Weekly update December 20th, 2020

Hi everyone,

Time for my weekly update.. 

I'm a year older this week.  Had a very quiet birthday.

Stitching:
continued with ...                                                            Last week...

 

 

 as of today:

Christmas in the Adirondacks © 2003 Dimensions
Designed by Martha Edwards
Stitch Count: 90 x 122
strands vary over 1
18ct Aida
Cross Stitch, Half Cross Stitch, Backstitch, Blended
Color Chart

 

 

 

FFO:

Thursday we had about 8" of snow. So I went through my projects and started to gather necessary supplies to FFO a few of them...

 

 

The stitching on this was completed in February 2020
The Floss Box Biscornu #599 © 2010 Emily Wilmarth
Fabric: 16 ct PTP Alchemy Aida
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 61 x 61, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch

Embellished with a few putini pins.

Stash:
Mail has been a series of packages traveling around (taking the scenic route) and never quite reaching their destination. That makes sending all of my Christmas packages late. Luckily friends and family understand and they will get to celebrate on a different day. My fabric of the month from Colour & cotton has been in transit to me since December 5th. Staying 90 miles away since the 11th....several other packages in the system - they probably won't make it here before Christmas as we had no mail delivered to town on Thursday (storm) and Saturday (who knows why - no room on the truck?). The 4 packages that were arriving tomorrow now indicate arriving late when I just checked the tracking.

Today, I had a special offer from a seller on ETSY (Stitchy Princess) for her pdf charts.

I chose: Woodland Winter Primitive Sampler and Winter Primitive Sampler

Other stash still on the way.. I'll share when it actually arrives. In the meantime, there's always pdf's from Etsy    LOL! 

We had another inch or so of snow today. Expecting it to get warm again and rain on Christmas eve.

This was taken on Friday.

 

Until next time,

Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

May 2020 weekly update.. Maynia progress May 4th through the 10th

Hi everyone,
It's time to share what I've been up to this week.

I'm a little late posting this because I've been trying to figure out how to show what I've worked on. I spent a small amount of time most mornings working on a wip or one of my recent Maynia new starts. And Mr. Frog came for visit...more than once... Here's my progress for the week.. in no special order.

Maynia New Start #3
No picture of the project as it is a chart only in the cookbook.

Not too much progress to show... I outlined the main color of the body of the dog begging... got to the finish and had to frog one side as it was off by a stitch at the bottom. Then I re-stitched it and this time it lined up. I wanted to add in the color for dog ear, muzzle and hip/foot. It calls for GAST chamomile...ugh!  my skein is too greenish.. I don't want a dog with a green ear...so rip..rip..rip...and replaced with....harvest basket...nope....caramel corn...nope...woodsmoke...too grey... finally settled on DMC 938.

2019 Nashville Freebie 'Cookies' published in the 2019 Happiness is Homemade cookbook ©2018 The Blue Flower
Fabric: 32 ct Beautiful Beige Wichelt
Threads: GAST
Stitch Count: 42x 75, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch














Maynia New Start #4
I forgot more than once I was stitching this over 1.. so Mr. Frog came back again...

Sweet is The Journey ©2007 My Big Toe Designs - *Modified Spring Colorway
Fabric: 28ct ivory evenweave
Threads: WDW...I only had 1 of the called for weeks for the spring colorway...I have all the colors for Autumn..but since it's spring......I dug through my DMC..pulled the 62 and 3363 and then went back through my overdyes to come up with Sophie's Pink and Dried Sage. I've been thinking about a winter colorway for this... might have to see if my idea of a color scheme works.
Stitch Count: 125 x 5, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch




May 7th,
Not much stitching today - but I didn't plan on getting much time for it today because...Today is Mom's 81st  Birthday.
So I spent most of the day cooking dinner for her & Dad. (Dad's birthday was the end of April.)



Maynia New Start #5

This is the middle lighthouse...

Lighthouse Welcome designed by Ursula Michael  ©2007 Imaginating, Inc.
Fabric: 40ct white Newcastle Linen
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 82 x 166, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Backstitch, Fractional Stitches















Maynia  new start #1 is Finished!
Mr. Frog is back.. or he never left....after stitching part of the top variegated flower, I realized that this flower and the right blue border flower and leaves (top and bottom) were in the wrong place... so rip...rip...rip...

Summer Posey (kit) © 2020 Jeanette Douglas Designs
Fabric: 40ct Flax
Threads: Gloriana Threads Tudor Silks
Stitch Count: 55 x 60, 1 over 2
Cross Stitch







And a little more progress on...
wip 1

Floral Cross  © 2003 Jeanette Crews Designs No. 1251 Decorative Crosses by Ursula Michaels
Fabric: 14ct Navy Aida
Threads:DMC, Kreinik #4
Substituted: #102 kreinik for the 221, also blended 336 with 340 1 strand each, and 931 for 930.
Stitch Count: 80 x 80, 2over 1 and 3 over 1 in a few places
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, fractional stitches, blended threads




and new start #2

Chickadee on Holly Dimensions Daydreams  petite under glass kit © 2001 designed by Brian Jackins
Fabric: 14 ct white aida
Threads: Dimensions  16 colors (not pre-sorted)
Stitch Count: 42 x 42, mostly 1 strand
Cross stitch, back stitch, half cross stitch, french knots


 



Stash

This lovely wooden needleminder from Joseph's workshop.













Earlier this week...went on an errand to get Dad's meds...drove to pharmacy about 30 miles South... picked up scripts.. went to start car... wouldn't start... tried again.. still nothing... Called DH.. tried again to tell him every detail.. and after a long delay...it started.. drove back home to local mechanic instead of picking up groceries... Was told it's  the key's computer chip... Called about my 2008 Jeep key.. I have to bring it in so they can test the key and ignition system.. Just got back from Jeep service today... and I need a new key/fob...Computer Chip is fried. New one on order.. should be here in a week. In the meantime, I'll use the spare key that is DH's.

Our hummingbirds are late... we usually see them in very early May.. not this year... Why? 

May 8th & 9th...
Yes..that's  snow! We had some snow Friday night and most of Saturday.

Much too cold for our feathered friends.
 





 

We also had a nice sunset early in the week

Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M

January 2019 Update - A Very Snowy New Year

Hi everyone,
It's time to share what I've been up to this past month.


Stitching:
Made a little progress on

 2013BB SAL QS Mystic Garden (It is a cropped version of Peacock Garden.)

Design by Michele Sayetta Artwork by Ciro Marchetti
28ct Picture this Plus Valor
DMC & Kreinik#4
Stitch Count: 139 x 138, 1 over 1 full cross
December 31, 2018: 14350 complete, now at 15140 completed

 



next I started this Christmas Ornament

The Little House Mouse © Judith Tuttle of Twisted Oaks
published in the JCS Christmas Ornaments 2012
Fabric: 28ct white
Threads: NPI, NPI Northern Lights
Beads: Mill Hill
Stitch count front: 24 x 45
Stitch count back: 30 x 53
Cross stitch, some 1 over 1, fractional stitches, back stitch, french knot

 All that is left is the red and gold beads. I went searching for the petite gold beads - but came up empty. I checked all the usual places, so I guess I'll have to order some (and when I do, this missing packet will show up).


I liked the look of this little freebie- but I wanted a more winter-y feel..so I chose a gray fabric.
freebie can be found here...

Winter Bird © 2017 Robin Sample / October House Fiber Arts
Fabric: 28ct stormy grey (Wichelt)
Threads: GAST and DMC (instead of the pebble as my pebble blended into the fabric too much)
Stitch count: 42 x 25
Cross Stitch, small amount of over 1 for the beak and legs






My Jeep was in the shop - the check engine light came on when I started it after picking up some groceries for Mom & Dad. Thankfully the bill wasn't too bad as it only needed another thermostat.and I got it back just before the storm...

21+ inches on Snow on the 20th...the gusty winds broke the birch - but it still might survive as it wasn't the main trunk branch. More spring clean-up










So instead of stitching some snowy things, I opted for this lovely fall colors pattern that was in my freebie binder.

Autumn © 1999 Lindy James Designs, Inc.
(I believe that this was Melissa Billam who now designs as ScissorTail Designs)
Fabric: 32ct Willow Green Belfast (instead of the New Khaki) ~ DMC 372
Threads: GAST and DMC
Stitch count: 50 x 29
Cross Stitch, Backstitch

 

 So pretty..

Weather changed and we had a mix/mostly rain last weekend with temps dropping into the teens so now our driveway has about 2" ice on it. Spent a few days chopping the ice but with the cold temps, not much came up... sanded and salted.. but it's still a mess. Couldn't do much stitching and my time for finishing was non-existent. So hopefully next month, I'll have some time in my sewing room for some finishing.  I did find a few spare minutes to make some ort catchers for the ladies in my birthday floss club.











I picked this lovely up a few evenings ago,

Valentine Sentiments: Pick Me © Frony Ritter Designs published in Just Cross Stitch February 2017
Fabric: 14ct white perforated paper
Threads: DMC
Beads: Mill Hill
Stitch count: 42 x 40, 2over 1
Cross Stitch, Backstitch, Straight Stitch, Beads

I still have to finish the beading and backstitch... I took this picture a few days ago. I'm getting close to running out of the red beads so it might be time to get them ordered so I can actually finish something.


More snow today. Expecting another 8-12" + so I've been wasting time looking online at ...yup, snowman patterns.  I guess it has something to do with today... car battery was almost dead yesterday.. dropped off at mechanic last evening, picked it up today only to have DH vehicle get stuck in driveway so had to get it towed up the driveway .


Stash: Last month I mentioned It wouldn't be December without a little bit of Christmas stash.

I received some fun charts...




 

Some small cuts of  fabric...




  

Some threads...





 

...and more threads

...a magazine...

 

...more threads with a chart

 The threads are for the arctic animals in the magazine above.




 

... And my Silver Needle A little Help from our friends Stitching Circle kit
 - this time from Summer House Stitche Workes









What I've been reading: 
Enforcing the Paw by Diane Kelly
The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer by Krista Davis
Town in a Lobster Stew by B.B. Haywood


Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M. 

October 2018 update...fall was in the air..now it's winter!

Hello everyone,

The air is cooler, the daylight hours are definitely shorter. The sky is changing...not much more of the brilliant blues with no clouds.


Woke up around 5am on the 13th of October to see our driveway coated in the white stuff. Yup! Snow arrived... but then the sun showed up and it was gone. Just a tease of what's to come. The hunters have been busy as we've heard shots most days.


I'm a little late with my monthly update... I was planning to post before Halloween.. but I had a busy week at the end of October. Then I was all set to start this past Friday ..but Mother Nature had different plans. Our 1-3" of snow started around noon, turned into 8" snow with ice coating on top before ending early Saturday am...trees snapped...power and phone lines out. We are lucky though, we had power restored late last night.. and our phone line shortly after that. Parts of out town are still out today.

This was the start of the storm...
It does look pretty but I could do without the biting wind.














While I was waiting for my Jeep to be serviced last month, I took out this quickie kit -

Welcome Coffin #4603 (Halloween Hanger) ©NeedleMagic Inc.
Fabric: 18ct ivory Aida
Threads: floss included in kit
Stitch Count: 34x 44, 2over 1
Cross Stitch, Back stitch, French Knot

I didn't pay close enough attention to the two browns.. dark and light... so I mixed them up... but it still turned out alright.




 



Next up is this Freebie I've had for quite awhile:  I found this cute black pumpkin fabric and went searching for the chart...Just love how it finished up.

Halloween Witch © Annalee Waite Designs
Fabric: 28ct silkweaver solo
Threads: DMC

Stitch Count: 58 x 59, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch


Found these nice jingle bells while I was browsing in a craft store.. now to decide what to do with them....




And since I was in my sewing room finishing, I took out this rosewood manor that was in my finishing pile since (gasp) January 2014 (really?) and now it is finally finished.

Snowflake Trees II © Karen Kluba 2013
Fabric: 28 count Antique White evenweave that was part of a grab bag
Threads: DMC
Mill Hill Beads
Specialty Stitches: Algerian Eyelet
Stitch Count: 60 x 60, 2 over 2 and  1 over 2










Took my Jeep back to the dealer earlier this week for state inspection and a new muffler..so I took along this little kit:

Fall Harvest NMI Kit Item 4312 Turkey Gobble
Fabric: 18 ct Aida
Threads: floss included in kit
Stitch Count: 33x 41, 2 over 1
Cross Stitch, Backstitch

I found this cute maple leaf ribbon at the dollar tree and it was available in red, yellow and brown. Just had to try it with a small design to see how it looked.









Lastly, I finished my Christmas ornament exchange.. more about that later this month.

Stash: I picked up a few DMC threads that I was missing since my brother gave me a Michaels gift card. And a few days ago, my kit from Silver Needle Circle of friends (Plum Street Samplers) came in the mail (no pics- camera batteries need to be charged).

Our Anniversary was in early October... 20years... hard to believe it's that long ago.

We don't have any pear trees..so I can't show you a partridge in a pear tree.. but...How about a turkey  in a crab apple tree? ...Watched their antics - at least 2 or 3 at a time flying up into the tree and shaking out apples for the rest of their flock. They've come to visit almost everyday in October.. multiple times a day and flocks of 14, 16 and 31 at a time. The deer are still around.. just have to look at the right time to see them.Had an 8 point buck the other night but it was too dark for a picture.



Fall was rainy..much more than usual so we'll have to see if it continues now that the cold air has arrived.


Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.