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

June 2019 update and some fun news

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

It started out busy.. but by mid month things slowed down - we finally got our high speed internet connection.Then things went awry- seems like our computer decided that it was beyond time to do some long overdue updates (we were on Windows 8). Spent the next week trying to restore some files as it changed my login username - and I accidentally deleted an account - (where all my cross stitch files were). Luckily I had almost everything backed up on a flash drive. Then we spent time changing our email contacts/subscriptions that we wanted to keep...etc. Ugh..
We are almost done with that - yeah!

Summer finally arrived and brought the hot humid weather - so it's been too warm to stitch much.

One of our first things we did was to apply for a rescue pup. Our four legged companion is in Texas and she should be traveling to us sometime at the end of this month. She is a black lab mix about 2.5 to 3 years old. Her name is Macey and she is one of the Joshua Fund Dogs.So this week has been some necessary home improvements - replacing a few fans - getting everything dog ready.


Stitching:
I did work on this one a little more...Still have a little bit to finish - the dog bone on the right, bottom border and flowers on top right and left. Hopefully I'll find some time this month to finish it up.

Dog House Sampler © 2005 Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32 count PTP Earthen Belfast Linen
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 79 x 97, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch








I did manage to put together my threads for my next HAED - luckily I didn't lose that file in the process. So maybe that will be a new start at the end of the month.

Stash:

My final Silver Needle Circle of Friends Kit arrived. Blackbird Designs -
This was the final kit for the club this year.
No other new stash. (Have to put some away so it doesn't go missing later.)

I have been visiting Etsy quite a bit and seeing some wonderful charts - our old internet connection wouldn't load them - but now? I have a few picked out - we'll see how things go. 




It's Finally Finished!
I did get one small finish - From March of this year. Finished as a pretty little bookmark

Good Luck Kit Item #4524 © Needlemagic, Inc
Fabric: 18ct Aida
Threads: floss from kit
Stitch Count: 34 x 42, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch


I used one of the variegated DMC for the cord.




 

I'll try to be back at the end of the month with more details.

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

May 2019 - A Happy dance and some smalls

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

Stitching:
I knew that I had some time in the waiting room during DH's cataract surgery on the 2nd, so I brought along this new start:

Bee and Hive © Karen Kirk Blackberry Rabbit Designs
Published in the 2019 Nashville Cookbook Happiness is Homemade
Fabric: Mystery 32 count Linen (PTP Heritage I think)
Threads: DMC Threads

Stitch Count: 32 x 49, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch




It's finally Happy dance time!So glad to see this one finished. Still deciding on my next "heavenly" project.

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

Design by Michele Sayetta Artwork by Ciro Marchetti
Fabric: 28ct Picture this Plus Valor
Threads: DMC & Kreinik#4
Stitch Count: 139 x 138, 1 over 1 full cross
April 30, 2019: 18760 stitches completed, now at 100% complete 19,182 stitches later

Since my beads arrived late February, I was finally able to finish this from January. I couldn't find my gold beads...had the burgundy one, just wanted to do all the beading at the same time...Now that my back-ordered DMC#8  for the cording has come in, I can get it finished in the shape of a mouse.

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

DH's 2nd  cataract surgery was on the 16th, so I brought along another new start:

Lizzie Kate Quick-It Dogs leave paw prints Q-003 © 2009 Lizzie Kate, Inc.
Fabric: Mystery 32 count Evenweave (PTP Heritage I think)
Threads: WDW Threads
Stitch Count: 56 x 56, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch





 Next I started this freebie

Woof Spoken Here complimentary design from Stitchy Kitty© 2006 Michelle Lutzen
Fabric: Mystery 28 count Linen (close to DMC 712)
Threads: DMC Threads instead of the called for Crescent Colours
Stitch Count: 50 x 50, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, french Knots





Spent yesterday in a different hospital waiting room for Mom's basal cell carcinoma surgery.  I brought along this new start:

Dog House Sampler © 2005 Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32 count PTP Earthen Belfast Linen
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 79 x 97, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch
  






Sewing:
Finished some more ort catchers for my birthday club friends, and attempted to make a new grime guard for my 11" Q-snaps.

I had this lovely flannel fabric print that I thought would work perfectly...found an online tutorial, and ta-da... now I have a new grime guard.. I still  have to make a few more for my 8" q-snaps, and maybe a couple for my 8" hoops...











Stash: 
A small cut of PTP Earthen above (to see color before deciding on this one for a different HAED)
a few sampler threads, DMC #8 for finishing mouse above and 2 stitchworks charts: New Doggie Love, and Doggie Love 



What I've read: 
Diane Kelly: Death, Taxes and a french Manicure
J. R. Rain:  Moon Dance,
L.T. Ryan:  The Recruit,
started  J. R. Rain:  Vampire Moon

Updates

Temperatures have been cooler than normal for the month and we've had lots of rain. May showers seem to bring out the June bugs. Black flies have shown up and they are biting like crazy. Still to early to be planting anything as we've had frost warnings this past week. Also, not sure how much I want to do this year as the deer nibbled all my hyacinths earlier this month. My hosta plants are either stunted by the weather or suffered too much damage from the deer last year. Our apple trees and crab apple trees have just started to blossom. Most of the trees have leafed out although the walnut, oaks, elms, and ash are still waiting to show their new spring foliage.

We did get to see our first hummingbird of the season on the morning of the 4th

... this young bird (Orchard oriel) showed up on the 16th and took several drinks from the hummingbird feeder.

We also had a visit from this colorful little male just last 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. 

June 2018 a wee bit of stitching

Hello everyone,
Thanks so much for the kind words earlier this month. We are missing Samantha & Bucky - they were our very special rescues. Hopefully one day soon I'll be able to stitch up a memorial piece for both of them.

I finished up the designs in the Handblessing pattern I mentioned last month. I'm waiting for an order of floss (for cording and tassels) so I can actually finish them. Here are:

Holiday Stamps Backyard Bird Three Cent© 2017 Handblessings Eileen Gurak Designs

Cardinal
Fabric: I substituted 28ct Silkweaver Bluebell Cashel Linen for the Lavender Mist perforated paper
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 29 x 31,  1 over 1
Cross Stitch, Straight Stitch

**I had already stitched up the inner border in whole cross stitch like the goldfinches last month. I left this one as is, but the next 2, I stitched with the half crosses.

Holiday Stamps Backyard Bird Three Cent© 2017 Handblessings Eileen Gurak Designs

Chickadee
Fabric: I substituted 28ct Silkweaver Bluebell Cashel Linen for the Lavender Mist perforated paper
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 29 x 31,  1 over 1
Cross Stitch, Half Cross, Straight Stitch





Holiday Stamps Backyard Bird Three Cent© 2017 Handblessings Eileen Gurak Designs

Hummingbird
Fabric: I substituted 28ct Silkweaver Bluebell Cashel Linen for the Lavender Mist perforated paper
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 29 x 31,  1 over 1
Cross Stitch, Half Cross, Straight Stitch
Sorry for the poor photo- we had the blinds closed due to the heat. The fabric color is the same as above.




I was fortunate  to receive a PIF from a lovely stitching friend.

Wee One : Olde Glory ©2002 Heart In Hand Needleart  designer Cecilia Turner
Fabric: 30ct Natural
Threads: WDW (I had just enough red left to finish)
Stitch Count: 53 x 43,  2 over 2
Cross Stitch
I left off the sterling silver charm- probably will attach a button when I finish it.



 

New Stash...









I also have another beading project to share:

Lake 2 © Lisa Strassheim (SmartArtsSupply) from her etsy store here 
Miyuki delicas
White silimide
36 rows, 99 columns
even peyote

The yellow butterflies have been abundant this year.. here is one on our mock orange.


 






DH found out this week that he needs to have cataract surgery on both eyes. He is waiting until fall to schedule it.

It been hazy hot & humid the past few days (and for the next week or so). Today is our town's celebrations... town-wide garage sales, parade and fireworks at the beach. I'm staying put.. have some nice stitching picked out, the fans are running, and I'll be close if Mom & Dad need anything.

This was our sunset a few nights ago.. so lovely!
Until next time,

Have a wonderful day & Happy 4th of July!
Lisa M.