brand of scroll frames (that I'm not thrilled with, but that's just me so I won't be naming them) and I want to get it out of the way.  That makes my current project Night Train II by Elizabeth Spurlock.  It's apparently out-of-print, but I've seen it on Ebay and Etsy for those interested.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Birds on a Wire update

Here is yet another of my Heaven and Earth Designs projects, Birds on a Wire.  Unfortunately, for anyone interested in it, it's retired.  While I haven't gotten to them yet, the "birds" are goldfinches which are the state bird of Washington where I live.

I finished the first page a few weeks ago and forgot to post about it.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Farewell to Anger update

I finished the 2nd page on SSMC Farewell to Anger just a few minutes ago.  I’m stitching it 1x1, half stitches on 40ct. fabric.  The chart has 99 pages, so I’ve barely made a dent.  

Since this is the largest project I have, I’ve decided to make this my focus piece rather than God Speed.  I’ll still work on that one but randomly.

I used a randomizer app to choose my next project: The Sistine Chapel.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

I'm Back. Lots of Finishes!

 Hi Everyone!

I'm back, finally.  It's been a rough Summer.  I lost my Mom in June and have been dealing with that emotionally and physically (cleaning out her house for sale).

In spite of the grief, I have been able to finish some things.  I got 2 of my finished cross stitch pieces framed.  First is Heirloom Nativity Sampler from the Victoria Sampler.

The other one that got framed was my Sweet Peas from Cindy Rice.

I had had a shoulder injury that took a little chiropractic work and some physical therapy to fix, but no pain now!  Because of the injury, I hadn't been able to work on my mystery quilt.  Now that I'm healed, I was able to finish the Grassy Creek Mystery by Bonnie Hunter.  Here's my finished top:

Just a couple of days ago, I had my most recent finish:  another fabric wreath!  I did an Autumn one this time:

This wreath has 5 different Autumn fabrics.  I still have one more wreath form but haven't decided what fabrics to use on it...we'll see.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Wings In Repose Update

Update:

Andrea asked:  "Are you on the bottom row of pages?"

I'm not.  The bottom row is partial pages, about 30 stitches high.  I'm on the row above that.

Hi All!

I finished another page on Mini Wings in Repose [retired] from HAED a few days ago.  I just forgot to post an update.  Here it is:

You can now definitely see that there's a swan involved!

I'm stitching this 1x1, half crosses on 32ct. evenweave.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

A Finish: Heirloom Christmas Sampler

Hello Everyone!

I'm making progress on completing projects!  My latest finish is Heirloom Nativity Sampler from The Victoria Sampler.

This is stitch on 32ct. fabric in an antique blue color, not sure of the actual color name.

This finish means that I have 3 scroll frames that are empty (gasp!).  I've already chosen the 3 new patterns that I'm going to add to my rotation:

• Birds on a Wire (Heaven and Earth [retired])
• Kringle Comes to Town (2017 limited edition from HAED)
• Father Christmas (Curtis Boeringer)

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Update on Rapunzel

 Hello!

I've got an update on my Rapunzel (Dawe) from Heaven and Earth Designs!

Here is where I finished the other night:

The poor girl is in need of a wash but that will have to wait until I finish her.

I've updated the progress bar for her.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Clean Craft Room!

Please know that if you purchase via any of the links in this post, I earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Hello Everyone!

I recently cleaned up my craft room.  Woo hoo!  While I’ve always liked my little room, now I LOVE it!

I took out about 10 boxes of "stuff" that I'll never use.  I'm going to sell it at our local auction house.

There are still a few little "tweaks" I want to do, painting is one of them, but for the most part it's done.  Gotta find my jar of spackle - it seems to have disappeared.

Here are some views of my room now.

The staircase, some storage, the quilt I'm hand-quilting:

The staircase with the twinkle lights on, some wall quilts, my fair ribbons:

My cross stitch WIPs, quilting templates, and my Christmas strings quilt:

Looking up the staircase:

My quilt, cross stitch "station" (glider rocker and floor stand), papasan chair, and more storage:

More storage, my tv & dvd player, craft table, stuffed animal storage, and desk:

Some notes about the room:

The gray storage cubes are from Amazon.  

The Grace EZ3 frame is from Amazon (Grace stopped manufacturing them).

The scroll frames and stands are from Artisan Design in Oklahoma.  I LOVE them!  I do not have an affiliate link with them.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy