July 2018 Some stitching progress

Hello everyone,
We've had a lot more hazy hot & humid weather this month.

I originally planned to continue stitching some smalls (patriotic and Christmas ornaments) and work on an older project or 2 that I had set aside - dug out lots of patterns and fabrics...more than I could possibly finish in a month...but I just kept going back to look at my Mystic Garden. I have another 1 (okay at least 3 more HAED's that I want to start right away... but I promised myself not until I got this one just about finished). My pile of smalls is now patiently waiting to be picked up again - or maybe they'll be my take along projects.

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.

When I put it aside May 2017,  I had  9490 stitches... Now I have completed 11200 stitches. I love how this is coming out... Almost getting to the second tiger. Hopefully I'll have more time this month to work on it - depends on my parents appointments as this one doesn't get to travel with me. I now have the full width and height completed of this cropped version.

I also picked up this UFO during our recent heat wave at the beginning of the month...and figured it wouldn't take very long to finish. At first, I wondered why I had set it aside. It didn't take me long to figure out it was because I hated working on 12ct aida - the 4 strands for coverage made it a bit bulkie for my tastes. The pattern called for a 24ct stitchband that I didn't have. When I started it, I  remembered just having moved some 12ct., so I took it out and got started right away. I should have put a little more thought into it as I would have preferred using my 22-28 ct and  then I could have easily  added some sort of border stitching.There are 2 more in the set... so lesson learned...next time, I'll stitch on a higher count. The fabric that it's on is what I chose to use for backing fabric.

Patriotic bookmark...
United We Stand
Published in the October 2002 Issue of the Cross Stitcher (USA)
Designed by Pamela Kellogg
Fabric:12ct Off White Aida
Threads: DMC & Kreinik #4
Stitch Count: 24 x 80, 4 over 1
Cross Stitch, Backstitch



I also finished a small beading project - cuff bracelet pattern to be another one of my charity bookmarks.

Landscape1 © Lisa Strassheim (SmartArtsSupply) from her etsy store here
Miyuki delicas
Natural silimide
36 rows, 99 columns
even peyote

Not much Stash shopping this month - only the JCS Halloween and a few threads. Just realized that one of the threads I got was the wrong color to finish up an earlier project so  I'll probably be placing another order later this week.


 

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

August 2017 - Hazy, Hot & Humid

Hello everyone,

I didn't get very much stitching done this month - Mainly because I've spent most of my spare time in our basement with Samantha - it's at least 10 to 15 degrees cooler and she's much happier downstairs.

One project I did get to finish was this lovely fall bookmark that was in the October 2008 issue of The Cross Stitcher (US.) Vol 25 #5

Pumpkin Patch Bookmark © Melinda Medeiros of Mederios Needlecraft Design
Fabric: 32ct Willow green (Equiv of DMC 372)
Thread:DMC, GAST, Kreinik#4,
Stitch Count: 34 x 87, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Backstitch, Four Sided Stitch, Hemstitch

 Fall is definitely in the air this week. Temps are cooler - some of the early trees have already started to show color, and the apples are almost ready for picking. We have seen more deer and fawns (still with their spots) in the last week.  The Mountain Ash berries are ripe and the birds (robins, waxwings, chickadees and others) have been flitting to and fro gobbling up these delicious treats. The hummingbirds have been tanking up as they are preparing to leave us in the next week or two.

The basement lighting isn't great for stitching but since that is where our PC is, it's not that much of a struggle. I did get some of my stitching supplies put away- and I did manage to get all of my beading patterns together in the same place. Most of my delica beads are organized as well. I spent more time than I should browsing Etsy for some of the bracelet cuff beading patterns that can also be finished off as lovely suncatchers or bookmarks. Hopefully I can get some finished as gifts for this year. I seem to forget that these projects usually take me longer than if I was stitching. And since I'm using a short sharp needle I tend to stab myself more often than not. LOL!

Once I had all my beading patterns together, I found some that I had forgotten which meant that I dug out some beads and cleared off a space on the table to spend my early mornings and late evenings.

Here are Pine Bunny & Snow Deer Panels © 2003 Deb Moffett-Hall
Miyuki Delica Beads
Black Nymo thread
Bead Count: 22 columns x 83 rows
I'm not sure if I'm going to do a netted ornament with these - if so I'll need to make 2 more of each... or I might do another finish (depends on how much free time I have before the  holidays).

Stash this month consisted of the Silver Needle Circle of Friends Kit - Heartstring Samplery.


 

Samantha is doing well. She's been enjoying the cooler temps this week as summer nears the end. Last night was cool- we actually had a frost warning and temperature highs tomorrow are expected to be in the  50's F.








Mom is doing well with her new glasses.

Dad continues to have some good days and some bad days.

I do have a Christmas ornament exchange coming up so next month I should finalize my plans for that project and hopefully get it all stitched and finished off by early October.  

I'll leave you with these lovely visitors that we've been watching all month.

 
and one last look at the evening sky...

 Until next time -


Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.