Black flies and Snow flies: twisted oaks

Friday, May 31, 2019

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.

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.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

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.