From the Q-Snaps to the framer

I just put the last stitch in this morning! I had the most fun with this project. It started out as a freebie by Workbasket (the flower portion) from Stitchville USA's May 2010 newsletter.

Having a great fondness for samplers, I just had to incorporate it into a sampler design. Then it needed a border...and then the date seemed off, so a little pink stitch along the edge just seemed to tie it all together. I stitched it with Crescent Colors hand-dyed silk with the flower and Algerian Eye Stitch border 2 over 2 and the sampler and date portions 1 over 1. So elegant! The yellow threads are actually more golden in hue. I cannot wait to get this framed so that I can find the perfect spot for it!

Stitching away

I've come to a realization over the past few months: I love needlework! Not that I didn't really already know that, but almost every aspect of it makes me happy in my heart. And, lately, I've been cross stitching more and more. My heart is thrilled!

I am working on my tiny little stitching "room". Actually, it is a closet. It is a wonderful size and (once I'm finished) will hold all of my stitching supplies. I was able to pick up some DMC wooden retail display boxes. Now they are full of fibers, threads, buttons, beads, needles, scissors, etc. I've got about 20% of my leaflets in binders. I'm trying to sort through and keep only the ones I know I will stitch. I'll still need 4-5 lifetimes!

Now I'm trying to pick out the final design to enter in the State Fair later this year. The goal is to narrow it down this weekend and then select fibers and fabric on Tuesday. I have two entries already finished; cross stitch entries are limited to 3 per person and only one entry per category. I have to check measurements, stitch count, etc. to make sure I don't end up with 2 that fall into the same category!

A tiny wedding sampler

Truly, this is a tiny wedding sampler! It is adapted from a Blackbird Designs freebie, this is "my" wedding sampler...about 14 years after the fact! LOL! After finishing up my niece's sampler, I decided Thad and I needed one. I started this little freebie and wanted to personalize the last two lines. After I thought about it, I decided that this would make the perfect wedding sampler. As you can see from the quarter in the photo, it is a tiny sampler!

I stitched it on Silkweavers 28ct Ametrine Lugana over one with The Thread Gatherer Silk 'n Colors Moon Rose and Stiletto Sidewalk. It took me three days from start to finish. Now to decide how to finish it. I'm included to do a small simple frame with no mat. Looks like a trip the framer is in my future!

A framed finish

I just got this back from my favorite frame shop! Now that it is all done, I just love the hand-dyed fabric and the way the colors in the birds and berries 'pop'!

If you look closely, you can see the delicate little snowflakes at the top...very fitting for the winter where Dallas had a foot of snow in a single day!

Now I just have to find the perfect place for display...

A day for stitching II ...

A historic event in the DFW area: record set for the most snowfall ever on a single day! Here, we saw a total of 10-12". Some areas got 16". Now to watch it start to melt. And stitch.

A day for stitching...

It doesn't really snow in the Dallas area that often. Oh, we might see a snowflake or two drift through the air. It might settle on the ground as a light dusting. But inches? SIX inches? That's what we are supposed to have by midnight tonight. We woke up this morning to three inches, and it hasn't stopped snowing since! It's the perfect snow: white, wet, and deep on the ground.


It is the perfect day for stitching!

A pretty little finish!

I just finished up Plum Street Sampler's Christmas Tea! It is such a wonderful design! I used the Belle Soie fibers as called for by the designer, but stitched it on Picture This Plus ColorScapes hand-dyed Heritage (32 count Belfast) with one strand over one. The fabric has a little more of a green tone to it than the picture shows. I moved the snowflakes at the center bottom of the design over toward the birds and added my initials. I loved stitching it over one (and you can see how small it is when you compare it to the 4" embroidery scissors!). I'll have it framed next week to add to my sampler wall.

Wedding Row finished!

Shhh...... It's finished! Don't tell the bride and groom...since it's a surprise gift! LOL!

I decided not to bead the X's and O's, but I stitched them in a Kreinik red metallic. I really love the way it turned out! For stitchers, the specifics are that Bent Creek's Wedding Row sampler is stitched on 28 ct. white Jobelan over one. Colors have been changed to Weeks Mulberry, Gentle Art Sweet Pea, Gentle Art School House Red, and Kreinik Very Fine Braid #4 in red. I altered the alphabet for the couple's names, making it a little more contemporary and clean.

It's off to the framer today! I love it!

A Wedding Sampler in progress...

My niece is getting married in early February. I really didn't want to do a "traditional" sampler for her, but wanted something fun and a bit more contemporary. Bent Creek's Wedding Row seemed perfect! I changed the colors, using a white 28 count Jobelan fabric (and stitching over one) with the colors more in the purple tones to match her wedding accent color. It's a fairly quick stitch. I started in 4 days ago. I'm still trying to decide how to do the "X's and O's". I've already taken out three colors, so now I'm thinking about beading them for sparkle and shine. I'll save that part 'til last!