A Finish

 Hey Everyone!

I totally forgot to post about a small band sampler I finished back on June 8th.  This one is How Do I Love Thee from The Sweetheart Tree.

I have a bunch of their small patterns and this one was the one my randomizer app picked for me to do.  It only took a few days (maybe 3?) to do.  I framed it in a standard 5” x 7” picture frame.

I just got beads and a specialty thread yesterday so that I can start another one of their patterns, Shamrock Heart.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Another small finish

 Hey!

I’ve had another small finish!  This is from The Sweetheart Tree and is called How Do I Love Thee.

I started on Grizz from Heaven and Earth Designs last night.  Hopefully, I can finish the first page (it’s not a full coverage pattern) before the HAED SAL 2026 starts.

Happy Stitching! 

Stacy

Small Finish

 Hey Everyone!

I have a small, but lovely, finish!

This is Hearts & Roses band sampler from Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine, May 2007.  I had it finished a few days ago, minus the heart at the top.  I had to wait for my order from 123stitch to arrive; it got here today.  The charm is not specifically what the pattern called for, but it is close enough.

I had my smallest scroll frame (9” wide) empty once I took this off, so I am working on How Do I Love Thee from The Sweetheart Tree.  I have a bunch of their mini sampler patterns nd this is the first one I’m doing.

I also received the few threads that I needed for the HAED SAL 2026.  Well, I had all the threads, but these were the ones that were already allocated to other projects.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

A Few Finishes!

 Hey!

I finished my Sweet Pea Gazebo Sampler from The Victoria Sampler!  I finished it this past Friday but have felt a little under the weather, so I didn’t post about it until now.

I changed the poem ‘cause I’m not really fond of the “All things bright and beautiful” poem that was charted.  The poem I used is by Alfred Noyes and was perfect for this sampler.

The next project for my now empty scroll frame is Grizz from Heaven and Earth Designs.  First though, I’m back to working on my SAL piece Jelly World.

I have been working on crocheted snowflakes lately too.  Here are the ones I’ve finished including the starching.  I have at least 7 more that still need to be starched.

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

Christmas Stitching Challenge

Well, it's time for an update on this year's Christmas Stitching Challenge...and I actually have one!

The last round of my rotation, I started Heirloom Nativity Sampler by The Victoria Sampler.  When I work on a piece like this, I stitch until I have to roll my scroll frame.  Here's what I've gotten done so far:

It looks like there's plenty of room for another band but the next band is the shepherds in the forest, or something like that, and it's a bigger band like the angels.  This is the first 7 bands out of 30.

The fabric is the recommended 28ct. linen.  The color name is something like Ice Blue (I forget what it's called).  It's about the same shade as DMC 927.

That's it for now.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Mystery Band Sampler SAL

I've decided to go ahead with the Mystery Band Sampler SAL!

The SAL will start January 1st, 2015.  There is a limit to the number of participants and the cost is $7 US per participant.  While the cost is in US $, anyone can join.  The currency conversion will be handled by PayPal (you don't need a PayPal account).

Some people have said they are getting error messages from Paypal.  Their payments HAVE gone through.  I will email each person when I get the payment so you'll know if it went through.

You will need to be a member of Facebook.  I will create a closed group for participants only.

If you want to join, you can purchase your spot over there ---->  at the top of the column.  
The SAL will close to new participants on January 7, 2015.

The information that I can tell you is:

• The sampler will feature a variety of stitches
• The sampler is mainly based on color (options below)
• There will be a total of 20 bands
• Stitch count is 119w x 155h.  On 28ct. this makes the stitched area 4¼" x 5½"
• Only DMC floss is used

The supplies you will need:

• Fabric in your choice of color, contrasting with your chosen color scheme would look best
• Recommended count is 28 to be stitched over 2 threads
• Fabric should be 10"-11" wide x 11½" - 12½" high.
• DMC floss - will need white for all colorways, see below for lists

The color options are:

• Blues
• Greens
• Yellows
• Pinks
• Grays
• Purples

If you want another color option, let me know and I'll see if it will work.

Here is the DMC floss you will need for your chosen color scheme.

Blues:  White, 312, 336, 799, 825, 939, 3325, 3752, 3753, 3756
Greens:  White, 504, 564, 890, 909, 910, 912, 913, 954, 3818
Yellows:  White, 725, 726, 727, 728, 743, 746,  782, 783, 3078
Pinks:  White, 814, 816, 818, 819, 961, 962, 963, 3716, 3831
Grays:  White, 310, 317, 318, 413, 415, 535, 762, 3799, 3865
Purples:  White, 153, 154, 209, 210, 550, 552, 553, 3743, 3837

Any questions?  Just post them in the comments.

Happy Stitching!
Stacy

Mystery Band Sampler?

I'm thinking of having a mystery band sampler SAL.  It's my own design and I would offer it in your choice of at least 4 colorways.

Right now, I'm thinking $10US to participate.  I would set up a closed Facebook group where I would release each band (probably two) once a week.  By doing it in a FB group, I would be easier able to answer any questions that might arise or just give pointers.

I'd like to know what you think.  Please leave a comment if you would be interested.  Also, if you have a stitching blog, feel free to share this post.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

County Fair - ribbons!

Hi Everyone!

This year I entered 7 cross stitch items in my county fair.  While I did expect to get some blue ribbons (1st place), I also expected a white (3rd place).  Thankfully, I was quite wrong on the white!

Here's what I entered and won:

• Mystic Garden - HAED BB SAL from last year:  Blue
• QS Hummingbird - HAED:  Blue
• Whitework Sampler - from the Gift of Stitching online magazine (retired):  Blue
• Autumn Days - freebie pattern from Enchanted Needle Designs:  Blue
• Faith, Family, Friends - from Just Cross Stitch (I think):  Blue
• 12 Days of Christmas - by Teresa Wentzler:  Blue, Best of Section (purple), 2nd place Best of Show (red rosette)
• Heirloom Christmas Sampler - from The Victoria Sampler:  Blue, Best of Section (purple), 1st place Best of Show (blue rosette)

The Heirloom Christmas Sampler is the one I expected to get a white ribbon.  According to one of the ladies who aided the judges, it was the detail of the Christmas tree that decided that one was first place and the 12 Days was second.  :-)

I took a photo of just the ribbons because all but one of the projects have acrylic over them and would cause a glare.  Here's all my ribbons:

Happy Stitching!

 Stacy

February choice & New Finish!

Here's the chart I chose as my February choice from the HAED Christmas Raffle that I won:

This one is called Breakfast at the Beach.  Since I do live near the ocean, I've always loved "beachy" things.

I also have a new finish.  You have to love band samplers...seriously, I mean you!  For me, band samplers are lovely and they work up rather quickly.  I love having finishes!

This one is an all-white band sampler from The Gift of Stitching which was an online cross stitch magazine.  The sampler was a mystery sampler meaning that you didn't see anything beyond the section you were given for that month.  It ran in the May, June, July, and August issues in 2007.  The sampler was called:  White Musings Mystery Sampler and was designed by Follow the Leader Designs.

Spoiler Alert!
Anything beyond here will spoil the "mystery".   ;-)


Here's the picture of the completed sampler:

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

A Finish for Autumn

I had a small finish recently. As you've probably guessed, I love HAED. Since this post mentions a "small" finish, that rules out it being a HAED.

I also have a "thing" for band samplers. I like the challenge of using different stitches plus the relative speed at which I can finish them. (Relative to a HAED at least.)

Since I opened my Etsy shop, XedStitches, I've included a couple of freebies when I ship out purchases. One of the freebies really intrigued me.

Since it is a freebie, there isn't a color photo of what it looks like when it's finished. Any pattern that uses floss with the names: Dried Thyme, Cidermill Brown and Melon Patch has to be great, right? (BTW, those are all Sampler Threads from The Gentle Art.)

Well, I finally broke down and decided to actually stitch this small sampler. I started it on Sept. 6 and would have finished it on the 7th but I didn't have the beads I needed. (I didn't think that was possible considering how many beads I have in my stash!)

Drumroll, please...here is the photo of the finished (and framed!) project:

The frame is a cheap, 5" x 7" WalMart frame that I painted black. The "mat" is scrapbooking, acid-free, cardstock that I cut to size.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Woodland Violet Sampler - FRAMED!

Yes, I was shouting in the title of this post!  This piece turned out great, even if I'm the one saying it.  I took a chance on both the frame and the purple mat - I didn't have samples of either one.  The frame was on sale because it's been discontinued and the purple mat option is new enough that I didn't have a sample piece of it.

Sometime tomorrow, I'll probably be rearranging the cross stitch pieces hanging in my living room to better accomodate this piece.  DH will be out for a couple of hours so I can do it without him freaking out.  (For some reason, he worries whenever I wield a hammer.  hehehe) 

Happy Stitching!

Stacy