Christmas Stitching

I stayed home from work Friday because I caught a cold (thanks hubby).  The good news is, I was able to get a lot of stitching done.  The bad news is, I couldn't do a video because of all the sniffing and sneezing, so this blog post will have to do. 

I finished all of the Lizzie Kate ornaments from the Tiny Tidings XXII leaflet. I had so much fun stitching these.  I used 28 ct. Monaco that I tea and coffee dyed and the called for threads (except I used DMC B5200 instead of Weeks Whitewash). 

I mounted these on sticky board and then sprayed the back with Aleene's Tacky Spray and then put the little ribbon on the back and then the wool felt.  I cut the wool felt along the edges with pinking shears.  They were so easy! 

I stitched and finished the 1989 Prairie Schooler santa from the Santas Revisted II leaflet.  I also used 28 ct. tea and coffee dyed Monaco using DMC thread (2 over 2). I was going to make this into an ornment, but it turned out so big.  I ended up mounting it on mat board and then mounting another piece of mat board with fabric and sticking them together with the tacky spray. I clipped it to this frame I got at Hobby Lobby. 

My Lizzie Kate Christmas ABC's are less than halfway done and I think I'm going to put it away until next year.  I also restarted Lizzie Kate's 4 Seasons.  I was originally going to do them all on one piece of fabric and changed my mind after seeing Priscilla's finished individually.  She has them displayed on a stand that can be found at Hobby Lobby or Michaels and I'd like to see if I can find one like it. I think they look so cute!  

Lastly, I have been working on my Smith Sampler by The Scarlett House.  I'm determined to get it finished soon!  I just need to get the top section and border finished.  I'm getting there!

40 ct. Vintage Meadow Rue, silk threads (1 over 2)

With Bradley starting college next fall, I'm going to really try to stitch from my stash in 2018.  I have a lot of samplers in my stash kitted and ready to go, so we'll see if I can do it! Hope you all have a great Christmas and Happy New Year.  We'll be headed down to Florida at the end the week, so I'll will be back with a video in the new year!

Episode 39

Framed

• Garden Club Series by Blackbird Designs - 40 ct. Vintage Buttercream by Lakeside Linens using the called for cotton threads (1 over 2). 

• 1861 Antique Sampler by Blackbird Designs - 36 ct. Wren by Picture this Plus using the called for cotton threads (1 over 2). 

FOs

• Lizzie Kate Winter Alphabet - 28 ct. Tea/Coffee-Dyed Monaco using the called for cotton threads (2 over 2). This finish was inspired by Priscilla.  

• Winter Ornament by The Prairie Schooler (from the 2006 JCS Ornament Issue) - 28 ct. Tea/Coffee-dyed Monaco using DMC (2 over 2).

WIPs

• Lizzie Kate ABC Christmas - 28 ct. Tea/Coffee-Dyed Monaco using the called for cotton threads (2 over 2).

• Smith Sampler by The Scarlett House - 40 ct. Vintage Meadow Rue by Lakeside Linens using the called for silk threads (1 over 2). 

Stash

• From The Stitch and Frame Shop - Lizzie Kate Tiny Tidings XXII, The Prairie Schooler Santa's Revisted II, With Thy Needle & Thread Jolly Happy Soul and Weeks Dye Works threads.  

• Felt and fat Quarters from People, Places and Quilts in Summerville, SC. 

FlossTubers Mentioned

• Priscilla and Chelsea
• Theresa Venette - Kitten Stitcher

A Finish and a Get Together

I finished up Karen's Prairie Schooler block yesterday. It only took about nine months to finish!!

Prairie Schooler "Friends" (OOP unfortunately)
Fabric: 32 ct. Vintage Buttercream
Threads: DMC (2 over 2)

I had such a fun time in Manning on Saturday. It was great to see everyone again! I only took a few pics near the end.

Sorry, bad pic of mainly the backs of heads!

Faye holding up her stitching


I didn't get Karen, but I did get a shot of her stitching (Tree of Life by Goode Huswife)


My stitching buddies for the day, Donna and Judy, they are going to Victoria, British Columbia for the last Victoria Sampler retreat!

I'll definitely have to remember to take more pictures next time! Now, I need to get started on Amy or Faye's square. I need to keep going, so it doesn't take nine more months (I don't think they'd appreciate that too much)! :) Write soon!

Quilting, Stitching, and Stashing

I started the quilting on my little table topper. I have decided to do outline quilting, which basically follows the shape of the seams. I think it's coming out ok. I'm trying to take my time and not be so spastic!

I went to Amy's yesterday and it was a lot of fun as always! We stitched, shopped and ate (Pizza Hut, yum)! I stitched a little bit on my CHS Alphabet.

36 ct. Examplar, GAST (1 over 2).

When I got home I decided to get out my CHS Sampler Stocking and work on it some. I would love to get it finished also.

40 ct. Meadow Rue, NPI Silk (1 over 2).

I also got a little bit of stash while at Amy's.

Prairie Schooler "When Witches go Riding," Blue Ribbon Designs "A Sampling in the Square," and Primitive Traditions "A Cheerful Mind."

I was thinking of stitching "When Witches go Riding" using these Belle Soie...

Here's my conversion if anyone is interested. I used Shepherd's Bush's model as a guide, but I have no idea what they actually used.

DMC - Belle Soie
420 - Butterscotch
422 - Butterscotch
898 - Kiwi
937 - Collard Greens
3371 - Noir
3826 - Lasagne
3857 - Sister Scarlet

Elegant Eggplant for 898 words.

Well, that's all for now! I've got to get back to laundry, dishes and cleaning to get ready for the coming week. Write soon!

Ornament

I forgot to share an ornament I stitched for Shelleen for our exchange. It's the Prairie Schooler ornament from the '99 JCS ornament magazine.

Prairie Schooler "Let it Snow-Man"
Fabric: 40 ct. Vintage River Willow
Threads: DMC and WDW

This is for all my NE friends...

Winter Wind - Finally!
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I'm so sorry you are all stuck in a snowstorm up there. I lived in Michigan for ten years, so I can relate, and I can also say I'm very glad to be in Florida right now! :)

I'm so glad to finally have this done. It was stitched on 32 ct. Flax Belfast using DMC threads. I think I started it back in November after I finished Autumn Leaves. Well, I'm so tired, so this is going to be short. Write more later! :)

I'm back!

We had a nice visit. We didn't do much... just hung out and the kids went swimming, which they loved! It was nice for me when my dad and step-mom took the boys I stayed back with Matthew and stitched! I got quite a bit done on Winter Wind...



I also got some stitching done on Spring Violets, but I didn't take a pic yet. I'll take one later tonight or tomorrow. Here's a picture I took of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on our way back (sorry it looks so far away). The weather has been gorgeous lately - there were so many boats out that you can't see in the picture and so many people out fishing. I know my dh wishes he were one of them! :)



Well, Matthew is fussing so I'd better go! Write later!

Spring Violets and Winter Wind

I started Spring Violets last night. There are two blues in the border a darker blue on the outside and a lighter blue on the inside. I thought the inside blue seemed a little dark, but I didn't think too much about it until... I stopped by Silk Road Needlearts today and picked up another skein (just in case I ran out) and when I got home I realized there was a big difference in the colors I had. Maybe when Nikki designed the sampler she had the lighter blue on hand, which could be the older dye lot. Anyway, I ripped out the darker and restitched using the lighter. I know, it's a little silly, but I really liked the look of the lighter blue. Here's pictures to prove my insanity... :)


Spring Violets before I ripped out the darker blue.


The two Blueberry Tarts.


And now stitched with the lighter blue.

I'm much happier now. I went stitching today at JoAnne Nantz's. It's always so nice to get out and stitch and be around other stitchers. I had a surprise when I got there... JoAnne finished framing my Sweet Sweet Babe birth sampler. It wasn't supposed to be done for three more weeks!


Sam Sarah Sweet Sweet Babe

I'm so happy with how it turned out. I can't wait to give it to my brother and SIL now! While I was there I also stitched a little bit on Winter Wind. I made a small goal to get the branches and birds done, which I did!


Prairie Schooler Winter Wind

Well, the kids are bugging me for juice and milk (I know I keep wondering why they are up this late too!), so I'd better go! Write later! :)

Winter Wind Progress

I worked on Winter Wind the last couple of nights...



I really love this design. Maybe I'll work on it again tonight?? :) Right now I'm worn out though. I bought some walking shoes yesterday because I'm determined to start walking. I went out this morning after taking ds to school and there were so many people walking along the beach - it's just so beautiful here right now. I wish it could be like this year round! Anyway, I'd like to lose some baby weight... it seems with each child I've kept 10lbs, and I'd like to get rid of some of it! Well, not much else - write later! :)

Autumn Leaves as of 11/28/06

Autumn Leaves as of 11/28/06
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I got a little bit more done on Autumn Leaves last night. Mostly lettering and some of the tree branch. I've been cleaning a lot today. We tend to get cluttered very fast in our little room. I'll be so glad when our house sells and we can get our own place. I know my mom will miss me, and I'll miss her, but I don't think she realizes how hard it is for us here. Our room really isn't that small, but it has our computer in it, which is really my office when I'm working for my brother. It also has Matthew's pack and play (that he sleeps in, I still can't get him to sleep in his crib!) and two dressers. The washer and dryer is in like a little hallway that's attached, so my husband says it feels like we are living in the laundry room. It's sad because the living room and family room are rarely used, but I consider it my mom's and don't go in there much. And then the bathroom is actually the hallway to get to the kids room and then out to the kitchen and living room, which isn't very private. I'm not complaining (well, kinda), I appreciate being able to stay here while our house sells especially since we don't have to pay anything. I was paying the electric, but my brother (who is too nice) took over paying it again even though I told him at least five times that I would pay it! Oh and did I mention there are fishing poles on my ceiling? This used to be my brother's office and he left them up there. I don't notice them that much - it's just funny having them there.

Anyway, enough about that - I didn't mean to get into such a long rant about my living situation. It was worse when we first got here because of the adjustment period. My mom and dh weren't getting along too well, but it's better now. The sad thing is I don't think anyone's even looked at my house(click to view). :( Ok, done whining - I promise! :) I'm going to stitch for a little bit and then it's bedtime for me! Write later! :)

Autumn Leaves Progress

I got a little stitching done on Autumn Leaves last night. I was catching up on my soaps and Desparate Housewives. :)



Autumn Leaves as of 11/26/06.


I also got a little bit more done on VOHRH the other day...



Village of Hawk Run Hollow as of 11/25/06.


I'm really enjoying both projects. I'm hoping to get Autumn Leaves finished by the end of November, so I'm really going to concentrate on that for a few days. Hopefully I can do it. I have to leave you with a picture of my silly cat. He's so lazy and won't move once he gets in bed. You can push him out of the way, throw the covers on him and he stays put!



Pumpkin - silly kitty!


Well, everyone is sleeping or being good watching Blue's Clues, so I think I'm going to stitch for a little bit! Write later!

Finally Finished!!

I finished up H is for Honey (bee) last night. I have been so tired lately, so I haven't been stitching much at all. I got a little spurt of energy yesterday and was determined to get it finished.





Sorry the scan is a little crooked! Here are the stats...


Leaflet - G*H*I from Prairie Schooler
Linen - 32 ct. Lambswool from Wichelt
Threads - DMC


I only have about 5 more weeks to go now (considering he comes a couple days early like my two older boys). I'm getting more and more anxious as the days go by!! I can't wait to hold him and see his little face!! :) Well, not much else - write more later!! :)